Ronnie Evans - “Ronnie the Connector”
Founder of My Hometown Directory

Ronnie Evans, affectionately known as Ronnie the Connector, was raised in the tight-knit town of Mint Hill, North Carolina-a place where everybody knew your name, your story, and the church you called home. It was a town built on handshakes, small businesses, and community roots. Ronnie’s earliest lessons in business and life came from riding alongside his dad, an independent route distributor, delivering pork rinds, peanuts, and potato chips to local mom-and-pop shops. It was during those rides that Ronnie learned the value of relationships, trust, and the power of keeping your word.

As big-box retailers and corporate chains began to edge out local shops, Ronnie saw more than just businesses closing-he saw the erosion of the small-town spirit that shaped him. His father's wisdom echoed louder than ever: If local small businesses don’t support each other, corporate will put them out of business.

In 2019, when government shutdowns forced many small businesses to close while corporate giants stayed open, Ronnie knew it was time to act on what his dad said. (Local Small Businesses needs to supporting each other to survive).

In 2023, he started working on My Hometown Directory - a trusted directory to help communities find the local small businesses that serves their area.

Through My Hometown Directory, Ronnie is on a mission to:

1. Help communities discover and support local small businesses

2. Empower small businesses to market themselves more effectively

3. Connect, reconnect, and keep small businesses connected with each other and the community

Ronnie believes that thriving communities are built on strong local economies-and strong local economies are built on small businesses that support one another. He’s not just building a directory-he’s building a movement. "Shop Local"