Beautiful Textures names Angela Simmons brand ambassador
Savannah-based Strength of Nature Global, LLC, which provides hair care for women of color, has named television personality Angela Simmons as its brand ambassador for its Beautiful Textures line that caters to the needs of women with natural hair.
“Angela Simmons is a multi-talented entrepreneur, television personality and fashion designer whose active lifestyle and positive outlook make her a natural advocate for the Beautiful Textures brand,” said Charlene Dance, global marketing director for Strength of Nature Global, LLC.
Simmons is the star of two MTV shows: “Run’s House,” which gave America an insider’s look at the lives of the first family of hip-hop, and “Daddy’s Girls,” which chronicles Angela and her older sister as they navigate Hollywood and step out as role models for young fans.
SouthCoast changes name, branding
The Savannah-based medical organization formerly known as SouthCoast Medical Group has become SouthCoast Health.
In a news release, SouthCoast Health Administrator John Marrero said the change comes from a desire to better represent the organization’s commitment to the complete wellness of its patients. “We are truly dedicated to the overall health and wellbeing of our patients, not just clinical treatments,” asserts Marrero. “Our new identity conveys that we are more than a medical group; we are a partner in our patients’ overall health.”
According to the release, there will be no changes to SouthCoast Health policies, hours, or physicians under this re-branding campaign. Patients will continue to see the same physician in their usual location, still using their current form of insurance.
The organization will continue to provide health services to the Baxley, Hinesville, Pooler, Richmond Hill, Rincon, and Savannah communities in Georgia, as well as the Bluffton and Hilton Head Island communities in South Carolina.
Patrick’s Ride will draw bicyclists in October
Cyclists from across the region are expected to take part in Patrick’s Ride on Oct. 18.
Riders will leave from the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial University Medical Center at 6 a.m. and arrive at the Riverwalk in Augusta around 6 p.m. The 140-mile fundraising bicycle ride, also known as the “Harvest of Hope Double Metric Century,” is in its 13th year of raising money for families and children with cancer at the ACI and The Children’s Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center.
Since its inception, Patrick’s Ride has raised more than $390,000 and benefited more than 1,100 retreat participants.
To register for the ride, be a sponsor or make a donation, go to www.patricksride.com. Registration ends Friday. For more information, contact Beth Bethune at 912-350-1524.
Corps launches free mobile app for river data
A free mobile application puts lake and rainfall data at arms’ reach for those interested in conditions of the Corps-operated Savannah River reservoirs and river gauges.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District recently launched a free app available for users of Apple, Google and Amazon mobile devices. To download, simply search for “USACE Savannah” from the app store compatible with your mobile device (iTunes App Store, Google Play or the Amazon app store).
The app is also available online via a desktop version at http://usacesavannah.mobapp.at
The app provides the most in-demand information on the status of lakes Hartwell, Russell and Thurmond, as well as river conditions downstream. The app pulls data in real-time from the district’s water management database, but repackages the most frequently-accessed content for easy viewing on smaller screens characteristic of mobile devices.
Users will find current reservoir levels, outflow rates, rainfall data, projection charts, forecasts and more on Savannah District’s new app. All the information is unique to the Savannah River Basin.
For more information about the Corps’ operation in the Savannah River Basin, visit their blog, Balancing the Basin at http://balancingthebasin.armylive.dodlive.mil.
Georgia Sea Grant helps coastal communities plan for port expansion
As the $706 million Savannah Harbor Expansion Project begins, the University of Georgia and Georgia Sea Grant will help coastal residents adapt to changes that are expected to bring additional jobs and prosperity to their communities.
“The changes will affect the entire coastal corridor between Georgia’s two main maritime ports, and we want to help each community benefit from the development,” said Stephen Ramos, assistant professor in UGA’s College of Environment and Design, who received funding from Georgia Sea Grant to conduct research and consult with the coastal communities.
During the construction phase of the planned harbor deepening project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates that 3,700 one-year jobs will be created within Georgia and South Carolina. Ramos will investigate the best ways for communities to accommodate the temporary workforce and study whether it could translate into long-term job creation. He also will look at whether local communities need to invest in infrastructure improvements to accommodate additional truck and rail traffic. The number of cargo containers requiring transportation following the port expansion is expected to increase from 2.9 million to 6.5 million by 2030.
“All of these changes are very positive for coastal Georgia,” said Hopkinson. “We just need to make sure that our coastal communities are prepared.”
The port is the fourth busiest container port and creator of $18.5 billion annually in personal income from related jobs, and plans
Georgia Sea Grant is one of 33 programs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant network that enhance the practical use and conservation of resources in coastal and Great Lake states. A unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, Georgia Sea Grant provides research, education and outreach to create a sustainable economy and environment in coastal Georgia. For more information, see http://georgiaseagrant.uga.edu.
Savannah Human Resource Management chapter hosts retreat
The Savannah Area Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management hosted its annual HR Retreat for 125 attendees from Georgia, Florida and South Carolina on July 24 at the new Embassy Suites.
The retreat consisted nine educational sessions by regional and national presenters from Hunter MacLean Attorneys, LPL Financial, Social Security 567, Savannah Business Group and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
State Sen. Buddy Carter opened the event with a breakfast keynote on trends for 2015 for employment and education in conjunction with the State’s political framework. The closing keynote speaker was New York Times bestselling author Dr. Howard Wasdin, former sniper for Seal Team Six, who gave a motivational presentation on effective leadership.
Attendees also enjoyed a business expo featuring 23 local businesses offering benefits, compensation and employee related products and services.