ABOUT SAM
There’s a recipe for small-town success, and Sam Shoge knows what it is. Raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Shoge believes in the power of closely-knit communities. Shoge is a visionary entrepreneur who is committed to building and supporting those communities through a framework of entrepreneurship, civic engagement, community and economic development, and clear, compelling messaging. Using Shoge’s approach, small towns can grow and flourish, sustained by an involved community, thriving businesses, and robust tourism.
“So much of who we are as people and as a society is shaped by the places we live. Making thoughtful investments in our places is the surest way to bring about lasting change that brings equitable prosperity to all. ”
— Sam Shoge
Business and Community Ventures | Past & Present
THE HIGHLIGHTS
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Over the years, Sam has successfully launched several businesses. In 2017, he founded an award-winning drone photography and videography business and sold it in 2022. In addition, Sam co-founded Rivers & Roads, a community and economic development consulting firm built to help strong, well-meaning organizations execute projects that benefit the greater community. Currently, he is building and scaling Friendly Goods Company, a consumer packaged goods business operating in the body care space.
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Sam has served his community in many exciting and fulfilling ways. He was elected to the Chestertown Town Council in 2014 and served one four-year term. He was later appointed to the town council again in 2021 to fill a vacancy.
In addition, Sam has been a board member of a regional healthcare system, a community college foundation, and a statewide rural advocacy organization.
Sam has served on a number of taskforces, commissions, and committees and spent two-years as a volunteer firefighter.
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Sam believes in the power of economic development to transform lives and uplift communities. Sam was the economic development coordinator for Talbot County, MD, and was responsible for developing an economic development strategy built on three pillars: business retention, business attraction, and business expansion.
Sam served as a business advocate and champion during his tenure at the Kent County Chamber of Commerce—a critical role he filled during the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Kent County businesses turned to Sam and the chamber for guidance on how to navigate the early stages of the global crisis.
Sam Shoge in the Media
