What 'Always Forward' Means in Business: How My Personal Motto Built This Company
Pull up a chair, friend. I’ve got my coffee ready, and I hope you do too. Today, I want to share something a bit more personal than our usual talk about surplus funds and legal paperwork. I want to talk about a two-word phrase that has carried me from the red clay of East Alabama to the glass offices of Silicon Valley, and finally, to the heart of why I started Heritage Surplus Solutions.
That phrase is simple: "Always Forward."
You might recognize it if you’ve seen the show Luke Cage: "Never backward, always forward. Always." Or maybe you know it from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, whose motto Sempre Avanti means exactly that. For me, it isn't just a catchy slogan for a t-shirt; it is the heartbeat of how I live my life and how I run this business.
The Roots of Resilience: Opelika and the Army
I grew up in Opelika and Auburn, Alabama. It was a place where community meant everything, but it was also a place where I saw firsthand how hard life can be when money is tight. I was raised by a single mother who was the definition of grit. She worked tirelessly to make sure I never went without, and she taught me a "no-excuses" attitude that stayed with me forever.
When I turned 18, I knew I wanted to go to college, but I didn't want to burden my family with the cost. So, I did what a lot of young people with a drive to move forward do: I joined the U.S. Army.
From 1996 to 2004, I served in the Signal Corps. That experience changed me. Whether I was stationed in Korea learning the beauty of a new culture or navigating the high-stakes environment of military communications, the lesson was always the same. You don't get to sit still when things go wrong. You find a way to complete the mission. You move forward.
From Tech Executive to "Managed Out"
After the Army, my path took me into the world of high-level tech. I spent years working with the Department of Defense and the FBI, and eventually, I landed roles at some of the biggest names in the world: Google and Netflix.
On paper, I was at the top of my game. I was a tech executive making a great living. But life has a way of throwing you a curveball when you least expect it. In 2025, while I was pregnant with my daughter, I found myself being "managed out" by a supervisor who didn't quite understand my role or the value I brought.
It was a gut punch. Here I was, a single mother by choice: having gone through the emotional and physical rollercoaster of IVF to bring my two beautiful children into the world: and my professional security was being pulled out from under me.
In that moment, I had two choices: I could stay stuck in the "why me?" of it all, or I could look at my 3-year-old son and my unborn daughter and choose to move forward.
Why Heritage Surplus Solutions Exists
I didn't start Heritage Surplus Solutions because I wanted to be a "business owner" for the title. I started it because I saw a gap in the world where people were being left behind: just like I felt I was being left behind by Big Tech.
When someone loses a home to foreclosure, it is one of the most traumatic things that can happen. It’s a loss of stability, a loss of memories, and often, a loss of hope. But what many people don't know is that there is often a "surplus" of money left over after the house is sold at auction. That money belongs to the former homeowner, not the government.
Yet, the system is so complicated that most people never claim it. They don't have the energy to fight another legal battle. They don't have the funds to hire an attorney. They are stuck looking backward at what they lost.
That’s where "Always Forward" comes in.
I built this company to be the engine that helps people move past the trauma of foreclosure. We handle the paperwork, we hire the attorneys, we navigate the red tape, and we do it all with no upfront cost to the client. Our mission is to put that money: sometimes tens of thousands of dollars: back into the hands of the people who need it most, so they can start their next chapter.
Applying "Always Forward" to Your Life
If you’re reading this because you’ve recently gone through a foreclosure, or you’re helping a family member who has, I want you to know that "Always Forward" applies to you, too.
Don't mistake slow for stuck. Moving forward doesn't always mean running. Sometimes it means just taking one small step: like learning about your rights.
Focus on what you can control. You can’t change the fact that the foreclosure happened. But you can control whether you let the government keep the money that belongs to you.
Give yourself grace. I’ve had days where I felt like I was moving backward. Being a single mom to a toddler and an infant while running a business is hard! But the goal is the direction of your life, not the perfection of your day.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I highly recommend checking out our post on managing foreclosure stress. It’s a great starting point for finding some peace of mind.
My Promise to You
At Heritage Surplus Solutions, we operate on three core values: Integrity, Expertise, and Care.
My military background taught me the importance of integrity. My tech career taught me how to handle complex data and systems. And my life as a mother has taught me how to care for people who are going through a hard time.
We aren't just an asset recovery firm. We are a bridge to your next beginning. Whether you need help claiming your funds or you just need someone to explain how the process works, we are here.
I’ve even written a book to help demystify the whole thing: The Ultimate Guide to Foreclosure Surplus Funds. It’s my way of making sure that no one is left in the dark.
Let's Move Forward Together
Life is going to throw obstacles in your way. I’ve dealt with financial hardship, the rigors of the Army, the cutthroat world of Silicon Valley, and the challenges of solo parenting. But I’m still here, and I’m still moving forward.
If you’re ready to see if there are funds waiting for you, reach out to us. We’d love to help you take that next step.
Remember: No matter what happened yesterday, today is a chance to move toward something better.
Always forward. Always.
Warmly,
Kristie Baker
Founder, Heritage Surplus Solutions
