Congratulations to West Virginia SBDC client Diana Lewis Jackson, President and CEO of Action Facilities Management based in Morgantown, West Virginia. Her company is the 2016 SBA 8(a) Graduate of the Year.

AFM, a company that Diana started in her Monongalia County basement 15 years ago, now employs more than 250 people in 11 states and Washington, D.C. Mostly federal agencies are clients of the site support contractor.

“We provide armed and unarmed security guard services and, for the facilities or buildings, we provide operations and maintenance services, complete janitorial services and, on the exterior, we provide grounds, maintenance and snow removal,” she explained.

“The ‘action’ part was because we wanted to be proactive and the ‘facilities management’ is because we wanted the customers to focus on what they were actually going to do for their business and we would take care of their facilities.”  (more…)

Congratulations to Florida SBDC clients Mr. David Bello, Sr., President, and Mr. John Hartnett, VP Global Business Development, of Endoscopy Replacement Parts, Inc.

A wonderful success story told by winner John Harnett:

Endoscopy Replacement Parts, Inc. (ERPI) is a full-service precision manufacturing facility of 14 employees based in Newberry, Florida. Since 1997, ERPI has manufactured the highest quality aftermarket products for repairing rigid and flexible endoscopes. CEO David Bello, Sr. has over three decades’ experience in the precision manufacturing industry. 

In the early 1990s he noted the juxtaposition of two trends: a growing demand for readily available third party endoscope repair and replacement products, and the business of manufacturing becoming globally competitive with the rise of regional trade agreements like the NAFTA.  (more…)

Congratulations to New York SBDC clients Stephen and Maryann Piazza, Owners of Majestic Vending and Services, on winning the 2016 Phoenix Award for Outstanding Small Business Disaster Recovery.

Majestic Vending and Services, Inc. is co-owned by Maryann and Stephen Piazza.  From its humble beginnings as a simple gumball machine at a construction site, the company has grown into a company that serves the NYC area with vending, office coffee, bottled water delivery and safety gear.  One of its subsidiaries brings fresh, high quality ingredients together to use unique raw and organic sweeteners and/or herb savory flavors to glaze or roast nuts for onsite events or shipped direct to the home.  The popcorn is always served hot and fresh on site.

Majestic offers a portable bulk product kiosk that can accommodate patrons of all ages and palates, including gluten and sugar free treats.  Since the company’s inception in 1994, the Piazzas have been long-term clients of the SBDC at the College of Staten Island.  They received an SBA loan to purchase their warehouse.  Maryann also received counseling from the SBDC to obtain her WMBE status with the State, City, and NY/NJ Port Authority.  In addition, the SBDC encouraged her to successfully complete the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program.  Maryann continues to grow and expand Majestic, especially as a New York State/New York City Certified Women’s Business Enterprise.  (more…)

The Small Business Administration has named the Charleston Area Small Business Development Center the 2016 National SBDC Center of Excellence and Innovation, as announced by SBA administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. The award will be presented during ceremonies to be held May 1-2 in honor of National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C.

The Charleston SBDC won the award after being named the South Carolina state winner and the winner for SBA Region IV, which includes South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky.

“We are proud to be a vital resource for local small businesses, and we’re humbled to have been recognized on a national level for the success we’ve helped our clients achieve,” said Tom Lauria, who was the area manager from 2007 through 2015. “It’s a testament to the efforts of our team and the passion they show for the work they do that has allowed the center to earn this award.”  (more…)