Kanawha Valley Hustlers

In this episode of Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I chat with Scott Hardy, a real estate investor, about his journey and the dynamics of the housing market. Scott explains the appeal of real estate lies in the action and the opportunity to improve lives by providing safe homes for families. He shares insights on the volatile rental market and emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships wi...

In this episode, I chat with Andrew Ford and Jay Nelson, the owners of Bogey's At Capitol Market, about their journey in the restaurant business. They recently celebrated the grand opening of their second location at the Capitol Market in Charleston, drawing a crowd of around 150 people. Andrew shares their seven-year history at the original spot in Tornado, where they host events like concerts an...

In this episode of Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I chat with Jacob Holmes, a local filmmaker and videographer, about his latest project. Jacob’s film, Two, created by his company Eagle Eye Productions, explores infertility through the real-life experiences of couples and doctors. It premiered in Teays Valley and then Charleston’s Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, with potential for more screenings. Jacob tal...

Today on the Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I chat with Scotty Stone from Goodwill Industries of Kanawha Valley. Scotty is an employment specialist dedicated to helping people overcome barriers to reentering the workforce. He explains that while many think of Goodwill as just a thrift store, the revenue from these stores supports mission services, including resume building, application help, interview p...

I’m chatting with Kerry-Ann Wilkinson in Dunbar, where she’s opening the Fab Institute of Beauty. Kerry’s hustle is all about beauty, something she’s been passionate about since childhood. After 20 years in the industry and running her own salon for eight years, she’s now starting a beauty school to train future hairstylists, makeup artists, and wax specialists. Originally from Jamaica, Kerry move...

I sit down with Tiara Brown, the Community Development Coordinator at EnAct Community Action, to discuss her work supporting low-income communities in West Virginia. Tiara explains how EnAct Community Action helps individuals become self-sustainable through programs like two-year degree assistance, vehicle repairs, and rental or utility support. We talk about how small setbacks, like a broken car,...

In this episode, I talk with Lori McNabb, the owner of Spotlight Dance and Acrobatics. Lori shares her journey of turning a lifelong dream into reality. She always wanted to open a dance studio, but she initially pursued a career as a counselor and administrator. After praying for guidance, she received a call about a building for rent, which she took as a sign to follow her passion. Lori opened h...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I chat with Evan Casper, a chemical engineer who just moved to Charleston, West Virginia, from Pittsburgh. Originally from South Louisiana, Evan is excited about his new job at Atlas Prediction Control, a process controls company, and his fresh start in Charleston. He shares his first impressions of the area, noting how Charleston feels like...

I’m at Roadside Park in Saint Albans for the Kanawha Valley Hustlers Podcast, talking with Shanna Wickline, co-founder of More Than Addiction. Today’s community picnic is filled with activities like inflatables, a live DJ, and arts and crafts, all aimed at bringing people together. Shanna shares that More Than Addiction was founded in 2019 to fight the stigma surrounding mental health and addictio...

On this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I chat with Mason Weese, a house flipper in Charleston. Mason shares how he started his business in 2021, flipping his first house despite everyone telling him it was a bad investment. He believed in his vision, took the risk, and made a profit. Since then, Mason's business has grown significantly, now managing 15 to 20 crews to flip about 50...

In today’ episode I chat with Morgan McNabb, the owner of Spotlight Dance and Acrobatics, to talk about her passion for dance and her journey as a business owner. Morgan shares how she’s been dancing since she was two, went to WVU for dance, and eventually took over the family studio. Today, she’s hosting a vendor event during registration at her studio to support local businesses, an idea sparked...

In this episode of Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I talk with Christian Perez, a young man who has already graduated from college at 19 and is about to complete his MBA by 20. Christian shares how dual enrollment in high school allowed him to fast-track his education, despite not having the highest SAT scores or many scholarships. He emphasizes that his success is due to a strong work ethic, not intelle...

In this episode of Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I talk with Chuck Stump about his approach to helping businesses grow by developing their people. Chuck emphasizes that effective communication is at the core of success, whether in business or personal relationships. He introduces the concept of emotional intelligence and shares insights from his upcoming program, highlighting the importance of understa...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I chat with Elena Compton at First Tuesdays, where she shares her work as the Development and Grants Manager for Read Aloud West Virginia, focusing on improving literacy by motivating kids to read for fun. Elena opens up about her own struggles with dyslexia and how discovering topics she enjoyed transformed reading from a chore into something she lo...

I’m recording the Kanawha Valley Hustlers Podcast from DT Prime at First Tuesdays with Brian Aluise from the Charleston Area Alliance. Brian’s new role focuses on membership and investor development, a natural progression from his previous work with Senator Joe Manchin. We discuss the importance of networking events like First Tuesdays, especially for young professionals in the area. Brian emphasi...

On this episode, I chat with Lee Ayers at the KDE office on Hale Street to discuss his hustle in cybersecurity. Lee works for KDE and the state of West Virginia, handling about 400 to 500 cyberattacks a year. He explains the importance of manual intervention and security-focused website development. Lee's book, *Cyber Resilience*, set in Charleston, West Virginia, details real hacking groups and v...

Today on Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I'm at Meetup 64 with Jacob Lesher, CTO of West Virginia Integrated AI Solutions. Jacob explains how his company helps small West Virginia businesses integrate AI into their operations, highlighting AI's evolution from niche use cases to broadly applicable tools. He clarifies that AI, which improves itself using training data, is now capable of handling tasks like...

Exploring the Huntington Museum of Art with Jennifer Wheeler

Today on the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I'm talking with Cameron Collins from Prim Law Firm. She handles PR, marketing, and intake for the firm, specializing in personal injury and asbestos exposure cases. We discuss the challenges of competing with large national firms that dominate the advertising space but lack the personal touch of local firms. Cameron explains the difficulties of market...

On this episode of Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I talk with Lee Dean, the senior field representative for the West Virginia Secretary of State's office. Lee oversees elections across the state, ensuring everything runs smoothly, which has made West Virginia a model for election integrity. Beyond his day job, Lee performs tribute shows for Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Cash, entertaining aud...

In this episode I chat with Mayor Steve Williams at Meet-Up 64 in Huntington to discuss the city's progress. Steve, who's been mayor for 12 years, talks about Huntington becoming a go-to city with new developments like a cybersecurity center and new buildings at Marshall University. He highlights the economic growth driven by the city's purchase and redevelopment of an old factory site, now a hub...

I visit the Zoology Zone Science Center in Valley Park and chat with Andy McKee, the founder. He explains how the center started as a reptile and amphibian rescue and evolved into an educational facility with all rescued animals. Inspired by his parents, Andy's love for herpetology led him from teaching to creating the center. Despite challenges as a nonprofit, the Zoology Zone thrives with commun...

I'm at Meetup 64 in Huntington for the Kanawha Valley Hustler podcast, where I meet Jakob Hardman. Jakob juggles multiple roles: CFO of West Virginia Integrated AI Solutions, an accounting student at Marshall University, and the facility administrator of the Nitro Athletic Complex. We talk about the upcoming Metro 911 program, Serving for Safety, pickleball tournament at the Nitro Athletic Complex...

In this special edition of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers Podcast, I share highlights from our ribbon-cutting event on June 26th. I'm thrilled and humbled by the incredible turnout, showcasing the strong community spirit here in the Kanawha Valley. During the impromptu live stream, I chat with many attendees, including local business owners, community leaders, and even a representative from Senator J...

Today on the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast I’m at Valley Cakes Cafe and Catering with Pam Fisher, where she shares her journey of starting and growing her food business. The cafe offers a variety of food, from sandwiches and salads to unique items like the Wimpy John. They also provide catering services and have an event space for various gatherings. Pam discusses the challenges she’s faced, fro...