The Community, Connections & Commerce Podcast, presented by OUE & St. Clairsville Chamber - Community, Connections, & Commerce Episode 10 with Spencer Porter

Episode Date: October 10, 2024

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I'm Drake Watson, as always, along with Wendy Anderson and our guest today, Spencer Porter. Thank you for giving us your time this morning, and we really appreciate you coming on and making it over to the studio to hopefully have an incredible conversation with us. So far, we've been doing really well. So welcome, Spencer. Thank you. Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure to be here. So excited to be here.

So you are the publisher of St. Clair Magazine, publisher of St. Clair's Living Magazine, correct? St. Clair's Living Magazine, yes. If you could kind of give a little backstory to folks who may not be aware fully of who you are or what you do, just give us a little backstory on how you got to where you are now and kind of what motivates you to do what you do. Absolutely. So I am originally from Bel Air Ohio and um went to Ohio University in Ohio University Eastern right graduated from there um and then I ended up moving to Italy all pairing with a family um after my time there I then shifted moved to Hawaii I had a bikini company I did a lot of work in Hawaii and then from there I actually ended up moving to Los Angeles California

I was there for about five or six years learned so much and then decided to move back to the Ohio Valley and I have been here for a few years and I found this opportunity to be able to have a community magazine, have my own small business with it, and really be able to uplift local families, create platforms for small businesses in the area. It's been a dream come true. I'm loving working with everybody and here we are today. Wow, that is so cool. I've seen the magazine.

It is very, very nice. It's very nice. Thank you. Yeah. So how do you choose your families to be on the front page? The magazine is really, like I said, community centered. So it is maybe somebody that has a really interesting story that needs to be shared. Families, business owners, anybody in

town can nominate somebody. We've had a lot of nominations. We're actually booked out for covers until about next March. Really? Yeah. It's really exciting how great the reception has been and how so many people want to participate in what we're doing and are really just supporting those families. How did you get the idea to showcase different families in that way? So my parent company is Best Version Media. We have magazines all over the US so that's the premise of what they do and when finding this opportunity it is just really the center of their business to uplift families and have them on that cover. And that really drives the open rate. It really drives why people want to open the magazine and read it from cover to cover because it's your friend, your family. And even

if you don't know the person on the cover, you're like, excuse me, I know everybody in town. How don't I know them? And so that's another reason why people open and engage. That is so cool. So I also know that you are now the new position publisher of Wheeling Neighbors at Best Version Media. So tell us about that. And how did that come about? Yes, we are in the midst of launching that, which excites me so much. And how that came about was as I was meeting with businesses all throughout the Valley to be a part of St. Clairsville Living Magazine, which I do have some wheeling businesses, some moundsville businesses that are participating in what we're doing in St. Clairsville. I had a lot of feedback from so many businesses that said, we love what you're doing.

We love this idea. But we would participate if this wasn't Wheeling because that's a bulk of our business. Okay, great. I kept hearing that. So then I went back to Best Version Media and said, hey, I really think we have a lot of opportunity here in Wheeling. And there's a funny backstory with that. How our divisions are broken up within the company. That's a whole other segment of the business. There's like a line between Wheeling, between West Virginia and Ohio. And I went back and spoke to some of my leadership and said, hey, we may be two different states, but we are one area.

The commerce here just goes back and forth. The families, the friends, the relationships, like this is one area. Could we maybe have West Virginia and put that in our ohio district and they came back and said honestly it makes great sense for the business makes great sense for your area you know your area bring it on over um let's get to launching wheeling there was just a need that is such such great words to hear for me, because we are the Ohio Valley. And that's what people, they get, they don't like sometimes that the St. Clairsville Chamber has Wheeling members or, you know, we have St. Clairsville members, we have Jefferson County members.

But we are, we are all the Ohio Valley. And that's what people have to understand. And you're right. We do business across that river. We're so close. And yet we're so divided. And that mentality, that closed mindedness just does not make sense to me. It doesn't make sense. And it also we're just cutting ourselves off from so much opportunity to have a closed mind about anything. I think like something that marks just intelligence in someone is someone simply just being open to learn more. And instead of saying an immediate no, maybe let's think about it. Let's entertain this. Let's talk about the pros and the cons. Let's see

how this really could benefit us. Absolutely. And I think having that mindset, every single person involved benefits so much just from simply entertaining an option because you maybe have a blind spot. Maybe you didn't think of something and then someone else can bring that thought to you. And it could be awesome for everybody like we're seeing with the two sides of the river. Yeah. Coming together. Exactly. And working together. And you just mentioned a moment ago, your kind of willingness to have an open mind and kind of, you know, reach across the aisle or go across the river quite literally and maximize your

opportunity because that's what it's all about. I mean, at a certain point, you look at it and you're hindering your own growth if you don't, you know, maximize both sides of this thing. Exactly. You're right. Absolutely. I think as much as we can really zero in on we are united by so many more things

than things that divide us. And I think if we can continue to realize the strength of our community can deliver so much to all of us. Oh, the economy, number one yes yes i mean my goodness we i shop on both sides of the river in fact i have a sign that says my home is on both sides of the river i love that one in west virginia one in ohio yeah we're just very fortunate where we're located because we are so close. Yes. And so let's take advantage of that.

That is not a disadvantage. That is an advantage. Such an advantage. And I also think it's an advantage of just where we're so strategically located on the map. We're so close to three different states. Yes. We have so many big cities around us.

We have the interstate. We are in a spot. And I think that really served us well 100 years ago. And I think as things have changed here over the past 100 years, we're just simply having to reinvent ourselves and remember our strategic location, how to tap into that. Exactly. And I think if we just continue to do that, really build on that with the strength of our

community and our small businesses. Right. Yeah. And 70, 77, and 79 are all pretty simple drives. I mean, I love that it's all connected. You use, you get those, those three big metro areas together and maximize your opportunity. I wanted to talk about your inspiration that you may or may not have had while you were traveling. Is there anything that, that you noticed during your travels overseas and then in Hawaii and then to California that you, that, that kind of spoke to you and maybe not directly inspired what you're doing now, but at least helped out along the way? Great question. Absolutely.

I have been an outsider a lot, moving places, living in Hawaii, especially the culture there is very Hawaii centric. It is, you have to be a Hawaiian. If you are anything other than a Hawaiian, you are viewed as maybe some sort of problem or some sort of issue. And there's names for white people. It's a very fascinating cultural structure there. And I had family that had a home there. So I would spend time there growing up. So I was a little bit accustomed to that. But I moved there with my boyfriend at the time time and he wasn't aware of any of that happening in Hawaii he got there and he did not like it but when you go to Hawaii you have to have this mindset of like I am a student I'm a student like always consistently continuously learning

and I'm an outsider so I need to be respectful I need to learn how to forge authentic and genuine relationships um and I need to like I said just be really respectful of what's around me and that I'm a guest and that was a consistent theme living in Italy I was a guest uh the part of Italy I lived in I they didn't speak much English I had to learn some things there I still don't speak good Italian but I had to learn some things. And so that was a great experience living other places. It was simply, I'm new. I'm the outsider. You guys show me and teach me. Grateful to be here. And I really learned throughout those times too that we really are all so different. And it's like this reoccurring theme for me. We are so different. There are so many things we can learn from each other but at the end of the day we're all humans yep we all want to be successful we

all want to be happy we all want to just live this happy simple life exactly and realizing that there really are a lot of things we can come together on and that was my premise for this magazine as well of being able to be a facilitator of community and doing that through simply just getting to know each other even when I work with people with the magazine and um maybe it's not the time for them to be in the magazine it doesn't work out for them at this moment but I always simply tell people let's just meet get to know each other if it's not the time now that's great it's no problem I'm sure at some point we're gonna run into each other we're gonna do business with each other. Let's just know each

other. Right. Yeah. I love when I asked you about your inspiration around the world and traveling is so important, I think, just to open your mind, as you said, you didn't mention anything tangible and everything you spoke to was the intangibles about how you developed having an open mind and how you got accustomed to, you know, being the student, as you said. And there's obviously nothing greater than learning. And I just think that's a really powerful way that you decided to go about that. And that's super inspirational. Thank you. It's always scary, though, to do new things. I remember on the flight to Los Angeles when I was moving there, because I wasn't expecting to move there. My boyfriend at the time was like, I studied film. I want to go to Los Angeles. I can't stand Hawaii.

Are you coming with me? I was like, you know, took some deliberation. Okay, I'm coming. And I get there. And I remember telling myself on the plane, you don't have the most money. You don't have the most experiences. You're not the prettiest. You're not this. You're not that. Just preparing myself to not talk down on myself, but just be realistic on like, you're going to this new place and there's going to always be somebody that has more than you.

Don't compare yourself. Just know that like you're you. Stay in your lane. Be open to experiences. Don't make your first response always no. Because I was in like a headspace where I would do that. I would be defensive and it was all fear. Yeah.

And then once I realized like, there's nothing to be afraid of. Right. Someone's always going to do something better than you. Yeah. So just. Oh, absolutely. Be okay with it and lead like with kindness and an open heart

and just see what happens. We had a guest speaking of fear that talked about just a few weeks ago that talked about how he dealt with fear. And he said, what did he say? He said that he wrote down what his biggest fear was. Yeah. And then he worked up until he got comfortable with that. And he was willing to accept that. And then he wrote down what's what's worse than that. And I thought that was really a really good way to go about it and really a good way to kind of look at things in a better way to take risks, as you said. I applaud you, though, for taking risk at such a young age. I wish I would have done that early on in my life. And, you know, that would have probably led me somewhere else. But, you know,

I think that's wonderful. So how do you give back to the community? I know that you are a mentor for YSS, right? I sure am. Yes, you are. So and that just looks that just brings a big smile to your face right there. So tell me a little bit about that. I love YSS. I love the mission of empowering youth. Once again, forging real, genuine relationships with people around us. And I have the best little sister. She and I have a wonderful bond. I adore her family too. Her mother is amazing.

We are just able to have such great special experiences together. She has taught me a lot. I hope I've shared some interesting, fun things with her. But we're just continuously building our relationship. And I love the events that they put on. I do my own things with my little sister, and it's honestly just a fulfilling experience, and I just really enjoy it,

and I can't wait to see how our relationship continues to develop. She's only in fifth grade going into sixth, and she and I both said we really adore each other. We want to continue growing our bond and just see where we end up together. I love that. It's so cool. It is. Have you ever thought about having an intern, like an older from Ohio University Eastern, or maybe another college? Absolutely. To follow you? I'm open to whatever makes sense for everybody involved. Absolutely. I've never even thought about that.

That's a cool idea. Do you think just kind of, you know, you just said you'd never thought about it, but if you were to think about it, what do you think you would be looking for in someone that would have that role? Somebody that's fueled by possibility. Ooh. Love that. I love that.

Because quite literally, anything is possible. If you're just simply eager, if you operate from a positive, good intentioned space, sky's the limit. Oh my gosh, that's wonderful. I bet you could teach someone a lot maybe but i we could and you know what learn too since you're open this you could learn too yeah they might come up with something that you never thought of absolutely and i think that is really interesting i love to be a student i love to be the odd person out when I've uh I was in Tokyo a few years back and I'd never been somewhere where I was just so blatantly different from everybody around me yeah and it was such an interesting experience so eye-opening because I just stood

out like a sore thumb because I didn't speak Japanese. Everybody was looking at me. I was just like, oh my, this is a crazy experience. I love it. See, that type of thing, though, excites me. It fuels you. It does. I can tell. Wow. With your open-mindedness, which I think is an incredible trait, is it ever difficult for you to shoot ideas down? Maybe you come up with something that you're like, oh, wouldn't it be? And then you think you take a step back from yourself and you think that's actually a little crazy. Amazing question, because that has been something I've actually had to deal with, like the negative repercussions of that throughout my 20s.

So down to try anything. And then sometimes I would get myself in situations where I'm like, this wasn't very smart. Maybe it's like a small decision. I mean, living in Los Angeles, there are so many opportunities to do so many things. Right, yeah. And I would find myself like, this isn't maybe the safest thing I could have done,

but you know what? It was an experience. Thank God it worked out okay. My poor parents, my mom said she would just lay in bed at night for like five years and just not be able to sleep. Oh, I can't even imagine. Spencer doing, which those are stories for another time but it was really fun um but there's also been some big ideas that i've had and i've had to train myself

to have the big idea feel the excitement around it but wait for the ebbs and flows of emotion to flow out until we're in a neutral space there you you go. And you can analytically think about it. Correct. Yeah. But I've had to figure that one out. Oh, yeah. Let's take it some time. Sure. Absolutely. Yeah, because everyone's still, I mean, you're still growing

just as much as Wendy and myself are and everybody else in the room. And I think, I think I forgot what I was going to say. Okay. So there was a point there that we lost. That happens. So when you came to my office a while ago,

I was just struck by your enthusiasm, just the way you walked into the office. But I've seen you in other areas, you know, for events and meetings and you still have that same wonderful that um that sparkly personality how does your mom and dad give you that who do you get that from thank you i have been told that i got those traits from my mother's mother who has passed away. Actually, this week it'll be, wow, maybe eight years now. Oh, I'm sorry.

Nine years. Yeah. Thank you. But no, her life was so sparkly and her personality just radiated. Yeah. And just to have a little bit of that, a little bit of that, I'm so grateful. So thank you. I really, really appreciate that. My grandmother was the life of everything she touched. And our family definitely has lost its sparkle since missing

her. But it's really cool. There's some different people in the family that have taken that on around. So very cool. Yeah, cool yeah thank you I'm just actually I just get excited by creating things and connecting with people um everybody needs their alone time as I do but I'm really energized by working with people just simply getting to know them um but also creating opportunity with people and for people. It makes me so excited to watch somebody else shine and their whole thing take off and them just be excited about what they're doing. To be a part of that excites me.

Oh, that's wonderful. The point I was going to mention that I forgot was that, you know, we're all still growing and everybody, you know, it's very important to never stop learning and never stop growing and improving. And I think when you stop learning, you've kind of lost your purpose. But I want to touch on that spark aspect that you guys have been talking about. How imperative is it, do you think, it is to have that. Meaning like if somebody didn't have that, that bright personality, or at least maybe not even personality, but just an open, bright mind, like a light bulb. If they didn't have that or didn't have that to a certain extent, do you think the things that you were doing are

still possible? I think anything's possible. Excuse me. And I say that because I really think everybody is so different. But if you were authentically you really aligned with your own purpose your energy your happiness there are some people think about like really well-known artists that are just me like they're just kind of down and blah blah but that's so them right that it's magnetic so i really feel like if you're just super in tune with yourself, you have great knowledge of self, you are just really aligned in what you're supposed to be doing. I think that creates the magnetism. And I think you just need to be you. I love that. Just be you. And things will work out if you're really in tune. Right. So don't be a sparkle,

but if you happen to be a sparkle. If you happen to be a sparkle if you happen to be a sparkle and don't don't be a don't be a downer but if you happen to be one uh yeah i like that as well just well we're not everyone's cup of tea no and that is what makes the country great it really is could not agree more so we are all so different and unique. And the idea of me sitting here with Drake, honestly, has enhanced my life because I'm looking at life a little bit differently through his eyes. And I'm older. So to have that young person's eyes, it's just a wake-up call. And I really think more people need to align themselves with people opposite of them to get to know their thoughts, their opinions, and be flexible and a sponge enough to get all that stuff inside of you. So you can take it apart and take what you want and leave what you don't want. And I try to be humble enough to understand that you have a lot more years under your belt than I do. And so naturally there's a lot more experience and wisdom that you are able to provide that I'm

not aware of yet. And that, you know, it's more important for me to listen as opposed to speak. And especially when we have a guest on who has as much to add as you do, which we're so grateful for. It's all important to listen and take in all your great ideas and your great insight. We've about run out of time for today. But if there's anything else you'd like to add, I'll let you throw it in real quick and we'll get you out of here. I just want to say, Wendy, I cannot agree more with what you just said. Having relationships with people in so many different areas, so many age ranges. I always say I have friends that are 19 to 85. And I really do. I do too. I have friends all over the board because

we all have so much to share with each other and teach each other just by simply existing with one another. So I want to thank both of you for having me here today. This has been so amazing, so eye-opening. I'm so proud of what we're doing in St. Clairsville, what we're kicking off in Wheeling. St. Clairsville Living Magazine is thriving and growing. I couldn't be more proud of every single person that I work with. Wheeling is going to be so much fun. Yeah, I bet. Thank you both so much for having me.

This has been an absolute pleasure. You're so welcome. Well, thank you for coming on and dedicating your time. Thanks, as always, to Wendy for putting up with me this morning. I'm Drake Watson, and thank our listeners for listening, and have a good one.