Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

I’m inspired by small business owners who bet on themselves every day. The people building something not just for profit (sometimes no profit at all), but to provide for their families, employees, and communities. While many focus on serving larger companies, small business owners are often the ones who truly need sound guidance and are still finding their footing. Being a trusted resource and partner for them through highs and lows is what inspires me.

How do you stay motivated?

What keeps me motivated is knowing what we as entrepreneurs build impacts more than ourselves. Businesses are the lifeblood of our existence. When one struggles, it has a ripple effect on everything it touches. When you keep that perspective, “work” is viewed as a calling and takes on a much bigger purpose. Being a partner people trust through some of the best, but also worst, seasons of life is what keeps me moving onward. If I can be someone who helps make a difference, then it is

What would you do with the $25,000?

Recently moving to Cleveland, I see incredible potential in the community and its small business owners. I would invest the $25,000 into strengthening local businesses and infrastructure. Where I come from, Bellefontaine, Ohio, the community was once on life support but is now thriving because people poured into it. I’d use it to create a foundation for others’ current and future success. This will allow me to continue pouring into others more significantly.