In 1971, Andy Twisdale crossed the old swing bridge in his ‘65 Chevy thinking he was just passing through. He didn’t know it was the bridge to his new home far from his hometown of under 3,000 and the “Peanut Capital of North Carolina”. Thus began the first of his two careers. The first, the Hospitality Industry, Andy went from tending bar, to opening and managing The Old Fort Pub to managing the popular Hudson’s Restaurant for many years. It was at the bustling, family-friendly restaurant that seeds of his second career were growing, unbeknownst to Andy.

On September 21,1985 Andy met Gail through mutual friends. Three years later she and this 40 year old bachelor were married. Gail was a teacher on Hilton Head and between their careers they were only able to spend Sundays together. Hence a career change became apparent and Andy’s 30 year love affair with this island would keep him here. Selling Real Estate; selling his island and it’s surrounds, has become a natural extension of who Andy Twisdale is. He often says, “We’re not selling houses anymore, we’re selling lifestyle. And I know the lifestyle. We have a package here that allows the person looking for a destination resort to discover a lifestyle that is comparable to most cosmopolitan areas.”

Andy was a graduate of the inaugural Leadership Hilton Head’s class of 1986. He was selected the 1998 and 2013 Realtor of the Year, and President of the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors in 2000 and again in 2006. He served on the Board of Directors of the Association from 1995 to 2009 and served as a RPAC Board of Trustee for the SC state Realtors Association from 2010 to 2017 and Chaired the SC Realtor’s 2016 Political Action Campaign. Andy received the Realtor Service Award 1995-2017 and was named South Carolina Realtor Advocate In 2013 for his tireless efforts in equating SC’s housing insurance inequity.  Currently Andy serves as Consumer Representative on the SC Wind and Hail Association and  Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors legislative committee and RPAC Major Investor Committee and the SC Realtor Political Action Committee (2020).

But living and working on Hilton Head is not all Andy is about, he has always believed in giving back - it’s pretty much his mantra! Andy has said, “I’ve seen the island grow from 3000 people. It is my community. I enjoy giving back, enjoy helping people. If you grew up in a small community, everybody chipped in. I feel very close to that.” Therefore, beyond his professional involvement Andy is currently serving on the Greater Island Council Legislative Committee and the Hilton Head Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Government Policy Committee. His community involvement has included being a member of the Second Helpings Board, the American Cancer Relay for Life Committee, Co-Chair and then Chair of the United Way HH Campaign, and served four years on the Beaufort County United Way of the Lowcountry Board of Directors and as a volunteer for twelve consecutive years. He was on the HH Hospitality Association Board for 27 years and the Association’s Wine And Food Festival Steering Committee 2005-2009. Andy served on the Leadership Hilton Head/Bluffton Board of Regents from 2003 to 2007 and continued his membership in the Leadership HH Alumni Association 2000- 2014. He served on the HHI/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Board from 2007-2012 and chaired the Chamber’s Business Education Partnership Committee during 2009-2011 and as Chairman of the SC Competitive Alliance for 2013.

Andy has received numerous vocational awards and was recognized as an Outstanding National School Volunteer. His hobbies and interests include food, cooking and politics - no surprise there!