We (Brian and Raelyn) are high school sweethearts who have built our lives on a foundation of faith, family, and serving. After marriage, Raelyn pursued her passion for beauty and wellness, becoming a skilled hair stylist, while Brian earned his engineering degree from MSOE and has worked over 10 years in new product development.

For years, our busy jobs kept us constantly on the go—success in our fields, but at what cost? As our family grew to four children and our involvement in our church deepened, we began to feel the tension between career and presence in the home. We realized that the busyness pulling us in different directions was stealing something precious: time together as a family, meaningful conversations in teaching and training our children valuable skills for their future, and the chance to truly disciple their hearts and faith.

That realization became our turning point. Brian made the courageous decision to step back from the corporate world, transitioning to a hybrid work arrangement that allowed him to start on a new mission - to find new ways to work together, to be a family on a shared mission, to instill godly character as we walk by the way and when we lie down, and to build things that last.

Cornell's Mercantile was born from this new mission. It's more than just a business—it's an extension of our values. We hope that Cornell's Mercantile will be able to support our family fully and, in the future, employ other families as well. Not only financially, but that it will be a place of learning, discipleship, and joy.

Thank you for supporting our small business - you are helping us accomplish this dream of building a family legacy for many years to come (Lord willing!). Thank you for being part of our story.