Corporate Staff
Tav Gauss, MBA, CSP
Before starting his business in 1982, Tav Gauss earned an MBA from Wake Forest University and began his career as a commercial banker. Currently, he is the owner, Chairman and CEO of The Action Group - HR with offices in Wilson, Rocky Mount, and Greenville, North Carolina. Mr. Gauss has enjoyed over 30 years in staffing and human resource services and is certified by the American Staffing Association as a Certified Staffing Professional. Since 1989, Mr. Gauss has been an active member of Tempnet and served on the Tempnet board for 7 years. Since 1994, he has also been a director of TSIL, a workers' compensation captive insurance company. In 2006, Mr. Gauss joined the board of directors of Alliance Mutual Insurance Company, Inc., a small property and casualty insurance company based in North Carolina. In addition to his numerous business ventures, Mr. Gauss offers his services as a consultant in compensation surveys, organizational diversification, and risk management and employment. Furthermore, he is a seasoned speaker in the areas of small business finance, employment law, and "Budgeting in a Tight Economy". He also teaches a course entitled "Economic Reality 101" for high school students on a vocational career path.
J. Winston Lea, CPA, CSP
As Mr. Gauss' partner, J. Winston Lea is Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Action Group - HR. Prior to joining The Action Group - HR in 1995, he worked with McGladrey and Pullen, CPA’s, predecessor of RSM McGladrey, Inc. Before becoming a CPA, Winston worked in a small manufacturing environment with over a million in sales for over twelve years. There, he contributed to all aspects of the company from improving production processes and quality control to sales and HR development. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mr. Lea received his B.A. in Mathematics. He holds the Certified Staffing Professional designation and remains a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants."
Charidy Corbett, CSP
Charidy Corbett joined The Action Group - HR in 1989, and currently serves as Vice President and General Manager. Charidy also serves as Director of Client Relations for The Action Group - HR and is typically the first point of contact for prospective clients, and the primary contact for existing clients. With over 20 years of experience in staffing and human resources industry, she has a broad knowledge of HR policies and procedures, employment law and workers compensation compliance. Charidy is certified by the American Staffing Association as a Certified Staffing Professional. She is also a member of the Wilson Human Resources Association and the Wilson Chamber of Commerce.
William A. Craig, Agency Director, ASG Home Health, a division of The Action Group
William has owned and operated a home health agency in eastern North Carolina for over 15 years, and now serves as the Agency Director of ASG Home Health, a division of The Action Group - HR. He served on the Board of Directors of the N.C. Association for Home Health and Hospice, and has served on several committees representing those organizations in efforts to raise the awareness of home health in the state. Mr. Craig started the Eastern Carolina Alliance of Home Health Agencies, consisting of agency directors of area home health care agencies, as a forum to discuss industry trends and to enhance the level of provided care. He also served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross and acted as Chairman for two years.
Specialized Associates
Aedan Barnes
Aedan Barnes has over 20 years experience in the field of training and development. She was a corporate trainer from 1986 to 1995, and in 1996, Aedan founded Peak Performance Resource. Her mission, as founder of Peak Performance, is to offer outstanding, dynamic, and inspirational training to tap into a deeper level of employee potential, thereby enabling organizations to grow and prosper. Some of the clients who have been inspired by the Peak Performance philosophy include AHEC, the American Red Cross, BB&T, Bridgestone-Firestone, Nucor, USDA Rural Development, the US Probation Office, and Wilson County Leadership. Her areas of training expertise include Managing Interpersonal Relationships Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Training the Trainer/Effective Presentation Skills, Meeting the Challenge, Creating a Service Culture, The Successful New Supervisor, and Business Etiquette. Aedan also serves as Facilitator for the Duke Certificate program for Non-Profit Management. Furthermore, she has been a keynote speaker at the local, state, and national level. Aedan is a native of San Diego, California, although she has been living and working in North Carolina for over 20 years. She is currently the Vice Chair and Community Collaboration & Advocacy Chair for the Wilson Education Partnership. In addition, she is a board member, Campaign Chair, and past President for United Way of Wilson County. Finally, in one of her most important roles, Aedan serves as the Fundraising Chair for the PTA Board of Toisnot Middle School in Wilson, North Carolina.
Paul Blake, MBA, JD
Mr. Blake received a B.S. from Atlantic Christian College and an MBA from East Carolina University. Mr. Blake studied at Notre Dame/London Law Center and received a J.D. from Campbell University where he was a member of Delta Theta Phi and a writer for the Campbell Law Observer. Mr. Blake has served as Business Law instructor at Barton College, and he is presently chairman of the Wilson Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Blake is a Certified Superior Court Mediator. Mr. Blake is admitted to practice in all North Carolina Courts and before the federal courts of the U.S. Eastern and Middle Districts.
Professional & Community Activities
- Wilson County & Seventh Judicial District Bar Associations
- North Carolina Bar Association
- North Carolina State Bar
- North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
Practice Areas
- Workers Compensation
- Civil Trial Practice
- Administrative Law
- Business Law
- Real Estate
Kim Gauss
Kim Gauss is the former Executive Director of the Wesley Shelter in Wilson, North Carolina, a nonprofit organization serving women and children victims of domestic violence and homelessness. As a trainer and consultant, Kim is an expert in the areas of strategic planning, team building, effective hiring practices, new employee orientation, cross-training, employee retention, customer service, creative leadership, and diversity awareness. One course that she is especially fond of is "Engaging Your Employees in Your Mission", which can be taught to executives and supervisors or to the entire organization as a one-day retreat. Kim has facilitated a number of half-day to three-day staff retreats as well as several Executive Directors' forums and round-table discussions. In addition to her training and development activities, Kim is an accomplished public speaker. She has presented for the statewide North Carolina Coalition against Domestic Violence Conference, the North Carolina Council for Women, the North Carolina Coalition against Sexual Assault, and the Duke Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. She has also been asked to present for the State Department of Social Services/Family Violence Prevention Section on providing Service Excellence. Kim is also proud of her award from The Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation for Excellence in Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities.
Ralph Moore, CPA, CFP
Ralph Moore has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1979, and as a Certified Financial Planner since 1995. He is currently a partner in Anthony, Moore, & Tabb, PA, a small CPA firm comprised of three partners, and a support staff of 10, servicing mainly small businesses and their owners. The firm offers several services, including tax return preparation and tax planning, preparation and analysis of financial statements, strategic business planning, retirement plan analysis and estate planning. Mr. Moore's clients include automobile dealerships, service firms, retail shops, and medical practices.
