July 2012

Non-Profit Formed to Promote Service Leadershipfor Community Development

Author: CH2 Press Release

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC. July 14, 2012 — “Service leadership” is a concept islanders will soon be hearing much more about, since the inception of the non-profit Center for Service Leadership, recently formed by a group of current and former executives in the area. The inspiration for the newly formed organization was sparked by IBM’s Centennial Celebration of Service held in 2011, a year-long global volunteer initiative undertaken by IBM employees, retirees, families and friends.

The local project was initiated by Hilton Head resident and IBM retiree Jack Wilson, who worked for IBM for over 25 years, and retains strong ties to the organization. This long-time islander, retired U.S. Navy Captain, businessman, author and career consultant developed a proposal to IBM for a leadership enterprise that would implement a philosophy of service excellence on Hilton Head Island and throughout the Lowcountry.

As a 2004 graduate of Leadership Hilton Head-Bluffton and chairman of its alumni committee, Wilson previously managed the Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Leadership Series in 2008-9.

The Center for Service Leadership was officially launched in August of 2011, then with 11 volunteers, comprised of seven IBM retirees and four area executives. The project’s mission is to promote a culture of service excellence among Lowcountry organizations in order to stimulate regional economic growth. Wilson has formed an informal advisory board comprised of fifteen of the Lowcountry’s top executives and service-minded leaders.

Currently, three phases are planned by the organization, the first of which is a three-part lecture series, beginning September 2012, to acquaint the community with the concept of Service Leadership. The lecture series will feature prominent speakers from across the country, from organizations with top service-related cultures.

The subsequent two phases are planned for 2013 and 2014, and will focus on direct education and training for both business and non-profit organizations, with planned technology-based delivery. Further, awards and certifications will be given to organizations that apply service leadership training and demonstrate service excellence in their day-to-day operations.

“We very much want to build a widespread reputation for service excellence that will bring new people, new businesses, and new economic vitality to the
Lowcountry,” Wilson stated. “This is just the beginning.”

For more information on the Center for Service Leadership, messages may be directed to Jack Wilson at ctrservldr@gmail.com. Individuals or groups interested in joining the effort may contact Operations Executive Raymond Wenig at (843) 342-9642 or send a message to rpwenig@gmail.com.

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In September of 2006, Celebrate Hilton Head (CH2) burst onto the scene with a fresh perspective on Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and the surrounding Low Country. At the helm was a team of young women (all under 30!) with no experience whatsoever in the publishing industry. The first year they made up the rules as they went along. CH2 (and CB2 – Celebrate Bluffton and Beyond), now entering their third year , has evolved into a well-respected publication with over 150 advertisers and a distribution to over 47,000 locals and visitors each month.

Content ranges from Interesting Islander profiles and arts and entertainment pieces to food and wine topics and Hilton Head and Bluffton Business Profiles. CH2’s Bachelor of the Year Contest has blossomed into a greatly anticipated media event every year with viral marketing (i.e., Facebook, MySpace) contributing to the annual readership of those issues pertaining to the contest and over 700 people attending the Bachelor of the Year party held every October held at a local Hilton Head or Bluffton entertainment spot.

CH2 strives to give back to the community in which they have been so successful by sponsoring charitable events in both Hilton Head Island and Bluffton (Bluffton’s MayFest, put on by the Bluffton Rotary), donating editorial space to worthy organizations (Bold Strokes, Volunteers in Medicine, March of Dimes), and making the Hilton Head Island Rec Center the recipient of monies raised in conjunction with the Bachelor of the Year Contest.