Business

Kevin Kellogg, The Man With A Vision

Published

4 years ago

December 23, 2021

Nothing is unstoppable like a vision accompanied by a God-given determination to succeed, and Kevin Kellogg is consistently proving this point. At the age of 13, he already had a clear view of what his future should look like, and he put every ounce of his energy into reaching his goals. His first was to pay for his own car by the time he was 16, and he immediately set out to make that a reality. From mowing lawns and pulling weeds to painting houses, Kevin did every odd job he could get his hands on, living by a lesson that his father had taught him: “If you’re going to do something, do it right. Always look at your work when you’re done and make sure you didn’t miss anything. Your work has your name on it.”

With this in mind, Kevin plunged into early entrepreneurship. His exceptional work soon drew the attention of a local rental owner known as “Mr. Music”. Although Mr. Music was simply looking for Kevin to mow his lawn, it didn’t take long before Kevin was doing all sorts of maintenance on Mr. Music’s rentals. Through this time, a firm bond formed between the two of them, and Mr. Music soon became a huge part of Kevin’s life. The gentleman not only taught Kevin how to drive, but also how to properly care for his properties.

Thanks to odd jobs, a large amount of them for Mr. Music, Kevin was able to buy and restore his first car by the time he was 16, just like he had planned. Although he experienced satisfaction from a completed mission, he immediately began work on a new goal. Kevin wanted financial freedom. If he needed something, he didn’t want money to be an issue. Knowing already that it would be a long road, he started working at the local Publix supermarket while he was still in school, and, after graduation, turned this opportunity into a full time commitment. But it wasn’t enough that he was working for wages, Kevin knew he wanted to do more. He was an exemplary worker, and became a natural candidate for management positions. By the time he was 21, he was working as 2^nd Assistant Manager, and, not long after, was promoted to Assistant Manager. Still, Kevin continued to push forward, aspiring to take on full store management. He strived to learn every aspect of the business in every department. In a short time, Kevin received the promotion he had worked for, and became the youngest store manager in the district. As always, Kevin put his heart into his new position. Refusing to be anything but the best, he consistently enrolled in professional and personal development courses. His achievements quickly began to stack up, and, by the time he retired from store management after 27 years of service, he had opened and organized two new stores for Publix, and was featured in multiple publications discussing the difference he had made in those around him. From coaching and mentoring store associates to serving on the boards of charities, Kevin truly made a difference.

Although he was overseeing approximately $17 million in annual sales and 150 support staff, Kevin knew he wasn’t done. His time working for Mr. Music had put a fire into him for real estate, and he hadn’t abandoned the thought of one day working in the field. When he retired from store management, it wasn’t to relax, it was to pursue his long term plan of a real estate career.

During the next two years, though, troubles arose for Kevin Kellogg. Just as he was looking to begin this new chapter in his life, the stock market crashed, and, along with it, the housing market. In spite of these events, Kevin didn’t focus on how hard it could be to start in a bad market, he focused on his vision. He knew that when things are at the bottom, there’s only one direction they can go: up. So he began climbing. Along with beginning his education, he took on a full time job at Merit Electronics, where he put his management skills to use once again. While spending his days at the store and taking real estate courses, he also began working as a real estate sales associate during weekends and evenings. During his first, very busy year, Kevin managed to help Merit Electronics achieve ISO 9001:2008 compliance, as well as successfully close five real estate transactions.

Part of Kevin’s plan was to work at several different real estate organizations so he could learn varying approaches to the real estate business. During the next few years, along with his continued full time position at Merit Electronics, Kevin worked in multiple different real estate offices, and closed 4 to 5 transactions per year. It was at this time that a local broker approached Kevin with a job offer, and he gratefully accepted.

Kevin, as always, excelled. He was given ten properties to manage, which he grew to thirty within the year. He consistently brought in clients and finalized transactions, but his vision wasn’t quite fulfilled yet. This point was driven home one day, when, after he had closed four real estate deals in a single month, the owner of his company said, “Good job, Kellogg, now go and get me some more.” Although it was meant to be encouraging, it solidified in Kevin that he couldn’t be happy working for someone else. He needed to start his own company.

In 2013, Kevin met Ramona, his future wife. Their first date consisted of sitting on a beach and discussing their values and visions, and they immediately began to formulate a plan for starting their own realty company. Ramona said, “Tell you what, you do the deals, and I’ll do the paperwork.”

Ten months later they were married, and had begun work on Logical Choice Realty Group. Kevin was constantly educating himself and taking classes while also working tirelessly to build their new company. He began to enroll other business members to manage investments and rental properties as well as real estate sales, and, in 2016, quit working for other offices. He was finally set to focus on his own dream. During their first full year of business – 2017 – LCRG closed 17 real estate transactions and was managing over 100 investment properties, and they are currently still growing. Even now, as a successful business owner and an author of a bestselling book, Kevin truly believes that the best is yet to come, and he won’t stop working until he’s achieved exactly what he sees as the best in both professional and personal life. This, no doubt, is obvious to his clients, who receive only the best in customer service, and, just as importantly, investment and real estate options that are devised exactly the same way Kevin lived his whole life: with a will to make a difference in the lives around him, a definite vision, and a plan to make success happen.

Logical Choice Realty Group has a passion for their community, and loves serving and giving back. They are heavily involved in charity groups and humanitarian efforts, and believe in investing in children, who are the future.

To learn more about the accomplishments of this exceptional man and his company, visit: https://kevinlkellogg.com

For more information on Logical Choice Realty Group, visit the company website:

https://logicalchoicerealtygroup.com/

Business

Derik Fay and the Quiet Rise of a Fintech Dynasty: How a Relentless Visionary is Redefining the Future of Payments

Published

4 days ago

October 17, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Long before the headlines, before the Forbes features, and well before he became a respected fixture in boardrooms across the country, Derik Fay was a kid from Westerly, Rhode Island with little more than grit and audacity. Now, with a strategic footprint spanning more than 40 companies—including holdings in media, construction, real estate, pharma, fitness, and fintech—Fay’s influence is as diversified as it is deliberate. And his most recent move may be his boldest yet: the acquisition and co-ownership of Tycoon Payments, a fintech venture poised to disrupt an industry built on middlemen and outdated rules.

Where many entrepreneurs chase headlines, Fay chases legacy.

Rebuilding the Foundation of Fintech

In the saturated space of payment processors, Fay didn’t just want another transactional brand. He saw a broken system—one that labeled too many businesses as “high-risk,” denied them access, and overcharged them into silence. Tycoon Payments, under his stewardship, is rewriting that narrative from the ground up.

Instead of the all-too-common “fake processor” model, where companies act as brokers rather than actual underwriters, Tycoon Payments is being engineered to own the rails—integrating direct banking partnerships, custom risk modeling, and flexible support for underserved industries.

“Disruption isn’t about being loud,” Fay said in a private strategy session with advisors. “It’s about fixing what’s been ignored for too long. I don’t chase waves—I build the coastline.”

Quiet Power, Strategic Depth

Now 46 years old, Fay has evolved from scrappy gym owner to an empire builder, founding 3F Management as a private equity and venture vehicle to scale fast-growth businesses with staying power. His portfolio includes names like Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, BIGG Pharma, Results Roofing, FayMs Films, and SalonPlex—but also dozens of companies that never make headlines. That’s by design.

Where others seek followers, Fay builds founders. Where most celebrate their exits, Fay reinvests in people.

While he often deflects conversations around his personal wealth, analysts estimate his net worth to exceed $100 million, with some placing it comfortably over $250 million, based on exits, real estate holdings, and the trajectory of his current ventures.

Yet unlike others in his tax bracket, Fay still answers cold DMs. He mentors rising entrepreneurs without cameras rolling. And he shows up—not just with capital, but with conviction.

A Mogul Grounded in Real Life

Outside of business, Fay remains committed to his role as a father and partner. He shares two daughters, Sophia Elena Fay and Isabella Roslyn Fay, and has been in a relationship with Shandra Phillips since 2021. He’s known for keeping his personal life private, but those close to him speak of a man who brings the same intention to parenting as he does to scaling multimillion-dollar ventures—focused, present, and consistent.

His physical stature—standing at 6′1″—matches his professional gravitas, but what’s more striking is his ability to operate with both discipline and empathy. Fay’s reputation among founders and CEOs is not just one of capital deployment, but emotional intelligence. As one partner noted, “He’s the kind of guy who will break down your pitch—and rebuild your belief in yourself in the same breath.”

The Tycoon Blueprint

The playbook Fay is writing at Tycoon Payments doesn’t just threaten incumbents—it reinvents the infrastructure. This isn’t another “fintech startup” with a flashy brand and no backend. It’s a strategically positioned venture with real underwriting power, cross-border ambitions, and a founder who understands how to scale quietly until the entire industry has to take notice.

In an age where so many entrepreneurs rely on noise and virality to build influence, Fay remains a master of what can only be called elite stealth. He doesn’t need the spotlight. But his impact casts a long shadow.

Conclusion: The Empire Expands

From Rhode Island beginnings to venture boardrooms, from gym owner to fintech force, Derik Fay continues to build not just businesses—but a blueprint. One rooted in resilience, innovation, and long-term infrastructure.

Tycoon Payments may be the latest chess piece. But the game he’s playing is bigger than one move. It’s a long game of strategic leverage, intentional legacy, and generational wealth.

And Fay is not just playing it. He’s redefining the rules.