Hilton Head People

Launched in 1993 by Charlene Riikonen, Cera Products encompasses a whole line of cutting edge hydration products used by every-one from pro athletes to Army Rangers and other military Special Operations. Today Riikonen runs the company with her daughter, Jennifer Gurrola at her side.

Since opening up her own boutique design studio in Bluffton five years ago, Kelly Caron has been at the vanguard of the Lowcountry look, creating some of the most dazzling interiors in the South. We caught up with her to get a few tricks of the trade.

Founded in 1969, Hilton Head PSD has provided clean water and friendly service to the island as it has grown from a sleepy golf resort into a busy community. We asked a few of their leading ladies about their work at HHPSD and their lives as women in the industry.

Women already face a unique set of challenges when creating a successful business, and those challenges multiply when your name is on the sign. Terra Scoggins has handled those challenges with a smile, establishing Terra’s Hair Salon as the island’s go-to destination for fabulous looks.

Rochelle Clarkson opened Alliance Dance Academy four years ago, having danced for over 50 years with a career as a dancer, artist and instructor who has helped launched hundreds of careers. A mentor and professional with a passion for dance, she shares her thoughts on bridging the artistic and business worlds.

HILTON HEAD RESIDENT JANET PORTER FACILITATES END-OF-LIFE DISCUSSIONS

It came as a shock to Janet Porter’s sorority sisters at Ohio State University when she took an interest in end-of-life issues and enrolled in studies on death and dying at St. Thomas More Newman Center, the school’s Roman Catholic campus ministry. 

For her, it was just the beginning. 

StoneWorks is a leading resource for porcelain, quartz, granite, marble and tile. Our craftsmanship with state-of-the-art fabrication facilities and a vast stock of materials on hand can deliver “inspiration to installation” within 5 business days.

The global appeal of Lowcountry elegance can be traced back to the success of one firm: J Banks Design Group. And the success of J. Banks Design Group? Well, you can thank Joni Vanderslice for that. She supplemented her own talents by surround-ing herself with a world-class team and changed the Lowcountry. We find out how she did it.

This month, Monthly invited local women in business, education, sports and the arts to discuss their work and how they define success.

In their profiles, these Lowcountry influencers share advice and connect across a diverse range of expertise and industries. They discuss their obstacles, accomplishments, backgrounds, motivation and the people who have inspired them.