Hilton Head Monthly Magazine Voice of the Lowcountry 
Rochelle Clarkson opened Alliance Dance Academy four years ago, having danced for over 50 years with a career as a dancer, artist and instructor who has helped launched hundreds of careers. A mentor and professional with a passion for dance, she shares her thoughts on bridging the artistic and business worlds.
HILTON HEAD RESIDENT JANET PORTER FACILITATES END-OF-LIFE DISCUSSIONS
It came as a shock to Janet Porter’s sorority sisters at Ohio State University when she took an interest in end-of-life issues and enrolled in studies on death and dying at St. Thomas More Newman Center, the school’s Roman Catholic campus ministry.
For her, it was just the beginning.
StoneWorks is a leading resource for porcelain, quartz, granite, marble and tile. Our craftsmanship with state-of-the-art fabrication facilities and a vast stock of materials on hand can deliver “inspiration to installation” within 5 business days.
The global appeal of Lowcountry elegance can be traced back to the success of one firm: J Banks Design Group. And the success of J. Banks Design Group? Well, you can thank Joni Vanderslice for that. She supplemented her own talents by surround-ing herself with a world-class team and changed the Lowcountry. We find out how she did it.
This month, Monthly invited local women in business, education, sports and the arts to discuss their work and how they define success.
In their profiles, these Lowcountry influencers share advice and connect across a diverse range of expertise and industries. They discuss their obstacles, accomplishments, backgrounds, motivation and the people who have inspired them.
LUXURY INN, NEW FITNESS APP COMING TO HILTON HEAD HEALTH
Hilton Head Health will welcome an 18,000-square-foot Sweetgrass Inn by the end of 2020. The inn will include 30 guest rooms, a game room and theater room. Hilton Head Health visitors will now have the opportunity to stay on-site at the weight loss and wellness resort. Hilton Head Health has also launched H3 On Demand, an all-inclusive digital program that combines fitness, recipes and education videos in one platform. For more information, go to www.h3ondemand.com.
HEATHER PRICE CONNECTS THE LOWCOUNTRY THROUGH ACTIVE FACEBOOK GROUP
Heather Price imagined an online coffee shop where people could ask questions about life in the Lowcountry and get answers. She ended up with a gathering in a virtual arena the size of a small stadium.
Price is the creator and chief administrator of “Bluffton/Hilton Head Ask and Answer [Original],” a Facebook group that has more than 21,000 members — many of them very active.
KPM FLOORING OWNER IS BUSINESS, COMMUNITY LEADER
She drove a taxi, waited tables, and even became a scuba instructor.
Before Kathleen Mayers started her own business — KPM Flooring on Hilton Head Island’s Main Street — out of her garage in 2007 and emerged as a community leader and advocate for Down syndrome awareness on Hilton Head Island, she’d already shown she was willing to work hard.
HELEN RYAN IS A POWERHOUSE FOR LOCAL STUDENTS
Well known locally for her tenure as principal of Hilton Head Island High School and her role in developing John Paul II Catholic School, Dr. Helen Ryan has been many things: wife, mother, nurse, educator, faith leader. One constant in all aspects of her life, though, was serving others.
CYNTHIA AND GEORGE GORSKI-POPIEL HELP KEEP HILTON HEAD ISLAND IN TUNE
When Cynthia and George Gorski-Popiel moved to Hilton Head Island a little more than 20 years ago from the Washington, D.C. area, they knew they would find golf courses and tennis courts, but they weren’t sure what kind of cultural life would be available.
