We believe that doing good work originates with the people on our team. We strive for excellence, while always doing the right thing. We believe in neighbors helping neighbors and know that good business means giving back to the communities in which we work and live.
Board of Directors
Joel Taylor
Chair
CEO, Hilton Head Regional Healthcare
Joel Taylor
Chair
CEO, Hilton Head Regional Healthcare
Joel Taylor is the Market Chief Executive Officer of Hilton Head Regional Healthcare (HHRH), which provides comprehensive healthcare to the Lowcountry at four locations including Coastal Carolina Hospital, Hilton Head Hospital, the Bluffton Medical Campus, and the Bluffton-Okatie Outpatient Center. HHRH serves Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Okatie, Hardeeville, and surrounding counties by providing a continuum of services. Joel holds a Master of Science in Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to his role as board chair of Bluffton Self Help, Taylor serves on the Board of Directors of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, the Guest Experience Team at City Hope Church, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Hilton Head.
Joel has served on the board of directors of Bluffton Self Help since 2018 and has been instrumental in developing Bluffton Self Help’s strategic priorities to identify and address the most pressing needs of our community.
Cindy Rolfe
Vice Chair
Owner | Lowcountry Fresh Market
Mike Ventling
Secretary/Treasurer
Retired Global Vice-Chair and CFO
Doug Adamson
Immediate Past Chair
Retired Business Executive
Doug Adamson
Immediate Past Chair
Retired Business Executive
Doug Adamson has been a member of Bluffton Self Help’s Board of Directors since 2014 and has served as its Chairman since 2017. Adamson and his wife Ronda retired to the Lowcountry in 2010 following his 40-year career in the banking industry. He held executive management positions in a community bank and large regional bank before joining the American Bankers Association in Washington, DC, where he served for 24 years as Executive Vice President. Doug, a self-described servant-leader, has held leadership positions in civic, charitable, and professional organizations throughout his life. Doug is an ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church and served on the Sessions of Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD and Lowcountry Presbyterian Church in Bluffton.
Don Brashears
Liberty Tax, Owner
Ben Ham
Owner | Ben Ham Gallery
Monie Hardwick
Executive Coach, Consultant at Hardwick Consulting Group
Constance Martin-Witter
Founding Member
Neil Parsons
Assistant City Manager, City of Hardeeville
Erica Pepper
Community & Development Relations Manager | Hargray
Erica Pepper
Community & Development Relations Manager | Hargray
Erica Pepper is Hargray’s Community and Development Relations Manager for Hilton Head Island. She joined Hargray in 2019 and has enjoyed having the opportunity to work with the communities and organizations on the island throughout her tenure. Prior to telecommunications she worked in private club management for 15 years. She met her husband Barry Pepper in Orlando, Florida while she was earning her BS in Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. They have had the pleasure of living in Orlando and Charlotte and relocated to Bluffton in 2011. They have two fun-loving children, Owen and Brilyn. This has been their favorite place to live together because of the natural beauty in the area but also because of the wonderful people they have been able to meet. When Erica is not at work she spends her time volunteering on the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber Jr. Leadership board, traveling with her family, and staying active. She’s thrilled to have the opportunity to spend her time with Bluffton Self Help and give back to the community she’s fallen in love with.
Allan Schoenberger
Schoenberger & Associates
Angela Simmons
Vice Chancellor for Student Development | USCB
Angela Simmons
Vice Chancellor for Student Development | USCB
Angela Simmons has worked in higher education for 30 years at various mid-sized and large universities in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states and currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Student Development at the University of South Carolina Beaufort. She has her B.S. and M.S. degrees from Mississippi State University and an Ed.D. from Florida State University. In addition to her work in higher education, Angela has served on various boards and is currently the vice chair for Hopeful Horizons. Angela and her husband, Dave Lunin, moved to the Lowcountry in 2019 and have enjoyed the opportunity to spend weekends at the beach reading and napping.
“The mission of Bluffton Self Help resonates with me on a personal level and I’m excited for the opportunity to serve on the board. I grew up in a family with limited financial resources and am keenly aware of how the services provided by the organization can transform the lives of those most impacted by socioeconomic disparities and inequities.”
Our Staff
Courtney Hampson
Chief Executive Officer
Courtney Hampson
Chief Executive Officer
Courtney Hampson was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of Bluffton Self Help (BSH) in May 2022. after serving as BSH’s Chief Operating Officer for five months. Courtney brings a wealth of exceptional skills and a real passion for serving others to her new role. For the 16 years prior to joining Bluffton Self Help in January, Courtney held positions of increasing responsibility with Palmetto Bluff, most recently serving as Vice President of Marketing. In that capacity, she led all facets of marketing for the 20,000-acre residential and conservation community and resort.
After honing her leadership, team-building, and management skills in corporate positions, it was Courtney’s strong connections to the community and passion for service that led her back (Courtney served on BSH’s Board of Directors from 2010-2012) to Bluffton Self Help.
Carli Anselmi
Director of Development
Carli Anselmi
Director of Development
Originally from Pittsburgh, Carli moved to South Carolina in 2022. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University and started her career in sales within the consumer-packaged goods industry, focusing on retail and account management. Later she transitioned into the higher education space where she managed the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration’s corporate partner program – a program she had to raise the dollars to fund. She loves meeting new people and building relationships within her community. When she’s not working, she enjoys trying out new restaurants in the area with her husband and playing with her dog ‘Rigatoni.’ She is “honored to join the Bluffton Self Help team and have the opportunity to work with such dedicated coworkers and support her neighbors.
Barbara Bowers
Senior Client Advocate
The Resource Hub
Barbara Bowers
Senior Client Advocate
The Resource Hub
Barbara Bowers moved to Bluffton from the Northeast where she worked as a social worker for many years. Barbara was essential in opening our Education and Resource Center (ERC) in 2018. She is now the face of the ERC, has grown the programs and workshops offered to fit our neighbors’ needs. Many of our clients stop in just to see Barb and update her on their progress.
Kellie Pendley
Director of Education
Kellie Pendley
Director of Education
Kellie is an experienced educator, specializing in ESL teaching. She spent the last four years in Beaufort County School District’s Instructional Services Department, focusing on assessment and data-driven instruction. Pursuing her doctorate, her research targets engaging parents from diverse backgrounds in special education.
Originally from Ohio, with stints in New York and Massachusetts, Kellie moved to the Lowcountry with her family in 2020. She is a mom to twin boys entering sixth grade and a daughter going into second grade. Kellie enjoys concerts, theatre, cooking, traveling, running, and beach outings. She is also passionate about fundraising, participating annually in supporting sending children to her childhood summer camp, Camp Fitch.
Donna Roberts
Finance Director
Donna Roberts
Finance Director
Donna made the Lowcountry her home after relocating from Long Island, New York, where she earned her MBA in Corporate Finance. Taking on the slower pace of life in the south, she took a break from the finance world and spent 10 years with Cross Schools, teaching, project planning and developing systems. But she couldn’t stray too far from her roots and re-entered the accounting and finance field. For the last three years, she worked as Finance and HR Manager for Eastman Marine Construction, where she brought their company into the 21st century implementing operations and finance systems and process changes. Donna spends her free time enjoying the area beaches with her son and chasing her four rescue dogs.
“I am excited to work at Bluffton Self Help because its more than a job. Being in finance, you tend to focus on the numbers and results but here, I have an opportunity to be part of an organization that is serving the greater good and giving back to the community!”
Janet Simonds
Program Manger, The Market
Janet Simonds
Program Manger, The Market
Janet is new to Bluffton, but not new to management. Most recently she comes from Publix Supermarkets where she served customers with their legendary customer service for almost ten years. Prior to that, in her hometown of Chicago, she served in the not for profit sector by coordinating a senior nutrition program providing home delivered meals and community dining locations for older adults.
Janet is thrilled to be in Bluffton and even more fulfilled working with Bluffton Self Help. She is passionate about all aspects of food and culture. She enjoys cooking, especially Italian dishes, watching the Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago Cubs, visiting the coast and historical sites and most of all being a “mom” to her three young men.
Julia Violi
Volunteer Manager
Julia Violi
Volunteer Manager
Julia came to Bluffton Self Help after 15 years of Resort Food and Beverage Management, Catering Sales, and Event Management with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management and Tourism from the University of Kentucky. Starting as the Office Coordinator in February 2019, a year later she was promoted to Program Manager role overseeing Food, Clothing, and Special Programs. In 2022, Julia was promoted to Director of Volunteers and Basic Needs Programs. In 2024, the position was split into two roles and Julia eagerly accepted the role of Volunteer Manager allowing for a more balanced life for her and her family.
“I have enjoyed seeing the evolution of Bluffton Self Help over the past 5 years along with the positive impact we make in our community every day.”
Corina Altamirano
Learning & Literacy Program Manager
Bluffton
Carmen Bazaco
Learning & Literacy Program Manager
Bluffton
Carmen Bazaco
Learning & Literacy Program Manager
Bluffton
Carmen was born and raised in Spain. She met her husband while he was studying abroad in Spain and moved to the US after earning her BA in Spanish. After living in different parts of the country, Carmen and her family settled in Bluffton in 2017. She enjoys cooking, gardening, and playing board games with her two daughters. “I am excited to be a part of the Learning and Literacy Center and to serve our growing community throughout the Lowcountry,” says Carmen.
Dawn Bundick
Client Advocate
Dawn Bundick
Client Advocate
I am new to the area after spending 14 years traveling with my USAF Active Duty husband, Therron. I am originally from Richmond, VA, where I earned my Master of Teaching degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. I have previously served my community in various volunteer capacities and as an elementary school teacher. Most recently, I worked as an instructor for an employment training program, serving those with disabilities. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, camping, and spending time at the beach. Our senior dog, Rush, is the joy of our lives. As a part of BSH, I am excited to grow my professional skills, cultivate meaningful connections and truly make a difference in people’s lives.”
Amy Caimano
Learning & Literacy Center Coordinator
Vince Maganini
Intake Specialist
Vince Maganini
Intake Specialist
Vince Maganini is excited to be part of the team, bringing over two decades of experience in customer service across diverse industries. Demonstrating a high level of competency, adaptability, and quality of work, Vince is enthusiastic, hard-working, and compassionate. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, landscaping projects, reading, movies, learning foreign languages, and cooking. Fun facts include playing clarinet in the Hilton Head High School marching band, achieving a brown belt in Taekwondo, and briefly flying a small airplane during a flight lesson.
Thillah Maybin
Learning & Literacy Program Coordinator
Hardeeville
Thillah Maybin
Learning & Literacy Program Coordinator
Hardeeville
Thillah is a recent graduate of USCB, with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Professional Writing. In her spare time, you may find her listening to music, sharpening her culinary skills, or watching Law & Order SVU.
Tiffany Mendez
Client Advocate
Jenny Miller
Learning & Literacy Program Manager
Hilton Head Island
Eva Monzon
Learning & Literacy Program Coordinator
Hilton Head Island
Ja’mel Morrell
Basic Needs Coordinator
Ja’mel Morrell
Basic Needs Coordinator
Ja’mel was born in New York, although he’s lived in South Carolina since childhood. Professionally, he comes to BSH with a background in the food and beverage industry. He is familiar with the hustle and bustle of working around food and the many tasks associated with it. The nonprofit sector will be new to Ja’mel, but he has committed to continuously learning, growing and taking on new challenges. He is open to new challenges, excited for being part of the BSH team and “helping out the good people of Bluffton”. Personally, Ja’mel cherishes time with his wife and daughter and enjoys various adventures with them whether they be outdoors, in the kitchen or simply being home together
Elaine Patankar
Marketing Specialist
Mari Reyes
Learning & Literacy Program Coordinator
Hardeeville
Christina Spurlin
Learning & Literacy Center Coordinator
Chloe Tilley
Administrative & Donor Support Specialist
