Nitty Gritty Workshop

Past Event The Nitty Gritty: Is Your Business Legit?

8/2/2016

Join us at The Old Cigar Warehouse
August 2, 2016
5:00-8:00 PM

The Nitty Gritty: Is Your Business Legit?

Small businesses start with a passion. Passion is what drives growth, client base, and profits. But what happens when your passion outgrows your business knowledge? Do you fully understand all the ins and outs of running a legitimate, legal and secure business? Consider this:

Are you paying employees correctly?
Is your legal structure set up in a manner to protect your personal assets in the event of a lawsuit?
Do you have a solid client contract in place?
What happens if you get sued?
Do you have adequate insurance coverage?

If the answer to any of these questions is “I don’t know,” then High Spirits Hospitality would like to invite you to our upcoming workshop, The Nitty Gritty: Is Your Business Legit? Our panel of experts will address the biggest areas of confusion for small, growing businesses as they navigate the world of business logistics. Along with presentation and the Q&A time, there will also be an industry trade show and a chance to make some valuable connections with other professionals and small businesses. Your $5 admission includes beverages from Liquid Catering and delicious bites from Table 301. Parking will be available on-site and nearby for $5.

Hospitality trade show and refreshments from 5:00-6:00 PM
Panel of experts and Q&A session from 6:00-8:00 PM

Meet Our Panel of Experts

Lisa Nason, CPA
Nason Accounting LLC
Lisa Nason is the Managing Shareholder in Nason Accounting, LLC. She specializes in tax compliance and tax consulting services primarily to small and mid-sized businesses, as well as individuals, including those with international issues. She can also provide assistance with tax audits, income, sales & use, and property tax returns.
Lisa grew up in Simpsonville, attending Mauldin High School, and later Clemson University. She graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelors degree in Management and a Masters degree in Accounting, specializing in taxation. She started her public accounting career with KPMG working there for nine years before moving over to Deloitte & Touche. Upon leaving Deloitte in 2003, Lisa spent a few years in industry as the Tax Director for NewSouth Communications, which later became NuVox Communications. But in 2006 she returned to her first love, public accounting, and opened her own firm, Nason Accounting, LLC.
On a personal note, Lisa is President of the Tajh Boyd Foundation Board of Directors, a diehard Clemson fan, loves to travel and scrapbook, and especially spending time with her family.

Tom Bates, VP/COO
Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance Inc.
Tom Bates, graduate of Mercer University class of 1976, is the VP/COO of Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance Inc., has been actively involved in the insurance industry and its member organizations for 40 years. Tom began his insurance career as a claims adjuster then transitioned to an agent role where he began assisting clients with both Property and Casualty and Life and Health needs. Outside of working as an agency principal and sitting on many insurance advisory boards, Tom also dedicates his time to The Cancer Survivors Park Alliance Board, The Colon Club Board, the Downtown Sertoma Club/Camp Sertoma, and Buncombe Street Methodist Church.

Ava Smith, President/Owner
Flat Fee Recruting
Ava Smith holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Human Resource Management from Limestone College and is a Lifetime Member of the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society. She has over 20 years of experience as a Human Resources Professional. Her experience includes employee relations, compliance, recruitment, retention, and training. She began her career in the non-profit sector, and shifted into manufacturing, the corporate arena, and staffing. In August, 2002, Ava began her own firm, HR Specialties specializing in providing HR services, training, and recruiting. In 2010, she formed a permanent placement agency called Flat Fee Recruiting that has been recognized in business publications. Flat Fee Recruiting received the Minority Business of the Year Award in 2013 through the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. In addition to making an impact through diversity training, she has supported her community in the Upstate of South Carolina by serving as the following: Diversity Director of the SC Society of Human Resource Management State Council, Advisory Board Member, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Steering Committee Member, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Advisor, Greenville Chamber of Commerce CAPACITY Builders program, Chair, Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Greenville Women at Work (GW@W) initiative, Advisory Board Member for Virginia College, Advisory Board Member for ECPI School of Technology, Past Board Member for the Greenville Society of Human Resource Management (GSHRM), Past Chair of the Diversity/Inclusion Committee for GSHRM, Past President of the Board of Director’s for the YWCA of Greenville, Board Member of Fostering Great Ideas, Former Advisory Board Member for Clemson Small Business Development Center, Former Steering Committee Member for MLK Dream Weekend, Former Member of the Clemson CU-ICAR Diversity Committee, Former Member of the Greenville Technical College Multicultural Advisory Board. All of these accomplishments and contributions resulted in her being honored as: Recipient, YWCA Dream Achiever, YWCA of Greenville, Recipient, 2012 - Minority Business of the Year, Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Recipient, 2013 - Woman Making History Award, Greenville Cultural Exchange, Keynote Speaker – 2014 Commencement Service, ECPI University, Recipient, 2015 – Excellence in Diversity Award, SHRM - Greenville Chapter, “Success Story” film excerpt – 2015, BMW Diversity Matchmaker Event

Steven Buckingham, Attorney at Law
Law Office of Steven Edward Buckingham
Steven has a Doctorate of Law from University of Richmond, and a Bachelors degree in Political Science from Furman University. He has worked at Perkins Law firm, Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A., and Nelson Mullins.

Emcee:
Tammy Johnson, CEO
High Spirits Hospitality, Liquid Catering, Old Cigar Warehouse, and Bravo1 Protection
As the President & CEO of High Spirits Hospitality, Tammy is responsible for not only overseeing all the daily operations of her companies, but developing all of our strategic initiatives. She got the entrepreneurial bug at a young age, starting Liquid Catering from her garage at the age of 26. Since then, she hasn't looked back and has successfully launched the three other businesses that make up High Spirits Hospitality; The Old Cigar Warehouse is an impressive event venue in the West End, Bravo1 Protection is one of the area's leading private security companies, and High Spirits Events produces several public events throughout the year.