Name: Tiffany D. Williams (Propes)!
Birthdate: 05/20/1982
Where were you born? Ontario Canada!
What are your community activities? (church or faith-based involvement, local, regional and national professional organizations, non-profits, etc): Gainesville Fashion Week, Leadership Gainesville, ACEL
List any awards you have won for community service: None Yet!
What is your definition of success? Being able to do what you love every day (and having it pay the bills).
What is your greatest professional accomplishment? Planning 6 successful seasons of Gainesville Fashion Week and earning the respect of the community as a legitimate cultural event as well as starting my own company this summer!
How do you exemplify the spirit of a Forty Under 40 professional? I am constantly striving to not only become a better leader myself, but to provide opportunities for those around me to do the same. Either by providing experience for the young professionals in the community through avenues like Gainesville Fashion Week (GFW) or working on events that provide education or opportunities for connections.
Businessperson who has most inspired you: My dear friend Albert Coronel. He gave me my first real opportunity to become a real leader. I admire the culture and creative atmosphere he cultivates in his company and his team. He also showed me how to make something beautiful, out of next to nothing.
Best advise ever received: Fake it ’till you make it!
Greatest professional challenge: Making the leap to start my own company the same year I was getting married. I knew there would never be a “perfect” time but giving up the security of a steady job (in our economy, with such a large life change looming ahead) was a bit scary. I have received incredible support and interest from the business community though and I’ve realized that this really was the perfect time.
First job: I was a sample girl at our local supermarket. “Hello, could I interest you in a sample of this delicious cheesecake?” You’d be surprised how many people don’t want your free samples.
What color crayon would you be? Why? Magenta. First, it is fun to say, the syllables make you enunciate the word. Second: It sounds like Magic! Third: The color is bright and vibrant, like a combination of pink and purple. Ah-mazing.
Favorite after-work drink: Wine. White in the summer, red in the winter.
If I had a magic wand, I’d: Eliminate people’s fear and suffering, and provide everyone with a sense of peace (yes I’m a hippy at heart).
What is your favorite Gadget? It was my iPhone, but right now I’m loving my new Nikon DSLR. I have always been into photography and with what I do, months and months of work on an event can zoom past in an instant and be gone. I love capturing as many moments in time as I can.
How long have you been in Gainesville? Since May of 2002.
What do you love most about Gainesville/Alachua County? The incredible sense of community and the fact that you can go from metro to country in minutes.
Three things people would be surprised to know about you:
a) Well most people won’t be too surprised, but I love to knit. Like all the time (on the beach, at a restaurant, with wine, with martinis…).
b) That I grew up on a farm in rural Canada. My nearest neighbor was 2 fields away. Funny for the girl who puts together our community fashion week.
c) Also not a surprise really but I LOVE to dance. Like a lot. And I don’t care who’s around. I’ve been known to start afternoon office dance parties on the regular. Sometimes you just need to mix things up and shake those sillies out.
Advice you would give a younger you: Believe in yourself. You are awesome. And don’t waste time with naysayers.