Success Stories

Success Story: South Carolina

• Rock Hill Area SBDC, South Carolina SBDC network
• SBDC Consultants: Larry Stephens and Carol Daly
• Clients: Greg and Sabrina Collier, The Yolk Café – SBDC clients since 2013

“The Rock Hill Area SBDC was, and still is, one of the most essential components of the success of our restaurant.” Greg Collier, Chef and Owner, The Yolk Café, Rock Hill, SC

Impact of working with the South Carolina SBDC: General guidance and marketing. “Carol and Larry provided us with marketing tips particularly with our website and the social media we already had going. They also helped us find an accountant,” Collier said. One of the things that he found most helpful was the encouragement to take small steps and make small investments that can help their business grow over time. “Larry helped us to stay grounded, as well as motivated,” Collier recalled.

Read the whole story, and learn more about the South Carolina SBDC and The Yolk Café.

Success Story: Pennsylvania

• Bucknell University SBDC, Pennsylvania SBDC Network
• SBDC Consultant: Dennis Hummer
• Client: Gilson Boards – SBDC client since 2013

“The Bucknell SBDC has been an invaluable resource. The folks there have rallied behind our effort, welcoming us to the community and guiding us with sound advice.” – Nick Gilson, Founder/CEO

Impact of working with the Pennsylvania SBDC: Excited to get their boards on the market, the Gilson Boards team came to the Bucknell University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) where they received guidance in business planning and capital formation. Building on that relationship, Gilson Boards tapped into the center’s Engineering Development Services, where they collaborated with students and faculty from Bucknell’s College of Engineering in research and product development. (more…)

Success Story: Missouri

• Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) SBTDC, in Joplin, Missouri
• SBTDC Consultants: Lisa Robinson, Director, and Ken Surbrugg, Consultant, MSSU SBTDC
• Client: Stronghold Data, L.L.C. – SBDC client since 2006

“… it (the MSSU SBTDC and its services) helped me a lot. I had a little experience from college, before I went into computers, but Ken has been so helpful, educating me as a small business owner to understand the details of statements.” James Richards, CEO, Stronghold Data, L.L.C.

Impact of working with the Missouri Southern State University SBTDC: Stronghold Data CEO James Richards believes the firm will double its current 16 employees and dramatically increase revenue from its current ~$3 million in the next two to three years.

Read the whole story, and learn more about the Missouri SBTDC network and Stronghold Data, L.L.C.

Success Story: South Carolina

• Columbia Area SBDC
• Clients: Monica and George Kessler, owners of Il Giorgione in Columbia, SC
• SBDC clients for three years

“We are sure we saved time and money working with the SBDC. Their expertise is invaluable, yet their services are free!” Monica Kessler, Co-Owner, Il Giorgione

Impact of working with the South Carolina SBDC: Insight into a variety of small business issues.

Read the whole story, and learn more about the South Carolina SBDC and Il Giorgione.