Because it’s our “Best of Savannah” issue, we thought we would highlight some of the best and brightest faces in our city. How did we choose from the long list of talented and inspiring individuals, you ask?  It wasn’t easy!  The good news is we have a new pool of deserving people to feature in upcoming issues of the magazine. We made community service, the arts, retail, business and food as the categories of our choices.  From there we were able, with great difficulty, to narrow the list down to 10 selections (technically there are 12 people because two of the 10 picks include two individuals). As you read about these bright and shining Savannahians, keep in mind that all of us contribute to the wonder of our fine city.  Without you, Savannah wouldn’t be the same.
 
Bill Forrester: Swim Sage
This Olympic-medal winner helps young swimmers fall in love with the sport while learning life lessons.

By Rich Wittish

When swimming coach Bill Forrester helped recent high school graduate Kelsey Winters prepare for her participation in Olympic trials in late June, he was teaching from a wealth of experience.
Bill is an Olympic-trial veteran.  He won a bronze medal in the 1976 Olympics as a member of the U.S. swim team, and he was on the team that would have competed in the 1980 summer games, which were boycotted by the United States.
Winters is one of many young Savannah-area swimmers who Bill has coached since he founded the Georgia Coastal Aquatic Team in 1994.  He started with five youngsters, and the team now averages about 100 swimmers annually.
“Our goal is to bring a swimmer in at an early age,” said Bill, “teach them about the sport, help them fall in love with the sport, and have them swim from 8 to18.
“I’d say 85 to 90 percent do that.  They’ll swim until they’re seniors in high school and then stop, or pursue careers in college.”
Among the latter is Winters, who’ll be attending Bill’s alma mater, Auburn University, on a swimming scholarship.  She’s the second GCAT swimmer to make the Olympic trials, following in the wake of Emily Breen, who qualified for the tryouts in 2004.
Bill and his assistant coaches —  Walter Weed, Shelley Petesch and Carly Winters — teach more than swimming.  Their protégés also learn what Bill calls “life lessons.”
“The overwhelming one,” he said, “is: you work now for a reward for a later time.”

Marolyn Overton: Roof Raiser
This overachiever spearheaded a successful capital campaign, and the donations were used to build a new emergency youth shelter in our city.

By Allison Hersh

Marolyn Overton believes in the power of giving back.
Since moving to The Landings on Skidaway Island in 1991 with her husband, Scott, this high-energy volunteer has donated her time to more than a dozen local organizations.
However, Park Place Outreach, a local emergency shelter for children in crisis, has been particularly close to her heart.  Marolyn currently serves as the vice chairman of the nonprofit organization’s board of directors and recently led an ambitious capital campaign that raised more than $750,000 to build a new youth shelter in Savannah.
“The old house was inadequate,” she explained.  “It was over 100 years old and was impossible to keep updating.  We had to figure out a way to build a new house.”
Through a series of creative outreach efforts, Marolyn and the board of directors raised the money and in-kind donations needed to build and furnish the new shelter.  The facility, which can comfortably accommodate a dozen children between the ages of 11 and 17, opened in February.
“Our mission is to put families back together,” she said with a smile.  “It’s very rewarding.”
Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, this committed volunteer graduated from Monmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and co-owned a real estate development company in New Jersey for many years.  She successfully raised five children and now enjoys spending quality time with her four grandchildren as well.
“I’ve really been very fortunate,” she enthused.  “I’d like to help other people have a happy life.”

Mary Peabody:Animal Advocate
Whether raising funds to keep the shelter open or finding adoptive homes for ­strays, this Savannah Humane Society board member isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and do the work.

By Jim Gannam

When you meet Mary Peabody, your first impression is that she is a trim and vital woman with a firm handshake who makes confident eye contact.  From her seat on the Savannah Humane Society’s board of directors, she is a vigorous and determined advocate for the thousands of area strays that otherwise would have no voice.  
What might surprise some is that despite years at the top of her profession in the go-go world of Florida real estate, Mary is a bit shy about accepting accolades for her extensive and innovative work at the recently refurbished Humane Society shelter on Sallie Mood Drive.
Mary, who began 10 years ago as a volunteer dog walker at the shelter, has become, according to shelter executive director Lynn Gensamer, a key player in almost every phase of the shelter’s operations.
From buying vegetables to feeding the rabbits to finding good adoptive homes for strays to raising the thousands of dollars in donations that keep the shelter open, Mary is a board member who, according to Lynn, is “not afraid of hard work, a director who will roll up her sleeves, whatever needs to be done.  That’s not something you see every day with directors.”
When asked what motivates her to lavish so much of her time and energy on this particular volunteer organization, Mary speaks of the unconditional love and trust that animals give.  “When I look at an animal in need, I feel a bond, and frankly, it is impossible for me to walk away.”

THE ARTS

Marcus Kenney (in photograph at top): Rising Star
Award-winning artist enjoys local and national success.

By Allison Hersh

Marcus Kenney may very well be the most talented artist to emerge from Savannah’s creative hothouse in recent years.  
Perhaps best known for his innovative use of everyday materials to create ambitious mixed-media works and installations, this 36-year-old artist collages scraps of wallpaper, magazines, cigar labels, vintage children’s books and found materials, creating densely layered surfaces that delight the eye and stimulate the mind.
“It’s like a big puzzle,” he said, gesturing towards the work that fills his 38th Street studio.“The possibilities are endless.”
In 2007, Marcus’s provocative work took center stage at a major solo exhibit at the Telfair’s Jepson Center for the Arts that explored a full spectrum of politically charged topics including colonialism, capitalism, consumerism, environmentalism, war and race.  He has also enjoyed critically acclaimed solo exhibitions in New York, Boston, New Orleans and Atlanta and has been featured in the pages of Art in America and ArtPapers.
Originally from Cooter Point, La., Marcus graduated from the University of Louisiana with a B.A. in film and video before moving to Savannah in 1995 to pursue an M.F.A. in photography at the Savannah College of Art and Design.  He quickly established himself as one of the local art scene’s rising stars, earning the Best of Show Award at the Telfair Art Fair and exhibiting his work at galleries across the country.
“I have so many ideas I want to do,” he said with a smile.  “I really love working.  I never get sick of it.”

Cuffy Sullivan and Roger Moss: Dynamic Arts Duo
The founders of Savannah Children’s Choir set the bar high for young performers from all socio-economic and racial backgrounds.

By Jim Gannam

They may not be Rogers and Hammerstein, yet, and their musically precocious youngsters aren’t coached by a singing nun, but Cuffy Sullivan and Roger Moss, founders of the Savannah Children’s Choir, have obviously got their act together.
“We’re the best arts duo in this town,” Cuffy said, explaining, without a hint of hesitation or bravado, why she and Moss are among the city’s best and brightest.
Their choir, which teaches singing, performance skills and basic good manners to Savannah kids from all socio-economic and racial backgrounds, is the local equivalent of a Broadway smash hit.  They have many more qualified applicants than they can accept for limited openings.
Cuffy, the choir’s executive director, and Roger, its artistic director, are so well attuned to each other that their conversation with an interviewer can have the timing and pace of an operatic duet.  That special relationship goes back to the day in the summer of 2006 when Cuffy first broached the idea of a children’s choir to Roger after services at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.  
Recognizing each other’s strengths, Cuffy and Roger divide responsibilities accordingly.  Cuffy credits Roger with having the artistic vision, connections in the arts community and the ability to be the “front man.”  Roger calls Cuffy “the best organized person on the face of the earth!”  The brightest arts vision can evaporate if no one attends to the “nuts and bolts,” Roger said.
“The kids are bound and determined to learn music,” Cuffy said.  “We set the bar high, but they will meet it.”

RETAIL

Heather Burge: Savvy Chic
BleuBelle owner found a flair for fashion at 21 and chased her dream immediately after college.

By Anne Hart

Heather Burge calls her three high-end Savannah retail stores “my three children.”
“I love them all equally, and each one has a different talent,’’ Heather says of BleuBelle Boutique, BleuBelle Bridal and BleuBelle Soiree.
At 26, Heather has the energy to shower her “children” with abundant attention.
She and her well-accessorized Yorkie poodle, Chloe, are at the stores six days a week.
The planning that went into Heather’s firstborn, BleuBelle Boutique, provides a peek at how focused and driven Heather is.  Heather opened the boutique at age 21.  Not too surprising from someone who, while growing up in Newnan, Ga., was engrossed in Vogue magazine while her friends read Teen.
Working at the Atlanta Apparel Mart while in school allowed Heather to meet buyers and find untapped fashion markets.  She paid attention and came up with a detailed business plan half-way through her senior year in college.
That plan and a small investment from her grandmother helped jumpstart Heather’s dream immediately after graduating from the University of Georgia.
The business name is a French twist on Heather’s favorite color, blue.  “Belle” captured the girly, Southern flavor of the clothing.
Heather’s three business ventures stem from her passions.
For example, while planning her wedding, Heather fell in love with the bridal experience.  Opening BleuBelle Bridal provided an outlet for her zeal.
Dresses in her bridal salon still make Heather emotional — especially the beaded Reem Acra gowns, the designer Heather wore when she and her husband, Roger, wed in the simple, white-frame Midway Church.
Heather credits her success to the truism: “Do a job you’re passionate about.”
As she says: “I love going to work.’’

Robyn Reeder: Girl Wonder
Like many creative geniuses, she started with nothing, and, at age 19, opened first one then another popular Broughton Street store.

By Laura Greene Smith

Serving as a board member of the Downtown Business Association may be Robyn Reeder’s newest endeavor, but this self-described “workaholic” has been a dynamic community contributor for years — as an artist, a musician and the founder of two flourishing businesses on Broughton Street.
In the 1990s, Robyn moved from her home terrain of Arizona to Georgia’s lush coastline.  Before she even finished her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in metals and jewelry at Savannah College of Art and Design, Robyn saw abundant opportunities for retail development.   Recognizing the need for a store selling paint, canvases and other materials to students and local artists, she — at the age of 19 — and a classmate purchased a three-story building and promptly launched Primary Art Supply.
“We started with nothing,” Robyn observed, “but real estate was still cheap then (in 1996), and we were patient” about downtown’s revitalization.  “Now, Broughton looks totally different!”  
While still in Tucson, Robyn had worked at Buffalo Exchange, a popular recycled-fashion franchise.  “I loved it, the buy-sell-trade concept,” she said.  Drawing on her awareness of students and style trends, Robyn knew that Savannah could support a comparable enterprise — and so Civvies New & Recycled Clothing was born.  In 2006, she bought another Broughton building and devoted a year to its renovation before relocating Civvies from the shop’s original Montgomery Street spot.
Together, Primary Art Supply and Civvies host annual holiday parties and an “End of School Bash” for customers and music fans.  These filled-to-capacity events typically feature fashion shows as well as all-ages concerts by Hot Pink Interior — the innovative band for which Robyn plays drums.

BUSINESS

Brynn Grant: Entrepreneurs’ Friend
The recently promoted vice president of the Savannah Economic Development Authority brings energy and passion to the table.

By Ann Van Brimmer

Brynn Grant glowed while talking about the local art in her company’s new Hutchinson Island complex.
One photo documents Savannah’s industry: a tug lugging a container ship. A commissioned painting shows Savannah’s beauty: a cityscape as seen from across the river.
The artwork reflects Brynn’s own work linking industry to the city.
In June, she was promoted to vice president of marketing for the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA).  She also was named executive director of The Creative Coast Alliance.
SEDA has helped create thousands of jobs and $1.8 billion in investments in the last decade.  The Creative Coast Alliance, located in SEDA’s complex, helps new entrepreneurs get started and existing entrepreneurs grow.
“She has added a level of energy and passion to this organization,” said Lynn Pitts, SEDA’s senior vice president.
Brynn, 39, grew up in Hinesville, where she attended Bradwell Institute high school.  She earned a journalism degree from the University of Georgia in 1991 and lives in Savannah with her three children.
Last year, she was named one of the “Top Ten Working Women of the Year” by AWWIN, Inc. (A Working Woman in Need), which helps single working women.
In 2006, she led the local effort to host Inc. magazine’s annual “Inc. 500” conference in Savannah.  She maintains SEDA’s relationship with Inc.
The annual reports she produces have won awards from the International Economic Development Council in Washington, D.C.
“I love going over the (Tallmadge) bridge every day and getting a whole view of the community,” she said.

Leo Beckmann III: Loyal Liaison
Described as dependable, the manager of legislative affairs at the Georgia Ports Authority makes time for his community, too.

By Ann Van Brimmer

Savannah native Leo “Lee” Beckmann III honors his family’s name.
After all, his grandfather, Leo Beckmann, was a golf pro, and his father, Leo Beckmann Jr., is a Savannah attorney.
“I just work as hard as I can to make sure I don’t embarrass either one of them,” Lee said.
He also works hard at the Georgia Ports Authority, which supports nearly 287,000 jobs statewide and contributes billions of dollars to Georgia’s economy.  The Port of Savannah is the fastest-growing and fourth-largest port in the United States.
As manager of legislative affairs, Lee, 32, is a liaison between lawmakers and the authority.  He works on a team that seeks state and federal money for such port projects as the Savannah Harbor expansion.
“Lee is the kind of reliable, loyal, dependable individual I think any employer would like on his team,” said Jamie McCurry, general manager of external affairs at the authority.
Lee attended St. Andrew’s School on Wilmington Island and graduated from Wake Forest University in North Carolina. He was a legislative assistant in Washington, D.C., before joining the ports authority five and a half years ago.
Lee serves on the board of directors at the Islands YMCA and at the Savannah Celtic Football Club, a youth soccer league where he coaches his 10-year-old son’s team.  He’s a member of the Propeller Club, which promotes waterborne commerce, and he speaks to local groups about the port authority’s economic impact.
“For him, it’s about caring about Savannah — its people and future,” said his wife, Dani.

FOOD

Jenny and Patrick McNamara: Culinary Couple
This husband-and-wife team chose Savannah as the city in which to realize their dream of restaurant ownership.

By Tim A. Rutherford

Don’t let Noble Fare’s Chef Patrick McNamara fool you with his laid-back attitude and nonchalance.  He’s a savvy restaurateur who can reel off unit costs on butter pats and heirloom tomatoes just as quickly as he can dice his way through a stalk of celery.  His culinary acumen is as sharp as his business sense — and he’s got backup.
His wife, Jenny, has the wine palate and level-headed moxie necessary to keep this ship on even keel.  They are veterans of great restaurants as far ranging as Cleveland and Colorado.  When they went looking for their own place, they could have gone anywhere.
They chose Savannah.
“I fell in love with the place when I came here for St. Pat’s in 1992,” said Patrick, who graduated from Johnson and Wales in 1991.  “This is the Hollywood of the South — Spanish moss, relaxed lifestyle, water — what’s not to love?”
The decision was expedited by Jenny’s parents living here and the idea of having a support network for the couple’s other project —  their 3-year-old son, Bo.
Upstairs quarters mean they live this dream 24/7.  The elegant little 32-seat bistro is manageable, even though its popularity now means three turns on Saturday evenings — a nail-biter for a two-man kitchen, and Jenny and her small wait staff in front-of-house.
“Still, it’s an experience,” Jenny said.  “It’s like sitting down and having a family meal with us.”