V (Five) Questions for Veteran Small Business Owners Featuring Alyssa Chubbuck, Growth of the Phoenix

November 11, 2022

To commemorate Veterans Day and continue to celebrate National Veterans And Military Families Month (November 2022) AAEDC is proud to publish another interview in “V (Five) Questions for Veteran Small Business Owners,” an interview series highlighting some of the many great Veteran-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County.

Our second Q & A features Alyssa Chubbuck, owner of Growth of the Phoenix – a Veteran- and Woman-owned small business that specializes in delivering B2B digital experiences to clients who want to modernize their technical footprint and grow their business’s impact, profit, mission, or talent pool.

What’s the name of your business and how did you come up with the name?
The Phoenix has been described by ancient Greeks and Egyptians as a magnificent creature that was a symbol of renewal and rebirth. According to legend, each bird lived for 500 years, and only one Phoenix lived at a time. Just before its time was up, the Phoenix built a nest and set itself on fire. Then, a new Phoenix would rise from the ashes. The name Growth Of The Phoenix (GOTP) signifies not only the growth and rebirth of organizations who made it through the global pandemic and “Great Reshuffle,” but my personal journey breaking free from a bad relationship and starting fresh after serving 20 years in the US Navy. As a Korean language analyst specializing in cyber security, I enjoyed my time in the military, but I knew my true passions, skills, and experiences could have a bigger impact once I was able to “rise up” and create a business that could support other businesses and local, state, and federal government agencies.

What does your business do and what motivated you to start it?
Our vision is to grow businesses and connect people. In 2020, when the world practically shut down, people turned to their computers and smartphones at unprecedented levels. Not everyone could keep up and the technology gap hurt businesses that relied on analog connections. I knew there was a huge need to help people online so that they could connect to their customers, build trust, and continue to grow.

At Growth Of The Phoenix, we initially offer a digital business overview with thorough research into your organization’s online presence. Sometimes, companies have outdated information on profiles that they did not even know existed and are sending potential customers to places with bad information. Sometimes a social media account is pumping out content, but the few people that are connecting to it are not having their questions answered or feeling connected. Sometimes start-ups want to have a strategic approach to hiring talent and growing their base or well-established agencies need a fresh look because their hiring is stagnant. With a holistic analysis, we offer expert consultation and enable business solutions.

We recommend packages for social media and digital management on the right platforms to reach the right people. Not all sites have the same popularity with each generation, niche, or lifestyle. If you want to educate, engage, and entertain your potential customers or employees, we help your brand stand out in a noisy online environment. We tailor the online experience to your ideal candidate and offer customized business solutions that save time and money.

If you had to name just one, what quality or skill from your service most applies to being a small business owner?
When I was stationed in Hawaii, I managed the deployment schedules and people who were “Direct Support” to surface ships across the entire Pacific. If a ship was traveling in hostile areas or supporting operations overseas, we provided language and communication professionals that were specialized in the area. People were constantly packing up and heading out on missions, but while they were “home” they got ready, trained, and worked on extra certifications. My boss did not let the extra time be idle. Each morning, we did a thorough cleaning of the building. It seemed excessive, but everyone participated, and it was quick. He said that it was important that we take ownership of our area and ensure it was clean because it reflects upon us and our country. If we weren’t keeping our building clean, how were we representing the United States while deployed?

Through that experience, I really began to understand how ownership could build efficiency and impact. I’m not talking about just owning a business but having a sense of responsibility that makes one strive to be the best always. It could be something small, like sweeping the floor, or it could be the difference between having a confident and correct answer for the Captain or putting the entire ship in harm’s way.

Having ownership as a small business owner is vital, not only because your business reflects upon you, but because ultimately, you are responsible for everything that is your business. Successful businesses have leaders and employees that take ownership. At GOTP, ownership is one of our core values and we reflect that daily by collaborating, communicating, and being responsible. Our staff is empowered to make decisions and find solutions. We hold ourselves accountable for our choices and results.

What aspect of your business are you most proud of/what’s your favorite part of running it?
Though this company is small and new, it is mighty!! I am very proud of the impact that Growth Of The Phoenix has already had and I truly delight in being able to offer services that help propel others. I have seen the relief on business owner’s faces when I show them how GOTP can take the ‘hassle’ of social media and online presence off their plates. I also really love how I was able to spend my last few months in the Navy participating in SkillBridge, a program that allowed me to focus on life after the military. I was able build my business and showcase my talents as an intern with Ruddershift, a company that is dedicated to helping businesses connect with military members. The partnership I have with them allows me to help more veterans with their employment and companies to hire some stellar candidates for internships. Each day, I delight in the new challenges and opportunities that come my way and having the freedom to pursue my goals is fantastic!

What’s the top piece of advice you’d give a veteran who’s thinking about starting a small business?
The top piece of advice is: Do it!! If you have spent time in the military, you have worked hard, learned skills, and had experiences that are perfect for entrepreneurship. Even when you are just starting the military, you are given responsibilities and leadership opportunities that have been preparing you. There are so many resources that are available for Veteran business owners for raising capital, coaching, and education. You can even get extra certifications that will help you grow faster than a counterpart who has not served our county. For success, find the experts in your industry and connect and network with those who may have more experience. Never stop learning: podcasts, community events, local associations… do not be afraid to get help because having a “board of directors” of mentors and colleagues will help you start out on the right foot. If you are still on the fence, I assure you, having the ability to make your own schedule and decisions will be a freedom that you might not have known you were missing!!

To learn more about Growth of the Phoenix, visit: https://gotp.net/

To connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-chubbuck/ 

To learn more about AAEDC’s Inclusive Ventures Program – an initiative that aims to help small, minority-owned, woman-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County succeed and grow by providing their owners with the resources that early-stage entrepreneurs so often lack: business education and training, access to capital, and mentorship – visit: https://www.aaedc.org/minority-business/

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