Success Stories

Success Story: Missouri

• Missouri State University (MSU) – West Plains SBTDC
• SBDC Counselors: Bronwen Madden and Darrell Hampsten
• Client: Restoring Hope, LLC – SBTDC client since 2012

The SBTDC’s assistance “was vitally important to our success… I felt like Darrell was always 100 percent on our side, always excited about what we were doing.” – Charles (“Chuck”) Swift, co-owner and founder of Restoring Hope, LLC.

Impact of working with the SBTDC: Restoring Hope, LLC, a business that places people with developmental disabilities in caring homes, has grown to about 70 well-paid employees in one of the country’s very poorest Congressional districts. Revenues have also grown steadily, from $70,000 in 2008 to more than $1.5 million in 2012, and nearly $3 million today.

Read the whole story, and learn more about the Missouri SBTDC and Restoring Hope.

Success Story: Florida

• Florida SBDC Fort Lauderdale
• SBDC Counselor: Anil Chang, FSBDC International Trade Specialist
• Client: Surface Logix, SBDC client since 2012

“Anil and Parbatee were a great help to me and our business with our new export plan. I participated in the seven-week course to set up our program properly. I would highly recommend this program to businesses interested in export exposure.” – John Daly, Owner, Surface Logix

Impact of working with the SBDC: As part of the FSBDC Fort Lauderdale’s Export Marketing Plan recommendations, Daly participated an export trade mission to the Dominican Republic, using the Gold Key Service provided by the U.S. Commercial Service and scholarship funding provided by Enterprise Florida. (more…)

Success Story: New Mexico

• San Juan College SBDC, New Mexico
• SBDC Counselor: Carmen Martinez
• Client: Great Harvest Bread Company of Farmington, NM – SBDC client since 2011

“They believed in me which made me believe I could do it.” – Kim Bell, Owner

Impact of working with the SBDC: The entrepreneurs were granted an SBA guaranteed loan which enabled them to begin their 16-employees business.  Additionally, out of the 200+ Great Harvest stores, the Bells have won: Phenomenal Bread – New Store (2011), Top Sales – Young Store (2012), and Top 10 Sales Growth (2013), in addition to awards for customer service.

Read the whole story, and learn more about the New Mexico SBDC and the Great Harvest Bread Company of Farmington, NM.

Success Story: Florida

• Florida SBDC at Palm Beach State College, Boca Raton
• SBDC Counselor: Sharon Geltner
• Client: Estella Pyfrom, CEO/Founder of Estella’s Brilliant Bus – SBDC client since 2011

“SBDC is super beneficial for all small businesses to commit to as an advisory group, for organization, direction and leadership.”  – Estella Pyfrom, CEO/Founder, Estella’s Brilliant Bus

Impact of Working with SBDC: Microsoft paid $9 million for a 60-second Super Bowl ad, seen by 104 million viewers in February. The commercial showcased Estella Pyfrom and her invention, the Brilliant Bus, built to bridge the digital divide in low income neighborhoods. (more…)

Success Story: Missouri

Missouri, University of Central Missouri SBTDC
Darrell Brammer, SBTDC Counselor and Center Director
Shatto Milk Company, SBTDC client since 2013

“Darrell [our SBTDC counselor] is a real go-getter. He does everything he can to help us.” — Leroy Shatto, owner of Shatto Milk Co.

Impact of working with SBTDC: Increased sales of nearly $1 million; also helped secure a $250,000 USDA Rural Development grant for a manure digester. (Four hundred cows produce more than just milk.) Shatto wins prizes for its very high quality milk products nearly annually , including 1st at the World Dairy Exposition for root beer-flavored milk.

Read the whole story, and learn more about the Missouri SBTDC and the Shatto Milk Company.