publisher ’ s letter aug | sept 2012
POWER REDEFINED
About the Covers
I FIRST MET SEAN HAIRE IN THE GYM . He stood out in the crowd , as 6 ' 4 ", 280-pound men have a will to do . He had that look of a fighter , so I asked him if he was into mixed martial arts . " I ’ ve dabbled in it ," he said . Turns out , Sean ’ s definition of dabbling includes fighting as a professional in the PRIDE Fighting Championship and wrestling in the WWE with the likes of John Cena and other superstars . I was thinking I needed to adjust my concept of dabbling .
But that wasn ’ t all . Not nearly . The more I found out about Sean , the more my jaw made its way to the floor . The guy had been a bodyguard for A-list celebrities , a special forces instructor and had been hired to protect CEOs .
But what finally caused chin-to-pavement contact was this : he ’ s going to school to be a , um , hair stylist ? Humble to the bone , Sean ’ s attitude is best expressed as " I ' m just living my life and not buying into the hype ."
To master as many professions as Sean has done is remarkable . Then to change course and embark on another so completely different is astoundingly brave . His story made sense as one of this issue ' s features in more ways than one . Make it a point to find out why , see The Devil Came Down to Georgia on page 86 .
Sean reminded me that life is mostly about finding our way . Some jump from profession to profession , while others seem to have known what they were going to be from they moment they left the womb . What seems to be true for all is that each journey can be seen as a pursuit of power . No , not just fame or money or power over others , but more importantly , the power to determine our own destinies .
So our Power Professionals issue isn ’ t intended to feature those that make the most money or wield the most influence . It ’ s about how all of us have some kind of power in our professions and how what we decide to do with it helps shape our characters and quality of life .
This issue , we also welcome back an old friend , Colin Gray , South ' s first photo editor , for a special guest appearance . Gray is working with MTV and VH1 but was home in Savannah for a month and we jumped at the chance to work with him again .
It ’ s proof that sometimes we find our way back home , even if only for a little while .
Many thanks and keep reading ,
Michael Brooks , Publisher
cover : Sean Haire photographer : Colin Douglas Gray creative director : Michael Brooks art director : Sar a D ’ Eug enio
Sean Haire can be an overwhelming presence : He ’ s roughly the size of a doorway , covered in tattoos and his hand seems as big as a plate when it ’ s shaking yours . But during our cover shoot Sean revealed his many sides , including one that likes to laugh .
cover : Agent Harley and the CNT Unit photographer : Tim
Johnson creative director : Michael Brooks
Law enforcement is serious business , and protecting Savannah from the likes of drug dealers is no exception . The agents at the Savannah-Chatham Counter Narcotics Team take their jobs seriously — and it shows . Agents Arango , Arbizo and Harley were excited to share their work with the community , and saw the shoot as a way to express their enthusiasm about fulfilling such an important duty .
cover : Judge Stokes photographer : Tim
Johnson creative director : Michael Brooks art director : Sar a D ’ Eug enio
Tammy Stokes is everything you ’ d expect from a woman in a high-esteem position . She ’ s evenkeeled , confident and carries herself with unmatched professionalism . She is also many things you may not expect from someone who presides over a courtroom five days a week , like an avid yoga practitioner . At our shoot , Judge Stokes shared her joyful laugh and positive attitude . Don ’ t let the smile fool you , though : she means business and has big plans .
14 southmagazine . com aug | sept 12