Brewing Community & Business: The Brad Pond Interview
By Brent Parker | Resilience Repurposed Podcast & Blog
In this special interview, I sat down with Brad Pond—veteran, tech entrepreneur, and now proud owner of Cavaliers Coffeehouse in North Augusta, SC. His journey from Navy submariner to multimillion-dollar software sales executive to the steward of a thriving local café is nothing short of inspiring.
We dug deep into his background, motivations, marketing strategies, and what drives him to keep building—even when others would call it quits. Grab a cup of something strong and enjoy this deep dive into resilience, reinvention, and relationship-driven business.
☕ From Submarine to Small Business
Brad joined the Navy at 17, inspired by Tom Clancy’s Red Storm Rising. His six years of military service instilled the discipline and resilience that shaped the rest of his life. After a successful career in enterprise software (including emergency management tools used by FEMA and the military), Brad was offered the chance to acquire Cavaliers.
Instead of immediately stepping in, Brad pulled an “Undercover Boss” move—spending three months quietly observing the shop’s operations and customer dynamics before finalizing the deal. That approach gave him a front-row seat to Cavaliers’ unique culture and helped shape his first 100 days of ownership.
“It wasn’t about coming in and changing everything. It was about seeing what made Cavaliers special and asking how I could elevate that.”
🎯 Relationships Over Transactions
Whether in sales, tech, or hospitality, Brad believes relationships are the cornerstone of business. From FEMA contracts to barista-made lattes, it’s all about connecting people with solutions—or experiences—they remember.
“People don’t come back just because of a coupon. They come back because something clicked. Because they felt seen.”
🛠 Marketing That Builds Trust
Cavaliers thrives on community engagement. Brad uses a blend of traditional and digital marketing:
-
Email campaigns tied to events and product launches
-
Social media storytelling—focusing on real people, not just products
-
Customer-generated content, like reposting guests’ photos from the courtyard
-
Old-school loyalty cards—every 10th coffee is free
“You don’t need to dominate the whole market. You just need to be sticky enough for the right people.”
🗺 The Local Advantage
While large chains expand into the region, Brad remains confident that authenticity and experience will always beat convenience.
“Dutch Bros doesn’t have a courtyard and blues music on a Friday night. We do. That’s the difference.”
His team sources pastries, bagels, and cookies from beloved local bakeries like Sheila’s, Little D, and Alamie’s. The courtyard? Modeled after Charleston’s low-country charm. Cavaliers doesn’t just serve coffee—it curates moments.
🧠 Lessons in Leadership & Life
-
On Entrepreneurship:
“It costs more than the spreadsheet says. But God’s timing is always right. Sometimes you’ve got to leap before the money shows up.” -
On Niche Business:
“Be the expert. Spend 18 minutes a day honing your craft. That’s how you rise to the top.” -
On Veterans in Business:
“The civilian world doesn’t move at military speed. Be patient. Know when to push and when to pause.”
🎤 Listen to the Full Interview
💡 Final Takeaway
Brad Pond exemplifies what happens when discipline meets soul. His success isn’t from chasing trends—it’s from understanding people, taking smart risks, and leaning into service with humility.
🔁 Coming Next
Stay tuned for more veteran entrepreneur spotlights and behind-the-scenes looks at real small businesses making a real difference.
💬 Share This With a Fellow Founder
Know someone starting a business, balancing a day job, or thinking about pivoting careers? Send them this post.
📬 Subscribe to Resilience Repurposed
Get new interviews, tools, and inspiration straight to your inbox:
https://blog.resiliencerepurposed.com
💌 Promote & Connect
Cavaliers Coffeehouse
Instagram: @cavscoffee
Facebook: Cavaliers Coffeehouse
MotorKeg
Instagram: @motorkegsocial
Facebook: MotorKeg
Help support Brad Pond and the incredible work he's doing to bring people together—one drink, one beat, one courtyard conversation at a time.
