SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
5 QUESTIONS WITH DR. FRANK RODRIGUEZ
ANNUAL FESTIVALS RETURN
COVER ARTWORK BY: CRESCENDO
BE KIND LOWCOUNTRY
Inside This Issue CHAMBER NEWS
FEATURED Be Kind Lowcountry
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FEATURED 5 Questions with Beaufort County School’s Dr. Frank Rodriguez
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LOWCOUNTRY BUSINESS CONNECTION
HILTON HEAD ISLAND NEWS Town Manager Marc Orlando Shares his Goals
20 16 Project Connect, Apprenticeships, and more
ON THE COVER Fall Festivals Return to the Lowcountry
MEMBERSHIP CORNER Members Making News, Who’s Who & Who’s Where, and more
24 BLUFFTON NEWS Welcome to Bluffton, Stephen Steese
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FEATURED: Fall Festivals Return
Fall Festivals Return
When September rolls around in the Lowcountry, it’s time for our favorite fall festivals. After a year-long hiatus, festivals are back. Here’s a rundown on what’s happening this fall. For a full list of community events, visit www.LowcountryConnect.org
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LOWCOUNTRY BUSINESS CONNECTION
HILTON HEAD ISLAND WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL September 14 — 18 Over the past 36 years, the Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival grew from its origin as a one-day, three-hour tasting in a parking lot, to today’s full week of events throughout the island. This year’s festival will consist of exceptional wine dinners, the Sip and Stroll, Stay Gold plus the traditional Grand Tasting and well-loved Public Tasting. The proceeds from the festival’s wine auction at the Grand and Public Tastings support the John & Valerie Curry Educational Scholarship Fund for college students pursuing degrees in the hospitality and tourism field. Scholarships are currently offered at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and the Technical College of the Lowcountry. In the last eight years, the festival has provided $85,000 in scholarships to deserving students.
EVENTS
Click here for details. Uncorked Thursday, September 9, Courtyard by Marriott Rooftop Bar Movie Night, Bottle Shock Tuesday, September 14, Park Plaza Cinema Sip & Stroll Wednesday, September 15, The Shops at Sea Pines Center
Stay Gold Sold Out Thursday, September 16, Beach House Grand Tasting Sold Out Friday, September 17, Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival VIP Tickets Are Sold Out Public Tasting: Saturday, September 18, Lowcountry Celebration Park HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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FEATURED: Fall Festivals Return
CRESCENDO October 10 – November 13 The 2021 Crescendo Celebration features over 100 unique arts and cultural programs, concerts, theatrical productions, museum and gallery exhibits, lectures, poetry readings, dance performances, historical tours, hands-on arts experiences, and educational offerings. Kicking off October 10 with the Opening Celebration, the program will amaze and excite attendees until the curtains close on November 13, with the third annual Lantern Parade. Click here for a rundown of events.
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HISTORIC BLUFFTON ARTS & SEAFOOD FESTIVAL October 16 – 24 The festival is a week-long event offering a myriad of activities, showcasing the locally harvested seafood, delicious local cuisine, rich history, culture and art of the area and Southern hospitality found only in Bluffton. The highlight of the festival has always been the Streetfest on Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24. Stroll through Bluffton’s state designated cultural district featuring the artists in local galleries along with several pop-up art displays. Click here for a run-down of events.
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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FEATURED: Fall Festivals Return
HILTON HEAD ISLAND CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE & MOTORING FESTIVAL November 5 – 7 Hilton Head Island’s own Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival offers the best of the best in automotive exhibitions, dining, and luxury lifestyle. It’s more than just an event — it’s a multi-day world-class destination experience. Be there to experience over 500 cars, boats, motorcycles, and aircraft. Click here for details.
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LOWCOUNTRY BUSINESS CONNECTION
JEEP ISLAND October 9 The main event is combined with the Kiwanis Chili Cook-off. Hop in your jeep, and enjoy chili, football on the big screen, live entertainment, and much more. Click here for details.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND OYSTER FESTIVAL November 12 — 13 The Hilton Head Oyster Festival highlights steamed, fried and stewed oysters along with other delicious food for nonoyster eaters! There will be live entertainment, kid zone, marshmallow roasting and Sports Lounge for those fall Football games. Click here for details.
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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FEATURED: Be Kind
If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up. -Booker T. Washington
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Be Kind Lowcountry If you start seeing green ribbons around town or hearts in the doorways of businesses, there’s a reason for that: spreading kindness throughout the community. Our frontline staff is working harder than ever before, and they deserve our respect, patience, flexibility, and kindness. Our fellow neighbors have been dealing with the pandemic for nearly a year and a half. Let’s show everyone that they matter by being kind. Join us by tying a green ribbon outside your place of business or home. If you’d like a window cling for your business, contact us. Right before Labor Day weekend, we’ll host another Chalk The Walk with Kindness event. Check our social media pages or website for details. While you’re out and about, remember to simply be kind.
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FEATURE: 5 Questions With
Questions
with Dr. Frank Rodriguez
Early in his tenure, Beaufort County School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriguez was just getting settled when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit. He sits down with our CEO Bill Miles to chat about what he’s learned, what’s ahead, and more. Click here to listen to their full conversation.
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What does the 2021-2022 school year look like?
One of the things I’m most excited about is having our kids back in school five days a week. What we’ve learned over the last year is that - although I believe we managed the pandemic very, very well with our mitigation strategies and protocols that we had in place - virtual instruction works well for some students, but the vast majority need to be in school. So, we want to make it as normal as possible. We know the pandemic is still out there, and we are watching it closely but there are things like masks we can’t require, and virtual is a limited option. State data shows that seven to eight out of every 10 kids grades three through eight will be behind grade level. That’s the impact of the pandemic. There’s a lot of academic learning loss that you can’t recover in just one year. So, we have a lot of programs in place like after school programming and tutorial support. We are really building on the fine arts. We really feel that the fine arts are ways we can connect with and reach kids, keep them engaged, and still develop their learning in the core subject areas.
Photos courtesy of Beaufort County School Facebook Pages 12 LOWCOUNTRY BUSINESS CONNECTION
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The school district received almost $5 million in CARES Act money. What is that being used for?
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What are some ways the community can help support teachers, and students?
The money we received will go to PPE, academic recovery programming to deal with learning loss, and enhanced sanitation protocols.
As we emerge from last year, I see this as a moonshot moment. It’s a great opportunity to galvanize the support of our community. We live in a very generous community - not just financially - but there’s such a vast skill set from people who live here. We have retired teachers, scientists, you name it - we have it. And I’ve found them to be very generous in terms of their time, their talent, and of their treasure. I find that the type of things we can benefit from … whether its mentoring programs or volunteering to come and support a classroom. If somebody has a love for trains, we have a place for them. We want our kids to get a well-rounded education, it’s not just about the core standards.
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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You arrive in Beaufort County in July 2019 and then immediately there’s a $344 million bond referendum. Let’s talk about what it was like having the biggest bond referendum passed in the county on your plate just as you were getting started. The first thing I did was a listening and learning tour, and traveled around to all the different communities in the county, and engaged with our parents to build trust with them … That was so helpful because I got to learn so much more about our community. And then, came back around and engaged with them on the referendum, and told them that I would re-establish and put together a citizenled oversight committee to monitor how the district is managing the referendum project and every penny of that work. I’m grateful because our community supported (the referendum) with an over 70% approval rating. One of the things I learned is that you can’t underestimate the power of engaging with the community ahead of time because I was able to build that connection and build that trust with people. I let them see who I am. And I think that was an important piece when (the pandemic hit).
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You have kids in the school district … What’s it like for a teacher to have the superintendent’s kids in the classroom? I have found wonderful teachers here that have been so receptive to my family. Sometimes I walk into a classroom where my kids are, and it’s always a funny thing. The teachers are wonderful, and they know I respect their professionalism and the work that they do. My kids have had a wonderful experience in the classroom.
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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CHAMBER NEWS
SEA TURTLE SUPPORT The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce has a selection of “Lights Out” awareness collateral to assist with sea turtle preservation efforts. Click here for a toolkit you and your business can use to help the turtles.
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Need Workforce?
Consider an Apprenticeship Program Apprenticeship SC Hosting Office Hours at Chamber Offices Nicole Bentley from Apprenticeship SC will host office hours at our chamber office (1 Chamber of Commerce Drive, Hilton Head) to meet one-on-one with employers, teachers, parents or students who want to schedule time to learn more about how apprenticeships work. Apprenticeships help students learn in a hands-on environment while helping to fill our workforce pipeline. For details about the program, visit www.ApprenticeshipCarolina.com. Email Ms. Bentley at bentleyn@sctechsystem.edu to schedule an appointment. She is available:
• 9 a.m.-Noon Thursday, September 2 • 9 a.m.-Noon Wednesday, October 13 • 9 a.m.-Noon Wednesday, November 17 • 9 a.m.-Noon Wednesday, December 15 Teddy Thompson, a junior at Hilton Head High School, was the focus of the apprentice signing event at the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. He will begin his culinary apprenticeship with the resort in a hands-on environment while finishing high school and taking classes at TCL’s new Culinary Institute of the South. Check out the video for highlights.
CONGRATULATIONS & WELCOME to the 2021-2022 Leadership Class!
Members include: Adam Martin, Haig Point | Anna Almeida, Elite Resort Management | Brandon Greenplate, Realtor Brent Lett, Synovus Bank | Brittani Anderson, J. Banks Design | Corey Smith, Fraser & Allen Corey Tuten, Palmetto Electric | Diane Busch, Town of Hilton Head Island Fred Lowery, Island Recreation Center | Harrison Williams, Johnson and Davis Law Firm Henry Criss, Palmetto Breeze | Jason Ashley, WebsterRogers | Joan Richardson, Carey and Company Kimberly Lewis, Pinnacle Financial Partners | Lauren Albrecht, Hilton Head Insurance and Brokerage Lawrence Melton Jr., Island Funeral Home | Mark Stanley, Palmetto Breeze Megan Gorden, Palmera Inn and Suites | Maj. Natalie Major, Town of Bluffton Sally Zuniga, Tio’s Latin American Kitchen | Shelby Wielgus, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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CHAMBER NEWS
Coming Up at the Chamber Business Education Partnership Committee Power Hour Tele-Town Hall
9:15 a.m. September 1, October 6, November 3, & December 1 Power Hour is back! It’s the best hour you’ll spend all month. Get unfiltered information about hot topics in our community straight from the source. Check your Monday Briefing or email for a lineup of guest speakers and a link to register.
8:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 7
HERITAGE ACADEMY Guest Speaker: Amanda (O’Nan) Williams will talk about the Heritage Academy Programs/ Services, as well as college counseling and readying students for testing/college applications.
JOE’S ICE CREAM & BEVERAGE CO. Cool off with a wine ice cream or boozy milkshake and enjoy afterhours networking with other young professionals.
9 a.m. Thursday, September 30
8 a.m. Friday, September 3 Jennifer Ray, Interim Community Development Director will discuss the Town of Hilton Head Island capital projects program.
5 p.m. Tuesday, September 28
Coffee & Counsel with Burr & Forman LLP: Estate Planning
Public Policy Committee
PALMERA INN & SUITES
Chamber Young Professionals
PALMERA INN & SUITES
Grassroots Tour 8 a.m. Thursday, September 16
CHAMBER BOARD ROOM What issues matter the most to you? We are here to help you have your voice heard. Join us and Bob Morgan, the CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, to share some of the challenges your business faces. The feedback received from the meetings will shape the Chamber’s priorities for the 2022 South Carolina Legislative session.
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Public Policy Committee
8 a.m. Friday, October 1 CHAMBER BOARD ROOM
Jesse Owens, the south coast director of the Coastal Conservation League, will talk about its legislative agenda.
Business Education Partnership
8:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 5 CHAMBER BOARD ROOM
Ben Boswell and Fred Leyda will give a rundown on the Together for Beaufort County Report, which is recent economic and education data.
Bluffton Regional Business Council 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 20
LIVE OAK CHURCH 14 PALMETTO WAY, BLUFFTON
Conversation + Cocktails
Michael Beaumont, the executive director of the Live Oak Performing Arts Center will give an update on the theatre coming to Bluffton.
HARGRAY RETAIL CENTER | 925 FORDING ISLAND ROAD, BLUFFTON
5:30 p.m. Thursday, October 21
Conversations build relationships and relationships build business. Join us at Hargray’s newest retail building for casual, after-hours networking.
Coffee and Counsel with Burr & Forman: South Carolina Real Estate Outlook
9 a.m. Thursday, October 21 CHAMBER BOARD ROOM
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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HILTON HEAD ISLAND NEWS
HHI Town Manager Marc Orlando Shares His Goals Hilton Head Island Town Manager Marc Orldando sat down for our Chamber Channel Podcast, to talk about his first few months on the job. Click here to listen to the full conversation.
Before going to Bluffton, you worked at the Town of Hilton Head Island starting as an intern and working your way up to a senior planner. What are some of the things you learned? One of the things I worked on that I’ll never forget was site design standards for a little neighborhood off of Burke’s Beach. It’s the same issues back then; I learned a lot about the foundation for Hilton Head Island … it’s environment first, neighborhood, scale. It’s all those same things that I left years ago, and coming back it’s very similar conversations about what’s important to the island.
What are some of the most pressing issues you see for our region? I think the most important thing is to have a great working relationship and partnership with our region. And I don’t just mean with Beaufort County, I mean with the other municipalities. The sooner we talk about one region when it comes to history and culture, our environment, transportation …. It’s all about quality of life; maintaining and preserving that quality of life. We can’t do it alone. We have to have honest, professional relationships with those partners.
Great things happened in Bluffton under your leadership. Talk about how your tenure there will shape your perspective on Hilton Head Island. If you ever sit and listen to Mayor Joe Riley talk about his time and tenure in Charleston, and what was important to him, were public-private and institutional partnerships, and details of the public realm. And that’s always really resonated with me. The manager having a clear vision of the future and working with the town council to establish that and to execute it. It’s a simple formula: Build great places and start with your public spaces. I think there’s a lot to be said about it. 20 LOWCOUNTRY BUSINESS CONNECTION
In The News Daufuskie Island featured in TripSavvy.com’s “The Best Beach In Every State.” What they said: Ancient oak trees dripping in Spanish moss are all over the landscape, as well as old Gullah homes and landmarks. Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte featured among Eat This, Not That’s unique restaurants, while Giuseppi’s Pizza and Pasta mozzarella sticks were featured as well. Thrillist.com featured Hilton Head Island among its “Best Summer Vacation Spot.” What they said: Around sunset, if you’re looking to chow down—whether that means seafood or Southern comforts or maybe skipping food entirely to imbibe in a seaside happy hour—you’ve come to the right place. Hilton Head Island featured Travel + Leisure’s “Here’s Where Airbnb Users Are Looking to Travel This Summer,” recognizing it as a top trending spot as well as ”Fall Beach Trips Are Rising In Popularity This Year, According to VRBO.” Golfing on Hilton Head Island featured in The Points Guy blog in the “4 Road Trips You Can Take From Charlotte, N.C.” What they said: Casual golfers can play a round, amateurs looking to improve their swing can check out a class, and PGA fans can time a trip to watch a tournament. Hilton Head Island and Bluffton are listed among MSN.com’s “Cities Americans Are Flocking To” and “Great Places To Retire.” Sea Pines County Club’s Executive Chef Brian Coseo is featured in Golf.com’s “The Secret To Perfect Grilling.” What they said: It’s an age-old story: boy meets grill. For Brian Coseo... it burns on today in his role as executive chef at Sea Pines Country Club ... where grilling is a staple of his repertoire. Hilton Head Island featured in Reader’s Digest’s feature on mini-vacations. What they said: Hilton Head Island offers the perfect backdrop for those looking for a safe domestic beach adventure.
Hilton Head Island’s Beach Ambassadors were featured in TripSavvy.com’s “The Best Beach Hacks Recommended by Experts.” Garden & Gun featured Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head in “A Mysterious Beach Discovery on Hilton Head.” What they said: The object turned out to be a little hand-carved wooden sailboat, painted blue and bearing a message that reads, “In Loving Memory, 1948-2020.”
BLUFFTON NEWS
Welcoming Stephen Steese to Bluffton New Bluffton Town Manager Stephen Steese sat down for our Chamber Channel Podcast to talk about his move from the upsate to the Lowcountry, and what he’s looking forward to the most. Click here to listen to the full conversation.
Tell us what it was like to transition from Easley, SC. to Bluffton. The transition has been interesting. Easley and Bluffton are different parts of the state, so there’s different demographic make-ups, there’s just a lot of differences in the community. Overall, they are very similar in size and there’s been a lot of growth (in both communities). But Bluffton’s is completely different with planned unit developments where the Upstate is a little more open.
One project you oversaw in Easley was taking an old mill and transforming it into an apartment complex. Talk to us a little bit about that and how that has been transformative. Easley had four textile mills that really grew the town and helped support it. One focus was taking something old and making it new ... taking history and transforming it into the future. Being able to see a mill that was opened in the 1910s, closed in the 1970s, and be transformed into something for 2020 and beyond was a very important undertaking.
What excites you the most about Bluffton? It’s close to the beach; we’ve been coming down to this area for a while. It’s exciting to get out and see how much of Bluffton there actually is. I love that it’s growing. When I was doing research and applying for the job, seeing how well the community was planned and implemented, and seeing council’s buy-in on the planning and looking toward the future was a very positive thing, and I really enjoyed that and being a part of that.
In The News Archaeological digs by the Historic Bluffton Foundation yielded dozens of artifacts at the site. Town staff worked with the Wright family and preservation experts to incorporate the family’s and town’s history into the park’s signs, elements and landscaping. Moving forward, the town will use a matching grant from the SC Department of Archives and History to stabilize and rehabilitate the Squire Pope House for public use.
Montage Palmetto Bluff In The News
BLUFFTON WINS MASC AWARD The Town of Bluffton received a Municipal Achievement Award for its Wright Family Park. With the expansion of its park offering as a goal of its Old Town Master Plan, the Town of Bluffton had long sought to buy the Wright family property to make it a park. The property, vacant since the 1990s, is located on the May River and features the Squire Pope Carriage House, a structure with more than 150 years of history. The town partnered with Beaufort County to purchase the property for $1.5 million, with an agreement that makes the town the park’s operating partner. Funding for the park’s construction came from hospitality and accommodations taxes along with a SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism grant. At the same time, the town expanded the historic Calhoun Street Regional Dock, which is adjacent to the property.
Forbes’ “An Idyllic Enclave Away From The World But Immersed In Nature” What they said: Palmetto Bluff encompasses many things. A community, a hotel, a new paradigm for a lifestyle. First and foremost, however, Palmetto Bluff acts as protector. Conde Nast Traveler’s “9 Unforgettable Family Vacation Ideas.” What they said: We struck pay dirt on a trip to Palmetto Bluff, in South Carolina Lowcountry. Here, the Montage Palmetto Bluff is a sprawling resort on the May River. ElleDecor.com’s “30 Luxurious Spas That Are Worth The Drive.” What they said: With wellness rituals inspired by nature, Montage Palmetto Bluff’s Spa Montage offers a suite of ... treatments that are focused on helping guests relax and unwind.
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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MEMBERSHIP CORNER
MEMBERS Making News The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has awarded
151 students a total of $769,765 through 196 scholarship awards. Recipients will attend more than 71 different colleges and universities.
Collins Group Realty
announced a new charitable fund, Community Results Project, and launched their 2021 project to help bolster the efforts of Deep Well’s Livable Housing Program.
Weichert, Realtors® – Coastal Properties agent
Sherry Thomason appeared on the DIY Network’s “Beachfront Bargain Hunt - Renovation.”
The University of South Carolina-Beaufort launched a new, interactive app “Free & Equal,” which makes Beaufort’s past come alive in a walking and driving tour that uncovers personal stories at historic sites of the Lowcountry’s Reconstruction Era.
Of the 100 local artists who entered
the Society of Bluffton Artists’ 27th Annual Judged Show, 18 winners were awarded first, second and third place awards in six categories. The “Best In Show” winner for “Aegean Blue” is Dennis Lake.
Congratulations to Haig Point, which was listed among
the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s 81 businesses named the “2021 Best Places to Work in South Carolina.”
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The Greenery, Inc. recently announced the acquisition of Amelia Island based Martex Services Landscape Management.
Navion Senior Solutions
announced that The Island Cove at Hilton Head transitioned to a solely independent living community.
Second Helpings, the
Hilton Head Regional Healthcare donated 13,395 servings
of cereal to Bluffton Self Help, Sandalwood Community Food Pantry, Lowcountry Food Bank and St. Stephens Outreach Food Bank, during its Healthy Over Hungry® Cereal Drive.
food rescue and distribution agency, and Volunteers in Medicine Clinic have started a food distribution program to help VIM clients. Starting July 1, VIM Clinic will distribute a bag of nonperishable food items to clients who are food insecure. The program was made possible by St. Luke’s Church on Hilton Head.
Weichert, Realtors® Coastal Properties was
presented with two prestigious marketing awards from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®: first place associates for its marketing video submission and third place for its Luxury Portfolio International marketing.
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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MEMBERSHIP CORNER
MEMBERS Making News
Hilton Head Exterminators
has acquired Imperial Pest Controllers.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recognized the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority’s “Being Kind is a Breeze: Chalk-
the-Stops” kindness campaign with a first place transit marketing and communications award. The AdWheel Award is one of the most prestigious honors that transit agencies and their industry partners. The “Be Kind” campaign was an initiative of the Hilton Head IslandBluffton Chamber of Commerce.
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Master developer of The Cliffs and Kiawah Island, South Street Partners, and private equity real estate manager Henderson Park Capital Partners have acquired Bluffton’s 20,000-acre Palmetto Bluff community with a goal of developing a second golf club, waterfront village and additional amenities on the property.
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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MEMBERSHIP CORNER
WHO’S WHO & Who’s Where
Shannon Baltzegar was promoted to Sales Manager at StoneWorks. She has worked in the business officially for over 23 years, and was most recently the lead in the design of the StoneWorks boutique showroom.
Collins Group Realty welcomes Cameron Clark to their Listings Team as Listings Coordinator. A recent graduate of the University of South Carolina, he was previously a page at the South Carolina State House and a tennis coach at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center.
Collins Group Realty welcomes Lori Cohen, Real Estate Specialist in their Hilton Head office. She previously taught English in the Beaufort County School District.
Scott Marshall has been named Director of Human Resources for Beaufort County. He was previously the Deputy Town Manager of Bluffton.
Allison Moore was promoted to a Sales Manager at ACE Hardware of Hilton Head. She has worked for the store for over three years.
Dr. John Newman joins Hilton Head Volunteers in Medicine Clinic as its new Executive Director. A general surgeon specializing in bariatrics, Dr. Newman served as Hospital President and Chief Medical Officer for Advocate Aurora Health in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Beaufort County’s Detention Center Director, Col. Quandara Grant, was named 2020 Jail Administrator of the Year by The South Carolina Jail Administrators Association.
Whitney Richland has been promoted to Beaufort County Deputy Administrator. She was previously the county’s Chief Financial Officer.
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Bana Stajic is Coastal Carolina Hospital’s most recent Daisy RN Award recipient. She is a nurse in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Monthly Media Announces New Co-Publishers of Hilton Head Monthly and Fork & Fun, Sasha Sweeney and Meredith DiMuzio.
Beaufort County School Welcomes New Principals Navion Announced Recent Promotions and New Hires Jennifer Napolitano
Promoted to Area Director of Operations for the Hilton Head Market
Melissa Holland, M.C. Riley Elementary School
Ryan Milling, H.E. McCracken Middle School
Tanja Wheeler, Hilton Head Island Middle School
Misty Phillips
Promoted to Area Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hilton Head Market
John Boggs
Promoted to Area Director of Maintenance for the Hilton Head Market
Cross Schools Welcomes New Staff
David Hall
Sales Counselor for the Hilton Head Market
Angelica Parker
Business Office Manager for The Island Cove at Hilton Head Independent Living
Kate Brown, Director of Admissions
Coach Cleophus Lane, Football Coach, Strength Trainer, and Campus Security Manager
DeLeon Jackson, Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach
The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Welcomes New Board Members
Second Helpings Welcomes New Board Members
Dafina Ward
Andy Cook
Doug Wetmore
Frank Pici
Faces of Local Businesses Check out the local businesses featured on our Faces of Small Business video series! Click here to watch them all.
Nectar Farm Kitchen
Sunset Slush
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Palmetto Benefit Solutions
Circle of Life Plant Rental & Gardenias Event Floral
Charbar Co. Burgers & Sushi
Wiita, MD
Heritage Academy
LUX Designs
Monster Tree Service
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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Welcome NEW MEMBERS
Palmetto Benefits Solutions
John Bayley
W4 Express Car Wash
Santastic Memories @ Blue Moon Memories
Ohana Spine & Ortho Care
River Street Sweets
Top Dawg Tavern
Main Street Chiropractic
Antioch Educational Center
Hidden Treasures Tours of Bluffton, SC
Island Sole
Travel B Tours
3G Travel
Shop! Boutique
The Law Office of Michael J. Howell, P.A.
Nantucket Meat and Fish Market Okatie Nutrition
Exercise Coach Odd Birds Café Boatsetter Bee-Town Mead & Cider
Sunny Spa
Palmetto Benefit Solutions
Court Atkins Group 32 LOWCOUNTRY BUSINESS CONNECTION
Chez Georges Bistro & Bar
ANNIVERSARIES 30+ YEARS
Bank of America, N.A. Camellia Art Camp Hilton Head Coligny Plaza Limited Partnership
Devine & Beard
Companions, Nurses & Nannies /Health Services
30+ YEARS CONT.
20-29 YEARS
Daufuskie Difference
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
A Wedding by the Sea
Palmetto Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar
Regions Bank
Belfair
Schembra Real Estate Group, LLC
Better Business Bureau
Seashore Vacations, Inc.
Breakthru Beverage of SC
Shelter Cove Towne Centre Shore Beach Service, Inc.
Broad Creek Care Center at TidePointe, a Vi Community
The Greenery, Inc.
Collins Septic Tank Service, Inc.
Dick Broadcasting Company First South Insurance Agency, Inc. Hampton Inn Hilton Head Island Hargray Hilton Head Preparatory School ITS CLASSICS Jones, Simpson & Newton P.A. Kelly & Sons Plumbing, Inc. Kennickell Print & Communications LaSource Home HHI, LLC DBA /Plantation Interiors Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa Marriott Vacation Club McGriff Insurance Services Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. Old South Golf Links Outside Hilton Head
South Beach General Store (Camp HH) Carolina Cleaning Cisco TD Bank (New Orleans Road) The Sea Pines Resort The Seabrook of Hilton Head
East Coast Entertainment First Baptist Church of Hilton Head
The Vacation Company
Furniture Direct
The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
H2O Sports Hilton Garden Inn Hilton Head
Thomas C. Barnwell, Jr.
Hilton Head Dance School/Theatre
Vagabond Cruise
Hilton Head Plantation Property Owners’ Association
Walmart Supercenter Hilton Head (Store #728)
June & Associates CPA’s PA
WebsterRogers LLP
Lowcountry Council of Governments
Wood + Partners Inc.
Meeting Dynamics, Inc. Memory Matters Minor, Haight & Arundell, P.C. Publix #0473 Red Fish Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport Sea Pines Montessori Academy Shipyard Plantation South State Bank, Exchange Street South State Bank, Oak Forest Road TidePointe, a Vi Community
Savannah Vascular Institute
Truist (formerly Suntrust/BB&T), Greenwood Drive Weber Shandwick Worldwide Wells Fargo Advisors
Happy Anniversary 15-19 YEARS
Areawide Lock & Key Aurora Diagnostics-Biopsy Diagnostics Beaufort County Council Beaufort Memorial Hospital Bluffton High School Callawassie Island Club Carolina Realty Group Coastal Carolina Hospital Crescent Moon Pictures, Inc. Kaufman Photography M.A.J. Enterprises, Inc. One Hot Mama’s American Grille Oyster Reef Right at Home Robber’s Row Grille Royal Restrooms Six Oaks Perpetual Care Cemetery St. Francis Thrift Shop Tennis Association of Hilton Head Island Windmill Harbour Real Estate
10-14 YEARS Big Bamboo
Digital Insurance, Inc. ELA’S On the Water Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island Haig Point Club & Community Harvey & Battey, P.A. Heavenly Spa by Westin Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival IMC Resort Services, Inc. Optical Solutions of Bluffton Paula Harper Bethea Ranco Tents Red Roof Inn & Suites Hilton Head Island South Atlantic Bank - Park Lane
Okatie Pines Retirement Community 10-14 YEARS CONT.
St. Joseph’s/Candler Center for Hyperbarics & Wound Care Stage Front Presentation and Production Systems
4-9 YEARS CONT.
Honorable Mark Sanford Island Club of Hilton Head Island Skiff Adventure Tours
The Pulte Group
Laura C. Knobel, MD, LLC
Truist (formerly Suntrust/BB&T), Wm. Hilton Pkwy.
Lean Ensemble Theater Legacy History Tours
Whitaker Laboratory, Inc.
Logan Homes
WJCL-ABC
Nimmer Turf Farm
Adventure Hilton Head
OC Welch Ford Lincoln, Inc.
4-9 YEARS
Aegis Capital Corp Alliance Global Partners Avalon Shores Luxury Apartments Beach Play Company BeachBum Property Management Century 21 Diamond Realty Sun City/Bluffton Charter One Realty-Bluffton Destination Creative Group Freedom Boat Club HHI Hampton Lake Harbour Town Yacht Basin Haskins & Co Hilton Head Landscapes
Ocean Oak Resort by Hilton Grand Vacations Old Town Trolley Savannah Optim Orthopedics Papa John’s Pizza Bluffton Papa John’s Pizza Hilton Head Island Republic Finance RMC Your Destination Connection Rotary Club Of Hilton Head Island Sure Network Solutions (DBA: SNS Technologies) TD Bank (University Parkway, Bluffton) The Bluffton Room ThompsonTurner Construction Whole Foods Market
y Signature Real Estate Group 1-3 YEARS
Adventure Pediatric Dentistry Air Duct SouthEast Anchors Away Sailing Charters Atlantic Investment Advisory Group Beard Branding Blue Laguna Grill Chez Georges Bistro & Bar Coastal Carolina CBD & Wellness Coastal Countertops and Tile Culinary Institute of the South Dataw Island Dog People Essential Disinfection Services Extended Stay Americ Bluffton-Hilton Head First Presbyterian Day School FMS Running Harden Creative
1-3 YEARS CONT.
1-3 YEARS CONT.
Island Rentals of Hilton Head
Security Management of SC
Kim Murphy
Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation & Burial Services
Little Steps Daycare and Preschool lot 9 brewing co. LUX~A Medical Spa Hilton Head Island Monarch Roofing Nunzio Restaurant + Bar One Hot Mama’s American Grille Bluffton Parker Paton Design Pizza Co. Providence Presbyterian Church ROC Dental Group Silver Oak Transportation, LLC South Magazine The Haven Boutique The Island Funeral Home & Crematory
HHI Carolina Shag Club - Dancing
The Other Sister’s Wine Bar
High Tide Rooftop Bar at Courtyard by Marriott Hilton Head Island
Tio’s Latin American Kitchen
Hilton Head History Tours
Vivid Gallery Women’s Association of Hilton Head (WAHHI)
Hilton Head Nannies Hilton Head Physical Therapy i2 Recycle Island Bagel Company
Slapfish So Clean Softwash St. Gregory the Great Catholic School SYNERGY HomeCare of the Lowcountry Teddy & Emmett McCracken The Centers at Palm Key The Hilton Head Island Bridge Association Tom Anderson Turbeville Insurance Agency Weston Design, Inc. Wheelz of Hilton Head World Financial Group Your CBD Store
Zwerner Law, LLC Premier Properties by Haig Point SEAnic Paddle Co.
Thank you
MEMBERSHIP CORNER
SCENE & Be Seen
Business owners and executives came together for our first Executive Connection of 2021, and toured the new Court Atkins building in Bluffton.
36 LOWCOUNTRY BUSINESS CONNECTION
Our members enjoyed great networking at the newly reopened Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar for Conversation + Cocktails!
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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Mix axes and beer, and you’ll get a successful Chamber Young Professionals event! Thanks to Palmetto Axes for hosting.
38 LOWCOUNTRY BUSINESS CONNECTION
HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org | SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021
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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