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Seabolt Real Estate welcomes Sales Associates Lainey Cook, Julia Morrison and Allison Ross

Seabolt Real Estate is pleased to welcome new Sales Associates Lainey Cook, Julia Morrison and Allison Ross to the firm. These talented real estate professionals continue the Seabolt Real Estate tradition of providing exceptional service to Savannah-area buyers and sellers, offering insight into the local market while leveraging the firm’s luxury network affiliations.

“We’re delighted to announce that Lainey Cook, Julia Morrison and Allison Ross recently joined the Seabolt Real Estate team,” said Elaine Seabolt, founder of Seabolt Real Estate. “Lainey, Julia and Allison share impressive backgrounds in the local real estate industry, strong knowledge of the Savannah market and a powerful commitment to helping residential and commercial clients at all price points.”

Seabolt Real Estate’s new real estate professionals include:

Lainey Cook, Sales Associate — Lainey Cook is a Savannah native and residential real estate specialist with deep knowledge of the local real estate market. A licensed agent in Georgia, she offers clients extensive marketing, public relations and social media experience as well as strong negotiation skills. Prior to joining Seabolt Real Estate, Cook worked at a Savannah-area real estate firm, where she specialized in residential, commercial, office and retail leases. Earlier in her career, she served as an analyst with the NNN Pro Group, one of the top performing net-lease brokerage teams in the country. She earned a B.A. in Communication with a minor in Business from Auburn University and currently resides on Isle of Hope.

Julia Morrison, Sales Associate — A Savannah native, Julia Morrison brings 25 years of experience and local knowledge to her new position. She is a licensed realtor in Georgia and South Carolina who previously served as a residential real estate specialist at two Savannah-area firms. Active in the community, Morrison is a dedicated volunteer for the Matthew Reardon Center for Autism and Low Country Legal Volunteers. She is a member of the Savannah Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors and a former Coastal Conservation Association board member. Morrison earned a B.A. in Communications with a minor in English from Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina, and currently resides in Savannah’s Dutch Island community.

Allison Ross, Sales Associate — Allison Ross is a motivated real estate professional with extensive experience in the hospitality and travel industries who understands the importance of attention to detail and customer service. She previously served as an executive meeting specialist for Marriott in Charlotte, North Carolina, the manager for Queen Park Social in Charlotte, and as a flight attendant for American Airlines. Originally from North Carolina, Ross earned a B.A. in Languages, Literatures and Cultures with a concentration in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and currently resides on Wilmington Island.

The Alida honored in the “Travel + Leisure” 2024 World’s Best Awards

Downtown Savannah hotel earned No. 2 Best Hotel in the City in renowned reader’s survey

The Alida, Savannah, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, was recently voted one of the best hotels in Savannah by the engaged readers of “Travel + Leisure” in the 29th annual World’s Best Awards survey. Every year, the publication’s readers share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more with the results highlighting emerging trends and destinations that resonate with today’s travelers.

“We are extremely honored to have been voted one of the five best hotels in Savannah by the readers of ‘Travel + Leisure,'” said Michael O’Shaughnessy, Area Managing Director of The Alida. “Being recognized reflects our dedication to providing exceptional hospitality to all of our guests, and we are committed to maintaining that level of service to remain a hotel that people continue to seek out when visiting Savannah.”

The Alida, situated on Savannah’s historic River Street in the burgeoning Plant Riverside District, is the ideal respite for travelers. The hotel features a year-round heated and chilled saltwater pool with private cabanas and weekly programming for locals and guests. Additional dining includes The Lost Square rooftop bar, the southern coastal cuisine of Rhett restaurant and the chic lobby bar The Trade Room. 

New this summer, hotel guests can enjoy a variety of amenities and wellness activities when staying at The Alida including:

• The Cove at Cabana Club, a new outdoor space tucked away from the main pool deck, which offers an exclusive haven for those in search of relaxation, entertainment and privacy when visiting the property. Designed for up to 10 guests, this exclusive retreat combines luxury and tranquility, offering both shaded relaxation and sunlit spots. Every detail is meticulously crafted to enhance the guest experience, featuring reserved poolside loungers, a pool table and a flat-screen television ensuring an unparalleled oasis of tranquility and sophistication.
• Guided Runs with Daniel Powers, the hotel’s in-house knowledgeable running guide, leading guests through a three- or five-mile scenic route along River Street or Downtown Savannah. Whether a seasoned marathoner or a casual jogger, the guided runs are thoughtfully created to accommodate all fitness levels, ensuring every guest can participate and uncover the beauty, culture and historic monuments of the city.
• Flow Series at Cabana Club, available on the last Saturday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., brings local yoga studio Otium to The Alida for a morning of mindful movement, invigorating vinyasa sessions, curated playlists, and focused breath work. Each session includes a complimentary Ritual Zero Proof cocktail, a discount on total Cabana Club purchases, and access to a poolside lounger.

For more information on The Alida, please visit thealidahotel.com.

Savannah-based Colonial Group announces executive leadership promotions

Colonial Group Inc., a Savannah-based diversified family of companies, has announced two promotions involving its executive leadership team.

Bob Kenyon has been promoted to chief operations officer of Colonial Group Inc., while retaining his position as president of Colonial Oil Industries Inc., and Ryan Chandler has been promoted to chief commercial officer of Colonial Group Inc., while retaining his position as president of Colonial Terminals Inc.

“All the companies within the Colonial family have experienced tremendous growth and change over the past several years,” said Christian Demere, president and CEO of Colonial Group. “While I am proud of the progress each company has made, I believe there is even more potential to unlock by better leveraging our synergies and strengths across the entire organization. Additionally, we have the opportunity to further strengthen our family culture. Expanding Ryan’s and Bob’s scope across the company will help us achieve our full potential and become the best in every industry we serve.”

The Colonial family of companies is represented in multiple industries and offers products and services that include energy and chemical marketing and distribution, materials storage and handling, and retail convenience stores.

In their new roles, Kenyon and Chandler will expand their involvement across the entire organization in operational and commercial strategy and standards and unite all Colonial’s business units under a new “One Colonial” approach.

Kenyon has nearly 30 years of experience in fuel operations. Prior to joining Colonial in 2022, he served as senior vice president, sales and marketing for Renewable Energy Group, Inc. He is also the former president of Atlas Oil Company, where he led the company’s nationwide sales, marketing, supply, operations, and administrative resources spanning 20 terminals and more than 900 employees. He holds a B.B.A. in business management from Eastern Michigan University and completed advanced executive education studies at the University of Michigan.

Chandler joined Colonial Group Inc., as vice president of business development in 2011 and became president of Colonial Terminals Inc., in 2020. Earlier in his career, he practiced commercial law and later served as vice president of operations at TICO/Terminal Services, a Savannah-based, family-owned terminal equipment manufacturing and outsourcing company, where he worked for eight years. He holds several degrees from the University of Florida: a B.A. in finance, a J.D. from the Fredric G. Levin College of Law, and an MBA from the Warrington College of Business.

This article appears in Connect Savannah I July 2024.