We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caty Dover a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Caty, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

Am I happier as a business owner? Most days, yes, though I’d be lying if I said the thought of a steady 9-to-5 with PTO and someone else footing the mental load hasn’t crossed my mind once or twice.

The last time that thought popped up was on a Friday at 11 p.m., laptop still glowing, when I realized my “quick email check” had somehow turned into redesigning an entire client campaign. In that moment, I thought, *“Wouldn’t it be nice to just clock out and not dream in hashtags or trending audio?”

But here’s the thing: the timing to start Ever Social was just right. After almost a decade working every role from intern to director, I had the experience to adapt quickly — and the passion to finally do things my own way. Truth be told, my husband and I had already learned the hard way what it meant to own a business — 14 years ago, as newlyweds, we opened a restaurant. Let’s just call that our “very expensive MBA program.” That experience taught me grit, resilience, and that failing isn’t a detour in entrepreneurship — it’s part of the road. Owning your own business is definitely not for the weak.

As a business owner now, the pressure is there — people count on me for paychecks, clients trust me with their business, and I never take lightly the investment someone makes when they choose us. But there’s nothing more rewarding than helping other small business owners succeed. That’s what keeps me going, even when the 9-to-5 life looks tempting.

So, am I happier? Absolutely. But don’t be surprised if you catch me daydreaming every now and then about an “Out of Office” auto-reply that actually means I’m *out of office.*

Caty, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I first found my way into the marketing and events world as an intern in uptown Charlotte with a multi-conglomerate company that owned restaurants, entertainment spaces, and concert venues. It was the kind of place where no two days looked alike—I got to help host everything from the NBA All-Star Game to the Republican National Convention to concerts with nationally known performers. Those early experiences taught me how to thrive under pressure, think creatively on the fly, and most importantly, how much I loved bringing people and ideas together in a way that made an impact.

Fast forward to today, and that passion has grown into Ever Social Co., a boutique marketing and events agency where we help businesses tell their story through branding, web design, social media management, consulting, and event management. We’re not the kind of agency that hides behind emails and Zoom calls—we thrive on face-to-face communication. We believe in stepping into your business, getting to know your people, your culture, your challenges, and your dreams. That’s how we deliver work that doesn’t just look good on paper, but actually moves the needle.

The problems we solve vary—sometimes it’s helping a business finally find a brand identity that feels authentic, sometimes it’s building a digital presence that turns clicks into customers, and other times it’s planning events that not only fill a room but create lasting connections. At the end of the day, what sets us apart is how personally we take it. We know that when a client chooses us, they’re making a real investment in their future. We don’t take that lightly. In fact, we treat their business as if it were our own.

What I’m most proud of is the trust we’ve built. Clients know that we’re in their corner—celebrating their wins, problem-solving through their challenges, and sometimes even rolling up our sleeves and working right alongside them. My biggest goal is that anyone who works with Ever Social Co walks away not just with a beautiful brand, strong strategy, or memorable event, but with the confidence that someone truly gets them and is rooting for their success.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a business owner, it’s that you never really “arrive.” I’m still learning every single day—about people, about leadership, about balance, about myself. And honestly, I think that’s a good thing.

At Ever Social Co, I try to lead from a place of humility and humanity. We’re all just people doing our best, and I believe that when you recognize and speak into someone’s specific skills and passions, that’s where the magic happens. Instead of micromanaging, I love giving my team real buy-in and autonomy on projects. It’s incredible to see how their creativity shines when they feel trusted and empowered.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One of the most defining chapters of my journey came in the transition from leaving my corporate role to starting Ever Social Co. On the outside, it probably looked exciting—finally chasing a dream, carving my own path—but the reality was a lot heavier. I wrestled with anxiety and depression in the midst of that change. There were days when the uncertainty felt overwhelming and I questioned whether I was really cut out for it.

What carried me through was the support system around me. My family, my friends, and even colleagues who believed in me showed up in ways big and small—reminding me of my strengths on the days I couldn’t see them for myself. Just as importantly, I learned how to show up for me. That meant giving myself grace, taking small steps forward even when they felt shaky, and finding healthier ways to manage the weight of starting something new.

That season taught me that resilience isn’t about never struggling—it’s about moving through the struggle with honesty and persistence, and about allowing yourself to be supported while you also choose to stand back up. Looking back, I’m grateful for both the people who rallied around me and for the ways I learned to rally for myself. That resilience is what gave me the courage to keep building, even when the path felt uncertain.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eversocialco.com
• Instagram: @ever.social.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572927257712

Image Credits

Amy Witt Photography