Why Coffee? The Origin Story Behind Express Strategic Services
Every great journey has humble beginnings, and ours is no different. The story of Express Strategic Services began back in 2016 when two driven women—Keeli and Sarah—decided to take a leap of faith. They wanted to create something that would allow them to achieve a better work-life balance while pursuing their professional passions. What started as a dream soon turned into action as they combined their ideas, mapped out a plan, and embarked on the adventure of building a business from the ground up.
In the early days, finding the perfect space to call home was no easy task. With laptops in hand, they worked wherever they could. Vienna Coffeehouse in Maryville became our unofficial office, a hub of brainstorming sessions, client meetings, and countless cups of coffee. Back then, free WiFi often came with the condition of purchasing something, and Vienna quickly became a favorite spot—until our budget-conscious team realized Keeli's car had WiFi, too! It might not have been glamorous, but those days brought us closer as a team and cemented our determination to succeed.
After nearly a year of makeshift office spaces, we finally secured our first office above an insurance company across from Maryville College. Conveniently located near Firehouse Subs, this new space became a hub of creativity—and lunchtime routines. Firehouse Subs quickly learned Sarah’s order by heart, a testament to how often we grabbed a quick bite between client meetings and projects. Our team grew alongside our client list, and before long, we outgrew that cozy office. The search began again for a larger space to accommodate our expanding team.
In the spring of 2018, we found our new home on West Broadway Avenue in downtown Maryville, right above what is now Brooke Nix Medical Aesthetics. This space was everything we had hoped for and more, giving us room to host events, meetings, and training sessions. Downtown Maryville’s charm added so much to our experience—along with an abundance of tempting lunch options. Barley’s (now Bluetick Tavern) and Sullivan’s (now Bella) quickly became our go-to spots for team lunches and occasional celebrations. Their pizza specials and black bean hummus were staples that fueled our days filled with hard work and big dreams. As our team grew, so did our need for space, and it wasn’t long before we realized it was time to find a larger home for ESS.
In the fall of 2020, we moved into our current space on North Houston Street, just outside the heart of Downtown Maryville. This move marked a new chapter for Express Strategic Services, allowing our team to truly thrive and grow into the vision that Keeli and Sarah had always dreamed of. While we sometimes miss being steps away from Downtown and the convenience of quick lunch and coffee spots, we’ve more than made up for it by keeping DoorDash busy! Our new home has been everything we needed—a space where our team could flourish and reach new heights.
As we reflect on our journey, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come—from car WiFi and coffee shop brainstorming to a thriving business that continues to grow. What started with just Sarah and Keeli is now a team of 12 incredible women, each contributing their unique talents and passion to our shared vision. We’re so grateful for the support of our clients, community, and team, who have been with us every step of the way. Thank you for being part of our story!
