Founder Interview
Dearick Milton
Begin with purpose, but don't confuse passion with preparation. Understand the problem you want to solve, identify whom you want to serve, and remain willing to refine your…
So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.
My name is Dearick Milton. I was born in Canton, Ohio, raised in Columbus, Georgia, and spent 31 years living in Atlanta before settling in Middleburg, Florida, near Jacksonville.
At 62, I'm a technology professional, entrepreneur, musician, songwriter, recording artist, licensed minister, mentor, father, and grandfather. I currently serve as a Technical Services Program Manager at Palo Alto Networks, following a career spanning education, insurance, telecommunications, and information technology.
Music has been central to my life. For 21 years, I sang with Atlanta-based Joseph Robinson and The Chosen Aggregation and composed numerous songs recorded across the group's albums. One of my compositions, "Christ Was Born," was recorded by the group and achieved Billboard chart placements in 2020 and 2023.
I'm also the founder of Sugar Bee's Boy, LLC, my music company and recording label. My creative background includes composing music and performing in the touring production "But Momma, I Love Him" and appearing in print advertisements for "Upscale Magazine".
Today, I'm also developing businesses in technology and wellness while pursuing massage therapy education. Interior design and decorating my own home are additional creative passions.
I'm soft-spoken and typically quiet, but my silence is loud. I believe in listening carefully, speaking honestly, and allowing my actions to communicate my values. My life reminds me that we can continue discovering new dimensions of our purpose at any age.
Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.
What I love most about Middleburg, Florida, is its balance of tranquility and opportunity. I enjoy the peacefulness of home while remaining close to Jacksonville's energy, diversity, and professional opportunities.
With my interests spanning technology, music, entrepreneurship, and interior design, I appreciate having a place that encourages creativity and reflection. Middleburg provides that balance beautifully.
Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?
My entrepreneurial journey reflects three lifelong passions: creativity, technology, and helping others.
Sugar Bee's Boy, LLC is my music company and recording label, established to support my original compositions and creative independence. Music isn't primarily a commercial pursuit for me; it's a deeply personal form of expression. Songs often come to me unexpectedly, sometimes through dreams. I think of each composition as an embryo requiring careful nurturing until it's ready to enter the world.
TrackLogic Systems draws upon my experience in information technology and cybersecurity to develop software solutions that simplify complex technical processes.
Elevaré Wellness Network is a developing platform designed to connect qualified wellness professionals with individuals seeking credible knowledge through curated masterclasses.
I'm also developing The Holistic Studio, a concept centered on relaxation, restoration, and self-care, while pursuing formal massage therapy education and licensure.
Although these ventures serve different needs, they share one philosophy: create something meaningful that improves people's lives.
If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?
Begin with purpose, but don't confuse passion with preparation. Understand the problem you want to solve, identify whom you want to serve, and remain willing to refine your original idea.
I've always taught my children that if you don't till the land, you won't eat. Having the right tools means little without discipline, effort, and consistency.
Most importantly, never allow someone else's assessment of your abilities to become your identity. As a child, I struggled academically and was often underestimated. Yet I've earned college degrees, built a career in technology, taught, mentored, composed music, and established businesses.
Your beginnings may influence your journey, but they don't have to determine your destination.
What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?
One of my most unforgettable experiences occurred while working as a Customer Service Representative at Sprint Telecommunications.
A woman called to question long-distance charges on her telephone bill. During our conversation, I noticed a quiet whimper in her voice. She wasn't angry, as customers sometimes were about unexpected charges. She sounded frightened.
Something prompted me to ask, "Ma'am, are you okay?"
"No," she replied.
"Are you in any danger?"
"Yes."
I could see her address and telephone number on my computer screen, so I asked whether she wanted me to call the police. She answered, "Yes, please."
I contacted her local police department, explained the situation, and requested assistance. While officers were dispatched, I stayed on the telephone with her, casually discussing long-distance calling plans. I wasn't trying to sell her anything; I simply wanted to keep her connected until help arrived.
When the police reached her location, I heard an angry masculine voice shout, "You called the police on me!?"
I asked whether the officers had arrived.
"Yes. Thank you so much," she answered.
I then asked whether she felt safe enough to end our call. She said yes.
I never learned what happened afterward, but I'll never forget her gratitude.
That experience reinforced my belief that listening involves more than hearing words. Sometimes we must recognize what someone is struggling to express.
I believe in intuition, discernment, and compassion, but also in acting when someone needs help. That day, my responsibility extended far beyond resolving a telephone bill.
Sometimes our greatest opportunities to make a difference arrive disguised as ordinary moments.
Where do you see your company in the future?
I envision building businesses that remain meaningful because they continue responding to real human needs.
Through Sugar Bee's Boy, LLC, I intend to continue composing, recording, and releasing original music. Several new compositions and projects are forthcoming. Music has never been primarily about financial gain for me. I want to create work that evokes emotion, inspires reflection, and touches lives. I also value maintaining my creative independence rather than allowing commercial expectations to dictate my artistry.
For TrackLogic Systems, my vision is to develop practical software solutions that simplify complicated technical processes and help organizations operate more effectively.
With Elevaré Wellness Network, I hope to establish a respected educational platform where qualified professionals can share expertise and individuals can access credible wellness knowledge.
Through The Holistic Studio, I envision creating an inviting environment for relaxation, restoration, and intentional self-care.
At 62, I'm not building businesses simply to say I own them. I want to create something useful, sustainable, and meaningful.
I believe legacy isn't merely what we leave behind. It's also what we make possible for others while we're here.
And I still have a great deal of music to write, knowledge to share, and meaningful work to accomplish.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
Because my entrepreneurial interests span technology and wellness, I see a misconception common to both: that value lies primarily in the product or service rather than the people it serves.
In technology, impressive features mean little if people cannot use them effectively. In wellness, people sometimes assume that meaningful improvement requires expensive products or complicated programs, when education, consistency, and informed choices can also make a difference.
Another misconception is that expertise in one field prevents someone from developing expertise in another.
At 62, I'm pursuing massage therapy education while continuing my career in technology. The disciplines differ, but both require professionalism, knowledge, and attention to people's needs.
I believe the most valuable professionals never stop learning.
What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?
One of my greatest entrepreneurial challenges has been balancing an abundance of ideas with the practical realities of building sustainable businesses.
I'm naturally creative and can often envision a finished product long before working through everything required to develop it. But imagination alone doesn't establish a successful business. Entrepreneurship requires research, financial discipline, marketing, patience, and difficult decisions.
Balancing multiple ventures with a demanding full-time career has also taught me that not every idea can receive immediate attention.
I've learned the importance of adapting. Elevaré Wellness Network, for example, began as a more traditional wellness marketplace before I refined its direction toward curated educational masterclasses. Changing course meant reconsidering work I'd already invested, but I believe responsible entrepreneurship requires flexibility.
Another challenge has been learning to promote my work. I'm naturally soft-spoken and prefer letting the quality of what I create speak for itself. However, people cannot appreciate something they don't know exists. Learning to communicate my work's value without compromising my personality has been an important part of my growth.
My journey hasn't been effortless. I've experienced discouragement, uncertainty, competing priorities, and delays. But I've learned not to confuse a delay with defeat.
I believe perseverance is important, but perseverance without reflection can become stubbornness. Wisdom involves knowing when to push forward, when to adjust, and when to allow an idea more time to mature.
Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?
My favorite musical artist growing up was the late Daryl Coley. His extraordinary vocal range, control, musicianship, and artistry established standards that continue to influence singers today. I particularly admired his ability to communicate emotion with precision and musical intelligence.
I wasn't especially interested in sports growing up, so I didn't have a favorite childhood athlete. As an adult, however, I developed tremendous admiration for Venus and Serena Williams. Their determination, excellence, and ability to redefine expectations in professional tennis made a lasting impression on me.
Any shoutouts you want to make?
I want to acknowledge my family, especially my children and grandchildren, who remain among my greatest blessings. I'm also grateful for my spouse, whose presence and support are meaningful parts of my life.
I appreciate the educators, mentors, colleagues, fellow musicians, and others who have encouraged me throughout my journey.
Most importantly, I want to recognize those who are quietly overcoming adversity, discouragement, or feelings of inadequacy.
Having experienced rejection and being underestimated during childhood, I understand how deeply words can affect someone's confidence. But those words don't have to determine the outcome of a life.
I've always encouraged my children to embrace the underdog because the person lying in the ashes today may rise tomorrow with extraordinary strength.
To anyone who has been told they aren't capable or worthy enough: don't surrender your future to someone else's limited perception of your potential.
Sometimes the greatest difference we can make is simply to listen.
Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?
Readers can learn more about my professional journey, music, creative work, and entrepreneurial ventures through my official website:
My original music is released through Sugar Bee's Boy, LLC.
For my technology and software development initiatives, visit:
https://www.tracklogicsystems.com
For my developing wellness education platform, visit:
https://www.elevarewellnessnetwork.com
I welcome connections with individuals and organizations who share my interests in creativity, innovation, education, wellness, and meaningful service.
