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In our first-ever remote episode, we sit down with Kathy Hopper, CMO of Jones Capital, a family-owned investment firm whose roots go back to a small lumber mill in Sandy Hook, Mississippi, in 1949. (And no, she and Paul aren't related.) Kathy grew up in Cut and Shoot, Texas. She went from community college and an accounting job she admits she was never cut out for to selling medical devices across East Texas and Louisiana. There she learned what salespeople actually need from marketing, and that shaped her whole career. She tells us what it was like to be on the inside as that company grew from $4 million to a $100 million sale, including the late nights of due diligence and what buyers want to see from a marketing department. She then walks through her years with the Jones family of companies: rebranding founder-led acquisitions, YAK's sale to private equity, getting through COVID and market downturns, and the eventual exit to United Rentals. We also talk about how a family office differs from private equity, why patient capital appeals to founders who care about their legacy, and what's in the Jones Capital portfolio today. In this episode: Why Kathy calls herself a "sales marketer first" What due diligence looks like from the marketing side Why most deals don't close when they're supposed to, or at all Family office vs. private equity, and why the difference matters to founders Why every company needs something different (sometimes it's a CRM, not SEO) Why revenue-generating marketers get the most resources

In part two of our conversation with Ed Wall of Wall Media, we go deep into the gear, grit, and unforgettable moments behind a career built around outdoor photography and videography. Ed walks us through his camera protection system in the field (spoiler: zip ties are involved), the gear fails that taught him hard lessons, and why he's never once gotten a camera wet in 15 years of duck hunting — despite the mud, water, and chaos that come with the job. Ed also shares the story behind his favorite photo of all time — a moment with his son after his first turkey kill — plus the wild lengths he's gone to for the right shot, including belly-crawling across a frozen field and swimming across a slough in near-freezing water. The conversation wraps with his upcoming travel schedule (spanning Texas, Florida, Saskatchewan, and Alaska in the same month), his advice for anyone wanting to break into outdoor photography, and why continuous learning — even 15 years in — is what keeps him sharp. If you loved part one, this episode goes even further behind the scenes of what it really takes to do this job at a high level.

In this episode of Ground Up Growth, hosts Paul Hopper and Hannah Pittman sit down with Ed Wall, owner of Wall Media, a standout outdoor photography and videography company. Ed shares how he picked up his first camera at 30 years old — with zero formal training — and turned a hobby born from deer hunting and dog photos into an award-winning career that's landed his work on magazine covers and even the Mississippi Sportsman's License. Ed opens up about leaving a career in medical sales to go all-in on photography full time, the grueling 16-20 hour days that come with duck hunting season, and how he built a team to help him keep up with the demand. He also talks candidly about the balance (and imbalance) between passion and burnout, the importance of editing content quickly before details fade, and why duck hunting — more than deer or turkey hunting — offers the richest storytelling opportunities behind the lens. Whether you're an aspiring outdoor creator or just curious what it really takes to turn a camera hobby into a business, this conversation is full of honest, hard-won insight. Part two continues the conversation with a deeper dive into gear and how Ed protects his equipment in the field.

In part two with Jamey Nicholas, Market President at Southern AgCredit, we get into what it actually looks like to build a career and a culture over the long haul. Jamie started as a trainee in 2011 and never left, and he walks us through how staying patient, doing whatever role you're in well, and always being ready for the next step opened doors he never saw coming. We talk about leading people with grace, why you never really know what someone's carrying, and the difference between an employee who's just looking for a job and one who sees what needs doing and does it. Jamey shares why Southern AgCredit hires from within, how flexibility gets more out of people than a time clock ever will, and why so many of his folks care more about being valued than chasing a bigger paycheck somewhere else. Then there's the land. Jamey and Hannah dig into the pride that comes with owning your first acre, why waiting on rates to drop is one of the most expensive myths out there, and how a great cap or a pair of work gloves can carry a brand further than most people realize. It's a conversation about steady growth, faith, and building something worth sticking around for.

This week on Ground Up Growth, Hannah and Paul sit down with Jamie Nicholas, Market President for Southern AG Credit. Jamie grew up on a family farm in Sand Hill, Mississippi, drove into Jackson Prep every day as the only kid from his hometown, and landed at Mississippi State studying real estate and finance. He's one of the rare few who actually does what he majored in. Jamie walks us through how a college internship with Mississippi Land Bank turned into a 15 year career, and what makes Southern AG Credit different from a traditional bank. If it's land, equipment, poultry, row crop, or just about anything you can tie back to ag, they can finance it, even across state lines. He breaks down the products that set them apart, like the popular seven year fixed rate with a 30 year amortization, and explains how their cooperative structure means customers are actually shareholders who earn dividends back. Along the way there's plenty of talk about the river, the hunting lifestyle, and the relationships that make lending feel less like banking and more like community. Oh, and Hannah makes a strong first impression by killing a fly mid conversation. This is part one. Next episode we dig into leadership and the role Jamie plays across Southern AG Credit's Mississippi offices.

We're back with Rep. Jill Ford for part two of our conversation, and this one goes deep. If you missed part one, go back and start there for the story of how she got to the Mississippi House of Representatives. In this episode, Jill pulls back the curtain on what the job actually looks like day to day. She walks us through session, the committee process, and how a bill really becomes law (turns out most of us forgot everything from that social studies lesson). As chairman of technology, she shares the work closest to her heart, from keeping a watchful eye on data centers coming to Madison County to fighting to protect children online through the Walker Montgomery Online Children's Act. Her reminder to parents will stick with you: when you hand your child a phone, treat it with the same seriousness you would anything that powerful. But the heart of this episode is Jill's faith. She opens up about the seven-year storm that sent her to her knees for the first time, how her prayer closet became the place she truly met the Lord, and why she still gets on her face every single morning before her feet hit the ground. She talks conviction votes, submission in marriage, and what it means to serve people who trust her because they know Who she answers to first. It's honest, it's encouraging, and it's a beautiful picture of what happens when you let God pave the way.

On this episode of Ground Up Growth, Hannah Pittman and Paul Hopper sit down with Mississippi House Representative Jill Ford for a conversation about faith, family, resilience, and finding your way into a life of service. Jill shares the story of growing up in Corinth with four brothers, building a career in real estate, and ultimately making the unexpected transition into the Mississippi House of Representatives. She talks candidly about losing her first political race by just 37 votes, what that loss taught her, and how she came to see it as part of a bigger plan. The conversation also dives into what it’s like to live and work in the public eye, how Jill handles criticism and social media negativity, and the advice that has stayed with her: “Bow up or bow out.” Jill shares why she believes in staying true to your values, serving others even when they disagree with you, and not allowing offense to dictate how you lead. From real estate and family life to faith, public service, and the importance of fighting for others, Jill’s story is a reminder that sometimes the doors that close are simply making room for the right one to open. Ground Up Growth is a podcast about the people, stories, and lessons that shape success from the ground up.

We switched things up for this one. Instead of hosting a guest, it's just Hannah and Paul sitting down for a straight Q&A on the money mindset behind a 12 year real estate career. Paul gets into what actually builds wealth over time: watching every single dime, the difference between good debt and bad debt, why he still writes checks to dodge a 3% fee, and the "$54 a day" math behind getting money into a money market fast. He also opens up about the current rabbit hole keeping him up at night, a ranch he's developing in Montana from 25 hours away, and shares his take on what separates a great employee from an average one (hint: it comes down to initiative and doing what you say you'll do). If you've ever wanted to pick a successful investor's brain on real estate, spreadsheets, delegation, and the compounding effect, this one's for you. This episode is sponsored by Service Specialists and Environment Masters. Thank you to our sponsors for making Ground Up Growth possible.

Taylor and Katie Summers pitched their board a coffee shop as a five year plan. The board brushed it off. Then COVID evacuated them out of Kenya on 12 hours notice, and they opened the first one seven months later anyway. In part two, they walk through how Zoe Ministries ended up in the coffee business. The 3 a.m. phone call from Nairobi to Kitale, the flight rerouted through Dubai to avoid Europe, and the conversation on a Birmingham couch that turned into three coffee shops. Their accountant projected $50,000 in annual revenue for the Cleveland location. That is now a normal month. They get into: Why they cold called a roaster in Illinois and asked for help Telling the board they were not asking permission The CFO question that changed everything, what does a cup of coffee actually cost Flying to Kenya for a court case two days before opening day Why Greenwood was a hard no until Viking talked them into it Sending a weak drink back, and why charity does not excuse a bad cup of coffee The staffing lesson that took a decade to learn Storytelling instead of asking, and why a pledge card on the table makes them check out Coffee Outpost in Livingston opens Monday the 20th. Beans from Native Coffee and Soapbox Roasters. Learn more at zoemeanslife.org Follow @coffeeoutpost If you missed part one, go back and listen. That episode covers the ministry itself, from a $350 bank account to twelve homes, 200 well repairs a year, and a pastoral training center in rural Kenya. Thank you to our sponsors, Service Specialists and Environment Masters.

Taylor and Katie Summers built Zoe Ministries from a $350 bank account into twelve homes, a clean water program, and a pastoral training center in rural Kenya. Now they are opening a coffee shop in Livingston, Mississippi to help fund it. Taylor graduated from Delta State on a Saturday and moved to Kenya two days later, living in a 250 square foot house and getting around on a 125cc motorcycle. Katie was a pediatric nurse at Batson Children's Hospital before spending two years in Haiti. Mutual friends connected them, they dated across two continents for 15 months, and ten years later they are still flying back every three to four months, now with three kids in tow. This is part one of a two part conversation. Here they walk through the ministry itself. Part two covers how a nonprofit ended up in the coffee business.

This week on Ground Up Growth, we sit down with Jeff and Shelby Taylor of Two Men and a Truck in Ridgeland — a father-daughter duo running one of the most recognized service brands in the country. Jeff shares how a chance encounter behind a moving truck on the way to an Auburn game led him from engineering and NASA to franchise ownership in 1999, back when marketing meant a half-page ad in the phone book and a bag phone bolted to the console. We talk about what it really takes to build a team people stay with for 10, 15, 20+ years — and why culture has to be more than pool tables and ping pong. Jeff opens up about walking through his late wife's five-year cancer battle while running the business from Houston, and how the team he'd built held everything together without missing a beat. Shelby shares her own path into the family business through marketing and PR, and what it's like to build something alongside your dad without losing the "dad" part of the relationship. If you've ever wondered what's really behind the trucks you pass on the highway — or what it takes to build a legacy business that survives the hardest seasons of life — this one's for you. Sponsored by HomeWell Care Services.

In part two of our conversation with Emily Grohovsky of Cedar Hill Gardens, we shift from the origin story to the business behind the business. Emily walks us through the early days of hiring help straight off the floor at Home Depot, the gradual transition from nursing to running Cedar Hill full time, and the lessons that came from learning as she went rather than following a roadmap. We talk about what it actually takes to grow a service business in a niche most people see as a hobby: building multiple revenue streams so a rainy week doesn't stall the whole operation, choosing materials and offerings based on what a client's lifestyle can sustain, and why teaching clients to care for their own gardens has built more loyalty than any sales pitch could. Emily also gets candid about social media growth, including the Valentine's Day reel that unexpectedly hit a million views, why she's stopped chasing follower counts, and how speaking engagements have become one of her most effective ways to grow trust and reach. We close with a conversation about knowing your season of life and giving yourself permission to grow at the pace that fits it, not the one everyone else expects. If you missed part one, go back and listen first. It covers how Emily got started and the foundation that made all of this possible. Learn more about Emily and Cedar Hill Gardens: cedarhillgardens.com This episode is brought to you by HomeWell Care Services. HomeWell brings trusted, compassionate caregivers into your home, offering companion care, personal care, and specialty care for needs like dementia or chronic conditions. Every client gets a dedicated care manager at no extra cost, so the plan is tailored to your family and adjusts as needs change. Learn more at homewellcares.com.

What started as a 30x40 plot of Mississippi clay during the loneliest season of the pandemic turned into a thriving business, a 100+ member community, and a third life entirely. Hosts Paul Hopper and Hannah Pittman sit down with Emily Grohovsky, founder of Cedar Hill Gardens, to talk about how a stay-at-home mom with two babies under two and a serious case of postpartum cabin fever became "the Garden Lady" of Madison, Mississippi. Emily walks through her unlikely path from NICU nurse to custom vegetable garden builder, the moment a neighbor's request turned a hobby into a business, and how Cedar Hill Gardens grew to 22 installed gardens in its first year and a membership community that has grown from 14 to over 100 members. She shares why staying focused on Zone 8 gardening (and not landscaping) became her competitive edge, the story behind her bestselling zone-specific planting calendar, and why organic pest control using companion flowers works better than chemicals ever did. In this episode you'll hear how a COVID garden turned into a full-time business, why most "black thumbs" are really just following the wrong advice for their growing zone, the difference between trap crops and companion planting, the best vegetables to plant if kids are involved (hint: anything they can dig up), and how gardening became a place of healing for Emily's clients facing illness, grief, and burnout.

The future is already here, and Jake Manning is installing it. In Part 2, hosts Paul Hopper and Hannah Pittman continue their conversation with Mississippi Smart Homes founder Jake Manning to go deeper on the technology trends reshaping everyday life, and what it means for homeowners, business owners, and entrepreneurs paying attention. Jake breaks down the real story on Starlink, why cybersecurity matters more than most people realize, and how his team is using AI right now to work faster and smarter. He also shares one of the most moving stories of the episode, how assistive smart home technology gave an ALS patient independence back and gave his wife peace of mind, and why that kind of work is fueling the next chapter of Mississippi Smart Homes. In this episode you will hear about how Starlink is changing internet access in rural Mississippi, practical cybersecurity tips every homeowner and business owner needs to know, how AI is democratizing access to expert level advice, the future of Jarvis style smart homes and what is coming in the next three to five years, and why assistive technology may be the most meaningful work Jake does.