The call came in at 5am. ‘Do you want to fly to Oregon tomorrow to go fishing?’ We had just met a few months earlier — at a community fundraiser — and had talked a few times. Zachary looked at his partner and said…
“One of two things will happen: I will end up with a friend for life or I will end up dead in the Pacific Ocean.”
Zachary said yes.
Fast forward to January of 2026, the friendship has blossomed and we continue to have adventures across sports, agriculture, community associations and events, and more — and are good friends. We started realizing all of the ways that we complemented each other in skills and connections, and talked about starting a company together.
Those conversations continued through the spring of 2026, but without a name — and that was a challenge — How do you go to market without a name?
Fast forward to May 2026. At the last moment, Thomas invites Zachary to a mutual friend's wedding in Mexico — schedules prevented Thomas' wife (Susan) from traveling. While in Mexico at the wedding, and as additional ideas of what this duo could do to create amazing experiences for clients, a tequila tasting ensued following the ceremony.
Sitting down at the table for the dinner, Zachary sat at the seat originally assigned to Susan. A guest noticed the nameplate and looked at Zachary. ‘You don't look like a Susan.’ Zachary stared back at the guest, smiled and said:
‘F*$k yes — I am Señor Susan.’
The table — which also included Thomas seated next to a Michael Jackson — erupted in laughter.