Meet Stephanie Smith. She loves what she does and above all loves to have fun. Stephanie is an operations specialist at Brenau University in Gainesville and has a passion for education. She grew up in Frankfurt, Germany. Stephanie is a very uplifting person, getting all of her energy from Starbucks. During our interview, to emphasize her love of coffee she said, “If I was stranded on an island by myself the one thing I would have to have is Starbucks.”
Stephanie says, “Neither of my parents attended college and because of that, I wasn’t expected to attend college.” Stephanie was working multiple jobs when she decided that she needed a different path in life. College was going to be in her future. She attended college at Western International University, earning her Associates degree in Business. She then earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management in 2008 from the University of Phoenix.  In 2010, she went back to Western International University earning her Master of Arts and Innovative Leadership degrees. At Kaplan University in 2011, Stephanie earned her Project Management Certificate. And during her final enrollment at Western International University in 2013, she earned her Bachelor of Arts Professional Communication/Journalism. She is currently working on an MBA in Business Analytics and is projected to graduate in 2018.
Some of Stephanie’s hobbies include traveling, mostly to St. Louis, reading, working out preparing for 5Ks, and, as she says, “When you are single you have to have Sunday Chinese…and wine!”
We took Stephanie away from her busy schedule for a few moments to talk about and answer some questions about her life here in Hall County.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “I love having the ability to help others get into school.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County, and what do you love there?
A: “Sweet Magnolias. I love desserts so I would have to go with the hello dollies.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “I’ve been here for three years.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?
A: “I would say my friend Christina’s parents, Regina Cochran and “Papa” as we like to call him.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “Hawaii, because I hear that the water is amazing and that it is calming and relaxing.”
Q: What is your favorite movie OR the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
A: “My favorite movie is Larry Crowne.”
Q: What advice would you give to a crowd of people?
A: “You have to live your life for you. Anything that you do, you have to own it.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “One of my goals is to run four 5Ks. I would also love to go skydiving.”
Q: What is your favorite music?
A: “Adele and Christina Aguilera.”
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why this person? Where in Hall County would you have this lunch?
A: “My friend Claire from St. Louis, Missouri. She works for Joyce Meyer Ministries and is always giving to others. We would have lunch at 2 Dog.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “The people here are so generous and kind. Southern hospitality is truly present here.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: “Having a family and balancing that with what I love to do, which is having fun.”
Q: (Even friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “When I get stressed, I eat starburst.”
Q: What are 3 words that come to mind when you think of HOME?
A: “Calm, safe, and warm.”
 
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.