Sincerely, Your Small Business

In this episode, Chantal and Dion reflect on their love for celebrations and how it drives their business, while also addressing the fears and risks associated with growth and investment. While they reflect on the joy they find in celebrating special moments with clients, we also talk about the importance of community support, especially among small business owners. I think you'll especially like their take on balancing between professionalism and personal relationships with clients, and how they define what sincerity means to them in their business!

From the owners: "We’re Chantal and Dion, the husband-and-wife duo behind C&D Marquees & Event Rentals in Charlotte, NC. What started with marquee letters has grown to include floral walls, a champagne wall, and our signature Infinity Cascade waterfall backdrop. Alongside raising three children and balancing our careers, we’re building a business rooted in love for helping people celebrate. Being trusted to play a small part in someone’s special memories is what makes this journey so meaningful to us."

Takeaways from the conversation:

• Balancing family and business is an ongoing challenge, and at the same time is super rewarding at the end of the day
• Fear of failure is common among entrepreneurs, so you're not alone if you've felt it
• Building connections with other small businesses helps you stay inspired and passionate

Learn more about C&D Marquees & Event Rentals here!

Follow on Instagram @cdmarquees

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Wisdom gems from Jessica:

1. Build your business before you need to leap
2. Set boundaries at the beginning of a client relationship, e.g. making your schedule and process clear upfront, so clients know what to expect and both sides can tell whether they’re a good fit.
3. Respond with empathy, not ego: this can help you protect the work and keep the professional relationship intact! 

Jessica Marchant is the Founder of Blue-Sky Creative, a technical design firm that supports Interior Designers with build-ready drawings and documentation. After more than a decade working in the design, build, and fabrication industry, Jessica noticed a major gap. Many Interior Designers either didn’t have the time, training, or desire to produce detailed technical drawings in-house, which often created friction between designers and contractors during construction.

Jessica founded Blue-Sky Creative to bridge that gap. Her team translates design intent into clear, easy-to-follow construction drawings and documentation so Interior Designers can take on more complex projects with confidence and create a smoother experience for both clients and contractors.

In addition to leading Blue-Sky Creative, Jessica also provides 1:1 consulting for Interior Designers and Design Build professionals who need strategic support navigating complex design details, construction challenges, and project execution.

Follow Blue-Sky Creative on Instagram: @blue_skycreative, and visit their website here: www.blue-skycreative.com

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Big takeaways from this chat:

- What we can do when it all feels TOO SCARY

- Not Gumby-ing ourselves/be everything to everyone

- "Be a model, not a martyr"

- Boundaries and sustainability: as a business owner, parent, and adult

Mary Farrelly is a Level IV NICU nurse, doula, and nurse educator, and the founder of The NICU Translator. Through her work, she helps bridge the gap between the NICU and home by equipping families and support professionals with evidence-based education and compassionate, trauma-informed support.

Mary is passionate about redefining the NICU experience and building a network of NICU-informed doulas who can walk alongside families before, during, and after a NICU stay.

Website: https://thenicutranslator.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thenicutranslator
NICU Doula Academy Waitlist: https://thenicutranslator.com/nicu-doula-academy
Free Guide to Supporting NICU Families: https://app.thenicutranslator.com/5things
Find a NICU Doula (Directory): https://thenicutranslator.com/find-a-nicu-doula
The NICU Translated Podcast: https://thenicutranslated.transistor.fm

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ABOUT CHRIS LEBLANC (OWNER + FOUNDER): Chris LeBlanc has led Nola Builds since 2014. Originally from New Orleans- hence the name- he loves how “Nola Builds” naturally starts a conversation and reflects both his roots and his approach to community-focused work.

Chris studied at Louisiana Technical College and PVCC before graduating from the UVA McIntire School of Commerce, blending hands-on construction experience with strong business and project management skills. With over two decades in the industry, Chris is known for his practical, solutions-oriented mindset and his ability to make complex projects feel straightforward.

He lives in Albemarle County with his wife and children and continues to guide Nola Builds with the values of transparency, craftsmanship, and lasting client relationships.

Big takeaways from this chat:

- Gratitude goes a long way, in business and for your team

- Communicate, communicate, communicate!

- Business ownership is not without compassion, grace, and acknowledging that every client interaction involves human emotion, not just a transaction

Learn more about Nola Builds here, and follow them on Instagram!

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Amy Shawley Paquette is a Virginia-based painter inspired by the natural world. Each one of her paintings begins with a walk in nature, taking in the environmental elements and collecting memories and experiences to apply to her work. Birds are her primary subject matter and she loves pairing them with botanical, landscape, and texture elements. She works from her own photos to create colorfully detailed and richly layered paintings. Amy most frequently paints in watercolor but her favorite medium is oil paint, especially when layered over textured acrylic surfaces.

Birds became Amy’s focus after moving to Virginia in 2014, they were a constant companion right out the window or on walks, so she started researching species and documenting sightings with photographs and sketches.  She has since become an avid birder, not only in her region of central VA but all across the US.  Building collections of paintings around different families or groups of birds is one of her favorite things, and more birds are getting added to her catalog each year.

Amy's formal education is a BA in Art History (’03), but after her time at Boston University she ended up working closely with art materials for two decades - first in art supplies stores, then as an educator for Golden Artist Colors. From 2008-2022 she taught, lectured, and demonstrated how to use artist’s paints across southern California and the DMV area. This experience connected her with area artists, and for the last two years she ran Waxwing Art Works, a small art gallery connected to her Cville art studio that supported local and regional artists and makers. Amy moved studios this Summer to shift more energy back to her growing wholesale business and painting process.

Note: As of late August 2026, Amy has closed the brick-and-mortar gallery location. The spirit of the gallery will live on through pop-up shows, so make sure you're following her on Instagram to learn more!

Our conversation explores how:

- Amy worked through the realities of running a creative business with multiple revenue streams

- The role of intuition and joy in deciding what to keep

- How rejection, grief, and parenthood have shaped Amy’s path

For more information, please visit: www.amyshawleypaquette.com or find her on Instagram at @amyshawley.

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Lauren DiFrank is the owner of Bella Ballerina Highland Creek, a Bella Ballerina franchise serving families in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Since opening the studio four years ago, she has built a thriving community centered on helping young children grow in confidence, creativity, and a love of dance.

A cancer survivor and widow, Lauren also serves on the Board of Directors for the 24 Foundation, where she advocates for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and their families. She is passionate about creating exceptional customer experiences, building strong teams, and growing a purpose-driven business that makes a lasting impact on the families it serves.  

In this episode, Lauren shares her wisdom and perspectives on empowering people (instead of micromanaging them), practicing clear communication, and how grace, flexibility, and boundaries are what make small business (and life) sustainability possible.

Learn more here:

Bella Ballerina Highland Creek website

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Christina Martin (Chris) is the baker and owner of Florosa, a commissary bakery & flower farm based in Charlottesville, VA. A third-generation Nicaraguan American, she draws on her heritage to create Latine and Hispanic–inspired pastries, pan dulce, and desserts that honor traditional foodways while reflecting the landscapes and seasons of Virginia. She bakes with locally milled flour, eggs from her backyard flock, and herbs, flowers, and produce grown on her certified urban farm and sourced from nearby farmers. Florosa pastries and edible flowers can be found daily at JBird Supply, as well as through catering and cakes for events, meetings, and weddings.

While working in the industry, Chris earned an AS in Baking & Pastry and a BS in Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship from Johnson & Wales University. As a queer community member, she volunteers with Charlottesville Pride and serves as an ambassador for CHOW, supporting wellness and mental health in the hospitality industry.

In our conversation, Chris reflects on her journey as a small business owner, discussing the evolution of the bakery and emotional challenges of entrepreneurship. We touch on the impact of relationships on business success and the balance between ambition and realism in entrepreneurship (something not talked about enough, maybe!).

Big takeaways:

- "I am nothing without the women who came before me"

- Asking for help is not a shortcoming but a strength

- Simple living outside of work can bring joy, fulfillment, and presence 

Connect with Chris:

Instagram: @byflorosa

Website: byflorosa.com

Listen to the first time Chris was on the show HERE.

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Christian is the founder of More Than A Cup, a premium mobile coffee bar serving the Charlotte Metro area. Starting in high school and throughout college, Christian worked in private clubs serving weddings, baby showers, and more. In college he studied civil engineering. 

After two years with a civil engineering firm, Christian realized the moments that moved him weren't behind a desk. They were in front of people. More Than A Cup was born from that realization: that coffee, done right, is never just a drink. It's a connection point, a celebration, a reason to gather. 

Today, Christian brings a white-glove café experience directly to weddings, corporate events, and special occasions across Charlotte. One intentional cup at a time.

Website: morethanacup.com

Instagram: instagram.com/_morethanacup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morethanacup

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Caroline Addington is the founder of Blue Ridge Barbell, a community-driven gym in Charlottesville, Virginia. After years as a personal trainer, she opened the gym local lifters had been asking for: one full of focused training, genuine community, and good vibes.

Caroline's work sits at the intersection of strength training, business, and community building. She's passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, and creating environments that help people become more capable, resilient versions of themselves. She openly shares the realities of building a brick-and-mortar business—from raising capital and navigating setbacks to developing culture and leading a team with intention.

Her mission is simple: build stronger people, stronger communities, and spaces where people can do meaningful work together.

Get the Blue Ridge App: 12-Week Get Strong Program in the Blue Ridge App

Learn more here: Blue Ridge Barbell Website and Instagram

Membership info:

24/7/365 Access for members

Day Passes are $15 and Monthly Memberships are $85

Blue Ridge Barbell has lots of strength training classes available, including several that are super beginner friendly! 

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This episode originally aired in September of 2025. Enjoy!

On this episode, discover how Ryan opened a vegan eatery, Botanical, amidst the challenges of the pandemic. You'll hear about the importance of community, the power of confidence, and the joy of creating a supportive environment for both staff and customers. 

Ryan Becklund is the owner of Botanical in Charlottesville and Bar Botanical in Crozet, VA.  Both restaurants are 100% vegan and serve a variety of vegan fare, pastries, craft cocktails, coffees, and uncommonly found vegan products. 

Ryan lives in Crozet with her partner, dog, and cats (and usually a foster cat or two).  She loves the challenging pace of the food service industry, becoming part of the rare community here in Cville, and spending her tiny amounts of free time with her friends and animals. 

Follow Botanical and Bar Botanical on Instagram!

Learn more about Botanical here: https://www.botanicalfare.com/

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