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In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Sean Hornbuckle, who’s dedicated to making life better for families, small business owners, and investors through retirement planning and wealth management. He explains that his approach is all about the big picture, helping clients plan for the long-term and create strategies that minimize taxes and ensure financial security. Since 2015, Sean has been running a practice in Huntington, focusing on guiding individuals and businesses toward better financial futures. We discuss the importance of networking, and Sean emphasizes how small business owners play a crucial role in lifting up the community, especially in regions where large industries may not always be present. He’s passionate about connecting people and helping each other thrive. Outside of his practice, Sean stays active in his community, coaching basketball, staying involved in legislative work, and balancing his personal life with his family. His hustle is a great example of how hard work and building meaningful relationships can drive success—not just in business, but in life.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Joey Crookshanks at Meet Up 64 about his business, Tailgator Outdoors. He’s created a product that turns a Yeti-style cooler into a beverage dispenser, allowing people to keep mixed drinks separate from the rest of the cooler’s contents. He tells me the idea came from wanting a way for him and his wife to enjoy different drinks from the same cooler. This isn’t his first invention—he worked with Marshall and the Robert C. Byrd Institute in 2020, received grant funding, and sold a previous product to a company in Columbus before moving back to West Virginia. He explains the difference between a full patent and a patent pending, and how he’s revisiting that earlier project. Joey says he’s driven by everyday inconveniences and enjoys solving problems through engineering. He balances this creative work with a full-time job as a civil engineer and uses his Marshall connections to secure support and funding. He reminds me that building a product is about solving a real problem and knowing the right people. You can check out his product at tailgatoroutdoors.com.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Jamie Lima, state director for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of West Virginia. She tells me how the program mails free books every month to kids from birth to age five to help build home libraries and improve school readiness. It’s been in West Virginia since 2006 and went statewide in 2020. Jamie explains that while people think Dolly funds everything, the program actually depends on local partners and fundraising. Her work focuses on building those relationships and keeping the support strong for the 50,000 kids currently enrolled. She also shares details about the upcoming Dolly Dash 5K happening on August 9 in Huntington, which is Dolly Day in West Virginia. People can run or just register to support the cause and even dress up like Dolly to win prizes. Jamie says they’re still looking for sponsors and encourages folks to visit dollybookswv.com to learn more or get involved.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk about the discomfort many entrepreneurs feel when it comes to asking for things, like Google reviews or referrals. I’ve noticed that some business owners hesitate to ask, thinking that if they did a good job, their clients should automatically offer a review. The truth is, people are busy, and they won’t always follow through on their own. I emphasize that it’s important to ask for what you want but to not be attached to the outcome. If someone says no, it’s not personal—it’s just life. Success comes from asking more people, making small, manageable requests, and not taking rejection personally. Don’t ask for too much at once; keep it simple. Whether it’s a Google review or a referral, the worst someone can say is no, and that shouldn’t stop you from asking again in the future. Stay confident in your work, and keep asking.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I meet Andy Morrison at Lola’s during First Tuesdays with Up Next Charlie West. Andy runs Business Up AI, a company that helps small and medium businesses use artificial intelligence to grow. He explains that AI is still new enough to give businesses an edge, but soon it will be as common as websites or spreadsheets. We talk about the many ways AI can be used, from writing to customer service, and also the risks, like deepfakes and fraud. Andy says fraud isn’t new, but AI makes it faster and harder to detect. His goal is to help people stay ahead and make smart choices. One big challenge he sees is how fast businesses respond to customer questions. If you don’t reply quickly, the customer moves on. His team builds AI tools that help businesses reply right away. I ask if people should fear AI or use it, and Andy says you can either get swept away by the wave or learn to surf it. He wants to help people surf.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Kiersten Holman at First Tuesdays with Up Next Charlie West. She’s the member of the month and a new sales rep at Cintas, handling facility services like mats, hand sanitizers, and paper products. She’s been with the company for about a month and says the transition from a smaller company has been smooth, thanks to her network in Charleston. Kiersten moved here from Wheeling a year and a half ago and found her first connections through Up Next Charlie West. She’s now on the leadership board and was recently named the Cintas Champion for the area, which means she’ll be the community outreach face for Charleston. She shares how important it is to show the positive side of West Virginia and how young professionals are making an impact. As we wrap up, she encourages others to get involved, come to events, and explore everything Charleston has to offer.