Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanesha Sims-Summers.
Tanesha, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Sometimes you just know you were destined for great things. So if you are ever gonna doubt anything, doubt your limits. This has been my mantra ever since I was a high school student. I always took an interest in self-help reading and the law of attraction material. The energy I needed to create for myself was crucial to my survival. Not many of my peers or my family really took a huge interest in these types of readings. My Grandmother, Geraldine AKA Baby Love, started cleaning houses for a living and many of her clients would give her these books along with many other artsy items they no longer had use for at the time.
This was so important for me because I struggled with many emotions growing up as a little child of not belonging questioning if I was loved. I’m Tanesha Sims-Summers, the village child. I was born in 1981. My biological mother was a young mom 18, at the time and during that time in her life, if she couldn’t be married to my father, she couldn’t see her self being a single mom, so she and her mom, my grandmother decided to place me for adoption. She and my father, 20, had split and he was serving in the U.S Military Navy and got word from his mom and sister that he had a little girl that looked just like him but she was being placed for adoption. He was the only one who could rescue me as my biological father. He took an immediate leave to come back to the states to save the day.
I spent the first month of me in an adoption facility until my father arrived. This was the start of an abnormal adventurous life. My grandmother and aunt, who were both like mothers in my life, took part in raising me. My aunt raised me in Norfolk, VA, in the early part of my life and I was also raised by my Grandmother and Grandfather in Birmingham, AL a portion of my life. While this story should be heavily focused on my business journey, I truly feel that my purpose in the world started from the day was born. I was the village child and while I had a blessed life, with love, the best private school education and material needs, I oftentimes felt out of place, alone, unloved, and confused. As I grew older with much prayer and connection to God, I began to find my path of purpose.
I graduated from college in 2005 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a B.S. In Marketing. I also finished my Spanish Degree from Universidad de Veritas in Costa Rica. My son was one year old at this time. My aunt, who raised me, was the caregiver for my son Jaylen Gentry while I was away for a couple of months. It was the hardest decision ever. After college, I had no motivation to look for a job because I felt I was destined to become an entrepreneur. I couldn’t be naive to this that I could launch a successful business with zero entrepreneurship experience, no seed capital, no real business concept and a new mom and college graduate, so I pursued a career in something I was passionate about finances. I spent seven years as an investment banker. I became licensed to sell insurance and investments. I learned so much at the early age of 23 about investing, establishing good credit, homeownership, equity lines of credit, insurance, business financing and growth and I met a lot of amazing people. This industry was critical to my foundation and future success as a young mom. I was quickly promoted and lead in many areas during this time.
My promotions at such a young age with no special connections in a white male-dominated industry gave me the confidence to know that I was a leader and people saw something in me, even when I didn’t see it in myself at times. I then transitioned to the digital marketing space, which was also directed by God. I learned so much about the way the marketing industry was rapidly changing. I spent six years in this space. I was also quickly promoted and was able to be chosen to celebrate in the Winners Circle CEO trip for my performance. This was another epiphany. I was apart of the Winners Circle, which was symbolic in so many ways.
In 2014, I gave birth to my second child, Jacee Amina, I got married this year to my best friend who I had been dating five years prior. This was a busy year, to say the least. This was also a very symbolic year. After giving birth and being home nursing for four months, I couldn’t bring myself to want to return back to work. I struggled so much because motherhood was always a passion of mine, especially, not being raised my own biological mother. During my 4-month maternity leave, God had given my Aunt Janice, the one who had helped raise me my whole life, the ingenious idea to start a Kettle Corn business. I said, a kettle corn business? What is Kettle corn anyway? She talked about a company in Virginia that people absolutely loved and couldn’t get enough of. I thought it was an awesome unique idea, but I never had an interest in producing snack foods at all. I always imagined being a consultant or real estate guru when I pursued my own business.
My spirit was heavy and I had this pull and conviction that this is the business I should try. I spent the ladder half of my maternity leave researching Kettle Corn, tasting different kinds, finding competition and starting the planning process. I did report back to my corporate job once my maternity leave ended in September of 2014. It was the smart thing to do… I only had one more month before I was vested for my full 401k in October but I was gonna be out of there soon after.
So once I returned, I began sampling out Kettle Corn to co-workers and they loved it. They started wanting to purchase during lunch breaks and weekends. I told myself, we may have something. I didn’t realize that I was the discussion of a promotion. I was offered a promotion in November. This was confusing. I started a business and was supposed to be gone. What was the universe telling me?
Of course, I took the promotion. While training in California, a tech city, I became really sick. I thought I had a little too much to drink or ate something that didn’t agree with me. I was still nursing my ten month old and had been conscious of my diet. It wasn’t until I returned home from training and went on my follow up postnatal appointment that I discovered the sickness was another baby… I remember getting the call in the Publix parking lot and almost crashed. It was joyous and frightening at the same time. Could I do this?
The new promotion, Business, Husband and children. At the time, my best friend was my partner and wasn’t very thrilled about the pregnancy. After a few months of trying to juggle it all, I had to step out on faith. I took an early maternity leave and officially resigned just before I was scheduled to return from my last daughters, Janaah Kylie’s birth. Although I always knew I was supposed to create a platform that would reflect my passion and love for people community, financial literacy, small business advocacy and wealth creation especially for people of color, it was essential that I go through the path I did to experience and gain critical skills and challenges to prepare me for this incredible growing company and the road ahead.
Our communities are so far behind the curve but there is so much potential. Small businesses must make community, collaboration and education apart of growing our ecosystem. God was able to take a product like Kettle Corn to allow me to grow a purposeful company that encompasses everything I stand for. I am dedicated to mentorship and being mentored. Mental health and family. This is critical to building healthy communities. So It’s Not Just Popcorn with us, we exist to make relationships sweeter.
I purchased my first two rental properties at 24 while still renting an apartment. I then purchased my first home at 25. I spent the remainder of my corporate career in the digital marketing space. This was also the Gods way of directing my path.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has definitely not been smooth but extremely empowering and rewarding. While there are many tools and resources available on this journey, there is no perfect playbook or road map. I’ve had to become a better decision-maker and learn to trust myself. I’ve had to learn my limits and understanding how to balance my personal health and needs, my marriage and my beautiful children. I would never want something that was meant to bring joy and power to become resentment for my family. Losing my partner, who was also my sister and best friend, was not easy. This was always a dream of ours. I had to understand that some things are for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Still love her dearly. The struggles or challenges are not finite, they are ever evolving. The most important thing is learning to adapt quickly. Covid-19 has been devastating to small and large companies around the globe, even the healthiest companies. As a business, you have to learn to be resourceful and open to asking for help. Nothing is happening to you; it’s happening for you.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Naughty But Nice Kettle Corn story. Tell us more about the business.
Naughty But Nice Kettle Corn Co. specializes in sweet and salty Kettle popped corn, hence our name. Our artisan kettle to hand process allows us to bring the freshest product to the market. You aren’t getting popcorn that has been on the shelf for weeks at a time. Where else can you find unique blends of sweet and salty flavors such as our savory Cheddar Makes It Better or our Spicy Jalapeno Popper Flavor. Our crowd pleaser is our Bham Mix, a blend of our Cheddar Makes It Better and French Toast Flavors, its breakfast in a bag.
Our Popheads enjoy the variety of flavors and package options. We have just enough flavors to not overwhelm them but enough to keep it interestingly different. Our custom gifting options and merch gives our Popheads a deeper connection to our brand. We are excited about the addition of Ms. POPPY, our Kettle Corn food truck. She will allow us to continue to bring the freshest product to the market while creating an engaging experience around how our product is uniquely crafted. It’s not just popcorn with us. We exist to make relationships sweeter. We are committed to creating a culture with our team and community and partners that foster connecting, education, mental health,financial literacy, mentorship and small business advocacy.
We are most proud of our work in the communities we serve. During Covid-19, we have donated over 300 bags to essential workers. We have participated in the Bham Strong program this year. This program designed to engage local corporations and small businesses to offer internship opportunities for inner-city schools. As the founder, I am always personally and professionally developing. As a small business advocate, I serve on the first inaugural Small Business Council for the City of Bham. I have attended programs such as SBA Emerging Leaders, Lift Fund, Tru Fund, Rev Birmingham, Urban Impact, and attending conferences in Atlanta, such as the Hope Global Forum for the last two years. We want to scale our operation and ensure that we are dedicated to making lives sweeter one sweet and salty kernel at a time.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Many people believe in good or bad luck. We believe in the law of attraction. Everything starts with your mindset thinking positive thoughts, visualization and manifestation. We also believe that you must ask, believe and receive. In addition to believing, you must do the work and have faith to make the sacrifices and trust that the universe is connecting the dots and working all things out for your good if you have the purest intentions. The universe can also work things out but it’s not always for good. You attract the energy you deliver. My family had been middle class, I didn’t always have connections or the resources that have been afforded to some successful people. In spite of this, my entire life has been favored because of my ultimate belief in myself and what I believe I should have and what I believe my purpose is. My intentions have always been good, so I’ve always been successful even when I was challenged to believe in my greatness. Corporate America revealed so much about my abilities and inference, my education, and now in my business. Always ask yourself, What is my intention?
Pricing:
- Mini Snacks as low as 1.50
- Snack Packs starting at $5
- Gallon Bags starting at $10
Contact Info:
- Address: 5363 1st Ave N
Bham, AL 25212 - Website: www.nbnkettlecorn.com
- Phone: 2059152528
- Email: ordernaughtynicekc@gmail.com
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