Partial transcript

Thomas DeMoss, entrepreneur

“Leave your Mark” is our slogan.  We opened up The Recognition Place in 2012.

As a business model this is what we do.  People bring things in for engraving.  These are items that people want to give to someone else that are reminders of something special or for an appreciation but whatever the case, it is forever.

Personally I want to tutor somebody in astrophysics, math or science and that’s the impression I want to leave.  For me it’s about expanding and growing.

Our business is cyclical.  We leave a mark but people leave a mark on us with the stories they tell about the item, or the recipient or maybe the phrase they want engraved.

We measure twice cut once but in reality we measure fifteen or sixteen times for some items that are irreplaceable.

(Thomas is a business owner and husband to Rebecca)

My Passion

My passion is all about the future of humanity but way in the million years from now.  Everything today is just a short-sighted view of what is coming and I like to learn about what’s going to happen.  Watching and reading what astrophysics professors are doing or have done is pretty neat.  People like Carl Sagan.  Preparing myself to be tutored in this area and then tutor others is a passion of mine.

The wonder that metaphysics provides me is awesome.  Back in the 1600s people looked in the sky and saw something way out there.  Well they figured out how to see it by making all sorts of contraptions.  Just the awe that our brain can do and see something that is millions of miles away and I want to know how they did it.  It’s a surreal experience for me and I want to be a part of that and then pass it forward.  This is what it means for us and technology.

Going to space isn’t profitable anymore unless we can mine an asteroid.  But technology grows out of necessity.  Lots of items used in space are what we have today.

I do machining with my dad.  We made something for NASA and the space shuttle which I really liked doing.  It was an experience giving my intellect to humanity through my work with NASA.

My dad and I were commissioned to make a coil where we put 14 strands of copper wire into n aluminum tube.  The coil was put onto a shuttle but I don’t know what it was used for.  Cooling.  I don’t know.  I had a sense of accomplishment and I wanted to be a part of it.  It wasn’t a hobby and really NASA is underfunded.  NASA is necessary.

My Community

Jason helped build a house with ‘Habitat for Humanity.’  If they ever take apart the walls at the house he worked on they might find Jason’s mark on the walls.  His hammer imprint.  (jokingly.)

We want to do a mentorship here at the store.  It’s important to show young folks what a business is and what it takes.  There are so many things people don’t think about regarding owning a business but people often glamorize it.

Small business is important and I want to see more of them.  Again, a mentorship program I think would be great and I know there’s a program out there and we will find it.  I want to get the mentoring off the ground.  Small business is important.

We are expanding and we needed more room.  Our previous office was 12200 square feet and this new one is 2100 sq feet.  It’s really amazing what we can do with the extra room.

Thanks for doing this podcast as it is a positive force.

Jason York, Entrepreneur

The Forever in our Business

‘Forever’ is popular around here because what we do is forever.  This means something to us because it means something to somebody.  It’s a daily learning thing as everyday we learn about forever through somebody else’s story.

Really, our job takes pride and responsibility.  It’s fun to leave your mark on something that’s going to be passed down for generations.  Having forever attached to us and our business, The Recognition Place, is pretty neat.  I’ve engraved things for people from celebrities to politicians to just everybody and I take it all seriously.

There’s a lot of things that people bring in that we don’t know anything about but then people share a story with us and that means something to us.  The item and the words being engraved mean something to us.

I engraved names on a pocket watch for the 4th generation and that pocket watch was from the late 1800s.  We’ve done things from the 1700s.  We did a baby cup from the 1700s and that was scary.  We have to really take our time with it and double check ourselves.  This is not something we can mess up on.

There’s nothing better than seeing the happiness on a person’s face when they pick up their item.  They’re so excited.

It's Not Just About the Engraving

We were both born and raised here and we’ve known each other for a long time.  We’re stuck on this planet for a long time together but we’re a great team.

The impact of ‘Your Positive Imprint’ handprint on the logo in the globe has a message.  We all have an impact or imprint on this planet whether it be negative or positive.

I like being out in the local community doing things.  Everything we do leaves something behind.  My degree is in secondary education with an emphasis in history.  History has a way of predicting the future and teaching us about the current times.  It’s nice knowing my history basics for the store.

Looking at how we're doing things is important. What's positive as opposed to what is negative.  It's all part of learning how to do things better.  Thomas and I have an influence on the world and it’s a positive one.

We started our business at a really young age and we’re successful businessmen because we’re responsible and dedicated.  It’s not just about the engraving the baby cup and it’s not just engraving the plaque but it’s leaving that mark for people forever within our community.

I think we are leaving a positive imprint.  Every day we meet new people and every day there’s an imprint there and we try to make it positive.

Science, Space and volunteering captured my heart

Science and space made an imprint on me.  I’d like to make it to Mars some day.  It’s a stepping stone to look towards the stars as those were our navigation at one time.  It’s important to leave our positive imprint on the world.

Organizations capture my heart.  People daily are going into the classrooms and I love Jr. Achievement.  This organization provides volunteers to work with students to see what fascinates them and what the students are good at.  It’s not pushing them towards college but really helping the students to identify their passion and their skills.

I work with Habitat for Humanity and other organizations.  My club 20/30 which is for people aged 20-39 built a house.  That was fun and I learned a lot.

Our business tries to help out by offering low-cost appreciation awards and I think everything helps.

We’re in a new store and the location is better suited for everything including helping others. like our future mentorship program.  This location offers an opportunity to grow.

Thanks for doing this podcast.  It’s great that you’re doing this and showing the positive things people are doing in the world.