I set out to interview a variety of entrepreneurs to learn their thoughts and perspectives on entrepreneurship. Here are introductions, highlights, and links to full interviews from seven entrepreneurs:
Steve Smith, Founder/President of New Beginnings of Lake County
Steve Smith was a successful business entrepreneur before finding his calling and becoming a successful social entrepreneur. Mr. Smith founded a non-profit organization called New Beginnings of Lake County with the mission to “transform and restore the lives of people who have lost their job and home or those faced with economic struggles and potential homelessness.”
“New Beginnings” started in 2007 with 20 volunteers and $22,000 annual income, and has grown to 300 volunteers and $700,000 annual income. They initially served 10 people in 2007 and now are serving 400 weekly.
Learn more about Mr. Smith and his entrepreneurial insights via this email-based interview: BillMiller-EntrepreneurshipInterview-SteveSmith.pdf.
Ken Knorr, Founder/President/CEO of THAT Company
Regarding entrepreneurship, Ken Knorr said, “There’s no greater way to be inspired than to be fired!” After climbing the ladder inside a very successful home development business, Mr. Knorr was a victim of the economic downturn and found himself without a paycheck. That’s when he decided it was the perfect time to start THAT Company — which happens to rank No. 183 on the 2011 Inc. 500’s List of America’s fastest-growing private companies.
THAT Company is an Internet marketing and advertising agency that also utilizes proprietary technology to help clients around the world achieve their goals. They are growing fast because “our clients are.”
Learn more about Mr. Knorr and his entrepreneurial insights via this audio interview: BillMiller-EntrepreneurshipInterview-KenKnorr.mp3.
Ralph Smith, Founder/Owner of Lake Tire & Auto
Around age 30, Ralph Smith was ambitious; he wanted to make something out of his life, and had always worked for other people. So he decided he wanted to start his own business, which included walking away from a good-paying managerial job. Mr. Smith liked the challenge that opening his own business presented and felt he could do something as well or better than other people.
That something became Lake Tire and Auto in 1987. For two years, Mr. Smith operated it solo. He’s built it into a successful business and hopes to eventually have his son take it over.
Learn more about Mr. Smith and his entrepreneurial insights via this audio interview: BillMiller-EntrepreneurshipInterview-RalphSmith.mp3.
Joel Vander Molen, Founder/President of Vander Molen Technology
Like me, Joel Vander Molen is essentially paralyzed from his neck down and dependent on mechanical ventilation to breathe. His initial plan was to go to college, and have a relatively traditional career with a company post-graduation. But that didn’t happen, so he evaluated his options and realized he could use his computer skills to benefit both others and himself, business wise.
That idea became Vander Molen Technology (VMT) which now is a company that does web site design, maintenance, and some hosting for companies and organizations all over the country. Mr. Vander Molen believes that God has a plan for us all (see Jeremiah 29:11 in the Bible) but we have to open our eyes to see our opportunities. His first web site opportunity was for his church.
Learn more about Mr. Vander Molen and his entrepreneurial insights via this audio interview: BillMiller-EntrepreneurshipInterview-JoelVanderMolen.mp3.
Bob McCauley, Founder/President/CEO of the Watershed Wellness Center
Bob McCauley read an article in the business section of the New York Times in 1992 that said bottled water would become a big trend in the ’90s. With water guidance from his father (a renowned water expert) and despite having little business knowledge, Mr. McCauley founded a bottled water business in 1993, taking each challenge and learning about business “one step at a time.”
That bottled water business eventually became the Watershed Wellness Center as he learned about and added additional health products to his offerings. Passionate about health, Mr. McCauley has educated himself very well and has even authored health books of his own. Today, despite the tough economy, business is going “great, because people are becoming more and more health-minded.”
Learn more about Mr. McCauley and his entrepreneurial insights via this audio interview: BillMiller-EntrepreneurshipInterview-BobMcCauley.mp3.
Shinah B’nai, Founder/Owner of IlluminEssence
In 2008, Shinah B’nai founded a company called IlluminEssence, dedicated to emotional well-being through education, holistic counseling and natural remedies known as Flower Essences. Ms. B’nai has independently done healing work since 1995 as a licensed massage therapist, and IlluminEssence became a natural extension of her profession. Her work is a collaboration of 20 years of alternative healing modalities including energy balancing, yoga, nutrition, Ayurvedic medicine, Thai Massage and Flower Essence Therapy.
A unique approach in the community, IlluminEssence is a resource for those seeking a more natural approach to treating stress, life changes and emotional imbalances without (or minimizing) the over use of pharmaceuticals such as antidepressants and stimulants, as is often done today. ADD, depression, anxiety, immune-related stress and more is on the rise as never before, as is the use of psychotropic drugs to cope. Rather than masking symptoms, Flower Essence Therapy targets the root of such conditions, identifying and releasing emotional blocks, leading to true healing and a healthier, happier lifestyle.
Learn more about Ms. B’nai and her entrepreneurial insights via this audio interview: BillMiller-EntrepreneurshipInterview-ShinahB’nai.mp3.
Leigh Love, Founder/President of PizzAmore’
Leigh Love was in corporate America and wanted a lifestyle change. She knew that if she could be really successful working for someone else (which she was) then she could be very successful working for herself. So she decided to open a restaurant. While things didn’t go as planned for that first restaurant, the learning experiences from it have helped her second restaurant succeed.
The successful second endeavor is called PizzAmore’, the concept of which was created because her executive chef — and now business partner Jesse Thomas — from her first restaurant made incredible bread; which was used to make pizza for the staff, who all loved it. That idea grew into the successful business it is today. In fact, the business is going “really well, with 20-25% growth over last year; despite the slow economy.” Ms. Love intends to open two additional PizzAmore’ locations for a total of three company-owned units, and wants to franchise additional units also.
Learn more about Ms. Love and her entrepreneurial insights via this audio interview: BillMiller-EntrepreneurshipInterview-LeighLove.mp3.
And if you would like to know more about me, Bill Miller, here’s an audio interview done by my fellow WCU ME Cohort 9 member Judd Cody: JuddCody-CohortMemberInterviewOf-BillMiller.mp3 and here is my business website and personal website also.
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