Steve is a burned out refugee from 20 plus years in corporate America. His goal is to have the most complex issue he faces on any given day be a guest request for more berries on their Belgian waffles. Steve long held the dream of a cool little boutique hotel, though he was aiming for the Blue Ridge Mountains. As his aim was not so good, he missed by a bit, and found himself on Hatteras Island, the only place he has ever really felt at home.

Steve, a widowed father of delightful grown children, his puppy Maggie and his beautiful life partner Sherry (who splits her time between Hatteras and Virginia Beach) live in the Innkeeper’s house with frequent company from children Ian, Ashley, Jimmy, Abby, Ben, Jasmine and Jordan, his grandchildren Harper and Genevieve, and the company of many friends who come in unannounced and welcome at all hours. He is pleased to share the Inn grounds with two Great White Egrets, a Great Blue Heron, a pair of ospreys, the occasional otter, and the overall abundance of living things that make Hatteras Island and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore so grand.

Steve’s interests and passions include an eclectic taste in music and film, live music, long motorcycle rides to nowhere in particular, bicycling, scuba diving, travel, random readings in science, history, and literature, and keeping his brain cells confused with an onslaught of new experiences.

Melissa was born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA.  She cut her teeth in the hospitality industry at the age of 14, working in many successful restaurants from a casual setting to fine dining, corporate to locally owned. She came to Hatteras Island and The Inn on Pamlico Sound in 2013, looking to get away from it all for a summer.  Like many who call our island home, she fell in love with our community, and never wanted to leave. However, at the end of 2016, Melissa made the difficult decision to move back to Virginia Beach to be closer to her family, and finish her degree at Old Dominion University. While there, she only found herself missing Hatteras Island and her family at The Inn. So, in early 2019 she became an online student, packed up and moved back to her island home. She makes her home here with her daughters, Audrey and Claire, as well as her dog, Layla, who can often be found playing on the banks of the Pamlico Sound.

In Melissa’s free time she loves taking long beach walks, hanging out on the beach (anything involving a beach really), watching a Hatteras Island sunset, reading a good book, eating sushi, traveling anywhere new and going to concerts/shows. Hospitality, travel and music are her true love languages.

Raised on Hatteras Island, Meredith has been a fixture in our hospitality industry from her early teens, from hosting and serving at Austin Creek Grill and Teach’s Island Bar and Grill, to Dock Master at Hatteras Landing Marina. After time away to study architecture and design at UNC Charlotte and work experience in child development at Oklahoma’s largest childcare facility, she returned to the island to raise her kids, island style. Meredith joined our staff in 2014 as a front desk associate and quickly demonstrated how invaluable her work ethic, creativity and energy are to our organization.

Meredith’s passions include missions work around the world, her sons Calvin and Ozzy, and Blue, their dog.  She loves animals and has worked with OBX SPCA to bring awareness and promote their adoption, fostering and volunteer programs. Being a mom of energetic boys on Hatteras Island allows the family to pursue their passion for board sports (Skating, Surfing, Snowboarding), soaking up the sun, enjoying all things outdoors and, traveling in the off season. She loves traveling, music and all things creative, from jewelry making to decorating, drawing and painting; the simple things in life put the biggest smiles on her face.

A native Carolinian, Tanner was raised on a farm in Cedar Mountain, NC surrounded by dogs, cats, horses, and the wildlife of the mountainous west of our state. He discovered an early passion for food smoking meats and working part time high school jobs in commercial kitchens. Following college in Lynchburg, VA at Liberty University, he moved to Forth Worth, Texas and his first job as a chef. The experience gained led him back to Lynchburg and his first senior position as a sous chef at El Jefe Taqueria, an upscale tex-mex under the same ownership as a bourbon and burger bar and a second upscale taqueria. His experience as a senior member of large kitchen operations opened the door to his first fine dining position in famed Fells Point at The Point in Fells across from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, their sister operation, The Point in Towson, and eventually to Craddock Terry Hotel in downtown Lynchburg. When COVID shut restaurants in early 2000, Tanner took the opportunity to learn whole animal butchery and art of dry aging beef with a stint at Seven Hills Abattoir.

Tanner and the love of his life Annie, also a valued member of the Inn family, came to Hatteras as a baker in the second year of the COVID pandemic. Once exposed to island life, they determined Hatteras would be their home and began looking for the next phase of their careers. It did not take them long to discover The Inn and Cafe, which rekindled Tanner’s passion for fine dining. Within a year, he was promoted to Sous Chef, second in command of our kitchen, then a year later to Chef D’Cuisine, responsible for creativity, excellence, and consistency of Cafe Pamlico’s menu.