Summary
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Scott Fitzgerald, Founder and CEO of Buddy Pegs, for a captivating conversation venturing into the whimsical world of cycling–a discussion that traverses an imaginative landscape where storytelling meets the spokes. Through Buddy Pegs, Scott and his team craft enchanting tales and hands-on experiences that not only teach kids to ride bikes but also bring families together through joyous play and adventure. Throughout the episode, James and Scott discuss Buddy Pegs’ cycling programming, Bentonville’s unique cycling and entrepreneurial opportunities, Scott’s time at Thaden School and how he uses storytelling to inspire the next generation of riders.
Show Notes
(0:56) Introducing Scott Fitzgerald and His Passion for Mountain Biking
(9:14) How Buddy Pegs is Shaping the Future
(17:29) Bentonville’s Unique Cycling Opportunities
(26:03) Scott’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(28:46) Thaden School
(33:14) How Scott Uses Storytelling to Get Kids on Bikes
(38:28) Light-Hearted Questions
(44:18) Advice Questions
(48:18) Connecting with Scott and Buddy Pegs
(49:49) Closing Thoughts
Links
Bentonville Economic Development
Scott Fitzgerald, scott@buddypegs.com
Quotes
“It really dawned on me when we were thinking about why we want to get more families on bikes and more kids on bikes. It’s all in the vein of trying to help make the world a better place for future generations. And we believe really strongly that kids who grow up with a close connection to the outdoors and a close connection to their family become the leaders we want to see in the future. They’re the citizens we want to see in the future. They’re the neighbors we want to have in the future.” – Scott Fitzgerald, (9:55)
“We immediately started to get connected to people here [in Bentonville] who would lean in and listen to what we were saying and be excited about it, and then give us five more names of people we should talk to. And then I’d text those people, and they would text back, and then we’d be having coffee the next day…If you need help here in Bentonville—especially from an entrepreneur standpoint—the help is there, and people will take your call, and they’ll meet you for a coffee and give you advice.” – Scott Fitzgerald, (18:55)
“We realized through so many of those conversations that we really needed a foundation for programming to get kids on bikes. So Buddy Pegs does have the storytelling and media side of it, and it has the direct programming side of it.” – Scott Fitzgerald, (37:10)
Blog
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Scott Fitzgerald, Founder and CEO of Buddy Pegs, for a captivating conversation venturing into the whimsical world of cycling–a discussion that traverses an imaginative landscape where storytelling meets the spokes. Through Buddy Pegs, Scott and his team craft enchanting tales and hands-on experiences that not only teach kids to ride bikes but also bring families together through joyous play and adventure. Throughout the episode, James and Scott discuss Buddy Pegs’ cycling programming, Bentonville’s unique cycling and entrepreneurial opportunities, Scott’s time at Thaden School and how he uses storytelling to inspire the next generation of riders.
“We realized through so many of those conversations that we really needed a foundation for programming to get kids on bikes. So Buddy Pegs does have the storytelling and media side of it, and it has the direct programming side of it.” – Scott Fitzgerald, (37:10)
Building Buddy Pegs in Bentonville
When Scott and his family moved to Bentonville, they were no strangers to cycling culture. Scott has been a mountain biker since he was a child, and he already owned and operated a year-round bike shop in Jackson, Wyoming, that grew into one of the Top 50 most recognized Independent Bike Dealers in the U.S. While looking for a new home to serve as the headquarters of Buddy Pegs, the Fitzgerald family discovered Bentonville, quickly relocated and never looked back.
At the end of the day, Scott’s vision for Buddy Pegs is rather simple: make the world a better place for future generations by getting kids on bikes and promoting family activity. Inspired by Patagonia’s brand refresh a few years ago, Scott believes there is no goal as important as saving the planet, and he sees cycling as a core element in that mission.
“We immediately started to get connected to people here [in Bentonville] who would lean in and listen to what we were saying and be excited about it, and then give us five more names of people we should talk to. And then I’d text those people, and they would text back, and then we’d be having coffee the next day…If you need help here in Bentonville—especially from an entrepreneur standpoint—the help is there, and people will take your call, and they’ll meet you for a coffee and give you advice.” – Scott Fitzgerald, (18:55)
Buddy Pegs’ Mission
At the end of the day, Scott’s vision for Buddy Pegs is rather simple: make the world a better place for future generations by getting kids on bikes and promoting family activity. Inspired by Patagonia’s brand refresh a few years ago, Scott believes there is no goal as important as saving the planet, and he sees cycling as a core proponent of that mission.
“It really dawned on me when we were thinking about why we want to get more families on bikes and more kids on bikes. It’s all in the vein of trying to help make the world a better place for future generations. And we believe really strongly that kids who grow up with a close connection to the outdoors and a close connection to their family become the leaders we want to see in the future. They’re the citizens we want to see in the future. They’re the neighbors we want to have in the future.” – Scott Fitzgerald, (9:55)
Get Connected!
Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Bentonville Beacon! Join us weekly for more stories and advice from the entrepreneurs, business executives and community leaders who are sparking the rise of the Greater Bentonville area. If you are interested in discussing whether your business should have a presence in Greater Bentonville or would like to discuss this podcast, please contact James Bell. You may reach James at jbell@greaterbentonville.com or (479) 273-2841.
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