• The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce will celebrate Small Business Week through May 19 with several events.
A panel discussion, “Road to Entrepreneurship,” will be held at 10 a.m. May 17 at Culinary Institute of the South in Buckwalter Place in Bluffton.
Keynote speaker is Zachery Green, owner of consulting firm Warrior Performance Framework.
Panelists include Laurie Brown, owner of Aunt Laurie’s; Jennifer Megliore, owner of ArtWare, who was recently named S.C. Small Business Person of the Year; Patricia Cameron, business consultant; and David Nelems, CEO of the Don Ryan Center for Innovation.
A Bluffton Block Party will be held at 5:30 p.m. May 18 at Lowcountry Fresh Market and Cafe.
Food Truck Friday will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. May 19 at Shelter Cove Community Park.
For more information and tickets, visit hiltonheadchamber.org.
Miguel Lopez Jr. has been named the new Director of Soccer Program at Cross Schools.
A native of Hilton Head Island, Lopez is a highly successful high school soccer player who captained the Hilton Head High School team as a senior. He has been coaching with Storm/Tormenta since 2010, when he was a freshman at the University of South Carolina Beaufort.
Lopez brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Cross Schools, having earned the United States Soccer Federation “C” license and United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma. His ability to build positive personal relationships with parents and families, and his commitment to a growth mindset, allow him to find success on a daily basis.
As the Director of Soccer Program, Lopez will oversee all Cross soccer programs, including all school teams, Lower School after-school soccer, and all soccer camps.
Additionally, he will be introducing a new “morning soccer training” program before school during the 2023-24 school year. More information about the program will be released over the summer.
For general information about Cross Schools, visit CrossSchools.org.
Kimberly Ingram has joined Savannah Surfaces as administrative assistant at the company’s headquarters in Hardeeville.
Ingram brings 20 years’ experience as an administrative assistant and customer service representative. She was most recently the administrative assistant for Ohio Gratings at their Ridgeland manufacturing facility.
At Savannah Surfaces, her duties at the reception desk include greeting customers, overseeing administrative projects, and assisting interior and exterior sales teams.
Savannah Surfaces is a provider of quality surfacing across the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire. Borne out of 30 years of experience, the company sources materials domestically and internationally, identifying unique products and importing them at competitive prices.
For more information, visit savannahsurfaces.com or call 843-784-6060.
Chris Katon has been named Director of Dining Services at The Seabrook of Hilton Head.
A graduate of Worcester State University, Katon’s culinary experience includes serving as Director of Food & Beverage at The Cypress of Hilton Head, Director of Restaurants at The Sea Pines Resort, and owner of Aqua Grille & Lounge.
In his spare time, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Jeff Katon Scholarship Foundation in honor of his late brother.
Katon previously served on the Hilton Head Hospitality Association’s Executive Committee.
The Seabrook is known for its top-notch dining services.
A nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization, The Seabrook is the only Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in the area that offers three housing options: condominium purchase, entry fee contract, and studio rentals.
For more information about The Seabrook of Hilton Head, visit theseabrook.com.
Shayne Milligan has been hired as the head football coach at John Paul II Catholic School.
Milligan brings 10 years of football coaching experience as well as six years of track and field coaching experience to JPII. He has spent the past four seasons at Concord (N.C.) High School as the varsity offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and recruiting coordinator, as well as the outdoor and indoor track and field head coach.
Milligan, who is currently the department chair for special education at Concord High School, will serve as a full-time special education teacher at JPII.
Milligan was a three-year letterman quarterback at Wakefield (N.C.) High School where he earned first team all-conference honors twice, as well as a Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Nominee. He earned a full scholarship to Elon University for football after being accepted as a preferred walk-on and played four years of professional arena football.
“I think of football as an analogy for life,” said Milligan. “Learning how to overcome obstacles, learning how to win with class and good character. Football and good coaches teach players hard work ethic, moral integrity, discipline, and accountability. When my players graduate, I hope they leave prepared to be great men….”
The Milligan family, who will be relocating to the Beaufort area, includes his wife, Lauren, and their three children, Nathan, James, and Ryann.
