It’s 2019: Are you ready?

“At Lowcountry Local First, our hope for the coming year is that we see local businesses of all shapes and sizes and with a diverse background of ownership grow and emerge. We know that when we invest our time and our dollars into building the type of community that provides opportunity for all to prosper — that we all benefit.”

— Jamee Haley, executive director of Lowcountry Local First,
a nonprofit focused on supporting small businesses

“In 2019, we at the Gibbes Museum of Art hope to develop greater awareness in our community of the economic benefits to having a robust and vibrant arts community. Year after year, the Gibbes positively impacts the overall health of Charleston’s economy and we hope to further that impact through partnerships with for-profit organizations as well as other nonprofit organizations.”

— Angela Mack, executive director of the
Gibbes Museum of Art in downtown Charleston

“We fell in love with the Charleston area and relocated our business here [from Atlanta] in 2018. We’re thankful for the gracious welcome so far and looking forward to another year of new relationships and community in the Lowcountry. We’re excited to continue to grow alongside the retailers, causes and events that share our passion for the water. And of course, we plan to spend more time out on the water ourselves. Cheers to a great 2018 and an even better year to come.”

— Jake Berton, founder and CEO of Rheos Gear,
a Charleston-based company that creates floating sunglasses

“As business owners of a femtech company, our big hope is to make women’s health services more affordable and accessible in the new year. This summer, our team spent five months interviewing and working with women, health insurance executives and health care providers to build a better solution to close the gap in health care disparities. Now, we are using our learnings to launch Jessie ­— a digital health assistant that connects women to the most appropriate and affordable virtual care for less than the cost of a co-pay. Services through HelloJessie.com include online prescriptions, video visits and at-home lab testing. Cheers to the start of a happy, hopeful and healthy new year.”

— Amy Domangue (left), pictured with Kerranna Williamson,
co-founders of ALIS Health/Jessie

“Looking ahead to the coming year, I’m focused on continuing to develop our team at The Indigo Road, as our people truly are the company’s greatest asset. Outside of our restaurants, I’m incredibly proud of the response we’ve seen with Ben’s Friends, and I’m excited to introduce new chapters across the country. Overall, I’ll continue to find new ways to create opportunities within our industry that weren’t previously there, ensuring a means to a healthy and meaningful work life.”

— Steve Palmer, founder of The Indigo Road Restaurant Group:
O-Ku, Indaco, The Macintosh, Oak Steakhouse, The Cocktail Club,
Mercantile and Mash, The Cedar Room and The Granary