Video Version: https://youtu.be/AzyeSHwZans

In this episode, host Bo Kemp sits down with Chris Cooks, a hospitality-driven entrepreneur turned ecosystem builder, whose journey from small-town business owner to regional economic development leader offers a blueprint for purpose-driven success.

Chris shares how he turned his passion for service and hospitality into three thriving local businesses — Line Scout, Cab Scout, and Bar Scout — serving his community in Michigan with creativity and care. His journey then took him into the world of franchising with Dunkin’ Donuts, before ultimately choosing to pour his energy into helping other entrepreneurs navigate the complex path of building and scaling their own ventures.

Now serving as Director of the APEX Accelerator and Relationship Manager at the Southland Development Authority, Chris leverages his entrepreneurial experience to support others in turning ideas into action — and dreams into sustainable businesses.

This episode explores the reality of starting and operating multiple service businesses in a local market, lessons learned from pursuing a national franchise model, the shift from building for yourself to building capacity for others, and how organizations like the Southland Development Authority and APEX Accelerator are creating impact through access, relationships, and resources.

Whether you're just getting started or thinking about how to give back, Chris’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and servant leadership.