December 2019 Chamber Business Monthly

DECEMBER 2019

Lowcountry Speaker Series in Partnership with Your Chamber TASTE OF THE SEASON

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CHAMBER BALL 2020 | SHOP LOCAL |FOR THE HOLIDAYS HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org December 2019 1

IN THIS ISSUE COMMUNITY FOCUS: BLUFFTON

Town Committed to Lutzie 43

FEATURED

Increased Air Service Drives Positive Economy

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CHAMBER BUSINESS MONTHLY

COMMUNITY FOCUS: HILTON HEAD

HGTV Dream Home 2020, Beach Art and more

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ADVOCACY CORNER

Love Local, Shop Local

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ON THE COVER Lowcountry Speaker Series 2020 Your chamber is partnering with the Lowcountry Speaker Series to bring thought leaders to Hilton Head Island.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

The Heart of the Heritage: Giving Students Opportunities

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CHAMBER EVENTS:

Taste of the Season, Chamber Ball 2020 and more

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HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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FEATURED

Iconic Thought Leaders Come to the Lowcountry LOWCOUNTRY SPEAKER SERIES DEBUTS IN JANUARY What do a former diplomat, a doctor, a photographer, and a Navy SEAL have in common?

They are all coming to Hilton Head Island in 2020 for the inaugural season of the Lowcountry Speaker Series, and the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the group.

The Lowcountry Speaker Series, in conjunction with the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, also developed the Our Doors Are Always Open fund. Through the INSPIRE THE LOWCOUNTRY initiative, tax-deductible donations will provide tickets to the Lowcountry Speaker Series for qualified community members, including educators, students, veterans, first responders, and volunteers.

“We are proud to partner with the Lowcountry Speaker Series,” said Bill Miles, president & CEO of the Hilton Head IslandBluffton Chamber of Commerce. “Events like these truly help elevate the whole community.”

Lowcountry Speaker Series founder James Lamar said he began the series so people can formulate their own opinions on important topics from top experts without the filter of the 24/7 news cycle and social media.

“We are excited to bring the world’s finest thought leaders and storytellers to our community to explore new insights and perspectives with us,” he said. “The idea of the Lowcountry Speaker Series was developed because of my desire to return to my birthplace and to provide a forum to exchange unfiltered ideas.”

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CHAMBER BUSINESS MONTHLY

Lowcountry Speaker Series Lineup Doors open at 6 p.m.; Lectures begin at 7:30 p.m.

Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa January 14: Condoleezza Rice February 11: Dr. Sanjay Gupta March 10: Paul Nicklen April 7: Robert O’Neill Subscription and individual tickets available. More information and tickets are available at www.lowcountryspeakerseries.com

The Speakers

Condoleezza Rice

Secretary of State (2005-2009) JANUARY 14, 2020

Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Neurosurgeon and Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN FEBRUARY 11, 2020

Condoleezza Rice is currently the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business; the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution; and a professor of Political Science at Stanford University. She is also a founding partner of RiceHadleyGates, LLC.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the multiple Emmyaward winning chief medical correspondent for CNN and a practicing neurosurgeon at the Emory Clinic and the Associate Chief of Neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital.

His medical training, public policy experience and literary style have informed his reporting and made his dispatches some of the most distinctive on television.

HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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FEATURED

The Speakers

Paul Nicklen

National Geographic Photographer, Filmmaker, Marine Biologist MARCH 10, 2020 Paul Nicklen is a Canadian photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist who has documented the beauty and the plight of our planet for over 20 years. As an assignment photographer for National Geographic magazine, he is uniquely qualified to create his brand of documentary photography that inform and create an emotional connection with wild subjects in extreme conditions.

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CHAMBER BUSINESS MONTHLY

Robert O’Neill

Former SEAL Team Six Leader, Naval Special Warfare Development Group and New York Times Best-Selling Author APRIL 7, 2020 Robert O’Neill is one of the most highlydecorated combat veterans of our time and the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir The Operator: Firing the Shots That Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior. A former SEAL Team Six leader with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, he deployed more than a dozen times and held combat leadership roles in more than 400 combat missions in four different theaters of war.

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Questions with James Lamar,

Founder of the Lowcountry Speaker Series

Tell us about your background.

I recently returned to my South Carolina birthplace after careers as a U.S. Naval Aviator and Wall Street money manager. I was born at the Charleston Naval Hospital, and was a “Navy brat.� I moved seven times before graduating high school in the Washington, D.C. area, so I grew up adapting to changing geographies, cultures, and viewpoints, and these life experiences led me to the U.S. Air Force Academy and a desire to serve as a Naval aviator.

What inspired you to start the Lowcountry Speaker Series?

During my nine years in the Navy, I began challenging myself to seek knowledge outside traditional publications and the 24-hour news cycle. While on my second combat deployment in 2001 aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) aircraft carrier as a Lieutenant, I had just returned from one of many missions over Iraq, when I picked up a popular U.S.-based news magazine and, to my surprise, it was reported that combat missions had been

halted for over a year!

I saw a similar pattern of misinformation and biased reporting during my 15 years on Wall Street as an investment fund portfolio manager. I noticed that factual events, regardless of the topic, were becoming increasingly clouded, not only by professional media outlets, but also by social

HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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FEATURED

media, where anyone with a smartphone can become a reporter.

In an attempt to separate fact from opinion, while providing a forum for life-long learning, I started planning for the inaugural Lowcountry Speaker Series in January 2019.

The purpose of the series is to inspire a community conversation led by the highestprofile experts and storytellers, speakers our local audience might not otherwise have access to, so the audience can ask their own questions and hear the answers without someone else’s spin. I strongly believe that seeing and hearing directly from an expert can have a dramatic impact on pre-existing perceptions and opinions, and I want to share that experience.

How did you choose the speakers for this series?

I personally chose Condoleezza Rice, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Paul Nicklen and Robert O’Neill because each of these speakers are experts in their particular field. In addition to discussing topics that include world affairs, health and wellness, the environment, and the military and leadership, they all have interesting, inspiring stories to tell.

Condoleezza Rice, for example, is not only the first African American woman to serve as the United States Secretary of State, but she is also an accomplished pianist who once performed in a nationally broadcast concert for Queen Elizabeth II and is a former competitive ice skater who also loves football and served on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.

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CHAMBER BUSINESS MONTHLY

You have a diverse group of speakers lined up. What can businesses learn from them?

The Lowcountry Speaker Series audience is diverse, because the four-lecture program covers such a broad set of topics. It’s a live forum designed to inspire a community conversation between residents, business owners, and community leaders and encourage human-to-human interaction so that participants can learn new perspectives and share opinions. Business owners, in particular, should be prepared to meet and exchange ideas with new people, as guests from around the Lowcountry region, and beyond, will be in attendance.

Tell us about the “Inspire the Lowcountry” program tied to the event?

We partnered with the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry to develop the Our Doors Are Always Open fund to encourage a wider and more diverse range of participation in the Lowcountry Speaker Series. Through the Inspire the Lowcountry fund, tax-deductible gifts will provide qualified community members - including educators, students, veterans, first responders, and volunteers - tickets to the series. The $100,000 fundraising goal will provide an entire seating section for these community members who have a positive and immediate impact on the community.

Donors will be recognized on all eventday promotional materials, to include the on-site donor board (segmented by tiers) and the Lowcountry Speaker Series event program. Inspire a group of teachers, students, veterans, first responders, or volunteers by donating!

6 P.M., December 6, 2019 Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa

40+ Restaurants . 1 Location . 1 Night Only

PRESENTING SPONSOR

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HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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INCREASED AIR SERVICE

Drives Positive Economy

As Hilton Head Island has become America’s Favorite Island™ and Bluffton continues its expansion, more and more eyes are on southern Beaufort County as a place to visit and do business.

Our airports have invested millions into their facilities and have recruited new airlines and direct routes to make getting to the Lowcountry for business or leisure easier than ever before. It’s great news for residents as well.

Here’s a look at the soaring growth of air service over the past five years.

SAVANNAH/HILTON HEAD INTERNATIONAL (SAV) Through September of this year, 2.28 million people have passed through the renovated terminal of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport - up 8.7% compared to the same time last year. This year, the airport was named the No. 2 airport in the U.S. in Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Award and the No. 4 domestic airport in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards.

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SAV Passenger Traffic (Total Enplanements and Deplanements):

YTD Total*

Annual Total

2019

2.56m

2018

2.36m

2.8m

2017

2.09m

2.46m

2016

1.84m

2.19m

2015

1.71m

2.03m

2014

1.61m

1.91m

*Reflects January through October combined enplanements and deplanements to show year-over-year growth.

TIMEL I N E OF SAV AIR P O RT MI L E STO N ES February: JetBlue begins nonstop service to N.Y. (JFK) and Boston-Logan

2014

March: Sun Country Airlines announces nonstop service to Minneapolis/St. Paul May: Allegiant Air begins nonstop service to Canton/Akron and Cincinnati, Ohio

2015

March 2015: Allegiant Air begins nonstop service to Columbus April: Allegiant Air begins nonstop service to Baltimore, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh & Newark June: Allegiant Air begins nonstop service to Lexington, Ky.

2016

September: Allegiant Air announces it is shifting its service between SAV from Akron to Cleveland, Ohio

October: SAV is recognized as the 5th best domestic airport in Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards

November: American Airlines adds nonstop daily service to Reagan Washington National

April: Allegiant Air begins nonstop service to Cleveland, Ohio May: Air Canada begins nonstop service to Toronto International Airport

2017

August: SAV named among the top domestic airports in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards

December: SAV is recognized as one of the best domestic airport in Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards

March: American Airlines adds second daily nonstop flight to Reagan Washington National

2018

June: American Airlines begins nonstop service to Miami and Chicago O’Hare. Allegiant Air begins nonstop service to Nashville

August: SAV named among the top 10 airports in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards

January: American Airlines adds second daily nonstop flight to Miami April: Allegiant Air announced that it will establish a two-aircraft base in SAV and plans to start operations in June

June: Allegiant Air begins non-stop service to Albany, N.Y., Providence, R.I., Allentown, Penn.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Niagara Falls, N.Y.; and Portsmouth, N.H.

2019

July: SAV Named No. 4 best domestic airport by Travel + Leisure readers; SAV announces $4.2 million grant from the FAA for finishing a customs facility

October: SAV named the No. 2 domestic airport in the U.S. by Conde| Nast Traveler readers 11 HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org December 2019

HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT (HHH) Airline service at the Hilton Head Airport has experienced triple-digit growth since the runway expansion was completed last year. This past summer, the airport received a $10 million grant to renovate and expand its terminal.

HHH Passenger Traffic (Total enplanements and deplanements)

YTD Total*

Annual Total

2019

173,465

2018

53,640

78,795

2017

45,104

57,885

2016

51,313

64,671

2015

62,936

78,486

2014

86,293

111,590

*Reflects January through September combined enplanements and deplanements to show year-over-year growth.

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TIM E L I N E OF H H I A I R P O RT MI L E STO N ES

2010 2015

The FAA, Beaufort County and the Town of Hilton Head approves the HHH airport master plan, which includes extending the runway from 4,300 to 5,000 feet.

February The HHH runway expansion environmental study was approved by the FAA, allowing Beaufort County to move forward with the project.

October HHH receives a $13 million grant from the FAA for relocating its taxiway and tree trimming.

2016

July Runway off-airport obstruction removal complete.

February

2017

Runway expansion at HHH begins

April Taxiway A and general aviation ramp replacement open to air traffic

June HHH runway expansion to 5,000 feet is completed

2018

July Runway expansion is open to air traffic, and the last American Airlines Dash-8 flight takes off as the airport welcomes jet service

April United Airlines begins nonstop service to Washington-Dulles

May HHH welcomes back Delta Airlines with the direct service to Atlanta three times a day and American Airlines begins service to Washington-Ronald Reagan Airport.

HHH announces that it received a $10 million in supplemental funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation for its terminal renovation and expansion

June Delta Airlines begins nonstop service to LaGuardia, N.Y.

October

2019

HHH announces new nonstop service on American Airlines to Dallas, Chicago O’Hare, and Philadelphia starting in spring 2020; HHH announces TSA Pre-Check

November HHH announces that Delta will add another daily nonstop flight to Atlanta, bringing the daily seasonal total to four flights HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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COMMUNITY FOCUS: BLUFFTON

Town Committed to Lutzie 43

Harbor Light Insurance partner Harry Lutz presents a check for Lutzie 43 to Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka and Police Chief Chris Chapman. Photo courtesy of the Town of Bluffton

The Town of Bluffton’s partnership with Lutzie 43 Foundation to raise awareness about distracted driving has been gaining momentum.

Mayor Lisa Sulka continues to pave the way for municipalities to encourage the South Carolina statehouse to pass a “hands-free” law.

“We want all motorists, no matter their age, to realize how important it is to complete the safety driving checklist when you get into a vehicle,” said Bluffton Police Chief Chris Chapmond. “Make sure to have a clear head, clear hands, clear eyes and click it.”

Philip Lutzenkirchen was a former Auburn University football player who was killed in a car accident that involved distracted driving.

His father founded the Lutzie 43 Foundation in his honor.

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Since Bluffton’s Lutzie 43 campaign was launched earlier this year, the town has partnered with numerous local businesses. For example, there was a $2,000 donation from Harbor Light Insurance, and the Peacock Auto Mall is placing literature about the Lutzie 43 distracted driving campaign in every new car it sells. Last month, the Town of Bluffton received a $1,000 donation to be applied to the Lutzie 43 campaign as a result of Sulka being a recipient of the Cingo’s Circle & Shield Award. The award is accompanied by a donation to a cause of the recipient’s choosing.

The town also hosted its first Lutzie 43 5K through Historic Bluffton last August, and it is expected to be an annual event.

“I’m so proud of this campaign and what we have been able to accomplish,” said Sulka.

Inclusive Playground Equipment Installed Children with special needs are now able to enjoy swings in Bluffton playgrounds.

Last month, the Town of Bluffton installed two adaptive playground swings at Oscar Frazier and DuBois parks.

special needs children by placing swings in each state. Bluffton is the first municipality in South Carolina to partner with this organization.

The installation and donation of the swings is the outcome of a strategic partnership with the

This is the Town’s first installment of adaptive and inclusive playground equipment for children with disabilities. It will also install an approximately $200,000 inclusive playground within its Buckwalter Place Park. Town leaders

non-profit organization 50 Red Swings, which encourages inclusivity by making playgrounds across the United States more accessible for

are also considering installing an inclusive playground at the future park at the New Riverside Barn property.

HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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COMMUNITY FOCUS: HILTON HEAD ISLAND

Hilton Head Island HGTV Dream Home Debuts January 1 Tune in on January 1 as HGTV shines the spotlight on why Hilton Head Island is the perfect place to call home!

A site in Windmill Harbour was chosen as the location for the HGTV® Dream Home 2020, and the chamber is a proud partner of the 24th annual giveaway.

The sweepstakes opens on December 30, and the show will air on January 1 with encore airings scheduled throughout January and February.

Retired landscape architect and artist Jeffrey Walsh paid a visit to Hilton Head Island’s South Beach to make walkable and elaborate sand labyrinths for two days at low tide.

He travels to beaches to make this interactive art all throughout the country.

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Hilton Head Island in the National News The Hilton Head Island-BlufftonBeaufort area was named among the “Most Successful Small Cities” in WorkAndMoney.com.

What they said: “Most jobs in this beachy metro in the southernmost region of South Carolina are in real estate, retail, health care and tourism. The median household income in Hilton Head Island is around $70,000, with the median home value in a hot market pegged at $437,200.”

“Where to Stay on Hilton Head Island” featured in Forbes.com. What they said: “Careful stewardship of the coastline, marshes and waterways has preserved the island’s Lowcountry charm. ... No matter where you stay you will enjoy the quiet, relaxed feel of this special island.”

Hilton Head Island named among “Thinking of buying a vacation home? These are the best places in every state to own one” in USAToday.com.

“A Day (Not) at the Beach” featured in HGTV.com. What they said: “We all know Hilton Head Island has an abundance of amazing beaches. Now let’s explore the other fun activities you can dive into on family vacation.”

HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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ADVOCACY CORNER

SHOP SMALL SATURDAY: November 30 Your chamber was once again a neighborhood partner for the 10th annual Shop Small Saturday, encouraging the community to shop locally on November 30 and throughout the holiday season.

ArtWare

Spartina 449 Bluffton

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FACES DaySpa

The G-Free Spot Bakery HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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The Haven Boutique

ADVOCACY CORNER

Love Local...

Forsythe Jewelers

Nash Gallery

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Outside Hilton Head

...Shop Local

Dream Boutique

Hilton Head Distillery

HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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ADVOCACY CORNER

5 Things That Happen When You Buy Local

1

Your money stays here.

67 cents out of every dollar stays local, and 23 cents is reinvested into other local businesses.

5

You help the environment.

Shopping local helps cut down pollution and traffic.

4

2

BUY LOCAL. THINK LOCAL.

You encourage investment into the local community.

One average, businesses each give back $6,600 to their communities every year.

You help create jobs.

Since 2008, small businesses created 10.6 million net new jobs.

3

You encourage unique finds that help make us a destination.

Owners are more likely to carry products that are tailored to their customers.

Sources: SCORE, American Express, SBA.

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High Consumer Spending Predicted This Holiday Season

78 percent of consumers plan to spend as much or more than last year, despite a pessimistic outlook for the economy in 2020

Households will spend nearly $400 on social activities.

Two-thirds of consumers will spend money on experiences.

59 percent of consumers plan on dining out.

High spenders will likely comprise 60 percent of the total holiday spend.

20 percent of holiday shoppers will be “high spenders� (households spending more than $2,000).

Nearly 70 percent of high spenders started shopping before Thanksgiving Day.

HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019 23 Sources: Survey commissioned by Deloitte U.S. & Lowcountry CEO

The Heart of The Heritage:

Giving Students a Chance Three Heritage Classic Foundation Scholars Share Stories of Success If it wasn’t for the Heritage Classic Foundation Scholarship, going to college may not have been a reality for University of South Carolina freshman Elizabeth Jordan.

“Receiving the scholarship made college more attainable. I’m a first generation college student,” she said. “This was such a big deal for me and my family. It’s been our dream for me to be able to go to college. I haven’t had to worry about the financial burdens and finding a job. The scholarship has helped me focus more on my education.”

Brasseur grew up on Hilton Head Island, and - even though he now lives in Brussels - he makes it home every spring to attend the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing and is giving back to the Heritage Classic Foundation.

“The foundation has done so much for the island,” he said. Brasseur has gotten together with other scholars to donate and help endow the Heritage Classic Foundation Scholars program. “It’s a sustainability thing for me. They recognized and supported my education and I want to support it for the next generation.”

Over 330 graduating seniors from Beaufort and Jasper County schools have received the scholarship since the program was instituted in 1993. The grants have totaled more than $4.3 million.

The Heritage Classic Foundation will name 10 new Scholars from the 2020 graduating class at the 52nd annual RBC Heritage Presented

by Boeing on April 13-19, 2020. Each Scholar will have an opportunity to receive a four-year grant, totaling up to $16,000 to $20,000.

For Michael Brasseur - one of the original Heritage Classic Foundation Scholars in 1993 the grant and an ROTC scholarship allowed him to attend Vanderbilt University and kickstarted a long career in the Navy. He’s now the director of the naval armaments cooperation at the United States Mission to NATO. “The Heritage scholarship helped ensure that my parents didn’t have to pay for my college,” he said. “It launched me onto an exciting career, and gave me a lot of confidence very early.”

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Michael Brasseur

Jordan is part of that next generation. She’s majoring in math and secondary education at the University of South Carolina, and plans to return to her community to be a middle school math teacher. A 2019 graduate of Hilton Head High School, Jordan was involved in her church and the school’s Interact Club. Her teachers and guidance counselor encouraged her to apply to the Heritage Classic Foundation Scholars program.

When Jordan found out she was was named a scholar: “I was in shock. I knew how competitive it was,” she said. “I was overwhelmed with appreciation and thinking out what I would be able to do.”

The program is competitive. Scholarship applications are reviewed on the basis of academic success, SAT/ACT score, community service, an essay written by the student, financial need, and an interview.

“The scholarship has allowed me to choose a school like Furman and not be as fearful for paying off student debt. That’s huge; it’s very freeing and liberating,” he said. “I knew the implications it had for my future. It’s blessed me so much.”

Zach Waters, a freshman at Furman University and another 2019 recipient, agreed that the scholarship has completely changed the outlook for his academic career.

The 2019 Scholars. Elizabeth Jordan is seated, second from left.

Zach Waters is standing, fourth from left.

HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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MEMBERS MAKING NEWS

Who’s Who & Who’s Where

Maggie Denison will transition to the role of Marketing Manager at the Callawassie Island Club. She was previously the events director there.

Jeff Gareis is the new Assistant Golf Professional at the Callawassie Island Club.

He is a U.S. Navy veteran and was previously an assistant golf professional at Broad Bay Country Club in Virginia Beach.

Keriann Ginter has joined the Callawassie Island Club as the Events Director.

She previously worked in the Student Activities Department at the University of South Carolina Beaufort.

Have news or new faces at your workplace?

Berwick Drews has joined the Berkeley Hall team as CFO/ Controller. He most recently served as the director of finance for Devonshire & Chatsworth at PGA National, and has over 30 years of valuable experience in hotels, golf resorts, and real estate.

26 CHAMBER BUSINESS MONTHLY

Kristy Stewart has earned the Certified Membership/ Marketing Professional (CMP) designation from the Professional Club Marketing Association.

She is the director of membership, marketing and communications at Hampton Hall Club.

Let us know by emailing hmartin@hiltonheadisland.org

Members Making News

A SeaWorld team rescued a 856-pound manatee from a Palmetto Dunes lagoon between the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course’s 9th and 10th holes. The animal was transported to SeaWorld’s Orlando location for rehabilitation.

Coastal Carolina Hospital was named an American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery Gynecological Surgery Center of Excellence, meaning it exceeded existing norms for minimally invasive surgery quality and delivery, and has physicians on staff who have achieved the AIMIS designation.

Hampton Lake broke ground on a new member amenity center including a pool, catering kitchen, activity barn as well as parking - that will complete the 16.8 acre Parkside Amenity Center.

HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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MEMBERS MAKING NEWS

Anna Goebel, a hospitality management major at the University of South CarolinaBeaufort, was one of nine students who received the South Carolina Governor’s Tourism Student Award and a $1,000 scholarship from first lady Peggy McMaster and SCPRT Director Duane Parrish .

Congratulations to the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry for celebrating its 25th anniversary last month.

The Beaufort County School District’s adult education program received the state Spearman Innovation Award, as well as an Adult Basic Education Performance Award for being one of the top 10 programs in the state with the highest percentages of students earning career readiness certificates.

Moss Creek was named the 2019 USTASouth Carolina Member Facility of the Year.

28 CHAMBER BUSINESS MONTHLY

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to Beaufort County by Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its comprehensive annual financial report.

Over the past 30 years, Yellow Transportation has provided 30,672 rides to the overserved and indigent on Hilton Head Island.

Welcome New Members & Anniversaries New Members

10-14 Years

Bare Feet Retreats, PMC LLC

Atlantic Pension Planning Corp.

Blue Poppy Designs

Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty

Carriage Trade Public Relations

Destination Vacation

Coco Coiffure Salon

Gay F. Rothe

Courtyard by Marriott - Hilton Head Island

NHC Healthcare Bluffton

Flip Flop Adventures, a division of the Epiphyte Group

Nilson Van & Storage/Mayflower Transit

Hilton Head Entertainment Hilton Head Regional Physician Network Island Time Hilton Head

South Atlantic Bank

4-9 Years Benton House of Bluffton

Nurse Advocate Partners

Bluffton Jasper Volunteers in Medicine

Richard & Christina Jones Wood Work

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse

Signature Cabinetry of the Low Country

Cross Schools

United Webworks

Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina

Anniversaries

Heritage Fine Jewelry

30+ Years

Holiday Inn Express Hilton Head Island

Hub International

Loni Lueke Realtor at Sea Pines Real Estate at the Beach Club

Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf, Inc.

Pink Magazine/Spa Guide of the Lowcountry Premium Properties of Hilton Head LLC

20-29 Years Art League of Hilton Head Gallery Community Services Associates, Inc. Hilton Head Public Service District Multiple Listing Service of HHI, Inc. The Literacy Center Trish Heichel Ward Edwards, Inc.

15-19 Years Clifford Allen Associates Coastal States Bank Goodwill Industries of Lower SC Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival

Progress Printing Plus Company The Adfish Group The Corner Perk Cafe Witmer Jones Keefer

1-3 Years Art League of Hilton Head Academy Carey & Company, P.A. Coastal Home and Villa CrossRoads Financial Group Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Hilton Head Distillery Island Car Wash - Bluffton Island Car Wash - Hilton Head

Magic of Gary Maurer

Resort Furniture HHI

Programs for Exceptional People (PEP)

Rotary Club Of Hilton Head Island

Queen Chapel AME Church

Stretchzone Sweet Frog of Hilton Head HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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CONNECT, LEARN & GROW

Scene & Be Seen

The Fraum Center for Restorative Health celebrated its name change with a ribbon cutting.

The Bluffton Regional Business Council hosted David Johnson, the chair of the 278 Corridor Committee, at its meeting to discuss the proposed road and bridge widening project.

30 CHAMBER BUSINESS MONTHLY

Weichert Realtors welcomed their new office building in Old Town Bluffton with a ribbon cutting.

LinkedIn expert and branding strategist Thomas Heath lead a lunch & learn about developing a personal brand to advance careers with Chamber Young Professionals.

HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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CONNECT, LEARN & GROW

New vacation rental company Island Time Hilton Head was welcomed to the community with a ribbon cutting.

Congratulations to LUX ~ A Medical Spa for opening its Hilton Head Island location in Shelter Cove Towne Centre.

32 CHAMBER BUSINESS MONTHLY

Creative Cuisine.

Exceptional Service.

Whether you are planning a family gathering, corporate event or an elegant wedding, our experienced staff can help bring your ideas to life!

• Cocktail Parties • Off-Premises Catering • Wedding Brunches, Rehearsal Dinners & Receptions • Family Celebrations • Holiday Parties • Military Events • Group Golf & Tennis Outings • Conferences & Seminars • Corporate Events Palmetto Dunes venues include: The Dunes House, Centre Court Pavilion, Alexander’s Restaurant, Arthur Hills Golf Course and more!

CALL 855-807-1934

Your chamber staffed the Welcome Tent at the 15th annual Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival

DunesCateringAndEvents.com PalmettoDunes.com HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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Chamber Ball

A NIGHT LIKE NO OTHER...

Saturday, February 1,

2020

6:30 in the evening Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa

Eat.

Manhattan’s famed Windows on the World chefs will partner with our local culinary artists to

bring you course after course of tapas-style haute cuisine.

Drink.

Wine guru Kevin Zraly, and the “King of Cocktails” Dale DeGroff will host wine and cocktail

bars in the grand salon.

Honor & Celebrate.

We’re bringing together the biggest names in business and honoring

those in our community who go above and beyond.

Enjoy.

Pick your seating: Premier Lounge (front-row lounge-style for 10), Main Salon (long tables or

traditional rounds for 10; couples and individual tickets available), or Haute Social (hi-top seating in groups of 10; couple and individual tickets available), and enjoy a 9-piece showband throughout the evening.

Premier Lounge

Main Salon Long Tables

Main Salon Round Tables

Haute Social Hi-tops

Two Islands...One Unforgettable Night. A portion of the proceeds from the Chamber Ball will benefit Hurricane Dorian hunger relief in the Bahamas.

34 CHAMBER BUSINESS MONTHLY

The Chefs

MARC MURPHY Landmarc & “Chopped”

FREDERIC KIEFFER l’escale

• Marc Murphy, Landmarc, “Chopped” judge, and former Windows on the World chef • Florian Bellanger, former pastry chef at Le Bernardin and “Cupcake Wars” judge • Philippe Feret, Hilton Head Social Bakery and former Windows on the World chef • Frederic Kieffer, l’escale and former Windows on the World chef

• Clayton Rollison, Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar • Dale DeGroff, The King of Cocktails and former head bartender at the Rainbow Room • Martin Doyle, Suilan at the Borgata and former Windows on the World chef • Brian Coseo, Sea Pines Country Club • Arnaud Briand, Instant Eats and former Windows on the World chef

• Kevin Zraly, former wine director at Windows on the World, and author of Windows on the World Complete Wine Course with with millions sold

• Stéphane Weber, Culinary Institute of America in New York, former Windows on the World chef

• Chaun Bescos, WiseGuys

• Cesar Acevedo, Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa

CLAYTON ROLLISON Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar

PHILIPPE FERET Hilton Head Social Bakery

CHAUN BESCOS WiseGuys

TICKETS COMING SOON HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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EVENTS

Upcoming Events

40+ Restaurants. 1 location. 1 night only.

30th Annual Taste of the Season 5:30 p.m. VIP access | 6 p.m. Doors Open Friday, December 6 Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa Kick-off your holiday party circuit with the 30th annual Taste of the Season. Indulge in epicurean delicacies from the very best restaurants and eateries on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, as well as wine, and craft cocktails and beers. Shop our silent auction for unique and local holiday gifts, or a get-away to some of the highest-rated destinations. It’s always a sell-out.

GET YOUR TICKETS

CONVERSATION + COCKTAILS Montage Palmetto Bluff 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, December 12 Don’t miss end-of-the-year networking in the exquisitely decorated Montage Palmetto Bluff.

Chamber members can get a special room rate for the event and for the weekend!

CLICK HERE for more details.

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MAXIMIZE YOUR MEMBERSHIP 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 8 Chamber Headquarters, Hilton Head Island Learn more about the many ways you can leverage your chamber membership by connecting with other members, increasing your visibility, and learning about other ways to grow your business.

Complimentary; please register in advance.

CLICK HERE for more details.

CYP WELLNESS MONTH 2020 January 1-31 Cycle. Row. Breathe. Sweat. Stick to your wellness resolutions with the CYP Wellness Month, where you’ll get access to one free class a variety of local fitness centers for $50. Click here for details.

CYP HAPPY HOUR: WATERWALK AT SHELTER COVE 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, December 17

SAVE THE DATE

restaurant week

WaterWalk, 65 Shelter Cove Lane (behind the sheriff’s office), Hilton Head Island Get a sneak peek at Water Walk’s newest phase overlooking Broad Creek while networking with other young professionals.

Complimentary; includes two drink tickets and appetizers. Let us know if you are coming by CLICKING HERE.

February 3-9, 2020 HILTON HEAD ISLAND-BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | December 2019

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@HHIBCHAMBER HILTONHEADBLUFFTONCHAMBER.ORG 1 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DRIVE | HILTON HEAD ISLAND | 843.785.3673 216 BLUFFTON ROAD | BLUFFTON | 843.757.3673

The Connect Calendar is Here!

Whether it is the latest big festival, a schedule of upcoming plays and concerts, or sporting events, the Connect Calendar will be the source for upcoming events around the Island.

We’ll connect you with all the latest events in one easy-to-search calendar.

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LowcountryConnect.org