Success Stories

By Dan O’Brien

Police Officer Invents ‘Bolo Stick’ to Protect Schools

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The device is remarkably simple: a steel bracket and anchor pin that affixes to the base of a door, preventing an intruder from opening or forcing that door open.

What’s even more remarkable is that no one else has thought of it until now.

“I’ve been a police officer for 28 years, I’m an instructor at the police academy,” says William Barna, inventor and owner of the Bolo Stick, a security tool that he is marketing to local schools and hopes to sell across the country. The name of the product is derived from a common police term, “Bolo,” short for “be on the lookout.”  (more…)

Energy Recruiting Services provides job placement services in the oil and energy industries in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Colorado and Texas. Energy companies can expand into new areas quickly, leaving them little time for finding quality job candidates. Energy Recruiting Services simplifies the process with quality pre-candidate screenings and placement. “We have an exceptional reputation to help fill the need for qualified employees,” co-owner Melissa McElfish said. “A lot of our new companies are referrals from companies that are happy with our services.”

Their success made sense, given the experience of Melissa and her husband, co-owner Tom McElfish. Melissa previously worked in management and client relations, while Tom spent years in construction management, including oil pad construction in North Dakota.  (more…)

State:  New York
Center: Onondaga SBDC
Client:  Brazzlebox

Story:  Brazzlebox, the exclusive social network for small and home based business, has announced it is launching nationally on September 18, 2014.  Small, at home, Veteran owned and start-up businesses will be able to go to www.brazzlebox.com and sign up FREE. They can quickly develop their profile page and immediately start connecting with businesses in their community or industry.

Brazzlebox is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Glen Zinszer. Brazzlebox will be working to fill the current B2B and B2Community social networking void. “The opportunity to create an exclusive network and resource for small and home based business owners is massive,” said Zinszer. Small, at home, Veteran and start-up businesses need a champion and a channel. Brazzlebox is coming to your town, business, idea and community. Glen has worked with the SBDC with many of his start-up businesses, including Brazzlebox, and found the information, direction and education incredibly beneficial.  “The level of support received was crucial in the success of all of my businesses: said Zinszer.   (more…)

Joe and Son’s Olive Oils comes to fruition with help of Florida SBDC at USF

In the summer of 2011, Andrea Messina Gebbia had an idea for a retail business and a partial business plan. All she needed was some direction to get her started. That’s when she reached out to the Florida SBDC at USF.

“My family has been in the grocery business here in Tampa since the 1930s, so I always just sort of had this passion for food and cooking but never really wanted to go to culinary school,” Gebbia said.

Gebbia’s great-grandfather, Giuseppe (Joe) Favata, left Sicily and eventually established Joe and Sons Grocery in historic Ybor City, in 1938.

“He, like me, was just trying to pursue his American dream,” she said. “This was my way of paying tribute to the family store.”  (more…)

Center: SBDC in Elyria at Lorain County Community College

Client: Woof House (dog boarding kennel)

Bob Sell had been dreaming about owning his own business for years. After spending 10 years working a second job at a kennel in Pennsylvania, he decided to find a kennel to buy. After a long search, he found a kennel in Sheffield Village, OH and began working with John Guidone, a local commercial bank officer at Lorain National Bank. Mr. Sell had everything he needed to qualify for an SBA Small Business Loan with LNB, except a business plan. He had never written a business plan, and didn’t know where to start.

John connected Bob with Kim Plzak, Director at the Small Business Development Center at Lorain County Community College. The fact that Bob was out of state did not deter him or the SBDC! Kim and Bob scheduled several phone meetings and exchanged information via email. The SBDC obtained research to assist and communicated regularly with Bob. Bob worked many hours, with the assistance of the SBDC, to write his plan. About two months later, Bob’s plan was complete. (more…)