From Business Owner to Business Growth Specialist: Why I Do What I Do

I’m a business growth specialist at Dream Local Digital, and this isn’t just about how I can help your business grow. It’s about why I care so much about it in the first place.

Where It Started

About 15 or 16 years ago, I started my professional career at a startup called Dream Local Digital. At the time, I was doing something I genuinely loved, even if I didn’t fully understand it yet. I was helping small businesses grow.

While I was still working there, I started building something of my own. That business was a mobile burrito cart. I usually describe it as a glorified hot dog cart, but it was mine. Over time, it grew into a successful restaurant and catering company.

What I loved most in those early days was the variety. Every day was different. I got to interact with people, solve problems, and take on new challenges constantly.

When Growth Became About People

As life evolved, so did my business. I had three kids. My company grew from just two people into a team of more than twenty. But something else shifted too. My passion changed.

It stopped being about growing the business itself and became about growing the people inside it. I found more fulfillment in helping my employees build their careers than in scaling revenue or operations.

Then I noticed something important. As I stepped back from chasing growth, my team stepped forward. They became invested in growing the business in ways I no longer was. That was the moment I knew it was time. Time to give them the space to lead. And time for me to pursue what I had become passionate about: helping others find that same kind of freedom.

Coming Full Circle

As life tends to do, timing lined up. Shannon, the founder of Dream Local Digital, the same place where I started, was ready to welcome me back. This time, not just as someone learning the ropes, but as someone who had lived the experience of building, growing, and stepping back from a business. Now, I get to help other business owners do the same.

Why Strategy Matters More Than Ever

Here’s the truth most business owners run into at some point: You can’t do it all alone.

A real, comprehensive marketing strategy isn’t something you can manage in pieces or squeeze in between everything else. It takes a team. It takes clarity. And it takes a plan. That’s what makes Dream Local Digital different.

We don’t just offer isolated services. We act as your marketing department. We build strategies that align with your goals and execute them across channels so everything works together.

Because real growth doesn’t come from one tactic. It comes from a cohesive approach that moves your business forward in a measurable way.

Not Your Typical Sales Conversation

I’ll be honest. This is usually the part where it can start to feel like a sales pitch. And yes, technically, my role falls under sales. But that’s not how we operate.

There’s no high-pressure environment. No quotas driving conversations. No “sell at all costs” mentality. In fact, I had a meeting recently with my kids’ rock wall blurred out in the background while I sat on two pillows in the middle of moving my office. That’s real life. And that’s how we show up.

The focus is simple: meet business owners where they are, understand their goals, and have a real conversation about what’s possible. Then we bring those insights back to our team of experienced strategists to build a plan that actually makes sense for that business.

What Matters Most

At the end of the day, my goal isn’t just to sign clients, it’s to help people. If someone walks away from a conversation with me with even one idea, one insight, or one piece of clarity that helps them move forward, that’s a win. Because growth and marketing aren’t just about tactics. They’re about connection. They’re about timing. And they’re about being ready.

I know our services can help. But they only work if they feel right for you and if you’re in a place to take that next step. If not, that’s okay too. If we can connect, share ideas, and help you feel more confident about what comes next, that’s just as valuable.

Let’s Talk About Your Growth

If you’re ready to focus on the parts of your business that actually light you up, let’s have a conversation.

No pressure. No expectations. Just a real discussion about what growth means to you and how to get there.