Side Hustle to Small Business

How past trauma helped Shawnti Refuge find her purpose

Shawnti Refuge is the founder of Shawnti Refuge Journals, a collection of journals she created after navigating a mental health crisis in 2018. With the help of therapists, she found journaling to help her heal, and now wants to help others do the same. With the hope of ensuring no one feels the way she did, Shawnti launched the business in 2021. Now, she hopes to take it full-time in the near future.

​​How Michele Riechman is empowering women over 40

After Michele Riechman had her third child, she started to notice that it was challenging to keep up with her children, and that even going up one flight of stairs would leave her breathless. With a background in Physical Therapy, Michele decided to start her business as a personal trainer for women over 40. Michele says that by going back to the basics of fitness, women can feel empowered to take care of their bodies.

Taking a college passion and turning it into a career

Ethan King founded stuff4GREEKS.com after joining the Greek community at his college. What started as a school project is now a successful business that has been around for over 20 years. The company offers advanced personalized apparel for those in fraternities and sororities on college campuses. On top of stuff4GREEKS.com, Ethan founded Zeus’ Closet, a retail location offering personalization of clothing.

The Journey of Starting a Business as a Couple

Erin Sims and John Mills established Connect-Empower when they noticed a significant gap in the system, particularly in the accessibility of support and resources for the elderly. Recognizing that senior individuals often struggled to tap into the full array of available services, Connect-Empower was founded with the primary goal of enlightening clients about various healthcare services at their disposal.

Leaving the C-Suite to start your own business

As a C-Suite Executive working over 60 hours a week and doing contract work on the side, Lindsay May found herself facing burnout. Looking for a change, Lindsay decided to fully commit to her marketing side gig. Now, she operates Happy Marketing Co., a thriving marketing agency. Within just four months of this transition, Lindsay not only achieved her revenue targets but also surpassed the salary she earned in her previous C-Suite role.

Finding your niche when starting a new business

Sam Westfall had two different careers prior to starting his business: a tank mechanic in the military, and an IT Specialist. Now, Sam is combining those two experiences by starting Archery N Motion, an archery range and equipment supplier based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Archery N Motion specializes in moving target platforms, which give shooters the practice they need without wounding animals.

Passion to profit: Transforming hobbies into side hustles

Join us as we explore the unique journeys of three passionate individuals who not only found joy in their hobbies but also managed to turn them into thriving businesses. John, the Founder of Unite Creative Company, helps organizations build connections through video production. Sam advocates for autism awareness with Autism Rocks and Rolls, a non-profit he founded when he was just 20 years old. Jonathan, the Founder of Botset Designs, elevates businesses through logo design, upgrading their branding.

Bryan Clayton: A life-long lawn care entrepreneur

Bryan Clayton has been working in lawn care since he was a teenager. As a way to get him out of the house, his dad encouraged him to cut neighbors’ lawns for some extra cash. Fast forward to a decade ago and Bryan co-founded the technology company GreenPal, an app that connects lawn care professionals to those who need the services at a click of a button. GreenPal is now an 8-figure business and Bryan only sees it growing from here.

Building a supportive entrepreneurial community

Eleven years ago, Jaci Lund quit her job in PR knowing that she wanted to do something different, but with no idea what that was. Three months later, from her kitchen table, she started Treebird Branding, a branding firm “centered around human connection, and elevated through creativity”. Now, eleven years later, Jaci staffs ten employees and has worked with countless clients creating timeless designs and maintaining strong relationships.

Side hustles for enjoyment, not just profit

Julie Marateck is many things: a freelance copywriter, a photographer, and even a public speaker. However, her true passion is stand-up comedy. Julie first joined the Atlanta stand-up scene six years ago, and she says that it has helped her not only become more confident in herself, but also helped her become a better copywriter and marketer. And while stand-up is not the most lucrative venture, Julie‘s love for the game keeps her going.