Success Stories

BioDerm

• Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida (FSBDC at USF)
• SBDC Counselor: Selma Canas, Certified International Trade Specialist
• Client: BioDerm, SBDC client since 2010

“When we got our first export plan, we were absolutely thrilled with it. The data in it was incredible. The report was so detailed and had so much information and research. It took our product and lined it up with all of the other countries. We were very impressed with it.” – Wendy LaTorre, Chief Strategy Officer, BioDerm

Impact of working with the SBDC: With the research and data in the customized Export Marketing Plan that BioDerm received from the Florida SBDC at USF, in addition to expanding their efforts in Britain and the Netherlands, BioDerm chose to pursue Canada, Germany and Japan. (more…)

Advisor Helps Business Continue as a Community Cornerstone

Washington State, Economic Alliance for Okanogan County SBDC
Lew Blakeney, SBDC Advisor
NAPA Auto Parts Store, Twisp, WA, SBDC client since 2005

“He answered all of our questions and a lot more. It was really nice to have someone to walk us through it.” — Dwain Hutson, owner of NAPA Auto Parts, Twisp, WA

Impact of Working with the SBDC: Dwain Hutson, a NAPA store employee for nearly 30 years, was able to purchase the business with his wife in 2008 after working on financials with their SBDC advisor for several years. The Hutsons continued to work with their SBDC advisor and were able to purchase the building in January, 2015. (more…)

Knik Tire & Auto

– SBDC: Alaska, Mat-Su Valley SBDC
– SBDC Counselor: Julie Nolen
– Client: Knik Tire & Auto, SBDC client since 2014

“Working with the SBDC in Wasilla has been an enjoyable and invaluable learning experience. Julie Nolen has been a tremendous support and assisted us with so many things that we were very unfamiliar with as new business owners (how to advertise, how to register the business, how to obtain business license, how to work with QuickBooks, and the list goes on!). (more…)

Blind Chef Restaurant Startup

Illinois SBDC at NORBIC
SBDC Advisor – Andrew Fogaty
SBDC Client – Chef Laura Martinez, La Diosa Restaurant

Chef Laura Martinez was born in Mexico and has been completely blind since infancy. She learned to love cooking in her grandmother’s kitchen and years later, through hard work and determination, became the first blind student at Chicago’s prestigious Le Cordon Bleu.

Shortly after graduation, while serving an internship at an area non-profit, local celebrity Chef Charlie Trotter tasted her cooking and immediately offered her a job in his restaurant.

Chef Martinez thrived in the position until August of 2012, when Trotter closed the restaurant and she found herself unemployed.  (more…)

SBDC Client Wins State Business Plan Competition

Alaska, Juneau SBDC
Ian Grant, Counselor
Coppa, SBDC client since 2013

“The business planning tools and Ian’s real-world experience were both hugely beneficial to our business planning efforts” – Marc Wheeler, owner of Coppa

Impact of working with an SBDC: Coppa worked with the AKSBDC on the business plan and financials which won first place in the state’s largest business plan competition. Additionally, Wheeler continues to work with Grant who has years of experience running a similar food business in Juneau.

Read the whole story, and learn more about the Alaska SBDC and Coppa.