Building a better cigar community

Photo provided by Founders Cigar Company. & How Bout That Cigar Podcast

By Alek Olson

Humans were designed to, in every definition of the word, fight for our survival, our convictions, our well-being, our comfort, our security, our freedom, and our opportunities. We were designed to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We were designed to not only be a part of communities but to build them.

In our current day and age, as a society, we are losing touch with reality. We are losing our ability to communicate. We are failing in being able to articulate what we do and why we do it.

Thankfully, there are still people out there who have clear motives, fervent passion, keep a laser focus on their mission, and have a service mindset while doing so. The alcohol, tobacco, and firearms industries are filled with individuals who have not lost touch with what they are here to do. At ATF Magazine, these are the stories that we tell.

Brian Schmittdiel and Angelo Fraboni’s mission is to serve those who serve and to “Build a Better Cigar Community” while doing so. Brian and Angelo are the creative team behind Founders Cigar Company.

Founders Cigar Company is a brand that exists to serve the community and country. The passion that Founders has to serve those who serve started years before the actual creation of the company. Brian served on active duty for the U.S. Air Force from 2002 until 2006 and has served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve since 2012. Brian and Angelo were both avid cigar enthusiasts, but in 2020, they decided to become a part of the industry in a bigger way, so they brainstormed and then developed Founders Cigar Company.

Brian and Angelo both have backgrounds in the business development space for various brands in the firearms industry. One of the companies that Brian dug his roots deeply into within the industry is Hiperfire, a high-end trigger and AR15 accessory manufacturer. While serving as their sales and marketing director, Brian received inquiries from small firearm and accessory manufacturers all over the country to help them gain the success that they saw he’d brought to Hiperfire, so he started his own venture: Apex Development Group.

Through the connections built in the firearms industry, the pair were able to successfully bring the work they had done in both industries together at Big Daddy Unlimited Epic Shoot 2020 in Savannah, Georgia — where they made a splash in the cigar industry. Brian and Angelo were placed alongside a suppressor manufacturer at the event, so they got creative! They packed their debut cigar, the Signature Dual Wrap, in 22 mm suppressor boxes and gave them out in a swag bag to a large number of influencers. This did wonders for Founders. They became known as “the cigar guys’ in the firearm industry and that has by no means worn off. The exposure they generated at events including Epic Shoot got them in the door to work with brands from various industries, including military, corporate events, and even professional sports teams.

The focus that Brian and Angelo have on building a better community shows itself in every aspect of the brand. Each offering pays homage to our nation's founders, because the freedom we have to enjoy cigars along with countless other opportunities are only made possible by the bravery, confidence, and convictions of our founding fathers.

Founders offers five different blends that are produced in the Dominican Republic: the Douglas Habano, the Signature Dual Wrap, the Franklin Connecticut, the Roosevelt Maduro, and the Hamilton Candela.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Angelo and Brian at the Premium Cigar Association trade show this year. What forced me to take a step back was their answer when I asked them, what they were most excited about next. Angelos answered, “the next 20 years.”

They are not focused on how quickly they can develop a large profit, how many cigars they can release every year, or what is the quickest way they can grow Founders Cigar Company into a cigar empire — instead, they focus on the long game, and how they can responsibly scale their brand and serve their communities while doing so.

One specific way that Founders Cigar Company gives back to their community and country is by serving active-duty military members by donating a portion of their proceeds to Operation Cigars for Warriors, a veteran-owned, volunteerbased, non-profit organization that ships cigars and cigar accessories to our troops overseas.

Due to federal regulations, Cigars for Warriors cannot accept donations directly from cigar manufacturers, but they can accept donations in the form of cigars that are dropped off at their donation boxes at local retailers across the country, shipments sent directly from individuals or businesses, monetary donations, and by supporting businesses like Founders Cigar Company. Operation Cigars for Warriors has successfully donated more than one million cigars to our active-duty military members and the number is only increasing, thanks to brands like Founders and the generosity of those who believe in their cause.

I highly recommend that you check out the products that Founders Cigar Company has to offer because they truly have an offering that anyone would love.

By supporting this brand, you are not only supporting a grass-roots operation born out of passion and built by drive to achieve the American Dream — and serve those who serve while doing so!

Learn more about Founders Cigar Company by visiting FoundersCigarCo.com and make sure to use promo code ATFMAG at checkout for a special discount!