
A little about me...
Back in 2016, my friends and I decided to start a coffee business. We were 19. We had no clue what we were getting into.
But through that ignorance came a genuine desire to learn all we could – about business, coffee, and leadership. I've continued to incrementally replace my ignorance with knowledge in these areas. And I've still got a long way to go, but that's what makes entrepreneurship fun.
Ross Walters, Ethan Rivers and I started Valor Coffee in August 2016 as a mobile coffee cart. We raised $10,000 through Kickstarter and put another $10,000 on a credit card. I swore I would walk away if the card wasn't paid off in a year.
We paid it off. And since then, we've continued to slowly grow into two cafes and a roasting headquarters. We employ 25+ people, and we've still got a lot planned. You can visit Valor's website here.
Over the years at Valor, my roles have been diverse, ranging from barista to manager, bookkeeper, marketer, social media handler, roaster, green coffee purchaser, podcaster, web developer, plumber, and repairman. I consider it so important to stockpile skills, and starting a business has necessitated that I always learn something new.
Today, I fill the role of Creative Director at Valor, focusing on content creation, branding, social media, and marketing.
Beyond Valor, I am passionate about imparting my experiences in coffee and entrepreneurship to those who need it, through YouTube videos, writing on this website, and (occasionally) consulting services.
I married my best friend, Mikayla, in 2017. We welcomed our son, Jude, in August 2022. We live surrounded by family in North Georgia. In my leisure time, I enjoy reading, playing video games, hitting the gym, fly fishing, and eating out with my wife.