• The Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce is offering businesses in the community the opportunity to become a chamber member for $1 per month through July 1, as an effort to aid the hurting business community during the COVID-19 crisis.
Local businesses who were not previously chamber members may join and acquire all membership benefits without paying the full cost of membership.
The chamber offers unique opportunities to its members, along with business resources and connection to a network of business professionals, community residents, and business consulting among an array of industries from seasoned professionals. The Greater Bluffton Chamber is a group of local businesses who are dedicated to supporting their fellow local businesses.
Any business in the Greater Bluffton area can apply for membership on the chamber’s website at blufftonchamberofcommerce.org. For more information, email Jessica Kitzmiller at jessica@blufftonchamberofcommerce.org or call 330-957-5521.
• Osprey Village, a nonprofit organization serving developmentally challenged adults, has resumed accepting drop-offs of gently used items at both its thrift stores, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Donors to both stores are asked to bring their items to the back door. Pick-ups remain suspended for health safety reasons.
At this time, there is not a definite date for opening to shoppers.
Those interested in donating or who have other questions may call Thrift on Main at 843-368-0001, Thrift in Okatie at 843-645-4505, or our main office at 843-422-6099.
Thrift in Okatie is at 2797 North Okatie Highway, and Thrift on Main is at 2600 Main St., Unit 101, on Hilton Head Island.
• The National League of Junior Cotillions is seeking a director to reestablish a chapter in Bluffton.
The NLJC helps students actively learn courtesies through a creative method employing role playing, skits, and games, along with standard ballroom dance and line dancing.
NLJC is made up of more than 120 licensed directors who have been trained to equip school aged children to develop everyday etiquette skills while also instilling strong character traits such as honor, dignity, and respect. Each chapter is an independent franchise operated by a local director.
The next new director training will take place in August in Charlotte, N.C.
Anyone interested in becoming a director may visit NLJC.com and search for the director application.
Nominations for cotillion directors are also being received at this time. For more information, email cotillions@nljc.com or call 1-800-633-7947.
• Loni Lueke, known as the German Realtor, has joined the Virtual Realty Group, a nationwide operating brokerage.
From Bluffton, Lueke works with clients across the U.S., while building a network with agents of the 25 Virtual Realty Group brokerages.
Lueke is licensed in South Carolina and Georgia and is serves the Lowcountry from Sea Pines down to Savannah and Pooler.
Lueke previously had a successful career as a coach for communication, marketing and leadership. She also has experience as a private investor, buyer, seller and in remodeling homes -including interior design.
Lueke is a Rotarian and an Ambassador with the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, call 843-505-1193, email LoniLueke@me.com or visit LoniGerman.com.
• Two staff members have joined the team at Dermatology Associates of the Lowcountry.
Elizabeth Liggett, MSN, AGNP-C is a certified nurse practitioner with six years of experience. She completed a Master’s of Science in adult and geriatric nursing from Columbia University in New York City.
Liggett practiced internal medicine in a variety of settings, including long term care, urgent care, and most recently as a hospitalist. She has professional affiliations with the Honors Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Taylor Owens, MSPAS, PA-C is a physician assistant certified by the National Commission and licensed to practice medicine through the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners.
Owens graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science (Summa Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa), and received a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
Owens has been in dermatology since 2013 and has professional affiliations with the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the South Carolina Association of Physician Assistants (SCAPA).
• Express Employment Professionals, one of the top staffing companies in the U.S. and Canada, will hold a grand opening and job fair from 4-7 p.m. June 11 in the parking lot behind its office building, 29 Plantation Park Drive, Suite 504 in Bluffton.
The grand opening and job fair will feature a ribbon cutting, appetizers, promotional items and a local raffle basket. Social distancing rules will apply.
The job fair will offer opportunities for both job seekers and businesses looking for talent. Job seekers should bring a resume. Multi-lingual recruiters will be available to assist applicants.
Express Employment Professionals provides a full range of staffing solutions for full-time, temporary, and part-time employment in a wide range of positions, such as professional, light industrial, and office services.
Express Employment Professionals helps staff businesses with qualified employees who undergo a strict vetting process with reference checks. For businesses, this means a better hiring strategy.
Express Employment Professionals takes on all of the risk, including worker’s compensation, health benefits, employee taxes, etc. The business doesn’t pay anything until they hire an Express Employment employee.
For more information, contact Devlin Levin at devlin.levin@expresspros.com or 843-706-9675.
Kevin Sexton, operations manager of Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority, has been honored with the Meritorious Service Operator Award for 2020 by the South Carolina American Water Works Association (SCAWWA).
The award is given to a certified water works operator for outstanding performance as a water plant operator, based on health department standards for excellence in operation and maintenance.
Sexton began working in the water field straight from high school, as a meter reader for the City of Beaufort in 1990, and transferring to BJWSA in 1994. He changed roles to water operator trainee in 1996, and was promoted to supervisor.
After much experience and many accumulated licenses later, in 2015, he became BJWSA’s water operations manager.
