It’s not unusual to hear someone bemoan online forums and how they can be a blackhole, sucking time and energy out of your day. However, occasionally something good can come out of collaborating online with others. A seed planted in an online forum has changed the way Lindsey Smalling and The Smalling Group of the F.C. Tucker Real Estate Company work and perform.

Entrepreneurs are known for their desire to do things their own way. For some, it is control. For others, like Steve Buchanan, it is because he feels he has found a better way to do something. It did not happen overnight, but then, that is another hallmark of small business owners.

Craft-E-Family started out as a hobby for Joyce Ebert. She was a prolific painter and her husband, Lloyd, was interested in carpentry. After retiring, they combined their skills into creating handmade perpetual calendars, which Joyce sold at local craft shows. That was forty years ago and what began as a hobby has grown into a successful international business now operated by their daughter Karry Ebert and her husband, Cory Craig. 

Success for Hudson Plumbing comes from core beliefs

Dean and Tish Hudson were high school sweethearts and over the last 31 years, they have built a family, a business, and a life in Morgan County. They have three children, Keaton, Lyndsey, and Maycee. Lyndsey is married to Elliott Scott and they have three children. While Keaton, Lyndsey, and Elliott are involved in the family business, Maycee has her own business, Critter Clippers, just down the street.

Six months ago, David Maurer stepped into the role of Executive Director at Churches in Mission and it has been a nonstop flurry of activity for him ever since.
The planning that goes into serving 700 to 750 Morgan County families over the Christmas season had long been finished and by his start date, November 5, 2019, plans were being carried out: food collections, toy drives, events with the municipal and sports organizations and the distribution of collected food and clothing. “This is a massive annual undertaking,” Maurer said. “I stepped in with both legs running next to Susan Haynes and didn’t break my stride at all. I was blown away by the community involvement.”

Bob Jensen wanted to teach, and Dave Jensen thought he’d be an engineer. It sort of worked out that way. Not officially, but Bob does teach, and Dave uses those engineering skills in their roles at Jensen’s Pools and More.

The brothers have worked together for more years than they haven’t. Even as boys, and young men, the pair were either working side jobs together, running a business part-time out of Bob’s garage, or were both employed at Watson’s Pools. They like working together. They know and trust each other and have learned to lean on one another to take advantage of each other’s strengths.