Today we’d like to introduce you to John Kelley
John, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Waller, TX, a place where community and hard work were cornerstones of daily life. My dad was a flooring guy who’d been in the trade since he was 16, and when I was around 10 or 11, he decided to start his own business, K&S Flooring Services. My childhood memories are filled with days riding along with him to job sites, watching him interact with customers, and seeing the level of dedication it took to run a successful small business. From those early years, I absorbed the values of work ethic, commitment, and the pride that comes from building something of your own—values that have guided me ever since.
When I was 13, I stumbled into my first business venture, JD’s Mobile DJ Services, through an unexpected opportunity. My dad took me to a karaoke night at a bar, where I met a friend of his who ran the show. Fascinated by the DJ setup and music, I soon found myself working for him, learning the ropes of weddings, private parties, and how to entertain a crowd. Before long, I was DJing on my own at events he booked, getting hands-on experience in customer service, event flow, and all the little details that make an event memorable. Eventually, he sold the company, and in 2009, I decided to take a big step forward. My friend Andrew loaned me the money to buy my first sound system, trusting me enough to invest in my dream. I repaid him, with interest, and officially launched JD’s Mobile DJ Services as my first business.
JD’s Mobile DJ Services grew steadily, and by 2016-2017, I’d brought on a business partner. Together, we scaled the operation—two trailers, three sound systems, and a team of DJs to handle multiple events. I loved every part of it, from the setup to the last song of the night, seeing the energy and joy we brought to people’s celebrations. But then 2020 hit, and with the pandemic came an abrupt halt to events. We had to make tough decisions, ultimately selling off all our equipment as it became clear that the industry wouldn’t recover anytime soon.
As the dust began to settle later that year, Andrew and I saw a new opportunity. We launched OMG Event Co., this time adding live streaming to our offerings—a strategic pivot to keep things moving and provide a valuable service in a time when gatherings were largely virtual. It was a way to adapt, to keep serving our clients and community despite the challenges. And in many ways, it reignited my entrepreneurial spirit, pushing me to think creatively and redefine what events could look like in an uncertain world.
While business has been a major part of my life, my family has always been my foundation. I’m married to my high school sweetheart, and we have three incredible kids who keep me grounded and motivated. My wife and I have been together since those early high school days, and over the years, we’ve built a life that’s as much about adventure as it is about stability. We share a love for the outdoors and make time to find moments to make memories together, often with our kids. Our family time often revolves around simple things—enjoying each other’s company, creating memories, and instilling in our kids the same values of hard work and integrity that I grew up with.
In addition to running OMG Event Co., I’m also a lieutenant with Tomball Fire Rescue, where I’ve built a career serving the community that shaped me. Firefighting is more than a job to me; it’s a calling. Each shift brings new challenges and opportunities to make a difference, whether it’s responding to emergencies or mentoring younger firefighters. My dual life as a business owner and firefighter has given me a unique perspective on leadership, resilience, and the importance of teamwork. And my role as a firefighter keeps me connected to my roots, reminding me of the importance of community service and dedication.
Around 2013, Andrew had started a marketing agency, Beefy Marketing. Shortly after starting OMG! Event Co., I joined as a part-time marketing advisor, bringing with me my firsthand knowledge of small business struggles and my passion for helping others succeed. At Beefy, I get to work with other business owners who are just as committed to their dreams as I am. I understand their frustrations—trying to keep up with marketing trends, finding ways to reach new customers, and balancing it all with the realities of running a business. Through Beefy Marketing, I’m able to offer solutions that make sense for them, guiding them to build strong brands and sustainable growth strategies.
I also host a podcast, Small Business Origins, where I get to do something I love: storytelling. The podcast allows me to share the journeys of other entrepreneurs, giving them a platform to talk about their challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. It’s a passion project that combines my love for business, community, and personal growth. Hearing these stories, and sharing my own, is both inspiring and humbling—it’s a reminder that we’re all working toward something bigger than ourselves.
Today, I wear a lot of hats: firefighter, marketing advisor, business owner, podcaster, husband, and dad. Each role keeps me busy, but they all serve a common goal—to build a legacy of hard work, resilience, and service. I want my kids to see that life isn’t just about finding one path and sticking to it; it’s about taking risks, learning from failures, and always striving to make a positive impact on the people around you. Whether I’m responding to a fire, advising a client, hosting a podcast, or simply spending time with my family, I approach each day with the same commitment I learned from my dad all those years ago in Waller.
Looking forward, my goals are straightforward but ambitious. I want to keep expanding my knowledge, growing my businesses, and creating a stable, fulfilling future for my family. Every step of my journey has been guided by the values of service, dedication, and community, and I’m excited to see where they’ll lead me next.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been an insanely bumpy and curvy road. Currently, I am balancing so much on my plate while being an Entrepreneur, but it is how my life has been. From losing my Dad when I was 16, to losing my Mom at 26, and many other family and friends, to being a young parent and struggling financially through my early life. It has been a rocky road, but we have made it!
Building multiple businesses, balancing a firefighting career, and maintaining a fulfilling family life has been anything but a smooth road. The journey has presented me with a wide array of challenges, each teaching me resilience and adaptability. Here are some of the key struggles I’ve faced along the way:
Early Business Ventures and Learning Curves: When I first launched JD’s Mobile DJ Services as a teenager, I was thrown into the world of business with minimal guidance. Learning how to manage clients, finances, and logistics at such a young age came with a steep learning curve. Balancing the excitement of working events and growing my brand with the reality of customer demands, contracts, and event planning taught me a lot about responsibility and accountability early on.
Scaling Amidst High Demand: Before the buyout, and as my business grew, so did the demand for more services. Larger setups, and additional team members meant more logistical challenges for us, and investments to keep up. We expanded to include two trailers, three sound systems, and multiple DJs to handle simultaneous events. Scaling to this level was both exciting and challenging. Managing a larger team, coordinating logistics across different venues, and keeping up with client expectations stretched our managerial skills to new limits. It was a rewarding experience, but it brought with it a constant pressure to perform and maintain quality.
Buying Out My Business Partner: After years of building JD’s Mobile DJ Services, I decided to buy out my business partner Billy in 2018. While it was a necessary move to keep the business running after work schedules no longer provided a clear path to scaling, it was a major financial and emotional investment. The decision wasn’t easy, and it came with its own set of financial risks and operational challenges. Suddenly, I was not only handling the events but also the full responsibility of growth, finances, and day-to-day decisions—on my own again.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: In 2020, everything came to a halt as the pandemic shut down the events industry. I had built JD’s Mobile DJ Services into a thriving business, but with gatherings canceled, revenue disappeared almost overnight. Like so many others in the industry, I faced the harsh reality of having to sell off my equipment and essentially dismantle what I’d worked years to build. The uncertainty of when, or if, events would return was a major setback, both financially and emotionally.
Reinventing Myself with OMG Event Co.: As I navigated the loss of JD’s Mobile DJ Services, I faced the challenge of reinventing myself and my business. With Andrew, I co-founded OMG! Event Co., pivoting to include live streaming as a way to generate income during lockdowns. Adapting to the new normal, investing in new technology, and marketing live streaming services were hurdles in themselves. The pivot required a complete rethinking of our business model, which was both daunting and necessary in a rapidly changing landscape.
Balancing Multiple Roles and Career Paths: Juggling my role as a lieutenant in the fire department, a business owner, and a family man has always been a delicate balance. Firefighting is a demanding career, requiring long shifts and a mental focus that doesn’t easily switch off. Balancing the high-stakes nature of emergency response with the day-to-day requirements of running businesses was a huge personal challenge. Add to that the responsibilities of being a husband and father, and it became a constant balancing act to ensure I was giving my best to every role.
Managing Financial Pressures: Between investing in new equipment, buying out a business partner, and dealing with industry shutdowns, financial pressures have been a recurring challenge. Each investment came with risks, and every financial setback required careful planning and strategic decisions to stay afloat. At times, the financial strain has been significant, especially during periods of expansion or in the face of unforeseen circumstances like the pandemic. Financial pressure often extended to my personal life, as well. Adding more to my plate to “make ends meet” was challenging for my entire family. Eventually, the investments started to pay off, and though the peak of the climb always seems out of reach for an entrepreneur, the roughest part of the journey eventually ends.
Navigating the Complexity of Marketing and Branding: After joining Beefy Marketing as a part-time advisor, I faced the challenge of navigating the complexities of marketing in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Helping other business owners succeed has been rewarding, but keeping up with the latest trends, understanding each client’s unique needs, and delivering impactful results has required constant learning and adaptation. Marketing is never static, and staying at the forefront of the industry while serving clients effectively has been a continual learning experience.
Personal Sacrifices and Family Time: Pursuing my goals has often meant sacrificing personal time, especially with my wife and three kids. Building a business, working a high-stakes job in the fire department, and making time for my passions often pulled me in different directions. Balancing time for family while striving to achieve financial stability and personal fulfillment has been a continual struggle, requiring constant adjustments and prioritization to keep what matters most at the center.
Rebuilding and Reinvesting in New Ventures: Each phase of my journey has brought new challenges, but the period of rebuilding after the pandemic was particularly intense. The launch of OMG Event Co. was both an opportunity and a challenge as we ventured into live streaming and virtual events, something outside of our typical comfort zone. Reinvesting in this new model, building client trust, and adjusting to a different format in the events industry required resilience and adaptability.
Through each challenge, I’ve learned invaluable lessons about resilience, adaptability, and the power of a strong support network. Every setback has pushed me to grow, to rethink my approach, and to come back stronger. Today, I stand here not just as a firefighter, business owner, and family man, but as someone who has faced and overcome adversity in various forms—and who’s ready for whatever challenges come next.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I wear multiple hats in both my professional and personal life, and I take pride in each role I play. Currently, I work full-time as a Lieutenant with Tomball Fire Rescue, where I lead teams and handle high-stakes emergency situations. I also serve as a Marketing Consultant with Beefy Marketing, specializing in helping business owners develop impactful strategies to grow their brands. Additionally, I co-own OMG! Event Co., where we focus on creating exceptional event experiences and provide live-streaming services—a pivot that allowed us to stay relevant during the pandemic.
In every role, I’m committed to bringing value and making a positive impact. Whether I’m guiding a business owner through a marketing challenge, coordinating an event, or responding to an emergency, I’m driven by a deep sense of responsibility and care for those I serve. I’m known in the community for my active involvement and dedication to helping others succeed, and I’ve built strong relationships with other business owners throughout Tomball, TX, where I’ve lived for over 14 years.
On a personal level, my family is what I’m most proud of. My wife and three children keep me grounded and motivated, and they are the reason I push myself to grow and succeed. Living and working in Tomball has allowed me to give back to the community that has supported us, and seeing my children grow up in Tomball ISD schools makes this even more meaningful. I take pride in my resilience, my dedication to both my career and community, and my ability to adapt and thrive through challenges—values I strive to share with those around me.
I am set apart from others by my work ethic, my loyalty to friends (which is what customers become), my vast & unique knowledge and abilities, and my determination to “Get Shit Done”.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is being with my family. Professionally, it is seeing people succeed, and being there to help folks in many different situations depending on where I am working at that particularly moment. I love and thrive in intense situations, and I love variety in life. Life has always seemed like a juggling act to keep my happiness around, but it is something I have had to learn to prioritize above all. With all of the spare time I have had, my latest venture to help fill that void has taught me this in the best way. Early 2024, my old co-worker and amazing friend Jason Corthell called me with a dream and an idea. Having been on my podcast to discuss his passion for First Responder Mental Health, he explained a calling he had to address this issue. After hearing his idea, I immediately volunteered myself as the Chief Marketing Officer on the Executive Board of Guardian Grounds Ranch, a non-profit helping veterans and first responders struggling with addiction and mental health. It brings me happiness to see us making a difference in people’s lives with the simple things we are currently able to offer in collaboration with other awesome non-profits like Camp Comrade and Project Zero. But what keeps me driven is knowing our true goal of providing the first, exclusively veteran & first responder, addiction and mental health treatment facility in Texas. Happiness that I have found professionally is in the impact the projects I am involved in makes. Not the income, not the sales, but the legacy the project will leave behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://johnthemarketer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnthemarketer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnthemarketerofficial
- Twitter: https://x.com/johnthepodcstr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/beefymarketing
- Other: https://guardiangrounds.org/
