Ron retired in 2020 and in 2021 relocated to Palmetto Bluff with his family. His wife, Jaime, is a writer, and their daughter, Emma, lives and works in Charleston.  Ron joined The Outside Foundation Board in 2023, inspired by the opportunity to make a difference in his new community.

Ron's distinguished career includes serving as the Regional Head & Managing Director for Warner Bros. Entertainment Nederland B.V. in Amsterdam, where he managed regional distribution of feature films and television programming across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Before his European role, he held key positions in Burbank, California, overseeing business affairs, legal matters, and operations for Warner Bros.' television distribution outside of the United States. 

His career at Warner Bros. began in 1994, leading to successive promotions to Senior Vice President and Executive Vice President roles. Prior to Warner Bros., Ron spent six years at MGM/UA Telecommunications, managing business affairs for home video and international television. He also practiced law in San Francisco, California, and is a member of the State Bar of California.

Ron holds a BS with High Honors from Rochester Institute of Technology and a JD from Golden Gate University School of Law. Also, an accomplished pilot, Ron has a Commercial Multi-Engine Instrument rating from the Federal Aviation Administration. In his leisure time, Ron is an avid reader of American history, and enjoys boating, cycling, hiking, photography, and an occasional golf game.  

Mike Overton is the founder, owner, and CEO of Outside Brands, a multi-faceted organization with operations spanning retail, team and leadership development, outdoor education, outdoor recreation, and destination management. He has been a business owner in the Hilton Head community since 1979 and is a graduate of the University of Vermont (BS, Resource Economics).

He has led experiential team and leadership development programs for more than 400 organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to local small businesses and professional sports teams, and provides consulting on the development of nature-based recreation programs.

Deeply rooted in the Lowcountry, he has also served on numerous boards, including the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce, the Island Recreation Association, the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head, the Lowcountry Recycling Association, the South Island Public Service District, and the Port Royal Sound Foundation.

His vision to create opportunities for local kids to get outside, combined with a deep commitment to environmental protection and preservation, led to the founding of The Outside Foundation.

Mike’s vision to create opportunities for local kids to get outside and his passion for environmental protection and preservation was the seed for the idea of the Outside Foundation.  He has served on boards of The HHI Chamber of Commerce, The Island Recreation Association, The Boys and Girls Club of Hilton Head, The Low Country Recycling Association, and The South Island Public Service District and currently The Port Royal Sound Foundation.  

Mike Cerrati was born and raised on Hilton Head Island and spent most summers working on the local waters. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 2001 and then attended law school at Southwestern Law School. After practicing law in Los Angeles for several years, Mike and his wife, Jennie, returned to Hilton Head. Mike now practices in Belzer PC’s Hilton Head office, regularly advising domestic and international trademark and copyright owners on the proper selection, clearance, use, licensing and protection of their intellectual property both in the U.S. and abroad. He manages intellectual property portfolios for established corporations and assists startups and entrepreneurs in developing strategies for branding their new businesses.

 Prior to joining The Outside Foundation, Mike served on the boards for the First Tee of the Lowcountry and the VanLandingham Rotary Club. Mike and Jennie have two boys who like to play as many sports as possible. In between sports seasons or during an off weekend, Mike prefers to spend time wakeboarding in Bull Creek with family and friends.

John Taylor is an experienced energy consultant and expert witness  with an in-depth understanding of multiple facets of the energy industry.  He is an accomplished project manager with the right combination of  management skills, business development capabilities, and industry  knowledge. John has contributed to developing several businesses  through strategic planning, new market entry, website development,  marketing, finance, accounting, operations, and team development. He  enjoys continually looking to learn and grow professionally through new  projects, exciting challenges, and cultivating relationships. His  volunteer work includes being a National Outings Leader for the Sierra  Club, where he planned, marketed, provisioned, and led multiple  weeklong backpacking trips in Rock Mountain wilderness areas with  12-14 participants. He participated in and led outdoor leadership  programs and held a Wilderness First Responder certification for over a  decade. While living in Richmond, VA, Mr. Taylor was on the Board of  Higher Achievement, an NGO dedicated to closing the educational  opportunity gap for middle school children through academic  enrichment programs. Mr. Taylor previously served on the Town of  Hilton Head’s 278 Gateway Corridor Committee. He enjoys biking,  paddling, and hiking and lives on Hilton Head Island with his wife and  daughter.

Dr. John Batson is a native of Hilton Head Island and a graduate of Hilton Head High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology, graduating Cum Laude from the College of Charleston, before completing medical school at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He then completed his internship and residency training in Greenville, South Carolina.

Following residency, Dr. Batson pursued dual fellowships in Sports Medicine and Pain Medicine, becoming the only physician in South Carolina to hold board certifications in both specialties. He returned home to the Lowcountry and has spent the past 20 years in private practice as the owner of Lowcountry Spine & Sport, with offices in Hardeeville and Hilton Head Island.

Recognized nationally for his expertise, Dr. Batson has lectured extensively and authored numerous publications in the fields of Sports Medicine and Pain Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and has served as a volunteer physician for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team, covering international competitions in Finland and Italy.

His clinical interests focus on the nonsurgical treatment of chronic sports injuries, as well as back and neck pain in athletes and active individuals of all ages. He specializes in advanced regenerative and interventional therapies, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, radiofrequency ablation, shockwave therapy, and image-guided procedures.

Beyond his medical practice, Dr. Batson and his wife, Alice, have been deeply involved in the Lowcountry community. Together, they have served as chairs and co-chairs of the American Heart Association Heart Ball and have supported numerous local conservation and educational initiatives. Dr. Batson has served on the boards of the Coastal Discovery Museum and the Outside Foundation, and was a founding member of Lowcountry Trash Heroes. He also serves as director of the Lowcountry Paddlefest, an annual event that brings hundreds of paddlers to the region each fall while raising funds for the Outside Foundation.

Outside of work and community service, Dr. Batson and his wife enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle centered around paddling, kitesurfing, and other water sports. Their daughter, a graduate of Hilton Head Prep, attended Fordham University as an undergraduate before earning her master’s degree in Interior Design from Pratt Institute. The family also includes two beloved dogs, Snoop Dogg and Dolly.

Originally from Pasadena, Texas, Brian Kinard spent much of his early adult life living

and working between the Florida Keys, Hilton Head Island, Texas, and parts of Europe.

The avid boatman maintains a 1600-ton U.S. Coast Guard Master’s License and has

worked extensively on tour boats, yachts, ships, and tugboats throughout his maritime

career.

In 2012, Brian and his wife Mollie, a Hilton Head Island native, decided to plant their

roots (OR ESTABLISH THEIR HOME) on the island and embrace a new chapter

focused on family, community, and the outdoors.

Brian is a full-time REALTOR® with Dunes Real Estate on Hilton Head Island,

specializing in luxury and lifestyle properties. He is also deeply involved in the

community. In addition to serving on The Outside Foundation Board, Brian serves on

the Board of Directors for the Hilton Head Area Association of REALTORS®, Town of

Hilton Head LMO Committee, with past leadership roles such as Chairman of the South

Carolina Realtors Legislative Committee and President of Hilton Head Area Association

of REALTORS®.

When he’s not engaged with clients or volunteering, Brian, Mollie, their daughter

Clementine, and their son Cash spend time on the water, surfing, kiteboarding,

traveling, and taking advantage of the Lowcountry lifestyle. Brian is passionate about

the outdoors and is motivated to help more kids develop a lifelong love for the water.

Melissa Krauss has a diverse background and is a retired Global Sales Executive from IBM. Melissa earned a Masters in Business Administration from the John Hopkins University, Carey Business School in Baltimore, Maryland and has held various sales leadership positions at IBM where she successfully coached global teams to consistently deliver complex solutions and achieve large revenue targets. Melissa also has a Masters in Nursing from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a Bachelors in Nursing from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She held several positions in healthcare prior to joining IBM as both a clinician and an executive. In the span of these roles, she implemented clinical and business best practices to reduce cost, drive operational efficiency, and improve outcomes.

Melissa was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, and lived in New York, Tennessee, Indiana and Maryland before moving to Hilton Head Island. Melissa is a busy Aunt with her 24 nieces and nephews and a growing number of great nieces and nephews. She spends her spare time pursuing her love of nature through wildlife photography and working to preserve the local ecology through organizations like The Outside Foundation. Melissa is a founding member of the island’s grassroots Turtle Trackers organization on Hilton Head Island.  She is also an avid cyclist who enjoys riding the island roads.

Ted recently retired after a 30-year career at Goldman Sachs and prior to that worked at Lehman Bros and BMO, all in the markets and securities businesses in various managerial positions.  Ted spent most of his career in Chicago with stints in New York and London.   He remains a partner at Integrated Service Partners and recently co-founded a VC Fund with three other partners from school and business which keeps him busy in "retirement".   He and his wife Linda moved to Palmetto Bluff four years ago and spend their summers primarily in Chicago and the Outer Banks.  Their children Emma and Will both currently live and work in Chicago but also spend a great deal of time in Bluffton. Ted graduated with a dual MBA in Finance and Management from the Broad School at Michigan State University and has a BS in Finance and Marketing from Marquette University.  He currently is an executive committee member of the FMI Board at the Broad School at Michigan State University and a member of the AIM Board at Marquette University.  He enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, sports, reading, philanthropic causes and most outdoor activities.

 marine biologist and educator, Dr. Ritchie is an Associate Professor of Natural Sciences at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and serves as Director of the Pritchards Island Research. Her work focuses on the microscopic organisms that play a critical role in ocean and coastal health. Her research spans coral reefs, sharks, sea turtles, and barrier islands, with a particular emphasis on how microbial communities support resilient marine ecosystems. 

Her scientific expertise and commitment to marine and environmental education bring a distinctive and valuable perspective that strengthens and advances the Foundation’s programs.

When she’s not teaching or leading research expeditions, Dr. Ritchie can often be found knee-deep in salt marsh mud, out on the water, or working on remote islands that serve as living laboratories. A passionate mentor and gifted educator, she has a rare ability to connect rigorous research with real-world conservation and hands-on learning.

In addition to The Outside Foundation’s Board, Kim serves as a board member of the Port Royal Sound Foundation.

Chris Spires is a longtime Lowcountry resident, outdoorsman, financial advisor, and dedicated community leader who brings both professional expertise and a deep commitment to the region to the Board.

Chris is co-founder of Coastal States Wealth Management of Raymond James and has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Throughout his career, he has remained grounded in a simple philosophy of putting his clients’ interests first. He applies this mindset to helping business owners and other successful people align their personal, financial, and business goals in preparation for life after their businesses.

While this is his first formal role on the Board, Chris is not new to The Outside Foundation. For more than 10 years, he has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the organization’s mission and impact as the presenting sponsor of the Foundation’s signature fundraising event, the Page Island Oyster Roast.

Chris is originally from Columbus, Ohio before heading south to graduate from Elon University, and being drawn to the Hilton Head and Bluffton area nearly 28 years ago. He and his wife, Dana, raised their three children here and continue to enjoy boating, skiing, and spending time outdoors together as a family.

In addition to joining The Outside Foundation Board, Chris serves on the governing board of Coastal Carolina Hospital. He is passionate about connecting people and ideas, and looks forward to helping expand awareness and support for the Foundation’s mission.