Owner of Maverick Moving Company and Brew Bus
Sheppard already owns two businesses, but he also plans to open a music studio soon.
April 25, 2023 | Compiled by Kristine Villarroel | Photos by Marcus Rojas
“When I was 18, after my parents divorced, I totally threw away everything I was given. I was into crazy drugs and insane partying all the time, and I lost my full-ride scholarship at the University of North Florida because of that. I grew up here in Gainesville. I was going to transfer over to UF after I did my first two years there. I was ROTC — my dad was a military guy. I had everything given to me growing up, but I loved the street life, and I wanted to go chase that.
Sheppard gives a sneak peek of his new music studio. He built it in the warehouse of his moving business and has already recorded a few original songs.
After losing the scholarship, I had to go live in Section 8 housing because I didn’t have the money, and my parents weren’t going to support me as I wasted my life away. I then went from selling drugs for fun and entertainment to having to feed myself. It’s different. There were cop cars parked outside my house and people breaking in. I had people smashing my windows to try to steal from me.
About five years ago, I got out of all the drugs and started a moving company. I had a house for the first three years, but when it came time to get a new lease, no one would rent to me because I had such a long criminal history. I also have two dogs — Alpha, a German shepherd pup, and Aria, a rescue animal — so it was hard finding rentals who allowed them. The moving company was doing well financially, and we had a storage unit for all of our stuff, so I moved into that warehouse. There was no AC or electricity in there, and there were roaches running through. It was disgusting.
Sheppard delivers a few riffs on top of the Gainesville Brew Bus — a frequent sight when the bus is active.
I also own a brew bus; it’s not my moneymaker, but it’s had a lot of exposure. I drive people around town in a truck that I repurposed with lights and music. And it’s because of the brew bus that I got a place to stay. I saw a listing for a nice place, and I talked to the owner. He told me he had never rented out a property to someone with a record like mine, but once I mentioned the brew bus, he wanted to hear more. He owned a lot of properties in the city — bars, nightlife businesses aimed at the college student population — and he wanted to work with me.
So we decided to partner, shook hands, and I signed the lease.”