Firebrand BBQ Wins Alaska SBA Small Business Award

Chad and Stephanie Higgins have spent decades serving others. Chad fought fires to protect his community of Amarillo, Texas, for 22 years. Stephanie worked as a paralegal for a local law office for 20 years.

Now, they’re serving up something entirely different in a new environment as co-owners of Firebrand BBQ in Seward, Alaska. This year, Chad and Stephanie were named Alaska’s Small Business Person(s) of the Year, an annual SBA honor awarded as part of National Small Business Week.

Seward Had the Space. Chad Had the Smoke.

“We traveled there for vacation in 2014 and loved it,” Chad said. “Then we went back in 2016 and decided that’s where we wanted to retire.”

They weren’t quite ready for retirement yet, but as fate would have it, Seward was ready for them. In 2017, the Seward Fire Department was looking for a new deputy fire chief. Chad applied with Stephanie’s encouragement and got the job. Together, they sold everything to leave the Lone Star State for the Last Frontier.

“Unfortunately, or maybe I should say fortunately, that job ended up not being for me. But after the move, I started to notice Seward didn’t have much barbecue around town,” Chad said.

Back in Texas, when Chad wasn’t fighting fires, he had a knack for cooking and feeding people. He learned to smoke meat at home. Over time, that led to bigger grills, barbecue competitions, and wedding catering. He even became a go-to caterer for company events with the likes of Miller Lite and Shiner Bock. That passion for cooking stuck with him through the move to Seward, and eventually inspired him to buy a vacant lot.

The Firebrand Name Was Already Built on Hard Work

Chad had never worked in a restaurant before, but he was no stranger to small business ownership. He previously owned a construction business—then later, a concrete business—outside of his daytime career.

“So this is actually the third iteration of Firebrand,” Chad explained. “I had Firebrand Construction, which started as a small remodeling business and grew into building custom homes. I eventually closed that down. A few years later, I started Firebrand Engraved Concrete as a way to make a little extra money. Next thing you know, we were the largest elite concrete contractor in Texas. But I shut that one down, too, after one of our trailers full of equipment was stolen.”

Although devastating at the time, losing that trailer was a blessing in disguise.

“If I had kept that business going, I don’t think we would have moved when we did,” Chad said.

Turning a Vacant Lot Into a Backyard Barbecue Spot

With a new space secured in Seward, Chad’s top-notch barbeque skills perfected, and Stephanie’s administrative expertise, the pieces were all coming together for their next big venture. They opened Firebrand BBQ in 2018, and continued improving their space for the next several years.

“In 2023, we needed some extra money to buy new equipment and get things up and running for the season. Our bank recommended contacting Business Impact NW for guidance,” Chad said. That outreach led the Higgins to their Business Impact NW coach, Theo, who helped Stephanie and Chad apply for a loan through Business Impact NW.

Unlike credit cards, cash advances, or other types of high-interest loans, Business Impact NW works with entrepreneurs to ensure they have the right loan at the right rate. Free loan preparation coaching is also available to help business owners prepare loan applications and guide them through the lending process.

With coaching and an approved loan from Business Impact NW, supported in part by Alaska’s District Office for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Higginses opened their 2023 season with a bang.

A Loan, a Strong Season, and the Right Connections

The restaurant now operates from May to September, closing during the colder months when tourism slows and the town winds down. From fall-apart brisket to savory pulled pork, the Higgins smoke all their meat in traditional Texas style and take pride in making every customer feel right at home.

“Like you’re in our backyard having a barbecue,” Stephanie said. “That’s the kind of atmosphere we want, and that’s what I love most about it.”

What Started Small Keeps Growing

Together, the Higgins have grown Firebrand BBQ from one trailer and six picnic tables into a larger gathering place. Today, the property includes two covered seating areas and a separate cooking space, and they’re not done yet. Next up, Stephanie and Chad will be opening a separate fish and chips shop called The Garage, which they hope to have ready for customers this summer.

“Thanks again to the connection from Theo and Business Impact NW, we turned to the SBA for funding to get this new project off the ground,” Stephanie said. “The SBA helped us create a full business plan, then developed projections for the new restaurant based on Firebrand BBQ’s performance, which was so helpful. And having someone like Theo to guide us and share how many resources are out there was very eye-opening, like classes and the different types of loans you can get for different projects.”

Alaska’s SBA Honor Brings the Story Full Circle

Through a nomination from Theo, the Higgins were recently recognized during National Small Business Week as Alaska’s Small Business Person(s) of the Year.

“I was thrilled and genuinely proud when I heard they’d won,” Theo said. “It felt fantastic to see hard work and community-minded entrepreneurship recognized, especially for a team that took real risks to build something meaningful for Seward.”

Chad and Stephanie were “humbled and proud” when they learned about the unexpected win. It was a full-circle moment to see everything they had navigated and sacrificed was not only noticed, but honored by the community they’d come to love.

“If I had any advice to offer others with a dream like ours, it’s to put your head down and go to work,” Chad said. “The money won’t come right away, but if you put everything you have into it, eventually it will pay off. And if you do it right, it’ll pay off bigger than you ever thought it would.”

The Higgins would like to thank the following people and businesses for their support of Firebrand BBQ:

• District of Alaska SBA, for financing their small business loan
• Northrim Bank, for providing additional instrumental support in financing their businesses
• Northern Meat, for reliably supplying over 20,000 pounds of brisket (and more!) in 2025 alone
• Joe Hinton, for finding “the coolest stuff” on his commercial fishing excursions and allowing Firebrand to display it on their walls

Looking for support with funding for your own small business? Business Impact NW can help. Learn more about how to apply for a loan, our loan options, coaching opportunities, and classes to empower your business growth.