Spire Magazine 2021

O'Donnell served as defensive lineman and captain for the Rams

Walter Reed Medical Center, 2014

Training to walk without a cane

Nicknamed Sarge, O’Donnell served as a defensive lineman and became a captain and a leader to his teammates. During his time playing for the Rams football team, O’Donnell maintained a 3.6 GPA, compiled 68 total tackles in 24 games, including 37 unassisted stops. O’Donnell has 10 tackles for losses (35 yards), and four quarterback sacks (14 yards). In December 2019, O’Donnell received the Richmond Touchdown Club Man of the Year Award, one of the highest honors a college football player in the state of Virginia can receive. That same year, he was awarded the Champion of Character award from the Mid-South Conference. On November 11, 2020, Veterans Day, O’Donnell was named the ninth recipient of the Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Coordinated by the staff at the Lockhead Martin Armed Forces Bowl, the Armed Forces Merit Award was created in June 2012 “to honor an individual and/or group within the realm of the sport of football.” Out of 41 nominations, 38 individuals and three programs, O’Donnell was selected for the award. O’Donnell has not only served as a leader on the field and in the classroom, but also in the surrounding community. He volunteered for almost every community service event that the Rams football team participated in, including delivering meals with the Bluefield Union Mission and the Mercer County (W.Va.) Hunger Challenge. O’Donnell wanted to contribute more to the community. Following the closure of the New Graham Pharmacy’s Last Fountain in downtown Bluefield, Va., O’Donnell asked how he could help. “I recognized a clear opportunity to bring something special to the community,” said O’Donnell.

The inspiration for the coffee shop came from an unusual source. O’Donnell thought of Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX. “I thought ‘If this guy can launch his own vehicle from his vehicle company (Tesla) in space with his own space company, then why can’t I play college football and start a coffee shop?’” said O’Donnell. After discussing the topic with friend and alumna Savannah Carabin ‘18, O’Donnell met with the Bluefield Industrial Development Authority to discuss the opportunity. “I was coming home from football practice and remember thinking to myself, ‘What am I doing? I’m way in over my head, I’ve never worked with coffee in my life." In the fall of 2019, O’Donnell took part in the Tazewell County Business Challenge for entrepreneurs seeking to open a new business in the area. He proposed an extensive business plan for his idea for a coffee and bake shop located in downtown Bluefield, Va. He won the small business grant of $5,500. The Grind also received a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA). At the end of January 2020, The Grind became a legal LLC entity. Of those people who joined him to make the vision a reality were teammates and friends; Cole Carter, Joshua Wright, Joe Haner, and Sam Kirtley, who are now stakeholders. “I believe in our team. The individuals who have joined us are highly inspired and motivated dreamers who are creative in the way that they think and interact with the customers,” said O’Donnell. “We’re blessed to have these individuals especially during difficult hiring times.”

“Collin approached me in December 2019 and asked me to come on board with this project,” said Carter. “I was intrigued due to knowing him previously as a classmate and teammate, and knew he was bound to succeed.” Wright commented this about O’Donnell: “When he puts his mind to something it will be done to the best of his ability and then some.” O’Donnell did just that. In May 2020, The Grind opened as a mobile truck at the present physical location of 103 Spring Street in Downtown Bluefield, Va., despite the challenges of the pandemic. “We were able to pivot the business to a mobile food unit while learning so much about our customer base and getting an incredible amount of feedback,” says O’Donnell. “We put together a mobile unit menu, food ordering logistics, process, customer ordering process, health inspections, zoning, permits and more in just 27 days from the time we bought the trailer to the time we opened. Later that summer, the team started renovating the physical location. While doing so, O’Donnell graduated in December 2020 with his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. “Doing this as a full-time student was a challenge within itself,” shared O’Donnell. “There isn’t one employee who isn’t involved in school.” Through the challenges of the pandemic, school, training, and a rescheduled spring football season, the team was able to officially open in June 2021. The new space features an eat-in dining and workspace, a TV entertainment lounge, and an outdoor patio with fire pits.

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