Following a retreat in early 2016, I became eager to do something more meaningful than anything I'd done before. But I didn't know what that was. So I started talking. To everyone. To anyone.

Tons of ideas came out of those discussions, including a pretty good one from a coffee barista. One idea, though, kept coming back me to over and over again: using software to help more people get involved in doing good.

If I could accomplish that I knew it would fuel my entrepreneurial spirit while also feeding my soul.

So I shared the kernel of an idea with Mike, my tech-exec brother-in-law. Mike twisted and turned the idea, added on to it...and became really excited.

That's when I pulled him, kicking and screaming, out of retirement. And that's when I knew we had an opportunity to accomplish something really good.

So here I am, taking culinary classes at Austin Community College, rather enjoying retirement. And along comes Carol, my sister-in-law, with an intriguing idea.

I hadn't planned on embarking upon a new adventure that involved web-based software solutions. This is a very different side of software than I worked with in the past and it had an air of excitement around it. Adding in the goal of helping more people get involved proved too compelling an idea for me to ignore.

Jumping full-in, I introduced Carol to my friend and former colleague, Kannan Kaliyur, CEO of Connecttel. The initial meeting went swimmingly well (good thing Carol had the PowerPoints printed out!). Kannan introduced us to Tim Cox, the guy who gets things done.

From that point on, our idea became a company. Our mission solidified and we're in the business of helping more people get involved to do good.

It was just supposed to be a lunch with an old friend.

Mike and I had collaborated on projects in the past and it was going to be good to catch up. But then Mike and Carol brought an idea to me that I couldn’t pass by.

I started ConnectTel in 1996 and we have grown into more than a technology company. Today, we also help startups grow their ideas into a reality. I knew with our team at ConnectTel, we could make Get Involved Company into an exciting company that helps nonprofits go from good to great. I called Tim from the restaurant.

When I got the call from Kannan, I hadn’t even realized he’d left the office!

I was knee-deep in a project for a sports entrepreneur who is using technology to improve game performance. Kannan said he had something exciting to share with me so I made time on my schedule that afternoon. He introduced me to Carol and Mike.

Once the four of us starting talking, discussing, and brainstorming, I knew this was an idea we could make a reality. Using technology to improve the way nonprofits achieve their mission critical goals was something the four of us had the vision, talent, and drive to accomplish.

I was in.