Small Businessperson of the Year finalist: 5 questions with Shawn Cosner, owner of Third Rock Events

Our inaugural Small Businessperson of the Year award is proudly presented by the Small Business Center at CPCC, assisting more than 2,500 startup entrepreneurs and small business owners annually through networking events, free seminars, no-cost counseling, a business resource library, and tuition-based and non-degree courses.

Every year seems to be a big year for Third Rock Events.

The company launched in 2012 producing two big events in Virginia. A year later, they entered Charlotte with the South End Hops Festival.

2014 brought the South End Wine Festival. And so on and so on.

2017 continued the trend. Third Rock Events launched two new flagships — the University City Wine Festival and the first Charlotte Kids Festival — and racked up a fistful of awards in the process.

In the middle of all this, owner Shawn Cosner branched out into apartment community events — immediately doubling his business.

All that’s led owner Cosner to be the finalist for our Small Businessperson of the Year award in the Live Events category.

Get to know Shawn Cosner better and learn from his success with these five questions. Responses have been edited for space and clarity.

What’s the first hour of your day look like?

On good days, it’s the spent at the gym — and other days it’s coffee, emails and more coffee.

What’s the most valuable business lesson you’ve learned?

Only bid on good business, not all business.

What’s a recent purchase of less than $100 that you love?

A Millennium Falcon drone.

What’s the best book you’ve read in the past year?

“Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike,” by Phil Knight.

What other small businessperson do you admire?

Dan Davis, co-owner of Craft Growler Shop and Tasting Room.

Photos by Lauren Rosenau Photography