Michael Feketé
1000 William Hilton Parkway, Suite J6, Hilton Head Island, SC • 843 . 842 . 5282
420 East Broughton Street, Savannah, GA • 912 . 298 . 5282, javaburrito.com
How do you balance a successful business and still make time for your family? That’s a tough question. We work together, so some of our family time gets integrated in business, but having a routine and a predictable tight schedule helps everyone to enjoy themselves when there is time off.
What is your favorite daddy/child date? The golf range and riding in the golf cart together is very popular.
What is the most important thing you teach your children with respect to sustaining a business? Nothing worth having comes easy and hard work is a part of life. Work hard, play hard.
When you first became a father, what was one thing you were totally unprepared for? When you become a parent, your whole life shifts. Priorities change and daily life is different right away. To be lucky enough to have a family has been the greatest gift in my life.
How many children would you have if finances/your spouse were no object? Hahaha
Ask your children what their favorite activity is with Daddy or what you are best at? My kids really enjoy being outside, playing golf or tennis and swimming in the pool, or just hanging out in the backyard. Sometimes you might catch my daughter on the cash register at Java Burrito on Saturday mornings … supervised of course.
Robert Moul, Henry (15 Months), Robbie (5) and Robert’s wife Sandra Moul
Robert Moul
www.robertmoul.com • 843 . 940 . 8007
How do you balance a business and still find time for your family? The most difficult question to answer! And one that hits hard for any Dadpreneur. I have developed systems and built a wonderful team to help me get away. I build my schedule around family events, not the other way around. But everywhere is the message that you shouldn’t work as much and your kids are the only ones that will remember you worked too much – it’s like society wants to guilt working parents. Ignore it! You have to support them, but find the balance – which can shift depending on the business.
What is your favorite daddy/child date? My passion outside of work is my classic car, a 1970 Mustang Mach I, and my older son and I go to car shows together. But he just waits impatiently for a trophy at this age, asking if he can just steal one.
What is the most important thing you teach your children with respect to sustaining a business? My boys are too young to really understand this concept, but I always preach about never giving up – a concept that is hard to grasp at a young age.
When you first became a father, what was one thing you were totally unprepared for? As much as we could be, my wife and I were prepared but I wasn’t prepared for almost losing her at the birth of our second child and having her in a wheelchair for three months after the birth of our first. That’s another story.
Biggest parenting mistake you’ll ’fess up to in the name of assisting others? Screen time is dominating life these days, kids see it everywhere. I hate allowing it, but we are using a schedule that helps. Don’t get sucked into allowing it all the time.
Ask your children what their favorite activity is with Daddy, or what you are best at. My oldest son says he said “Dada” first because I am the one that takes him to the bowling alley where he can win prizes at the arcade. I really hope there’s more to that.
Rob Vaughn
167 Bluffton Road • Bluffton, blufftonpharmacy.com • 843 . 757 . 4999
How do you balance a successful business and still make time for your family? Balancing business with family is a difficult task. But I’ve learned that you absolutely have to take time off for the important things, like sporting events and any other extracurricular activities so your children see that they are an important part of your life. Also, scheduling exciting vacations to look forward to helps.
What is your favorite daddy/child date? Any time I get to spend with the kids is great, but it’s always a good time to just grab a nice dinner out and do some activity like miniature golf or go to Station 300.
What is the most important thing you teach your children with respect to sustaining a business? The most important thing to teach them is to build great relationships with your customers and your employees. If people like being around you and you treat them with respect, they will come back. My youngest daughter, Nora, is learning that firsthand. She now helps out with register work at the pharmacy. She loves talking to the customers.
When you first became a father, what was one thing you were totally unprepared for? Noise, lots of noise. You get used to it, though.
How many children would you have if finances/your spouse were no object? I truly feel like we have the perfect amount of kids. Three suits us just fine, but I know one more wouldn’t hurt.
Biggest parenting mistake you’ll ’fess up to in the name of assisting others? Just try to pay attention to the little details. I’ve picked up the wrong child from school for another child’s doctor appointment – and showed up at the doctor’s office with the wrong child.
Ask your children what their favorite activity is with Daddy, or what you are best at. Olivia’s favorite activity: Playing Mario kart; dad is best at making people laugh. Nora’s favorite activity: Going to work with dad; he is best at being a pharmacist. William’s favorite activity: Fishing or playing golf; dad is best at golfing and being nice.
The Lopez Family, David, Andrea, Allison, and Noemi in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
David Lopez
Bluffton, South Carolina, fathernatureinc.com • 843 . 540 . 4624
How do you balance a successful business and still make time for your family? I build a structure around my time. If I can systemize my business, I can protect time for what matters most – my wife and daughters. That means delegating, trusting my team, and setting hard boundaries when I’m home. I’m not perfect, but I’ve learned that being present, even for 30 undistracted minutes, can mean more than hours of distracted time.
What is your favorite daddy/child date? Anything outdoors – walking through a nature trail, riding bikes, or grabbing ice cream and talking about life. My favorite moments are when it’s just me and them being silly or curious together.
What is the most important thing you teach your children with respect to sustaining a business? Consistency and character. I want them to understand that success isn’t just about working hard, it’s about showing up with integrity, doing the right thing even when no one’s watching, and treating people well. That’s how you build something that lasts.
When you first became a father, what was one thing you were totally unprepared for? The emotional weight. I knew I’d love them, but I wasn’t prepared for how deeply I’d feel everything: the fear, the joy, the guilt, the pride. It cracked me open in a way that made me a better man, but it also made me more vulnerable than I ever expected.
How many children would you have if finances/your spouse were no object? Probably four. I love the idea of a full home with kids laughing, running around, each one with their own personality.
Biggest parenting mistake you’ll ’fess up to in the name of assisting others? Trying to “fix” everything right away. Sometimes they don’t need solutions, they just need me to sit with them in their feelings. I used to jump into problem solver mode, and I’ve had to learn to slow down and listen.
Ask your children what their favorite activity is with Daddy, or what you are best at. They’d say dancing in the kitchen or making up silly stories at bedtime. They remind me that to them, the little things are the big things.
Charlie and Carolyn Taylor with their daughters Stella and Rose.
Charles Taylor
1500 Fording Island Rd., Suite B • Bluffton, mayrivermattress.com • 843 . 836 . 2337
How do you balance a successful business and still make time for your family? One of the great things about owning my business is that I get to set the hours and decide if/when we’re closed. I believe that our customers and community understand when they see the store closed to attend my daughters’ dance recital or school event and will still give us the opportunity to earn their business.
What is your favorite daddy/child date? We sponsor the Daddy/Daughter Dance with the Island Rec Center, so that is always one of my favorite nights of the year.
What is the most important thing you teach your children with respect to sustaining a business? Take care of your customers and do what you say you’re going to do and the rest takes care of itself.
When you first became a father, what was one thing you were totally unprepared for? The absolute shear amount of stuff that comes along with kids: devices, toys, clothes, etc.
How many children would you have if finances/your spouse were no object? I think I’m good with our two, mostly based on not wanting to start over in the baby stage and everything that goes along with that.
Biggest parenting mistake you’ll ’fess up to in the name of assisting others? You don’t need to keep every piece of art or project they bring home from daycare or school.
Ask your children what their favorite activity is with Daddy, or what you are best at. “Gamecock football games with Daddy!” – Stella and Rose
Meet the Tenwoldes (from left to right): Charlie Pearl, Matt Tenwolde, Lima Bean, Wyatt Stone, Bobbi Jean and Grayson Sterling (grandson).
Matthew Tenwolde, DVM
21 Buck Island Road • Bluffton, carolinavcc.com • 843 . 706 . 9200
How do you balance a business and still find time for your family? I work hard every chance I get, especially when the kids are away. That way, when they’re with me, I can be fully present – completely in the moment and in full dad mode.
What is your favorite daddy/child date? Saturday morning golf cart rides to Alljoy Donuts. They make the best donuts in town, and the kids absolutely love the tradition. It’s simple, but it’s our special time.
What is the most important thing you teach your children with respect to sustaining a business? To focus on community, not money. We have a small (but mighty) flock of chickens, and the kids market the eggs to our neighborhood and sell them for a quarter each. Sometimes we come up short and miss a delivery, so we make the next one free. It’s a great way to teach them about consistency, responsibility, and the value of treating customers right.
When you first became a father, what was one thing you were totally unprepared for? As cliché as it sounds, the sheer weight of truly loving another human being more than anything else. The feeling is indescribable until you’ve looked your child in the eyes for the first time or heard that first newborn cry – it’s absolutely supernatural.
How many children would you have if finances or your spouse were no object? Two – exactly what we have. We’ve been blessed with a handsome, smart, sweet boy, and a beautiful, kind, sassy little girl. Our home is often filled with other children too, and dividing our time further just wouldn’t feel fair. We’re deeply grateful for the beautiful family we have.
Biggest parenting mistake you’ll ’fess up to in the name of assisting others? Introducing the iPad.
Ask your children what their favorite activity is with Daddy, or what you are best at. My daughter said her favorite thing is riding roller coasters over and over again – this was the first year she was tall enough to ride, and she loved every second. My son said playing Jurassic Park together. During a time when I was working a lot, he’d even come spend the night at the hospital so we could have time together. When I got a break, we’d play Jurassic Park – just the two of us.
