Taylor Berger

Memphis Collaborator

<p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.7485712681859916" style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Taylor Berger is a Memphian who believes that collaborative projects and relationships are the key to making Memphis the best city to work and live in. Graduated from Christian Brothers High School, Rhodes College, and University of Memphis Law School. Served as founding director of Memphis Area Legal Services federal-grant funded Federal Tax Clinic in 2008. Practiced tax and estate planning law for a year before going into business.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Started </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">YoLo</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> in 2010 as Memphis&rsquo; first self-serve frozen yogurt stores. Expanded into gelato, bakery and popsicle production, adding locations and licensing brand for a total of 11 stores across three states. Currently partnering with other businesses such as movie theaters, hospitals and universities to expand the brand through store-within-store model and wholesale.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rolling out online marketing database of local offline classes and events called </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Guild Local</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> in fall 2012. Similar to national companies Skillshare and Dabble, GL will differentiate by helping nonprofits and businesses generate robust customer relationships through education and adding new affordable marketing enhancements to existing class offerings.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Started non-profit business alliance </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Memphis Food Truck Association</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> in spring 2012. With 20 active members, has become the primary source for local food truck bookings, press and social media.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Opening </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chiwawa</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> restaurant in former Chicago Pizza Factory space on Madison in November 2012. A southern American take on Mexico, Chiwawa&rsquo;s massive shaded patio and unique urban &ldquo;shack&rdquo; architecture will draw crowds to dine the a la carte and small plate menu, and imbibe whiskey, beer, and tequila to vintage record music curated by Shangri-La.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Green Girl Produce</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> expected to open in winter 2013 in former Broad Avenue liquor store. GGP will supply local restaurants, farmers markets and groceries with year-round organic microgreen and herb produce grown vertically indoors under LED. Capitalizing on Memphis&rsquo; position as FedEx hub, plan to expand online presence by taking orders hours later than national competitors. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Working with </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Crosstown Arts</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> in redevelopment of the Sears Crosstown building, in the production area, public tool/fabrication shop and establishment of commercial kitchen incubator concept.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Exploring idea of local </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">restaurant co-op</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> with aim of procurement cooperation, production streamlining and savings to better compete with national brands&rsquo; economies of scale.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Assisting Mayor&rsquo;s Innovation Team and St. Andrew church establishing a culinary arts and operations training cafe for at-risk youth modeled on </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cafe Reconcile</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> in New Orleans. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Awards include Tennessee Bar Association Joseph Henry award for best article published in 2010 Tennessee Bar Journal; Memphis Magazine Who's Who 2011 and 2012; Memphis Business Journal small business award finalist 2011; Memphis Business Journal 2011 top 40 under 40; Memphis Flyer Best of Memphis dessert and frozen yogurt categories 2011 and 2012.</span></p>

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