Success Stories

Meet Alt Ethos (altethos.com | @altethos)

Alt Ethos is an experiential design studio that creates engaging environments. They transform physical spaces into memorable experiences by melding creative technology with compelling stories. Alt Ethos helps organizations amplify brand awareness, meaningfully connect with loyal customers, and differentiate their products and services in competitive markets.

SBDC: Denver Metro SBDC (denversbdc.org), Colorado
SBDC Advisory Team: Jim Olp, Wendy King, Dale Clack, Jennifer Kurtz, Dixie Malone, Dave Schohl, Jeff Sachs (more…)

America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are excited to announce that the Client Showcase Reception is back again this year! The following clients will be joining us on Capitol Hill on February 13th:

– Colorado: Alt Ethos
– Florida: Dignitas Technologies
– Iowa: Gross-Wen Technologies, Inc.
– Louisiana: Tadpole LLC
– North Carolina: KBI (Kepley BioSystems, Inc.)
– Ohio: WaterStep
– Pennsylvania: Play Impossible
– Rhode Island: S2S Surgical
– South-West Texas Border Region: Taste Elevated
– Washington: Whooshh
– Wisconsin: MobCraft Beer  (more…)

Success Story, Vermont –

Ask Brian Mooney what he does for a living and he says, with a very big smile on his face, “I make boxes of Yes!” It always stops people in their tracks and then he gets to explain what he does. “At least that’s how I like to think of it, anyway. The Storymatic is a family of card-based creative writing prompts and games. There are ten thousand stories in every box,” Mooney says.

Brian came up with the idea when he was teaching creative writing to high school and college students, and they told him the writing prompts he created for them were a whole lot of fun to use as a game to play with friends outside of class. From there the Classic Storymatic Game was born.

Now, Brian’s unstoppable, creative mind has created several more games, including Storymatic Kids, The Storymatic Colonial History Edition and Rememory. They are sold worldwide via The Storymatic website, bookstores, toy stores and museum shops. A perfect gift for a family game night, an aspiring writer, or a writer in need of some inspiration, The Daily Beast calls them “super, super fun!,” and the Chicago Tribune says the games are “perfect for just about anybody who loves a good story at a party.”  (more…)

Success Story: Idaho

College of Southern Idaho alums Ivan and Jose Casiano graduated with certifications in automotive repair. When they inquired about starting their own business, instructors directed them to the Idaho SBDC.

They attended the center’s business planning course and developed a draft business plan with a target market of the Hispanic population in the Mini-Cassia Area. One of the most valuable pieces of advice from the SDBC was to develop key relationships with the banker, accountant, and attorney.

In 2014, when financing was secured, Casiano’s Auto Repair began operations in a leased facility. In 2016, they decided to purchase the building and land as well as the adjacent lot for future development. By 2017, they had added the sale and support of tires and rims. (more…)

Success Story: San Antonio, Texas

Packaging crushed ice into 40 lb. paper bags was the earliest stage of a business that would grow to serve clients across Central and South Texas. Located in San Antonio and opened by Jesus “Jesse” Mireles III in 2001, Mireles Party Ice is the culmination of a family business that has evolved from early roots.

In 1974, with the help of his father, Jesse and his wife Melinda Mireles opened a grocery store that catered to various events, with a high volume of requests for kegs and ice. Although the store became the largest keg distributor in San Antonio, Jesse found greater value in focusing the business on ice manufacturing. Through the 1980’s, the couple purchased ice blocks from local ice companies and packaged crushed ice in paper bags. By the 1990’s, Jesse had acquired two 2,400 lb. ice makers, and in 2001 he built his first ice plant.

With plans to leave the family business to his son, Jesse Mireles IV, Jesse IV assumed the role of vice president and contacted the San Antonio Small Business Development Center for assistance. Since working on the company’s business plan, loan preparation, distribution forecasts and projections, Mireles Party Ice has seen great progress.  (more…)