Success Stories

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…)

Success Story: Missouri

• University of Missouri-Columbia SBTDC, Missouri SBTDC
• SBTDC Consultants: International Trade Center director Larry Dill, and International Trade Specialists Jackie Rasmussen and Pablo Arroyo
• Client: Silgan Plastic Food Containers, Union, Missouri – SBTDC client since 2014

Silgan Plastic Food Containers (PFC), a subsidiary of Silgan Holdings Inc., holds a leading share of the domestic market in shelf-stable, microwaveable plastic food packaging, used by such iconic brands as Campbell’s, Gerber, Del Monte, Nestle, Hormel Foods and Green Giant, to name a few. (more…)

Success Story: Colorado

As the Finance Director for Mountain Village in Telluride, Erin Neer saw gaps in the government accounting system that she thought she could fix. “Technology in government systems hasn’t evolved as quickly as it has in the private sector,” she deduced.

Neer believed she could provide these services best from the vantage point of an entrepreneur, so she started her own business, headquartered in Dolores, Colorado. As the previous owner of Anytime Fitness in Durango, Neer knew Joe Keck from the local SBDC. She explains, “I wanted to introduce him to my new product because I knew that he knows people in local government.”

Her product, MUNIRevs, allows businesses to log in to a secure, self-service portal to renew licenses and submit their taxes to the municipality where they conduct business. They can log in, report sales and pay taxes in minutes. Her patent-pending software will save government agencies significant time and money in processing. It also makes it easier and more convenient for small business owners.

“If businesses aren’t doing it on-line, it takes days for the municipality to collect the mail, key-in the data by hand, and know how much tax money was collected. With our system, they can calculate the tax revenue immediately and know if they have made budget for the month or the quarter.”  (more…)