Edie Coupe has recently joined Daniel Island Rentals as a Leasing and Customer Relations Specialist. Edie, a native of California and a graduate of University of the Pacific, previously worked at Clement, Crawford and Thornhill and Dunes Properties prior to starting her own business which she had run for the last several years. Edie relocated to the Lowcountry seven years ago and currently resides on Daniel Island.

Pam Hartley, founder of Daniel Island based Momentum Marketing led the new media workshop titled ‘How To Increase Your Brand Awareness Over The Next 12 Months’ for more than eighty members of The Alternative Board during The Synergy 7 Conference held recently at The Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina. TAB colleagues Colleen Troy of Touchpoint Communications, Jazel Hazel of Hazel Digital Media and Richard Almes of Unimedia also participated in the presentation and expert panel Q & A.

"These days it’s imperative that local business owners utilize the new media tools available to grow their businesses," Hartley said. "Over the past ten years, there have been dramatic shifts in the digital marketing arena and now more than ever, online marketing is essential for each and every company." The workshop focused on websites, search engine optimization, online audits, online public relations, social media and video. "There are so many options to consider for any business and we focused on the primary new media options that are low cost/no cost and make a huge impact when executed properly," Hartley added.

The Alternative Board (TAB) Synergy 7 Conference was attended by more than eighty members of TAB, all local businesses throughout Charleston, Hilton Head, Beaufort, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. This combined conference is a once or twice a year gathering of all members of The Alternative Board of the Low Country and Coastal Empire (www.tab-lowcountry.com). The event was facilitated by Bernie Moscovitz, TAB Low Country Owner, Facilitator and Coach. Other speakers included The Mayor of Beaufort, Billy Keyserling; Jerry Schulze, Chairman of the Board of Beaufort Memorial Hospital; John R. Snider, Commanding Officer of MCAS Beaufort; and South Carolina State Senator Tom Davis.

"This conference was a day well spent," said Hartley. "In addition to our marketing workshop, the members got some incredible insights from our speakers on healthcare reform, the inner workings of balancing a city budget, the new F35 coming soon to the military, and some of the issues facing business owners on a state level."

Momentum Marketing (www.momentumresults.com) is a full service advertising agency and marketing firm, representing a diverse range of clients in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas and Illinois. The company blends effective marketing strategies, traditional & new media, public relations and corporate training to deliver personalized marketing plans that produce instant results. For more information on Momentum Marketing, email info@momentumresults.com or call 843.377.8450.

Charleston has long been known as a bastion for Southern hospitality for guests from all over the world, and the Neighborhood Dining Group is proud to give back to those that make the city so great!

From September 11^th to December 11^th, the Buccaneer and Queen Anne’s Revenge restaurants of the Neighborhood Dining Group are offering a 15 percent discount on all food – simply by showing an identification card at the restaurants – to teachers, soldiers, police, EMT’s, healthcare professionals, and port authority. 

 "As a former firefighter, I’m so excited to be able to help support the people that make up the backbone of Charleston’s community through these special discounts," says Buccaneer Executive Chef Nathan Richard. 

Blackbaud, Inc (Nasdaq: BLKB) was named a Green Business Pioneer by the City of Charleston and the Charleston County Council. The Pioneer Award was presented to Blackbaud because of its work stewarding and protecting Charleston’s environment and resources through achievable business practices.

 "We are very humbled to be among the recipients of the Pioneer Award," said Rachel Hutchisson, director of citizenship and philanthropy at Blackbaud. "When it comes to being green, it’s not about what we’ve done; it’s about what we can still do for our environment and the nonprofit community, which is why we have also entered the Charleston Green Business Challenge."

 The Charleston Green Business Challenge is a voluntary opportunity for businesses of all types and sizes to pursue sustainability and green-driven strategies, while improving business performance. Developed by the City of Chicago, the challenge is being piloted in five cities across the nation through the initiative of ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability.

 Blackbaud remains committed to programs developed to support and encourage employees to give back and focus on the environment with programs to include:

Blackbaud headquarters building, a team of employees has developed a garden where they will  plant several vegetables and seasonal crops, which will all be donated to the Charleston-based nonprofit, Fields to Families. Vespa Pizza and Daniel Island Grill both located on Daniel Island, SC, are helping the Blackbaud Community garden by providing compost.

For more information and to read to the "Service to Others" blog, visit www.blackbaud.com/philanthropy.