Meet the team!
The Coastal Insider is a monthly publication all about what’s happening with events, businesses and residents in Myrtle Beach and surrounding Grand Strand areas in Horry County, SC. TheCoastalInsider.com shares stories about local businesses, culture, dining, events and entertainment in our surrounding coastal communities of South Carolina. Our purpose at the Coastal Insider is to connect readers of the Grand Strand and tourists with our unique communities of the Myrtle Beach area.
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Meganpixels Parker, Creative Director / Graphic Designer / Photographer is the daughter of Jim Parker, our co-owner of the Coastal Insider. Born in Myrtle Beach, she loves traveling, yoga and jet skiing on the waterway with her mom, Donna. She lives in Market Common with her stellar partner, Jonathon Jarabek. She spends most of her days hanging out with Charlie (of Charlie’s Corner) while working on Graphic Design, Art Direction and Photography for the Insider. “I’m gaining a great deal of confidence from being in a well-structured and professional environment, where I receive positive reinforcement and mentoring throughout the many aspects of business, not only from my dad, but also from his business partner, John Jobson.” Megan studied photography at Winthrop University, has a degree from Coastal Carolina University, and has travelled extensively both domestically and internationally as a fashion and product photographer. Her vision is to serve Christ by “seek(ing) first His Kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
Melissa LaScaleia, Lead Writer / Editor is a ballet dancer, born in Boston, and graduated from Harvard University with a degree in history of art and architecture. She’s the Insider’s Literary Editor, and shares Charlie’s job with him of Writer. She loves to travel, especially internationally— to immerse herself in foreign cultures, explore wines, and drink in beauty human and nature made. “I love fine dining– the fusion of creativity, focus, confidence, passion, and love involved in creating a truly superb meal— that combines the chef ’s appreciation for the earth as well as his own unique cultural background and desires. It’s like eating a painting. I enjoy savoring every bite. And it reminds me of the impermanence of everything, and to appreciate the life, death, life cycle that is nature.” Wild, untouched places as well as beauty of all types feed her soul, and she bows deeply with gratitude to all the natural places still in existence on this planet and the people who work to keep them so.
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Latoya Grayson, Marketing Director is from Andrews, South Carolina, aka, the home of Chubby Checker. She is currently living in Socastee, Myrtle Beach. Some of the other places she has called home are Jacksonville, Florida and our state capital Columbia, South Carolina. Her most favorite activity is the “Family Visit.” And she just adores her family. Words that inspire Latoya the most are: “This too shall pass”. And another important saying in her life is: “Treat people the way you want to be treated”. As she says these are, “Words I live by.” She has a degree in Applied Science from HGTC. Her most rewarding job has been working at the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the Camera Surveillance Office (CSO). At the present time she is Public Relations/Marketing Director for the Coastal Insider. She says that, “People are my passion.” Working for this organization allows her to pursue that passion and to be, “the Best Person I can be.”
Rachel Ogg, Graphic Designer is originally from Keene, New Hampshire. She produces ads and graphics, as well as orchestrates the layout for our monthly publication. She has a degree in visual communications with a concentration in graphic design from Winthrop University, and completed a digital communications program at the Academy for Arts, Science and Technology in Myrtle Beach. For Rachel, graphic design is the perfect melding of her two passions— art and computers. “It’s so satisfying for me to take a client’s ideas and turn them into something tangible and beautiful that helps bring attention to their business. It challenges me to push the limits of my mind.” As a teen cancer survivor, Rachel is no stranger to challenge, nor the strength that such challenges bring. In her spare time, she delights in up-cycling furniture and living so close to the ocean. She is a proud mother of a three-year-old calico kitten, Nina, nicknamed Bean.
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Jennifer O’Leary, Accounting was born on Long Island, New York and grew up there. She still misses it. She now owns a condominium in Myrtle Beach, and lives there with her dog Brooklyn. “I have a puppy named Brooklyn who is the love of my life. She is a Miniature Pincher Chihuahua, and weighs all of 5 lbs. She is turning three on July 26, 2020.” Jennifer enjoys visiting with her brother, sister-in-law and nephew in Oswego, NY. One of her hobbies is crocheting blankets and scarves. She works in accounting for the Coastal Insider, and on the Property Management side of the realty business. Her future plans are to get her Property Management license, get married, and have children. One of her favorite sayings is “Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we’ve touched.” – Remember Me.
Charlie Miller, Operations Director is the Director of Operations here at the Coastal Insider. He was born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia. While living in West Virginia, Charlie attended the West Virginia University. He also spent 6 years in the US Army. Since 2000 he calls Myrtle Beach, South Carolina his home. He has been living in the Market Common in 2005, and he thoroughly enjoys it.
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Jim Parker was born in Camden, SC. He started at age 8 on his family’s 200 acre farm and the neighboring farm. He fed cows, chickens, pigs, baled hay, harvested corn up until he was 18. At age 12 he co-signed for a Ditch Witch to dig trenches in rural Camden and Bethune with his dad. At age 15 he was doing everything he was doing at age 8, plus working at the recycling center after school from 4PM-12AM, chopping wood in the wintertime for the family and community; and delivered the Camden Chronicle newspapers to businesses in the area. From 1978 to 1983, Jim served in the U.S. Air Force at the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. In 1983 Jim entered the real estate industry in the Myrtle Beach area and in 1985 purchased the realty company he was working for turning it into the general brokerage division of Parker Realty, Inc. Jim started Commercial Landtec Corporation in 1988 and acquired John Jobson as a partner in 1993. A few years later Jim and John founded Palm Shores Development Corporation and Coastal Lifestyle Homes, Ltd. which is currently operating today in the Waterford Oaks community in Garden City, SC. In 2001 both Jim and John formed Site Tech Systems, a company specializing in geographic information systems (GIS), information technology and customer service through the utilization of demographics, environmental studies, zoning information, traffic counts, aerial photography, etc. He currently is the broker-in-charge for Real Living Home Realty Group and the co-owner of The Coastal Insider. He is someone who we all look up to and strive to be like on a daily basis. Real Living – Home Realty Group would not be what it is today without having him as the captain of our team. We can hear his laugh from a mile away and will always get a smile on our face from it. Working here and alongside Jim Parker, you can truly feel the love and family atmosphere he strives for.
John Jobson was born in Augusta, Georgia and raised in North Augusta, South Carolina. John came to Myrtle Beach when he was recruited to work with a real estate and golf development company to design, build and sell new communities. He has been a co-owner with Jim of Commercial Landtec Corp, a commercial and land brokerage for 25 years and co-owner with Jim of Palm Shores Development, Corp that operates a large manufactured home community in Garden City. When John isn’t at work he is spending time with his lovely wife Mary, who he has been married to for over 44 years! Together they have a beautiful daughter and 4 grandsons. They go as often as they can to visit them. When John asks us how we are doing, he is not just asking to be nice, he genuinely cares and wants to know. Anything he can do to help guide us, give advice or even just be an ear to listen he will happily do. We are all better people for knowing John Jobson.
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Charlie Parker inspires his ghostwriter each month in the column, “Charlie’s Corner”. Charlie’s Corner is the domain of Charlie, the furry four-legged lady’s man of Market Common. Each month shares information to help all new, visiting and existing doggie community members get themes out of life alongside their human companions. Each month features his reflections on what it’s like to be a dashing downtown doggie, as he remind all of us how to play well together.
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