We will do our best to match you with this mentor (depending upon their schedule) or another similarly experienced mentor.
Meeting Preference: In Person, Phone, Video
During my career I have purchased a business that I formerly managed, started a successful franchise from the ground up and managed a non-profit. I grew both of the businesses that I owned and sold both of them. One of the sales was extremely easy. The former owner purchased it back. The other was fraught with challenges and took almost two years to accomplish. A brief description of each of my endeavors are listed below.
Owner/Operator - HoneyBaked Ham Co. and Cafe - Columbia, MO - 2000-2018. Managed the start up, operations. and sale of franchise. We were awarded the Small Business of the Year from the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the Restaurant of the Year by the Mid-Missouri Chapter of the Missouri Restaurant Association during our ownership. I also was elected to a term on the franchise Board of Directors. We moved to Columbia, MO from Georgia to open our business and operated through many competitive and economic challenges during our ownership. I was responsible for the operations, HR, PR, sales, marketing, and financials of the business. My wife and I owned the business until we sold it in 2018 so we could move back to Georgia to be closer to family.
Executive Director - Young Harris College Alumni Foundation - Young Harris, GA - 1991-1999. I was hired to manage and operate the Alumni Foundation for Young Harris College. Duties included fund raising, event planning, management, bookkeeping, and volunteer organization. During my time there we set many records for fund raising. I also worked to streamline the operations by redistricting our alumni boundaries and adding several new giving levels. I also initiated the first Planned Giving program for the Foundation and Young Harris College during tenure. I resigned my position to allow us the opportunity to open our HoneyBaked Ham franchise.
Owner/Operator - Sure Shot Photography - Stone Mountain, GA - 1983-1991. I first worked for the event photography company during my college years as a photographer, assistant manager, and after graduation as a full-time manager. In 1993 I made an offer to the owner to purchase the business. My main duties with the business included photography, sales, management, operations, and financials. We held contracts with over 125 various high schools and colleges to photograph specific events. On busy evenings we would have up to 20 events that we would cover. Sales of the business tripled during my ownership. In 1991, I sold the business to be able to work at my alma mater.
Areas of Expertise
- Business Plan
- Customer Service
- Franchising
- Management & Operations
- Marketing
Industry Experience
- Accounting & Tax Services
- Food & Beverage
- Professional Services
- Retail