A single Cricut on the kitchen table turned into a community-powered apparel brand with a mission. We sit down with Fredericksburg’s own Amanda Randall of Impact Apparel by Amanda to unpack how a simple love for crafting grew into a thriving, debt-free business that outfits local teams, gyms, churches, and small brands—while giving back in meaningful ways.

Amanda shares the real playbook: start small, keep prices fair, and let demand guide your next move. She walks us through the tech leap from early vinyl to modern direct to film printing, why partnering with a commercial shop transformed quality and turnaround, and how she navigates trends like sublimation, stickers, and color-rich apparel without overextending. You’ll hear how she balances maker life with motherhood, protects creativity by avoiding unnecessary debt, and builds loyalty with old-school customer service that fixes problems fast and makes ordering easy.

One highlight you won’t want to miss: the story behind Patches the Cat, the viral rescue whose weight-loss journey captured hearts nationwide. Amanda built and fulfilled the Patches merch store and directed a portion of every sale to Richmond animal rescue—proof that mission-driven merchandise can look great, tell a story, and fund real impact. Whether you’re a creator curious about scaling, a small business exploring custom merch, or a neighbor who loves supporting local, this conversation delivers practical steps and plenty of heart.

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Amanda Randall

Impact Apparel by Amanda

impactapparelbyamanda.com

vinyleverythingbyamanda@gmail.com

+15408428872

What if the secret to a stronger team isn’t more effort, but better alignment with the work that gives each person energy? We welcome leadership consultant and longtime nonprofit leader Janel Donohue for a candid, story-rich conversation about turning joy into performance and building cultures that last. From HR beginnings and a painful corporate collapse to 15 years as a United Way CEO, Janel traces the moments that shaped her philosophy: accept it, change it, or move on.

We dig into Patrick Lencioni’s Six Types of Working Genius and how this simple framework helps teams stop forcing fit. Janel shares how discovering her own strengths in discernment and galvanizing changed the way she leads, delegates, and protects her energy. You’ll hear how a two-hour workshop can reset a team’s mindset, giving people a shared language for collaboration, clearer project roles, and fewer turf battles. The result isn’t theory—it’s practical, immediate shifts that help organizations across corporate, nonprofit, and government find momentum without burning people out.

Janel also pushes back on myths about leadership consulting. The work isn’t glamorous; it’s deep preparation, honest facilitation, and constant iteration. Her advice for founders and managers is refreshingly actionable: don’t wait for perfect branding to start making a difference. Take the next step, learn in public, and improve as you go. Along the way, we get personal—travel that restores perspective, pickleball that adds play, and routines that keep leaders grounded. If you’re ready to bring a fresh perspective into your team, unlock hidden strengths, and rebuild morale with intention, this conversation delivers clarity and tools you can use right away.

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Janel Donohue

J Donohue Leadership and Consulting

jdonohue211@outlook.com

What if you could take one stubborn business problem and turn it into a concrete plan backed by expert guidance and a cohort that won’t let you stall? We sit down with Carley Walker, Executive Vice President of Workforce and Community Development at the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, to share how ChamberWorks Business Academy gives small and mid-sized businesses a practical path from uncertainty to action.

Across six sessions, we unpack a curriculum built for real-world impact: business foundations to sharpen your operating model, AI to work smarter and scale your efforts, HR and culture to stabilize teams, and financial management to bring clarity to cash flow and decisions. Carley spotlights the people behind the program—local leaders, seasoned operators, and the Dean of the Business School at the University of Mary Washington—who bring deep expertise and a Fredericksburg lens to every topic. Together, they create a learning environment where questions are specific, examples are local, and answers translate into daily wins.

The standout feature is the capstone. From day one, each participant brings a live challenge or opportunity—hiring, pricing, product launch, rebrand, or a pivot into a new field. As you move through the academy, you stress-test ideas with peers and instructors and build a business impact plan you present at the end. That structure turns notes into movement, with accountability, feedback, and momentum that lasts long after graduation. We also get into practical details: how the $895 member pricing compares to typical executive education, what kind of ROI owners can expect, and why this community’s habit of saying yes makes all the difference for emerging leaders and career changers.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to level up, consider this your nudge. Explore the ChamberWorks Business Academy, apply with a real problem in hand, and join a cohort ready to help you grow with intention. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a fellow business owner, and leave a review to help more neighbors find us.

Carley Walker

Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce

fredericksburgchamber.org

cwalker@fxbgchamber.org

(540) 373-9400

1701 Fall Hill Ave Ste 106, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, Virginia