Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

Our inspiration comes from the community and our faith. Spending many summers and winters coming to Speculator as a kid created a deep love and care for the community here. I was searching for a deeper sense of purpose in my work life, and my wife and I kept getting the nudge to look into purchasing a little diner in town. Businesses in such a small town are considered lifelines, so we were honored to answer God's call to make the diner a staple in the community.

How do you stay motivated?

Our motivation is simple: this community needs us. With only 300–400 full-time residents, we aren't one of many options, but for many, we're one of the only options. While tourists visit throughout the year, it's our permanent residents who keep us driven. On hard days, we think about the locals who count on us and that is a responsibility we don't take lightly.

What would you do with the $25,000?

For a businesses in a seasonal town, cashflow is essential for getting through the slower seasons. We just opened the doors in February, and opening a business right before the slowest Spring season could be challenging. The $25,000 would allow us to have some reserve operating cashflow to be prepared for future slow seasons as well as provide the opportunity for us to invest back into the business with advertising to increase brand awareness.