Certainly the advice of local professionals is to be considered. What about hollies? Do they do well in your climate?

Here is a link that might be useful: Nellie R. Stevens Holly

I think there is nothing that can match the advise from local professionals. As much as Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens' is a beautiful tree and makes a wonderful deer resistant screen, (I have three)in my northern zone 7 neck of the woods they took such a beating during the winters of 04 and 05 my nursery is no longer selling or recommending it. There are a number of new intro's both conical and spreading that are in the Ilex meserveae family that I would choose as a replacement but again your local pro would know what is best for you. kt