Gary and Jessica Shaffer each operate their very own companies from their office at home in Wake Forest, where they are increasing their young daughters.

This tale had been written for the sponsor, the Wake Forest company & Industry Partnership.

The Shaffer family is not merely a dual-income home, they’re a dual-entrepreneur home.

Gary and Jessica Shaffer each operate their very own organizations. He’s the creator and owner of Cornerstone Technical possibilities LLC, a veteran-owned company that focuses primarily on delivering cutting advantage hybrid-cloud and application solutions, while Jessica is just a freelance photographer that is professional. Both work from their property workplace in Wake Forest, where they are raising their daughters that are young many years five and two.

“We have two small desks in our office at home plus it’s been great. Gary travels every so often for company, therefore I tend to really have the lay regarding the land, ” Jessica stated. “As a professional professional photographer, location is every thing and I also feel just like I’ve won the jackpot right here. ”

The Shaffers relocated to Wake Forest in 2012 when Gary landed their contract that is first in for their burgeoning company. Both he and Jessica had been drawn to the approach to life that Wake Forest appeared to provide. Selecting a spot to phone house in Wake Forest has furnished an excellent backdrop to raise their young girls, and contains additionally proven good for each of their self-made companies.

“When we moved to new york, we did our research. One Sunday, my spouce and I were driving around and come upon Heritage a subdivision in Wake Forest where they now live, and we also simply thought it had been so picturesque and breathtaking. We’re able to see young ones playing around the streets — we actually liked the certain area, ” Jessica said. “At the period there isn’t a huge amount of financial development right right here, however the area has actually blown up over the past years that are few has exploded to our advantage. ”

As Jessica described, Wake Forest, from a development that is economic, has expanded in the last few years. Town leaders are spending so much time making it a town that supports a thriving company community, along with its ingrained family-friendliness.

Places such as the cordless analysis Center, a advanced center devoted to used research and engineering, and international energy grid company PowerSecure are reflective of both town’s attractiveness as a small business base, along with the strategic efforts of regional leadership.

“For many years now, the city has strategically concentrated its development that is economic vision resources toward supporting entrepreneurs, ” said Jason Cannon, president associated with Wake Forest company & Industry Partnership. “Seeing families just like the Shaffer’s develop and thrive within our community makes our work both worthwhile and provides credence into the Town’s investment that is significant its regional company community. The Shaffer’s are community assets, and we’ve enjoyed seeing them develop and be successful right here. ”

Before going to Wake Forest, Jessica possessed a banking that is full-time and would just just take photography jobs regarding the weekends. Because they had been gearing up to go to vermont, Gary pressed Jessica to follow along with her desires to become a photographer that is full-time. Upon their arrival, Jessica instantly began making connections through the Wake Forest community at church as well as her fitness center, advertising her company on the way.

“I pointed out that through these connections, my photography that is little business just starting to thrive in the region. It’s this type of community that is close-knit i discovered that networking with individuals ended up being very easy. Wake Forest is really an environment that is really rich not only can you study on other people, but additionally develop your online business, ” she said. “I also have a lot of alternatives for my customers here, so we never go out of spots to accomplish awesome shots. ”

Jessica, would you a combination of commercial, individual and wedding photography, likes to shoot in downtown Wake Forest as well as Joyner Park. A pecan grove and old farm buildings in fact, on a sunny weekend afternoon, it’s not uncommon to see Jessica and other photographers snapping away in the expansive 117-acre recreational space that features.

It’s these kind of interactions that change into leads and recommendations for Jessica’s clientele.

“I’ve been growing my business 15 to 20 % every year simply through the meetings that are one-on-one I’m having with individuals right here, ” Jessica said. “Photography has additionally permitted us to create memory records for my kiddies — my passion has become to have a family group. ”

Jessica noted that being a business owner provides her the flexibleness to invest the maximum amount of time them to remain focused on what’s important as she can with her girls, and that having a husband who also owns his own business allows.

“If there’s a project that is really big Gary is not crazy busy at the office, I’ll simply just simply take that task on. We take turns — whether it is for his business or mine. We determine what doing to help keep our ship running since smoothly as you possibly can for the family, ” she stated.

Gary, who’s an aquatic Corps veteran, worked within the IT industry for decades and desired a brand new challenge. The nine-to-five monotony had been dealing with him, and a close buddy wanted to show him the ropes of beginning a company.

He launched Cornerstone round the time that is same family members relocated to Wake Forest, and contains been the exciting challenge he had been trying to find.

“We use lovers like Red Hat, Bing and Microsoft. Locally, we’re in a place that is really great. Certainly one of our primary lovers is headquartered in downtown Raleigh — Wake Forest is extremely near to Raleigh and economically made feeling, ” Gary stated. “What first attracted us to Wake Forest ended up being its residential district offerings, but since we moved in 2012, the company community has exploded — everybody knows one another. Being a technology business in Wake Forest, we’re excited in regards to the improvements right right here. We’re getting better infrastructure to simply help help our company as well as others. ”

The Wake Forest company & Industry Partnership happens to be pressing difficult to offer the city’s system of business owners, that have organizations in anything from tech to workspace and more. A huge assist to both Jessica and Gary ended up being operating into Cannon, whom encouraged the few to optimize neighborhood resources and in addition helped facilitate introductions to those that may help their companies thrive.

Wake Forest has its own resources that entrepreneurs usually takes advantageous asset of, such as for instance its nine-week entrepreneur and business that is small system, LAUNCHWakeForest, its company Retention and Expansion Program, and many co-working spaces and incubators.

With additional than 54 % of the resident base having a bachelor’s level or greater, the Wake Forest community is ripe with talent and revolutionary minds prepared to monetize their great some ideas.

The Shaffers are finding success as business owners in Wake Forest, nonetheless it hasn’t been without effort and a bumps that are few the road — something both Jessica and Gary are transparent about.

“I think we’ve glamorized entrepreneurship a bit that is little its not all business shaadi owner ultimately ends up on Shark Tank. Don’t assume all business owner is true of severe money. But if you would like start a small business, you’ve surely got to be on it for the long term. I think it will require a specific sort of character to stay it down, ” Gary stated. “You will hear no’s a great deal. And you will have times in which you are feeling like you’re doing everything by yourself. ”

“I’ve heard no’s that are many. Out of each and every no, I discovered from that experience, after which i’d select myself from the ground and say, ‘Okay, well it is time for you to change it out up, ‘” Jessica included. “Never compromise on your goals. ”

No life is perfect, but Wake Forest has undoubtedly helped match the Shaffers’ dreams of company, household and community.

“why is a city great are its individuals, therefore the relationships that individuals have actually created listed below are amazing. Everyone we now have met happens to be certainly genuine and spent in their community, ” Jessica said. “Forming relationships along with other individuals in your community enables you to feel just like you’re element of one thing greater. Wake Forest has really enriched my company. Going right right here had been a great investment; it had been a good investment in myself, within my household plus in my company. ”

This tale ended up being written for the sponsor, the Wake Forest company Industry Partnership.