Today we’d like to introduce you to Teena M Smith.
Hi teena, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story has always been centered around people, relationships, sales, and finding ways to help businesses grow. I started in sales and management in my early twenties, first as an assistant manager with a pizza chain and later managing a women’s fitness center, where our location became one of the strongest in the region for membership growth.
From there, I moved into automotive sales and eventually became a top salesperson at a Volvo dealership. That experience reinforced something I had learned very early in my career: people don’t simply buy products or services—they buy from people they trust.
That ability to build relationships eventually led me into the real estate settlement industry. I was recruited by a real estate attorney to initially work in outside marketing and business development, bringing settlement business into the firm. I was later asked to become a settlement agent myself. By the time I left the industry in 2009, I had personally closed more than 10,000 real estate transactions throughout the Washington metropolitan area and had developed relationships with clients who specifically requested me to handle their settlements.
In 2008, my husband, Hoss, and I started ARU Security & Investigations. As that company began growing rapidly, I eventually left the mortgage and settlement industry to help operate the business full-time. ARU grew from approximately 10 employees to more than 200 in about a year and a half, servicing more than 20 venues. I was heavily involved in sales, marketing, client relationships, and often staffing and operations.
That experience ultimately led me to create U Got Branded in 2014. I had already been handling much of the marketing work associated with our businesses and saw an opportunity to provide those same services to others. Initially, U Got Branded became a value-added service for many of our existing security clients, but it quickly expanded. We began working with clients in real estate, fitness, hospitality and other industries, including people I had built relationships with years earlier.
Over time, U Got Branded has evolved far beyond its beginnings. One of my responsibilities has always been making sure we continue learning and adapting as technology, social media platforms, algorithms and consumer behavior change. I also serve as a liaison between our creative and marketing team and our clients. Maintaining those relationships is extremely important to me because I never want a client to feel as though they hired a company and then became just another account.
U Got Branded has also allowed me to use my experience beyond traditional marketing. We’ve provided business and restaurant consulting throughout the Washington metropolitan area, including sales strategy, HR training, hiring and operational support. Some of those engagements have lasted three to six months and produced revenue increases of approximately 30% for the businesses we’ve worked with.
I’ve also had opportunities to speak to groups ranging from roughly 50 to 250 people about marketing, business development and what we do. That is something I enjoy because after spending decades in sales and business, I have learned that knowledge becomes much more valuable when you’re willing to share it.
When I look back, my career may seem like several different chapters—restaurants, fitness, automotive sales, real estate, security, marketing and consulting—but I see one consistent thread through all of them: building relationships, understanding what people need, and helping businesses grow.
That’s really the foundation of U Got Branded today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. There have been countless challenges along the way, and I think anyone who has been in business for a significant amount of time will tell you that some of your greatest lessons come from the moments you never planned for.
One of the biggest lessons came during our years operating ARU Security & Investigations. At one point, we had a contract with approximately $37,000 in payroll every 30 days. The agreement was supposed to pay us on Net 30 terms, meaning we expected payment within 30 days. In reality, that gradually became closer to Net 120. Eventually, the client failed to pay us for the final 60 days altogether.
The problem was that our employees had already worked those hours. They had families and obligations, and the client’s failure to pay us wasn’t their responsibility. We had to figure it out. We moved money, adjusted priorities and did whatever was necessary, but we never missed a payroll.
That experience taught me a tremendous lesson about cash flow, contracts, reserves and the difference between revenue on paper and money actually in the bank. A company can look successful from the outside and still face very real challenges behind the scenes.
People have also been one of our greatest opportunities and, at times, one of our greatest challenges. Managing more than 200 employees in the security industry taught us very quickly about hiring, training, accountability and putting the right people in the right positions. Later, working in the restaurant and hospitality industry presented many of those same staffing and HR challenges in a different environment.
We made mistakes along the way, but we learned how to navigate those situations, improve our processes and keep moving forward.
So no, the road has definitely not been smooth. But I wouldn’t change the lessons that came from the difficult periods. Success taught me what we were capable of. The struggles taught me how to run a business.
We’ve been impressed with U Got Branded LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
U Got Branded is a branding, marketing and business consulting company that helps businesses and organizations turn their story into measurable impact.
We started U Got Branded in 2014, and over the years our work has expanded significantly. Today, we work with businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits and organizations across a variety of industries. Our services include brand strategy and development, social media management, content creation, video production, website development, digital marketing, event promotion and business consulting.
What I believe sets us apart is that we don’t look at marketing in isolation. Before we start talking about posts, videos, websites or advertising, we want to understand the business. Who is your customer? What are you trying to accomplish? How are you currently generating revenue? What does your customer experience look like? Where are the opportunities you’re missing? Sometimes the solution is marketing. Other times, the real problem may be sales, staffing, operations, customer service or simply that the company’s message doesn’t clearly communicate its value.
That’s where our experience becomes important. I’ve spent my career in sales, business development, management and entrepreneurship. We’ve built businesses ourselves, managed large teams and worked directly with owners through both growth and difficult periods. When I’m sitting across from another business owner, I’m not looking at their company solely through the lens of a marketer. I’m looking at it as a businessperson.
We also believe strongly that every client’s story is different. We don’t believe in taking the same marketing formula and applying it to everyone. A historic institution shouldn’t communicate like an automotive company. A church shouldn’t communicate like a restaurant. A real estate professional shouldn’t communicate like an entertainment venue. Our job is to understand what makes each client unique and then develop the strategy, creative work and messaging that helps the right audience understand it too.
I’m particularly proud of the relationships we’ve built. Some of our clients and business relationships go back many years, and referrals have always been an important part of our growth. To me, that’s one of the best measurements of whether you’re doing something right. When someone trusts you with their business—and later trusts you enough to recommend you to someone else—that means something.
I’m also proud that U Got Branded continues to evolve. Marketing changes constantly. Platforms change, algorithms change, technology changes and now artificial intelligence is changing how businesses communicate and create. We make it a priority to continue learning and adapting while never losing sight of the fundamentals: people, relationships, good storytelling and results.
Ultimately, I want people to understand that U Got Branded isn’t interested in simply getting a business more attention. We want to understand where you’re trying to go and help you get there. That’s why our philosophy is:
“Your Story Deserves More Than Attention. It Deserves Impact.”
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’ve always believed in continuing to learn, especially from people who challenge the way I think about business and life. Tony Robbins’ seminars have been a great source of motivation and personal development for me over the years. I’ve also learned a lot from Zig Ziglar’s books, particularly his approach to sales, attitude, relationships and helping others succeed.
One of my favorite business books is Reginald F. Lewis’ Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? His story of building a billion-dollar business as a Black entrepreneur has always been inspiring to me. It’s a reminder to think bigger, recognize opportunities and not allow other people’s expectations to determine what you’re capable of accomplishing.
I also listen to Gary Vaynerchuk’s podcasts and content. Marketing and technology move so quickly that I think it’s important to listen to people who are constantly studying where consumer attention is going and how businesses can adapt.
I don’t necessarily agree with everything any one person says, but I believe you can always take something valuable from people who have achieved success, apply what fits your own journey, and keep learning.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ugotbrandedusa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ugot_branded/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ugotbranded
- Twitter: https://x.com/Ugotbranded
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Ugotbrandedcom
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ugotbranded?_r=1&_t=ZP-99choAfOzJ0
