Today we’d like to introduce you to Wesley Chenoweth.
Wesley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Liberia, West Africa, and my earliest memories are of a country filled with culture, family, and a sense of freedom. That all changed when the civil war broke out. I was only four years old when my parents made the decision to leave everything behind and bring us to the United States. We ended up in Queens, New York, where my father became an Assistant Pastor at the First United Methodist Church of Hollis.
Growing up in Queens was a completely different world from Liberia. We lived right across from the Jamaica Housing Projects — Run DMC, LL Cool J, Roxanne Shanté — that whole era. It was loud, it was dangerous at times, but it was also a place filled with people trying to survive and make something of themselves. Our house, the church parsonage, ended up becoming a safe place for a lot of the neighborhood kids. Looking back, that was the beginning of my humanitarian side. My dad taught us early that if you have the ability to help people, you should.
I eventually went to Syracuse University and studied civil engineering. That’s actually where I got the nickname “Grizzly.” My friends said I was gentle off the field but a whole different person on the football field — a teddy bear and a grizzly bear at the same time. After college, I worked for 12 years in the New York and New Jersey construction industry as an engineer and project manager.
Everything changed in 2006 when my father passed away. That loss forced me to step up for my family, and it pushed me into entrepreneurship sooner than I expected. My siblings and I took over the family business, and after that, I tried everything — door-to-door sales, real estate, graphic design, ecommerce — you name it. I failed more times than I can count, but each time taught me something.
What I really enjoyed and understood the most was transportation and courier work. I got my first big break delivering newspapers and later telephone books. That hustle taught me logistics, routing, leadership, and how to manage crews. But even with all the hustle, I eventually realized I didn’t actually know how to run a real business. I didn’t understand finances, pricing, planning — none of it. And that lack of knowledge eventually caught up with me.
In 2015, I made the decision to leave the Northeast. The cold weather had worn me down, and honestly, I needed a fresh start. I came to Athens, Georgia for two reasons: better weather and love. My girlfriend, Angela, and I were childhood friends from Liberia, and reconnecting with her brought me to a city I had never heard of before — but it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.
Athens gave me the chance to rebuild myself. I enrolled in the UGA Small Business Development Center, UGA Innovation, and Goodwill of North Georgia’s GoodBiz program — all at the same time. I needed to learn the fundamentals the right way. Those programs gave me structure, discipline, and a real understanding of how a business should run.
In 2016, I launched Grizzly Delivery LLC here in Athens. It started small — just me and a car — but it grew steadily. Over time, I expanded into limousine and transportation services, graphic and web design, consulting, and business education through Grizzly Academy. Each business came from something I either struggled with personally or something I saw that the community needed.
Today, I run multiple companies under the “Grizzly” brand, but at the end of the day, everything still comes from the same place: service, community, and the belief that you should help people wherever you can. I’ve had failures, setbacks, and moments when things didn’t make sense — but every part of my story prepared me for the work I’m doing now.
My journey started in Liberia, grew through New York, fell apart a few times, and rebuilt itself here in Athens. And I’m grateful for all of it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. My journey has had some high points, but it has also had some real challenges. I don’t think anyone who builds something from scratch avoids that.
One of the biggest challenges early on was losing my father. That shifted my whole life. I went from being an engineer with a clear career path to someone trying to hold my family together while learning entrepreneurship on the fly. Grief is heavy. Responsibility is heavy. Trying to carry both at the same time teaches you real quick what you’re made of.
Another major struggle was simply not knowing what I didn’t know. I had the hustle, but I didn’t have the fundamentals. I didn’t understand business planning, finances, pricing, systems — none of it. So even when I had opportunities, I didn’t have the tools to keep them going. A lot of my early businesses failed because of that lack of structure.
When I moved to Athens, it was a blessing, but it was also humbling. I was starting over from zero — new city, no network, no name, no connections. It forced me to rebuild my confidence and my identity one step at a time. There were moments where I questioned whether I made the right decision. But Athens also gave me something the North didn’t: space to breathe, grow, and learn.
And then came COVID-19.
That was one of the hardest chapters of my life. In 2019, I experienced so much success — I won the MLK Community Service Award, Grizzly Delivery was named Goodwill’s Micro-Business of the Year, and things were finally moving in the right direction. Then March 2020 hit, and overnight, everything shut down. Transportation stopped. Deliveries slowed. The world froze.
I made the tough decision to shut down my transportation services completely. What was supposed to be a temporary pause turned into almost a year and a half. I honestly thought I was going to lose everything I had been building. There were days where I questioned whether I’d ever be able to start back up again.
But resilience is something life had already taught me. Liberia taught me. Queens taught me. Losing my father taught me. Failure taught me. And I leaned on all of that during COVID.
I also leaned on the people and organizations that helped me grow in Athens — the UGA SBDC, Goodwill’s GoodBiz program, and the mentors and cheerleaders who believed in me even when I was struggling to believe in myself. Their support reminded me that setbacks aren’t the end — they’re part of the process.
When the world started opening back up, I restarted. Slowly. Quietly. One ride, one delivery, one customer at a time. And somehow, the business came back stronger. Not because of luck, but because I refused to quit.
So no — the road hasn’t been smooth. But every obstacle, every failure, every shut-down, and every comeback shaped me into the entrepreneur I am now. I learned that resilience matters more than perfection and that sometimes you have to rebuild your business the same way you rebuild your life — step by step.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The name of my business is Grizzly Delivery LLC, and it was the first company I started when I moved to Athens. This business is really where everything began for me. It wasn’t just a company; it was my second chance. Grizzly Delivery was born out of necessity, out of wanting to rebuild my life the right way, and out of wanting to make a difference in a community that welcomed me.
When I started Grizzly Delivery in 2016, it was just me and a car. No big investors, no fancy equipment — just determination, faith, and a willingness to put in the work. I began as a courier delivering packages, medical specimens, auto parts, paperwork, and urgent items across Northeast Georgia. Over time, I expanded into same-day delivery, rush delivery, and long-distance expedited loads. What set me apart early on was reliability. If I said I was going to be there, I was there. People trusted that.
What I think makes Grizzly Delivery different is the heart behind it. I never wanted to run just another delivery service. I wanted it to be community-driven. My motto became “Making a Difference with Every Delivery,” and I meant that. I wanted customers to know that their delivery wasn’t just another job — it was a chance to serve someone, help someone, or make their day easier. That mindset helped the company grow, and our customers felt the difference.
As the business grew, I realized I needed to diversify and build a brand that could evolve with me. That’s when the pivots started happening. Grizzly Delivery gave birth to Grizzly Rides Limousine & Transportation, Grizzly Grafix, and eventually Grizzly Academy. Each company came from a need I personally experienced or something I realized other people needed:
Grizzly Rides started because customers kept asking if I could take them to the airport or Atlanta for meetings, concerts, or game days. I saw the demand and expanded.
Grizzly Grafix grew out of the design work I was already doing for my own business — logos, websites, shirts. People started asking for help with their brands, and I realized it could be another stream of income.
Grizzly Academy came from all the mistakes I made early on. I wanted to help other entrepreneurs avoid the pitfalls I went through. I wanted to teach people the fundamentals I had to learn the hard way.
But Grizzly Delivery will always be the root of the “Grizzly” brand. It represents my resilience, my rebirth, and the lessons I learned the hard way. It also represents community. I’m proud that we’ve been recognized multiple times — Micro-Business of the Year by Goodwill, MLK Community Service Award, Best of Georgia Winner, and Neighborhood Fave several years in a row. Those awards mean a lot because they came from consistency and from the people we serve.
What I want readers to know is this: Grizzly Delivery isn’t just about picking up and dropping off packages. It’s about showing up for people. It’s about building trust. It’s about creating opportunities. It’s about second chances. Every Grizzly company that exists today started because I decided to show up, even when life was heavy, even when things looked impossible.
Grizzly Delivery opened the door for everything that came after it, and I’m proud that it continues to serve the Athens community with the same heart and purpose I started with.
Grizzly Delivery is a courier and logistics company. We handle:
* Same-day and rush delivery
* Medical specimen and pharmaceutical delivery
* Auto parts and industrial parts
* Long-distance expedited loads (OTR)
* Court filings and legal documents
* Print material distribution
* Lost luggage recovery
What sets us apart is reliability and professionalism. Everyone says that, but we actually live it. A lot of our clients tell us we’re the only courier they trust because we treat their deliveries like they’re our own. That mindset is the reason Grizzly Delivery earned Best of Georgia Awards from 2023 and 2024, and why we’ve been voted a Nextdoor Neighborhood FAVE from 2022 through 2024. Those are community-driven awards, and that means everything to me because this business was built on service.
Grizzly Delivery became the root system for what eventually grew into my other companies. As I served the community, new opportunities kept showing up.
Grizzly Rides – Limousine & Transportation
This business was born because customers started asking if I could take them to the Atlanta airport or on longer-distance rides. I listened, pivoted, and built a second company.
Today, Grizzly Rides offers:
Airport transportation
Chartered rides (hourly or mileage-based)
Game Day rides
Concerts, events, and nights out
Wine tours to North Georgia
Doctor appointment rides (non-medical transportation)
Wedding transportation
Long-distance travel
We serve Athens, UGA families, surrounding counties, and even out-of-state destinations. We’re licensed, professional, and community-focused. The company has already won multiple local awards, including Best of Georgia for 2024, and is a UGA Registered Vendor, which I’m proud of.
Grizzly Grafix – Design, Branding, Printing, and AI Services.
This one started due to my love of designing t-shirts. I gradually learned a suite of design software and began creating and usiong my talents to do design work for charities and busienesses. I learned most of those design skills from the Athens Library Digital Media Center when I first moved here.
Grizzly Grafix provides:
Graphic design
Website design
AI Services
E-commerce store design
Print-on-demand apparel
Screen printing & embroidery
Logo and branding packages
Digital advertising design
Event booth and promotional product design
Document preparation
Direct mail advertising & EDDM campaigns
Digital billboard ads
Nonprofit branding and fundraising design
It’s creative work, but it’s also strategy, and it serves startups, nonprofits, and small businesses all over Georgia and beyond.
Grizzly Academy – Educational, Mentorship and Consulting
This company came from my own struggles. I built Grizzly Academy so that entrepreneurs wouldn’t have to learn everything the hard way like I did. I made so many mistakes starting out in business and as a result, have so many lessons learned.
We offer:
Business consulting
Nonprofit startup consulting
Pitch coaching
Professional and motivational speaking
Online courses
Business plans, feasibility plans, and strategic plans
Marketing and branding instruction
Document preparation
Mentorship for founders, startups, and returning citizens
The Academy has grown into something I never expected. I’ve now served as a mentor and pitch coach for UGA Innovation’s Bootcamps, Goodwill’s GoodBiz program, and multiple UGA pitch competitions. And I’ve competed too — I placed 2nd of 500 Georgia Businesses in Goodwill of North Georgia’s Battle of the Biz in 2022, and I’ve won multiple Truist Pitch Competitions through UGA Innovation. Those programs helped shape my entrepreneurial life, so giving back through teaching and mentorship is important to me.
Beyond the technical side, Grizzly Academy is where I do a lot of my motivational speaking. I speak to students, returning citizens, and community groups because I want people to know that failure is not the end — it can be the beginning of something new.
What I’m most proud of…
If I had to narrow it down, I would say I’m proud of the progression — how one small courier business led to multiple companies that now serve thousands of people in different ways.
But more than the expansion, I’m proud that everything still comes back to the same core values:
service, reliability, community, humility, and giving people opportunities.
Grizzly Delivery gave me a second chance. It rebuilt my life. And I’m proud that it continues to be the foundation of a larger vision that’s helping others in ways I never imagined when I first got to Athens.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor is one of the most important things an entrepreneur can do. I didn’t understand that when I first started. In the early days, I tried to figure everything out on my own, and I paid for it — financially, mentally, and emotionally. If I had gotten a mentor earlier, a lot of my mistakes could have been avoided.
My biggest advice is this: don’t wait until you’re successful to look for guidance. Look for guidance so you can become successful.
What worked for me was putting myself in the right rooms, even when I felt unprepared. When I moved to Athens, I didn’t know anybody. I was starting over from scratch. So I decided to go where the learning was happening — UGA SBDC events, Goodwill’s GoodBiz program, UGA Innovation workshops, community business classes, anything I could attend. I wasn’t trying to network at first; I was just trying to learn. But those environments naturally put me around people who saw my potential before I fully saw it in myself.
That’s where I met some of the mentors who changed my life. And the truth is, I didn’t “find” them — they found me through my consistency. I showed up on time, I took notes, I asked questions, and I came back the next day hungry for more. Mentors want to help people who help themselves. They want to see effort, humility, and follow-through.
Another piece of advice is: don’t look for the perfect mentor. Look for the right one for the season you’re in.
I’ve had different mentors for different stages of my journey. Some taught me business fundamentals. Some held me accountable. Some opened doors. Some encouraged me when I was struggling. Not one mentor can do everything, and that’s okay.
Also, don’t overlook peer mentors. Some of the best advice I’ve gotten came from fellow entrepreneurs who were just a little further ahead of me. Iron sharpens iron.
And this part is important: when someone pours into you, show gratitude and pay it forward.
I wouldn’t be where I am without the people who invested in me — the SBDC counselors, the GoodBiz coaches, the UGA Innovation staff, and the entrepreneurs who took the time to guide me. That’s why today I mentor others through Grizzly Academy, UGA Innovation, Goodwill, and community programs. You learn the most when you teach.
If I had to summarize it:
Show up.
Be humble enough to learn.
Be consistent.
Follow through.
Ask questions.
Build real relationships, not transactional ones.
And when the time comes, give back and become the mentor you were once searching for.
That approach has worked well for me, and it continues to shape the way I move in business and in life.
Pricing:
- Grizzly Delivery: Pricing varies by distance, package size, urgency, and service type, but we offer: Same-Day Delivery, Rush & On-Demand Delivery, Long-Distance Expedited Loads, Medical, Pharmaceutical & Legal Courier Services (Custom quotes provided for each job.)
- Grizzly Rides Limousine – Airport Trans between Athens → Atlanta Airport (One-Way): starts at $150. Game Day Ride Packages Standard Package: $375 (4 hours, 2 passengers), North Georgia Wine Tours: Starts at $600 (6 hours, 2–3 wineries), Chartered Rides – Hourly Charter: starts at $90/hr (3-hour minimum, includes 2 passengers) Mileage-Based Trips: $2.25/mile (in-state & out-of-state)
- Grizzly Academy – Business Consulting & Coaching, One-on-One Consulting: Starting at $125/hr
- Grizzly Grafix – Graphic & Website Design, Printing, AI Automation: Each project is different (Please call for a Quote)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.grizzlydelivery.com, www.grizzlyrides.com, www.grizzlygrafix.com, and www.grizzlyacademy.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grizzacad/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grizzlyridesga/, https://www.facebook.com/grizzlydelivery/ and https://www.facebook.com/grizzlygrafix/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesley-chenoweth-a7530244/
