On the Move

move on the

1. HILTON HEAD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HIRES NEW DIRECTOR AND ADDS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Veteran arts administrator Steven Shaiman has been named the Director of the Hilton Head International Piano Competition and HHSO Education and Community Engagement by the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. He served as Senior Vice President/Director, Artist Management at Concert Artist Guild in New York City for more than 16 years. Shaiman succeeds HHIPC Director Mona Huff. Susan Hartmann was hired for the newly created position of Development Associate. She will be responsible for securing all contributed revenue and in developing long-term relationships between the Orchestra and its patrons, donors, businesses, and the community. She comes to the HHSO from the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina where she served as Development Administrator.

2. WOOF GANG OPENS ICE CREAM POP SHOP

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Palmetto recently opened an ice cream shop that is just down the walkway from its building in Bluffton. Look for Palmetto Pops, Leopolds Ice Cream cups and ice cream cookie sandwiches. There’s also Swell Doggie Gelato. A percentage of the proceeds will go to local animal shelters and rescues. Follow its Facebook page for updates.

3. HILTON HEAD RESIDENT RECOGNIZED BY MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE

Wilma Clark, front desk lead at Marriott’s Heritage Club in Hilton Head Island, has been named a Way to Go! Diamond Honoree, the top honor in Marriott Vacations Worldwide’s global associate recognition program. She is one of seven associates across more than 120 resorts globally to receive the honor. Clark has been with Marriott’s Heritage Club for more than 32 years.

4. NEW LOWER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL HIRED AT CROSS SCHOOLS

Joseph Almeida was named Lower School Principal at Cross Schools in Bluffton. His experience includes serving as a teacher, coach, and administrator in Tennessee, Brazil, Georgia and South Carolina. During his 17-year career, he has worked in public and private schools stateside and abroad.

1. SHAIMAN

3. CLARK

4. ALMEIDA

8. BRANCH 5. DENTAL OFFICE OPENS IN BLUFFTON

Donald Wilson, DMD and Richard SuarezMurias, DDS opened May River Crossing Dental. The practice, which opened in June, is at 35 Pondberry St. in Bluffton. Dr. Wilson earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in Louisville, Ky. Dr. Suarez-Murias earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Dentistry in Baltimore, Md.

6. SIGMA CHI ADDS LOCAL CHAPTER

Sigma Chi, a national college fraternity with active chapters on more than 244 college campuses and an additional 152 alumni chapters, has a local chapter, Hilton Head Sigma Chi Alumni. It has grown to more than 50 members. The group meets monthly. For more information, visit hiltonheadsigmachialumni.org

7. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT CENTER OPENS IN BLUFFTON

Southern Sky Recovery opened an outpatient treatment center in Bluffton. The facility provides treatment for substance use and co-occurring mental health diagnoses. SSR utilizes dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, trauma informed therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, and sex addiction therapy. For more information, visit them online at southernskyrecovery.com.

8. UNITED WAY OF THE LOWCOUNTRY NAMES BOARD CHAIR

Carol Branch was named board chair of the United Way of the Lowcountry. Branch, a Bluffton resident, has been involved with United Way of the Lowcountry for several years. She has also served as treasurer of the Rotary Club of Bluffton and as a member of the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Youth Leadership Council. Branch spent more than two decades supporting the U.S. Intelligence Community, U.S. Defense Department and working in the private sector worldwide.

SHOWCASING SMALL

BUSINESSES

BY AMY BARTLETT | PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

When Katie Silva tells the story of how her business venture began, she leans heavily into the networking angle, but the heart and impact of the brand have all the poetry, purpose, and personality we’ve come to expect from anything that’s Lowcountry Made.

“Lowcountry Made began creating pop-up markets during the pandemic to provide a safe platform for makers to engage with shoppers,” she said.

Silva had long known it was something the community needed, and her downtime during COVID, “provided the opportunity to put my time and talents into that need so I got to work developing a business plan. I wanted the LCM brand to promote and showcase our local creators and innovators, provide a platform and access to a creative marketing strategy and ultimately be a steppingstone for these businesses to grow.”

LOWCOUNTRY MADE BRINGS ENTREPRENEURS AND SHOPPERS TOGETHER

Lowcountry Made has helped connect entrepreneurs with the community. Lowcountry Made has grown into a small business incubator where entrepreneurs can bring their products to market and engage with the community. It primarily serves Bluffton, Hilton Head, Beaufort and Savannah. Lowcountry Made Port Royal launched this spring. A SCAD graduate with a master’s and a background in arts and marketing, Silva is a prime candidate to spearhead the balance of business development, client relations and artistic flair the endeavor requires. “I felt that entrepreneurs and small businesses needed someone in their corner. Lowcountry Made is that brand ambassador,” said Silva, who lives in Bluffton. “We partner with “I FELT THAT ENTREPRENEURS small businesses, providing an opportunity for shoppers to engage with the owner and

AND SMALL BUSINESSES maker directly through popup markets and events at host venues like Southern Barrel NEEDED SOMEONE IN THEIR CORNER. Brewing, Burnt Church Distillery, Lot 9 Brewing, and private communities like

LOWCOUNTRY MADE IS THAT Haig Point.” There are also monthly markets at city and town BRAND AMBASSADOR,” parks, including Buckwalter Park Place in Bluffton. Having now facilitated SAID KATIE SILVA , WHO LIVES IN more than 40 artisan markets since its inception, each LCM market provides:

BLUFFTON. •An alternative to brick-and-mortar expenses •Up-to-date networking opportunities •Direct customer feedback and interaction not often available online •A chance to see what others are creating •An opportunity to learn about target audiences and building an ideal customer profile Lowcountry Made isn’t just a sales platform, it’s a buzzing networking outlet for the homegrown. “We want shoppers to feel connected

and a part of the overall ‘support local’ movement,” she said.

Applications to be a vendor can be found on its website at www.lcmade. com where vendors are vetted for professionalism, craft quality, and the required South Carolina retail licenses.

“Supporting local is investing in your local economy,” Silva says. “When our small businesses are successful our area is successful, and it’s more than just buying local. It can be good reviews, referrals, engaging with sellers and offering them opportunities to grow their client list through your resources and circles.”

In addition to offering consistent sales and advertising opportunities, Lowcountry Made is advancing entrepreneurs through small business coaching, peer-to-peer networking resources, and relaunching the Lowcountry Made Collective in 2023.

“Ultimately my vision for Lowcountry Made is to be an accessible and highly effective marketing strategy and platform to scale your small business locally. I want to see businesses use these opportunities to increase their profitability, visibility, and brand awareness and grow their professional network,” Silva said.

Silva said the process has been “incredibly rewarding” and a huge professional growth opportunity.

“I created a way to be involved in the community while working from home raising my kids,” she said. “I think small business owners also felt alone in their journey and Lowcountry Made brought us together to contribute to each other’s growth. We have become a small business incubator, providing entrepreneurs a chance to gain a foothold in the community, create a business and a product, and bring it to market literally. Many of our makers and brands have gone on to launch local brick-and-mortar stores, run successful wholesale accounts, and become Lowcountry household names.”