Daily Inspiration: The Steve Harvey Morning Show
Daily Inspiration: The Steve Harvey Morning Show

Family Legacy: He started his business to teach his sons about money—earning, saving, investing, and giving.

July 16, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Marcus Sonnier spent years as a vice president at a large financial services firm before launching Snowy Atlanta, a shaved ice business. But the company was never really about frozen treats. It began as a deliberate lesson for his two sons—a way to teach them where money actually comes from. Sonnier’s story is a case study in patient, faith-backed entrepreneurship, built on a five-year parallel grind, a clear philosophy about risk in corporate America, and a business model designed to force families to put down their phones.

The Real Reason He Started: Teaching His Sons About Money

Sonnier’s motivation was specific and practical. In 2019, his sons were 17 and 14, both playing competitive baseball. He was spending hundreds of dollars on bats and gloves, and he realized his boys had no genuine understanding of where that money came from. “They didn’t understand that that little machine we go to and get money out of, you have to put something in there,” Sonnier says. “These little magic cards, these credit cards, you really have to pay bills.”

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (03:52) **What Is Shaved Ice and Why It Matters** - Marcus defines Hawaiian-style shaved ice and contrasts it with the coarse snow cone many grew up with.
  • 2 (07:24) **The Deeper Why: A Father's Void and the Mission to Fill It** - Marcus reveals that losing his father at age three drove him to build a business that re-creates family moments.
  • 3 (10:51) **Why He Left Corporate America** - The VP at a large financial firm quit because he saw how quickly a "safe" job could disappear.
  • 4 (12:13) **The Five-Year Parallel Build** - Marcus worked his corporate job and built Snowy Atlanta simultaneously for five years before taking the leap.
  • 5 (14:18) **The Leap of Faith Was Calculated** - After five years of organic growth, God told him it was time — but the business plan was already in place.
  • 6 (22:10) **The Real Reason: Teaching His Sons About Money** - Marcus started Snowy Atlanta in 2019 to give his two teenage sons a hands-on education in earning, saving, investing, and giving.
  • 7 (24:26) **The Ripple Effect on the Next Generation** - A third-grader asked, "Is this your business?" — and that moment revealed a deeper calling beyond his own sons.

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Show Notes

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning!

Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Marcus Sonnier.

Founder of Snowie Atlanta:

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To showcase Marcus Sonnier’s journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, highlight the inspiration behind Snowie Atlanta, and share insights on financial literacy, legacy-building, and faith-driven decision-making.

🔑 Key Takeaways 1. From Corporate VP to Entrepreneur

  • Marcus left a successful career as VP of PR supervision at a financial services firm to start Snowie Atlanta.
  • He worked both jobs for five years before fully transitioning.
  • His leap was guided by faith and a desire for self-reliance.

“I looked at my wife and said, ‘Hey, I'm getting one more bonus check. And then I'm jumping off the plane.’”

2. The Product: Shaved Ice with a Twist

  • Snowie Atlanta offers customizable shaved ice with self-serve flavor stations.
  • Inspired by childhood experiences in Louisiana with snowball stands.

“We give away the shaved ice, but we sell you the smiles.”

3. Family Legacy & Financial Literacy

  • Marcus started the business to teach his sons about money—earning, saving, investing, and giving.
  • His sons were involved from the beginning, learning entrepreneurship firsthand.

“I said, guys, look, we're going to be entrepreneurs in this business. We're going to do it together.”

4. Faith as a Driving Force

  • Marcus credits divine guidance for his journey and connections.
  • He views his business as a calling and a platform for community impact.

“I could feel God in my spirit

Daily Inspiration: The Steve Harvey Morning Show

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