Normally, when clients contact the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center, a common reason to schedule a meeting with a consultant is to facilitate the creation of a business plan, financial projections, and the associated written assumptions to projections. In tandem with this sort of technical assistance, it is common for clients to discuss matters related to financing, with conversations often delving into alternative financing options.
Deborah Harris found herself at a crossroads when her husband, the founder of Pioneer Machine Technologies in Madison Heights, passed away suddenly in 2019. Determined to continue his legacy, Deborah stepped into the world of precision and custom machining. “I had no experience in this industry,” she admits, “Actually, I had never even stepped foot in this business.”
Miguel Atkinson, an experienced tool and die maker from Flint, knows firsthand that it’s one thing to work for someone else — and it’s another to be your own boss. He had always wanted to own his own shop, so when the shop owners he had worked for for several years decided to retire, Miguel decided to acquire the business. He realized, however, that he needed counsel to secure the capital needed to do so. Miguel reached out to the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, who referred him to the Michigan SBDC where he met Senior Business Consultant Harry Blecker.
Roy Steinberg’s golf apparel business was in full swing in Albany, Georgia, but his business needed additional cash flow to increase inventory and meet demand. With guidance from the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center, Steinberg was able to develop a strong financial plan to refinance existing loans and improve cash flow. His hard work paid off—sales for his business, Steinberg Sportswear, have tripled.
Flying Leap Vineyards is a remarkable success story of a veteran-owned small business taking flight in the Arizona wine industry. Founded in 2010 by three lifelong friends from the U.S. Air Force Academy – Mark Beres, Marc Moeller, and Tom Kitchens – the company has grown from a small-scale wine grape farming operation to a thriving winery and distillery, thanks in large part to the support of the local Small Business Development Center (SBDC).