Officer Brian Updyke in Afghanistan
LA’s The Place is spotlighting veterans-owned businesses. Today we are featuring The Cake Oven in Dayton, Ohio, owned by veteran Officer Brian Updyke and his wife, Jennifer.
These brave men and women who have returned from multiple tours of duty, serving our country and fighting for our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, have started their own businesses here at home in the U.S, which we should all support!
Brian went to Army Basic Training back in 2000 before 9/11 happened. He was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008. In 2010, he became a Commissioned Officer in the Ohio Army National Guard as a platoon leader, and in 2011-2012, once again, he was deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Having recently returned from Afghanistan to his home in Dayton, Ohio, he is now running his home-based business that he and his wife, Jennifer Updyke started in 2010 called “The Cake Oven”, which offers delicious customized cakes for birthdays, weddings, and any occasion. They also offer cupcakes and will create anything to order. They also make cookie sandwiches and cake pops.
Brian works at this business between their full time jobs. Brian is a full-time Dayton Police officer and Jennifer job is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner by trade. She has been a nurse for about 14 years. Brian and Jennifer have four beautiful children – two boys, ages 13, and 7 and two girls, ages 6 and 5. So, along with all the kid’s activities, you can say they are very hardworking and busy!
Says Brian: “I do all the marketing and sales for the business. I am always out there peddling the business trying to get more customers and interest. Our goal is to eventually have a full bakery.”
Officer Brian Updyke and wife, Jennifer Updyke.
“I pretty much forced her to start the business. Jenn has a passion for baking and cake design. We started the business because my wife kept getting so many great comments from her relatives and friends about her baking, especially her cakes. I told her that if she started it, I would be there all the way and help build it as much as I possibly can.”
“While I was in Afghanistan, I was still trying to drum up business. I would take orders over Facebook and made sure the business didn’t go and die. It was tough but we received a few orders the year I was gone. The orders have gotten better since I have returned. We have seen a steady increase in business. We get about 1-2 orders a week. We are plugging away, trying to get to the big time. If you have any questions, feel free to inquire further.”
So, if you are in the Dayton, Ohio area, support this Vet-owned business! With the economy and the climate we are facing today, it is a challenge to stay in business, so do all your can to support small businesses, especially one’s own by our Veterans, who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, fighting in the war, not once, twice, but three and four tours.
They are not the only ones making the sacrifice, their spouses and children have to be without their husbands, wives and fathers, never knowing for sure is they are even going to be coming home at all. Happily, this had a happy ending.
The Updyke children – Nick 13, Jackson 7, Sophia 6 and Ava 5
To contact The Cake Oven, you can call either 937-231-9225 or 937-258-2836.
To see all the beautiful cake creations, go to www.The-Cake-Oven.com. You can also go to their Facebook page for prices: https://www.facebook.com/brian.updyke
