State of the Region 2023 Program

Page 1

DECEMBER 1, 2023


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If you have a Taylor’s Landscape Supply & Nursery card underneath your dessert plate, you’re the lucky recipient of the beautiful centerpiece.


TODAY’S PROGRAM Welcome Bill Miles President & CEO, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce

Presentation of Colors 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart

Pledge of Allegiance National Anthem 3rd Infantry Division Band, Fort Stewart

Invocation Susana Cook Chair, Board of Directors General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn


Keynote Address Lindsey Graham U.S. Senator

Today’s SPeAKERS Chairman Joe Passiment Beaufort County Council Mayor Alan Perry Town of Hilton Head Island Mayor Harry Williams Town of Hardeeville Mayor Lisa Sulka Town of Bluffton


LINDSEY GRAHAM KEYNOTE SPEAKER

UNITED STATES SENATOR Senator Lindsey Graham was elected to the United States Senate in 2002, and currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also serves as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Committee on Budget, and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Prior to serving in the Senate, Senator Graham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 and had a distinguished record in the United States Air Force. He retired from the Air Force Reserves at the rank of Colonel in 2015 having served his country in uniform for 33 years.


A native South Carolinian, Sen. Graham grew up in a blue collar family in the small town of Central where his parents ran a restaurant and pool hall. The first member of his family to go to college, he earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina. He lives in Seneca and is a member of Corinth Baptist Church.


CHAIRMAN JOE PASSIMENT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL

Joseph “Joe” Passiment was raised in Binghamton, N.Y., and attended the University of Buffalo, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a Master’s degree in vocational education. Chairman Passiment embarked upon a teaching career in Buffalo, teaching business education and math for the next eight years. Having survived the infamous blizzard of 1977, he and his family left Buffalo, and spent the rest of his working career in New Jersey. Chairman Passiment taught for eight more years before heading into administration, serving as a business administrator in three different school districts for the next 22 years. He retired just 11 days before becoming an executive county school business administrator and executive county school superintendent until retiring permanently in April of 2015. He was first elected to the Beaufort County Council in 2018.


MAYOR Alan Perry TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND

Mayor Alan Perry moved to Hilton Head Island with his family in 1972, and graduated from high school from Hilton Head Preparatory School, where he was voted “Most Likely to Be Mayor” by his senior class. He then graduated from the College of Charleston, and after returned to Hilton Head Island to begin his career. Mayor Perry is a member of Providence Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors, Greater Hilton Head Island Mortgage Lenders Association, and Hilton Head Home Builders Association. He is the chair of the Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and has also served on the Planning Commission for Town of Hilton Head Island, People for Parks, RBC Heritage Classic Presented by Boeing Announcers, Hilton Head Island Recreation Association, Hilton Head Prep Alumni Board, United Way, the Hilton Head Island/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Junior Leadership Class, and others.


MAYOR HARRY WILLIAMS TOWN OF HARDEEVILLE

Born in Philadelphia, Mayor Harry Williams earned his bachelor’s degrees in economics from Rutgers University. He is a 42-year veteran of the footwear industry, including as vice president of sales for Oshkosh, Body Glove, U.S. Polo Association, and others. Mayor Williams has over 30 years of experience working in municipal government including serving as a city councilman in Mahwah, N.J. for five years and three years on the planning board there. He was elected to the Hardeeville City Council in 2015 and mayor in 2016. He’s also currently chair of the Southern Lowcountry Advisory Board and a member of the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.


MAYOR LISA SULKA TOWN OF BLUFFTON

Mayor Lisa Sulka was first elected in 2004 to Bluffton’s Town Council. She was elected mayor in 2008, and will retire from public office after this year. Raised in Prosperity, S.C., she finished her higher education at Clemson University and has called Bluffton area home for more than 30 years. Mayor Sulka is currently working with Carson Realty. Fueled by her ever-present coffee cup, her limitless energy has helped guide Bluffton through its explosive growth. Mayor Sulka is a past president for the South Carolina Association of Mayors, honorary trustee of the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Classic Foundation and advisory board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Bluffton. She’s also a graduate of the Riley Institute, was Iptay’s county chairman, and is actively involved at both Bluffton and May River High Schools.


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