PR Update: StartupNation member booked for NBC Nightly News
StartupNation members who’ve opted in for our newsletters are receiving periodic PR Opportunity Breaking News Bulletins. This is all part of how StartupNation is helping its members get recognition and become more successful.
(You can sign up to receive these bulletins here.)
We’re really excited to share with you the most recent PR triumph that we’ve facilitated for a StartupNation member - Thomas Venable of Tommy V’s Salsa.
Here’s the email I just received from NBC Nightly News:
I wanted to thank you for all the great recommendations you sent our way. We’re going to be profiling Thomas Venable who started Tommy Vs salsa. I’m really excited, he seems like an incredibly guy - a really enthusiastic and savvy entrepreneur.
I’m going to keep the rest of the responses handy for the future. There are so many great stories there. I’ll get an answer to them shortly so they don’t feel their e-mail fell into a vast dark void.
Thanks again for all your help.
If you’ve been following my blog postings, you know the new air date is July 13, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.
FYI, to know what caught the NBC Nightly News producer’s eye, I’ve provided Thomas’s response to our PR Opportunity Breaking News bulletin below:
My name is Thomas T Venable Jr and I would like the opportunity to tell my story. I was laid off from my Graphic/Web designer job back on October 31, 2008 after being 5 years on the job. The company was doing great until new management came in and drove the company into the ground, plus the economy didn’t help any. Nothing like having a bunch of idiots run a business that didn’t know anything about the industry and fired the entire original knowledge base. The industry was email marketing.
Anyway, after I got laid off, it took about a week for reality to sink in and that’s when the internal panic button was pushed. An almost 40 year old black man, divorced with 2 kids, paying child support and living with his girlfriend (known her since high school), had to find employment fast! I applied for job after job, went on interviews, had phone interviews, nothing, still no job. The problem that I was having was that the employers wanted me to have a BA in Graphics Arts. I am self taught and have 14 plus years experience in the field of graphic design.
OK, so months roll past, I apply for unemployment. I am selling stuff on eBay just to get some extra money and on top of it, the credit card people are calling me, they want their money!
I am stressing, real bad! My girlfriend is doing as much as she can to help out. I need to do something, I need to do something fast. I sat around the apartment, cried when my girlfriend was not around and just asked the higher power for some help.
Long story short, (I don’t think my story is ever going to be read) I love to cook so I spent a lot of time learning about the specialty food market. I got my kitchen certified, I created a
food business called Tommy V Foods, LLC and developed a line of fresh salsa called TommyV’s Salsa.I sell at local Farmers’ Markets and on the campus of George Mason University.
Being in business for only 3 months, my salsa is a HUGE hit. People are really digging my salsa!
Though I am not making the “big” yet, I wake up everyday with a smile on my face because this is MY business. I call the shots, I make the decisions and I create the path on where my business should be going. It’s difficult but I smile every morning I wake up now.
Thomas T. Venable, Jr.
CEO/President
Tommy V Foods, LLC
Congratulations to Thomas! And it sounds like many of you who responded to the PR Opportunity Breaking News bulletin may have a shot to be featured in front of millions of viewers in the future…
Again, SIGN UP HERE to get on the PR Opportunity Breaking News Bulletin list.
July 9th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Thank you so much!!!! This is totally a one in a life time opportunity! I am a nervous wreck right now, but by the time they get here hopefully my nerves have calmed down.
Thank you once again!
Thomas
July 9th, 2009 at 11:01 am
CONGRATULATIONS TOMMY!
(don’t sweat the “once in a life time opportunity” as it’s just your first and far from your last!~)
July 9th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Way to go TOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can do it! My first time on TV, I was a nervous wreck but now it is a piece of cake. GOOD LUCK to you!!!
July 9th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Congrats. I too am working on a plan to start my own biz. But just not got there yet. ANy advice. Keep on keeping on. There is a TIME for everything!
July 9th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Congratulations! Please post feedback afterwards so we know how it went! : ) Good Luck!
July 9th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Good Luck Thomas! Remember, you know your product and you love what you do. Be yourself and don’t forget to smile.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Great to hear Tommy!! Here’s to the entrepreneurs!!
Matt
Wild Mountain Gourmet
July 9th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
A big congrats to you Tommy! You must be dancing inside! I am so happy for you. I too,after being laid off 3 times in 2 years, started my own online educational toy store from home. I am so grateful that I was laid off because now my business has grown and I finally moved order fulfillment out of home into a small warehouse, and I oversee most of the from my home office.
Just a little advice from a novice entrepreneur, don’t ever give up. Even when it seems like it is hard and there are obstacles, get creative and find ways to overcome them. Being in business for yourself is the most rewarding and fulfilling things you can do for yourself. You go Tommy!
Best of luck to you and enjoy the journey.
Shery
BabyScholars.com
July 9th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Way to go Tommy! Congratulations! Prepare for success (and an overflow of orders)!!
July 9th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Wow! Congratulations Tommy! And a great opportunity that Sun is offering.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
CONRATULATIONS Tommy!! I’m sure you’ll be a Salsa-Making-Rock-Star on the NBC Nightly News! And, if you get really nervous (another word for excited) - just call on that higher power for some help again.
All the Best and thanks for the inspiring story,
Jean Johnson
July 10th, 2009 at 2:46 am
Congratualtions Tommy!!An inspiration ..
Keep going and GOD Bless you in your future endeavours..
Do keep us posted (any chance of setting up a franchise in Mumbai ):-)
July 10th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Congratulations Tommy! Best of luck going forward.
July 10th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Great story! I’ll be watching NBC Nightly News! Keep on keepin’ on.
July 10th, 2009 at 11:41 am
WOW!!! Thank you everyone for the well wishes and love!!! What a great community of entrepreneurs!!! Yesterday was an amazing, amazing, AMAZING day! I really had to pinch myself to be sure I was not dreaming! Scott Cohn who is the Senior Correspondent was so cool and down to earth! Carol the producer was also cool down to earth and really engaging.
I am still on cloud nine, more focused then ever! I feel very blessed that I was chosen to tell my story and showcase my business. I know that we are all in the same fight and struggle to be successful with our given business venture. Stay the course, stay true to YOURSELF and don’t give up. Seriously, don’t give up!
Thank you once again, my entrepreneur family and be sure to tune into NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams on July 13th. It is also going to be on cnbc.com
Yours for greater business success,
Thomas T. Venable, Jr.
CEO/President
Tommy V Foods, LLC
July 10th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Congrats Tommy,
What was envolved with getting your kitchen “certified”?
Thanks so much!
July 11th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Hi Trevor and Thank you!
About getting your kitchen certified. It really depends on which state you reside. The laws and regulations are different with each state. I suggest that you first check with your local health department. They will be able to provide you with the exact information that you are looking for.
From an entrepreneur stand point, it is not easy getting your personal home kitchen certified. It is possible. It took me 2 months to finally get my kitchen certified and I live on the 10th floor in a 1 bedroom apartment. The one advice that I can give is to be persistent.
You have to remember that your kitchen will be used for commercial purposes and it is also your personal kitchen. You will need to separate business from personal use. Again check with your local health department first. I know in some states, they do not allow home based kitchens for business use.
Good luck to you!
Yours for greater business success,
Thomas T. Venable, Jr.
CEO/President
Tommy V Foods, LLC
July 11th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Thomas,
Call me brother I want some of that salsa. Congrats to you.
July 12th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Wow…what an inspirational story! Those circumstances sound pretty familiar.
The really impressive thing is that Oct 2008 was not that long ago…and you are already a success
Another story you may want to look at for inspiration is Sri Racha hot sauce…that stuff is selling like hot cakes
Congrats Tommy…your story made me smile
July 13th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Tommy, I don’t know you but I’m soooo proud of you!! Way to go! I just saw the spot air, and wanted to look you up. You inspire me!
July 13th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Saw your story on the news. How divine! All the best to you on your exciting and inspirational venture. Can’t wait to try it myself!
July 13th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Thomas, you were the lead in the segment. The producers did a great job of capturing your personality. Great angle shots too. Can’t wait to hear more.
July 16th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Heard this was someone else’s idea first…poached
July 21st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I heard the same thing, another guy’s idea first…
July 24th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Congrats Thomas! I’m in the mood for TommyV’s Salsa!
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:07 pm
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