Tag Archives: Storytelling

My #WomenLeadGVL Story

Strong and determined women have inspired me since childhood. From my wife, mom,  and my grandmother (see 7 Things I learned from my Grandmother) to two of the  most impactful bosses of my career, I’ve personally learned and grown through the mentorship and guidance of women. Regrettably, until lately I have not given much back.

My company Beer and Napkins started with the philosophy of diverse ideas, diverse environment, and diverse people. Yet our board of advisors was made up of close friends and colleagues… and they were all men. This imbalance was painfully apparent after I shared our company with a colleague and she pointed out the lack of a diversity on our board. Furthermore, after coming across a New York Times article by Sheryl Sandberg and her call to action for men “It’s time for men and women alike to join forces in championing gender parity”, my genuineness was challenged. Did I really believe in a diverse group? Though we touted diversity I was not living it! The profound awareness of my inattentiveness to inequities prompted a drive to lead by example. After deep reflection, my business partner Tony Miller and I assessed our current situation and realized we needed to take action.

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Sheryl’s #leanintogether inspired me to use our resources, talents, and Beer and Napkins platform to support women in leadership and entrepreneurship. #WomenLeadGVL was born. It was a way of locally honoring women who have contributed to our growth.  We took few key actions to set in motion our vison.

  • Our #WomenLeadGVL initiative was started to support and encourage women in leadership and entrepreneurship through meetups, events, and other projects.
  • We diversified our board adding two talented women agreed to become part of our organization. Both Pamela Wood Browne and Veronica Schoell have enriched our organization with ideas and support as we grew. They have embraced our #WomenLeadGVL initiative and progressively moving our organization forward.
  • Started a video campaign for #WomenLeadGVL. Here are a few inspirational words from Greenville SC women entrepreneurs and leaders:

June McCreight, COO of Coba Enterprise Management

https://www.facebook.com/BeerNapkins/posts/940076262720355

Amy Roe, Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce

https://www.facebook.com/BeerNapkins/posts/939000449494603

 Jordana Megonigal, Publisher of Business Black Box

https://www.facebook.com/BeerNapkins/posts/935223486538966

Kimberly Carroll, Director of Unusual Circumstances English for Life

https://www.facebook.com/BeerNapkins/posts/934214186639896

Veronical Schoell, Business Coach and Leader in the upstate automotive industry

https://www.facebook.com/BeerNapkins/posts/933734806687834

This is just a start and we have much more to do! Women have worked hard for their current place in leadership positions, equal pay, and entrepreneurship. On this Labor Day and the future, I ask you to reflect on all the women who have contributed to your growth in your career and life and I challenge all men and women to use their resources, talents, and skills to support women’s personal growth, leadership, and entrepreneurship. We encourage you to use our #WomenLead__ and replace the last three letters with your community and spread the encouragement.

Phillip A. McCreight, MHRD, SHRM-SCP
Founder
Beer and Napkins, LLC
M 864-430-0903
[email protected]
www.beerandnapkins.com
Have Ideas for Engaging Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship share here https://beerandnapkins.imaginethat.io/womenleadgvl  #WomenLeadGVL

CAKE&WHISKEY: A #WomenLeadGVL idea mixer

Wednesday, August 12th 6:30 pm  at Human Technologies, Inc. 105 North Spring Street
Greenville, SC 29601

As part of our #WomenLeadGVL initiative we will be having a dynamic collaboration withCake and Whiskey Greenville Group!  Ashley Clark and Veera Gaul will be sharing their entrepreneurial story and how they started Cake in Whiskey in Greenville!  And yes cake and whiskey will be served! Heavy hors d’oeuvres and craft beer will also by available.

Ashley Clark is a 2012 graduate of Clemson University and the co-owner/operator of Kilwins Chocolates, Fudge & Ice Cream in downtown Greenville, SC. In addition to running the business, Ashley is very active in the community. She serves as the Co-Chair of Downtown Greenville Holiday Happening, volunteers as a Girls on the Run SoleMate, is an Area Organizer for CAKE&WHISKEY. She is also an Associate Commissioner with Greenville Count Soil & Water Conservation District and is the Area Chairman for Ducks Unlimited. Ashley is married to Landon Clark, who is Manager of Production at the store. Together, they enjoy volunteering at The White Horse Academy, a residential treatment center for boys age 13 to 17. There they coordinate special events, care for the organic garden, and teach a weekly class on personal finance. When she isn’t working or volunteering, Ashley enjoys spending time with her two black Labrador Retrievers, Dex and Mac.

Veera Gaul is a trained chef whose passion for food led her into the hospitality business and further into higher education at Johnson & Wales University — known for its culinary and hospitality programs. She began at JWU as a graduate student and went on to be a faculty member, assistant dean, vice president of operations for the Providence campus and Provost overseeing all academic programs and faculty. Veera is a “people-person” who had responsibility for an $87M instructional budget and over 500 full time faculty over four campuses across 6 colleges and schools.

She left JWU in March of 2013 and decided to join her husband Joe Gaul, in his entrepreneurial venture. Together, they own Oil & Vinegar a “culinary gift shop” concept in Downtown Greenville that brings together specialty olive oils, vinegars and a wide range of international foods and ceramics in a Mediterranean-style store.

She co-chairs Downtown Greenville Holiday Happening, is the Area organizer for CAKE&WHISKEY, and volunteers with Loaves & Fishes.

Our board members Pam Wood Browne and Veronica Schoell will also be sharing our crowdsourced ideas for engaging Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurshiphttps://beerandnapkins.imaginethat.io/womenleadgvl

This event is a celebration of Women Leaders and Entrepreneurs but open to all guests.

Thanks to our Sponsors Human Technologies, Inc., Six and Twenty Distillery, and Birds Fly South Ale Project. 

Parking is availabe near HTI for $5 or the Riverstreet Parking Garage

For more information contact Phil McCreight or Tony Miller 

Meetup Scheduled for May 27, 2015: Engaging Creativity and Innovation of the Upstate’s International Community

As part of Beer and Napkins Community of Growth we seek to engage diverse members of our community to continue to brew innovative ideas to help individuals, communities, and organizations.  We are excited to be spotlighting two leaders in the community who are devoting their energies to tap the creativity of diverse community in the Upstate

Veronica Schoell – Business Coach and Leader in the upstate automotive industry 

Veronica is the founder of The Greenville (SC) International Group – Group used as a tool to increase the interaction and integration of the international community and its American friends in Greenville, SC.  She will share insight into her group and some of the needs of the international community and how to engage them more.

Juan G Gonzalez, MS- Business Consultant and Entrepreneur

Juan is the owner of Innovation Builders, LLC, and co-owner of Optimum Professional Services, LLC,  His is also the founder of Spanish Writers, a mixed group of published writers and writers in the works, with the common ground of finding beauty, culture and history in any language we can find them, and then share our thoughts to other cultures and communities. Beside managing his companies he is devoted to his Hispanic Innovation Exchange HiE. HiE has a bi-fold purpose: On one side, HiE intends to bring the cutting-edge events in the English (Mainstream) Innovation Market into the Local Hispanic Group Market, this process implies the use of an interface that translates into Spanish initially (other languages in the future) and promote events, flexibly, timely and on the most appropriate target market inside the Hispanic Group. The other side involves building up relationships with Spanish speaking countries and foster innovation exchange into and from this countries with America Innovation.

Come join us for this free event sharing ideas. 

Space limited to 20 attendees. Snacks will be provided.

(Coffee, wine, and beer are available for purchase)

Beer and Napkins Ideas Session: Telling Your Story Across Platforms

Are you getting your story out?

Social media, pictures, video, print, and word of mouth,  we are inundated with so many choices and techniques to share our personal and business stories. Join us for an interactive idea session on February 24th 6:00 pm at The Community Tap, Greenville SC.

For tickets visit Eventbrite Beer and Napkins: Storytelling Across Platforms 

For those who cannot attend. We will be using #BandN_Storytelling for the event.

The expert panel representing education and media outlets will share their experiences in various mediums and will facilitate a fun interactive discussion with participants.

 

Jordana Megonigal– Publisher Business Black Box

 

 

 

Jay Spivey- Publisher Fete Greenville

 

 

 

Jeremy Boeh– Business Advisor and Storyteller at Jeremy Boeh

 

 

Tickets will include choice of craft beer and pizza

For more information contact Phil McCreight or Tony Miller