Charting Your Own Course

When we started Timber the main driver was to create a lifestyle where we were in control and had the ability to chart our own course.  I never saw myself as a traditional or by the book person who worked in the same field or office for 30-40 years. Frankly; I couldn’t wrap my head around the concept.

In my first few months working in DC, I commuted from Annapolis everyday as I saved those first few paychecks to move into the city.  Whether it was via bus, driving or taking metro the grind of rush hour was shocking to my system.  Looking around at those who had been doing it for decades rattled me. I made a deal with myself during those early moments that I would find a way to build something where I controlled the tempo. Leaving the house at the same time everyday? To go to the same parking garage and lunch a time clock? Zero chance

A few years into Timber an eager young guy came our way to work some part time hours on the catering side of the business. His name was Aaron Tompkins and I very quickly realized he had that same burning desire to chart his own path that I did. 

After a year of helping and learning about the business Aaron approached me about opportunities to join the team and build a career at Timber.  While I cautioned him about the challenges of being a young man doing this for a living and taking a huge pay cut Aaron refused to be deterred.

Fast forward to 2023 as Timber Annapolis began to become a reality. There was only one person I trusted to represent the brand and become co-owner of our first franchise location in my hometown. Aaron jumped on the chance and has blossomed into a thriving multi unit franchisee.  There’s nothing about our growth that makes me prouder than helping blaze the trail for people like Aaron and the others in our system who are on similiar journeys. 

He was the 1st of 3 Timber corporate employees turned owner- operators helping blaze the trail for Kathleen Sears in Raleigh Durham and Kevin Church in Richmond VA.  Continuing to foster opportunities for ownership through franchising is an incredible privledge and one of the driving factors we have incredible reverence for here at Timber Pizza.