our team

Vincent Avantagiato received a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and ran a Chiropractic office for over a decade. He then joined a financial company and became a Registered Representative with series 6 and 63 securities licenses.

Now Vince works with Medi-Solutions, a full-service agency that in addition to Medicare, also offers help with non-Medicare insurance needs encompassing such as life insurance, LTC, dental, vision, hearing and other financial needs such as IRA rollovers and retirement investing, like annuities.

Laura Chambers Babalis is deeply rooted in Beaufort as a seventh-generation local, channeling her passion for the area into her role as a real estate agent at Keller Williams Realty. With a fervent dedication to fostering community growth, she actively engages with others to strengthen connections and build a thriving environment. Serving as an ambassador for the chamber, Laura embraces the chance to network with fellow businesses, collaboratively seeking opportunities to bolster one another and enhance collective support within the community.

I am a Field Operations Supervisor with Hargray, I have been with Hargray for 11 years and in the telecommunications industry for 19. I was born in Raleigh North Carolina and moved here when I was One. I’m married to Melanie and we’ve been married for 18 years now with 2 kids, both boys. This is the first time volunteering with any company but so far I’m enjoying what we are doing. I enjoy spending time with my family and going to car shows on the weekends.

Donna Bradley is a first-year Chamber Ambassador representing the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Beaufort Leadership Class of 2024 and wants to be a positive force in the community and help support the mission and growth of the Chamber and the local economy by engaging with leaders and businesses, at all levels. Donna is an eighth-generation Lowcountry girl and takes great pride in her family and the Lowcountry where she has grown up and raised four daughters, a son, three step children, and now 10 grandchildren. She has been in the accounting field for 40 years and will earn her business degree from Technical College of the Lowcountry in May. She is the Senior Finance Manager at 303 Associates where she has worked for the last five years. She enjoys spending time with her husband at home, her family, and friends enjoying all things about Lowcountry living.

Jim is the founder and president of Accent Truss. Accent Truss is celebrating 20 years in business providing design, engineering, and fabrication of heavy timber structures for residential and commercial projects across the country. Jim is originally from California and made the move to South Carolina over 20 years ago with a couple other stops along the way. Beaufort is home now and it’s very important to Jim to be a part of the community he lives in. Helping other small businesses succeed and growing our community responsibly are his primary motives for working with the Chamber. In his free time, you will find him out on the water with his fiancé, or at the golf course with friends. He is proud to call Beaufort home and looks forward to meeting more friends through the work with the Chamber and involvement in our community.

Sharon is a native of Baltimore , Maryland and moved to Savannah in 2021 with her husband Greg. She has been in media sales for over 30 years and works for WTOC TV as a multi media consultant. She has lived in many cities in the northeast and has enjoyed the warm client in Savannah. On the weekends she enjoys boating , fishing , playing golf and tennis. As a new Ambassador to the chamber, Sharon is looking forward to helping businesses grow and connect with each other.

Ciara Grant is a real estate agent with Weichert Realtors Coastal Properties. She is also a native island girl of Saint Helena Island, the island renowned for its rural Lowcountry character and being a major center of African American Gullah culture. She has lived in the Lowcountry most of her life and is familiar with various Lowcountry dining, historical landmarks, beaches, and businesses that Beaufort County has to offer. She is a proud Beaufort Chamber Commerce Ambassador and Founding Member of the Lowcountry Women’s Council of Realtors. As a member of these organizations, she understands the importance of networking with various local businesses and staying informed about economic changes in the Lowcountry in order to better serve the Beaufort community and help expand economic growth.

mber Hewitt settled in Beaufort in 2006 and holds roles as a wife, mother, and Nana. She finds fulfillment in helping others and capturing moments through her photography and thrives on connecting individuals with the basic living resources they need, shedding light on pressing issues like homelessness, domestic violence, and human trafficking. She’s actively involved in the Zonta Club of Beaufort, Lowcountry Human Trafficking Task Force, Toys for Tots and Holiday Heroes. Amber’s footprint extends to diverse projects and organizations, including Toys for Tots and Holiday Heroes, Chamber Ambassador,  Leadership Beaufort, Old Village Association of Port Royal, The Helianthus Project, Hopeful Horizon, CAPA’s Ghost Tours, Friends of Hunting Island, Salvation Army, Help of Beaufort. She is the Business License Administrator at Town of Port Royal.

William Little has been serving as the Business Development Manager for Landscape Workshop. Before his current role, he held diverse positions in the landscaping industry, including Account Manager, Owner/Operator, and General Manager. With over 20 years of experience in the green industry, his depth of knowledge makes him an invaluable resource for anyone seeking professional guidance. William remains committed to working with Beaufort businesses to enhance the appreciation for quality landscaping, fostering safe enjoyment for years to come. He firmly believes that a connection with nature yields positive impacts on both physical and mental health. When he’s not immersed in landscaping, you’ll likely find William pursuing whitetail deer or turkey in the natural areas of the lowcountry.

Melanie’s roots run deep in the Beaufort community, and she can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. She attended Beaufort High School and the University of South Carolina. When not in the office, she spends time with her fiancé, Eric, and their sweet pups, Maddie & Grace. Melanie is an active member of Port Royal BNI. Melanie has been in the mortgage industry since 2020 and has experience in Conventional, VA, FHA, and USDA loans. She prides herself on great customer service and has a passion for helping first-time and military homebuyers. She believes in helping her clients understand all the nuances of what can be a confusing process in a fiercely competitive market. She takes the time to get to know her clients to help them decide the best course of action for their personal and financial goals.

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Bobbie Jo is a Branch Manager and licensed banker for Regions Bank on Lady’s Island. She has been with Regions for eight years and continues to share a passion for providing financial advice, guidance, and education to the community to help achieve their financial goals. This same passion has led Bobbie to volunteer her time and provide no-cost financial classes, seminars, and webinars to local schools, nursing homes, churches, and universities. To expand on opportunities to help others, Bobbie began the Beaufort Regional Chamber Ambassador Program in 2020 until 2021 and recently returned in 2023. In her free time, Bobbie enjoys everything the Lowcountry has to offer in the way of recreation and relaxation.

Lisa Traver has been a Program Manager/Trainer with Marine Corps Community Services-SC for the past eight years. She is a native of Wisconsin but got to South Carolina as fast as she could! She fell in love with the low country after to moving to Charleston in the early 90’s. She has lived in the area on and off for about 16 years and plans on making Beaufort her permanent home. Lisa enjoys watercolor and oil painting, boating, plants and reading. She can’t imagine living anywhere else and would like to be more involved in the community she has chosen to call “home”.

Erin, a Beaufort native is the Account Executive for CT Lowndes & Co serving Beaufort and its surrounding areas. After graduating from Clemson she began her insurance career where she found a passion for building personal relationships with clients. Since 2020, Erin has been overseeing the CT Lowndes Insurance expansion into Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head. Involvement with the Chamber has been essential in making connections with the business community. In addition to serving as a Chamber Ambassador, Erin serves on the Board for The Junior Service League of Beaufort and volunteers with The Open Land Trust. In her free time you will find Erin with her family, traveling, and hosting get togethers.

Beth Woodring is a CSR at Palmetto State Bank. She and her husband have been in Beaufort for a total of 22 years, coming back to Beaufort after his retirement from USMC. Beth is active with Beaufort Water Festival and has been involved with the Chamber for several years. She loves Beaufort and believes that Beaufort has much to offer businesses in this area!