Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawna Verhine.
Hi Shawna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in a Family Owned Business called Ray’s Wholesale Meats. I was also fortunate to grow up in your typical American Christian Household, by the most wonderful parents God could’ve ever blessed me with, Johnny and Cathy Kown. My Daddy was and always will be my hero. My Parents started teaching me about every aspect of our family owned business. My daddy, grew up always working at the meat plant. My grandfather, Edwin Ray Kown, started the meat plant in 1959, and became the magistrate judge of Bartow County right before my Daddy bought The meat plant from him in 1989.
I used to set my alarm clock and wake up at 3:30 in the morning just to go to work with him where I would act like I was the “future business owner” of Ray’s Wholesale Meats sitting behind his huge desk. As I grew older and found my own way in life, I married and started my own family with having 2 precious children that are now 12 and 10 years old.
In the year of 2015, I lost my Mother and I didn’t really know how to navigate my life without her. My life went on as a homemaker, until 2019 when the marriage between my children’s Father and I dissolved and I lost my Daddy. I also found the Lord again through all turmoil going on throughout my life and I really started praying for the Lord to open doors that he wanted opened in mine and my children’s lives. He brought me my Soulmate. My husband today and always, Chris Verhine. He was turning his life over to the Lord, and we were praying for each other, when we didn’t even know it. At this time I still had my maternal grandmother, Betty Tidwell. She was in an assisted living facility, and there was a notary lady there that was always so nice. She always spoke about how good she felt when she helped people with her notary commission. That is exactly how I even started thinking about becoming a notary. I wanted to help people like she was. Unfortunately, I lost my grandmother at the end of 2020 due to COVID, And I really got down in my Bible with my husband (which we married November 27, 2021.) I started really praying for the Lord to show me where he wants me. He wanted me at different assisted livings and nursing homes helping our elderly and disabled, our most precious members of society besides our children.
So, I started all the free training that I could find on how to start a business being a notary. That’s how I learned how to become a signing agent, when you are a part of the National Notary Association they want you to be the best version of you, You could be. They offer so much training, and so many other certifications you can get under the membership. I was able to get training for immigration paperwork, adoption paperwork, all while building my Signing Business. There is always something you can learn, knowledge is so powerful.
I then started building all my platforms on social media, also finding all the platforms for new signing agents, getting my Google and Yelp accounts going. I also ordered business cards, So that every signing platform wherever they sent me I was able to give my clients my business cards. Everybody knows word of mouth is the best advertisement you can get. It’s also one of the best honors you can have. The people that have been so gracious to me and have called me multiple times to come back and do multiple things for them again and again. That is how I have built my business. That is how I got started, and motivated. As I stated previously that my grandfather was a Magistrate Judge for Bartow County, He would marry people at his house. It was so much fun to watch him perform weddings. As a matter of fact he married my husband’s mother and stepfather in 1990. That inspired me. So I became an ordained minister. I’m so proud to announce that I’ve just officially opened my second business, Verhine’s Say “I Do” Services. I am a new entrepreneur, I am so proud of myself. By the grace of God, and the biggest support from my husband and children, I am here, and learning and helping my community more everyday.
I am so excited about what the future holds for my family and Verhine Professional Signing LLC, and Verhine’s Say “I Do” Services. These businesses will be Family owned and Operated, and stay that way. I look forward to serving all of Northwest Georgia and beyond in the coming years. It’s going to be a great adventure. To God be all the Glory over my families lives and these 2 new business. I’m such a blessed entrepreneur.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Everybody always has struggles in one way or the other. The big thing about being certified in a lot of different things, It takes money. Most people are getting certified to make money. As an entrepreneur my Daddy always taught me, it takes money to make money. Boy, was he not kidding. I’m so proud of where I’m at, however it took a few years to get here, it didn’t happen overnight. A lot of late nights on the computer doing research after research.
It was very important to me to start my business on my own and make my own name for myself. That is a virtue that I’ve come to learn a little bit, I still have an issue but I am still learning patience. Also, the more knowledge you have the more powerful you will be.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart from others is my compassion. My dedication to others. My love for others. My job gives me the most joy helping people at nursing facilities and hospitals. Those are the most heartwarming ones. No matter how you look at it, you are helping these people and they really appreciate you. I’m most proud of my family. My work is very important to me, but my love for Jesus Christ comes first, then my family and work.
How do you define success?
To me, success means creating a life that blends purpose, love, and joy- growing through my work while cherishing the moments and people that matter most.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.verhineprofessional signing LLC.com
- Facebook: Verhine Professional Signing LLC also Verhine’s Say “I Do” Services
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/verhine-professional-signing-white
Image Credits
Chris Verhine
