Category: Business Owner Stories

Mandy Rosello and her husband Joe are truly living their dreams. The two enjoyed sailing and international travel, so they found a way to make a career of it. Together, they run Sailing Kuma Too, a sailing charter company operating a 47-foot catamaran out of Dunedin, Florida, just west of Tampa Bay. The business offers single- and multi-day charters, sunset cruises, and half-day excursions in the Tampa area. The Rosellos are excited to expand their business to the U.S. and… Read More

Matthew Rowell owns The American Edge, a B2B knife-sharpening business run out of Lee, New Hampshire. His goal is to help end consumerism and encourage people to maintain high-quality equipment. While he sets up shop at farmer's markets and other gatherings, he's looking to add a mobile sharpening station to his business to roll right up to any business that could use his services. The American Edge is the first runner-up for Nav's Small Business Grant, and Matthew took some… Read More

Sole proprietor Symphony Astoria founded SoCal Succulents with the intent to bring her community together while maintaining the flexibility to be active in her daughter's life. After just one year in business, SoCal Succulents is thriving and doing just what Symphony intended: bringing the community together. With dreams of opening a storefront location one day, she shows no signs of slowing down. SoCal Succulents is one of the runners-up in this latest Nav Small Business Grant Round, and were kind… Read More

As the Public Relations Manager at Nav, I have the privilege of reviewing each of the applications that are submitted for our company’s Small Business Grant. In all honesty, it’s the best and worst part of my job all rolled into one. The week of reviewing applications is truly an emotional rollercoaster for me as I work with the team to narrow down the applicant pool to only a handful of finalists. The minute I read Maggie and Jaron Clayton’s… Read More

John Pascoe is the founder of the Pascoe Law Firm, a dual-practice law firm in the Houston area that focuses on car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. Instead of keeping up with the “Joneses” of other large local law firms, Pascoe focuses on providing excellent customer service rather than outspending competitors. Starting Out Why did you start the company? I graduated from college in one of the worst time periods, during the economic collapse of 2008. I had a good job… Read More

With Earth Day on the horizon (April 22), many businesses will soon take a pause to reflect on ways they can reduce waste and recycle materials. Sara Swisher-Anderson, founder of jewelry company Lennon Harper Designs, is already on top of her game when it comes to reuse. She creates upcycled pieces from repurposed heirlooms and treasures, such as vintage buttons and antique cameos. Swisher-Anderson has managed to create a promising business using materials that are almost completely reused, from flea… Read More