Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Huggins.
Hi Rebecca, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Well, my husband and I decided to take a leap of faith in 2012 and take over a restaurant on the square in Georgetown. We shut it down, gutted it and built what is now Roots Bistro. In the process, we had very little money and really only a working knowledge of the restaurant business so we dug in to learn about the community and how to market with little to no budget. In 2015 when the business began to turn profit we decided to sell and see what was next for us. My husband, Jesse, opened his business AshRoot Woodworking (still in operation) where he builds custom furniture and built-in cabinet units.
For me though, my journey took a bit more time. I went to work for the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce for a few years as the business manager and helping as a guide for other local businesses to master their marketing. I stayed there for a few years and while I was pregnant with our 5th kiddo, I decided I was done with the regular day to day work routine. I really am a bit of a gypsy spirit and I like to have the ability to do many things all in a days work. So, while I was pregnant (actually VERY sick) I quit my job and opened The Intrepid Catalyst. Nearly four years later, my business has grown and evolved into website development, graphic design and marketing and it allows me to meet and work closely with so many wonderful local business owners! I also got a wild hair recently and decided to get my Personal Training and Yoga Teacher training certifications so I am working on that too. Ha! Never a dull moment for my sweet husband.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Certainly NOT! While pregnant with this last baby… LAST… we had some complications that landed me in the hospital a few times and labor and delivery was near fatal for our sweet boy and ended in an emergency C-Section. So scary. Coming out of this, I faced severe depression and was still in the process of learning how to grow a brand new business. It took me some time to find my way again and grow my business the way that felt right. My husband in the meantime struggled to manage an entire household and grow his business through economic challenges and now major inflation on materials. It has been a wild ride for us both but at the end of the day, we are so proud of the solid and consistent work we are able to provide our clients.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I really love helping my clients build beautiful websites that tell the story of their business. It is so fun to be creative and technical at the same time. Especially knowing that we can change things as often as they want. Our world is constantly evolving and business should too, to fit into what makes us HAPPY. Probably half my time is spent in graphic design. Creating flyers and posts for social media… another one of those ever-evolving things that businesses deal with daily. I so enjoy alleviating the stress of this work for my clients and knowing that I am part of their team. Just a cog in the background keeping the machine moving,
For my husband, he has been a cabinet maker for over 20 years now and his craft is a dying bread. He can craft and built beautiful pieces and the craftsmanship is impeccable. I am so proud of his work and love to watch him. Although I have drawn a line at marketing for him because he never gets me good photos, HA!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I would say my advice would be to “Never settle”. Never stop reaching for the things that light you up and bring you joy. Trust and have faith that if you are doing what you love the rest will fall into place!
Contact Info:
- Email: theintrepidcatalyst@gmail.com
- Website: theintrepidcatalyst.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theintrepidcatalyst/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theintrepidcatalyst
