Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Hillyard.
Jonathan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in the Atlanta suburbs, but as far back as I can remember I always loved coming into the city. My Mom worked in America’s Mart and my brother and I would come down for the day and literally explore downtown like it was our playground. I am as pro-Atlanta as you can get, from the sports teams I cheer for, to the places I like to eat, everything.
I went to college and studied mass communications, and after graduating, I got the incredible opportunity to work for the Atlanta Braves. I worked in Game Entertainment, video production specifically, and loved every day of it. My career eventually took me to other jobs and states, and I worked in athletics for close to ten years. I got married, started a family, and the daily grind of a career in sports was pretty tough.
The inkling was always there that someday I might start a business of my own, but I always thought it was at least another decade away or so. I came back to Atlanta for a digital media conference in 2016, and all the feelings I had for the city rushed back. My parents and brother lived close by, and with a young family of my own, I thought this would be the perfect place to move back, sink in some roots, and start my own digital media business.
We moved in January 2017 and haven’t looked back since. My brother joined me a few short months later and our team is on a journey to build a media company that makes a difference right here in the place we call home.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It certainly hasn’t been an easy road, but we’ve been blessed that the business had always provided for us when we needed it to. Going from a consistent corporate salary to an entrepreneurial, eat what you hunt; lifestyle was tough, but I think my personality fits that pretty well. I’ve always had a decent work ethic, but when your family is relying on your business being successful, that’s a pretty strong motivator.
The early days were a challenge, as we knew they would be. My wife is a nurse and she worked more than we would like to make ends meet. The first couple of months involved a lot of networking, cold emails, social media promotion, and anything else I could think of to get my name out there. Finally, the phone started ringing and jobs started to come in.
Once we had some solid work under our belt, our portfolio began to look stronger and we had something real to sell. That made all the difference in the world.
Atlanta Born & Brand – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Atlanta Born & Brand is a weekly audio show that was created to spotlight entrepreneurs, creators, and makers in and around Atlanta. We wanted to build a connection between these businesses and the communities they live in, and we felt like the best way to do that is by telling their stories in an in-depth and personal way.
While the show is the public face of our business, our parent company Connext Media provides production services to small businesses who need help telling their stories in the most effective way possible. Whether that’s through photo, video, audio, or even 3D tours, we can help.
Our business is made up of 100 percent metro-Atlanta natives, so I think what sets us apart is our connection to this community. My partners are just as invested here and I think that shows up in the relationships we are building through the show and the production work we do. Ultimately, this is a place we want to raise our families, and with that being said, we want to do everything in our power to make sure that the people and businesses here are successful.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
For me, success is about the relationships we are able to create. If in 30 years from now we aren’t rich or famous I am 100 percent ok with that. What I think would be amazing though is to build a network of business owners and local leaders that makes us think about the place we live in a completely different way. How much more invested in community service would we be if we had a great sense of exactly who our neighbors were. I hope we have the opportunity to tell thousands of stories around our community over the next several decades. If those stories help the people in Atlanta connect and support their neighbors in a more meaningful way, I think that’s all we can ask for.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.connextatl.com, www.atlborn.com
- Phone: 678-597-8331
- Email: jonathan@connextatl.com, info@atlborn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlbornbrand/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlbornbrand/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/atlbornbrand
Image Credit:
Connext Media
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