Crystal Wise
David Belloc
Things seemed at their most dire in May of 2020. You don’t need a history lesson — we all lived through the quarantine, and the effects of the pandemic continue to reverberate through our daily lives. We all remember the spikes in depression, the overrun hospitals, and the massive unemployment. We all remember that feeling of worry and helplessness. • Millions lost their jobs — losing them in a time when the world had seemingly screeched to a halt. A layoff or furlough became what felt like a penal sentence of sorts; there was little chance of getting back to work anytime soon. Wondering how one was going to make rent, pay their mortgage, or even put food on the table became endemic.
Yet, when things were at their bleakest, their darkest, and most dire, inevitably, some extraordinary people shined through. When challenged by the unexpected, some found the courage few have in the best of circumstances. For some, in a year when a feeling of disappointment ran rampant, they triumphed. Rick Pittser, Jaime Wiley, and David Belloc didn’t just experience a pandemic; they experienced a year when their dreams became a reality.
David Belloc, Youth and Associate Pastor at Fellowship of the Parks Grapevine
Former coach, financial advisor, car rental manager, COVID patient, servant, leader — David Belloc’s life has been full of tribulations, but they have all been leading him to where he was meant to be.
This devoted family man has encountered obstacles from every direction over the last year, but in the end, he’s thankful. “I feel like I’m confidently walking for the first time,” Belloc says.
In 2019, Belloc was working as a financial advisor and making more money than he ever had. Then he learned a secret that most shy away from. “The more money I made, the less fulfilled I felt,” Belloc says.
He walked away from that career, searching for an opportunity to be more intentional with people and to bring his faith into conversations. He moved up quickly at a car rental office and finally felt like he was doing something with purpose. But then, a global pandemic arrived. As tourism and travel declined, Belloc soon found himself out of work and out of ideas.
In late May, he contracted COVID-19 and was forced to quarantine — cut off from his family and support system. “I laughed, I cried, and I cried some more,” he confesses. Crippled from the isolation, cut low by fear, Belloc found himself lost in prayer. Brought to tears once more, it would be the simple words of his 9-year-old son that would prompt his spirit into action. From the edge of the room, Ryland frankly stated, “Dad, He didn’t give you a spirit of fear. Just do what He’s asking you to.”
Without understanding what that would be or how to get there, Belloc knew one thing: He needed to be plugged into his long-time church, Fellowship of the Parks in Grapevine. He started mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, conferring with members, and reading as many books as he could get his hands on — anything to feel more connected.
The church didn’t have money to pay him or a staff position to offer, but David showed up every day anyway. Reading How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority, by Clay Scroggins, David realized he was exactly where he needed to be. “God needed me to become a servant again,” Belloc says.
It wasn’t long before his calling would make itself known and would reveal an opportunity to serve. In July, Belloc joined Fellowship’s staff full time as associate and youth pastor. “It was the first time I could look back at all the moments in my lifetime, at every scar and every wound, and see this is why He put me here.”
Belloc says without the pandemic, he doesn’t see himself taking that chance. “If it weren’t for COVID, I’ve still got all my old excuses. COVID stripped me of my pride,” he explains, “but I learned I’m not alone. Ninety-nine percent of the people in your corner are rooting for you to go after your passions.” For him, that’s his wife, his kids, and people he meets along the way. “I call them silent voices. You can’t see it at the time, but when you look back, you know they were pointing you toward your purpose.”
Passion and purpose are evolving concepts, and Belloc is ambitious about his. “Two hundred thousand marriages. I’m here to impact 200,000 marriages. I’m not sure how I’ll do it, but I’ve got my whole life,” Belloc says. And maybe the biggest secret to success is just that. Even when you don’t know how to do it, just start.
As Belloc says, echoing wisdom from his coaching days, “It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.” fotp.church/grapevine
Crystal Wise
Rick Pittser
Rick Pittser, Copper Sky Craft Beverages
Rick Pittser dedicated 34 years of his life to the IT industry. Yet, in the face of widespread lockdowns, a field somewhat impervious to decline still suffered the same obstacles as any other industry. Ultimately, Pittser was laid off. Not once, but twice. The only vocation he had ever known, it seemed, now had no need for him. “I was jaded by the experience; I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Pittser admits.
Pittser turned to his family for support. He and his son, Jacob, spent time practicing one of their favorite pastimes: brewing. Cider and mead are typical mainstays — and on near-constant tap at their homes — but the father and son craved the thrill of trying something new.
The first time Pittser tried kombucha was at a brewery. He had never been much of a beer guy, so he was intrigued when he saw the fermented tea on tap. After that first taste, his curiosity piqued, and he knew he wanted to experiment with making it at home. A quick Google search confirmed the process was simple enough and gave Rick the confidence to go for it.
His daughter had already been involved with the local farmers market, selling art and custom crafts. It would be a fortuitous conversation about her father’s new hobby with the market’s organizer that would reveal an opportunity. In an instant, Rick was propelled onto a path he had never considered. “[Kombucha] kind of found me. And the cool thing is, I really like doing it.”
His first day at the market was in September 2020. Without any experience, Rick and Jacob constructed their tent with low expectations. “We brought a couple of kegs, thinking everyone would want to just buy a cup, but everyone wanted the bottles,” Rick laughs. They quickly sold out, and a spark ignited.
In the coming weeks, he and his son would continue to increase their supply, and each week, they would sell out. After that first month, Rick knew they were onto something. In just four months, Copper Sky Craft Beverages has built a steady following, participating in five area markets and partnering with their first two distributors: Neighbor’s House Grocery in downtown and The Local Farmer in Mansfield.
“It’s really cool when you see people come back,” Rick says. He knows he’s making a product that doesn’t have mass appeal, but that only adds to the joy he experiences when new shoppers become devotees. “We made it the way we like it — not too sour, more citrusy,” Rick says. And it seems others agree with his take.
Rick’s journey has shown him what he’s made of. An introvert at heart, he says, “I’ve got to step out of my comfort zone. It’s hard for me, but when we get those successes, it gets a little easier. Now I really enjoy coming to the markets and talking to people.”
He knows it won’t all be easy, and he’s preparing for the moment he has to decide how much he’s willing to commit. “One of my biggest fears is success,” Rick says. “But failing is less scary than not trying at all.”
When pushed on how far he’s willing to go, Rick admits he often wonders if he can make enough money to support himself and his wife. “But I look at some of our competitors, at the paths they’ve taken, and I have confidence in my ability to do that.”
Rick acknowledges it could take years to scale the business, but he’s enjoying the journey. “It’s the opposite of working for someone else,” Rick says. “I wake up, and I’m excited about all the things I have to do that day.” And he’s bolstered by each challenge and every accomplishment. “I always thought I could do it; now I know I can.” copperskycraftbeverages.com
Crystal Wise
Jaime Wiley
Jaime Wiley, Bougie Boozy Bears
Jaime Wiley is many things, but timid is certainly not one of them. When she was laid off from her job as a supervisor in the male-dominated automotive industry, she may have faltered, but not for long.
She confesses it was a hard blow to take. “First, I was devastated, then I was hysterical, and then I was depressed,” Wiley says. “I wouldn’t get out of bed.” It was her mom that finally got through to her, saying, “God’s got you. He closed this door for a reason.” Wiley knew the next move was hers.
“I’ve always been good at crafts,” Wiley says. “I realized I missed my calling, but it’s never too late.” Lovingly referred to as “The Jell-O Shot Girl” among friends and family, the idea came to her unexpectedly. In the middle of the night mid-May, standing in her dark kitchen, she knew what she would do. Bougie Boozy Bears, alcohol-infused gummies, was born that night, and Wiley’s new life began.
As any good entrepreneur would, she did her research and found that Texas no longer requires a TABC permit when alcohol is used in the making of confections. There is limited competition in the market, and after sampling the field, Wiley was unimpressed. “I knew we could do better,” she states without arrogance, just good taste and decades of experience supplying loved ones with party favors.
Recruiting her mom and eldest daughter, the close-knit threesome took to the kitchen and got to work. “Our first batch melted the minute we took them outside,” Wiley laughs. But they stuck with it, tuning her recipe until Bougie Boozy Bears were the perfect consistency, and most importantly, she says, “You can actually taste what’s in them.”
With her family by her side, Wiley debuted at her first farmers market in June 2020. “It was hot,” she exclaims. “I didn’t know how to decorate, I didn’t know how to promote.” But the proof is in the gummy. “I love seeing the expressions when they taste it,” Wiley says.
Bougie Boozy Bears has built a loyal following, servicing return customers each week locally, but thanks to the online presence she set up, Wiley is receiving orders from all around the U.S. Already turning a profit in the first month, she shows no signs of slowing down.
“I’m now an official affiliate of The Knot Worldwide,” Wiley says, recounting her latest undertaking as of January 2021. “It’s so scary, but it’s exciting.” She plans to begin as a local-only vendor to make sure she can keep up with demand and scale responsibly, but she has big goals for the business.
Like other brave start-ups before her, Wiley’s got her eye on “Shark Tank.” “I’ve already applied,” she says, admitting that while she would love to work with local “Shark” Mark Cuban, “the one that would probably help me the most is Mr. Wonderful [Kevin O’Leary].”
Wiley says it’s her daughters who have given her the drive to keep going, to keep building. “It hit me that my girls worry too much; that’s not their job,” Wiley says. “What am I going to pass down? Debt or a legacy?” She’s busy making sure it will be the latter. Already working on her next venture, Wiley wants a business she can build with her 13-year-old this time. “I want them to see me doing something brave.”
Wiley knows more challenges are coming, but she’s ready for them. “I know I can do it,” she says. “It’s OK to be scared, but I’ve got to do it anyway. This experience is showing me and my girls, take a step out on faith.” bougieboozybears.com
