From Seminary to Small Business: Rebuilding Community with Keith Davenport

What happens when a pastor, a public servant, and a nonprofit leader decides to buy a coffee shop?

You get Keith Davenport (see bio below), founder of 030 Holding Company, on a mission to bring more and better jobs to Gardner, Kansas, zip code 66030.

Keith’s journey is anything but linear, from a small-town Illinois upbringing with a graduating class of 49… to pastoral ministry… to higher education… to Johnson County, KS government crisis communications during COVID… to launching a holding company that acquires small businesses through seller financing.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The emotional reality of leading a church while working 50 hours a week

• Experiencing poverty early in marriage and how that shaped his worldview

• Why making payroll is the most sobering moment for any entrepreneur

• How private equity is reshaping small-town America

• The power of building an internal ecosystem across portfolio companies

• Why seller financing requires one thing above all else: trust

Keith shares how 030 Holding Company is creating a locally rooted alternative to outside buyers by acquiring small businesses and strengthening them from within—centralizing services, connecting companies, and keeping opportunity in the community.

We also explore his perspective on leadership, reinvention, and the freedom that comes from realizing you are not locked into one career path for life.

If you care about entrepreneurship, small business acquisition, leadership growth, or strengthening local economies, this episode delivers practical insight and a compelling personal story.

 

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About Keith: ​Keith ​Davenport is the Founder & Managing Director of 030 Holding Company - named for the Gardner, Kansas community with the zip code of 66030. He's on a mission to bring more and better jobs to his community through acquiring small businesses and developing an internal ecosystem within his portfolio of businesses. He came to the world of entrepreneurship in 2023 after a long career in local government, higher education, and nonprofits. He holds an MPA from the University of Missouri and a Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary. He lives in Gardner with his wife, four children, three dogs, and a turtle.