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Who We Are: Jeff Seaman

Jeff Seaman, owner of The BBQ Cabin at 740 Reading Road in Mason, cooks beef, chicken and pork on two enormous wood smokers. Seaman said the business allows him to provide sustenance for his customers on both a physical and spiritual level.

Staff photo by Eric Schwartzberg Jeff Seaman, owner of The BBQ Cabin at 740 Reading Road in Mason, cooks beef, chicken and pork on two enormous wood smokers. Seaman said the business allows him to provide sustenance for his customers on both a physical and spiritual level.

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By Eric Schwartzberg, Staff Writer 2:04 AM Friday, June 26, 2009

When Jeff Seaman started The BBQ Cabin eight years ago, he had no idea it would be an opportunity to provide both physical and spiritual sustenance.

But that’s how the 49-year-old Mason resident, father of three and career engineer views what is now his full-time business at 740 Reading Road.

About three months ago, Seaman was one of 200 employees let go as part of an area company’s cost saving measures. “I started this as a Plan B in the event corporate America failed me – and that’s exactly what happened,” he said.

Seaman said he now thanks God that he lost his job because it allowed him to go full time and provided him the “epiphany” that changed his life.

“For the first time I’m relying on God to take care of me, whereas before I thought I was taking care of myself,” he said. “When you lose something that substantial ... it really forces you to ask the question ‘What’s most important to me?’ People are.”

He said biggest enjoyment he receives from The BBQ Cabin is a spiritual one: “Listening to people, uplifting them ... that’s given me much more of a purpose in terms of the reason why I’m running a business,” Seaman said. “Yes, I’d like to pay the bills ... but it’s all about the people.”

Food, especially the barbecued beef, chicken and pork he cooks inside two enormous wood smokers, is a powerful tool to connect with others, Seaman said.

“I’m taking care of a physical need — eating, hunger — but if I can just use my time to help them unload ... from a spiritual standpoint, there’s a benefit, too,” he said.

“There’s more value in that than there is in the dollar coming in my door.”

The BBQ Cabin is open is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, May through October. The business caters to weddings, parties, business and church events.

For more information, call (513) 404-6175 or visit www.bbqcabin.com.

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