women in business

East Cooper’s Weekly Community Newspaper Since 1964

CYAN-AOOO MAGENTA-OAOO YELLOW-OOAO BLACK 012908

www.moultrienews.com T: 849.1778 | F: 958.7496 | Email: [email protected]

IP03-601029

It is that time of year again where the Moultrie News

celebrates the women of this community who

make it great.In our annual special

section, Women in Business, we highlight

women who are successful not just in their businesses but

in their philanthropy. We celebrate women

who work with children, animals,

other businesses and even some who make

their life mission a philanthropy. We

recognize that there are thousands of

women east of the Cooper who deserve to be recognized...but here are a just a few.

Real faces, real

businesses, real

stories

September 14 , 2011 Section C

PENNY PARKERMOULTRIE NEWS

Hurricane Mitch changed Molly Green’s life. The 1998 category five storm that caused so much damage in Honduras opened her eyes to a need that she and her husband have devoted the last decade to fulfilling.

When the storm hit, the couple were hosting a Hon-duran girl who was a student at the College of Charleston. She couldn’t get in touch with

anyone in her native country immediately following the storm. The Green’s church, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church downtown, was very involved in Honduras at the time, and George was able to send an e-mail to the Episcopal Bishop of Honduras asking what they needed. George and Molly owned and operated an environmental consulting firm and George knew about testing water. He got an e-mail back, saying that they needed six drinking water

systems.“It was such a specific

need,” Molly says. “I started searching the internet and couldn’t find anything. It was either too big or too small.”

So George, who holds a doctorate in chemical en-gineering, came up with an idea and built his own. Molly worked on transportation issues, calling then Senator Strom Thurmond’s office which came through with the offer of a C-5 airplane at the Charleston Air Force Base

to take the water systems down to Honduras.

“Our eyes were opened to a huge need,” Molly says. “The most basic of human need is clean water. Every 20 sec-onds a child will die due to a water-related problem. It was a real wake-up call. We knew how to take a water source and make it potable. We could make a difference.

“Our environmental con-sulting company had been a great experience, but we found out that there was such a huge need that we could fulfill. We really felt a calling. We felt the Lord was saying, ‘It’s time for a change.’”

Since 2001, Water Mis-sions International (WMI), the Christian nonprofit en-gineering organization that Molly and George started and continue to lead, has worked to provide clean, safe water and sanitation to people in developing countries and di-saster areas through a variety of technologies. Through the use of low-maintenance, ap-propriate water technologies for drinking water treatment and distribution,wastewater management and storm wa-ter control, their goal is to provide sustainable access to safe water so that no person should perish from the lack of safe drinking water. Over the last 10 years, WMI has

served more than two mil-lion people in 49 countries and has responded to many of the world’s most devastat-ing disasters. In 2010 alone, they helped meet the needs of disaster victims in Haiti, Pakistan, Mexico, Guatema-la and Sri Lanka. They also work to provide sustainable long-term safe water solu-tions in developing coun-tries, such as Kenya, Uganda and Belize.

WMI not only offers physi-cal water to the people they help, but also the Living Wa-ter. “We are called to teach about the Living Water,” Molly says. “We do it in a way that’s not threatening. We don’t want to push it. Usually our presence is enough.”

Clean water is the source of life, the organization states on its website. It is the foun-dation for health, educa-tion and viable economies. Through the generous sup-port of individuals, churches, nonprofits, and businesses, Water Missions Interna-tional has brought relief and hope to more than two mil-lion people across the globe.

When Molly was telling a friend about WMI when they were first starting out, that friend sent her a book called “Half Time” which had a profound effect on her. In the book , the author writes

about the first half of your life being about success and then the second half when you move to significance.

“George and I felt like it was more like thirds for us,” Molly says.

“ We felt like the first third of our lives was spent in preparation, the second third with our company for 20 years and now we’re able to give the gift of safe water and to give it in the name of Jesus because he has blessed us with time, talent and trea-sure.”

Find WMI on the web at www.watermissions.org and the group may be found on Facebook.


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STAFF PHOTOS BY PENNY PARKER

Molly Green stands in front of a poster with pictures of some of the many people in the various countries who have been helped by the Water Missions Internation, the organization she founded with her husband in 2001.

Green shows one of the drinking water treatment systems WMI distributes.

2 C .MOULTRIE NEWS ___________________________________ www.moultrienews.com ___________________________ Wednesday , September 14 , 2011

BY PENNY PARKERMOULTRIE NEWS

I t’s not very often that a person gets to spend her life doing a job that

she loves, but Katharine Moffat is one of those lucky people. She has turned her love of animals into her job as well as her life’s work.

Moffat is the owner of Lucia’s Premium Pet on Daniel Island.

Growing up in Greens-boro, N.C., Moffat worked at a holistic pet food store through high school. She kept that job while attend-ing college at nearby Wake Forrest University where she earned degrees in Span-

ish, French and interna-tional studies.

In 2006, she moved to the Charleston area and tried her hand at several differ-ent careers. She later moved to Daniel Island where she noticed that almost all of the residents were also dog owners. She then realized that there was no pet supply store on the island. She saw a need that she felt uniquely qualified to fill.

She opened her store dur-ing the Family Circle Cup weekend in 2008, and it has been bustling with activity ever since.

The store, which is named after the first dog she ever got on her own and which

she still has, is located next to Publix in the Daniel Island Town Center across from the Family Cup Sta-dium. It carries holistic food for dogs and cats, supple-ments, herbs and homeo-pathics.

She is passionate about holistic food for pets and uses that knowledge to help countless pet owners find appropriate diets and regi-mens for their animals.

“The food we carry has natural ingredients,” Moffat says. “Diet can make such a difference for a pet. It’s life changing.”

The store also carries upscale collars, leads, toys, beds and other pet sup-plies. There is a do-it-your-self dog wash and grooming area, equipped with soaps and towels.

“I’m always on the search for the toughest toy also,” she says.

Lucia, which Moffat says is a red mixed breed dog, is a rescue, and rescuing animals is a cause which Moffat carries dear to her heart. “I am really involved in rescue,” she says. “All of my animals are rescues.

In addition to Lucia, Mof-fat has another dog named Juno and a cat named Ty-

son, and they often keep her company at the shop.

“I work primarily with Animal Rescue and Relief. They look after all animals, not just dogs and cats. They rescue and advocate for horses, ducks, snakes, all kinds and breeds of ani-mals,” she says. “They focus on the bigger picture.”

In April, Moffat and ARR took the Williamsburg County Animal Shelter to court due to inhumane conditions and abuse at the shelter in Kingstree. The group rescued 76 animals from the shelter and re-

trained all the employees. The shelter must build a new facility to house the animals, and a veterinarian now comes in once a week to inspect the animals.

“It happens close to home also,” Moffat says, referring to a case where she followed an emaciated female dog who had just given birth through the woods off of Clements Ferry Road, to a clearing with a few mobile homes. There she discov-ered several newborn pup-pies and other equally thin dogs chained up with no food or water.

“We were able to rescue those dogs, and all of them were adopted out,” Moffat says. “The whole island got really involved. Those dogs are still called the ‘Clements Ferry dogs.’”

Moffat advocates for rescue organizations at her store. She holds adoption events, dog wash fundrais-ers, bake sales and “we’re always acception donations for rescue groups.”

Lucia’s Premiem Pet is located at 162 Seven Farms Dr., Suite 115.

Visit www.luciaspremi-umpet.com.


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Moffat is lucky to have a job she loves

Katharine Moffat holds her cat Tyson

Wednesday , September 14 , 2011 ___________________________ www.moultrienews.com ___________________________________ MOULTRIE NEWS. 3 C

BY DORA D. HARTSELLMOULTRIE NEWS

C olette DeGarady of Mount Pleasant be-lieves her evolution

from animal lover to conser-vationist is only natural.

“I was originally inter-ested in working with animals,” said DeGarady, senior conservation ecolo-gist at The Nature Conser-vancy. “If you enjoy working with animals, you have to protect their habitats.”

A graduate of Stratford High School in Goose Creek, DeGarady focused mainly on fish and feathered and furry creatures in college and graduate school.

As an undergrad at Clemson, she majored in aquaculture, fisheries and wildlife biology.

At Southern Illinois, she dove deeper into her study of animals by pursuing a master’s degree in zoology.

Between degrees, she was employed in a variety of roles. She worked as a veterinary technician for a Goose Creek clinic. She par-ticipated in an array of field studies involving fawns, yel-low warblers, red-cockaded woodpeckers, sea turtles and amphibians.

She also lived in France for one year, and worked throughout the state and the southeast.

For the past eight years, DeGarady has worked in the Charleston office of The Nature Conservancy, one of the largest non-profit conservation organizations in the world.

The Nature Conservancy,

founded in 1951, works in more than 30 countries and all 50 states, with a state office in Columbia and a sat-ellite office in Greenville.

DeGarady is among 12 Charleston employees who focus on land management, research and the protection of native species.

“Basically I’m involved in conservation work that helps protect places of bio-diversity,” she said.

DeGarady supervises three staff members and specializes in forest man-agement and restoration, invasive plant species man-agement, and rare flora and fauna studies.

Away from work, De-Garady finds other ways to protect and provide healthy habitats.

She is the organizer of the twice-annual Native Plant Sale, a collaborative effort by the Lowcountry Chap-ter of the S.C. Native Plant Society and Charles Towne Landing, the host site for the Oct. 22 event.

“We’re trying to promote native plant landscaping,”

DeGarady said. When gar-deners grow plant species native to South Carolina in-stead of planting non-native species, they help provide healthier habitats for wild-life and insects, she said.

“Everybody wants some-thing that looks good and is low maintenance,” she said.

The plant sale is the ideal place for green thumbs to acquire plants and informa-tion about native species, including sweet grass, spar-tina, little blue stems and the honeysuckle vines which tend to attract butterflies.

DeGarady also serves as treasurer and membership chair of the South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council, which coordinates and provides research about invasive plant species.

Her involvement in the community has allowed her to travel overseas through the Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange program.

While serving as a voca-tional ambassador overseas, DeGarady learned about agricultural development in

England. There, a smaller percentage of land is desig-nated as forest land than in the U.S., “where we have a balance of agricultural and forested lands,” she said.

At home, DeGarady and her husband, Tom John-son, have been preparing a fruit and vegetable garden comprised of lettuce, winter greens, herbs, blueberry bushes, pomegranate and citrus trees.

They also take special care of a set of active, 18-month-old twins, and their family pets: a dog they call Bogey and a tortoise named Moe.

The twins, it seems, are following in their mother’s nature-loving footsteps.

“They love to be outside, and they love the beach,” DeGarady said. “They love to dig in the mulch around the plant beds and bury the tortoise in it.”


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Conservation comes naturally to DeGarady

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Collette DeGarady volunteers in the Hampton Park greenhouse. Collette DeGarady is seen here with her family, hiking

at Mepkin Abbey last November.



With her bright smile and positive spirit, Laura M.

Camacho of Mount Pleasant is making a name for herself as a creative and focused entrepreneur.

In fact, the name of her company - the Mixonian In-stitute - is a prime example of her ability to mix whimsy with serious business. Mix-on is her maiden name, and the remainder of her busi-ness moniker was inspired by the prestigious-sounding Smithsonian Institution.

As a life and career coach, Camacho has transformed what used to be a blog filled with vocational advice into a successful venture in which she is sought after by local and international profes-sionals who want her advice on public speaking, busi-ness presentations, leader-ship and confidence.

The secret to Camacho’s success is her attitude.

“You can be a master of

your fate … the captain of your destiny,” said Cama-cho, who has learned to adapt to the small town of Washington, N.C., and to the “bright lights, big city” lifestyle of Caracas, Ven-ezuela.

Her diverse, educational background has shaped her ability to make the most out of every situation.

While an undergrad at Sweet Briar College in Virginia, Camacho double-majored in economics and Spanish and minored in French and business. She received her MBA from the University of Dallas and obtained her doctorate in communications studies from Regent University in Virginia.

The biggest influence on Camacho’s life was her ma-ternal grandmother.

“My grandmother was widowed at 28 with three children, and she put herself through college,” Camacho said. “She epitomizes the ‘can do’ attitude.”

When Camacho was a

young child growing up in Hampton, her grandmother gave her a book filled with expressions translated into English, Italian, French and German.

Camacho recalls being fascinated by seeing the same phrase translated into four different languages. Early in life, she embraced the power of effective com-munication.

Decades later she wrote her dissertation on Ven-ezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s ability to inspire a nation of “rabid fans” by be-ing a strong communicator.

Success did not come eas-ily for Camacho.

When she lived in Venezu-ela with her first husband and their three children, Camacho was ostracized for home-schooling. Her 18-year marriage ended, and Camacho found herself struggling with issues women still face.

“I feel I represent all the women who followed their husbands, … (women) who altered their lifestyles and

goals to match their hus-bands’ jobs,” women whose marriages eventually ended, she said.

With the Mixonian In-stitute, Camacho inspires female and male clients whose employment situ-ations, business outlooks or investments have been altered by divorce or other economic uncertainties.

“I found my way,” Cama-cho said. “If you are deter-mined to find your way, you will find it.”

Along her career path, Camacho taught commu-nications at the College of Charleston and at East Carolina University.

She feels she is able to continue teaching and reaching a wider audience through the Mixonian Institute.

Camacho also serves the Mount Pleasant business community as vice presi-

dent of the East Cooper Entrepreneurial Women, a networking organization comprised of more than

100 female business owners and professionals.

To unwind from her pro-fessional commitments, she enjoys recreational swim-ming.

In May, she completed the 2.4-mile, 10th annual Low-country Splash Open Water Swim in the Cooper River.

“I’m not a world-class athlete,” she admitted. “I set

the goal to do that (Low-country Splash).”


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Entrepreneur mixes whimsy with serious business

PHOTO PROVIDED

Laura Camacho is owner of Mixonian.

Wednesday , September 14 , 2011 ___________________________ www.moultrienews.com ___________________________________ MOULTRIE NEWS. 5 C


C aroline Rhodes was born to a Carolina girl, became a (Uni-

versity of South) Caro-lina girl herself, raised two daughters in the state, and

outranks all the men on the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Board.

Rhodes is the chairper-son and sole female on the board, and still finds time to operate five locations of the Charleston Angler while preparing to move one of

her businesses into its new space this week.

Needless to say, Rhodes is a busy woman who finds time to serve her communi-ty and count her blessings.

“I believe that God calls all of us to serve, and usually right in our own backyard,

and to give,” Rhodes said. “I have been very blessed and am happy to share my bless-ings with the community I love and live in.”

As owner of Charleston Angler fishing and tackle shops and the Charleston Angler Embroidery Shop, Rhodes uses her busi-ness as an opportunity to educate and reach out to her customers, because she has empathy for customers who are new to fishing.

When she and her hus-band, pediatrician Malcolm Rhodes, opened the first Charleston Angler, Rhodes admits, “I did not have any real knowledge or experi-ence with fishing.”

Dr. Rhodes’ vision for the store was to support and grow the sport of fly-fish-ing, especially salt-water fly-fishing. But because he was a busy, practicing physician, his wife quickly transformed her role as a stay-at-home mom who sometimes helped out at the store to full-time operator who adopted her husband’s vision for the shop.

“That learning process helped me develop a very hands-on, teaching ap-proach for all customers, and iImade education the focal point of how I wanted the business to be run, and

how I wanted the customers to be treated,” Rhodes said.

Since then, Charleston Angler’s product line has expanded to include inshore light tackle and offshore fishing, and each location tries to cater to the cus-tomer base, Rhodes said. The company took a big leap when it opened a location in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, and Rhodes said the teamwork approach has helped the company succeed.

One sure sign of the Charleston Angler’s suc-cess is its recognizable logo featuring the “slightly whimsical” outline of the spot-tail bass, or redfish. It is often seen as orange window stickers around the Lowcountry and all over the country.

“My husband designed it, but I had it trademarked,” Rhodes said. “Originally it had our name on it too, but I wanted it to become some-thing like the Nike swoosh, no words necessary.”

When Rhodes isn’t busy operating her stores, she also serves as the chairman and only female on the state DNR Board.

In 2007, then-Gov. Mark Sanford appointed her to represent the 1st Con-gressional District. With

Rhodes’ term set to expire, Gov. Nikki Haley reappoint-ed her to the board, and the state Senate confirmed her as chairman in April.

The board, like most state agencies, is grappling with issues caused by massive budget cuts, Rhodes said.

Rhodes also volunteers with the Casting for Recov-ery program, a fly-fishing retreat designed for breast cancer survivors. Rhodes credits Starr Nolan for in-troducing her and a group of other women to this healing program.

“Starr has told us over and over that most women with breast cancer do not go to support groups, “ Rhodes said.

“This is one way to get these women out of their normal environment, out-side and learning something new, as well as strengthen-ing the muscles that are cut from surgery.”

Rhodes, a graduate of Spring Valley High School in Columbia and the University of South Caro-lina, is actively involved in other community organiza-tions, including St. Philip’s Church, Clemson Parents’ Development Board of Stu-dent Affairs, Junior League of Charleston, and the Chi Omega Alumna Chapter.


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Outranking the men as chairman of the board

PHOTO PROVIDED

Caroline Rhodes owns Charleston Angler


Do have nerves of steel and the new, best business idea since sliced bread? Then Perfect Pitch is for you. Pre-sented by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Com-merce, Perfect Pitch is a new program designed to prepare entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas to potential in-vestors and collaborators. Enter your business idea at www.charlestonchamber.net by Sept. 21 to pitch your idea to a panel of judges and the chance to win $5,000, entrepreneurial training classes and a dream team of mentors.

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This month East Cooper Entrepreneurial Women, (ECEW) launched the BRA-VA Initiative, to cultivate and develop the entrepreneur-ial success of its members. BRAVA Initiative, (Building Relationships, Advising and deVeloping Advantages in

business,) has the mission to foster the growth and prof-itability of women-owned entrepreneurial companies through an array of business support resources includ-ing physical space, capital, coaching, common services and networking.

Carol Williams, ECEW founder and BRAVA com-mittee member said a re-cent Kiplinger Report study shows that the number of small businesses owned by women is growing 50 percent faster than the total number of small businesses.

“We talk to women on a regular basis who are look-ing to start and/or grow their own business and need help to make as a successful entre-preneur.

“BRAVA is our way of giv-ing them the practical tools to grow their business and meet their goals. ECEW is more than a networking group.”

BRAVA Initiative has three components:

1) smart and savvy mentor-ship program; 2) scholarships for ongoing business educa-tion and 3) web-based and relational resources to other existing entrepreneurial re-sources, including SCORE, the SBA and the Charleston Chamber of Commerce.

Williams states, “We want

the East Cooper community to become involved in BRA-VA.

Whether as an ECEW mem-ber, a mentor or a corporate sponsor, the BRAVA Initia-tive’s purpose is to provide a gateway to create a new level

of success for both new and existing women-owned busi-nesses in the Lowcountry and I am very proud and honored to be a part of this.”

For more information on ECEW, visit their website at ecewsc.com.


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1985 Riviera Dr., Ste. 103 • Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 • (843) 849-0515 • [email protected]

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A woman owner won’t let that happen!

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Enjoy a FashionablyFabulous ShopportunityAt Our New Location!

320 W. Coleman Blvd.The Shops of Mt. Pleasant

843.849.2232Mon. - Fri. 10am - 6pm

Sat. 11am - 5pm

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Entrepreneurial Women launch BRAVA Initiative

Give your perfect business pitch

Wednesday , September 14 , 2011 ___________________________www.moultrienews.com ___________________________________ MOULTRIE NEWS. 7 C

BY SULLY [email protected]

Mary Zapatka is a Caro-lina girl. This is a fact not just because she grew up in Greenville. It’s fact because she knows good food when she sees it. She also grew up in a household where no one, not one single soul would say, “we don’t need another dog.”

Zapatka has been in the restaurant business since she was 15. That doesn’t even count the countless hours spent tugging on apron strings while mom and grandma were preparing for family gatherings. Her grandfather also had a large garden so “food has been her world,” since she was a kid.

Despite having majored in education she fell quick-ly back into the restaurant business.

While attending school at the College of Charleston she worked at and managed Magnolia’s. She stayed there for 12 years and helped open Cypress.

Ironically enough, she quit her job on Sept. 11, 2001. She was able to find a job at The Square Onion in I’On, work-ing just 20 hours a week.

But what do you know, only three months later, she found herself back in the res-taurant business - full time. Only this time, she owned

the place. After a quick nego-tiation, she and her husband Cary purchased The Square Onion and have owned it for nine years. They opened Square Onion Too last year.

As if that wasn’t enough, she em”barked” on another venture, literally.

As an animal lover Zapat-ka has been involved with rescue groups who take in strays and foster abandoned animals. When a local busi-ness called Planet Bark be-came available, she bought it. The owners knew of her passion for rescuing animals and thought she would be a perfect fit. In fact, she is. In addition to owning and run-ning the business, she and a group of other passionate rescue volunteers formed SWAT last February.

It stands for Southern Women’s Animal Task Force. The purpose is to change things in South Carolina.

The women of SWAT put their heads together in an ef-fort to raise money for small non-profits (including those who push for animal wel-fare).

The end result was Pour it Forward.

On any given Wednesday evening, for only $10, guests can come by The Square On-ion Too, be entertained with live music and donate to the cause of the evening.

The September Pour It For-

ward is going to the dogs.SWAT will be the benefi-

ciary of this month’s install-ment of Pour It Forward sponsored by John Napoli-tano of InSphere Insurance Solutions. This monthly wine tasting giving event will hap-pen on Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. at 411 Cole-man Blvd.

“There are so many ani-mals in shelters and rescues that many of them are having a hard time finding homes for all these animals. SWAT helps many of these and raises awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering, which is crucial to controlling the pet popu-lation,” said Zapatka.

Her dream is to see animal welfare laws in South Caro-lina and to open a facility to help rescue volunteers and the animals they save.

“There is no government support when it comes to animals,” she said. “South Carolina is still a good old boy state and people don’t get how important this problem is. We created this as humans so we have to fig-ure out a way to make it stop. It’s hard to raise money for animals because there are so many other causes out there. People give to causes for children and whatever it may be and animals are the low hanging fruit at the bot-tom of barrel.”

Pour it Forward has be-come so successful that other businesses in town are spon-soring the evening wine tast-ings. Zapatka was raised with the philosophy that you have to give back. And she believes that is important in her per-sonal and professional life.

In addition to SWAT, she serves on the board of direc-tors for Louis’s Kids. “Child-hood obesity is another area of concern that we have to pay attention to in this coun-try,” she said.

“The potential for not solv-ing this could eventually crash our health care system. We have to teach children that there is a healthy way to eat and it is not all about the financial end of it. You can eat well within the budget of your family.”

Zapatka said she just wants to make a difference before she leaves this earth.

If she were to die tomor-row, she would have fulfilled that wish.

To find out more about SWAT visit them on Face-book. For more informa-tion, visit www.squareonion.com.


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280 W Coleman Blvd, Northcutt Plaza, Mount Pleasant, SC

(843) 856-0003Visit our other stores on King Street and Folly Rd.

Phillips ShoesYour Feet are Going to Love You!

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FREE CONSULTATIONBy Appointment Only

843-609-6600 Please leave detailed messageInside Arlene's Salon & Spa

Located in Lafayette Village between 84 Lumber and Publix804 Johnnie Dodds. Blvd. Mt. Pleasant

Please no debit/credit cards. Cash and checks gladly accepted!

Zapatka: Always pouring it forward

PHOTO PROVIDED

Mary Zapatka owns Square Onion, Square Onion Too and Planet Bark. Her passion however is rescuing animals.


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