FRANKLIN
Members of F.U.E.L. — Focused United Engaged Leaders — received some encouraging words from a Norfolk man at the group’s Wednesday meeting.

Zack Miller, the founder of Hatch, talked about the advantages of being an entrepreneur — something that Hatch teaches its members — and some skills which are required to succeed in entrepreneurship. Miller shared how he has been successful in Norfolk by “running things like a business and less like a community.

“The platform you give people and their businesses is what helps them grow and succeed.”

FUEL, which met at the Village Back Porch Grille, is the Young Professionals Group of the Franklin-Southampton Chamber of Commerce. The organization concentrates on building a bridge between the young leaders of this community and the “more seasoned” leaders of the community, as President Meghan Councill put it.

Councill added that FUEL works on community involvement by helping the young leaders with professional development, hosting leader lunches, getting involved in the schools and organizing community events.

Miller also shares his business insight with the public as the host of Hampton Roads Business Weekly on ABC-13 that airs Sunday mornings at 9 o’clock.

He also gave advice on how the people could help the businesses of the Franklin community grow. “Franklin needs to concentrate on the ‘good bones’ it has and stop trying to hit home-runs and start trying to hit singles,” Miller said.

He suggested that to get Franklin progressing, an inventory of all businesses should be taken and a common denominator found among them. Then the town should work off of that common thing to help businesses flourish.

The last piece of advice Miller gave is that the city should look for “serendipity opportunities.”

The events that are hosted should be ones that bring people and places together.

“Community leaders, company owners and other community members should be able to bump into each other, like a serendipity collision,” he said.

Councill said how appreciative FUEL is of Miller’s visit, and the group hopes to use his advice to help the city grow even more.