Steven Vanden Heuvel was originally born in Houston, Texas where he spent all of his grade school years. When he was five years old, he was diagnosed with a severe-to-profound hearing loss that changed his life for the better. Steven graduated from Coastal Carolina University (Go Chants!) with a degree in finance and immediately moved to the greater New York City area to pursue a career in the mergers and acquisitions industry. His tenure in New York City lead him to a job with Walmart for a short period of time where he learned product development from the ground up. 

“My itch for entrepreneurship never waned while I was in New York City and after three years of working the corporate lifestyle, I left it all behind to move to Destin to start my current business, SORD Fishing Products,” Heuvel said. “Our slogan is ‘Where The Map Turns Blue’ because, for every day that I worked in the big city, all I was dreaming about was the next time I could get out on the water to chase some big fish.”

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.

My parents, Pat and Lisa, met in Houston, Texas and then retired to Destin in 2012. My Dad Pat passed away in 2018 and my Mom still resides in the Destin area with her awesome boyfriend, Cecil. I have two brothers who are married to some of the best women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I have a beautiful girlfriend named Victoria who I met in the winter of 2021.

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do? How did you get into your industry?

I absolutely love working in the consumer side of the fishing industry. It goes hand-in-hand with my biggest passion, fishing, and every day is a new adventure. I was able to learn about product development through my time working with Walmart and I quickly realized that it was something I could do on my own, with my own business.

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?

Pazzo’s Italiano, Dewey Destins on the Bay, La Paz, Harbor Docks, Boshamps, and Burrito Del Sol

Q: From where are you originally, long have you lived or worked in our community and how did you end up here?

Houston, Texas and I have lived in the community full time for two years now.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?

The most interesting person in the community is our dock master for East Pass Towers Marina, Captain Phil. Every time that we are getting on the boat, or doing something at the marina he always has a story to tell and shares his wisdom of the water with us.

Q: When you have free time, what are some of your places to go and things to do here locally? When guests visit, where are the first places you take them?

I typically am out on the boat going fishing with my friends. If I have guests in town, we are going out for a day of red snapper fishing and then headed back to the house for a home cooked meal.

Q: What advice would you give to people?

The best advice I can give to anyone younger than me is to move to a city you have never lived before and where you do not know anyone. Get outside of your comfort zone while you are still young and able. You will learn more about yourself in a short period of time than you could ever learn anywhere else.

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?

Harbor Docks is always the move! You can pull up into the bar there and meet a wide range of people, from people who have spent a lifetime in Destin to the ones who have just moved here. They make everyone feel like family there!

Q: Is there anything you’d like to learn in the near future such as a skill, art hobby, or sport?

I would love to learn how to use an Omni-sonar for fishing, the blue marlin guys will know what I am talking about. 😉

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?

I love that everyone bands together to support one another. I can pick the phone up and call a number of people who would be willing to help me out at a moment’s notice.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?

I would hope in 5-10 years I am running a non-profit that helps kids learn about fishing and the ways of the water.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

One thing I love to do is play guitar. A (somewhat) deaf guy playing the guitar doesn’t seem normal, but I am actually not that bad!

Q: Favorite month and favorite holiday and why?

October – it has the best weather in Destin and the least amount of tourists. My favorite holiday is Christmas because we get to celebrate Jesus and the hope he brought to this world.

Q: Who inspires you to be better?

Bob Goff – Google him!

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?

Fishing, Dogs, and Family!

Q: Is there anything you would like to add or like people to know about you or your business?

You can check out the best fishing tools the world has ever seen at www.sordtools.com

Keep up with Steven and SORD Fishing Products via Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.