2009 women to watch

October 21, 2009

The Summerville Journal Scene’s2009 Women2Watch builds onthe previous two years of

Women in Business. Although the nameof the publication has changed, the con-tent continues the tradition of honoring10 women who are community leaders.

This year’s featured women representmany different types of work and com-mitment. All impact the quality of lifethat the residents of the GreaterSummerville area enjoy.

From politics and healthcare to musicand dining, these women have succeeded

in making an impact by the way theyhave chosen to spend their work lives.Their service to others and dedication tothe welfare of their fellow citizens isapparent.

Honorees from the previous two yearswere: PJ Johnson, Alex Kassing, BarbaraDunning, Babette Hamilton, GeorgiaToney, Candy Pratt, Kay Phillips, JennyHorne, Sharon Laney, Diane Walker,Rita Berry, Lauren Bethea, Vi Matheny,Deb Campeau, Jill Henry, MonicaKaram, Vicki Ellis, Kristin Sagliocco,Kathy Randall and Holly Patterson.

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2 - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 Women 2 Watch

Debbie Miler pg. 4

Kelly Williams pg. 6

Cristy Sanders pg. 7

Naomi Nimmo pg. 8

Lynn Haney-Singleton pg. 8

Becky Ford pg. 9

Jan Parsons pg. 10

Tiffany Provence pg. 11

Toni Fivecoat pg. 12

Annette Young pg. 13

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T he Yoga Loft has made a name for itselfas one of Summerville’s women owned

and operated businesses. Located in downtownSummerville for the past 5 years, The Yoga Lofthas recently joined forces at its North Gumstreet location with massage therapists,chiropractors, and pilates instructors, to provideSummerville’s premier wellness facility. DarcyJaskwhich, BSN, RYT, and founder credits theYoga Loft’s sustained growth to a businessmodel centered on quality and individualattention rather than high numbers and rapidexpansion.

“We offer small classes, in an intimate, deeplyrelaxing environment. Our teachers possessincredible quality and training,” said Jaskwhich.“Our intention is to provide instruction thatallows people to make progress at their ownrate while achieving maximum benefits.”

Beyond instruction in a wide variety of stylesof Yoga and mat Pilates classes in the classicaltradition, the Yoga Loft offers a serene andunique locale in the heart of Summerville.

“There is a wonderful community of peoplehere that come as much for the classes as forthe developing friendships and invitingenvironment,” Jaskwhich explained.

Like many female business owners,Jaskwhich balances a busy family life. While

her four children and a husband of 20 years dokeep her on the go, Jaskwhich makes time forher deep desire to share an approach to healthand wellness that has been so important to herlife.

“It has been my continued practice of yogathat enables me to even begin to try to findbalance within the crazy pace of today’slifestyle. In addition, I get to spend my dayswith people who are working toward the samegoals, balances, wellness, fitness, and joy in theface of challenges,” she said.

“5 years ago, I had no intention of openingmy own studio. I still had children in pre-school, and had never owned a business. Ididn’t even really e-mail much then!” she saidwith a laugh.

“I just wanted to start small, provide variedclasses with the opportunity for lots of personalattention, and a also place for local teachers tocontinue their study of yoga. So far, it keepsworking!” she said.

The Yoga Loft now has 8 teachers, andaverages 16-18 classes per week. There is trulysomething for everyone at the Yoga Loft. Thereare larger fast paced classes, quiet restorativeclasses, and small classes for beginners.

“Some people are surprised to find out there isa high quality studio in town, and honestly thatis ok with me,” Jaskwhich asserts. “I amdelighted that our growth and quality haveremained on pace with each other, and that firstand foremost we provide a wonderful wellnessexperience for so many who come for a wholehost of reasons. This isn’t just a workout- somepeople come mid-divorce, others are havingserious health challenges or are post-injury.Some come just to find out what the yoga buzzis about.” Jaskwhich feels confident thatregardless of the reason that brings students tothe Yoga Loft, they all find relaxation, strength,and an improved sense of well being in abeautiful and serene environment.

410 North Gum St. Suite D 843-509-3370 www.yogaloftsummerville.com

Thriving in a challenging economy,Women 2 Watch Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 3

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BY STEFAN ROGENMOSERThe Journal Scene

Debbie Miler is the owner, operator and bro-ker of a property management business andshe says the multi-tasking involved makes herjob ideal for a woman. The business is calledMiler Properties, which opened its doors in1986 when it managed about 60 properties,Miler says.

Miler Properties has grown tremendouslyand now manages close to 600 properties, shesays. A lot of the company’s business comesfrom military families, she adds.

“We manage property for homeowners,”Miler explains. The business, located at 625Old Trolley Rd., works mostly with single-family homes by helping owners find tenantsand helping tenants find residences, she says.“We have a lot of really nice homes. When weput a home on the market it’s clean.

“A lot of people can’t sell their homes, butproperty managers can,” Miler says.“Because the market is so slow, I have to be aliaison between the owner and tenant.”

While working as a negotiator she can — inthe right situation with the right amount ofcompassion — convince property owners towaive late fees when tenants can’t make rent

on time, she says.“It’s not black and white anymore. We don’t

just look at credit scores. Because of the econ-omy we look at the whole picture.”

The company does business throughout thetri-county, but the majority of their business isin Summerville, Miler says. One of MilerProperties’ duties is taking maintenance callsand hiring local businesses to make repairs onits properties.

Miler is enthusiastic about her employees(her “girls,” as she calls them) becausethey’re hard-working, put in long hours, workwith pride and do their jobs well, she says. “Ilove all the people I work with.”

She also works with her husband DickieMiler, who is the company’s realtor and bro-ker.

Miler herself works about 60 hours per weekby bookkeeping, collecting rent and mailingchecks and deposits, she says. “On the 10th ofevery month I get in my car and travel toevery bank in the tri-county area,” she jokes.

Miler Properties has accounts all around theworld, including owners in Japan and Chinawho have American bank accounts, Milersays. She uses email to stay in touch with far-

Debbie Miler

See MILER Page 14

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BY ROGER LEEThe Journal Scene

Kelly Williams has been an entrepreneursince she was 10.

“I grew up knocking on doors, asking peo-ple if they needed their car washed or pinecones picked up and getting paid for it,”Williams said. “That led into baby sitting as Igot older and any other jobs I could find. I’vealways been driven to take care of myself andmake my own living.”

Her entrepreneurial instincts have servedher well since she and her husband openedtheir own in-home care agency in 1998.Under her guidance as the agency’s president,AllCare Living Services has become a leaderin the field.

Williams now has more than 20 years ofexperience in home health care to draw onand that has paid dividends, particularlyrecently. Over the last few years, the agencyhas grown by more than 30 percent. Williamssays even the sluggish economy hasn’t appre-ciably slowed the demand for the company’sservices.

She didn’t always plan to be involved inhealth care, but that is where fate and herheart took her. As she graduated from high

school, she graduated from odd jobs here andthere to a full-time position as a receptionistat a law firm.

She attended night school, getting a degreein business. That led to an administrative jobwith the state’s home care division and then toa position with a national home health careprovider.

However, she found she didn’t always likethe approach many home health careproviders take. Thinking there might be aniche to serve and she might be able to helpmore people, Williams ventured out on herown.

“I saw a lot of needs that weren’t beingmet,” she said. “With a big company and cor-porate rules, there were a lot of times wewould tell people we couldn’t help them whenI felt we could.”

That’s why in addition to providing homemedical services, AllCare Living is willing tohelp seniors and disabled people in otherways.

“Basically, we want to help people stay intheir homes if they don’t want to live in anursing home,” Williams said. “We want togive people options and help them however

Kelly Williams

See WILLIAMS Page 14

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BY STEFAN ROGENMOSERThe Journal Scene

Cristy Sanders has been the general manag-er of Summerville’s Holiday Inn Expresssince June 2004. In those five years, and her12 in the hotel industry, she’s met countlesscustomers, built strong bonds with co-work-ers and contributed greatly to make Exit 199more welcoming. And she still has time for ahobby.

The Holiday Inn Express has the largestmeeting space in Summerville, making it aprime destination for civic and corporatemeetings. The hotel hosts chamber of com-merce events, legislative luncheons and wed-ding receptions on a regular basis along withBET (Black Entertainment Television) stand-up comedy shows each quarter, Sanders says.

“It’s an asset to the hotel to have a meetingspace that size,” Sanders says. “It’s a greatasset to offer the community. You’re going toget out of the community what you put into it.What I can do for them, they can do for me.”

She has the same dedication to customers bymaking them feel like they’re coming homeand calling many repeat customers by firstname, she says. “The people you meet arephenomenal. You make lasting memories and

no two days are alike,” Sanders says.With 123 rooms, the hotel is the largest off

Exit 199, Sanders says. There’s also a heart-shaped outdoor pool that is open year-round.

Being a hotel manager isn’t a typicalwoman’s job, and sometimes comes with itschallenges. “When I’m dealing with vendorsthey think they can pull one over on me . . .but they don’t.”

Sanders says you must be aggressive in anenvironment that’s open 24/7/365 by findingthe right people and making sure they enjoytheir work. She also wants to help guideemployees up into higher positions, Sanderssays. She says the Holiday Inn company putsherself and her staff of 30 through rigoroustraining to meet service standards.

“Don’t be afraid of hard work, long hours.You have to be a people person, you have tobe strong and flexible,” she advises.

Sanders once trained and rode horses pro-fessionally, but wild horses couldn’t drag heraway from becoming a hotel manager. Shegot “burned out” by the equestrian life sevendays a week, she says, so she got a job as afront desk clerk at a St. George hotel.

Sanders still rides and trains horses and

Cristy Sanders

See SANDERS Page 14


BY MICHAEL TANNEBAUMThe Journal Scene

Summerville Community OrchestraExecutive Director Naomi Chaitkin Nimmolikes to tell people she’s lived two lives.

In her first life, which lasted 30 years,Nimmo, who has bachelor’s and master’sdegrees in music, was a renowned pianist whotoured the country, recorded music and taughtpiano. Currently in her second life, defined byher work as an arts administrator, Nimmo isnow the behind the scenes maestro of theSummerville Community Orchestra.

Nimmo, who moved from California toCharleston five days after Hurricane Hugo,was executive director of the FlowertownPlayers for 15 years before recently assumingthe job with the orchestra. Nimmo’s workwith the orchestra revolves around fundrais-ing, marketing, finance, and day-to-day oper-ations. She’s passionate about her workbecause she thinks highly of her product.

“You can’t work for something you don’tbelieve in and I believe very strongly in thisorchestra because they are who they say theyare,” Nimmo said. “We say we’re the bestcommunity orchestra in a small town in asmall state. We know who we are and we love

who we are.”This year, the orchestra has eight perform-

ances and because they don’t have a perma-nent venue, it’s up to Nimmo to secure loca-tions. She advocates that all people shouldhear the orchestra perform on at least oneoccasion.

“Orchestral music is a genre that is such ameaningful and beautiful part of culture thateveryone should be at least exposed to it,”Nimmo said. “It’s like only eating Americanfood and never having tasted French food.”

The orchestra has about 40 members con-sisting of students as well as adults whoplayed in an orchestra or band in high schoolor college and remember how much fun itwas, Nimmo says.

“They may be amateurs, but they have theopportunity to make great music with theright conductor and we have that in AlexanderAgrest.”

Between her two lives, Nimmo worked forfive years as a bookkeeper, accountant, andtax manager for an accounting firm. “Theonly thing I knew about being a bookkeeperwas that it’s the only word in the English lan-guage with three consecutive double letters,”

Naomi Chaitkin Nimmo

See NIMMO Page 14

BY MICHAEL TANNEBAUMThe Journal Scene

Years before she graduated from theMedical University of South Carolina with adegree in nursing, Lynn Haney-Singleton waswell on her way to learning the ropes of theprofession.

As a child not yet 10 years of age, Haney-Singleton, now Summerville MedicalCenter’s Chief Nursing Officer, would helpcare for her disabled aunt.

“I recall very vividly helping her by givingher baths, making sure she got her medicinesand meals on time and doing the things thatevery good nurse does,” Haney-Singletonsaid. “I was young, but I was inspired.”

That inspiration carried over to Haney-Singleton’s schoolwork as well. Haney-Singleton remembers that as a young studentshe dressed a doll in a nurse’s uniform for anassignment in which children were askedwhat they would like to be when they growup.

“I’m called to be a nurse and I’m called tothe ministry of health,” Haney-Singleton said.“I definitely believe it’s a God-given talentfor me.”

It’s nearly 10 years to the day that Haney-

Singleton gave birth to her first child atSummerville Medical Center and althoughthat memory of the hospital is one of herfondest, she says every day provides her withunforgettable moments.

As chief nursing officer, Haney-Singletonoversees about 300 nurses at SummervilleMedical Center. She makes it her responsibil-ity to help them both personally and profes-sionally.

“My goal every day is to make sure my peo-ple have what they need to take care of thepatients appropriately,” Haney-Singletonsaid. “My number one priority is to make sureevery patient gets the right care, at the righttime, every time.”

She has held her current position for abouttwo years and although it entails mostlyadministrative duties, the staff nurse inHaney-Singleton sometimes emerges.

“Occasionally I’ll go to the emergency roomand start an IV or make a patient more com-fortable,” Haney-Singleton said. “I miss it ina sense, but because I can do it at will and stillhave that patient contact, it fulfills a need forme.”

Haney-Singleton believes her role in the

Lynn Haney-Singleton

See SINGLETON Page 15

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BY JENNY PETERSONThe Journal Scene

Becky Ford’s job is to keep DorchesterCounty a viable and attractive community.

As Deputy Director with the county’sDepartment of Economic Development, Fordencourages companies to locate in the coun-ty and bring their high-paying jobs to the area.

At the same time, she’s also equipping resi-dents with the skills they need to work at localcompanies, whether they are new or well-established.

“If we have skilled workers, high-payingjobs will come,” Ford said. “I like that I havethe ability to help the community and enhancequality of life by nurturing industry.”

Ford works with a team of people within theEconomic Development Department to getcompanies to choose Dorchester County astheir home.

“A lot of it operates under the radar. I thinkthe value of an existing industry program isoften overlooked,” Ford said.

A big part of any area’s appeal to companiesis whether or not the area has a skilled jobforce, Ford said. It’s important to teach resi-dents necessary job skills, so companies willhave a large pool of qualified employees to

choose from, Ford said.“The Job Center is set to train the (local) job

force in a 90-day plan,” Ford said. “(It) letspeople in the doors and (allows them to) earnincome quickly.”

Ford worked at the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments for 10years before moving to the county position.She said more women are involved with keybusiness decisions than ever before.

“There are a lot more female executives aswell as females in influential positions,”Ford said.

In order to attract companies to the area, it’simportant to keep high school students in thecommunity once they complete their educa-tion, Ford said. Part of her job is to show stu-dents about the job opportunities right in theirown backyard.

“We want to expose them to what we havehere,” Ford said. “The most rewarding (thing)is to see the industry’s commitment to investin their labor force.”

In today’s uncertain economy, it’s importantnot only to attract businesses but also keepestablished industry in the area, Ford said.

“We see companies making hard decisions

Becky Ford

See FORD Page 15

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I am proud of all the 2009 Women to Watch

Award Recipients. Thank you for what each

of you do for your community. You all work

hard to make Summerville a better place to

live. Congratulations on your great honor.

You deserve the highest praise!

2008 Award Recipient


BY ROGER LEEThe Journal Scene

If the technology existed to test such things,it would surely reveal that Jan Parsons hasYMCA coursing through her veins.

Parsons, the branch director for theSummerville Family YMCA downtown facil-ity, has been part of the Y family since shewas 14 years old. She took a part-time jobwith a YMCA in Indiana as a teen and landedher first fulltime job with the Y back in 1975.For the most part, she has been with theorganization since.

Her Y career was interrupted on two occa-sions – when she went to college and whenher husband took over as the executive direc-tor of the Summerville Y and the board decid-ed it could present a conflict of interest for herto work for him.

“After I got my teaching degree, I went rightback to the Y and continued my fitnesscareer,” Parsons said. “I still teach fitnessclasses because it puts me face to face withthe members, which I enjoy. When my hus-band and I moved here, I worked at an athlet-ic and fitness club on Dorchester Road. Thenin 1989 they allowed me to return to the Y ashealth enhancement director.”

Parsons took a position at the downtownfacility when it opened and was named thebranch director in 2005. Under her guidance,the facility has grown to include two weightrooms, two cardio rooms and two aerobicsrooms, as well as a gymnastics center, heatedaerobics pool, child watch area, tween room,infant room and community room.

An estimated 800 people come through thefacility each day. Parsons is responsible forkeeping the facility running, keeping thosepeople happy and supervising the Y staff. It’sa lot to manage and often requires 10 to 12-hour days, but Parsons isn’t complaining.

“The Y is my life,” she said. “It’s all I’veever done. It’s all I know, so that’s what I doand I enjoy it. This is a business, but it is a funbusiness. It’s my job to make sure the mem-bers are enjoying themselves and buildingrelationships in this building and to let themknow when they aren’t here, we miss them.”

Her position requires her to deal with every-thing from building maintenance to fitnessinstruction to childcare. Which is one of thethings she likes about it.

“One of the reasons I didn’t go into teachingis because at the Y you get to work with all

Jan Parsons

See PARSONS Page 15

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BY DAVID BERMAN The Journal Scene

Tiffany Provence has a hand in every aspectof her law firm, right down to the rugs.

“I’m still the one who vacuums the floorbecause I like it to be completely clean,” shesaid.

Provence is Provence Messery LLC’s man-aging partner but also its cleaning crew, land-scaper, Webmaster, and bookkeeper, she said.

Since transitioning from the DorchesterCounty Probate Court bench to private prac-tice in November 2008, Provence has fol-lowed a simple maxim: “If my name’s on it, Iwant to control it.”

“As an attorney, you are the advice you give,you are the outcomes, and if your client is nothappy, then you are no different than a defec-tive product,” she said.

Provence, 37, spent more than a decade asthe county’s probate judge. She watched somany attorneys practice in court, she said, shefound herself wanting to participate in theaction instead of looking on from the side-lines.

“When I made the decision to leave the pro-bate court, the economy was not what it is, soit’s been scary,” she said.

Provence finds comfort, however, in the factthat her firm is slowly growing, thanks in partto word-of-mouth and relationships withother law firms.

Since starting the firm she has brought onher stepfather James Messervy as a partner.The firm now has a third attorney on staff andtwo paralegals.

Provence practices probate and wrongfuldeath law. She also practices family law andmediation, as does Messervy. The remainderof his practice is civil and criminal law.

Provence said she draws on his threedecades of legal experience — “I can go tothe Internet or I can just go ask him,” she said— but she keeps tabs on the latest technologyand updates in the law.

The type of law she practices is “high-emo-tion,” she said. “People usually aren’t bawl-ing at a real estate hearing.”

As much as Provence likes control, she hadmore of it when she was a judge, at least whenit came to setting her schedule, she said. She’snot the one who chooses hearing dates any-more, and her schedule depends on herclients’ needs.

She said she still spends the same amount of

Tiffany Provence

See PROVENCE Page 15

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BY JENNY PETERSONThe Journal Scene

Toni Fivecoate has found a way to perfectlyblend her passion for cooking, her Italian her-itage and the members of her family into asuccessful business.

Three years ago, she opened Tomatoes, anauthentic Italian restaurant on Old TrolleyRoad. Armed with notebooks of passed-downfamily recipes and a drive for creating a warmand friendly atmosphere, Fivecoate has founda way to serve up hearty dishes while makingeveryone who walks in the door feel like fam-ily.

“I try to meet all the regulars personallywhen they walk in the door,” Fivecoate said.“It gives it a more ‘family’ feeling.”

Almost every aspect of the restaurantreflects the involvement of her own family —from the red sauce recipe handed down fromher great-grandmother to the current chefs inthe kitchen, namely her three sons.

She designed the modern, comfortable inte-rior herself while her late husband built theinterior walls, shelves and partitions that holdbottles of wine and piping hot bread.

Fivecoate started cooking authentic Italiandishes at age 14, in New York, where she

grew up. Her grandparents on both sides wereborn in Naples, Italy, and Fivecoate said sheperfected her own Italian dishes when hergrandmother moved into her house.

“She would say, ‘who needs a teaspoon?Show me your hands. Use half a handful ofthis, half a handful of that,’” Fivecoaterecalls.

All the recipes at Tomatoes are familyrecipes, cooked to order, just like they’re doneat home. In fact, she makes the sauces byhand every day, and a pleasant garlic aromagreets patrons when they walk in the door.

When she first opened the restaurant, thespecial tomatoes she wanted to use for herrecipes weren’t available in the local area.Using a substitute was not an option.

“I don’t change (tomatoes); (I use) what mygreat-grandma used,” Fivecoate said. For awhile, she had the tomatoes shipped in fromNew York, until they became available local-ly.

How she started the restaurant also involvesher family. After working her whole life in thefood and beverage industry, Fivecoate and herlate husband found themselves in theSummerville area considering a new venture.

Toni Fivecoat

See FIVECOAT Page 15

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BY DAVID BERMAN The Journal Scene

Men outnumber women in the S.C. GeneralAssembly nine to one, making the percentage ofwomen lawmakers in Columbia the lowest of anystate legislature in the country.

In other words, a woman running for state officedoesn’t just have to beat her opponents — she hasto beat the odds.

Rep. Annette Young, now in her 10th consecu-tive term in the House, has been doing that since1991. Today she is ninth in seniority among theHouse’s 124 members.

“I’m a voice at the table, not someone just com-ing in the room, and I’m proud of that,” she said.

Young is first vice chairman on both the waysand means committee and the ethics committee.She holds a leadership position in the Republicancaucus, helping to set its agenda. In 1995, shebecame the first female House Majority Leader inthe state’s history, she said.

Young’s interest in politics dates back to whenshe was a young girl, “but never did I think I’d berunning for office.”

Born in Carthage, Miss. to a family with sevenchildren, Young, 57, grew up poor. Her father wasa truck driver and her mother plucked chickens.

“It made me understand that I had to work hardand not getting a college degree, I had to workeven harder,” she said.

Young planned to continue her education aftergraduating from Stall High School in NorthCharleston, but a department store chain offeredher a job as a buyer. She soon was flying to places

like New York City to buy from clothing manu-facturers.

It was on an airplane that she met Roger AllenYoung. What started as a chance encounter led tomarriage, the birth of two children and the cre-ation of their landscaping business Lawn-O-Green.

During the Lawn-O-Green years, Young was afull-time mom and an active volunteer in her chil-dren’s schools. She supported her husband’sdream of running his own business and he encour-aged her to run for the House 98 seat, she said.

“We succeeded because we never gave eachother reasons to fail,” she said.

In 1993, just two years after Young won the seat,Roger died. She decided to sell the business theyhad started together.

“I just didn’t have the time be a mom, be a leg-islator and run a business with 50 employees,” shesaid.

With help from two of her sisters, Young raisedson Robert, now 32, and daughter Kristina, now29, while continuing her career in Columbia andalso running Young Enterprises, which leasescommercial warehouse space in DorchesterCounty.

Young has experienced firsthand the challengesof balancing the political and the personal. Shesaid women with strong platforms can win inSouth Carolina, but getting them to run is the dif-ficult part.

“Most women have to work these days to keepup with the needs of their family,” she said. “Youreally have to want to serve and you need that sup-port.”

Annette Young

THE GREATER SUMMERVILLE/DORCHESTER COUNTYCHAMBER OF COMMERCESTAFF:The mission of the Greater Summerville/

Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce is tocreate a pro-business environment throughoutthe Greater Summerville/Dorchester County and

surrounding areas. Their vision is to serve as the voice ofbusiness and to provide valued-added benefits to theirChamber members. The Board of Directors, Chamber staffand member businesses proudly support the womenentrepreneurs in our community who are creating jobs,hope and opportunity. These women play a major role inour economy, and the Chamber recognizes them for theircontributions and is here to assist them in growing theirbusinesses and in the realization of their dreams.

It is understood that the main reason a member joins theChamber is to improve their business. Sought aftermember benefits include networking, advertisingopportunities, access to training and other resources, but themost important benefit is listed as having a voice incommunity issues. The Chamber remains steadfastlycommitted to providing these benefits in such a way thatthe value of membership is clear to every single member.

Rita BerryPresident/CEO

Melissa WilliamsDirector of Tourism

Marie McLeodMembership Account Executive

Joann H. BrooksExecutive Assistant

Jennifer ShockleySpecial Events Coordinator

Susan WorthyAccounting

Terry ProsperoVisitor Center Receptionist

Fay BellVisitor Center Receptionist

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away clients.Miler Properties works with and has a

“good reputation” with realtors.Because of their high-quality standards,the company often receives referralsfrom realtors, Miler says.

“We have a good product. We makesure pricing is competitive with themarket. And we’re open Saturday, sowe get a lot of weekend customers.”

Miler Properties currently has about80 homes available for rent. “We have alot of houses on the market. The marketis really strong. We haven’t seen a lot ofslowdown.”

Miler says she loves being able tohelp owners get tenants and loves to gettenants into nice homes. Miler receiveda fashion merchandising degree fromthe Art Institute of Atlanta, where shedid very well, she says. She wanted toopen a boutique but saw a greater needin offering quality housing.

All in all, Miler sees her business as aministry of sorts, she says. “I’m doingsomething that’s needed for the ownerand the tenant.”

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we can whether they need medical assistance, helpshopping or cooking, or companionship.”

Williams and her company are involved with var-ious charitable and community related endeavors.She is particularly active with the SummervilleRotary Club and Women’s Auxiliary Rotary Club.

She has served on the Rotary Board of Directorsfor three years and is the incoming SummervilleRotary Club President. She also spearheaded theclub’s entrepreneurial summer training program atPinewood Preparatory School.

“It’s a youth leadership program that teaches kidsabout starting their own business and things such asdeveloping business plans,” she explained.

Williams said the part of the business she enjoysmost is that it allows her to meet a lot of people.

“As we’ve grown, I’ve realized I can’t do it allmyself anymore so the piece I have kept is theinterviewing,” she said. “I love that interaction. Ienjoy talking to people not just about their needsand how we can help them, but also about otherthings. I get to hear war stories and all about peo-ple’s lives.”

Williams and her husband Skip recently celebrat-ed their 23rd wedding anniversary. They have twodaughters, age 12 and 16. The family attends St.Paul’s Episcopal Church.

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owns four of them at her farm in thesmall town of Dorchester.

Sanders also sits saddled on as vice-chair of the North Summerville AreaCouncil, which started in January2009. Although she remains modestabout it, Sanders is heavily involvedin getting Exit 199 cleaner to makeSummerville more inviting.

“We’re definitely a tourist destina-tion and it doesn’t look like one . . .Peoples’ perception of what they seeis going to influence where they stay.”

Sanders wrote a letter to S.C.Secretary of Transportation BuckLimehouse explaining whySummerville’s exit needs embellish-ment. She says she got the idea fromthe beautification process she sawwhile working in St. George. She alsosaw clean exits in for Newberry andManning when she toured with hors-es.

Her hotel won the Journal Scene’sReader’s Choice Award for Best Hotelin 2008. The Holiday Inn Express islocated at 120 Holiday Dr.

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Nimmo said with a smile. “But I knew I wanted toget back into music.”

Electing to jump back into the arts scene andassume a background role, Nimmo went back tocollege and received an M.B.A. degree in artsadministration. Her current job doesn’t call for herto play an instrument, but Nimmo still sits downat the piano occasionally.

“Musicians are born with music in their soulsand (some) have a choice to develop it or not,”Nimmo said. “If you’re a true musician, you don’thave that choice. You have to develop it. You haveto play music.”

As executive director, Nimmo says her goal is tosee that there is a full house for each performance.Last year, the orchestra held nine performances,seven of which were free. With the state of theeconomy, Nimmo says the orchestra cannot offeras many free performances this year because thenumber of sponsors has waned.

Nevertheless, Nimmo believes people will con-tinue to attend performances this year becausemusic fulfills an innate desire.

“Music is an integral part of people’s lives,”Nimmo said. “The arts do not put food in any-body’s mouth, but they do feed the soul and that’swhat we’re here to do.”

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community is about more thanonly caring for the people whocome through SummervilleMedical Center’s doors – it’sabout preparing the communi-ty’s future leaders.

“I like to tell young peopleabout how important it is tomake the right choices so youdon’t have to spend time undo-ing bad decisions,” Haney-Singleton said. “I tell them thatregardless of race, creed, coloror gender, if you can conceiveit, you can achieve it.”

Haney-Singleton says she’shappy with the path her lifeand career have followed andshe trusts that whatever herfuture holds is part of a biggerplan.

“If I could go back in time,there’s not a thing I would dodifferently,” Haney-Singleton said. “And Iremain open to whatever Godwants me to do.”

SINGLETONfrom page 8

every day about their operations and labor force,”Ford said.

If a company is struggling financially, Ford ishappy to put the owners in touch with other indus-tries to share ideas and find ways to succeed. Shesaid being a woman has allowed her to thrive in thatarea.

“As women, we think about certain situations and(try) different problem solving (techniques),” Fordsaid. “We absolutely look at more than one answeror outcome.”

When an area has a booming business communi-ty, everybody wins, Ford said. Residents have high-paying job opportunities, and companies don’thave to look far for quality and skilled employees.

“We look at industries that are expanding andidentify (job) opportunities,” Ford said. “That’s thewhole reason that we’re here. Providing skilledjobs is important in quality of life and longevity (ofemployment).”

The Pennsylvania native recently bought a housein downtown Summerville and plans to renovate itwith her husband and two daughters.

“It’s important to be a role model for my daugh-ters — to show how to give back to the communi-ty,” Ford said. “It’s important that I demonstratethat commitment.”

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ages,” she said. “You get towork with people of all abili-ties, shapes, sizes and colors. Iget to go from helping a tod-dler with gymnastics to teach-ing a fitness class with a mem-ber who is 87.”

When it comes to dealingwith staff, Parsons likes tostick to the basics.

“When you hire good peopleand train them well, everythingtakes care of itself,” she said.“I just make sure they knowthat the open door policy Ihave for members also appliesto them. I’m always willing totalk about things. I’m veryproud of our programming andour staff. They are dedicated tomaking our facilities the bestand to serving the community.That makes my job easy.”

Parsons and her husbandmoved to Summerville in1988. They have two sons,ages 25 and 28.

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time with her family, butshe often works late intothe night as a result.

Provence’s family helpsher relate to various aspectsof family law, she saidlightheartedly. She and herhusband, DorchesterCounty Coroner ChrisNisbet, have one biologicalson, an adopted daughterand Nisbet’s son from aprevious marriage. Theyalso have custody ofProvence’s half-sister.

Provence will soon returnto probate court, albeit onan interim basis. With theretirement of PennyMerriman, Provence willserve as associate judge.She will handle the court’stherapeutic division andalso volunteer as the firstjudge for the county’supcoming drug court, shesaid.

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“This was like a passion of mine, (but) I wasafraid to start a restaurant,” she said. With sup-port from her husband and her father, she decid-ed to follow her dream.

“I didn’t open it to get rich. I want to pass (therestaurant) down to my kids, and (they will)pass it down to their kids.”

The Ladson resident describes Summervilleas a town with a family-friendly atmosphere.She said she received an overwhelming out-pouring of support after her husband’s deathlast year.

“I think we have a great customer base,”Fivecoate said.

Her favorite dishes at Tomatoes are ones thatincorporate her special red sauce — or, gravy asthe Italians say. She said she is thinking aboutbottling her sauces and offering them for sale.The restaurant also offers catering, involvingevents both at the restaurant and off-site.

Fivecoate is well known for her generosity —both on the plate and off — and can be seen atthe restaurant seven days a week laughing withcustomers and taking a heartfelt interest intheir lives.

She said opening Tomatoes is truly a dreamcome true.

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! The Holiday Inn Express - Summerville is a newlyredesign hotel featuring 123 attractive guest rooms.Each room is appointed with state of the art 32"flat screens TVs, microwaves and refrigerators, ourSimply Smart bedding collection, and includes ourdeluxe Express Start Breakfast.

! The hotel is also host to over 3500 square feet offlexible meeting space with seating for up to 200guests. Our professional sales staff can guideeverything from wedding receptions and babyshowers to service training and business meetings.

Holiday Inn Express ! Summerville ! Stay Smart.

120 Holiday Drive ! Summerville ! 843.875.3300www.hiexpress.com/summervillesc

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