Success Stories

Success Story: Vermont

Steven Davis of Vermont High Performance Manufactured Housing in Wilder is no stranger to the construction business. He has been building homes for more than 30 years, most recently providing affordable net-zero green home construction services to Vermont homeowners and beyond.

But when he recently decided to purchase a permanent home for his own business, he knew it was time to seek some assistance. Davis was seeking funds to purchase a building to house his home manufacturing business. Once he found a location, seeking funds to purchase that location proved challenging, he said.

Davis quickly sought assistance from the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC). GMEDC recommended Davis contact Vermont Small Business Development Center Area Advisor Ross Hart, who shepherded him through the sometimes tedious process of a business property purchase. “Working with Ross [Hart] was great because he was not intimidating,” Davis said. “He helped me understand where I was in my business and what was needed to move forward,” he said.  (more…)

Success Story: Montana

Chad Green was inspired by the care his grandmother received when she was in an assisted living facility, and he wanted to start his own. Green went to the Billings, Montana Regional SBDC for help. This is the second in a series of videos by the Montana SBDCs, showcasing businesses that worked with their local SBDCs to jumpstart business success!

Logging and forestry work is a quintessential Vermont industry, but today’s loggers face challenges that those of yesteryear probably never imagined. The days of low-cost tools like hatchets and hand saws that required manpower instead of costly equipment are largely behind us. Today’s loggers need heavy equipment to be relevant in a highly competitive lumber market.

Few know that better than Everett Thurston, owner of Thurston Forestry in Clarendon, Vermont, which began operations last fall. The company utilizes a rubber tired cut-to-length logging machine that is highly efficient in processing timber from the woods.

“I have always wanted my own business and enjoy the logging industry and being around heavy equipment,” Thurston said. But as one might expect, obtaining an expensive piece of equipment of this size can be a challenge. (more…)

The Montana SBDCs have created a series of videos showcasing businesses that worked with their local SBDCs to achieve success. This is the first video in the series. See how the Montana SBDCs jumpstart business success!

Success Story: Louisiana

A lot of people have good ideas, but most aren’t able to cash in on them. That’s not the case for Ieshea Jones, owner of Direnzic Technology & Consulting, LLC, in Monroe, Louisiana.

Jones was able to create the first and only cyber security solutions and digital forensic company to provide dedicated, hands-on personalized services to both government and non-government agencies in Northeast Louisiana, with the help of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) at University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Since 2011, Jones has been coming to the LSBDC for initial start-up assistance, and now that her company is running, she has been able to bring attention to a growing need in the market.

“The LSBDC was instrumental in helping me plan and make game changing decisions,” Jones said, who is a Certified Project Manager Professional (PMP) and Silicone Bayou Top 100.  (more…)