Overwhelmingly, media coverage of team building, hiring, training, etc. is often geared towards the issues faced by HR at Fortune 500 sized companies. Even when it’s positioned as advice for small business owners it is often coming from an executive or consultant working primarily with giant corporations. We think it’s far more relevant to hear from small and medium business owners who have successfully grown their businesses – and so we asked some very talented folks to tell us the stories of their initial hires and the struggles and lessons they can share.

Chris Perkins

Model B was founded in 2016 by three partners on a mission to build a better digital agency. Like most agencies, we had the typical structure: account management, creative, media, and project management departments. From scratch, they built a media optimization platform called Blueprint.tech. Ultimately, this classic structure was a significant factor in holding back the company’s ability to be extraordinary. Read more>>

Andrew Roby

I wish I could say I had a team since day one. That’s not my story and I certainly won’t lie to you. When I started it was all me learning, struggling, failing and growing. Honestly I don’t believe a team would have prevented that anyway as they would have traversed through those stages of my business right with me. I didn’t build my team the traditional way by asking for resumes and screening them via an interview. It was by circumstance while working in the fashion industry that I noticed Dalonte and Frederick who just seemed like natural fits and knew what they were doing. It was a Facebook post asking for day of support for a 600 person holiday party that I met Danielle who had all the characteristics of a great planner that caused me to bring her on and very similar to Dana who was looking for a mentor. Read more>>

Janine Cooper

My studio wouldn’t exist without the hard work and devotion from my instructors and staff. They are the best employees that I could ask for. They are always willing to step-up. I value the time that they put into their craft, and to this business as well. They are just as much a part of this as I am. I think that it makes us stand out as a business. I love the fact that we are a diverse, group of instructors, with so many styles, and backgrounds. I have gotten so many compliments from clients that they are welcoming, knowledgable, and in tune with our clients and the various communities that we serve. They are the best support. Read more>>

Bridgette Ivers

Yes, we’ve had multiple crews with us since day one—some have been with us for over 10 years. Finding the right team members and subcontractors was, and still is, absolutely crucial. In the early days, I took a very hands-on approach. I would have new team members work on my personal residence or at my furniture store in Frisco, Texas—Designer Haus—before ever putting them on a client project. It allowed me to see how they handled everything: from prep work to execution, their punctuality, their cleanup process, and—just as importantly—how they interacted with clients. That unconventional approach became part of our training process. It ensured every person on site not only had the technical skills but also aligned with our standards of professionalism and care. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have found great people early on who shared that same commitment—and many of them are still with us today. Read more>>

Kimber Maderazzo

One of the most important things I’ve learned about building a high-performing team is that recruiting isn’t just about finding the most qualified person on paper, it’s about finding the right fit for the culture, mission, and momentum of the organization. I’ve always approached hiring with a deep focus on values alignment, curiosity, and the ability to adapt. During interviews, I’m not just looking at past accomplishments; I’m listening for self-awareness, grit, and the ability to collaborate across functions. I build structured but conversational interview processes that include scenario-based questions, cross-functional interviews, and time spent discussing how candidates receive and apply feedback. Read more>>

Jacquelyn Berney

VI Marketing and Branding was already an agency when I joined as a temp receptionist in 2000. It wasn’t my business in the traditional founder sense, but I’ve built my leadership journey from the ground up within the company. In many ways, I grew up with VI. Read more>>