Stephen Story
President of James River Transportation
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyStephen Story's Bio
Additional Strengths: Training System, Human Resource Management, Revenue Forecasting, Marketing Plan Development, Sales Process, and our organization is a leader in fleet management and safety.
Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
Creating a positive company culture and integrity at all costs.My First Job Was
I have worked for only one company in my life. Our family business, James River Transportation offered an opportunity and if fit me. I was fortunate that I worked in all departments of the company and my supervisors were not family members.Best Advice I’ve Received
There is so much creative talent in the World and many of us do not take advantage of it. Get involved with as many groups as possible and do not be shy about asking for opinions.
Scott Aronson
President of Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyScott Aronson's Bio
Additional Strengths: Strategy, retail operations, manufacturing operations, marketing, business development, sales, real estate
My First Job Was
I worked at a golf course cleaning clubs and loading them into golfer’s vehicles. You learned quickly who tipped well and who carried way too many balls in their bag (making it heavy).Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
Don’t chase the easy answer or a little money in the short term at the expense of flexibility or future opportunities.Best Advice I’ve Received
Always treat people fairly and support local businesses when possible.Interests
Classic cars, Watching highschool sports
Sarah Paxton
President & Co-owner of LaDiff
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologySarah Paxton's Bio
Additional Strengths: Creating a proforma budget, understanding your financial statements, understanding/improving your profit margins, how to create a marketing budget (and what constitutes ‘marketing’)
My First Job Was
Other than babysitting (LOTS of babysitting), my first job with a real paycheck was as a Senate Page for 3 months during my Freshman year of high school. I tended to be a little too social, so I was relocated (banished?) to the basement of the General Assembly building where I collated and organized the daily bills.Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
Don’t hit ‘send’ while you’re angry. Write the email (or letter or message); wait an hour or a day; reread your response and edit it. I also like to think “how would the customer explain my reply to a friend?” Word choice and tone of voice are very important, as is empathy, and ALL relationships are valuable.Best Advice I’ve Received
My mentors in the Richmond retail community – and there are many (Bobby Ukrop, Jack Kreuter, Pat Patrick) – are and were good stewards of our community. Giving back was in their DNA. I think being a partner with the community that supports you is the difference between being a good retail store and a great retail experience.
Pat Heaney
Co-Owner of Mango Salon
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyPat Heaney's Bio
Additional Strengths: strategic planning for small businesses, including planning and opening
My First Job Was
My first job at age 17 was unloading grocery trucks at a small IGA grocery store in my hometown in Deer Lodge, Montana. I learned the discipline of working hard and being responsible. As I gained more experience, I became a grocery clerk responsible for stocking shelves and checking out customers at the cash register checkout.Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
My first critical lesson was how to be more productive when stocking fresh eggs in the dairy case. This was my first job and I initially didn’t connect with productivity in how to restock the egg case. The store was really busy and I got behind with this task. The owner/manager saw how slow I was and took me aside and showed me how to stock eggs faster to improve my productivity. He didn’t embarrass me. He demonstrated the faster way and then observed me patiently. He mentioned that in the summer he would need me to work more hours If I wanted (to me this was a great incentive). The lesson I learned from my first boss: “teach young people the right methods by showing them, then observing, and finally offering them encouragement?.” I worked much harder for my boss from that day forward.Best Advice I’ve Received
Learned to treat co-workers with respect. My first mentor always encouraged me. He never criticized me when I made mistakes. He would stop and show me the right way and praised me when I did things right.
Page Ewell
President of Richmond Window Corp.
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyPage Ewell's Bio
Additional Strengths: Startup, Strategy, Scale, Sales Operations
My First Job Was
I was a pizza delivery driver at age 16 with no maps, GPS, or phones and got lost on half my deliveries.Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
Since I heard the quote by Henry Ford – “ Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right” I’ve tried to pattern my management style according to that statement. Being an optimistic person helps too.Best Advice I’ve Received
The little things make all the difference.
Nancy Thomas
President of InUnison
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyNancy Thomas's Bio
Additional Strengths: Strategic planning, people management, small business operations, building team culture, and creating a culture and environment that shows collogues you care.
My First Job Was
At 12 years old, delivered papers and cleaned houses. I did use the rolled-up newspapers to swat at dogs that were ready to bite me.Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
To give people the benefit of the doubt, and to be open, honest, and direct in my communication but do it with respect and kindness.Best Advice I’ve Received
I have two that are important to me, It’s ok to show your vulnerability and be sure to feel purpose in your work and not just show up every day.Interests
Taking long bike rides, finding great rocks
Melissa Ball
Owner of Ball Office Products & C.P. Dean
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyMelissa Ball's Bio
Additional Strengths: starting up, accounting & finance, human resources, management, operations, sales, technology
My First Job Was
My first real W2 job was as a traffic counter for a civil engineering firm.Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
Your accountant should be a strategist, not a bookkeeper. You and your accountant should communicate well and often with your banker to be best prepared for your credit needs. Policy can have a significant impact on your business, be engaged and informed.Best Advice I’ve Received
There is dignity in work so always make sure to preserve the dignity of others.Interests
Dogs, The Doorways Volunteering
Meg Gouldin
HR Director of Strange’s Florist
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyMeg Gouldin's Bio
Additional Strengths: retail merchandising, team design, culture assessments, training and development, policy building, and team mediation/problem solving
My First Job Was
My very first job was actually with Strange’s! By the age of about 12, I was assisting in unloading products, making bows, wrapping plants, and sometimes I even got to answer sales calls. My first job outside of the family business was at a pet resort called Dude Ranch Pet Resort.Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
Listen more than you speak. Speak when you’re angry or upset and you will make the best speech you will ever regret. Complex problems don’t always require complex solutionsBest Advice I’ve Received
My father has always been my greatest mentor in both business and life. He has shared many words of wisdom around the importance of trust in every relationship. “The opinions and guidance of the smartest person in the room mean nothing if you can’t trust them”.
Lisa McSherry
Owner of Lex’s of Carytown / Mamie’s Apothecary
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyLisa McSherry's Bio
Additional Strengths: opening a small business, working with employees, increasing sales
My First Job Was
I was 15 and worked at a T-shirt and hat printing press. I made logoed T-shirts and hatsValuable Lessons I’ve Learned
Always be willing to adapt and change your business idea depending on customers’ needs.Best Advice I’ve Received
There will be so many highs and lows of owning your own business but never give up!Interests
Cooking, Walking, Reading,
Kevin Reardon
President of Franco’s Fine Clothier
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyKevin Reardon's Bio
My First Job Was
At 12 years oldie first paying job was delivery Richmond New Leader and then The Richmond Times Dispatch. I did this until graduating high school. It was a great lesson in interacting with customers. Also, I worked at Best Products for an year in high school loading trucks at the distribution center in Ashland. That job ws a good lesson in working with others as a team.Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
When dealing with people/customers, it is best to listen more and talk less. When listening to customers you are able to offer a better opinion as to what service or product you have that will best suit their needs.Best Advice I’ve Received
Do not sell something just to sell it, the product has to be right for the customer.Additional Skills
Customer Relations
Duncan Thomas
President/CEO of CarSource, Inc.
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyDuncan Thomas's Bio
Additional Strengths: employee relations, sales products & services, image standards, operations
My First Job Was
My first job to make some money was when I was 13 years old during my first year in boarding school. I had a camera -a Range finder. I enjoyed photography and would take pictures of other students for a small fee. I would have the pictures developed on Saturdays when we were allowed to go out. They were in black and white only. Everyone would be so excited when I came back with the prints! I still have some of those pictures today!Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
I have learned many valuable lessons during the many years of my career. Too many to list so I will select just a few. I learned that failure is an indispensable prerequisite for success. In the business world, there can be no major accomplishments without some major setbacks and failures. Overcoming failures and major obstacles are what make a good story. So, I always ask – what’s your story? You have to have enthusiasm and love what you do. If you have passion for what you do, then it’s not work. You should never be afraid to change your mind if something doesn’t work. Someone once told me that the only person who can change their mind is a person who has one! Something else very important that I learned a little later in my career is the importance of surrounding yourself with a good reference group. A good reference group, to me, are people with different knowledge and skills that you can tap into from time to time. They should be people who don’t always think like you do because when we all think alike, no one thinks at all! Finally, I learned that especially in retail, it’s all about the customer. I used to tell my employees that we’re in the business of customer service, if you’re not serving the customer, then you better be serving the person who is!Best Advice I’ve Received
My first mentor would video record me during my presentations (VHS back then). Later he would replay the video on the screen and discuss with me all the mistakes I was making. That was tough to swallow ( i was pretty bad) but it helped improve my presentation skills tremendously. I was later able to be rated an “A’ speaker in my industry and was able to be interviewed on national Television, testify before the US Congress on several occasions and even testify before The United States Senate judiciary committee.Additional skills:
- The physical business location – maintaining higher image standards
- Product (or services) – Assisting in creative ways to increase sales of products or services offered
- Profit – Understanding small business financial statements, challenges, and ways to maximize profit by better control of operating expenses -fixed and variables.
Interests
Cooking, Travel, Reading, Movies, Golf, Music (listening)
Catherine Cary
President of Bremo Pharmacies
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyCatherine Cary's Bio
Additional Strengths: Pharmacy, health & wellness, leadership, motivating staff into a cohesive team, goal setting
My First Job Was
My first and only job was with Bremo Pharmacy. I began working in the family business at the age of 12. I began with dusting shelves and running errands, then eventually graduated to cashier. By high school and college, I was helping out as a pharmacy technician and delivery driver until I graduated from pharmacy school. From dusting shelves to a pharmacist, to a CEO, I have done every job in the company at one point or another.Best Advice I’ve Received
I have learned that the best way to accomplish company goals is to lead a strong team with clear goals and expectations. Setting realistic and measurable goals, then empowering your team to take ownership of the steps to accomplish the goals will get you way further than trying to accomplish the tasks on your own.Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
I learned the power of a positive attitude from my father Dan Herbert, who said “you’ve got to believe.” He had an optimistic vision for the future and saw each day’s struggles as a path toward reaching his vision. This inspired me and set me on my own pathway of optimism. My business coach also gave me great advice to set a “cadence of accountability.” when outlining clear expectations for my team. Similarly, I found author, Brene Brown, very insightful in her advice, “clear is kind.” This message helped me to provide more open and honest feedback to my team, rather than sugarcoat issues that need to be addressed.Interests
Running, Health & Wellness
Aaron Montgomery
Managing Partner of Montgomery Development Group
Accounting & FinanceHuman ResourcesManagementMarketingOperationsSalesStarting UpTechnologyAaron Montgomery's Bio
Additional Strengths: Leadership skills, marketing, employee challenges, analyzing financial reports and time management.
My First Job Was
I worked at McDonald’s as a “bun caramelizer” when I was 14. I spent three months there before I “graduated” to fries and later burger assembly. It was almost 6 months before they let me anywhere near a cash register.
Best Advice I’ve Received
Good judgment comes from experience, but experience comes from bad judgement. If you think long, you think wrong. Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing perfectly.Valuable Lessons I’ve Learned
That no matter who you are or what you’ve done, everything up until now could just be the prologue to your greatest success.
Interested in getting in touch with one of our mentors?
- You’ll learn new skills as a business owner from someone who has been there and done that.
- You’ll strengthen your business acumen through business planning and strategy discussions, and get open, honest, candid advice.
- You’ll meet with someone who is right here in the Richmond region – a mentor who understands the local business climate and its challenges.
All premium-level members – and up to four additional staff members – are eligible to participate in the program.
This program is a resource for ongoing learning. For example, if your problem is solved with your current mentor, you may apply for another session with the same mentor or another mentor who has a different specialty that aligns with your situation.
Your mentor is a true professional who understands the importance of candor and confidentiality. So you can feel comfortable discussing anything about your situation. By sharing all your concerns, you can come up with solutions together, with all conversations kept just between the two of you.
