The 自慰视频 classroom: Where dreams begin
Beach and Jessica Loveland cut the ribbon at the grand opening of their coffee cafe. (Photo by Aaron Russel)
Coffee caf茅 now a reality for 自慰视频 alumnus
By Bob Holmes 听
Beach Loveland鈥檚 dreams for a coffee caf茅 in his hometown of Irmo, South Carolina first began to take shape in the classrooms of Columbia International University. In November, that dream became reality with the caf茅鈥檚 grand opening.
鈥淚 actually built my class load around key interests to put together the vision for the caf茅,鈥 said Loveland. 鈥淚鈥檝e been working on everything you see in this building since I was a freshman at CIU in 2005, planning and praying about how I wanted it to be. Now it鈥檚 here!鈥
Loveland has been gradually leading up to the fulfillment of this dream. He is owner of听听which began with a drive-thru kiosk in the St. Andrews/Irmo area in Columbia鈥檚 northwest suburbs in 2012. He earned the title of Roast Master from the in 2017, and soon after opened a roastery where he is able to control his own coffee brand beginning with the coffee beans that are fair-trade and organic.听
And while 自慰视频 didn鈥檛 have a Business major when he was a student, he still integrated his plans for the future into his studies.
鈥淚 looked back recently at some of my (assignment) papers for classes, and if I could, I would include (in them) exactly what I wanted to do (in the future),鈥 said Loveland who majored in Family and Church Education. 鈥淚n 15 years sometimes you forget some of the things driving your passions, and you say, 鈥極h yeah this is when I first thought of this,鈥 and now look, I鈥檓 doing it.鈥
Loveland鈥檚 drive and passion centers around what he calls 鈥淭he Three Cs,鈥: coffee, customers and community.
鈥淭he coffee is what drives us to serve the other two,鈥 Loveland said. 鈥淲e try to be involved with things going on in our community, and be a source of encouragement.鈥
For example, Loveland partners in fundraising events in the local schools that his children attend. He is also involved with the Irmo Town Council, serving on a committee that studies future community growth. 听
鈥淲e try to have our finger on the pulse of the town and where we can best serve,鈥 Loveland added.
On their website, Beach, who graduated from 自慰视频 in 2009, and his wife Jessica, a 2002 自慰视频 graduate, describe their caf茅 as 鈥渁 vision of bringing the community together through their love of coffee and guidance of the Lord.鈥
鈥淲e see our caf茅 as a connecting point for all different kinds of people to come together, get to know each other and be in community,鈥 Beach Loveland said. 鈥淥ur calling is to serve them and be a light to our community.鈥
Loveland is trying to absorb the reality that the caf茅 is up and running. The location is spacious with meeting rooms that community groups can rent. A full kitchen offers opportunity to expand beyond the current menu of pastries, and the roastery has been moved to the caf茅 where customers watch the roasting through an expansive floor to ceiling window.
鈥淚t鈥檚 humbling. It鈥檚 exciting, it has been hard work,鈥 Loveland said. 鈥淚t feels good to be in the moment of a long-term dream. It鈥檚 a really cool feeling. We made it.鈥
What are your dreams? Take your first step toward making them reality. 听on enrollment at CIU and听听or call听(800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
奥颈迟丑听,听听ranks Columbia International University the听,听and 自慰视频 is #2 in the state for听Best College Campus.听自慰视频 also consistently ranks听among the Top Regional Universities in the South and a听by U.S. News & World Report.
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