The Main Street Mavericks Titelbild

The Main Street Mavericks

The Main Street Mavericks

Von: San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce
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Every thriving community has people behind it who never make the national headlines. They open before sunrise, hire locally, give back quietly, and keep the economy moving one transaction at a time.

Main Street Mavericks puts them center stage.

Presented by the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Chamber CEO Rick Wilson alongside co-host and producer Nick Dreyfus, this is the weekly podcast dedicated to the real operators, owners, and leaders who are building something meaningful right here in East County San Diego and across the region.

These are not polished corporate profiles. These are candid, unfiltered conversations with Chamber members and community contributors who will tell you what it actually took: the decisions they made under pressure, the seasons they almost did not survive, the turning points that changed everything, and what they are building next.

Each episode explores:

  • How the business started and why it matters to this community
  • The real challenges behind the growth
  • What community investment looks like from the inside
  • Why doing business with people who give back changes everything

Recent guests include Jennifer Hopper of ABC San Diego, sharing how merit shop philosophy and workforce development are shaping the future of the construction industry in our region.

If you own a business, run a team, or want to spend your dollars with people who are genuinely invested in where you live, this show was built for you.

New episodes every week. Follow now so you never miss a conversation.

2026 San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce
Politik & Regierungen Ökonomie
  • The Main Street Mavericks S1 E2 - Attention Getters - Kevin & Tracey Kennedy
    May 2 2026

    What does it take to build a business that survives for over 30 years through 9/11, a recession, and a global pandemic? Kevin and Tracey Kennedy know the answer, and it starts with answering the phone.

    Kevin Kennedy has been creating art professionally for over 50 years. He apprenticed under one of San Diego's oldest sign painting families, then built a career as a concept artist, airbrush artist, and production supervisor for international inflatable companies. His work has appeared at Super Bowls, Olympic Games, World Cups, Sea World, and yes, even in outer space on the MIR space station in an ad for Pepsi. He also produced the award-winning documentary "Free Energy for Spaceship Earth" and serves on the Board of Directors for the Unarius Educational Foundation.

    Tracey Kennedy holds two degrees from San Diego State University and spent over 15 years teaching at the college level before joining Kevin to launch Attention Getters Design in 1993. With no prior art experience, she learned sign painting and inflatable production from the ground up, then built the systems, operations, and training that run the business today. She grew into sales because nobody knows the business better, and she brings her educator's mindset to every customer interaction. Tracey is also a driving force behind the company's identity as a woman-owned business in a male-dominated industry.

    In this episode, Kevin and Tracey sit down with hosts Nick Dreyfus and Stephanie Deppensmith to talk about how a freelance artist and a college professor built one of East County's most respected design companies. They share the real story behind the business, including the moment Kevin decided he better start a company or Tracey would leave him, how East County became a creative hub for the inflatable industry, why their approach to customer communication separates them from 99% of their competitors, what it means to be a woman-owned business in the sign industry, how they have given back through nonprofit partnerships, charity golf tournaments, and 30 years of community referrals, the lessons they learned surviving three major economic downturns, and what the future looks like as the next generation of owners prepares to take the reins.

    This is a conversation about resilience, partnership, craftsmanship, and what it really means to take care of people. Whether you are a business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone who just loves a great local story, this one is worth your time.

    Attention Getters Design Phone: 619-441-8901 Website: attentiongetters.com Location: 1537 N. Cuyamaca St, El Cajon, CA 92020

    Main Street Mavericks is the official podcast of the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce, hosted by Nick Dreyfus, Rick Wilson, and Stephanie Deppensmith. Every episode, we sit down with a local business leader to uncover the story behind the storefront and the impact these businesses have right here in our community.

    Want to share your business story on the show? Want to become a Chamber member?

    Contact Stephanie Deppensmith, Vice President of Operations at the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce.

    Phone: 619-440-6161 Cell: 858-869-4570

    Email: stephanied@eastcountychamber.org

    Website: www.eastcountychamber.org

    Join the Chamber: www.eastcountychamber.org/become-a-member

    Address: 201 S. Magnolia Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020

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    22 Min.
  • The Main Street Mavericks - ABC San Diego - Jennifer Hopper
    Feb 4 2026

    The conversation with Jennifer Hopper from ABC San Diego covers the organization's history, values, community contribution, challenges, future plans, differentiation, and the value of chamber membership. Key takeaways include the merit shop philosophy and the organization's focus on workforce development.

    Takeaways

    • Merit shop philosophy
    • Workforce development

    Chapters

    1. 00:00 Introduction to ABC San Diego
    2. 06:15 Future Plans and Goals
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    12 Min.
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