Amanda O’Nan, Heritage Academy
Strictly speaking, Amanda Williams-O’Nan is the mother of three children. That said, as owner and Head of School at Heritage Academy, she considers herself more like a mother to 150 or so children.
“It’s a second home for these kids, and we’re here to help them find their passion, their happiness, and their path,” she said. “And that looks different for every kid. We have kids that participate in sporting clays, tennis players who also train and play at the public schools, students working on pilots’ licenses or in animal science … a lot of things you typically wouldn’t find in a school this size.”
Each student who matriculates to Heritage Academy joins this family, entrusting their future with O’Nan and the staff she has built since taking over the school. That trust is held sacred, as a duty that each educator has to giving each student the best chance at success.
It’s something O’Nan established honestly, as her own children make their way through the school.
“My son graduated in 2023, and my twin daughters are both sophomores. They’re my entire world and life and I built all of this really to make a good school for them,” she said. It’s a skillset she had already developed as a long-time educator in the Lowcountry’s public schools, an experience that also provided her with a more nuanced perspective on what makes a quality education. “I saw a lot of great stuff in public education, and a lot of stuff that frustrated me. I was able to build the school based on what worked best.”
The results speak for themselves. Heritage Academy graduates have gone on to attend Cornell, lead industries, and prove themselves as capable stewards of the future. And those who know the numbers behind education know what a stunning achievement it was when all eight AP Literature students enrolled at Heritage Academy achieved passage.
“The numbers don’t lie,” O’Nan said. “I’m hiring the right people.”
Starting with just 32 students when O’Nan purchased it, she has seen the student population explode based on an approach that restores the human connection of learning that has been frayed since COVID.
“A lot of teachers are trained with online platforms, and we do quite a bit with those programs,” O’Nan said. “But what I pride myself on is how our teachers pursue good old-fashioned teaching. They build relationships with students, share their intellectual passions, and encourage them to ask questions, rather than teach them through a device. Education as a whole has moved to more computer-based babysitting, almost, but we really stress teaching, interacting, and truly talking.”
That approach isn’t just one that Amanda Williams-O’Nan cultivated to impress parents or court new students. It’s one that she mindfully created to offer the best education possible to her children – all 150 or so of them.
Heritage Academy, 11 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head, SC 29928 (843) 842-8600 heritageacademy.org
Lauren Dembeck, Brims on the Bluff
The life of a mompreneur, and indeed the life of any mom, doesn’t often come with pats on the back. You do your best, face each challenge head on, and hope that you made all the right decisions on the way, but you don’t often get a sign you’re doing this whole thing right.
Lauren Dembeck was fortunate enough to get her sign one day in Walt Disney World’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
“I brought my daughter Piper in there to look at dresses, and she picked out one from Princess and the Frog’s Tiana. I told her, ‘I thought Elsa was your favorite,’ and she told me she picked Tiana because she works hard for what she has, like I do,” Dembeck said. “That meant so much to me.”
It stands to reason, though. Piper has been a fixture in her mother’s store, Brims on the Bluff, since it opened. The unique hat-making experience and “hat bar” is one of two companies that Dembeck runs, the other being a corporate gifting company, but it’s far and away Piper’s favorite.
“She’s been involved since Day One, picking out paint colors for the store, coming to events, trying out her sales skills. She’s an inspiration and very hands on,” said Dembeck. “She’s definitely a part of the Brims family.”
She’s not alone. Since opening its doors, this unique Old Town experience has fulfilled its goal of serving as just as much of a social hub as it is a boutique, with people of all ages grabbing a seat and putting together a custom hat that suits their style.
“It’s something that no matter who you are, male or female, everyone can enjoy with friends, coworkers, or family,” Dembeck said. “It’s for anyone who wants to have fun.”
10C Johnston Way, Unit C, Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 949-8126, brimsonthebluff.com
Kristy Gonzalez, ERA Wilder Realty
As much as it is portrayed as a balancing act, there are advantages to being a mother and an entrepreneur. Especially, as Kristy Gonzalez has learned, when you’re a mother to two teenage boys and your business is the high-stakes world of real estate.
“My boys are going through tremendous shifts in their life, and it’s the same thing with my clients,” she said. “Just like my sons are getting ready for graduation and the real world, the people I work for are usually in the middle of a big life change. Maybe they’re downsizing after kids move away, or they’re moving to be closer to family. It can be a lot.”
Nurturing both kids and clients through this often-tumultuous period requires many of the same skills, and Gonzalez brings them to bear with equal skill personally and professionally.
“There can be a lot of unexpected events, and in both cases, you need to learn to pivot quickly,” she said. “You need to be there for them, support them, and respond to all of it with kindness and caring.”
As a full-time active Realtor and associate broker at ERA Wilder Realty, Gonzalez has spent the past 20 years serving hundreds of clients with this same measured approach. From beachfront mansions to starter homes for first-time buyers, everyone gets the same care, support, and grace. She has learned that not just as a professional, but as a mom.
14 Church Street, Suite 102, Bluffton, SC 29910, (843) 298-3808 . Kristyhhi@gmail.com
Angelina Carper, RCH Construction, Inc.
How has being a mom helped you to be a better businesswoman?
Being a mom has given me a new perspective that absolutely stays with me at work. When I first started working with Hugh Hobus, the founder and former owner of RCH, I was always amazed at how he never sweat the small stuff and could let anything roll off his back. I was pregnant with our first child at that time and can confidently say that Philip and Camellia have taught me his ways over the past three years.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My husband, Donnie Carper. I have never met anyone more capable in my life and am incredibly fortunate to have him as my partner in business and in life. I have no idea how he manages to accomplish as much as he does each day, but I certainly reap the benefits of it. He is always thinking of how we can improve the services that we provide at RCH along with our lives for our children.
How do you balance your work/home life, or is there even such a thing?
It takes a village! I would not be able to do what I do without the support of our family and the team at RCH. We welcomed our daughter, Camellia, in July and I was not expecting that adding a second child to the mix would change so much. It can be a juggling act as we manage anything from flu season to material delays, but keeping a thankful outlook has been critical to keeping a level head during the chaos.
Tell us a bit about your business and what you do every day.
We are a home builder that specializes in new home construction as well as additions or renovations. Anyone who has ever done construction on their home can probably imagine that my days tend to be exciting. My planned activities will usually include reviewing estimates, permit submissions, jobsite coordination, etc., but I still have not figured out how to eliminate surprises. As we encounter issues during a project – or problem-solving opportunities, as I like to call them – I am typically involved in getting things back on track as quickly as possible.
90 Capital Drive, Suite 103, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, (843) 802-0743, rchconstruction.com
Frederika Feketé, Java Burrito Company
Every mom who has built a career will inevitably hit the same wall of self-doubt. At some point, certainty will give way to second guessing and a great well of guilt will open beneath them. It could be something as mundane as needing a few minutes to breathe, but to some working moms it could feel like a personal and professional failure.
Working alongside her husband Michael in running their Java Burrito restaurants, Frederika Feketé can sympathize.
“I think all women have this internal battle of never feeling like they’re doing enough for their work life or their kids. It’s something we all struggle with and just hope we’re doing enough,” she said.
Feketé speaks from experience. While she and Michael were launching Savannah’s Java Burrito, they lived above the restaurant for several years, blurring the line between work and home. Now back on Hilton Head Island, she returns with a greater perspective.
“I always seek out advice from older moms, and I’m lucky enough to know some really cool women who have been through this season of life,” she said. “The recurring theme of what they all tell me is that you have to mother yourself while you’re mothering. You’re not taking time away from your kids, you’re filling your cup to take care of your kids.”
She’ll be the first to tell you that it isn’t always easy. As one of Hilton Head’s most treasured restaurants, Java Burrito as a business is a machine that never stops. Having built the business from the ground up, the couple remain hands on with operation, requiring their utmost attention. As proud parents, they want to ensure they are giving their kids everything they need to develop into their best selves. That alone is often the hardest part of the job.
“Kids go through different seasons,” she said. “As soon as you have something down, it changes.”
Striking a balance between the two is where so many working moms feel the most stressed. But Feketé is here to tell you that sometimes it’s OK to be there for yourself first.
“I do think as a mom you get so guilty going to yoga or something like that just for you,” she said. “But you have to shift that perspective.”
1000 William Hilton Pkwy., Suite J6, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, (843) 842-5282 and 420 Broughton Street, Savannah, GA 31401, (912) 298-5282, javaburrito.com
Jillian Atkinson & Jordan Brimacomb, Wildflower Girls
How has being a mom helped you to become a better businesswoman?
Jillian: It has helped teach me patience, scheduling, prioritization, and more. My children even inspire my buying as well.
Jordan: Motherhood gave me purpose and a renewed sense of who I am, and entrepreneurship has done the same. It has given me the confidence to build a life, and a business, on my own terms.
What’s the one thing you want your children to remember about you?
Jillian: I want them to remember that I always try my absolute hardest to put them first. Every decision I make is for them.
Jordan: I couldn’t agree more. I want Ellie to remember that I was there – for every awards ceremony, every dance competition, every lost tooth.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Jordan: My parents. They instilled everything that I am into me. They are to credit for who I am today. I see them every day in who I am as a mother, a partner, a sister, and a business owner.
Jillian: My parents. Throughout my life they have been an amazing example of love and perseverance. They have always encouraged me to follow my dreams.
Tell us a bit about your business and what you do every day.
Wildflower Girls is our Tween Girls Boutique located in Old Town Bluffton. Every day looks a bit different for us, but we always make sure to have fun. Whether we are filming social media, merchandising our new finds, helping our customers find the perfect outfit, or planning our next event – we are always laughing. That’s the perk of doing business with your bestie!
What mantra do you live by?
Jillian: Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Jordan: In the middle of the mess, there’s still so much magic.
Wildflower Girls
54 Bridge St, Unit 102, Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 707-4343 . wildflowergirlssc.myshopify.com
Ashley Adams Brown, Butler & College, LLC
Ashley Adams Brown, mother of three and COO/Equity Partner at Butler & College, a regional law firm, often spent time with her grandparents on a quiet inlet in North Carolina. Her grandfather was an engineer and woodworker and her grandmother was an excellent cook and golfer. Whether in the kitchen or workshop, they always emphasized the mantra “Measure twice, cut once.”
Brown has taken that to heart, applying it to every aspect of her orchestrated life. The litany of challenges she faces on any given day may seem mind-boggling to most. For Brown, it’s simply a matter of planning mindfully and executing efficiently.
In her professional role, Brown has been instrumental in the firm’s remarkable expansion since joining in 2019. Her responsibilities extend beyond traditional legal work. She identifies promising markets, opens and staffs new offices, and handles operations and training initiatives, while maintaining her own caseload.
The firm maintains, or will be opening shortly, locations throughout North Carolina (Wilmington, Calabash, and Ocean Isle Beach), South Carolina (Columbia, Florence, Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, Summerville, Wando, Port Royal, Okatie, and Bluffton), and Georgia (Savannah and Pooler).
Brown said that the first local B&C closing began at her kitchen table, but this area has grown into one of the firm’s busiest, thanks to an amazing local team built over the past seven years.
Beyond geographic expansion, Brown has helped the firm’s practice areas to include comprehensive real estate services, including buyer and seller representation, borrower services, builder takedowns, land-banking, and land acquisitions, as well as estate planning and probate. With a staff now approximately 60 people strong, the firm’s structure allows each local office to feel like a boutique law firm deeply rooted in its community, while providing the benefit of being part of a larger law firm.
Propelling the careers of others is a priority. “I want B&C to be a place where professionals are cultivated for the longevity of their career.” She proudly points to two local attorneys, Tom McNutt and Natalia Chandler, both of whom she brought on as associates and who have earned significant promotions. McNutt directs estate planning across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, while Chandler leads the real estate division covering Beaufort, Jasper, and Chatham counties.
While scaling a multi-state law firm would be enough to keep anyone’s calendar full, for Brown, it represents just 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Her 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. represents “real life;” where she is ever devoted to her three daughters, ages 5, 3, and 2.
Brown remains conscious to take in what she can and credits her grandparents’ dock for her decision to create a life for her girls along the coast. She recently captured a video of the last remnants of baby fat on her 2-year-old’s legs to remind herself that these moments aren’t forever.
Whether with her girls or at work, she refuses to be half-in on either front. Helping to run a rapidly growing multi-state law firm while making time for special moments with three precious daughters, it all comes down to measuring twice.
152 State Street, Suite 201, Bluffton, SC 29910, (877) 279-3433, , ashley@bandclawfirm.com, bandclawfirm.com
JACKIE MATHISEN MA, LPC, LPC/SC. Coastal Therapy Group
How has being a mom made you a better businesswoman?
Being a mom of three has taught me flexibility in the truest sense. You can’t be rigid when life is constantly shifting, and that lesson carries directly into business. I’ve learned to adapt quickly, let go of perfection, and focus on what actually matters.
Where locally do you take the kids to burn energy?
The beach – always. We’re lucky to live somewhere so beautiful, so we lean into it as much as possible. Nothing resets everyone quite like some fresh air, sand, and “vitamin sea.”
How do you balance your work/home life?
Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries. And being very honest about them. I set clear expectations – with clients, with family, with myself – that I’m human, not perfect, and not everything is urgent. That mindset keeps things grounded and sustainable.
Tell us a bit about your business and what you do every day.
As a therapist, I like to think of myself as a professional hype woman. I validate, challenge, and encourage my clients to recognize they already have the tools they need. My job is to help them get out of their own way and actually use those tools.
What mantra do you live by every day?
Know yourself best in dysfunction. If you can identify your patterns and blind spots, you can start to change them – and the less they control you, the more freedom you have to be the best version of yourself.
169 Bluffton Road, Bluffton, SC 29910, (843) 779-9737 . coastaltherapygrp.com
Louise Conroy, Glow Pilates
How has being a mom helped you to be a better businesswoman?
My mom role has given me so many skills! On a daily basis, I can be part nurse, part taxi driver, math tutor, and referee. Being able to quickly adapt to the needs of the moment is a huge business skill.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My husband. We have been married for almost 20 years. When we were younger, he asked his bosses for a raise. They laughed at his proposed number. Within a year he had set up his own company and achieved great success. He inspired me to open Glow Pilates.
How do you balance your work/home life, or is there even such a thing?
Week by week, day by day, sometimes hour by hour. I try not to get overwhelmed by the amount that has to get done in a day and concentrate task by task. I focus on being in the moment and not let my mind worry about the next task.
Tell us a bit about your business and what you do every day.
I’m in the studio by 7:15. I work out before I teach. I make my lesson plans different every day. I try to take some downtime in the afternoon.
What mantra do you live by?
Dream big! I was born and raised in London, England (the dodgy end!). If someone had told my younger self that I would move to America, live by the beach, become a US Citizen and teach Pilates all day I would have thought they were nuts. But yet, here I am!
1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Suite J13, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, (843) 422-7786, glowpilateshhi.com
Kristin Fackler, The Carolina Tasting Room & Coastal Sunglasses
By the time you read this, spring break will have long passed. Wherever you spent it, whether it was a lavish four-star resort, a rustic beachside getaway, or just a staycation right here in the Lowcountry, we can promise you one thing. Your spring break was not as amazing as the one that Kristin Fackler’s kids recently enjoyed.
Her children Laine, 11, Lee, 9, Linden, 7, and Lola, 3, didn’t just go somewhere to ride rides or meet their favorite animated characters. They went somewhere to get a taste of the thrill their mom experiences with the opening of a new store.
“Our kids are so excited for our Destin location to open and they haven’t even seen it since the construction phase,” said Fackler in early April. “We’re doing a candy bar down there, which is something we’ve never done before, and they really helped with the design of that. We’re going down for the ribbon cutting for spring break.”
That Destin shop, The Florida Tasting Room and The CANDY Bar, will be the latest in an empire built by Kristin and Jason Fackler that includes Savannah’s The Georgia Tasting Room as well as The Carolina Tasting Room and Coastal Sunglasses, both in Coligny.
“I’m originally from Portland, and with Jason having the Coastal Sunglasses kiosk in Coligny, I wanted to bring in a wine tasting concept that was very popular there,” said Kristin. “But the whole local aspect is the biggest part of it. I only buy wine that’s true to the region, so wines that actually come from South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.”
Each branch has stayed true to that original vision, sourcing bold, unique, and memorable offerings from wineries across each of the three states. Because they have grown from one Coligny location to a southeast chain, you might think that Kristin and Jason Fackler were spending each weekend at different wineries, exploring new offerings. But perhaps you’ve forgotten that they have four children.
“That would be really fun, but for now we get a lot done over email and through samples we get shipped to us,” Fackler said. “That frees up time to be the kind of next-level mom that would make most people dizzy, shuttling kids to cello concerts, school plays, skateboarding, basketball, volleyball, tennis, flag football, gymnastics, ballet and coaching multiple kids in soccer. “We’re very involved with our kids and make sure we don’t miss the important things. Thankfully, I have an incredible support team at all of my locations, and incredible managers.”
Four kids would be enough for most people. Four stores strewn across three states would be enough for most people. For Kristin Fackler, it’s just what needs to be done to create success both as a mother and as an entrepreneur.
1 N. Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, (843) 341-2999
Skyler Griffin, Yellow Transportation
If you’ve lived on the island for any amount of time, you’ve seen Yellow Transportation’s vehicles traversing the Lowcountry. Launched in 1989 as a taxi service with the classic yellow cabs, the company has evolved along with the industry, expanding to include corporate events, weddings, and shuttle service for hospitality groups while still offering taxi service.
Having seen that evolution in the company her dad founded, Skyler Griffin was aware of the challenges it faced and the opportunities it offered. She just wasn’t ready to make a career out of it until fate intervened.
“My dad passed suddenly in 2022. He died on a Wednesday and I had to figure out payroll that Friday,” she said. A scientist by training with a Master of Science degree in zoology from Colorado State University, she had been working at Protech Lab Corp when her trial by fire in the cab industry began.
“I had never taken a business class in my life,” she said. “But six months in, I was still going. It’s always been a family business, I just never anticipated taking it over. It was something that truly fell into my lap and it seems to be working pretty successfully.”
Four years in, Skyler is taking her father’s company to new heights, maintaining its reputation as the island’s premier transportation service while still pursuing her passions – being a mom, and putting her scientific knowledge to use with Sea Turtle Patrol HHI in their DNA lab at USCB Hilton Head. Her latest endeavor with them has her working with Dr. Brian Shamblin, an associate research scientist at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, to conduct initial DNA analysis for male and female sea turtles.
“It’s all a huge undertaking, but I find these challenges rewarding and I’m excited to be a part of it,” she said. “And I honestly couldn’t do it without my husband, Jordan Graham, and my GM, Gary Noriega.”
(843) 686-6666, yellowtransportationhhi.com, Hilton Head & Bluffton, SC, Beaufort County, Jasper , County & Surrounding Lowcountry Areas
Caitlin Smith, Sequel Real Estate Group | Compass
It’s the question every mompreneur is asked at one point or another: How do you do it all? How do you break through glass ceilings and never miss bedtime with the kids? How do you strike a balance between nurturing children and building your brand?
Realtor Caitlin Smith has certainly been asked that question. And she’s refreshingly honest about it.
“I don’t know how I make that work,” she said with a laugh. “But I do. I’m always present with my kids, but I’m also constantly available to clients. I am literally working 24/7, but it doesn’t feel like it at all. And I’m incredibly grateful to have a husband who steps in and picks up the slack when things get busy – there’s no way I could do it without that support.”
If Smith makes it look easy, just know that she has plenty of experience in both arenas. Before her children were born, she had been in a different form of real estate, working with builders rather than in general brokerage. After a career move, she felt herself being drawn back to the business
“Four years ago, my neighbor reached out asking if I’d help sell their home. That really pulled my focus back,” she said. “I only wish I’d moved into general brokerage sooner.”
As a Realtor outside of the construction realm, Smith has tapped into a new passion for the industry fueled by her love of the Lowcountry.
“My clients can see that I love where we live, particularly buyers. It’s not just about the house, it’s about getting them engaged in the community,” Smith said. “I love making those connections and showing what Bluffton has to offer while building relationships. I truly am a people person.”
If that means answering the occasional email during soccer practice or sneaking away at Disney World to negotiate a contract, that’s just the way Smith keeps everything perfectly balanced.
She may not know how, but she knows why: “I truly love what I do.”
212 Bluffton Road, Suite B, Bluffton, SC 29910, (770) 639-4111 . sequelsc.com, caitlin.smith@compass.com
Jaclyn Orlando, Hilton Head Island REALTOR®
For Jaclyn Orlando, real estate is more than a career – it is a commitment to excellence, professionalism, and a deep understanding of the Hilton Head Island market she has called home for more than two decades.
Originally from South Jersey, Orlando studied finance at Philadelphia University before relocating to Hilton Head in 2000. She continued her education at the College of Charleston and embraced the Lowcountry as home.
With a background in mortgage, marketing, and sales, Orlando brings a strategic yet relationship-driven approach to real estate. She is passionate about guiding clients through meaningful investments while building lasting relationships rooted in trust and integrity.
Orlando met her husband, Marc, on Hilton Head Island and they married in 2008. They are raising their two children, Emelia Rose, 15, and Benjamin Anthony, 13, in the community they love.
Outside of real estate, Orlando enjoys cooking, gardening, and embracing quality time with loved ones, enjoying the life she and Marc have built. She is grateful for a career that allows her to balance family and professional success.
Orlando is passionate about inspiring others to pursue their ambitions while staying present for life’s most meaningful moments.
23B Shelter Cove Land, Suite 101-B, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, (843) 422-2891 . JaclynOrlando@gmail.com, JaclynOrlando.com
Leah Baker, Once Upon a Child
If there’s one thing I hope my kids remember, it’s that I was there. Not in a big, dramatic way – just in the everyday moments that end up meaning the most: making dinner together, going to gymnastics, fishing, school field trips, the farmers market, playgrounds, that kind of thing.
Opening this store came from that same mindset. I wanted something that gave me purpose, but also the flexibility to still be with them in a real way. It wasn’t part of some big plan, but it’s grown into the right fit for me, and I’m proud of it. A lot of the choices I’ve made have had them in mind – not in a heavy way, just in wanting to build a life that works for all of us.
It’s funny, because it has turned into more than just a business. It’s made me feel more connected to our community and to other families, which really ties back to why we moved here – to be closer to family and build a life around what we enjoy.
There’s been a lot of learning, and plenty of unexpected moments in life you can’t plan for. But you adjust, keep going, and build something that feels right.
I just hope they grow up knowing what matters – and that they can create a life they love.
1202-A Fording Island, Bluffton, SC 29910, (843) 757-7523, onceuponachild.com/locations/bluffton-sc
Keller Welch, Wabi Sabi Design & Development
For the uninitiated hearing the name of mompreneur Keller Welch’s business for the first time, the term “wabi-sabi” comes to us from Japanese philosophy, where it is used to describe a purposeful, celebratory point of view. It suggests finding beauty where it lies, encouraging appreciation of the authenticity, character, and stories found in the cracks of life.
As a mother of three, in-demand Realtor, chronic entrepreneur, and principal of Wabi Sabi, Welch is an excellent embodiment of the term.
“Everything isn’t always going to be perfect. But our mantra is building and living with intention, because that’s where we are in life and business,” she said. This intentionality brought Welch to marry her own extensive experience as a real estate agent with her husband Edward’s extraordinary talent as a luxury homebuilder to create Wabi Sabi.
“That’s what got me into this world. I’d always picked out selections and furnishings, and we’ve always worked together in some capacity,” she said. “With Wabi Sabi, we’re not interested in the traditional model of holding someone’s hand through the process for two years. We partner with investors who want to be vested in each product, just as we are. We serve as a one-stop shop to bring deals to the table, scout new projects, and really provide our expertise in the field so investors don’t need to lift a finger.”
Their work has taken them across the Lowcountry, elevating homes and commercial projects they purchase to a higher standard of luxury. Their latest project might just be Welch’s favorite.
“We’ve now bought our fifth and forever home. We’ve never been able to say that,” she said. The Spanish Wells mid-century modern originally designed by architect Joe Hall for artist Elizabeth Grant is their latest project, preparing to serve as home for the couple and their children Elin, Ward, and Laurel. Follow the entire process in real time as they renovate this 1980s build from the studs out on Instagram @wabisabidesignanddevelopment.
Scan here to follow their home reno journey
(843) 415-3408, coastalluxuryhhi.com, Info@wabisabidesignanddevelopment.com
Dr. NIcole Nadel, Totality Medispa
How has being a mom helped you to be a better businesswoman?
Raising twin teenage boys is the ultimate business training program – nobody negotiates harder than a 15-year-old who wants something. But on a real level, my boys keep me grounded. When you’re a physician building six medical spas and running a prescription skincare website, it’s easy to get consumed. They remind me that the whole point of working this hard is to create a life worth living, not just a business worth running.
What’s the one thing you want your children to remember about you?
That their mom had range. That she could shoot content for her 16,000 Instagram followers in the morning, do a killer lip augmentation on a celebrity at lunch, and still show up courtside at their tennis match by 3 p.m. – with a pair of heels in the trunk just in case dinner plans came together last minute. I want them to know you don’t have to choose between being a devoted parent and building your brand.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My father, no contest. He was an OB/GYN who spent his whole career showing up for women during the most beautiful, life-changing moments of their lives, and somehow making it look effortless. He taught me that real medicine isn’t just what you know, it’s how you make people feel when they’re in your care. I carry that with me every single day.
16 Shelter Cove Lane , Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, (843) 900-6161, totalitymed.com
Krista Eiden, Assurance Financial
Every mompreneur has their secret to juggling the demands of motherhood and the expectations that come with running her own business. For Krista Eiden, producing branch manager at Bluffton’s Assurance Financial, and mother to Stella, 14, and Tyler, 11, that secret is taking everything one moment at a time.
“I try to be present in each moment. Before you know it, those moments will be gone,” she said. “Sometimes you’ll find me on my laptop during volleyball games or zipping out between events to answer a call on Saturday – because nobody buys a home between 9 and 5 Monday through Friday. I have the flexibility to answer that call without missing all the little moments that mean so much. I pray that they will remember me being at everything!”
That flexibility was part of what drew her to Assurance Financial, where she recently launched a Bluffton office. Yes, there are long hours, and the nature of the industry means there are no small stakes, but the tractability of her own enterprise lets her work at her own pace. As a 20-year industry veteran, having worked her way up the ladder, she appreciates how Assurance operates differently from other firms.
“I’ve worked in many different aspects of the industry. My last company had a great family feel and when this opportunity came up, I knew it had to feel like that. And it has! I can tell the people here have created a culture of family and teamwork,” Eiden said. That feeds the philosophy of Assurance, one that is equally welcoming to clients. “We try to make it less about what we can sell you and more about how we can support you. Aside from having a huge variety of products and loan types, conventional or not, we really put ourselves out there as people you can look to for help.”
3 Bainbridge Way , Bluffton, SC 29910,(843) 962 – 7972, assurancemortgage.com
Christina Dzendzel, Island built Design & Construction
Being a mother and business owner means constantly shifting between roles – but I’ve learned to embrace every part of it.
As a residential contractor and interior designer, I specialize in seeing the true potential of a home. I understand the bones of a space and bring it back to life – blending thoughtful renovations with modern, functional design for today’s families.
Outside of work, my world revolves around my family. From school schedules to weekends at the ballfield for travel baseball, I’m always on the go – but wouldn’t have it any other way.
Exercise keeps my head on straight, and teaching indoor cycling at Local Kollective gives me a space to reset, recharge, and push both myself and others.
When I get the chance to escape, you’ll find me in the Caribbean. My love for island living pours into every home I create – bringing warmth, ease, and a relaxed beauty into each design.
For me, it’s not about balance – it’s about building a life I love, and helping others do the same through the spaces they call home.
(843) 298-5068, islandbuilthhi.com, @islandbuilt.construction
