We were lucky to catch up with Daniel Vowell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Our story is a testament for those that were effected by drug addiction, mental heath issues, outcasted, broken family’s, jail, prison, those that were up against the wall with no option left in life but to face the adversity head on and break trough the pain, suffer to return stronger and change the whole paradigm of our old lives into some something to hold in the highest honor. Reclaim our lives and set a new standard of life by living militantly drug free, being a great influence, by using the scars from life to our advantage to show those who feel helpless or exiled that we’ve walked through the path many never make it through, what we’ve done anyone can achieve. Hoping our message of hope can resonate with our people. Being living proof that anybody can overcome and come out stronger to hold their head high while leaving their mark. Showing that hard work and determination can set us free from the shackles that once held us down.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

We specialize in stucco. Although we provide other construction services such as drywall, paint, stone and masonry repairs. My father is a blue collar worker and a great man, most of my family are or were blue collar workers. So eventually I found myself a blue collar worker. Could’ve been the fact I pretty much raised as much hell as possible throughout my youth, never went to school or went for a Dr degree. I spent all my time living, learning life lessons and having fun. So I learned the stucco trade from a great man and good friend, who was also a mentor to me and taught me how to be a good man, to provide and protect for my family. Once I mastered the craft I went on my own to start a stucco business. At the time I launched it, it was me and my wife working together everyday grinding. She was a trooper and we banged out some monster jobs together and had some fun along the way. When she got pregnant she stoped working, then she had our son Jasper and decided to be a stay at home mom. So I eventually hired some guys who are also drug free and in recovery with similar backgrounds as me. I started to do for these guys what was taught to me, teach them the skills and teach them how to be better men. Then I started advocating our message through my business and putting positive affirmations on my business t shirts. We give back to folks who need it. We will do the stuff nobody wants to do. We do our best to let people in the community know that we out here for them. And most importantly we follow thru and walk our talk. We provide the highest quality craftsmanship that we are able to deliver and operate from solid integrity. People like us used up all our chances in life and we know that. So today it’s a new life and we only get one chance. At the end of the the day, all glory goes to God

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I started using drugs like LSD, mushrooms, smoking weed at a very young age. I think I started smoking weed at 10 and the first time I dropped acid I was 12. Anyways eventually I started using opiates and became addicted. The results of my drug addiction were boot camp as a juvenile, jail, rehab, prison and a disconnection from my family and loved ones. After about 26 long years of drug abuse and getting clean then relapsing getting clean relapsing I wound up in prison. I came home and decided to change everything about my life. I put the drugs behind me. I put 100 % conviction into bettering myself and my life. I changed my habits into healthy habits. I focused on self development. I started my business found a good woman and had a baby boy. I don’t drink alcohol I don’t do drugs. I choose to live instead of being shackled down by my own self inflicted wounds

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

Adapting to a post covid divided world when I was released from prison was very interesting. I had no idea of how much things changed while I was behind the bars. So getting thrown back into the world with your back against the wall is hard enough, but with all this extra bullshit going on almost seemed like the Truman show. I just always remember thinking how unauthentic everything seemed. Anyways everyday was a battle internally, I was depressed, shameful, angry, guilty, low self esteem, just beat down and dragged through life. As well as everyday was a battle externally. My day would begin at 3:30am at the harvest house in Sarasota id ride my bike, with a backpack, cooler and tool bag to catch the bus and get to work. Our jobs always changed because we’re doing stucco so I’d catch the bus with my bike put my bike on the bus down to Venice. My boss would meet me at the station most the time to help me get to the worksite. I remember working all day and riding my bike from the jobsite to catch the bus on those hot summer days, it was brutal. I would always get a rash on my back from the backpack and sweat rubbing, it seemed like those dam rashes lasted for months. I’d get on the bus from a hour/hour and a half ride home. Get home about 6:30-7. The stucco job slowed down so I started painting with a good friend in North Port. He’d come and pick me up in the mornings around 4am. We would work all day then I would have to catch the bus from North Port to Sarasota. This bus ride is horrible I would sit there waiting some days at the bus stop and no bus would ever drive by. When the bus did show up it was a 3 hour bus ride to Sarasota. Most the time I wouldn’t get home until 930 10 o clock. I would be so tired I didn’t even eat diner, I would throw some protein powder spinach blueberries and anything else I had healthy in a blender, slam it and go to bed. And this was Monday-Friday. I could go on and on about bullshit I would have to deal with on my travels riding the bus, everyday was loaded with insanity. But I would keep my headphones in my ears, volume as loud as it would go, and music as good as it gets! Things were tough sometimes I honestly didn’t think I would ever get ahead but I kept pushing, kept showing up day after day, kept listening to Gods guidance, and kept overcoming adversity. Then eventually pushing through, overcoming, not picking up drugs, not picking up a drink, showing up as a good man everyday eventually paid off and turned into a life i always dreamed of

Contact Info:

• Website: vowellconstruction.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: Vowell construction or Daniel Nathan Vowell
• Phone number: 941-468-8066