Many an entrepreneur has come by self-employed status by first working in corporate America. Eric Patrick Marr, owner of the LeXenomics Group, is one of those. A native Lexingtonian, Marr got a mechanical engineering degree at Purdue University in 1995 and spent the next few years as an automotive engineer for Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“It just wasn’t a fit for me,” he said. “I didn’t like being in a cubicle.”
He made good money and owned a house at the age of 23, but discovered he was more of a risk taker than a corporation could afford to chance and more of a people person than his mathematical background had trained him to be. He left Michigan after 10 years on a self-described “extended path of discovery.” He moved to a couple of cities in Florida and then Chicago, trying different career paths. He sold high-end window treatments. He was sometimes unemployed. He started his own consulting business that didn’t really take off .
Returning to Lexington with a backpack, and with no house or job to lose, Marr decided to go full steam ahead in creating his own dream job.
“I was at my most free point,” he said.
For two years, he gave plasma to have enough money for food. “It was very difficult. I don’t recommend that path to anyone,” he said of his road to entrepreneurship. He started blogging about Lexington’s economy and culture from a citizen’s point of view, making enemies and friends along the way because of what he saw as a disconnect between the city’s potential and results. He sought to help brand Lexington’s status as one of America’s most educated populations.
“I wanted us known within the state, and out, of being a super brand of educated people,” he said. “We create awesome stuff here.”
In March 2010, Marr incorporated the LeXenomics Group as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. “It’s not a private business,” he said. “It’s meant to help the community.”
With a backbone of connection — connecting people and projects with funding and marketing — Marr knew he could scale LeXenomics only so high by himself. He needed his own opportunity to connect with a broader segment of the community.
As he started his business, he started running to stay in shape. “I’ve never seen a homeless runner before,” he said. “I think I became the first because I lost all my money.”
Even though he was broke, he was happy getting up in the morning because he was doing what he loved. In November 2010, he helped Blue Grass Farms Charities and Fasig-Tipton promote Run the Bluegrass, a half-marathon that April at the Kentucky Horse Park.
“I offered to build a website if I could have a free registration,” Marr said.
In January, the race was canceled. He saw reviving it as a risk-taking opportunity right up his alley for LeXenomics. He met with city officials and with John’s Run/Walk Shop. He would need 1,000 runners to sign up, and 934 did. He wanted to break even and then have an entire year to plan the next race. After paying the bills, LeXenomics actually made a little profit. In 2012 Run the Bluegrass half-marathon had 2,200 runners and took place at Keeneland.
“I love Keeneland,” Marr said. “It’s one of the most innovative, entrepreneurial organizations I have ever come in contact with.”
The 2015 half-marathon on March 28 is on pace to have 4,200 runners from 47 states and five countries. Almost half of the registered participants are from outside of Kentucky.
“The economic impact is in the hundreds of thousands,” Marr said.
Billed as “America’s prettiest half-marathon,” the 13.1-mile course goes from Keeneland to Old Frankfort Pike and back, past dozens of horse farms. To brand the story of Kentucky during the two-day expo and on race day, LeXenomics partners with a different bourbon each year (Woodford Reserve in 2015) to produce a commemorative bottle. The finisher medals feature a thoroughbred or two; this year’s spotlight is on Curlin and Rachel Alexandra.
The half-marathon has enabled Marr to have a salary, hire a full-time employee and get other projects off the ground, such as Dream- Fuel, a LeXenomics program offering grants to aspiring entrepreneurs. In 2014 DreamFuel gave a total of $13,500 to three businesses. Marr is also developing a Young Entrepreneurs Lab for middle-school students.
“My dream is one day to have a world where the norm is to pursue your passion,” he said. “When people are happier, they have better productivity and are more fulfilled. The community is better, families are better, everything’s better if they are truly happy versus clocking in for a check.”