CH2 Magazine August 2023

How Six Local Women Are Making a Difference

BLACK IN BUSINESS

BLACQUITY LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES

WHAT’S INSIDE

81 BLACK IN BUSINESS: BLACQUITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GWEN CHAMBERS LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES

85 HOW TO SAVE A LIFE: ALLIANCE GROUP REALTY SAVES LIVES, ONE PATIENT AT A TIME

99 CULTURALLY SPEAKING: NATALIE HARVEY, TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S QUEEN OF CULTURE

108

FACE TO FACE: AS THE “KC” IN THE FACE PLACE BY KC PREPARES FOR RETIREMENT, SHE LOOKS TO NEW GENERATION TO TAKE SKINCARE FORWARD.

112 BIG JIM’S AT PALMETTO DUNES OCEANFRONT RESORT: SOMETHING DELICIOUS FOR EVERYONE

118 REAL MEN OF CYCLING: THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GET TO THE LOWCOUNTRY’S TWO GREATEST SPOTS FOR BIKES AND FITNESS EQUIPMENT.

28

SUMMER STARS

Students are the secret weapon driving the workforce

40

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Over 100 Women in Business Profiles on Local Ladies!

76

ROCKIN’ THE BOATEAK

Local jewelry designer Lissy Rawl catches her balance in business

88

SPARKING CONSERVATION

How 6 Local Women Are Making a Difference

GENIUSES AT WORK

The Referee

Maggie Marie Washo

Master of Coin

Marion Elizabeth Bowser

Rainmaker

Kim Conrad Crouch

Master Handshaker “Just Kandace” Cunningham

Lead Door Knocker

Morgan Ambler

Talent Delivery Specialist

Kaila Jeffcoat

The HelpHER

Jevon Daly

Mascot in Training

Buoy Conrad Crouch Pritchard

The Gatekeepers

Greta Von Bowser

Vincent Von Bowser

The Cut & Paste Crew

Catherine Davies

Hunter Kostylo

Aspiring Novelists

Jesse Blanco

Becca Edwards

Lesley Francis

Linda S. Hopkins

Barry Kaufman

Liz Mayhew

Alan Perry

Cheryl Ricer

Lilli Serral

Lisa Sulka

Sheila Tucker

Lighting Experts

Krisztian Lonyai Photography

Photography by Peggy Cannon

Photography by M.Kat

Find Us Here

PO Box 22949

Hilton Head Island, SC 29925

843.816.6247

maggie@ch2cb2magazine.com

EDITOR'S NOTE

AUGUST 2023

OVER A DECADE OF CELEBRATING WOMEN

Twelve years ago, we published our first Women in Business special section. The pages included profiles of 40 women leading the charge locally in various industries from catering and photography to landscaping and dentistry. The cover featured an artist rendering of former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, which was the result of a contest orchestrated by the Art League of Hilton Head and Hilton Head Preparatory School. The issue included an interview with Haley, written by our He Said, She Said alum and current director of Bluffton Self Help, Courtney Hampson.

Fast forward to today as I put the finishing touches on our most recent Women in Biz issue. Haley is now running for president, and these pages feature almost 140 women leading the charge in every industry imaginable. A lot can change in a decade.

According to the latest statistics I could find on the interwebs, 42 percent of all businesses in the U.S. are owned by women. These businesses employ 9.4 million workers and generate 1.9 trillion dollars in revenue annually. Thirty-one percent of these women have school-aged children at home. Noodle that for a minute. They are not only running a business, but a household with children. Impressive.

We photographed 108 women for this issue over the span of the last four weeks. Although I’ve met a lot of these women before because they are longtime clients, it was an honor to capture them in their element and discuss a variety of topics. The women on these pages are go-getters— forces of nature with the same amount of time we all have. They just seem to accomplish more.

Our August issue kicks off with a nod to the stars who help this island run when 100 million (made-up number) tourists come to town intent on enjoying our golf courses, restaurants, shops, and beaches. Cheryl Ricer interviews a few students driving the local workforce during the sweltering months of summer on page 28.

Lilli Serral, a new contributor (and one we hope to keep!), highlights local Women in Conservation on page 88. Some of the faces are most likely familiar to you, like the one you see on our CH2 cover, but perhaps the article will give you a bit more insight into what these ladies are trying to accomplish in terms of protecting the Lowcountry and educating our visitors on what makes it a unique place.

Liz Mayhew interviews Lissy Rawl of Little Fish Boateak and weaves the story of a hobby turned successful jewelry company, starting with $500 in the bank and a will to succeed. Read her story on page 76.

I hope you enjoy our seventh issue dedicated to supporting and highlighting local women in business. However, we don’t want you to think we’ve left the men out completely. Be sure to read Mayor Alan Perry’s column about Hilton Head Island’s fortieth birthday party in August, with a community picnic kick-off and a big concert in Lowcountry Celebration Park on September 16. I’ll definitely see you there!

Until Next Month,

Will Rosene is a captain and surf instructor for Byron Sewell’s Native Sun Adventures.

ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

SUMMER STARS

STUDENTS ARE THE SECRET WEAPON DRIVING THE WORKFORCE

As Americans have returned to enjoying postpandemic normality including travel, attending ballgames and other summer traditions, employers all over the country—and especially in resort areas like Hilton Head Island—are banking on a secret weapon to meet the surging demand: high school and college students.

According to data provided by Gusto, a payroll process for small businesses, students make up nearly one in five summer hires this year. While the overall economy may be slowing and adults sidelined by the pandemic have returned to work, students—specifically those seeking summer employment—have flowed back faster, attracted by higher pay and a desire to get out of the house after enduring remote classes and other COVID-related restrictions. The hearty student workforce benefits restaurants, amusement parks, hotels, malls and other businesses, allowing them to maintain longer hours and provide faster and better service to consumers.

Students ages 15 to 22 are expected to make up 18 percent of all summer hires, according to Gusto, up from just two percent in 2019, before the pandemic began. That’s partly because it is summertime, and there are disproportionately more jobs in restaurants, hotels, amusement parks and stores. But even within the “personal services” category, students are set to make up 26 percent of all hires, up from 21 percent a year ago.

TheDepartmentofLaborreportsthatthenumber of 15- to 22-year-olds working or job hunting spiked at about 37 percent in 2022, the highest since 2009. During July of 2022, students in the workforce crested at almost 47 percent, a figure that is projected to be

surpassed in 2023.

These numbers are largely fixed in higher pay, with the average national wage for 15- to 22-year-olds projected to reach $14.56 per hour this summer, up nine percent from a year ago, according to Gusto. Pair this with the fact that it’s less expensive to hire this demographic than 25- to 54-year-olds.

On Hilton Head Island, SERG Restaurant Group has hired 490 high school and college students (ages 14-22) to work at its restaurants. “This makes up 39 percent of our active team members,” said Jordan Norris, SERG director of Human Resources. “We tend to staff up around nine percent of our workforce for season, seven percent of which are student-age employees.”

She partly attributes the influx of student job candidates to the perks of working in a resort town and for a company such as SERG. For example, as a server, the average amount of tips per night across all SERG locations is $280+/- (based on the sample data tested). That’s healthy pay in the low-cost state whose minimum wage still matches the federal pay floor of $7.25 an hour.

“Students earning this kind of money for mostly parttime work is a lot for someone that age, and word gets around,” Norris said. “The SERG Restaurant Group also offers great benefits and perks, especially for our student team members. The SERG College Savings Plan is a great way for students to work in our restaurants and earn money to assist with their tuition/books. We will match $1 for every hour worked with the company. They can start saving while they are in high school and ‘cash out’ when they are heading off to college or after each summer.”

We had a chance to interview some of these hardworking students who’ve made our island summer a little more spectacular with their drive, commitment, and work ethic, and we’d like to introduce you. Meet our Summer Stars:

AYANNA LEE THE ICE CREAM CONE SERVER

Ayanna Lee is originally from Sacramento, California, and her family moved to Hilton Head in 2020 when she was 12 years old. She currently works at The Ice Cream Cone in Coligny Plaza. She’ll soon be a sophomore at Hilton Head Island High School where she is a cheerleader for the Sea Hawks—which is how she got her job.

“Pete and Megan Savarese own the shop, and Megan is my cheer coach,” Lee said. “She suggested I get a job at the Ice Cream Cone over the summer.”

Working the ice cream counter is Lee’s first ever job and one that she knows will help her in the future.

“I’m learning very important communication skills as part of my job is to engage and talk to all sorts of people,” she said. “Being in an environment where I work with older kids and adults has forced me to step a bit outside my comfort zone and earn a greater level of respect. I’m also making great connections.”

In college and beyond, Lee realizes the social skills she’s honing now will enable her to work on a team and keep cool under pressure when the intensity and adrenaline are high. “I deal with the pressure of working in a busy shop by reminding myself that I’m not the only one here,” she said. “I have people behind me supporting me, and I’m not working alone.”

For the rest of the summer, Lee plans to continue working at the ice cream counter and enjoy some

traveling—back to California to visit family and cruising to the Bahamas. Once school starts, her goal is to keep her grades high, graduate as valedictorian of her class, and get into medical school, after which she’ll become an anesthesiologist or a surgeon.

While Lee enjoys meeting people on vacation from all around the U.S. and serving ice cream to happy children, her favorite part of the job is hanging out with her coworkers and eating all the brownie batter ice cream she wants.

ABBY BABCOCK NECTAR FARM KITCHEN SERVER

Abby Babcock was born in New Jersey but moved to Hilton Head with her parents and two siblings when she was two years old. “I have an older brother and younger sister, and we grew up here and all attended public elementary, middle, and high school on the island,” Babcock said.

She is also a June 2022 graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she earned two degrees: criminal justice/criminology and sociology.

Babcock’s summer job is at Nectar Farm Kitchen, part of the SERG Group, where she is a server.

“Nectar is an all-day restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I love working in the mornings,” she said, “so I was kind of looking at restaurants with strong breakfast crowds. I literally walked into Nectar Farm Kitchen right when I came home from school and asked if they were hiring. When I told them I could work on Saturdays, they asked when I could start, and I’ve been there ever since.”

Her favorite part about working at Nectar Farm Kitchen is the people she gets to work with. She also enjoys working the early shifts, so that she can finish by early afternoon and have the rest of the day to herself to enjoy island life.

Nectar Farm Kitchen isn’t Babcock’s first venture into the workforce, though. She’s been working since she was 14 years old—mainly to buy her first car. For three years, during summers and school, she worked at a local T-shirt shop. Next, for three summers, she was a barista at a coffee shop. Last summer, she worked at both the coffee shop and at the SandBar Beach Eats in Coligny Plaza.

“The same person owns both places,” she explained, “so I was able to enjoy the variety of working a couple of

ABBY BABCOCK

mornings at the coffee shop and then serve lunch and dinner at the SandBar.”

Babcock believes the skills she has honed as a server will help her in the future. “I’ve gained valuable people skills from being a server that I don’t think I’d have acquired in other jobs,” she said. “Tensions can really run high in a restaurant, and I’ve learned how to effectively deal with conflict, whether it’s with coworkers or with people that I’m serving. I’ve also gotten much more confident as a communicator, discovering how to talk to people and how to react in a variety of situations.”

Babcock is excited about her next move—to Hawaii—where she’s taken a job as a registered behavior technician. To land the job, she’s had to take 40 hours beyond her college work to be certified to work with families who have younger children with autism. This kind of work may open her future to perhaps obtaining a master’s degree, becoming an ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapist, and having

her own business.

However, in the next few years, while she is young, she plans to travel internationally as much as possible, experiencing different cultures and coastlines before she settles down to focus on her career.

KIRSTEN OYLER CHARBAR CO. BURGERS & SUSHI SERVER

Kirsten Oyler is from the St. Matthews area of Louisville, Kentucky. She currently attends St. Louis University, where she is a junior with a double major in anthropology and Spanish. Oyler has been coming to Hilton Head Island every year on family vacations since she was a child.

“My parents started coming to Hilton Head about 40 years ago,” Oyler said, “so I’ve vacationed here my entire life. In 2019, my parents bought a house in Palmetto Dunes, and we’ve come here on and off more frequently since then.”

Oyler’s first job was at a pet store when she was only 14, and she worked there for five summers. She has also worked consistently through college. This summer, she got a job as a server at Charbar Co. Burgers & Sushi, another SERG Group establishment. Previously, her older sister worked with David Copeland, one of the managers at Charbar Co. Burgers & Sushi, and Oyler contacted him about summer employment. Her favorite part about her job, like the previous students, is the people she works with and the people she meets as a server.

KIRSTEN OYLER

in the Lowcountry. Ideally, I want to stay in the South. After living in St. Louis, I’ve discovered that I prefer warmer weather.”

Until then, however, Oyler’s immediate plans are to finish out her summer on Hilton Head Island, working as much as possible, meeting more great people, enjoying the beach, and saving her money for her next school year studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, where she hopes to use and improve her Spanish skills. She’d also like to return to Charbar Co. Burgers & Sushi next summer.

Hasta la vista, amiga!

WILL ROSENE NATIVE SON ADVENTURES TIKI BOAT CAPTAIN/SURF CAMP INSTRUCTOR

“I moved down here not knowing anyone,” she said, “and even though a lot of the people that I work with are originally from the island or from Bluffton, they have all been welcoming. I’ve had a great experience working here.”

Oyler believes being a server at Charbar Co. Burgers & Sushi has improved her communication skills and enhanced her ability to work effectively on a team. She has also learned to manage her money.

“I’ve been very fortunate to earn a decent amount of money while working here,” she said, “and I’ve gained skills in how to manage it and set up savings for my future.”

Oyler plans to use her anthropology degree to find work in curation and design for a museum or historical homes. “I can see myself living in Savannah or Charleston, selecting historical furniture and accessories displayed in the historical tour homes. I’m also interested in the different archaeological sites

Will Rosene considers himself “very, very lucky” to have been born and raised on Hilton Head Island. His parents moved to the island straight out of physical therapy school, began working at Hilton Head Hospital, and raised their family here. Will is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, where he studies accounting. He is also employed with Native Son Adventures, owned by Byron Sewell, another island native, where he began teaching surf lessons as a freshman in high school.

“Now I run the tiki boats where I get to teach people about the ecosystem of the Lowcountry, take them out for sunset cruises, and show them our island home from a different perspective,” Rosene said. “I’m basically in charge of giving my passengers an experience they won’t forget.”

He also runs fishing trips when the other captains aren’t available and plans to eventually become one of the permanent fishing captains. Rosene’s favorite part about the job is simply being outdoors.

“The fact that my job allows me to be out on the water all day is pretty sweet,” he said, “and at the same time, being able to teach people about Hilton Head, my hometown and a place I love, is pretty cool as well.”

Rosene also works for his parents at Vacation Mobility Solutions, a beach wheelchair business, delivering chairs. “They built their business from the ground up about 12 years ago, catering to people with various disabilities and elderly people who have a hard time getting through the soft sand,” Rosene explained. “The chair solves their problem and allows them to enjoy the beaches where otherwise they wouldn’t be able to.”

For the remainder of the summer, Rosene’s goal is to save as much money as possible, gain more experience as a boat captain, and continue to learn as

WILL ROSENE

much as he can from Sewell about being on the water and running a fishing boat.

“Long term, I want to finish college debt free, which is why I stay close to home and work,” Rosene said. “By the time I graduate, I’ll not only have a degree, but I’ll also hopefully have enough money saved to potentially start a business of my own—a charter company like the one I’m working for— offering people different ways to explore and learn about the Lowcountry.”

Rosene’s job at Native Son Adventures is growing his skills in communication. Daily he encounters a variety of strangers with different personalities, different levels of comfort on the water, and different expectations. He must quickly get an idea of what his passengers want from their excursion, build an experience based on that awareness, and remain flexible to solve unpredicted problems that may arise.

“Anything can happen on the water, so everyday I’m learning how to adapt,” he said. “These skills, too, will help me as I start a business. Just the privilege of being around people who know more than me, who allow me to pick their brains, means I’m constantly learning something new. I don’t take anything for granted.”

BROCK HUBER SHORE BEACH SERVICES LIFEGUARD

Brock Huber is from Fort Thomas, Kentucky. He is currently a senior at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, majoring in clinical management with a minor in business, and looking forward to graduating in the spring of 2024. He aspires to enter the business aspect of health care, such as medical sales, health care management, or perhaps even business marketing.

Huber came to Hilton Head Island in the footsteps of his older brother who was a beach lifeguard for a couple of summers. He works for Shore Beach Services, whose territory ranges all the way from the first marker, covering about 13 miles of beach.

“I visited my brother in 2021, and it was my first time coming to the island,” Huber said. “While I was a lifeguard previously at a pool, I learned a lot from him about what it means to lifeguard on the beach. I got to work with my brother for one summer, and I fell in love with the job. This is my third summer being on the island.”

Huber says that his favorite part of the job is helping people, whether he is serving as the main guard in the high chair, responsible for water and shore safety, or as a rental attendant who takes care of getting people situated with their chairs

BROCK HUBER

and umbrellas, as well as being available to assist other beach patrol personnel with their duties.

“The most challenging part is the stress of handling a lot of people all at once,” he said. “In my area—in front of the Sea Pines Beach Club—it can get crowded, so that can be difficult. But we have a stand partner each day and a couple of high chairs, which makes it much easier and well-managed. While I haven’t had any water rescues, I’ve had to deliver lots of first aid and deal with emergencies, which all ended in positive results.”

Huber’s first job at the age of 16 was a food runner at a

restaurant. Shortly after, he became a lifeguard at a local pool. He also worked as a landscaper, served at a sorority house back at school, and now while in school, he works as a porter at the Lexus dealership. For the duration of the summer, his plan is to continue working as a lifeguard, approaching every day with a positive attitude, and to continue to deepen his friendships with coworkers.

“My friendships and all the people that I’ve met are the best part of my job,” Huber said. “I’ve met people from all over the world. So many of my work colleagues are from different countries, and gaining those relationships has been a great experience. Working as a lifeguard has really made me more of a people person, a better communicator. It’s also made me a very hard worker. Watching out for others is not an easy job—it’s fun, but not easy.”

Long term, Huber isn’t totally sure what his career will look like, but sitting in an office is out of the question after summers on the beach—which is where he intends to be next summer, too.

“Being a beach lifeguard is a unique job and an opportunity I’m grateful for,” he said. “It’s an experience that I’m not ready to be done with yet.”

YSABELA TIMBANCAYA PALMETTO DUNES WELCOME CENTER FRONT DESK RECEPTION

Ysabela Timbancaya is from the Manila, Philippines, where she graduated from La Salle University with a degree in hospitality management. Before coming to Hilton Head Island, she worked in a sales job for a hotel. Seeking to grow her career in the hospitality industry, she applied to a student exchange program which allows participants to go abroad for a year to work in their chosen field. She was assigned to the Palmetto Dunes Welcome Center and works in front

YSABELA TIMBANCAYA

desk reception.

“Not only has this opportunity allowed me to expand my experience, but it’s forced me out of my comfort zone,” Timbancaya said. “This is my first time being away from my family. Even in college, I had the option to do an internship abroad before graduation, but I chose to stay at home instead.”

However, during the pandemic, Timbancaya told herself that it was time to spread her wings and try something new. The most valuable part of her experience here has been learning how to better deal with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

“Especially working at the front desk, I’ve had to adjust to every type of person I encounter, remaining open-minded and diverse because everybody is different,” she said. “I have learned to be resourceful and accommodating to anybody who visits the front desk.”

Now, as her one year assignment draws to a close, she is looking forward to a 30-day grace period during which she’ll travel to Los Angeles and San Francisco, California to visit extended family.

The travel bug has bitten Timbancaya. While in the U.S., she visited Orlando, Florida twice and New York City once.

“I have enjoyed immersing myself in the international exchange experience,” she said, “but I also want to travel more and learn about the world.”

Timbancaya plans to return to the U.S. whenever possible to visit family, with stopovers in South Carolina. Once back home, though, she plans to find a more senior, managerial role in hospitality, contributing to a company’s growth through the confidence and leadership skills she gained through her experiences at Palmetto Dunes.

“I’ve learned that I enjoy the freedom of being able to think for myself, to make decisions for my own well-being,” Timbancaya said. “Coming here, I’ve also become more spontaneous, whereas before, I was more of a planner.”

Starting a business in event-planning is on Timbancaya’s horizon. Growing up in Manila, the capital city, she considers herself a city girl and enjoys the energy and events that life in a bustling city offers. As well, doing something with her family—many of whom are also in hospitality—is a possibility.

“It would be like a family-owned cafe or restaurant,” she said. “I can also see myself running a family-owned hotel. My father owns some beach property in his hometown, and we’ve discussed opening a fun glamping destination or small hotel. It would be my honor to help my parents achieve their dreams and work side-by-side with my family.”

No matter the path these six outstanding students embark upon, no doubt their Hilton Head Island experiences will light their way and embolden their impact. Shine on, summer stars! 

Emily Jeffords is photographed during summer break in the garden at the school.

Article By Liz Mayhew Photography by M.Kat

TEACH BORN TO

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE ARTS TEACHER OF THE YEAR EMILY JEFFORDS A STAR AMONG CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND COLLEAGUES

Emily Jeffords was the kid who came home from school to play school.

“I’ve known I wanted to be a teacher my whole life,” she said. “My mother was a first-grade teacher, and learning—not education—was at the forefront of everything we did. It seemed only natural to follow in her footsteps.”

Indeed, it’s clear the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as Jeffords’ commitment to early childhood education seems to stem from a place where a lifetime of learning and leading by example is at its very root. It’s an effortless and natural dedication inspired by a simple idea: that every child will learn in her classroom.

Jeffords, Hilton Head Island’s School for the Creative Arts 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year, shares that even from her earliest

days as an educator—returning home to her native Florence, South Carolina after receiving an undergraduate degree from Clemson University—her primary goal has always been to help each child work towards their personal best.

“There’s magic in watching each child work up to their potential,” she explained heartily. “Some students need more assistance to gain skills while others are ready to excel and be challenged. It’s important to make connections to each student and their families so I better understand what they need academically, socially, and emotionally. My job is figuring out how to help each child thrive in a learning environment.”

This can-do attitude has certainly had a positive effect on Jeffords’ impressive 21-year career. Just a few short years after

graduation, she was elevated to curriculum coordinator while still in Florence. Since relocating to Hilton Head Island in 2007 to join her long-distance fiancé and now husband, she’s worked in both the public and private sectors of the island, teaching Pre-K through third grade. Yet somehow, she always knew HHISCA was home.

“I was working on my master’s in administration while teaching at the Early Childhood Center and wanted more experience. While interviewing with Gretchen Keefner, the Creative Arts principle at the time, I was struck by how easy the conversation felt, like family talk. Gretchen was incredibly supportive of my master’s, and I fell in love with the hands-on learning approach which

TEACH BORN TO

encourages children to explore their curiosities deeper. It just felt like the right fit.”

Jeffords notes that Creative Arts excels at child-led learning, with a community of teachers working together to ensure students are participating in a curriculum that combines meaningful art activities with state standards, a unique blend of instruction that reinforces new processes and vocabulary.

“Creative Arts is filled with so many educators passionate about whole learning,” she said. “It’s wonderful being in a family environment committed to understanding and supporting the whole child and the whole learning experience.”

“It’s wonderful being in a family environment committed to understanding and supporting the whole child and the whole learning experience.”

It’s evident the Creative Arts staff feels the same way about Jeffords, as the distinction of Teacher of the Year is bestowed on an educator by the co-workers and peers who have front-row seats to the attitudes and practices of the honoree on a daily basis.

Fellow educator Justin Vaughn said, “Emily [Jeffords] always goes the extra mile to make sure students and colleagues feel welcome and at home. She’s heavily involved in authentic arts integration and a model for new and veteran teachers, so she was a natural fit for Teacher of the Year.”

Principle Nikki Lucas echoes that sentiment, saying, “Mrs. Jeffords creates an inspiring classroom where children can explore learning through an engaging approach that facilitates deep understanding of the content. She is a master in cultivating positive relationships with students and families, honoring each child’s unique talents, and building upon these to provide a magical learning environment. We are so fortunate to have her as part of our Creative Arts team!”

In Beaufort County, it’s worth noting that the Teacher of the Year recognition isn’t merely a title but a role in which the individual voluntarily takes on more responsibility, working towards the betterment and enrichment of the school by running a teacher forum and acting as an ambassador between the committee and administration to improve school culture and academics.

“Creative Arts is filled with so many different educators full of enthusiasm for the arts and incorporating arts intentionally into our curriculum,” Jeffords said. “I feel privileged to learn from them and hope to have inspired other educators in return, so being recognized by them is humbling and rewarding.”

In addition to being an acknowledged and beloved educator, Jeffords is also a hands-on parent, something that’s allowed her to gain additional perspective on learning.

“Being a parent is a totally different experience that’s allowed me to see education from all sides,” she said. “Looking at it, not just as a teacher, but navigating the feelings of the parent as you’re working with your own child has been amazingly eye-opening.”

It’s this knowledge that motivated one of Jeffords’ greatest strengths: staying connected to her students’ families. Whether through emails or phone calls, or her favorite app Bloomz, which allows direct messaging and photo sharing, Jeffords stresses the importance of getting to know her students and their families on a personal level.

“It takes a village,” she laughed. “I’m grateful to have connections with strong educators, past and present, who support and share my vision in making each student love learning and rise to their potential in all academic areas so I, in turn, can be supportive of the families at home.”

And clearly, that commitment to family communication has paid off. Jeffords has taught Lindsay Tilton’s children three times between preschool and elementary, and Tilton not only says that Jeffords is loving and kind, but that, “she makes learning fun!”

“Every time we see her, whether it’s at school, baseball, or church, it’s like a celebrity sighting,” Tilton jokes. “Children are just drawn to her warmth.”

Jeffords is looking forward to another year at Hilton Head Island’s School for the Creative Arts and will be returning as a third-grade teacher. 

For more information about HHISCA, please visit their website at hhisca.beaufortschools.net.

CH2/CB2 MAGAZINE PRESENTS:

WOMEN BUSINESS IN

AUGUST 2023

FEATURING THE TALENTED:

Amanda Cifaldi, Lola Campbell, Debbie Lowman, Tess Luechtefeld, Ashley

Douglas, Tracy Moss, The Women of Butler & College, Nikki Jacoby, Meredith

Bannon, Sarah Tiana, Elizabeth Abell, Alison Haynes, Maria Walls, Kathy

Sangiuliano, Molly Spears, Cindy Creamer, Trish Lewis-Clark & Jeannie Peck, The Retail Women of Coligny, Emily K. Murphy, Lauren Remegi, & Marissa

Barrett-D’Amico (Hilton Head Dermatology), Kimberly Kelly, The Ladies of CH2/ CB2 Magazine, Tracy Dayton, Carrie Conway, Martha Stichweh, Leslie St. Amant, & Kelsey Watson Reid (Pilates Hilton Head) , Carolyn Baltz, Tierra Schaffer, Women of COAST by EXP Realty, Amy Kinasch, Wendy Harvey, Amy Sullivan, Christina Horton & Lily Nguyen (Windemere Insurance), Nikki Petitt, Beth DeAngelis, Maggie

Vaigneur, Jennifer Green, Judy Backus, Pricilla Ortiz, Blake Schmid, Shannon

Baltzegar, Michelle Elliott, Shear Miracle, The Beautique, Chef Lynn Michelle, Danielle Jeffcoat, Julie Janning, Salon Karma, Tisha Chafer, Karla Ramos, Christina

Galbreath-Gonzalez & Alayne Lawson, Amber Mogan, Rachel Lively, Julie Parsley, and Laura Wuller

Amanda Cifaldi

tidal wave of excitement over the fact that Pomodori is now coming across the bridge.

location is renowned for a dinein ambience that perfectly complements the heavenly Italian cuisine, the mainland branch will be more of a take out/fast casual concept, where you order at the counter and your food is brought out to you. “Bluffton has such a youthful and hip vibe, we’re hoping to build on that feeling!”

“During COVID, we pivoted toward take-out only, and it went so well, I realized we could have a very good second business on our hands if we could only find the right spot,” Cifaldi said.

That right spot wound up being the adorable cottage on 46 just next to the old Pepper’s Porch building (soon to be Ma Daisy’s Porch). Right in the heart of Old Town, it represents possibly the best location Cifaldi could have asked for. “The little place is so special; it feels like you’re picking up food from your grandmother’s house. We couldn’t be more excited.”

If there’s one question you don’t need to ask Amanda Cifaldi, chef and owner at Pomodori, it’s “What’s new with you?” Because the answer to that question has already been blazing across Bluffton, riding a

“It’s going to be right in Old Town on May River Road,” Cifaldi said of her new location. “Bluffton has grown so significantly, we’re grateful to grow right alongside it!”

The Bluffton location of Pomodori will have one slight difference from its Hilton Head counterpart. While the island

For Cifaldi, it’s another chapter in her culinary career, from kitchens on Hilton Head Island to Italy and now in Bluffton.

“I’m really looking forward to this next leap of faith, especially since I’m taking it with a staff who have been with me for so long. It’s been amazing to see their growth alongside the restaurant’s. Bluffton, here we come!”

Photography by Summer Pagatpatan

Binya

556 Spanish Wells Rd.

(843) 715-9003

www.binyahhi.com

Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?

I did not have a mentor, but I had two professionals who helped: a business coach and a mindset/life coach. I learned valuable, but different, lessons from

each of them. The mindset coaching was the thing that really allowed me to move forward in business—to sort of “make the quantum leap,” although my coach would say I haven’t taken that leap yet … that’s something I’m working on. I also have been fortunate to have friends who are more seasoned entrepreneurs than myself, and they have given me tips and pointers along the way. I still feel that I have a lot to learn and often feel I do need a mentor to take my business to the next level.

Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business. I wish I had known that it was okay to be fearless

in pursuit of my dreams. I had dreams of being an entrepreneur from day one but always thought that I needed a career/job to have security. I still sometimes allow thoughts like that to consume me. Had I been fearless at a younger age, when I had fewer responsibilities, I feel that I would have taken more chances and maybe have been much further along in my entrepreneurship journey with much more accomplished. But I am a firm believer in destiny and the path that God has carved out for each of us. So, this was just the path that I was supposed to take, and I guess it could be why I’ve ended up where I am, where I’m supposed to be. My advice to other women in business would be to move forward without fear while paying attention to the signs for your destined path (like your gut instincts), as best as you can.

Mountains or ocean?

Ocean, hands down. I am an island girl. Water calms me, while invigorating and inspiring me at the same time.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A doctor or a lawyer. When I was about 10 years old, I asked my dad which profession made more money—a doctor or lawyer—and he said they both were great careers. So, I decided I’d be a doctor. Looking back on it, I’m not sure why … the sciences were never a favorite. Anyway, I realized, in college, that I was not a fan of chemistry, so I bailed for business school and later became a lawyer.

Give us three qualities a leader must have. Courage, humility, and the ability to delegate.

What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire?

Traveling the world whenever I want to!

Share a bit of advice for other women in business.

Set short- and long-term goals and check your progress. Don’t take things personally—get over it! Be resolute, decisive, and confident. Write thank you notes. Communicate clearly; get things in writing. Learn to handle objections. Always have a phone charger and business cards. Dress nicely and be respectful of others and all things. Never deny yourself a new adventure. Mountains or ocean?

Visit the mountains; live near the sea.

Guilty pleasure?

Ice cream.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Debra (Debbie) Lowman

Realtor, Dunes Real Estate

TheLowmanTeam.com

Describe a typical day in your life. A long brisk walk or bike ride; complete to-do list; network; multitask; make someone’s day better; prepare a great meal.

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

I always have something to look forward to—with clients, fitness, charitable work, planning social activities & travel, cooking and entertaining at home. I’m very project oriented.

Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?

My two older sisters at the start of my banking career; now, in real estate, my husband Dan Lowman.

Anything that would find me interacting with people, making new friends. I started in banking at age 18 and stayed with it until I became VP/Managing Director of Private Banking for PNC Bank’s N/W PA market.

Hilton Head became my new home in 1999. A group of us started a new bank, and I sat on the holding company board until we sold the bank in 2019. I became a Realtor in 2004, one of the long-term goals I had set in my twenties as a second career.

Give us three qualities a leader must have. The ability to embrace change; ability to solve problems; ability to network but also be a good listener.

Omolola “Lola” Campbell

Tess Luechtefeld

early stage in my life, it was clear that whatever path I took, dance would remain my ultimate passion,” she said.

Making her way to Bluffton in 2018, she looked around for a studio where she might continue her lifelong love of dance but couldn’t quite find the right fit. “There are a lot of really great options, but I was looking for something specific,” she said. That something specific turned out to be Carolina Collective Dance, a gorgeous studio right on Bluffton Parkway. “It was God’s plan to open this up. Going into our sixth season, we now have over 200 students and over 50 on our competitive team,” she said.

At the foundation of what Luechtefeld built at Carolina Collective Dance, you’ll find integrity and hard work. Supporting that structure is a fine-tuned technical curriculum, industrycurrent choreography, a hunger to compete at the region’s highest level and a nurturing philosophy of mentoring, positivity and connection.

Adding to the ‘ap-peel’ of the dance studio is a partnership with the Savannah Bananas that has launched Carolina Collective Dance into the national spotlight. Now in their second season as the official junior dance team of the Bananas, Carolina Dance Collective dancers have become an integral part of the “Greatest Show in Sports.”

“It’s so much fun. It gives them a completely different stage to perform on. You’re always on— rather than three minutes on stage, the dancers are signing autographs and interacting with fans,” she said.

Luechtefeld credits her teachers with helping create so many opportunities for these young dancers. “It took years to find the best teachers for our goals,” she said. “They all come from a diverse background which allows our dancers to get a wide breadth of experience no matter what path of dance they choose to pursue.”

Growing up in the world of competitive dance, Tess Luechtefeld learned early on how both success and character are built on that stage. Even as the “real world” pulled her toward a degree in business, she found that she couldn’t stop dancing. “Even at that

Working with her California studio coupled her business and dance experience, but as a mother of two, she found herself wanting a different quality of life. “I wanted to find a more wholesome place to raise kids, and we’d vacationed in Bluffton. Right after that first trip, there was no question that a cross-country move was the right decision for our family,” she said.

And ultimately, building that opportunity is what it’s all about.

“We care so much for the kids and want to create the most positive uplifting environment,” she said. “At the end of the day, dance lessons are also life lessons. We are here to use dance as a vehicle to teach hard work, integrity, community, teamwork, resilience, and support.”

Ashley Douglas

Paws On Learning

4 Hunter Road, Suite 4C Hilton Head, SC 29926 (603) 540-2614

www.pawsonlearning.com

For Ashley Douglas, making the transition from teaching humans in a 20-year academic career to training dogs through Paws On Learning (now celebrating five years in business) was simply a matter of mastering one principle: To properly train a dog, you have to understand the dog as well as its owner.

Understanding the dog doesn’t just mean knowing the individual pooch who needs training. It means understanding their pedigree and what that genetic heritage means.

“We’ve been breeding dogs for thousands of years for

Tracy Moss

The Haven Boutique

6 State Of Mind St, Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 707-9198

Walk into The Haven Boutique in Old Town Bluffton and you’ll likely be struck by the way each piece in the curated collection of clothing and jewelry seems to be part of a greater whole. It’s denim, its laid-back, but it’s also undeniably stylish. And should you choose to compliment the owner on the singularly stylish way it’s all presented, don’t be surprised if you are greeted with a double take.

“It’s happened a few times where someone asks, ‘Is the owner in?’ and I have to remind myself ‘Oh gosh, that’s me,’” said owner Tracy Moss with a laugh. “I still can’t believe I own this. It’s been amazing.”

certain purposes. But, in 2023, most people don’t buy a Border Collie to herd sheep or a bird dog to retrieve waterfowl. Most owners need to learn how to recreate their dog’s purpose,” Douglas said. “I go to two to three seminars a year studying ways we can train dogs so we can allow them the freedom to be dogs. I really try to provide dogs with opportunities to be as natural as they possibly can, while also being there to guide them.”

Understanding the owner’s needs is a bit more complicated. For that, Douglas requires the owner to be an active participant in the training. “It’s a team effort. I provide the owners with the tools and teach them how to use them. The owners then must implement those tools. Training, supporting, and helping owners problem-solve is probably 90 percent of what I do,” she said. From the schoolyard to the dog park, Ashley Douglas has shown that anything on two legs or four can be trained, and she enjoys every minute of it.

Even after four years in business, owning The Haven Boutique is a dream come true for Moss, who began her retail career while in college. That first job established a love of fashion that shines through in The Haven’s collection, but it was later tenures at some of the Lowcountry’s most renowned boutiques where she developed a deep knowledge of retail and of what lines simply work.

“I have a great denim jacket and pair of jeans that are boot cropped, and everyone in Bluffton has this outfit,” she said, adding with a laugh, “We call it the uniform.”

Her time working with shops that defined Lowcountry fashion gave Moss access to decades of retail experience (as well as a lead on Wilt, a T-shirt line that has developed a huge following at the store). “I have a lot of smart people who help me,” she said. “I know how to merchandise, and I know what looks good. From there, it’s just about surrounding myself with smart people.”

Fin the Golden Retriever; Paws On Learning High School Graduate

Natalia Chandler, Sarah Smith, Ashley Brown, and Frances Reindollar

their goals, and that’s what I try to bring to each interaction. I want to be fully engaged with the client,” Brown said. “I’m also a mother of two, so I balance those demands with work.”

As the founders of Butler & College, LLC, Ryan Butler and Andrew College combined their legal expertise and created a vastly successful firm, with eight locations throughout the Lowcountry, offering estate planning and real estate related legal services.

While it may be their name on the sign, you don’t need to be around the leading ladies of the law firm for too long to know these are the ladies to call.

“We call it the ‘firmily’,” said Ashley Brown, an equity partner in the firm and managing attorney for the Bluffton and Myrtle Beach offices. Part family, part firm. And the ladies are wholeheartedly devoted to both.

“We’re a growing law firm. We’re young and eager to help in a way that’s conscious of people’s budgets and

In the “firmily,” these seasoned attorneys give their all to the firm from 9-5, and the family gets everything else. Well, except when the “firmily” dogs blur the lines somewhat.

“Several of us all have Boykins (the state dog), and there are usually two of them in the West Ashley office on any given day,” added Frances Reindollar, equity partner. Reindollar and Sarah Smith are both primarily stationed in the West Ashley office where Reindollar practices residential real estate for both North Carolina and South Carolina. Smith splits her time among Butler & College’s offices up the coast, leading the estate planning division for the

greater Charleston area.

For those of us in the southern part of the 843 area code, Natalia Chandler serves as the welcoming face of the Bluffton office.

Practicing residential real estate and family law, Chandler hails from Brooklyn and graduated from the University at Albany, double majoring in criminal justice and sociology. She then attended and graduated from Albany Law School with her Juris Doctor.

“I have a litigation background, and that helps with a variety of situations when working with real estate law,” Chandler said. “Every transaction is different, and there are those that can get a little emotional or contentious. I’m better able to walk clients through that because of that experience.”

Across the Lowcountry, and right here in Bluffton, the women of Butler & College are here for you.

Nicki Jacoby

King Tide Custom Homes

1050 Fording Island Rd. Suite D, Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 837-9800

www.kingtidesc.com

Atruly magnificent home is crafted with more than just wood and nails. It’s built with vision, passion and focus on the details.

Nicki Jacoby, co-owner and designer at King Tide Custom Homes, knows this all too well. Her designs add a breathtaking sense of balance and beauty to the homes and are built on a foundation

Meredith Bannon

Bannon Law Group

10 Westbury Pkwy. Unit A Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 815-4505

www.bannonlawgroup.com

Those who know Meredith Bannon would probably define her most by her unique sense of humor. Yes, she is a respected attorney. But she’s also the human behind the uproarious @jeanlucountry Instagram account, chronicling the adventures of her French bulldog. And she’s responsible for her share of Bannon Law Group’s signature slogans, envelope-pushing witticisms that speak to the practice’s dual nature as a real estate and criminal defense firm. Let’s face it, anyone who would come up with “From your new house to the big

of knowledge of how a custom home can truly stand out.

Nicki’s vision helps guide the spectacular homes constructed by her husband, secondgeneration builder Bubba Jacoby. It’s the teamwork between husband and wife and their clients that makes the process a true collaboration.

“The idea for King Tide was sparked by the desire to have a customerfocused business where we can spend ample time getting to know our clients and giving them the attention and level of care that is so imperative when building a custom home,” she said. “It’s all in the details.”

house” as an advertising slogan has to be some kind of genius.

“That’s always sort of been who we are,” Bannon said. “We’re taking that stuffiness out of it … and we know we can back up what we say.”

She backs up that humor with a wealth of legal knowledge. At Bannon Law Firm, Meredith handles real estate law while husband Jim serves criminal defense clients. While she handles things like closings and HOA contract disputes these days, she cut her teeth as a prosecutor, going after those who had committed sex crimes against children. After a move to Beaufort County to launch the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit’s career criminal team alongside Jim, she moved into real estate law where she flourished.

“It was quite a career change, but it’s been extremely rewarding to help people achieve their dream of home ownership,” she said.

Sarah Tiana

Nationally touring comedian Sarah Tiana brings her Southern sass to the stage at Coligny’s Rock n’ Ribs this October

If you were to judge Sarah Tiana solely on her honeyed northern Georgia accent, you might think she’s sweet tea and sunshine through and through. But when you hear some of the things she says with that accent, you realize that someone may have spiked the sweet tea. The resulting cocktail is all the more flavorful for the addition.

“My material is about myself and my life,” she said. “I’m just being honest.”

Through regular appearances on Comedy Central, she has developed a reputation as a razor-sharp comic. Her material dances the line between sweet and spicy, taking full advantage of her upbringing in the small town of Calhoun, Georgia to point out some of the foibles of modern life. Through that lens, she takes a refreshing look at some of today’s great absurdities that will either have you rolling with laughter or shocked with how different the world looks through her lens.

But if a joke hits too close to home, she has a comeback for that. “I just say, ‘They said I couldn’t tell that joke here, so I couldn’t wait to tell that joke here.”

But anyone can shock. Tiana operates on a different level. Despite her massive reputation as a roaster’s comic (storied “Roastmaster General” Jeffrey Ross is a huge supporter), her act gently sprinkles the shocks on a bed of observational humor, clever

wordplay, and fearless physical gags. (If you’re a baseball fan, stop what you’re doing right now and watch her “Sarah Tiana Digs the Long Ball” Instagram reels).

You’ll get a chance to see for yourself when Sarah Tiana returns to the south for Rib-Tickler Comedy and Music during Coligny’s Rock ’n’ Ribs on October 20.

“I always loved that part of the country,” Tiana said of her pending trip to the Lowcountry. “Last time I was in Savannah was for a family reunion. I was pregnant but couldn’t tell anyone, and of course, I’m in a city where you can just walk around with alcohol in your hand. That had been my biggest incentive for going!”

Sarah Tiana headlines

Rib-Tickler Comedy and Music

October 20 at Coligny Theater as part of Rock n Ribs, featuring over a dozen world-class Pitmasters and music by Southern Rock superstars, 38 Special. Get tickets at rocknribshhi.com.

Elizabeth Abell, DMD

Harbor Point Dentistry

40 Okatie Center Blvd., South, Ste. 302 Okatie, SC 29909

(843) 706-9662

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

I am inspired by the relationships that I have formed with my patients. My patients become dear friends and I look forward to their visit with us. I am fulfilled each day when one compliments my wonderful team and enjoys their experience. It is my pleasure serving our community and restoring one’s confidence in their smile.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be a dentist. I view dentistry as a profession that is defined by the applications of science, the highest standards of professionalism, and the goal to promote oral healthcare and improve the lives of others. I feel

Alison Haynes

Monkee’s of Bluffton 14 Promenade Street, Suite 301 Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 707-4597 Monkeesofbluffton.com

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

I love meeting new people and making them feel and look good.

Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?

My dad. I was lucky to grow up with a familyowned HVAC business where I worked for 14

fortunate to have a skill set instilled within me to relieve pain and assist others with gaining a confident smile.

Tell us something that has benefited you on your career path as a bit of advice for other women in business. Accessibility is a key value. You must always be accessible to the community you serve and to your team that assists you.

Give us three qualities that leader must have. An effective leader must be a motivator, a communicator, and visionary.

Guilty pleasure?

Let’s just say every dentist has a guilty pleasure. You will catch me “red-handed” with a slice of red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting!

What is your favorite tech toy? The digital scanner. You can say “goodbye” to gag-worthy impressions. We use a digital camera to easily obtain your dental impression.

years. Dad really instilled in me a good work ethic and how to treat people.

Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business. Find your passion, set big goals to reach for, and grow.

Mountains or ocean? Ocean. Nothing is better for the soul than being out on the water.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be on the SWAT team. Bet you would have not guessed that.

Give us three qualities a leader must have. Accountability, empathy, and adaptability.

MariaWalls

Beaufort County Treasurer

www.beaufortcountytreasurer.com

In her eight-plus years as Beaufort County Treasurer, Maria Walls, CPA has shattered expectations. An office originally budgeted to strengthen county coffers by $250,000 a year now measures its success in the millions. Along the way, they’ve prevented increases in new taxes by 13.1 percent.

If you’re a taxpayer in Beaufort County, that’s what they’ve managed to do for you. But looking at what Walls has done from a business standpoint might be even more impressive.

Having turned the office into a well-oiled machine ready to evolve to meet any challenge, she has turned her focus on her people. Hers is a team run on a philosophy of extreme ownership, empowering each employee as a leader and encouraging 360 degrees of support.

“It takes a team to achieve what we have, and that team needs to be fully bought in to our core values,” she said. “I have high standards that won’t be compromised. We’re here to serve our customers first. If we can do that in an outstanding manner though and be there for each other, why not?”

Just as Walls upended the traditional approach to the Treasurer’s Office, ushering in a rising tide that has elevated Beaufort County operations across the board, she is taking an approach to office culture that goes above and beyond. In the Treasurer’s Office, it’s not uncommon to find babies sitting in on team meetings. Team members regularly attend financial peace classes led by Walls, helping them handle their personal finances with the same wizardry she applies to the county’s. And frequent cross-training ensures that employees can work from home or take time off without compromising the standards and expectations that Walls has set for the office.

“I don’t want my team to worry they’ll be judged for wanting to join their child for lunch at school…. When people feel that what they’re passionate about isn’t allowed to be a priority, they don’t work well,” Walls said. “Having four kids myself, I understand. So, what I have created on our team is an environment where you’re encouraged and appreciated for having the right priorities.”

And while it has created a more fulfilling workplace, it has also helped bolster the office’s steady upward trajectory. “We’ve had outstanding results—the highest collection rate ever every year for four years and millions in investment earnings,” Walls said. “At this point, we’re only competing with ourselves.”

Kathy Sangiuliano

Realtor, Dunes Real Estate

6 Queens Folly Road

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (610) 613-8883

kathy.dunesrealestate.com

For clients who want to know what makes Kathy Sangiuliano different as a real estate professional, you could start by looking at the accolades she’s acquired in her decade in business: member of the President’s Circle; Top Regional Units award winner; Director’s Club award winner; Executive’s Club award winner; member of the International Diamond Society.

But to truly know what sets her apart, you have to look beyond her real estate career to her decades as a teacher.

Molly Spears

En Dentelle 54 Bridge St., Suite 100 Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 278-2431

The most inspiring business stories start with a leap of faith.

For Molly Spears, that leap of faith began with a storied career in veterinary medicine and landed gracefully at En Dentelle, a boutique lingerie store in the Bridge Collective in Old Town Bluffton. “This whole thing was born out of a beach date with my husband where we noticed there weren’t many places to buy swimwear or lingerie around here,” Spears said. Seeing a drought in quality lingerie stores that stretched from Charleston to Orlando, the idea was planted. Then, during a trip to a high-end lingerie store in Denver, Spears finally saw the possibilities.

“I have found that real estate is another arm of education. I market a property, but I also educate my clients…. Every single person out there has something they’re learning,” she said. “I see myself as a resource.”

Her education background served her well going into real estate, where she quickly learned that focusing on the client makes all the difference in the world. “My business is highly client centered. I’m focusing on their needs, their wants and the things I can do to protect them and relieve anxiety,” she said. “Every move is stressful, and while I can’t eliminate that stress, I can do everything in my power— finding property managers, contractors, etc.—to give my clients one less thing to worry about.”

That focus has helped her earn all those accolades, but for her, the highest praise comes from another satisfied client.

“This place, SOL, had been in business for 25 years, operating by appointment only and doing custom bra fittings,” she said. Duly inspired, Spears looked to take that idea of quality bra fitting and stunning lingerie home. “We came back from the trip, and I started looking around for spaces.”

Of course, being a successful veterinarian little prepared Spears for a shift into a retail career. And that was just fine for her. “I like the challenge and I love figuring things out,” she said. “Plus, the industry itself is—pun intended—very supportive.”

With brand reps guiding Spears on the ins and outs of high-end lingerie, En Dentelle opened this past summer to a receptive crowd. “The main purpose driving this store was the feeling I got in Denver buying these beautiful things,” Spears said. “That feeling of confidence and empowerment, that’s really what I want to bring to people.”

Cindy Creamer

Cindy Creamer, the 2022 past president of South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) and REALTOR® with Dunes Real Estate, has helped families in the Lowcountry buy and sell real estate as a top agent for close to 20 years,

specializing in the purchase and sale of primary and second homes along with vacation and investment property. With a reputation for professionalism, understanding clients’ needs, and outstanding service, she offers attention to detail every step of the way.

While Cindy’s tenure as SCR president may be over, she remains on the leadership team, whose job it is to recruit future leaders and serve as she has done.

“We just completed a 2,000mile state tour, meeting members in their territories looking for the next generation to replace us,” she said. “With 15 local associations in South Carolina, if I can connect with one person at each association who has the outstanding qualities

required to serve, then I have connected with 15 potential future industry leaders. Last year I traveled more than 10,000 miles, with the goal of not only educating Realtors, but inspiring them to be of service.”

The attributes Cindy looks for in future leaders are those with a passion for the industry, those willing to raise their hand to make a difference, those who can engage with others, those with integrity, and those who can keep it positive.

“Real impact in real estate comes from seeing the glass half full,” she said. “Because the real estate market can change on a dime, a great Realtor and a great leader must be able to see through the intermittent fog that can cloud their vision from time to time.”

Cindy also has a goal to expand the role of women in leadership positions in real estate. In 79 years, she was only the eighth woman in South Carolina’s history to hold the office of president of the state association.

“Women in real estate make up 66 percent of the industry, but only eight percent are in leadership positions,” she said. “I want to change that.”

Cindy offers this advice to women who aspire to success:

1. Real estate is a great business for women because of the profound impact you have on people’s lives with no ceiling to your business growth potential.

2. Above all else, believe in yourself.

3. Continue learning; this is an ever-changing business where you must be ready to pivot at any given moment.

4. Build relationships with your local legislators.

5. Surround yourself with likeminded people who believe in themselves and in you.

To connect with Cindy for a smooth and successful real estate transaction, email her at Cindy@ cindycreamer.com.

Trish Lewis-Clark & Jeannie Peck

Aspire Contour Body Sculpting

10 Pinckney Colony Rd, BLD 401 Bluffton SC 29909

(843) 883-4700

aspirecontourbodysculpting.com

There’s something utterly inspiring about a story coming full circle, and few know that like sisters Trish Lewis-Clark and Jeannie Peck. But to truly understand how the story of Aspire Contour Body Sculpting is now coming full circle, you have to know how it started.

The journey began when Trish began looking into ways to reclaim her body naturally following the births of her children and breast implant illness. “There were times when every door was slammed in my face, and I just prayed” she said. “I hit a point where I just said, ‘I surrender. Now what?’”

The “now what” came when she consulted with her sister Jeannie, whose doctorate in natural health had led to a 30-year clinical career, including 17 years running her own practice. Putting Jeannie’s medical knowledge to use, Trish opened Aspire Contour Body Sculpting, utilizing red light therapy, nutrition counseling and body sculpting to help clients roll back the clock and look amazing.

“Jeannie has always been my hero. I always joke that I think there’s a cape hidden under that lab coat,” Lewis-Clark said.

While Jeannie continued working in her Lancaster, Pennsylvania practice, she was a part of Aspire from day one, seeing clients remotely and during regular visits.

“It’s been wonderful to have her be a part of Aspire, but when she comes down for a visit, I don’t get to see her,” Trish said with a laugh.

That will all change this month when Jeannie joins her sister full-time at the clinic she inspired with her deep expertise and excellent patient care. “She has helped so many people over the years that traditional medicine couldn’t help. She truly listens and cares and has the knowledge to back it up,” Trish said. “Even though I’m super excited as her sister to have her here full-time, I’m more excited for our clients.”

Together, the sisters will build on a practice that has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception, “thanks to an outpouring of love from the community,” Trish said. “We’ve been able to grow from 207 square feet to 1,050 square feet. I wake up with a thankful heart every day.”

Come see for yourself what these sisters can do for you, with red light therapy, body sculpting, ionic foot detox, and more at Aspire Contour Body Sculpting.

Island Girl

(843) 686-6000

www.islandgirlhhi.com

For more than 65 years, locals and visitors have known Coligny as Hilton Head Island’s downtown—nothing less than the place to shop, dine or simply spend a day browsing through beachfront stores that offer a dizzying array of retail therapy options.

But for some locals and visitors, it’s not just a place to shop. It’s a place to curate a style and fashion sensibility all your own. And behind this fashionforward fame that Coligny has

acquired, you’ll find the women holding the reins. And what’s just as fascinating about the fabulous fashions each brings to their respective store is how each has found the perfect home at Coligny.

Lucille Tanner took over at Bennali’s Coastal Wear in 2020, following years of success thanks to its beach-friendly vibe and dazzling dresses, blouses, accessories and more that embody the island’s laidback refinement.

“Being part of the family in the plaza and getting to know everyone

has been great,” she said. “All the businesses in here communicate with one another and are so supportive.”

It’s a tight-knit family that engenders a strong following among shoppers. For 16 years, Island Girl has given the entire family a place where they can find that perfect look. So, when the opportunity presented itself to become a larger part of the family, Cheryl Klippel jumped at the chance.

“You can’t ask for a better environment than Coligny, so we knew right away we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to expand and allow for more offerings,” she said.

Brody Kenneweg is another of Coligny’s fashionistas who has expanded her own empire in Coligny, moving her store Haskins & Co. into a larger space as soon as the opportunity presented itself. At her new space right by the beach, her unique array of all-occasion fashions for women of all ages enjoys an even bigger spotlight.

“I don’t think I would have a store if I couldn’t be in Coligny,” she said. “Not only do we have that draw of people who come back year after year, but I’ve been able to develop real friendships with my customers.”

Kim Mischik shares that same love of customers, and those customers happily reciprocate, making Fresh Produce a must-shop for women seeking fresh new looks. “We have such a great local following, plus I feel like everybody visits Coligny,” she said. “We get customers in from all over the world.”

Visit ColignyPlaza.com/ Events for all happenings in fashion at Coligny!

Cheryl Klippel, Kim Mischik, Lucille Tanner & Brody Kenneweg

Hilton Head Dermatology 15 Hospital Center Blvd., Suite 1 Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

(843) 689-9200

www.hiltonheaddermatology.com

Hilton Head Dermatology’s cutting-edge approach bridges art and science, offering unparalleled care for medical treatments and cancer detection as well as cosmetic products and services to treat your skin. It’s a philosophy that goes far more than just skin deep, one executed to perfection by this trio of dynamic healthcare professionals.

Board certified license nurse practitioner Emily K. Murphy, FNP-C, DCNP earned her Master of Science in Nursing

Kimberly Kelly

REALTOR®, CENTURY 21 Diamond Realty

Kimberly@ kellylowcountryrealestate.com (718)-781-6535

kellylowcountryrealestate.com

at Western Kentucky University in 2015 and has extensive experience in a variety of treatments. Emily is certified as a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner, which she obtained in 2022. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin, hair, and nail disorders as well as identification and prevention of skin cancers.

Board certified physician assistant Lauren Remegi, MS, PA-C brings to the practice a keen insight developed while earning her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Nova Southeastern University, graduating with the highest honors. She also has a membership in the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA). Certified by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistant.

Marissa Barrett-D’Amico is a boardcertified physician assistant, graduate of the Duke School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant studies. She has completed the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistant Diplomate Fellowship and earned the title Diplomate Fellow of the SDPA. She strives to provide her patients with superior care by staying current within the field of dermatology and providing a welcoming and collaborative environment. She develops individualized skin care plans for any age or skin tone based on their personalized needs and preferences to achieve their healthiest skin and is rewarded by each patient’s success story.

who are moving here or to those already living in the Lowcountry, who perhaps did not select the perfect community for themselves the first time around.”

If the last few years have proven anything, it’s that people are discovering what makes the Lowcountry such an amazing place to call home. Kimberly Kelly knows that firsthand, having relocated here three years ago with her family from New York. She also knows that those moving here have significant questions about the area, because she worked to find answers to all of them herself.

“When we moved here, I did beyond my due diligence.

I toured every community in Bluffton and Hilton Head, getting to know each and weighing their pros and cons,” she said. “My knowledge of the area is extensive, and I pass this knowledge on to my clients

It’s a level of service Kimberly is uniquely equipped to offer, as she has experienced both scenarios. “We came here looking for a better quality of life, and we found it,” she said. “But it did take a little time to navigate that…. We changed communities more than once. It can be stressful, and overwhelming, and I work hard to alleviate that pain for my clients so they can avoid having that experience altogether.”

Not only does Kimberly Kelly allow clients to skip right ahead to living their ideal Lowcountry life, but she is also ensuring that her local knowhow remains sharp. “Between scheduling tours with membership coordinators and staying abreast of every update and change, I’m always making sure I am keeping on top of the most current information and passing it along to all of my clients.”

Emily K. Murphy, Lauren Remegi, & Marissa Barrett D’Amico

Since September of 2006, the women of CH2 have been delivering lighthearted, community-focused content to Lowcountry residents. While occasionally the staff includes a guy or two, the team has primarily been women, right from the start. Behind the scenes, you’ll find the owner, Bonnie Lowrey, who has been a champion of women in the workplace for decades in a multitude of her businesses. The CFO, Mame Bowser, takes care of the most important part—things you don’t see that are key to a successful business venture.

At the helm is Maggie Washo, contentcreating maniac, staff photographer and social media maestro. She moved here in 1992 and (to quote local podcaster Heather Rath), is a “rabid” supporter of all things Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. As a former New Yorker, she literally cannot slow down and thinks August in the South is akin to living in Hell. It’s okay though, because pumpkin spice season is right around the corner. When not producing pages for CH2/CB2 or videos for social, Washo can be found loving on a variety of poodle-doodles, Berners and the like, or escaping to Disney World with her mouse ears.

Kim Crouch joined the team in 2012 and has been a superhero of sales ever since. Crouch grew up on Hilton Head Island, and we challenge you to name a person she hasn’t met or isn’t friends with. Her duties include making connections with clients and organizing as many social events as one can manage within a week. If you run into Crouch during the summer months, you’ll probably see her with her mini-me, Palmer, who is an excellent assistant on CH2 photoshoots. Her son Jackson is about to embark on his big college adventure soon, so give Kim a hug when you see her; she’s not ready for that milestone yet!

THE LADIES OF CH2/CB2

Catherine Davies is quietly behind the scenes making our layouts pop with creativity and intention. Davies has been part of the “cut and paste crew” since joining the magazine in 2009. Occasionally she can be coaxed in front of the camera and has appeared in multiple ad campaigns for Palmettoes and fashion spreads. Her quirky sense of humor and general good nature has earned her the nickname of “Sunny,” and when not working in an Adobe Suite app, she can be found training for some ridiculous race. Her current goal is 100 miles…so get out the way!

Morgan O’Banion-Ambler was part of the team when the magazine started almost 20 years ago. After a brief hiatus, Ambler returned to be a CH2 girl in 2020. A bright, bubbly personality, she excels at making new friends and taking care of her clients. Her daughter Harper has been an honorary member of the CH2 crew since birth in 2010. When not raiding the fridge for snacks at the office, O’Banion-Ambler can be found entertaining her kids, running on the Cross Island Parkway or taking an impromptu trip to Lake Fontana, her favorite place in the whole world.

Hunter Kostylo came to the magazine as an intern, fresh from the College of Charleston, communications degree in hand. At first, she worked primarily behind the scenes as a graphic designer (and liaison to Crouch’s clients). But Kostylo’s job titles grew to include art director, videographer, website expert and general tech genius. Kostylo has the unenviable job of corralling salespeople and keeping them organized, while assisting Washo in her over-ambitious plans for monthly content. When not working, you can find Kostylo chilling with her besties, probably regaling them with the chaos she has to deal with on a daily basis.

Kaila Jeffcoat pulls double duty as sales rep and stylist for the team. She has an eye for fashion and an attention to detail that shines in every fashion spread produced by the CH2 crew. Originally from Washington State, Jeffcoat came for the summer, met a local boy, got married, and decided to stay forever. When not coordinating a fashion shoot or bonding with her clients, she can be found off on some adventure with her husband Rhett and her dog Asher.

Kandace Cunningham is the other former New Yorker on the team—a transplant who found her way south and decided to stay a spell. In 2013, when CH2 held its first Bachelorette of the Year contest, Cunningham was nominated. While she didn’t win the title, she did win a career and has been with the team as a caring client rep for over 10 years now. She recently got married at the Burnt Church Distillery and enjoys hanging out with her new hubby and canine kiddos while golf carting around Bluffton. She’s a social animal and can often be found supporting new businesses and attending business events after hours.

Although not everyone is pictured here, we cannot leave out the women who contribute to this magazine on a monthly basis. Linda Hopkins makes sure our i’s are dotted and our t’s are crossed; we are so grateful for her attention to detail when editing the pieces and parts along the way. She is also one hell of a writer when she has time.

We also want to give a shout-out to our regular contributors Cheryl Ricer, Amy Bartlett, Becca Edwards, Liz Mayhew, Courtney Hampson, Sheila Critchley and of course, Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka. Every single one of these ladies help us produce a magazine we are extremely proud of each month.

From Left to Right: Kaila Jeffcoat, Harper Hodsdon, Maggie Washo, Hunter Kostylo, Catherine Davies, Palmer Pritchard, Kandace Cunningham, Kim Crouch, and Morgan Ambler

Tracy Dayton

Realtor, EXP Realty (843) 686-4000 www.tracydayton.com tracydayton.exphiltonhead.com/

Tracy Dayton of EXP Realty gives her clients exemplary real estate service from start to finish. Respect, communication, and professionalism are part of her work ethic as a fulltime agent dedicated to client satisfaction. Tracy is originally from Queens, New York. Her first job in real estate was when she was 15 years old as a receptionist in a brokerage in New York. After college, she secured a job with a land developer/new-home construction and started her real estate career in the 1980s. She found her piece of paradise and moved to the Hilton Head Island in 2005. She has been assisting buyers and sellers in the Lowcountry for over 18 years.

In addition to her real estate career, Tracy enjoys sharing the

Carrie Conway

Coastal Gymnastics Center

Bluffton: 4371 Bluffton Pkwy., Ste. 105 Hilton Head Island: 84D Beach City Rd. (843) 836-2411

www.coastalgymnasticscenter.com

For six years, first at her Bluffton location and later on the island, Carrie Conway has helped hundreds of young people develop a love of gymnastics. Through classes that teach kids from 18 months and up, students develop flawless fundamentals and technique. Through competition that takes them around the region, they develop a thirst for greatness and a taste for victory.

But for Conway, who grew up in the gymnastics world, the movement is just a means to an end. “I think establishing connections

Lowcountry’s rich history with her clients. “I love my job! I am blessed to meet new people and help make their real estate dreams come true,” she said. “I work hard to provide my clients with the most positive real estate experience possible. The Hilton Head area is paradise for those looking to escape to a place of natural beauty, friendly people, and incredible weather.”

In her free time, she enjoys working out, dancing, walking on the beach and most of all, spending time with her family. She especially enjoys spending quality time with her mom and is her caretaker!

Dayton says her clients entrust her with one of their biggest decisions, and she is honored and privileged to work with them. “My biggest reward is being able to get results for my clients. I consider it a privilege to assist people with their real estate needs,” she said. “My family and friends will tell you I am tenacious when it comes to achieving my life goals. Allow my passion and 30+ years of real estate experience to work for you.”

with these kids that last their whole lives is a much more important part of what we do than gymnastics,” she said. “I have kids coming in today just to work out who were on my first team, then hit middle school and pursued activities. It’s great to have that connection.”

Both in her own classes and those taught by her instructors, the gymnastics are just the how. The why comes when a child learns confidence in themselves and their abilities. “Making sure these kids are happy and healthy is most important to us,” Conway said.

It’s a philosophy that has paid huge dividends, with Coastal Gymnastics Center students earning top marks, including a first-place finish in level 7 of statewide competition this past year. But whether those champions continue in gymnastics or pursue other interests, they’ll do so on a foundation that was built at Coastal Gymnastics Center.

Martha Stichweh, Leslie St. Amant, & Kelsey Watson Reid

Pilates Hilton Head

1000 William Hilton Pkwy., E-2 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

(843) 715-4545

www.pilateshiltonhead.com

Martha Stichweh Owner/Instructor

The first time Martha Stichweh crossed the island bridge in 1969 and smelled the pluff mud, she knew she was home. She can now say she has been in paradise for 54 years and has no intention of going anywhere else.

Martha found Pilates during a painful bout of hip bursitis in 2009 and fell in love with the practice, embarking several months later, on a year-long study to become a Pilates instructor. She has been teaching Pilates on the island ever since. Martha studied under Balanced Body’s worldrenowned Master Instructor Jennifer Gianni of Fusion Pilates in Asheville, N.C., receiving certification in Balanced Body’s Comprehensive Program covering all apparatuses. She has also been certified in the SmartSpine Wellness System with Master Instructor and SmartSpine Wellness System Creator Marie-José Blom and

continues to learn through continuing education courses and workshops. Martha loves to see the changes in her clients and hear how happy they are to have found Pilates.

Leslie St. Amant Instructor

Leslie Amant is a certified STOTT Pilates instructor as well as a Total Barre™ instructor. She has a gymnastics dance, and kinesiology background from the College of William and Mary. She incorporates all into her Pilates equipment classes. She has trained with STOTT instructors Lolita San Miguel Kathy and Kimberly Corp, and CC Martin. Since 2003, she has been teaching Pilates for Breast Cancer, Pilates for Golf, and Reformer and Mat. In 2008, she became a cancer exercise trainer and chronic disease specialist.

When she isn’t working or running, she is drinking coffee, playing golf, or walking her dog Bailey on the beach with her husband and grown children while thinking of new routines for her clients. She is excited and honored to be a part of the Pilates Hilton Head team.

Kelsey Watson Reid Instructor

Kelsey Watson Reid is a proud Hilton Head local, born and raised on the island. She studied hotel, restaurant and tourism management at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, and following graduation returned home to a job in the restaurant business. She has worked in many areas of the service industry in the years since, including a walking food tour, before starting her journey with Pilates. Kelsey joined the Pilates Hilton Head studio in its opening week and instantly fell in love with Pilates. Shortly after, she began embarking on her instructor training. She studied under Amy Dowling of Fusion Pilates and Jennifer Gianni, Balanced Body Master Instructor and owner of Fusion Pilates in Asheville, N.C. Kelsey truly believes that everyone could benefit from having Pilates in their life. When she’s not in the studio, she loves being with her husband and dogs, family and friends, and enjoying Hilton Head Island.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (843) 715-4545 or email Info@ PilatesHiltonHead.com.

Carolyn Baltz

Amigos Cafe Y Cantina

70 Pope Ave, Unit I Hilton Head Island, 29928

(843) 785-8226

www.amigoscafehhi.com

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

I love what I do. The most exciting part of each day is getting to work with my amazing co-workers and sharing our food with loyal customers. My favorite days are when I get to share our food to first timers.

Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?

Tierra Schaffer

Realtor, Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty (843) 422-3610

Pierce Lowery was my mentor. I worked for him, and then he helped and advised me when I opened my first restaurant, Market Street Café. Pierce was a wonderful man, and I will forever be grateful for his guidance and support.

Guilty pleasure?

My guilty pleasure is our famous margarita!

Give us three qualities a leader must have.

I think a leader must have patience to lead employees, solve problems, and manage the expectations of the customer. I also think leading by example is the key to creating a good team environment. The third skill I think is important for leaders is to be considerate of everyone.

What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire? When I retire, my goal is to live on Hilton Head Island six months out of the year and to live the other six months in the mountains of Vermont.

If you could learn any skill, what would it be?

I wish I could speak fluent Spanish.

beyond a simple transaction. “I’m very client centered,” she said. “A lot of them are buying remotely, so that trust and communication is so important.”

tierra.schaffer@sothebysrealty.com www.danielravenelsir.com/

Some real estate professionals will tell you all about the joy that a move to the Lowcountry can give you. Tierra Schaffer doesn’t just tell you about it. She shows you.

“I’ve just fallen in love with the Hilton Head lifestyle. I love that I’ve found this paradise; I love working with people from all over the country; and I love opening their eyes to what life could be on Hilton Head,” she said. “I like to spend time outside on the leisure trails, and I’ll try to squeeze in a beach day whenever I can. Being outdoors is important to me. That’s why I moved here 10 years ago.”

But it’s not all fun and games. Schaffer will tell you she “eats, sleeps and breathes real estate,” developing an approach with clients that goes far

That trust and communication not only help her clients share in her love of the Lowcountry, but it often forges long-lasting friendships. “The nature of Hilton Head Island being a market for second homeownership, there are clients I’ve worked with for several years before they’re ready to make the move,” she said. “I really value those relationships.”

As a Realtor® with Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty, Schaffer has access to a network of approximately 26,0000 real estate associates worldwide, positioning her for further opportunities to introduce newcomers to the Lowcountry. In April, she attended the Sotheby’s International Realty Global Networking event in Las Vegas. “When I told other agents where I was from, their eyes would just light up,” she said. “Hilton Head Island has so much interest, and I’m delighted to be a resource.”

COAST Brokered by eXp Realty

When they first began the journey that would lead to them opening COAST Brokered by eXp Realty, real estate legends Tristan O’Grady and Rick Saba were spurred by one idea: creating something that would give real estate professionals the power to chart their own course and create their own success. They found that very quickly when they discovered eXp Realty.

“Inside eXp Realty, Glen Sanford (founder) has developed an agentcentric culture, placing the agent and the client at the forefront of the cloud-driven real estate organization,” O’Grady said. The highly efficient debt-free model allows much of the company’s revenue to be generously shared with its agents, based on performance.

That culture has allowed Tristan and Rick to build a real estate office that operates in new and exciting

ways and far different from the traditional old-fashioned models. Their Coligny district office is more of a sophisticated hangout spot than an office, albeit one powered by hightech solutions that make a Realtor’s job easier and more effective. Opening COAST allowed them to not only assemble a team of the area’s best and brightest in real estate, but it let them create a culture of their own.

“We’ve attracted top talent, but really we find that we’re bringing on people who share our core values,” O’Grady said. “By looking for people with high ethical standards who work hard, we add to that culture by really helping each other and being supportive. It’s become like a family, whether someone is coming in with tons of experience or just getting their license.”

These women in business reflect that cross-section of the industry,

with some bringing decades of experience to COAST and some already enjoying the benefits of the office’s culture in their first year as licensed Realtors. But they all share the core values of COAST—values that let them excel in their own careers while offering the industry’s best service and support to their clients.

From left to right, these women are individually Kasie LeRoux, Elizabeth Acuff, Caroline Rankin, Julia Lowe, Karla Ramos, Mary Scott, Renaté McNulty, Alison Schreiner, Kacie Templeton Desjean, Christine DeVallee, Katie Casey, Tisha Chafer, Jaclyn Orlando and Donna Gilmore. But together, they’re proof that the right culture can create an atmosphere where top producers and new talent can support each other in changing the face of real estate.

Kasie LeRoux, Elizabeth Acuff, Caroline Rankin, Julia Lowe, Karla Ramos, Mary Scott, Renaté McNulty, Alison Schreiner, Kacie Templeton Desjean, Christine DeVallee, Katie Casey, Tisha Chafer, Jaclyn Orlando, Donna Gilmore

Windermere Insurance Group, LLC

2 Palmetto Bay Rd., #200 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 341-0080

windinsgroup.com

When Windermere Insurance Group, the firm renowned for its next-level customer service in providing insurance solutions to high-net-worth individuals, wanted to set up an office on the South Carolina coast, there was no question that they wanted the best professionals to head up their office.

Naturally, they turned to Amy Kinasch and Wendy Harvey, two long-time insurance veterans who had built tremendous careers since starting around the same time in the late ’90s. The duo was well aware of Windermere’s sterling reputation, making it a perfect fit. “We jumped at the opportunity, and we have been growing ever since,” Kinasch said.

Just as Windermere had sought the best in opening their coastal office on Hilton Head Island, Kinasch and Harvey knew they needed to find true insurance professionals. Fortunately, they knew exactly where to look. Amy Sullivan joined the team in 2020, continuing a 27-year career in the family business of insurance.

Nikki Petitt

Seaglass Windowscapes

70 Pennington Dr., #4 Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 949-8444 seaglasswindowscapes.com

For years, Nikki Petitt had worked alongside her husband Morgan as the two of them built Savannah Blinds into the Coastal Empire’s top source for window treatments, awnings and storm protection. But when they decided to bring their empire across the Savannah River into the Lowcountry, Nikki decided it was time for her to branch out and build something on her own. “I’ve always believed in standing by your husband, but not behind him,” she said with a laugh.

“It’s what I thrive on,” she said, “providing exceptional service and being surrounded by strong women.”

Next came Christina Horton, who had worked under both Kinasch and Harvey in their previous position, and gladly put her 12 years of experience to work at Windermere. “I was lucky enough to mentor under them early on in my insurance career,” Horton said. “I’m so thankful to be back with them because their main focus is on customer service and truly exceeding our clients’ expectations.”

It’s a true sense of teamwork these women have found among each other, including claims manager Lily Nguyen, one they have forged into a thriving insurance practice.

“We handpicked these ladies because of their work ethic and their dedication to customer service,” Harvey said. “And because all our clients have all our business cards, they essentially get four of us for the price of one.”

With the full support of her husband, she opened Seaglass Windowscapes. The name is an echo of what makes this new venture Nikki’s own: Just as no two pieces of seaglass are alike, no two offerings are the same. Built around the same business model of offering high-quality window treatments, awnings, storm protection and more, Seaglass Windowscapes customizes each to create something unique for every project.

Inside, outside, and above each window, they offer endless possibilities for giving your home its own distinctive style. The name is a reflection of the marvelous customization that Seaglass can offer, but the business itself represents Nikki making her own unique mark on the industry.

“It was a proud moment when we opened,” she said. “You always want something you can call your own.”

Amy Kinasch, Wendy Harvey, Amy Sullivan, Christina Horton & Lily Nguyen

Beth DeAngelis

The Coastal Living Team

8 Lafayette Place

Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

(843) 271-4254

coastallivingbybeth.com

Describe a typical day in your life.

My day starts with a cup of coffee looking out over the beautiful marshes of the Lowcountry while reviewing/ answering emails and matching up new and delayed listings in the MLS to our VIP buyer clients so they get a look at any new inventory that might meet their needs. Then it’s out the door to appointments with buyers and sellers, with time put aside during the day to make sure our closings are under control—all of this, thankfully, with the help of our team assistants and closing coordinator. Home by 7 p.m. or so, a quick walk with the dogs and back on the computer. I truly breath, eat and sleep real estate and love it!

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

I absolutely thrive on helping people find their perfect property or helping people set up their home through staging and pricing strategies to successfully sell their home. I enjoy working through the challenges and problem solving that can come up along the way. We know buying or selling a home is stressful, and the goal on my team is to be there to solve issues as well as celebrate with our clients.

Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?

My father.

Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business. Start your career on a team. Real estate is not just showing/selling

pretty homes. When people trust you with one of their largest assets, you take on a lot of responsibility to your client to be knowledgeable and provide sound advice. Go slowly and learn.

Mountains or ocean? Ocean

Guilty pleasure?

Binge watching an action-packed TV series with plenty of ice cream.

What did you want to be when you grew up? A zoologist.

Give us three qualities a leader must have.

The ability to listen, to communicate clearly and to implement action plans concisely.

What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire? Walks on the beach with my black lab Cooper.

If you could learn any skill, what would it be? How to be tech savvy.

Affordable Health Care

150 State St. Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 757-5559

In 2008 when Affordable Health Care was started by entrepreneur Jennifer Green, APRN, her goal was to offer primary care that was compassionate, highly competent, accessible and affordable. In keeping with her

Maggie Vaigneur

Copper Penny

For 36 years, Copper Penny has been on the vanguard of island fashion, helping to set the sartorial tone for an area renowned for its laid-back sophistication and coastal style. Expanding to Hilton Head under a franchisee in 2015, it is now owned and operated by Maggie Vaigneur and her husband Blake. If you’re one of the more well-dressed locals, you probably already knew that.

“The locals have really supported us all these years,” said Maggie Vaigneur, who runs both the Hilton Head and Savannah locations with her husband, Blake. “We have customers who have shopped

with us since day one.”

Maggie and Blake took over the business from Blake’s mother Penny just over a year ago, following years of preparation. “I was in real estate full time, but I was doing the buying alongside Penny for the last five years,” Maggie said. “We have a great relationship, and she has a lot of faith in us to carry this store forward.”

Under the new generation’s leadership, customer service has evolved to offer online shopping and same-day delivery of the dresses, shoes, tops and accessories that made Copper Penny a Lowcountry icon. Maggie informs this new approach with a style and sensibility learned from her mother-in-law, which is now passing down to the next generation. “My daughter Margaret made her first market trip when she was about six months old,” Maggie said with a laugh.

few years, Jenny has responded in kind with services that are relevant to the current needs of our demographic. As a health care provider, she is acutely aware of the dramatic decline in preventative care which has led to a crisis in basic individual health management and a subsequent resurgence in preventable diseases. Applying her entrepreneurial sense to this growing problem, she is taking an active role in helping her patients regain their health by offering innovative, affordable and effective plans of care.

original vision, she has adapted over the years to meet the changing needs of our community. Through this process, she has explored the addition of services that ultimately did not fit the practice and landed upon many that have expanded her primary care into a total wellness approach for her patients. Due to the upheaval of the past

At AHC, Jenny and her staff are focused on giving their patients the tools needed to conquer one of the most common risk factors for cardiac disease, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes: obesity. With the assistance of new medications, consultations including diet and exercise as well as the medical support needed for success, she hopes to help her patients all around the Lowcountry enjoy active and healthy lives.

Jennifer Green, Nurse Practitioner

Primary Care Provider/Master Injector

Trudy Backus

First Tee – The Lowcountry

151 Gumtree Rd.

Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

(843) 686-2680

firstteelowcountry.org

It’s a beautiful day at First Tee – The Lowcountry’s Gumtree Road facility, and a young man no older than seven is stepping up to the tee to address the ball. Keeping his instructor’s words in mind, he squares his shoulders, perfects his stance and keeps his head down. Then, with all the energy that only seven-year-olds possess, he whips his shoulders around in a wide arc that sends the ball flying but also sends him into a full 360-degree swing.

With saintlike patience, his instructor tells him, “You swing the club, don’t let the club swing you.”

“That little guy will be a stellar athlete, you can tell already,” said his

instructor, Trudy Backus. “He will excel at a number of things, but he goes at things with abandon.”

As a volunteer coach at First Tee – The Lowcountry, Backus helps kids work on their putting and chipping, as by her own admission her full swing is “a little inconsistent.” It’s something she’s done since first volunteering with the organization in 2016. But if you ask her, the role of golf instructor is secondary to her role as life instructor.

“What’s good about First Tee is we also talk to them about life values— courtesy respect, responsibilities, sportsmanship, honesty, all of those kinds of things,” she said. “And there are opportunities during each session to recognize those being demonstrated by the kids.”

And sometimes, she gets to recognize excellence on and off the course, like the young lady who worked with Backus since her first day at First Tee. Seven years later, she was a standard bearer at the RBC Heritage presented by Boeing. “She kept with us for all those years, and I’m just very, very proud of her,” Backus said.

And there are countless other students Backus takes pride in, going back to when she hung up her 41-year career in insurance, retired to South Carolina and started coaching for First Tee. “One cannot go there with either performance or behavioral expectations. One must go there just prepared to cheer the students’ successes,” she said. “And you find they appreciate you giving them attention, giving attention for something they want to achieve.”

During the Champions Banquet this past April when she received the Mike Davis Award, the highest award for volunteering within the First Tee - The Lowcountry, Backus got a little recognition of her own for her achievements. Even though, for her, volunteering at First Tee has been reward enough.

“I consider moving here the best decision of my life,” she said, “but volunteering here has made that best decision 100 percent better.”

To volunteer, please contact Executive Director Pat Zuk at pzuk@ thefirstteelowcountry.org or call (843) 686-2680.

Priscila Ortiz

Hair Loft of Hilton Head

19 Dunnagans Alley, Suite H

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

(843) 422-9152 // Hairlofthhi.com

When you combine beauty and brains, you get something spectacular. If you need to see what that looks like, just follow

the crowd of people with flawless hair to Dunnagans Alley and check in at Hair Loft of Hilton Head. There you’ll find Priscila Ortiz changing lives with beauty secrets that go far more than skin deep. Growing up around salons in her native Argentina, Ortiz developed her eye for beautiful hair early on. “But once I got out there into the industry, it was a whole other world,” she said. “It was amazing.”

She quickly learned that beautiful hair is more than just an art; it’s

Blake Schmid

Coastal Bliss

38 Shelter Cove Ln, #126

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

(843) 802-4050

a science. That informed the philosophy on display at The Hair Loft, one which emphasizes a more natural approach. “The environment here is very harsh, so you need something that isn’t going to work against that,” she said. “When you use a hair color that contains ammonia, it opens the cuticles of your hair and they’ll never fully seal.”

That scientific approach to beauty became extra helpful after COVID sparked a puzzling secondary pandemic of thinning hair. Whether stress, hormones or medication, this has been vexing the entire beauty industry. And Ortiz has risen to the occasion to fight thinning hair, using a shampoo line that blocks potentially damaging hormones, giving clients medical vitamins that only doctors and hairdressers can carry to encourage hair growth and becoming certified by famed hair extension company Great Lengths.

“Most women’s hair thins around their faces, which ages you. Adding extension to fill in those areas is a life changer for women,” Ortiz said. And for her, all this art and science is ultimately in service of those life-changing moments.

www.coastalblisshiltonhead.com

Step inside Coastal Bliss, and immediately the world feels like a little sunnier place. From head to toe, it’s a place where bright colors and effortlessly beautiful looks are mixed and matched into something that truly stands out. But there is more to the appeal of Coastal Bliss than simply the brilliant fashion on display. Behind the shelves, there’s a story of a family tradition of fearless entrepreneurialism, one that Blake Schmid is carrying into a new generation.

“I come from a long line of people who owned their own businesses,” Schmid said. “So, when I started out, I already knew how hard you have to work.”

The hard work was ingrained in her from a lineage that includes her great grandfather’s butcher shop and her grandfather’s TV business back in New York as well as the famed island chiropractic firm owned by her father, Dr. Brad Fraum. What Schmid has built at Coastal Bliss has married that solid work ethic to a refined sartorial sensibility she cultivated through years working at legendary boutique, The Porcupine, under Avis Rollison.

“I like fashion that stands out,” Schmid said. “I’m drawn to the ‘wow’ pieces, but not so ‘wow’ that you only wear them once. I choose pieces that are wearable.”

Hard work and an eye for fashion have made Coastal Bliss a darling of the island for 10 years, but Schmid isn’t in this alone. The mother of two knows that it takes a village.

“I feel very fortunate to have such a great, supportive staff,” she said. “And I can’t imagine doing this without my husband Jimmy, my parents, and my in-laws.”

Shannon Baltzegar

StoneWorks, Inc.

Beaufort/Bluffton, SC

(843) 290-6082 ~ Text me anytime! hiltonheadstone.com

Shannon Baltzegar is a creative force and respected influencer in the local stone fabrication and design industry. This summer, she was tapped to lead StoneWorks of the Lowcountry as their new CEO, the successor to the family-owned stone fabrication business her father John

Baltzegar III built over the last three decades. She brings her inventive spirit, can-do attitude, and a fresh vision to her new role as CEO.

Describe a typical day in your life. Every day is a new day! Sometimes I pray; sometimes I keep my head down; sometimes I smile. Every day, I ask for help to be better.

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

I start with coffee at 5 a.m., black. I have my best thoughts in the morning. I am motivated to solve problems. Problems can be as simple as planning a dog sitter or as complicated as re-structuring pieces of a profit puzzle.

Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?

Everyone helps in all fashions. I take them, understand them, then make my own path.

Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.

You might be on a path to major success or on a path to a steady paycheck. Choose to love yourself whatever path you are on. Success is found in happiness.

Mountains or ocean?

I always wanted to live at the beach. Incredibly so, it happened!

Guilty pleasure?

Naps: midday nap, evening nap, after eating nap … I Love them all. Sometimes I feel worthless, and sometimes I feel like Sleeping Beauty. I ultimately think they are healthy recovery.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Lawyer, choreographer, photographer, dancer, singer, teacher…. Truth be told, I wanted to be a mom of five without big dreams of a career. My mom worked six days a week. But my best memories are when she didn’t work—when we were little, she played with us, she sewed and was creative. She glowed with happiness.

Give us three qualities a leader must have.

Backbone, honor, and compassion.

What podcast do you listen to for inspiration or to learn from?

I signed up to listen to the most recommended books by U.S. colleges: The Republic, The Communist Manifesto; Imagined Communities

These are a few I am attempting with my Bluetooth headphones (when I have quiet time).

What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire?

I think about what other businesses I might enjoy after I retire.

If you could learn any skill, what would it be?

I’d love to repurpose clothing—design the best fits for my own shape.

What is your favorite tech toy (for work or play) that you can’t live without?

The smartphone, ugh! It’s a love/hate situation.

Chris Spado

Michelle Elliott

Realtor,

MichelleElliott@ CharterOneRealty.com

For nearly seven years, Michelle Elliott has built a true success story of a real estate career. In addition to the many clients she’s helped buy and sell their homes, her work in the community and with the Hilton Head Association of Realtors have earned her five consecutive Realtor Service Awards.

It’s a career she is proud to have built. But if you ask her, the most important things she has built are relationships. “Throughout the process and after closing, the biggest thing for me is building relationships,” she said. “Really, this is one of the biggest transactions that

a person or a family will make in their lifetime. You want to be there for them, from the beginning until the end.”

And even clients who are investing in a vacation home or a rental property find themselves enjoying a close friendship long after the closing documents have been signed. It’s a testament not only to her passion for helping clients, but for the care she takes in ensuring each one of them is fully informed and knowledgeable about the entire process. As a born-andbred Southerner from the Queen City of Charlotte, N.C., she’d tell you that’s just how you welcome someone to your home.

“Coming from the city, to the Lowcountry was an adjustment, but it’s so peaceful here,” she said. “Every time I drive over that bridge or look out on the water, I’m quickly reminded of why I love it here.”

It’s a love she’s passed on to all her clients as she’s welcomed them to their new home.

Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.

My advice to any woman who would like to start their own business is to walk through your fears. Don’t be afraid to approach another successful woman and ask them how they did it.

Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?

My mentor was my father-in-law Joseph Spado Sr. He gave me wonderful advice on how to run and manage a business. He always said treat your employees with respect and give people a warm welcome when they enter your business. The one thing he said that makes me smile is, “Make sure your windows are always clean because first impressions matter.”

Give us three qualities a leader must have.

typical day in our salon would involve caring for clients. We have many regular clients, and there are always new clients who are moving to this area. Our goal is to make our salon a friendly environment.

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

What really excites us about this job is that it’s new and different every day. I have been a hairdresser for over 47 years, and it’s never boring. I love this job.

To be a good leader, you must be determined, learn from your mistakes, and have an interest in others.

Guilty pleasure?

When my workday is done, I love listening to audible books and gardening. These are my two favorite things. Someday, when I retire, I wish to visit many great gardens all over the world. I wish I could be an expert gardener.

The Ladies of The Beautique

55-A Sheridan Park Circle

Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 227-5501

www.thebeautiquebluffton.com

Instagram: @beautique_bluffton

There’s an old saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And yet, that only tells half the truth. Before it ever gets anywhere near the eye of the beholder, beauty truly begins in the hands of an artist. And art takes many forms.

Some artists paint with a brush. Some sculpt from clay. For the women of The Beautique, the tools of the trade are medically designed skincare treatments, lasers, injectables and permanent cosmetics. And the canvas is thousands of beautifully satisfied clients. Your own eyes can behold the dazzling artistry on smiling

faces around the Lowcountry, or you can step inside their Sheridan Park office.

Here, among nondescript rows of commercial spaces, an exquisitely appointed space awaits inside, contrasting gorgeously for a vibe that almost feels like a “beauty speakeasy.”

“We’ve actually thought about having a secret knock to get in,” joked Amanda Ellis, licensed esthetician for 13 years and part of the assembled talent at The Beautique. All jokes aside, her skills as an esthetician, along with the talents of permanent makeup specialist Sarah Rhoads and nurse practitioner Jessica Lowther, serve as the core of what sets The Beautique apart.

“I think our dynamic, starting with the three of us and then with everyone we’ve brought in as we’ve expanded, allows us to bounce ideas off of each other and share our knowledge and expertise to get our clients the best results,” Rhoads said.

It also allows each of them to find true fulfillment in what they do. “I started out in the neonatal ICU before switching 180 degrees to dermatology and plastic surgery, but I’m also really artistic,” Lowther said. “It’s been a really good collaboration for me, working in aesthetic medicine allows me to combine advanced nursing skills and medical knowledge with my artsy and creative side.”

That creative streak, incidentally, extends to the delightfully tasteful atmosphere inside The Beautique, where everyone pitched in to create a four-walled masterpiece. “Clients love coming in here and seeing me hang wallpaper,” Lowther joked.

Individually, their skill sets set them apart in a crowded field. When they brought them together at The Beautique, they formed something truly artistic: a beautiful space, dedicated to nurturing your own beauty through extensive medical knowledge, a wealth of advanced techniques, and good old-fashioned artistry.

Chef Lynn Michelle

The East Coast Chef cheflynnmichelle.com

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

I absolutely love the excitement of every new day. I make the best out of every minute of every day. I always have lots going on. It makes me excited to work hard and see results.

Guilty pleasure?

Toasted coconut milk chocolate clusters!

Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business. It’s all about finding the

balance for me: business life & personal life. I enjoy creating new products, trends, and recipes. I enjoy the mountains, oceans, boating, traveling, and painting. I most definitely have total left and total right brains. The balance of both is the challenge. Finding the balance of life, work, play is my advice to others.

What is one thing you look forward to doing when you retire?

I never plan to completely retire.

If you could learn any skill, what would it be?

I would love to learn how to fly an airplane.

What is your favorite tech toy (for work or play) that you can’t live without?

My favorite tech item is having Wi-Fi in my car. My “car-ffice” is always on the move!

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

I have a very rewarding career. I get so excited to see my clients’ dreams become a reality. Getting up to start your day is easy when you love what you do.

Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.

Make sure you surround yourself with the right people who lift you up. Keep your head up; keep going; keep your eye on the prize; and NEVER have a plan B.

Mountains or ocean?

A boat is my happy place. Ocean all the way!

Give us three qualities a leader must have. Honesty, growth mindset, and transparency.

What podcast do you listen to for inspiration or to learn from?

Danielle Jeffcoat

Edward Jones

152 State Street, Suite 101 Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 815-4054

edwardjones.com/danielle-jeffcoat

Describe a typical day in your life.

As a team, we have different roles in the branch that are equally important. Our main focus is to make sure we are helping clients achieve their goals while providing exceptional client service. Julie and Bethany are the smiling faces you will see when you walk through the door or the lovely voices you will hear if you call our office. They keep the office running like a well-oiled machine. I spend most of my day meeting with clients, talking through life changes and celebrating success. We make financial planning fun!

I recently listened to a podcast by Ed Mylett, Small Habits, Big Results. Highly recommend.

What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire?

I absolutely love to travel, and I’m not waiting for retirement to check places off my bucket list. The difference is we will be able to be able to spend more time in the countries we visit. A month on the Amalfi Coast is my kind of dream.

Julie Janning

Broker-in-Charge/Owner, HH Island Real Estate and Rentals

32 Office Park Road, Suite 214 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

(843) 384-0928

You might say that Julie Janning is something of a quick learner. Coming into real estate after a lengthy career in the financial and legal industries, she was essentially a blank slate. And yet, in her first year, she earned the Sales Achievement Award, and in her second year earned the Ambassadors Cup Award, finishing in the top five percent of our region and top three percent of all agents company-wide.

What was the secret behind her meteoric rise? It’s simple, really. It starts with involvement.

“I’m heavily involved with the Hilton Head Area Realtors Association,” Janning said. “That was one of the key factors to my success. Our professional development committee taught me so much about our island.”

Serving as a chair on that committee as well as the outreach committee and ultimately the association itself deepened her involvement with and strengthened her ties to other agents. Those other agents returned the favor by naming her president elect for 2023.

But the only measure of success that truly matters to Janning is in what she can achieve for others. “My work ethic is one where the client comes first. It’s not just about looking at pictures and emailing properties,” she said. “It’s about getting to know that client, the specific things they’re looking for, and being able to go above and beyond to find that match for a buyer or seller.”

Speaking of work ethic, Janning has not only proven a quick student when it comes to real estate, but she’s also taken on the world of property management, running HH Island Real Estate and Rentals with her husband. There are any number of Realtors who will sell you a house, but very few who can roll up their sleeves and make that house a home.

“I have several clients who bought something that needs work but live elsewhere, and I’ll come in and manage the process whether it’s popcorn removal, new cabinets and counters … sometimes I’m in there with a paintbrush,” she said. “A lot of the time, you just have to get in there and do that stuff yourself.”

Everyone asks what the secret to success is, but Janning proves there is no secret. With hard work, a drive to lead, and a passion for serving others, success will follow.

Kim Seaglund

Salon Karma

12 State of Mind Street Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 757-5762

salonkarmasc.com

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

Watching my team grow as individuals. I’m driven by educating myself in business and

leadership. Planning education for my team drives me as well. Watching my staff individually grow is so rewarding!

Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business. Don’t take things personally. You and your business may not be for everyone, and that is okay! Build a team who are in your boat and all rowing in the same direction.

Tisha Chafer

Realtor, COAST Brokered by eXp Realty (843) 384-1645 tishachafer.exphiltonhead.com

For Tisha Chafer, “when experience counts” is more than just a tagline. It’s the philosophy behind the real difference she can make for her clients after 20 years in real estate.

“I’ve lived here since 1996 and raised my children here, so I’ve gained a familiarity with just about anything—schools, sports, all those questions that new residents have,” she said. “That experience also lets me be an expert in particular markets like the condo market. It’s an entirely different animal than buying a house, and I’ve helped hundreds of people buy them.”

Mountains or ocean? Both!

Give us three qualities a leader must have. Be a good and clear communicator. Have a clear vision of your business’s brand, and always be kind and empathetic. Be a role model to your team—set new goals, and always stay humble.

What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire?

Traveling the world with my family. I have a detailed bucket list of beautiful destinations that I can’t wait to experience and share with my three boys and their future families.

What podcast do you listen to for inspiration or to learn from?

Sum It Up—Always inspiring for salon owners and anyone in a leadership position.

Chafer has also owned her share. As a flipper, she’s bought and renovated nearly every kind of property on the island you can imagine. “My clients are really able to use me as a resource—paint, flooring, contractors, I know them all,” she said. “Believe me, I’m very familiar with buying something that needs work.”

Whether it’s someone moving their family to the area, someone looking for an investment property, or someone who wants to get the most out of their property, Tisha Chafer knows because she’s been there. And that’s what she means when she says experience counts.

“With me, clients are getting someone who has built a custom home, worked for a national builder, and buys and sells properties herself,” she said. “When people work with me, they’re working with someone who truly understands what they are going through.”

Karla Ramos

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

I am genuinely passionate about helping others achieve the dream of homeownership. There’s an incredible sense of fulfillment that comes from guiding my clients through the process

and witnessing the joy they experience when they find their perfect home.

The combination of helping others achieve homeownership and assisting them in building their wealth through real estate investment is what truly drives me. It’s a privilege to be a part of such a significant journey in people’s lives and to contribute to their long-term happiness and financial well-being.

Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?

Yes, my dad has been a significant mentor in my journey as a Realtor and entrepreneur. He has always

been an inspiration for me to grow both professionally and personally. His guidance and hard work have shaped my approach to business, emphasizing the importance of helping others and working with strong ethics.

Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business. I wish I had known earlier to prioritize balancing family and work life while making my health a priority. Striving for a healthy worklife balance allows us to be more present, focused, and effective in both our personal and professional lives. By finding this equilibrium, we can maintain our energy, resilience, and passion for what we do.

Mountains or ocean?

Ocean! I love the way the ocean evokes a profound sense of peace and freedom within me.

Guilty pleasure?

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Give us three qualities a leader must have.

Adaptability: Leaders must be flexible and adaptable in the face of change; effective communication with empathy; and the ability to inspire others.

What podcast do you listen to for inspiration or to learn from?

Tom Bilyeu and Ed Mylett.

What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire? To travel more and spend more time at the beach.

If you could learn any skill, what would it be?

If I could learn any skill, one area I would love to explore is playing a musical instrument.

What is your favorite tech toy (for work or play) that you can’t live without?

My cell phone and laptop that allow me to work remotely.

Christina Galbreath-Gonzalez & Alayne Lawson

Christina Galbreath-Gonzalez, Realtor®, Broker-in-ChargeBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Alayne

Lawson, Teacher

(843) 816-2814 christina@hiltonheadhomes.com christinagalbreathgonzalez. hiltonheadblufftonrealty.com/

Moving forward after loss… The lives of JonPaul Gonzalez (19) and his girlfriend Madison Klepesky (18) held nearly infinite promise. On the night of December 4, 2021, all that promise was snuffed out when they lost their lives through the actions of a drunk driver. How do the families move forward after such a tragic loss?

To Gonzalez’s mother, Realtor Christina Galbreath-Gonzalez, it was devastating. But from this tragedy, moving forward meant finding ways she could help others. Along with her sister, Alayne Lawson, they began searching for community resources. The pair came in contact with Friends of Carolina Hospice, Compassionate Friends Group, Helping Parents Heal, Hilton Head Children’s Garden, and more. Seeing how much support the community had to offer, their goal was to help make these resources known to others suffering a loss.

“We wanted to become advocates, especially to high school students,” Galbreath-Gonzalez said. “It’s about making what we have in the area more known and helping others get more comfortable with the uncomfortable: loss and grief. When you lose a child, your entire world and your own self is forever altered. Seeing how the loss affected JonPaul’s brother and friends,

Amber Morgan

Realtor, Keller Williams Realty

8 Lafayette Place Ste 204 Hilton head, SC 29926 (614) 204-5064

ambermorgansells.com

Describe a typical day in your life. My day starts early in a mad dash getting my five lovely daughters to school on time—hopefully—followed by emails, client appointments and phone calls. If I can squeeze in a workout or walk on the beach, it’s a good day.

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

My clients and my family are my drive. I love matching my buyer clients with their perfect home. Staging and prepping a listing is also one of my favorite things about my job. Helping my sellers get top dollar is always exciting! Whether it’s soccer game, gymnastics, or cheer practice, I’m always there cheering my girls on. Fun thing is, not one day looks the same in my life. Keeps life interesting!

Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?

who were still in high school, when their loss went unacknowledged at school, I knew changes had to be made.”

Together they met with the school district with a plea to enhance grief counseling and mental health resources for all students and their families. The goal was to bridge the gap between those who knew of the resources and those who needed the resources. The district updated their website to include school and community resources, plus a way for students to be able ask for help.

As an educator, Lawson saw the effects of loss and grief with students— whether a sibling, parent, grandparent, or even a pet. Making sure her students and their families know that help and hope are available is important to her.

Galbreath-Gonzalez and Lawson said the loss has brought them to a whole new level of empathy and understanding, which has been meaningful to them both personally and professionally. “In real estate, it’s about the relationship, and this has helped me connect even more with my clients,” Galbreath-Gonzalez said.

Lawson felt this same appreciation for her students and has even gone back to school for her doctorate degree in education. “Our hearts were broken, and the pieces are still being put together knowing one piece will always be missing,” she said. “But a light shines through those missing pieces that shows a beauty in the world we’d never seen before. That’s JonPaul’s light and love shining through.”

100 percent my mom! She is the best and my No.1 role model. She runs a successful business in Ohio, raised three kids and taught school for 30 years. She is a true Boss Lady!

Mountains or ocean?

Ocean all the way—the best part of living here!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be a teacher. I was able to teach for a few years before having my daughters and discovering my love for real estate. Someone once told me teachers make great real estate agents. We love helping people; we spend a lot of time educating our clients and have lots of patience, which makes a natural transition to the real estate world.

What is one thing you are looking forward to doing when you retire? Traveling. There are so many cool places around the world that I look forward to seeing.

What is your favorite tech toy (for work or play) that you can’t live without?

My phone! It’s crazy that I can run my entire business from one device.

Rachel Lively

Le Cookery & Hilton Head Olive Oils & Balsamics Village at Wexford

1000 William Hilton Parkway, Suites B3 & F6 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

Le Cookery: (843) 785-7171 / Hilton Head Olive Oils: (843) 681-2722 lecookeryusa.com / hiltonheadoils.com

Describe a typical day in your life. I start my days early! I love having some time before the kids are up and the official workday has started to accomplish a few essential items on my “to do” list. I find that once the stores have opened and the day gets busy, it helps to have some important tasks out of the way. As busy as my days can be with work, I strive for balance at home. We have two active teenagers, and we love to cook and eat dinners together as a family as often as possible during the week. It helps keep us stay connected.

What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?

I love that my husband Michael and I purchased these stores a year ago! We both love to cook, and we love people, so owning Le Cookery and Hilton Head Olive Oils & Balsamics is a great fit for us. We are having so much fun revitalizing the stores and making them our own, not only in the décor and general appearance of them, but also in the products that we are curating for them. Not coming from retail backgrounds, we have learned so much

this year. We have researched every single item that we have placed in our stores and thoughtfully chosen what we sell. Our favorite thing is to see customers’ reactions when they come in and love the changes we have made. I truly believe that many of our best family memories are made in the kitchen or around the table, and I absolutely love helping our customers build those traditions and experiences.

Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business. My advice for other women in business is to work hard and be willing to do anything and everything you are asking someone else to do. Don’t ever be above doing whatever needs to be done. Be confident and be “real”—you don’t have to know everything and shouldn’t pretend to. Just be willing to get answers and follow up. People will respect your honesty. Keep your standards high; your integrity is how you will be measured.

Mountains or ocean?

Ocean! We are blessed beyond measure to be able to live on this island!

Give us three qualities a leader must have.

Courage, passion, and humility.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH JULIE PARSLEY

Ihave been goal-oriented and artistically motivated from an early age. After 30 years, two salons/spas, platform/ freelance artistry, editorials, and traveling and studying abroad, I am still so driven! Change is the only constant in the world today, and that is what i am here to do. My carving/dry-shaping skills combined with color placement techniques take hairstyles to the next level.

I cut “freehand” throughout the hair, creating artistic shapes with movement, direction and memory, which makes for easy styling with the right product. The hairstyle should be easy for the client to recreate.

I focus on the individual facial analysis and head shape of each client in order to create the flattering shape and balance. I encourage my clients to stay current on the cutting edge. My vision of clients of all ages represents classy, edgy, flirty an sexy hair with movement.

The hair is my canvas, and reinventing hairstyles is my

expression of art. Breaking the rules and disconnecting the hair is the foundation of my art. The depth created by cutting invisible pieces within the shape creates the texture of the fabric and establishes the movement of the coiffure.

Most of all my work is done on dry hair because wet hair is dishonest. This way of thinking and cutting relies on the artistic eye and is accomplished by studying the hair in the mirror as it evolves. My high-end cuts/ editorial looks have developed my brand along my journey in hair. I am always challenging myself, and I am here to raise the bar.

The perfect client fit for me is someone who senses something out of the ordinary and has the trust in me to make the change. I am committed, dedicated, and excited to create beautiful hair right here in the Lowcountry.

(304) 677-4968

51 New Orleans Road, 1A Hilton Head , SC 29928

(304) 677-4968

Inside Coco Coiffure Salon

Laura Wuller

Broker-In-Charge/Owner, Coastal Long-Term Rental Company, LLC

(843) 842-4546

Laura@CoastalLTR.com

CoastalLTR.com

Some of the best moments in business are those “dare to be great” moments, when destiny puts a challenge in front of you and urges you to risk it all in pursuit of greatness. Laura Wuller’s dare to be great moment came 10 years ago, when the opportunity presented itself to take over Coastal Long-Term Rental Company. At the time, she already had a two-year-old and—although she didn’t know it when she signed the papers— another child on the way. But armed with a wealth of experience as a property manager and procurement

manager, supported by her husband Matt and spurred on by confidence in her own abilities, she took that leap of faith. And she was rewarded, with success that saw her business grow from a one-woman-show to now encompass offices on the island and in Bluffton.

What’s her secret to success? In a word, integrity.

“I grew up on a ranch in Montana, so hard work and integrity were expected,” she said. “And with that work ethic, I gained the trust of owners, tenants and Realtors, who I’ve work with for years.”

Balancing hard work with high-tech solutions, Wuller and her staff utilize an excellent software program which allows owners, tenants and vendors access to an online portal. Transparency is important to Coastal, along with a single-fee approach with owners—no nickel and diming. Coastal is a refreshing approach to property management, built on integrity, which has proven successful, thanks to Laura Wuller’s leap of faith.

Lissy Rawl works on a new design in her workshop on Hilton Head Island.

ARTICLE BY LIZ MAHEW PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

BOATEAK Rockin’ the

LOCAL JEWELRY DESIGNER LISSY RAWL CATCHES HER BALANCE IN BUSINESS

On a hot summer day in July, Lissy Rawl gleefully bounds into the little fish BOATEAK’s home studio—a small space on Hilton Head Island’s north end, packed with signature handcrafted inventory, as well as a smattering of fabrics, found objects, and sketches. The studio is light and bright, with four sliders offering breathtaking views of the Intracoastal Waterway and its transient sailboats: two things that seem to have permeated and inspired countless BOATEAK jewelry collections.

Rawl recently returned to Hilton Head after a quick visit to her home state, enjoying family time splashing on the shores of Lake Michigan, and is ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work.

“Pardon the mess,” she said, smiling warmly. “I’m swamped, so no judgments!”

It’s a comical comment, as the “mess” to which she’s referring is artfully contained in a way that would make The Home Edit girls—Netflix and Instagram darlings of organization—nod with approval. Rawl’s background as an interior designer and keen eye for beauty is evident throughout the space, and one quick glance at the concept boards on her development table, set in front of the sliders so she can take in water views while dreaming up her next collection, shows how intentional she is in everything she does, from design and development to the branding and marketing of her boutique business.

Of course, that wasn’t always the case. Rawl’s business originally started as a hobby, handcrafting pieces for friends and family or occasionally selling small batches to local retailers. However, in 2014, with a loving push from her husband, Bill, she made the decision to dive in and pursue the business full-time.

“Bill gave me the confidence and support to truly go after this. I had a craft room full of fabric sample books. Flipping through them sparked the idea of utilizing the principles of interior design—starting with a base and then layering colors and textures—to jewelry collections. Bill was the one who encouraged me to put my dreams into action,” Rawl said.

With $500 and the steady support of her family, she converted their onecar garage into the original BOATEAK studio and, she adds with a laugh, “a borderline daycare.”

The name little fish BOATEAK was created in part to recognize her own two little fish, Woodley and Willa, as well as a fun play on words highlighting the boutique’s connection to natural textures and the nautical. Rawl spent her early days immersed in YouTube videos, teaching herself how to bend wire and shape metal while her youngest daughter played on a water sensory table or with the hose.

I

You can find Little Fish Boateak jewelry in a multitude of Lowcountry shops.

“It was chaos sometimes, but I wouldn’t change it for anything,” she said. “I love being with my girls, and knowing I was setting a positive example as an entrepreneur and a mother was incredibly rewarding.”

While Rawl felt confident in the creative aspects of her new business, she knew she needed help with the logistics of running a company and contacted the local SCORE chapter to partner with a mentor. As luck would have it, she ended up with two—Joe Eisenberg and Frank Lipari—who offered instrumental insights on managing cash flow, packaging, and marketing, as well as helping her develop a formal business plan.

“I’m blessed with mentors who essentially became my board, meeting quarterly to go over my successes, noting where we could do better, and helping set future goals,” Rawl said. “Entrepreneurs have to do everything themselves including Instagram, marketing, and production, so having

a team behind you on the business side is invaluable, especially ones as amazing as Frank and Joe, who have basically become family.”

As Rawl continued to grow her business online and in stores, her hard work caught the eye of a Southern Living editor, and the little fish BOATEAK’s Prepster Signature Pearl Necklace wound up being featured in the definitive Southern lifestyle publication’s 2017 Gift Guide.

“Being featured in Southern Living was a huge moment that really expanded my following and client base” Rawl said. “All of a sudden, I had national recognition, with retailers in different states reaching out, wanting to carry the line. It was an incredibly exciting time.”

After the Southern Living feature, the little fish BOATEAK practically grew overnight, with Rawl spending 14-hour days in the studio—something that wasn’t sustainable with two small children.

“My dad came onboard to help with hammering out the metal shapes, and I hired an assistant,” she said. “We still needed help filling orders though, so once a month, I’d have six local makers come to my house to make jewelry around my kitchen island.”

Rawl maintained this pace for years, but the hyper consumerism of COVID gave her the courage and confidence to scale back.

“It’s hard balancing parenthood with business ownership. You’re going through the motions because you’re hungry for success, but over time—especially after COVID—I felt like the business’ focus started to shift towards production instead of the creative,” she said. “When you’re a designer who’s too busy to design, that’s a problem.”

With the continued support of her husband, Rawl made the decision to reduce her retail partnerships by half last year in an effort to return to her core values of offering original, beautifully handcrafted jewelry—something she feels is much more important than volume.

“I’m getting back to the creative,” she said, contentment radiating from her as she described her process. “I’m inspired by so many things: fabrics and sailboats, the coast. Honestly, anything preppy and textured. Being outside in nature is so important; just the smell of jasmine can inspire a collection, or a piece of sea glass with a shell,” she said. “Inspiration is everywhere if you look.”

Drawing from her interior design training, Rawl relies heavily on concept boards to help organize her thoughts before she starts laying out different designs, and notes that even though many of her concepts fail, others work out brilliantly and have become anchors in BOATEAK’s line.

While Rawl has scaled back jewelry production, she’s remained true to her goal of increasing creativity as evidenced by her new fabric collection that was launched last spring.

“I experimented with painting on leather in 2018 and released a small capsule collection of painted fabrics in 2021. But I really wanted to dive in and explore the art of painting,” she said. “I spent January [2023] in my studio working with acrylics on canvas and had the designs printed on linen cotton. It was incredibly fulfilling to design my own textiles to become part of the jewelry line. Hopefully, we can expand the painted patterns into candles, napkins, and other home accessories in the future.”

At this, Rawl notes the importance of finding balance in business, expressing her desire to grow the little fish BOATEAK one day into a lifestyle brand that offers a mix of production-based and handcrafted goods, while still allowing her to prioritize her commitments to her friends and family.

In some regards, it’s almost as if the BOATEAK has come full circle, with Willa and Woodley showing enthusiasm to follow in their talented mother’s footsteps. Next spring, the little fish BOATEAK will be launching the “littlest fish,” two collections inspired by and collaborated on with her beloved girls.

“My older daughter will be doing more of a teenage line while my youngest will do a children’s collection,” Rawl said. “I’m teaching them the steps of building a business. It’s fun seeing them eager to be part of something I started in our garage when they were little.” 

Learn more about little fish BOATEAK at littlefishboateak.com.

Article

BLACK IN BUSINESS

BLACQUITY

The old sayings about business have long fallen into the realm of the cliché: “The only place success comes before work is the dictionary.” “Be the first to clock in and the last to clock out.” “Hard work beats talent.”

The subtext of all these sayings, however, is that failure comes from a lack of hard work, which is almost never the case. Ambition, hard work, talent … these things can only take you so far if the doors to success have been closed to you. For a large percentage of black businesses, those doors are often difficult to locate, much less open. It’s part of why black-owned businesses make up just seven percent of the business landscape, while black people make up 13 percent of the population.

“It’s not that black businesses need any help learning their trade. They have ambition and drive, they just don’t have access,” said Bridgette Frazier, co-founder of Blacquity, a new initiative designed to elevate, empower, and promote local black-owned businesses. “We wanted to position them in a way that gets them access, shows them how to bid on a quote, how to become vendors with local government … that’s how we wanted to level the playing field.”

The idea for Blacquity sprang from conversations between Frazier and local businessman/philanthropist Billy

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GWEN CHAMBERS LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES

by Barry Kaufman . Photography by M.Kat

Watterson, head of Watterson Brands. Watterson

Gwen Chambers is the Executive Director for Blackquity, a non-profit that works to help black-owned businesses get access to information needed to be successful.

Bridgette Frazier messaged me one day with an opportunity that I knew would change me: a class called Black Equity, geared toward the betterment of Black-owned businesses. Ten weeks of learning how to improve my business and myself came to a finale tonight! I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn from my mentors and my classmates—a team of folks I’ve built a lasting relationship with. The support of me and Gullah T’s N’ Tings has grown, and I’m so proud of what we are becoming. It’s up!

knew of Frazier’s work with Bluffton MLK Observance Committee and how that group was looking to expand their mission. The pair of them not only became fast friends, but they seized on an idea that could give black-owned businesses the support they need to live up to their potential.

The organization takes a two-pronged approach to building up black business. The first is through creation of a black-owned business directory, an idea that had been bouncing around Lowcountry business circles for years without being executed. The second is through Black Equity University, an intensive 12-week course that dives deep into the nuts and bolts of running a successful business, with classroom sessions, guest speakers and facilitators that represent a cross-section of local success stories.

While Frazier and Watterson shared a passion for their new project, they knew that each of them had far more on their plate than would allow

BLACK IN BUSINESS

Blacquity the attention they deserved. Not only is Frazier a member of Bluffton Town Council and part of the MLK Committee; she is the owner of the Chef B’s Eatz food truck, and soon Ma Daisy’s Porch. They needed someone who could take this concept and run with it.

“We had quite a list of very good candidates,” Frazier said. “We wanted someone with drive and ambition who was going to really create community relationships.”

They found that someone in Gwen Chambers, now executive director of Blacquity. A mainstay of the Lowcountry, Chambers has immersed herself in the community through work with Bluffton Self Help, the Town of Bluffton’s Affordable Housing Committee, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Program and more. With a foot in the world of both the black-owned business community and the broader business community, she was the ideal fit.

“It’s absolutely rewarding, seeing these business owners go through the process, have those ‘ah-ha’ moments and push through,” Chambers said. Under her leadership, the Black Equity University program has sharpened its curriculum, expanded its roster of students and pushed dozens of blackowned businesses to new heights.

“It’s 12 weeks of a lot of work,” she said with a laugh. “They’re looking at their fixed expenses, variable expenses, cash flow projections, making sure they have a better understanding when speaking with a commercial lender or investor or customer, all so that they can speak confidently about their business.”

Already, three cohorts of businesses have passed through BEU’s hallways, representing businesses ranging from pre-K education and in-home care to photographers and restaurateurs. Wellknown names like Melly Mel’s and Gullah

SONYA GRANT

Owner, Gullah T’s N Tings and 2021 BEU Pitch Context Winner

JACQUELYN BROWN

Home Sweet Home In-Home Care Services

T’s N’ Tings have all taken advantage of the opportunities and access for which Blacquity was founded.

“It really helps them look at their business from a new perspective and learn how they can expand. So far we’ve had 22 graduates, which may not seem like a lot, but we’re making sure we have the right size class to address the needs of everyone,” Chambers said. “There’s a lot we cover in those 12 weeks, and we need to make sure we’re giving the hands-on help those entrepreneurs need.”

That hands-on help is already making a major impact on the black business community, elevating entrepreneurial dreams above the roadblocks in their way. For Chambers, it represents a chance to put her considerable talents to use, helping level the playing field and create new opportunities for everyone.

“Just being in a position to elevate and promote black businesses is rewarding,” she said. “It really makes me feel like I’ve found what I need to be doing.” 

To learn more about Blacquity, visit blacquitysc.org.

“Participating in this class not only gave me the tools to make my business successful, it also reignited my reasons for wanting to start my business in the first place.”

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN . PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

How to Save a Life

ALLIANCE GROUP REALTY SAVES LIVES, ONE PATIENT AT A TIME

In a business community that has always prided itself on giving back, The Alliance Group Realty is almost fanatical in their mission to help. Their agents have donated toys at Christmas for The Deep Well Project. They’ve helped build houses with Habitat for Humanity. They’ve cut checks to various organizations, all aimed at elevating our community.

With their latest venture, Alliance Saves Lives, they’re not just changing lives. They’re saving them.

Explained Alliance Group owner Bob Clarkson, “I was having lunch with Jeremy Clark, the Market CEO of Hilton Head Hospital, and I asked him, ‘If my mission was to save somebody’s life, because in my opinion that’s the highest calling there is, how would I do that?’ He just told me, ‘You have to see Shelly.’”

That would be Dr. Rochelle “Shelly” Ringer, surgical oncologist and perhaps the Lowcountry’s most skilled surgeon when it comes to detecting and treating breast

cancer. “That really hit home for me because I lost my sister to breast cancer at 47,” Clarkson said.

He met up with Dr. Ringer in his quest to save lives, and what she told him changed his life. While most insurance will cover mammograms, patients will usually have to pay out of pocket because of high deductible for any follow-up tests, high-definition scans, needle biopsies or other early detection techniques. And while these tests can be expensive, ranging from $800 up to thousands, they are vital.

“With early prevention, my sister would still be here,” Clarkson said. “So, what we’re saying is when someone needs those tests but they plan to take their chances and wait until next mammogram because it’s that or the mortgage payment, we’re going to step in and say, ‘No. You’re doing it, and we’re paying for it.’”

That mission became known as Alliance Saves Lives, a company-wide initiative among The Alliance Group’s

Bob Clarkson and Dr. Rochelle Ringer

agents that would see donations from every home sold helping qualified applicants afford life-saving early detection. Focusing on Beaufort and Jasper counties, Alliance Saves Lives is administered by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, a non-profit 501(c) (3).

The mission was clear. The pieces were in place. And just as Clarkson was preparing to roll out the new initiative in 2020, with his agents already jumping at the opportunity to help, the entire world came crashing down. “When COVID hit, we really had to pump the brakes. It seemed insensitive, with all the other needs that the pandemic created,” he explained.

His agents didn’t wait for the starter’s pistol, kicking in personal donations to the sum of nearly $20,000. One agent, whose daughter is a breast cancer survivor, added $1,000 out of his own pocket. One home seller heard about Alliance Saves Lives and offered to donate. Several Alliance Group agents have spent the last few years donating,

knowing that the day would come when Alliance Saves Lives was ready to roll out.

“But now that the pandemic is past, the timing seems right to pick up on this thing and keep running,” Clarkson said. “In my opinion, it’s an obligation, not an option. We are a successful real estate company because the people in this community have supported us, and I think that there’s an obligation to say thanks to the community and give something back.”

And while certain current events may have some people a little leery about donating to charities where a small percentage actually goes to the cause, Clarkson is proud of the clean and transparent structure of what they’ve built. “I think our administrative costs last year were around $50. The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry manages the whole thing and the funds in the account are invested to offset. It is a beautiful thing.”

Giving back has always been a part of the mission, but with Alliance Saves Lives, they’re not just giving money. They’re not just giving their time, talent and expertise. They’re giving women a second chance.

“My hope is that someday we have someone walk into our office and say, ‘I just wanted to come in here and thank you guys because without you, I wouldn’t be here,’” he said. “But what will be even better is knowing how many women were able to get the tests they need, and they come back clean. Because then, they’re not losing sleep for the next year thinking there’s a problem.” 

To find out more or to donate, visit thealliancegrouprealty. com/alliance-saves-lives.

“My hope is that someday we have someone walk into our office and say, ‘I just wanted to come in here and thank you guys because without you, I wouldn’t be here.’” - bob clarkson

ARTICLE BY LILLI SERRAL . PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

Sparking Conservation

HOW 6 LOCAL WOMEN ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The topic of conservation is one not often brought up at happy hours or dinner parties. In its defense, however, conservation does not make for bad conversation. It’s just misunderstood. Unlike unsolicited relationship advice or seemingly endless political rants, conservation is something we should bring up with others. The key is knowing how to do so.

Conservation aims to prevent the wasteful use of a resource. It protects, restores, maintains, preserves, and enhances ecosystems, wildlife, and the biodiversity of the planet. It’s important to the world as a whole as well as our region of the Lowcountry.

As with many subjects, conservation is best learned from the experts. The six women highlighted here are talented, passionate, and incredibly accomplished. They spend their days protecting animals, educating young people, advocating for sustainability, organizing volunteer programs, and voicing the concerns of our community. They’re not just starting the conversation. They’re enriching it, fueling it, and inviting us all to join in. Now that’s a talk worth having.

Laurie Savidge, Director of Operations, Marriott’s Grande Ocean Resort

Vacation and conservation might seem like two completely different states of mind, but for Laurie Savidge, they’re one and the same. Since stepping into her unique role as director of operations for Marriott’s Grande Ocean Resort three years ago, she has made it evident that a relaxing, fun-filled vacation can (and should) include a bit of education on the surrounding area.

In a nutshell, Savidge ensures the 19-acre beachfront resort is conducive to the local environment. A huge part of her job involves engaging and interacting with resort guests of all ages regarding the beaches, nature, and wildlife that make Hilton Head Island such an incredible place to visit. From leading a weekly beach sweep to hosting local naturalists who can inform guests on topics like sea turtle nesting season dos and don’ts, local birds of prey, and more, it’s clear that Savidge’s passion lies in protecting and respecting the local environment.

Promoting sustainability is also a key part of her role at the resort, which has led to the implementation of food donation programs and even the “Sharing Shack,” where guests can leave toys, chairs, and other beach items for incoming vacationers. We’re all in this together, after all, and whether you consider Hilton Head Island your home or your vacation happy place, Savidge encourages you to learn, ask questions, and make thoughtful decisions with conservation in mind.

Amber Kuehn, Manager of Sea Turtle Patrol

Though she is known to many as an expert turtle patroller, knowledgeable boat captain, and avid volunteer, Amber Kuehn can more simply be described as a conservation hero. After a childhood spent learning the ins and outs of the May River, Kuehn’s education took her

to South Florida, Hawaii, and beyond before she decided to land right back here in the Lowcountry.

Kuehn spends much of her time managing the Sea Turtle Patrol program, a nonprofit she brought up to federal status back in 2018. Since joining the program, she has helped protect the livelihood of local sea turtle nests and hatchlings in more ways than one could imagine. When she’s not patrolling the beach with her team, you might find her advocating for the turtles in a more political setting. A recent win was in 2021 when the revised lighting protocol for sea turtles was approved by the town council thanks to her efforts.

To take a page from Kuehn’s book, it’s important to educate yourself on an ongoing basis. Locals and visitors alike can learn and make a difference by attending a weekly Turtle Talk (follow @hhiseaturtle for more info), filling in holes on the beach, and respecting the wildlife that make their home on the island.

LAURIE SAVIDGE

Jean Fruh, Executive Director of The Outside Foundation

Learning about the salt marsh ecosystem requires more than just knowing the facts. Jean Fruh, educator and executive director of The Outside Foundation, certainly agrees. Since moving to Hilton Head Island almost 20 years ago, she has shared her love of nature with the community, connecting people with the outdoors and, more specifically, the Lowcountry’s natural beauty, which is loved by locals and visitors alike.

In her nine years as executive director of The Outside Foundation, Fruh has educated the community, led countless volunteer projects, and worked to combat erosion with the foundation’s incredible Oyster Recycling and Reef Rebuilding Initiative. Her efforts to create hands-on, nature-related experiences have also produced the Kids in Kayaks program, which strives to bring all Beaufort County seventh graders out for a full day of learning about salt marsh

Sparking Conservation

inhabitants, identifying wildlife species in the area, and of course, exploring the marsh via kayak.

These programs are both tangible and fulfilling for every participant, but Fruh notes just how memorable an experience with The Outside Foundation is for the younger generation. “It’s remarkable for the kids,” she said. “When they get out there and do the kayak program, they can really understand the impact of protecting or not protecting the salt marsh. They are the future of Hilton Head.”

Follow @outsidefoundation to learn more and get involved.

Robin Storey, Treasurer at Hilton Head Island Land Trust

Protecting the beauty of this wonderful island is no small task, but Robin Storey has been working vigilantly to preserve, protect, conserve, and maintain local undeveloped land plus land with historical significance for over eight years. With help from the rest of the Hilton Head Island Land Trust volunteer board of directors and members, her efforts have succeeded to protect and maintain five important pieces of land, including wetlands habitats, an earthen Civil War fort, and two conservancies totaling 188 acres inside Hilton Head Plantation.

Storey strives to educate others on the importance of preserving these pieces of land because, among other reasons, protecting the land means protecting the natural habitats of wildlife species who make their home here. The Land Trust offers a glimpse into Hilton Head Island’s amazing world of wildlife through their Raptor Cam, which allows viewers an up-close look at a local nest. Past inhabitants include Great Horned Owls, Bald Eagles, and now a pair of Ospreys.

Storey’s hobbies and creative outlets even have roots in nature. She’s an avid wildlife photographer, and she’ll tell you

AMBER KUEHN

that capturing images of her favorite local wild things only strengthens her passion and drive for protecting their habitats. If you’re feeling inspired to make a difference as well, Storey recommends adopting an observant, conservation-focused mindset as well as visiting hhilandtrust.org to see volunteer opportunities and join the Land Trust. Jessie White, South Coast Office Director at Coastal Conservation League

When it comes to conservation, sometimes using your voice is the most important thing you can do. Jessie White uses hers to protect the coastal resources of South Carolina, educate others on issues that affect their community, and help

B

The Women of the Outside Foundation: (from left to right) Jean Fruh, Susan Dee, Madeline Cox, Abby Wirth, Caitlin Lee and Jocelyn Kern

residents vocalize their thoughts on environmental issues that hit close to home.

After seven years at the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, White joined the Coastal Conservation League in Beaufort. As the South Coast office manager, she covers Colleton, Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton Counties. Though her position typically involves tasks like investigating and sharing her knowledge on new and ongoing

JEAN FRUH

issues, connecting people with the appropriate resources, acting on their behalf, and monitoring public notices and meeting agendas, it’s virtually impossible to predict what might unfold on any given day.

It is, in short, a position that requires an incredible amount of drive, avidity, and dedication. Whether the issue at hand pertains to land development, air and water pollution, or energy use, White is determined to have a voice at the table (whether it’s hers or that of a local community) when decisions are being made. Her advice? Get involved!

“It’s important to follow the efforts in your area,” White said. “Learn, volunteer, donate to nonprofits you care about, and write to your local officials to voice your thoughts and concerns.” Start the conversation at coastalconservationleague.org.

ROBIN STONEY

JESSIE WHITE

Sparking Conservation

Jody Hayward, Executive Director at Port Royal Sound Foundation

Education, research, and conservation are the mainstays of the Port Royal Sound Foundation, and Jody Hayward does an exceptional job at ensuring they remain as such. During her time as the foundation’s executive director, she has built a truly impressive team that works hard to educate and inspire others through their events, children’s programs, and the foundation’s very own Maritime Center located in Okatie, right on the sound.

Hayward’s passion for community leadership and focus on positive impact began about 20 years ago. She and her family moved from Atlanta to Beaufort, where she helped create and open the first charter school in Beaufort County. The resulting feelings of bringing joy to families, making a change, and enriching a community eventually led to her current role with the Port Royal Sound Foundation.

According to Hayward, the Maritime Center is where it all happens. If you haven’t been, it’s absolutely worth a visit. The free museum offers a detailed look at the Port Royal Sound through history, culture, art, wildlife, and more, so there’s a little something for everyone! Hayward encourages folks from all walks of life to visit the Maritime Center. “It makes people aware of how important the sound is to the beach, our wildlife, the beautiful landscapes, fishing, and everything else locals and tourists love about the area,” she said.

Follow @portroyalsoundfoundation for updates on events and volunteer opportunities. 

JODY HAYWARD

“It’s important to follow the efforts in your area. Learn, volunteer, donate to nonprofits you care about, and write to your local officials to voice your thoughts and concerns,” White said.

Article

An Albatross

LOCAL LADY GOLFER SHARES MOST MEMORABLE SHOT

Sharon Duncan’s love for the game of golf began as more of a “hate” relationship than “love.” Her husband Richard worked for Milliken and Co.; she was in the medical field; and the couple had two children. They were an active family—in church and school and sports. From time to time, Richard played corporate golf and with

cousins and brothers-in-law at family gatherings. Although he loved the game, Sharon didn’t want him to play due to the time it required away from family and the expense of the game.

In 1997, the Duncan’s son was graduating from high school and heading to college, and their daughter would be graduating in 2000. Through the years, the family had listened to Focus on the Family, a radio broadcast by James Dobson, which provided the young couple with a wealth of information on how to raise a family.

“I remember one broadcast in particular in the late spring of 1997,” Sharon said. “It basically advised those looking toward an empty nest to find something they would enjoy doing together. Golf immediately came to my mind as I knew this was something that Richard truly loved.”

When she came home and told her husband that she wanted to take up golf, he thought she had lost her mind. Nonetheless, Sharon got a used set of clubs, took a few lessons, and they’ve been playing ever since.

After their children both left home, the couple decided to downsize. After 16 years of living on the eastside of Spartanburg, they sold their home and moved to River Falls, a golf course community in, of all places, Duncan, South Carolina (and eventually to Hilton Head Island). Many days, after work, they would unwind by playing nine holes; then on weekends they would play at least 18 holes.

As Sharon’s game improved, she began to experience a variety of successes—both as an individual golfer and on a team with her husband. “I have had two eagles from the fairway on par 4s and witnessed each one of them rolling into the cup,” she said. “After the first eagle, I couldn’t wait to get to work on Monday morning to tell my boss about the great shot. When I excitedly told him that I had had an eagle over the weekend, he looked at me and said, ‘Oh it’s just luck.’ I was devastated. Maybe a little luck was involved, but I knew that if I had not been aiming for the flag, it wouldn’t have gone in.”

Sharon has also had several birdies along the way. She frequently gets asked, “Have you ever had a hole in one?” and her answer is, “Honestly, yes, in my dreams!”

During her second year of playing golf, she and Richard played 18 holes at Lan Yair Country Club in Spartanburg. On practically every hole, she would watch his approach shot hit the green and spin right 10 to 12 feet. After going to bed that night, just into the dream state, she stood up on a par 3 and hit her tee shot.

“My ball hit the green, spun right 10 feet and went in the hole,” she said. “With my arms in the air, I mumbled something unintelligible. Richard just started laughing and asked me what was going on. I said, ‘I just got a hole-in-one!’”

by Cheryl Ricer . Photography by Peggy Cannon

Sharon Duncan didn’t exactly like golf in the beginning...

Sharon’s greatest shot ever, though, was no dream. It was June 7, 2022—International Women’s Golf Day. Shipyard Golf Club organized a Ladies Day to commemorate the event. Each foursome had a country to represent, and Duncan’s team was assigned Uruguay, whose colors are blue and white with a touch of yellow. Carts were decorated with flags and streamers and flowers, or anything to promote the teams’ countries. The format was a scramble, and Duncan’s team started on Brigantine. The first two holes were par 4s, and the team got

pars on both holes. Hole No. 3 was a 401-yard par 5 from the ladies forward tees.

“We each hit drives, and mine was crazy long,” Sharon said. “I hit a Ping G5 driver, which came out in 2005, making it 17 years old. The fairway grass was short and dry, just the way I like it. I have a natural draw, and I get a lot of roll. My drive was 225 yards, leaving 176 yards to the pin.”

The group in front of Sharon’s team was still on the green, so she asked her teammates if they would go ahead and hit since she needed to wait for the green to clear. When clear, she pulled out her somewhat new, shiny Heavenwood (a club made by Calloway with a 4-wood head on a 7-wood shaft) and nailed the shot. It flew perfectly straight, hit the ground and rolled right into the hole.

“I was hopeful but had to actually see it in the hole with my own eyes,” she said. “My teammates were certain that it went in the hole. Sure enough, when we got to the green and didn’t see the ball, we ran to the hole, and there it was! I had achieved an albatross—a score of two on a par 5 with odds of one in six million—a very rare accomplishment and something that Tiger Woods has never even done. One of my teammates, was ecstatic. She said, ‘It was the greatest shot I’ve ever witnessed!’ It was certainly a fun day and one that I will never forget.”

Sharon’s attitude toward golf drastically changed over time, and she now says that she agrees with the movie, golf is The Greatest Game Ever Played!

“It’s a sport that can be played for a lifetime,” she said, “and there are beautiful golf courses anywhere you travel. Now, my husband and I are enjoying our retirement years in beautiful Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where we can play golf to our hearts’ content.” 

Culturally Speaking

Natalie Harvey steps into her office and looks over several small stacks of paperwork on her desk, each one lighting a tiny fire in her eyes. What she sees is neither piles nor clutter, but tidy packets of potential.

2022 was a big year for Harvey as she celebrated a half century of round trips of the sun and took a giant step up the career ladder. Starting in October, she exchanged her title as Vice President of Collections and Interpretation at the Coastal Discovery Museum for a bright new opportunity as Director of Cultural Affairs at the Town of Hilton Head Island.

It was a change and a challenge she couldn’t turn down. “I knew I wanted to make this leap, but after 25 years [at CDM], it was scary. It’s a lot of the same community outreach I was doing at the museum, but it’s times 10,” she said.

“What’s different here is that it is much broader—being able to touch the entire community—the residents, whereas I was working a lot with visitors and students before,” Harvey said. “All these things are open to our visitors as well, but getting to know how we can touch our local population and getting young people to experience the arts … I’ve been trying to keep my mind on how to do that in the future.”

Not surprising to those who know her, Harvey hit the ground running. The week she donned her new hat, the annual Crescendo Celebration of Arts, Culture, and Heritage was in full swing, and the annual Lantern Parade was less than a month away. With great appreciation of her predecessor, Jenn McEwan, these events were successful and went smoothly. Next, she was full throttle into the public art installation at Shelter Cove Community Park. The town officially celebrated the Shelter Cove Sculpture Trail opening at the May 1, 2023 ribbon cutting.

DEFINING CULTURE

Say the word culture, and many people’s minds go immediately to the high-brow world of opera, ballet, and fine art. But according to Harvey, culture is so much more.

“Locally, our culture encompasses our Gullah history, our ethic about the environment, our connection with the environment. Newcomers are attracted by the natural beauty here; that’s part of our culture. Certainly, our thriving arts— performing, visual, music—all of that is encompassed,” she said.

“The breadth and depth of the arts and cultural and heritage and history offerings we have here beats any place, I think,” Harvey continued. “We’re not

Article by Linda S. Hopkins . Photography by M.Kat

Natalie Harvey, Town of Hilton Head Island’s ‘Queen of Culture’

Natalie Harvey poses with two jellyfish lanterns on Coligny Beach. This year’s Lantern Parade will return on November 18.

J

Charleston. We’re not Savannah. We’re certainly not the Metropolitan Museum. We have our museum. We have our art league. We’re not trying to be something we’re not; we are a unique experience.”

Citing our local passion for sea turtles, Harvey elaborated on the intersection of environment and culture. “People don’t live their history separate from their environment,” she said. “But they also don’t live it separate from their creativity—their music, their cooking, etc. Having that view of how our community operates has helped me think about culture beyond the theatre, the music and the art.”

SMALL TOWN, BIG OPPORTUNITY

Describing herself as “a big department of one,” Harvey explained her new role at the town. Many people think it’s just about planning events, but a lot of it is behind the scenes—getting to know our community, connecting organizations and individual artists, Harvey explained. “Our community is very fortunate to have so many volunteer-run organizations. Sometimes I can help connect them with resources of people or treasure [grants]. That’s fun!”

There is no typical day in Harvey’s world. It’s planning and meetings but also research about future public art. “Public art helps create a sense of place. We have beautiful parks. We have the sculpture trail at Shelter Cove. It’s something that is unique to Hilton Head,” she said. “It’s been great to see the town embrace that there are spaces for public art—non-traditional places [e.g., our parks, Hilton Head Island Rec Center] where people can interact with art, have a relationship with a piece. It’s approachable.”

COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AND UPCOMING PROJECTS

One of the most fulfilling aspects of Harvey’s position is seeing organizations work more collaboratively. For example, for the Gullah Me, Gullah You Cultural Series, held in the 2022-23 season, the Hilton

Head Symphony Orchestra joined hands with Mitchelville Freedom Park and the Gullah Museum for a concert, dinner, history, storytelling, and more.

And when Lean Ensemble presented their original production of Mitchelville, Harvey, with the help of several Arts Council members, was able to write a grant to offer a student matinee with 125 students and another 25 community members attending for free—an example of something special that wouldn’t have happened if the Office of Cultural Affairs wasn’t opening doors.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Harvey said. “I got a note from one of the teachers saying, ‘The conversation on the bus on the way back was absolutely amazing. These kids got it.’ Being any small part of that is really rewarding.”

Upcoming projects Harvey is excited about include the 2023 Crescendo Celebration beginning Oct. 10 and culminating in the Hilton Head Lantern Parade (Nov. 18), which she is working to make more accessible; and the town’s 360/40 celebration (Aug. 26-Sept. 16), marking 360 years since William Hilton’s first sighting of the land that is now Hilton Head Island and 40 years since incorporating as a town. Details coming soon!

FUELING THE PASSION

You may be wondering how Harvey got so clear about her life’s mission and how she landed here. She credits her parents for her initial interest in all things cultural. “We would go on long vacations. Museums were a big deal and historic sites. So, I grew up thinking, that’s what you do!” she said.

Born in Indiana, Harvey grew up in Palm Beach, Florida and started vacationing with her family on Hilton Head Island during her middle school years. She went away for high school in Connecticut, and while she was there, her parents decided to move to Hilton Head, making this Harvey’s home since the late 1980s.

Harvey was later afforded the opportunity to attend Wake Forest University where she studied art history with the intention of someday working in an art museum. During her junior year, she traveled to Venice, Italy and lived in the Wake Forest House (Casa Artom) for a semester while continuing her studies.

The sculpture trail at Shelter Cove features several large art installations like “Liquid Sunshine” by Michael Alfano.

What Would Natalie Do?

If you’re seeking more cultural opportunities on Hilton Head Island, Natalie Harvey suggests you look at what’s happening: “Click on CultureHHI. org [for event listings and a cultural trail map]. Pick one thing that’s not in your normal view. Put a list on your refrigerator. This year, I would like to…”

SUGGESTIONS:

• Attend a live music event or free concert

• Visit the Coastal Discovery Museum (it’s not just for tourists)

• Take in a performance at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina

• Go to a play at Main Stage Community Theatre

• Peruse local art at the Art League Gallery

• Experience the sculpture trail at Shelter Cove Community Park

• Find the poetry trail

• Sign up for a turtle talk

• Take a nature walk/guided tour

• Attend a festival

• Participate in the Lantern Parade

• Picnic or take a walk at a local park

• Sign up for a Gullah Heritage Tour

• Visit historic cemeteries or churches

“You can’t do it all, so don’t be overwhelmed,” Harvey advised. “Pick one thing a month and expand your definition of culture.”

After graduating with a BA in art history, she attended grad school at the University of South Carolina, earning her master’s degree in public history with a concentration in historic preservation. She wrote her thesis on the history of Hilton Head Island between the Civil War and pre-bridge.

Next, she returned to Hilton Head for an internship at the Coastal Discovery Museum and, lucky for us, never left. She has lived and breathed our local culture since.

In addition to her day job, Harvey currently serves on the Arts Council of Hilton Head Island, where she has held several leadership positions, the Hilton Head Audubon board, and the Beaufort County Historic Preservation Review Board. As a former chair of the Arts and Cultural Council of Hilton Head, she helped lead the organization in creating Crescendo, an annual celebration of arts and culture on Hilton Head Island.

When she’s not working, you’ll find her practicing what she preaches—attending local and regional arts and cultural events. She also enjoys birdwatching in her backyard and traveling. 

ARTICLE BY LESLEY FRANCIS

Heritage wit H woman- l ed l eaderSHip t eam

Build on SucceSSful

many people already know about Mike Overton’s success story in founding and building Outside Brands as well as his commitment to the Lowcountry’s environment and community. From humble beginnings as a windsurfing school in 1979, Outside Brands has grown into a dynamic four-division business with operations in South Carolina and Georgia. Driven by a mission to enrich lives by connecting people to exceptional places, products and experiences, Outside Brands offers fully customized group travel services, team-building programs, activities and specialty retail.

KA group enjoying an Outside experience off the coast of Hiton Head Island aboard the Outside Owl.

What is less well known is the depth and breadth of the female-led management structure he continues to invest in. Raised by a strong woman, Overton was inspired to ensure that women have always had every opportunity to develop their careers in his company. “I am so proud of the women of Outside Brands, that lead our organization,” he said. “My mother,

Ellen Overton, dedicated her life to working toward the goal of a society that provided gender equality in the workplace. Outside is a product of this legacy.”

In recent months, many amazing women have been appointed to the Outside Brands leadership team, who are in the forefront of ecotourism, sustainability, and local business within the Lowcountry. This impressive and important commitment to developing and supporting tomorrow’s leaders is apparent and is adding to the already significant legacy Overton has built. With the appointment of Sharon Sutton as their new director of human resources, Sarah Tillman as the company’s chief financial officer, Jennifer Messier as their new director of risk management and strategy, and Anne Kelley as the Outside destinations management (DMC) team’s new business development manager, he has surrounded himself with a talented group of women to continue growing the company.

In the specialty retail arena, Jessie Madden heads the department as the new director of retail, with both the company’s men’s and women’s retail buyers being women-led as well. Madden oversees all three Outside retail locations, including Hilton Head Island, Palmetto Bluff, and Savannah, with the vision to enrich lives by connecting people to exceptional products with a sustainable mission. She enjoys getting

to know the consumers and what makes their lives richer through the stories they tell from products they found while shopping at Outside.

“What inspires me about being part of the Outside Brands Team is the freedom to think outside the box,” Madden said. “Here, we are given the ability to bring in local vendors and give the ‘little guy’ a chance to get their product off the ground. We are also encouraged to create ways to give back to our community with initiatives like our charitable Recycle Your Jacket campaign and by sponsoring Pint Nights, which is next happening in September as part of Paddle Battle weekend.”

“Almost all our leadership team positions are held by women. These individuals are a team of no-nonsense, get-the-job-done, straight-shooting people that achieve great things daily,” Overton said. “All appointments are given to the most qualified candidates. In today’s workplace, simply put, we have found the most qualified applicants we interview and vet to be women.”

Overton has always been forward thinking, and the appointment of the next generation of female leaders as well as the opportunities for career advancement and promotion is nothing new at Outside Brands. The number of professional women in the company is inspiring and includes:

Carol Kavanaugh-Arrington, destinations DMC director of sales; Jennifer Freeman, destinations DMC director of operations; Kelle McMichael, director of Outside Palmetto Bluff; Pippi Ikor, marketing manager; Patty Robbins, director of guide training and education; Brittany Willard, reservations director; Jean Fruh, Outside Foundation executive director; Denise Spencer, Outside Foundation board chairperson; and Samantha Valdes, manager – Outside Savannah.

Managing marketing initiatives at Outside Brands, Anneliza “Pippi” Itkor said, “I am inspired daily by the commitment of our team. Mike Overton looks for staff who are hungry, humble and smart, and lives these values himself as an example to us all. No matter what your role is in the company, there is a deep appreciation for hard work, and that compels us to bring our very best to this company, day after day.”

On the sales side, Kavanaugh-Arrington said, “Outside Brands lets me be part of a team of dedicated, hardworking, talented individuals who are committed to providing exceptional experiences from being on the water to

The 2023 Outside Brands Team

An exclusive sunset trip to Page Island on the luxury catamaran, Outside Ohana.

extraordinary events.”

As the company enters its fifth decade, the leadership continues its successful path. “Outside Brands will continue to grow with our three-discipline model of retail, leisure recreation, and destination management, with a focus on the Lowcountry of South Carolina and

the Georgia Coastal Empire. We are regularly adding new experiences, services and retail offerings,” Overton explained.

One way they are growing is through harboring one of the most unique event venues in the Lowcountry—the Outside Ohana—a 47-foot luxury catamaran. The Ohana

has quickly become a much sought after gathering place for group outings, family reunions, corporate events, gathering of friends, small weddings, and more. With completely customizable experiences and numerous decor, catering, and activity options, the Ohana is the ideal way to experience the sights and seas.

The Ohana was introduced to the Outside fleet in 2020 and comfortably holds up to 49 passengers. It boasts a spacious outdoor deck perfect for taking in panoramic views, a cabin area that can be open-air or weather protected, a state-of-the-art sound system to handle custom playlists, a large bar for food and beverage service and an on-board restroom.

Outside Brands’ team of professionals always work to create the perfect tailored events, with departure locations from Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia. The women of Outside destinations management team, Outside DMC, assist with local catering options, and the team of experienced local captains and staff are fully equipped for all activities including private island exploration, kayaking, paddle boarding, beachcombing, and tours of the Port of Savannah, the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Daufuskie Island, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and beyond.

In addition to private experiences, Outside Ohana features selected shared experiences during specific holidays and times of the year. Shared experiences include dolphin eco tours and beachcombing cruises from Hilton Head Island, and a port tour along the Savannah River. Special holiday experiences include summertime fireworks cruises from Hilton Head Island and the Holiday Parade of Lights in Savannah.

Clearly, Mike Overton has achieved a wonderful balance of inspiring leadership and empowering the next generation to be their best selves. “Outside Brands is committed to being the region’s best place to work,” he said. “This goal is supported via exceptional team training, a focused mission, company growth that fuels career development, and a deep appreciation of our associates.” 

For more information, please visit outsidebrands.com and follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

The Outside Brands Leadership Team (left to right): Sarah Tillman; JC McCune, Sharon Sutton; Jennifer Messier; Jessie Madden; Mike Overton; Kelle McMichael; Brittany Willard; Michael Hodson.

Face Place by KC owner, Kathy Cooksey, passes the torch to Susan Sorensen as she approaches retirement.

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

FACE TO FACE

AS THE “KC” IN THE FACE PLACE

BY KC PREPARES FOR RETIREMENT, SHE LOOKS TO NEW GENERATION TO TAKE SKINCARE FORWARD.

It’s been a long journey to pending retirement for Kathy Cooksey, one marked by constant evolution. Starting out in skin care in the 1970s, she would study makeup artistry that went beyond beauty. She opened her very first business in 1984, which was also called The Face Place, in which she did reconstructive paramedical makeup, helping those who suffered facial disfigurements and deformities.

“But when I actually got involved in esthetics, it just opened my eyes,” she said. “It became a very exciting field to move into.”

Moving into esthetics would lead to her opening the highly popular Arbor Door day spa in Moss Creek Village in 2004 where she gained a loyal following for the magic she could create with skin. But even then, her evolution continued. Having to close Arbor Door during the global recession, she began working at a medical spa.

“That really took me to a different level altogether,” she said.

The paradigm shift that came with her time at a medical spa, combined with her natural talent for beauty, brought her full circle in opening The Face Place by KC in 2014. While sharing a name with her first endeavor, this new studio spa represented the decades of expertise she’d developed in between.

And now, having served the Hilton Head Island/Lowcountry area for more than 20 years as an esthetician, she is preparing for the next step in her journey: retirement. “My husband’s already retired. He would like me to retire soon. I keep promising I will, and I keep not retiring,” she said with a laugh.

There was just one thing keeping her from retirement—well, one thing apart from the fire in her belly for skincare, which hasn’t so much as flickered in her decades in the industry. Esthetics is a relationship business, and Cooksey’s relationships with her clients go back 20 years in some cases. If she was going to entrust their skincare to someone else, it had to be someone she could trust.

“I had a client come to me who’d been to

another provider, and that esthetician told the client they had brown spots because they ate fast food,” Cooksey said. “Sure, diet is a contributing factor in skin health, but you don’t get brown spots from fast food.”

Clearly, there was a dearth of worthy estheticians to whom Cooksey could bequeath the clients who had entrusted her with their skin. And then, one day, fortune came calling.

Susan Sorensen, owner of AboutFace Skin Therapy, had relocated to the area after a successful eight-year run in New Hampshire. A licensed esthetician since 2012, she is an honor graduate of The Laird Institute of Spa Therapy, a Dermalogica Expert, Professional Skin Therapist, and holds the International Dermal Institute Post-Graduate Certificate for Skin and Body Therapy, an additional 100hour education to support the 900 hours she completed at The Laird Institute.

“Her ability to change the skin without using prescriptions is amazing,” Cooksey said. “When I was trained back in the early 2000s, esthetic spas were in their infancy. Susan is far more technically oriented than I was.”

For Sorensen, that emphasis on the technical side of things is just part of what she brings to the table. “There’s been such an evolution in skin science, so much knowledge and information that we have now that we didn’t before,” she said. “But there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned facial, which is with your hands. That’s how you build client relationships.”

Hers is a practice which is established on the principles of clinical skin science and which parallels Cooksey’s clientforward philosophy. Blending technique and science, it’s all executed in service of one mission: flawless skin.

“We want people to take care of their skin. We’re not just about beauty. We’re about skin health,” Sorensen said. “That elevated level of service exists because we want people to get results.”

For Cooksey, meeting Sorensen meant finally being able to move into retirement. “The more I talk to her and work with her, the more I realize she is me 10 years ago,” Cooksey said. “She has that same passion and that same fire in her belly.”

And as she prepares for the sun to set on The Face Place by KC, Cooksey is happy to see that the sun will rise on AboutFace Skin Therapy, offering that same dedication, passion and technical know-how that have served her clients for decades.

“This is an amazing opportunity that we estheticians don’t get very often,” Sorensen said. “I’m excited to welcome Kathy’s clients and continue helping them achieve beautiful, healthy skin.” 

To schedule an appointment, visit AboutFace Skin Therapy at 23 Plantation Park Drive, Suite 201, or visit aboutfacesusan.com.

A calming therapy room awaits an incoming customer.

Susan Sorensen consults with a client before beginning treatment.

ARTICLE BY LINDA S. HOPKINS PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

Big jim’s at

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort

SOMETHING DELICIOUS FOR EVERYONE

The kids are begging for pizza; teenage daughter demands salad; teenage son wants hot wings; Dad has a hankering for barbecue and a cold beer; Mom’s in the mood for grilled shrimp and a glass of Prosecco; Grandad’s craving a burger; and Grandmom requires a gluten-free option. What’s a family to do? You could go your separate ways, or you could head to Big Jim’s, located at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, and make everybody happy.

While Big Jim’s is known for its barbecue, burgers and pizza, they have expanded their menu to include an array of specialty items and regional fare to please every palate.

“When I started working here about three years ago, one of my goals was not to just have the standard golf fare you can get anywhere in the country—a grilled chicken club or a cheeseburger. We have those things. But when you’re here, there should be a sense of place, and food relates to that,” said Justin Rowland, Palmetto Dunes Resort’s Director of Food & Beverage. “It’s important to offer things that represent our region, so it’s not just burgers and pizza. The plan is not to be the same as everybody else.”

Examples of regionally inspired dishes now on the menu include Big Jim’s Fish Tacos (grilled and blackened grouper served in a flour tortilla with all the yummy accompaniments); the Po’Boy sandwich (fried shrimp lettuce, tomato and remoulade sauce); and the BBQ Crispy Spring Roll (a fusion of pulled pork with a sweet & spicy Asianstyle dipping sauce). Sides such as collard greens and corn muffins add a Southern flair, with baked beans, mac & cheese, coleslaw, and fries (or sweet potato fries) bringing a down-home sense of comfort

to the table.

1. BBQ Wings; 2. Black & Blue Burger; 3. Lowcountry Boil and Garlic Biscuits; 4. View of the Golf Course outside of Big Jim’s; 5. Birdie Patty Melt with Sweet Potato Fries; 6. A line of refreshing cocktails; 7. Buffalo Chicken Pizza and a frosty PDR; 8. Sweet Chili Crispy Shrimp with Creamy Sweet Thai Chili Sauce

Recently added special offerings that speak to our local culture include a Lowcountry Boil, available every Thursday night from 5-8 p.m. or until it sells out ($30 serves 3-4 people); and fried oysters/fried okra, served on Friday nights from 5-8 p.m. or until it’s gone. As with all Big Jim’s offerings, these meals can be savored in the restaurant or packed to go with everything you need to serve and enjoy them at home.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE GOLF GRILL

Yes, Big Jim’s is known for a broad range of menu options, but what truly sets this restaurant apart is the quality of the food. A peek inside the kitchen reveals a dedication to freshness that is beyond what you might expect at a typical golf grill: not a frozen pizza crust or pre-breaded chicken tender in sight. Nor will you find a gallon jug of sauce or a factory-made spring roll. According to Rowland, every item is crafted to order. “We’re leaning into what we’re slated as—a BBQ, burger, and pizza restaurant—but trying to stay fresh and creative even with those items,” he said.

For example, you can have a cheese pizza, but if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you might try one of the specialty pizzas such as the BBQ Chicken Pizza, Caprese Pizza, Veggie Pizza, or Big Jim’s Special. You can also have it your way with toppings of your choice.

The same applies to the gourmet burgers—all prime Angus beef with a variety of flavor profiles from Big Jim’s Classic Cheeseburger to the Black & Blue to the

A Side of Retail Therapy

While you’re dining at Big Jim’s, be sure to stop in the adjacent golf pro shop—the largest on Hilton Head Island. You’ll find an expansive selection of men’s and women’s golf attire and accessories as well as a colorful selection of resort wear and gift options for the non-golfer.

Don’t miss the new Palmetto Dunes-branded merchandise, a custom pattern in pastel colors—skirts, tops, dresses, and accessories—perfect for looking and feeling cool both on and off the golf course.

Southern Burger, dressed up with fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese.

Leading the way in the kitchen is Chef Patrick Blankenship, long-time island resident, and former Italian restaurant owner—thus his famous New York style pizzas with hand-tossed crusts and fresh sauces made in-house daily. “People come in here and say it’s the best pizza they’ve ever had,” Blankenship said. “I like to do simple food that tastes great—nothing too fancy, nothing too extravagant, but it’s a little more upscale than what people are expecting.”

COME ONE, COME ALL—NO TEE TIME OR GATE PASS REQUIRED

What you may not know or understand is that Big Jim’s is accessible to all. “This is not just for golfers. We’re a three-meal, seven-day-a week restaurant. This is open to locals and all visitors—no gate pass required,” Rowland said. “Anybody can come here.”

If you are a golfer, you’ll find all the sustenance you need before, during, and after your round of golf—full breakfast or a breakfast sandwich to go, box lunches for takeout, and, of course, full-service at the restaurant.

Stick around for happy hour (weekdays 4-6 p.m.) and enjoy nightly drink specials and weekend beer bucket specials. Beer lovers will want to try a cold PDR. (That’s not a typo but a play on the famous brand with a different middle initial.) Palmetto Dunes Resort has partnered with Shellring Ale Works, a Port Royal, S.C.-based brewery, to produce its own signature beer. “It’s been super popular,” Rowland said. “They’re even selling it at Kroger now.”

If you are just finishing your round of golf, don’t miss your 15 minutes of fame on the big screen at the “nineteenth hole”—aka Big Jim’s. A webcam captures all the live action on the eighteenth; it only plays once before the next group comes through, so make your way in before it disappears.

Golfers warming up for their game or groups who don’t wish to play the full course will enjoy Toptracer Range (a 15bay high-tech golf driving range adjacent to the Robert Trent Jones course). The same food provided at Big Jim’s is also

A delicious Cobb salad and a glass of wine at Big Jim’s BBQ.

Rave Reviews

Here’s what people are saying:

“Always Great Food! Surprisingly Good! Anytime we’ve come, the food has been excellent! Nice treat! Check out Big Jim’s.”

“Great food and service! Toni and Wendy were awesome bartenders and helped me order the best food. Fried pickles are made on site and the best I’ve had. Southern Burger was amazing.”

“We just moved to Palmetto Dunes this past year and have absolutely loved it. Big Jim’s pizza is now our favorite! My husband and I love the thin crust, and the wait staff are so kind and attentive. Definitely recommend if you are staying in the area and want quality food and service!”

“We are locals with family visiting from out of town. Had a group of nine, and Big Jim’s was a convenient spot for dinner. The staff quickly accommodated our group. We ordered drinks and dinner and were busy catching up with each other. When a few drinks needed refilling, Wendy (the bartender) noticed that we had empty drinks and helped expedite refills. We appreciated the service. Our food was delicious— some of us had special instructions for our food—and everything came out just as we ordered it. Highly recommend Big Jim’s.”

“We had a very nice dinner at Big Jim’s. My son and I had bacon cheeseburgers, and my wife had a shrimp Po’Boy. The food was great. Our server provided outstanding service. And, the atmosphere is very nice, with a terrific view of the golf course.”

available there. “You can come down with the family and have a golf experience for a couple of hours and have pizza, nachos, hot wings, chicken fingers—all the kid favorites and family favorites. There’s also a full-service bar there, and you can even rent the bays for parties,” Rowland explained.

Whether you’re looking for a casual breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or planning a corporate event, wedding reception, or party, Big Jim’s is at your service. Stop by today and discover all the delicious food you’ve been craving in a relaxing setting overlooking the gorgeous fairway and

eighteenth green of the Robert Trent Jones golf course. Your taste buds will thank you!

Big Jim’s is located at 7 Trent Jones Lane, inside Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course Clubhouse and is open daily from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. for take-out, indoor, and outdoor dining. To see the full menu and find out about upcoming specials and events, visit bigjimsbbqcatering.com or call (866) 420-4478.

I

BBQ Pork Sandwich with a side of potato salad.

IChips and artichoke dip with a frosty PDR overlooking the course.

The Sports Addiction Team

(from left to right): Brandon Stinsman, John Pedigo, David Flemetis and Chris Kraly

Article by Barry Kaufman Photography by M.Kat

REAL MEN OF CYCLING

There are many ways to get to the Lowcountry’s two greatest spots for bikes and fitness equipment. Find out how some of its most recognizable faces got here.

On a bike, there are 9.7 miles between Old Town Bike Barn & Adventures in The Promenade, the unmistakable gray barn on Dr. Mellichamp Drive, to Sports Addiction, Okatie’s premiere biking, fitness and sports equipment store. Well, 9.7 miles if you ride up Bluffton Parkway. Heading up 170 will add another half a mile but will let you ride beneath those gorgeous live oaks. Going up Buckwalter will add another mile or so, but why rush it?

The point is, there are a lot of ways to get to the iconic bike stores owned by Jim and Marri Buser. Just ask the friendly faces who will greet you when you arrive. As a group of guys who live and breathe bikes, they can not only tell

you the best way to get from here to there on two wheels, but they can make sure you get there in comfort and style. They can also share some of their own stories of the road that led them there.

Let’s start our journey at the edge of The Promenade, where you’ll usually find David Howard wrenching on a bike inside the modest barn-like building that houses repairs, sales and rentals of every kind of bike you can imagine.

“I really like it over here,” he said. “It’s a great environment where people just hang out and chat while they get their bike fixed.”

Howard has been with the Bike Barn for five years, coming onboard a year or so after the Old Town spot opened. A Lowcountry semi-native (“I wasn’t born here, but I was definitely raised here,” he said), Howard is an avid outdoorsman whose trusty steed is a Giant Cypress Hybrid bike. As much as he rides, it may be surprising to learn that most of his mechanical wizardry was taught on the job.

“Believe it or not, I didn’t know anything about bike repair before I worked here,” he said. “I was taught by Jimbo (owner Jim Buser) and Dave (Flemetis, head mechanic), but I’m a fast learner.”

And if anyone can teach you the ropes, it’s those two. Buser has been the king of Lowcountry bikes since opening Sports Addiction more than 20 years ago. Flemetis, as head mechanic, learned the ropes of bicycle repair in an unusual way. His own road to Sports Addiction started in the Marine Corps fixing weaponry.

“I mean, they’re all mechanical,” Flemetis said when asked what separates bike repair from machine gun repair. “They all have a system to them. I can still disassemble certain

David Howard works on a tire at the Bike Barn in Old Town Bluffton.

machine guns in my mind just from repetition. Once you figure out the system, it’s all pretty simple.”

Flemetis grew up cycling, making his way around the small Washington town where he grew up in a one-car family. He continued cycling as he rose through the ranks of the corps, where he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer III. Pursuing it post-retirement, he enrolled in the United Bicycle Institute professional mechanics and shop operations course.

These days, he rides a Gunnar Sport, Raleigh 29er and a Rivendell Sam Hillborne when he’s not heading up the repair crew at Sports Addiction. “I’m the service manager, but two heads are always better than one,” he said. “It’s a team effort here.”

And that team shares Flemetis’ love of cycling as well as his impressive military credentials. Chris Kraly is another retired Marine, who has been racing bikes since 1973. Growing up in Southern New Jersey, in a small town with no bike shop, Kraly learned about bicycle repair through necessity. “If you wanted to ride bikes, you had to fix them” he said. “We used to go down to the local dump and trash pick four to five old bikes and make one good bike out of them.”

Always on the move, Kraly was retired for all of six and a half weeks before taking a chance that Sports Addiction might be hiring. He stopped one day after lunch at a nearby restaurant and was hired in minutes. “I always laugh that someday I’ll grow out cycling, but this is something I look forward to every day,” he said.

Joining them in the shop, John Pedigo shared a similar road to Sports Addiction through the military, albeit at a slightly higher altitude. As a former Navy pilot, he flew A7s off the USS Forrestal and the USS Saratoga before flying with Delta as a widebody captain. “I retired to Bluffton out of Atlanta, and I’m

an avid cyclist, so they offered me a job,” he said.

Riding his Trek Medon as a member of Kickin’ Asphalt, Pedigo honed his bicycle repair skills on the job, “helping the guys with whatever needs done.”

“Chris is smarter than I am when it comes to repairs,” Pedigo said with extraordinary modesty. “I’ll occasionally get calls from neighbors asking to fix their bikes, but they’re at Chris’ door at 7 a.m.”

Heading the show at Sports Addiction is General Manager Brandon Stinsman, who might just have the most inspiring journey to the shop of anyone. A Lowcountry resident since age three, Stinsman grew up, in his own words “the chunky kid.”

“I started here right after high school, fell in love with bikes and fitness and worked my way up,” he said. With his fitness journey underway as he started, it accelerated as his Sports Addiction career grew, feeding his own sports addiction. “Fitness became an everyday thing, and then when I started cycling on top of it, it kind of melted off me,” he said.

Today, Stinsman is a fitness junkie who rides a dualsport hybrid, runs 5Ks, hits the gym every day, and brings drive and enthusiasm to his work at Sports Addiction. And joining him at the Lowcountry’s favorite bike shops is a crew who took their own roads to get there but have found a path forward through helping others discover their love of sports, fitness and cycling.

“Each of these guys brings their own unique talents, experiences and personalities to the team,” Marri said. “And because of what they bring to the table, we all work together so well. It can be hard work, but they make it fun. We’re like a family.” 

CELEBRATE THE TOWN’S HISTORY WITH US

This year, we are celebrating two significant milestones in Hilton Head Island’s history—the 360th anniversary of the sighting of the headlands of the island by Captain William Hilton and the 40th anniversary of the island’s incorporation as a municipality.

I am excited about honoring these two significant moments with events to celebrate the island’s history (long and storied from 8000 BC when Native Americans occupied the island to the Civil War Period and the modern era of development and growth), ecology (our beautiful coastal landscape), culture (arts, music, and other fascinating activities), and people (whether you’ve been here for generations or just arrived a month ago). These events will allow us to reflect on how far we’ve come over the decades and unite as a community to celebrate what is important to us. Each of us has a story about how this island we call home has inspired, nurtured, or sustained us. The events scheduled for this celebration provide meaningful opportunities to reflect on what’s important and spend time with our fellow islanders.

The celebrations will include two free anchor events. A community picnic will be on Saturday, August 26, at the Lowcountry Celebration Park (94 Pope Avenue). From 4 to 8 p.m., attendees can enjoy complimentary traditional picnic fare (hamburgers, hot dogs, non-alcoholic beverages), fun and games (face painting, animal balloons, bounce houses, rock climbing, and more) for all ages, local

BOATING

Bluffton has one of the most beautiful waterways in the country. We want all our residents and visitors to enjoy our May River and to be safe. Below are six safety tips for area boaters to review before heading out to the waterways:

1. Be aware of the weather. Always check for weather conditions for the day of boating. A change in weather can also change the waterways from peaceful to rough waters.

2. Use life jackets. According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, 83 percent of people who drowned due to boating accidents were not wearing life jackets while on the boat. Make sure you have enough life jackets for all occupants on the boat and that they are all the right size.

3. Designate an alternate operator. If the person operating the boat is injured or incapacitated, it’s important to have someone else available to get everyone back to shore safely. Make sure that someone else on the boat is familiar with the operation of the boat and familiar with the area.

4. Avoid alcohol. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that in 2021 there were 4,439 recreational boating accidents in the United States. The leading contributor to these accidents was alcohol consumption. The effects of alcohol are increased by the sun and wind. Do not drink and drive you boat. The chance of being involved in a boating accident doubles when alcohol is consumed.

5. Take a boating safety course. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources as well as the Coast Guard, provide boater safety courses

A Note from Hilton Head Island Mayor, Alan Perry

A Note from Bluffton Mayor, Lisa Sulka SAFE

Photography by Krisztian Lonyai

musicians, and recognition of community members and organizations. Admission is free. Beer truck vendors will sell alcoholic beverages.

On Saturday, September 16, beginning at 7 p.m., there will be a free concert at Lowcountry Celebration Park. This event will be the finale of the 360/40 celebration and the inaugural Hilton Head Island Jam Songwriter Festival. The Songwriter Festival, a BMI supported musical festival presented by the Town of Hilton Head Island, runs from September 14-17. This three-day festival will feature over 25 visiting performers and a dozen local ones. Visit hiltonheadislandjam.com for a full list of performers and local venues where they will perform.

Between August 26 and September 16, you can enjoy unique experiences that honor the island’s rich natural, cultural, and historic resources. The town has a dedicated website (hiltonheadisland360-40. org), which details celebration events and chronicles the island’s history and accomplishments. Additionally, the site allows you to share memories, milestones, and photos you have captured that reflect Hilton Head Island’s unique history and culture. We encourage your participation because you are a part of history and make up the fabric of our community.

To learn more about celebrations to honor our island’s milestones, history, growth, and people, please visit hiltonheadisland360-40.org. We look forward to seeing you on August 26 for our first and September 16 for our second anchor event. 

to the public. This will familiarize you with boating safety and rules of operation.

6. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a free vessel safety check. They will make sure all safety equipment on the boat is serviceable. They also offer an online safety check.

Many of you reading this may wonder why this topic is important. New boaters are on the river every boating season, and even children of experienced boaters are now on the river. It is important to take a minute and remind yourself of boater safety. Have a great summer on and off the river.Crocodile will be shown July 14 from 6-8 p.m. at Oscar Frazier Park, and Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank will be shown September 8 from 6-8 p.m. at Martin Family Park. 

A Note from Lisa Sulka continued

Margaret Crenshaw

Of all the people I know and have spoken to about food on Hilton Head Island, Margaret Crenshaw makes navigating the food scene easy. Any chat with her is an encyclopedia of knowledge. I think she keeps all menus filed away in her head sorted by categories and cocktails. I don’t like the word “foodie” anymore, but the term fits.

I’ve been wanting to share her story with our readers here for some time. I believe it is equal parts fascinating and mouthwatering. Margaret knows the food scene. Now she is going to share her view with you. Here’s my chat with Maggie, edited for clarity and brevity, because we talked for nearly 45 minutes:

Jesse Blanco: Were you born in this area?

Margaret Crenshaw: We are from Alabama, but we moved here in 1973.

JB: What are your earliest memories of the island?

MC: Oh gosh … no traffic lights. Roaming wild and free and barefoot. Fishing.

JB: I’m sure you’ve traveled up and down the Lowcountry coast. What is out there now that compares to what Hilton Head Island was when you moved here?

MC: Nothing. Hilton Head in the ’70s was a unicorn. I could more easily describe to you property in Panama or Costa Rica from the time I lived there in the ’90s. But that’s not a good comparison because a lot of people have not even been to Costa Rica. The “tropicalness” is more there than it is here, but that feeling of being isolated in the middle of nowhere. I believe about 3,000 people lived here when we moved to Hilton Head.

We lived in Tuskegee, Alabama. There was a lot of racial tension. My father’s drugstore kept getting broken into. My mother slept with a shotgun under her bed in Alabama. When we moved here, my dad said she had to get rid of her shotgun. My kindergarten teacher had a condo here, and we came to visit. We moved here three months later and never looked back. At the time, the second pharmacy on the island was opening and they needed a pharmacist, so my dad had a job.

I graduated from Sea Pines Academy (in 1985); the next year it changed to Hilton Head Prep.

JB: When do you recall the island beginning to evolve?

MC: I grew up around the Fraser family, so I saw what the plans were and the ideas for development. The building boom came in the ’70s and early ’80s. That’s when we experienced an influx of visitors and second-home owners. But we weren’t at max capacity. In the wintertime, we weren’t busy. There were years when things were not great. They felt like they went backwards. The south end of the island and the infrastructure has been the same since the ’90s. It has been such a gradual progression. What has changed is Bluffton. When we moved here, it was nothing—literally a speed trap.

There were so many milestones over the years that it has been hard to break it down.

JB: When do you remember good food starting to pop up?

MC: I remember going out to eat in the ’70s was a special occasion, not

ARTICLE BY JESSE BLANCO PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

because we needed to eat. Our go-to restaurant was the Hofbräuhaus—a German restaurant owned by Peter Kenneweg, who is now with the Reilley’s restaurant group [Coastal Restaurants and Bars--CRAB]. That was the benchmark for a little girl coming from Alabama who only knew Southern fare. It was on Pope Avenue. It was decorated like a little street in Germany with make-believe windows.

JB: Okay, let’s talk food and make our way through the food scene. First question: You’re tired. You don’t want to cook. Where are you going?

MC: I’m going to San Miguel’s. I either get the San Miguel salad or the Chimichanga de Pollo (chicken). It’s a 40-year favorite. Fast service, delicious food. I could eat Mexican three meals a day, seven days a week.

JB: Someone is coming to visit. Where are you taking them?

MC: I’m going to take them to Hudson’s for a true salty taste of the island. Hudson’s has been here since the dawn of man. Hudson’s has three things. It has the history. It’s on the docks and they pull in their own shrimp. And three, it’s delicious seafood. Why come the coast if you don’t have seafood? I usually try to keep it healthy with some grilled fish, but I love their fried shrimp and hushpuppies.

JB: You are celebrating your bestie’s birthday. Where is everyone going to want to go?

MC: Alfred’s. Alfred’s has the European appeal—not just German dishes, but others. It lends itself to intimacy among a special group of friends. It’s a special place where you can choose several courses and wines to go with it. It’s an experience.

JB: Is there a dish (or two) on the island you crave—a dish you think about for a week or two until you get there and eat it?

MC: Yes. That would be the grouper from Santa Fe Café. It’s got a chipotle mayo and parmesan. They throw it under the broiler; it gets all puffy and delicious. It’s my favorite dish on the island. Yes, absolutely. Or the cobb salad at Charlie’s.

JB: Do you have a sweet tooth?

MC: I don’t have a sweet tooth, but the Watermelon Chip at Hilton Head Ice Cream is my absolute favorite. Where else in the world are you going to get watermelon chip ice cream? I just think that’s so original to Hilton Head.

JB: Name a go-to cocktail you enjoy on the island.

MC: I love the martinis at Charlie’s.

JB: Do you have a favorite Margarita?

MC: The Cadillac Margarita at San Miguel’s—the best margarita on the island.

JB: Finally, what are your go-tos on the island—your stable of restaurants you love?

MC: Oh, wow. Do you realize how political this answer could be? I know everyone here, but if I had to name just a handful, I would say Santa Fe Café, Sage Room, Charlie’s, Sunset Grille, and Pomodori. 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S BELOVED ‘FOODIE’

A Series of Fortunate Events, interesting news and a hodge-podge of other items. You know…this and that! If you would like to submit something for this special section, please email maggie@ch2cb2magazine.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.

Below the Surface, an exhibit of paintings by Judy Blahut will be on view at Art League Gallery from August 29-September 29. This collection of acrylic and charcoal paintings is Blahut’s colorful interpretation of underwater environments, balanced between realism and fractured, playful abstraction. These fantastical “waterscapes” are made of sinuous and lyrical forms bathed in translucent light. Blahut is a lifelong painter inspired by natural forms and environments. This new series is an ode to water’s hidden beauty and power.

An opening reception will be held Wednesday, August 30, 5-7 p.m. Blahut will hold a demo of her work on Thursday, September 7 at 11 a.m. The exhibit, reception, and demo are all free and open to the public.

Traci Sampson is excited to announce the opening of Glow Getter beauty bar at 26 Palmetto Bay Rd., Unit 1, Hilton Head Island. Glow Getter offers custom spray tanning and professional teeth whitening from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday by appointment. Their tanning products are derived from all natural ingredients—no streaking, orange, or stinky smell! Affordable teeth whitening is offered as well as take-home whitening products, all from the same distributor that dentists use. Come relax in a recliner, listen to your own chosen music, and go home with a brilliant, white smile. You can schedule your appointment online at glowgetter.pro or give us a call at (727) 490-9150.

The Hilton Head Community Market is proud to announce that it recently presented a generous check in the amount of $999 to the Deep Well Project. With this contribution, the market has now reached a remarkable milestone, having donated over $6,000 to local non-profit organizations since the market’s inception in October 2022.

The Hilton Head Community Market, organized and run by dedicated volunteers in partnership with Island Recreation, donates 50 percent of vendor fees received to a different local non-profit organization each month.

While food takes center stage, the market also showcases a curated selection from local artisans and makers each week. It offers a unique opportunity for residents, both full and part-time, as well as visitors to the island, to connect, socialize, and support local small businesses.

The Hilton Head Community Market is held every Saturday, from February through December. Located at Shelter Cove Community Park, the market runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more, please visit hhicommunitymarket.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram @hhicommunitymarket.

S Photo of Judy Blahut T Below the Surface

Article by Becca Edwards

Keep Going

Ronald Vargas’ inspirational story

He was not a runner, but at age 47, like most of us, Ronald Vargas was feeling the pressures of life. You’ve been there. Family, work, aging, you name it; these mid-life stressors are real.

But one’s ability to “dig deep and keep going” is equally as real, and Vargas is living proof of this. “I was not happy at home and didn’t want to be there. So, I decided to go walking. Then I decided to walk-run. Then I just ran,” said Vargas, who is a production manager at The Greenery and no stranger to hard work.

Now, at age 57, Vargas has completed five 100-mile races, five 50-mile races, two 24-hour races, one 160-mile race, and numerous marathons and trail runs. Always striving, on August 11, Vargas will compete in his most grueling course to date: the Bigfoot 200, a four-day 200-mile race through high elevations in the Cascade Mountains in Washington state.

Talking about his preparation for Bigfoot 200, Vargas admitted, “There is a lot of pressure. You never know how you are going to do the day of the race. You can do all the training, but you never know. Elite guys even drop miles in.”

So, Vargas has been concentrating on his mental game. “I’m hardheaded. I’m a push guy. However, I listen to my body and know how much to push it,” he said. Vargas’ long distance runs have taught him how to tune out everything around him and just look at each foot as it steps in front of the other, propelling him forward toward his goal.

Vargas also has a hardcore training schedule. “Some days, I am up at 5 a.m. and work until 5 p.m. and then go home. I make sure everything is fine, eat, shower, and chill, and even though I’m freaking tired around 10 p.m., I run four to five hours,” he said. I have to be prepared for running at night.” During his workouts, Vargas also focuses on strengthening his legs. At times, he will run outside, weighted down with 15 to 20 pounds of filled water bottles or inside on a 15-incline with a 25-pound weighted vest.

And yet, regarding race preparation, it is Vargas’ approach to life that gives him the competitive edge. “When I do something, I do it with a lot of passion,” he said.

Vargas began working at The Greenery 24 years ago as a crew member and likens his professional success to his running. “Work and running both take dedication. I do not compete with others—just myself,” he said. “I do not need to do anything better than chase my own dreams and do it with a positive mind.”

You should know, though, that getting Vargas across the finish line takes more than training. “I really rely on the emotional support of other people,” he said. “I wish I could have my best friend go with me, but he can’t go. I also need financial support. These races are expensive. I need three to four new pairs of shoes, nutrition, and money to travel for training and to go to the race.” Jokingly Vargas added, “And I need to sleep at night.”

Vargas manages his stress just as he competes in his races: one foot in front of the other, step-by-step. “When I get in a low patch, I know I need to dig down into my soul and keep going,” he said.

Vargas’ mental endurance has helped him overcome several physical challenges on the racecourse, like losing a toenail, blisters, muscle cramps, and vomiting, as well as personal challenges off the racecourse. “We all have the ability to keep going,” he said. 

The Port Royal Community Charitable Fund recently awarded $84,500 in grants to eight area nonprofit organizations. Funds for the grants were donated by residents of the Port Royal neighborhood on Hilton Head Island. The recent awards bring the total amount of grants made by this fund, just formed in 2021, to $104,500. Grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 are focused on “breaking the cycle of poverty by promoting self-sufficiency and sustainable improvement with a focus on long-term solutions to housing, food insecurity, or preventive medical and dental health.” The overall goal is to have a significant impact on the lives of people in the Lowcountry in their efforts to break the cycle of poverty.

Recipients of the 2023 Port Royal Community Charitable Fund grant awards are:

Bluffton Self Help to support the Literacy Learning Center of the Pathways to Personal Success program to help low-income families move from crisis to stability.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry – Bluffton to fund the Fee Relief Program for 20 children from lowincome families.

Good Neighbor Medical Clinic of Beaufort to support free medical care for uninsured adults.

The Deep Well Project to support the new CIRCLES program to help 18 families eliminate the barriers that keep people in poverty in order to reach economic stability.

Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity to support the purchase of building supplies for the Home Repair Program to restore unsafe homes to health and safety standards.

Hopeful Horizons to support Safe at Home Transitional Housing for victims/ survivors of domestic abuse.

Lowcountry Gullah Foundation to assist Gullah Geechee families trying to untangle heirs’ property legal and ownership issues.

Neighborhood Outreach Connection to support health screenings, as well as health and wellness workshops, in low-income Beaufort County neighborhoods.

More information about the Port Royal Community Charitable Fund is available at portroyalcommunitycharitablefund.org.

FULL MOON SHORE EXPLORE

8:30-9:30PM; Sea Pines Beach Club. Call 843-842-1979 or visit seapines.com/ events for more.

MOVIE NIGHT IN THE PARK Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 8:30-10:30PM, Beauty & the Beast

MOVIE NIGHT IN THE PARK Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 8:30-10:30PM, Cars 1

GREG RUSSELL CONCERTS AT THE LIBERTY OAK IN HARBOUR TOWN

August 1- 11 M-F 8-9:30PM;

August 14-25 M, W, F 8-9:30PM; August 31 8-9:30PM. Call 843-842-1979 or visit seapines.com/ events for more information.

PRO EXHIBITION HAPPY HOUR AT SEA PINES RACQUET CLUB

Every Monday at 5:30. Join us at Sea Pines Racquet Club for an exciting tennis demonstration with valuable tips, refreshments, prize drawings and our traditional fishbowl sale. Call 843-842-1979.

FARMERS’ AND MAKERS MARKET

Tuesdays from 10AM - 2PM at The Shops at Sea Pines Center. Now until November 22. Call 843-322-1900 for more.

HILTON HEAD FARMER’S MARKET

Tuesdays from 9AM - 1PM at Coastal Discovery Museum.

TAP TAKEOVER AT FRASER’S TAVERN

5-8PM at Fraser’s Tavern. Call 843-842-1979 or visit seapines.com.

TIE-DYE CREATIONS

Tues. and Thurs.

Sea Pines Beach Club

12-1:30PM. Call 843842-1979 for more.

BEACH YOGA

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30AM. Call 943-842-1979 or visit seapines.com/ events for more

LIGHTHOUSE ART IN HARBOUR TOWN

Thurs., Aug 3-17 from 10-11:15AM at the Liberty Oak Tree in Harbour Town. Call 843-842-1979 or visit seapines.com/events.

CRABBY ENCOUNTERS

Mondays and Wednesdays

9-10:30AM. Call 843842-1979 for more.

BLUFFTON FARMER’S MARKET

Thursdays from 12 - 5PM at Downtown Bluffton.

MOVIE NIGHT IN THE PARK Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 8:30-10:30PM, Remember the Titans

Cranford Hollow

JERSEY BOYS

Tues - Sat at 7:30PM; Sun at 2PM. From now until Sun., Aug. 20. Visit artshhi.com.

CRITTER MEET & GREET

9:30AM - 12:30PM at Coastal Discovery Museum. Call 843689-6767 for more.

SUNSET CELEBRATION

Shelter Cove Towne Centre 7-10PM

Performer: DeasGuyz