2015 Beaufort County Senior Leadership Program attendees focused on Economic Development on February 11 at the Port Royal Town Hall. Beaufort County Councilman Rick Caporale discussed County economic development activities, while Merritt Patterson of Beaufort Construction described private sector development in and around Beaufort.

David Nelems, Executive Director of the Don Ryan Center For Innovation in Bluffton explained the Center’s assistance to start-up technology businesses.  Nelems then participated in a panel regarding economic development volunteerism with Eugene Bedell, Vice President, Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce, and Gene Sherman, President, Low Country Chapter of SCORE.

Van Willis, Port Royal Town Manager, addressed the tremendous opportunities provided by the pending sale of the Port Authority property in Port Royal.

The day concluded with presentations by Bubba Von Harten, author of Little Geech: A Shrimper’s Story, and Kim Gundler and David Gorzynski of Beaufort Kayak Tours describing ecotourism in Beaufort County.

[caption id="attachment_21260" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/BUSINESS-2015-Senior-LeadershipDavid-Nelms-Eugene-Gedwell-Gene-Sherman.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-21260" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/BUSINESS-2015-Senior-LeadershipDavid-Nelms-Eugene-Gedwell-Gene-Sherman-300x225.jpg" alt="Beaufort County Senior Leadership: Panel Discussion; Small Business Assistance through Volunteerism. Gene Sherman, President, LowCountry Score introduces Davin Nelems (left), Director, Don Ryan Center for Innovation to Eugene Bedell (right) Vice President, Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce. (Photo credit: Larry Bernard)" width="300" height="225" /></a> Beaufort County Senior Leadership: Panel Discussion; Small Business Assistance through Volunteerism. Gene Sherman, President, LowCountry Score introduces Davin Nelems (left), Director, Don Ryan Center for Innovation to Eugene Bedell (right) Vice President, Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce. (Photo credit: Larry Bernard)[/caption]