The Chamber Channel

Pirates, Revolutionary War skirmishes, Gullah roots, and so much more make up Hilton Head Island's history. In honor of the Town of Hilton Head Island’s 360/40 Celebration, we invite the executive director of the Heritage Library Foundation Barbara Catenaci in our studio to talk about the island’s pre-civil war history and how locals can trace their roots.

The local live music scene is thriving. John Cranford – a founding member of the popular local band Cranford Hollow – talks on our Chamber Channel podcast about local music, the upcoming Hilton Head Island Jams singer/songwriter series as part of the town's 360/40 Celebration, and gives us an exclusive preview of their new album.

Hilton Head Island’s Mitchelville is the first freedman’s village that was established during the Civil War and is the catalyst to cementing the deep Gullah culture that’s been preserved locally over generations. In honor of the Town of Hilton Head Island’s 360/40 Celebration, we talk to Mitchelville Freedom Park’s Executive Director Ahmad Ward

Tune into Power Hour, where you can get unfiltered information about hot topics in our community straight from the source.

Speakers include:

- South Carolina Department of Insurance Director Michael Wise on why the rates have soared for homeowners and businesses, and if they will come down anytime soon.

- Natalie Harvey, Director of the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Office of Cultural Affairs, on the details of the upcoming 360/40 Celebration.

- David Johnson on the Washington Square Project in Bluffton.

Thomas Barnwell Jr. traces his family's roots to pre-Civil War days here on Hilton Head Island. He came to our studio to talk about what life was like growing up, his work to help native islanders, and the book he co-authored with Emory S. Campbell and Carolyn Grant, “Gullah Days: Hilton Head Islanders Before the Bridge 1861 –1956.”

2023 is a milestone year for the Town of Hilton Head Island, marking the 360th anniversary of the sighting of the island and the 40th of the town’s incorporation. With us in the studio is the Director of Cultural Affairs Natalie Harvey to talk about what’s planned for the celebration. 

Tune into Power Hour, where you can get unfiltered information about hot topics in our community straight from the source. Speakers include:

• Steve Stauffer, Managing Executive at McGriff Insurance Services, on recent insurance rate increases.

Garrett Simons is an outstanding rising Hilton Head High School senior who is giving back to the community in more ways than one. He recently started Making Birthdays Bright, which helps locals celebrate their birthdays. We chatted with him about why he developed the program and his recent experience in the chamber’s Junior Leadership Program. 

There's so much rich history in Bluffton, and the National Park Service has recently put two Bluffton landmarks on the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. We sat down with the Town of Bluffton’s Historic Preservationist Glen Umberger to talk about the significance of this designation for the Garvin-Garvey House and Historic Campbell Chapel AME Church.

We all need to have a little fun. It helps us build relationships with the people who we love and live with. We sat down with Ken Weisner, the owner and Chief Play Officer at the Beach Play Company to talk about how fun can help us build relationships with our colleagues and community.