TAMMY JOHNSON, President & CEO
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Email: [email protected]
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As the President & CEO of High Spirits Hospitality, Tammy is responsible for not only overseeing all the daily operations of her companies, but also focusing on business growth and strategic planning. Her enthusiasm and passion for business is clearly evident through her work in our organization and in the community.
Tammy got the entrepreneurial bug at the young age of 12 when she starting working in her aunt's retail gift shops on the Outer Banks. By the time she was 15, she was running inventory, ordering, hiring, marketing, and even handling some light bookkeeping. Because the stores didn't keep her quite busy enough, she started hosting at a fine dining restaurant at night, giving her an introduction into the world of hospitality. From there she eventually left the retail world behind but worked her way up in the restaurant industry, holding every role you can think of–from waitress, to bartender, to line cook, to manager. She jumped around the country, working in Texas, Alaska, Charleston, and Hawaii before finding her way to Greenville in 2009 where she fell in love with events as the Catering Sales Manager for a regional restaurant group.
In 2011 she left the world of steady employment behind, launched Liquid Catering out of her garage, and never looked back. Since then, Tammy has successfully launched the five other businesses that make up High Spirits Hospitality; The Old Cigar Warehouse is an impressive event venue on the West End, Bravo1 Protection is the area's leading private security company, and High Spirits Events produces several public events throughout the year. In 2017 Tammy opened Topside Pool Club, a rooftop social club that overlooks beautiful downtown Greenville. Her latest venture, Events at Judson Mill, opens Summer 2022, and will include the grand opening of two brand new event spaces in the revitalized Judson Mill complex, which will also house High Spirits Hospitality's offices and warehouse.
Aside from operating seven businesses, Tammy is an active volunteer and community leader. She currently serves on the board for euphoria, a food, wine, and music festival; The University Center of Greenville; and is on the Advisory Committee for the Truist Culinary & Hospitality Innovation Center at Greenville Tech. Tammy has formerly served on the boards for the City of Greenville's Accommodations Tax Commission, Clemson Area SBDC; the Board of Advisors for the Greenville Chamber; was the 2012 Chair of PULSE, the chamber's young professional program; and is a graduate of Leadership Greenville Class 39. In 2017, Tammy graduated from the "Streetwise MBA" class as part of the Greenville Chamber's Minority Business Accelerator program, where she is now active as a mentor.
She has been recognized with many awards including the Greenville Chamber's 2020 Small Business of the Year Award, the 2018 Woman-Owned Business of the Year Award by Community Works, the 2017 50 Most Influential Award by Greenville Business Magazine, the 2014 SC Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Small Business Administration, the 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year by Business Black Box magazine, and the 2012 Greenville's Best & Brightest under 35 Award. She was also a 2016 finalist for the Greenville News Emerging Leaders Award and the the Greenville Chamber's 2013 Young Professional of the Year.
With her vast amount of experience, Tammy loves to take on public speaking engagements; particularly on topics relating to sales, marketing, or small business operations.
When Tammy isn't running the show at the office, she enjoys a good drink (anything with bubbles or bourbon), traveling, and keeping up with her busy family of four.
