Ambassadors

Sarah has a degree in Business Management and has always had a love for planning events and started doing it professionally about 8 years ago. She has a passion for planning events in the beautiful historic parks and squares in downtown Savannah, the beautiful beaches, and gorgeous plantations on Hilton Head Island. She has a passion for creating a memorable, dream wedding for her clients and if just delighted to see the elated look the bride’s as she enjoys her special day without stress!

Sarah also enjoys planning corporate events such as fundraisers, gran openings, client/employee appreciation events, training events, galas, and more!

Keriann Ginter is a native of Long Island, New York, but has been a proud resident of the Lowcountry since 2005.  Ginter earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing and Sports Management from Stetson University in Deland, FL.

Keriann currently serves as the Executive Assistant at Colleton River Club. Prior to her current position, she served as the Director of Events for the Callawassie Island Club, Program Coordinator for the Office of Student Life at USCB, the Assistant Director of Activities at Hilton Head Plantation POA, the Marketing Coordinator at Hargray Communications, and as the Event and Marketing Coordinator at Station 300.

Ginter is heavily involved with the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as the Chamber Ambassador Vice President.  In addition, she was the Past President for the Bluffton Chamber Young Professionals (BCYP) and served on the Golden Oyster Committee for the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.  Ginter was recognized as the 2020 Ambassador of the Year due to her dedication and involvement with the Chamber.

Keriann lives in Bluffton with her husband, William, daughter Linsley who is 8 and son Harrison who is 4. In her spare time, she enjoys attending Gamecock football games and her daughter's cheer competitions in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

Naomi McCracken is a proud native of the Lowcountry.  While she was born on Hilton Head Island, she was raised in Bluffton, SC.  McCracken currently works at Palmetto State Bank as the Lead Customer Service.

Prior to her current position at Palmetto State Bank, she held many other positions within the bank that has allowed her to grow both personally and professionally.  McCracken began her career with Palmetto State Bank in 2015 as a Teller before stepping into the position as the Operations Administrator followed by Administrative Assistant, and now her current position as Lead Customer Service.

In addition to her day-to-day job, Naomi serves as the Secretary for the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.  McCracken also served as the Assistant Music Director for Lowcountry Community Church for two years.

McCracken says, "As a native of Bluffton, my heart & focus rests on supporting, educating, and equipping our Lowcountry community with the financial intelligence they need to build towards a better tomorrow."

Holly Caraballo has been a resident of the Lowcountry since 2009 when her husband’s military career brought her family here. Bluffton was such a great area to raise their family that they never left. Holly has a Master’s of Public Administration in Healthcare Management and currently works as the Physician Relation’s Manager for St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital in South Carolina. Holly and her husband, David, have three daughters that keep them busy. The oldest is in college and the younger two attend high school at May River High. The Caraballo family loves to travel in their free time and spend time enjoying life in the Lowcountry.

Scott W. Griffith the “hospitality realtor” with Weichert Realtors Coastal Properties was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved extensively growing up. Griffith graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. 

Upon graduation, Griffith embarked on a 33-year hotel management career. His first starting position was as a Management Trainee with Marriott Hotels and Resorts in Shipyard on Hilton Head Island in the Spring of 1986. His promotions with Marriott as well as his successes in his career, including his becoming a Hotel General Manager at multiple locations, afforded him the opportunity to live in several additional states and cities. His background as a hotelier fits perfectly with the Real Estate Industry. Through his various senior management positions and living in many different states, he has accumulated a culmination of diverse skills among them leadership, management, negotiations, contracts, revenue management, conflict resolution, sales and marketing experiences. His mantra of always taking care of the associate as they will take care of the guests was learned from Mr. Marriott, which translates into his career as a REALTOR that his clients, whether buying or selling always come first. His ability to communicate with people also provided him the opportunity to sit on the Board of the Downtown Improvement District in Durham, NC as well as several speaking engagements including the Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ, Durham, NC City Government and the Leadership Council of Durham. Griffith spent most of his career working in NYC at such iconic hotels as the Waldorf Astoria, The Plaza, Omni Berkshire and the Marriott World Trade Center. While at the Waldorf, he met his wife, Lynn, also a Hotelier. They recently relocated to Bluffton after living in Rumson New Jersey for 26 years. They have two children, Robert and Caitlin, as well as a yellow lab, Charlie.

In his personal life, he enjoys cooking with his wife, spending time with family, golf, photography, hiking in nature or at the beach with his dog Charlie, college football and a good history book. Scott and Lynn are building their home and will reside in Oldfield, Bluffton, SC.

Jay Johnson works with retirees and those nearing retirement who want to help protect their principal while allowing their assets to continue to grow.  He focuses on practical financial strategies that provide the potential for wealth accumulation and protection from market volatility.
 
Jay has earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in Finance from Colorado State University.  He has a Series 65 Securities license, is a registered Investment Advisor Representative, and a licensed insurance professional.
 
He is devoted to his Christian faith, loves to spend time with his family, enjoys watching sports, and fishing.  Jay currently resides in Bluffton, SC with his wife Priscilla and two teenage children.

Tanner Russell is a native of Pennsylvania, but has been a proud resident of South Carolina since 1997.  Tanner earned an Associates Degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management from Trident Technical College in Charleston, SC. 

For the past four years, Tanner has enjoyed serving as an Insurance Agent with South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance.  Prior to his current position, Tanner had 14 years of experience in the hardware and plumbing sales industry for Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath.

In addition to his day-to-day job, Tanner is a member of the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and is heavily involved in the Chamber Ambassador program.

Will Savage has lived in the Lowcountry for 15 years. Will has a BS in Hospitality Management and over 10 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. He prides himself on his customer service skills and overall ability to understand and relate to the client. He has a background in Hotel Management and recently transferred over to the mortgage industry to join the family business.

Will lives in Bluffton Park with his wife, Jacklyn, and their 2 dogs. When he’s not at the office, you can find him cruising the golf cart around Old Town Bluffton, fishing, or enjoying some local cuisine.

Monty has been helping the creation and workings of Hilton Head Solar, which is owned by his son Steven Schwartz, for the past three years down in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Hilton Head Solar is a sister organization of Lucent Energy LLC., which has been in existence for over eleven (11) years in the Northeast. Hilton Head Solar does NOT use subcontractors for any jobs. In addition, Hilton Head Solar is a very community minded company which donates many man hours to the local Fire Dept. in giving working seminars ON THE TOPIC OF HANDLING FIRES WITH SOLAR PANELS. HH Solar also offers discounts to first responders (Police and Firemen) as well as to Service men and Veterans. In addition, folks who refer a client to us ( supply name , address, and the electric bill for that referred individual that purchases a solar system), will receive a $500 referral check upon closing. Hilton Head Solar will not be undersold when a competitors contract is presented. 

Shannon Coleman is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but moved to Bluffton, SC in 2021.  Shannon and her husband Mark relocated to Bluffton to start a new venture of owning their own business - No Bull Mattress & More!

Prior to establishing her own business, Shannon spent the last ten years in healthcare sales and marketing.  She worked with various long-term care facilities and hospitals in South Carolina.  During that time, she served as the Marketing Chair for the SC Chapter of the Walk to End Alzheimer's.  Following her time serving as the Marketing Chair, she served as a Mentor to the new Marketing Chair, as well as the Secretary for the Senior Caregiving Professionals of the Midlands.  Recently, Shannon joined the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and serves as a Chamber Ambassador.

Shannon has a son, Tyler, and a Golden Lab name Cooper.  In her free time she enjoys swimming; she was on the swim team in high school, medaling in both the breast stroke and freestyle medleys. 

Jeff Pogozelski is the Area Director of Professional Services responsible for sales, marketing and maintaining relationships with our local health care professionals in the Southeast at Bloom at Belfair Independent Living and Memory Care Community. He works closely with area professionals educating them about Bloom's innovative care and services and works as a hospital and physician liaison between Bloom and the communities. Before being promoted to Area Director of Professional Services, Jeff was the Director of Professional Services for Bloom at Lakewood. Jeff has been in the health care space for over a decade. Prior to Bloom, Jeff started his career as a Concierge, Admissions Assistant, Admissions Marketing Director and ultimately Admissions Director at various skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities before becoming Director of Public Relations and Hospital Liaison. He grew up and attended school in Ohio.

Mark Nixon is a dedicated, full-time real estate consultant with the Elevé Properties team at Charter One Realty. Originally from Pennsylvania –where he developed his passion for results based in hard work from his father on their family horse farm – Mark slowly ventured down the east coast until finding what would quickly become his favorite town: Bluffton, South Carolina. Today, he is proud to have called this growing slice of Lowcountry paradise home for the past 7 years.

Mark quickly discovered his passion for customer service after joining the food and beverage industry at the age of 16. This led to a successful career in Hospitality Management that spanned the next 24 years. Culminating in Operations, and having received multiple awards, Mark took his skills in sales, negotiation, and his passion for helping people in a new direction when he entered the world of real estate as part of the Elevé team.

Mark has earned designation as both Hilton Head Island Ambassador and Bluffton Ambassador, serves as a Chamber Ambassador for the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, and loves to help all things Bluffton grow, develop and prosper.

When he isn’t working, Mark can be found enjoying the Lowcountry life with friends and family. Days on the May River are cherished, and enjoying the creations of the incredibly talented chefs that Bluffton and Hilton Head boast are among his favorite activities. That, and sitting on the dock, watching the sun set with a good glass of wine and his furry companion, Porter.