Title: 1) Co-Owner; 2) Former Clinical Psychologist
Company: 1) Wet Willie’s; 2) Savannah Psychological Consultants PC
Location: Savannah, Georgia, United States
Joe Ann Brandt, PhD, Co-Owner at Wet Willie’s and Former Clinical Psychologist at Savannah Psychological Consultants PC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Psychology and Hospitality Management.
Dr. Brandt has established a distinguished career spanning over 45 years in psychology and entrepreneurship, marked by her commitment to both clinical excellence and business operations. Having recently retired from her tenure in mental health care, she spent decades as a clinical psychologist with Savannah Psychological Consultants PC, beginning in 1981. Her practice was recognized for its dedication to providing police evaluations at rates well below market value, with a substantial portion of the proceeds donated annually to support families of fallen firefighters and police officers. Throughout her tenure, Dr. Brandt also directed funds from various sources, including the Georgia Clerks Authority and her other business, Wet Willie’s Inc., to charitable organizations, such as the 200 Club, which aids families of military personnel who have lost their lives in service.
In addition to her success in psychology, Dr. Brandt has maintained her longstanding role as the co-owner of Wet Willie’s Inc., an ever-expanding food and beverage company specializing in serving the highest-quality daiquiris, since 1990. Each location employs two managers who undergo comprehensive assessments, including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and academic skills evaluations in areas such as mathematics and reading. Dr. Brandt and her husband, also a psychologist, conduct separate interviews to ensure objectivity and thoroughness. Mathematical proficiency is equally emphasized, given the significant cash-handling responsibilities and the precision required in beverage preparation. Dedicated to the ongoing success of Wet Willie’s Inc., Dr. Brandt oversees the rigorous selection and training of management staff to ensure each location is operated with proficiency, managing a team of approximately 300.
Dr. Brandt’s earlier professional experience included serving as a psychology instructor at The University of Alabama from 1979 to 1980, where she contributed to academic development and fostered open dialogue on challenging social issues. During her internship at The University of Alabama between 1978 and 1979, she was also a member of an interdisciplinary team in adolescent medicine.
In preparation for her future, Dr. Brandt’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Georgia in Athens in 1974. She then earned a Master of Arts from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1977, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy on campus in 1980. Dr. Brandt also completed postgraduate coursework at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 1981. She holds certification in clinical hypnotherapy from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and is a licensed clinical psychologist in Georgia.
Throughout Dr. Brandt’s career, numerous organizations have sought her expertise in mental health. She has worked with the Georgia State Health Planning Agency and provided consultation services for Victim Witness Assistance, Coastal Behavior Medicine, Personnel Performance Consultant, Optifast Program at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Bethesda Home for Boys, among numerous other organizations. Dr. Brandt’s research contributions during her years in psychology have included studies on predictors of effective family functioning, neuropsychological correlates of degenerative brain disorders, and the effects of sexual misconceptions on marital happiness and satisfaction.
Dr. Brandt has maintained professional memberships with the Georgia Psychological Association, the Association of Women Psychologists, the American Psychological Association, the Association for the Advancement of Psychology and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. She is also a past president of the Coastal Association of Psychologists. Active in civic-minded organizations, Dr. Brandt has contributed to the Historic Savannah Association, the Georgia Conservancy, the Citizens for Clean Air Club and the Sierra Club. She also serves as a board member for Visit Savannah and Visit Tybee Island and participates actively with the local waterfront association.
Under Dr. Brandt’s leadership, Wet Willie’s Inc. has been featured in various magazines highlighting its unique business model and philanthropic impact. She attributes her success to unwavering determination and curiosity about human behavior, a passion ignited by her father, a neurologist and psychiatrist whose professional library captivated her from an early age. Looking ahead, Dr. Brandt intends to continue pursuing her passions while making meaningful contributions through her business.
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