Workshop aims to help educate growing Upstate wedding industry
July 8, 2016
High Spirits Hospitality is holding a special business forum, The Nitty Gritty: Is Your Business Legit?, aimed at the more than 1,000 wedding and event related businesses in the Upstate.
Tammy Johnson, owner of High Spirits Hospitality, said the Upstate has a booming wedding industry, but the level of business skills varies amongst vendors. The idea of the workshop is to educate wedding business owners on things such as on how to correctly pay employees, planning for lawsuits, understanding insurance and how to protect assets.
“The wedding business is huge right now in the Upstate,” she said. “However, a lot of business owners are struggling to move to the next level and make the right business decisions to help them grow. This event is about getting them going in the right direction.”
Johnson is one of the region’s most respected wedding industry leaders. In 2011, she created Liquid Catering , which was Greenville’s first beverage only catering company. She then opened The Old Cigar Warehouse in 2013 and it quickly became one of the leading event venues in the region. She created Bravo1 Protection in 2015 as a new style of event security company.
The Nitty Gritty will be held on Tuesday, August 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Old Cigar Warehouse, 912 S. Main Street in Greenville. Admission is $5 and includes beverages from Liquid Catering and delicious food from Table 301. Parking will be available on-site and nearby for $5 as well. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.highspiritshospitality.com.
The trade show portion of the event will run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will be followed by an expert panel presentation with a question and answer period. The event is being sponsored by Liquid Catering, Bravo1 Protection, Complete Public Relations, Table 301 and South State Bank.
Speakers include:
Lisa Nason, 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 and use, and property tax returns.
Tom Bates, vice president/COO of Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance Inc.: Bates 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.
Ava Smith, president/owner of Flat Free Recruiting: Smith is one of Greenville’s most respected female business owners. She has more than 15 years of experience as a Human Resources Professional. Her experience includes employee relations, compliance, recruitment, retention, and training.
Steve Buckingham, owner of Law Office of Steven Edward Buckingham: Buckingham is one of the top-rated business litigation attorneys in Greenville. He has more than 10 years legal experience in South Carolina.
About High Spirits Hospitality
High Spirits Hospitality proudly oversees the operations of our four-independent hospitality companies – Liquid Catering, The Old Cigar Warehouse, Bravo1 Protection and High Spirits Events. Each has a unique purpose and focus, but all emphasize client satisfaction in all operations. Learn more at www.highspiritshospitality.com.
