Matt McQuillan, founder of Mid Coast Stairs, shares his journey from a school leaver at 16 to a skilled tradesman and successful business owner. After leaving school early, Matt completed his apprenticeship with a staircase company in Port Macquarie, then deliberately moved through various joinery shops in Wauchope and the Taree region to broaden his expertise. This strategic accumulation of skills, combined with a management role, gave him the confidence to launch his own business on the side, working evenings and weekends for two years before going full-time.

Matt Fawcett, owner of INSURE MORE @ with offices in Forster and Taree, shares his journey from a local high school student in Wingham to a leading insurance broker and community leader. After starting in banking, Matt "fell into" the insurance industry, completing his Diploma in Insurance Broking locally before purchasing the Taree business and expanding to a second location in 2025.

Darren King, founder of Fast Charge Australia, shares his unconventional journey from a non-traditional education background to running a global business providing electric vehicle power solutions for airports and distribution centres. Leaving school in Year 10, Darren worked a variety of roles including prison officer, security guard, truck driver, and printer before discovering his aptitude for sales. Rising to become a national sales manager for a battery company, he launched Fast Charge Australia in 2012 from his garage, leveraging the expertise of accountants and lawyers to fill his own knowledge gaps.

Josh Hack, founder of AG Farming Solutions, shares his remarkable journey from showing sheep and cattle as a teenager in Bridgewater, Tasmania, to running his own agronomy and drone business on the NSW coast. Leaving school in Year 10, Josh completed a Cert II in Agriculture at TAFE before landing an apprenticeship on a diverse mixed-enterprise farm at Cressy. His hunger for learning took him across NSW — from jackarooing on big properties around Coonamble, to farm management, to studying agronomy at Wagga, to working as an agronomist and managing a cotton farm — before settling on the coast in 2011 and launching his own business in 2021.

After starting as a student tutor in high school, Chelsea built Homework Hub at Taree Universities Campus before transitioning to Holiday Hub, which provides before‑ and after‑school care and vacation programs at Mid Coast Christian College.

Rob Chapman, owner of Ray White Manning Valley, shares his journey from a Tamworth upbringing and early departure from school to becoming a respected real‑estate entrepreneur. He talks about the positive impact of mentors, overseas experiences on a shoestring budget, and the moment he bought his first agency in 2002.

Alex Cudlin, founder of the adventure‑tour company Aussie Bike or Hike, shares his unconventional path — from teenage motorbike racing champion to globe‑trotting entrepreneur — plus the lessons he’s learned about resilience, freedom and turning passion into a thriving business.

Anna Godfrey is the founder of The Switcher, a strategic innovation and marketing business run from the MidCoast. With a background in corporate roles across Australia and internationally, Anna has built a flexible career that allows her to combine big-brand boardrooms with school runs and community life.

Jake Davey is a dynamic artist, producer, and entrepreneur blending country music with a creative production business. Based on the Mid Coast, Jake balances songwriting and performance with video and audio production work, helping others build their careers while growing his own.

Kyle Brown is an accountant and co-owner of UpBound, a business helping small enterprises navigate their financial needs. Despite working in a field often seen as numbers-driven, Kyle leads with empathy—supporting a diverse range of clients by understanding their unique challenges.

Trent Chapman is the owner of Local Pest Experts and a driven small business leader passionate about authentic leadership. With years of hands-on experience, Trent has learned that the heart of effective leadership lies in treating every team member as an individual.

Wade Death is the founder of Jack & Co, a business built around redefining convenience stores through quality, customer focus, and a strong sense of values.