Elite Performance by Nick Pizzo LLC has relocated its corporate offices from East Hampton, N.Y. to Daniel Island in the BB&T Building at 234 Seven Farms Drive. Nick Pizzo, the CEO and owner, is a performance coach who draws upon over 15 years of coaching and leadership experience in business, education, and athletics to offer a training perspective that has proven to be powerful, heartwarming, and inspiring. Pizzo works with corporations, small businesses, non-profit organizations, athletic teams, high school, collegiate and professional athletes, as well as families and individuals to help them improve their emotional readiness and subsequently become peak performers.

Elite Performance by Nick Pizzo LLC specializes in helping its corporate clients increase sales productivity, reduce employee turnover and working with CEOs to access more high-value time. Pizzo said, "It is such a joy to help businesses and organizations prosper by working with their management team to tailor a program that fits their specific needs and helps improve their bottom line". Pizzo is also dedicated to helping athletes become peak performers by improving their emotional readiness, which transcends into all aspects of their lives.

He designs programs for athletic teams and sports camps as well as individual athletes who seek to perform optimally. "There’s nothing more exciting than helping an athlete perform to their greatest potential and nothing more rewarding than knowing that their ability to operate from a constant state of readiness and happiness will transcend into all areas of their lives and help them to be better, more productive people within our society," Pizzo said.

For more information please visit www.nickpizzo.com and call (843) 377-8680 to schedule a consultation.

The local housing market continued to remain stable but down from the previous year in June, reflecting the economy nationwide, according to a release issued by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. The number of units sold in June increased over sales for May while the median price decreased. The median price for June was $209,855 in contrast to the May median price of $214,000. A total of 835 transactions closed in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), keeping pace with the YTD trend of a decrease in transactions. Out of the total units sold in June, 80 of those were condos compared to 161 in June of 2007. The median price for condos has also dropped from $235,000 in June of 2007 to $179,000.

"Although we are disappointed that the summer months have not yet brought the upswing we hoped for, we continue to see movement in the right direction" said Wil Riley, president of CTAR and broker associate of Century 21 Properties Plus.  "As interest rates rise and sellers price their homes more realistically, more and more buyers are getting off the fence and making offers."

There were 835 units sold through the Multiple Listing Service in June 2008, as compared to 1187 units sold in June 2007.  Charleston County saw 497 units close through the MLS during May 2008, while Berkeley and Dorchester Counties saw 183and 214 units sold respectively.  The average number of days on the market was slightly lower during June than the previous month. In addition, monthly sales are in keeping with the overall trend for the year.

Cory Pharr of the Maritime Association will be the guest speaker at the next Mount Pleasant Business and Professional Association luncheon.  As a member of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Business Continuity Planning Council, he will discuss how small business owners can prepare their business for a natural disaster – whether the catastrophe happens here in the Lowcountry or in another part of the country. 

The monthly luncheon for the local group of business professionals will be held on Thursday, July 17 at noon at the Holiday Inn in Mt. Pleasant. The public is invited to attend; however, reservations are required.

A non-profit organization begun in 1992, the Mount Pleasant Business and Professional Association is a networking and community involvement organization comprised of members of the local business community. Monthly luncheon meetings are held the third Thursday of every month (except December) at noon at the Holiday Inn in Mount Pleasant. The typical agenda includes a full buffet lunch, featured speaker and opportunities for networking and business promotion. The luncheon price for members is $12. Guests may attend the luncheon for $15.

Guests are asked to RSVP no later than Tuesday, July 15 by e-mailing  chuck@digglepub.com, or calling Diane Pauldine at 884-9147 or Chuck Diggle at 972-2356.  For more information on the luncheon or on the Association, go to www.mpbpa.com.

The South Carolina Film Commission, a division of the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, is accepting submissions for the third year of filmmaking grants through its South Carolina Film Production Fund.

The fund was created to develop collaborative projects in film, video and multimedia between motion picture professionals and institutions of higher learning in South Carolina. Up to $300,000 in production grants will be awarded in 2009. 

To further promote development of in-state film crews, the University of South Carolina, Clemson University and Trident Technical College have formed the South Carolina Film Consortium with the South Carolina Film Commission. Independent producers and other professionals in motion picture-related fields are able to partner with one or all of the Consortium members, working with their students to help South Carolina build its knowledge pool and improve the skills of those already involved in the industry.

South Carolina filmmakers requiring more information on the application process can go to the Film Production Fund Web site at www.filmsc.com. These pages contain an overview of the South Carolina Film Production Fund, along with specific grant requirements.

A producers’ seminar will be held in Charleston the weekend of Aug. 16 for applicants to the Production Fund and other interested media professionals. For more information, call Tom Clark at 803-737-0498 or contact him at tclark@scprt.com.

 "By allowing students to produce indigenous film projects from script to screen without having to rely on out-of-state expertise and facilities, we elevate the filmmaking skills of South Carolinians and create synergy between independent producers and South Carolina colleges and universities," said South Carolina Film Commissioner Jeff Monks.

"The industry benefits by having a ready-to-work crew; graduates benefit by being better prepared to gain employment; and South Carolina benefits from the income and the prominence generated by a successful in-state entertainment industry," Monks said.

The South Carolina State Park Service is sponsoring the 12^th annual Artist-In-Residence Program for the 2009 season to encourage artists to interpret South Carolina’s state parks through their work. 

The program offers a one-week stay in a state park cabin to help the artists find inspiration through their park experience. 

Interested artists are invited to submit their applications by Wednesday, Oct. 31. Each artist must submit examples of past artwork in the application. A panel of park representatives will select artists based on artistic quality and the ability to relate and interpret the park through their work. Selected artists will be notified by Nov. 30.

Upon completion of the selected artist’s visit, he or she must donate a completed original work to the park within 90 days. In the past, diverse media such as photography, quilts, paintings, wall hangings and pottery have been accepted and kept by the host parks for posterity and public display.

For more information about the Artist-In-Residence Program or to apply, contact Mark Davies at Oconee State Park at 864- 638-5353 or oconee@scprt.com.