Paul Reynolds is a soft-spoken, Southern-bred boy with brains bigger than the beach is wide. He’s proof that being a geek (and we mean that in the most respectful way) can really pay off.

The software developer, originally from Greenville, inherited his entrepreneurial DNA from his father, who worked as a grocery store butcher from age 14 to 35. “Then all of a sudden he decided he wanted to do something different and better, so he completely changed fields to working in insurance,” says Reynolds. “So seeing that first-hand, someone taking risks, was helpful. That, and I’ve come to realize that as long as I treat people well, have a good moral compass and surround myself with positive people, I’m going to be OK”.

Reynolds first moved to Myrtle Beach in 1994 and quickly climbed the corporate ladder at The Sun News, from graphic designer in ad sales to, at age 23, online manager of a newly formed department sitting at the upper curve of the “dot com” boom. “That’s how I really got into software,” he says. “I wanted to automate the process of uploading news, so I wrote a couple software programs, which was more innovative than the other Knight-Ridder papers at that time.”
In 2000 he moved to Chicago, where he worked as a software developer for Jellyvision. He was building trivia game software, like “You Don’t Know Jack.” In 2001 Jellyvision laid off 95 percent of its staff.

Reynolds skipped around the West Coast, managing to squeak through the “dot com” crash with gigs at Electronic Arts (EA Sports) in San Diego; as lead developer with SolWorks; and as senior programmer of Backyard Sports games with Atari in Seattle.

He sensed a need in the technology field back in Myrtle Beach. Keith Jacobs, his partner with 803 Productions, was sending Reynolds more intense, more creative freelance programming projects. He moved back to Myrtle Beach in 2005.

Reynolds continued Web development projects, including a workload from Atari, but felt the entrepreneurial itch, so he started Blast Off, a sandblasting business. Unfortunately (or fortunately) he was handed an incredible opportunity with Xbox, so he had to close Blast Off.

But, as we all know, when one door closes, another creaks open. He met Tracy Johnson, his fiancée, then owner of a dog biscuit bakery that was in need of a better website, so Reynolds said he would help her. That evolved into the startup, and partnership, of a new gourmet doggie biscuit bakery, The Baker’s Dog!, in 2008. Reynolds created a real online presence for the store—even a way to upload customer’s dog’s photos onto personalized packaging. A new location opened in Barefoot Landing in November.

Reynolds still has his fingers on his mouse and his focus on contract work for the software industry, both nationally and locally—from iPhone apps and 3D video game technology for the Monterey Bay Aquarium to his newest venture begun almost a year ago, TheDigitel Myrtle Beach. “I’ve always been into uplifting the tech community locally and TheDigitel dovetailed into that,” he says.

The startup company out of Charleston and Beaufort is now in Myrtle Beach, overseen by Reynolds, Andre Pope and Rocky Dohmen. The community-based website is what Reynolds likens to a concierge in local news coverage, teasing out to local publications, not re-reporting.

It’s the technical community and culture in Myrtle Beach, he says, that he’d like to grow from an economic standpoint. “If we can cultivate what we have here, it’s going to pay off,” he says. “I feel like, with mobile devices, that’s really leveled the playing field.”

To further harvest this, he’s involved in the Grand Strand Technology Council, and dedicated to developing opportunities here for students who may reconsider leaving town (as he did) after graduating. He also formed the Myrtle Beach Geekout, a local group that gathers regularly for a social networking happy hour.
Reynolds has also reached out to the Carolina Forest Civic Association, helping with its new playground, building its website and designing a logo.

As long as he’s doing good deeds like this, Reynolds couldn’t be more pleased with the path he’s followed in life. “Nothing works out as planned, but I never regret how much everything has twisted and turned,” he says. —Ashley MorrisCo-Founder, TheDigitel Myrtle Beach; Partner, The Baker’s Dog! pet bakery

Paul Reynolds
Age: 36
Community involvement: Grand Strand Tech Council, Myrtle Beach Geek Out, Carolina Forest Civic Association
Proudest accomplishment: “So far? Moving back to Myrtle Beach and creating opportunities for others and myself to do things none of us would have thought possible to do here.”
Favorite quote: “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”—Steve Jobs