We had the good fortune of connecting with Dylan Humphrey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dylan, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I owe my success to my Mom and Dad and supportive family and friends. My Mom and Dad have been a very big part of my business. They have always encouraged their children to follow any passion they might have. My wonderful husband (Dylan) (DJ) is always there to help out and is by my side through all the many hours of hard work and occasionally the all-nighters. For our brand I have always strived to give top quality work and great customer service. I love to encourage our customers to be true to themselves. I offer them an unique opportunity to express themselves to get the cake of their dreams.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It is definitely not easy owning a small business. I started baking at 12 years old and opened my store front at age 20. There was a lot to learn VERY FAST! Trial and error is a big part of the process. You have to stay positive and have hope for a better tomorrow. A good rule of thumb is that people will never cease to amaze you, good and bad. Kool Kakes strives to make our customers 100% happy. I learned to accept at the end of the day that is not always humanly possible, and that is ok and most of the time out of your control completely. Our art is completely custom, and we love the opportunity to build cakes and masterpieces that have never been done before. We use mediums to sculpt, paint, carve, engineer structures, and have to think about the logistics to travel. This industry is one that any artistic strength can be applied to. Having a great versatile team is the key to creating the work Kool Kakes is known for.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Depending on your interests Tyler definitely has a lot to offer. Downtown Tyler has a lot of locally owned businesses. My favorite spot for a nice craft beer and great burger is ETX Brewing Company.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout to my parents, brothers, husband, family and friends alike. Several appearances on national television have definitely helped spread the word.

Website: Koolkakesbydylan.com

Instagram: instagram.com/koolkakesbydylan

Facebook: facebook.com/koolkakesbydylan

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.