100 Entrepreneurs Project

05/13/2026

Please join us today at 12pm for an hour with the Armed Services Arts Partnership; they have so many interesting offerings for our community. There is something for EVERYONE!

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86472830536?pwd=1hO7rL2TtA82TGRJ7QN0nLgPu4VOpZ.1

Meeting ID: 864 7283 0536
Passcode: 783182

05/11/2026

Tune in Wednesday, May 13 at 12pm!
It's so exciting to have ASAP back. Join us to hear about all the new opportunities they have
to connect with other Veterans and.... Who knows? You might possibly find a medium that speaks to you. Andrea, our guest speaker is a military spouse and
is eager to share her passions with you.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86472830536?pwd=1hO7rL2TtA82TGRJ7QN0nLgPu4VOpZ.1

05/05/2026

Part 2- Holly Simmons, Founder of She Loves Me, explains that entrepreneurs should define an end goal early, building to sell, pass to children, or create a heritage brand, because it clarifies priorities and commitment; she suggests writing a future “headline” for the business. She describes how an art studio and the first flower shop space came through recognizing opportunities, leveraging the appeal of flower shops to real estate developers for favorable rent, and later consolidating from three locations to one. Without formal business courses, she credits a seamstress mother and journalism for resilience, comfort with reworking, and not dwelling on mistakes. She chose the name “She Loves Me” for a subtle floral reference, secured the domain, and argue branding drives most business success. She outlines multiple revenue channels (weddings, retail/delivery, brand events, workshops) and stress early compliance via a part-time bookkeeper plus learning core finance/HR basics, while noting she should have sought coaching sooner and now prioritize enjoyment and family.

1 like. "Holly Simmons, Founder, She Loves Me on Strategic Planning & Success, April 2026 Part 2"

04/27/2026

Part 1- Holly explains how she transitioned from journalism at the Washington Post and NPR into entrepreneurship. After noticing changes in click-driven media and wanting to travel, she left her job and began teaching succulent classes at home, building early momentum around 2015 by trend-spotting and sourcing plants from California. She later realized she preferred the fast pace of flowers, hired a florist, and started with small budget weddings while working from a shared studio she co-founded with artist friends. She reinvested earnings from a separate account, committing seriously after reaching $15,000, then opened a standalone shop. COVID forced a rapid shift to deliveries, amplified by a charity bouquet for isolated seniors, leading to major volume and system upgrades. She systematized operations to reduce her workload, strengthen culture, and prepares for sale as she considers a move to Portugal; after exploring buyers and alternatives, she finds an unexpected buyer.

1 like. "From Petals to Profits: Holly Simmons' Journey with She Loves Me, April 2026 Part 1"

04/07/2026

Join us on Wednesday, April 8 at 12 pm EST! This April it's only fitting that we bring you Holley Simmons, who over the last 7 years grew a flower business in DC and then recently sold it, moved to Portugal and began again wiser and more convicted to support small business owners who wish to scale-up or sell.

Join our zoom meeting and hear how she got started, built her brand, scaled and sold with the soul of the business intact. Come on out for some community, conversation and great business advise.

Topic: 100 Entrepreneurs Holley Simmons
Time: Apr 8, 2026 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86723834209?pwd=kgSgiY4mJbRVhe2p73pvuICaKcBVfN.1

Meeting ID: 867 2383 4209
Passcode: 526170

04/05/2026

Part 3: How a Cookie Food Truck Survives Rising Egg Costs, Competition, and Seasonal Slumps

The speaker discusses resisting the urge to buy chickens despite rising egg prices, instead sourcing mainly from a food distributor while supplementing with local North Carolina eggs when possible, noting the baking challenges of inconsistent egg sizes that require weighing for recipe accuracy. They reflect on a new brick-and-mortar cookie competitor, choosing to stay true to their brand, increase interactive social media content, and focus on customer experience and loyalty despite premium pricing. They explain why social media drives more reach than the truck itself, sharing an example reel that drew 18,000 views, and describe staying focused by limiting menu choices while adding small seasonal specials. Finally, they outline the food truck’s seasonal revenue cycles, weather impacts, and how military supply-chain and cost-analysis skills translate into managing production and cash flow.

How a Cookie Food Truck Survives Rising Egg Costs, Competition, and Seasonal SlumpsThe speaker discusses resisting the urge to buy chickens despite rising eg...

03/30/2026

Part 2: Michelle Elwood, Cookies N Moore: Scaling a Scratch Bakery, Staffing, and Smart Taxes

The owner of a scratch-made cookie trailer explains how original recipes were developed and tweaked while core staples stayed the same, adding new flavors like honey pistachio. She describes producing dough in a rented commercial kitchen, freezing it, and baking fresh on the trailer so cookies are never more than a day old, plus offering Blue Bell ice cream and custom cookie ice cream sandwiches. She discusses hiring staff to scale, including a key shift lead and many local high school students, and shares challenges managing employees. She details investing about $170,000 in the first year through personal savings and a local bank loan, projecting profitability within five years (potentially three), paying herself a reasonable S-corp salary, and structuring assets like a truck lease for tax advantages. She emphasizes market research, pricing amid rising ingredient costs, and lessons learned from ego, inexperience, and damaging the newly wrapped trailer.

Michelle Elwood, Cookies N Moore: Scaling a Scratch Bakery, Staffing, and Smart TaxesThe owner of a scratch-made cookie trailer explains how original recipes...

03/28/2026

Part 1: From Army to Cookies: Leaving Corporate to Buy a Food Truck Business

A former Army service member shares how transitioning out of the military led her to prioritize three of five common post-service goals—living where she works, making good money, and working reasonable hours—only to feel unfulfilled in a remote corporate role at Cisco. After seeing Cookies and More, a Southern Pines cookie truck business, listed for sale and getting strong encouragement from the original owner she served with in Afghanistan, she bought it in February after starting talks in January. Though she now works far more hours, she feels happier and freer working for herself, with full ownership of successes and failures. She operates a trailer stationed at Red’s Corner most weekdays and some Saturdays, plus a second truck for events across the local North Carolina area, with her husband’s support and occasional help.

From Army to Cookies: Leaving Corporate to Buy a Food Truck BusinessA former Army service member shares how transitioning out of the military led her to prio...

03/11/2026

Please join us today at 12pm!

Army Veteran, Michelle Ellewood, transitioned out of the service in North Carolina and started her own Food Truck business, Cookies N Moore!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83748741588

03/09/2026

QAC Veterans, 3/9/26
Federal Government Workers on the Easter Shore
Beverly, county Executive Director , USDA, Supporting Farmers
Jason, branch of USDA, Conservation