This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority Seimitsu IT & Fiber Broadband provider president Sam Cook joins the latest episode of the Difference Makers podcast to discuss his company and the future of fiber internet in the Savannah-area, what to know about cyber security, how he started his business and growing up in America after coming over from Japan. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

Savannah Difference Makers

Difference Makers: Episode 78 - Seimitsu IT & Broadband president Sam Cook

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority Savannah State president Kimberly Ballard-Washington joins the latest episode of the Difference Makers podcast to discuss her decision to take on the permanent role at SSU after working as the interim president, what she hopes to accomplish while at the institution, enrollment at SSU and the future of HBCUs in general.  Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

Difference Makers: Episode 77 - Savannah State president Kimberly Ballard-Washington

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority Chatham Emergency Management Agency's hurricane preparedness champion, Chelsea Sawyer, breaks down evacuation protocol and reminisces about her days as a competitive cheerleader in the latest episode of the Difference Makers podcast. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 76 - Chatham Emergency Management Agency Community Outreach Coordinator Chelsea Sawyer

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter is the latest Difference Maker. He talks about growing up in Detroit, what led him to enter law enforcement, what sparked his interest in coming to Savannah, some of the community initiatives the Savannah Police Department are doing and addresses calls for police reform and race and policing around the country. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 75 - Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority The MPC's executive director, Melanie Wilson, shares how playing in the school band shaper her life and local development plans from the Historic District to New Hampstead. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 74 - Metropolitan Planning Commission Executive Director Melanie Wilson

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority Bishop Stephen Parkes addresses his faith journey, the 'blight' of the priest sexual abuse scandal on the Catholic church on this week's episode. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 73 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah Bishop Stephen Parkes

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority If there is one spot that people even outside of Savannah will recognize from pictures, it's the oaks along Wormsloe State Historic Site. The drive has become an iconic part of many Savannah visits and has a long line of history to go with it. Craig Barrow III, a descendant of Wormsloe founder and one of Savannah's original settlers, Noble Jones, is this week's Difference Maker. He talks about the history of the land, what his family has done to preserve the grounds, his dealing with Jimmy Carter and the Supreme Court and how they hope to preserve the oaks. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 72 - Wormsloe State Historic Site's Craig Barrow III

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority From it's Olympic roots, the Savannah Sailing Center has been working to get locals on the water for decades. Spearheaded by the iconic Mr. Mac, the center is now entering a new stage in its existence as a new grant could expand their facilities and programs and change the landscape of the sailing community for Coastal Georgia. Savannah Sailing Center treasurer Debbie Tillman and secretary Carrie Rohde are this week's Difference Makers and talk about the past, present and future of the center. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 71 - Savannah Sailing Center's Carrie Rohde and Debbie Tillman

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority Now more than ever, parents are understanding what it takes to keep kids educated and a lot of the limitations in place to make that happen. The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for so many, but it has also brought to light a lot of ways we could improve the systems we have. At the forefront of that for education locally is Parent University's Michael O'Neal. He is our latest Savannah Difference Maker. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 70 - Parent University's Michael O'Neal

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority Savannah is a city the celebrates its history, but there are some events that aren’t mentioned on the trolley or carriage tours. Savannah was the site of the largest slave sale in American history, staged over a two-day period in March of 1859 at a horse racing course that sat in what is today West Savannah. The sale of 400-plus men, women and children from two Coastal Georgia plantations is known as “The Weeping Time,” and one man has devoted countless hours to bringing awareness to the atrocity and is now leading an effort to create a memorial to the enslaved people at the site. Kwesi DeGraft-Hanson of the Organization to Commemorate Enslaved African American Nationals is our latest Difference Maker. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer   Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 69 - Historian Kwesi J. DeGraft-Hanson

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority African American professionals are underrepresented in science fields, and schools, educators and STEM-related organizations across the country are collaborating to address the shortage. Karla-Sue Marriott, a biomedical researcher at Savanah State University and the founder of the school's forensics science program, is our latest Difference Maker. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer (7:50): The spark in interest in going into the science field (10:25): Growing up in the Caribbean (14:10): The COVID-19 vaccines (19:00): Speed of the creation of the vaccines (21:40): What could change in terms of how people think about the vaccines? (25:25): Hurdles we have to overcome with misinformation (28:00): How COVID-19 and the pandemic could change the future creations of vaccines and medicine (31:35): Her work getting under-represented groups interested in studying science (39:29): Savannah State's forensic science department Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 68 — Savannah State University Forensic Science Chair Dr. Karla-Sue Marriott

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority Ossabaw Island lost a piece of its soul recently with the death of the island’s matriarch and protector, Sandy West. But West’s legacy and the magic of Ossabaw will endure. One of those charged with preserving Ossabaw for future generations, Elizabeth DuBose, executive director of the Ossabaw Island Foundation, is our latest Difference Maker. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer (5:05): History of the Torrey-West House (9:35): History of Ossabaw Island Sandy West showed love for Ossabaw by protecting island as a natural treasure (SMN, Jan. 23, 2021) (16:05): The Ossabaw Island Foundation (23:25): Level of involvement by Sandy West late in her life (25:30): Who was Sandy West Sandy West, matriarch of Ossabaw Island, dies on her 108th birthday (SMN, Jan. 17, 2021) (31:10): What's next for Ossabaw Island (35:00): Sea turtles on Ossabaw Island Sea turtles nest at a brisk pace on Georgia coast (SMN, July 9, 2020) (38:15): Importance of keeping the island exclusive to education The magic of Sandy West, Ossabaw Island and the number 108 (SMN, Jan. 20, 2021) (44:00): How the island has evolved over the year topographically Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 67 — Ossabaw Island Foundation executive director Elizabeth DuBose

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority Georgia Southern Athletic Director Jared Benko is our latest Difference Maker and discusses managing an athletic department during a pandemic, his plans to do more in Savannah and at the Armstrong campus and the Eagles' place on the college athletics landscape. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer (5:10): Influences growing up and at UGA (12:10): Path to his role as athletic director at a Division 1 school (15:33): What an athletic director does that people don't realize (22:10): Reflection on challenges of 2020 football season with pandemic (28:50): Changes in finances due to COVID pandemic (36:50): Evolution of the Georgia Southern athletics program (42:30): Future of Georgia Southern sports and Savannah (47:05): Thoughts on Knight Commission's findings on future of NCAA football Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 66 — Georgia Southern athletic director Jared Benko

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority As he leaves his post of eight years as County Chairman, Al Scott is our Difference Maker for this week. He discusses growing up in Savannah, what got him into politics, how Georgia politics have changed since he first took office and what he hopes to see in Chatham County in the coming years. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer (8:20): Getting into politics (14:00): Going to the Georgia House of Representatives (23:10): Georgia General Assembly: Then vs. Now (27:30): Coming back to Savannah (32:15): The evolution of the Georgia Ports Authority (39:39): Moving back to local government (51:00): What should the focus be in Chatham County for the next 20 years? (56:10): Future of incorporation efforts Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 65 — Savannah political legend, outgoing County Chairman Al Scott

This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority Make-A-Wish Georgia's Meghan Lowe is the guest on the Difference Makers podcast. The local development director of the organization that grants wishes to critically ill children discusses the foundation's work. Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Difference Makers: Episode 64 — Make a Wish Georgia's Meghan Lowe

A longform podcast hosted by Savannah Morning News editorial page editor Adam Van Brimmer (@SavannahOpinion on Twitter) that looks at the movers and shakers in Savannah, Georgia.

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Savannah Difference Makers

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