Transform with Tanner LLC  ·  East Tennessee

The story
you tell yourself
defines everything.

Motivational speaker, restaurant systems consultant, and author. Helping individuals transform their lives and operations transform their bottom line.

Book a Speaking Engagement Consulting Services
2.5% Beverage Variance Achieved
5 Properties Systemized
$45K Annual Losses Prevented
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01 🎤
Motivational Speaking

Transformation begins with one honest conversation.

From recovery rooms to boardrooms, Tanner delivers talks rooted in lived experience — on resilience, accountability, fatherhood, and the discipline it takes to rebuild a life worth leading.

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02 📊
Restaurant Consulting

Systems that protect your operation's bottom line.

Built on years of multi-property systems architecture in East Tennessee hospitality. Specializing in POS integration, beverage inventory management, and operational infrastructure that eliminates costly variance.

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About Tanner

One year into recovery.
A lifetime of purpose ahead.

Tanner Kerlin
Systems Manager
East Tennessee
6.5 Years

"I didn't just survive — I was rebuilt. And now everything I do is in service of that transformation, for myself and for others."

Tanner Kerlin is a Systems Manager, motivational speaker, and founder of Transform with Tanner LLC based in Townsend, Tennessee. He built his career from the ground up in the hospitality industry — starting at 15 and working every role before designing and implementing one of East Tennessee's most effective multi-property operations systems frameworks.

One year into his recovery journey, Tanner channels his personal transformation into speaking engagements, consulting work, and a forthcoming book — all centered on a single belief: real change demands radical responsibility.

He is also a husband and father of two young children, grounded daily in the work of building a life that reflects the values he speaks and writes about.

🔑
Recovery
One year of sobriety and growing — pursuing Peer Recovery Specialist Certification
👨‍👧‍👦
Fatherhood
Father of two, husband to Madison — family as the foundation of purpose
📍
East Tennessee
Rooted in the Smoky Mountain community, serving clients regionally and beyond
⚙️
Systems Thinker
Built operational infrastructure across 5 properties managing 200+ team members
Motivational Speaking

Words that come from
where it actually hurt.

Tanner speaks to recovery centers, faith communities, schools, workforce programs, and leadership organizations across East Tennessee and beyond. Every engagement is rooted in authenticity — not theory, not a program, but the hard-earned truth of what transformation actually demands.

Available for keynotes, workshops, panels, and private events. Every engagement is tailored to your audience and objectives.

01

Recovery & Transformation

An unvarnished account of addiction, accountability, and the daily discipline of rebuilding. Honest, powerful, and full of hope grounded in reality — not performance.

02

Leadership & Discipline

What managing 75+ people across five properties taught Tanner about accountability, systems thinking, and the difference between holding a title and earning real respect.

03

Fatherhood & Responsibility

On being the man your children need you to be — especially when you're still figuring it out. For fathers who refuse to make excuses and choose presence over perfection.

"Your audience deserves someone who has been in the fire — not just read about it."

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Restaurant Consulting

Your operation is losing money
somewhere. Let's find it.

Transform with Tanner LLC brings deep, hands-on expertise in restaurant systems to independent operators, multi-property groups, and resort F&B operations across East Tennessee. Every engagement begins with a comprehensive audit — no assumptions, just data.

POS & Technology Integration Lead Service

Full audit and optimization of your point-of-sale infrastructure. System selection, integration with inventory platforms, staff training protocols, and ongoing performance benchmarking.

Beverage Variance & Inventory Management High ROI

Implementation of monthly inventory cycles, cross-property analytics, pour cost tracking, and variance reduction protocols. Proven results reducing variance from 25% to under 3%.

Operations Systems Build-Out Foundational

Development of SOPs, training materials, and standardized procedures built from the ground up. Scalable infrastructure designed for single-location or multi-property operations.

Systems Audit & Assessment Starting Point

A comprehensive review of your current operational infrastructure — technology, processes, staffing, and cost controls — with a prioritized roadmap and ROI projections.

Coming Soon
A memoir of transformation

The Work
Was Always
the Point

Tanner Kerlin
The Book

A story about what it costs
to become who you need to be.

Everyone has a story that almost ended too early. This is mine — and why it didn't.

Tanner's debut book traces the arc of addiction, transformation, fatherhood, and the daily discipline of building a life that demands respect — from yourself first. It is not a redemption fantasy. It is an honest account of what recovery actually asks of you, written for everyone who has ever had to start over from somewhere dark.

Currently in progress. Be the first to know when it's available.

Writing Progress ~25% Complete
Thank you for signing up for Tanner's Book Updates — once the book is completed you will receive an email!
Work With Tanner

Let's start a
real conversation.

"Whether you need a speaker who has lived it or a consultant who can prove it — I'm ready when you are."

✉
Email
☎
in
📍
Location
Townsend, Tennessee
Serving East Tennessee & Beyond
Thank you for reaching out — you will be receiving an email from Tanner within 24hrs of submission. He's looking forward to connecting with you.