Lauren Samples ‘07

Lauren Samples ‘07

Lauren Samples, CPA, graduated Summa Cum Laude from then North Georgia College & State University in 2007. After a successful internship at KPMG in Atlanta, she joined Tillman, Bailey & Associates in Gainesville, GA as a staff accountant, building on a positive internship experience there during her senior year. While working full-time, Lauren earned her Master of Taxation from Georgia State University and passed all CPA exams, officially becoming a Certified Public Accountant in January 2010. She became a partner at the firm in January 2011, prompting the name change to Tillman, Bailey, Samples (TBS) in 2012, where she delivers comprehensive accounting, tax, and advisory services to a diverse client base,. Her passion lies in supporting small and mid-sized business owners with strategic planning and guidance throughout every stage of the business lifecycle—from start-up and growth to sale and retirement.

Community involvement is central to Lauren's life. She currently serves as Board Chair for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier and has previously held leadership roles with organizations such as the United Way of Hall County, Georgia Mountain Food Bank, Junior League of Gainesville-Hall County, and Kare For Kids.

Dedicated to advancing the accounting profession, Lauren actively supports the accounting program at UNG; her firm has sponsored two rooms in the Mike Cottrell College of Business building on the Dahlonega Campus and remains a Gold Sponsor of Beta Alpha Psi. TBS regularly hires UNG accounting students as interns each tax season, often promoting many to full-time staff upon graduation.

Lauren  resides in Dawson County with her husband and two children. Both she and her husband are active in their church, serving in adult and children’s ministries. Lauren credits her success to God, her supportive husband Blake Samples, her parents Phillip & Teresa Burt, and her business partner and mentor Kathy Tillman, a fellow UNG alumna.