Why We Work

Katie is the founder of Hosanna Revival - a faith based paper goods company that she started out of her college dorm room in 2015. What started as a creative outlet hand-painting Bibles, is now a thriving company with several employees, product lines and has had a huge impact on the industry as a whole. www.hosannarevival.com

Music: Thirty Two by UTAH

Neighbors: a series of stories during the COVID-19 health crisis and how it is shaking and building our community.

Today, I sat down with Janessa Brindza, owner of Crossfit Wilsonville along with her husband, Will Brindza. I’ve been a member for more than 3 years now. It’s a place of healing and deep community for many people. The decision to close it's doors temporarily due to COVID-19 was a tough decision, but they’re not alone in the small business community.

In 2009, Jamie Danek and Michelle Mitchell started brewing Kombucha on their kitchen counter in Bend, Oregon… 10 years later,  Humm drinks are available in all 50 states – and internationally. Chances are you’ve seen the Humm brand at your local grocery store, restaurant or even on tap. You may be wondering ‘what Kombucha is exactly?’… In simple terms, it is a fermented tea rich in probiotics and claims many health benefits. Jamie and Michelle have been at the forefront, advocating these benefits and introducing this healthy alternative to sugary beverages. To make things even more interesting, Humm is the Official Kombucha of the Seattle Seahawks (the first kombucha company to ever forge a relationship with an NFL team!). I sat down with Michelle to talk about Humm’s beginnings. https://hummkombucha.com

Matt Lombardi and Kevin Moran are no strangers to the sport and fitness industry. They both played professional sports, Matt pitching for the Chicago White Sox and Kevin as a center forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins. As you can imagine, they followed a rigorous training schedule for many years. As a result, they looked for natural supplements that would help them recover from soreness and periodic injuries. Like most great business ideas, they then noticed a gap in the market and wanted to fix it. At this point Beam was born. There was a lack of clean, effective CBD products that felt safe and effective. You might be wondering what CBD is, or even assuming it is just marijuana. I’ll admit, it took me a while to fully understand, but what I know now is that CBD stands for cannabidiol—which is a naturally occurring essential oil extracted from the hemp plant - it works to regulate pain, mood, appetite, anxiety, and inflammation. They have now captured the attention of elite athletes and the recreationalists, alike. https://beamtlc.com

Adam Simone is the co-founder of Leaf Shave, an online, direct-to-consumer brand that designs & sells modern, beautiful, sustainable shaving razors for men and women. Adam spent the first decade of his career commercializing medical surgical robotics, until his (now cofounder) Adam Hahn approached him at his desk one day and proposed an idea that would aim to revolutionize the shaving industry. The two Adams then ran a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2016, and fully launched in 2018. www.leafshave.com

Candace Molatore is a Self-Love Advocate, Branding Consultant and Photographer based in Portland, OR. With a passion for building community, Candace uses her photography and writing skills to broadcast the message of self confidence body positivity and inclusivity online. She shares her interests, inspiration, tips and everyday life with her audience regularly through social media. She has worked with brands including Aerie, Forever21 and 3Muskateers - continuing to redefine what it means to create value for both businesses and consumers. www.candacemolatore.com

Joanna Waterfall is the Founder of Yellow Co., an organization that exists to empower creative women to become agents of good. With a degree in graphic design and digital media and a background in branding, Joanna believes that creativity, business, and social impact should go hand in hand. She and her work have been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Huffington Post, Darling Magazine, LA Lady Magazine, Bossladies Magazine, and others. She is motivated by the belief that women can change the world through stepping out of fear and into what makes them come alive. www.yellowco.co

On Today’s bonus episode I talked to Noah Shultz, whose story has taken him to the TedX stage, the center of a documentary, and most recently a national speaking tour. His journey as an entrepreneur isn’t like most. Noah co-founded ‘Forgotten Culture Clothing’, designing unique streetwear piece, channeling the novelty of brands like Supreme. Most of his inspiration and skills developed while serving 7.5 years in the prison system, sentenced at just 17 years old. Forgotten Culture Clothing: http://bit.ly/2pLrqNY Watch Noah’s TedX Talk: http://bit.ly/2pL4cXY Watch ‘From Prison to Greatness’ documentary: http://bit.ly/2E2lHYc.

Growing up Caroline wanted to be Wonder Woman. She may not be able to fly, but has the magic touch when it comes to bringing ideas to life. As a venture catalyst, she helps people get their ideas off the ground by providing the mentors, resources and opportunities that money can’t. Plus, if you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit in, so did she! // Follow @postgradmedia @whyweworkpod // Reach out! [email protected]

Su is the president of DHM research, leading teams in Portland, Seattle and Washington DC. She is at the head of providing information that affects taxes, voting, education reform, city planning, all the way to organization research at companies like Nike and Microsoft. But aside from all this, Su sits on several boards and is an investor in local restaurants - soon opening her own.

Reach out [email protected] // Follow @postgradmedia and @whyweworkpod.