MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: JEFF DION

Could you tell us who you are and what it is that you do?

My name is Jeff Dion and I've lived here in Charlottesville for 8 years now. I have a home down in Esmont, near Scottsville, with 2 acres and quiet neighbors - life is good. I'm a father of two little girls, husband to a driven and exceedingly beautiful wife, student of the natural world, and avid outdoor enthusiast. In my professional life I help entrepreneurs access a more equitable form of business capital; raising money for their growth from their customers, fans, and community. The company is called Wefunder.

What do you love most about the work?

Personally: It takes me awhile to disconnect from my work each day, so the freedom to build my work schedule around my family schedule and my own goals, makes this a more sustainable career. Professionally: Wealth across this country over the past 40 years has been wildly disproportionately skewed to the top 10%. I love that this tool of community rounds can actually usher in generational community wealth, for everyone!

How did you arrive at this point in your career / work? What’s your backstory?

Originally from New England, my wife and I moved to Charlottesville after staying here for three days on a road trip. Right before we relocated, we spent six months in South America, traveling and learning to make wine in Argentina. Back on US soil, here in VA, I started selling wine. Selling wine got me into restaurants, and for a few years I thought I might work in restaurants forever. But restaurants led me to food, and food to local food. I started going down this massive rabbit hole of local economies, and long story short, that led me to a role at Wefunder helping founders raise capital from their community -- supporting local entrepreneurship and growing our community’s overall wealth, one individual at a time. 

Has there been a light switch moment, a turning point, professionally &/or personally along the way?

I really enjoy hospitality and the act of taking care of people. I'm not sure that I knew that about myself a decade ago. Now I realize that it is pretty core to who I am. That drives me today, to make sure that whatever work I am doing, I do it with the customer/human at the center of the equation.

What drives your work each day (internally, spiritually, practically....)?  

If I'm being honest, raising a healthy family costs an insane amount of money these days. After working in restaurants for years, and making no money, I'm currently pretty driven by putting some financial cushion in place for my family and myself. While I really value the output of the current work I am doing, I don't plan to be sitting in a chair, looking into a computer a screen, melting my body away, for too much longer. So I guess my main driver at the moment is putting myself in a place where I can consciously walk away from tech-based careers, and back into the outdoors, with the confidence that I can still be providing my family with what they need and desire. While I'm on this path though, I can only get out of bed in the morning if the work that I am doing is genuinely helping other humans.

What are you currently working on, excited about, looking forward to?

Professionally: I just put on a Community Capital event here in Charlottesville that pulled the greater community together to participate in investing in their local businesses. That was pretty meaningful for me, as I'd like Wefunder to continue to let me roll these communtiy-centered positions out across the country lol!

Personally: recently I've really enjoyed helping my wife move from her long time career towards a role that allows her to spend more time as a Mom. And for me, I've now started taking active steps towards building out a career in which my daily compass is:  nature and craftsmanship.

Anything we missed that you might care to share / closing thoughts?

Thanks for having me at IX, Greg!  I've always enjoyed the laid back and positive attitude here.