“THAT’S WHY I CHOOSE TO PRACTICE AT ST. JOSEPH’S/CANDLER.”
Dr. Jonathan Kandiah, MD Gastroenterologist & Advanced Endoscopist
Bowling, traveling and spending time with her three grandchildren are Delia’s biggest passions in life. When she experienced severe abdominal pain she went to the emergency room. After tests revealed a blocked bile duct, she was referred to Gastroenterologist Dr. Jonathan Kandiah.
Dr. Kandiah performed an Endoscopic Ultrasound at St. Joseph’s/Candler that revealed a gallstone was the cause of the blockage. He performed an Endoscopic Retrograde procedure to remove the gallstone but also made another potentially lifesaving discovery. Delia had an undetected stomach tumor which was promptly diagnosed and is now being monitored. Delia is back on her game now and thankful to Dr. Kandiah and St. Joseph’s/ Candler for the technology and clinical support that has helped her to recover fully.
DELIA COOPER - SAVANNAH, GA
THE ONLY CHOICE
For Early Childhood Education & Child Care
ANGEL LEARNING CENTER is an accredited private preschool providing premier services for Pooler and surrounding areas. We partner with parents to build the right foundation for your child’s learning and for life.
CAMERA ACCESS
Through a partnership with "Watch Me Grow," parents have camera access to their child’s classroom. Each classroom has two cameras so parents can get a peek at their little one any time throughout the day. We believe in open access throughout the day, which gives parents piece of mind.
PARENT COMMUNICATION
With the Procare Parent connect, parents communicate with the teaching staff in real time to receive updates about classroom activities, program happening and photos of your child at play and learning.
CONTACTLESS CHECK IN & OUT
We provide a QR code for parents to scan with their cell phones to check their children in and out of the program.
DIVERSITY WORLD VIEW
We teach children what it means to be open to different ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving, and valuing the contributions of others who may have different backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs.
GEORGIA’S QUALITY RATED
We have enthusiastically taken on the commitment to continuously enhance the support we provide to children and families. Our focus is on maintaining a culture of quality across all our programs, with Quality Rated playing a pivotal role. Our objective in achieving Quality Rated status involves not only meeting but surpassing a clearly defined set of program standards.
GEORGIA PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
We have been awarded a Lottery Pre-K program. The mission of Georgia’s Pre-K program is to prepare children for success in kindergarten and beyond, and the first goal in National Education is that “all children will start school ready to learn.” We are proud to be part of this mission.
MEALS AND SNACKS
and snacks are included with tuition. You can feel good knowing that your child has had a
before
Our children get plenty of opportunities for activities and exercise. We have four separate playgrounds to accommodate all ages—from one-year to school age. Our regulation-size gym is used for games and other activities as well as an alternate playground when outside play is not an option.
Melissa McBride Stille of Stille-DeWitt Health Brokerage, LLC
Are You Ready for Health Insurance Open Enrollment?
Melissa McBride Stille is a health insurance broker who has been in the health insurance industry for 16 years. As the sole proprietor of Stille-DeWitt Health Brokerage she is dedicated to presenting her clients with the best health care options available because, “I work for my clients, not the insurance company!”
Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Oct 15 - Dec 7
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is when everyone with Medicare has to choose to either keep their current plan or enroll in a different one.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking your insurance coverage and cost remain the same because they do not! Health and drug plans can change cost, coverage, and who is in their networks from year to year.
It’s tempting to keep what you have, even if you aren’t satisfied, because investigating new plans can be very confusing. That’s why working with a local agent is critical to obtaining the best outcome for your needs.
Working with Melissa—at no cost to you—will ensure that you:
• get the most benefits from your plan
• get the lowest drug cost
• get personal service all year whenever you need help or have questions
Melissa can explain the four parts of Medicare (A, B, C, and D) as well the difference between Medicare Advantage and Supplemental Plans. She can also assist with seeing if you qualify for Extra Help (federal prescription help), Medicaid or to eliminate the monthly $174.40 Medicare Part B Premium (2024 premium).
Melissa also works with Medicare recipients under 65, including those who have Medicare through Social Security Disability, because they too have to make the same decisions annually.
Local Trusted Agent
With so many health insurance companies trying to get your business, how do you know what to do? Their only goal is for you to change your plan.
“That’s how they make money. They do not have any special plans, so don’t be fooled,” says Melissa. “They can change your plan without a signature or without you knowing! All they need is your Medicare number, so do not give it out.”
Melissa takes pride in helping you find the plan that fits YOUR needs and being there for you after open enrollment.
“When a client’s circumstances change, that can impact their health insurance, so keeping in touch is crucial,” she says. “I promise, as my client, you will hear from me. I care about each and every client and do a review of everyone’s health policies every year because there are so many changes annually. I like to simplify things and present you with your best options.”
If you have a question regarding your health insurance options, give Melissa a call or send her an email. Remember, there is NO COST because, “I work for my clients, not the insurance company!” Cell (912) 239-7119 | www.StilleYourAgent.com Melissa@StilleYourAgent.com
PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS
Best of Pooler
PUBLISHER
Jan Southern Jan@JDelSURMarketing.com 912-318-8645
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
Morris L. Southern Morris@JDelSURMarketing.com
CLIENT SERVICES
Christie Wilson, Director of Advertising Christie@JDelSURMarketing.com
OFFICE MANAGER
Chris Antonio Chris@JDelSURMarketing.com
DESIGN
Laura Zielinski
DISTRIBUTION
Penny Redmond
Pooler Magazine is proudly produced by:
135 Goshen Rd Ext., Suite 251, Rincon, GA 31326
(912) 295-5406
PoolerMagazine.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Write and tell us what you think. Pooler Magazine welcomes all letters to the editor. Please send letters via email to Jan Southern at Jan@JDelSURMarketing.com. Letters to the editor must have a phone number and name of contact. Phone numbers will not be published.
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
Pooler Magazine welcomes story ideas from our readers. If you have a story idea or photo essay you would like to share, please submit ideas and material by emailing Jan Southern at Jan@JDelSURMarketing.com.
Stories or ideas for stories must be submitted by email. Only feature stories and photo essays about people, places or things in the Pooler area will be considered.
CIRCULATION: Pooler Magazine is published bimonthly and distributed to hundreds of locations throughout the area, as well as mailed to thousands of homes. The full magazine is available online at PoolerMagazine.com.
Views expressed in editorial or advertising do not imply endorsement by J. DelSUR Marketing Group.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.
We’re seeing stars in this issue! You voted for your local favorites to determine the Best of Pooler. Some of our winners have swept their categories for three years running, which goes to show that you love to support your own! We can’t wait to celebrate our winners in a special event in early October.
In this issue we also feature some other “bests” in our community. The story of Laukik Patel–owner of Angel Learning Center–on the cover of an issue of Pooler Magazine in 2018, shows how much has changed since then. Angel Learning Center has expanded into three locations statewide and Laukik’s family has expanded as well. With a beautiful wife and two adorable children, Laukik couldn’t be happier and we are happy for him.
In this issue, we also got to meet Jose Rosa, founder of Live Like Locals Savannah. He has beaten cancer twice and used his new lease on life to create one of Pooler’s best community events: the monthly Mega Pop-Up and Farmers Market at Tom Triplett Park. This event brings people together on the second Sunday of the month to shop local and have a great time. Check out the next events September 8 and October 13!
Local athletic talent Maggie Kyriakides is one of Pooler’s top volleyball players. She has been a strong player on the Savannah Christian team and is headed to University of Alabama to play on their team next year. She’s aiming for the Olympics someday: you might catch her there in 2028 or 2032!
We hope you enjoy reading about the best and brightest that Pooler has to offer.
CEO/Publisher Pooler Magazine
Jan Southern
CONTRIBUTORS
1. Leidy Lester is a freelance photographer from Bogota, Colombia, with 8 years experience. She has traveled and worked all over the United States. One of her proudest achievements is the work she did with models and highly experienced photographers in Las Vegas.
2. Gail Parsons has more than 30 years experience writing for magazines and newspapers. She most enjoys feature writing because it allows her to meet interesting and inspiring people, and share their stories. In 2023, she and her husband fulfilled a long-held dream to move to the Savannah area and have settled in Rincon. She is also an artist and enjoys traveling and spending time at the beach.
3. Erich Perez and his wife, Dr. Misty Seale are owners of iHeart Dental in Rincon. Erich’s other role is Founder and president of Kronos Media Productions and K&R Studios in Rincon. They specialize in videography and photography as well as sound and recording. Erich and his wife are avid Jeep enthusiasts and have 5 American Bulldogs. You can check them out at @gods.of.dogs on Instagram.
4. Stephen Prudhomme is a native of New Jersey who lived in Savannah and Rincon for 25 years before moving to Pikeville, TN, with his wife and son. He’s written sports, features, news and business for a number of newspapers and magazines over nearly 40 years and likes table tennis, Frisbee and running.
5. Claire Sandow is a freelance graphic design and marketing professional who lives in Savannah with her husband, daughter and cat. She received a Mass Communication degree from Georgia College & State University. In her spare time, she enjoys pursuing her many hobbies, including knitting, crocheting, quilting and running.
6. Laura Zielinski is a freelance graphic designer specializing in print design. With more than 17 years experience, Laura enjoys shaping stories through meaningful design. When she’s not working, she loves spending time with her husband Keith and their three beautiful children, Alli, Matt and Claire.
7. Mabel , morale officer, enjoys roaming the backyard at home, sitting for hours on the back porch and coming to the office to greet visitors and encourage the staff. Mabel loves getting treats and taking long naps in her mommy’s office in the afternoons.
Redmond
Jan Southern, DPA CEO/Publisher
Morris L. Southern Chief Operations Officer
Christie Wilson Director of Advertising
Chris Antonio Office Manager
LAUKIK PATEL: Building a Family & Business in Pooler
Story by Claire Sandow | Photography by Leidy Lester
Laukik Patel has always wanted to make his own way, which made entrepreneurship the ideal path for him. At just 30 years old, he is the founder and owner of Angel Learning Center in Pooler, which serves hundreds of children in the community. While Laukik was born in New York, he lived in India from age 11 months to 5 years: this early educational experience in India was what inspired him to pursue early childhood education as a career.
The Patel family moved from New York to Pooler in 2007. Laukik attended Savannah Christian and his parents purchased two gas stations as a source of income during an economic downturn. Through their experience, Laukik saw the ups and downs of operating a small business firsthand.
Laukik’s parents instilled a strong work ethic in him and his first taste of the working life was helping his dad in one of the gas stations.
“He would always say, ‘If you’re not going to work, you’re going straight home and if you don’t work, then you don’t need a car,’” he says. “I obviously picked the job I knew.”
I want my buildings to last 100 years and I want the business to outlive me. I want my centers to flourish “
“
Like many teenagers Laukik and his parents had differences of opinion, which led to him trying his hand at a job in fast food. It wasn’t long before he rejoined his dad at the gas station.
“My dad ended up getting me a job at Wendy’s,” says Laukik. “In the three weeks that I worked there, I realized that I always wanted to do things differently, regardless if I was right or wrong. After that, my dad and I have never butted heads.”
Laukik’s entrepreneurial streak started when he was in college at Armstrong State University. He started tutoring his cousins so they could keep up with and exceed their school’s math and science standards. Word of his effective strategies spread and he soon began tutoring their friends. After growing a client base of more than a dozen students, Laukik rented an office on Highway 80 to house what would become Angel Tutoring Center.
At the same time, he maintained a hectic schedule commuting back and forth to Armstrong, where he was studying biology with the intent to pursue premed. “I had classes in the mornings and labs in the afternoons and evenings, then I would tutor after that,” says Laukik.
When the landlord sold the building where he was leasing an office, Laukik had to make a choice: sign a long-term lease or move out. He opted for the latter and started researching different opportunities in the children’s education realm.
Angel Learning Center
Laukik had been looking at franchised child care centers, but couldn’t find a good fit for his concept. His vision for what would become Angel Learning Center combined childcare and early childhood education with afterschool programs for elementary school-age children. The name was inspired by his early childhood spent in India, where he attended a preschool that taught numbers and counting starting at age two and set up the framework for more complex math by first grade.
“In India, they call their little kids angels,” says Laukik. “So Angel Learning Center just felt right.”
He constructed a building off of Jimmy DeLoach Parkway and had a grand opening in 2016. On opening day, 50 children were enrolled and Laukik worked hard to get the word out about his new business. By 2018, the center was serving 250 children.
To give the business a boost, Laukik zeroed in on getting accredited through Bright from the Start, Georgia’s early childhood education and childcare licensing agency. They earned their first Quality Rated star in 2018 and last year they became a 3-star Quality Rated provider, the highest level of accreditation a childcare center can receive.
the same modern technology and high educational standards that made the flagship location successful.
“I want my buildings to last 100 years and I want the business to outlive me. I want my centers to flourish,” says Laukik.
An Intercontinental Romance
While he was building his business, Laukik’s parents were orchestrating plans for his future. In 2020, they helped him make a major life move: getting married. He was on a layover waiting on a flight to India and received a surprising WhatsApp message: an invitation to his own wedding.
later date. They were only able to spend 12 days together after their wedding because shortly after their marriage, Covid shut down the borders and Laukik had to return to the U.S. Laukik and Mansi had to fight through bureaucracy and government office shutdowns for months to get him an emergency visa. He was able to visit her in India by August 2020 and they were finally able to be together in the U.S. by February 2021.
“When you get married, you’re working toward something,” says Laukik. “You’re investing time and energy into something that’s going to flourish.”
Laukik and Mansi never did get their big wedding, but they welcomed their first child Ari in January 2023 and their second child Aarav arrived in August of this year. Working in the childcare business has given him a new perspective on parenthood and his work.
“We worked really hard for those three stars, and now we’re the only 3-star provider in the area,” Laukik says proudly. “It’s a big accomplishment because it’s harder to get as a large center.”
Angel Learning Center’s services are still in high demand and it consistently has a waitlist for children ages 6 weeks to elementary school age. One of the most popular features that parents enjoy is the integration of technology into the classrooms. Employees are equipped with tablets to communicate with parents throughout the day, recording meals, diaper changes and naps. Parents can also log in and view a livestream of their child’s classroom to see them having fun in real time.
They have expanded the brand to encompass two more childcare centers in Valdosta and Dawsonville, embracing
The invitation was the result of his parents’ matchmaking efforts that had begun in the previous year. They had placed an ad in a newspaper in India with a photo and a listing of Laukik’s accomplishments and it attracted a lot of interest. “My dad got 250 emails in the first weekend,” says Laukik.
After going on some speed dates, no one seemed to be a good fit. Despite some skepticism, he trusted his dad. The day he left to go home his dad set up one more meeting, this time by phone. During this call, Laukik had his first conversation with his future wife Mansi. He and Mansi talked for more than an hour and he agreed to go back to India to meet her.
After receiving the WhatsApp wedding invitation, they met in person for the first time. They got married February 29, 2020, with a larger reception planned at a
“Though I have two children, I’m responsible for more than 600,” says Laukik.
Ari also benefits from the strong foundation that Laukik built because he attends Angel Learning Center.
“He goes every day and it’s helpful because my wife and I can both work knowing that he’s in a good spot,” says Laukik. “The opportunities I provide for my son I strive to do for all the children who come to my childcare center.”
Hometown Pride
Community involvement has been key to Angel Learning Center’s success.
Laukik joined the Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce, positioned Angel Learning Center as a sponsor of chamber events like the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration and accepted an invitation to join the chamber’s board of directors.
“I thought I could help them but they help me even more. I never took business classes, so I get to see how other businesses operate in their industries,” says Laukik. “I can rely on them for any questions I have.”
Laukik has put down roots in Pooler and it’s evident wherever he goes. He and his family live in the Forest Lakes neighborhood and his parents live nearby in the Arbors at Godley Station.
“When I’m at Publix or Walmart, kids come up and say, ‘It’s Mr. Laukik.’ I feel like if I had started my business anywhere else, it wouldn’t have turned out the same. It feels good to keep everything right here.” ■
BET YOU DON’T HAVE A
Derek E. Horne, Attorney
Over 95% of car and motorcycle owners don’t have a C.L.U.E., and that’s a big problem, especially for those paying too much for automobile insurance through no fault of their own. Receiving a C.L.U.E. means you have obtained a copy of your Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) report. This report is compiled for virtually every driver in America and is created by LexisNexis. The company serves as a national clearinghouse for insurance claims, and it is the authority when it comes to consumer insurance claim reporting. According to LexisNexis, 99% of insurers writing automobile coverage provide claims data to its C.L.U.E. database.
Consequently, if you are seeking to buy, change, or reduce your automobile insurance coverages, there is a great chance the insurance carrier will pull your C.L.U.E. report before offering you a rate quote. Put another way, your C.L.U.E. report impacts your ability to get car or motorcycle insurance, as well as the costs you will end up paying for that insurance.
So now that you know it’s important to get a C.L.U.E. report, how do you get one?
Thankfully, getting a C.L.U.E. report is easy. First, thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act it can cost you nothing. You can get your one annual free copy of the report by calling Lexis/Nexis at 1-888-497-0011 or by going to the company’s website. When you do get your C.L.U.E. report you will find a surprising amount of personal information about yourself. Information commonly found in C.L.U.E. reports includes:
• Your name, gender, date of birth, and social security number.
• Your insurance policy information, including the names and number of drivers.
• Your vehicle claims history, including the number of claims and dates, types of loss, and amounts paid.
• Your inquiries and those from insurance companies about your loss history.
• Your vehicle’s make and model and year, as well as the VIN.
• Your Driver’s license number.
How will automobile insurers use your C.L.U.E. report
information?
Well, the first thing to know is that the information on the report only reflects the last seven years of your personal information. Also, a C.L.U.E. report will not include information related to your criminal history, credit score, history, and information related to civil lawsuits.
That said, the information on your C.L.U.E. report is still a goldmine for auto insurance underwriters, agents, and brokers. Your C.L.U.E. report will be used by insurance underwriters to help reduce perceived risk and liability to the insurance company by allowing them to “predict” your future claims activity based on your prior driving history. Additionally, underwriters, agents, and insurance brokers can use the easily accessible and comprehensive claims data to make quick business decisions on whether they should take you on or maintain you as a customer. If you’ve ever heard of someone being dropped from an insurance company, LexisNexis is likely where the insurer got its information.
What if the C.L.U.E. information report is wrong? This does indeed happen. My law firm has found multiple instances where a badly injured client in an automobile wreck that was not their fault saw substantial insurance premium increases following their wreck. This occurred because their C.L.U.E. report erroneously showed them at fault for the wreck. Luckily, the erroneous information can be fixed by calling LexisNexis and filing a dispute. LexisNexis has 30 days to look into the dispute and will then notify you (or your attorney) of its decision. Should LexisNexis not correct the erroneous information, you can notify the Georgia Insurance Commissioner and/or file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Is there anything else you should know about C.L.U.E. reports? Yes. You may also find it useful to know that C.L.U.E. reports have homeowner claims and property information. Consequently, if you are buying or selling a home, a clean C.L.U.E. report can help ensure and prove that the home is free of recent claims history.
So, the next time someone says get a “C.L.U.E.”, tell them you already have one!
God Bless!
Derek E. Horne Attorney at law
Pooler’s “Best Couple”: Jake & Sunny Clough
Jake and Sunny Clough, recently voted Pooler’s “Best Couple,” are well-known for their unwavering commitment to their community, health, and wellness. Their lives are a testament to giving—whether it’s their time, expertise, strength, or support. Sunny reflects on the honor, saying, “We’re truly grateful to everyone who voted for us, and I’m pretty sure it was all our amazing gym members!”
The Cloughs own and operate three local health and wellness businesses, each complementing the other, much like Jake and Sunny themselves.
Sunny explains, “Our businesses are all about bettering our community. Though they differ in focus, the common thread is our commitment to health and wellness, from spa rejuvenation to fitness and nutrition at the gym.”
Together, they founded Down Home CrossFit & Fitness Center. “At Down Home CrossFit, it’s not just about the workouts; it’s also about the incredible community that makes our gym feel like a second home,” says Sunny. The couple continues to manage the gym as a team, fostering a welcoming and supportive environment
“At Pooler Day Spa, we genuinely care about our clients’ overall health and well-being. We offer more than just relaxation; we provide healing,” Sunny shares. The spa’s dedicated team has won every category a spa can win for the fourth consecutive year. Sunny proudly notes, “Our staff’s passion and commitment to their clients’ well-being are what make Pooler Day Spa so special. We’ve been blessed to have each and every one of them on our team!”
Their third venture, Empower U, originated within their gym and has since grown into a stand-alone business managed by Jake.
How they Began
Jake and Sunny’s story began in a gym, fittingly enough. “Jake was the first person to welcome me on my very first day at a CrossFit gym in college,” Sunny recalls. “The second day, he coached me, and over time, he became my mentor in health, teaching me everything from workouts to grocery shopping nutritiously.”
The couple met at Georgia Southern University, decided to stay in Georgia, and have been married for eleven years, celebrating their anniversary in August.
Today, Jake and Sunny are passionate about empowering others to regain control, independence, and confidence in their lives.
“There’s so much information out there, and we help people navigate through it all. It’s incredibly rewarding for us and has given us a community of people who have become like family. It’s truly a blessing.”
Flexibility is Key
Sunny emphasizes the importance of flexibility across all their businesses. “We’re flexible for our clients, whether it’s scheduling, billing, customizing fitness or nutrition plans, or creating custom packages across all three businesses.”
Their experience allows them to guide clients in focusing on what they can do, helping them stick to plans and achieve their goals.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way— if you’re willing to put in the work,” Sunny adds.
At Pooler Day Spa, they’ve shifted from offering an extensive menu of services to a more focused, custom approach. Their Custom Facial and Custom Massage are now the center of their two biggest bookings. This allows clients to address their specific needs without overwhelming costs.
“Flexibility in a small business is about meeting people where they are. It’s what has allowed us to grow and adapt with our community,” Sunny explains.
Family Life
Despite their busy professional lives, Jake and Sunny prioritize their family. They are parents to two young children, a three-year-old and an 18-month-old.
“We love every minute of parenting,” Sunny says. “The kids enjoy coming to the gym with us to ‘work,’ which is wonderful.”
In their limited free time, the Cloughs cherish attending church on Sundays. They are members of Compassion Christian, where their children participate in Sunday School while Jake and Sunny have fellowship with each other.
“Church is our time to ‘do life’ with the people we care about,” Sunny shares. “It’s a big cornerstone of our lives, a place where we renew, refresh, and rejuvenate.”
With three successful businesses, two beautiful children, and a supportive community, Sunny sums it up perfectly: “We are very blessed.” And Pooler is equally blessed to have Jake and Sunny Clough—the Best Couple in town!
BEST COUPLE Jake & Sunny Clough
BEST DAY SPA Pooler Day Spa
BEST MASSAGE THERAPY GROUP Pooler Day Spa
BEST ESTHETIC TREATEMENT CLINIC Pooler Day Spa
BEST WEIGHT LOSS CENTER Empower U
Thank you,Pooler!
As a local, family-run business, we are honored to be chosen as Pooler’s Best Construction Company, Remodeling Company, Plumber, and Electrician. Our mission is to always improve the communities, homes and businesses where our customers live and work. We never waver from our responsibility to deliver the highest quality remodeling, repairs, and above all, customer satisfaction.
As a local, family-run business, we are honored to be chosen as Pooler’s Best Flooring Company, Best Construction Company, and Best Renovation Company. Our mission is to always improve the communities, homes and businesses where our customers live and work. We never waver from our responsibility to deliver the highest quality remodeling, repairs, and above all, customer satisfaction.
No matter what life throws your way, never lose sight of your dreams.”
That conviction is what Jose Rosa lives by and helps others achieve.
After twice beating an aggressive form of cancer, he was determined to keep his business afloat while mentoring and inspiring others. Through Live Like Locals, he helps entrepreneurs overcome the struggles of starting and maintaining their own business while hosting events for the community to enjoy.
Rosa said he started the business because he likes to see people succeed and when they hit the rough spots, he knows what they are going through.
“I know it’s tough,” he said. “Everybody goes through some type of trial, some type of difficulty in life. It’s hard to see people that really want something and they just don’t know how to get it. When people will look at how tough things can be—I’ve been there. I’ve seen some stuff that most people won’t see in an entire lifetime.”
His experiences, rather than bringing him to despair, gave him strength.
owners helping with their marketing, and as technology shifted more to the digital world, so did his business.
The entrepreneurs he worked with, while he was helping them grow their businesses, also became his mentors.
Live Like Locals
In 2017, he started Live Like Locals Savannah and would eventually replicate the model with a focus on Jacksonville, Florida.
“We started Live Like Locals … basically because I was getting tired of trying to explain to people how to use video to build their business,” he said. “So, I said, ‘Let me just do myself’ and Live Like Locals was born.”
With Reneé LaSalle behind the camera Live Like Locals started posting weekly Top Five videos.
“We did that for three and a half years,” Rosa said. “Every single week we put out a video that was two to three minutes long. She was great on camera and she would just basically tell you what are the top five events that you should attend this week in Savannah.”
Everybody goes through some type of trial, some type of difficulty in life ... When people will look at how tough things can be—I’ve been there. I’ve seen some stuff that most people won’t see in an entire lifetime.” “ “
Determination
Rosa started life in New York City. Growing up in the Bronx in the 1970s and 80s wasn’t easy but it helped mold a mind set of determination.
“Growing up in New York—it was difficult,” he said. “When I was 14 years old, I got beat up by a gang, on 42nd Street in Times Square during the middle of the day.”
The attack happened while he was on his way to work. Right after school the young Rosa would take the subway from the Bronx to Manhattan. That day, he learned his first real life lesson.
“That was my first impact with life, and I knew then—life is gonna be tough,” he said.
As a teen, Rosa wasn’t convinced he would live past 20. But he had dreams and determination. When he was 28, it was time to say goodbye to New York and start turning the dreams into reality. Rosa first landed in North Carolina. Eventually moving to Orlando and 18 years ago found Savannah.
When he arrived, he found home. He started meeting people, making connections and growing his graphic and web design company. He worked with small business
Before long, people were contacting him, he was getting press releases from places that wanted him to mention their event and Live Like Locals was going places.
“It was fun,” he said. “But it was more of a journey because it opened up opportunities for me to have more digital marketing work. And then, trying to figure out how Live Like Locals would make money was a little bit different.”
Just as he thought they had it figured out, everything came to a screeching halt when COVID-19 reared its ugly head. As Rosa tried to reinvent his business under the fog of the pandemic, little did he know that the biggest challenge of his life was right around the corner.
The Diagnosis
It started with a cough. It wasn’t COVID. The doctor said it was a cold and gave him antiviral medicine. It lessened the cough but, in a week, it was right back.
“They ran a chest x-ray,” he said.
There was no question, something was terribly wrong, the x-ray showed his lungs were black. However, because of COVID it
NEVER STOP
Dreaming
Story by Gail Parsons
Photography by Leidy Lester
was six weeks before he could get in to see a pulmonologist. By then his cough had worsened and he was running a constant low-grade fever but when he started coughing up blood, Rosa got scared.
“You see it in the movies and its like, ‘you’re coughing up blood, life is over,’” he said.
The day he finally got in to see the pulmonologist, he was immediately admitted to the hospital for more tests.
“At first they thought I had lung cancer, but I don’t smoke and there was nothing in my family,” he said. “It was scary because that was what everybody was saying they thought I had because my lungs were so messed up and so black.”
As he waited for the biopsy to come back, he thought about the goodbyes he would have to say—stage four lung cancer doesn’t come with a high survival rate.
“When they found out I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, that was a relief,” he said. “I had one of the doctors look at me and say, ‘If somebody forced you to choose a cancer, this is the one you want to have.”
Armed with the knowledge that he had a better chance for survival than if he had lung cancer, Rosa turned his attention to getting past this hurdle. It turned out the cancer was aggressive. It was all over his lymph nodes, in the chest, the abdomen, and his lungs were filled with it.
“It was everywhere,” he said.
He started chemotherapy and a few months into it the PET scan showed 90% of the cancer was gone. The light at the end of the tunnel shined a little brighter. He finished up the treatment and was ready to get back to living his life. As
normal procedure, he went back in for another scan one month after his last treatment.
The results were devastating. Somewhere along the line, the chemo had stopped working. The cancer was back and worse than before.
“It was all over,” he said. “There were masses on my lungs and in areas that I had no cancer before and that was when they realized this was too aggressive, the cancer was just growing. It was a slap to the face because we thought it was over. We thought the fight was done—we had rung the bell.”
taken all life from you. You’re really weak. I was almost in a comatose state. It was so bad.”
Planning a Future
Rosa’s first cancer diagnosis was in 2021. In May 2023, after two grueling years, he went into remission.
“That was when we started getting back to work,” he said. “That’s when I made plans for Live Like Locals again.”
With a renewed lease on life, Rosa picked up where he left off and is busy setting up pop-up markets around the area and bringing people together to share their cultures, build their businesses and enjoy life.
I don’t care if you’re 19 or 50—keep dreaming. Don’t let the dream die. “ “
A More Aggressive Treatment
As the world was getting used to living with COVID and businesses were reopening, Rosa’s dream shifted from pursuing the growth of Live Like Locals to simply staying alive. Because the chemotherapy didn’t work, the next step was a stem cell transplant.
“What they do is they take your blood out, they clean it and then there’s no cancer in it,” he said.
But it’s not an easy process and includes seven days of chemo. Then the stem cells are reintroduced into the blood stream in the hopes that the body will accept them, and they start duplicating by themselves.
“You have to wait a couple of days until your numbers come back up again,” he said. “The feeling—it feels like they’ve
No matter what is around the next turn, Rosa will continue following his dreams, create new ones and help others reach their goals. It’s the same dream he had before the cancer but now, his outlook is a little different.
“Things kind of changed in the sense of before you think business, you think money,” he said. “A lot of what I’m doing now is helping and encouraging others to do more.”
He has 10 hosts for Live Like Locals Savannah. All of them have a drive to succeed and together they empower each other.
“The trade-off is I’m helping them on the digital marketing side and they help me on the Live Like Local side,” he said.
Exactly what the future holds, Rosa isn’t sure, but he knows if he could be where he is today, anything is possible.
“I find that even at my age of 51, I haven’t stopped dreaming,” he said. “I don’t care if you’re 19 or 50—keep dreaming. Don’t let the dream die.” ■
Viet Huong Oriental Market
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502 Forest Lakes Drive, Pooler, GA 31322
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You VOTED for the Best!
You told us the PLACES, PEOPLE and THINGS you love in the greater Pooler area, and we’re so proud to share the winners of the 2024 BEST OF POOLER with you!
BEST ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR
Shelly Fickau
West Chatham YMCA
BEST ALLERGIST/ASTHMA SPECIALIST
Dr. Neha Kharod, MD
BEST APPLIANCE STORE Appliances 4 Less
BEST ASSISTED LIVING Legacy at Savannah Quarters
BEST ATTORNEY Derek Horne The Horne Law Firm
BEST AUTO SERVICE/MAINTENANCE CENTER
Home Town Auto Care, Pooler
BEST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
Home Town Auto Care, Pooler
BEST BANK TELLERS
Great Oaks Bank
BEST BAR
The Taco Stache
BEST BARBER SHOP
Chop Barbershop - Pooler
BEST BATH & BODY SHOP
Nourish Natural Bath Products
BEST BBQ Jim N Nicks Community Bar-B-Q
BEST BOUTIQUE Ellen Claire Soapery
BEST BREAKFAST RESTAURANT First Watch Daytime Cafe
BEST BURGER Texas Roadhouse
BEST BURRITO Flaco’s Tacos
BEST BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
JaJa Financial- Patrice Wilson (Savannah)
BEST CAKES Cake Corner Bakery
BEST CAR DEALERSHIP
JC Lewis Ford Pooler
BEST CATERER Barnes BBQ
BEST CHARITY EVENT
Children’s Museum Community Nerf Battle Fundraiser
BEST CHEF
Shahin Afsharian
Big Bon Bodega Pooler
BEST CHICKEN WINGS
Green Fire Pizza & Sports Bar
BEST CHILDCARE CENTER
Angel Learning Center
BEST CHIROPRACTOR
Barnes Family Chiropractic
BEST CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
Aaron Higgins
BEST CLEANING SERVICE
Sparkling Queens Cleaning Services
BEST CLOTHING ALTERATIONS
King of Kings Alterations
BEST CLOTHING STORE
Simply Southern Tanger Outlet
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Three Tree Coffee at the Porch
BEST COMMERCIAL BANK
Great Oaks Bank
BEST COMMUNITY BANK
Great Oaks Bank
BEST COMMUNITY EVENT/FESTIVAL
Live Like Locals Savannah
Mega Pop-Up & Farmers Market
BEST COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION/CLUB
Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau
BEST COMMUNITY SPORTS COACH (K-12)
Jeff Faith, CHAA Basketball
BEST COMMUNITY SPORTS TEAMS (K-12)
Pooler Recreation
BEST COMPUTER REPAIR SERVICES
DNA Computerworks
BEST CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Coastal Contracting LLC
BEST COSMETIC DENTISTRY
Godley Station Dental
BEST COSMETIC SURGERY CENTER
Pooler Plastic Surgery Center
BEST COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Dean Kicklighter
BEST COUPLE
Jake & Sunny Clough
BEST CREDIT UNION
Geovista Federal Credit Union
BEST DAY SPA
Pooler Day Spa
BEST DENTAL GROUP
Miller Dental Group Pooler
BEST DENTAL HYGIENIST
Cortney Morris-Wilson, RDH
Godley Station Dental
BEST DENTIST
Dr. Julie Howard DMD
Miller Dental Group Pooler
BEST DERMATOLOGIST
Dr. Sidney Smith, MD
Georgia Skin and Cancer Clinic
BEST DESSERT
The Ice Cream Stop - Pooler
BEST DRY CLEANER
Pooler’s Best Dry Cleaners
BEST ELECTRICAL SERVICES
Joyner Electric and Security
BEST EMT
Lauren Bruce
BEST ENT CLINIC
ENT Associates of Savannah, PC
BEST ESTHETIC TREATMENT SERVICES
Pooler Day Spa
BEST ESTHETICIAN
Trystann McAteer
By Jessica & Co Beauty Lounge
BEST EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS
Creek to Coast Marketing & Events
BEST EXTERMINATOR/PEST CONTROL
Yates Astro Termite and Pest Control
BEST FAMILY/WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
III Olive Green, LLC
BEST FEMALE BUSINESS OWNER
Catherine Grant
ExperCARE Urgent Care
BEST FENCING COMPANY
JDH Decks & Fences
BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Edward Jones | Veronica Voisine
BEST FINANCIAL SERVICES
Queensborough National Bank and Trust
BEST FIREFIGHTER
Captain Josh Daniels
BEST FITNESS CENTER
Burn Boot Camp - Pooler
BEST FITNESS INSTRUCTOR
Stacie Williams New West Chatham YMCA
BEST FLOORING COMPANY
Coastal Contracting LLC
BEST FLORIST SHOP
A Special Touch Floral Shop
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Chazito’s Latin Cuisine
BEST FRIED CHICKEN
Metro Diner
BEST FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
Faith, Hope & Wellness
BEST FUNERAL HOME
Thomas C Strickland & Son Funeral Home
BEST FURNITURE STORE At Home Georgia-Pooler
BEST GARAGE DOOR COMPANY
Randy’s Garage Doors
BEST GIFT STORE
Hello, Retail Therapy
BEST GOLF COURSE
Crosswinds Golf Club
BEST HAIR COLORIST
Karen Partain
By Jessica & Co Beauty Lounge
BEST HAIR SALON
By Jessica & Co Beauty Lounge
BEST HAIR STYLIST
Karen Partain
By Jessica & Co Beauty Lounge
BEST HANDYMAN SERVICES
Southern Handyman Life
BEST HEALTH INSURANCE ADVISOR
Bill Edgar - The Edgar Group
BEST HEALTHCARE FACILITY
ExperCARE Urgent Care - Pooler
BEST HEARING HEALTHCARE
Audiology and Hearing Aid Services, LLC – Pooler Office
BEST HOLISTIC & NATUROPATHIC PRACTICE
Black’s Tropical Homestead
BEST HOME BUILDERS
Howard Premier Homes
BEST HOME DÉCOR STORE
At Home Georgia-Pooler
BEST HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCY
Magnolia Manor Senior Living
BEST HOSPICE ORGANIZATION
Hospice Savannah, Inc
BEST HOTEL
Courtyard by Marriott - Savannah Airport
BEST HVAC SALES AND SERVICES
Atlantic HVAC & Plumbing
BEST INSURANCE AGENT
Hammer Insurance Georgia
BEST INSURANCE COMPANY (Property & Casualty)
Beach Insurance Group, Inc.
BEST IT SERVICES
Penoja Analytics LLC
BEST KIDS ACTIVITIES
Children’s Museum of Pooler
BEST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Sergeant Francis Morris, Pooler Police Department
BEST LAW FIRM
The Horne Law Firm
BEST LAWN, GARDEN & LANDSCAPE
Grow it We Mow It
BEST LEARNING CENTER
Angel Learning Center
BEST LIQUOR STORE
Liquor Land
BEST LOCAL FACEBOOK PAGE
Its Cooler In Pooler!
BEST LOCAL INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
Its Cooler In Pooler!
BEST LOCAL ONLINE BOUTIQUE
Black’s Tropical Homestead
BEST LOCAL PHARMACY
Pooler Pharmacy
BEST LUNCH RESTAURANT
The Taco Stache
BEST MAKEUP ARTIST
Trystann McAteer
By Jessica & Co Beauty Lounge
BEST MALE BUSINESS OWNER
Derek Horne | The Horne Law Firm
BEST MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO
Pooler Karate, Krav Maga, and Jiu-Jitsu
BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST
Christina’s Healing Hands Massage Therapy and Wellness
BEST MASSAGE THERAPY GROUP
Pooler Day Spa
BEST MEDICAL GROUP
St. Joseph’s/Candler Medical Group - Pooler
BEST MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR
Ashley Moore, MS, LMFT, BC-TMH Building Blocks
BEST MILITARY VETERAN BUSINESS OWNER
Pete Castaneda High Rank Tattoo
BEST MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES
CJ’s Event Rentals
BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY
Queensborough National Bank and Trust
BEST MOVIE THEATER
Royal Cinemas & IMAX
BEST MOVING COMPANY
Wingman Junk Removal
BEST MUSEUM
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force
BEST NAIL SALON
Orchid Nail Salon
BEST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
West Chatham YMCA
BEST NURSE
Cierra Ford Johnson
BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER
Rachel Smith, NP
BEST NURSERY/GARDEN CENTER
Polk’s Produce
BEST NURSING ASSISTANT
Delvon Denson
BEST NUTRITION PRODUCT STORE
Fuel Up Nutrition
BEST NUTRITIONIST
Rebekah Laurance, RD
BEST OB/GYN
Dr. Sarah Greene, MD
BEST OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Dr. Manocha Mark, MD - Ga Eye Institute
BEST ORAL SURGERY PRACTICE
Chatham Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
BEST ORTHODONTICS GROUP
Innovative Orthodontics
BEST ORTHODONTIST
Dr. Donihue Waters and Dr. Ashley Clayton
Innovative Orthodontics
BEST ORTHOPEDIC GROUP
Chatham Orthopaedic Associates Pooler
BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT
The Taco Stache
BEST PANCAKES
First Watch Daytime Cafe
BEST PARTY RENTALS
Jacobe Entertainment
BEST PEDIATRICIAN
Dr. John Hobby, MD
BEST PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL AND STUDIO
Coastal Performing Arts Academy
BEST PET DAYCARE & BOARDING
Lov’n Paws
BEST PET GROOMER
Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming
BEST PET SITTER / DOG WALKER
Cierra Ford-Johnson
BEST PET SUPPLIES STORE
Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming
BEST PHOTOGRAPHER
III Oliver Green, LLC
BEST PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Dr. Michael Santo Giamanco, PT, DPT, CSCS
Atlas Physiotherapy
BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE
Chatham Orthopaedic Associates Pooler
BEST PIZZA
Lovezzolas Italian Pizza
BEST PLACE OF WORSHIP
LifeSpring Worship Center
BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER
West Chatham YMCA
BEST PLACE TO WORK
Godley Station Dental
BEST PLUMBING COMPANY
Henry Plumbing Company
BEST PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN
Dr. Shital Patel, MD
BEST PRINCIPAL
Stan Adams, Jr.
BEST PRINTING COMPANY
Dasher Reprographic Services
BEST PROPERTY MAINTENANCE COMPANY
Grow It We Mow It
BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Greater Savannah Property Management
BEST PSYCHIATRIST
Dr. Chad Brock, MD Shrink Savannah
BEST PSYCHOLOGIST
Daniel Nagelberg, PhD
Shrink Savannah
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
Trisha Cook
BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY
The Trisha Cook Team | Compass Georgia
BEST REMODELING COMPANY
The Citrus Home
BEST RENOVATION COMPANY
Coastal Contracting LLC
BEST RESTAURANT WAIT STAFF
The Taco Stache
BEST ROOFING COMPANY
Michael’s Roofing Company, Inc.
BEST SCHOOL
LifeSpring Christian Academy
BEST SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
Stan Adams, Jr.
BEST SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER
Officer Cotton- Bloomingdale Elementary
BEST SENIOR SERVICES
Oaks at Pooler, LLC (Assisted Living)
BEST SOLAR COMPANY
Be Smart Home Solutions
BEST SPECIAL EVENT VENUE
The Venue
BEST SPECIALTY STORE
The Salt Table
BEST SPEECH THERAPIST
Anna Jeffords, M.S., CCC-SLP
Chatterbox Pediatric Therapy
BEST STEAK
Texas Roadhouse
BEST STORAGE COMPANY
Stop N Stor Self Storage
BEST SUPPORT STAFF
Randi Litchfield
BEST TACTICAL/OUTDOOR SUPPLY STORE
Dean Forest Road Guns and Ammunition
BEST TANNING SALON
Palm Beach Tanning
BEST TATTOO ARTIST
L.A. Pete Castaneda
BEST TATTOO SHOP
High Rank Tattoo
BEST TEACHER
Paula Pounds
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY
Nancy Raymond Travel
BEST TRIVIA NIGHT
The Taco Stache
BEST URGENT CARE
ExperCARE Urgent Care - Pooler
BEST VETERINARIAN
Dr. Zack Nesbit
Godley Station Animal Hospital
BEST VETERINARY CLINIC
Godley Station Animal Hospital
BEST VISION CARE CLINIC
Low Country Eye Associates, PC
BEST WEALTH MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Edward Jones | Veronica Voisine
BEST WEBSITE
Live Like Locals Savannah
BEST WEIGHT LOSS CENTER
Empower U
BEST WINDOW TREATMENT COMPANY
Budget Blinds of Pooler & Statesboro
BEST WOMEN’S HEALTH FACILITY
Pooler Imaging Center
BEST WORSHIP LEADER
Pastor Dr. Julie Stanley-Mack
LifeSpring Worship Center
ROLLING WITH THE TIDE
Pooler Volleyball Player Commits to Alabama and Aspires to Olympics and Pro Career
Story by Stephen Prudhomme | Photography by Erich Perez
Maggie Kyriakides has been active throughout her life. She played basketball and did karate, collecting a second degree black belt in the latter sport.
For the past five years, the 17-year-old Pooler resident has gotten her kicks in another sport, one that shares a net, ball and premium on jumping with basketball but does not feature triple digit scoring. It’s also an athletic pursuit in which Kyriakides has proved to be a quick study, earning a college scholarship and eyeing the Olympics and a professional career.
Kyriakides is a senior at Savannah Christian and an outside hitter on the volleyball team. In May, after receiving several athletic scholarship offers to play volleyball in college, she verbally committed to the University of Alabama and will sign Nov. 12. Kyriakides said she will major in either nutrition or sports management.
“The coaching staff is amazing,” said Kyriakides, explaining her decision to join the Crimson Tide. “I want to play professionally, and the head coach is a former pro. The SEC (Southeastern Conference) is a big level. Also, the girls have been so sweet and welcoming, and it’s close to home.”
Kyriakides participated in a college prep camp in June and remarked it was really fun. To successfully make the transition from high school to college, she cited the importance of talking and being loud. Her confidence remains strong. “The talent is there,” she said.
Getting Started
Kyriakides’ introduction to volleyball took place at the Pooler Recreation Center, where she played basketball; she practiced karate at Robertsons AKA for six years. With the encouragement of Julie Jones, her current coach at Savannah Christian, Kyriakides took up volleyball and found a new sport on which to focus her considerable athletic talents and energy.
with the sport after her first game at the Pooler Recreation Center.
“Maggie loves volleyball with a passion,” her mother said. “When she steps onto the court you see a different side to her. She is so focused and ready to do whatever she needs to help her team. She is a very physical six rotational player.”
Lindsey said basketball helped Maggie with her hand-eye coordination and ball control, while karate aided her self discipline and balance. Being vocal on the court, she added, is something Maggie learned through her years of playing volleyball. “It helps her teammates by allowing them to their trust in her, and being loud also helps keeping the hype and mood up on the court,” her mother said.
“Maggie has played a crucial role in the Raider program since her freshman year and has been a major contributor in the three region championships and playoffs runs over the past three years.”
During her three years on the varsity team, Kyriakides has recorded 123 aces, 832 kills, 67 blocks, and 382 digs. Honors in 2023 include 3-A Player of the Year, GVCA 3-A All State, AVCA Phenom, Under Armour Next Athlete, and named to the Top 20 Outside Hitters by Peach State Volleyball.
Her most impressive skill, according to Jones, is her ability to terminate a ball on the outside. “She is a very heavy handed attacker that can put a ball away from anywhere on the court,” the coach said. “Maggie is a six rotation player that we also count on a great deal with her serving, passing, and defense as well.”
Jones added she’s looking forward to see how Maggie continues to grow in the game and as a leader on the court her senior year and at Alabama. “I am excited that Maggie has the opportunity to play in the SEC after she graduates and know she will make us all proud,” Jones said. “Playing at the Division I level will bring some challenges, but I am confident that once she gets used to the speed of the game at that level she will do great things.”
Lofty Goals
Kyriakides competed at the national level for two years, inspiring her to take her game to the highest level in the amateur ranks.
“It came naturally to me,” Kyriakides said. “I really enjoyed it. It just clicked. Basketball was too physical for me. I was really surprised with my progress at first, but I worked really hard. My parents were a huge help.”
Kyriakides’ mother Lindsey said Maggie has always been competitive with other sports, but once she found volleyball it was on a whole different level. From the start, Lindsey added, her daughter was a natural and fell in love
Kyriakides played setter early in her volleyball career and competed for the junior varsity team at Savannah Christian in seventh and eighth grades. Moving up to the varsity team as a freshman, she switched to outside hitter. “I really enjoyed hitting,” Kyriakides said.
Year-Round Dedication
Julie Jones, director of the volleyball program at Savannah Christian, has coached Kyriakides throughout her high school career and since her first year with Club Savannah. Her success, she noted, is no accident.
“Her dedication in the offseason and love for the game has made her a top player in the state of Georgia,” Jones said.
“Competing in the Olympics is a huge goal of mine,” Kyriakides said. “I’ll have to train harder. I love to be in the gym. I definitely have the talent. Maybe I can compete in 2028. Realistically, it would be 2032.”
Chris Kirby, director of the Pooler Recreation Center, has trained Kyriakides on strength and conditioning for six years and said it’s been absolutely awesome to watch her grow into one of the best players in the state. He cites her work ethic as a major factor in her development.
“She is one of the hardest workers I have been around,” Kirby said. “She comes into the gym focused and ready to work. I love it when the younger girls are in the gym training with Maggie so they can see how hard you are supposed to train if you want to be great.”
Kirby said he’s seen several of Kyriakides’ high school games at Savannah
Christian over the last few years and has enjoyed seeing her in action. Everyone in the gym is watching her, he added, because she hits the ball in a different way. “It sounds like an explosion when she spikes the ball,” Kirby said.
Kyriakides has had a great high school career, according to Kirby, and he expects her to follow suit in college, citing her work ethic, focus and her love of the game. “I can't wait to see her finish out her senior year of high school volleyball strong and then her college career,” he said.
Carson Reeves has played club volleyball with Kyriakides for the past three years. “Maggie’s a great player, teammate and person,” Reeves said. “She is either working hard in the gym or on the floor. She has a powerful arm swing that allows her to hit different shots with strength and consistency. She is a great player on our club team and I have loved getting to play with her for the past years.”
Gabe Woffindin is the assistant volleyball coach and recruiting coordinator at Lehigh University. He coached Kyriakides for two years on the 17s team at Club Savannah and described her as an athlete with whom you’re always excited to work.
“She has a cannon for an arm that can’t necessarily be taught,” Woffindin said. “Her drive, love for the game and the willingness to improve make her an excellent teammate and
Competing in the Olympics is a huge goal of mine...Maybe I can compete in 2028. Realistically, it would be 2032 “
“
player to coach. Her growth between the years on the club was fantastic to see not just as a player but also as a competitor. Her willingness to be comfortable and eager to win the last point, score at the end of matches, and put the team on her back improved greatly in such a short time.”
Woffindin remarked he’s proud of Kyriakides and her decision to play at the University of Alabama and noted she’s always looked to play at the highest level possible and will be in great hands to keep developing, competing and excelling in the SEC.”
Kyriakides signed with Alabama in May after receding multiple D-1 offers. Her mother said Maggie was so excited and emotional. “We are so proud of her and can’t wait to watch her play at a higher level and grow as a person,” she said.
That growth was fueled by training in Greece for three years with a semipro team; Kyriakides has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Greece. Her mother said she would be honored to play in the Olympics one day. The question is which country would she represent. “She would love to play for the USA or honor her heritage and play for Greece,” Lindsey said.
There’s also the goal of playing for pay. “Maggie’s always wanted to turn pro after college and play in Europe,” Lindsey said. “She is extremely focused on her goals, and I can’t wait to see where her future takes her.”
Kyriakides said she’s a very physical, loud and competitive player who’s found her sports niche with volleyball.
“It’s a huge team sport,” she said. “I’ve made best friends throughout the sport. It’s such a competitive sport. It’s very high energy. I feed off that energy.” ■
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Pooler Magazine News & Notes
Wonderful!!
“Mom
It
“Everything
The downstairs salon space is dedicated to providing extensive hair care:
• Coloring
• Extensions
• Cuts
Jessica Sauls has been a successful business owner, entrepreneur and hair stylist for quite some time. Jessica’s interest in styling stems back to her childhood when she used her little brother and sister as her own personal mannequins to practice her craft. Over time, her love for styling grew exponentially, so Jessica turned that creative passion into a reality. In 2016, the talented stylist opened her salon, By Jessica & Co. Beauty Lounge, which recieved the honor of Pooler’s Best Salon 2024.
Clients, Services & Salon
It is important to Jessica that her clients feel good about the services they receive. She wants to fulfill the vision of beauty that each client wants to obtain.
“I want them to feel their best. It’s all about the service, the experience, as well as the comfort level. Making them feel beautiful is my goal,” she comments.
Jessica recently expanded; the upstairs space she has now gained includes two studios: Sixth Sense Aesthetics and Avelyn Aesthetics. The upstairs studios specialize in various beauty aesthetics, including:
• Facials
• Permanent makeup
• Eyelash and eyebrow extensions
• Eyelash perming and tinting
• Body contouring
• Keratin treatments
• Styling
Jessica knows that establishing a comfortable, cozy and welcoming atmosphere for her customers makes all the difference in the world. She persists to make them feel like family from the moment they step through her door until the moment they step out.
“It’s not just your basic salon; it feels like home for everybody that comes in,” she says. Jessica’s style and creativity are evident throughout her salon and render quite an eclectic vibe.
Karen Partain: Best Hair Stylist & Best Hair Colorist
Karen Partain, of By Jessica & Co. Beauty Lounge, received the honor of being named Pooler’s Best Hair Stylist and Best Hair Colorist. Karen specializes in cutting, perming and highlights.
“She does beautiful hair. She taught me how to do hair, so it’s quite awesome that she won the award,” Jessica says.
Jessica has worked with Karen since she began her career, as she started out as Karen’s apprentice years ago. Karen herself has been in the industry for over 30 years.
“I love her. She’s been with me from the moment I started here. She’s a fantastic asset to my company,” Jessica adds. In addition, Jessica is thankful for all the ladies that comprise her team of dedicated professionals, which also includes: Helen, Anna, Riley and Trystann. Trystann is honored as Pooler’s Best Aesthetician and Best Makeup Artist. She was also recently privileged to open her own studio: Avelyn Aesthetics.
“She started here as a lash specialist, then she started doing makeup. I’m pleased she has opened up her own studio; it allows her more freedom to do other things,” Jessica states.
What is more, Jessica recently obtained her Master’s Degree in Life Coaching in Mental Health. She wants to help make a priceless impact in the lives of countless individuals.
Jessica appreciates all her loyal clientele that have supported her and trusted her with their hair and beauty care over the years. She welcomes new customers to experience the By Jessica & Co. difference. Jessica is excited to see what the future has in store. For more information, please call: (912) 348-3600 or visit: www.byjessicaandcobeautylounge.com.
912.348.3600 | www.byjessicaandcobeautylounge.com 215 Highway 80 E, Unit A, Pooler, GA 31322
Avelyn Aesthetics: Trystann McAteer
Named Best Aesthetician & Best Makeup Artist
“It’s more than just a job, and it’s more than just a business. This is my life, and my clients can tell. They have somebody that cares about them— somebody they can talk to. They know that they’re in good hands,” Trystann McAteer states.
Trystann began her career with By Jessica & Co. in January. On August 5, she was excited to open her own studio inside the same location: Avelyn Aesthetics , named after her fouryear-old daughter Huxley Avelyn whom Trystann feels is her most beautiful creation.
“It’s exciting. It’s what I always dreamed of. I always enjoyed makeup; it was my biggest fashion interest growing up,” Trystann says.
In fact, Trystann is living her dream. She learned a lot about applying makeup from one of her biggest inspirations—her mom Melissa, who personally made Trystann’s face up when she was young until Trystann began practicing on herself. Trystann remembers becoming familiar with major makeup brands, such as Mary Kay and Avon, as a very young girl because her mom was a loyal subscriber who loved nearly everything about makeup.
As a competitive dancer and cheerleader, Trystann later began doing the full faces of the other performers on her teams; over time, she furthered her skill set by doing pageant makeup for contestants.
Skill Set & Services
Clients Make the Difference
Trystann is skillful in overall makeup artistry. She received her tattoo license in order to offer permanent makeup to her clients. She does permanent makeup for brows and lips. She is also skilled in scalp micropigmentation and faux freckles.
The masterful aesthetician is certified in body contouring as well. Also known as body sculpting, its purpose is to help eliminate fat while helping to shape certain areas of the body; body contouring may also aid in tightening of some loose skin.
“I put my heart into every service I do,” Trystann says.
Trystann understands that selfimage and self-worth are essential to overall health and happiness. Most of her clients are women; it is important to her that she creates a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere for them—one that nurtures their natural soft side and femininity.
“I believe self-worth is the most important thing for a woman. How we carry ourselves and what we allow for ourselves determine the way people will treat us,” she states.
Trystann strives to make a meaningful difference in her clients’ lives. She hopes to make their days a little brighter and their lives a little easier.
“I want my clients to feel beautiful, confident and happy in their own skin. My clients are like family to me. I don’t want them to have to spend a lot of
time putting themselves together. With permanent makeup or even eyelash extensions, they can just wake up, wash their face and put moisturizer on; they don’t have to do a lot. They can wake up feeling good,” she says.
It is of no surprise why this talented aesthetician is voted the Best of Pooler. For more information, contact Avelyn Aesthetics at: (208) 608-1576.
Creating a Better Today for a More Efficient Tomorrow
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September 2024
October 2024
POOLER EVENTS
9/5: United Way Campaign Kickoff 11am-1pm | Savannah Convention Center
9/7: Pooler Community Shred Day 9am-12pm | 1559 Pooler Parkway, Pooler
9/8, 10/13: Live Like Locals Savannah: Pooler Mega Market & Farmers Market 10am-4pm | Tom Tripplet Park
9/10: Small Business Trending Topics 8:30-9:30am | 103 San Drive Pooler, GA
9/11: Culinary Fusion Festival: Celebration of Global Flavors 1-5pm | Grayson Stadium, Savannah
9/12: 2024 Chamber Business Expo and Business Connection 3pm | 660 E. Broughton St., Savannah
9/14: Out of the Darkness Community Walk 2024 9am-12pm | Tom Triplett Park
9/14, 10/18: Movie Nights Under the Stars 6:30pm | Port Wentworth’s Festival Site
9/26: Taste of Pooler 6-8pm | Tanger Outlets, Pooler
10/7: 34 Seconds Foundation 5k 9-11:30am | Tom Tripplet Park
10/10: Light The Night Savannah 5:30-8pm | The Park at Eastern Warf, Savannah
10/19: Christmas in October 10am-4pm Windsor Forest Community Center
10/24: Inspiring Dreams Gala 5:30-9pm | 601 Cohen St, Savannah
10/26: Historic Savannah Foundation Annual Gala 6-11pm | 660 E Broughton St, Savannah
