Elizabeth Cummings is an attorney with 16 years of private practice and in-house experience focused on employment law, employee benefits and executive compensation. She is currently senior counsel to the benefits and compensation teams, and a member of the HR leadership team at Windstream.
In her spare time, Elizabeth works with her husband Jason on their small business, Supertasterz LLC, a food and beverage development company that launched its first hot sauce, Opera Sauce Mediterranean Hot Sauce, in June 2022. The company recently introduced another sauce, Arkansas Diamond Fire. Both sauces were created and are professionally manufactured in Arkansas.
As a small business owner, what is your vision for your business and our community?
While some are already rockstars at this, I would love to see more of our community embrace the “support local” movement. Supporting local businesses strengthens our local economy and decreases our carbon footprint. Local businesses also provide uniqueness and character to our community, and the owners genuinely notice and appreciate their neighbors’ patronage. As a local business, Supertasterz utilizes other local vendors and suppliers where possible, and we will keep looking for ways to do more of that.
What advice do you have for keeping a team focused and motivated in challenging times?
With regard to our small business — we’re a team of two! Jason and I have definitely encountered some challenges as a startup company, but we strive to remember why we began in the first place. We wanted to create unique hot sauces to fill previously empty niches, and we wanted to do it using high-quality ingredients and food-safe methods. As a result, we have two really great products that we believe in and feel compelled to share with others.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
It was certainly thrilling when we started Supertasterz, and in my legal practice, I’ve always been proud when large projects I’ve led succeeded and when I won trials. However, I believe that the true highlight of my career is the strong professional relationships I’ve built along the way. These relationships have been integral to my achievements and broadened my perspective in a number of ways. Plus, they make work more fun.
Who has been the biggest influence on your life and career?
My parents and grandparents instilled a strong work ethic in me, encouraged me to always be myself, and consistently reminded me that I could do anything I set my mind to. They are also somewhat responsible for my off-beat sense of humor, which has served me personally and professionally (I think).
Tell us the most meaningful piece of career or life advice you have received.
Don’t dwell on mistakes. Learn from them and move forward.
How do you like to de-stress after a difficult day/week?
I have had a dedicated yoga practice for nearly seven years. No matter how wound up I am when I go to a class or start a flow at home, I am always in a better headspace at the end. Aside from yoga, I enjoy spending time outdoors with Jason and our 9-year-old son, Carter.
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