Today we’d like to introduce you to Douglas Trovinger.
Hi Douglas, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story is a bit unique and certainly has had its ups and downs in the 7 1/2 years I have been in business. About a year before I started the business in June 2018, I had ideas of creating my own firm because of all the chaos and disorganization that was out in the business (and consumer) world. When I did some research, it was mind-boggling that trillions of dollars were being wasted for one reason or another.
Between 2017 and the time I started the business, it was certainly a mentally challenging time for me. It felt like a spiral that was never-ending because of both personal and professional challenges. I have lived in the Nashville area for just over two (2) years at that point. At the time, the only work that I could get was contract work with various companies. It was also when my mom passed away without much notice, as she had surgery just a couple of months previous. In short, after several layoffs in a roughly 14-month period, I was at the wits’ end and just needed a change. Hence, that was when Document Doctors, LLC was created…sort of.
Initially, I thought that Trovinger Solutions would be the most appropriate name for the business. However, my good friend Matt Murry, also launching his HR-focused business outside of Louisville, Kentucky, mentioned that the name wasn’t the best fit. Since I nearly completed a Doctorate of Philosophy in Instructional Technology from the University of Tennessee (ended up with a Specialist of Education or Ed.S.), Document Doctors was a better name. It was a bit catchy and sounded cool. At the time, document management (physical and digital) was the main line of business. Hence, the name made sense, and away we went.
In short, the first couple of years were very challenging. With minimal direction, and trying to navigate the landscape of owning a business and trying to grow it. While some revenue was coming in, I was doing side hustles to help make ends meet in the meantime. Then Covid hit, and the business was honestly days away from going bust. Thankfully, some funding came through via the EIDL and the PPP loans, and the business trucked on ahead.
From late 2021, though, I made some decisions on what to focus on. Since document scanning is more of a specialty service than a bellwether for the business, the shift to content creation to the fore was necessary. Initially, this started out just as training materials (e.g., PowerPoint decks, online courses, etc.), but that has not blossomed into anything related to the back office of a business. I take care of things for the front of house, so to speak, as well as management consulting. Thankfully, the lulls of 2020 were well behind, and record revenue was achieved 4 years in a row (2021 to 2024, respectively).
2025 was a challenging year in itself, not because of the political climate, but more of attempts and strategies of what to do *next* to grow the business to the next level. One thing that I haven’t mentioned is how I get clients. One of the challenges with what I do is that multiple verticals are often standalone (for example, content creation and documentation, plus document management, organization, optimization, and consulting). However, the approach that I utilize combines all together. Hence, the marketing aspect is one of the biggest challenges. Upwork is the go-to for obtaining new clients and getting business outside of traditional networking opportunities. While I have been on the platform for a long time, it wasn’t until 2021 that I really took that option seriously. From there, that has helped fuel growth where none would be otherwise.
2026 is a year that certainly has an element of surprise, but also goes back to the basics of what worked. Recently, the business won a 5-year opportunity with the University of Arizona Global Campus to assist with course refreshes, updates, and new course development. Hopefully, that will materialize into work as well as new clients that I get through the traditional channels I’ve used, as well as the new ones to come. Another one is me becoming the Chair of the Nashville: Middle Tennessee Section of the American Society of Quality (ASQ), starting this coming Monday (1/5/2026). Hence, a lot of good change is coming here soon.
I would be happy to expand further into this and other questions.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Ha! If it were a smooth road, it would certainly be void of any learning experiences. It has been a very challenging road from the get-go. For the majority of the time, the business has been in operation, it has been mostly a lonely journey where clients came and gone and thrills and chills went up and down my spine. I think some of the biggest struggles that I have had include:
– How to balance the amount of time between client acquisition, client work, and planning for hopeful outcomes to expand
– Knowing when to stop because you get on a creative or client roll and then hours fly by
– Managing multiple client challenges at the same time when you’re the quarterback, running back, tight end, etc.
– Asking for help (I’m a Virgo astrologically lol – so this is very difficult and prideful for me to do)
– And LIKELY the biggest challenge is how to transition the work that I do (which is often one-hit wonders or one-time requests into retainer services if applicable.
There’s surely more so feel free to chat about it with me if you wish.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At its core, my work is about helping organizations turn complexity into clarity and ideas into execution. I’m the founder of Document Doctors, LLC, a Nashville-based consulting and instructional design firm that specializes in building the operational backbone of growing organizations—policies, procedures, playbooks, SOPs, training programs, and management systems that actually get used, not just filed away.
Over the years, I’ve worked across various industries, including manufacturing, retail, higher education, healthcare, professional services, and government—supporting everyone from early-stage founders to Fortune 500-level organizations. What I specialize in is not just documentation or training in isolation, but connecting strategy to day-to-day execution. That means sitting with subject-matter experts, leaders, and frontline teams, extracting what lives in their heads, and turning it into clear, structured systems that scale—whether that’s onboarding programs, compliance frameworks, operational playbooks, or full enterprise training ecosystems.
What I’m most known for is my ability to step into ambiguity and create structure quickly. Many of my clients come to me when things have grown faster than their systems—when knowledge is fragmented, processes are inconsistent, or teams are struggling to execute consistently. I act as both a translator and an operator: translating complex ideas into usable guidance, and designing systems that align people, process, and performance. I’m equally comfortable facilitating leadership sessions, mapping workflows, writing detailed SOPs, or designing end-to-end learning experiences.
What I’m most proud of is the impact of the work, not just the deliverables. I’ve seen organizations reduce errors, accelerate onboarding, improve compliance, increase productivity, and unlock growth simply by having the right structure in place. In several cases, documentation and training I’ve built have supported multi-million-dollar growth, large-scale operational transformations, and long-term organizational stability. I’m especially proud of projects where teams tell me, “This finally makes sense,” or “We can actually run this without you now.”
What sets me apart is that I don’t approach this work as a writer for hire or a trainer checking boxes. I approach it like an operator. I care deeply about how systems are adopted, how decisions get made, and how work actually flows through an organization. My background spans technical writing, instructional design, process improvement, and management consulting, which allows me to see the full picture—from strategy to execution to sustainment.
I also intentionally built my firm as a white-glove, relationship-driven practice. That means clients aren’t just getting documents—they’re getting thought partnership, practical guidance, and systems designed to grow with them. Being based in Nashville has reinforced that mindset as well: this is a city full of builders, creatives, and entrepreneurs who value substance, trust, and results. That ethos strongly shapes how I work and what I deliver.
If I had to summarize it simply, what I do is help organizations build clarity where there is chaos, structure where there is growth, and confidence where there was uncertainty—and I take great pride in doing that work thoughtfully and well. Its part of the ethos that I have for the business (B.A.S.E.) – Believe in the strength of the individal; Achieve excellence; Succeed at everything we do; and Exceed by utilizing the platinum rule at all times.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My biggest piece of advice is to stop thinking about mentoring and networking as transactional and start thinking about them as long-term relationships built around shared work and mutual respect.
Some of the most valuable mentors in my life didn’t come from formal “mentor” programs. They came from working alongside people I respected—leaders, operators, consultants, and founders who were a few steps ahead of me. I learned by paying attention to how they made decisions, how they handled uncertainty, and how they treated people under pressure. In many cases, mentorship developed naturally out of collaboration, not requests.
What has worked best for me is leading with value and curiosity. When I meet someone, I’m not focused on what I can get from them—I’m focused on understanding what they’re building, what challenges they’re facing, and where I might be genuinely helpful. Over time, those conversations turn into trust, and trust turns into opportunity. I’ve found that people are far more willing to open doors, share hard-earned lessons, or offer guidance when they feel seen and respected, not pitched.
I’ve also learned that networking works best when it’s tied to real work. Conferences, local events, and introductions matter, but relationships deepen when you collaborate on a project, solve a problem together, or navigate something difficult. That’s where you see how people operate—and that’s where real mentorship tends to form.
Another important lesson is to build a diverse network, not just a prestigious one. Some of my most helpful connections have been peers at similar stages, not just senior leaders. Having people you can be honest with—who are in the trenches with you—can be just as valuable as having someone with decades more experience.
Finally, consistency matters more than volume. You don’t need hundreds of connections. You need a smaller group of people you stay in touch with, follow up with, and support over time. Networking isn’t about collecting contacts; it’s about maintaining relationships.
For me, Nashville has been a great place for this kind of relationship-building. It’s a city where people value authenticity and follow-through. If you show up prepared, do good work, and keep your word, people remember—and that’s ultimately what makes networking meaningful and effective.
Pricing:
- Special Hourly Rate for Projects at $55.00 Per Hour for NashvilleVoyager Subscribers (Must Mention Special)
- 10% Gross Referral Bonus for New Client Signups (No Limit; Some restrictions do apply)
- Special Pricing for Executive and/or Managerial Consulting Sessions
- Can discuss this to optimize based on your experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.documentdoctorsllc.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougtrovinger/
- Other: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/documentdoctorsllc?viewMode=1
