Uncle Louie Reach Extends to Playmate Charis B.

This is an occasional series about a Sachem alum utilizing social media in his everyday business strategies for celebrities around the country ...

Among the many Twitter acquaintances Louis Gregory has formed, is Playboy Playmate Charis B.

“We had mutual friends that we were going back and forth with and so a friendship blossomed,” Charis said through email of Gregory, who communicates as Uncle Louie on Twitter and graduated from Sachem High School. “Now we talk off line and are friends past 140 characters.”

Charis’ story is interesting, one that saw her success rise from magazine pages to being at the helm of a multi-million dollar clothing line called Silver Star.

“At first glance you see the obvious,” Gregory said, “a super hot model in a bikini. But Charis is way more than just a pretty face. Charis is as passionate about business as she is about her looks and equally as successful in both regards. Luke, Charis' husband is a good friend and a confidant which is why Silver Star is Uncle Louie's clothing of choice.”

Charis, who graduated from the University of Arts in Philadelphia and was the February 2003 Playboy Playmate centerfold, operates as the vice president of the clothing line, under her husband, Luke Burrett, the company’s president and CEO.

She was originally in the nightclub industry as a co-owner and conceptual designer, then became a Playmate, opening her world to new horizons.

“I've always been a business-minded person and being a Playmate was more of an afterthought,” she said. “When Luke and I met it was a natural connection that lead to us to not only being the great lovers we are, but great business partners as well. With both of our business strengths together the formula seemed to work.”

Like Gregory, Charis has capitalized on the use of Twitter as a major marketing tool for herself and the company. She never cared much for Facebook or MySpace, but there’s something different about Twitter and her reach of over 15,000 people right now is intriguing.

“Twitter is, while I don't think people would admit it, but almost a contest of popularity,” she said. “How many followers you have is how many people your words, ideas and thoughts are influencing. That's very powerful in the world of business, marketing, and advertising. That in 140 characters you have thousands of listeners at any given time.”

Follow us on Twitter: @SachemPatch, @ChrisVaccaro, @UncleLouie and @CharisB.