Hidden Gems: Meet Mattie Bray of Up & Running Business Consulting LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mattie Bray.

Hi Mattie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I didn’t necessarily set out thinking, “I’m going to start a business consulting company,” but when I look back, the signs were always there. My professional background includes more than 14 years in marketing, coaching, sales, and relationship-building. Early in my career, I worked as a Marketing Director for an ophthalmology practice, where I gained hands-on experience in business strategy, patient outreach, branding, and community engagement. At the same time, I found success in direct sales and social selling, which gave me invaluable experience in leadership, coaching, customer connection, and what it really takes to grow something from the ground up. But the biggest thread connecting all of those experiences was this: I genuinely love helping people turn ideas into something real.

Long before launching Up & Running Business Consulting, I was the person that would get so excited for friends, family members and honestly, even complete strangers who told me they were starting a business. I found myself constantly thinking about how to help them succeed. Who should they connect with? What marketing strategies would work best? What obstacles might they face, and how could they overcome them? I became the unofficial “business hype girl,” but also someone who naturally started strategizing alongside them. Eventually, I realized this wasn’t just something I enjoyed; it was something I was deeply passionate about and uniquely equipped to help with. That’s what led me to start my consulting business and a model built around helping entrepreneurs launch, grow, and feel supported in the process. Nothing energizes me more than seeing someone’s vision come to life and having the opportunity to walk alongside them, from a simple idea or side hustle to a thriving business, I truly believe small businesses are the heart of our communities, and getting to help build them is incredibly rewarding.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have absolutely been challenges along the way. I have three young kids at home, and like many entrepreneurs building a business while also raising a family, the reality is that it’s rarely balanced and rarely predictable. The year I launched my business was especially difficult. My children experienced a series of health issues that required ongoing appointments and attention, and during that same time my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Much of the year was spent navigating doctor’s visits for both my kids and my mom while also trying to build something new from the ground up. At the same time, I was running on very little sleep with a one-year-old at home who wasn’t sleeping consistently yet. When you combine lack of sleep with major life stressors and the constant decision-making that comes with starting a business, it can feel incredibly overwhelming at times.

I don’t share that as a complaint, but rather as the reality of what it can look like to build something while also managing life. There are a lot of moving parts, and you’re constantly learning, adjusting, and trying to show up in multiple roles at once. In many ways, that experience is also why I feel so connected to many of the clients I work with and the women in my Spark Circle community. A large number of them are moms navigating the same balancing act: building businesses while raising children, answering emails waiting in the car pickup line, and scheduling meetings around their kids’ extracurricular activities. It’s a unique kind of experience : both a privilege and a challenge. But it’s also what fuels my passion for helping other people create businesses that feel more sustainable, supported, and aligned with the realities of their lives, not separate from them.

We’ve been impressed with Up & Running Business Consulting LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m the founder of Up & Running Business Consulting, based in Chardon, Ohio and serving entrepreneurs both locally and across the U.S. At the heart of my business is a passion for helping entrepreneurs bring ideas to life. I often say “I specialize in lightbulb moments” because so many business owners begin with an exciting vision but need support turning that idea into something strategic, sustainable, and profitable.

Whether someone is just launching or already established and looking for fresh momentum, I help small businesses create a stronger foundation, gain clarity, and confidently grow through personalized consulting and coaching. My approach is highly practical and tailored because no two entrepreneurial journeys are the same.

What sets Up & Running Business Consulting apart is my framework built around the 4 C’s: Coaching, Conceptualizing, Connecting, and Cultivating. Coaching is about empowering entrepreneurs with mindset support, accountability, confidence, and strategic guidance as they navigate business ownership. Conceptualizing focuses on turning ideas into action through practical and profitable resources, systems, marketing strategies, and clear next steps. Connecting centers around relationships, whether through networking, partnerships, referrals, or strategic collaborations that help businesses grow and gain visibility. Cultivating is the continued partnership piece: hands-on support, problem-solving, and helping business owners create sustainable momentum long after the initial excitement of launching.

The truth is, there are people who specialize in each one of these areas for businesses; a mindset coach, a marketing strategist, a social media manager, a networking expert, an operations consultant. But many small businesses, especially those just starting out, don’t yet have the resources or finances to hire all of those people at once. I thought, how cool would it be to serve as an all-in-one support system during those early stages? Someone who can help bring strategy to ideas, serve as an accountability partner, connect business owners with the right people, brainstorm marketing ideas, and even roll up their sleeves when needed. Especially for businesses local to me, In fact, when I first envisioned my business, I pictured literally being there to help carry boxes into a client’s new space after they get the keys and I’ve gotten to do exactly that. Seeing someone’s dream come to fruition and knowing I played even a small role in that journey is what fuels me. I never wanted to just sit behind a desk and give the same generic advice to everyone, I wanted to truly partner with people and help bring their vision to life in practical, meaningful ways.

This mission extends beyond one-on-one consulting through my Spark Session events and The Spark Circle membership community, which were created to help small business owners connect, learn, and grow together. Through educational events, networking opportunities, collaboration, accountability, and ongoing support, I’m helping entrepreneurs build not only stronger businesses, but stronger communities around them. More than anything, I want people to know that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be lonely. Sometimes all it takes is the right strategy, support, and community to turn an idea into something extraordinary.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
There have definitely been moments where the right connections, conversations, or opportunities seemed to come at exactly the right time. But over time, I’ve realized that what mattered more than “luck” was my willingness to recognize those moments, trust my experience, take action and continue to show up, even when life was busy and messy and the timing or circumstances weren’t perfect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.upandrunningconsulting.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upandrunningbusinessconsulting/