Heels & Handshakes Meet A Member, Amanda Phillips.
She's got grit, she's got grace, she will even help you organize your place.
Photo provided by Jason Myers Photography
Amanda Phillips
It is our privilege to feature our very own board member, Amanda Phillips. Amanda serves as the Director of Member Experience, but let’s be honest Amanda wears many hats within Heels & Handshakes. She is the Queen of puns, helps with copywriting, her caption game is strong, she is always the first to welcome new members and she supports any themed event we throw. When Amanda isn’t holding Heels & Handshakes together, she is booking private events at Acme Feed & Seed as their Community & Creative Sales Coordinator and making clients feel confident, focused and motivated as the CEO of her company, The Lemonade Maker.
Join us as we learn a little bit about Amanda’s journey into the hospitality industry and learn more about how she turns lemons into lemonade.
How did you enter into the hospitality industry?
My BFF Chrissy Reter! We used to be on the road together when she was a Tour Manager & I was writing songs full time. When she decided to expand her family & pursue a career that didn’t require as much travel, she took a position with Acme Feed & Seed. Fast forward a couple years and two publishing deals later, I turned 30 & realized that health insurance & steady income probably wasn’t overrated so I started a “real job” search. Whenever Chrissy and I were on the road together I would always say “wherever you go, I go” and by the grace of God Acme happened to have a position available right at the perfect time & after a bushel of interviews, I landed the position.
Honestly, I told myself when I started to be open minded about it all and at least give it three months. The venture away from Music Row was really hard for me bc I thought it meant that I wouldn’t be able to work and still write songs like I wanted to... fortunately that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Tom Morales, Acme’s owner, is a huge supporter of having a “day job and a dream” and four years later, I’m still here and so proud of the work we do and the building we do it in.
What brought you to Nashville? If you are a native, what is your favorite hidden gem of the city?
Writing songs & all things Country Music history. I moved to Nashville a little over 12 years ago and by some miracle, I was fortunate enough to sign my first publishing deal with Victoria Shaw and Leslie DiPiero. They were instrumental in helping me fall even more in love with this city and the songs that made it was it was.
The best hang out used to be the parking lot across from Tin Roof Demonbruen – it was also free parking lot, haha! My favorite hidden gem was probably Idle Hour (#RIP)… I’m also a huge fan of Brown’s Diner and Miss Kelly’s.
Where are we likely to find you on the weekends or when you aren’t working?
In the car with Scooba going somewhere… ( Scooba is her husband) or working on Betty, my 1963 Beeline Camper.
Name 3 things you cannot live without
– Music – Good humans/puppers to love – Humor
What is the best advice you have received?
Thoughts become things.
What are you currently listening to? Podcast? Favorite song that motivates you?
–Currently listening to Charlie Worsham’s “Believe in Love”… Everything he writes/sings/plays has always been so solid!
– Podcast: all things Crime aaaaand Amber Zaricor’s “Small Business, Big Heart Podcast”.
– Song that motivates me: Dierks Bentley’s “Riser” written by Travis Meadows and Steve Moakler and of course on the weird days “A Little Bit Alexis” is always a nice go to. Haha.
Contact information: Where can members connect with you?
and www.acemfeedandseed.com
Personal Email – flynntucky@gmail.com
Acme Email – amanda@theacmenashville.com
The Lemonade Maker Email – amanda@organizinglemons.com