Decatur native John Joseph IV is a national Truman Scholar who has been named a “Mover and Shaper” by the statewide Business Alabama magazine. He has also been named Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year. John is a graduate of the Alabama Leadership Initiative. After accepting an academic scholarship to the University of Mississippi, where he served as student body president and was inducted into the University Hall of Fame, John received a fellowship to the Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center in Colorado and worked for the American Youth Policy Forum in Washington, DC. He attended law school at the University of Alabama, earned his law degree and license, and later completed the Birmingham Venture Club’s Entrepreneur Accelerator Program which led to various startup roles. As director of Decatur Corridor Development, John led creation of the first comprehensive incentive package in the country for STEM young professionals, the nationally recognized Best and Brightest Initiative. Currently Executive Director of the Decatur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center business incubator, which has been ranked #1 overall in the state for number of graduated companies, John leads implementation of a long-term strategic vision to diversify the area’s economy. John also serves as chair of the Entrepreneurship Pillar of Launch 2035, a regional organization promoting joint projects between North Alabama counties. He serves on various boards including Decatur Heritage Christian Academy, GeneCapture Inc. of Huntsville, and a Nashville company in the healthcare space in addition to serving on a Decatur City Schools advisory group. He has also been a board member of Kiwanis Club of Decatur and the Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts. John’s presentations include the national TVA Economic Development Forum, national Chamber of Commerce convention (ACCE), Fortune 500 companies, and the Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit. He has written a book, contributed to another, and had his writing included in a Kauffman Foundation publication. John and his wife, Annah, live in Decatur with their two children, a cat, and a spoiled puppy.
Host/Interviewer: M. Troy Bye, Owner, Our Town Podcast a brand of the Our Town Company, LLC
Website: www.ourtownpodcast.net
Audio available on all platforms. Just search for “Our Town Podcast”
Video available on Spotify and YouTube
0:00 Start
01:36 Intro and Pandas
10:05 E-Center Overview
16:44 Types of Entrepreneurs
25:41 North Alabama Coopetition
37:54 John’s Family Roots
44:45 Feelings of Loneliness
51:19 John’s Beloved Mother
59:00 Receiving Constructive Criticism
01:02:49 Working in Colorado
01:19:45 Why study Law?
01:27:31 Launch 2035
01:39:31 Plea for Investor Funding
01:51:25 Launch Tank Event
02:08:18 Solo Retreats
02:13:18 The Pic 6
02:27:30 Closing Comments
