Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Rittenhouse.
Hi Greg, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We were founded by Josh Moore. A man who has an amazing heart for the people around him. He desires that every single human being knows that they have value. Josh built the shop mostly with his own hand, just about everything besides the welding of the mezzanine. After nine months of construction we opened on april 24th 2020.
We have had many up and downs along the way. But since opening we have strived to support and lift our community.
In 2022 I Joined the team as a barista. I stuck around long enough to become the shop leader. Since I have taken the wheel we strive to pour into and invest into our leaders, who invest into our team, and as a whole we all use off of that investment to pour out onto our community. Showing them how to treat everyone, no matter how different from you, with respect, honor, and dignity. We do this because we believe that every single person has value, simply because they are a human being.
Our mission statement is this: “TO MAKE EACH GUEST SEEN AND CARED FOR as though they’ve been coming here for years even when it’s their first time in
TO FOSTER AN ATMOSPHERE that makes it easier for a diverse group of people all across the area to connect and find community.
TO BUILD BEAUTIFUL SPACES that relax the mood and energize the mind to inspire our community to focus, create, and dream.
TO CRAFT COFFEE and tea with flavor that connects people to their favorite past times and brings a portion of that into their day with each sip of their drink.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Lots of struggles. We have overcome covid, poor team culture, rising cost of goods, and endless other challenges along the way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am flattered you would, ask. I think much of what Inclusion does is a product of the people.
But a little about me:
– I love to lead people, I am an addict for how to build cultures that produces leaders who made a deep impact on those around them. I tirelessly read and interview business professionals to satisfy this craving to get to the core of what culture is and how to be not just a culture producer, but a culture reproducer.
– I am currently the Shop leader for both of our locations. And will serve in a similar role for our 3rd location opening in Jan 2026. I lead people to respect each other and make great coffee in the process.
– I am most proud of the way my team lives out our mission. We carefully hire people who care, that’s the number one thing we look for when hiring.
– I think what truly sets me apart is my faith in a creator. That’s what allows us to see value in every human. We are not a faith based company, but it is where we derive our morals as a business.
– My faith empowers my to have empathy and compassion for my team and community. Well also giving me boldness and strength along with dilligence and work ethic that won’t be out matched. I will never be out worked by anyone going up against me.
– I have been very fortunate to benefit from much great mentorship, I can take little credit for the person I am today.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Always interested in the why.
Always seek to know the why, the what and how always will follow.
