Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Jessica Goode | Aquatics Director

My swim experience began at the tender age of 6months when I was first introduced to the pool. I formally learned how to swim at the age of 7 and continued to swim for Rockdale County and my high school Cross Keys. Read more>> 

Aneesah Skinner | Multi- Media Specialist

I started my business in the beginning of the pandemic while I was 7 months pregnant with my daughter. I wanted a change in my life. I had spent most of my adult life working a 9-5 for someone else . Read more>>

Michael Fellows | CEO Selah’s Acres Luxury Camping

We bought an RV for our Family in 2018. Our vision was to invest in our family, build memories and experiences. We come from military families, and have traveled frequently. As we began to travel with our kids and experience RV life, we realized there wasn’t a glamorous RV or Glamping experience in Huntsville. Read more>>

Jakela Nelson | Owner of DivinelyChosenJKN

At the beginning of the pandemic, I worked as a Speech Language Pathologist – Aide. My then coworkers and I were coming up with ideas about how we would decorate each month and what creative activities we would do with the children. Read more>>

Dani Henion | Baker & Cookie Decorator

I started Flour Batch Kid on accident. During the early days of COVID-19, I (like nearly everyone else) took up a new creative outlet. I saw some videos of people decorating cookies, and I had to try it. Read more>>

Eric Crosby | Wings & Things Podcast Host

When we started the podcast, we really just wanted an excuse to get together and eat chicken wings. We were all pretty obsessed with chicken wings, and while meeting up at a restaurant, eating and chatting was fun, we thought, “Hey, this could be a podcast.” The more we talked about it internally, and the more we talked about it with other people, the thought we kept having was, “We have to do this.” Read more>>

Brittany Stalnaker | Entrepreneur & Realtor®

I started Wannabe Charcuterie in 2020 as a way to serve the local community. Little did I know, this would become a wonderful way for families to enjoy their time together at home during the events of 2020! After months practicing my craft, I was able to announce Wannabe Charcuterie to the Atlanta area! Read more>>

Ayana Alston | Owner and Founder of YaNails

On top of Covid coming through and changing the game completely, I got tired of going to a job that only treated me like a number and paid so little. I wanted to feel good about my work and making money from it. Read more>>

Coolie Vuitton | Director & Videographer

I started out as an artist/engineer which helped me understand how important visual content is for a business or profession. I always enjoyed the visual production side of things. I wanted to be able to give clients an industry look but for an affordable price. For example, I have created productions sets on a budget inside a garages, basements, or any area that I had to work with versus spending twice as much at an establishment. Read more>>

Renika McQueen-Echols | Producer, Director, Motivational Speaker

At first I was afraid because I’d work for someone else for seventeen years. I knew that with my previous career I had stability, a regular paycheck coming in, health insurance and other benefits that the State of Michigan provided. I spent 8, 12 and sometime’s sixteen hours a day at work. Read more>>

Kayla Coots | Owner of ALT Bar

I wanted to create a safe and inclusive space for anyone interested or participating in the NA world. As a sober queer person there were not many places I could go to enjoy a night out that had NA options, so I decided to try and make those spaces myself. I found likeminded folks who wanted the same things and now I have the opportunity to be the NA bar at many different functions. Read more>>

Chanel Jordan | Private Chef and Caterer

I was 19 years old when lost my 9 to 5 job, so I had to figure something out to pay my bills. I was so distraught but I felt like I never wanted anyone to have control over how I make a living. A friend of mine told me that I should sell plates and even though I was doubting myself, I did it. My first dish was a cheesy chicken pot pie with a honey butter cornbread topping. Read more>>

Indigo McCarthy | Candles & Skincare products

I knew I didn’t want to work a 9-5, I feel why work the average job when I can turn my hobbies(the things I love) into something bigger than just a hobby but A business. That’s what I did so I started researching things far as how to even start up a candle business, I knew how to make candles but I didn’t know the business aspects of it so I got to researching a variety of things & journaling everything down, I’m still learning new things to this day. Read more>>

Shonte Alce | Destination Weddings Specialist

I really fell into destination wedding planning. I selfishly became a travel agent so that I could get a tax write-off all while planning free or discounted trips for myself. It just so happened that one of my very first clients back in 2014 happened to be planning a destination wedding. Read more>>