Eight local boat captains share their experiences as women in a maledominated field
WOMEN IN BIZ
Over 100 local women succeeding in business share their thoughts on the meaning of success
BIRDIE JAMES
Two boutiques, one brand with distinct personality
Montlack’s
GENIUSES AT WORK
Ambassador of Buzz
Maggie Marie Washo
Master of Coin
Marion Elizabeth Bowser
Chief Chatter
Kim Conrad Crouch
Sales Rockstar + Stylist
“Just Kandace” Cunningham
Head of Schmoozing Morgan Ambler
Social Media Expert Jevon Daly
Mascot in Training
Buoy Conrad Crouch Pritchard
The Gatekeepers
Greta Von Bowser
Vincent Von Bowser
Comic Sans Annihilator
Catherine Davies
Error Eradicator
Lynne Cope Hummell
Aspiring Novelists
Jesse Blanco
Becca Edwards
Courtney Hampson
Lynne Cope Hummell
Barry Kaufman
Alan Perry
Cheryl Ricer
Larry Toomer
Sheila Tucker
Lighting Experts
Photography by M.Kat
Photography by Matthew Garbade, Edge of Reality Production
Lisa Staff Photography
Photography by Hunter Acker
Marissa Elise Photography
Find Us Here PO Box 22949
Hilton Head Island, SC 29925
843.816.6247
maggie@ch2cb2magazine.com
My mom received a text last night that said this exactly: “Why does it feel like it’s been 4,568 days since July 4 and it’s still July?”
It was from me. I sent that text.
Y’all. I’m trying so hard to embrace summer and not wish away this part of my life every year but – it’s so hard. Maybe it’s because I spend a lot of time out in this “Feels like 111” degrees weather.
Our July issue is always one of the most anticipated, well-read, exciting books we put out every other year and it required exactly 35 photoshoots to accomplish – most of them happening outside in this swampy summer Lowcountry environment.
I took a quick (very scientific) survey on CH2’s Instagram page to see if I was in the minority with my negative feelings about summer. Turns out, our social media followers like the fall season best in the Lowcountry. Who knew? I did.
Despite my negative feelings about summer in the Deep South, I’m going to try playing Pollyanna’s Glad Game for the rest of this note. (IYKYK)
The first thing I’m glad about, is that Captain Julie Goraj messaged me suggesting we feature women boat captains for this issue. You might not realize it, but a lot of our content comes from reader suggestions. I so enjoyed meeting these ladies out on the water. Find this story right in the beginning of the magazine on page 32.
I’m glad (no, downright elated) that I got to have
EDITOR'S NOTE
AUGUST2025
my second ever Tin & Tallow burger with Jesse Blanco for his story on page 141. Not sure what secret ingredient is in those meat patties, but it might just be the best burger on Hilton Head Island.
I’m glad (no, absolutely thrilled) that I’m finally getting Wendy Kushel in this magazine. Her personality is fun and infectious, and I felt like I had known her for years the second we met. This powerhouse woman in biz recently got a deal with Walmart for her sugar scrubs. Read all about it on page 40.
I’m glad (no, silly with glee) that I found this pretty palm tree dress at Birdie James’ Bluffton location in Washington Square for my Editor’s Note photo. This boutique been a longtime favorite of mine and we give Michelle Taylor’s two stores a shout-out in Cheryl Ricer’s article on page 92.
I’m glad (really glad) that after 14 years of putting out this Women in Business issue, it continues to grow with more and more success stories. As a woman working with mostly women in a woman-owned business, it makes me very happy.
Come back next month when I’ll be even more happy … because it’s FALL!
Photography by Jevon Daly
KATHLEEN MCMENAMIN
"I’ve always found something deeply grounding in the presence of water. The tides are steady and constant, reliable rhythms in a world that can often feel chaotic."
PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
WOMEN ON THE WATER
These accomplished ladies have ferried thousands of visitors around the Lowcountry over the years, teaching them about our unique eco-system and entertaining them with fun facts about Hilton Head Island while keeping them safe in quickly changing weather patterns. Read on as they share why they love what they do, along with some memorable moments on the sea as local captains. Better yet, book a trip and experience it for yourself.
KATHLEEN MCMENAMIN Captain for 15 years
Island Rec Center; Outdoor Recreation, Ibis
Originally from “the world.” I have lived in six different countries and five different states, but Hilton Head Island
is what I say is my home. In the Lowcountry on and off for 35 years What sort of excursions do you offer?
I do it all! Currently, sailing, kayak, SUP, and surfing with Island Rec Center, as well as eco tours, ski trips, history tours, and shark tooth trips with Outside Hilton Head. What drew you to working on the water?
I’ve always found something deeply grounding in the presence of water. The tides are steady and constant, reliable rhythms in a world that can often feel chaotic. There’s peace in knowing that no matter what’s happening on land, the water continues its cycle, entirely outside of my control. That balance between consistency and unpredictability is what draws me. Working on the water
AMBER KUEHN
"When I'm not on the water, I'm managing a nonprofit, Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island; and managing a golden doodle named Ruby."
lets me be close to that force every day. It reminds me to stay present, adapt, and trust in the rhythm of things bigger than myself.
What is your biggest challenge working in a maledominated field?
Working in a male-dominated field, the biggest challenge isn’t proving my ability, it’s being seen beyond assumptions. I meet every challenge with grace, determination, and skill. I don’t need to talk myself up; my actions speak louder. I’ve developed the skills to handle complex maneuvers on the water, such as parallel parking a boat, with confidence and precision. I am able to coach kids into perfect surf or water ski stances and skills. I lead with respect and confidence, knowing that true credibility comes from consistently showing up and doing the job well. Favorite thing about the job?
My favorite part of the job is being immersed in the natural beauty of the Lowcountry. I feel deeply connected to this place. It brings me so much joy to be out on the water, watching the tides, wildlife, and landscapes all interact in such a dynamic, living system. I still have those “wow” moments regularly, where I pause and think, “I can’t believe I get to do this and see this!” That sense of wonder is what fuels me every day.
Tell us about a memorable “on the water” experience you’ll never forget.
One experience I’ll never forget was a ski trip in Bull Creek several years ago. A fast-moving storm rolled in from Savannah, following the typical southwest wind pattern. I saw it coming early and quickly pulled the family off the tube and back into the boat to make a run for Shelter Cove. As we exited Bull Creek and turned down the Cooper River toward Hilton Head, the wind picked up so suddenly and intensely that it tore the Bimini top fabric right off the boat. We pushed through with the fabric flapping in the wind, racing the storm back to safety. Thankfully, everyone was safe and we made it in just before the worst of it hit. It was a powerful reminder of how quickly conditions can change on the water—and how important it is to stay aware, act fast, and prioritize safety.
When I’m not on the water, I’m …
When I am not on the water, I can be found with my family! But my favorite place to go with my family is to the Appalachian mountains, my other happy place. I love long hikes, camping in quiet, forested areas, and fully disconnecting in nature. Whether I’m on the water or in the woods, I’m most at peace when I’m outside, exploring and appreciating the natural world.
AMBER KUEHN
Captain for 25 years
Spartina Marine Education Charters, Spartina Originally from Bluffton In the Lowcountry for 51 years
What sort of excursions do you offer?
Educational ecology tours
What drew you to working on the water?
I grew up on the May River and became an unofficial boat captain at the age of 12.
What is your biggest challenge working in a maledominated field?
The assumption that I don’t know what I am doing. Favorite thing about the job?
Giving passengers the opportunity to connect the dots to answer questions that I pose about the environment. In my curriculum, I give them all of the information that they will need to put the answer together.
Tell us about a memorable “on the water” experience you’ll never forget.
My whole childhood was a new and memorable experience on the water, from feeding my pet dolphin Dolly (illegal after 1992) to catching a sea horse in my cast net. More recently, I watched a dolphin feeding at the edge of the mudflat with her calf in tow. She was distracted, so the calf took advantage and swam swiftly toward my boat. I turned off the engine as it went under the boat. The mother noticed that the calf had left her side and began splashing vigorously before taking the exact path underneath my
JENNA WERTZ
"From as young as I can remember I always knew I wanted to move somewhere coastal after high school."
boat. She caught up to him, and they moved away from the boat to have their “time out.”
When I’m not on the water I’m …
Managing a nonprofit, Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island; and managing a golden doodle named Ruby.
JENNA WERTZ
In her second year as a captain Vagabond Cruise, Mystique and Solaris Originally from Toledo, Ohio In the Lowcountry for 4 years What sort of excursions do you offer?
I run sightseeing/dolphin tours, happy hour tours, and sunset tours as well as fireworks cruises out of Harbour Town. What drew you to working on the water?
From as young as I can remember I always knew I wanted to move somewhere coastal after high school. After graduating high school, I attended Johnson & Wales University in Miami, Florida, with a major in tourism and hospitality management, followed by completing my MBA with a hospitality concentration from Johnson & Wales University online. During both my undergraduate and Masters, the courses I enjoyed the most were geared towards commercial cruise operations that spanned from small boat companies to large international cruise lines. The summer before graduating with my Masters I found a summer internship program with Vagabond Cruise that gives college students the opportunity to cross train in reservations, food and beverage, as well as boat operations. After enjoying living on the island and working on boats for that summer, I knew this line of work was for me. Thinking I would only be here for one college semester, that has turned into more than four years! I was the first employee within the company that worked from intern all the way to captain!
What is your biggest challenge working in a maledominated field?
As a young female captain working in a male-dominated field, I have faced judgment and challenges that men don’t seem to experience. One of the biggest challenges I encounter on a regular basis is not being taken seriously for my age and the fact I’m a female captain. I’ve been questioned if I’m old enough to be qualified to drive a boat, how can I be a captain if I can’t do all the physical or
mechanical labor on boats that men can, or received side comments of “women belong in the galley, not behind the wheel” on countless occasions. More times than not these comments are coming from men, but in some cases from women. Experiences like this have made me feel as if I have to work twice as hard to prove that I am equally as capable of performing my job among working with male captains. However, I am fortunate to work with a great group of male captains within the company that have taken me under their wing and have been a tremendous help at getting me to where I am today. Though they do not experience the same feedback and judgment that I encounter on a regular basis, and I do not have the extensive knowledge in boating/boat mechanics as they do, I know they all have my back – and for that I’m grateful.
Favorite thing about the job?
My all-time favorite part of the job is getting to see dolphins and sunsets every day! I definitely would not get to experience this if I still lived in Ohio!
Tell us about a memorable “on the water” experience you’ll never forget.
I have had several memorable experiences since becoming a captain, but there is one that stands out. Last spring when my parents flew down to visit, I surprised them with booking them seats on one of my Mystique afternoon trips, which would be the first time they would ever get to experience being on a boat with me as their captain. My parents have been a constant support system my entire life and when I told them I wanted to go to Sea School and pursue a career in boating, they were behind me all the way! Watching them tell other guests on board that they were my parents and how proud they are of me, made all the time, effort, and and even a few tears shed to get to where I am today all worth it.
When I’m not on the water I’m …
Definitely either watching Dance Moms or fishing!
RENEE IANNOTTI
Captain for 26 years
Vagabond Cruise, Spirit of Harbour Town, Tammy Jane, Solaris, Mystique; Haig Point Ferry
I grew up on the water, and it’s always been where I feel most comfortable. Working on the water gives me a sense of peace, focus, and purpose that I don’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s the challenge of the environment, or the camaraderie that comes with it, the water has always felt like home to me.
What is your biggest challenge working in a maledominated field?
One of the biggest challenges working in a maledominated field is constantly having to prove that I am just as capable of doing the same work. There’s often an unspoken assumption that I won’t be able to keep up or handle certain tasks, especially physical ones. So, instead of being seen for my skills right away, I usually have to go the extra mile to earn that respect. It can be frustrating but I let my work speak for itself. Favorite thing about the job?
One of the things I love most about my job is that every day is different. You have to be confident, quick on your feet, and ready to switch gears to make important decisions. I thrive on the unpredictability of the job. Tell us about a memorable “on the water” experience you’ll never forget.
I have many memorable experiences but there’s not one that sticks out. I’ve seen lots of big fish, sharks, whales, etc., but I always remember and am so grateful for the beautiful sunsets that I get to see every day.
When I’m not on the water I’m …
Home with my dogs.
JULIE GORAJ Captain for 2 years
Native
Son Adventures; Commander Zodiac
Originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
RENEE IANNOTTI
"Working on the water gives me a sense of peace, focus, and purpose that I don’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s the challenge of the environment, or the camaraderie that comes with it, the water has always felt like home to me."
In the Lowcountry for 4 years
What sort of excursions do you offer?
With Native Son I do the tiki boat tours – dolphin watching, shell island, crabbing, or just a sunset cruise taking in the Lowcountry views and listening to great tunes. With Commander Zodiac I do dolphin, salt marsh, sunset, and secluded beach combing tours.
What drew you to working on the water?
I grew up in middle America where summer was spent at the lake or in the pool. My uncles used to pull me all day long, waterskiing or tubing. I never wanted to get off the boat or out of the water. I spent summers in college at one of my favorite places – Lake Okoboji – and my dear friends the Mau family owned one of the best marinas around and we were on the water almost every day and every night. Sunset waterskiing was one of my favorite parts of the day. As an adult, most of my vacations have involved a beach and being on the water. Being on the water makes me so happy and I am very fortunate that Lauren Porter with Island Water Sports and Caitlin Hubach with H2O Sports encouraged and supported my path towards obtaining my captain’s license.
What is your biggest challenge working in a maledominated field?
I could definitely list stereotypes – many of which hold some truth – but for me, I approach this with humility and deep gratitude for the exceptional male captains who have treated me with nothing but respect and kindness. Every day on the water is a humbling experience and an opportunity to learn. I am so appreciative of captains Tom, Mark, and Scott with Commander Zodiac and captains Byron, Nick, and Will with Native Son. They have so much incredible experience to share and I feel so fortunate to learn from all of them.
Favorite thing about the job?
Being able to be on the water every day. Also, meeting new people, showing off our amazing island, making a kid's day, laughing with the customers, getting people to sing along with my yacht rock playlist, discovering all the different waterways, and learning every day.
Tell us about a memorable “on the water” experience you’ll never forget.
I spent three years working for Island Water Sports/Salty Cat Sailing in South Beach working with Captain Delaynie. She and I were on a sail together last summer and there were a lot of kids on the boat – for a family reunion. She introduced us before the sail: “Hi, I’m Captain Delaynie and this is Captain Julie, who will be my first mate today.” There was all this chatter on the boat and then several of the little girls exclaimed, “Wait, what? This big boat is being run by girls? Just girls? That’s SO cool.” It was really rewarding to see their awe and hear their excitement. After the sail all the little girls high-fived us and said, “Girl Power!” It makes me smile every time I think of it.
When I’m not on the water …
I’m also doing marketing and event work on a contract basis and working during the school year at Hilton Head Prep. I love to try new places and experiences on the island. I travel a lot – I have visited 48 different countries. But I also have a very introverted side where I love nothing more than staying home with a great book, or movie, or puzzle.
JENNIFER KLIPPEL
Captain for 37 years
Drifter Excursions
Originally from New York City
In the Lowcountry for 46 years
What sort of excursions do you offer?
Drifter Excursions is my family business. My brother, nephew, son, and I all work together. We offer fishing charters, dolphin watching, nature, and educational children’s tours.
What drew you to working on the water?
I grew up on the water. My family has always had boats and I knew how to row a boat before I could ride a bike. Favorite thing about the job?
My favorite thing about my job is that every day is different. I have met a lot of interesting people and have gotten to see some amazing things while out on the water. What is your biggest challenge working in a maledominated field?
I don’t feel like I have any challenges working in a maledominated field. Tell us about a memorable “on the water” experience you’ll never forget.
I’ve had many experiences on the water that I will never forget. I have seen numerous whales in our waters including right whales and humpbacks. I have even seen a 40-foot humpback whale swimming in Calibogue Sound. I have witnessed two fellow charter boat captains get their anchors accidentally picked up by giant manta rays while fishing offshore of the island. The manta rays then started towing the boats because the anchors were stuck on them. Nothing
JULIE GORAJ
"I am so appreciative of captains Tom, Mark, and Scott with Commander Zodiac and captains Byron, Nick, and Will with Native Son. They have so much incredible experience to share and I feel so fortunate to learn from all of them."
will remind you more of the dangers that can occur on the ocean than watching your friends and fellow charter boat captains being towed in their boats by a giant manta ray. When I’m not on the water I am …
Spending time with my family.
DELAYNIE GROVE
Captain for 2 Years
H2O Sports
Originally from Vincennes, Indiana
In the Lowcountry for 6 years (seasonally)
What sort of excursions do you offer?
Dolphin tours, Daufuskie shuttles, and Banana Boat rides What drew you to working on the water?
My first summer working as a paddle board and kayak tour guide opened up the opportunity to start crewing on a sailboat. I fell in love with being on the water and sailing. The captain that I crewed for pushed me to keep learning and taught me everything he could to help me become a captain.
What is your biggest challenge working in a maledominated field?
When I first started captaining, a challenge I faced was not having enough confidence. However, I have been very blessed to not face any major challenges as a female in this male-dominated field. As a young captain with a lot to learn, I have had no end of support and guidance from the male captains that I have had the pleasure of working with. Favorite thing about the job?
My favorite thing about the job is getting to spread knowledge about the wildlife that lives in and around our waterways here on Hilton Head Island and getting to meet new people every day.
Tell us about a memorable “on the water” experience you’ll never forget.
My most memorable on the water experience was my first collegiate keelboat (sailing) regatta. The regatta was in
JENNIFER KLIPPEL
"I have met a lot of interesting people and have gotten to see some amazing things while out on the water."
DELAYNIE GROVE
"Seeing a guest light up as they spot a dolphin for the first time – it never gets old."
Chicago on Lake Michigan and the night before the racing started, we went out for a practice sail that ended with us watching the sunset and getting to see the Chicago skyline light up as we finished our sail in the dark. It was an amazing evening on the water with good friends doing our favorite activity. I would have never had the opportunity to sail in college had I not started my job working on the water in Hilton Head a couple of summers before this. When I’m not on the water I’m …
Running, snowboarding, or in school pursuing my Masters in public affairs.
ANNELIZA “PIPPI” ITKOR Captain for 5 years
Outside Brands
Originally from Richmond, Virginia
In the Lowcountry for 22 years
What sort of excursions do you offer?
I offer a wide variety of excursions designed to showcase the natural beauty and rich culture of the Lowcountry. These include eco-tours, the Daufuskie Artisan and History Tour, and the Outback Adventure – a unique experience where guests boat to our private island and enjoy a guided kayak tour through the tidal salt marsh. Other favorites include the Ultimate Lowcountry Day (a customizable trip with options like tubing, dock-jumping, dolphin watching, fishing, paddleboarding, and more), the Shark Tooth Island Excursion, Vanishing Island Adventure, fireworks cruises, and private charters.
What drew you to working on the water?
I’ve always felt a deep connection to water. Growing up, my family spent summers at Sandbridge Beach in Virginia, where I developed a love and respect for the ocean. At age 10, we moved to Chicago, where the majesty of the Great Lakes captured my heart. Later, I relocated to Los Angeles and spent 16 years exploring the Pacific Ocean and learning all I could about its ecosystems. When I returned to the East Coast, it felt natural to give the Atlantic the same reverence I had given the Pacific. I started as a kayak and paddleboard guide, which allowed me to intimately explore the tidal salt marshes – and I was hooked. My curiosity evolved into a deep passion for learning about this island’s environment, history, and culture, and for sharing that knowledge with anyone willing to listen. Becoming a boat captain allowed
me to expand that reach and invite more people into the magic of the Lowcountry.
What is your biggest challenge working in a maledominated field?
I’ve been fortunate to grow as a captain within a supportive company like Outside Brands. At first, I did worry I’d have to prove myself more than my male counterparts. But I soon realized that professionalism, consistency, and confidence in my training would speak louder than any stereotype. I also recognize that I’m part of a broader shift in the maritime industry. Every time a young girl sees me at the helm, I hope it reshapes her idea of what’s possible. I didn’t always have a role model who looked like me in this field. Now, I get to be that role model for someone else, and that means the world to me.
Favorite thing about the job?
There’s so much to love, but the most rewarding part is watching the moment of wonder cross someone’s face when they experience something new. Seeing a guest light up as they spot a dolphin for the first time – it never gets old. Their joy becomes mine, every single time. Tell us about a memorable “on the water” experience you’ll never forget.
One of my most unforgettable moments actually happened on a paddleboard. I was guiding a family on a stand-up paddleboard nature tour. A five-year-old was riding on my board while her parents, a bit behind us, were paddling with her older siblings. We had paused to dip our feet in the water when suddenly, a massive manatee surfaced right beside us – so close that it brushed against my legs. The older kids screamed with surprise while the little one clutched me tightly.
But instead of fear, her eyes sparkled with awe. “Wow!” she whispered. “Let’s do that again!” That moment of pure, fearless joy has stayed with me ever since, and it’s what I draw on during the tougher days on the water. It reminds me why I do this. When I’m not on the water…
I’m soaking up life with my wonderful husband, Josh, and our beloved menagerie of furry friends. You might find me singing at church, whipping up something delicious in the kitchen, photographing wildlife and community events, or working as the communications coordinator for Hilton Head Plantation. I live a full, joyful, purpose-driven life – and I’m grateful for every part of it.
"Every time a young girl sees me at the helm, I hope it reshapes her idea of what’s possible."
ANNELIZA “PIPPI” ITKOR
Wendy Kushel at her colorful booth in Bluffton on a Thursday in June. You can find her at various farmer's markets around town every week.
Article by Cheryl Ricer
From Stand-Up to Start-Up
Local woman turns simple sugar scrub Into a Walmart-worthy brand
When Wendy Kushel walked into Walmart’s Open Call event in Bentonville, Arkansas, she carried more than just a product – she carried a dream. That dream came one step closer to reality when she walked out holding a coveted golden ticket, a symbol that Wendala’s, her Bluffton-based sugar scrub brand, had secured a chance to appear on the shelves of one of the largest retailers in the world.
Her product? A citrusy concoction called Fish Away, designed to eliminate stubborn food and fish odors while softening hands. Her mission? To show the world that grit, passion, and belief can transform even the most unexpected ideas into national success stories.
“I had never heard of a sugar scrub in my life,” Kushel said with a laugh, recalling the moment in 2018 when someone casually recommended she mix sugar and coconut oil in the shower. “I fell in love and knew I had to start a sugar scrub business.”
But the road from a spontaneous discovery to mass retail wasn’t easy – or linear.
Originally from Maryland, Kushel relocated to the Lowcountry in 2018 to take a job with a liquor distributor. She enjoyed the work and the lifestyle, but something inside her kept whispering that she was meant for more.
“I loved my job,” she said, “but I really needed to be working for myself.”
That whisper became a roar when she started experimenting with her first sugar scrub recipes. Rather than casually handing out samples in plastic containers, Kushel immediately thought bigger. She created a logo, sourced jars, and designed a label that
Photography by Maggie Washo
popped. But despite her early enthusiasm, she shelved the idea, channeling her abundant energy into competing in triathlons instead. However, the idea for her own business was never too far out of mind.
“I thought, if anyone can put one foot in front of the other and run a few miles, why can’t I start a company?” she said. “How many people think about it, but never do? I didn’t want to be one of them.”
So, in 2020, she took the plunge. With no business background and only a spark of inspiration, she launched Wendala’s, coined from her childhood nickname. She started with the basics – registering the business, building a website, and securing certifications like WBENC and South Carolina Woman-Owned.
Kushel’s breakthrough came not from a corporate boardroom, but a local pop-up event at Lowcountry Fresh Market. A women’s group requested a rosemary mint or eucalyptus lavender hand scrub to eliminate cooking odors – products she’d never made before.
“That request changed everything,” she said. “That day, I debuted the scrubs and, bam! I got a text from Barbara Corcoran’s podcast producer asking me to be on her show. I cried. It was just so surreal.”
From that moment, “Fish Away” and its sister scents were born. Designed to deodorize and soften, they quickly caught the attention of customers and retailers alike. With the help of her daughter – an industry veteran in consumer-packaged goods – Kushel transitioned her scrubs into sleek screw-top tin cans and refined her branding to stand out on shelves. BUILT BY HAND, FUELED BY HEART
Unlike most brands on the road to big-box retail, Wendala’s hasn’t yet outsourced manufacturing. Kushel still makes every batch of sugar scrub with a small team of mostly retired locals, including a woman named Paula whom she calls a godsend.
“This Walmart order for 10,600 units? We made it ourselves – by hand,” she said. “These incredible women and men are in there right now, filling jars and assembling display units. It’s wild.”
She uses a massive Hobart mixer, like those normally found in bakeries, to whip her formula into the buttery-soft texture
customers love. The team works out of a modest facility, fueled by passion, purpose, and a whole lot of determination.
“I hope someone calls and says, ‘Hey, can you be on QVC in two months and provide half a million units?’ You know what I’ll say? ‘Let’s go!’ I’ll figure it out,” Kushel said with her signature fire. “That’s just how I am.”
While the Walmart deal is monumental, Kushel refuses to see it as the finish line. Fish Away will initially roll out in the sporting goods departments of more than 200 stores around the country, targeting communities where fishing is a way of life. But she has plans to expand further – to Whole Foods, Target, and beyond.
“My ‘Eucalyptus Lavender’ and ‘Beach Day’ scents are best-sellers,” she explains. “The ‘Beach Day’ scent? That’s my ‘Frasier Fir.’ You know that candle everyone loves? That’s how I see this product. It just needs to get out there.”
She’s currently exploring buying a full production line in Beaufort to speed up the process and meet growing demand. If the equipment works, she’s willing to raise capital to make it happen.
“This can’t be the end all, be all,” Kushel said of the Walmart order. “It’s just the beginning.”
A MISSION BIGGER THAN MONEY
While the entrepreneur’s work ethic is undeniable, her “why” is what sets her apart.
“I’m not doing this to make money,” Kushel said. “I’m doing it to prove to myself, to my friends, to my family, and to others, that you can build something from nothing.”
It’s a sentiment she shares often with aspiring business owners and anyone who dares to dream.
“You don’t have to know everything to start something. You just have to start. Move one foot in front of the other every day.”
Her advice is simple, but powerful. Whether you want to sell at farmers’ markets or pitch to national chains, Kushel believes success comes from doing it the best you can and not being afraid to jump in, even if you don’t have all the answers.
It’s no surprise that Kushel is a natural in front of crowds. A former SAG-certified actress and stand-up comedian, she’s now using her stage presence to inspire others. She frequently speaks at Rotary clubs and women’s organizations, including the well-known Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island (WAHHI), where she not only spoke to the large crowd, but dispensed samples to everyone who attended.
“I love being on stage,” she says. “I love sharing my story. If I can help one person say, ‘If she can do it, I can do it,’ then it’s worth it.”
With unstoppable energy, a grassroots team, and a mission that’s bigger than the bottom line, Kushel is building more than a business – she’s building a movement that says, “Start now. Learn as you go. Don’t quit.”
“Whatever you decide to do, do it the best you can,” she said. “You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to believe you can.”
As she continues filling jars, pitching retailers, and expanding Wendala’s reach, it’s clear that belief, and a whole lot of hustle, are taking her exactly where she belongs: onto shelves, into homes, and into hearts across the country.
women in business
Photography by Lisa Staff
Deb Durrant
Moor Spa Hilton Head AR Homes – Blue Ocean Luxury Homes
Describe your business in one sentence.
I lead two very different but deeply connected businesses: Moor Spa Hilton Head, offering holistic Spa treatments and the finest in personalized care for our clients; and AR Homes –Blue Ocean Luxury Homes, where I help bring clients’ dream homes to life through custom design and attention to detail that reflects how they truly want to live.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
I wish I had known how important it is to delegate—and how hard it can be at first! As entrepreneurs, we tend to wear all the hats in the beginning, but growing a business means building a team you trust and letting go of the need to control every detail. It’s also essential to have a strong support system and not be afraid to ask questions, seek mentors, or even fail. Every misstep is a lesson in disguise. Also, keep good records and hire a great accountant from Day One.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Like many women, I’m constantly balancing work, home, family, and personal time. One of the best things I’ve learned is to be fully present wherever I am. If I’m at the spa, I’m all in. If I’m at our model home, I’m focused there. And when I’m home, I make space to just be “Deb”—not the business owner,
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
4 Dunmore Court, Building C, Suite 300 (843) 681-6060
moorspahiltonhead.com
BLUFFTON
880 Fording Island Rd #8 (843) 757-2300
arhomes.com/builder/blue-ocean-luxury-homes-llc
not the decision-maker—just me. Carving out intentional time to recharge has been a game changer. Also, a well-organized calendar and a little grace go a long way.
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
When I’m not working, you can find me doing what I love most: unwinding with a good massage, traveling to enchanting places to experience other walks of life, or spending quality time with my husband, Doug, and our family. I’m also passionate about wellness personally— not just professionally— so I’m always exploring new health trends, reading, or finding quiet moments to restore my own energy.
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
Yes, Michael Beresford, the founder of Moor Spa, was and still is a guiding light for me. He not only taught me the science and benefits of holistic treatments, but also how to bring integrity and care into every part of the guest experience. His advice to “stay authentic to your mission, even when it’s not the easiest path” has kept me grounded through every business decision. Having someone who believes in you and your vision is invaluable.
Give a shout-out to another women-owned local business you admire and support.
Huge shout-out to my friend Alison Melton, a powerhouse real estate broker I’ve had the pleasure of working with for over a decade! Alison brings unmatched energy and vision to everything she does. Her new brokerage is already setting the standard— driven by a team of incredible women and expanding fast. Her passion is contagious, and when she shares a listing, you feel like you’ve struck gold. I’m constantly inspired by her tenacity and leadership. I also want to shout out Birdie James, another amazing women-owned local business I proudly support— talent and heart all the way!
What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work, and how do you overcome them?
In the "natural" spa industry, one of the biggest challenges is staying true to natural holistic approaches to wellness that are grounded in real results. Clients are more educated than ever— they’re looking for both luxury and effectiveness. That means we have to keep innovating without losing the human touch. In custom home building, labor shortages and supply chain issues have added complexity to timelines, so we’ve leaned into transparent communication and setting expectations early with clients. Flexibility, patience, and honest conversations are how we navigate these challenges
Tierra Schaffer
Describe your business in one sentence.
I enthusiastically help clients buy and sell real estate on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, guiding them with expertise, heart, and a deep love for the Lowcountry lifestyle.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
My work and life naturally blend together. Real estate is not just my career, it’s my passion. Many of my clients become close friends, and I genuinely enjoy the hustle and heart that comes with helping people find their place here. My tip: Build a life that energizes you, not one you need a break from. Give a shout-out to another woman-owned local business you admire and support.
Lauree Criss of At Your Service Hilton Head is not only a past client, but also a dear friend and trusted professional. After leaving a successful career in healthcare, and having previously built and sold a business, she launched a home management and luxury concierge service tailored to the needs of second homeowners who do not rent their properties. From routine maintenance and storm prep to vendor coordination and personal concierge requests, Lauree provides customized care with incredible attention to detail. There’s truly nothing she won’t do for her clients, and I trust her completely. Many of my clients become hers after closing, and I know they’re in the best hands. What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work, and how do you overcome them?
The market has shifted. Higher interest rates have made some buyers and sellers hesitant, and days on market have increased. But with higher inventory, buyers finally have more options. Meanwhile, many sellers are still seeing strong returns thanks to years of appreciation. At the end of the day, people are still drawn to Hilton Head for its unmatched lifestyle. I stay focused on educating my clients so they feel empowered to make smart, confident decisions regardless of the market cycle.
lauren Dembeck
Describe your business in one sentence.
BLUFFTON
10 Johnston Way, Suite C (843) 949-8126 brimsonthebluff.com
Brims on the Bluff, a unique and custom hat bar, experience, and more, specializes in bringing out your inner artist and beauty by designing handcrafted hats and stylish accessories for men, women, children, parties, weddings, and corporate groups, both on-site at our Bluffton location or off-site wherever the journey takes us!
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
I wish I knew how much fun we would have creating our designs and hat accessories while growing our brand. Every small business owner aims for profitability, but the journey involves much more than that; it's about personal growth, unleashing creativity, and discovering unique ways to improve not only yourself but also your business, employees, and brand. Brims on the Bluff is incredibly fortunate to have talented and creative stylists and team members who elevate our brand by continuously developing beautiful designs, handmade art for the hats, and innovative methods to keep our guests and clients happy.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you. As much as we all love to hope for plan A, it’s important to have a plan B just in case; however, when that also doesn’t work… You cannot stress about what you can't control. Since embarking on this journey, I’ve adopted a personal motto that reflects my approach to challenges: “Be Go with the Flow, Lo-Lo.” Lo-Lo has been my nickname since childhood, and it serves as a reminder to embrace flexibility and adaptability. By staying open to change and accepting that not everything will go as planned, I can navigate obstacles with a positive mindset and keep moving forward, no matter what comes my way.
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
What is this free time you speak of? Spending time with my wonderful husband and precious daughter will always be my favorite part of the day! However, most of the time, you can find me beading and creating our hat jewelry on the back porch while trying to get some sunshine, boating, or running.
Realtor, Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s
Brims on the Bluff: Hat Bar and Boutique
Sarah Franzen
Host & Home - Chief Revenue Officer
RevZen - Founder/CEO
Describe your business in one sentence.
At Host & Home, I lead revenue and commercial strategy with a focus on aligning profitability and guest experience through data-informed, brand-aligned decision making.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
When I launched my first business 25 years ago, I underestimated the complexity of entrepreneurship. That early experience taught me to expect challenges—and it gave me the resilience I now bring to growing companies like Host & Home.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Over the years, I’ve learned to surround myself with thought partners—mentors, peers, and colleagues who challenge and support me. Rather than focusing on differences, I find success in building shared goals across teams, which is key in a high-growth, fast-paced environment like vacation rentals.
What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work, and how do you overcome them?
In revenue and operations, one of the biggest hurdles is guiding property owners and internal stakeholders away from decision-making based on habit or gut instinct alone. At Host & Home, we blend local intuition with data and market insight to create sustainable growth. It’s not about rushing change—it’s about building trust through transparency, collaboration, and clear results.
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
In the beginning, success looked like financial freedom. Today, as CRO of a thriving company that’s redefining the vacation rental experience in Hilton Head, success is about time freedom—and building a business that lets others have that too.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
2 Greenwood Dr Building A (843) 938-5947
HostHHI.com
Jenny filkins
Realtor, Dunes Real Estate
Dr. Sierra Pollard
Describe your business in one sentence.
Cell:
Professional real estate representation built on strategy, transparency, and a deep commitment to client success.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
I wish I had known just how much success starts in the mind. It’s not just about strategy or hustle—it’s about energy, belief, and emotional resilience. If I had understood earlier how powerful our thoughts are (thank you, Dr. Joe Dispenza) and how vital it is to keep going when it’s hard (Les Brown’s voice rings in my head: “You gotta be hungry!”), I would’ve trusted the process more and stressed a lot less. The truth is, your mindset is either your ceiling or your launchpad—and learning to master that shift changes everything.
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be?
Thank God it Didn’t Work Out – Turning setbacks into strategy.
Like a lot of young entrepreneurs, I’ve hit my fair share of closed doors, unexpected detours, and “this isn’t working” moments. What felt like failures at the time ended up being the push I needed to grow into a more confident, grounded version of myself. For me, building a business hasn’t just been about success, it’s been about resilience, a sense of humor, and learning to find clarity in the chaos. I’ve come to realize that the things that don’t work out are often the biggest blessings in disguise. If I wrote a book, it would be all about that messy middle—where life and career overlap—and how sometimes, letting go of the plan leads to something even better.
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
Jeff Hunt, with Dunes Real Estate has been a mentor of mine for several years. I was lucky enough to work alongside him, and I could write a book on everything he's taught me, both about real estate and life. I think the most resounding message of all is that the hard conversations are the most important to have. Remembering that respect is earned in how we handle the hard moments, not the easy ones.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND & BLUFFTON (843) 321-9324
sierra@winnovationagency.com
womenofthelowcountry.com
Describe your business in one sentence.
Since 2019, Women of the Lowcountry has created a community of women through our Annual Women’s Summit and Membership network, designed to create meaningful friendships, fuel business growth, and connect real opportunities for impact across the Lowcountry.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
That asking for help isn’t a weakness; it’s the foundation of real growth. In the early days of Winnovation Agency, I believed I had to do it all on my own to prove I was capable. But everything changed when I opened the door to collaboration. That mindset shift led to Women of the Lowcountry, a true community of connection where women show up, share honestly, support one another, and grow together. This is where hustle meets heart. Where we celebrate Community Over Competition. What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work, and how do you overcome them?
Learning how to balance the beautiful chaos that comes with living a missiondriven life. My world is a thrilling storm of startups, lectures, mentoring, and book launches, but the spark dims when the hustle outruns the heart. I’m learning to overcome it by choosing what truly matters, creating space to rest, and surrounding myself with people who fuel my fire, not my fatigue.
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
In the beginning, success meant milestones, degrees, titles, launches, accolades. I chased achievement like it was the end goal. But over time, I’ve learned that real success is impact. It’s watching someone I’ve mentored find their voice, start their business, or finally believe in their worth. That’s what fuels me now, seeing others rise. Success today is measured in shared wins, quiet breakthroughs, and the powerful community we’ve built through Women of the Lowcountry.
Dr. Heather Hinshelwood
Fraum Health, Medical Director & Co-owner
Describe your business in one sentence.
Fraum Health is an integrated medical center that helps people avoid surgery, get out of pain, and live an active lifestyle through personalized, physician-led care that blends chiropractic, restorative, and concierge medicine.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
That leadership is more about alignment than control. Coming from a traditional medical background, I was used to clinical systems that prioritized protocols over people. But when you lead a practice like Fraum Health, your team culture, your communication style, and even your hallway conversations shape the patient experience. I’ve learned that you don’t build a practice; you build people, and they build the practice. How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
I’ve embraced the idea that balance is seasonal, not static. Some weeks are all about clinic hours and patient care. Others are about strategy, team development, or just carving out quiet time with my family. The key is staying present with whatever season I’m in and not trying to be everywhere at once. I also prioritize exercise in my calendar weekly to ensure my health is a part of the priority.
What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work – and how do you overcome them?
One challenge is public awareness. Too many people
still believe surgery or medication are the only answers for chronic pain. But the science around non-surgical, regenerative solutions is advancing rapidly. Our biggest opportunity is education, helping patients understand that we can offer long-term relief without invasive procedures. That’s why we host workshops and one-on-one consultations – to show people they have real options.
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
My business partner, Henry Criss, is my greatest mentor in business. He has a gift for turning vision into action and reminding me to lead with clarity. One of the most valuable lessons he taught me is “Your patients aren’t buying a service; they’re trusting a solution.” That shifted how I communicate. Whether I’m explaining treatment plans or guiding our team, I try to meet people where they are and make sure they feel seen, heard, and supported.
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be?
Rooted: A New Model for Modern Medicine. It would be about creating a medical practice that goes deeper, not just treating symptoms, but restoring function and vitality. We’ve built Fraum Health around that belief: that healing is possible, that less invasive is often more effective, and that your health should never feel like a sales pitch. It should feel like a relationship with people who care, listen, and walk with you toward lasting wellness.
kalie Clark
Realtor, Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s
Cell: (843) 505-2765
kalie@danielravenelsir.com
Describe your business in one sentence.
I help people find their dream home on Hilton Head Island by making the process smooth, enjoyable, and stress-free from our first conversation to closing day.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Grace over guilt. While I tend to be a perfectionist, I’ve learned to let go of doing everything perfectly and focus on being fully present – whether I’m with clients, my family, or taking care of myself. I also plan out my week in advance, which helps me stay organized and make space for both my personal life and professional goals.
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
In real estate, I’m never truly off the clock, but when I do get a little downtime, you can usually find me baking something sweet, out on the water, enjoying quality time with family and friends, or squeezing in a good workout. And let’s be honest, I’ll never pass up a little retail therapy!
What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work, and how do you overcome them?
With so much information out there, it can be hard to know who to trust. As I grow my business, building meaningful relationships and earning trust is my top priority. I lead with honesty and go the extra mile to genuinely help everyone I meet — whether or not they’re ready to move now — with no expectations.
Meredith Bannon
Bannon Law Group
Describe your business in one sentence.
From a steal of a home to stealing from a home, the Bannon Law Group has got you covered.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
How absolutely rewarding it would be. Growing a local business helps to create a sense of community and belonging. When times get tough, the community always comes through with a solution.
bannonlawgroup.com
BLUFFTON
10 Westbury Park Way, Suite A (843) 815-4505
POOLER
2201 Pooler Parkway, Suite 200 (912) 239-6610
CHARLESTON
78 Ashley Point Drive, Suite 201 (843) 815-4505
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Delegate, delegate, delegate. Do only things that only you specifically can do. Let others do the rest.
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
Traveling! Seeing this great world we live in is always fun, but the sense of calm that washes over me once I am back in Bluffton is unmatched.
Tisha Chafer & liz acuff
COAST Brokered by eXp Realty
Given what an immediate success COAST Brokered by eXp Realty proved to be on Hilton Head Island, Tisha Chafer and Liz Acuff were facing high expectations when they opened its Bluffton office. Seeing the incredible growth they’ve achieved in the first year, it’s safe to say those expectations were not just met, but shattered.
BLUFFTON
65 Lawrence St. (843) 757-3010 www.coastbluffton.com
“We now have 21 agents in the Bluffton office, so we’ve more than doubled the number of agents in the first year,” Chafer said. “We’ve expanded to serve more buyers and sellers, with agents that are now covering an area from Georgia up to Beaufort.”
They’ve achieved this growth by delivering an exceptional level of service – not just to clients, but to their agents. From a dedicated on-staff videographer to a transaction coordinator, they’ve built the kind of support team that empowers agents to thrive. At COAST Bluffton, new agents also benefit from robust training and mentorship programs provided by Acuff, Chafer, and eXp Realty, ensuring they have the tools, knowledge, and confidence to build a successful career from day one. And, through their popular @LowcountryLivingLifestyle YouTube channel, they’re putting agents in the spotlight by sharing market updates, community insights, Lowcountry events, and more.
“The YouTube channel helps answer a lot of questions that people are seeking answers for,” Acuff said. “It’s a onestop shop where people can find out about the communities and lifestyle we offer here.”
For these two dynamic real estate professionals, building the team was a matter of giving agents the tools they need, the resources they deserve, and the ability to build their own success. But it’s not just a matter of building the team. They have also built a culture that has helped the Bluffton office grow far beyond anyone’s expectations.
“It’s not all work. We like to play, too,” Acuff said. “We just did a May River Educational Tour with Captain Amber on Spartina Marine Education Charters. We did that to educate agents beyond what they might know about Bluffton, and really ingrain them into the areas we represent. We do a lot of that, whether it’s something educational or just taking them out on the cruise.”
The result is a team that’s bound together not just by a logo, but by the common goal they all share.
“Ultimately, we’d love to step out of the role of actively selling and just be supporting and elevating agents into the roles of team leaders,” Chafer said. “Their success is what we’re trying to cultivate.”
In the meantime, they’re in the trenches right alongside their team as they rise to meet a busy market.
“A lot of agents that we’re talking to say the market is slow, but we’ve been incredibly busy so we think it’s all perception,” Acuff said. “Deals are being done. We’ve doubled our listings, doubled our sales, and increased everything exponentially. We’re just looking to keep that momentum going and keep growing.”
Margi rice
COAST Brokered by eXp
AHILTON HEAD ISLAND BLUFFTON BEAUFORT (847) 308-5648
margiricerealtor@gmail.com
nyone who has worked in the hospitality industry knows – it teaches you more about people, humility, and pressure than any classroom ever could.
That’s the boots-on-the-ground education that Margi Rice received in spades as a seasoned veteran of Chicago’s competitive hospitality industry and Hilton Head Island’s fast-paced F&B community. “I worked every position from hostess to bar manager, spending the last two-anda-half years at Quarterdeck,” she said. “Whatever was asked of me, I would never say no. That’s how I worked my way up.”
It’s that hard-earned work ethic and her passion for people that create a dynamic energy in Rice, and that has proven incredibly effective as she transitions into real estate. “It’s not about the transactions. I don’t see the dollar signs in front of me, I see the person in front of me,” she said. “At the end of the day, I care more about the relationship I’m cultivating.”
By putting the client before the sale, she’s found a unique path to success, getting her first client within her first month in the industry. “I’ve talked to a lot of Realtors, and there are people who are in it for years before they get their first listing,” Rice said. “That’s not going to be me. I’m very ambitious. And I’m loving real estate. I have a passion for the things I do, and the common denominator has always been people.”
No matter the industry, Rice has the energy and the outlook to create nothing but the best experiences for the people around her.
Emily Bonvissuto
Coastal Bliss
Describe your business in one sentence.
A women-owned boutique that’s not just about great outfits; it’s a space where young women grow, customers connect, and everyone leaves feeling seen and styled. Did you have a mentor in business? What’s one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
Throughout my 15-year career in retail, I was fortunate to be surrounded by strong, independent women who each taught me
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
38 Shelter Cove Lane, Unit 126 (843) 802-4050 coastalblisshiltonhead.com
something invaluable, whether it was worklife balance, building strong vendor-client relationships, or what it means to have a solid work ethic. From them, I learned that there are a hundred ways to reach your goals, and you just have to find the path that works best for you. What specific challenges are you seeing in your line of work and how do you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges is wanting to be everywhere at once. As a small business with just one storefront, there’s so much we’d love to be involved in within the community, but we have to be intentional with our time and energy. We focus on the causes and events that align with our values, further our goals, and allow us to make the biggest impact both for our business and the people we serve.
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be?
Building Style, Creating Connections
alex Husner
Host & Home - Chief Marketing Officer Directly Alex - Founder/CEO
Describe your business in one sentence.
At Host & Home, we provide exceptional vacation rental experiences with a local, personalized touch, while through Directly Alex, I offer strategic marketing consulting to help vacation rental and hospitality companies grow smarter and more sustainably.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
I wish I had known that it’s not only OK to not have everything figured out at the start, but that it’s actually part of the process. Clarity comes from action, not just planning. Every step builds confidence.
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
Yes. Roy Clyburn played a pivotal role in shaping my career. He helped me build confidence in my own voice and abilities, encouraged me to think beyond the day-today and focus on long-term strategy, and he showed me how powerful the right partnerships can be in growing a successful business. His guidance continues to influence how I lead and make decisions today.
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
At the beginning, success meant replacing my corporate income and proving I could go out on my own. Now, success means building a business that supports my lifestyle, allows me to work with people I admire, and helps others realize their own potential.
Frederika Feketé
Jackie Mathisen
Coastal Therapy Group
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
1000 William Hilton Pkwy., Ste. J6 (843) 842-5282
SAVANNAH 420 E Broughton Street (912) 298-5282
javaburrito.com · @javaburritocompany
Describe your business in one sentence. Your local fast casual Mexican eatery and coffeehouse, preparing fresh foods using traditional methods daily.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Juggling everything as a woman is not easy! I’m not sure how well I juggle it all. Some days are better than others. Grateful to have an incredible staff and my wonderful husband as my business partner.
My one tip would be to put everything into a calendar on your phone. That’s the only way we juggle well around here!
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time? I spend most of my free time with my kids and my dog. If there’s time left over, I love playing golf and tennis. The island is such a great place to spend time outdoors.
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be? Life Lessons I Learned in The Restaurant Industry, And Other Things You Never Thought You’d Say. ;)
ABLUFFTON
169 Bluffton Road (843) 779-9737
coastaltherapygrp.com
good therapist knows when to listen. A great therapist knows that sometimes the best thing for a patient is the honest truth. As a therapist who styles herself as an “accountability partner,”
Jackie Mathisen is a huge proponent of honesty.
“Of course, I’m gentle, accommodating, and compassionate, but sometimes bluntness and directness can come from a place of compassion,” Mathisen said. “I’m not trying to waste anyone’s time or energy. I’m not going to let someone flounder around for the answer when I can tell them and offer them my guidance. Then we can work together to solve it and figure it out.”
Having earned a Master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, she marries her naturally direct style with empirically supported approaches such as CBT, internal family systems, and attachment theory. Writing in her bio, she said, “If I see something, I’m going to say something; I don’t believe in gatekeeping. My role as your therapist is to equip you with evidence-based knowledge and skills that change the way you think and behave. I will be your personal hype-girl, helping you regain confidence and repel toxicity.”
As such, she has a few words of guidance for her fellow women in business: “It’s OK to be career oriented and not lose yourself. It’s important to maintain a sense of self, a good ego concept,” she said. “Know who you are. Work hard for the things that you want. Be able to provide for your family and also be present for yourself. You can do both in a ratio that feels good for you.”
Java Burrito Company
Cindy Creamer
Cindy Creamer Realtor
Describe your business in one sentence.
I help people through one of life’s biggest transitions, whether they’re buying or selling a home, with a steady hand, a clear plan, and as stress-free as possible. With nearly two decades of experience and a heart for advocacy, I’m here to guide, support, and speak up not just for my clients, but for the future of homeownership in our community. What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
That success isn’t a finish line, it’s a rhythm. You don’t arrive once and for all; you find your stride, and you learn how to work with the market, your mindset, and your values.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND & BLUFFTON (843) 298-2356
cindy@cindycreamer.com cindycreamer.com
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
My calendar is my lifeline. I block time for everything that matters – family, clients, creative work, even quiet thinking space. That simple habit gives me the freedom to show up fully wherever I am.
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
You’ll find me with my family out on the water, around a table filled with great food and even better conversation, or chasing after my grandsons (the best kind of joy and chaos!).
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
I did, and they taught me the kind of listening that changes everything. It’s not just about hearing words, it’s about tuning into what’s underneath them. That one skill has shaped every relationship in my business. Give a shout-out to another women-owned local business you admire and support.
There’s something magical about walking into a place where you’re not just seen, but you’re celebrated. Kim and Roxanne and all the ladies of Shop boutique have created that kind of magic! Whether it’s a big event or just a day you need a little boost, they know how to help you find the outfit that makes you feel like your best self. They don’t just sell clothes, they style confidence, grace, and joy into every look. I’m so grateful for the way they lift me up and every woman who walks through their door. Here’s to women supporting women – and looking fabulous while doing it. What challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work and how do you overcome them?
In a market where uncertainty is the norm, people are looking for someone who can help them feel steady and informed. I always bring up-to-date information, strategy, and real talk, so my clients have a clear understanding. They feel empowered, and ready to move forward with confidence. If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be?
Keys, Confidence & Connection: How Real Estate Became My Calling – because that is what it’s about for me. Not just homes, but heart.
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
Early on, success looked like numbers and milestones, closings, awards, volume. These days, it looks like alignment: Doing work I love with people I enjoy working with and living a life that feels both full and meaningful. Staying present for the moments that matter, and using my voice to advocate for homebuyers, sellers, and Realtors at a local, state, and national level. Building relationships, mentoring future leaders, and shaping the future of our industry – that’s the kind of impact that lasts far beyond a single transaction.
Tatiana ramirez
Ivonel Art
What Tatiana Ramirez does is so much more than just putting balloons together. It’s more than just air and latex. In her capable hands, each balloon serves as the stroke of a brush, harmoniously arranging themselves into freestanding works of art that have the capacity to uplift and astonish.
“I love making people happy, just making their day,” said Ramirez. “I want to create emotions in people. Even if it’s for something like a corporate event, I want them to remember the event because of that display.”
Tracy Moss
The Haven Boutique
HITLON HEAD ISLAND
114 Marsh Point · (843) 415-4535 ivonelballoonart.com
And like an artist dabbling in different genres, her works take on an array of inspiring forms. Soaring arches, freestanding frescos of balloon animals, towering floral designs, mosaics, sculptures and so much more. Adding gorgeous detail to each piece are the intricate works she creates through the art of ballon twisting, coaxing her medium into gorgeously complex shapes. Like the flamingo and palm tree display you can find currently at the Hilton Head Library, which was crafted for a client’s family celebration, and then donated (as are many of her designs when completed). But her works of art have made their way into places all over the Lowcountry.
“I’ve done a few for the Seahawk Theater company themed around their shows – The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia, Alice Vs. Wonderland… I just need a theme,” she said. “And then I get in with the balloon twisting and details to make everything really stand out.”
Art is in the eye of the beholder. And anyone who sees Ramirez’s colorful masterpiece seems to share the same sense of joy. “I have a 6 year old daughter and she was asking me, ‘What do you like to do besides making people happy?’ I thought that was so sweet because that’s how she sees me.”
See amazing examples of Titiana’s work by following her on Instagram @ivonelart.
FBLUFFTON
6 State of Mind Street @ thehavenboutiquebluffton (843) 707-9198
or six years, Tracy Moss has been setting the trend for Lowcountry style at her boutique, The Haven. Like the community that surrounds the shop, her aesthetic is one of laid-back beauty, a blend of denim and linen across lines that are as ready for a day on the boat as they are a night on the town.
“I just want it to be the approachable boutique. I hate when I walk into a store and can’t afford anything,” Moss said. “I’ve always wanted this to be the place where you can find that perfect outfit no matter who you are. I feel like I’ve done my job when I can sell to a young lady, her mom, and her grandma.”
Hers is a collection meticulously cultivated from quarterly trips to market at Atlanta, regular side trips to whichever market is catching her eye, and deep relationships she’s built with vendors.
“When I go to market, I’ll just see something and get really excited. I know it when I see it,” she said. “I want to offer something that no one else has.”
This constant excitement for the next great look, mixed with the steady patronage of local and tourist regulars, means there’s always something new at The Haven.
“I have someone who does my window displays on a weekly basis, but I’m always moving things around to make it look fresh,” said Moss. “Every day I try and find some new way to approach the boutique.”
That fresh, vibrant approach has created a place where your new style is always waiting for you.
kelly ruhlin & kim McElman
Harbour & Home Real Estate
Where Visionary Women Are Redefining the Luxury Real Estate Landscape
As leading agents at Harbour & Home Real Estate, two powerhouse women, Kim McElman and Kelly Ruhlin, are charting a different course at this boutique firm headquartered on Hilton Head Island. They are proving that independence, innovation, and elevated service are the standards in luxury real estate.
At the helm of this transformation is Maureen Richards, Marketing Director, who brings decades of experience and a sharp understanding of branding and luxury positioning.
Harbour & Home Real Estate was born from the belief that agents don’t need a corporate label to lead in today’s market; they do need strong leadership, targeted marketing, white-glove support, and a brand that truly resonates with their clientele. With a curated approach and a deep understanding of the Lowcountry lifestyle, this firm is attracting discerning buyers and sellers from across the country and empowering top agents to build their own brand identities under a trusted umbrella.
“Everything we do is intentional,” Richards said. “From our luxury aesthetic and marketing tools to the way we connect
with relocation clients, second-home buyers, and investors, it’s all designed to deliver results at the highest level.”
Both McElman and Ruhlin exemplify what Harbour & Home stands for: savvy, service-driven professionals who believe in high standards. They have cultivated loyal followings by focusing on what matters most: authentic connections, local market intelligence, and delivering a seamless client experience.
“To give my clients the highest level of service and support, I need to be in a place where the focus is truly on them,” McElman said. “At Harbour & Home Real Estate, there’s a refreshing spirit of collaboration and a culture where everyone, from clients, agents, and staff, has a voice. That kind of environment creates an energy that’s not only professional, but genuinely uplifting and successful for all involved.”
“By stepping away from a franchise, we now have the freedom to focus our energy and resources where they matter most, directly on our clients,” Ruhlin said. “We’re making intentional decisions about how and where to invest, ensuring every dollar supports our local market and enhances the service we provide. It’s all about delivering a higher level of care and expertise, with purpose.”
As the Lowcountry continues to evolve and attract buyers seeking both luxury and lifestyle, Harbour & Home Real Estate is right where it belongs … leading the way.
Chef lynn Michelle
Rose Colored Glasses
Describe your business in one sentence.
For the love of people, cooking, music, and passions are Team Chef Lynn Michelle.
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
I’m enjoying my single life and rediscovering life again.
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be?
Don’t Burn The Biscuits!
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
At the beginning, my Nanny’s advice was that if I had five extra dollars to spend on whatever I wanted after all of my bills were paid, that was success. Now? After all of my bills are paid, I’m lucky to have $5 to save.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
cheflynnmichelle.com (843) 422-5480
letseat@cheflynnmichelle.com
Nikki Petitt
Seaglass Windowscapes
For years, Nikki Petitt had worked alongside her husband Morgan, as the two of them built Savannah Blinds into the Coastal Empire’s top source for window treatments, awnings and storm protection. But when they decided to bring their empire across the Savannah River
into the Lowcountry, Nikki decided it was time for her to branch out and build something on her own. “I've always believed in standing by your husband, but not behind him,” she said with a laugh.
With the full support of her husband, she opened Seaglass Windowscapes. The name is an echo of what makes this new venture her own. Just as no two pieces of Seaglass are alike, no two offerings are the same. Built around the same business model of offering high-quality window treatments, awnings, storm protection, and more, Seaglass Windowscapes customizes each design to create something unique for every project.
Inside, outside, and above each window, they offer endless possibilities for giving your home its own distinctive style. The name is a reflection of the marvelous customization that Seaglass can offer, but the business itself represents Nikki making her unique mark on the industry. “It was a proud moment when the new store opened,” she said. “You always want something you can call your own.”
Jillian atkinson & Jordan Brimacomb
Moonlit Lullaby and Wildflower Girls
Boutique style, bold spirit, and a community that grows with your girl.
From the very beginning, Wildflower Girls has been more than a boutique. It has been a space where girls can express themselves, explore their style, and feel seen. We opened our doors with one mission: To give our daughters (and yours!) a shopping experience as bold, bright, and beautiful as they are. And wow, what an incredible year it’s been!
BLUFFTON
55 Bridge Street (843) 837-6666
BLUFFTON
54 Bridge Street, Unit 102 (843) 707-4343
It was a natural progression for Jillian Atkinson, owner of Moonlit Lullaby, a long-loved boutique filled with adorable clothing, toys, and gifts for babies and toddlers. “I’ve had Moonlit Lullaby for seven years, and our core customers were aging out of it,” Atkinson said. “I have seen some of these girls grow from newborn to now and the fact that I still get to share this next chapter with them is absolutely amazing.”
So, Wildflower Girls was born – to give those same girls a place that grows with them.
Atkinson and Jordan Brimacomb, co-founders of Wildflower Girls, saw a gap in the local shopping scene. There were endless options for adults, and adorable finds for toddlers (hello, Moonlit Lullaby!), but nothing for that in-between stage. “Our daughters are firecrackers with their own style,” said Brimacomb. “They needed a place that reflected that.”
Wildflower Girls filled that space, with curated fashion, fun finds, and unforgettable experiences designed just for tweens.
In the store, shoppers will find stylish apparel for sizes 6-18, a beauty bar filled with all your tween must-haves, a hands-on charm bar, and a fun patch station to customize hats, bags and more. On top of all that, there is is plenty of Taylor Swift merch (yes, she’s here in spirit!).
All of it is designed to give tweens the experience of a lifetime.
Atkinson and Brimacomb created Wildflower Girls with more than shopping in mind. Their goal? To build a space where connection flourishes. From flower workshops to pop-ups with local businesses, their events have become meaningful moments where friendships form and confidence blooms. “These girls are finding community,” Atkinson said. “And that’s something we’re so proud to be a part of.”
Atkinson and Brimacomb invite the community to celebrate with them August 23 for their First Birthday Bash. It promises to be their biggest celebration yet, with birthday fun, special surprises, and the launch of their very own Wildflower Girls apparel line.
“Whether your girl has shopped with us before or it’s her first visit, she’s always welcome in the Wildflower family,” Brimacomb said. “We hope to see you all soon!”
ashley Douglas
Paws on Learning
Dr. ravina Balchandani
SHILTON HEAD ISLAND
4 Hunter Road (603) 540-2614
pawsonlearning.com
ince opening Paws on Learning, Ashley Douglas has done far more than just help pet owners interact better with their canine companions. She has built an entire community of dog lovers, with herself at the center of a network of support that stretches across all of her clients. Together, these owners are lending their assistance to one another, leaning on the community to help improve the relationships between human and dog.
In the coming year, Douglas is looking to take that community she’s built and add new opportunities for animal lovers to join in.
“Along with the daycare for trained dogs, Fetch Some Fun Fridays, and our Pre-K College Obedience programs, I’ve been opening up our group classes at Jarvis Creek Park to the public,” Douglas said. “So, if you have a mostly behaved dog and haven’t been out to our facility, you can get a feel for what we do.”
Those classes at Jarvis Creek Park are donation-based, with proceeds split between instructors and a rotating list of dog-centered nonprofit organizations. It’s a dedication to community that Douglas looks to build on in the coming year.
“I’m hoping to attend This Able Veteran in October; it's a school where I will learn service dog training specifically for veterans with PTSD,” she said. “I’ve fielded a lot of inquiries about service dog training for veterans and feel there’s a need for educated trainers in our area to help retired veterans.”
Douglas will also add doggy summer camp to Paws on Learning’s offerings, giving visitors a place to keep their furry friend for the day while they’re at the beach or on the course. “I’m always trying to provide opportunities for current and future clients such as events, workshops, and specialized classes to keep everyone current in best training practices.”
Describe your business in one sentence.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
35 Hospital Center Commons, Suite 101
BLUFFTON 14 Westbury Park, Suite 103 (843) 682-4673 (HOPE) heartassociateofhiltonhead.com
I have a cardiology practice where I support my patients in getting better, and staying better, through care that is personalized, precise, and grounded in long-term wellbeing.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Women are expected to hold it all, but nobody tells you that it takes a village. The only way I have been able to overcome everything and do all that I do is because of my village – my family. From my father pushing me to be a doctor, to my parents coming all the way from India to help raise my daughter while I was doing my residency, to my daughter and husband helping me, not only around the house but in their own ways in the practice, I could not do this without all of the incredible support and backing of each of them. When you walk into Heart Associate of Hilton Head you may see me, but this business was built by family support.
Give a shout-out to another women-owned local business you admire and support. Island Financial! Tammy Novak, the owner of the company, has been beside me helping my business grow since the beginning and is so deeply dedicated to what she does.
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
At the beginning of starting my business, success was just getting the basics down, and the business off the ground. It was me and two other women and we just had to take everything step by step to keep moving forward. Sure, there were big plans and hopes for the practice, but some days it took everything just to take the next step. That was success, and to be honest it’s not far off from my definition of success today – even in the moments when work can be overwhelming and stressful, I just remind myself that all I need to do is take the next right step, and I will have succeeded.
Heart Associate of Hilton Head,
Danielle Young
HHI Builders
Since co-founding HHI Builders in 2018 with her husband, Steve, Danielle Young has helped shape the company into one of Hilton Head Island’s premier design/build remodeling firms. What began as a side project –renovating and furnishing a few investment properties – quickly grew into a thriving business when others took notice of their craftsmanship.
“People saw the detail in our early properties and started asking if we’d take on their homes,” Young said. “One referral led to another, and before we knew it, we were back in residential remodeling – where Steve started years ago.”
Drawing on his deep experience in both residential and commercial construction and her knack for operations and client engagement, HHI Builders built its reputation around integrity, precision, and process. Their growth has been rooted in clear communication and a thoughtful design/build approach: an early-planning methodology that allows clients to avoid costly surprises and enjoy a smoother, more predictable project from start to finish.
“We’ve even made a promise with our No Change Order Guarantee,” Young said. “If clients follow our process, they don’t get hit with unexpected costs. That peace of mind is everything.”
While Steve laid the foundation, Danielle keeps the business running day to day. Whether she’s guiding clients through design meetings, managing internal teams, or attending walk-throughs, her fingerprints are on every phase of the process.
“I’m not always the good cop,” she laughed. “But I make sure our team has what they need and our clients feel confident every step of the way.”
Colleagues describe Young as the glue that holds everything together – equal parts leader, mentor, and motivator. “Some days I feel like the mother hen; other days it’s like I have a lot of little brothers,” she joked. “We’re a family. We spend more time with our team than anyone else, and it matters to me that they love what they do.”
Young believes the secret to success isn’t doing everything yourself; it’s hiring people who are smarter than you. “We’ve built our team intentionally,” she said. “Everyone brings something to the table, and that’s how we keep getting better.”
That philosophy has fueled the firm’s growth, including an expansion to a new headquarters planned for early 2026. But for Young, it’s not just about building beautiful spaces – it’s about building community.
A Hilton Head Island native, she is committed to giving back to her community. “We’ve partnered with organizations like Deep Well to help families who are struggling,” she said. “I grew up here, and I want to make sure we’re helping our neighbors, not just remodeling homes.”
From polished renovations to community outreach, Young remains the driving force behind HHI Builders – blending professionalism, purpose, and people-first leadership into everything the company builds.
Photography by Jevon Daly
STHE LADIES OF CH2/CB2 MAGAZINE
Kandace Cunningham, Kim Crouch, Maggie Washo, Morgan O'Banion - Ambler and Catherine Davies
ince September of 2006, the women of CH2 have been delivering light-hearted, communityfocused content to Lowcountry residents. While occasionally the staff includes a guy or two, the team has primarily been women, right from the start. Behind the scenes, you’ll find the owner, Bonnie Lowrey, who has been a champion of women in the workplace for decades in a multitude of her businesses. The CFO, Mame Bowser, takes care of the most important part — things you don’t see that are key to a successful business venture.
At the helm is Maggie Washo, content-creating maniac, staff photographer, and social media maestro. She moved here in 1992 and (to quote local podcaster Heather Rath), is a “rabid” supporter of all things Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. As a former New Yorker, she literally cannot slow down and thinks August in the South is akin to living in Hell. It’s OK though, because pumpkin spice season is right around the corner. When not producing pages for CH2/CB2 or videos for social, Washo can be found loving on a variety of poodle-doodles, Berners and the like, or escaping to Disney World with her mouse ears.
Kim Crouch joined the team in 2012 and has been a superhero of sales ever since. Crouch grew up on Hilton Head Island, and we challenge you to name a person she hasn’t met or isn’t friends with. Her duties include making connections with clients and organizing as many social events as one can manage within a week. If you run into Crouch during the summer months, you’ll probably see her with her mini-me, Palmer, who is an excellent assistant on CH2 photoshoots. When fall arrives, she'll be enjoying USC football games with her son Jackson, who attends college there.
Catherine Davies is quietly behind the scenes making our layouts pop with creativity and intention. Davies has been part of the “cut and paste crew” since joining the magazine in 2009. Occasionally she can be coaxed in front of the camera and has appeared in multiple ad campaigns for Palmettoes and fashion spreads. Her quirky
sense of humor and general good nature has earned her the nickname of “Sunny,” and, when not working in an Adobe Suite app, she can be found training for some ridiculous race. Her current goal is her fifth 100 mile buckle - so get out the way!
Morgan O’Banion-Ambler was part of the team when the magazine started almost 20 years ago. After a brief hiatus, O'Banion - Ambler returned to be a CH2 girl in 2020. A bright, bubbly personality, she excels at making new friends and taking care of her clients. When not selling ads, O’Banion-Ambler can be found running on the Cross Island Parkway, or driving her daughter Harper to travel volleyball and Rising Tide Tournaments.
Kandace Cunningham is the other former New Yorker on the team — a transplant who found her way south and decided to stay a spell. In 2013, when CH2 held its first Bachelorette of the Year contest, Cunningham was nominated. While she didn’t win the title, she did win a career and has been with the team as a caring client rep for over 12 years now. She recently added the role of CH2 stylist to her resume, and when not working you can find her hanging out with her hubby, Ross, and canine kiddos, Rebel and Dakota, while golf-carting around Bluffton. She’s a social animal and can often be found supporting new local companies, and attending business events after hours.
Although not everyone is pictured here, we cannot leave out the women who contribute to this magazine on a monthly basis. Lynne Hummell makes sure our i’s are dotted and our t’s are crossed; we are so grateful for her attention to detail when editing the pieces and parts along the way. She is also one hell of a writer when she has time.
We also want to give a shout-out to our regular contributors Cheryl Ricer, Courtney Hampson, Heather Quinn and Sheila Tucker. Every one of these ladies helps us to produce a magazine of which we are extremely proud.
Carolyn Baltz
Amigos Cafe Y Cantina
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Juggling is so important when running a restaurant, but being strong and independent are the skills that I think have helped make each of my days successful. It hasn’t always been easy but knowing when to ask for help is something that I have gotten good at doing. A tip for other businesswomen
Carrie Conway
HITLON HEAD ISLAND
70 Pope Avenue, Unit I (843) 785-8226
amigoscafehhi.com
would be to surround yourself with people that care and work hard. I love what I do and getting to work with my amazing co-workers and sharing our food with loyal customers makes me happy.
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
When not working, I enjoy spending time in my new home with my dogs. I also love to travel with my friends and family.
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
Pierce Lowery was my mentor. I worked for him, and then he helped and advised me when I opened my first restaurant, Market Street Café. Pierce was a wonderful man, and I will forever be grateful for his guidance and support.
Give a shout-out to another women-owned local business you admire and support.
Shout out to my good friends Lauren Jordan and Tracy Wilson, who own Cactus Street Cantina in Main Street Village.
FHILTON HEAD ISLAND
84D Beach City Rd.
BLUFFTON 4371 Bluffton Pkwy Ste. 105
coastalgymnasticscenter.com (843) 836-2411
or eight years, Carrie Conway has been slowly but surely building something truly special at Coastal Gymnastics. Perhaps the most important thing she’s built is a tight-knit community of young kids who have grown up in her classes, first toddling their way through the basics then, over the years, shining their light on the stage.
But along with that community, she’s built a pair of gymnastic schools par excellence, with students regularly taking home accolades in state and regional competitions.
“We’ll be open eight years in August, and I really feel like we’ve hit our stride recently,” Conway said. “It takes a long time to really develop a winning program. Some of these kids winning state championships have been with us since they were 4 years old. Now they’re developed, and I feel like a lot of credit goes to the best coaching staff in the area.”
Those coaches have led their students to glory, with their Level 6 team finishing third in the state this past season, and nine students qualifying for regionals between the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton schools. And they’re just getting started. As Coastal Gymnastics continues to grow, the success of these students will help drive the next generation of champions.
“Our first six years were really focused on creating a strong recreational program for the kids who just want to try it out and see if gymnastics is for them,” Conway said. “But now these kids are seeing what the bigger kids are doing, and it’s inspiring them.”
This tight-knit community that Coastal Gymnastics has created isn’t just about kids enjoying gymnastics. It’s about young competitors lifting up the students below them, pushing everyone toward greatness.
Franny
Gerthoffer
Hilton Head Humane Association
It’s hard to put into words exactly how much the Hilton Head Humane Association has done for our community – not just its animals, but its people. They have opened their doors to some of the Lowcountry’s most adorable, adoptable animals, giving them love, care, and shelter while they wait for their forever home. They also have helped ease the financial burden for their owners, shouldering the costs of medical bills, specialty foods, and other needs so no one has to give up a furry family member
HILTON HEAD ISLAND 10 Humane Way (843) 681-8686 hhhumane.org
just because they’ve fallen on hard times. They have provided no-cost spaying and neutering for countless animals. And they have served as matchmaker for countless pet owners and the furry friends they meet through the organization.
At the center of this unstoppable force for good, you’ll find Franny Gerthoffer. As the long-time executive director for Hilton Head Humane, she has served as a champion for animals of all kinds and steered the organization through tremendous growth. Yet in true humility, Gerthoffer is quick to deflect praise, pointing instead to her team, the volunteers, and the community who make the mission possible.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called various veterinary offices, trainers, groomers, local businesses, and boarding facilities for help, and they never say ‘no.’ I’ve spent 20 plus years building those relationships, and I’m almost more of a go-between where this organization can utilize those connections and help other people,” she said.
The relationships she has built have created an iron-clad support structure around Hilton Head Humane. But once again, Gerthoffer sees the good work of others as the true driving force of the organization.
“My team here works harder than people who make four times what they make. They don’t have a clock or a calendar because animal care is 24/7. I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate them,” Gerthoffer said. “They come in early, and they leave late, because they just want to make sure the animals are well taken care of. That same spirit of selflessness extends to HHHA volunteers, who serve across the organization – from the shelter to The Litter Box Thrift Store, Litter Box eBay, and the Spay/ Neuter Clinic. Their dedication forms the backbone of HHHA’s success.
Always deferring credit, Gerthoffer knows full well those employees and volunteers don’t do it for her. “These guys love the animals. And the animals love them back. If you could see this place in the morning, how the animals react to everyone coming in, it’s joyful,” she said.
As she reflects on her years of service, Gerthoffer’s gratitude is palpable. “I’m so grateful for them and I don’t think I tell them enough. Without the people who support us, and the community support we get, we could never do this.”
Dr. Theresa roman
Balanced Wellness - Clinical Psychologist
RIDGELAND
3297 Argent Blvd. Suite 102 balanced-wellness.org (843)-212-6651
Describe your business in one sentence.
Balanced Wellness is a women-centered therapy practice providing compassionate mental health support for every season of a woman’s life, with specialized care in maternal mental health, fertility and postpartum care, and relationships.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Honestly, I’ve learned that I can’t do it all at once – and that’s OK. One thing that has really helped me is giving myself permission to ask for help and not feeling guilty about it. Whether it’s leaning on my partner, delegating at work, or letting go of perfection at home, embracing support has made all the difference.
Give a shout-out to another women-owned local business you admire and support.
I would like to give a shout out to Jes Petit of Mama Life Oils and Wellness, an inspiring woman-owned business that not only promotes natural wellness but also uplifts and encourages fellow entrepreneurs with genuine support and heart.
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
In the beginning, I defined success by how busy I was – full schedules, a packed calendar, and hitting external milestones. Now, success looks very different. It’s about alignment, impact, and sustainability – creating a business that supports my well-being, allows me to serve with purpose, and leaves space for the people and moments that matter most.
BLUFFTON
1254 Fording Island Road, Suite 284 Tanger Outlet 1 HHI (843) 706-2355 Tanger.com BEAUFORT 809 Bay Street (843) 379-2355 beaufortbelle.com
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
I wish I would have known to not listen to the naysayers, including some people I’m close to. They can get in your head a bit and cause some doubt. Although they typically mean well, I don’t think most people can envision a concept and its great potential. I think that is scary for a lot of people who don’t have the risk tolerance necessary to dream big and go for it!
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
I literally “work” seven days a week. Not all day, every day, but I touch my business every single day. I’m a mama of six and and Mimi to seven already, so I have a very full life. The trick is that I don’t even try to strike a balance. I learned not to do that a long time ago – it’s impossible. I know to accomplish my goals, I have to super dig in at certain times during the year to make everything happen for my family and my business. It’s true that if you really love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.
Give a shout-out to another women-owned local business you admire and support. I so admire Nan Sutton of Lulu Burgess in Beaufort. She is celebrating her 25th year in business, which is so admirable. Her shop is so unique, quirky, and incredibly fun to shop and support!
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be? Ahh, I’d totally love to write a book about my business: Business Is Like Hosting A Cocktail Party. Cheerio!
Beaufort Belle
Meredith Taylor
Describe your business in one sentence.
Gifted is an award-winning gift shop with a curated assortment of quality gifts for any occasion, at outstanding price points.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
Luckily, I had been a buyer for a corporate chain before owning Gifted, so I knew the ins and out of retail. And, luckily, I have a passion for the gift industry ... it makes people happy. That’s a good thing, as running a store is all encompassing. It’s pretty much a 24/7 job.
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
I have a lot of interests – cooking, gardening (I have a 45-yearold hibiscus plant that was my first plant at my first apartment, and it’s still going strong), volunteering. My favorite things though are my dogs – they truly are my fur babies.
What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work, and how do you overcome them?
Right now, the gift industry is in flux. So much is imported, and the supply chain is a bit mixed up. Several of my favorite vendors have just gone out of business. I’m trying to project needs and buy enough inventory to last through the holiday season, but that’s the thing about retail – things are always changing. Flexibility and quick decision-making are key.
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
One of the proudest moments in my retail career was when Gifted was voted Favorite New Business on the island. We opened in July and the voting was in September, so after only two months we were selected. Then, winning Favorite Gift Store every year after
that was just amazing. Now, though, I am really trying to give back. I feel so blessed with a wonderful business, great customers, and a super staff that I really want to try to make a difference. I’ve always supported local charities, but have recently started doing Give Back Days, where I donate 100% of my total sales (not profit, total sales) for a day. In two events, I was able to donate more than $19,000 to Samaritan’s Purse for Hurricane Helene Relief, and to Palmetto Animal League for Emergency Puppy Relief. That’s really my focus now.
Are there any charitable organizations in our area that you enjoy supporting?
There are so many great charities here in the Lowcountry. That’s one thing I love about living here – everyone is so involved in trying to help. Through my involvement with Wine Down Wednesday here in the Village, we’ve been able to support Meals on Wheels, Second Helpings, Pockets Full of Sunshine, and Sea Turtle Patrol, to name a few. But my biggest passion is with animal rescue. We’ll have Mutts & Margs in October benefiting Hilton Head Humane, I just did a Give Back Day for PAL, and I am an active volunteer at Colleton County’s shelter. It’s a rural shelter often overlooked, but they are such caring people and have so many great dogs. I’ll have another Give Back Day in September also.
When it comes to buying, selling, and staging in the Lowcountry, Alyssa Graves and Holly Blocker are your ultimate one-stop shop.
As agents with COAST Brokered by eXp Realty, the duo offers a full-service experience that blends local expertise, professional staging, and real estate strategy – all under one roof.
Graves, a proud Lowcountry native, brings deep roots and unmatched insight into Hilton Head, Bluffton, and the surrounding areas. Her clients count on her to not only find the perfect home, but to guide them into the lifestyle they’ve been dreaming of.
Blocker, long recognized for her sought-after eye for design and the success of Blue Palm Home Staging, has expanded her business to include real estate. Now, her clients benefit from her talent in both preparing homes for market and navigating the sale from start to finish. It’s more than staging — it’s strategy, marketing, and negotiation all rolled into one service.
Together, they streamline the process from start to finish. Listing your home? Blocker will stage it to stand out, and both will market and negotiate with precision. Buying? Graves and Blocker will help you find “the one” and envision its full potential.
With hustle, heart, and an eye for design, this powerhouse team is redefining what it means to work with real estate professionals. Their clients don’t have to juggle multiple vendors, because when you hire Graves and Blocker, everything you need is in one place.
regina Banis
Attorney at Law
Having practiced law since 1994, Regina Banis is all the things you would expect in a seasoned attorney: experienced, knowledgeable, and painstakingly thorough. She’s also so many of the things that you might not expect in a seasoned attorney, although maybe you should: compassionate, caring, and unmistakably human.
“I run my office like it’s an extension of my home. I’m a hugger and a
BLUFFTON
181 Bluffton Road, Suite F-202 (843) 757-5500
reginabanis.com
comforter. My shoes will be off,” Banis said. “And if you cry, you’re definitely getting a hug.”
That’s obviously not the goal, but when you’re dealing with particularly thorny legal issues, particularly in a family law case, crying can happen. More than a simple legal exchange, this is a client’s life on the line and that’s something Banis never loses sight of.
“I’m the oldest of five kids, and there is 19 years between me and the youngest, so I grew up taking care of everybody,” she said. “I’m dealing with people who are under stress, so it’s important to give them grace. I’ve told my clients for 25 years, ‘Don’t worry until I tell you it’s time to worry. Until then, live your life.”
Hers is a uniquely human approach to the law – one built on decades of legal expertise, but crafted with the utmost empathy for what clients are going through.
“I do my best to alleviate as much of the stress from the situation as possible,” she said.
Whether that is the unpredictability of a real estate closing or the personal stakes of a family law case, she’s there to provide every sort of support she can. Including, if need be, a good hug.
Heather Venrick
SouthState Investment Services
Heather Venrick, senior vice president and financial consultant at SouthState Investment Services, sees her duties to her clients as far more than just the obligations of professionalism. They are the result of value instilled in from an early age.
“I tell my clients frequently that being the daughter of two bankers, I understand and appreciate how hard-earned their money is. They’re creating a legacy. I’m just a tool to get them from point A to point B,” she said.
As a financial fiduciary, she has elevated the art of customer care when it comes to doing whatever it takes for her clients. And her clients
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
100 Exchange Street, Suite 100 (843) 342-9690
southstatebank.com
have responded with unheard of loyalty, with three generations of several families all depending on her guidance. As a member of SouthState’s local team, celebrating 22 years there this past April, she is given the tools she needs to make that happen.
“I fully believe in the core values of SouthState. From leadership on down, the message is the same: The client comes first. Everything else works out from there,” she said. “And there’s a huge support structure, whether it’s our in-house compliance officer or another advisor elsewhere in the company we can reach out to. It’s a huge amount of support that we complement with truly local service.”
True to her ethics, this Leadership Hilton Head Island-Bluffton graduate takes the same care of her community as she does her clients. She previously served on the board for Zonta and the Clara Barton committee of the American Red Cross, and constantly gives her support to organizations like Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry.
“I believe in giving back to the community,” she said. “This is where I work and where I met the love of my life, Scott. For someone who was married to my career, he came along and surprised me.”
amanda Ellis & Jessica lowther
Beautique Medical Aesthetics
IBLUFFTON
25 Minetta Lane, No. 106 (843) 227-5501
thebeautiquebluffton.com
f there’s one thing that the health and beauty experts at Beautique Medical Aesthetics have proven since opening their doors, it’s that beauty is far more than skin deep. It’s a feeling that comes from deep within, a confidence that radiates through, highlighting every feature just perfectly. Because that beauty comes from within, it is different for everyone.
“We are very customizable,” said co-owner and lead esthetician Amanda Ellis. “We’re literally just taking that person and making them a better version of themselves, not changing that person to look like someone else.”
To that end, their regimens of injectables, laser therapy, and skin care are precisely tailored to each person who steps through the door. It’s the sort of seasoned experience and technological know-how that you’d expect from a massive medical spa, delivered with the love of a staff that is as local as it gets.
“Not only do we deliver quality results, but we also deliver on creating a welcoming atmosphere when you come in,” said co-owner, nurse practitioner and aesthetic injector Jessica Lowther. “We want safe and beautiful results, and we want our clients to feel comfortable while they achieve them.”
That has become even easier to accomplish with their move to a brand new facility in Washington Square. In the new space, they’ve added equipment like SkinPen microneedling; new providers, including an RN injector, a new aesthetician, and a nurse practitioner; and a greater amount of options for wellness and weight loss.
It’s a new era in Beautique’s history, and an even greater way to discover the beauty within.
IHILTON HEAD ISLAND
6 Queens Folly Road
(843) 781-3550
toddandangiehomes@gmail.com hutchinsteam.com
f there is one thing in this world that gets Angie Hutchins excited, one word that describes the energy she brings to her life in real estate, it’s “transformation.”
“I love transformation. I love working with clients to ready their homes for sale, or presenting them with ideas for the most thoughtful, forward-thinking homes for them,” Hutchins said. “It could be a new dress or a new life – I just like taking something and making it into something new.”
She speaks from experience. She’s gone through several such transitions, whether it’s facing her husband and partner Todd’s brain tumor diagnosis after six years without answers, to raising four sons, to discovering Todd suffered from mold toxicity in 2014, each has been a challenge. But each brought a new transformation.
“In late May 2020, we found out that salt air is great for mold toxicity and healthier living. We scoured North Carolina, Florida, and South Carolina, but there’s nothing like Hilton Head Island,” she said. “We closed in August of that year. We’d been here many times to visit, and it’s completely unique.”
She jumped into her transformation headlong, immersing herself in the community. She volunteered on Pine Island looking for sea turtle nests and found the first nest in summer of 2022. She is currently co-chairing the legislative committee with the Hilton Head Area Realtors, and she has been honored with the Realtor Service Award the past two years.
Along the way, she stays busy on boards and is active in her church. She loves the Audubon Society, with a heart for photographing wading birds.
“Nobody can believe we’ve only been here five years,” Hutchins said. “I just love learning things and connecting people.” And that means sharing her singular joy in the transformation Hilton Head Island offers with each and every one of her clients.
angie Hutchins
The Hutchins Team, Dunes Real Estate
Kati Stein, Regional Director; Angie Chartier, Clinic Director - May River; Leah Woods, Regional Vice President
kati Stein, angie Chartier, aND leah Woods
Benchmark Rehab Partners
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
This is easy: My mother. She took a huge risk in leaving her job as a golf pro to start her own commission consulting business. This was a huge risk, leaving something where she had more than 25 years of experience to leap into the unknown. She believed in this risk so much that she was willing to give up a steady income while caring for my brother and me. There were times where it did not seem like the right decision, but it turned out to be the best thing she could have done for our family! She taught me that in life and business, you have to take risks to get ahead. – Angie Chartier, Clinic Director May River
Give a shout out to another women-owned local business you admire and support.
Keri at Palmetto Running Company! Though this is co-owned with her father and her brother, Keri is one of those leaders who seems unstoppable. I have gotten to know Keri over the past couple of months and she displays a passion for her family, company, and community that not many people have. Being a woman, it is often hard to juggle all of these things, but Keri seems to have it down! – Angie Chartier
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be?
The Benchmarks to Reaching Your Physical Therapy Goals or The Journey to Physical Therapy Recovery: Benchmarks to Your Success. – Angie Chartier
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
When I started my physical therapy career, my definition of
success was getting a patient to their finish line with less pain and improved function. As my experience grew, I learned that the true success of physical therapy is creating meaningful relationships with patients. As a physical therapist, I am often blessed with more time to connect with patients than other medical providers. We often see our patients three days a week for several weeks at a time; this amount of time leads to a strong connection. All of our patients come in with a physical injury, but many also have other psychosocial components impacting their symptoms and life. They often need a friendly face to talk to, while also working on their physical deficits. If we can make just one person’s day or life better, then I would call that a success! – Angie Chartier
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
In my free time, I love spending quality moments with my family, especially with our two boys. We enjoy heading to the beach, taking in the beauty of the Lowcountry, and creating lasting memories together. Whether it’s a family outing or just relaxing outdoors, it’s all about making the most of the time we have and cherishing those moments. – Kati Stein, Regional Director
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Quality over quantity with the time given to each aspect of life (work, spouse, children, friends, family, etc.). Being present in the moment and not worrying about things occurring outside of that. To be the best version of myself for home and work requires time for myself, which includes working out and quiet time. To be set up for success, I get these two things done first thing in the morning. – Leah Woods, Regional Vice President
BEAUFORT (843) 990-4411
BLUFFTON · (843) 815-2563
BLUFFTON - MAY RIVER (843) 806-2240
HARDEEVILLE - OKATIE (843) 208-2272
HILTON HEAD ISLAND - SEA PINES · (843) 715-0345
Dayna Muggeo
COAST Brokered by eXp
laura leigh Miles
IHILTON HEAD ISLAND
BLUFFTON BEAUFORT
65 Lawrence Street (843) 247-2091
dayna@daynamproperties.com
n 1984, Hilton Head Island had just incorporated. North Forest Beach was all sandy paths and cute bungalows, and you drove to Savannah for anything fancier than peanut butter. I was seven, moving into my first real house – with my own bedroom! – and rocking a Bronx accent that my new neighbors found wildly entertaining. (Fuhgeddaboudit!)
We’d left our big, loud Italian family and Sunday pasta at Nanny’s for sweet tea and salty air. My dad Frank (yep, from Frank’s Oasis – IYKYK!) had dreamed of the Lowcountry ever since boot camp on Parris Island in the ’50s. That dream led to bold real estate investments and my childhood of sandy toes, safety, and sunshine.
I truly believe where you live shapes how you live, and it’s why I help my clients love both. I fell in love early – with homes.
Watching Hilton Head and Bluffton grow, touring new builds in Sea Pines with my mom, and soaking up my dad’s market instincts lit a fire in me.
Fast forward: I’m a toddler and teen mom (pray for me), a firefighter’s wife (again, pray), and a proud Realtor. Life is organized by color-coded calendars, powered by cold brew, and made possible with the support of my incredible team at COAST.
I’ve staged homes with my own furniture, walked sellers’ dogs, and helped families relocate with toddlers, terriers, Pinterest board dreams, and ease.
My job? To make your move feel less like a meltdown and more like a makeover. Because when you love where you live, you love how you live. And that’s everything!
OHILTON HEAD ISLAND
10 Haig Point Court (229) 886-3486 lauraleighmiles@gmail.com lauraleighmiles.com
f the many amazing places to call home across the Lowcountry, few seem to bring people together in a tight-knit sense of community like Daufuskie Island. On an island with no bridges, your neighbors become something more than just the people next door. They become close friends and family.
In the 18 years that she’s called Daufuskie Island home, creating a home and raising children, Laura Leigh Miles has seen this firsthand. And in the five years since she began her real estate journey, she’s embraced her role as the island’s de facto welcoming committee.
“It’s a unique place to live and buy into, and the experiences I’ve had here let me help people understand what life is like here,” Miles said. “And helping people has become my favorite part of this. I didn’t realize how fulfilling that would be when I started.”
She happily shares this wealth of knowledge with new clients looking to buy, helping them get acclimated to Daufuskie’s singular culture, and to get immersed in the community they now call home.
“Being on someone’s journey, you really get to know them,” she said. “Seeing them through that, and being a part of it, is something I really love.”
In just five years, she has established herself as one of Daufuskie’s premier real estate professionals. And she’s just getting started.
“I was a stay-at-home mom for so long. My oldest daughter is starting college and my son is a rising senior in high school, so I’ll be able to focus so much more on my work,” Miles said. “I’m thrilled that the business I got back into has been such a great fit.”
Premier Properties by Haig Point
liz Morris
Carolina Jasmine
Describe your business in one sentence.
Carolina Jasmine is a curated destination for globally inspired, artisan-made home furnishings that reflect a refined aesthetic and a deeply personal approach to design.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
Slow mode is actually high speed. There’s pressure to scale quickly, but I’ve learned that slower, intentional growth rooted in values and quality creates a much stronger foundation for both brand and team. How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
I’ve stopped trying to “do it all” and instead focus on doing the right things well. My tip: Protect your creative energy like it’s a resource – because it is. Boundaries, delegation, and quiet time are what keep me showing up fully.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND 1521 Main Steet (843) 681-3565
carolina-jasmine.com
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
My son is my North Star – no matter where I am being pulled, I gravitate towards him. We spend time at the beach, dance in the kitchen making pancakes, and snuggle up with blankets and pillows before bed. With him, I find inspiration in everyday beauty and quiet moments of connection.
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
Susannah of Hilton Head Coffee Roasters – her commitment to craft, community, and sustainability is inspiring. She has created something that’s both soulful and smart, and I’m always thrilled to hear of her growth and admire how she faces challenges as a thriving business owner and incredible mother. What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work, and how do you overcome them?
There’s a growing disconnect between fast design and meaningful design. In a world of trends and instant gratification, it’s a challenge to slow things down and encourage clients to invest in pieces with story and soul. We overcome this by educating through storytelling – highlighting the artisans behind the work and the emotion behind every space.
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be?
Rooted & Refined: Building a Brand That Feels Like Home
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
At first, success looked like recognition – being seen, staying busy, attaining goals and benchmarks on schedule. Now, it’s about resonance, impact, and emotion. If our work makes someone feel more themselves in their space, that’s success. If my team feels supported and free to express their artistic abilities, my family feels loved and prioritized, and the business reflects our values, that’s everything.
Chris Spado
Shear Miracle Hair Salon
Describe a typical day in your life.
A typical day in our salon would involve caring for clients. We have many regular clients, and there are always new clients who are moving to this area. Our goal is to make our salon a friendly environment. What drives you/makes you excited to start the day?
What really excites us about this job is that it’s new and different every day. I have been a hairdresser for over 47 years, and it’s never boring. I love this job.
kathy Schroder
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
6 Bow Cir., Suite A-4 (843) 785-4333
shearmiraclehhi.wordpress.com
Tell us something you wish you had known when you started on your career path—a bit of advice for other women in business.
My advice to any woman who would like to start their own business is to walk through your fears. Don’t be afraid to approach another successful woman and ask them how they did it.
Did you have a mentor—someone who really helped you along the path to entrepreneurship?
My mentor was my father-in-law Joseph Spado Sr. He gave me wonderful advice on how to run and manage a business. He always said treat your employees with respect and give people a warm welcome when they enter your business. The one thing he said that makes me smile is, “Make sure your windows are always clean because first impressions matter.”
Give us three qualities a leader must have.
To be a good leader, you must be determined, learn from your mistakes, and have an interest in others.
Guilty pleasure?
When my workday is done, I love listening to audible books and gardening. These are my two favorite things. Someday, when I retire, I wish to visit many great gardens all over the world. I wish I could be an expert gardener.
WHILTON HEAD ISLAND
6 Queens Folly Road (843) 290-0380
hat does Kathy Schroder bring to her clients? Four decades of heart, hustle, and Hilton Head Island wisdom. When she first arrived on the island in 1977, real estate wasn’t just a career for her – it was a calling wrapped in curiosity. With a counseling degree in hand and encouragement from a graduate school professor, she came to study the vision of Charles Fraser and found her future in helping people navigate life through property.
“Real estate is personal. Like counseling, it’s about asking the right questions, helping people imagine the life they want, and then walking them toward it,” Schroder said.
That philosophy has guided her through decades of market shifts, neighborhood transformations, and personal milestones with clients. She has served as president of Hilton Head Area Realtors, championed education for her peers, and stayed on the leading edge – even when she could have coasted.
“Technically, I don’t have to take continuing education anymore,” Schroder said, “But I choose to. You have to keep growing. Clients deserve someone who’s current, not just experienced.”
From braving the cold to send clients rare photos of their snow-covered homes to nurturing relationships long after closing, Schroder’s commitment is anything but ordinary. “If someone says, ‘I hate to bother you,’ I always say, ‘Please bother me, I’m always happy to help you.’ That’s why I’m here,” she said.
Whether it’s a first-time buyer, an empty nester, or a retiree choosing their next chapter, Schroder brings wisdom and empathy in equal measure – hallmarks of both a great counselor and a great Realtor.
Julie Setola
When you marry into a family that is stewarding a generational business into the future, you don’t get just in-laws. You get business partners. You get teammates in an enterprise grounded in family, one that everyone wants to see succeed so it can be passed along to the next generation.
It can be a heady thing to marry into, but Julie Setola was ready. Her father-in-law, Larry Setola Sr., had founded the company with his wife, Christine, in 1994 as Just Cushions & Upholstery, serving clients with a seasoned skill in custom cushions, re-upholstery, and custom slipcovers. But it was Julie’s husband, Larry Setola Jr., who had expanded on the business, taking his father’s and grandfather’s generational knowledge of what makes quality furniture and opening the new showroom of Hilton Head Furniture.
HILTON HEAD FURNITURE CO.
45 New Orleans Road (843) 702-7756
hhifurniture.com
That was just the beginning, with Hilton Head Furniture moving into whole-home design and transforming into a one-stop shop for everything home. And in this iteration of the business, Julie Setola is putting her own stamp on the family legacy. She recently received her certification as an interior designer, just as the business moves into the future.
“I went back to school and received my certification of interior design through the New York Institute of Art and Design. I am now registered to take the residential exam (RIDQC certification) recognized through the Design Society of America,” Setola said. “In the state of South Carolina, it is not a requirement to be certified, but I thought it was important for both our clients and for me to stay current and up to date in my profession.”
Setola came about her certification through what might be considered the world’s longest internship in construction and design. “My dad is a carpenter by trade, and I’d often go on jobsites as a kid, so I saw that part of the process. Then, in my 20s, I worked for a small business that did kitchen, bathroom, and tile renovation and I worked on a lot of projects with the designers there as an assistant,” she said. “In addition, I have been working with other designers and our clients in the Just Cushions showroom with a focus on design, coloration, and textiles for the last 10-plus years. At this point, I feel like it’s come full circle.”
Augmenting her hands-on education allowed her to expand her understanding of design. Hers is an outside-in paradigm, looking at furnishings first for their quality and then for how they’ll look when paired together in the right space.
“It’s a different perspective. During the certification process you learn a lot about where certain designs originated along with different regional influences. I’m glad I did it,” Setola said. “We started so small with our original furniture showroom, and the recent building renovation and showroom expansion has been wonderful, because it allows us to showcase a more all-encompassing idea of what we can offer to our community. That prompts a whole conversation around whole home furnishings. I knew we were going to be focusing more on whole home furnishing and design, so it seemed like the right time to get the certifications and further my education and expertise.”
And now, Setola adds her own thread to the family tapestry, taking the generational knowledge the Setola family brings to Hilton Head Furniture and adding a dazzling new perspective on what makes beautiful design, whether it’s for your entire home, one room, or just one piece of furniture.
Certified Interior Designer
Jennifer
Herrin
BLUFFTON 17 Sherington Drive, Unit A (843) 757-7435 herrinpiano.com
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you. I keep a good schedule, write down my itinerary for the week, attempt to maintain a routine, and work my plan, which incorporates family time (the most important part), personal time, and work responsibilities.
What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work – and how do you overcome them?
Like so many other facets of our contemporary culture, the piano industry is competing for attention in a highly tech-centered world. While manufacturers have introduced fascinating and revolutionary technology into the traditional piano, it’s difficult to convince families to make a wise investment in a piano and piano lessons when tech diversions are much more accessible. I’d like to think that in our business, we overcome these obstacles by educating people on the benefits of learning to play and perform music. It’s much better for a child’s development than screen time.
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
I think that my mother was an unwitting mentor for me, and certainly a role model. She re-invented herself several times, starting as a high school teacher and then running several successful hospitality businesses. Like her, I was a teacher first, then a homeschool mom of three, and now a business owner. She showed me that it’s OK to transform and adapt in life, especially as a woman’s role changes over the years.
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
At the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, our kids were young teenagers. I think I marked success as showing them that scaling a service into a retail gallery through hard work and integrity creates a meaningful life pursuit. Now that they are older, and starting their own careers, I count success as leaving them a legacy and an example, like my own mother did for me.
Danielle Jeffcoat CFP ®, aaMS™
Financial Advisor | Edward Jones
Describe your business in one sentence.
A woman-led, client-focused financial planning firm committed to helping individuals and families gain clarity, confidence, and control over their financial future through personalized, thoughtful guidance.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
I had someone tell me once that they have been in business for 20 years and it was the best 17 years of their life, and I couldn’t agree
BLUFFTON
152 State Street, Suite 101 (843) 815-4054 edwardjones.com/danielle-jeffcoat
more. It was hard in the beginning, especially being a young female and asking people to trust you with their money. Money is a very emotional topic and trust is very important. Over time, as I earned my clients' trust, I have developed deep personal relationships with my clients that I would have never expected. It has been such a privilege.
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be?
Stay Hungry, Stay Humble. This summarizes how I live my life. I am consistently trying to grow in my personal and professional life. My goal is to never let my success change who I am as a person.
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
Success at the beginning was anyone saying “yes” to becoming a client of mine. When I look back at how much of a rookie I was in the financial world, I am so thankful that some people said “yes.” I think they felt bad for me. Over time, my view of success has changed. Now, success is when clients call me after a big life event and say, “I was able to do this because of you.” That is such a wonderful feeling. It’s been an amazing 15 years serving clients and I cannot wait to see what the next 15 bring.
Kawai Piano Gallery by Herrin
Bethany Clayton, Danielle Jeffcoat and Becky Carlock
Tracy Wilson & lauren Jordan
Cactus Street Cantina
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Lauren: I thought buying a fridge calendar to keep my family’s schedule straight so I could release it from my brain would stop the daily phone calls and texts from my husband and would keep my family on track. It didn’t. So, my tip is to have girlfriends that you can vent to when the juggling becomes a struggle!
Tracy: I am a fairly organized person, so lists are a pretty big part of my weekly schedule. The biggest thing I have learned and the tip I would give would be to learn to say “no” without guilt. Protecting your time, energy, and priorities is essential. This will create space for what truly matters, whether that is rest, goals, family, or growth.
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
Lauren: Not a mentor I knew personally but I was once gifted a book written by Danny Meyer, a hugely successful restaurateur, and my biggest
HILTON HEAD ISLAND 1407 Main Street (843) 715-2246
cactusstreetcantina.com
takeaway was his passion for building relationships with customers, curating a positive and personal experience, and how great service can always override a not-so-great meal. That has always stuck with me. How you make a customer feel is just as important as how great the meal tastes.
Tracy: Over the years, I have not had a specific mentor per se. I was in the restaurant business in my earlier life and then moved into finance for roughly 12 years, so I had many different mentors shape the way I think, sharpen my values, and coach me into becoming a better leader. They came from different places with different voices, but all pushed me forward in their own way and taught me, most importantly, you cannot succeed alone.
Give a shout-out to another women-owned local business you admire and support.
Lauren: Amigo’s HHI, owned by one of my best friends, Carolyn Baltz. I first worked for CB when she owned Market Street Cafe and I was in my early 20s. She was a boss! When she bought Amigos I thought, wow, what a perfect set up. The business model could survive a pandemic, didn’t rely on needing too many employees, and, as far as restaurants go, was a pretty manageable format. Being the friend and business owner she is, she was so supportive of us and so helpful and it’s still one of my fave places to eat!
Tracy: I 100% agree with Lauren about Carolyn Baltz. She was invaluable when we were starting the build out and opening the restaurant. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention all the women-owned businesses in Main Street. When we started the process, everyone – including Roshael from Board and Basket and Nicole from G Free –was so welcoming and helpful with anything we needed or questions we might have had. We now have even more women-owned businesses in the shopping center, including Liz with Carolina Jasmine and Julie with The Milkshake Factory.
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be?
Lauren: I can think of two titles. One we used for our LLC – IADT, it stands for It’s About Damn Time. The other title would be Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
Tracy: Probably something really corny, like Taco ‘Bout a Dream Come True
How did you define success at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? How do you define it now?
Lauren: I originally thought in my younger years that success would mean financial gain, material assets, etc. What I realized was most valuable to me at this point in my life was affording more time with my family. That for me meant asking the question, “How can I continue to help support my family, yet be able to spend more time with them?” Making that happen is now what I consider being a success!
Tracy: At the beginning of our journey, I would say I defined success as achieving certain key performance measures within a set time frame, i.e., paying off loans, reaching certain sales goals, etc. I still look at those things, but it has evolved into continuously trying to learn and grow, both professionally and personally. Trying to make a difference in the community I live in, having strong relationships, and waking up content with the life I am building.
Megan Evegan & Caitlin Hatch
Hair & So On Company: Women Transforming the Beauty Industry
Sara Huiss
MBLUFFTON
5818 Guilford Place (Stock Farm) (843) 368-0120
hairandsooncompany.com
egan Evegan and Caitlin Hatch are the visionaries behind Hair & So On Company, Bluffton’s premier destination for luxury hair extensions. Megan, a salon owner for more than six years, dreamed of creating a space focused entirely on extension services. Around the same time, Caitlin, a certified Invisible Bead Extensions (IBE) specialist, relocated from Arizona to Bluffton. Their paths crossed at just the right time.
Recognizing each other’s passion and talent, they quickly formed a powerful partnership. Both went on to earn their master certifications through the IBE Master’s program, further elevating their expertise and solidifying their shared vision.
As co-owners – and busy moms, with seven kids between them – they balance business and motherhood with passion and purpose. Their latest milestone? Designing and building a brand new, custom salon with Shoreline Construction.
The new space features multiple stylish studio rooms, each shared by two stylists, creating a warm, elevated atmosphere. Upstairs offers an openconcept loft with a modern, energetic vibe – perfect for serving daily clients and hosting hands-on training for aspiring stylists.
Dedicated to giving back, Evegan and Hatch also fund scholarships each year for two local cosmetology students, helping to cultivate the next generation of beauty professionals.
Their journey is a shining example of what happens when women lead with skill, vision, and heart.
Describe your business in one sentence.
BLUFFTON
5790 Guilford Place (843) 696-4551
theagencyhiltonhead.com
sara.Huiss@theagencyre.com
I deliver a mission-focused approach to real estate, helping clients achieve the best results when buying, selling, or relocating.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
Organization is everything. I’ve found that true alignment comes from knowing what matters most in each moment and structuring my time with intention. Whether it’s serving clients, showing up for my family, or recharging myself, I rely on disciplined calendar management to stay fully present. If it’s not scheduled, it doesn’t happen. From appointments to workouts to downtime, everything has a place – because staying organized isn’t just how I manage life, it’s how I lead it.
Give a shout-out to another women-owned local business you admire and support. I am a HUGE fan of Shop! Kim and Roxanne are so fun, always make you feel good, and have been great bosses to my daughter. I also love Beautique Medical Aesthetics, especially my favorite, Rebekah Mullin; and I could not do my job without Kori Brett at Liberty Oak Law Firm.
If you wrote a book about your business, what would the title be?
White Glove Service. The book offers an inside look at how I built a real estate business grounded in precision, professionalism, and personalized care, no matter the price point. In the Air Force, we never approached a mission without a clear plan and the discipline to execute it. Real estate is no different. “White glove service” reflects the way I run my business – precise, focused, and results-driven. I guide my clients through every phase with confidence, removing obstacles and creating a clear path to the finish line. Whether you’re buying or selling, my mission is simple: Help you cross the runway and move on to your next chapter, wheels up and ready for what’s next.
The Agency Hilton Head
amie Baima & Sandy Toomer
Coligny's Skillets Café & Grill and Mingles
When Darlene Baima opened her store Turnstone in 1979 in Coligny, she probably had no idea the family legacy she was launching. Her boutique shop, specializing in Christmas décor and accessories, gave shoppers a way to celebrate the season all year long. But perhaps most importantly, it gave her two daughters first-hand experience and insight into what makes Coligny different.
“I wouldn’t want to do this anywhere else,” said daughter Sandy Toomer, who has owned Mingles for the past 41 years. In the same place where her mother hung her shingle, Sandy offers a similarly
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
1 N Forest Beach Drive (843) 842-6050 colignyplaza.com
seasonal blend of holiday keepsakes and resort items at Mingles.
Across Coligny, another of Darlene’s daughters is keeping the family tradition alive in one of the plaza’s most well-known restaurants, Skillets. The restaurant, one of three that Amie Baima has launched in Coligny, offers the family a place to truly come together.
“My son is running the kitchen these days, and my dad is still doing the bookkeeping,” Amie said. “He comes down for lunch every day at 91, still cracking the whip.”
Sandy and Amie share a sisterly bond that stretches across the length of Coligny, tying the whole plaza into their family.
“Having both of us here gives us different perspectives. She’s in her store all the time, but I come in with fresh eyes, and I give her merchandising suggestions,” Amie said. “And she’ll come into the restaurant and notice something that needs fixing or cleaning that I’ve been looking at all day but didn’t notice because we’re so busy. Plus, she makes our sweet tea. She’s very particular about her sweet tea.”
Their father, John, does double duty, helping his daughters at both Mingles and Skillets. Beyond that, Sandy has family ties on both sides, with her husband, Bill, owning Billy’s Beach Club in the adjoining space. “We have a sliding glass door that joins the two stores,” Sandy said. “It means everything to have so much family here. There’s always someone to back me up when I need it.”
In fact, it’s not uncommon for Sandy to jump in and help at Skillets during a rush, nor for Amie to come help Sandy when customers come flocking in the door.
“Family always has your back. It’s fabulous from that aspect,” Amie said. “Believe it or not, we still try to get together in the fall and winter on Sunday nights. We see each other every day, but it’s hard to talk about our lives at work. We have to carve out that family time.”
Coligny has always fostered a tight-knit sense of community among its merchants and restaurateurs. In the case of Amie Baima and Sandy Toomer, Coligny has created a tapestry into which they have woven the threads of their family.
lissete “liz” Castrillon
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
(Also located in Bluffton, Ridgeland, and Pooler) 95 Mathews Drive B-3 (843) 342-7664
conquestins.com
Describe your business in one sentence.
We’re more than insurance – we’re family, loyalty, and a team. How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
I can’t deny that juggling a full-time job, working alongside my spouse, and raising kids comes with its challenges. To stay grounded and balanced, I follow a few key practices: First, I make it a rule not to talk about work after 5 p.m.; second, I dedicate at least one hour a day just for myself – for me, that means exercising; and third, I stay connected to my spirituality through prayer and staying active in my faith. These are the habits that keep me centered and moving forward. Give a shout-out to another women-owned local business you admire and support.
I have to give special recognition to Women In Philanthropy – an incredible group of women who generously dedicate their time to supporting local charities in the Lowcountry. From busy moms to professionals and retirees, these inspiring women motivate me every day to keep aiming high.
What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of workand how do you overcome them?
We face many daily challenges, especially in our industry, where rising rates and customer retention are constant concerns. However, we’ve managed to navigate these obstacles by maintaining a personal, face-toface approach that keeps our business connected and customer focused.
Michelle Elliott
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
200 Merchant Street (843) 707-2460
MichelleElliott@CharterOneRealty.com
CharterOneRealty.com
Describe your business in one sentence.
I help families and individuals navigate one of life’s biggest milestones –buying or selling a home in the Lowcountry. How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
I’ve learned to schedule my priorities, not just prioritize my schedule. Whether it’s a client meeting or family time, if it’s on my calendar, it’s a date!
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
I love exploring the beauty of the Lowcountry with my fiancé and stepdaughter, sneaking in weekend getaways, or scuba diving whenever I get the chance.
What specific challenges are you currently seeing in your line of work and how do you overcome them?
Today’s market is fast-paced and emotionally charged. Buyers and sellers are navigating uncertainty, and my role is to help bring clarity through education, communication, and strategic advice.
Jessica Ware
BLUFFTON
321 Hope Pond Way, Unit 103 (843) 757-9900
beautyvaultbluffton.com
Describe your business in one sentence.
The Beauty Vault is a luxury salon that specializes in personalized, highend services that bring out your inner beauty.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
I’ve accepted that I can’t pour from an empty cup, so I protect my energy fiercely. I juggle everything by being organized, staying focused, and letting go of the pressure to be “on” all the time. I delegate, I take breaks, and I surround myself with a support system that helps me stay grounded. My tip would be that you don’t have to do it all. Build a circle – whether it’s family, friends, or coworkers – who support you, and let them.
When not working, how do you like to spend your free time?
When I’m not working, I am in full mom mode. Spending time with my husband and chasing after our one-year-old son, who keeps us on our toes and fills our day with so many giggles.
Did you have a mentor in business? What is one thing they taught you that was invaluable?
My biggest mentor has always been my mom. She was a salon owner too and I grew up watching her build a business with heart, hustle, and a deep love for her clients. I spent my childhood folding towels, sweeping hair, and learning what it means to create a space where people feel seen and beautiful. That experience shaped everything I know about this industry and inspired me to follow in her footsteps.
ABLUFFTON
25 Minetta Lane Suite 101 (843) 705-0956
shoplenniexremi.com
lot of young girls dream about opening their own boutique one day. Jessica Ware didn’t just dream about it – she pursued it from a young age, studying fashion merchandising and retail management in college, and interning at Women’s Wear Daily before embarking on a career at Nordstrom, Abercrombie & Fitch and locally at Birdie James.
When it came time to finally achieving that end goal, life gave Ware the final piece of the puzzle. “I’ve always wanted to open a store, but I wasn’t thinking about a kids’ store until I had kids,” she said.
Drawing inspiration from her children, and her own sense of style cultivated from her upbringing in France, she launched Lennie + Remi Children’s Collective in Washington Square. The lines you’ll find within represent a different take on children’s fashion, with labels like Louis Louise, Arsene, Pink Chicken, Rilee + Cru, Feather 4 Arrow, and more.
“I’ve had people say they’re adult clothes for children. It’s still playful, just with a more elevated twist – you’ll find charming prints and thoughtful details instead of big cartoon graphics,” Ware said. While most boutiques in our region go to market in Atlanta, Ware draws from the more global variety found in New York City. “I like to find brands that other people don’t have,” she said.
In addition to finding styles outside the traditional spheres of Southern influence, Ware has also taken care to represent one demographic that’s often underserved in kids’ clothing: boys. “I really enjoy shopping at market for boys’ clothes,” she said. “There are so many brands out there that look great and give boys something fun that they’ll actually want to wear.”
Zoë McNeal
The Beauty Vault
Lennie + Remi Children’s Collective
Describe your business in one sentence.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
19 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 102 (843) 686-2425 polariscapitaladvisors.com
Meeting clients where they are and helping them navigate their financial path forward.
What do you wish you had known BEFORE starting a business?
I’m grateful that I didn’t know what I didn’t know before starting Polaris. The learning curve has become less steep, but it’s always there. You build essential skills, and callouses, managing through the uncertainty that comes from economic, market, social, and technological change.
How do you juggle everything as a woman? Give us one tip that has worked for you.
It took me many years to truly acknowledge this, but I’ve found it’s true: You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once. You have to make difficult decisions that prioritize what’s most important at that time and continue to reassess those priorities as your life changes.
When not working, how to do you like to spend your free time?
Spending time with my daughter before she heads off to college in the fall. Traveling near and far. Enjoying the amazing local live music scene. Hitting the tennis court as often as I can, and golf course as often as my patience can tolerate.
Emily Johnson is the founder of Polaris Capital Advisors, LLC and an Investment Adviser Representative of Lazari Capital Management, Inc. an SEC-registered investment adviser. Polaris Capital Advisors, LLC and Lazari Capital Management, Inc. are unaffiliated entities.
Emily Johnson, CFP ®
Polaris Capital Advisors, LLC
Pat Strimpfel, co-owner of Reclamation by Design
ARTICLE BY LUCY ROSEN / PHOTO BY LISA STAFF
CONNECTIONS:
Community Builders and Conversation Curators
Let’s be honest: If networking were a competitive sport, women would be the ones running the show and passing out snacks afterward. We’re natural connectors, community builders, and conversation curators.
But networking today isn’t just about swapping business cards at bland luncheons or racking up LinkedIn connections like they’re frequent flyer miles. It’s about creating genuine relationships, nurturing them over time, and finding ways to lift each other up, both personally and professionally. Whether you’re a business owner, a freelancer, a retiree with passion projects, or just someone who calls the Lowcountry home, networking isn’t just for salespeople or entrepreneurs. It’s for you. And trust me, you’re probably better at it than you think.
So, what exactly is networking and why does it make so many people cringe? Spoiler: It’s not about walking into a room and trying to impress strangers with your elevator pitch or handing out business cards like Halloween candy.
True networking is simply the art of building relationships. It’s making authentic connections that are rooted in curiosity, generosity, and –
ideally – a little fun. It can happen at a coffee shop, a book club, a volunteer event, or on the pickleball court. At its core, networking is about planting seeds – not to harvest right away, but to nurture over time.
When we stop thinking of networking as a transactional exchange (“What can I get out of this?”) and start thinking of it as a relationshipbuilding practice (“How can I support or learn from this person?”), everything shifts. Suddenly, it’s not awkward; it’s just being a good human.
Here’s the thing about women: We’ve been networking since the dawn of time. Long before business brunches and Zoom meetups, we were forming alliances in PTA meetings, organizing neighborhood potlucks, swapping tips in the salon chair, and watching out for each other’s kids. Women tend to approach networking with empathy, intuition, and a desire to connect rather than conquer. We listen more than we talk. We ask thoughtful questions. And we’re more likely to follow up with a “thinking of you” text or a recommendation that has nothing to do with business and everything to do with trust.
In fact, research backs this up: Women are often better at building and maintaining closeknit, mutually beneficial networks than men.
We thrive on collaboration rather than competition. And in a world where relationships matter more than résumés, that’s a superpower.
It’s this relationship-first mindset that sets the stage for long-term success, especially in close-knit communities like the Lowcountry. Alicia Tetreault, CMO at Pro Shine, puts it simply: “Networking has been key to connecting with people across different industries. It allows your name to get out there in places you might not normally reach.” For Tetreault,
effective networking isn’t about asking for favors, it’s about showing up to help. “It’s not just about taking referrals but about helping others first,” she said. “The more you invest in others, the more they’ll invest in you.”
That sense of mutual support, trust, and visibility is what transforms casual encounters into business growth – and friendships. It’s not limited to business cards and boardrooms. “Whether it’s at events, meetings, or even casual conversations,” Tetreault said, “I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to connect with others.” Networking, at its best, becomes a daily habit, one that pays off in both human and professional dividends.
Of course, networking doesn’t look the same for everyone, but the core value stays the same: relationships first. Just ask Pat Strimpfel, co-owner of Reclamation by Design, a premiere Lowcountry home builder with nearly five decades of experience. “The majority of my business comes from referrals,” she said. “Once you establish a relationship with a networking partner, you’re the first person that comes to mind when they meet someone who needs your service.”
Strimpfel, who has run her business for 47 years, attributes much of her success to staying connected –consistently and intentionally. From one-to-one meetings with fellow construction pros to attending continuing education workshops, networking isn’t a once-in-a-while strategy. It’s part of her professional DNA. And her number one tip? “Listen more than you talk when you first meet
Alicia Tetreault, CMO at Pro Shine
Photography by Lucy Rosen
someone.” Wise words from a woman who has seen it all, built it all, and still makes time to build relationships, too.
For Sheri Moore, owner of Do It Best Services, networking wasn’t just a business tool, it was a turning point. “I sent out a ton of mailers to homeowners and got zilch,” she admitted. It wasn’t until she walked into a Business Network International (BNI) meeting that things started to change. “It felt like I had just met my entire company in one room.”
Since joining BNI, Moore’s property management business
has flourished – not just because of direct referrals, but because her entire ecosystem of support (cleaning crews, pool techs, flooring pros, even IT help) has come through that same group. It’s a vivid example of how networking can do more than grow your client list, it can grow your infrastructure.
And yes, she believes women bring something extra to the table. “I do think women are more curious than men when it comes to networking,” Moore said. “We get right in there and ask questions. I think we’re always thinking of ways to help someone.”
Not every business starts with a packed Rolodex and a stack of referrals. Leah McCarthy, owner of Downtown Deli in Bluffton and Magnolia Café in Beaufort, built her thriving food empire the oldfashioned way – through quality, consistency, and word-of-mouth. “Honestly, I didn’t have time to network when I was starting out,” she said. “I was a young mom with only one employee, and Bluffton was a much smaller place then.” But what she did have was a commitment to service that sparked organic buzz, and loyal customers who became her first unofficial networking team.
Now, more than two decades into business, McCarthy sees the value of networking from a leadership lens. She connects through social media, attends chamber of commerce and national leadership events, and encourages her team to get involved in industry-specific circles. But her advice is clear: “I have to stress authenticity. Don’t just show up to sell. Show up to see if there’s a real connection. And if not, maybe
Sheri Moore, owner of Do It Best Services
Photography by Lucy Rosen
you can still refer someone who can help.”
This mindset is a crucial shift for many people, especially those who equate networking with selling. The truth is, if you’re showing up to a networking event with a hard pitch and a stack of brochures, you’re missing the point. People can spot a sales agenda from a mile away and nothing shuts down a conversation faster.
Networking is not a cold call in cocktail attire. It’s a chance to be a human first, a business owner second. Instead
• Lead with curiosity. Ask questions. Be genuinely interested in the person across from you.
• Listen more than you talk. It’s not about the perfect pitch; it’s about real connection.
• Don’t sell – serve. Offer value before expecting anything in return.
• Follow up thoughtfully. A quick note, text, or email goes a long way.
• Be consistent. Networking is a habit, not a onetime event.
• Diversify your circles. Step outside your comfort zone. Meet new people, not just familiar faces.
• Come prepared. Keep a few open-ended questions in your back pocket.
• Lift others up. Make referrals, celebrate wins, and share opportunities.
• Be authentic. Show up as yourself. People connect with “real,” not rehearsed.
• Say “thank you.” Every time. And if it’s handwritten? Even better.
of asking, “How can I sell you something?” a better question is, “How can I support you or someone you know?” That support might look like a referral, a collaboration, or just a thoughtful conversation that leaves a good impression. When done well, networking isn’t about closing, it’s about opening – opening doors, opening minds, and opening relationships that can grow over time. As McCarthy pointed out, the most meaningful connections often come from honest, no-pressure conversations. Sometimes the
Leah McCarthy, owner of Downtown Deli in Bluffton and Magnolia Café in Beaufort
Photo courtesy Leah McCarthy
biggest win is simply leaving someone with the thought, “I’d like to talk to her again.”
Of course, networking can take many forms. Sometimes it’s coffee and conversation, and other times, it’s policy meetings and big-picture planning. Heather Rath, founder of Heather Rath Consulting, built her business during the 2009 recession with one simple mission: to help others build momentum. She now works across the country with governments, nonprofits, developers, and grassroots organizations to move projects from concept to reality. Whether it’s workforce housing or preserving Gullah culture, Rath is usually the one connecting the dots behind the scenes.
“Nearly all of my business comes through relationships,” she said. “Many are long-held, others newly formed – but they all start with listening. Real listening.” For her, networking isn’t about small talk or self-promotion. It’s about identifying who belongs where, putting honest people in the right seats, and letting collaboration drive the results.
Rath believes women approach networking differently. “Women are relational-transactional. We start with connection. Men often start with the deal, and then connect.” Her advice? “Treat everyone you meet like they’re the most important person in the room, whether they’re the CEO or the person passing appetizers. It’s just good manners, and good manners make for good business.”
She also swears by handwritten thank-you notes – 365 a year. “Yes, I fall behind,” she said with a laugh, “but I catch up in batches. It matters.”
At the end of the day, networking isn’t a business skill – it’s a life skill. It’s about showing up for people, staying curious, and building bridges long before you need to cross them. Whether you’re trying to grow a business, find your people, or simply feel more connected in the community you call home, networking opens doors in unexpected and beautiful ways. And as we’ve seen from these remarkable Lowcountry women, when you lead with authenticity and generosity, the relationships you build will take you farther than any elevator pitch ever could.
Lucy Rosen is the Chief Solutions Officer of SmartMarketing Communications, a Bluffton-based marketing and PR agency. She is the author of Fast Track Networking, Turning Conversations into Contacts, and is a frequent speaker on her favorite business subject, Networking for Success.
Heather Rath, founder of Heather Rath Consulting
Photo
Island
of the Palmetto
Women’s Club include (front
Soifer, Cate Jarrett, DeeDee Finison, Mary Amonitti, Abagail Doherty, Susan Diehl, Cynthia Fitz, Lynnda
Linda Pekarski, Susan Oliver, and Lenore Gleason; (back row, from left) Susan Garrett, Kathy Thomas, Melody Zanoti, Debbie
Palmetto Dunes Women’s Club Celebrates 25 Years of Friendship and Community
For 25 years, the Palmetto Dunes Women’s Club (PDWC) has been a cornerstone of friendship, social engagement, and community building on Hilton Head Island. Founded in March 2000, the club was created to help women connect, build friendships, and explore the area together.
What started as a small gathering of neighbors has flourished into a vibrant organization with nearly 30 different activity groups catering to a wide range of interests.
Nancy Soifer, a past president and longtime member, recalls the club’s origins. “When you live in a place like Palmetto Dunes or Leamington or Shelter Cove, as friendly as people are, it can be hard to meet your neighbors,” she said. “The original members saw a need for a social group where women could come together, make friends, and enjoy activities.”
This sentiment continues to resonate today. Because Palmetto Dunes is a unique community with private
Members
Dunes
row, from left) Dacia Allen, Elaine Flanagan, Sue Ann DuBose, Phyllis Napoli, Debbie Esposito, Nancy
Colombo, Karen Clarke, Cookie Gregory, Jo Timperman,
Waters, Nancy Novak, Ronnie O’Neill,
residential areas, it can sometimes be difficult to meet others outside of immediate neighbors. The PDWC provides a welcoming and inclusive environment where women of all backgrounds and interests can form meaningful friendships.
The club’s first meeting was held at the home of Joanne Dugle, one of the founding members, and it quickly gained popularity. In its early years, PDWC focused on a handful of core activities that encouraged social interaction and community involvement. Some of the original groups included a Gardening Club, a place for members to share landscaping tips and enjoy the beauty of Hilton Head’s lush environment; the Sunshine Club, a support network for members experiencing illness or hardship, offering help with errands and companionship; the Book Club, which is a long-standing favorite where members gather to discuss literary works; and Bridge Groups, providing members with a fun and social way to engage in that strategic card game.
As the years passed and membership grew, the club expanded its offerings to accommodate a wider range of interests. Today, PDWC hosts nearly 30 different activity groups, ensuring that every member can find something that suits their lifestyle and passions.
A CLUB FOR EVERY INTEREST
One of the most remarkable aspects of PDWC is the sheer variety of activities it offers. Whether members are looking for intellectual stimulation, physical activity, creative expression, or social outings, there is something for everyone.
Popular current groups include Island Hoppers, in which members explore Hilton Head and the surrounding areas, taking part in excursions to historical sites, nature reserves, and cultural events; Nine & Whine, a golf group that meets to play nine holes followed by wine and socializing; Beach
Palmetto Dunes Women’s Club Celebrates 25 Years of Friendship and Community
One of the most remarkable aspects of PDWC is the sheer variety of activities it offers. Whether members are looking for intellectual stimulation, physical activity, creative expression, or social outings, there is something for everyone.
Sweepers, a group that meets monthly to clean Hilton Head’s beaches, combining environmental stewardship with exercise and camaraderie; the Cycling Club, whose members enjoy Hilton Head’s extensive bike trails together; the Knitting Group, one of the club’s revived original activities, giving members a chance to relax and create handmade crafts; and gourmet and appetizer clubs for food lovers who want to cook, taste, and share meals.
“You name it, we do it,” said Suzanne Dawson, an active member and volunteer who believes that the club’s greatest strength lies in its flexibility and inclusivity. “Whether it’s a gourmet dinner club, a beach cleanup walk, or a round
CORE PILATES AD
of golf followed by wine, there’s always something to get involved in.”
Members are also encouraged to suggest and lead new groups, keeping the club dynamic and ever-evolving.
While PDWC’s primary mission is to foster friendships and social connections, it has also become a force for community service. Over the years, members have participated in numerous charitable efforts, often tying philanthropy into their social activities.
Some of the club’s notable contributions have included support for Meals on Wheels, providing handmade seasonal decorations for recipients, adding a personal touch to their meal deliveries; Backpacks for Local Schools, supplying children in need with essential school supplies; and cancer walks to support cancer awareness and fundraising events.
These initiatives allow members to give back in a way that feels natural and fulfilling, while still keeping PDWC a social-first organization.
“There are so many ways to volunteer on Hilton Head,” Soifer said. “But we wanted this club to be a place where women could come and just enjoy each other’s company without the pressure of fundraising. That said, we still find ways to contribute in meaningful ways.”
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
To commemorate its 25th anniversary, the club hosted a ladies’ luncheon March 7 at the Country Club of Hilton Head. The event included a slideshow of photos and memories from the past 25 years, a trivia game that tested members’ knowledge of the club’s history, and an opportunity for longtime members to share stories and reflect on the club’s journey.
PDWC organizers were fortunate to secure the venue at a discounted rate through a member’s reciprocity agreement, a welcome relief as affordable gathering spaces have become increasingly difficult to find.
“One of the biggest challenges for social clubs today is finding venues that are both convenient and affordable,” Dawson said. “We were lucky to get the Country Club of Hilton Head, which is a beautiful space.”
While the modern era of technology has changed how people connect, women’s clubs remain a vital part of community life. PDWC has evolved with the times, introducing a website where members can sign up for events, track activity schedules, and stay informed.
“The advancements in technology over the years have really helped us grow,” Dawson said. “We now have a central hub where members can see what’s happening and get involved.”
More importantly, the club, along with many others on the island, has played a vital role in making Hilton Head feel like home for countless women.
“Hilton Head isn’t structured like a traditional town,” Soifer said. “It can be easy to feel isolated in your neighborhood. This club changes that. It gives women a way to meet people, form friendships, and feel like they belong.”
As the club enters its next chapter, it remains committed to its original purpose: bringing women together in friendship and fun. With its strong foundation, diverse activities, and evergrowing community, the club is well-positioned to continue thriving for another 25 years and beyond.
PDWC welcomes new members who are residents in Palmetto Dunes and Leamington who are looking for camaraderie, new experiences, and meaningful connections. To learn more, email PDWC_membership@PDWC.club.
ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER . PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
BIRDIE JAMES
Two boutiques, one brand with distinct personality
The newest Birdie James store in Bluffton is conveniently located in Washington Square, where new shops are popping up frequently.
In the Lowcountry retail scene, Birdie James stands out for its effortless blend of approachable luxury, trend-savvy style, and relaxed coastal sophistication. With two locations – one on Hilton Head Island and one in Bluffton – the boutique brand has cultivated a loyal following that stretches from Beaufort to Savannah. But while both stores share a unified
aesthetic, each offers a curated experience that reflects the unique vibe of its community.
Michelle Taylor, the founder and creative force behind Birdie James, is quick to point out, “They’re sisters, not twins.”
The original Hilton Head boutique opened in 2016 on Memorial Day and serves as the brand’s flagship.
The Birdie James location on Hilton Head Island is located in Shelter Cove Town Centre, adjacent to Jane Bistro & Bar.
Tucked into Shelter Cove Towne Centre, the store reflects the refined, laid-back spirit of Hilton Head.
“Hilton Head has this established, timeless energy,” Taylor said. “The women who shop here want effortless pieces that feel elevated but not fussy – things they can wear from lunch at Sea Pines to dinner at The Sage Room without changing.”
Inside, the Hilton Head store is airy and calm, with sunwashed wood tones, neutral palettes, and a minimalist layout that makes space for intentional browsing. The merchandising feels polished but accessible; clothing and accessories are arranged in a way that encourages discovery, not overwhelm.
The Hilton Head clientele skews a bit more classic. Many are long-time locals or repeat visitors who’ve made Birdie
James a destination each time they’re in town. “They’re looking for investment pieces with longevity,” Taylor said. “The perfect white blouse. The great-fitting pair of pants. A go-to dress they can pack for Europe or wear to a wedding.”
Brands like Last Tango, Stitchdrop, and Pure Amici feature heavily, all known for their fit, quality, and subtle elegance.
By contrast, the Bluffton store, which opened in September 2024, brings a slightly edgier, more playful twist to the brand. Located in the modern and fast-growing Washington Square, the space itself has a youthful energy, with tall ceilings, bold design elements, and a little more fashion-forward attitude.
“Bluffton gives us the freedom to take more risks,” Taylor said. “We can try new silhouettes, color stories, or
Both locations are staffed by friendly, knowledgable stylists who treat shopping as a relationship, not a transaction.
The Bluffton store brings a slightly edgier, more playful twist to the brand.
trend-driven pieces here that might not land the same way on the island. It’s fun! There’s a sense of experimentation.”
The Bluffton boutique serves a broader age range and a more year-round, residential customer base. Young professionals, creative entrepreneurs, and stylish moms all frequent the space, which Taylor describes as “modern Southern with a bit of city grit.” The store’s layout reflects this vibe. Merch tables are often arranged by mood or trend, and new arrivals hit the floor fast.
In Bluffton, shoppers might discover a bold print blouse next to distressed denim, or a metallic sandal next to a structured linen blazer. The Birdie James signature is consistent, but the Bluffton store gives the team more room to flex creatively. “If Hilton Head is a linen maxi dress, flat sandal, and Selina King hoops, Bluffton might be the on-trend, men’s inspired suiting with a platform sandal,” Taylor said.
The product mix between the two stores overlaps a bit, with the remaining assortment customized for each location. Core brands, including Krazy Larry, Julie Vos jewelry, Fifteen Twenty, and Ripley Rader, remain consistent but how those lines are styled and stocked varies depending on the audience. “We watch what sells in each location and we listen to our customers,” Taylor said. “They’ll tell you what they want. You just have to be present enough to hear it.”
Customer service is where the two stores align completely. Both Hilton Head and Bluffton are staffed by friendly, knowledgeable stylists who treat shopping as a relationship, not a transaction. Walk into either location and you’re likely to be greeted by name and offered honest feedback if you’re in the fitting room wondering if that top really works.
“We want every woman who shops here to feel seen and celebrated,” Taylor said. “Our team knows how to read the room. Some women want styling advice, others just want to browse. It’s about creating a space where people feel comfortable and inspired.”
That same personalized spirit carries through to social media and behind-the-scenes operations. Each store has its own content cadence and Instagram vibe, but both accounts (@birdiejames) reflect the brand’s warm, breezy confidence. Outfit reels, new arrival try-ons, and team favorites are shared frequently, giving loyal followers a reason to tune in and to swing by.
Private styling appointments, capsule wardrobe consults, and seasonal look-books are available at both stores, offering clients an elevated, concierge-style shopping experience. And while the boutiques have become destinations for locals and visitors alike, Taylor is intentional about keeping the business intimate. “We’re not trying to scale nationally,” she said. “We’re building a brand with staying power, where we know our customers, understand their needs, and evolve with them.”
It’s that attention to detail – and the ability to adapt each store to its setting – that has made Birdie James a standout in the region’s retail landscape. In a world of fast fashion and faceless algorithms, Taylor and her team offer something refreshingly different: a human, curated, deeply stylish experience rooted in place and purpose.
Whether you’re browsing sun-kissed cotton dresses on the island or trying on the season’s newest denim drop in Bluffton, one thing is clear: At Birdie James, style is personal, and every detail is considered. The stores may be sisters, but each one brings its unique voice to the Lowcountry style conversation.
Marsh depicts the delicate world of spartina grasses, birds, crawfish, ghost shrimp, turtles, and more, above and below the waterline. My goal was to create cohesive works that view these environments from both above and below.
Maritime Forest features oaks, pines, and soft palmettos overlaid by hawks, egrets, butterflies, and other creatures. Some of these species are threatened. Concentric rings are drawn from the cross-section of an oak, while lines from maps and environmental data tie the piece directly to this ecosystem.
Ocean reflects conservation sites where coral is being cultivated. Sea turtles, corals, and jellies are among the animals living in this environment. Bathymetric lines and coordinates reference areas of conservation specific to the region and to Hilton Head.
Article by Lucy Rosen
A WINDOW INTO THE WILD
Dana Montlack’s Stunning Public Art at Shelter Cove
If you’ve strolled through Shelter Cove Community Park lately, you might have noticed something glimmering in the Lowcountry light – something bold, intricate, and quietly mesmerizing. No, it’s not a new seafood shack or a dolphin doing backflips for the tourists. It’s art. Big, beautiful, made-you-stop-in-your-sandals kind of art. This brand-new public art installation by interdisciplinary artist Dana Montlack is unlike anything else on the island. Suspended between sculpture and science, beauty and
biodiversity, the work captures Hilton Head Island’s coastal ecosystems in dazzling layers of imagery, fired directly into glass, glowing with color, and pulsing with meaning.
But the installation isn’t just pretty. It’s purposeful.
Installed in early 2024, the Shelter Cove piece is a trio of glass panels, each one 5 feet by 6 feet and weighing in at 250 pounds. They are mounted like windows into the heart of Hilton Head’s most vital environments: ocean, marsh, and maritime forest.
Marsh
Maritime Forest Ocean
Artist Dana Montlack in her studio
But these aren’t just digital images layered on top. Each panel is created through a meticulous kiln-firing process, where Montlack’s intricate compositions – built from photographs, scientific visuals, and hand-drawn elements –are heat-fused directly into the glass. The result is a glowing, light-reactive surface that shifts with the sun, drawing the viewer in with color and complexity.
And once you’re looking, you really start seeing.
Loggerhead turtles and redfish swim alongside cyanobacteria and sea lettuce. Periwinkles and pelicans mingle with oysters and spartina. Ghost crabs, moon jellies, plankton, and even topographic maps of the region’s waterways emerge from the surface.
It’s the South Carolina coast as you’ve never seen it before – teeming, tangled, and totally alive.
“I wanted the work to invite curiosity,” Montlack said. “To pull people in with beauty, and then keep them there with wonder.”
ABOUT THE ARTIST: SCIENCE, SOUL, AND SEA
Montlack isn’t your typical artist. She’s part photographer, part researcher, part ocean advocate, and all heart. With degrees in fine art from UC Santa Cruz and Otis Parsons School of Art and Design, she’s spent decades blending art and science in ways that spark awe and encourage environmental reflection.
Her signature style? A form of “hybridized” imagemaking that combines photography, cartographic data, microscopic imagery, and drawing. Then, through her kiln-firing process, she embeds these multi-layered
compositions into glass, creating sculptural pieces that are both scientifically informed and emotionally evocative.
Montlack’s work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, at Burning Man (yes, that Burning Man), and in private and public spaces from Dubai to La Jolla. She’s collaborated with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and recently completed a NOAA-funded visual study of climate change’s effects on the Georgia coast.
The Hilton Head installation is among her most meaningful.
“This one’s really special,” she said. “It’s not hidden in a gallery. It’s out in the open – where families walk, where kids ask questions, where it becomes part of daily life. It’s for everyone.”
Let’s be honest: Public art can be hit or miss. Sometimes it’s confusing. Sometimes it’s forgettable. But sometimes, when done right, it becomes a landmark. A conversation starter. A reason to look up and look around.
Hilton Head got it right.
This piece doesn’t just reflect the natural beauty of the Lowcountry. It deepens our connection to it. You start to realize, as you gaze through the glass, how many creatures live just beneath the surface, how many invisible threads hold this coastal world together.
In Montlack’s words, “We are not owners of the land. We’re visitors, privileged to witness its complexity and grace.”
She often describes her work as using “beauty as a Trojan horse.” It first draws you in with its vibrancy and elegance, but stay with it long enough, and it begins to whisper. About
fragility. About resilience. About our role as stewards – not just spectators – of the natural world.
In a time when sea levels are rising and shorelines are shifting, public art like this becomes more than decorative. It becomes necessary.
Let’s zoom in on the three panels.
OCEAN: This piece draws from nautical charts and bathymetric maps, showcasing creatures both iconic and overlooked: loggerhead turtles, redfish, blue crabs, sea lettuce, diatoms, jellyfish. It’s a celebration of biodiversity beneath the waves.
MARSH: Here, you’ll find ghost crabs, fiddler crabs, oysters, periwinkles, ibis, herons, and spartina grass, all suspended in layered, tidal compositions. It’s a glowing tribute to one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet.
MARITIME FOREST: Hilton Head’s forests often take a backseat to its beaches, but not here. This panel honors the magnolias, loblolly pines, live oaks, saw palmettos, owls, and hawks that define the inland wilds of the island. Spanish moss, of course, drapes quietly through it all.
Together, the three works create a full portrait of the island – not just its scenery, but its spirit.
WHY PUBLIC ART MATTERS
Here’s the thing: When art shows up in a museum, you expect it. When it shows up by a fountain or mid-stroll between lunch and shopping? That’s when magic happens.
Public art has the power to shape a town’s identity. It sparks conversation, inspires curiosity, and gives people a reason to linger. It becomes a symbol, a selfie stop, a teachable moment, and a memory – all at once.
For vacationers, Montlack’s work becomes a moment of
unexpected connection. For locals, it’s a reminder of what we’re protecting. For kids, it’s a visual playground. For town leaders, it’s a brilliant investment in culture, place-making, and civic pride.
Installations like this show that a town isn’t just a collection of buildings – it’s a community with a voice. And thanks to Montlack, Hilton Head’s voice just got a little more poetic.
If you're reading this and thinking, “We need something like this in our town,” you’re absolutely right. Montlack’s work belongs in every coastal city with a story to tell.
Her installations are more than art: They are experiences. They’re science lessons. They’re meditations. And they’re deeply rooted in the places where land and water meet.
As coastal communities across the country grapple with the realities of climate change, rising seas, and ecological fragility, it’s artists like Montlack who help us see the soul of a place, and why it’s worth protecting.
So whether you’re a city official, an art lover, or someone who believes in the power of beauty to spark change, this is your cue.
Let’s make more space for art. Let’s celebrate nature. And let’s keep filling our towns with windows that help us see the world – and ourselves – a little more clearly.
You can find Montlack’s Hilton Head Island installation among other public art at Shelter Cove Community Park, near the waterfront pavilion. Whether you cycle by, stroll past, or make a special trip, one thing is guaranteed: You’ll leave seeing this island a little differently.
To learn more, visit danamontlack.com or follow @ danamontlack on Instagram.
Renee McLane poses for a quick shot before the thunderstorm of all thunderstorms arrives in Old Town Bluffton and rains out the rugby team's weekly Wednesday night practice at MC Riley Park.
ARTICLE BY BROOKE PECK PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
RENEE MCLANE:
RUGBY COACH & REFEREE
“I love literally everything about rugby." – Renee McLane
No matter the role – player, coach, or referee – Renee McLane is passionate about cultivating the game of rugby. She welcomes and encourages new players to experience all that she loves about the game: physicality, camaraderie, respect, and discipline.
As a fresh(wo)man at West Virginia University, McLane was introduced to rugby by a friend. Quickly, she joined the women’s club team and described her first practice as being so much fun that she “immediately fell in love!” The non-stop action of lifting, passing, agility, and scrumming hooked her instantly. She loved that it was a sport for all shapes and sizes and that “an amazing friend group came along” with being a teammate. Her first season as a Mountaineer was an impactful team building experience that ended
in the Final Four. At 19 years old, she had no idea she’d be a competitive player for the next 17 years and develop a lifelong passion as a coach and referee.
Fast forward two decades and McLane is now the head coach of the Hilton Head Island men’s and women’s rugby teams. The Hilton Head Rugby Football Club (HHIRFC) started in 1974 with many decades of successful seasons. However, several years ago, player numbers dwindled and the team was put on a pause. Thankfully, in 2023, fresh energy and new leadership re-formed the team with a handful of experienced players who welcomed rookies.
It was during this rebuilding period that her husband, Matthew Olson, joined the team as a player and McLane was invited to watch a practice that fall. She saw an opportunity to share “some
advice and coached some of the basics.” Eventually, she got more involved by creating and leading the weekly practice plans.
McLane earned the official title of head coach when she was hired by the team the following spring. Coaching a men’s team was something McLane had never done, but she’s “really proud of our Hilton Head guys. We’ve put in a lot of hard work. We started as a hodgepodge, but really have improved.”
This past year, the men’s team achieved their goal by reaching the playoffs for the first time after joining the Georgia Rugby Union (GRU) Matrix competitive league. McLane describes this as “quite an accomplishment for a team that hasn’t been around that long.”
HHIRFC is composed of players from all over the Lowcountry, including Hilton Head, Beaufort, Bluffton, Ridgeland, and Savannah. New players are constantly being added and welcomed to the team roster. The team values
practice time to connect them as athletes along with social time to connect them as friends, both on and off the pitch.
A men’s rugby team with a female coach is very rare in the sport. “It’s not common at any level,” McLane said. “Rugby is usually a predominantly male coaching field.” Even though it’s unique, she said, “Women can approach coaching with different insights that benefit the team.” She enjoys bringing a fresh perspective through problem-solving and culture.
One primary goal of the re-formed team in 2023 was to create a women’s team, as one had yet to be established. Two years later, they have several committed women and are slowly building their numbers. Players from the HHIRFC women’s team have combined with other smaller teams in the Southeast to compete together. Last November, HHIRFC hosted its first women’s round robin tournament at Barker Field with teams representing Savannah and Augusta.
Required rugby skills are the same for both men’s and women’s teams, so both HHIRFC teams practice together except for tackling drills. McLane notes that the intentions brought to the pitch can be different between the two teams. “Guys want to use brute force and women are more technical,” she said, but it is fun to coach both.
As a coach, her goal is to keep practice engaging but not overly heavy. She recognizes that many rugby players play the game because it’s a source of fun in their lives. “You can’t be too serious and yelling all the time,” she said.
Throughout high school, McLane said, her softball coach, Mr. Homa, had an impactful influence on her coaching
Front Row: Dontae Lawrence, Alex McDonald, Floyd Hargrove, Kris Geiger, Renee McLane, Thomas Hutto, Matthew Olson, Wiley O'Brien, Brian Tonry Back Row: Mystery Man who showed up to practice, Daniel Peck, Zachariah Cushman, Parkin Burgess, Quinn McClure, Hunter Anderson, Hart Cushman, JaColeman Hutto
future with his lightheartedness. She describes him as “just a fun guy” because practices were full of jokes and funny nicknames. Her team could tell they were cared for, but he also pushed them to be better.
According to McLane, building a supportive team culture is imperative for HHIRFC’s long-term success. As a player at a previous club, she experienced a negative team environment that tarnished her rugby experience. Striving for an encouraging climate at Hilton Head is a foundational goal for the team, and she says that the camaraderie has been amazing so far. As a player, it’s important to have a strong connection to your teammates. “It makes you want to play for the guy next to you and not the number on your back,” McLane said.
Mutual respect among competing teams brings her a lot of pride. Yes, they brutally tackle one another (without protective pads) during the games, but afterwards, everyone meets up for a beer, a handshake, and some laughs. Exceptional players of the game are announced and celebrated by both teams. McLane said the bond is strong among players because “we all play the same weird sport.”
Before she became a coach, McLane garnered rugby experience from a different perspective. About eight years ago, she began the transition from player to referee, which allowed her “to still get to go out there, have the best view of the field, and be involved in a direct way.” Being a referee during a constantly moving and changing sport created new challenges, but the outcome helped McLane find a new type of confidence in the game. She understands that the way she speaks to players on the field is important to facilitate mutual respect. She believes her refereeing experience has made her a better coach, and vice versa.
An important goal of HHIRFC is to impact the community and be part of the community, McLane said. This past spring, the Hilton Head Island Recreation Center partnered with HHIRFC to offer youth flag rugby for the first time. HHIRFC players volunteered to coach the biweekly sessions at Chaplin Park. About 20 kids experienced the game of rugby for the first time and trained together. It was such a great success that future seasons are in the works.
McLane also shares her coaching skills with the USA South women’s rugby team as an assistant coach. Composed of carefully selected talent from across the Southeast, the team brings players together to compete internationally. In the past, the USA team has played against Trinidad and Tobego, Jamaica, Mexico, and the Cayman Islands. Armed with a simple goal of growing the women’s game internationally, McLane coaches the back line by encouraging new attacking styles and providing valuable post-game feedback.
“Coaching South pushes me to coach outside my comfort zone and develop skills in a new way and at a higher level,” McLane said. “I always leave a tour with more knowledge of the game.” She said the experience has been incredibly rewarding for her and an added bonus is that the team wins frequently!
Rugby has had a huge impact on McLane’s life and she is grateful to stay involved as a coach and referee. Happily, she said, “The game just grows constantly.” Her hope is to see more rugby programs form, new players on pitches, greater community support, and individual growth as a result.
For more information about HHIRFC, visit hhirfc.com
Article by Barry Kaufman
is located at
BOUTIQUE GIVES THE WHOLE SQUAD THE VIP TREATMENT
There is perhaps no greater truth than the declaration made by the legendary Cyndi Lauper in her 1983 hit: “Girls just want to have fun.” But around here, particularly on the mainland, options for a girls’ night out are pretty much limited to bars and restaurants.
“On the island there are a lot of places where you can have a candle-making party or a perfume-making party. We thought an after-hours shopping party would be a great way to give women here in Bluffton that same opportunity,” said Jennifer Miotto, owner of Bluffton boutique STMT. “If you want to get together for a sip and shop, you can have it catered, bring in cocktails or a DJ. It’s a great interactive evening you can enjoy with friends.”
This party plan not only lets you get the gals together, it gives you after-hours access to Bluffton’s hottest new boutique. Encompassing brands from well-known favorites like Mink Pink, Z Supply, Steve Madden, Love Shack Fancy, and Show Me Your Mumu, alongside up-and-coming labels you’ll be excited to discover, it’s a chic slice of urban sophistication in the heart of the Lowcountry.
“I would describe our clothes as modern coastal. We’re going more for a mix of things you can wear day to day along with more unique finds,” Miotto said. “A lot of the brands I’m purchasing from are brands that other boutiques don’t carry. We have some great Australian and Italian brands that others don’t have.”
That includes lines like the light and airy linens and Italian silks of Milio Milano and the bold lines and fearless colors of Australia’s Runaway, just two of the exciting lines that STMT carries. Rounding out the stylishly curated collection of clothing lines are accessories, bags, jewelry, and shoes that stem from the same sophisticated sense of style that Miotto has brought to Bluffton through STMT.
“We’re trying to buy from a perspective that’s different,” she said. That refreshing perspective is reflected in the space itself, with a big city vibe that leans more cosmopolitan cool than sweet tea Southern. The relaxing swinging chairs ground it in a sense of welcoming relaxation, making it not only the best place to find your new look, but also an ideal venue for your next girls’ night out.
The overall vision of STMT is one that draws from Miotto’s personal sense of style. “I’ve always wanted to have a boutique, but it’s definitely not something I would have said would ever happen,” she said. “We found out the space was available this past October. If you’d asked me a month before that, I would have said I had no plans to open a boutique.”
But the stars aligned, and this serial entrepreneur was able to open her dream boutique, balancing its opening with a successful vacation rental company she has owned for years.
“I immediately started going to market and brought on my friend Meghan Orrell as a consultant. She owns Boem, a string of three successful boutiques in Charlotte,” Miotto said. “It’s turned into something far beyond my expectations, and I think we’re in a great area. There are so many new houses being built and so many great restaurants and shops around us.”
Check out all the fashions and begin making your own STMT by visiting shopatstmt.com.
Jennifer Miotto, owner of Bluffton boutique STMT.
Find brands like Mink Pink, Z Supply, Love Shack Fancy and Show Me Your Mumu
STMT Boutique
303 Parkside Commons, Suite #102 in Bluffton.
Brittany Fergus, author of Stuck in the Mud, a charming children's adventure set in the Lowcountry.
Article by Cheryl Ricer .
by Amelia Winchester
A
LOWCOUNTRY TALE FROM THE HEART
When Brittany Fergus moved to Hilton Head Island, she never imagined a stranded boat in Broad Creek would be the spark for her first published book. But Stuck in the Mud, a charming children’s adventure set in the Lowcountry, grew from a mother’s perspective, a toddler’s imagination, and a deep love for the natural beauty of South Carolina’s coast.
Originally from Ohio, Fergus first visited Hilton Head as a child. “I started coming to Hilton Head when I was about 10, and I’ve always felt connected to the Lowcountry,” she said. “It’s been in my heart for as long as I can remember.”
Though her academic background is in finance (she holds a degree in the subject with a minor in British literature), writing was always a private creative outlet. “It was never something I pursued professionally,” she said. “Writing was a break from reality for me – a little playground. But that changed when I became a mother.”
In 2015, after the birth of her son Jonathan, Fergus began to see the world through his curious young eyes. It was during this time, while living in
the Crosswinds neighborhood with a view of Broad Creek, that they both noticed a mysterious boat stuck out in the marsh. “My son was probably 2 or 3 at the time, and he became completely fixated on that boat,” Fergus recalled. “Every day he’d ask me, ‘Is it still stuck in the mud?’”
The repeated question – and her son’s fascination – sparked something in Fergus. She began jotting down ideas and imagining the story behind the abandoned vessel. “I started thinking, ‘What does he imagine is happening with that boat?’ and from there, the story unfolded.”
That story became Stuck in the Mud , a whimsical Lowcountry adventure that follows a young boy named Jonathan and his friends as they try to unravel the mystery of a boat trapped in the marsh. With pirates, storms, and families living aboard as possibilities, the children’s imaginations lead them on an engaging journey filled with questions, curiosity, and courage.
“It’s a Lowcountry adventure to solve a boat mystery once and for all,” Fergus said. “The characters wonder – did pirates leave it behind? Was there a hurricane? Is it someone’s home?
There’s this wide-open sense of possibility, which I think is so magical for kids.”
Though she had no immediate plans to publish the book when she wrote it, the story stayed with her. “It was one of those things where the book found me,” she said. “I didn’t set out to become an author. It was more
like the story insisted on being told.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought life to a standstill, Fergus finally had the time to explore the publishing process. She began researching selfpublishing and discovered Warren Publishing, a hybrid press based in Rock Hill. “They were amazing,” she said. “They held my hand through everything, from editing to formatting to marketing. I felt supported the whole way.”
FAMILY-CRAFTED ILLUSTRATIONS
Adding even more heart to the project is the book’s illustrator, Fergus’ sister-in-law and Jonathan’s godmother, Cait Chiou, an artist based in Chicago. “Before I even signed with Warren, Cait and I were playing around one summer, and I asked if she’d illustrate it,” Fergus said. “She said yes, and she brought the story to life with such stunning imagery.”
Stuck in the Mud is available on Hilton Head Island at Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum Shop, Barnes & Noble, and The Old Oyster Factory (because Broad Creek is the book’s setting). It can be purchased online at most major booksellers and on Fergus’ website, BrittanySloanFergus.com.
Chiou, though not a Lowcountry resident, infused the book with detailed depictions of the region’s wildlife and landscapes. “She did research and used the stories and photos I sent her,” Fergus said. “Her illustrations are just beautiful, and they really capture the essence of Hilton Head.”
Beyond its charming artwork and imaginative story, Stuck in the Mud offers deeper lessons for its young readers. “At its heart, the book is about curiosity,” Fergus said. “It’s about seeking answers, using your imagination, and not being afraid to take chances to solve problems.”
What makes Stuck in the Mud even more special is that it is rooted in the real community. “All of the characters are based on real Hilton Head kids,” said Fergus. “Our friends, our neighbors – the whole cast is local. Every parent gave permission, and they all know their kids are featured. It’s really a love letter to this place and the people in it.”
That love extends to the visual setting of the book as well. While the story’s Hilton Head references are subtle, they’re unmistakable for locals. “You’ll see the Harbour Town Lighthouse in the background, and you’ll recognize the landscapes. The Lowcountry is everywhere in the book – it’s part of the story.”
With Stuck in the Mud officially released, Fergus is already at work on her next project, also inspired by life on the island. “Last summer, an incident involving the pluff mud sparked a new story,” she said. “I’ve written the manuscript, and Cait has already storyboarded it. I’m working with Warren again and deciding whether to go more picture/story book for younger children or transition into longer chapter book territory for slightly older kids.”
While Fergus and her family are no longer on the island full-time, they kept their Hilton Head home and return often to spend time with friends and family. For now, Fergus is enjoying the full-circle moment of having her heart-born story shared with her beloved Hilton Head community. “It’s a story I wrote straight from the heart,” she said. “It weaves Lowcountry wildlife, imagery, and adventure into something that I hope inspires imagination in kids, just like that boat in the mud did for my son.”
As for what’s next, Fergus is open to wherever the current takes her. “I would love for Stuck in the Mud to be featured alongside other children’s books in future publications. It’s just been such a joyful experience, and I’m grateful for the chance to share it.”
Stuck in the Mud is available on Hilton Head Island at Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum Shop, Barnes & Noble, and The Old Oyster Factory (because Broad Creek is the book’s setting). It can be purchased online at most major booksellers and on Fergus’ website, BrittanySloanFergus.com.
Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or just someone who loves the Lowcountry, this heartwarming tale promises to spark curiosity, and maybe a few marshy adventures of your own.
Article by Heather Hinshelwood, MD, FACRM . Photography by M.Kat
DON’T LET FEAR KEEP YOU FROM THE MEDICAL CARE YOU NEED
In today’s world of endless opinions and information overload, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when making decisions about your health. As a physician in practice for almost 25 years, I see firsthand how fear – often fueled by others’ judgments or misinformation – can keep people from using therapeutic options they genuinely need. I call it the “medical boogeyman.”
Hands down, the biggest threat to the health of the U.S. right now is chronic disease. It is crippling our society. The rates of obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, dementia, and cancers of all types have skyrocketed. These diseases are taking people out of their lives and placing them in an endless cycle of doctors’ appointments, procedures, and surgeries. The solution to these diseases is simple and basic: movement and muscle mass, metabolic health, and hormone optimization.
Every day, patients arrive in my office wrestling not just with physical symptoms and health problems, but also with anxiety about what others might think of their choices. GLP-1s are a perfect example of this. GLP-1s like Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are transformative medications. They have long been known to provide excellent blood sugar control to diabetics and to promote weight loss in obesity. They have also been studied in chronic kidney disease, dementia, substance use disorder, polycystic ovarian syndrome, fatty liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and even mental health disorders.
GLP-1s are part of the solution to the American epidemic of chronic disease. In every disorder that has been studied, they have demonstrated substantial benefits. But patients are afraid to be on them or afraid that others will find out they are on them.
Why does this happen? At its core, health care is deeply personal. Our bodies, our histories, and our needs are unique. Yet we live in a culture where everyone seems to have an opinion on what’s “right” or “natural.” It’s often quick sound bites that they heard on TV or from someone else: “GLP-1s only work because you eat less from being so nauseated”; “They’ll make your intestines stop working”; “You’ll lose so much weight that you’ll look terrible after.”
The pressure to conform to others’ beliefs can be intense, especially when those beliefs are wrapped in emotion or fear. Unfortunately, this pressure can lead people to delay or decline treatments that are proven to help.
So how do we move forward? I have a few thoughts on this.
• Take ownership of your health. It’s yours and yours alone.
• Don’t be that person who offers erroneous advice about someone else’s health. It’s not helpful and can cost someone else an opportunity to improve their life.
• Ask an expert who is knowledgeable and skilled in the arena that you are looking at. For example, you wouldn’t bring in an electrician for an electrical issue and then tell them that you’re going to ask your friend the plumber if they agree with the assessment and plan. If you have an electrical issue, follow the electrician’s recommendations.
Here are a few strategies to help you stay confident in your medical choices:
• Educate yourself. Seek out reputable sources and ask your healthcare provider questions until you feel comfortable with your options. Knowledge is a powerful antidote to fear.
• Set boundaries. It’s okay to politely decline discussions about your health with people who aren’t supportive or informed. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for prioritizing your well-being.
• Find your support system. Surround yourself with people who respect your decisions, even if they don’t always agree with them. Sometimes, that means finding a new doctor, therapist, or community that aligns with your values.
• Remember your “why.” Whether you’re managing a chronic condition, recovering from an injury, or simply trying to stay healthy, keep your goals in mind. Let them guide you – not the opinions of others.
As a physician, my role is to empower patients to make informed choices, not to dictate what those choices should be. I encourage you to do the same for yourself. Don’t let fear, stigma, or the judgments of others keep you from the care that could change – or even save – your life.
Your health journey is yours alone. Trust yourself, seek out the best information, and don’t let anyone scare you away from what’s best for you.
Sam Adams and Courtney McManus tied the knot at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa in April of this year.
ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER /
Fantasy Draft FROM Forever UNTIL
Courtney McManus and Sam Adams might credit a fantasy football draft for kickstarting their love story, but theirs is a romance rooted in spontaneity, deep connection, and a little bit of fate.
It all began September 5, 2022, when Courtney, a vivacious Auburn graduate enjoying a night in with her roommate Hayley, got roped into an impromptu phone call. Hayley’s boyfriend Phil Parrish, a friend of Sam’s from back home in Phenix City, Alabama, thought his outgoing buddy might hit it off with Courtney. He wasn’t wrong.
“They just handed me the phone,” Courtney
recalled with a laugh. “Phil said, ‘Sam loves to chat on the phone.’ So, we called him, and we ended up talking like we’d known each other for 20 years.”
Sam remembers it well. “I had just gotten back from a Braves game with some college buddies in Atlanta, where I’d been living after graduating from Auburn. I got a call from Phil, answered it, and suddenly I’m talking to Courtney – someone I’d never met. We just clicked. I was immediately drawn in.”
He was so “drawn in” that when Courtney invited him to her birthday party, conveniently timed with his fantasy football draft, he came to the
Courtney admiring her dress, purchased from Wedding Angel’s Boutique in Roswell, Georgia, in the Presidential Suite of the Westin Resort & Spa, where she, along with her bridesmaids, grandmothers of the bride and groom, the mother of the bride and groom, and the flower girl all got ready together.
The bride with her dad, Dennis McManus, the man who spared no expense to make things perfect.
Detail shot of the bride's colorful shoes, along with her engagement ring, and favorite perfume.
The wedding cake was created by D’Flavour.
The groom and his family from left to right: Maggie, Jay Adams, Sam Adams, Katina Adams, Charles Adams, and Annie Adams. They had to shut down their family- run chicken restaurant, Yardbirds, for the occasion.
Sam and his groomsmen, from left to right: Charles Adams, Blaine Rosier, Sam Adams, Bug White, Dalton Johnson, and Devin Denny. Not pictured: Reece Bader, Brandon Parsons, Phillip Parrish, and Brett McManus.
The bride and her bridesmaids, from left to right: Savannah Wood, Haley Lozak, Sophie Scartz, Annie Adams, Courtney Adams, Maggie Adams, Abby Hearst, Lainee Freeman, Reagan Barfoot, and Braylee Clack.
The reception was held at the The Westin’s Grand Ocean Terrace.
party. “I drafted the league-winning team and met Courtney the same day,” Sam said. “Talk about a winning day.”
Both Courtney and Sam attended Auburn University, although their time there overlapped just briefly. Sam had graduated a year earlier, while Courtney stayed to complete her master’s. Though they never met on campus, the Auburn spirit clearly played matchmaker in retrospect. Their early romance involved long-distance travel between Auburn and Atlanta, about two and a half hours apart.
Courtney soon decided to take a leap. “After I graduated, I moved to Atlanta and actually moved into the same neighborhood as Sam. It was a very bold choice,” she admitted. “But it just felt right.”
Sam couldn’t help but admire her adventurous spirit and her magnetic personality. “Courtney just radiates fun,” he said. “Her smile and laugh are contagious. At her birthday party, it was like everyone was lining up to talk to her.”
First Impressions and First Dates
Courtney’s first impression of Sam was – quite literally –“big.”
“I was shocked by how tall he was!” she said. “I’m 5 foot 2, and he’s over a foot taller. But I also immediately noticed his personality. He’s outgoing, funny, and makes me laugh – a lot.”
Their first date didn’t go quite as planned, but it became a charming metaphor for their relationship. Sam, selfadmittedly “not the best planner,” had lined up dinner at Bow & Arrow in Auburn. Unfortunately, it was closed. So was his second choice, a nearby pizza place. Finally, the two ended up at a Japanese restaurant called Kabuki.
“It was kind of perfect,” Courtney said. “Everything went wrong, but it was still fun. That’s how life is – you roll with it. It felt easy.”
That ease of connection persisted, even as their relationship grew through months of long-distance calls and visits. Sam officially asked Courtney to be his girlfriend in the most festive and Courtney-esque way possible.
“We were driving back from dinner and Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ came on,” Courtney recalled. “I looked at him and said, ‘You still haven’t asked me to be your girlfriend.’”
Sam grinned. “I said, ‘Well, do you want to be my girlfriend?’ And she said ‘yes.’ So, thanks, Mariah.”
A year later, Sam was ready to propose. In December 2023, he asked Courtney’s father for her hand in marriage while visiting her family on Hilton Head. He lured Courtney’s father away from the family and into his car with a little white lie: Sam told her dad that something was wrong with his car and he needed him to look at it.
“I said ‘This is probably a really bad precedent to start this conversation with ‘I’m lying,’ but there’s actually nothing wrong with my car … I just wanted to ask your blessing for Courtney’s hand in marriage.’ Thankfully, he was all for it, so the planning began.”
Sam had Courtney’s engagement ring custom made at the same jeweler where his father had purchased his mother’s ring, another sentimental family touch that added even more meaning.
The proposal was simple, sincere, and perfectly them.
“It was March, I had the ring, and it was literally on fire
in my pocket,” Sam said. “There was no way I could wait, so I proposed that weekend.”
Back in Atlanta, Sam invited Courtney on a walk around the lake that was situated between their residences where, unbeknownst to her, Courtney’s roommate was hiding in the bushes to snap pictures of the moment he proposed.
“It was a big surprise,” Courtney said. “And obviously I said ‘Yes!’”
Saying ‘I Do’
On April 12, 2025, Sam and Courtney said “I do!” at the Westin on Hilton Head surrounded by 150 of their friends and family. The wedding theme was wildflowers, inspired
The groom dancing with the bride during their first dance to the tune of Steve Moakler’s “Suitcase". Local favorites Deas Guyz performed at the event.
Courtney with her mom, Lori McManus.
The bride and groom with the bride's family (from left to right)
Haley Stevenson (Brett’s fiance), Brett McManus (brother), Steve and Lori McManus (mom and dad)
by a Bible verse, Matthew 6:28, which states: “And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.”
The music was just as thoughtfully curated as the flowers. The ceremony started with a bagpiper as a tribute to Courtney’s Irish roots, and she walked down the aisle to a steel drum rendition of Elvis’ “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.” During the service, worship singers from Lowcountry Community Church performed; at the cocktail hour, the steel drums played in the background to set an island vibe; then at the reception, Deas Guyz were the featured performers.
The couple’s wedding was a reflection of everything they are: warm, joyful, and full of heart. Surrounded by family and friends, they pledged their lives to one another with the same natural ease that characterized their very first phone call.
“It felt surreal,” Courtney said. “Walking down the aisle, seeing Sam, knowing this was our forever. It was emotional, but also peaceful. Like, of course this is where we’re supposed to be.”
Sam echoed the sentiment. “There’s no better feeling than looking at the person you love and knowing you get to do life with them.”
Fittingly for this modern couple, a surprise twist accompanied their honeymoon. An episode of House Hunters featuring their home aired on TV while they were away.
After their engagement, the couple had bought a house in Atlanta, and they filmed an episode of the show during the process. “We didn’t even get to watch it live because we were on our honeymoon,” Courtney said. “But it was such a fun experience, and such a great time capsule of who we were right before the wedding.”
A Bright Future in Bluffton
Now, the couple is preparing for another new chapter: relocating to Bluffton. As they get ready to move into their new home, Courtney and Sam are embracing the same spirit of adventure that defined their early days.
“I think the best thing about our relationship is how easy it’s always felt,” Courtney said. “Even the hard parts, we’ve just figured them out together. And the thing I love best about Sam is how he relies on his faith in everything he does. That’s how I know this will last.”
“Courtney has the biggest heart,” Sam said. “I don’t know how it even fits in her size two frame. Plus, together we just don’t overcomplicate things. We laugh a lot, we support each other, and we always make the best out of whatever happens – even if the restaurant is closed.”
For a couple who began with a random phone call and a pizza plan gone awry, Courtney and Sam have built something beautiful, rooted in love, laced with humor, and ready for whatever adventures lie ahead.
ONE LUCKY DOLPHIN
Trapped by the tides in a Hampton Lake lagoon, dolphin was rescued by local heroes
It was a Saturday in July, and Michael Smith was staring at a sight few would ever believe. Two days before, torrential rains had paired with the swing of the tides to flood many of the drainage lagoons and culverts that dot Hampton Lake where Smith works as a naturalist. That tide, Smith now saw, had washed something into the inland lagoon that definitely didn’t belong there.
Slowly circling in rapidly receding water, a dolphin had gotten itself tragically lost. Smith didn’t know it at the time, but the dolphin’s name was Lucky. And she was about to live up to her name in a big way.
“Michael called the hotline, who routed him to the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN), which has the permit for marine mammals,” said local marine biologist Amber Kuehn. “I’m part of their regional volunteer network and I’m the first point of contact, so they called me directly.”
Along with her work as executive director of Hilton Head Island’s Sea Turtle Patrol, Kuehn has been the first person on the ground whenever a marine mammal washes ashore in the Lowcountry. As many rescues as she’s performed, pulling a dolphin from a lagoon was a first for her.
“I got over there and we weren’t sure at first if we could even do this. It’s a drainage ditch, so if we got in with her we’d sink up to our waists,” Kuehn said. “We found a path, but it was full of fallen debris. She was sort of sequestered by fallen trees, the water level was dropping and it was getting harder to access.”
After retrieving a chainsaw from her house, Kuehn and Smith were able to carve a path through the debris that would at least let them bring kayaks in to where the dolphin was trapped. Meanwhile, Kuehn was in constant communication with the LMMN.
Article by Barry Kaufman . Photography by Stephen Combs of the Bluffton Township Fire Department
Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network is federally authorized to respond to marine mammals in South Carolina by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding and Response Program. It is otherwise illegal to handle marine mammals without authorization.
Members of the relocation team from left to right: Michael Smith (naturalist in Hampton Lake), Tracy Kowalczyk (Marine Mammal Stranding Technician), Senior Firefighter Aaron Angel, BTFD Driver/ Operator Tony Crosetto, John Kane (LMMN Volunteer), Jane Rust (Executive Director LMMN ), BTFD Driver/Operator Brandon Driscoll, Amber Kuehn, Thomas Layer ( volunteer)
“We’re typically responding to animals that have beached. When we got the call Saturday, we just couldn’t believe it,” said LMMN Executive Director Lauren Rust. “We came down from Charleston, knowing that we were relying on Amber to bring in volunteers. Since I’m the state coordinator, I didn’t want anyone touching the animal without us there.”
Time being a factor, Kuehn came up with a plan to work with what she had. “I had one volunteer, a sling, and a trailer with towels, blankets, and a half-blown-up innertube for cushioning,” she said. “And then I thought to call the fire department.”
The Bluffton Township Fire Department’s first reaction to hearing that a dolphin had somehow gotten trapped in a drainage lagoon was pretty much what anyone else’s would have been.
“Yeah, right. A dolphin in Hampton Lake,” said Stephen Combs, BTFD public information officer. “The call coming from Amber lent it some credibility, but I had to see a photo before I was convinced it was real.”
Their perfectly reasonable skepticism satisfied, the district scrambled their rescue crew. This special response team consists of firefighters who have received extensive training in swiftwater and technical rescue that can be applied to numerous kinds of conditions. This would mark the first time since the district was established in 1978 that their team would be rescuing a dolphin.
The Rescue 335 crew, consisting of driver/operator Brandon Driscoll, driver/operator Tony Crosetto, and senior firefighter Aaron Angel arrived on the scene, along with Lt. Jeffrey Smith and senior firefighter Dave Adams arriving shortly after Rust did.
“We were there essentially to just listen to what the marine experts were saying. Lauren had everything ready and was directing everyone on the scene,” Combs said. As the district’s PIO, he was on the scene filming video that you more than likely saw on your Facebook feed that weekend. “It blew up our social media and our website.”
With the whole team together, the rescue operation was underway. Using logs, 2x4s and an EMS backboard as a barricade, they attempted to corral Lucky into shallower water where she could be placed in a sling. The dolphin didn’t make it easy on them, evading the volunteers in kayaks and the firefighters who were wrangling her from inside the lagoon.
“It was waist-deep water in some places, but these firemen were willing to get in. They were such good sports about it,” Kuehn said. “We came up with all sorts of tactics. What ended up working was she got scared and headed further inland, in the wrong direction.”
Flushed from the lagoon, Lucky had stranded herself in just a few inches of water.
“That ended up being the best-case scenario. She had been evading us pretty well in deeper water, but now we could get her into the sling,” Rust said. “Once they got her into it, she kind of gave in. She was pretty calm.”
Getting her into the sling, however, was just step one. The hardest part lay ahead – hauling Lucky through the water, between fallen trees, and up a fairly steep embankment to where Kuehn’s trailer waited.
“It was a big mountain ahead of us,” Kuehn said. “They had to carry it probably 150 yards through the path we’d cut and up a steep hill, but they did it like champions. Keep in mind this is 400- to 500-pound animal.”
Moving at a deliberate pace to ensure safety for both Lucky and her human rescuers, they were able to negotiate the lagoons, creeks, forests, and hills with four people on each side of the sling. It was slow going, but they eventually made it to Kuehn’s trailer ,where Lucky was gently placed in a cradle for transportation.
“We were doing 25 mph all the way down Old Miller Road and down 46 with a fire department escort,” said Kuehn. “We turned in at May River Plantation but we couldn’t use the boat launch because there was lots of pluff mud.”
Once again Lucky was loaded into the sling and carried down a private dock’s ramp, angled sharply by the low tide. Once they had her in position, the sling was released just above the water line and Lucky gently slipped into the waiting water.
“She laid there in the water for a second, then just flipped around, swam in a circle, then rose up to the surface as if to say ‘thanks,’” Combs said. “A lot of us were pretty emotional
at that point. These firefighters, they don’t always get to see a happy ending like this. It was such a cool experience.”
Coming from the point of view of a marine mammal expert, the experience was similarly affirming for Rust. “We usually do necropsies, which is still really important. But it does mean we do not get a lot of positive outcomes,” she said. “Everything about this, how smoothly it went, how easily they could release her … it was a great story for us. We needed a win.”
As Lucky was being lowered into the water, Kuehn was snapping pictures of her dorsal fin to send to her contacts at USCB. Part of an initiative by the university’s marine biology department is keeping a head count of our local dolphins, identifying each by the unique print of their fin. As she’s one of the most commonly spotted dolphins USCB tracks, they were able to ID Lucky without even having to check their program.
“Driving home I had a moment of panic because I realized we’d just had calving season. What if a calf had followed her in there? Thankfully, they even knew from their surveys that Lucky didn’t’ have a calf this year,” Kuehn said. “So I was able to sleep without feeling like I had to go backtrack through that culvert system.”
It was a coordinated effort among a crew of volunteers who found a bond deep in the lagoons of Hampton Lake as they rallied around Lucky and brought her to safety.
“We’re lucky the LMMN came down from Charleston and that I had connections in this area,” Kuehn said. “And we’re lucky that we have a great fire department and people who are willing to dedicate all this time and energy.”
Rick Hubbard leads visiting children in a rousing version of air guitar onstage under the Liberty Oak in Harbour Town.
ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN
PHOTO COURTESY SEA PINES RESORT
Still Humming Along
KAZOO GUY RICK HUBBARD CONTINUES HIS MUSICAL JOURNEY
For decades, it was the summer soundtrack to Coligny Plaza. Reverberating across storefronts, shops, and restaurants, it was the sweet sound of the endless madcap energy of childhood. To some, this trilling hum would hit the ear like a power drill, causing an involuntary wince and an utterance of “What is that godawful noise?” To others, it was the buzzing symphony of youthful exuberance, a joyfully atonal noise unhampered by the traditional octave.
To Rick Hubbard, this crescendo of kazoos was the sound of magic and memories. “It's a beautiful thing,” he said. “There's nothing like it.”
Hubbard’s famed Kazoobie Kazoo Show was, in its heyday, one of the three pillars of children’s entertainment on Hilton Head Island. There was Gregg Russell in Harbour Town. There was Shannon Tanner in Shelter Cove. And in Coligny, there was Rick Hubbard and his cacophony of kazoos.
While he still does at least one show each summer on Hilton Head Island, it’s been years since his Kazoobie shows were a staple of Coligny’s summer. But as his regular appearances around the country – not to mention his fleeting fame in a nationwide spot for Facebook – will attest, Hubbard is still very much one of the Lowcountry’s greatest family entertainers.
“I’ve been all over playing summer reading programs, libraries, theaters. … I play at five different resorts. That has made me a little less visible on Hilton Head, so I’ve always tried to keep at least one gig on the island,” he said. “I've always been that kind of entertainer who appreciates challenges rather than comfort and new energy versus the same old thing. So it just fit my personality to not just settle in and commit to a five-nights-a-week gig for the rest of my life.”
When he performed his first Coligny gig in 1987, he had already established himself as an in-demand musician not only on the island, but in his native Atlanta. After being given his first guitar in the 1960s (“I refused to play clarinet in the band, so my grandmother gave me a guitar and said, ‘If you’re not going to play in the band, you still have to have music in your life’”), he got his first taste of success in college when his band was hired to back up the legendary Chuck Berry.
“Chuck Berry never carried a band, never traveled with a band, never had a band. He was all about the money. He’d fly into town and say, ‘Give me a guitar player, a bass player, a drummer and a keyboard player,’” Hubbard said. “It was just magic. It was like I’d been in Chuck Berry's band my whole life. There are probably 10,000 bass players who played with Chuck Berry. I am not that special, but for me, it was a big deal.”
Coming up through the Atlanta music scene, he found himself in a band called Cullowhee. Their folk rock
sound was popular on what Hubbard calls the “Hootie and the Blowfish circuit,” taking them to venues like the Double Door in Charlotte, J.C. Dobbs in Philadelphia, 930 Club in Washington, D.C., and the 40 Watt Club in Athens. Eventually, through a series of connections, they booked a gig at a little place on Hilton Head Island called The Old Post Office. Returning again with an entirely different band, he had a conversation with Mark Ruplinger, part owner of the legendary venue, that would change his life.
“I told him, I’m just trying to stay busy playing music and I’ll tell you, I love it down here in Hilton Head.’ I’d been out to a few places where guys were playing guitar and singing songs and told Mark if he heard about any opportunities, I wasn’t married to this band,” Hubbard said. “A few months later, at nine o’clock in the morning, my phone rang. It was Mark, asking if I was still looking for a guitar playing gig on Hilton Head. And as it turned out I was, because my band had just broken up.”
It was kismet. His first test-run gig came Easter weekend 1987, where he was asked to put on a two-hour show at Coligny. Inspired by what Gregg Russell was doing in Harbour Town, Hubbard augmented his show with storytelling, puppetry, juggling flaming torches, and music to create a three-ring circus of entertainment. But he knew his show was missing something: He wanted a grand finale.
And that’s when kismet struck again.
“I was out on tour doing standup comedy, of all things, in Louisville, Kentucky, and I walked in a music store. They
A variety of kazoos on display at the Kazoo Factory & Museum
The Kazoo Factory & Museum in Beaufort
Part of Rick's interactive show includes an onstage bubble party.
Still Humming Along
had a big, whole display case full of kazoos with all different imprints and stuff on them. It turned out that store had a direct connection to America’s only kazoo factory,” he said. “It was like ‘ding ding ding.’ I’ll hand out kazoos at the end of the show.”
More so than the bass he played for Chuck Berry, the keyboards he played with his traveling bands, or the guitar he played at Coligny, the kazoo would become Hubbard’s signature instrument. The popularity of his Kazoobie Kazoo show would quickly eclipse its Coligny birthplace, becoming a phenomenon at festivals across the country, with Hubbard leading kazoo orchestras from the Ohio State Fair to the Kennedy Center.
“Kids entertainment was huge in the ’90s. I rode this tsunami wave of playing giant theaters and huge festivals with enormous crowds,” he said. “I put on a 30,000-person kazoo band in Cincinnati during Oktoberfest in 1999.”
He even wound up purchasing that sole American kazoo factory, moving its operations to Beaufort and setting himself up as the preeminent kazoo artist in the country. His success would see him appear in a national Facebook ad as part of the International Kazoo Players Association. He has since sold the factory, saying with a grin, “If you ever own a kazoo factory and you get an offer, you don’t really want to sit around and see if you get more offers,” but he maintains a Colonel Sanders-type role as figurehead.
As his career in kazoo manufacturing winds down, he has established Rick Hubbard’s Great American Kids Show and built a booking agency with two partners, one of whom was once just a nine-year-old kid with a kazoo at a show. His profile might be slightly lower on Hilton Head these days, with the occasional summer show in Harbour Town, but rest assured Rick Hubbard has kept his musical journey humming along.
“Frank Sinatra had a great quote: ‘There’s entertainers and there’s artists.’ I tell people, I’m not an artist, I’m an entertainer,” he said. “I found something that works, which is making people happy, playing songs, getting kids involved, and handing out kazoos. And I’ve stuck with that concept.”
A LINE IN THE SAND
Photography by M.Kat
COURTNEY’S THOUGHTS
When was the last time you did something and completely forgot that you did it? No, I didn’t go to space, nor will I ever (more on that in a minute), but apparently, I did suggest this month’s topic and until I ready Barry’s take, I had no recollection that it was my idea. This is terrifying (not as terrifying as heights, more on that in a minute) and oddly ironic as I reflect on the “Am I turning into my parents?” column we wrote not long ago.
Anyway, now to the reason we are all here. I listen to a weekly podcast, “Handsome,” hosted by three hilarious comics, who shoot the breeze for most of the time, tackling
all the topics of life, and then always take a caller question at the end. It would seem that during a recent episode I was inspired by their weekly caller question and alas, here we are.
Short answer, hell no, I am not going to space. I am afraid of heights. On vacation last month someone thought it would be fun to enjoy a hot air balloon ride over quaint French villages and vineyards. I was not that someone, but I did it anyway. If my husband can endure multiple wine tastings, I can endure drifting in a wicker basket one mile from Earth. Right? Wrong.
Did you know that a hot air balloon is quite literally a wicker basket? No other materials, straight wicker. Have you ever held your breath for an hour while losing all feeling in your hands due to your Superman-like grip whilst teetering atop shaking legs? That is what a hot air balloon ride was to me. Truth be told, that is also my reaction to step ladders and paddleboards.
In addition to my fear of heights and, um, my current desire to live, you know I abhor not having a plan when I travel. Since space has yet to make it to the Travel & Leisure
TOPIC: SPACE TRAVEL & SONG CHOICES
Top 10 list, I am aware of no restaurants that I want to try at the destination, no excursions come to mind, and I am unclear on the weather patterns (are we talking Mars space or Pluto space, or is Pluto still space?) and would have difficulty packing, space is not on my bucket list.
But what I can get into is a song. Music is the salve to my soul. When I ski, a sport at which I do not excel due to my aforementioned combination fear of (you guessed it) heights and speed, I sing to myself on the way down the mountain to calm my nerves and steady my legs. Same song, on repeat.
My go-to song is Charlie Rich’s “Rolling with the Flow,” circa 1977.
“Can’t take it with you when you’re gone
But I want enough to get there on
And I ain’t ever growin’ old
So, I keep on rollin’ with the flow (keep on rollin’ with the flow).”
It’s twangy, it’s catchy, it’s likely not on many Jersey Girl’s playlist, but every time I hear it I immediately relax, sway from side to side (super helpful when skiing, not sure about hurtling toward Earth), and smile.
So, if I’m going, that’s what I am going out to.
Barry, as one of the speakers on my funeral’s eulogy list, take note and go with the flow.
BARRY'S THOUGHTS
So, if you’ve recently asked yourself, “I wonder how Courtney’s doing?” I’ll answer that question simply: This month’s subject was her idea. I’ll let her text message to me speak for itself:
“August – would you go to outer space if you could? And if did and were told the spaceship was about to explode in 3 minutes what song would you play?”
So she’s doing fine, thanks for asking.
Anyway, it was still a better subject than what I came up with (“Is cereal a soup?”) so we’ll go with it. Would I go to outer space? And if so, and the spaceship were going to explode in 3 minutes, what song would I play?
I would absolutely go to space. First of all, let’s just talk weightlessness. As someone who has felt gravity’s cruel pull more than most, thanks to a deep, heartfelt love of junk food, even a few moments of weightlessness is like heaven. It’s why I spend as much of my time as I possibly can on rollercoasters. To feel that kind of freedom from my earthbound bulk for even a few minutes would be divine.
Barry's Kaufman's very last song request.
But I want to make it clear that if you’re sending me to space, you’d better send me all the way. I’m not doing one of these cutesy Katy Perry photo ops where I get about as high as your average Dave Matthews Band fan for three minutes. I want to blast through the rings of Saturn, plant a flag on top of Olympus Mons, and buy a postcard from Uranus. I want to swing by Pluto and let it know, “I don’t care what anyone says, you’re still a planet to me, dammit.”
Also, it would be just kind of nice to get away from earth for a little while. I don’t know if you’ve been following the news, but this planet is being A LOT right now. I think I could use a break.
But, of course, if movies have taught me anything, it’s that going to space always leads to disaster. If you’re not dealing with xenomorph chest busters, you’re battling your estranged father with a lightsaber. So naturally, there would come the dramatic moment when, for whatever reason, I find out that the ship will explode in three minutes. Why three? Ask Courtney.
Now, I did try and get some wiggle room in this one. If my song choice determines how long before the ship explodes, well, then I’m definitely going with something like “The Key to the Gates of Apocalypses” by Mistigo Varggoth Darkestra. Not because it’s a particularly good song (and to be clear, it is not) but because it’s 72 minutes long. Checkmate.
But if I really only have three minutes to live, hurtling through the blackness of space toward the inevitable void of whatever lies beyond this plane of existence, there’s really only one choice. Clocking in at 3:13, I would pick the song “1985” by Bowling for Soup. Again, not because it’s a good song. But because I could then shout to the heavens with my last breath, just before the bulkhead blows and I get sucked out into the screaming maw of eternity, “Cereal is, in fact, soup.”
ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER
ROOTS & RIVERS FESTIVAL LIGHTS UP THE BLUFFTON WATERFRONT
What began as an idea to celebrate Black entrepreneurs in the Lowcountry has blossomed into one of Bluffton’s most anticipated community events. Now in its third year, the Roots & Rivers Festival is returning to Bluffton’s Oyster Factory Park September 6 from 2 to 8 p.m.
The festival offers live music, dancing, food trucks, local artisan vendors, and family-friendly fun – all set against the stunning backdrop of the May River.
More than just a festival, though, it’s a testament to the power of unity, Black entrepreneurship, and local pride. It’s a living, breathing expression of the
mission behind BlacQuity, a Bluffton-based nonprofit working to empower Black entrepreneurs across the Lowcountry.
“We originally planned a small oyster roast for about 100 people,” said Gwen Chambers, executive director of BlacQuity. “The idea was to spread awareness of our work and to let Black Equity University (BEU) graduates share their stories. But the interest was overwhelming and it quickly snowballed into a full festival.”
That first year exceeded expectations, and momentum only grew. By its second year, the festival welcomed more than 500 guests, some traveling from
Attendees at last year's Roots & Rivers Festival laugh, dance and enjoy themselves.
This year's event will be held on September 6, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Bluffton's Oyster Factory Park.
as far as Ohio and New York, but also attracting neighbors in Savannah and Charleston. Organizers anticipate an even larger crowd this year.
“The Roots & Rivers Festival gives us a beautiful way to celebrate the brilliance, resilience, and excellence of Black-owned businesses across the Lowcountry,” Chambers said. “It’s about building community, sharing culture, and putting our dollars where our values are.”
This year’s festival is headlined once again by the ever-popular Deas Guyz, the local band with a mix of Motown and R&B, among other popular music.
Youth dance performances will highlight local talent and add vibrant energy. More than 30 vendors, many of whom are BEU graduates, will be showcasing products from artisan crafts to savory dishes. A Kid Zone packed with games and activities ensures fun for festival-goers of all ages.
The atmosphere is one of genuine joy and connection. “It’s really a day to come out, enjoy incredible food, shop local, listen to great music, and meet the people behind these businesses,” Chambers said.
While the Roots & Rivers Festival was born from BlacQuity’s mission, it thrives because of a dedicated team working behind the scenes. Many of the organizers are BEU graduates bringing not only their skills, but also a deep, personal investment in the festival’s purpose.
Key organizers include Derek Jenkins, board chair, with Brenda Shelton, LJ Bush, Denice Brown, Trelani Michelle, Sherry Todd, Carl Statham, Karla Zavala, Courtney Hayes, Ally Hughes, and Maria Robinson.
“It really takes a village, and these are people who not only volunteer their time but also share their expertise and passion for what BlacQuity stands for,” Chambers said.
Sponsors and partners, including local foundations, businesses, and civic leaders, play a crucial role as well. The presenting sponsor is Bill Anderson, Realtor, with Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty.
The Purpose Behind the Party
The Roots & Rivers Festival supports BlacQuity’s programs via fundraising and awareness building. BlacQuity (the name is a blending of the words “Black” and “equity”) was founded by community and business leaders Billy Watterson and Bridgette Frazier. They recognized the need to go beyond visibility and business directories, creating real pathways to success for Black-owned businesses in the region that were otherwise, according to Chambers, “often under-resourced and flying under the radar.”
BlacQuity’s mission is to change that, through education, opportunity, and connection. The Roots & Rivers Festival supports the mission by funding
ROOTS & RIVERS FESTIVAL
When: Saturday, September 6
Time: 2-8 p.m.
Where: Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf Street, Bluffton Cost: Tickets $15; group pack of four, $50 rootsandriversfestival.com
several initiatives, including but not limited to:
• Black Equity University (BEU): A 12-week accelerator covering branding, business planning, and tax essentials.
• BEU 2.0: Advanced workshops on human resources, contracts, and growth strategy.
• Motivation Mondays: Monthly meetups with expert guest speakers.
• Pitch Night: A Shark Tank-style competition offering real funding for BEU grads.
At the festival, expect to find delicious food from local favorites like Da Shack and Food Savvy, along with handcrafted products, art, and more. Experiencing BEU graduates’ skills and creativity firsthand is one of the most rewarding parts of the festival – guests will be able to see and taste exactly where their investment is going.
While the festival centers on Black entrepreneurship, it welcomes everyone. Thanks to a growing list of sponsors, this annual celebration remains accessible, inclusive, and familyfriendly.
In just three years, the Roots & Rivers Festival has grown from an intimate oyster roast into one of Bluffton’s most anticipated events. But for Chambers and the team, its heart remains unchanged. “It started as a small idea to showcase our entrepreneurs,” she said. “Now it’s a space where, whether you’re a longtime supporter or a first-time guest, you get a unique opportunity to experience Bluffton’s warmth, celebrate local talent, and support a mission that’s making a real difference.”
The Roots & Rivers Festival isn’t just growing; it’s planting something lasting. In a region rich with culture and creativity, this event reminds us that investing in Black businesses is investing in the future of our home here in the Lowcountry.
ARTICLE BY PAUL BAILEY
We Used to Drink Hose Water: Now We Know Better
Growing up, many of us drank water straight from the hose and never thought twice about it. We ate fast food, didn’t read labels, and trusted whatever came out of the tap. But over time, our food has changed – and our water has definitely changed.
Today, the water coming into our homes is exposed to more than some people realize. Pharmaceuticals, PFAS, microplastics, chlorine, and other chemicals are now part of the conversation. It’s not just about taste anymore; it’s about health.
The truth is, there is no “new water.” The same water has been recirculating for thousands of years, and it now flows through miles of aging infrastructure before it reaches your home. It is treated along the way, but treatment is not the same as purification. Even when the water meets federal standards, that doesn’t mean it’s clean enough for what matters most – your family, your kids, your health.
At Pure Way Filtration, we believe water should be clean, safe, and trusted at every tap, not just one filtered faucet. We are a local team based right here in the Lowcountry, and we drink the same water you do. That’s why we’ve dedicated ourselves to doing one thing and doing it better than anyone else.
As Orville Redenbacher once said, “Do one thing and do it better than anyone else.” At Pure Way, that one thing is water. We don’t dabble in a dozen services. We focus entirely on whole-home water filtration because we believe it deserves that level of attention and expertise.
A lot of homeowners think a water softener is the answer, but a softener doesn’t filter anything, it just conditions the water. And while reverse osmosis has its place, it removes everything – the good and the bad – leaving your water flat, empty, and void of essential minerals your body needs.
Pure Way is different. Our system is designed to remove the bad and leave the good in. It filters out chlorine, heavy metals, PFAS, pesticides, microplastics, and more without stripping away beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium. It is clean water, without compromise.
Our whole-home filtration system protects your family from the moment water enters your house. That means safe water for cooking, bathing, washing your clothes, brushing your teeth, and yes, drinking straight from any tap. And if there’s ever a boil water alert, our customers are already covered.
I’m Paul Bailey, owner of Pure Way of the Lowcountry and a licensed South Carolina homebuilder. I’ve lived on Hilton Head Island since 1986, and I’ve built and protected homes across this region for decades. Today, I protect what flows into them. We proudly serve Hilton Head, Bluffton, Ridgeland, Charleston, Summerville, Savannah, and the surrounding areas.
There are a lot of things we can’t control. But now, for the first time, we can control the quality of our water at the point it enters our home. We believe that being proactive about your water is one of the most important steps you can take in your health journey, and we’re here to help you do it. If there were a better product out there, I would be using it – and selling it. But there isn’t. That’s why we stand behind this system and install it in our own homes.
Visit purewaylowcountry.com or our corporate site, purewayfiltration.com, to learn more. We offer free in-home testing, local support, and real answers – because your water should never be a question mark.
The Pure Way Hilton Head Team: Casey Porter, Sydney Hall and Paul Bailey
ARTICLE BY JESSE BLANCO
BURGER BONANZA
After “seafood” in this area, the most-asked question I get is: “What are your top burgers?”
Most times I’m asked for two or three. Sometimes I’m asked for five. One time I was asked to name my top five, and then a second five when the original five didn’t include this person’s go-to.
Try naming 10 great burgers in this area on the fly. If you enjoy them, you could probably do it, but it is not easy.
All that to tell you how popular the burger – and burger culture in this country – can be. If you like trying a variety, then you already know that. Now, we are giving you an opportunity to do just that at the of the month.
The Eat It and Like It Burger Bash is a first-time event for us. It will run August 18-28 and will feature roughly two dozen burgers across the region, from Savannah to Beaufort, including, of course, Hilton Head Island and Bluffton.
The idea was something we’ve been tossing around for a couple of years and finally thought it was the right time to go for it. We’ve been met with great enthusiasm by most of the restaurants we’ve approached. They couldn’t sign up fast enough.
So, what exactly is this event?
The Burger Bash is a 10-day experience in which participating restaurants will either feature a burger (or burgers) that they’ve never offered before, or offer you a current burger on their menu for a special price. For some, it’s an opportunity to have some fun outside of their menu. For other participants, it’s a way to introduce an already popular burger to a larger audience. Either way, there will be a price cap of $20.
For example, how many of you have been asked about a great burger in Bluffton and you’ve responded by suggesting this person cross the bridge and try Tin and Tallow? You know you have. I know I have. Heck, I’ve told several people in Savannah that they should take a Saturday afternoon drive over to T&T to try the burger. A big selling point is the fact that it is – almost literally – right over the bridge once you get onto the island.
Similarly, I’ve told a great many people on the island that they should invest a Saturday drive up to St. Helena Island to try the burgers at Beedos. Yes, they are worth THAT drive.
Over in Savannah, there are a ton, including the 2 a.m. burger being featured at Ardsley Station. It’s an 8-ounce patty, topped with bacon jam, an egg, and fried hash browns. The goal is to cure any hangover. I think it might.
Fans of Rocky’s of Savannah NY Deli should also know that Bill is planning to offer The Pastrami Bomb double smash patties topped with a quarter pound of his housemade pastrami.
Pete at Slider Bar in Old Town Bluffton is offering a couple of options including a fried chicken breast on a creme bruleed doughnut. Yeah … that’s not a typo.
There are many, many more, but you get the picture. Other island participants include Char Bar and the aforementioned Tin and Tallow. By the time we kick this thing off, the goal is to have somewhere between 25 and 30 participating restaurants.
You can see the full list as it evolves anytime at eatitburgerbash.com
A couple of notes to share here if you are considering taking part at one or a few venues: There are no special tickets required. Reservations vary from place to place. My guess is none of our participants (especially in the Lowcountry) will require a reservation, but it’s always smart to check … especially on a weekend.
Beyond that, we are letting everyone know that sharing will be strongly discouraged, but it will be handled on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis. Of course, the polite thing is to ask first.
I don’t know about you, but as I write this, I am making my lists and checking them twice, even though it is midJuly. I’m planning to get to all of them over two weeks. If you get to 20 of them, I want to hear from you. Shoot me a line at tips@eatitandlikeit.com.
Good luck and happy eating!
THE EAT IT AND LIKE IT BURGER BASH 2025
A delicious cheesy burger from Tin & Tallow
NOTES ON OUR BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROCESS
As August starts and summer wanes, the Town of Hilton Head Island’s beach renourishment project begins.
If this is your first time to experience beach renourishment, here’s a quick overview: This process replaces sand lost over time due to natural erosion and seasonal storm activity. It’s a LOT of sand – 2.2 million cubic yards, in fact – pulled from our nearby underwater “borrow areas” that, fortunately for us, are replenished naturally in the intervening years between projects.
Every eight to 10 years, this process restores the “storm surge barrier” function of the dunes that serve as protection for our homes, businesses, and maritime forest. It also promotes a healthy environment by supporting the expansion of existing beach plants that anchor those dunes, and protects and restores animal habitats for some of our favorite locals, such as loggerhead sea turtles and endangered shorebirds.
Regardless of your lens – resident, business owner, visitor, whomever you are – we can all agree that our beaches should be preserved, protected, and cherished. Our island depends on their ongoing vitality. The town’s role is to carry out the community’s collective dedication to this environmental core value through this investment in restoration and maintenance. Fortunately, due to the foresight of town leaders before us, and thanks to our millions of visitors, these projects are funded through our beach preservation fund and capital improvement program.
Marinex Construction Inc. has been mobilizing since the beginning of July, placing their offshore barges and staging miles of steel pipes to pump that sand back to our beaches. It’s important to remember that offshore wave conditions (even on sunny days), storms, and occasional equipment adjustments can all have an impact on the renourishment schedule. At any given time, temporary restrictions to accessing certain areas in our beach parks are imposed to help keep everyone safe, so we’re asking everyone for their patience and understanding as we get to work on the various phases.
Phase 1: We’re starting in the Fish Haul/Port Royal (the Heel)/Pine Island area first. Fish Haul Beach is scheduled from August 6 through mid-month. To ensure the safety of the public and construction workers, the park must close for approximately five days beginning August 6, depending on weather. The renourishment at this location is limited to a small area with a single point of access, so if the park were to remain open, the public and construction activities would be
BLUFFTON NEEDS INFORMED CANDIDATES AND ENGAGED VOTERS
Bluffton’s next municipal election is set for Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Two town council seats will be on the ballot, and the filing period for candidates runs from August 8 at noon through September 8 at noon.
If you’re considering running for office, or casting your vote for someone who is, this is an opportunity to learn more about how your local government works and how you can be a part of shaping it.
Serving on town council is both an honor and a commitment. It requires time, preparation, and a willingness to learn how decisions are made within Bluffton’s legal and organizational framework. Potential candidates should take time to reflect on whether they’re ready to invest that energy, work collaboratively, and represent the entire community – not just their neighborhood or platform.
Bluffton operates under a council-manager form of government. That means town council sets the vision, adopts ordinances, and shapes policy, while the town manager and staff carry out those directives. This model depends on clarity of roles and strong partnerships.
In our recent community survey, residents expressed a high level of satisfaction with the town’s services, events, and overall quality of life. At the same time, many shared concerns about the pace of growth and its impacts on infrastructure, and many were unsure about which government agency provides which services.
That feedback led to the creation of the Resident Resource Guide, a clear, fact-based reference mailed to all town residents in June. It’s designed to answer common questions, clarify responsibilities, and help people feel more confident navigating local
A Note from Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry
A Note from Bluffton Mayor Larry Toomer
sharing the space. Safety for everyone must be our highest priority. Pine Island work (sand only, not the new rock structures) should occur mid-August through mid-September, and Port Royal (the Heel) should be from mid-September through mid-November.
Per a requirement of the beach renourishment permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the town amended its municipal code to restrict animal/dog activity in an area the size of about three football fields, which is adjacent to Fish Haul Beach Park. This requirement protects endangered shorebird species who migrate and nest there. Signage is posted around the restricted area and no other beach areas will be affected. To be clear, dogs are still allowed per the town’s seasonal rules; it’s just a small section of the creek area adjacent to the beach park that’s now restricted.
Phase 2: We’re scheduled to start with the Central Island Beach area, which includes Palmetto Dunes, around mid-November and will finish around Valentine’s Day in 2026. From there, they plan to move to the South Beach area, which includes part of Sea Pines and Coligny Beach. This part of the project is scheduled to take place from mid-February through the first couple of weeks of May 2026.
Phase 3: This is the final phase, and this work will add the breakwater rock structures at Pine Island. That exact timeline is still to be determined.
Throughout this process, please remember that renourishment is a moving work zone. On average, only 300 feet of beach will be impacted per day – just 2% of the island’s total beach area. Temporary beach access ramps and clear signage will help direct beachgoers safely around active work areas to open areas of the beach. We are committed to minimizing the amount of beach restricted at any given time, limiting noise disruptions and nighttime lighting, and the bulk of the work will be done outside of the busiest times of the year. We’re also working with Sea Turtle Patrol to monitor turtle nests and relocate them as needed.
To stay updated on the project’s progress – including location schedules, an interactive project progress map, photos, FAQs, and more –visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov/beachrenourish2025. You can also sign up for email alerts and follow us on Facebook (TownofHHI) to stay up to date on the project.
government. Whether you’re new to Bluffton or have lived here for years, the guide is a helpful tool – and especially useful for anyone considering a run for office.
The truth is, talking points often sound good during campaigns but might not reflect what’s possible under state law, existing development agreements, the town’s strategic plan and action agenda, or the town’s long-term commitments. That’s why being informed, both as a resident and as a candidate, helps build realistic expectations and stronger outcomes.
Bluffton’s future depends on thoughtful, informed leadership and engaged citizens. If you’re considering a run for office, I encourage you to take time to understand the responsibilities, the time commitment, and the resources available to help you succeed. If you're a voter, I hope you’ll seek out candidates who have done that work and are ready to serve with knowledge and intention.
To learn more, please read the Resident Resource Guide. You can find it online at townofbluffton.sc.gov, or pick up a copy at Town Hall, 20 Bridge Street, during business hours, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.to 5:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m.to 1 p.m. Copies are available while supplies last.
An informed Bluffton is a stronger Bluffton. Let’s move forward together with intention, purpose, and realistic expectations. #KnowYourTown
A Note from Larry Toomer continued
A Series of Fortunate Events, interesting news and a hodge-podge of other items. You know…this and that! If you would like to submit something for this special section, please email maggie@ch2cb2magazine.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.
Valerie Kramer will be the featured artist August 26-September 26 at Art League of Hilton Head gallery. Her introspective exhibition is titled “Icons and Tidal Pools.”
A lifelong creator and educator, Kramer’s work speaks to the complexity of womanhood, memory, and identity. In her latest series, enigmatic female figures confront the viewer with quiet strength, crowned in luminous halos and layered symbolism. These introspective portraits merge stained-glass inspiration with a modern sensibility, inviting viewers to reflect on life’s transitions and the spiritual echoes of middle age.
Known for her compelling use of color and mixed media, Kramer traces her artistic roots back to early childhood and a deep love of spontaneous creativity. Her influences range from Wayne Thiebaud and Richard Diebenkorn to the quiet drama of Edward Hopper, and shape a body of work that is both visually arresting and deeply personal.
An opening reception will be held August 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. and a gallery talk is scheduled for September 9 at 2:30 p.m. The exhibit, reception, and gallery talk are free and open to the public.
Art League is located at 14 Shelter Cove Lane on Hilton Head Island, inside the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (843) 681-5060 or visit artleaguehhi.org.
Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of Hilton Head Island (VIM) recently was presented with a check from Delta Dental of South Carolina in support of VIM’s oral health and educational programs.
VIM’s dental clinic delivers more than $1.2 million in essential dental care each year, performing more than 3,600 procedures for children and adults. VIM’s state-of-the-art clinic provides comprehensive treatment to patients who often have nowhere else to turn.
Nearly 25% of VIM’s dental services are emergency-based, reflecting the urgent need in our community.
“The mouth is the window into the soul and many other diseases,” said VIM Executive Director John Newman, MD. “Dental disease remains one of the most widespread – and preventable – health issues, especially among those with limited access to care, so we are very grateful for the support of Delta Dental as we strive to improve the health of our patients.”
The $20,000 awarded to VIM was among the more than $127,900 in oral health grants given to five South Carolina-based organizations that align with Delta Dental of South Carolina’s mission to improve oral health.
The Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival will be held Sat., Sept. 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. on the lawn near the Liberty Oak at Harbour Town in the Sea Pines Resort.
The Shrimp Festival is a familyfriendly event, featuring savory shrimp dishes prepared by Hilton Head and Bluffton chefs, craft beers from more than 16 breweries (while supplies last), an array of goods offered by local artists and vendors, with live music on the Liberty Oak stage.
An activity-filled Kid Zone with a bounce house, face painting, arts and crafts, and more, will be provided by event sponsors, including The Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head, Coca-Cola, Southern Crown Partners, and US Foods. General admission for ages 21 and up is $79; no-alcohol admission is $59. Children 8 and younger are admitted free. VIP tickets, $150, include early entry at 12:30 p.m., private cocktail demonstration and tasting at 1:30 p.m. in the VIP tent, private demonstration and tasting of the 2024 Shrimp Festival winning dish by Chef Daniel Mear’s of Fraser’s Tavern at 2 p.m., and complimentary valet parking in Harbour Town.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit seapines. com/shrimp-festival.
Denial - By Valerie Kramer
Dr. John Newman, executive director of VIM; Kim Likins, development director; and Patricia Curcio and Donna Carr from the VIM dental clinic display a replica check for a $20,000 grant received from Delta Dental of South Carolina.
C2 Magazine • August 2025 Edition
The Town of Hilton Head Island’s beach renourishment project is scheduled to start August 6 at Fish Haul Beach, off Mitchelville Road on the island’s north end.
This vital project, which happens every eight to 10 years, involves replacing sand along sections of the shoreline that have been lost over time to natural erosion and storm activity. As part of the construction activities and to ensure the public’s safety, Fish Haul Beach Park (120 Mitchelville Road) will be closed for approximately five days starting August 6.
Overall, the $47.5 million project will occur in three phases, with an anticipated completion date of May 2026. The schedule is as follows:
Phase I: August 6 to August 15, Fish Haul area; August 15 to September 11, Pine Island; September 15 to November 13, Port Royal (the “heel”).
Phase II: November 13 to February 14, central island including beach areas along Palmetto Dunes; February 14 to May 8, south island and South Beach areas.
Phase III: Pine Island Breakwater Structures (schedule to be determined).
Beach renourishment is a moving work zone that typically progresses at about 1,000 feet per section, just 2% of the island’s total beach area. On average, only 300 feet of beach will be impacted per day. Temporary beach access ramps and clear signage will help direct beachgoers safely around active work areas to open areas of the beach. As soon as an active site is completed, the equipment will move down the beach and the newly renourished section will open. For more information, visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov/beachrenourish2025.
The Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff recently awarded grants to the inaugural winners of the Inspiring the Arts Scholarship, three extraordinary young women pursuing their artistic dreams through higher education. The honorees – Katherine Donahue, Emma Peeples, and Ryleigh Severide – were celebrated at a Rising Artists Celebration in June at FLOW Gallery and Workshop in Palmetto Bluff’s Wilson Village.
Donahue, the first scholarship recipient, will receive $5,000. She plans to major in architecture at Clemson, and plans to work as a historic architectural restorationist. Honorable mention awards of $3,000 each went to Peeples and Severide, to be put towards their educational endeavors in the arts. Peeples will study studio art at Western Carolina University’s Honors College, with the goal of getting a wellrounded education that will prepare her to teach students regardless of their struggles, medium, or style. Severide plans to focus her studies at Savannah College of Art and Design in illustration and cartooning, as both mediums were formative as she grew up, helping her navigate difficult personal events.
“The Arts Initiative draws upon Palmetto Bluff’s unique environment and community to guide the artistic experience and foster lasting connections with this
place and its people,” said Maggie Hackett, director of marketing at Palmetto Bluff. “We are very excited to be able to integrate this unique program into our local community in such a tangible way with the first Inspiring the Arts Scholarship, and especially proud to support and encourage young people as they pursue their creative passions.”
Launched in 2022, The Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff was conceived to inspire and enrich lives through art in all its forms. Through hands-on educational experiences for residents, guests and neighbors of Palmetto Bluff, the innovative programming engages and challenges audiences through shared dialogues and the beauty of the Bluff itself.
The scholarships were made possible in part by the generosity of the Palmetto Bluff and greater Lowcountry community.
For more information, visit PalmettoBluff.com
Lowcountry Community Church will host a Birds and Bees Conference September 12-13 for parent, educators, and mentors. This conference will offer attendees a vital opportunity to gain tools and resources for guiding children through complex conversations about sex, identity, and relationships.
By age 9, most children have already encountered more about sex than many parents realize. Yet only 1 in 10 parents report feeling equipped to have honest conversations with their kids about sex. The loudest voice wins, and right now, it’s not coming from parents. The Birds and Bees Conference helps families reclaim their voice and speak truth with confidence.
“Studies show kids are exposed to pornography as early as 11 – sometimes even younger,” said Liz Lucarini, LCC’s outreach director and mom of three. “I don’t want my kids’ first lessons about sex to come from messages that distort everything about love, respect, and intimacy. I want to be the one who gets to shape that understanding.”
The two-day event will feature video teaching, candid conversations, and live Q&A sessions with regional experts. The conference is intended for parents of infants through teens, educators, school counselors, mentors, ministry leaders, and anyone who influences the next generation.
Sessions are 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, 801 Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton. For more information and to register, visit lowcountrycc.org/ birdsandbeesconference.
Aug. 2025 Calendar
MONDAYS
Free Golf Clinic
4 p.m.
Robert Trent Jones Course Palmettodunes.com/golf
TUESDAYS
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Farmers & Makers Market
The Shops at Sea Pines Center
TUESDAYS
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Hilton Head Farmers Market
Coastal Discovery Museum
70 Honey Horn Drive
SATURDAYS
Hilton Head Community Market
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Shelter Cove Community Park
Local artists, makers, farmers
SUMMER
MUSIC
SERIES
Coligny Center Stage
6:30 p.m. Daily
JEVON DALY
KIDS’ SHOW
6:30 p.m. Sun-W-F
Coligny Center Stage
CAPPY THE CLOWN
Kids Activities
M-F, 6-9 p.m.
Shelter Cove Harbour
GREGG RUSSELL SUMMER CONCERTS
8-9:30 p.m.
Aug. 4-7, M-Th
Aug. 11-22, M, W, F
Aug. 28-30, Th, F, Sat
Liberty Oak at Harbour Town
1 Friday
RICK HUBBARD’S
GREAT AMERICAN KIDS SHOW
8-9:30 p.m.
Liberty Oak at Harbour Town
5, 12, 19
Tuesdays thru Aug. 19
HARBOURFEST
Shannon Tanner & Fireworks
6:30-9 p.m.
Shelter Cove Harbour
1-3
Friday - Sunday
“THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE” Sea Glass Stage at Coligny sgstage.org
AUGUST 1-17
“SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL” Arts Center - artshhi.com
9
Saturday
PALM TREES & PISTONS
9-11 a.m.
Nala’s Beach Bar & Grill
14 Folly Field Road Free Car Show
17
Sunday
FARMERS MARKET 1-5 p.m.
Side Hustle Brewing Co.
10 Buck Island Road
19
Tuesday
JAZZ IN THE PARK
Charlton Singleton 7:30 p.m. FREE Lowcountry Celebration Park
