As the waves rolled onto Folly Beach, Lillian Sustaita, \u201926, thought about something most beachgoers never consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn lifeguarding, there\u2019s a saying: if everyone is watching, no one is watching,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That observation became the foundation for Lowcountry Lifesavers, a business concept Sustaita developed for the Bulldog Business Bowl, an annual entrepreneurship competition hosted by the Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her idea addresses a gap she noticed through years of lifeguarding experience. Lowcountry Lifesavers would provide trained, professional lifeguards for private events, pool parties, swim competitions and other aquatic activities where water safety may otherwise go unmonitored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t understand why it doesn\u2019t already exist here,\u201d Sustaita said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen it in other places, a real need for it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The concept impressed judges. After advancing to the final round of the Bulldog Business Bowl, Sustaita was named a runner-up and awarded $5,000 to help launch the venture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A nursing major and certified EMT, Sustaita brings extensive experience in water safety to the project. She also helps train lifeguards for Charleston County Parks, giving her firsthand knowledge of both the need for qualified personnel and the challenges of keeping people safe around the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Baker Business Bowl allowed Sustaita to turn her idea into a viable business plan while learning how entrepreneurs identify problems and develop solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Initially, she entered the competition with modest expectations. As she advanced through the rounds, however, she began to see the potential of her idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, Sustaita is working to transform Lowcountry Lifesavers from a classroom concept into a business that could improve water safety throughout the Lowcountry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As the waves rolled onto Folly Beach, Lillian Sustaita, \u201926, thought about something most beachgoers never consider. \u201cIn lifeguarding, there\u2019s a saying: if everyone is watching, no one is watching,\u201d she said. That observation became the foundation for Lowcountry Lifesavers, a business concept Sustaita developed for the Bulldog Business Bowl, an annual entrepreneurship competition hosted […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":694,"featured_media":435,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other"],"yoast_head":"\n