Spotlight On is a Liollio tradition of interviewing team members to celebrate them and get to know them better. Our September Spotlight On feature is Tammy Griffin. Tammy joined the team in November 2021 and quickly became a welcome addition as our new Administrative Assistant. Tammy brings valuable office management and contract oversight experience. A Charleston native, Tammy previously worked as a Legal Assistant for 19 years. We sat down for a little Q+A with Tammy…

Where did you grow up? Up and down the East Coast since my father was in the Navy, but have been in Charleston since 1968 so I consider myself a Charleston native.

Are you married?  No

Do you have children? Three wonderful children – Janice, Elaine and Michael; and five even more wonderful grandchildren – Ty, Tyndale, Tate, Alex and Tanner.

What do you like to do for fun? Relax by the pool or at the beach; try new restaurants in town; meet up with friends

Do you have pets? If so, tell us a bit about them. Nope.

Favorite place(s) to go locally? Any of our waterfront parks like Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park, Charleston’s Waterfront Park with the Pier and Pineapple Fountain, the Shem Creek Park.

Favorite restaurant? With NO hesitation – Lewis BBQ is by far my favorite restaurant!  I’ve never walked away disappointed, and always send people there who ask for recommendations.  I think I need to look into some kind of referral fee with Lewis.

Favorite food? A well-seasoned grilled steak or juicy hamburger; and of course Lewis BBQ smoked brisket

Least favorite food? Broccoli & Cauliflower

Favorite book? Not a reader…books put me to sleep.

Do you play any instruments? No

What song is at the top of your most played list? This Girl is On Fire by Alicia Keys

Favorite musical artist or genre? No one favorite – I like music by Adele, Ed Sheeran, Lizzo, Pink or Lady Gaga; and any of the oldies by Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys and the Beatles.

Favorite visual artist? This would have to be Philip Simmons and the beautiful wrought ironwork that can be seen around downtown Charleston.

Favorite television show? Friends

Favorite book or author? Maya Angelou

Last book you read? A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

Favorite movie or genre? Rom-Coms or Murder Mysteries

Last movie you watched? Top Gun: Maverick - I had to explain to some of my younger co-workers that this was a follow up to the original Top Gun that came out in 1986…and the sad realization for me that some of them weren’t even born when the first one came out.

Favorite place you have traveled to and why? Puerto Rico – clear blue water and white, soft sand – what’s not to like?  I had also found out the background of my maternal grandfather; so when I went to visit my daughter (who was living there at the time), we got to visit the area of Puerto Rico where he grew up.

Favorite style of architecture? Mediterranean.

What building have you visited that most impressed or inspired you? The US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.  It was a very powerful, thought-provoking experience.

What would the book or movie about your life be called? I’m Not What I Have Done; I Am What I have Overcome

Who would play you in a movie about your life?  Jennifer Lopez, of course.

Are you messy or organized? Organized

What’s your pet peeve? Just one pet peeve? LOL – People with poor work ethic and people on their cell phones at dinner.

Guilty pleasure? Netflix binge-watching and crossword puzzles.

Favorite quote? “Be the person you needed when you were Younger” - Ayesha Siddiqi; “Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me” – Carol Burnett; “Hate. It has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet.” – Maya Angelou; “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” – Stephen R. Covey

If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be? My biological maternal grandmother and grandfather

If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see? The Birth of Jesu

If your house was burning down, what is the one nonliving thing you would save? Since family photos can be obtained digitally now, I’d probably grab my passport.

What three traits characterize you? Caring, sympathetic, mischievous

What’s your astrological sign? Cancer

What is your personal philosophy? I accept that I cannot blame others for the bad choices I’ve made; and I be willing to make amends to those I’ve hurt.

What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?  Hope

What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far? Facing and making peace with my past.

What is your greatest fear?  Snakes and lizards (which is basically a snake with feet!); and I’m also afraid of heights.

What inspires you most? When a community unites as one after a tragedy because they want to be a part of a positive change.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?  My children, Janice, Elaine and Michael, and the amazing adults they’ve turned out to be despite their mom’s inadequate parenting skills.

What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?  Walking through the studio and hearing and seeing all the creativity going on among the architects and designers, AND our monthly Think + Drinks, which is like a show and tell for team to share hobbies or topics that interest them.

What does true leadership mean to you? Having a servant’s heart and setting an example. One of my favorite movie quotes is “Attitude Reflects Leadership...” from Remember the Titans.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be? A hair stylist or a cruise director.

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13? You weren’t as fat as you were led to believe.

How do you define success? I don’t think success is about money; I think it’s based on how we bounce back from our failures.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? “Find a job that is pleasing to your heart.”