ROLLA, MO – On June 1, 2017, Congressman Jason Smith met with Mark and D’ettra Kearse, owners of Fugitive Beach in Rolla, Missouri to learn how they started their business and discuss opportunities in the Missouri Tourism industry.
“Fugitive Beach is an awesome example of entrepreneurship stemming from the tourism industry in Missouri,” said Congressman Smith.
D’ettra shared how the business started with Congressman Smith.
“As a couple, Mark and I were active in Spartan Races, so we created an intense obstacle course that finished in a 60-foot slide into the water, but we noticed athletes wouldn’t stay long after the races,” said D’ettra.
This led Mark and D’ettra to brainstorm how they could get athletes to stay longer to enjoy the water, and Fugitive Beach evolved from there.
“It’s one of my biggest priorities to make sure the government stays out of the way and allows people like Mark and D’ettra to do what they do best – run their family owned businesses,” said Congressman Smith.
Fugitive Beach employs over 100 people in the Rolla area. The small business has even created the opportunity for new niche businesses like the Flamingo Frozen Custard. Owned by Mark Williams, the custard stand will be open for business at Fugitive Beach this summer.
“Small businesses are incredibly important to Missouri,” said Congressman Smith. “In fact, 97.5% of all businesses in Missouri are ‘small’ and across America, small businesses employ over half of the workforce and create 7 out of every 10 new jobs.”
The visit to Fugitive Beach in Rolla is one of the many small business stops for Smith this week. In addition to meeting with other small businesses in southeast and south central Missouri, Smith is hosting small business roundtables across his congressional district to hear firsthand what challenges small business owners are facing.
