Lessons from a Thriving Power Couple, With Scott and Jenell Harris of PYRA Promotions+Eleven30Apparel

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Jenell: Scott and I are pretty low-key and like to stay out of the spotlight as much as we can, but we do like to spread happiness under the radar just because it makes us feel good to help out. It’s a secret language and like an inside joke between the two of us when we can donate and give wherever we can and no one but us have to know. “Good begets good.”

Scott: Our businesses are all built around a simple, Win — Win perspective. When our partners win, we win. Fundraising for our partners is the ultimate passion of ours. Whether it’s a school that needs a playground, a hospital that’s donating funds for a cause, providing a custom web campaign for a Foundation, or sending bags to 830 kids in Africa for a new school opportunity, the WINS are what keep us going. Jenell’s line I’ve adapted as my favorite is, “Just be a good human”.

As a part of our series about lessons from Thriving Power Couples, I had the pleasure of interviewing Scott and Jenell Harris.

Scott and Jenell Harris, co-owners of PYRA Promotions/Eleven30Apparel. PYRA Promotions has been producing high-quality promotional products and apparel since 2001. Eleven30Apparel kicked into high gear in 2019 with a specialization in creating easy online fundraisers for schools, hospitals, and charities and has been growing exponentially since then by delivering a custom approach to each unique client’s needs.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you two to your respective career paths?

Jenell: My background was always in sales. I started in the software and technology industry as an inside sales rep and ended up in the Dental/Medical Device field as an outside rep before I left to work side by side with Scott in 2018. I was fortunate enough to be able to travel extensively throughout my sales career and have a chance to observe the inner workings of many different corporations, and also directly work with small business owners — for whom I always had a unique connection and admiration. Little did I know that many years later, I would be one myself.

Scott: After college, I was brought into my father’s pharmaceutical consulting business. While I loved that world and still to this day work with him, I chose to fulfill my own dreams and build something. The building of a company is what I truly feel I was meant to do. In essence, what started as a part-time thing with a marketing company venture, quickly turned into a life’s passion that has given me the ups and downs, curves, and turns that I simply needed.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you two got married?

J: Hands down, the Pandemic! We were married in November, and in March the world shut down and we were not only living as a family and newly married couple, but we were also navigating the challenges of our business virtually coming to a standstill with no in-person events, tradeshows, meetings, etc.

S: I’d say it was just before we got married, but on a trip to Epcot (just the two of us enjoying a weekend without the kids), I looked at Jenell on the way to “Mexico”. Jenell was working a job in the dental field where she just surpassed a 10-year mark. She was extremely successful, but her company was merging and consolidating and the position they created exclusively for her wasn’t fulfilling her anymore. The look was, “You Wanna?” — Her look back was “Let’s Do It” and our partnership, working together every day was formed.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

J: When I left my corporate job behind, I was scared, nervous, and intimidated. I was worried about making any mistakes at all that would screw things up for Scott and what he had built. I can’t say there were any really funny mistakes, but it is funny looking back now on the things I used to be worried about that were nothing major in the grand scheme of things.

S: Without question, Barr Laboratories would call for approximately 10K pens every month or every other month. As they were an amazing partner of ours (I call all customers partners), they would send a note and I would print it. No proofs needed, we had done this same job 15 times and they were happy, all was great. Until one guy from the IT department said, “That’s the wrong Phone Number”. There was a “2” that was changed to a “5” on a proof that had been approved, NOBODY caught it! We had printed over 100K pens with the wrong phone number for over 2 years. Needless to say, I now call every number we proof, before printing just to make sure.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

J: One thing I love about our company is that we are like a chameleon. We are always changing, adapting, and perfecting our systems to keep up with our clients and what they need. I love that anyone we partner with has mine and Scott’s cell phone number and a direct line to us at any time. I think having that personal touch makes us stand out with our clients because they know we are always there for them. When we meet with a new client locally we usually go together and I think people like seeing our interaction and how we play off each other and they get to see that we are here to just help solve their problems. Nothing makes us happier than getting an email from someone that says that we made their event, meeting, etc perfect and they looked like a rockstar.

S: The definition of success is not Profit. Our company has a heart and cares about our partners, their successes are what makes us successful. At PYRA, we don’t simply print orders, we take the time to ensure our partners succeed, no matter the costs. Just this week, we were 36 shirts short on an order for a diabetes walk, approximately 850 shirts in total. Blank goods were shipped Next Day Air to our facility from Las Vegas. They were then printed within the hour and hand-delivered to our partner because we promised they would be there. Companies, salespeople, and executives love to talk about service, we prefer to show our partners what true service is and why we’re different.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

J: Scott and I both have brains that never shut down. We have about 3 new companies under our belt now in addition to PYRA and Eleven30 that truly make us excited and solve a need. We are weeks away from launching 501cTees which is our most important initiative yet. We are building a platform that is unique to the many charities we help and support already that can help them continue to fundraise easily and without having to do a thing. Nothing makes us more proud and happier than supporting causes in our community and beyond. The more money we can help them raise is what excites us each day that we get up every morning and come to work. The platform we have already built for our schools and hospitals to fundraise through is going to be carried over to the Non-Profit side through 501cTees.

S: *Chuckles*. Jenell and I are always working on new things — I am the ultimate #Squirrel (insert funny meme here). Luckily, we have an amazing team at PYRA which in the last year has allowed my mind to go places and afforded me time to implement new challenges. There is a folder behind my desk, it says “SDH Marketing”. This is a manilla folder that consists of magazine clippings, printouts from links I’ve found usually at 2 AM when I can’t sleep, and other handwritten notes that “one day” I promised myself I’d get to. Eleven30Apparel, which is PYRA’s apparel brand, launched several sub-brands in the last 2 years. Dealing with Schools, Medical, Greek, and Sports, all different apparel styles, that have a “Give Back” fundraising aspect to them. But what Jenell and I are most excited about is our newest venture helping Charitable Entities and Foundations fundraise through T-shirts. It’s so simple (for us) to “Fun-raise” money for these amazing teams without them having to do as much as send a link to their donors and fans. Our hearts are aligned with foundations and hospitals that just “Do Good”.

What advice would you give to other CEOs or founders to help their employees to thrive?

J: Family is and always will be the number one priority for us. We keep that feeling in the small office we run today. We consider our employees family and when we grow, we all grow together. I think that gives everyone a sense of accomplishment and pride in the big picture, even on those crazy, busy, chaotic days. Everyone wants a sense of purpose and a feeling of “what are we working towards here?”. We do a lot of good things around here that we are proud of, and I hope our employees feel that and are excited too.

S: When I was 14, in the summers, I would go to work with my father. At the time, he was the VP of a wholesale pharmaceutical company in downtown Chicago, servicing pharmacies across the Chicagoland area. It’s not the most effective way to be a “Boss”, but he treated them as family. Bringing in donuts for everyone on Fridays, and buying his close staff lunch daily, is just what he did. I know this is a long way to get to my point, but I feel that employees thrive most when they are not treated as employees, but as Family. You’ve already heard me use the word TEAM. Our Team at PYRA do not work for Jenell and myself, they work WITH Jenell and myself. Where the paycheck comes from makes little difference, our team takes pride in the successes as much as we do.

How do you define “Leadership”?

J: In my mind, Leadership is defined not by what you have accomplished, or the numbers you do, or the clients you bring on, but it’s defined by who you are…at the end of the day. A true leader is just simply a good person and someone others admire and aspire to be like because of their character.

S: These questions keep getting harder, there are only a million ways to go with this one *Sheesh*. A leader is a person who can understand a situation, process the options available, and react with integrity, compassion, honesty, and decisiveness. When someone is down, you put them on your shoulder and pick them up. When someone is at their peak, you push them harder to make them even better. A leader asks for nothing in return and simply enjoys watching others be great.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

J: My parents are two of the hardest working people I know. I’ve worked since I was 15 and they instilled in me a sense of pride in showing up, doing what needs to be done, and asking what else I can do to help? They never told me I had to get a job, but by their examples, I always wanted to work and I was always fascinated by how a company worked and what made employees happy or unhappy in particular places. The best piece of advice my Mom ever gave me was to treat EVERYONE in a place of business equally. You treated the janitor like you treated the CEO…you never know where that Janitor might end up one day, and a smile and a hello never goes forgotten.

S: No chance this can be limited to one person, so I’m not going to. 3 people have been pillars of my successes. As mentioned earlier, my father Joe Harris taught me work ethic, and compassion for others and was always there as a safety net if I was to fail. I am very fortunate, there are more lessons to be taught from failing and it keeps you striving for more. The second person is Robbie Swick, who has been my right hand for the last 8 years. He was a kid when I met him and has turned into an excellent businessman, running the day-to-day operations for PYRA Promotions so I can concentrate on growth. Lastly would be my wife, Jenell. She has taught me more about life in the last 5 years than I learned in the first 39, but from a business perspective, we balance the entire scope of our business. Discussing the daily tasks of work, showing me the balance of family, love, and life while helping me manage “organized” chaos makes her — #MyPerson.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

J: Scott and I are pretty low-key and like to stay out of the spotlight as much as we can, but we do like to spread happiness under the radar just because it makes us feel good to help out. It’s a secret language and like an inside joke between the two of us when we can donate and give wherever we can and no one but us have to know. “Good begets good.”

S: Our businesses are all built around a simple, Win — Win perspective. When our partners win, we win. Fundraising for our partners is the ultimate passion of ours. Whether it’s a school that needs a playground, a hospital that’s donating funds for a cause, providing a custom web campaign for a Foundation, or sending bags to 830 kids in Africa for a new school opportunity, the WINS are what keep us going. Jenell’s line I’ve adapted as my favorite is, “Just be a good human”.

What are the “5 Things You Need To Thrive As A Couple”? Please share a story or example for each.

answered in the included video

You are people of great influence. If you could inspire a movement

that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

J: The easiest thing people can do daily is to spread kindness. I see so much ugliness and anger these days and it bums me out. Kindness is fast, free, and feels good. If everyone slowed down and put One Daily Act of Kindness on their Calendar on their phone every day, I think the world would see a change.

S: Jenell and I are amid trademarking what we feel is going to inspire others to hop on board. Between our Children’s Hospitals and Foundations, there is so much room for “Feel Good” stories that our world today is simply lacking. One win at a time, One cause at a time.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

J: Rumi — “Live Life As If Everything Is Rigged In Your Favor” I have always believed that if you believe something can happen, it will.

S: “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” — Jalaluddin Rumi. We all change the world each day, in our small ways. But, in business, I have found that my greatest asset is to adapt to situations and solve problems. Not every shape fits every situation, but if we are meant to be GREAT, we can change that shape a little to make great things happen.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them :-)

J: I am a huge sports fan and a huge Shark Tank fan. I’ve always been a fan of Mark Cuban. I think he’s smart, savvy, and a straight shooter. I love that he worked for everything he has and came from humble roots and was an entrepreneur at the age of 12. Sorry, Mark, I’m a Chicago girl though so my heart is with the Bulls.

S: My problem is I’m super simple but appreciate people that do amazing things. We work very closely with Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital where Anthony Rizzo (former Chicago Cub might I add) was a patient in his earlier years. He now has a foundation, the Anthony Rizzo Foundation that donates time, energy, and money back to some amazing causes. I know one day, we’ll probably pop in to meet him when he’s at the hospital there doing his thing, but to actually talk to him about the good that he does, would be incredible.

How can our readers follow your work online?

www.PYRAPromotions.com, www.Eleven30Apparel.com, www.501cTees.com (Coming Soon)

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.