About us.
Janet Fricke became acquainted with the low-country beauty and challenges of Georgetown County through her job in Public Services as an Administrative Assistant to the Director. She retired in 2023 to initiate a storytelling program in Georgetown similar to one she had been involved with in Baltimore, Maryland. Janet holds a BA in English from Rutgers University and a MA in Nonfiction Writing from Johns Hopkins University.
Currently, Janet has assembled a Georgetown Tidal Tales team of leaders who share her vision for a more cohesive Georgetown community. She has initiated the nonprofit, “One Voice Georgetown County” and hopes to secure a grant to fund the venue as well as all administrative costs associated with the start-up of Georgetown Tidal Tales, the nonprofit’s flagship program. Tidal Tales aims to be fiscally self-sufficient, with any profits donated to accredited Georgetown nonprofits.
All Georgetown Tidal Tales team members are 100% volunteers.
All Georgetown Wildlife Photos Courtesy Cecil W. Dupree
Our Talented Tidal Tales Team
Ronnie F. Craig
Ronnie practices law and serves as a Mediator in South Carolina and North Carolina. He is a former U.S. Navy JAG Corps officer and worked for the Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor.
He plays guitar, sings, enjoys calligraphy and is an amateur vexillologist. He lives in Pawleys Island with his wife Joanne.
Michelle B. Richards
Michelle is a tech writer, skincare consultant, and amateur painter who raised her two children in Howard County, Maryland, where she and Janet spent many hours backstage as “Drama Mamas.” Having spent the past couple of years writing her memoir using StoryWorth, she understands and appreciates the value of stories and storytelling and is thrilled to be part of Tidal Tales. She moved to the low country in 2016, and lives with her cat and hubby of 35+ years in Mount Pleasant.
Joanne F. Craig
Joanne is a graduate of Georgetown University, a former U.S. Navy officer and a registered nurse. Following military service, she worked as a Public Health nurse for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Joanne has appeared in multiple episodes of the TV series Homeland, and the movie, The Eyes of Tammy Faye. She lives in Pawleys Island, SC where she enjoys gardening, cooking, artistic crafts and watching football with her husband Ronnie.
Ray C. Funnye
Ray C. Funnye, Executive Director and Founder of The Village Group, grew up in the Plantersville Community of Georgetown County, where The Village Group is headquartered in the “Plantersville Cultural Center.” As a young father, Ray initiated a grassroots movement to engage and empower parents in programs to help develop their children’s’ collective potentials. This was the genesis of The Village Group—to foster community engagement with and investment in children The Village Group is a natural extension of Ray’s passion for community-building, something he facilitates daily in his role as Director of Public Services in Georgetown County. This position enables him the opportunity to facilitate change by making sure racial equity is achieved in his hiring and promotion of personnel and his allocation of resources throughout Georgetown County.
Laura K. Gilbert
Laura K. Gilbert is a Google Engineer who is also an improv performer, writer and dancer who graduated from NYU with a degree in both dance performance and creative writing. A two-time winner of “The Moth” Storytelling Series Grand Slam in New York and a graduate of New York’s HB Studio Acting Program and the former United Citizens Brigade Improvisation School in New York City, Laura invites the creative into the pedestrian in all aspects of her work, and enjoys the evident community-building results.
Laura Glazier
Laura Glazier has lived in Pawleys Island for 28 years and raised her children here. She has worked as a Physical Therapy Assistant for 40 years in a variety of settings, from acute rehabilitation sites to nursing homes, home health organizations, and outpatient facilities. Over the years, she has been amazed by the powerful stories patients share with her–who needs movies when you can talk to a real human being and share adventure, tragedy, intrigue and joy? Having grown up in a military family and spending a lot of her childhood at her Grandparents’ farm, Laura recalls storytelling was her “TV,” and that is why she is so interested in working on Georgetown Tidal Tales.
Gina Speight
Gina Speight has lived in Georgetown, SC for 8 years. She feels fortunate to have been hired by the Public Services Department of Georgetown County prior to her move, and she has loved her job from the very first day!
Having met Janet on the job and immediately bonded, Gina was happy to serve on the Tidal Tales Advisory Board when asked. She feels certain this new adventure will be fruitful, as she and Janet have successfully planned many Public Services programs.
Some of Gina’s favorite things to do are go to the beach, read, garden and cook. She looks forward to working to make Tidal Tales an inspiration to others in Georgetown County and beyond.
Erik Wicklund
Erik is an IT Delivery Manager working for The Vanguard Group in Malvern, PA, focusing in advice technology.
He enjoys board games, long-form improv, and playing/coaching volleyball. He currently resides in Phoenixville, PA, with his wife, Laura.