Bryan Wetzel

As a seasoned entrepreneur with over three decades of experience, I have successfully launched and managed several companies across diverse industries. My entrepreneurial journey has been marked by notable achievements, including two acquisitions of my businesses by larger enterprises.

My latest venture is as an author. My book, "The Real Problems Destroying Education," was released in March 2024 in e-book, paperback, and audio formats. It is available in all major online and brick-and-mortar bookstores. The book was inspired by my interactions with school administrators and district leaders during my tenure at Skubes, a company I founded. From 2011 through 2017, Skubes gained recognition from Dig South as one of the top education startups before its acquisition in 2017.

Currently, I own and operate The Local Gym, with locations in Dallas and Hiram, Georgia. In 2019, I proudly opened the Cedarcrest Grill, an establishment that provided exceptional dining options, which was successfully sold in October 2022.

As a dedicated professional, I thrive on tackling new challenges. For a decade, I served as a consultant to Cox Enterprises, Cox Media Group, AutoTrader, and Cox Cable, contributing to various projects. A notable initiative was the annual Executive Operating System (EOS) program, which engaged 16 C-suite executives in a seven-month entrepreneurial thinking exercise. The program aimed to foster innovation by encouraging executives to develop scalable business ideas that could potentially be integrated into Cox's portfolio of businesses.

While my primary focus has been on entrepreneurship, I have also accumulated extensive experience in the entertainment industry. Throughout my career, I have undertaken diverse projects, including commercials, television pilots, and live broadcasts.

My journey in the entertainment and production business began in the late 1980s as a director of photography and production manager, working on numerous 3D films and animation projects. I further honed my skills as a photographer and video editor for Estée Lauder, gaining valuable experience while traveling across the country.

In 1996, I established my own production company, which led to contributing to the live performances at Olympic Park during the renowned 1996 Olympic Games. For more than two decades, I personally oversaw the operations of my production company, establishing a reputation for excellence in the industry. As an early adopter of technology, I was among the first 20 beta testers for Apple's Final Cut Pro before its public release.

Throughout my career, I have successfully completed numerous projects and national ad campaigns, consistently working with budgets exceeding $1 million. These achievements have been recognized with 16 national and international awards from industry peers in the film, video, and advertising sectors. My production company's excellence was acknowledged by Markee Magazine, a prominent industry publication, featuring us in the January 2008 issue and gracing the cover of the December 2008 issue.

My next book, titled "A Path to Faith through Science and Common Sense," is scheduled for release in 2025, further expanding my portfolio as an author and thought leader. I currently write articles on X and I host a Locals Only page called Small Biz 101.