Mike Overton, founder of Outside Brands, shares his remarkable journey from starting a windsurfing school in 1979 to building a multi-faceted outdoor recreation enterprise spanning South Carolina and Georgia. He reveals how a chance meeting with Hilton Head developer Charles Fraser taught him that success in the Lowcountry comes down to one word: tides.

• Started with six windsurfers purchased using inheritance from his grandfather
• Met visionary developer Charles Fraser who became a mentor and encouraged focus on tides
• Founded Outside Brands with a mission to connect people to exceptional places, products, and experiences
• Witnessed tourism marketing shift from "golf, tennis, beach" to "nature, history, culture"
• Trains guides as interpretive naturalists who create meaningful connections, not just point out wildlife
• Developed four distinct business divisions including recreation, retail, team development, and destination management
• Created The Outside Foundation which gets every 7th grader in Beaufort County public schools out on the water
• Built 30+ oyster reefs through recycling program that protects salt marshes from erosion
• Emphasizes that wellness comes from finding purpose and connecting to it
• Offers unique experiences like Gullah culture and cuisine tours on Daufuskie Island

To learn more about The Outside Foundation or to volunteer with their environmental initiatives, visit outsidefoundation.org