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The University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network | Excargo Services: From Small Office to Industry Leader

April 1, 2026

Excargo Services Inc. began with a vision to fill a significant gap in the transportation industry. Marcia Faschingbauer, who took over her family’s business, transformed it from a small operation into a logistics powerhouse. Starting with just a small office, Faschingbauer focused on building a company based on safety, communication, and exceptional customer service. Over the years, Excargo has grown into a 195,000-square-foot facility near the Port of Houston, becoming an industry leader in container transport. 

“Excargo started because I saw a real need in the transportation industry. My family’s food business relied on exporting goods, and I experienced firsthand how unreliable container transport could be. I knew there had to be a better way,” Faschingbauer said. 

While expanding, Faschingbauer knew that modernizing operations and scaling the business required the right strategies and resources. This led her to the Houston Small Business Development Center (SBDC). She first connected with SBDC in 2002 to refine the company’s growth strategy and has received continuous support from them ever since. 

“The SBDC helped us navigate SBA funding options, secure financing for expansion, and refine our banking relationships to ensure continued growth—even during challenging times,” Faschingbauer said. 

Charles Capers, Faschingbauer’s SBDC Business Advisor, played an instrumental role in helping Excargo scale strategically, secure financing, and ensure long-term sustainability. 

“Excargo is a powerhouse in the transportation industry, and our role was to help them scale strategically,” Capers said. “We worked with Marcia to navigate financing, improve efficiency, and ensure long-term sustainability for the business.”

The SBDC has been a game-changer for us. They’ve helped us grow, secure funding, and create jobs, and I can’t recommend them enough!

In 2021, Excargo secured $6.3 million in commercial property financing, a move that directly contributed to an increase in revenue by $2.7 million. The company also created 75 new jobs. Faschingbauer credits much of this success to the support and guidance from the SBDC. 

“What sets us apart in the industry is that we’re not just moving cargo—we’re shaping the future of container transport. Safety, reliability, and innovation are at the heart of everything we do,” Faschingbauer said. “With the SBDC’s help, we’ve been able to expand our operations, grow our fleet, and stay ahead of industry trends.” 

As Excargo continues to grow, the focus remains on sustainability and efficiency. Faschingbauer and her team are looking ahead to expanding their reach, improving technology, and staying at the forefront of the logistics industry. 

“We’re continuing to invest in sustainability, efficiency, and smart logistics to keep up with industry demands. The future of transportation is changing, and we plan to be at the forefront,” Faschingbauer said. 

Excargo Services Inc. stands as a perfect example of how determination, strategic partnerships, and the right resources can elevate a small family business into an industry leader.  

“The SBDC has been a game-changer for us. They’ve helped us grow, secure funding, and create jobs, and I can’t recommend them enough!” Faschingbauer concluded.

Watch Marcia’s video testimonial to hear how Excargo’s partnership with the SBDC helped transform a small family business into a leading force in logistics.

Hand In Hand Secures Nearly $3M Grant to Expand Childcare Access Across Lewis County

December 3, 2025

Jenniffer Bleakley and her Hand In Hand Early Childhood Center applied for a NYS Office of Children and Family Services state grant, which was awarded to expand her childcare center. After receiving the grant award, it was rescinded and taken back after a technicality. At this time, she and her team had already started planning her business expansion and were working towards offering more childcare to Lewis County residents. 

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Mobile Bartending Business ‘Accidentally’ Expands

December 19, 2023

Friends and business partners Misty Willbanks and Stacy Drilling started their entrepreneurial journey together in 2021 when they launched Southern Sippery Mobile Bar.

Previously, Willbanks worked with her local Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center on a different idea that didn’t materialize. But when the mobile bar idea came along, things fell into place.

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UGA helps with strategic marketing and business decisions to help expand business

November 30, 2023

By Jenny Giarratano

Marty Hooks could have chosen a life of leisure after working 30 years in the metal buildings industry. However, when his employer began downsizing and offered him an early retirement buyout, he decided to open his own business to create jobs for veterans and young people in his adopted hometown of St. Mary’s, Georgia.

Hooks, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, used his buyout to fund his vision of a service company that sells, drafts and engineers pre-engineered metal buildings, opening PEMB in May 2020. While planning, he contacted University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) consultant Jennifer Lee at the UGA SBDC in Brunswick.

“I knew about the UGA SBDC program early on and reached out to Jennifer to tell her what we envisioned doing,” Hooks said.

Lee worked with Hooks to secure a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) CAPLine loan, designed to help small businesses meet short term and cyclical capital needs. Hooks previously had some loan-related issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic.

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