This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

To say that Meg Heap is a worker is an understatement. Keeping a steady work ethic since she was 15, Heap has made her way around the state and finally back to her home in Savannah as the Chatham County District Attorney after stops in Statesboro and Cherokee County. Now settled in Savannah, Heap has focused on assisting victims and bringing efficiency and stability to the DA office. In this episode of Difference Makers, she talks about her choice to become a prosecutor even though it was less lucrative than other professions in her field, her appointment to the position, some programs they have instituted in the county and how her team deals with stress.

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(10:34): Choice to become a prosecutor

(14:06): Moving from a rural county court to a more urban one

(19:40): Leaving and then eventually returning to the DA office

• Chatham County District Attorney Meg Heap named state DA of the year (SMN, July 21, 2019)

(23:14): Establishing efficiency in the DA office

(26:50): Programs directed at helping at-risk youth in Chatham County

• DA Heap sets new program for Savannah domestic violence victims (SMN, Apr. 15, 2018)

(34:30): Family Justice Center

• December opening planned for Savannah's Family Justice Center (SMN, Aug. 17, 2019)

(38:43): Dealing with stress in the job

(44:03): Managing relationships with judges

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

A son of a New York firefighter, Griff Lynch felt called to the sea even if it didn't necessarily agree with him. Luckily, there is more to do with the water than just sailing on it, and Lynch has found himself in charge of a business that is leading the way in trade on the East Coast. On this episode of Difference Makers, Lynch details what all goes into running the Savannah port as well as the ports in Georgia at large while also recapping their past fiscal year and the many programs they have in motion. He also goes into how international trade is affecting Savannah and the effects of the China trade and tariffs on GPA.

Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer

(8:46): Evolution of maritime work

(16:58): What goes into vessel planning for the port?

(19:47): 2019 fiscal year wrap-up for the Georgia Ports Authority

• Georgia Ports Authority marks growth, Kia partnership (SMN, Mar. 26, 2019)
• Port of Savannah sets more records in FY19 (SMN, July 30, 2019)

(23:56): What sets the Georgia Ports apart from other East Coast ports

• Portside: Volume counts, but it's 'dwell time' that sets Savannah's port apart (SMN, May 2, 2019)

(27:32): Mason Mega Rail

• Georgia Ports breaks ground for Mega Rail project in Garden City (SMN, Mar. 27, 2018)
• Savannah port's Mason Mega Rail project on schedule (SMN, May 4, 2019)

(33:50): Big Birth, Big Ship Initiative

• Savannah's Talmadge Bridge may need replacement for bigger ships (SMN, Sept. 20, 2018)
• Savannah: Port begins Big Berth/Big Shop program (SMN, Feb. 5, 2019)

(43:11): The current state of international trade and how it works in Savannah

(46:05): How trade from China and the rest of Asia affects the Georgia Ports

• Portside: Georgia's ports continue unscathed by trade wars (SMN, Aug. 1, 2019)

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

Performance has always been a part of Maria Zouves from "playing office" as a child to singing in the back of the car and eventually to the stage alongside her husband, Sherrill Milnes — a legend of the art. But taking to the stage as the main act was not always Zouves' passion, and she translated her business-savvy intelligence to bringing more minds to the opera world, specifically in the Savannah area through the Savannah VOICE Festival. Now in its seventh season, the festival gets ready to kick off its most unique and diverse line-up yet and it is a testament to its two founders in Zouves and Milnes. In this episode of Difference Makers, Zouves sits down with Adam to speak about her early career in music, meeting Sherrill and working out of his shadow and what brought her to Savannah to create the festival that has become a staple in the city.

Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer

(8:53): Early music career and aspirations

(14:43): Challenges weening off music career and taking a next step

• VIDEO: Sherrill Milnes and Luciano Pavarotti sing La Giocanda
• VIDEO: Maria Zouves and Sherrill Milnes sing "You'll Always Be My Baby"

(18:16): Voice Experience Program

(26:08): Her learning experiences from the first couple VOICE Festivals

(30:55): 2019 edition of the Savannah VOICE Festival

• Savannah VOICE Festival opens seventh and largest season (Do Savannah, July 31, 2019)
• Savannah VOICE Festival: Death By Aria returns with the high notes (Do Savannah, July 31, 2019)
• VIDEO: Savannah VOICE Festival previews "Forever Plaid"

(33:54): VOICE Festival's education and outreach programs

• Built to educate and entertain, Savannah VOICE Fest is dedicated to students, community (Do Savannah, Aug. 14, 2018)
• Edu-tainment: 'Hansel and Gretel' continues Savannah VOICE Fest's core mission (Do Savannah, Aug. 14, 2018)

(38:09): How do you approach opera in the modern age?

(44:24): What do you do to bridge the generational attitudes towards performance and art with the VOICE Festival?

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

Savannah wants to believe it sells itself — and it does for the most part — but to close the deal, it needs people like the Savannah Economic Development Authority's Trip Tollison. Growing up nearby in Brunswick, Tollison had a stint in Washington working at the U.S. Capitol before coming home and using his lessons about developing relationships to help SEDA, and Savannah, reach new levels. On this episode of Difference Makers, Tollison discusses what he learned at the Capitol, what all he and SEDA does when courting new business, the future of the tech and logistics corridors in Savannah and what the future looks like for the city.

Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer

(6:33): Experience working in D.C. at the U.S. Capitol

(14:42): Joining the team at SEDA

(20:34): Propel Savannah

• Trip Tollison: SEDA launches Propel Savannah (SMN, Aug. 4, 2019)
• SEDA unveils Propel Savannah results (SMN, May 14, 2019)

(23:08): Emergence of the tech and logistics corridors in Savannah

• The Commute: Keith Fletcher on Savannah as a logistics corridor

(27:05): Future for the entertainment industry in Savannah

• Georgia's anti-abortion law leaves local film industry workers in uncertainty, wondering what comes next (SMN, July 6, 2019)
• Strong case for film industry to stay in Georgia (SMN, July 6, 2019)

(31:54): What the job entails at SEDA

(41:10): Savannah's ability to develop mega-sites

• Site Selection magazine honors Savannah Economic Development Authority (SMN, May 3, 2019)

(43:26): What all SEDA does for the city

• SEDA celebrates record year for jobs, more than $500 million investment in Savannah (SMN, Jan. 9, 2019)

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

After growing up in the Southside of Chicago, Patricia Youngquist shifted her career path from running the books for companies to non-profits and church organizations. This shift in focus led her to Savannah and Union Mission, Inc. where she brought her expertise to the many programs the organization offers. After the executive director left in 2017, Youngquist took over the job on an interim basis before getting the position full-time a few months later. On this episode of Difference Makers, she talks about how her childhood influenced the work she does today, the many programs offered at Union Mission and what people misconceive about homelessness, and how we can begin to fix the problem in Savannah.

Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer

(7:28): How her childhood influenced her work today

(10:52): Shifting career paths from for-profit accounting to non-profit

(17:00): Move to Union Mission in Savannah, becoming interim executive director

(23:00): Programs provided at Union Mission

(26:17): How to get people help who may be reticent of it

• On the Frontline: Savannah takes first tiny step in Housing First model to combat homelessness (Beacon, June 2019)

(28:38): Recent gala and the impact of speaker Richard Berry

• Homeless advocate Richard Berry to give keynote at Raising Hope to benefit Savannah's Union Mission (SMN, Feb. 10, 2019)
• Richard J. Berry: A practical way to help the homeless find work and safety (TED, Feb. 2017)
• Homeless No More: 5 Solutions that are working in cities across America (Beacon, June 2019)

(39:42): What is homelessness and how close are people to it in Savannah?

• Let's Get to Work: A Plan of Action for Savannah (Beacon, June 2019)

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

Growing up in Port Wentworth and moving to Pooler later in life has given Rep. Buddy Carter a perspective on the growing West Chatham area not many others have had. This perspective has influenced his work on the local, state and now, national levels of government as he sits as the U.S. Representative for the 1st District of Georgia. Rep. Carter sits down for this week's episode of Difference Makers to discuss his work on the national level with climate change and what he is doing to help the coast combat the issue for the foreseeable future.

Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer

(6:28): Growth he has seen in both Pooler and Port Wentworth in his lifetime

• Pooler continues retail, housing boom (SMN, Aug. 4, 2018)
• Pooler's economy still gaining, growing (SMN, Aug. 16, 2018)
• As Pooler grows, local tree canopy fades away (SMN, June 2, 2019)

(14:46): Why join the environment sub-committee?

(17:01): Learning more about climate change

(18:55): How can we find a middle ground on the issue?

• Rep. Buddy Carter: America must remain world's leader in energy development (SMN, Apr. 12, 2019)

(23:29): How has America set the example in terms of climate change response

• Climate report offers a look at local effects happening now (SMN, Dec. 9, 2018)

(25:58): What changed his thinking on the issue

• Georgia Congressman Buddy Carter 'all in' on addressing climate change (SMN, March 4, 2019)

(31:05): Climate effect on the Port of Savannah

• Savannah Harbor deepening slated for $130 million in funding (SMN, March 12, 2019)

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

The tables have turned. Instead of Adam asking the questions, Visit Savannah president Joe Marinelli returns to the podcast to grill the two minds behind Difference Makers — host Adam Van Brimmer and producer Zach Dennis. From what their goals were with starting podcasts at the Savannah Morning News to where they think they will go, this episode of Difference Makers features Adam and Zach speaking on the origins of the podcast, what they like most about the medium and what the future looks like.

Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer

(6:49): Why move forward with podcasts at the newspaper?

• Georgia Southern Extra
• Do Savannah Podcast
• See You in the Morning: Your Daily Headlines from the Savannah Morning News
• The Commute
• Somethin' to Tech About

(15:37): How effective have the SMN podcasts been so far?

(19:52): Podcasts vs. Radio

(28:33): How to properly brand your programs

(31:40): What is the value of these conversations?

(34:53): Future of podcasts

• The Dan Le Batard Show
• Serial
• Against the Rules with Michael Lewis
• Cinematary

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

Serving people has been in Maria Center's blood since day one. She has been in the Savannah area for many years, but just recently settled into her new role as executive director of Girls on the Run of Coastal Georgia. With their latest season just completed, Center talks about the importance of the lessons taught by the organization for young girls, what they do in the community and ways people can join the program to continue the help for these young ladies.

Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer

(6:28): Changes in women's empowerment from when she was growing up

(14:28): Joining Girls on the Run and the early days of the Savannah organization

• Girls on the Run registration open to Savannah area students (SMN, Jan. 23, 2019)

(17:01): How 2019 shaped out and ways people can get involved

• Spotted®: Girls on the Run 5K Celebration Run Spring 2019 (SMN, May 6, 2019)

(24:06): What type of impact does the program have on the girls?

• 'Unlimited potential': Girls on the Run caps off successful year with 5K in Savannah (SMN, Apr. 21, 2018)

(29:13): Starting a Girls on the Run program

• Becoming a coach

(33:30): What trait has the most influence on the girls?

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

Seeing a movie production is becoming second nature in Savannah and one of the driving forces behind getting the biggest and brightest movies and stars in the Hostess City is Beth Nelson with the Savannah Regional Film Commission. Nelson started as a teacher but soon got the itch for cinema and climbed the ladder as film became more and more prevalent in the Savannah area. On this episode, Nelson discusses the origins of the Savannah Regional Film Commission, what producers are looking for when they come to Savannah, the industry in Georgia and what the future looks like for Savannah's production scene.

Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer

(5:48): Working her way up the chain on a set

• Savannah film office director named to state board (SMN, Oct. 25, 2017)

(9:25): Origins of the Savannah Regional Film Commission and what they do to help productions

• Savannah Area Film Office now part of SEDA (SMN, Aug. 15, 2016)

(19:01): Excitement when seeing Savannah appear in a finished film

• First trailer for Savannah-shot 'Gemini Man' features Will Smith fighting Will Smith (and a bit of Isle of Hope) (SMN, Apr. 23, 2019)
• John Travolta is a private eye in Texas in first trailer for Savannah-shot movie, 'The Poison Rose' (SMN, Apr. 25, 2019)

(20:31): The business of the industry and how it works in Savannah

• Entertainment industry contributes $137M to Savannah economy in 2017 (SMN, Jan. 27, 2018)
• Direct spending by film/TV industry at record high for Savannah (SMN, Dec. 19, 2018)

(30:00): What the state incentives did for Georgia film and Savannah

• Savannah officials look to extend local film incentives (SMN, Aug. 21, 2018)

(36:45): The future of movies in Savannah

• SCAD grad aims to make Savannah the next creative movie spot with feature film debut (SMN, Mar. 7, 2019)
• SCAD film professor hoping to shift Savannah from Hollywood backlot to on-camera location (SMN, Apr. 13, 2019)

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

Don't even think about eating something containing sugar around Paula Kreissler. The director of healthy living with Healthy Savannah hasn't touched the stuff in many years (give or take a few homemade sweet teas) and has spent the bulk of her time in Savannah trying to get people to live a healthy life. Started in 2007, Healthy Savannah strives to make Savannah a community committed to supporting health, and that includes hosting events like the Enmarket Encourage Health Series in order to educate the public on these issues. On this episode of Difference Makers, Kreissler speaks with Adam about growing up on a farm in Missouri, how she established her healthy habits and how we can find ways to live healthily every day without making drastic shifts.

Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer

(8:37): Eradicating sugar from your diet

(12:00): Origins of Healthy Savannah

(15:15): Helping to make Savannah smoke-free

• Savannah a model for other cities to go smoke-free (SMN, Aug. 12, 2018)

(19:19): Enmarket Encourage Health Lecture Series

• Healthy Savannah kicks off sixth annual Enmarket Encourage Health Educational Series (SMN, Mar. 29, 2019)

(24:20: Recent grant presented to Healthy Savannah

• Healthy Savannah celebrates growth, funding (SMN, Apr. 23, 2019)

(30:16): How do we change our course to live more healthy?

• Paula Kreissler: Connecting mind and body (SMN, Apr. 23, 2019)

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.