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Strategic Planning and Business Foundations from University of Georgia SBDC Help Brokerage Gain Sales and Success

August 8, 2023

Client: Practice Sales Advisors, St. Simons Island, GA
Consultants: Jordan Tippett & David Lewis, UGA SBDC Brunswick

Rebecca Robinson Davis of St. Simons is a people person, so much so that she left a lucrative position as a residential real estate appraiser in 2004 in search of a job – any job – that would replace the isolation of appraising homes with more personal interactions. She never thought that move would bring her such success thanks in part to a deep partnership with University of Georgia Small Business Development Center.

“I was looking in the newspaper and there was one job on St. Simons. One job,” she said. “It was for a national vet brokerage, but the description was vague. I turned in my resume anyway and did the interview. They hired me immediately because of my valuation background, which really helped because a business valuation is the foundation of a vet practice sale.”

A Vermont Pop-Up Restaurant With Argentinian Roots

July 18, 2023

Paprika Catering — A Success Story

By Amanda Kuhnert

“It has always been a dream of mine to start a business and share my passion for healthy and delicious food,” said Jacqueline de Achaval, co-owner of Paprika Catering, an empanada pop-up based in Waterbury. Achaval grew up in Argentina and attended culinary school there before moving to Colorado, where she spent over a decade teaching skiing and catering for small events.

After moving to Vermont in 2019, she worked as a sous chef at Burlington’s Revolution Kitchen before embarking on her entrepreneurial journey. “When I was ready and found the opportunity to start a business, I went for it,” Achaval said. “Empanadas have always been a favorite food of mine. It’s a balanced food and easy to carry around.”

From Employee to Owner: Outdoor Lover Purchases Uncle Sam’s Safari Outfitters

July 10, 2023

Justin Macedo — A Success Story

Uncle Sam’s Safari Outfitters has been serving customers in the Fayetteville area since 1982.

When University of Arkansas student Justin Macedo began working there in 2018, he didn’t know that one day he would own the business.

Justin loves the outdoors. He worked summer jobs as a fly fishing guide and boat captain in Alaska and as a backpacking guide in Colorado.

Upon graduation from the university in 2022 with a degree in small business and entrepreneurship, he learned that Uncle Sam’s was for sale.

StillFire and UGA SBDC Ignite Brewing Success

July 4, 2023

StillFire Brewing — A Success Story

By: Kim Broun, PR Specialist

Law school opens the door to many possibilities. While sitting in his law school classes at the University of Georgia, Aaron Bisges, general manager at StillFire Brewing, never dreamed one of those possibilities would be opening a brewery after graduation. He worked at bars and restaurants throughout law school to help make ends meet. But it wasn’t until his uncle, John Bisges, a fellow UGA alumnus, approached him about opening and managing a brewery after graduation that he thought he could use his business knowledge from law school to turn his bar and restaurant experience into a career.

Using his UGA connections, Aaron Bisges reached out to Benny StaRomana, business consultant at the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) for assistance writing a business plan.

Childhood Dream Becomes Real Life Dream Job

June 27, 2023

Appletree Learning Center — A Success Story

Since Taylor Kashner was 5 years old, she has dreamed of starting her own learning center for children. In October, 2022, that dream became a reality when Taylor and her parents, Jeff and Maxine, opened Appletree Learning Center. The 15,500 square-foot, two-story building is newly renovated and features an activity room, gym, and kitchen. Appletree will function like a daycare but with an emphasis on education and preparation for
elementary school.

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