Another strong week across Savannah and the Coastal Empire as local organizations, nonprofits and business leaders continued shaping our region’s future.
From preservation and the arts to business development and veteran support, here’s what made headlines this week on The Coastal Buzz.
🌿 Preservation & History in the Spotlight
The Historic Savannah Foundation announced an upcoming lecture highlighting iconic Southern landscape architect Clermont Lee, whose work helped shape Savannah’s distinctive historic beauty.
In a city known worldwide for preservation, it’s important to remember that history is not only found in architecture but also in landscapes, gardens and intentional design. Spotlighting leaders like Lee reminds us why Savannah continues to stand apart.
🎶 Arts & Global Culture Take the Stage
The arts community brought global influence and education into focus this week.
The Savannah Music Festival highlighted world music both on stage and in local schools, reinforcing its commitment to cultural enrichment and arts education.
Meanwhile, the Savannah African Art Museum announced a new rotating exhibit and upcoming event, continuing its mission of bringing global art and history to our local community.
Savannah’s cultural footprint continues to expand while remaining deeply rooted in accessibility and education.
🏛️ Leadership & Board Appointments
This week also saw several key leadership announcements across education, nonprofit and business sectors.
- Savannah Classical Academy announced new board members.
- Elevate Savannah named Chad Dollander as its new Board Chair.
- BankSouth welcomed Nichole Hearn as Business Development Officer.
- Melissa Cantrell of CDH Partners was named to the 2026 Georgia Titan 100 list.
Each of these moves reflects continued growth, strategy and leadership development within the Coastal Empire.
❤️ Giving Back: Veterans & Community Support
Community giving was also front and center this week.
Parker’s Kitchen announced a new round-up campaign supporting local veterans and will match 50 percent of customer donations during National Military Appreciation Month.
It’s a reminder that even small contributions at checkout can scale into meaningful local impact.
📚 Connection & Creativity Through Play
Author Ken Weisner released The Power of Play, a book exploring how intentional play strengthens connection, creativity and leadership in both professional and personal settings.
In a region fueled by business growth and nonprofit innovation, the reminder that creativity and connection drive strong leadership feels especially timely.
🌊 What This Week Showed
This week reinforced something we continue to see across Savannah and the Coastal Empire:
Preservation remains a priority.
The arts continue to expand global awareness.
Businesses are elevating leadership.
Nonprofits are strengthening governance.
Companies are investing back into the community.
Savannah isn’t just growing. It’s building intentionally.
And we’ll keep spotlighting it every week.
The Coastal Buzz
I am Chris Benton Co-Founder of The Coastal Buzz, Co-Host of The Chris & Sandy Show & Publisher of The Customized Ride.