Walk around downtown Johnson City, and you’ll quickly notice that the local shopping scene is shaped by ETSU alumni and current students. Among them are entrepreneurs Kevin Sommers and Calli Hall, two examples of Buccaneer pride staying local and giving back to the community in their own creative ways.
While the path looked different for both Sommers ’14,Founder of Some Apparel, and Hall, Founder of Calli Rose and a fashion marketing and merchandising student, the destination of a brick-and-mortar store in downtown Johnson City has arrived all the same.
After graduating from the ETSU College of Business and Technology, Sommers spent several years in the corporate world. A promotion eventually brought him back home, and it was then he realized Johnson City was exactly where he wanted to plant roots and launch Some Apparel.
“I’ve always wanted to add value to the community through something I’m passionate about, whether it be sports or literally anything. And I landed on fashion,” said Sommers.
For Hall, the path has been one of constant learning and growth. She started her business in 2020, and over time, it evolved into Calli Rose, which opened its storefront in 2025. What began as Calli Jewelry grew through pop‑up booths at ETSU events, a booth inside Boomtown & Co., and countless hours balancing entrepreneurship while being a student. The journey has had twists, turns, and plenty of learning moments along the way.
“When I started making jewelry, it was just kind of for fun. And then over the years, it kind of grew and grew into this,” said Hall. “Having my own business was inspired by my grandmother having her own furniture store that I kind of grew up in.”
A constant similarity between the paths for these entrepreneurs was community support. Fellow business owners across Johnson City have come to offer advice, support, and a shoulder to cry on for Sommers and Hall.
“Luckily, it’s a really good community in downtown Johnson City,” said Sommers.
From supporting one another to welcoming new stores, downtown Johnson City embodies the belief that when one business succeeds, the whole community benefits.
That support also extends to the ETSU community, where students and alumni can access valuable resources and opportunities. A key part of Hall’s journey has been joining the Collegiate Merchandising Association (CMA) ETSU chapter, which opened doors for networking and allowed her to experience how different markets operate.
“With CMA, we go on field trips every year. In my first year, we went to the Atlanta market and Nashville another year, and I was able to attend as a student and as a buyer,” said Hall. “Attending all those markets and marts has been really beneficial for my business since I’ve gotten to meet vendors there and learn from them.”
The business foundation they gained at ETSU has stayed with both Sommers and Hall, showing up in different ways in their day‑to‑day work.
“Being a business student really prepared me for the fact that business is a huge umbrella,” said Sommers. “All of those entry-level classes and even the higher-level classes that you take, they definitely come full circle further down the road.”
For Hall, those lessons often appear through the mentorship of faculty who genuinely care about their students’ success. One of those mentors has been Associate Professor Dr. Kelly Atkins.
“She is one of the best professors I’ve ever had, and I know even after graduation if I need anything she’s there for me,” beamed Hall.
Powered by grit, creativity, and a community that lifts them up, these entrepreneurs are leaving their mark on the city, one store front, one idea, and one step at a time.
