Excited to end the Spring Savannah social season and hit the backroads, I head out to the new Donatos on Whitemarsh Island for their ribbon cutting and grand opening on Wednesday, June 28.  

Cruising out to the island with me is my 15 year old nephew Trey Ware from the bustling city of Wadley Georgia. With his curly hair flying in the wind, Trey asks, “What exactly do you do at your job?” I reply, “ I connect people, promote them on media platforms and try to give them visibility in the community. It is easier for me to show you than try to explain it.”

So I do. Meeting me at the island’s newest pizza eatery is Kaitlin Sells. Fresh off a three month project with Kenny Grainger at Cash-n-Carry, Kaitlin is meeting up with the always dapper Vernon Donovan. The State Farm Insurance agent is everywhere! From the Veterans Council meetings to business networking, Vernon has planted roots in the community and has grown into roles with non-profits like Operation Kid Forward.

Founded by Nisha Giustino to expose underprivileged kids to career paths and different life choice options, Vernon and his five fellow board members take 15-18 year old public school students on field trips to Sea World and Jacksonville Jaguars football games, to college tours, summer camps, and give them face-to-face time with successful entrepreneurs.

“Our summer camp begins on July 10, and we will have 20 kids based at the Black Creek Boy Scout Camp where counselors will teach them teamwork and self confidence with activities like zip lining, canoeing, horseback riding, obstacle courses, and fishing. A lot of the kids have never experienced anything outside of their day to day in Savannah. We want to give them a glimpse of what their future can be,” shares the former U.S. Army air traffic controller.

Posing with Vernon is his intern for the second year in a row, New Hampstead High School student Mariah Coburn, alongside Veteran Carriers’ Tabitha Guy. Giggling because Tabitha went to the original Donatos on Waters Ave. first, I hug the petite blonde then watch her beeline over to everyone’s favorite veteran, Post 500 Commander James Putney.

After James is bombarded with welcome shouts, hugs and handshakes, we chat with Tabitha about their upcoming car show to benefit the Veteran Council of Chatham County and Trucking for A Cause. “We hope our fourth annual auto show at Lucy Belle Farms on September 24 will generate even more than the $11,ooo we donated to our veterans last year,” shares Tabitha.

After a pic of Tabitha, James and Donatos co-owner Adam Kurena, I pause the Ohio native to get an update on today’s activities. “‘Davy’ [the mascot] of the Savannah Ghost Pirates will be here in a minute and the Savannah Chamber ladies are walking in right now,” shares Adam, while handing out personal size pizzas.

Waiting on his favorite pizza is Connect Savannah’s Chris Sweat. While Chris is explaining to his co-workers Payton Maxwell and McKenna Drury that there are 100 pepperoni pieces on each pie, I yell out “selfie time,” and get a perfect group pic of the Connect team with The Dive Savannah’s Kristy Crill, Savannah State’s LeAndrea Mikell and Agenda Latina’s Lisette Riccelli.

I know the scoop on Kristy Crill ruling the catering world and LeAndrea winning every award in the state, but I don’t have the latest gossip on my long time Latina friend. With her own radio show every Saturday at noon on Pantera 96.1, the Savannah Chamber Ambassador has blossomed in her quest to merge the Hispanic business community with mainstream Savannah.

“On August 6, Agenda Latina along with Chatham County Parks and Recreation will host a multicultural fair at Tom Triplett Park in Pooler. We will have Latin food trucks, live music from community performers, cultural dance performances and recognition of Hispanic leaders making a difference in our community,” shares the United Way board member. 

Next up, Adam and his wife Kindell pose for a quick pic before shaking hands with Habitat for Humanity’s Olaitan Adesanya. A big guy with a calm aura, Olaitan and his Habitat team have formed a strong partnership with Adam and Donatos’ co-owners, his sister-in-law Cassie Green and his father-in-law Bob Fischer.

Walking in next is the most beloved man in the radio word! Say hey to WRHQ’s Ray Williams. With decades filling every role in radio, Ray has become such a beloved figure in Savannah that he is known by his name alone. An Ohio native himself, and a friend of the Donatos team, Ray moseys over for a pic with Adam before getting hugged by everyone in the room.

With local superstars like Weslyn Bowers and Chatham County Police Department’s East Chatham Capt. Nick Ojanovac and Capt. Joseph Wright mingling with my zany and fabulous friend Kym Hogan of Yancey Brothers, I head over to snap pics of Davy with his tribe of Ghost Pirates handlers.

The entry is filling up with people, so I walk outside to chat with my youngest entrepreneur friend, Miquan Green. The MGreen Production founder recently merged his two offices at a new location beside Carey Hilliards on Abercorn, and is chatting with Adam about a new menu print order.

Not to brag, but–O.K., I am going to brag about Miquan. Starting his first business at 12 years old and first office at 16, and now at the ripe old age of 22, Miquan is known for his church and school business partnerships as well as his mentee program. MGreen Mentorship is a non-profit that focuses on developing business acumen among middle and high school students. 

Arriving next are my favorite M & M’s: Marianne Ganem Poppell and Mia Mance! Carrying her newborn baby, Genesis, Mia carefully hands her over for Marianne to play “girl mom” while we get set up for the ribbon-cutting.

With my Savannah State University intern Odyssey Wade and Kaitlin counting down the action, I glance around the room and see so many close friends here supporting Adam, his family and their team. With over a dozen community partnerships standing behind Adam, I have a feeling this location will be another family-strong spot for the pizza spot. And, I hope Trey has a better understanding of exactly what I do!

See y’all later this Summer!

This article appears in Connect Savannah | July 2023.