By Mike McCombs
The Island News
Hannah Nichols has been hired as the new Public Information Officer (PIO) for Beaufort County.
“I’m really excited about (the job),” Nichols said. “I really believe the County should work for its people. … I’m really excited to put my talents to use for the good of the County.
Nichols accepted the job August 1 and officially started Monday, Aug. 28. Clerk to Council Sarah Brock had been filling the job on an interim basis since former PIO Chris Ophardt resigned from the position January 27.
Nichols, who has lived in Beaufort for nearly seven years, was previously employed as the Director of Marketing for Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort for three years, as of July. This is Nichols first job in the public sector.
“I think just the amount of public work I’ve been able to do through marketing at Fripp (was good experience),” Nichols said. “I’ve gotten used to managing communications with the public … messaging with the public is not new to me.”
Nichols said she’d miss the job at Fripp Island, mostly because of who she worked with.
“What I’ll miss most about Fripp is the people and the team I got to work with there,” she said. “I was really, really proud of the people I worked with and got to know there.”
Prior to Fripp, Nichols spent 7 ½ years as Creative Director of Ambassador International Publishing House. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Anderson (S.C.) University and is a 2023 graduate of the Leadership Beaufort program.
“I’m very grateful of the path I’ve gotten to take,” she said.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
Editor’s note: The Island News Editor Mike McCombs is a 2023 graduate of Leadership Beaufort, the same class in which Hannah Nicols graduated.
