Tammy Jackson of The Liquid Chef

According to our Academy Alumni, one of the most treasured aspects of The Academy, powered by Corner to Corner, is the vibrant and supportive network of fellow graduates.

“It’s an instant connection,” says Tammy. “When I see someone rocking Corner to Corner swag, I’m like, ‘Hey, we’re family!’”

Since completing The Academy in 2021, Tammy has taken her business, The Liquid Chef, to new heights. Most recently, she collaborated with another Academy Alum to co-host an exciting event.

“We actually knew each other before The Academy – I was his accountant! And one day, when Corner to Corner came up in conversation, we realized we were both alumni. That’s how the idea for our event collaboration was born.”

The event featured Tammy’s first-ever mixology class — and it sold out!

But Tammy isn’t stopping there. She’s already tapping into the Academy Alumni network to fuel even bigger dreams for The Liquid Chef.

“I want to collaborate with some of our event planners and other bartenders to host a trade show for vendors — something like The Essence Festival.”

Tammy’s mission aligns beautifully with the heart of Corner to Corner: building community and helping others grow.

“My passion is connecting people and helping their businesses shine. I don’t need to be in the spotlight — I’d rather bridge the gap between folks and bring them together. If we unite, we can all grow. There’s room at the table for everyone. I’m so grateful to be part of a community that supports and uplifts one another long after graduation.”

And we really couldn’t have said it any better ourselves.

Her advice for the next generation of entrepreneurs applying to The Academy?

“Commitment, consistency, correction. If you stay committed, stay consistent in everything you do, and are willing to make corrections along the way, you’ll find success. Even when things get tough or you make mistakes, keep adjusting, stay consistent, and stay within the limits of your commitment.”

You can find Tammy on Instagram at @TheLiquidChefNashville

Remember when you were a little kid and all these different creative ideas flowed through you? From make-believe games to dreams for your future, that creativity knew no limits. Sometimes, as we become adults, it can be hard to hold on to that sense of endless possibility, to look at the world as it is now and invent fun new ways to make it better.

But Tyler Davis, Academy Alumna class of Fall 2023, is doing just that – using her creativity to imagine a brand new business here in Nashville.

“I just started thinking about how nice it would be if there was a dog park/bar in my community. Because I got my dog, Ted, when I was 25, and I was still going out with friends. I thought, ‘What if I could just join these two parts of my life together?’ So I started writing up a business plan for a dog park bar!”

And spoiler alert, Treats Dog Park & Social Club is a super popular idea and business model! Tyler is our 3rd place Compassionate Pitch Contest Winner!

As with many entrepreneurs, she found The Academy through friends who had graduated from the program already and recommended it.

Since then, “I’ve just been working on the business plan and trying to turn it into a reality. The next step is figuring out how to acquire a sizeable piece of land. And the money to build the kind of structure it needs.”

As someone working in media and tech, Tyler has been building decks and giving presentations for years, so the pitch contest didn’t intimidate her all that much. That being said, Tyler did put in the work and came prepared. She practiced a lot. Like, a lot a lot.

“I turned to index cards because I feel like Index cards have helped me memorize everything. And I memorized my pitch in two days, and then just kept practicing it. My facilitator acted as one of my pitch coaches, and one piece of advice she gave really stuck out to me… she told me not to expect complete silence while I was up on stage. So I started practicing in front of my boyfriend and family, practicing with distractions. I even found a YouTube video of a theater full of people sitting there, starting at your in silence, and applying. So I practice to those fake crowds repeatedly.”

See? A lot a lot!

Even with all the work, Tyler did have a few moments of nerves before she got up on the big stage, but her cohort was seated right at the foot of the stage. She found strength and comfort from their presence as she walked up and pitched her business.

Tyler came into The Academy with only an idea, and throughout our 10-week program, she learned a lot and made connections that she will continue to carry with her on her entrepreneurial journey. (One of those networking moments via The Academy is with a city councilwoman interested in Treats Dog Park & Social Club, with connections to land opportunities!)

“The Academy helped me think about things I literally didn’t know I had to think about, like a break-even point. The program is multi-faceted, so it felt like everyone was getting something different from the program because we were all at different stages in our businesses. I’m so excited to tap into the resources available to me – through the Compassionate Pitch Contest and also as an Academy Alumna – and keep pitching my business and talking to people about it. I’ve had this goal to go to business school and continue learning, so I put some of the pitch winnings toward taking the GMAT.”

As Tyle forges forward, honing her business model and accomplishing the next steps toward launching Treats Dog Park & Social Club, she has a bit of advice for any entrepreneurs with a business idea in their back pocket, like her.

“The Academy is a wonderful resource, and the community you can find here has been a really unexpected blessing that I didn’t anticipate getting out of this experience. If you have a business you want to improve or a business you want to create, I say take the steps toward it every day and… I hate to sound like Nike but, just do it!”