By Henry Piarrot
“And as I reinvent myself and I’m constantly curious about everything, I can’t wait to see what’s around the corner in newfound art and entertainment and exploration.” – Actress Pam Grier
At the end of the day, change requires reinvention. Each time a major shift happens in life, leaving a job, moving, ending a relationship or losing a loved one, we have to protect who we will become after the alteration occurs.
Whether we realize it or not, we all reinvent ourselves many times during the course of our careers or lives and courage is always necessary when molding the new impressive person we intend to be.
Tabitha Ann McCarter was born on August 1, 1973 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her family moved to Sevier County when she was in the 5th grade. Before graduating from Sevier County High School in 1991, Tabitha spent her freshman year on the track and basketball teams and also joined the theater group. However, she became so interested in preparing for college; she spent her next three years working to save money and preparing her grades for college. She was ultimately awarded a degree in Business Management from the University of Tennessee in 1996.
During and after college Tabitha worked mostly in the group sales department for the Holiday Inn in Sevierville (now the Baymont Inn). Then in 2000, McCarter, Angela Brady and Scott Harness founded CoachQoute, the first of its kind online booking engine for groups.
Eventually changing their company’s name to Group Travel Planet, the trio also created the first direct link to the property management system’s of the hotels they served. Working closely with Orbitz, a
worldwide third party booking engine, McCarter and her partners certainly help revolutionize how hotel rooms are secured for large and small groups.
Realizing it was time for their company to grow, they sold Group Travel Planet in 2008, only to realize later that they were only purchased to be dissolved by the larger competitor that acquired them.
With a few bucks from the sale in her pocket, Tabitha joined the Ruby Tuesday Corporation and began managing their restaurants in the area. This time would be used for her to strategically plan her personal reinvention into owning her own business again.
After looking at many different businesses, Tabitha established Polished Floors Plus LLC in November 2011. As one of very few women in this field, McCarter’s company polishes concrete floors and turns something dull and unsightly into beautiful art that lasts a lifetime.
Her staff of eight employees, which include her Mother and Sister, takes inexpensive concrete and turns it into beautiful flooring for a fraction of the cost of granite or hard wood. Once the concrete is polished to a smooth state, art, such as original designs or company logos can be painted on before the sealer is applied, leaving an impressive and one of a kind floor that will be enjoyed for years.
Tabitha’s business is one of the featured vendors on an episode of Extreme Home Makeovers, where they restored the driveways of a Knoxville home.
Tabitha credits her hospitality industry training for instilling in her the importance of superior customer service. Regardless of industry, there is no more effective marketing plan than a well run business that produces customers who are happy they chose you to care for them.
Tabitha McCarter may have reinvented herself professionally, but the core of her excellence as a person has been the same for a long time. Her willingness to study, work and critique herself daily are the very important traits that give any reinvention the best chance to succeed.
Should you be interested in having Tabitha and her team work their magic at your home or business, she can be reached at 865-293-7640.
Henry Piarrot is a hotel manager and Sevier County resident on assignment in Nashville. Please send all story recommendations to hpiarrot@yahoo.com
