For those of you who have been angling for an HBA Fishing Event, the HBA staff and the Fishing Tournament Committee proudly announce the HHA HBA Inaugural Fall Fishing Tournament on Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8 at the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center. 

Fishing enthusiasts will catch redfish, trout and flounder for over $4,000 in team payout!

The Captains Meeting for the tournament will be held the Friday evening before the Tournament start at first light on Saturday, October 8. Weigh-in will be strictly enforced between 3 PM and 5 PM on Saturday, October 8. Competitors and spectators alike will be welcomed to an after-tournament Fish Fry and Awards Ceremony to be held at the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center on Saturday, October 8 from 4-7 PM.

For more information on sponsorship levels and team registrations, please review the Fishing Tournament package or contact the HBA Staff directly at 843-681-9240 or via info@hhahba.com.

January 10, 2018

BLUFFTON, S.C. – For the 3rd consecutive year, Covert Aire™ is excited to announce the results of their 8 week winter charitable efforts that included Operation Warm Up, a Toys 4 Tots toy drive and a canned food drive for those in need in our community. 

Through their Operation Warm Up campaign, Covert Aire™ teamed up with other companies to help people without heat in our community. The Bluffton-based heating and air company, Covert Aire™, donated over $10,000 to replace, repair and install heating/air systems in several Lowcountry homes. 

This year there were over 25 applications submitted to Mike Covert, President of Covert Aire. Locals submitted stories about their family members, neighbors, friends and co-workers who needed help with their heat this winter and Covert himself read each application as part of the decision process. 

The company successfully installed a brand new Bryant heat pump system at no charge for a special family with a sick daughter who since birth has defeated life altering and life ending diseases. They were also able to help a single mother caring for three children keep her family warm this winter by installing a 3 zone ductless heating system for her house that previously had no heating system at all. In addition, Covert Aire™was able to perform some minor repairs and cleanings for several other families.

“Our employees look forward to Operation Warm Up each year,” says Covert. “Being able to help those in the community who would otherwise face a cold winter is so rewarding for myself and my team.”

Covert Aire™ was pleased to team up with Mingledorff's,Inc. an HVAC distributor, the Lowcountry Radio Group ( SC 103.1/Surf104.9/Easy FM), and Bryant Home Comfort to help these special families stay warm this winter.

Additionally, Covert Aire™ successfully collected over 100 toys for children for Bluffton Self Help.  They also collected over 200 canned goods for the Beaufort Help food bank.

About Covert Aire™
Covert Aire™ is an award winning family run business based in Bluffton, SC celebrating their 10th anniversary. They serve a broad geographic area throughout Beaufort County, the SC Lowcountry and the midlands, sea islands and sand hills of Georgia. Covert Aire provides heating, ventilation and air conditioning products and services for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, healthcare, and retail. Our staff is Nationally Certified by organizations such as NATE, EPA, NIULPE, ACCA, ASHRAE and other certifying organizations. Their mission statement is focused on helping people HVAC needs and corporately as a company that “gives back” to the community they live in. Covert Cares.

CONTACT FOR PUBLICITY:

Bryan Mudrak, owner of the local More Space Place franchise was featured in the article below on 1851franchise.com in late 2017. 

When Bryan Mudrak decided that it was time to break out of traditional corporate America to take on a business of his own, he wasn’t sure where to start. But after working as a corporate marketing director and building a career by climbing the corporate ladder, he knew that it was time to take on something new.

To get some advice on what to do next, Mudrak reached out to his friend, Peter, who ran his own business. That’s when Mudrak learned all about the franchising opportunity offered by More Space Place, a leading brand known for its custom closet designs and Murphy wall beds. Peter invited Mudrak down to see his store and learn more about how to operate the business at his location in Sarasota, Florida. Mudrak liked what he saw, so he decided to do a little more research. Over the next year and a half, he visited several other locations and talked with members of the brand’s franchise development team. Recognizing that he had a chance to be a part of something special, Mudrak signed a franchise agreement to open up his own More Space Place location on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

Since launching his location on January 1, 2004, Mudrak has grown alongside the More Space Place brand. The concept merged with Closet & Storage Concepts, enabling him to expand his reach as an entrepreneur even more than he originally anticipated.
 
“What makes Closet & Storage Concepts/More Space Place so unique is the product offering that we have. It fits into a very niche market that isn’t overcrowded with competitors, giving us the opportunity to reach a lot of consumers and enhance our businesses as franchisees,” said Mudrak. “There’s also a lack of repetitiveness that I really enjoy. Every project is new and consumers crave different things, allowing me to take on something exciting and fun every time I work with a customer. Plus, you can’t beat our business model. We get paid 50 percent of each project upfront and then the other 50 percent when the job is complete, which means that there isn’t a whole lot of out of pocket expense when it comes to dealing with transactions.”
Closet & Storage Concepts/More Space Place’s proven business model isn’t the only thing that makes the brands stand out. Franchisees who sign on to open their own location gain access to a strong support system that includes both initial and ongoing training. Local owners also benefit from the combination of both brands working together—the corporate teams and franchisees behind Closet & Storage Concepts and More Space Place pull from their collective best practices to create the best possible business ownership environment for franchisees.

“The merger with Closet & Storage Concepts has streamlined our processes. There haven’t been any major changes when it comes to the day to day aspects of our business, but they’ve brought some positive enhancements to the table,” said Mudrak. “Now that both brands are working together, we have some better manufacturing and delivery processes that help the overall turnover of our products. Our quality levels have also gone up.”

Mudrak is one of the many franchisees taking full advantage of what the More Space Place franchise system has to offer, especially after the merger with Closet & Storage Concepts. Bob Lewis, CEO of Closet
& Storage Concepts/More Space Place, notes, “Bryan is an excellent business operator and his experience running his More Space Place franchise has been an important asset to me as we completed the acquisition and merged the operations of the companies.”

Both Closet & Storage Concepts and More Space Place are continuing to experience growth as more franchisees sign on board. And between their long lists of competitive advantages and affordable initial investment rates that ranges from $90,950 - $172,150 for More Space Place owners, it’s easy to see why. Mudrak says that success is well within reach for franchisees who are driven and eager to follow the system.

“Be prepared to work. You can’t come in with the expectation that you’re going to get rich right away. But if you follow the step-by-step process, you’re going to become established in your marketplace and get to a point where you’re successful,” Mudrak said. “If you have that drive to do the work and you’re passionate about being in business for yourself, I believe that you can do very well in this business.”

Thursday, December 14, 2017
The Town of Bluffton Building Department has updated its Residential Permit Application Package in order to reflect changes in the Stormwater Affidavit. Please download the Residential Permit Application Package or the Stormwater Affidavit for your records.  

Friday, November 17, 2017

The Town of Bluffton Building Department will NOT hold its quarterly Contractor Meeting in November 2017 due to ongoing construction at Town Hall. Instead, Town of Bluffton staff has made the Contractor Notes available to you. Should you have any additional questions, please route them through Jenna Marstiller by calling 843-706-4538 or by emailing jmarstiller@townofbluffton.com.

Members of the Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association (HBA) joined together Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa for the Eighteenth Annual LightHouse Awards Gala where they continued the tradition of honoring the area’s top Builders for their quality craftsmanship and design excellence. At the 2017 Awards Gala, the HBA also presented the 2017 Premier Builder of the Year to Matt Bader of Full Circle Development (pictured below.)
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October 25, 2017

Local Business Leader Recognized as One of Nation’s
Most Powerful Women in Consumer Technology

Bluffton, SC – Sandy Benson, owner of Custom Audio Video, a premier audio video integration company located in Bluffton, was nominated one of America’s most powerful women in consumer technology by Dealerscope, a consumer technology publication. Benson was one of 17 women nationally to earn this recognition, joining women business leaders from global companies including Cisco, LG and Samsung.

“One of the most gratifying things about this award was that I am from the Hilton Head – Bluffton area. It was amazing to be included with such industry leaders from big companies and bigger markets. It says a lot about the progressive community here,” Benson says. “I am obviously pleased and honored to be included on this ranking among the strongest leaders and most effective mentors in the industry.”
“It represents the time and effort that we put into each customer that we serve and how much work it takes to build a successful company.”

Benson has demonstrated that women can lead a technology-based business to success, and at the same time raise a family and maintain a connection with the community. Through challenging times, she managed to drive Custom Audio Video into a leading position in the AV integrator market in her region. 

Prior to owning Custom Audio Video, Benson worked as a pharmacist, having received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University in 1983. 
For more information about the recognition, go to http://www.dealerscope.com/longform/dealerscope-2017-powerful-women-in-consumer-technology/

Since 1996, Custom Audio Video, a full service AV design, sales and installation team has strived to stay at the fore-front of the technology industry.  Servicing the entire Lowcountry in the residential and commercial arenas, CAV has continued to provide their clients with the latest and greatest in products, installation and service.   Custom Audio Video also continues to be an imprint in the communities they live and work in with the many philanthropic contributions supporting many non-profit organizations.  

For more information contact us at (843) 815-5130 or visit the CAV website at www.custom-audio-video.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: Coastal Signature Homes
For Publicity, contact Lisa Carroll, Moonstar Ad. PR LLC 
843-304-1922 or lisapr@hargray.com

June 26, 2017

COASTAL SIGNATURE HOMES AIDS LOCAL FAMILY

BLUFFTON, S.C. - The Coastal Signature Homes team recently organized a fundraiser in support of a local family welcoming their child born with Spina Bifida. With the help of the Bluffton community, the event raised over $11,000 for the Calderon family and their new baby, Ellis, to help with ongoing expenses.
Employees of the local custom homebuilder wanted to lend a helping hand when they learned that Luis Calderon, an employee of Stromer Plumbing - one of the builder’s most trusted and valued trade partners - was facing a challenging personal difficulty.
 
“Luis always shows up, does his work with a smile on his face, helps us find solutions and is a positive force on our job sites,” explained Leah England, Director of Client Engagement at CSH. “I was completely surprised to learn that Luis and his family were going through such a difficult time because he never showed it and never complained.”

Luis and his wife Mercedes were expecting their fourth child, a son they decided to name Ellis. However, they had received the devastating diagnosis of Spina Bifida. Because one of their older children, Bella, also suffers from the condition, the Calderons knew all too well the uphill battle in front of their unborn son, as well as the financial difficulties the family would endure from the necessary costly treatments.
 
Spina bifida is a birth defect where there is incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord that can result in many physical and neurological problems.

The family made the decision to move forward with an innovative in-utero surgical procedure that could lessen the effects of the disease. However, the treatment required Mercedes to be away from their young family for 3 months thus putting the burden of daily family management on Luis.
 
“I wasn’t sure how much we could help,” explained England. “But I knew we had a model home that could serve as a beautiful venue for a benefit.”

England said she also knew that CSH could count on the company’s wonderful past and present client base to come together for this very deserving family.

“When the team approached me about hosting a benefit event in support of the Calderons, I was in total support,” said Steve Tilton, Coastal Signature Homes owner and Principal. “I’ve always said we are a family here at Coastal Signature. Organizing a fund-raiser for one of our own and tapping into the various talents of my team to make it happen was an authentic demonstration of that core value.”

Attendees of the fundraising event enjoyed BBQ, music, dancing, lawn games and even snuggled with the baby of honor, newborn Ellis. Thanks to the participation of several local companies who reduced their rates for goods and services, support of the event through social media, and the addition of a silent auction, Coastal Signature Homes was able to sell 250 tickets and raise $11,550 for baby Ellis and his family.
 
When asked about their experience with Coastal Signature Homes’ event benefiting their family, Mercedes Calderon explained that she took it as an opportunity to discuss her faith, and that God’s blessings can sometimes come when you least expect and from surprising sources.
 
“No matter what obstacles you may be going through,” said Mercedes Calderon “by believing and trusting in God through your situation, you can get through anything and everything. We feel so blessed that CSH would think of us and go to the trouble to put on a benefit for us. It has opened our eyes in a different way. The amount of support that the community gave blew us away. It has truly blessed us,” said Calderon.

To donate to the Calderon Family to aid in the ongoing costs of Spina Bifida treatments for their children, Isabella and Ellis Calderon, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/ellis-medical-fund.

Coastal Signature Homes would like to thank: David and Joanna Sweet, Hampton Lake, Downtown Deli, The Chiggers, Stromer Plumbing, Grayco, Pace Lighting, Callawassie Island, Ferguson, Lux Medical Spa, Teak and Table and Bluffton School of Dance.

About Coastal Signature Homes   
Coastal Signature Homes of Bluffton is a company of strong roots in the building industry with homes located in many communities throughout the Lowcountry. CSH is a member of the Hilton Head Homebuilders Association and recipients of multiple HBA Lighthouse Awards. They partner with GuildQuality, the leading provider of customer satisfaction surveying and performance reporting for the residential construction industry. It ensures their Coastal Signature Homes customers receive the highest standard approaches to the building process. For more information contact Coastal Signature Homes at 843-757-8889 or visit www.coastalsignaturehomes.com.

Brad Tholen Home Inspectors LLC is now doing business as Horizon Home Inspectors. Under its new brand, Horizon Home Inspectors provides residential and commercial property inspection services for Realtors, home owners, home buyers and home sellers in southern Beaufort County. In 2013, Company owner and president Brad Tholen began operations under his own name until the rebranding in October of 2017. The success of the business was the result of a solid reputation in the local real estate market allowing Tholen to grow his inspector team. Tholen chose the new brand to reflect the growth of the business and to create a more regional image. Brad Tholen remains with the company as the sole owner, president and one of three inspectors in the growing business. By the end of 2017, Tholen and his team will produce nearly one thousand inspections of residential and commercial properties for owners, sellers and buyers, focusing primarily on real estate south of the Broad River in Beaufort County, SC. The company is striving to add more licensed and insured inspectors to the team in 2018 to further increase the company’s capacity in the growing marketplace. Further information about Horizon Home Inspectors and inspection scheduling are available at www.horizonhomeinspectors.com or by calling Taylor Halpin, General Manager at 843-290-2258. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Terry Rice/TR Marketing
843-605-6622
terry@t-rmarketing.com

Live Oak Builders Announces Welcome Package
Local Businesses Offer Southern Hospitality

Beaufort, SC – May 1st – Live Oak Builders, a custom home builder in Beaufort and the Sea Islands, announces the roll-out of a Welcome Package that will be offered to new clients.  The welcome package is reminiscent of times past when the national Welcome Wagon program served as an advertising venue for businesses to offer small discounts to new homeowners.  It was hand delivered in a large envelope by a Welcome Wagon representative. 

Worth over $1000, more than 20 local businesses are participating in the Live Oak Welcome Package with most incentives at $50 or more.  Clients, who will be living in the area while their custom home is being built, will receive the package at contract signing.  Clients, who will be out of town while their home is being built, will receive it at the closing. 

“I wanted to do something different this year with our advertising dollars” said Todd Bradley, Owner of Live Oak Builders.  We reinvested those funds into the development of the package and Terry Rice, our marketing coordinator, went out and sold it to local businesses” Todd explained.

“It’s a win-win for everyone.  Business owners just had to come up with an inviting incentive.  No out-of-pocket expenses were incurred. The idea is to reach new residents during high spending scenarios and when early shopping patterns are being developed,” Terry Rice of TR Marketing said.   She added, “I went to all the places that I found on my own when I moved to Beaufort in 2012.  I can personally attest to the quality of all the businesses.  The business wins by potentially gaining a new, regular customer; the client wins by having pre-identified information about local businesses; and Live Oak Builders wins by brokering that new business relationship and leveraging goodwill.”

This is a one-of-a-kind offer in the area designed to welcome new residents and help them find the goods and services they may need as they establish themselves in the Lowcountry.

“'Our roots run deep in the Beaufort Community' is the tagline for Live Oak Builders.  Building strong relationships with our clients, subcontractors and the community we live in, serves as our foundation for building quality, custom homes in Beaufort and the Sea Islands,'” Todd added.

Live Oak Builders’ Design and Remodeling Center is located at 1402 Boundary Street. Call 843-524-2343, email: liveoakbuilders@embarqmail.com or visit our website at www.liveoakbuilder.com.