In this episode of the Utah Fan Club, Steph sits down with Mars Teny, the dynamic founder of MarsCom, a Utah-based telecom company that helps businesses install, manage, and support professional phone systems. Mars shares the unexpected journey that led her from working in tech sales at Wells Fargo to starting her own business with just $76 in hand.
Mars opens up about how her entrepreneurial spark ignited while facilitating a self-reliance group at church. Surrounded by others starting businesses, she became inspired to start one herself. The timing felt right—both she and her husband were feeling the weight of high-pressure sales jobs and wanted more time with their kids. Her first major business moment came on a field trip to Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Candy Factory, where she told the owner how inspiring their story was. That conversation led to her very first sale.
Throughout the episode, Mars and Steph discuss the growing pains of starting a business. Mars candidly recounts the stress of accidentally losing a client’s 1-800 number during a porting process—an error that taught her a valuable lesson and showcased her determination when she drove to the business that had unknowingly acquired the number and got it back. She also reflects on early days when she went above and beyond at client installs, even crawling through insulated ceilings—something she later learned was definitely outside the scope of her responsibilities.
Mars explains how the telecommunications space has changed, especially with more people working from home. She breaks down the benefits of having a business phone system that works through an app on your phone or desktop. For solo entrepreneurs or small teams, this allows for professional call routing, business texting, voicemail transcription, and keeping personal and business communication separate. Mars emphasizes that this system protects business continuity—if an employee leaves, the phone number and all its associated business relationships stay with the company.
As the business grew, Mars and her husband tag-teamed MarsCom’s operations, allowing one another to alternate between growing the company and maintaining steady income. COVID accelerated the demand for VoIP solutions, enabling MarsCom to expand its services and staff. Now with seven employees, MarsCom continues to prioritize a culture of flexibility and balance. Whether it’s supporting a client from a child’s baseball game or juggling work with school, Mars wants her team to “win at life” while still upholding high standards for client care.
To wrap up the episode, Mars encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to simply start. Whether it's a networking event or a class, she advises people to get out there, share what they’re doing, and push through the awkward moments. Growth comes from showing up—and she’s living proof of where those first steps can lead.
Learn more about MarsCom:
Website: https://www.marscom.us
LinkedIn: Mars Communications
Apr 14 202531 min