Lights, camera — EXPO: MP Chamber networking event takes center stage
Moultrie News | September 17, 2026
The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce 16th Annual Business & Community EXPO saw representatives from 90-plus companies gather on Sept. 17 in the Omar Shrine Center to answer questions, as well as offer jobs. The Moultrie News spoke with several of the vendors during the highly-anticipated networking extravaganza.
The B12 Store
Mount Pleasant B12 Store franchise owner Brian Bednar was on hand to preach on the wonders of peptides available in his Wando Crossing site, starting Oct. 1.
Many individuals who enter one of 55 B12 shops nationwide are seeking solutions for building muscle, weight management, hair growth, nail growth, gut health and anti-aging.
The peptides themselves, explained Bednar, are amino acids that human bodies produce fewer of as they age.
"It's for wellness longevity. That's really where wellness is going. Peptides are supposed to help us be healthier and live longer," he said.
Clients of the upcoming wellness destination at 1485 N. Highway 17 may be advised to adopt a variety of treatment packages, which include injections, vitamins and supplements. The injections, he added, could be administered in the facility or can be self-administered at home.
"There's plenty of studies going on, but we only deal with the ones that are approved by the FDA. You can get a lot on the black market, but you don't know what's in those," cautioned Bednar.
Georgia Skin & Cancer Center
Manning the company booth was medical assistant Nina Jones, who expounded on Georgia Skin & Cancer Center's offerings, which encompass all types of dermatology services for every age and skin type.
Laser skin services are also available at the 710 Hopewell Drive location in Charleston, along with skin cancer screenings and acne treatments.
The Savannah, Georgia-based healthcare provider was founded in 1995 and currently has several locations across the South Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry, including Brunswick, Waycross and Bluffton, among others.
Getting services at the dermatology center, she said, isn't always quite as daunting or unpleasant as some may imagine.
"What I see is they think they're getting treated for skin cancer, [and] they think automatically their hair is going to fall out and they're going to be sick — not all treatments are like that."
Money Concepts Wealth Management & Financial Planning
Private wealth managers Bill Evans and Jim Harris helped demystify the apprehension often associated with signing off on a security investment. Harris, who operates as the Regional Director of the Southeast Independence Group provided insight on how he and his colleagues facilitate the investment planning process for business owners, retirees and those who aren't yet ready to retire.
The Money Concepts representative mentioned that all new clients start with a discovery meeting to learn about the individual's financial situation, goals and how much risk they are willing to incur.
At times, he shared, a person's investment portfolio doesn't match up with their goals. They key to accomplishing this is allowing the client to feel comfortable with the risk-reward components of their securities, per Harris.
While Evans manages the Mount Pleasant office on 1156 Bowman Road, Harris oversees locations scattered throughout Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
When weighing in on common financial missteps, Harris maintained that the two biggest problems he sees are fear and greed. While most folks are either very greedy or very fearful — or both — the Money Concepts team seeks to take greed and fear out of the conversation.
"We try to use logic and that sounds pretty simple, but it's a lot harder to do for most investors," he added.
"There's a reason why you work with someone like Bill Evans here locally. We basically sit you down and make sure that you feel confident that you basically are not taking on too much risk."
Cooper River Post Acute
Where do people go to rehabilitate post surgery upon checking out of their hospital? And where do they go to secure compassionate care in hopes of regaining their strength?
One of these healthcare providers is Cooper River Post Acute, which offers skilled nursing and long-term inpatient care within a 176-bed facility at 1049 Anna Knapp Blvd. in Mount Pleasant.
Physical, occupational and speech therapies are available to patients, according to Cooper River Post Acute Director of Marketing Sabrina Cobin.
"If you need antibiotics, we can do that as well. We have nurses, CNAs and a director of nursing," she informed.
The teamwork between employees, Cobin continued, is a key reason why patients feel welcome. An example of this is when Cobin may be walking the halls and is stopped by an individual that may need something as simple as a glass of water. Whether the task is big or small, Corbin and staff always ensure that the person is taken care of.
"Everybody chips in. We have activities where people come in and sing. You know, we have a lot of fun stuff for the patients to do to keep them busy."
