Women Who Lead: Ann Bible
Ann Bible
Owner & Manager, Josef and Stephen Salon and Day Spa
Growing up and attending business college in Spartanburg, Ann Bible moved to Greenville in the early 1960's, a place that would truly become her home. She had a full, diverse career filled with great mentors she felt enabled her to learn "the best from the best." She went to work at WESC as Continuity Director, responsible for remote broadcasts and even sales upon client request. She then moved on to Leslie Advertising as Media Director where she placed ads and headed special promotions, including the polio vaccine campaign for all Mecklenberg County, N.C., where she obtained public service spots from all radio and T.V. stations, ensuring terrific success. Concurrent with her advertising work, Ann did runway and photographic modeling and T.V. commercials — much of which continued throughout the years.
Upon her departure from the advertising business, Ann entered a new work world, earning her license as a Real Estate Broker for commercial and residential properties and managing 750 apartment units as well as being a "side-kick" in her husband's construction/development business. "I went from a pen in my hand to a hard hat on my head!"
From there, Ann became a HUD consultant, helping people to achieve financing and also began to buy and restore old hotels, including: the Poinsett in downtown; the Greenville Hotel, which remains subsidized housing for the elderly; Calhoun Hotel in Anderson; Vance Hotel in Statesville, N.C.; and Bon Air Hotel, which was restored to Section 8 housing for the elderly in Augusta, Georgia. Ann sold the Poinsett to Westin in 1996 after 19 years of ownership and credits the hotel's restoration as an anchor in Greenville's downtown revitalization.
"In the '80's, many of the downtown businesses closed, and I garnered all my strength to hold on tight to the hotel," says Ann. "I feel the Poinsett's restoration has brought Greenville Main Street back to being the envy of every Southern city."
Currently, she owns Josef and Stephen Salon and Day Spa, one of Greenville's oldest and most prestigious. Ann is proud many of the stylists have been there 15+ years and operate as part of the family. Ann loves philanthropic work and feels it is just one way to give back to Greenville for all she's been given. Her charitable work includes: Ronald McDonald Board; Rose Ball; Advisory Board for A Child's Haven; Advisory Board for Charter Schools; Board for Beach Ball; Cancer Society; Membership Board of the Poinsett Club; Governor's School for the Arts; and past board memberships for the Greenville Ballet and the International Ballet (where she danced in the party scene of the Nutcracker).
In her spare time, Ann enjoys spending time with her friends, three children, grandchildren and husband. She also enjoys her hobbies of ballroom dancing, hunting and traveling.
Ann says her hard work, determination, and positive outlook in addition to her natural curiosity have been a critical component in her success. She feels her attitude toward life can be directly attributed to the example set by her father. "My dad always had an encouraging word. He was the epitome of positivity and unfailing optimism. He taught me to be kind and always greet people with a smile."
Despite her accomplishments, Ann is humble and was even shocked when she was awarded the prestigious Order of the Palmetto in 2004 for her involvement in community service. She doesn't plan to stop anytime soon. "I have no intention of retiring. I hope to live to be 100 and appear on a Smucker's jar with Willard Scott!"