Small Town Secret Sauce

My guest is Marc Schewel, whose family name is well-known in Lynchburg and other small to mid-markets across Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia, thanks to Schewel’s Home Furniture and its 50+ locations.
This family business was founded in 1897, making it one of the oldest furniture retailers in the United States. It is currently owned and operated by Marc and his brother Jack, 4th generation Schewels, along with Marc’s son Matt, the 5th generation.
The history of the Schewel family business has been well-documented locally, but that’s not why Marc was suggested as a guest for this show. Jill, a mutual friend and fan of the podcast, is well-connected in Lynchburg and felt that it was actually Marc’s story about his philanthropy and service to the community that was inspiring and worth highlighting. I could not agree more…
And that’s why the bulk of this conversation focuses on the power of contributing to others with whatever means you can. Because you not only give, but you also receive, and in wonderful, unexpected ways.

Enjoy the show!

Schewels Home Funiture Website
Schewels Home Furniture on Instagram
Schewels Home Furniture on Facebook
Book Marc Mentions, "The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Who Left Newark for the Ivy League"

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❤️ If you believe inspiring stories like this can empower others to create meaningful lives and impact the world, join the Small Town Secret Sauce Patreon Community and become an ambassador for possibility.

😊 Thanks for listening! Please be sure to follow the show and leave a review!

#29 Sue Ott Rowlands is the President of Randolph College, a small Liberal Arts school set on an idyllic campus in Lynchburg, VA.

Since arriving in mid-2022, Sue has infused Randolph College with her generous, creative spirit, her passion for the liberal arts, and her love of collaboration and community.

And for the 2024-25 academic year, enrollment has reached its highest level since 1969!!! This achievement has caught the attention of many prominent longtime Lynchburg locals and is a source of great pride for Sue and her incredible faculty and staff.

I fell in love with Sue the first time we met. She is warm, welcoming, and super easy to talk to. Sue is also insatiably curious and super imaginative in how she approaches life, education, and her role as a leader.

I can't wait for you to hear this wide-ranging and uplifting conversation that offers so many tangible takeaways - for navigating organizations, relationships, community, and continued personal growth.

Enjoy the show!

Randolph College's Website.
Randolph College on Instagram.
Randolph College on Facebook.
Randolph College on YouTube.

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If you believe inspiring stories like this can empower others to create meaningful lives and impact the world, join the Small Town Secret Sauce Patreon Community and become an ambassador for possibility.

Thanks for listening! Please be sure to follow the show and leave a review!

#28 Dr. James Coleman wears many, many hats, but every single one of them shares the same fabric - service to his community.

This man is a pure being of light who has been serving the fine folks of Lynchburg, VA, for over 3 decades.

Dr. Coleman previously held the Chair and Vice Chair positions for Lynchburg's City School Board and served the Lynchburg Planning Commission.

He has also played a key role in the local education systems, from Lynchburg's public schools to the Central Virginia Community College and now at the historic Virginia University of Lynchburg, where he holds the positions of Dean of the School of Religion, Faculty Chair, and Professor.

And, yes, there's more...

Dr. Coleman is also the Senior Pastor at Providence Transformation Church International (Baptist) since 2001. And with his "free time," he volunteers with SIX other organizations!

On top of that, Dr. Coleman is running for Lynchburg's city council in this year's election.

I invite you to listen to this deep, powerful, inspiring conversation.

Enjoy the show!

Dr. Coleman's 2024 City Council Candidacy Website
Lynchburg 2024 Better Together Website
Providence Transformation Church International Website

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If you believe inspiring stories like this can empower others to create meaningful lives and impact the world, join the Small Town Secret Sauce Patreon Community and become an ambassador for possibility.

Thanks for listening! Please be sure to follow the show and leave a review!

#27 Elise Spontarelli is the Executive Director and co-founder of Vector Space - a non-profit makerspace and community workshop here in Lynchburg, VA, which she and her husband Adam founded back in 2015.

A makerspace is quite literally a space in which you can make something. Or, as my tour guide Randy pointed out, at Vector Space, you can make almost anything!

This 22,000 square foot shop is filled with every tool, machine, and gizmo a geek like me could ever dream of. Woodworking, blacksmithing, sewing, screen printing, pottery, and on and on and on...

It...is...so...COOL!

I invite you to enjoy this wide-ranging conversation, not only about Elise and Adam's backstory but also about the transformative power of making something with your hands, especially in today's disconnected digital world.

We also discuss the importance of running a non-profit like a business and how to sustainably grow an organization by letting your customers and members help guide its path (in addition to creating something YOU love).

Enjoy the show!

Vector Space's Website
Vector Space on Instagram
Vector Space on Facebook
Vector Space on YouTube
Make Magazine Founder Dale Dougherty on LinkedIn
Dale Dougherty's Ted Talk "We Are Makers"
Adam Savage Book "Every Tool's A Hammer"

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If you believe that inspiring stories like this can empower others to create meaningful lives and impact the world, join the Small Town Secret Sauce Patreon Community and become an ambassador for possibility.

Thanks for listening! Please be sure to follow the show and leave a review!

#26 Tori Garris is the creator and star of the sweet, wholesome kids' show Torbee, a program that is all about slowing things down in a fast-paced world.

Tori is a transplant, just like me. She and her husband relocated from Chicago to Lynchburg, VA, 5 years ago. Since then, she became inspired to revive her professional acting career and develop a program for children, which launched on YouTube in 2024.

This may be a kids' show, but I see so many lessons adults can learn from Torbee, especially rekindling a sense of wonder that we grown-ups have long forgotten. And, as you will hear, Tori has big visions for using this platform, including addressing serious topics in a way that informs children by meeting them where they are. Smart...

This show is self-described as Mr. Rogers meets Reading Rainbow meets Sesame Street, while staying engaging enough to stand out amongst the more frenetic children's programming of today. And by staying away from potentially polarizing themes, Torbee truly is a show for all children.

I love Tori's heart, and I am excited to share this inspiring and entertaining story with you.

Enjoy the show!

Torbee's Website
Torbee on Instagram
Torbee on Facebook
Torbee on TikTok
Bluey, the Kid's Show About Dogs
Abstract: The Art of Design, Episode with Cas Holman
Book: Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.

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If you believe that inspiring stories like this can empower others to create meaningful lives and impact the world, join the Small Town Secret Sauce Patreon Community and become an ambassador for possibility.

Thanks for listening! Please be sure to follow the show and leave a review!

#25 Dr. Sterling Wilder is the founder and Executive Director of Jubilee Family Development Center in Lynchburg, VA. The center is celebrating 25 years of serving the community's underserved youth.

Dr. Wilder and Jubilee immediately caught my attention when researching Lynchburg as a potential new home for my wife and me because of our desire to get more involved in the community. And when I decided to create a podcast all about individuals making a meaningful impact in their small towns, THIS interview was high on my list.   

Even from 3,000 miles away, with social media as my only lens, I could feel the passion, drive, and vision that this beautiful soul has for improving the futures of at-risk youth in a way that dramatically changes their lives forever.

If people are our greatest resource, as I believe they are, then Sterling is making an investment when and where it counts, and I could not be a bigger fan.

Enjoy the show!

Jubilee Family Development Center's Website
Jubilee on Instagram
Jubilee on Facebook

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If you believe that inspiring stories like this can empower others to create meaningful lives and impact the world, join the Small Town Secret Sauce Patreon Community and become an ambassador for possibility.

Thanks for listening! Please be sure to follow the show and leave a review!

#24 On today's show, I am going to tell the We Story, one year later, about what happened over the last 12 months since my wife Amy and I decided to burn the boats and trade San Francisco, our home for 24 years, for a small town in Central Virginia with no established network or jobs lined up.

Are we crazy? Sort of, but in the most fun kind of way! 🥳

Our journey is still unfolding in Lynchburg, VA. However, on our first anniversary of moving here, we stopped to reflect on all we had done and how much our lives had changed. It was something to behold.

When you are in the weeds of a massive undertaking, it can be easy to focus on how far you have to go. But when you pause and recognize how far you've come, it can change your entire outlook.

Enjoy the show!

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If you believe that inspiring stories like this can empower others to create meaningful lives and impact the world, join the Small Town Secret Sauce Patreon Community and become an ambassador for possibility.

Thanks for listening! Please be sure to follow the show and leave a review!

#23 Jared Hesse is a Master Barber and the owner of Gentleman John's, a throwback classic barber shop in the heart of historic downtown Lynchburg, VA, where he and his team create a sophisticated yet timeless experience for a man's haircut and shave.

But there's so much more to this business and this amazing human being. Jared has such a welcoming, caring, nurturing spirit and incredible depth of character. He's created a business that serves its team as much as it serves the community.

Jared is also the author of The Fit Barber Coach, an inspiring personal story about an average kid who found his identity, purpose, and joy in a lifelong, humble profession: barbering.

We recorded this conversation in Gentleman John's barbershop towards the end of the workday, so you will hear the sounds of barbers in action. It was such a treat to hear Jared's story in his element, and I am so excited to share it with you!

Enjoy the show!

Gentleman John's Website
Gentleman John's on Instagram
Gentleman John's on Facebook
Book: The Fit Barber Coach on Amazon

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If you believe inspiring stories like this can empower others to create meaningful lives and impact the world, join the Small Town Secret Sauce Patreon Community and become an ambassador for possibility.

Thanks for listening! Please be sure to follow the show and leave a review!

#22 Jessica Wells found her calling, and the world of Lynchburg, VA, is better off for it. She owns the Happy Waffle, a food truck that serves sweet and savory waffles on a stick while also spreading positive vibes and mental health awareness.

Jessica's family tragedy led her down a path of inner healing, personal growth, and discovering some of her deepest passions. Through her work in therapy, Jessica realized the critical importance of caring for her mental health as a key component of overall health and happiness, and how underserved this topic is in our society. When she recalled her love of baking and had a "crazy idea" to open a food truck business, a magical combination began to come to life.

The Happy Waffle is a brand that is all about love - for one another and, most importantly, for ourselves. It's so inspiring to see a business infused with heart-centered values that is as successful as it is impactful.

Enjoy this richly moving conversation.

The Happy Waffle on Instagram
The Happy Waffle Website
Kairos Counseling Website
Cindy Burns, Grief Counselor & Happiness Coach Website

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If you believe inspiring stories like this can empower others to create meaningful lives and impact the world, join the Small Town Secret Sauce Patreon Community and become an ambassador for possibility.

Additional links can be found in the Show Notes for this episode.

Thanks for listening! Please be sure to follow the show and leave a review!

If you'd like to contact me directly, you can find me on Instagram (BartonQuigley).

Producer: Angela Easley, AEasley Virtual Solutions

#21 Megan Huffman is the Director of Community Outreach for the Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation. She is also the driving force behind Share Greater Lynchburg, a platform that creates a one-stop shop to easily connect the region's non-profits with local neighbors and businesses. But there's so much more to it than that. In short, Share Greater Lynchburg makes it effortless to get involved and make a difference.

Megan's excitement, passion, and gift of vision for Lynchburg - today and its potential for tomorrow - are magnetic. She sees the 30,000-foot view and is a genius at spotting opportunities for impactful connections.

Megan's love of Lynchburg is so powerful that she might as well be called the "unofficial closer" who could easily seal the deal with any potential businesses and organizations looking to establish here.

Some of the key topics we discuss:

** Importance of Community and Service Activities **
** Launch and Growth of Share Greater Lynchburg **
** Megan's Path to Lynchburg and Growing to Love It **
** Innovating on the Fly **
** Collaboration in the Nonprofit Sector **
** Advice for Getting Involved **
** The Wide Array of Programs and Initiatives at Share Greater Lynchburg **
** Empowering the Youth **
** Value of Mentorship **
** Importance of Local Government Support **
** Value of Public Education **
** How Diversity and Inclusion Benefit the Entire Community **

Enjoy the show!

Share Greater Lynchburg Website
Share Greater Lynchburg on Instagram
Share Greater Lynchburg on Facebook
Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation Website
Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation on Facebook

---------------

If you believe inspiring stories like this can empower others to create meaningful lives and impact the world, join the Small Town Secret Sauce Patreon Community and become an ambassador for possibility.

Additional links can be found in the Show Notes for this episode.

Thanks for listening! Please be sure to follow the show and leave a review!

If you'd like to contact me directly, you can find me on Instagram (BartonQuigley).

Producer: Angela Easley, AEasley Virtual Solutions