With over 40 years of experience, Schirmer Insurance Group has worked to earn the trust of the Lowcountry. As an independent agency, they have the flexibility to meet the demands of both personal and commercial insurance needs while also representing an array of carriers such as Nationwide Insurance. As lifelong Charlestonians, they have a deep understanding of the … [Read more...]
Hudson’s Import Service: Driven by Dreams
In 1978, Ray Hudson had a vision, not for himself, but for his son. While he had never been self-employed, he believed in the value of business ownership which he wanted his son to experience firsthand. So at just 21 years old, Cliff opened Hudson’s Import Service. The reasoning was simple: if the business failed, he would still have a home, and only the business itself … [Read more...]
A Grander Plan: St. Andrew’s Church
After living in Charlotte, North Carolina, for nine years, Pastor Randy Forrester was called to serve at St. Andrew’s Church in Mount Pleasant’s Old Village. His wife Paisley, their daughter Azure and three sons Julian, Clive and Finlay were also ready to make the change. In 2017, the circumstances worked out for the church, schools and neighborhood to overlap, something they … [Read more...]
Heroic Dads: First Responder Fathers
EMS Dads In mid-September 2011, 32-year-old Pete Levine jumped into an emergency responder vehicle and rushed off with a siren wailing overhead on his first medical call for Charleston County EMS. Levine had only been on the job for a short time, but was now speeding toward Dorchester Road where a multi-vehicle rollover had suddenly put multiple people in harm’s way. As … [Read more...]
Momfluencers: Influential Mothers Turning Chaos Into Content
They’re the moms behind the Instagram swoon-worthy profiles, the viral home décor and the family coastal living inspiration — but behind every well thought out photo is a local mom with a packed schedule and a story about how it all started with a need for something more. Mount Pleasant’s Arin Jura (@arinsolange) and Amy Romfo (@thecoastaloak) didn’t set out to become … [Read more...]
Starling Chevrolet: Fueled by Family
Mount Pleasant is more than a thriving community of over 20,000 families; it’s where businesses like Starling Chevrolet extend their reach beyond commerce into the heart of giving. At the center of this commitment is Joe Sarro, general manager of Starling Chevrolet, and his sons, Jarrett and Joey, who are making it their mission to give back. “I always knew being part of the … [Read more...]
Simmons Seafood: Big Nets to Fill
For five generations, the surname Simmons has been synonymous with the town of Mount Pleasant. From 1916 to 1920 and then again from 1921-1928, Yonge Simmons served as mayor. Simmons Street at Moultrie Plaza and Yonge Street in the Old Village are both named after him. In the 1940s, Yonge’s son Hugh and his wife Ella opened a grocery store called Simmons Brothers Grocery on … [Read more...]
Full House: Big Families With Bigger Hearts
Have you ever wondered what life would be like with a really big family? Not just a couple of kids, but the kind of family where someone is always talking, something’s always on the calendar and chaos is just part of the magic. We peeked inside the lives of three Mount Pleasant moms who are raising large families with a whole lot of love, laughter and a few mom hacks you might … [Read more...]
Brown Atlantic: Built to Withstand
In 1977, Howard Brown took a leap of faith. After years in construction, he knew the industry inside and out. With a sharp eye for detail and a strong work ethic, he decided to build something of his own and launched Brown Atlantic. Nearly 50 years later, his sons are now stepping into leadership roles. They are blending the lessons from their father with new perspectives, and … [Read more...]
Alex Brener, Carolina One Real Estate: Lock in Luxury
Alex Brener is a real estate agent specializing in single-family luxury households. After graduating from Elon University’s Love School of Business in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he met his wife, Brener jumped into the world of real estate. During the 2008 recession, Brener helped build over 200 single-family homes and flipped homes throughout North … [Read more...]