2 • Men to Watch
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Robert Stasiukaitis 4 Thad Schmenk 5 Britt Reagin 6 Chris Murphy 7 Lou Caputo 8 J.J. Messervy 9 Dexcter Mack 10 Buck Inabinet 11 Al Bradham 12 Russ Cornette 13
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Men to Watch • 3
4 • Men to Watch
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Supporting causes at home, abroad BY LESLIE CANTU The Journal Scene
obert Stasiukaitis’s company, Low Country Case & Millwork, has crafted exquisite woodwork for some of the most elegant and most high-profile locations in the area, including the Charleston Yacht Club, Charleston City Market and Mepkin Abbey. But when all is said and done, he says, he makes cabinets for a living – not typically a vocation that “makes a difference” in the world. So it was overwhelming, in November 2003, after a devastating fire at his facility, to arrive at work in the morning after a long night watching firefighters from four stations battle to save his plant, to find his property swarming with 100 customers, suppliers, friends and associates helping to clean up the mess. Within a week he was Judy Watts/Journal Scene
back in business. The outpouring gave him a glimpse of how he has touched others’ lives. Stasiukaitis said he follows the saying that you come into this world with nothing and you leave with nothing, so any money you make in the middle you’re simply managing for someone else. He tithes 10 percent of his personal income and 10 percent of the company’s profit, with the money going to support causes far away, like overseas missions, and near at hand, like the Summerville High School band, with which Stasiukaitis and later his two sons played the trumpet. His son David, who now runs the company, still works with the band, and Stasiukaitis said being around young people makes him realize the country will be OK. “We’ve got great kids,” he said. “I get around these kids and they’re just great people.” See STASIUKAITIS Page 14
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Men to Watch • 5
Educator lunges for new challenges BY LESLIE CANTU The Journal Scene
y success story is the story of lots of people around me,” says Thad Schmenk, principal of Alston Middle School. Schmenk, in his second year as principal, credits many mentors along the way, as well as the community of students, teachers and parents at Alston, for helping him reach his goals. But it’s clear to others that Schmenk himself deserves much of the credit. When Schmenk arrived at Alston, he found that outgoing principal Sam Clark had given the goahead to a collaborative program with Leadership Dorchester to develop a garden at the school to encourage healthy eating. As it was his first year, it would have been easy to delay or dismiss the program, said Carrie
Bovender, a member of that Leadership Dorchester class. Instead, he embraced it and worked through the summer to install an automated watering system using water runoff from air-conditioning units, gathered donations and determined the garden layout to ensure the program would be ready when students arrived, she said. “Thad’s energy and commitment to this project were without limits and the resulting success can not be overstated,” said Jennifer Schlette, who helped start the Hunger Ends Now Project, or Hen Project, and the CHEFS project at Alston. Now the CHEFS (Culinary and Horticultural Education for Students) program has been incorporated into the curriculum, with all students learning about horticulture, cooking and healthy food choices. The garden is very much a learning lab for students. See SCHMENK Page 14
Judy Watts/Journal Scene
6 • Men to Watch
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Reagin embraces his community BY ROGER LEE The Journal Scene
rom his office to elementary school classrooms to the soccer pitch, Britt Reagin generates smiles everywhere he goes. As an orthodontist, naturally smiles are important to Reagin, but he doesn’t stop at making sure his patients have perfect smiles. He encourages them, as well as everyone else, to use their smile and other attributes to make a positive difference in the world. “Life is better when you are happy but life is best when other people are happy because of you,” he said. “Be an inspiration, give peace and share your smile." That’s a motto he not only preaches, but practices daily. He is an individual with a lot on his plate, but Judy Watts/Journal Scene
making time for family is always among his top priorities. “My main goal is to be a good father and husband,” the father of three said. “Basically I just want to be the best role model I can be for my circle of influence which is my family and anyone who might come in contact with them. Part of that is making sure I find ways to help make my community the best it can be.” Reagin volunteers countless hours to multiple organizations in an effort to do just that. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Summerville YMCA and as a Vestry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Reagin is one of the founders of the Dorchester County Fund that awards grants to nonprofit organizations serving Dorchester County and has been a sponsor for the Summerville Miracle League since its inception. He works closely with Smiles Change Lives, a See REAGIN Page 14
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Men to Watch • 7
Rotarian, coach, politician BY ROGER LEE The Journal Scene
hris Murphy has worn the hat of public servant in Dorchester County for more than a decade but some of his best work in that role may still be ahead of him. “I enjoy serving the people of this county,” he said. “It’s a passion. It is a huge time commitment and investment but at the end of the day when someone calls you and you are able to help them with a problem it’s rewarding.” After graduating from The Citadel in 1990 with a BA degree, the Summerville native decided to pursue law school and that pursuit took him west. In 1995, he received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence Degree from Mississippi College School of Law. After a short stay in Columbia, he and his wife, Maite, moved to Summerville to raise a family. He took a job with the First Judicial Circuit where he served as Senior Assistant Solicito under Solicitor Walter M. Bailey, Jr. While there, he was appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney assigned to a MultiCounty Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and prosecuted serious felony cases. He obtained hundreds of convictions for offenses including murder, assault and battery with the intent to kill, criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery and drug trafficking.
“It was satisfying to put evil people behind bars and I enjoyed helping the victims,” Murphy said. He left the solicitor’s office to open his own practice, Murphy Law Firm, L.L.C. He has practiced what he refers to as “small-town law” ever since. “I love being an attorney because it allows you to help people and develop a working knowledge of a broad range of things such as law enforcement, science, prosecution, and engineering. I don’t really have time to do the high-profile cases. I have a variety of clients with a variety of problems and I do a little bit of everything.” In 2003 he was elected to the Dorchester County Council. He became the Chairman and served on council until Nov. 8, 2010 when he was elected to the SC House of Representatives. He was originally assigned to the agriculture committee, but this year he moved to the judiciary committee and is one of five members of the criminal law subcommittee. Now that he has some legislative experience under his belt, he believes he can truly make a difference for his constituents. “You have to gain institutional knowledge up there,” he said. “When you’re one of seven county councilmen, it’s easy to get something done but when you are one of 124 legislators it’s harder. But now I’m going to be able to concentrate on what I know, which is criminal law. I’ve worked as a prosecutor and I’ve defended clients so I know both sides and I think I can help See MURPHY Page 12
Judy Watts/Journal Scene
8 • Men to Watch
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
His cornerstones: Faith, hope, love BY JIM TATUM The Journal Scene
ike all the honorees in this year’s Men To Watch, Lou Caputo insists the honor belongs to others. “I am not particularly talented or gifted,” Lou Caputo insists. “I am surrounded by amazing, talented people who do amazing work – so when I hear about this, I am truly humbled and I really just want to give all the kudos to them.” That’s a generous and undoubtedly sincere statement, but few would likely agree with it. In fact, Caputo is seemingly everywhere, doing many different things very well every day. As CEO of Summerville Medical Center, he works tirelessly to build and ensure a bright and successful future for the hospital, Judy Watts/Journal Scene
and by extrapolation, Dorchester County. “All CEO’s are exceptional at managing, but Summerville Medical Center CEO Lou Caputo does more than manage a hospital, he embraces the challenge of making people’s lives better,” Pat Thomason, Executive Administrative Assistant at Summerville Medical Center said in her nomination of Caputo for 2013 Men To Watch. Since coming on board at SMC in August 2009, the hospital has added a bariatric center, wound care center, submitted a request to expand by adding 30 beds and is in the process of establishing a new pediatric center. Plans are in the works for a new building to go on nine acres recently purchased adjacent to SMC’s present campus. And if all goes well, that facility should be a reality soon. “We’ve had some great things get accomSee CAPUTO Page 13
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Men to Watch • 9
Driven to serve BY JIM TATUM The Journal Scene
or J.J. Messervy, failure is not an option; it’s not even a word in the man’s vocabulary. That is not to say he doesn’t make mistakes – he readily admits that he is not perfect – far from it. But that motivation to meet any challenge, learn from mistakes, overcome obstacles, and accomplish that which he sets out to do is a major facet of Messervy’s personality. “My family is just like that – I don’t really know what drives us,” he said. He talks about his grandfathers – one was a doctor, the other a lumberman. Both were hard-working, high achieving men, and his lumberman grandfather had a favorite
maxim that Messervy says somewhat sums up his outlook on life. “My lumberman grandfather had a sign in his office that talked about a man who owned a ferry business,” he said. “Someone asked the man how many times a day he made the trip across the river and back. He said, ‘I do it as many times as I can, because if I don’t go, I don’t get.’ That’s kind of my mindset.” In fact Messervy has always been self-motivated. He has dyslexia, but he never allowed that to be an obstacle or an excuse for not achieving. In fact, he graduated from the University of South Carolina magna cum laude. He came back home to Summerville and immediately got involved in a variety of community organizations and causes, including the Exchange Club, the Clemson Extension Master Gardeners Program and the Frances R. Willis SPCA. He is currently the See MESSERVY Page 15
Judy Watts/Journal Scene
10 • Men to Watch
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
A giving spirit forged at a young age BY ROGER LEE The Journal Scene
lain and simple, Dexcter Mack is a guy with his heart in the right place. “Dexcter is a good Samaritan who provides material benefits to needy families, many times out of his own pocket,” Summerville Town Councilman Aaron Brown said in his letter nominating Mack for Men to Watch. “He will give you the shirt off his back. He personally checks on the seniors in our community and even brings them gifts on their birthdays.” Mack’s king-size heart developed early. “Ever since I was a child I was close with my grandfather and he taught me a lot,” Mack said. “I’ve always modeled my life after his and tried to do the right thing and tried to Judy Watts/Journal Scene
make a difference. … When I was 11 I knew it was predestined for me to serve my community. I’ve always enjoyed being in my community so I want to make a difference in the lives of others there.” Also at a relatively early age, he entered the workforce. When he was 15 the Summerville native took a customer service job at Woodlands Resort. After eight years, he moved on to his current job as an administrative clerk for the Dorchester County Auditor’s Office. There he sometimes has to deal with irate taxpayers who are upset about their bill or the taxation process, but his background helped prepare him to take them in stride. “Customer service isn’t for everyone,” he said. “Not everyone can deal with people all the time but God blessed me with that gift. It’s all about empathizing. In anything you do, the See MACK Page 15
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Men to Watch • 11
Quiet volunteerism LESLIE CANTU The Journal Scene
u c k Inabinet is described by coworkers as the “quintessential civic volunteer” and a true gentleman who should be the next mayor of Summerville. Inabinet laughs off that last bit – politics isn’t part of his plans – but he has quietly and consistently made his mark through his volunteer activities. Inabinet and his wife Laurie moved to Summerville when their now-27-year-old eldest son was six months old. The two were high school sweethearts from Orangeburg County who moved here because of Inabinet’s banking position. More so then than now, banks made sure their employees got involved in civic organizations and sat on boards, Inabinet said, so he found himself teaching students how to run a business as part of Junior Achievement. Inabinet soon moved from banking to insurance, but he’s continued to be involved in the community, whether by serving on the board of the Boy Scouts’ Coastal Carolina Council or
simply by picking up trash as he takes his neighborhood walk each morning. “I have this issue with litter. I can’t figure out the psychology of people who litter. It drives me nuts,” he said. In fact, on a visit to a small town in Georgia for a wedding, he saw a sign proclaiming the town a “litter-free community” and realized that it was indeed the cleanest little town he’d seen. He thought he’d like to find a way to bring such a program to Summerville and increase litter awareness here. His passion takes a lot of patience from his wife, he jokes, as she has to slow down her walk each morning as he stoops to pick up roadside trash. Beyond basic cleanliness, Inabinet has been involved in beautifying the community. Susan Morris, former DREAM director, said Inabinet was the engine behind the “flower the town” project, which installed hanging flower baskets downtown. “Buck is very hands on and would be out there watering the baskets, climbing on ladders to measure brackets for the flower baskets, speaking to local groups to encourage the donation of funds for the baskets. He was also behind the two clean-
up days done in downtown in the last year to spruce up things,” she said. Inabinet said he likes working with the people downtown because “that’s where business really starts.” In his line of work, he’s past president of the Independent Insurance Agents, where he helped raise money for the American Red Cross’s Heroes for Fire Victims program. It takes an average of $1,250 for the Red Cross to help a family of four get back on their feet after a fire, Inabinet said, and there are far more fires in the region than one would realize by watching the news. He likes fundraising for the program because it lines up so well with insurance work. He also enjoyed watching his friend Brian Mitchum spearhead the campaign to pass the school bond referendum last November. Inabinet himself led the charge for the last successful school bond, in 1995, and he said he did so because he could look around and see the need. His sons, Hollis and Andrew, are grown and out of college now, but he still knows the importance of schools. “We are a school town to be sure,” he said.
Judy Watts/Journal Scene
12 • Men to Watch
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
A lifetime making lemonade… BY JIM TATUM The Journal Scene
l Bradham is no stranger to life’s lemons. In fact, the man has done pretty well making lemonade out of those lemons. More important, he says, he has enjoyed the blessing of sharing that lemonade wherever he can. A Lowcountry native and owner of Carpet Care Services and DisasterCare, a successful disaster care business, Bradham is a muchrevered, well-respected member of both this community and his business community. In conversation, one quickly finds that Bradham’s business is disaster care cleanup, but his personality – indeed, his life’s mission – is about helping people. That probably never would have happened the way it has if not for a bit of adversity of his own. “I worked for the Department of Defense for many years,” he said. “In 1992, I was laid off from the Navy Shipyard. In 1994, this business was offered to me and I bought it.” It was supposed to be a simple, “take-it-easy” kind of business – one truck, a carpet cleaning machine, and enough work to make a decent living for his family, wife Barbara and daughter Brandy – but not necessarily be all time-consuming. Now, nearly 20 years later, he owns hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment, employs 20 people, and does business literally all over the world. “I found out quickly I’m not one who likes to take it easy,” he said.
MURPHY from page 7 our committee get a lot done.” Sometimes being a legislator means putting in 12 to 14 hour days four times a week but Murphy hasn’t let that stop him from taking on numerous charitable endeavors. He is a member of the Summerville Rotary Club, Coastal Community
No doubt. The man still puts in 60-70 hours a week, not only in managerial/administrative details – but also out on service calls, not because he has to, but because he loves it. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “We recently went to North Carolina on a job and someone asked me what I was doing there. I said, ‘This is the part I like.’” There are many facets of business ownership that appeal to Bradham, but the best part is that owning his own business has allowed him to be in a position to help people at so many levels, he said. Helping victims of a disaster restore their home – and peace of mind – never ceases to be satisfying and customer service is the number one business priority, he says. Seeing his employees succeed – and virtually all of them have been with him many years – is another satisfying benefit. “I owe a lot of my success to the employees I have been able to maintain,” he said. “So it’s wonderful to see them grow and excel.” Being able to help the community is especially important and satisfying, he says. To that end he has worked with and contributed to many community organizations over the years, including Rotary, the Greater Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce, Children in Crisis, MUSC’s Kid Helping Kids, and the Frances R. Willis SPCA, to name a few. “I feel like this community has blessed me and I feel some obligation to return those blessings – but it’s also the fun part of the business,” he said. “I don’t ever tell an organization ‘no.’” His work in the community has not gone unnoticed – indeed he has been honored many times over the years by a variety of organiza-
Foundation and Citadel Brigadier Foundation. He is active in the Summerville Rotary Club and a sustaining member of the Coastal Community Foundation-Dorchester County Fund. He is a founding member of the Summerville Miracle League and has served as President of the Summerville Citadel Club. Murphy is also an avid vol-
unteer for children’s athletic teams having served as coach and sponsor for YMCA, Parks Field and Sertoma Youth Football teams throughout the years. “Being a politician opens a lot of avenues for you to network and meet people you might not have met otherwise and you can use that to give back to the community,” he said. “What I love and do a lot of
Judy Watts/Journal Scene
tions, including the Ralph Bloss Award, a national honor conferred by the disaster care industry to an individual who greatly contributes to the industry, and the T. Ashton Phillips award, which is a community service/fundraising honor given by the Charleston Riverdogs baseball organization – in fact the organization has only honored two people with it. “I am greatly humbled,” he said. “It’s nice to be recognized for doing what I like to do anyway. But there are many, many people who do those things every day who don’t get that recognition who surely deserve it more than I do.” Ultimately, the most important facet, the one that underpins everything else, is relationship is coaching and sponsoring little league teams. Ever since my boys have been old enough to play football and baseball I have tried to sponsor their teams and help coach. It is rewarding to help these little fellows learn a sport and hopefully come to love that sport.” His efforts have not gone unnoticed. Murphy is the recipient of the 2012 SC Chamber of Commerce
building and friendships, he noted. He can get things done because he has been fortunate enough to get to know so many people, he said. One example was the devastating fire that destroyed the building in which his business was located in 2010. In moments, the place was burned to the ground; thankfully, no one was injured, he noted. But after it happened, the outpouring of love and help from all over overwhelmed him, he said. “I have made friends literally all over the world that I might not have, had I not gotten into this business,” he said. “After the fire, a woman told me that I was lucky because I would be able to find out who my friends really were before I died. She was right – and I am truly blessed.”
Business Advocate Award, 2012 BIPEC Champion of Free Enterprise Award and 2012 Peas and Carrots Legislative Award by the Citizens for Sound Conservation. On top of everything else, he is a beloved boss. “Over the past 14 years, Chris has become my mentor and friend,” said Pennie Folden, one of the people who nominated Murphy for
Men to Watch. “I truly look up to him for guidance and know he will always steer me right. He is one of the kindest people I know. Even with his demanding schedule of running a private law practice and as a member of the General Assembly, he continues to put his family first. He is a true public servant in all aspects of his life and I’m extremely proud to work with him.”
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Men to Watch • 13
Easy manner, big heart BY JIM TATUM The Journal Scene
uss Cornette can seem a little reticent when asked to talk about himself. He’s more interested in you. And he’s more interested in action than talk. He’ll tell you a little about growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and that he enjoys the work he does as Town Engineer for the Town of Summerville. He’ll tell you how his family loves living here, how it’s a great community for a family to live a good life. He might talk a little about his love of good barbecue but will likely downplay the formidable skills he brings to the art of cooking this truly Southern delicacy. Ask him about his work in the community, and he’ll talk a little about some of the things he’s done there, too. But at the end of the day, Russ Cornette seems a little puzzled by the attention. After all, he’s just giving back to a community that he loves and that has been so good to him and his family. “It’s definitely an honor to be selected to be in this group (Men To Watch.) But my first thought was, they must be having a hard time finding people for them to pick me,” he said, a slow grin easing across his face. Cornette, who came to the Lowcountry in 1991 by way of his service with the U.S. Navy. He and his family -- wife Kristen and sons Cole and Graydon -- moved to Summerville in 2003 and became Town Engineer in 2005. “I like what I do here as Town Engineer – it’s an opportunity to help the town realize certain goals, and more important, it’s an opportunity to
CAPUTO from page 8 plished,” he said. “We have some technologies and services that you typically just don’t see in a small community hospital.” Caputo has volunteered time, talent and energy to a variety of organizations, including the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, United Way,
help people with issues they may not be initially familiar with.” He admits he fields a wide variety of questions, but enjoys helping people find their answers. “Sometimes it seems like it’s a case of, when in doubt, call the engineer’s office,” he said. But while he is looking out for Summerville during the day, he is also working behind the scenes in a lot of different places, doing what he can to help out in his spare time, too. He has generously given of his time, talent and effort for a number of organizations, including Knightsville United Methodist Church, the Summerville Miracle League, the Junior Service League of Summerville, Summerville Masonic Lodge, Omar Shriners, Lowcountry Food Bank, and Berkeley Lions Club. He served on the board of Sculpture In The South from 2006-2009 and as president of the board in 2007. “I learned a lot,” he said. “It was a very interesting, enjoyable experience.” That he is possessed of strong administrative and organizational skills is something of a given. However, he is also known for his prodigious skills around the barbecue grill and smoker. Like many things Cornette does, that grew from a simple desire to learn more, do it better, and share that knowledge. “A friend of mine and I went to a barbecue competition at Brittlebank Park in Charleston – walked around, sampled some of the food, and we both thought we could do better,” he said. So they did. His father built his first cooker, and he and friends and family started their competition barbecue team. The first year they participated in two or three competitions and while they did not win, they did not come in last, either, he said.
Chambers of Commerce, his church, and his alma maters. He acknowledges that he is often asked to work with these organizations because of his leadership position, but also notes that these are opportunities to serve the community on different levels that he would probably not have otherwise. “I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I do for work – I love to come to work every day,” he said. “I enjoy
taking care of people, be it family, patients, or the community. I am blessed to be able to live in a community like this, doing what I do, where I feel like I can make a difference.” He said he did not initially think about becoming a healthcare professional – like most new college graduates, he had no idea of what he wanted to do – certainly not a doctor or practitioner, he said. But eventually, he
Judy Watts/Journal Scene
And they got better. These days, they are not only in demand for many area events, they have won a number of awards on the competition circuit and they are even involved with the Carolina Pit Masters Barbecue School, a popular, weekend long event held every year at the Dorchester Shrine Club, for which Cornette serves as a principle instructor. A portion of the proceeds – as well as some of the choicest meat – goes to the Shrine Club and the Miracle League, he said. “That’s been pretty successful – we have people who come from all over for that, and a lot of them come back,” he said. They even started a barbecue sauce company and branded their own barbecue sauce, found himself drawn to healthcare and that idea of being able to help and take care of people. Nonetheless, his family comes first. Always. Caputo and his wife, Abby, adopted three children, siblings, from Guatemala. That process, while exhausting, is one of many reasons family is so special and important to him. Strong, unwavering faith that this was God’s plan for them helped see them
Smokin’ Cole’s, which they later sold. Earlier this month, his barbecue team’s sponsor opened a barbecue restaurant in Downtown Charleston named after his barbecue team’s name, “Queology.” But ultimately, the love of cooking has led to a unique and always greatly appreciated way of giving back to the community, he said. His team has raised funds for many organizations; in fact, Cornette helped found and create the Summerville Miracle League baseball league’s annual “BBQ 4 Baseball” fundraising event. “I guess I’m always ready to lend a hand wherever it’s needed,” he said. “This is a great community and I’m ready to help out any way I can.”
through the lengthy process. That faith and love is key and core to his family, he said. “I have a very strong family – a wonderful, wonderful wife and kids who are extremely supportive of what I do professionally and in the community – I could not do any of that without them,” he said. “They will always be my main priority. I work very hard to keep that work/life balance.”
Abby Caputo agrees. “The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Lou as a father is that he is so very ‘present,’” his wife, Abby noted. “Obviously, he has an important job that he pours a lot of himself and his time into – but I can honestly say, though, that when he is home with us, he is 100 percent present and fully focused on our family. There is nothing on this earth that he puts before us.”
14 • Men to Watch
REAGIN from page 6 nonprofit program designed to provide orthodontic care to children in need. He donates mouth guards to the Summerville Soccer Club and the Summerville Family YMCA and sponsors youth events such as the Y’s Youth Triathlon and 5k Run and supports organizations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Children in Crisis and Chase After a Cure. He has also made a considerable impact on the community through his volunteer work at schools. As a Summerville Elementary School business
STASIUKAITIS from page 4 Stasiukaitis gets his passion for helping from his father, Joseph. World events of decades ago reverberate today here in Summerville. Joseph Stasiukaitis of Lithuania was separated from his family during World War II and ended up in a work camp in Germany. A church sponsored him to come to the U.S. at the age of 15. “The charity of others has been in his life his whole life,” Stasiukaitis said. “I grew up
SCHMENK from page 4 “We killed a lot of things, unfortunately, but it’s part of the learning process,” he said. Students have to figure out why a plant died – Too much water? Too little water? Too much sun? Too little sun? “Just like in science, you learn as much from your failures as your successes,” he said. More than simply a garden, the collaboration with Leadership Dorchester has been a “wonderful catalyst” for new relationships that
Wednesday, February 20, 2013 partner, Reagin is involved with numerous programs. Through the Adopt-A-Teacher program, he shows students how material they learn in school can be beneficial to them once they become adults. “I am fortunate enough to have him as my Adopt-ATeacher partner,” third grade teacher Tara White said. “He is very open and willing to try anything to help meet the needs of our children. I love that he takes the time to come up with activities to match our standards and then ties them back to real life experiences and his occupation as an orthodontist. He is exposing children to things far beyond the
walls of a classroom and planting seeds for the future. Inspiring greatness in children is what makes him a true asset to our school and community.” Reagin also sponsors the Math Madness Program, a school-wide math initiative that awards miniature basketballs to students who reach their yearly math goal. He not only purchases the basketballs for the program, he takes time out of his busy schedule to deliver them to the students. “From the moment Dr. Reagin entered our building, he became an instant asset to our school,” SES Principal Lori Dibble said. “He is an Adopter of two classrooms, sponsors our PTA by provid-
ing refreshments and giveaways, and is always someone we can count on to go the extra mile for our kids. The Math Madness Program has provided motivation beyond anything we imagined possible. When he delivers the balls to students the presentation is accompanied by pumped up music. Rock on Dr. Reagin; we love you!” When Reagin was a student, he was an all-state soccer player for Greenwood High who participated in the Olympic Development Program at the upper-state level. He attended Cambridge Academy for one year and was named to the SCISA Allstate football team.
Today he coaches soccer at the Summerville Soccer Club. Then of course there are the contributions he makes through his profession. Reagin is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, American Board of Orthodontics, American Association of Orthodontics, American Dental Association and serves on the S.C. Dental Association strategic planning committee. He has participated in national orthodontic focus groups and published research projects. He goes the extra mile, doing a lot of continuing education and exploring new products and concepts in his field to ensure his patients
have the best treatment possible. “I feel like the work I do helps people reach their full potential,” he said. “A person’s smile is often the first thing others notice about them. If someone has confidence in their smile it can change their whole demeanor.” His business philosophy is simple. “I just want to do what is right,” he said. “I try to treat all my patients like they were a member of my family. I ask, what would I do in this situation if it were my child and I find if I make a decision based on that then it is usually the right decision.”
around all that.” The elder Stasiukaitis joined the Air Force to earn his citizenship, and his last stint was in Charleston. He stuck around and ended up raising a family and becoming involved in Bethany United Methodist Church in downtown Summerville. Robert Stasiukaitis remembers being dragged to church every Sunday, but eventually, he says, what you hear in church starts to make sense. After high school he went to the University of North Carolina, where he met his wife, Brenda, and studied
physics, intending to get as far away as possible from his father’s profession as a general contractor. He can only laugh and shake his head at his youthful determination. “Life always takes a funny turn, and God has a sense of humor,” he said. He worked for McDonnell Douglas for a while, but the company wanted him to get a Ph.D., something he didn’t really want to do. Instead, one thing led to another and in 1990 he founded his company, focusing on woodwork rather than general
contracting. When the company started, he had two employees – his brother and his brother-in-law. Today the company is still a family affair, with his son, brother, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law and father working there, and altogether he employs more than 40 people. His father remains committed to charity. In the years when the company can profitshare with its employees, his father gives every cent of his profit share to charity, Stasiukaitis said. And it was his father who dragged him to his first over-
seas mission trip some 20 years ago. Now Stasiukaitis finds he has to go overseas regularly to refresh his world view. “It changes your life when you see how the rest of the world lives,” he said. The worst poverty in the U.S. doesn’t come close to what the developing world experiences, he said, and seeing others’ struggles helps him realize how petty his problems are. “When you realize how blessed you are, it makes all the difference in the world,” he said. Like anyone, he still gets
caught up in day-to-day worries and exasperations, but those regular trips remind him how small those problems are. After a restructuring last year, he’s transitioning out of the lead role at the company while David takes the helm so Robert can spend more time traveling and doing mission work. He and his wife will soon be traveling to Korea to visit their other son, Brian, who is teaching there. And of course, he’ll be spending time with his granddaughter, Ella.
enhance the learning environment at Alston, Schmenk said. Students have been on field trips to local farms, and a mentoring program has found that working one-on-one with students in the school garden gives students a non-confrontational environment to talk about their problems, he said. Growing up, Schmenk didn’t expect to find himself making a career in schools. In high school he spent a year in Germany, and he thought he’d go into international business. But at the College of Charleston, he found himself drafted into being a German
tutor. When he returned to Germany for a year, he ended up acting as an English tutor, and he became a resident adviser at the College, helping plan programs for students. Those experiences shifted his focus, and he ended up becoming a teacher – in Japan. Schmenk spent three years in Japan, where he taught English to students, helped draft an English curriculum and trained other teachers. As his visa expired, he reached out to a former mentor about job openings and landed a job at Fort Dorchester High School teaching German.
Shortly after returning to the area, he met his wife, Susan, who had also attended the College of Charleston, though they hadn’t met there. Schmenk earned his master’s degree and moved into the assistant principalship at Fort Dorchester, then to the top position at Alston. At first he was unsure of making the move to lower grades, but now, he said, “I’ve totally fallen in love with middle school.” As if being a principal isn’t enough, Schmenk coaches fencing in Mt. Pleasant and Charleston. He got started in 2005 by
teaching his daughter and a neighbor’s child in his living room. “After about two months my wife informed me that was no longer going to be an option,” he said. Friends helped him approach the recreation department in Mt. Pleasant and he started teaching a class of 12. Now, more than 50 children are involved in the program and some have competed in the Junior Olympics. With all that’s happening at Alston, Schmenk said the next few years will be devoted to embracing the new initiatives and doing them well.
The school, which has a fine arts focus, has earned almost $58,000 in grants and the school will continue to develop its fine arts curriculum, Schmenk said. He’s committed to reaching all students, regardless of level, he said. By doing so, he’s passing along the help he received from so many others. No one rises to a prominent community position like principal without help from others along the way, he said. “I am a success because of the help and the people around me,” Schmenk said.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
MACK from page 10 key is to listen to people. Once you do that then you can give them the best answer to their question or help them find a solution to their problem. … Whether I’m at work or somewhere else I try to take myself out of the equation and make sure I’m working for others.” While he is only 33, Mack has been in on the ground floor for several philanthropic endeavors. In November he founded the new Summerville
MESSERVY from page 9 public address announcer for the Summerville High School Green Wave Varsity Football Team. Messervy’s fundraising ability is remarkable. The year before he joined the SPCA Board of Directors, the annual oyster roast fundraiser netted some $6,500 in profit. He took it over and the following year it netted nearly $30,000. Ultimately he would serve as vice president, president, and fund raising chairman and in
Men to Watch • 15
NAACP Branch and he now serves as chapter president. “I noticed the chapter had not been active for a while and I felt like we needed to get it back on track so I called the state headquarters and asked them what we needed to do to restart the chapter,” he said. “The NAACP looks out for the welfare of all people, not just African Americans. Our chapter wants to make sure we are the voice for the voiceless and that everyone is treated fairly and that someone is being held accountable because every
once in a while you will have that little devil that isn’t doing the right thing.” In a short time, Mack obtained more than the needed number of members to found the branch. “It was easy,” he said. “People were happy to send their checks in because they wanted a chapter here. The organization does so much. It helps children, puts on SAT seminars and supports a wide range of other projects that make a positive impact.” For National Day of Service, the branch found 10 seniors throughout the
Summerville area and helped them with whatever their greatest need was. Recently, Mack spearheaded the founding of a local NAACP Youth Chapter. Mack is a founder and chairman of the Councilman’s Ball, an organization that honors local citizens who have made a positive impact on their community. “Councilman’s Ball is my baby,” he said. “We use it to honor people who do a lot of great things, but never get recognition for it. While it started off small, I’ve
watched it grow into something big.” The charity now has 15 members on its board of directors. The annual ball attracts 300 to 400 guests. Proceeds helped fund five scholarships for local high school students last year. Mack is also president of the District One Civic Association. The organization holds monthly meetings to ensure citizens are informed about issues that may affect their community and to receive feedback regarding any needs the community faces.
“It is always good to get together and discuss how things are going whether things are good or bad,” Mack said. “Senior citizens and children are the two things I’m concerned about the most. I have always loved the seniors in my community and I am a big advocate of us coming together and finding more resources for our younger people. We need a community center and extra curricular activities that all young people can participate in. We need to find things that will intrigue our younger people.”
addition to fund raising efforts, he would help establish a spay/neuter partnership between the FWSPCA and the Charleston Animal Society. He helped co-found the Dorchester County Foundation, which distributes funds to non-profits throughout the county; that group’s fundraising efforts have brought in some $500,000 in two years. As County Auditor, Messervy says he strives to help people – and the community – every day in a variety of ways. He has
improved collections of personal property taxes by establishing an out-of-state tag program. He improved collections of business personal property taxes by working with county and municipal business license officials to withhold business license renewals until past due taxes are paid. He has provided information to municipalities, school districts, and fire districts on the tax billing and collections process and assisted the county and other entities by improving the collection of solid waste and storm water
fees. Most importantly, he has been able to help educate citizens about taxpayer rights and responsibilities. “One of the things I really like about this job is that I am in a position to disseminate useful and accurate information,” he said. “I can clearly explain situations and outline the ramifications of potential decisions they need to make.” “What can I say? I’m deeply interested in tax issues, and I am happy to share what I learn – I guess I’m weird that way,” he
added with a laugh. But he’s definitely not an all work, no play kind of guy, either. On the contrary, his is more of a work hard/play hard attitude, and happily, Summerville and Dorchester County are beneficiaries of his seemingly tireless energies. A Master Gardener, he enjoys his time “digging in the dirt” and enjoys a variety of events and activities. But most of all, he loves being with his family, his wife Beth and son, Hoby, he said. “By far, the single greatest thing I’ve ever had happen to
me is having a child,” he said. “My son is three now – I’m doing micro-soccer coaching, among other things.” Ultimately, Messervy’s outlook is one of enjoying the moment and doing as much good as one can along the way, he said. “It’s not what you make, it’s not the people you know, it’s the mark you make in your community,” he said. “I love Summerville and Dorchester County and my objective in life is to leave it a better place than I found it.”
16 • Men to Watch
Wednesday, February 20, 2013