Building Community Through Business: Taylor Evans's Path to COSI Leadership and National Advocacy

🎙️ From Sales at the Cavaliers to Sobriety and Success: Taylor Evans's Journey Building Rust Belt RecruitingIn this deeply inspiring episode, Taylor Evans, founder and president of Rust Belt Recruiting, shares his remarkable journey from sports industry sales with the Cleveland Cavaliers through personal crisis to building a thriving manufacturing recruiting firm. Through candid stories about quitting his job the day after learning his wife was pregnant, confronting his relationship with alcohol just three months into launching his business, spending his first sober weekend at a bachelor party during the Waste Management Open, and receiving a life-changing client call four days after his daughter's birth, Taylor reveals how sobriety became the foundation for both his business success and his ability to give back—from housing homeless families to leading Cleveland's small business community.✨ Key Insights You'll Learn:Sports management career evolution from Ohio University to Cleveland Cavaliers sales during post-LeBron era and NBA lockoutStarting Rust Belt Recruiting in November 2017 without business plan—choosing between coffee shop or recruiting firmStopping drinking in late January 2018 after three months of entrepreneurship while business and family life spiraledFirst sober weekend at Waste Management Open bachelor party using "five days to get to 10 or back to five" mantraLife-changing client call four days after daughter's birth: 86-person third shift hiring project opened business doorsSpecialization strategy: focusing exclusively on manufacturing roles rather than broad recruiting creates stronger client relationshipsHousing homeless family living in minivan between job placement and first paycheck as reinvestment of placement feeProfessional "citizenship grade" philosophy: opportunities find you when you demonstrate integrity and work ethic consistentlyADD/ADHD as superpower for connecting people and building community rather than viewing as disabilityBecoming COSI chair and National Small Business Association board member on eight-year sobriety anniversary🌟 Taylor's Key Mentors:Wife Jenna: Entrepreneurial family background enabled Taylor's leap into business ownership and supported year one financially Jason Geyer: Made introduction resulting in first client just before Thanksgiving 2017 launch Recovery Community Members: Provided life-saving support during first year of sobriety through meetings and accountability Counselor During Early Sobriety: Explained neural pathway redevelopment when senses became vibrant during recovery Ohio University Sports Administration Program: Founded sport management degree and created disproportionate alumni network in industry👉 Don't miss this powerful conversation about how personal adversity became professional foundation and why giving back matters more than making money.🔗 Connect with Taylor Evans:Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: Taylor S. Evans Company: Rust Belt Recruiting Website: rustbeltrecruiting.com📄 Transcript Available: Building Community Through Business: Taylor Evans's Path to COSI Leadership and National Advocacy📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com#ManufacturingRecruiting #SobrietyJourney #EntrepreneurshipStory #ClevelandBusiness #SmallBusinessAdvocacy #RecoverySuccess #IndustrialStaffing #PurposeDrivenBusiness #CommunityLeadership #InspiredStoriesPodcast