Exceptional Products, Places and People

From humble beginnings as a windsurfing school in 1979, Outside has grown into a dynamic 4 division business with operations in South Carolina and Georgia. Driven by a mission to enrich lives by connecting people to exceptional places, products and experiences, Outside offers fully customized group travel services, team building programs, activities and specialty retail.

Outside is a constantly evolving and growing business, fortified by a team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about creating and delivering truly remarkable experiences for all of Outside’s clients. Leveraging their deep local connections, Outside designs exclusive experiences catered to the needs and objectives of their customers. Simply put, Outside unlocks the nature, history and culture of the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire for our customers.

An evolution
of growth

^

1970's

Mike Overton started a small windsurfing company on the beaches of Hilton Head Island while on summer break from the University of Vermont. He would soon move the start-up school to South Beach, on the southern end of the island. It would become the largest windsurfing school on the East Coast, and hosted some of the best attended windsurfing events available.

^

1980's

As the island and Mike’s vision grew, Windsurfing Hilton Head became Outside Hilton Head and then simply Outside. During those early years, Outside concentrated on creating and providing interpretive kayak tours to island residents and visitors. The flagship store, located in the Plaza at Shelter Cove, was opened in 1986 and offered an expanded selection of the finest outdoor wear and gear available.

^

1990's

Outside acquired Page Island, a 40-acre chain of hammock islands on the back side of Daufuskie. At this new location, a series of team and leadership development courses were built and Outside began offering boating based programs to get guests to and from Page Island.

^

2000's

Outside outgrew its original facilities and established operations at Shelter Cove Marina and Palmetto Bluff, growing into the most comprehensive outdoor outfitter in the region. Offerings expanded into numerous unique kayak tours, extensive boating programs, fishing trips, children and teen camps, history tours, scavenger hunts, and much more.

^

2010's

Ever the optimist, Outside leveraged the downturn in the economy to refocus and add a new line of business to their repertoire – Destinations DMC. As a full-service destination management company, Destinations DMC creates exclusive experiences and offerings for groups, including transportation, activities, team building programs, events, decor, staffing, and auxiliary services. With the evolution and growth in Savannah, GA, Outside began offering both leisure boating experiences and destination management services. In 2019, Outside celebrated its 40th Anniversary!

Our Team

Leadership

Mike Overton

Founder & CEO

Hire Date
May 1979

Passionate about
Tides

Contact
mike@outsidebrands.com

Sarah Tillman

CFO

Hire Date
January 2020

Passionate about
Recognizing God’s beauty

Contact
saraht@outsidebrands.com

Susan Edwards

Director of Human Resources

Hire Date
June 2021

Passionate about
Family, all things HR, and sweet tea

Contact
susane@outsidebrands.com

Mickey Price

Director of Marine Operations

Hire Date
March 2006

Passionate about
Being outdoors

Contact
mickey@outsidebrands.com

JC McCune

Director of Programs

Hire Date
May 2015

Passionate about
Sharing my appreciation for the lowcountry

Contact
jc@outsidebrands.com

Michael Hodsdon

Director of Shelter Cove Marina Operations

Hire Date
February 2009

Passionate about
Learning and sharing knowledge

Contact
michaelh@outsidebrands.com

Lynn Halpin

Director of Retail

Hire Date
February 2021

Passionate about
Growing in the grey areas

Contact
lynnh@outsidebrands.com

KELLE Steen

Director of Palmetto Bluff Operations

Hire Date
TBD

Passionate about
TBD

Contact
kelles@outsidebrands.com

Brittany Winter

Director of Reservations

Hire Date
February 2021

Passionate about
Life enrichment and getting outside

Contact
brittanyw@outsidebrands.com

Carol Kavanaugh

Director of DMC Sales

Hire Date
April 2013

Passionate about
Learning and sharing life’s lessons

Contact
carol@outsidebrands.com

Jennifer Freeman

Director of DMC Operations

Hire Date
July 2021

Passionate about
Family and personal growth

Contact
jenniferf@outsidebrands.com

Marketing

Jolie Chabala

Marketing Manager

Hire Date
May 2021

Passionate about
Family, friends, & history

Contact
joliew@outsidebrands.com

Brooke Frey

Digital Marketing Manager

Hire Date
February 2022

Passionate about
Staying active outside, sports, and connecting with like-minded people

Contact
brookef@outsidebrands.com

Anneliza "Pippi" Itkor

Marketing Coordinator

Hire Date
May 2017

Passionate about
Learning, teaching, conservation, adventure

Contact
pip@outsidebrands.com