Pooler - January/February 2018

January/February 2018

William Mark McCullough A Star on the Rise

Finding Hope Helping Seniors Overcome Depression and Anxiety

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CONTRIBUTORS

writers Susan Lee

Cindy Burbage

Katrice Williams

Karlee Anderson

began her writing career more than 25 years ago when she served in the U.S. Air Force as a military journalist stationed in Washington, D.C. After completing her tour of duty, Susan stayed on as a civilian employee in Washington, working for more than 10 years as Public Relations Director for the Air Force’s Services Division. She moved from D.C. to Effingham County in 1996 after meeting her husband, Springfield native Wesley Lee. She has continued to work in public relations and marketing throughout the years and is excited to now focus more on her writing.

is a married mother of two. She graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Business Administration Degree. Interestingly enough, at the time, she also had an interest in writing. She and her family moved to Pooler in 2003 from the Atlanta Metro Area. She later decided to pursue her writing interests. Katrice appreciates The Lord Jesus Christ and the many blessings that He has bestowed upon her. She loves spending time with her family.

is a native of Richmond Hill. She began writing in college and took a hiatus to raise her four beautiful children. Cindy enjoys traveling and is always ready for a road trip. She believes that faith is greater than fear.

has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Communications from Armstrong State University.

She has experience in writing grant proposals and writing for the Inkwell, Armstrong’s paper. In addition, Karlee enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Zach, and her family. She is very involved in her home church and does volunteer work for various ministries. Her hobbies include reading, singing, and attending as many of her brothers’ sporting events as possible.!

photographers Shelia Scott

Nelson Laporte

is an Effingham County native and Salzburg descendent. She has been married to her husband, and best friend, for 6 years. Between them, they have 9 children and 4 grandchildren.

She started dabbling in photography when her kids were little and fell in love. When not with her family, she’s off somewhere, camera in hand looking for the next amazing shot!

New York native, Nelson Laporte exudes his passion for photography & finding the beauty in each moment with every photo he produces. In March 2016, Nelson moved to Savannah, Ga after serving 8 years in the United States Marine Corps to be closer to his “why”, his daughter, Elizabeth.

You can truly understand love for photography as he captures the milestones of her & his clients’ lives.

Miranda Osborn-Sutphen This Australian-born’s professional career started somewhere between journalism and fetching coffee before taking a happy turn to photography, graphic design and all things visually creative in-between. From newspaper photos to magazine shots, from product shoots to weddings, her CameraKoala.com photography has appeared in numerous nationwide catalogs, publications and has had the privilege to grace several magazine covers in Liberty County, GA.

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Stories or ideas for stories must be submitted by email. Only feature stories and photo essays about people, places or things in Pooler will be considered.

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CONTENTS 10

William Mark MCullough

16

Nikki Conley

24

Recreational Spotlight

28

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

A Star On The Rise

Come On Beautiful, MOVE

Sharon Jacoby Much More Than Gymnastics

Sunny Clough DownHome Crossfit

Departments

07

Publishers Page

27

Health & Wellness

08

16

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24

28

PUBLISHER’S Thoughts

New Year, New Goals

Julie Hales owner/publisher julie@idpmagazines.com Naomi Forrestall graphic design Lea Thornton-Allen administrative assistant/circulation lea@idpmagazines.com Lane Leopard account executive lane@idpmagazines.com

Pooler Magazine is proudly produced by:

108 International Drive P.O. Box 1742 Rincon, GA 31326 (912) 826-2760

H

ere we are, into another new year. I have a feeling 2018 is going to be a very good year for Pooler Magazine.

As 2018 gets into full swing, you will still be seeing changes. One change to start the new year off is a new sales person. Lane Leopard has been with Pooler Magazine for the past 10 years. Lane has served in the capacity of graphic design and layout....so, who better to make our advertisers pop on our pages? She will be a great asset to all the businesses in Pooler...bringing a designer’s eye to their advertising.

So, if you see Lane out and about, give her a big congratulations as she takes her career in the print Julie Hales, PUBLISHER industry in a new direction. I am very proud of this new path she has chosen to take.

As always, our main goal for the new year is to bring you the best community magazine you can possibly have. This community has so much to offer and so many unique people. We will continue to bring you some dynamite features on some dynamite folks! This is one goal we will reach.

We are also in the process of forming some new partnerships with some of our local organizations. These partnerships will be announced as the ink dries, so to speak, but will be a huge bonus to our community.

We will also have several new advertising opportunities coming up in our next several issues. We are a small business and we understand the small business. So, we are developing new ways and campaigns to help the small business owners be a part of Pooler Magazine.

We are your community magazine. The changes and additions we make are for you. We want the people of Pooler to be read about their neighbors and colleagues.

We would love your input and any ideas you may have for stories and additions.

You can email me at julie@idpmagazines.com.

Help us make 2018 the best year for Pooler Magazine!

CIRCULATION: Pooler Magazine is publlished bi-monthly (six issues a year), printing 10,000 copies and distributed to over 180 locations.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

January/February 2018

ABOUT THE COVER Who knew we had a famous actor living right here in Pooler. Get to know our local star...William Mark McCullough. He has had some great roles with some great actors... and his career in on the rise!

William Mark McCullough A Star on the Rise

www.PoolerMagazine.com | January/February 2018

09

William Mark McCullough A Star on the Rise story by Kathryn Vandenhouten

photos by Miranda Osborn-Sutphen

A

ctors all over the world are drawn to Hollywood to get their big break, but for Pooler resident, William Mark McCullough, he prefers a more low key lifestyle. The local actor has appeared in numerous television series, including Mercy Street and Underground, and has also appeared on the big screen, starring alongside Nicholas Cage in “Arsenal” and Channing Tatum in “Logan Lucky.”

His most recent appearance on the big screen has him sitting in the cockpit with Tom Cruise in the biographical thriller, “American Made.” McCullough plays the part of Pete, co-pilot to Tom Cruise’s character, Barry Seal. The film has already grossed over 134 million dollars worldwide, and he was thrilled to be a part of it.

When he booked the film, he was only supposed to have a few scenes. Once on set, however, his role kept growing, and director Doug Liman started adding more scenes for McCullough. “By the time I finished that movie, I’d worked on it for eight weeks,” he says. “We shot twenty-two scenes. They just kept making my role bigger and bigger.”

Luckily, Cruise hit it off with McCullough, and when he came back home to Pooler after he’d finished shooting in Atlanta, he got a call that would make any actor proud. The assistant director told him he was not finished shooting after all. “He said ‘Cruise said if you’re not going to Colombia, he’s not going to Colombia.’

And so I jumped on a plane and flew to Colombia,” he says.

The whole experience was a whirlwind. There were initially no scenes for him in Colombia, so McCullough’s lines were written on set right before the scenes were shot. Having just minutes to memorize his lines kept him on his toes, but McCullough was grateful for the experience.

The actor is no stranger to working with A-list talent. He has worked with multiple Academy Award winners, including Steven Soderbergh and Mahershala Ali, and he continues to grow as an actor with each performance.

McCullough embraces each experience on set, and “American Made” was no exception. “I remember being in that plane-- in a military jet-- and it took off, and I look over, and I’m like, ‘Maverick is flying the plane,’” he recalls. “It was unbelievable.”

And McCullough’s life off screen has been as unbelievable as any Hollywood movie. Born and raised in Savannah, he is one of ten siblings who grew up poor by today’s standards. “Nine year old Mark was hungry and poor. But you know, even when I was nine and struggling, I knew I wasn’t going to always be struggling,” he explains.

McCullough graduated from Mercer University with a degree in political science and theater. In his theater class, he found his passion for acting, but he didn’t know how to turn that passion into a profession, so he went to law school and became a lawyer.

“I thought...maybe being in front of a jury could feed that acting thing... and it might feed that hunger inside, but it didn’t,” says McCullough. “I’d taken the safe approach, but it was leaving me empty inside. So I got better, quit my job, moved to L.A., and started my long ramen noodle years,” he says with a laugh.

Most starving artists haven’t passed the Bar exam, but then again, McCullough isn’t like most artists. He didn’t become an actor for fame or fortune; it is his calling. “If it’s your calling from God, how can you not do it?” he asks.

He still gets goose bumps remembering the exact moment he found that calling. In a college classroom performing the final monologue from Doctor Faustus, he says he just knew.

“I did that monologue, and when I finished, my whole body was on fire,” he recalls. “I didn’t know how to become an actor, but I knew I loved it. It was that exact moment doing that monologue

that I knew this is what I wanted to do.”

Luckily, his friends and family encouraged him to follow his dream, even if the jump from lawyer to actor may have raised some eyebrows: “[For] most people, if you were to call your family and say I’m going to quit being a lawyer and become an actor, they’d lose their mind. My family was very supportive.”

Now he is encouraging others to follow their dreams as well. In between acting gigs, he teaches classes at Savannah Actors Studio.

If acting is his first passion, teaching is a close second.

But make no mistake. He doesn’t teach acting theory or the same lessons that have played out in every college theater for decades; he teaches actors how to get jobs, dream bigger and gain confidence.

Every class is an opportunity to motivate his students to set goals and achieve them. “I just finished a class called No More Excuses. What I taught them was how to make powerful goals,” he says. “If people don’t think your goals are crazy, you need bigger goals.”

McCullough’s intense energy is infectious. He brings this same positive energy into the classroom to motivate his students. “The

www.PoolerMagazine.com | January/February 2018

11

mind is constantly filled with talk, and it’s usually negative talk, so I teach them to talk to themselves constantly, positively.”

He often plays the villain on screen (his character in horror flick, “Patient Seven,” is particularly disturbing), but that couldn’t be further from McCullough’s personality in real life.

He loves inspiring people to follow their dreams. Giving motivational speeches at middle schools and high schools is one his is favorite things to do. “I talk to them about goal setting and positivity,” he says. “That, to me, is the most fun. I love to see their eyes light up when they get it.”

In fact, when asked about his proudest accomplishment, he talks about the thrill of seeing his students get the roles they never thought they could. One student tried acting for the first time in her fifties after taking his class, and she was cast in a Tom Hanks film. He gets just as excited when his students get parts as he does for himself.

“So many people want to become actors and they have no idea

12 January/February 2018 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

where to start,” he says. “I was one of those people, so I work really hard to help people take the right path and study the right thing. It just gives me so much joy when I see people pursuing their dreams and it starts to happen.”

McCullough has been an inspiration to his students, but he found his own inspiration in the most unexpected place: his father’s funeral. When person after person spoke about the kind things his father had done for others, it inspired McCullough to do more. “I sat there just really feeling ashamed because I spent so many years just focusing on me,” he recalls. “And so the following week, I started going around the neighborhood looking for people to help out, like my dad.”

Now he helps his community by teaching and motivating others. In the future, he’d like to start a non-profit organization to motivate youth and teach the power of a positive mindset. “The right mindset is required for any type of success in this world,” he reiterates. Even though his professional acting career is taking off,

teaching and mentoring will always be important to him.

Though he moves out to L.A. each pilot season to audition for roles, he loves Pooler and the Savannah area. “There are a lot of things I like about his area,” he says. “People are nicer-- more down to Earth. I told my managers I’m never moving to L.A. I’ll go there for work, but this is home.”

William Mark McCullough is not just an actor. He is an artist, teacher and mentor. With “American Made” coming out on DVD in January, McCullough’s star is sure to keep rising. And as he gains popularity in Hollywood, the continued support from the community he loves will surely grow as well.

For more information on William Mark McCullough or Savannah Actors Studio, visit www.savannahactorstudio.com.

www.PoolerMagazine.com | January/February 2018

13

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Nikki Conley Author, “Come On Beautiful, MOVE!”

story by Kelly Harley

photos by Nelson Laporte

A

fter just a few minutes of talking with Nikki Conley, you can’t help but notice how infectious her positive attitude is. You can also pick up on the fact that she is dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle and has a way of motivating you to want to do the same. The physical education and wellness teacher, basketball coach and author has one mission – to inspire others to take action when it comes to taking care of their bodies. She certainly is fulfilling that mission and is leaving an impression on many in the Pooler area and beyond.

A Passion is Born Nikki’s passion for health and wellness was recognized when she was a young girl. She watched her uncle, who never smoked, die of lung cancer. Several years later, while Nikki was in college, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mother assured her she would fight and do her best to make sure she was there for her family; however, to Nikki, cancer meant death. In an effort to help her mother beat cancer, not once but twice, Nikki set out to learn as much about health as she could. “Those two events changed the way I viewed health. I read everything I could about cancer and studied the latest research. I knew I wanted to be as healthy as I could and help my family, too,” says Nikki. She also realized that diet could help her mother with her cancer diagnosis.

Nikki changed her eating habits and eventually encouraged her mother to as well.

Nikki carried on her quest for learning about health while attending college. She played basketball at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia, and graduated with a degree in health and physical education. It was there that a college professor noticed her desire to learn more about health and wellness and encouraged her to further her education. That encouragement and

a drive for knowledge led Nikki to earn a master’s degree in public health from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. After college, the Atlanta, Georgia-native taught physical education in Atlanta public schools for 10 years.

Motivating on the Court Four years ago, Nikki’s husband’s job brought the family to Pooler and she now serves as West Chatham Middle School’s health and physical education teacher. Throughout the years, she has enriched the lives of thousands of children. “It’s my job to ensure that the kids are getting the proper amount of exercise and teach them the importance of lifelong exercise. I try to instill that in them,” says Nikki. She also serves as the school’s boys basketball coach, where she does more than just teach them how to play basketball. “I train the young men, but I also teach them good sportsmanship, work habits and ethics,” says Nikki. “I make sure the boys keep their grades up. No pass, no play. You are a student first, then you are an athlete.”

Nikki’s ability to inspire and train children extends beyond the walls of West Chatham Middle School. She’s coached basketball at the Pooler Recreation Department and currently coaches, along with her husband, the girls’ basketball teams at the Garden City Recreation Department and the Port Wentworth Recreation Department. “It brings me great joy teaching fundamentals and watching the children develop their skills,” says Nikki. During basketball season, Nikki devotes all of her time to the kids, spending most afternoons and evenings on the court. “It never feels like work, though. It’s something I sincerely enjoy.”

Come on Beautiful, Move!

Despite spending much of her time on the basketball courts and with her students, Nikki is finding time to motivate others.

She recently wrote a book, “Come on Beautiful, Move!” in which she challenges women to get rid of the excuses as to why they may not have time to exercise or why they are unwilling to exercise.

Nikki says her book will show where to find time to exercise and

how to make time for it. The book also addresses topics that are universal to all women and explores issues that prevent us from living healthy lifestyles. “I was inspired to write the book because a lot of responsibilities fall on the woman. Women are usually the ones that cook the dinner, buy the groceries and take care of the household,” says Nikki. “I wanted to provide real solutions to real problems that women face.”

In her book, Nikki also talks about the importance of why the entire family should adopt a healthier lifestyle. She says in her 14 years of teaching, she has come across a lot of kids who are obese or pre-diabetic. After talking with the parents, many of them face the same health concerns as their children. Her book isn’t meant to place blame on anyone, but rather challenge people to look at things from a different perspective. Nikki says nowadays our culture is more accepting of unhealthy behaviors and she wants people to realize that. In a chapter titled, “What’s Wrong with a Thick Chick,” Nikki explains that sometimes we don’t see ourselves as

18 January/February 2018 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

being overweight; however, eventually, we may become obese and face a variety of health issues that come along with obesity.

Her book also includes a chapter written by her children. Her daughter, 10-year-old Nia and her son, 12-year-old Roderick, write about the things their mother has taught them. Nikki says it is an important chapter because what we teach our children about health is imperative to their well-being. “We want our children to model healthy behaviors,” says Nikki. “We are leaving a legacy for them and part of that legacy is what we allow on our plates and how we handle our bodies.”

A Family Approach Nikki’s family is definitely modeling her healthy behavior.

Her husband, Roderick, and her children work out together at the West Chatham YMCA, and both of her children are active in sports. Her son plays basketball for the Pooler Recreation Department and her daughter runs track and plays soccer and basketball. Last year her daughter’s soccer team won the 12-youth championship for the Pooler Recreation Department. “That was a highlight for me. Watching my daughter achieve her goal was a wonderful experience.”

The healthy lifestyle Nikki’s family lives out doesn’t end with exercise; it makes its way into her family’s kitchen. “I believe in preparing homecooked meals. We eat more meals we cook than we do food from restaurants. I believe that it’s fundamentally better for your body and mind. By cooking your own meals, you are intentional about the foods you put in your body.”

Nikki agrees, though, that in life everything must have balance.

She admits her weak spot is a Mr. Goodbar or a Kit Kat. “You can still live a healthy life and enjoy the things you like. It’s about moderation,” says Nikki. It’s also about staying motivated. “If you want to get to the next level, you can’t just sit around. You can’t wish it to happen; it takes hard work and prayer to make your dreams come true.”

If you’re interested in reading Nikki Conley’s book, “Come on Beautiful, Move!,” it’s available for purchase on Amazon.

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Sharon Jacoby

POOLER RECREATION SPOTLIGHT

S

Much More Than Gymnastics story by Stephanie Cardozo

photos by Nelson LaPorte

haron Jacoby grew up a country girl, milking cows and chasing animals in New Lenox, Illinois. She later moved to Joliet, Illinois where she went to college and began teaching. Sharon taught fifth grade, self contained classrooms, and art. By that time, she had a family of her own.

She took tumbling and gymnastics as an adult and taught about six hundred students alongside another instructor.

After doing so for nine years, Sharon moved to Georgia with her husband and children.

Her teaching career in Pooler began in August of 1987.

There is true light in her voice when she began to explain her love for teaching children. “They always brighten my life as well as I hope to brighten theirs.”

Why gymnastics?

“I was very much a tumbler when I was growing up, living on a farm, doing a lot of running around.” She explains. She had an interest in cheerleading back in high school. However, gymnast experience was required in order to join. She then took tumbling and trampoline as well as baton twirling, and played the clarinet. Establishing her way through the creative arts and movement, wearing these many hats came naturally to her. These are just a fraction of Sharon’s magnificent characteristics that make her the instructor she is today.

Do you have a favorite age group?

“I think my favorite age group is probably the six, seven, eight and nine year olds. Now, I am enjoying the older children like the twelve, thirteen and fourteen year olds because once they’ve reached that level— they have found this new thing they can do and they take a lot of pride in it.” While she holds a special place in her heart for the older age group, she expresses her amazement in how quickly the younger group catch on.

What do you find most challenging?

“The most challenging thing is trying not to get hit!” Bursting out in laughter she continues. “When they do cartwheels— their legs are bent and I get kicked in the head, or when they

24 January/February 2018 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

do back hand springs and I get whacked with an elbow, leg or knee.”

While this can be a struggle for anyone in the physical aspect, Sharon explains the challenges in the emotional and mental nature of teaching her students. “The thing that I’ve had to learn over the last years of teaching is that every child that comes into my classroom—they may have had a bad day.

I have to go in with a blank mind because I am not bringing any of my problems to my children. They all have their own daily challenges, either in school, with their friends, they may be tired, or perhaps they are ill.”

The well-being of her students is number one, whether that be physical or mental. Sharon takes all of this into consideration. She uses these factors as she teaches her class as a whole and individually. She goes on, “It’s very important to go into the classroom completely prepared and try to figure out why the student is quiet that day or if something is wrong.

Then I work the class around that—sometimes my children are so wiped out that I won’t push the class harder. I try to be there with them and be there for them.”

What’s the most rewarding in your position?

“Getting hugs and laughter! They come rushing up over to tell me something that they did that week or something they’ve been working on and have finally gotten it down.

What tickles me the most is when my parents tell me they have to move the fridge out into the family room or put down mattresses because the kids are doing back hand springs and tumbling on their beds!” She goes on chuckling. “So, they have to go and move the furniture back in place and pull it back out.” Sharon confesses that it truly tickles her to no end when parents tell her “My house is not a jungle gym!” Sharon’s way of teaching her students create a special relationship that holds their attention to learning the moves correctly and ends in laughter, no matter how difficult it may be. “I’m a disciplinary, but I also want them to have fun while being

safe.” She also helps her students own their individuality and unique personalities. She reminds her kids to be themselves, trust their own bodies and movement.

Sharon gives special thanks to the parents and David Hodges, who have helped her with her class when she was unable to perform due to surgery or an injury. The parents are active in every way and assist Sharon with the students, proving the rapport she has built with them goes a long way. She has built a family with her students and parents, one she cherishes immensely.

Sharon teaches nineteen classes a week in Pooler, leaving no question that she is the best at what she does and her program is the one to join. “I do love what I do and it’s because I have such wonderful kids and parents.”

For information on registering for Sharon’s gymnastics program, go to http://www.poolerrec.com/programs/

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25

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Sunny Clough DownHome CrossFit

Sunny Salzman-Clough Changing Lives With Fitness story by Lane Leopard

photos by Shelia Scott

C

oaching comes naturally to Sunny Salzman-Clough, owner of Down Home Fitness.

As a teenager, she was asked to coach younger athletes in the techniques of fast pitch softball. Given that her dad was the coach of their traveling team, it allowed her opportunities at 15 years old to be around different coaching influences and a vast variety of coaching techniques. She played softball at South Georgia college while pursuing her education with goals of going into the medical field. She later transferred to Georgia Southern, determined to focus on her studies and take a break from sports, but that didn’t last long. Bulloch Academy, the high school she graduated from, called her and asked if she would be interested in coaching. That was Sunny’s first taste of group coaching, and she loved it. It was also around that time that Sunny got her first look at CrossFit. That’s when she realized there was actual science and methodology that should be applied to working out and fitness. The introduction into CrossFit totally changed Sunny’s outlook and she began to implement those techniques into her workouts with the girls on her team.

The results were amazing, the team won the region championship that year. Even some of the parents joined in during the team’s conditioning at practices.

Sunny’s earlier plans of going into the medical field changed around this time.

Fitness had taught her that preventative approaches to health and wellness were where her passion belonged. Sunny changed her major to Exercise Science,

falling in love with the science behind all the hard work she had put in at the gym throughout her life. During this time, Sunny’s first trainer and mentor (and later her husband) Jacob Clough not only encouraged her studies of exercise science, helping her program for her teams and young athletes, but he also helped her find the third piece of the health and wellness puzzle, nutrition.

Working closely together in workouts, coaching, studies, and meal prepping, the two quickly became a dynamic team and the two have been working together ever since. They spent time in Tennessee, working with other gym owners to build and renovate their business. This gave Sunny the insight to the workings behind building and maintaining a successful gym.

During this time, she continued majoring in Exercise Science, earning her CPT through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and coaching CrossFit classes, all of which continued to grow that passion, provide many learning experiences, and prepare her for a major step in her career.

It’s no surprise that Sunny and Jacob would eventually open their own gym, Down Home Fitness. Family is very important to them, something that they successfully carry over into their business.

Sunny and Jacob, along with the other certified CrossFit coaches, work closely with each client. They are building a community of people wanting to change their lives for the better.

There are no shortage of sucess stories from Down Home Fitness. It’s not uncommon to hear “the best decision I’ve made

in a long time” when talking to the people who have changed their lives with the help from their coaches. Here are a few of their stories.

Mariella Manhatten: “On December 12, 2012, I lost the first man I ever fell in love with…my daddy. For several years before he passed, I watched my father, a former Green Beret in the Special Forces, decline in strength and health. Fast forward less than a year and a half to the evening of March 10, 2014. In a tiny, dark room at the Candler ICU, just before 11pm, I watched my precious husband take his last breath. He had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2008, celebrated his five year cancer-free diagnosis in 2013, and was then re-diagnosed just six months later with a new, fierce, metastasized version of his original cancer. He was given two years to live but survived only eight months from his re-diagnosis. I’ve learned so much about life in general since losing my father and husband, particularly about shifting my perspective to what’s truly important and meaningful. Among the many revelations I’ve had, this is the one I want to share with you: Life is a precious gift. And one of the most meaningful gifts you can give to others is the absolute best version of YOU that you can offer. That means spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Live well. Your family and friends deserve that from you, and YOU deserve that for yourself. Do not live passively about ANYTHING, for nothing in life is ever guaranteed. While we can’t control everything, we do have choices regarding our health. So, eat well, exercise, and give thanks for each new day. Enter

www.PoolerMagazine.com | January/February 2018

29

Crossfit.

As life would have it, I met a remarkable woman at a party one afternoon who invited me to join her at a Crossfit class.

Even though we’d just met, I felt sure in my heart I could trust her. Joining her the next day was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only was it the beginning of my love affair with Crossfit, it was the beginning of one of my most treasured friendships. At DownHome, I’ve found the perfect combination of elements that keeps me walking through the door every day. Accountability, comradery, genius programming and amazing support. To be honest, the gains I’ve made physically are just a byproduct of the joy I feel at DownHome. I love the variety of personalities at the box who come together for the unified purpose of living well, and it’s because of the magic of this community that I show up every day. DownHome began as a huge part of my healing process since losing the two best men in my life, and it has easily become my chosen second home.”

Jonathan Gaouette: “The beginning of my story is no different than many others. I had gym memberships….I didn’t go. I had healthy eating options….I didn’t choose them. My excuses far outweighed my want to be better. I was always far too busy, or too tired to do anything constructive outside of work. My weight would fluctuate as would my care about it. I have never been a small guy. For as long as I can remember I have always been considered overweight, borderline obese. I use that imagery for you to know I am not talking about 15 to 20 pounds I am talking 100+. I was an active person. I worked hard physically and mentally, I jogged a mile with my son once a day, taking a few breaks of course. I tried as hard as my excuses would let me. I found myself to not be committed. I thought being healthy was something I wanted, but never committed

myself to doing it. I found commitment is the driving factor for any change in your life. My wife went to Down Home CrossFit on Wednesday April 27th 2016 to try one of the boot camp classes, she enjoyed it so much, she then dragged me to the next boot camp class on Friday April 29th 2016.

I still remember the WOD for that class.

Double tabata kettle bell swings, followed by an AMRAP of 30 step ups, 20 pushups, 10 burpees and 5 bear crawls. Friday April 29th 2016’s WOD for me will always be called “Life Changer.” That was the day everything I knew about becoming healthier, working out, motivation, friendship, coaching and gyms went out the door.

Whether you are talking about work, healthy living, or life in general. If you are done with excuses, or think you are, you need to come to Down Home CrossFit, join boot camp if you aren’t quite ready for CrossFit and realize what you have been missing everywhere else. Or come and verify I am still on track, either way, stop in and talk to Jake and Sunny, and then wonder why you haven’t done it sooner.”

Anjanie Gaouette: “I began going to boot camp classes late April 2016. I wanted to work on my overall health, because after my 40th birthday I wanted to look on the outside, how I felt on the inside. I had knee pain when climbing the stairs, and did not feel energized. I want you to understand I have tried dieting, and I have tried gyms before. I never liked going to a gym. People there are typically motivated for themselves, running on a treadmill or staring at themselves in the mirror, and that is not for me. So, I was skeptical about this “gym” having preconceived notions of what it was. So, April 27th, 2016 I went to my first class. As I walked in, there were no treadmills in sight. I was also greeted with

30 January/February 2018 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

the warmest of smiles. Still unsure of what to expect from the workout, I got ready for my first of many 30-minute boot camp classes. I did exercises I have never heard of in my entire life. After the 30 minutes were over, I evaluated my time spent: I sweated, I worked hard, I danced, I enjoyed it so much I couldn’t wait to tell my husband that he was coming to the next class. After a year and a half of boot camp and Cross Fit, I still sweat, work hard, and dance. I’m still greeted with the warmest of smiles, and there are still no treadmills!

In total, my overall fitness and health have improved. I have lost a total of 90 pounds, 4 dress sizes, no more knee pain when climbing stairs. I have gained a second home, a new lifestyle, family, and more self-confidence. I now look at myself and I have gained a new perspective in my life, choosing a healthier and stronger lifestyle, as a wife and mother. So many women who have known me prior to joining, approach me and ask what I have done to lose this weight. I always tell them I owe it to Down Home. Specifically, to the owners Sunny and Jake, they are also family to me now.

They have provided an environment to want to come back everyday regardless of the type of day I had. They are always welcoming and motivating to me. Thank you is not strong enough for them, to say how much I truly appreciate what they have done for me.”

Helping and inspiring people to make changes in their lives is one, if not the main, reason Sunny loves what she does.

To be able to give people the motivation and support that is often so needed when someone decides to embark on a healthy lifestyle is what keeps all the coaches at Down Home Fitness coming back every single day.

Take 15% off any of the following: *CrossFit Fundamentals *Personal Training 12 or 20 Pack *1st month Boot Camp (with auto renew package)

www.DOWNHOMECROSSFIT.com 118 PIPEMAKERS CR. | POOLER, GA 31322 CALL 901-800-8654 www.PoolerMagazine.com | January/February 2018

31

32 January/February 2018 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

Celebrating four decades of treating patients in the Coastal Empire

F

years ago after being trained in Augusta.

Dr. Brad Rawlings joined six years after his training in Norfolk, Virginia. Our most recent addition, Dr. Diane Davis, was in practice for over thirty years in Dublin, Georgia before joining ENT Associates two years ago" States Dr. Zoller.

"We've had to add those physicians as well as our physician's assistant, Michelle Yamada, in order to handle the volume of patients at the various satellite offices,” he adds. Now, with the newest location in Pooler, they offer in house CT scans, audiology services including a hearing booth. and allergy testing and treatment.

In addition to the physicians, ENT Associates of Savannah has five doctors of audiology on staff who are experts in the newest hearing aid technology. The Audiology Department works both independently and in conjunction with the physicians to provide a wide range of hearing services, both diagnostic and rehabilitative. Additionally, there is an allergy clinic for testing and treatment. Residents in Pooler can now benefit from the services that ENT Associates have been offering to

Michael Zoller, MD, FACS

or the past forty years, when patients in the Coastal Empire have experienced any type of head and neck disorders, they usually found their way to offices of ENT Associates of Savannah.

Since starting the practice four decades ago, Dr. Zoller and his colleagues have seen many technological advancements in the medical field, but one thing remains constant with him and his staff: a dedication to giving the best possible care to every patient that comes into their offices.

Their locations include Savannah, Rincon, Pooler, Statesboro, Bluffton and Richmond Hill, in addition to the ENT Surgical Center located on the Armstrong State University campus.

Dr. Zoller recently reflected on the enormous growth of his practice over the years. “Having trained in Boston, I started in 1977 in Savannah. Seven years later I was joined by Dr. Fred Daniel, who trained in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Twenty-two years ago, Dr. Stephen Rashleigh joined the practice, having trained in Chicago, and Dr. William Moretz III joined us ten

Savannah residents for forty years.

“The population in Pooler grew so much that we eventually made the decision to move there. Now we have one of our senior partners, Dr. Stephen Rashleigh, M.D., who is at the Pooler office one day a week.

He stays extremely busy,” says Dr. Zoller with a smile. Dr. Rashleigh adds, “We've been going to Pooler for over twenty years, and it's been a mutually beneficial relationship. There's definitely a need for our services, since many of our patients don't care to drive into Savannah.”

Dr. Zoller adds, “It's really nice to be part of the Pooler community, which has grown significantly. Many of our patients who have moved there from Savannah can now receive the same top notch service from our satellite office there.”

Founded in 1977, ENT Associates of Savannah is proud to provide the residents of Georgia and Lowcountry of South Carolina with outstanding ENT care, and they are looking forward to another successful forty years.

Savann of ear, nose,

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Dental Care That Cares.

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story by Kelly Harley

photos by Miranda Osborn-Sutphen

t Howard Family Dental there’s a good chance you’ll feel more like family than a patient. The team works hard to make sure patients always feel comfortable by getting to know each one of them and by making them feel welcome from the moment they walk in the door. In addition to Howard Family Dental’s personal approach, patients are offered top-notch comprehensive care. The doctors provide a wide range of dental services, from cleanings and restorations to dental implants and reconstruction, all using cutting-edge dental technology.

At the Pooler location, two doctors, Dr. Jason Howard and Dr. Lindsay Sammons, are dedicated to serving a variety of dental needs, including general and cosmetic dentistry, orthodontic treatment, Invisalign treatment, Botox therapy for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, dermal fillers, and dental implant dentistry. “Whether a patient’s goal is simply to maintain good health, achieve better function, improve self-confidence, or achieve esthetic desires, we are able to help deliver specialized care unique to each individual,” says Dr. Howard. Through the constant pursuit of education and decades of experience, doctors can provide patients with the latest techniques and best care available. “Dentistry has changed drastically in the past 20 years.

New technology now allows us to restore the tooth, rather than lose it, in most cases.”

Dr. Howard was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. He is one of two second-generation dentists carrying on the tradition practicing in the company that his father founded. His areas of focus include comprehensive care, orthodontics, implant prosthetics and a passionate awareness of facial esthetics. “Helping people and changing lives through smiles gives me a strong sense of fulfillment. It allows me to develop lasting relationships with the people in my community.” Dr. Howard is a member of the Georgia Dental Association, American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, American Orthodontic Society and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics.

Dr. Sammons was raised in Dallas, Georgia, and knew in high school she wanted to take care of people in some way. While shadowing her uncle in his dental practice, he influenced her in the direction of dentistry. Dr. Sammons’ areas of concentration include general and cosmetic dentistry, implants, sleep apnea appliances and Botox for bruxism and facial pain. “I offer a different approach for patients who suffer from TMJ issues and headaches usually due to chronic bruxism,” says Dr. Sammons. “We treat patients therapeutically with Botox. My patients can’t believe how much better their quality of daily life is after receiving the treatment.” Dr. Sammons is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics. She is also the founding director of the Howard Family Dental Foundation and is very active in fundraising for ‘Howard Hand in Hand,’ a support program at St. Joseph’s Candler providing support, education and guidance to children and teens with a family member facing a life-threatening disease.

Another way Dr. Howard and Dr. Sammons are helping paPaid For Advertorial

91 Brighton Woods Drive Pooler, GA www.howardfamilydental.com 912-748-4858 tients achieve their oral health goals is encouraging prevention.

Dr. Howard says there are strong correlations between oral health and diseases that affect the rest of the body. “I encourage people to recognize that the mouth is the gateway to their full-body health. Preventative care limits the amount of dental work that people will need throughout their lifetime by proactively addressing their oral health needs in a timely manner. Ultimately, if people take preventative action on their oral health, they will have healthier smiles and a lifetime of better overall health,” says Dr. Howard.

Howard Family Dental has served the community for over 35 years.

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r. Nicholas Theodotou is changing the lives of his patients and giving them the confidence they need to feel better about themselves and their smile. “Many times, patients come to me without teeth or teeth that are badly broken down,” says Dr. Nick (as he prefers to be called). “These patients sometimes become isolated because they are too embarrassed or feel self-conscious to go out in public. I’m here to be a resource and to help them.”

In November 2014, Dr. Nick opened Oral & Facial Surgery Group in Pooler, and focuses on oral surgery (teeth and wisdom teeth), dental implants, bone grafts, pathology and the treatment of medically compromised patients. His extensive knowledge of dentistry, especially in the restoration of the mouth, allows him to see the bigger picture. “I consider the surgical and restorative perspective with the end result in mind,” says Dr. Nick. “I work very closely with my patients and their referring dentist or doctor in order to provide them with the options that are available and help them understand the advantages and disadvantages of each.”

Dr. Nick says a good majority of the

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work he performs on patients includes the removal of teeth and the placement of dental implants. He has a sincere passion for dental implants for several reasons.

One is that because we are living longer, our teeth are expected to last longer.

Unfortunately, teeth are lost. Additionally, the bone in which they are embedded also goes away. Dental implants provide a dual benefit. First, they provide a foundation to replace missing teeth. Secondly, they help to preserve the bone in a similar way that the roots of teeth maintain bone, which helps to preserve facial aesthetics. Dental implants provide a more long-lasting solution to dentures. For a person who needs complete dentures, those dentures will function at about 20 percent or less of natural teeth. This can limit the variety of foods that a patient can eat. With implants, there are few restrictions. “When I entered dental school, the gold standard of restoring a missing tooth was a bridge; that’s no longer the case, it’s a dental implant,” says Dr. Nick. “Technology has since advanced, and the same is true in terms of the mouth.” Dr. Nick adds that dental implants can be a progressive treatment alternative. “Patients don’t have to complete their treatment all at one time. A

person can reach their desired result one or several implants at a time according to their means.”

Dr. Nick’s desire to become a dentist, and eventually an oral surgeon, was sparked when he was a teenager. He grew up in a suburb of Sydney, Australia, and looked up to his doctor and dentist. He says he was inspired by their concern in helping people and set out on his own path to help others. His work and educational experience is quite impressive and has led him to various cities throughout Australia and the United States. He holds Bachelor of Dental Surgery and Doctorate of Dental Surgery degrees; served four years as a captain in the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps; completed residency programs in prosthodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; completed a fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthetics; has operated private practices; and has held teaching positions.

With all of the travel and experiences under his belt, he feels privileged to call Pooler home. “I’m very blessed that the opportunity arose for me to open up my office in Pooler,” says Dr. Nick. “I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t feel like I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

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