💼 Build the Dream Without Quitting the Day Job Marshall proves you don’t have to “burn the boats” to build a business. While working in cybersecurity, he runs a real estate portfolio, a mobile detailing company, and now Finstrike—a growing SaaS platform tackling teen financial literacy. 💡 Financial Education for the Next Generation Finstrike fills …

🎷 Richmond’s Rising Jazz Hub Tom Illmensee, founder of Orbital Music Park, is building a world-class jazz venue in Richmond modeled on the intimacy and energy of legendary clubs like Ronnie Scott’s and Blue Note. He’s creating not just shows, but experiences — spaces where musicians and audiences lock into the same moment. 🌱 From Corporate Strategy…

🏗️ Real Estate Media, Rebuilt for the Long Haul Rob Malan, founder and president of HD Bros, led the company through a tough 2023 — including layoffs and a leadership shift — and came back stronger. In 2024, revenue is already up 20%, with a 25% growth trajectory projected for 2025. The key? Focus, fundamentals, and a single decision-maker model. 🧠…

🌱 Richmond Roots, Global Vision Though originally from Northern Ireland, Ryan McCarroll launched answerthis.io while at the University of Richmond, taking it from a dorm-room idea to $50,000/month in recurring revenue. 🧠 Sell First, Study Later Ryan doesn’t believe in focus groups or marketing theory. His philosophy? If no one buys it, it doesn’t w…

Cozy Home Community is building what no one else is: affordable, community-driven housing for middle-income seniors. Think 1200 sq ft homes, a shared community house, and purpose-driven living—all without the price tag of traditional senior communities. 🔍 Ignored Market = Biggest Opportunity Matt helped brands like Walmart and Google see the $8 tri…

🎮 Own the Game—Literally. Forget renting pixels. Two Robots is a blockchain-based strategy game where your digital items are authentically yours—trackable, tradable, and infused with real-world bragging rights (yes, even if Elon Musk owned the sword before you). 🌍 From Airbnb to Istanbul: Funding the Future of Gaming Omar built his indie gaming dre…

🚀 From Struggle to Strategy: Building a Sellable Business, Not Just Revenue Will Melton turned a childhood of financial hardship into a CEO mindset focused on enterprise value, not just income. With a clear 10x growth vision, he’s designing Exponent 21 to become a scalable, sellable asset, not just a hustle. 🤖 Dominate AI Search Before It Dominates…

🔬 Wellness, Rewired: The Lab That Personalizes Your Health Plan Metafit RX isn’t a gym — it’s Richmond’s only evidence-based performance lab. Using DEXA scans, metabolic testing, and VO2 max data, they help people 40+ design health plans that actually work, based on your body, not industry fads. 💡 From Rock Bottom to Referrals: The Comeback Fueled …

🎥 From Church Soundboards to CEO Alexis Michelle turned a childhood passion for media ministry into a thriving creative production agency—blending faith, grit, and hands-on experience in large-scale events, music, and storytelling. 📸 Creative Vision, Business Precision Balancing artistry with entrepreneurship, Alexis built a studio known for clean,…

🛋️ From Fashion to Furnishings, Built to Scale With roots in New York’s Garment Center and decades of design experience, Kathy Corbet turned her passion into a powerhouse—blending style, strategy, and systems to scale a thriving Richmond-based firm. 📐 Design That Delivers—With Process and Purpose From fixer-uppers to full remodels, Kathy leads proj…

🎯 Real Connections for Real Adults Frustrated by niche meetups and impersonal apps, Sam Lydard built Trying to Adult RVA—a vibrant, inclusive space where 20- and 30-somethings in Richmond can make friends and find love, without the awkward small talk. 📈 From Side Hustle to Scalable Movement What started as a mini-golf night with 30 people is now a …

💃 From Burnout to Breakthrough After rediscovering joy through dance, Mare turned her passion into Soulshine Studios—a space rooted in authenticity, brain-boosting movement, and the belief that your best business is built by being yourself. 🌍 Global Perspective, Local Impact From teaching in Paris and London to building a hybrid studio community in…

💡 Healthcare with Heart Born from personal experience and a vision for compassionate care, Infusion Solutions delivers dignity-driven treatment—offering private rooms, heated chairs, and comfort for both patients and families. 🏥 A Patient-First Business That Breaks the Mold Infusion Solutions operates independently of physician practices, welcomes …

🌟 From Refugee Camps to Boardrooms With a lifelong commitment to service—from directing Red Cross efforts at 17 to leading Make-A-Wish nationally—Karen Webb brings unmatched heart, grit, and cross-sector experience to every role she takes on. 🤝 Champion for Small Business and Community Growth Now leading the Chesterfield Chamber, Karen connects non…

⚓ From Military Service to Mission-Driven Business After navigating poverty, military service, and major health setbacks, Adam Furman left corporate life to build Bellamax Contracting—a veteran-owned firm helping others find freedom through entrepreneurship and government contracts. 💡 Wisdom Earned, Not Just Learned With a mindset shaped by hardshi…

🎬 From Mission Work to Media Impact After a global career with the International Mission Board, Craig Martin launched The Good Road—a nationally broadcast PBS series that highlights changemakers from all walks of life, now in its fifth season. 🌍 Storytelling with Purpose and Values Guided by principles of cultural change, inclusivity, and measurabl…

🏢 With deep expertise in business strategy and HR, Doug and Polly White transitioned from advising small businesses to building Gather—an eight-location co-working brand born from client demand. 📈 Scaling Businesses the Smart Way Specialists in small business growth, they guide companies through the toughest transition: moving from hands-on owners …

🎨 Revolutionizing the Art Market for 23 Years Crossroads Art Center redefined the gallery model—offering artists rental space and low commissions instead of unsustainable traditional structures. With a business-first approach, Jenni Kirby built a thriving, inclusive art hub. 📈 Blending Business Savvy with Artistic Vision From launching an online st…

🚀 With a background in finance, Chadwick Blythe made the leap into the tech world—becoming the first non-tech hire at a startup that went head-to-head with industry giants. 📈 Innovating Financial Planning Software Chad played a key role in revolutionizing financial tech—driving a web-based approach that prioritized user-friendly design and seamless…

🎨 After leading design at Chipotle, Warby Parker, and Kayak, Christine Brown left the corporate world to co-found Group Chat Studio—bringing big-brand expertise to businesses of all sizes. ⚡ Agile, Efficient, and Impact-Driven With a word-of-mouth-powered business model, Group Chat streamlines branding from months to weeks, customizes teams per pro…

🚀 From Startup to Market Leader Launched in 2020 with just two trucks, Cavalier Moving quickly expanded to multiple locations and diversified into cleaning services—all while staying debt-free and paying employees above industry standards for top-tier service. 📈 Smart Growth & Strong Leadership By removing founders from daily operations, training a…

⚡ Founded as an electrical construction company, Davison Green Services skyrocketed from $17M in 2019 to a projected $40M in 2023—led by Greg Green, who worked his way up from the trades to CEO. 📈 Smart Scaling & Strong Leadership By embracing continuous learning, building a leadership team, and expanding into HVAC and plumbing, Greg transformed th…

After eight years in insurance, Zach Allen turned his passion into a business—taking Discount Depot from a local store to a multi-platform liquidation powerhouse with Excess for Less and Discount Goods on Whatnot. 📊 Mastering the Liquidation Game By leveraging math skills, negotiation tactics, and industry expertise, Zach thrives in the liquidation…

In this episode of But First, Principles!, host Colin Davis sits down with James Warren, founder of Share More Stories and the SEEQ platform. James shares his journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, his partnership with a mentor, and the challenges he faced along the way. He also dives into his mission to "create empathy at scale" and how …

In this episode of But First, Principles!, host Colin Davis sits down with Christian Simpson, founder of Virginia Injury Law, to discuss his journey in building a successful law firm. Christian shares his background story, the challenges he faced along the way, and the key strategies that helped him scale his practice. If you're interested in entre…

In this episode of But First, Principles!, host Colin Davis sits down with Ohad Idan, founder of Praxis, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey. Ohad shares how he started the company, a defining challenge that tested his commitment to his values, and the importance of truly seeing things from the client’s perspective. If you’re a business leader l…

Building a business comes with challenges—pressure, tough decisions, and the constant push to grow. In this episode of But First, Principles! host Colin Davis sits down with Duke Dodson, an entrepreneur who grew up in a family of business owners and learned valuable lessons along the way. Duke shares his journey of launching a property management c…

Welcome to our first episode of But First, Principles! Join us for an engaging interview with Deryle as he shares how he turned a common industry challenge into a game-changing, customer-first business model. Discover his innovative “retail-to-retail” approach that’s transforming the way recreational vehicles are bought and sold. We also dive into …