Connect Savannah News & Notes

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Inaugural BIG Expo showcases entrepreneurship and innovation

Georgia Southern University’s Business Innovation Group (BIG) in partnership with the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority and The Creative Coast to host the inaugural BIG Expo for Entrepreneurship & Innovation on Sept. 19, 2023 from 5 – 8 p.m. “The Alley” at 58 E. Main Street, Statesboro, GA.

The event aims to provide a platform for networking, exchanging ideas, and learning from subject matter experts. The primarily outdoor event will include a showcase of diverse business ideas, fast pitch sessions from local entrepreneurs and students, and the opportunity to learn what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur by connecting with like-minded professionals.

Attendees will hear from resource providers, learn about new tools to drive business revenue, and get inspired by individuals who have already succeeded in business.

The BIG Expo will also contain an educational component for those who want to turn their dreams into reality by launching a new business or side hustle. The BIG Idea Accelerator will be hosted by The Creative Coast and run from 6pm to 8pm. “The BIG Idea Accelerator is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs to validate their business ideas with direct mentorship from experienced founders, intensive market viability research, the best resources for guidance, and serious accountability and honest feedback from expert business leaders,” said Jen Bonnet, Executive Director, The Creative Coast. Expert facilitators will help individuals vet their visions and explore next steps for launching or growing a business.

“Since 2014, BIG has been an active part of the entrepreneurial fabric in South Georgia,” said Dr. Dominique Halaby, Associate Provost for Innovation and Commercialization for Georgia Southern University. “The BIG Expo affords us an opportunity to showcase some amazing entrepreneurial talent in our area, learn from each other’s success, and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that makes our region such a great place to start a business.”

In addition to existing business clients, BIG has invited the Eagle Entrepreneurs, a student organization, to participate in the Fast Pitch sessions, thereby allowing the Parker College of Business students to present their ideas to a live audience.

“We are looking forward to the opportunity to encourage our students to boldly pitch their ideas in front of a live audience for our friends at BIG (Business Innovation Group),” said Dr. Curtis Sproul, Associate Professor of Management and Faculty Advisor for the Eagle Entrepreneurs. “The more our students have a chance to build their confidence, the more equipped they become for the real world of pitching investors.”

Georgia Southern University’s Business Innovation Group invites local area entrepreneurs, business owners, investors, alumni and friends to join the festivities on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 from 5  – 8 p.m. No cost, RSVP requested. For sponsorship information, please contact: Catherine Blake at cblake@georgiasouthern.edu or 770-883-1117 mobile.

Lowcountry Down Syndrome announces 18th annual Buddy Walk

The 18th Annual Buddy Walk will take place in Forsyth Park in Savannah, Ga., Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Lowcountry Down Syndrome will be partnering with the Savannah Philharmonic and sharing Forsyth Park for the day. Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m., and then Buddy Walk starts at 10:30 a.m. The Family Fun event will be from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Participants will walk a mile around Forsyth Park. This event is a time of celebration and community, raising support and awareness for those with Down syndrome. Following the Buddy Walk, the Savannah Philharmonic will be hosting its annual Phil the Park concert that evening.

The money raised at the Buddy Walk goes towards Camp Buddy, two summer camps in Effingham and Chatham to help students retain their skills over the summer break. It also goes towards LDSS’s monthly Family Support meetings, new parent packets and educational opportunities for local families and advocates.

Registration for Buddy Walk 2023 is $15. Those who register will also receive a Buddy Walk T-shirt. When registering, you can either join a team or create your own. Visit ldssga.org/buddywalk/ to register.

Business owners can have their business name shown on the Buddy Walk T-shirt by donating $500, or their logo for $1000. There are four tiers of sponsorships to choose from, starting at $500. Informational booths are also available at the event for sponsorships and groups.

Volunteers are needed to help with the event in all aspects. Please inquire with John and Candy Bogardus for more information about becoming a sponsor or volunteering at ldssgabuddywalk@gmail.com or 912-663-8573.

Coastal Heritage Society hosts annual Battlefield Memorial March

Coastal Heritage Society (CHS) will host the Battlefield Memorial March at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 9 starting at one of CHS’s six properties, Savannah History Museum, located at 303 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Savannah. This annual event is free and open to the public.

This march honors those who fought during the 1779 Battle of Savannah, one of the most significant conflicts in Savannah’s Revolutionary War history and one of the war’s most pivotal battles against the British. The Battlefield Memorial March event will lead guests through the footsteps of soldiers on that historic day in 1779, in celebration of the 244th anniversary. After the march, a wreath-laying and remembrance ceremony will be held at Battlefield Memorial Park to honor the many who lost their lives that day.

“This annual event is a beautiful reminder of the brave soldiers who fought in one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution,” said CHS CEO Nora Lee. “We want to raise awareness of this part of Savannah’s history, which is showcased in our museum and encourage locals and tourists to take part in this immersive experience.”

The march begins promptly at 9 a.m. All march participants will meet in the Savannah History Museum parking lot at 8:45 a.m. Following the ceremony, a light brunch will be served at the Blacksmith Shop at Georgia State Railroad Museum.

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum opens new exhibition “Outward Bound” by artist Robert Morris

Just over a year after departing the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Robert Morris draws artistic inspiration from the vessels with which he is so familiar. Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum will celebrate his new collection, Outward Bound, with a cocktail party on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. The party is free and open to the public, and a cash bar is available.

With Outward Bound, Morris seeks to fuse his unique perspective as a longtime executive for GPA, the nation’s fastest growing port, with his new life aboard Grace, his Swedish Storebro Royal Cruiser 34.

“For 20 years I had the honor of helping to create the message for the annual State of the Port, and today I have the opportunity to provide viewers a different perspective, which hopefully helps to capture the beauty, integrity, and transcendence of life and commerce along the Savannah River. I have literally set sail from the safe harbor I once knew into a phantasmagoric world of color, illusion, and metaphor,” said Morris.

According to Morris, the term ‘outward bound’ is the expression of a vessel leaving or going into the great unknown. “There’s something about seeing that ship disappear,” he said. “I think everybody who’s standing on River Street and sees one of those big ships leave, a part of them goes with it.”

Molly Taylor, executive director of Ships of the Sea, chose to unveil the exhibition in October. “We are delighted to open Outward Bound during Savannah’s annual State of the Port week,” said Taylor. “Robert puts forward an evocative perspective that will intrigue the international maritime community in town for the annual event, while offering Savannahians a fresh viewpoint of the mighty ships we see every day.”

Well-known Savannah artist Katherine Sandoz is lending her expertise as guest curator of the exhibition. “Ships of the Sea celebrates the many citizens, craftspeople, artisans, and artists who look to our waterways for inspiration and majesty,” said Sandoz. “It is a joy and honor for me to continue my quarter century study of Robert’s work as a writer, painter, and world traveler in curating this exhibit. As both paintings and seafaring are universally viewed as portals for whimsy, adventure, education, and exploration, it is a great pleasure to highlight the best of Robert’s craft and presentation of our distinct waterscapes.”

Outward Bound will be on display at Ships of the Sea through March 2024.

This article appears in Connect Savannah | September, 2023.