Jan 19, 2024, thirty members of the community, seeking connection, conversation, and delicious coffee, braved a rainy morning to visit the ViBe‘s 3rd Creative Mornings VB event at The Garage on Mediterranean Ave. CM’s global theme for December was RISE, and Jeff Werby, co- founder of Fathom Coffee Roasters (4.9 stars on Google, with 148 reviews!) and so many more local businesses, inspired the packed audience with stories of his journey from VB skate kid to Navy officer to serial entrepreneur. Jeff’s informative and entertaining talk had the attendees fired up heading into the weekend.

Dressed in a COFFEE sweatshirt (think John Belushi’s COLLEGE sweater from Animal House), Jeff spoke to the many, many jobs he’s had over the past 20 years. Starting as a corn detassler on a farm in Illinois as a teenager, then moving to his cornucopia of experience in the Navy (he babysat a nuclear reactor, was a prison warden, a naval Surface Warfare Officer, and a Riverine Patrol Officer, among other positions), then a management consultant, vendor manager, and IT Director. He finally settled into the serial entrepreneur role with his long-time business partner, Lisa DeNoia. Along the way, Jeff learned from each experience, and ultimately determined that his skills emerged strongest and most authentic when he was working with himself or with a partner. 9-5, working for The Man, wasn’t going to be in the cards.

Jeff’s journey and story left the audience pondering the themes that guide his life and business decisions: Family, friends, co-founders, and relationships. Technology. A desire to learn and keep moving. Making connections. Enjoying what you do. Setting and exceeding goals. And up and at ‘em early, with great coffee! Certainly words of wisdom we all needed last Friday morning, and thanks to Jeff’s energy and generosity, we all left enthused and motivated to tackle what’s next.

Jeff is a graduate of UVA and Duke, and is also a co-founder of Port and Starboard LLC, 1701 from 2016-2023 (Virginia Beach’s first coworking space), and his latest creation, The Hot Box Sauna. His ventures have spanned diverse sectors, each reflecting his innovative spirit and commitment to quality. Beyond his own enterprises, Jeff has significantly contributed to the entrepreneurial landscape by mentoring and aiding numerous founders in launching their businesses, demonstrating his knack for collaborative growth and industry impact.

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Join us every 3rd Friday in 2024 as we explore, along with 236 other cities in 69 countries around the world, 12 new themes in a face-to-face community format. Past themes have included Rhythm, Endurance, Simplicity, Pride, and Treasure. February’s theme is NATIVE, chosen by the Honolulu, HI CM chapter, and our speaker will be the visual artist Rowena Fredrico Finn on Feb 16.

CM also has virtual field trips and a database of previous talks to enjoy and explore at home.

Thanks,

Robert Fiveash
co-host