Ground Up Growth

Service Over Scale: The Unconventional Way Dr. Grace Sturdivant Built Her Business

What does it actually look like to build a business without losing who you are?
In Part 2 with Grace Sturdivant (OtoPro Technologies), we go beyond the origin story and into the real decisions that shape a business—scaling vs. staying lean, product vs. service, and growth vs. identity.
Grace shares how she turned a single relationship into a major opportunity with MeatEater, why she refuses to sign exclusivity deals, and how she’s built a profitable company with zero debt—all while prioritizing people over products.
We also talk about:
The hidden challenges of growth and scalingBuilding a relationship-driven brand Competing without compromising your values Entrepreneurship as a mother Practical advice for women forging their own path This episode is for entrepreneurs, business owners, and anyone trying to build something that lasts. 👉 Subscribe for more conversations on business, entrepreneurship, and growth from the ground up.

Dr. Grace Sturdivant, Owner & Founder, OtoPro Technologies

In this episode of Ground Up Growth, we sit down with Grace from OtoPro Technologies, a Mississippi-based hearing protection company redefining how people think about hearing health.
Grace shares her journey from growing up in Grenada, Mississippi, to becoming a Doctor of Audiology and building an unexpected business from the ground up. What started as a simple desire to help friends and family protect their hearing turned into a nationwide service model—connecting clients with a network of hundreds of clinics across the U.S. and beyond.
We dive into the powerful connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline, the gaps in traditional healthcare systems, and how Grace identified a real-world problem and built a business around solving it. She also opens up about balancing motherhood and career, taking risks without a clear roadmap, and building a lean, service-first company that thrives on relationships and word-of-mouth.
This episode is a conversation about following conviction, creating opportunity where others see obstacles, and building something meaningful—one relationship at a time.

Why Hard Work Still Wins (Lessons from a PBR Bull Rider)

In this episode of Ground Up Growth, we sit down for part 2 with Lonnie Stevenson—owner of Circle S Incorporated, industrial cleaning company leader, and former PBR Finals bull rider—to talk about what it truly takes to build a successful business from the ground up.
Lonnie shares how his rodeo background shaped his work ethic, discipline, and values—and how those same principles helped him grow a company rooted in quality, opportunity, and team culture.
We dive into:
Why hard work and consistency still win in any industry
The importance of taking pride in your work—even in the toughest jobs
How strong leadership creates six-figure opportunities for employees
The role of core values, faith, and responsibility in long-term success
Why you don’t need a college degree to build something meaningful
Lessons from influential mentors and building a people-first business
Lonnie also shares stories from his time traveling the world as a professional bull rider, insights on leadership, and his perspective on what’s missing in today’s workforce.
If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or someone looking to grow in your career, this episode is a powerful reminder that success isn’t complicated—it’s built on discipline, integrity, and showing up every day ready to work.

Lonnie Steverson: Vice President, Circle S Inc.

From bull riding arenas to industrial job sites, Lonnie Steverson’s story is built on grit, risk, and resilience.
In this episode of Ground Up Growth, Lonnie—owner of Circle S Incorporated—shares how a family business that started with painting and “figuring it out” evolved into a multi-state industrial cleaning operation. After losing his father at just 20 years old, Lonnie and his mom worked to keep the business alive, eventually growing it into a company with 80+ employees serving plants across the Southeast.
Along the way, Lonnie was also chasing a different kind of dream—competing as a professional bull rider in the PBR. He opens up about that chapter, the injuries that changed his path, and the moment he chose to go all-in on the business.
This conversation is about more than hydroblasting and hard jobs—it’s about leadership, earning respect, taking care of your people, and learning the work from the ground up.
If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to build something that lasts, this one’s for you.

Self-Storage Isn’t Passive Income: Development Headaches, Industry Trends & StorageMax’s Story

In Part 2 of our conversation with Nick Newcomb, CEO of StorageMax, we dive into the realities behind the self-storage industry—an asset class many people assume is easy “mailbox money.”
Nick shares the real challenges of building and operating self-storage facilities, including development hurdles like wetland mitigation, construction complications, and the everyday operational issues that come with managing dozens of locations and customers.
We also discuss:
• The biggest pain points in the self-storage business• Real estate development challenges most people never see• Why self-storage isn’t as passive as people think• Market shifts affecting storage demand today• Competition from large REITs and national operators• How StorageMax builds community relationships and brand loyalty• Using AI and automation in the storage industry• The future of StorageMax and expansion into RV parks and new markets
If you're interested in real estate investing, entrepreneurship, self-storage development, or building a long-term family business, this episode gives an honest look inside one of Mississippi’s largest storage companies.

Nick Newcomb: Owner, StorageMax

In this episode of Ground Up Growth, we sit down with Nick Newcomb, CEO of StorageMax, the largest self-storage operator in Mississippi. Nick shares his path from growing up on a Delta farm to leading a multi-state self-storage portfolio with nearly 40 locations across Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.
We dig into his early career in commercial real estate, the hands-on years spent learning every level of the StorageMax operation, and how a focus on systems, people, and customer experience helped scale the business through multiple market cycles.
This conversation covers:
-What self-storage really looks like behind the scenes (hint: it’s not just “metal buildings and mailbox money”) -The difference between traditional storage and Class A developments -How post-2008 and post-COVID markets shaped StorageMax’s growth strategy -Why systems, technology, and consistency matter more than rapid expansion -Nick’s role in state and national self-storage associations and industry advocacy
This episode focuses on Nick’s career journey and leadership philosophy.
In Part Two, we’ll go deeper into the operational realities of the self-storage industry—pain points, acquisitions, and what it actually takes to scale. If you’re interested in real estate, operations, or building a durable business from the ground up, this one’s for you.

Labor Nightmares, Burnout, and Building Tuk Tuk Boom from Scratch | Will Puckett

In this episode of Ground Up Growth, we continue our conversation with Tuk Tuk Boom owner Will Puckett. Will gets real about what it actually takes to build a business from the ground up—especially in the restaurant industry. We dive into the realities of labor shortages, managing emotions and personalities, learning to delegate, and surviving burnout when the pressure is nonstop. From opening a restaurant with zero experience to navigating leadership, trust, and long hours, Will shares the unfiltered lessons most people never talk about.
This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck in a job they hate, has an idea they keep putting off, or needs the reminder that the hardest part is simply starting. If you’ve ever asked yourself “What if I just did it?” — this episode is for you.
Topics covered:
Labor challenges and skilled staffing
Delegation, leadership, and trust
Burnout and recalibrating as a business owner
Taking risks without a safety net
Why passion matters more than experience

Will Puckett: Owner, Tuk Tuk Boom

In this episode of Ground Up Growth, Paul Hopper is joined by first-time co-host Hannah Pittman and guest Will Puckett, founder of Tuk Tuk Boom. Will shares the unfiltered, behind-the-scenes story of how a finance major with zero culinary background walked away from insurance, reverse-engineered Thai recipes on a Belhaven back porch, and built one of Mississippi’s most loved fast-casual restaurant brands. From a stolen truck that sparked an unexpected friendship, to cooking curries in crawfish pots during COVID, to growing a team of nearly 90 employees across two locations—this episode is a true ground-up story. The conversation dives into risk, timing, humility, culture, and the people who make a business work—including the powerful story of the team member who helped make Tuk Tuk Boom possible. This is part one of a two-part conversation, focused on Will’s background, the origin of the idea, and the messy early days of building something from nothing. Part two will dig deeper into labor, leadership, and scaling a business once the doors are open. If you like honest entrepreneurship stories, this one’s for you.

Marketing in 2026: Why Branding, Consistency, and Relationships Matter More Than Ever

In Part 2 of this conversation, Paul sits down again with Hannah Pittman, owner of Pittman Marketing, to go deeper into what it really means to build a brand that lasts — and how marketing is changing as people grow tired of being marketed to.
Hannah shares the story behind her recent rebrand, why clarity matters more than creativity alone, and how rebranding should signal a real shift in business strategy — not just a new logo. From there, the conversation expands into market trends, the evolution of social media, and why relationship-driven marketing is becoming more powerful than ever.
They also talk about:
Why authenticity is replacing overproduction
How human behavior is reshaping marketing strategies
The shift from constant posting to meaningful touchpoints
The importance of brand consistency in a distracted world
Collaboration over competition in business
Why word-of-mouth is still the most powerful form of marketing
How Ground Up Growth is expanding and evolving moving forward
This episode is for business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders who want to grow with intention, build trust, and create brands that actually connect.
🎧 Listen in and get grounded in what marketing looks like next.

Hannah Pittman: Owner, Pittman Marketing

In this episode of Ground Up Growth, Paul sits down with Hannah Pittman, owner of Pittman Marketing — and the person who’s been behind the scenes producing the podcast from day one.
For the first time, Hannah steps in front of the mic to share her story: from growing up in the Mississippi Delta, to working in corporate marketing, to building her own agency while raising a young family. She opens up about the early entrepreneurial moments that shaped her, the leap from corporate to freelance, and what it really looks like to grow a service-based business without losing your values.
This episode also marks a big milestone for the show — Hannah is officially joining Ground Up Growth as a co-host, bringing a new perspective and deeper conversations to future episodes.
If you’re a business owner navigating growth, leadership, or the jump from employee to entrepreneur, this one will feel familiar.
🎙️ Part 1 focuses on Hannah’s background and journey
🎙️ Part 2 dives into marketing, rebranding, and what business owners should be thinking about in 2026
 
Follow Ground Up Growth on Instagram and Facebook for episode clips, updates, and behind-the-scenes content.