In The News...
Small Business Person of the Year - Austin Merritt of Merritt Tool Company, Inc. (Kilgore SBDC)
Small Business Development Center of the Year - McLennan College SBDC - Belinda Pillow, Director
Financial Services Champion of the Year - Judy Loden of Greater East Texas Certified Development Corp. (Trinity Valley SBDC)
Minority Small Business Champion of the Year - D. Jorge Urbina of the Law Office of D. Jorge Urbina/ Sendera Title (North Central Texas SBDC)
Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year - Mumammad R. Gaziani of Hiteq Computer Systems, Inc. (Government Contracting SBDC)
Veterans Small Business Champion of the Year - Team! - Timothy C. Woods of the Center for Government Contracting SBDC (Risk Management SBDC)
Small Business Exporter of the Year - Jim Anderson of ETCetera International (International SBDC)
Small Business Person of the Year - Austin Merritt of Merritt Tool Company, Inc. (Kilgore SBDC)
Small Business Development Center of the Year - McLennan College SBDC - Belinda Pillow, Director
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Frequently Asked Questions...
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Last Updated: 6/25/2008
![SBDC Logo](images/new_ntsbdc_logo_125x266.jpg) |
The NTSBDC Network promotes small
business success by providing
management education. With 18
centers in 49 counties, we assist
small businesses in creating jobs and
economic growth by utilizing the
elements of quality counseling and
training, community involvement
and the leveraging of resources.
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![Herbert Austin](images/Herbert_Austin.jpg) | Herbert Austin Named District Director for Dallas/Fort Worth District Office |
Herbert Austin is the District Director for the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA),
Dallas/Fort Worth office, covering 72 counties of north, central, and east Texas. As director, Mr. Austin is
responsible for the management and delivery of SBA programs and services which includes oversight of SBA resources –
Small Business Development Centers and SCORE Chapters. The district office works with 314 participating lenders to
provide access to capital to the small business community. The district covers 22 percent of the land area of Texas,
contains 36.3 percent of the population, and has 649,232 small businesses.
Mr. Austin joined the SBA in 1989 as a Business Development Specialist in the Newark, New Jersey Office. In 1991,
he moved to the New York District Office as Assistant District Director for Business Development, and then in 1994, he
was the SBA facilitator at the first One Stop Capital Shop in Jamaica, New York. From 1995 until 2001, he directed the
SBA trade and trade finance programs at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New York. Later, Mr. Austin returned to the
district office as Acting Branch Manager in Melville, Long Island. In 2002, Mr. Austin was designated Acting Deputy District
Director in the New York District Office. He became the Acting District Director a few months later where he held both posts
until being named Deputy District Director in 2003. The SBA announced his appointment to the Dallas/Fort Worth office in 2008.
Before joining SBA, Mr. Austin worked in the private sector as Director of Exporting for companies in the United States and
overseas. As Export Manager for a manufacturing firm in Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Austin’s marketing skills resulted in extensive
coverage of the products to countries in South, Central America, and the Caribbean Basin. In addition to his extensive background
in International Trade, Mr. Austin speaks fluent French and Spanish. Mr. Austin holds a B.S. in Marketing from New York University
and an MBA from Pace University.
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A new business is opened by an SBDC in-depth client every |
27 minutes |
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A new job is created in the U.S. by an SBDC in-depth client every | 6½ minutes |
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$100,000 in new sales are generated by SBDC in-depth clients every | 5½ minutes |
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$100,000 in financing is obtained by SBDC in-depth clients every | 14½ minutes
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Whether you're a business owner looking for ways to expand your business, or you're just starting out, the Small Business Development Centers can help.
If you're already in business, our seasoned consultants can analyze your business situation and help you develop your tools for growth: a good business plan, financial analysis, a marketing strategy that's right on target. We can also help you identify sources of financing and develop a financing proposal. And, we offer a variety of short, practical seminars to help you stay current and strengthen your management skills.
If you think you have a good idea for a business, but aren't sure, a pre-business workshop will help you explore the possibilities and help you decide whether to embark on this new venture. These workshops provide the foundation for developing a sound business plan to guide your growth. Our counselors can help you refine your plan and access the information you need.
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HOLD THE DATE FOR THE
Computer Security
Workshop for Small Businesses
Wednesday, October 25, 2008 8:30am - 12:30pm
Bill J. Priest Campus of El Centro College, Dallas, Texas
To register, click here!
Co-Sponsored by the North Texas Small Business Development Center Network,
the U. S. Small Business Administration, FBI, North Texas InfraGard, and NIST.
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Virtual Advisor Interactive
Virtual Advisor has online training modules that can help you develop your business plan, manage your finances, and market your business.
To use Virtual Advisor Interactive click here.
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IRS Help for Small Businesses
The form of business you operate determines what taxes you must pay and how you pay them. For more information, go to www.irs.gov/businesses/index.html
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For those individuals who's work schedule does not permit them to take advantage of our counseling services Monday thru Friday, the North Texas SBDC now offers counseling on Saturdays!
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Success Story - Debbie Miliara M-Pak, Inc. |
![Debbie Miliara](images/m-pak_tn.jpg)
When Debbie Miliara decided to focus her career on the packaging industry,
almost 30 years ago, she never imagined she would have to overcome a
fierce gender-related discrimination: from unequal treatment regarding
hiring, promotions and benefits, to unequal access to credit. “In
my employment history, on most occasions I have been the only woman in
the position for which I was hired” explains Ms. Miliara in her SBA8a
Certification Application. “… my gender was disproportionately
underrepresented in my industry, negatively affecting my advancement.”
Debbie Miliara, owner of M-Pak, started this packaging company in 1999 in Dallas,
after more than 20 years working in the packaging industry. She visited the CGC
SBDC within two years of her business start-up in need of assistance for certifications,
registrations and solicitations for government contracting.
“When we first came to see you…we were 100% clueless. You patiently guided and assisted
us with the 8a and GSA application processes. We can now boast that we are an 8a firm
with a GSA contract”, says Ms. Miliara.
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Success Story - Debbie Miliara M-Pak, Inc. |
![Debbie Miliara](images/m-pak_tn.jpg)
When Debbie Miliara decided to focus her career on the packaging industry,
almost 30 years ago, she never imagined she would have to overcome a
fierce gender-related discrimination: from unequal treatment regarding
hiring, promotions and benefits, to unequal access to credit. “In
my employment history, on most occasions I have been the only woman in
the position for which I was hired” explains Ms. Miliara in her SBA8a
Certification Application. “… my gender was disproportionately
underrepresented in my industry, negatively affecting my advancement.”
Debbie Miliara, owner of M-Pak, started this packaging company in 1999 in Dallas,
after more than 20 years working in the packaging industry. She visited the CGC
SBDC within two years of her business start-up in need of assistance for certifications,
registrations and solicitations for government contracting.
“When we first came to see you…we were 100% clueless. You patiently guided and assisted
us with the 8a and GSA application processes. We can now boast that we are an 8a firm
with a GSA contract”, says Ms. Miliara.
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Success Story - Eric Helland Ravelin Bakery |
![Eric Helland](images/ravelin_bakery_tn.jpg)
People talked about it in the dentist’s office. Comments were made about
it in church. It was the major discussion item at the local barbershop.
What incredible hot item had everyone’s attention? A new bakery in town
that had wonderful breads and muffins, but didn’t serve doughnuts!
The new ‘rave’ in Denton, Texas was Ravelin Bakery, owned and operated
by Eric and Pamela Helland. The bakery’s offerings include fine
European-style baked goods, including exotic chocolates, delectable pies,
stylish cakes, aromatic breads, and unique muffins, tarts and other baked
goods -- but no doughnuts!
Eric Helland began his career as a chef 20 years ago in the hotel industry.
After receiving formal training and working as a chef for about a year he
sought additional training with European trained pastry chefs. So, a strong
European influence molds Helland’s business and product today. He has been
the pastry chef for the Four Seasons and has participated in competitions in
Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, and even Ireland.
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Success Story - Karl and Susan Berry Bedz & Furniture, Inc. |
![Karl and Susan Berry](images/bedz_tn.jpg)
Karl Berry had experienced several career changes that included working
for several firms and suffering through the down sizing occurrences that
characterized big business activity in the recent past. Accordingly, he
began to believe that he would like to become an entrepreneur and start
his own business. A friend of his acquainted him with the business of
selling mattresses directly to retail businesses for sale to the public.
Karl began to order and store mattresses in his garage and sell them to
retail stores in the metroplex area.
Karl had experienced several career changes that included working for
several firms and suffering through the down sizing occurrences that
characterized big business activity in the recent past. Accordingly, he
began to believe that he would like to become an entrepreneur and start
his own business. A friend of his acquainted him with the business
of selling mattresses directly to retail businesses for sale to the public.
Karl began to order and store mattresses in his garage and sell them to
retail stores in the metroplex area.
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Success Story - Dean LaBay LaBay Office Products, LLC. |
![Dean LaBay & Sally Austin](images/labay_office_prod_tn.jpg)
Living life under the thumb of corporate owners who constantly changed
the commission structure for their best outside sales representative
was more than Dean LaBay could stand. He had proven himself as the local
office supply company’s number one sales representative, but no matter
how well he did, the money never matched his efforts. When a large sale
was made, the commissions were lowered and he felt cheated from his
rightful share. Ever since graduating from high school, Dean dreamed
of one day owning his own company and being free to act as his own boss
and make the money he deserved. David LaBay, Dean’s brother, owned a
successful painting contracting and real estate business. He also had
extra space in his office facility in Longview, Texas. Dean began his
company in 1994 in that small space selling office supplies to customers
he had serviced when he worked as a sales representative for his former employer.
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Success Story - Connie Hagen Drug & Alcohol Testing of East Texas, Inc. |
![Connie Hagen](images/da_testing_tn.jpg)
While preparing to enter the real estate business, a friend from
Houston, Texas called Connie and asked her if she would be willing to
open a drug testing facility in Longview for the Forward Edge Company.
Although she had little knowledge of the business, she felt this would
be a great opportunity, since there was little competition here. She
began educating herself on drug testing processes and all the regulations
involved, and finding a location for the new office. She flew to
Washington, at her own expense, and attended a Drug Testing Conference.
She became the first Charter Member of the first association for third
party program administrators. As a part time activity, Ms Hagen became the Marketing Director for National
Drug Testing Newspaper and began to get national attention, which eventually
led to a spot on ABC’s Connie Chung Show. The program was about falsifying
drug tests using dried urine. The program caused a major stir in the Texas Capital.
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Success Story - Virginia Belmore Aicha Green Planet |
![Virginia Belmore Aicha](images/green_planet_tn.jpg)
Virginia Belmore Aicha is the Founder and President of Green Planet, Inc.,
located in Royse City, Texas. The business was founded in March 1997 to
deal with the removal and transport of hazardous waste.
Green Planet is an environmental services broker. Their services are now
the following: 1) waste management, 2) environmental services, and 3) supply sales
(solvents and specialty chemicals and supplies, and equipment).
The company has removed and transported tainted soil and water for such Companies
as HBC Engineering. It has also worked with Wal-Mart, the Austin School District,
Dallas County Community College District, Verizon Wireless, the Dallas Police
Department Property Evidence Room and J.C. Penney. In working with the U.S. Postal
Service, it has tested for lead in water and asbestos in brakes.
Before starting their business, Virginia and her husband Hassan had a combined administrative,
marketing, customer service, and hazardous waste management experience of more than ten years.
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Success Story - Lois Elaine Bottone Lazy B Fencing |
![Lois Elaine Bottone](images/lazy_b_tn.jpg)
Elaine Bottone started her home-based company in 1994; Lazy B Fencing
offers Residential, Commercial and Ranch Fencing from its location in
Quinlan, Texas. A United States Navy veteran, Ms. Bottone has master’s
degree in education and 21 years of experience as a high school teacher.
She had previously started and operated a riding stable/tack shop. She
also was the organizer and founder of an annual horseman’s fair.
Ms. Bottone started the business in a primarily male dominated industry
and experienced numerous related challenges in acquiring a toe-hold in
the fencing industry.
She has received ongoing assistance from the Paris SBDC, including becoming
certified with the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (NCTRA)
and HUB certified as a woman-owned business. Ms. Bottone has now expanded
into government prime and subcontracting for the state, cities and schools systems.
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Success Story - Tom Hauke McDowell Research Corporation |
![Tom Hauke](images/mcdowell_research_tn.jpg)
Mr. Hauke first approached the McLennan SBDC in 1992 during the start-up
phase of his business venture. The SBDC assisted him in researching SBIR
grant opportunities for developing his product. After a frustrating
“near-miss” at obtaining SBIR funding for his prototype, Mr. Hauke
“boot strapped” his company into existence in late 1992. During 1996 the
SBDC assisted Mr. Hauke with obtaining a government contract for his power
supply product. As a former employee of Electro Systems, Inc. Mr. Hauke
knew the defense industry. He focused on developing his power supply
products to meet the unique needs of military, Special Forces and security
forces. He was intense about quality and service to his customers. The
quality of his product is evidenced by its use to power the famous “football”
carried by security staff for the President of the United States. As the demand
for his products grows, McDowell Research Corp., Mr. Hauke’s company, continues
to manage the growth with the help of the SBDC.
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Success Story - Donna Hood ARA Recovery Service |
![Donna Hood](images/ara_recovery_tn.jpg)
Donna and Randy Hood were working for a company that repossesses vehicles from
owners that have fallen behind on their payments in Dallas since October 2003.
The company had been in business for twenty-five years, and it was soon apparent
that business was “falling off”. The business was out there, but the company
was unable to obtain their market share.
They had a good relationship with the owner, but customer service and housekeeping
standards had begun to slip, and the business was doing poorly.
After much soul searching Randy asked the owner if he would consider letting his
wife come into the office to see if she could identify problems leading to the
erosion of the business. The owner had indicated that he was considering selling
the business and retiring. Donna approached the Dallas SBDC and inquired about purchasing
the business. It seemed initially that Donna and Randy would have to borrow money to buy
the ailing business and then rebuild it. A better solution was found, with the loan
being funded by the outgoing owner over a ten-year period.
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Success Story - Walter Johnson BTP Manufacturing |
![Walter Johnson](images/btp_tn.jpg)
After 9/11 BTP Manufacturing, builder of electronic assemblies like circuit boards
and cable harnesses, suffered as many others in this and other industry sectors.
Most of the clients of this small business dropped their contracts, and BTP started
to become late paying its dues. Walter Johnson, its owner, was not willing to give up
and bankruptcy was not in his plans. Today, BTP has increased sales from $64,000 to
$370,000 and has added 4 more employees to his staff of 3.
Walter Johnson started BTP Manufacturing in June 1995, after 30 years working on management,
engineering and manufacturing for large corporations. Right after, the business recorded
rapid and consistent growth, and was one of the leaders in the area with Raytheon as one of
its main customers. It was during this start up phase when Johnson first contacted the Dallas
Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a program partially funded by the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) that provides management and technical assistance, free one-on-one business
counseling, and training to current and prospective small business owners.
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Success Story - Lucia Fredenburgh Design Associates International, Inc. |
![Lucia Fredenburgh](images/design_associates_tn.jpg)
Lucia had always enjoyed working with blueprints and designs in varied circumstances.
After obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Science, she started an architectural
and interior design firm.
She diversified the company and in 2003 opened DAI (Design Associates International, Inc.)
Industrial Division. The company offers high quality industrial supplies, including power and
hand tools, safety supplies, paint, steel, cutting tools and automotive equipment.
The company has received numerous recognitions, among them the Quality and Excellence Award,
and the Minority Business Development Administration’s 2000 Regional Director’s Award for
Outstanding Commitment to Excellence. The client came to the Government Contracting SBDC
wanting to expand their business to include federal and state governments. The client
attended Government Contracting Orientation and General Services Administration (GSA)
Workshops. They were shown how to access procurement information, PRONET registration,
and the bid-matching service, and were provided various opportunities for contracting
with governmental organizations.
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Success Story - Dean Spence & Don Hutcherson Enhanced Powder Coating |
![Dean Spence, Don Hutcherson, & Cathy Keeler](images/enhanced_power_coating_tn.jpg)
In November of 2002, entrepreneurs Don Hutcherson and Dean Spence, who is a Vietnam-Era Veteran,
approached the Small Business Development Center seeking assistance in opening a powder coating
business in Gainesville, Texas. SBDC Director Cathy Keeler assisted the partners by providing
feasibility study information, marketing plan details, acquiring a Manufacturing Sales Tax Exemption,
and assistance with the creation of a formal business plan for a start-up business loan. In the
initial phases special expertise was also sought via both the NTSBDC Technology Assistance and the
Risk Management specialty SBDCs of Dallas, which provided additional research, industry classifications
and assistance on critical environmental issues. In March of 2003, Enhanced Powder Coating, LLC,
officially opened its doors with three employees and a conventional bank loan of $85,000.
Their first year’s receipts totaled $43,000 with sales more than tripling annually since that
time. This year’s sales have reached the $1.1 million dollar mark in only seven months.
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Success Story - Ron West Freedom Charters & Tours |
![Freedom Charters & Tours Employees](images/freedom_charters_tn.jpg)
On the Road Again could be the theme song written just for Ron West, owner of Freedom Charters
& Tours. This customer-friendly business located in North Central Texas, is one of the Lake
Texoma area’s premier transportation and leisure providers with chartered trips to events for
civic groups, schools, churches, etc.
A few years ago West inadvertently discovered his dream job while driving part-time for a charter
bus company. He found that he could actually make money while traveling around the country,
meeting people, and creating opportunities for his ‘new friends’ to capture precious memories
as they visited fun and adventurous places together. West had always believed the only way
to get ahead financially was to become a business owner, so with this idea and strategy in
mind, he and his parents, Leslie and Evelyn West, began putting into motion the operation
of their own charter and tour service company.
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Success Story - Dora Arizmendez & Mary Lou DeAnda, Las Girls, LLC |
![Dora Arizmendez & Mary Lou DeAnda](images/las_girls_tn.jpg)
Dora Arizmendez and Mary Lou DeAnda have been friends since childhood; they shared dreams since
then and one was to have a project together. However, life took them to different careers: Dora
to the home improvement retail business, and Mary Lou to the professional accounting business.
It wasn't until Mary Lou took the opportunity to walk away from her position with a local utility
company when their dream started to materialize taking the form of a new business.
After extensive research, Dora and Mary Lou found Curves, the largest fitness franchise in the
world with over 8,000 locations worldwide. As plus size women they both could relate to the customer
base for Curves, and found an attractive market for a fitness and weight loss facility dedicated to
provide affordable, one-stop exercise and nutritional information for women. They found the SBA
website very resourceful, but still had a lot of questions concerning the starting process. Mary
Lou had already been in contact with the Best Southwest SBDC when she took a QuickBooks class,
so she return there for business startup, marketing, business planning, management and financial
counseling, and for encouragement. "SBDC was extremely helpful to Las Girls. They answer all of
our questions no matter how many times we asked the same question. No question was too small or
too insignificant", said Mary Lou.
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Success Story - Lanny & Nancy Holmes Liberty TV & Appliances |
![Liberty TV & Appliances Staff](images/liberty_tn.jpg)
Lanny had worked 25 years in the retail sector, including 19 as store manager. Nancy knew banking first
hand and medical office transcription. However, in 2004, the Holmes decided to give a turn to their careers,
face Lanny's layoff and start a new business. The result of that decision is Liberty T.V. and Appliances,
a furniture, appliance and electronics retail business in Paris, Texas, with sales of $76,000 and 5,500 sq. ft.
showroom and office.
These Texan entrepreneurs attribute an important part of their success to the services provided by the Paris
Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a program partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA) that provides management and technical assistance, free one-on-one business counseling, and training to
current and prospective small business owners. "Actually, we had no idea what steps were necessary or how to
start. Our counselor, Rudy Slusher, carried us through the whole process", said Lanny. The Holmes, already
with the idea of starting Liberty, attended Basics for Starting a Small Business class in March 2004.
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Success Story - Evelyn West Myrtle's Sweet Shop |
![Evelyn West](images/myrtles_tn.jpg)
Evelyn West, an elementary school teacher for many years, decided to take over Myrtle's Sweet Shop,
a wholesale candy distributor located in Marshall, Texas that her parents had owned for several
years. She had the advantage of positive name recognition, but her plan was to transform the
business from wholesale to retail with a full-scale bakery and catering service. Financial
resources would be a challenge for West but following her mother's example would also help
her overcome it.
Alvin and Myrtle Davis decided to close their candy factory in May 2004, after years of owning
it. Evelyn, their daughter, saw the opportunity and felt that, with proper guidance, she could
make the business succeed. She felt comfortable due to the experience she has gained working
with Myrtle. From her she learned that to have a successful product only the best ingredients
should be used, and that their combination with recipes used was a strong point of the final
product. Myrtle had attended several courses on business development offered by the Kilgore
Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a program partially funded by the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) that provides management and technical assistance, free one-on-one
business counseling, and training to current and prospective small business owners.
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Success Story - Dr. Joel Bennett Organizational Wellness Learning System |
![OWLS Staff](images/owls_tn.jpg)
In 2000, after fifteen years working as professor and research scientist, Dr. Joel Bennett decided
to focus his expertise in organizational and health psychology in order to start his own business;
Organizational Wellness Learning Systems (OWLS) was formed as a sole proprietorship. His idea was
to offer a variety of services in workplace wellness (stress management), and include research,
training and development, and organizational consulting.
Joel needed capital to fund his research and development activities, and discovered the Small Business
Innovation Research Program (SBIR). He learned that the SBIR encourages small business to explore their
technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from developing products for commercialization.
Joel thought this would be an interesting alternative to explore. However, the process proved to be
complex at the beginning. He was rejected on his first attempt to get an SBIR fast-track contract.
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Success Story - Chris Hill Personally Fit By Chris Hill, Inc. |
![Chris Hill](images/personally_fit_tn.jpg)
Personally Fit By Chris Hill, Inc. is a semi-private fitness facility dedicated to one-on-one and small
group personal training in Longview, Texas. The 3500 square foot facility holds only top-of-the-line
Body Masters weight training equipment and Pecor cardiovascular equipment.
Chris and his staff make each and every training session tailored to not only push their clients to
limits that they would never achieve alone, but also to be educational in areas like nutrition.
Chris Hill majored in Biology and Kinesiology at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches. With his degree,
he was able to start directly into physical therapy, earning his Personal Trainer Certificate and
Specialist in Performance Nutrition Certificate.
Hill knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life because he enjoyed helping people.
Making the decision to go into business was a little more unsettling. The research involved
would require a lot of time but since he could not envision working for someone else, he was
willing to invest the effort.
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Success Story - Michael Pish Pish Saddlery |
![Pish Saddlery Staff](images/pish_tn.jpg)
When Michael Pish lost his job last year, he decided to use his experience in saddles manufacturing
and selling in his favor. In October 2004 he opened Pish Saddlery in Greenville, TX, a western saddles
wholesale business. After less than a year in operations, the company has recorded sales for about
$55,000 and is already "bankable" for financial institutions. But, what is making Pish Saddlery this
successful?
According to some authors, lack of experience is the number one reason start up businesses fail.
Insufficient capital and low sales are also determinants of success. In this case, Pish found a niche;
he knew the product and its market as being the 3rd generation in the saddle business; he also had worked
11 years as production manager for three of the larger manufacturers in the industry. So experience was
not a problem for him. Pish Saddlery's challenge, however, was money. Pish needed working capital
to obtain better purchase power and to market the product. With this limitation, in January 2005
he visited the Paris Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a program partially funded by the
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that provides management and technical assistance, free
one-on-one business counseling, and training to current and prospective small business owners.
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Success Story - Dave and Tabetha Snow Pizza Place & Video Depot |
![Tabetha Snow](images/pizza_place_tn.jpg)
Lots of couples get together with pizza and a movie. For Dave and Tabetha Snow, pizza and movies have
always been at the center of their relationship. He has spent his career working at pizza restaurants,
and she has spent hers working for movie theaters. When they moved to the small town of Whitewright, Texas,
they decided to combine their expertise to start two complementary businesses, The Pizza Place that
opened on September 2003 and The Video Depot on December 2003.
Before opening, Tabetha visited the Grayson SBDC, where Director Karen Stidham helped her review all of
the legal requirements for starting the businesses, as well as cash flow planning and setting up and
maintaining financial records. "The information about selecting the organizational structure and legal
requirements for starting the business was very helpful," Tabetha said.
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Success Story - Jon Cameron Pop! Technologies |
![Jon Cameron](images/pop_tn.jpg)
A method that can be used to determine the temperature of a product at the time of sale or
any variation of temperature permitted during shipment and storage? This is what Jon Cameron
developed and patented after 15 years working in the consumer packaged goods and retail
industries. He had found a niche when he identified some critical inventory control issues
facing the industry. The result of his initiative was Pop! Technologies, a partnership
based in Dallas, TX.
Cameron had an interesting product, a patent, but also a common barrier for many inventors,
lack of funds to manufacture and launch it to the market. "Starting a small business is fraught
with advice. Some of it is professional, some friendly; and, all unlikely to be tailored to your
needs. Finding stable, unbiased counsel is a frustrating pursuit. It doesn't have to be", said
Cameron. Looking for someone who could understand the implications of a patent and technology,
and the financial needs related to them, he went to the Technology Assistance Small Business
Development Center (SBDC). This specialty center of the North Texas SBDC network is a program
partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that provides management and
technical assistance, free one-on-one business counseling, and training on technology transfer,
product development, patenting and licensing, among other areas.
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Success Story - Jim Bovard Sport Seats International, Ltd. |
![Sport Seats Staff](images/sport_seats_tn.jpg)
Jim Bovard worked for 16 years at the Whirlpool Corporation, in various sales, marketing and product
development positions. Jim left his career at Whirlpool in early 2001 because he wanted to become
an entrepreneur and run his own company. In 2002, he purchased Sport Seats Ltd., a consumer products
company that sells a portable chair called a “Sport Seat”. Folded, Sport Seat is a walking stick for
hiking hills, watching or playing golf, walking the local shopping mall, or making walking possible if
your legs are tired or injured.
Bovard chose Sport Seats, because of its similarities to the Whirlpool Corporation – a manufacturing
based company of durable consumer products consisting of metal & plastic. Jim was already familiar
with similar distribution channels, consumer segments, and production processes. In addition, he
really liked the product, which was also patent protected.
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Success Story - Carlos Nuñez Target Productions |
![Carlos Nuñez](images/target_tn.jpg)
Carlos Nuñez opened Target Productions in September 2003. He wanted to turn his passion for adverting and
video production, and his experience as businessman in Mexico into a profitable business in the U.S. "The
business world was always my main interest", said Nuñez. "I knew since the beginning that I wanted to be
my own boss and run my own business". Today, Target Productions has managed to increase its monthly sales
to $35,000 and to employ 4 more people.
However, this didn't happen overnight. To start the business, Nuñez had to overcome the challenges of living
in a different country _he was born in Mexico and is now a US citizen. He said "I came to the United States
with the promise of a new better job and life from a man who only succeeded in failing me…the money I had
saved up and earned from my former business was what I lived off for a year. I knew I needed to start over".
And he did but, as it occurs to many entrepreneurs, a weak business planning and a not strategically focused
marketing plan were preventing him from taking advantage of the Hispanic market attractiveness in the U.S.
"All his planning had been developed to attend the Mexican market in Mexico, and not in the U.S. A
reinvention of the organization was in order" later said the Dallas Small Business Development Center
Counselor who helped Nuñez improve Target Productions.
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Success Story - Deborah Thrasher Tree Top Bird Center |
![Deborah Thrasher](images/tree_top_tn.jpg)
Tree Top Bird Center, located in Dallas, opened its doors in May 2004 selling
exotic and wild birds, bird toys, cages, food and wild bird supplies, and
providing boarding and grooming. Its owner, Deborah Thrasher, had been manager
for a retail bird store in Addison following her life long passion for birds.
Today, less than a year after starting up, Tree Top has recorded sales of $250,000
and has been able to employ 8 people, surpassing Deborah's initial projections.
However, as it is the case of many entrepreneurs, starting wasn't easy: navigating
into a sea of paperwork and regulations, finding the right location, making the most
out of the initial investment and finding the time to deal with all that were challenges
that Deborah faced. Following a friend's recommendation, she looked for business advice
with the Collin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and found an effective resource
for her start-up needs. "Starting a business is about more than a great idea-it's about
tangible steps that turn dreams into reality. The SBA and Mark Langford provided me and
Tree Top Bird Center the guidance with our business plan and contacts in the business
community that crystallized mere paper into profitable action", said Deborah.
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Success Story - Steve and Sandi Carroll VIP Technologies |
![Steve and Sandi Carroll](images/vip_tn.jpg)
Acquiring an existing business is much of having a good eye and enough resources,
but acquiring an existing business with financial problems also requires contrasting
these to evaluate the viability of the company.
Steve Carroll worked for N-Comm when the owner of the company approached him; he had
the intention of selling the Longview division. Steve and Sandi, his wife, faced both
an opportunity and a challenge. On one hand Sandi was already working on a business plan
for a new venture; on the other, the N-Comm's division had been operating at a loss.
The Carrolls knew that they had enough experience in the telecommunications sector to manage
the operation of the company; however, if they were to consider the proposal, they were going
to need assistance to make the purchase decision due to the financial situation of the company.
Sandi had already been working with the Kilgore Small Business Development Center (SBDC), so
they returned there for counseling and training.
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Success Story - Carolyn Russo Waggin' Tails Dog Boarding |
![Carolyn Russo](images/waggin_tails_tn.jpg)
Carolyn Russo, an IT professional that had worked for Nortel Communications,
found on her love for animals a business opportunity: a boarding and daycare
facility for dogs. Through perseverance she achieved success: four months after
its opening, Waggin' Tails, her business, grew to be five employees with a revenue
stream that was twice the value estimated in her original cash flow projection.
Like most entrepreneurs, Russo initially had challenges that months of planning and
the right advice helped her face; location and financing were some of them. Frustrated
by initial attempts to find a place that would accommodate her planned facility, she
persevered _as she has done it throughout her business career. She located a proper
facility in Plano, Texas, that in addition to supporting her internal space needs for
boarding, also offered space for an outside dog play area. The Collin Small Business Development Center
(SBDC) supported Russo throughout the start-up process, by counseling and training her on business
startup, business planning, marketing strategies and financial analysis. After eight months of
preparation and with a $50,000 SBA loan from Banco Popular, Waggin' Tails dog boarding and daycare
center opened in August 2003.
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Success Story - Sharon and John Harvey Wanda Fannin Distinctive Ladies Apparel |
![Sharon Harvey](images/wanda_fannin_tn.jpg)
After twenty years, business owner Wanda Fannin had decided to retire and
sell the business. Sharon Harvey had been employed by Mrs.Fannin for a year
before she and husband John Harvey decided to purchase Wanda Fannin Distinctive
ladies Apparel. The store sells a wide range of upscale ladies apparel and
related accessories. The business had a good reputation within the community
in addition to having a steady customer base.
In May 2004, ready to purchase the store, Sharon and John approached Central National
Bank for a $200,000.00 dollar loan. The bank referred them to the McLennan SBDC
about SBA loan participation. The center guided the Harvey’s through the loan
process, with extensive counseling in the areas of business planning and management
assistance. Persistence by the SBA Fort Worth District Office also helped to ensure
the success of the loan.
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