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EOC Interview

EOC Interview July 14, 2022

Interview with Sadaya “Daisy” Lewis – Owner of Modern Southern Table

Food’s always been a part of Sadaya “Daisy” Lewis’ life, but it wasn’t until dropping out of pre-med that she set her sights on a culinary career. Soon after committing to this path, she got a life-changing call from the Food Network! But the past two years haven’t been easy. From higher wage demands to vendor cost increases, Daisy continues to find a way through the struggle. Read about how she stays positive in the face of adversity, why we should talk to our elders, and some of her favorite business books.

EOC Interview June 30, 2022

Interview with Kary Oberbrunner – Owner of Igniting Souls Publishing Agency

Kary Oberbruner began his entrepreneurial journey as an author, which evolved into creating and running his own publishing company. Passionate about Web3 and turning books into “18 streams of income,” Kary’s approach to the book business is far from conventional. Read on to learn about his “Jimmy Dean Sausage Strategy” of marketing and how confronting his deepest wound transformed his career.

EOC Interview June 22, 2022

Interview with Isana Sebastian – Founder & CEO of IA GLAM

Isana Sebastian started IA GLAM, a small beauty business, at the age of 20. Having recently dropped out of college and feeling lost in life, it seemed fate had a plan in store for her. After coming across serendipitous posts on the internet and with no previous experience, Isana decided to start her own business. Within a month of this decision, she was launching IA GLAM. Read about why she’s glad she started young, how social media has been integral to her brand’s growth, and why sales aren’t the best measurement of success.

EOC Interview June 15, 2022

Interview with Chelsie Casagrande – Owner of Big House Photography

As the owner of Big House Photography and co-owner/founder of Flat 51, German Village Maker’s Market, and Pasta Social, Chelsie Casagrande is no stranger to the process of starting a business from the ground up. Since 2014, she has been navigating the tricky terrain of being her own boss and executing her many visions. A firm believer in the interconnected nature of creative businesses, Chelsie’s businesses range from photography to events to digital strategy. Read about why she views continual evolution as the fuel that keeps a business healthy and thriving.

EOC Interview June 1, 2022

Interview with Melanie Guzzo – Owner of Virtue Vegan Salon

With a degree in Art Education, Melanie Guzzo never planned on becoming a salon owner. It wasn’t until she started interviewing at salons that she realized the salon she was looking for didn’t exist yet. Self-funded and debt-free for the first 7 years, Virtue Vegan Salon is guided by Melanie’s focus on community, giving back, and paying her employees well. Read about why she believes failure is a vital part of being a business owner and Virtue Salon’s exciting new development being launched later this year!

EOC Interview May 23, 2022

Interview with Claire Coder – Founder & CEO of Aunt Flow

At the age of 18, Claire Coder dropped out of college to start Aunt Flow, a company on a mission to increase access to period products. Six years later, Aunt Flow has convinced Google, Princeton, Netflix, and more to provide tampons and pads for free! Read about her lessons as a young entrepreneur and how she pivoted during the pandemic to save the company.

EOC Interview May 13, 2022

Interview with Alex Copeland of Plenty O’Cookies

Alex Copeland tried numerous “day jobs” before becoming a full-time entrepreneur. On this quest to find something that fulfilled him, one thing remained constant — cookies. Eight years ago, Alex decided to combine his two passions to create Plenty O’Cookies, a drag queen cookie-decorating business. Read about how he turned his side hustle into a full-time gig!

EOC Interview May 4, 2022

Interview with Kate Stevens of Red Giraffe Designs

What began as a hobby in her parents’ basement has grown into a three-store business with plans for a new studio space! Teaching herself jewelry-making through YouTube, Kate Stevens has been running Red Giraffe Designs (RGD, for short) for over 10 years. During this time, she’s moved from sole jewelry designer to manager of 15 employees. Kate shares how customization became central to her business, the tools integral to her success, and why adaptability and evolution are vital to being an entrepreneur.

EOC Interview April 26, 2022

Interview with Ryan Srbljan – Owner of Corvette Care

As a niche business owner, Ryan Srblija plays by different rules. Running Corvette Care as its third owner has required Ryan to continue to adapt to the specific needs of this specialty. Read about how he’s shifted his payment structure, moved to a new, larger facility, and blended old school with new in marketing.

EOC Interview April 11, 2022

Interview with Brooke Hohlbaugh – Owner of Boards by Brooke

What began as a love for hosting has transformed into a bustling charcuterie business for Brooke Hohlbaugh, the business owner of and personality behind Boards by Brooke. For the past two years, Brooke has been honing her Instagram presence, creating consistent, high-quality content that resonates with her followers, all while holding down a full-time job as a teacher! Learn about how she’s leveraged Instagram to grow her business and what she’s learned does (and doesn’t) work.

EOC Interview March 29, 2022

Interview with Mike Leibrand – Owner of Summit Technologies

As a serial entrepreneur, Mike Leibrand understands the ins and outs of starting and running a business. His first venture began in 1990, selling T-shirts door-to-door in college. Since then, he’s owned multiple businesses, his most recent being Summit Technologies. Read about how he’s kept his entrepreneurial fire burning for over 30 years and what he’s learned along the way.

EOC Interview March 6, 2022

Interview with Dr. Meghna Mahambrey – Founder of SPARK

It all began in 2019, when Dr. Meghna Mahambrey gave a TEDx Columbus talk on “the birds and the bees.” From there, she created SPARK out of a desire to continue to share valuable insight on relationships and sexual wellness with the public. Initially just hosting workshops, SPARK has evolved through listening to the community’s needs and requests. These days, Meghna’s multi-faceted business offers one-on-one coaching, singles’ events, a podcast, and more!

EOC Interview February 15, 2022

Interview with Nathan Leber – Owner of Leber Design & Print

Since 2016, Nathan Leber has been honing his niche as a small design and print shop owner, focusing on building lasting relationships and crafting the highest quality products for his customers. Instead of emphasizing profit and growth, Nathan’s found success through community, employee achievement, and creating products that speak for themselves. With a strong belief in education as investment, Nathan shares resources that have been vital to his entrepreneurial process!

EOC Interview January 26, 2022

Interview with Tabitha Mund – Owner of Swoon Rugs

Previously to opening her own business, nothing in Tabitha Mund’s work-life seemed to be working out. From graduating during the recession to working at a startup that was burning her out, she was struggling to see the path forward. At the end of her rope, she had a realization that would change the course of her life — at her e-design job, she saw a gap in the market for high-quality curated rugs. From here, she developed Swoon Rugs with “no inventory, no money, and no clue.” Read more about her journey to accidentally finding her dream career after years of searching, and how it’s evolved to running her own brick-and-mortar shop.

EOC Interview January 13, 2022

Interview with Karla Larson-Miller – Owner of Bella Capelli Salone

Back in 2008, Karla Larson-Miller saw an opportunity: the salon she was working for was closing, and she’d just accomplished great success in her secondary career as a real estate agent. An entrepreneur at heart, she recognized this moment as her chance to finally have a salon of her own. Since taking this leap, she’s navigated long hours, opening two additional businesses, and even employee theft. With her newest business less than a year old, there are no signs of her slowing down!

EOC Interview December 21, 2021

Interview with Angie O’Brien & Heidi Bell – Owners of Harbor Yoga

Angie O’ Brien and Heidi Bell were both at a turning point in their lives when they decided to take a chance on opening their own business. With careers they were ready to leave behind and kids they wanted to spend more time with, in 2010, they decided it was time to finally take their idea of opening a yoga studio seriously. With a dream, a friendship, and a new business partnership, their idea was hatched in August, and doors to Harbor Yoga Studio were opened in November.

EOC Interview September 20, 2021

Interview with Phoebe Tricket – Owner of The Butcher Shop Fitness

After becoming a new mom, Phoebe Tricket was struggling to find the work-life balance she desired as a third grade teacher.  She had been instructing at the Butcher Shop Fitness for two years and one day noticed a lock pad on the door of the fitness studio. She assumed the owners, who were working remotely, were looking to sell. This wasn’t the case at that moment but it led into her first conversation about acquiring the company, which she later did. Learn how Phoebe has grown the Butcher Shop Fitness into a two location studio with 30 instructors that serves 135 clients per day.

EOC Interview September 3, 2021

Interview with Nano Swetman – Founder of Cuffed by Nano

At just 24 years old, Nano Swetman decided that she was going to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and began making jewelry for her friends and family. Fast forward five years later and Nano is the proud Founder of Cuffed by Nano, a high-end online jewelry store that offers beautiful jewelry at an affordable price. Read more about Nano’s story and how she is champions her most successful social media platforms to elevate her jewelry business!

EOC Interview August 12, 2021

Interview with Erin Hackett – Owner of Hackett House Studio

After almost 8 years in the financial services industry, Erin decided to pursue her passion for interior design and make it come to life. With a continuously growing company, Erin functions as the marketing department, the bookkeeper, the project manager, the salesperson, the account executive, the office manager and the HR rep on top of being a designer! The future looks exciting for Erin as she continues to expand her knowledge in the industry by working towards two new certifications.

EOC Interview July 15, 2021

Interview with Margaret Lydy-Meeker – Owner of On Paper

Margaret, who moved from Toledo to attend Ohio State, acquired On Paper in January of 2020. Having come from a family of small business owners, Margaret had always dreamt of owning her own business. Because she took over the business just before the pandemic, Margaret has faced some of the most difficult obstacles an entrepreneur could endure. As she continues on with her business, she looks to expand On Paper with different locations in areas around the Columbus area.

EOC Interview July 6, 2021

Interview with Jesse Johnson – Owner of STORE 5a

Growing up in the Diamond Cellar family, Jesse was determined to combine his knowledge in the jewelry industry with his passion for vintage guitars to bring the idea of STORE 5a. The business grew out of STORE 5a’s selling and buying circle and now is an excellent place to find one-of-a-kind jewelry. As they approach their seventh year in business, Jesse and his team are excited to expand and open up their second store in Nashville, Tennessee.