Entrepreneurial Fire, Lifting Others Higher: Jill Higgins’ Spark Desire

Tuesday, May 6

7: 00 am

Deshay Williams

Spark Thomasville Executive Director

“I’m obsessed with all things entrepreneurship. I just love it!”Jill Higgins’ eyes light up when she talks about entrepreneurship. Her enthusiasm isn’t just theoretical—it’s fueled by decades of breaking barriers and uplifting others.

Jill Higgins (left) celebrates Vegan Divine LLC founder Vivian Moore's (center) Spark Thomasville graduation alongside coach Earl Williams (right), exemplifying how community collaboration creates economic viability.

Jill Higgins’ eyes light up when she talks about entrepreneurship. Her enthusiasm isn’t just theoretical—it’s fueled by decades of breaking barriers and uplifting others.

As a volunteer business coach at Spark Thomasville, Jill channels her hard-earned wisdom to help underestimated entrepreneurs thrive, proving that community collaboration can transform aspirations into economic vitality.

Breaking Free from Traditional Paths

Growing up in the 70s and 80s, Jill’s career options seemed confined to traditional roles: teacher, nurse, or secretary.

“I was conditioned to work for somebody else,” she recalls. But while teaching, she began to notice entrepreneurs who created jobs instead of just filling them.

This revelation sparked a shift: “There’s so much freedom in entrepreneurship. Stress, yes—but also energy, excitement, and the chance to help others.”

Early Ventures: Lessons in Courage

Jill’s first entrepreneurial leap—a pre-internet “Party In A Box” service—was ahead of its time but stifled by fear.

“I was terrified to even share my business cards.”

Though that venture stalled, it taught her a vital lesson: entrepreneurs need affirmation, not just ideas.

Years later, a photography class reignited her spark, leading to a successful destination wedding business. “I wish I’d had a Spark Thomasville back then—someone to say, ‘You’ve got this!’”

Why Spark Thomasville? 

“The creative energy in Spark is electric,” she says. “Hearing the Spark entrepreneurs’ stories fuel me.”

When Doug Shierling invited her to coach, she hesitated: “I didn’t feel qualified.” Yet she quickly discovered her power to uplift.

“New entrepreneurs, like me years ago, crave someone to believe in them. That’s a gift we can all give.”

Spark’s Ripple Effect: Building a Thomasville Worth Loving

For Jill, volunteering is symbiotic: “Helping others fuels my creativity.” Her work aligns with Spark’s values—economic viability, legacy-building, and job creation—by addressing barriers faced by underestimated entrepreneurs.

Join the Movement

Jill’s story invites us all to act:

• Volunteer as a coach: Share your skills with passionate entrepreneurs.

• Support the Loan Fund: Help provide affordable capital to grow businesses.

• Attend Spark events: Connect with a community that values collaboration over charity.

• Sponsor an entrepreneur: Underestimated entrepreneurs pay a small part of the estimated $2400 it takes to empower them, the remainder is covered by generous donors in our community.

“Spark isn’t just about businesses,” Jill says. “It’s about loving our neighbors by investing in their dreams.”