9 Days to the Congressional Showcase!

State and Region: Texas, North Texas
SBDC: Kilgore SBDC
SBDC Advisor: Brad Bunt
SBDC Client: Bear Creek Smokehouse

Nestled in the East Texas piney woods of Bear Bottom, four generations of family tradition surround Bear Creek Smokehouse. Originating in 1943, Hick and Nellie Shoults have raised and cured their own smoked meats. Since then, the Smokehouse has grown from a backyard venture with 600 birds to one of East Texas’ largest facilities, producing a wide variety of smoked delights. Bear Creek Smokehouse is one of the oldest stores in the United States, offering products such as ham, peppered pork tenderloins, smoked ribs, pork loins, brisket, a variety of birds and much more! The store also offers a range of soups and beverage mixes, along with chocolate fudge and praline pecan desserts. Bear Creek Smokehouse just released a beautiful cookbook and has been featured on the Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay and Rachael Ray TV shows.

“Working with the SBDC has been a great experience.  They have helped sustain our company in various ways by showing us how to improve our cash flow, our bottom line and our competitiveness in the marketplace through resources available to small businesses in East Texas. Brad Bunt has been a pleasure to work with through this process and has been very attentive to our individual business requirements. I would highly recommend any small business owner to the SBDC staff and let them put their expertise to work for you.” — Robbie Shoults, Owner, Bear Creek Smokehouse

Read more about Bear Creek Smokehouse here. Follow Bear Creek Smokehouse on Twitter @BearCreekSH.

Watch videos of Rachael Ray and the Shoults preparing two Bear Creek Smokehouse recipes: Cranberry glazed appetizer meatballs and sweet and spicy bacon chicken bites.

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The America’s SBDC 2017 Client Showcase Reception will be at 5:30 pm on Monday, February 6, 2017, at the Rayburn House Office Building. Invite your Members of Congress now!

For more information about America’s SBDC or to find an SBDC near you, go to www.AmericasSBDC.org.

10 Days to the Congressional Showcase!

State and Region: Texas, America’s SBDC – Texas Gulf Coast Network
SBDC: Fort Bend County SBDC
SBDC Advisors: Joe Decker and Jacqueline Taylor
SBDC Client: Veterans MFG

Veterans MFG is a veteran-owned and operated manufacturer of body armor, mobile and vehicle shields and other protective ballistic systems.

“As both Partners at Veterans MFG have strong business experience and education, our local SBDC provided us with essential local contacts, references and most importantly, referrals to local and national media. Our local representative, Joe Decker, was directly responsible for connecting our company with the Houston Chronicle (4th largest Sunday business circulation in the nation) which featured us in two front page business articles. The exposure we received from those two articles has given our young company a fantastic “out of the gate” boost that we could not have achieved without their help.” — William “Billy” Gibbons, Partner, and Mike Hlozek, Partner, Veterans MFG

Read more about Veterans MFG here and here. Follow Veterans MFG on Twitter @vetsmfg.

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The America’s SBDC 2017 Client Showcase Reception will be at 5:30 pm on Monday, February 6, 2017, at the Rayburn House Office Building. Invite your Members of Congress now!

For more information about America’s SBDC or to find an SBDC near you, go to www.AmericasSBDC.org.

11 Days to the Congressional Showcase!

State: Delaware
SBDC: Delaware SBDC
SBDC Advisors: Mike Bowman and Bob Rausch
SBDC Client: SimUCare

SimUCare manufactures and sells wearable, sensor-enabled training devices to hospitals, universities and sim centers in the rapidly growing $2B healthcare simulation education market. SimUCare products merge the personal and technical aspects of clinical training.

Previously, clinical students had to practice their skills on lifeless manikins, depriving them of the opportunity to enhance their bedside manner while working on their technique. SimUCare marries the two worlds by allowing students to practice on a trained actor that has been equipped with a SimUCare device, also known as a Standardized Patient.

Co-Founder and CEO Amy Cowperthwait conceived this idea when she was working as a clinical nursing specialist in the University of Delaware’s School of Nursing Resource Simulation Center and coordinating the Healthcare Theatre for the university. She then sought assistance from the University of Delaware’s Office of Economic Innovation & Partnerships (OEIP) on how to commercialize this technology. (more…)

12 Days to the Congressional Showcase!

State: Alabama
SBDC: Alabama SBDC
SBDC Advisor: William Cummins
SBDC Client: Motus

Motus manufactures America’s fastest motorcycles and America’s only V4 engine, available for use in defense, marine, industrial, and powersports applications.

“The Alabama SBDC has been involved with Motus since the very beginning and we couldn’t have done it without their assistance. From advice on raising capital to providing intelligence on export processes to analysis and research on Dealer Agreements, the Alabama SBDC has truly been an invaluable resource to Motus since inception.” —  Lee Conn, President, Motus

Read more about Motus here. Follow Motus on Twitter @MotusMotorcycle.

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The America’s SBDC 2017 Client Showcase Reception will be at 5:30 pm on Monday, February 6, 2017, at the Rayburn House Office Building. Invite your Members of Congress now!

For more information about America’s SBDC or to find an SBDC near you, go to www.AmericasSBDC.org.

13 Days to the Congressional Showcase!

State and Region: California, Orange County/Indland Empire
SBDC: TriTech SBDC, UCI Institute for Innovation – The Cove
SBDC Advisor: Bill Waldo
SBDC Client: BlueAtomVR

BluAtom, Inc. has developed the next generation accessory for VR gaming, enterprise and military training applications, featuring the first immersive wireless body motion-tracking system. The BluAtomVR system, which comes equipped with a haptic vest and gun controller, can both detect and enhance the user’s movements for a more immersive and engaging VR gaming and training experience.

It effectively turns any player’s body into a game controller. BluAtomVR’s body-tracking vest and hand-motion gun controller create a much richer interaction than other VR gaming accessories currently available. The Wireless enabled system allows for complete freedom of a player’s movement. The lightweight vest is designed with both form and function in mind, boasting a sleek aesthetic made from lightweight, breathable materials. The BluAtom VR system is fully compatible with the HTC VIVE™. (more…)