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From Push Mower to a Growing Enterprise with Help From the UGA SBDC

June 17, 2026

From a $30 push mower to a thriving, full-service landscaping company, Griffin Thomas has spent more than a decade building TopLine Lawncare and Landscaping one yard, one crew and one lesson at a time. With guidance from the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC), Thomas turned a major expansion opportunity into a strong foundation for long-term growth—a move that fueled his company’s rapid growth and earned him the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2026 Georgia Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Based in Carrollton, TopLine Lawncare and Landscaping serves commercial and residential customers in west Georgia. The company provides comprehensive lawncare, landscaping and landscape design services, supporting projects from routine maintenance to full design-build installations. What began as a teenage side hustle has evolved into a growing business with multiple crews, expanding markets and a clear vision for the future.

Thomas’ journey into landscaping started early. At 14, he began helping a neighbor maintain his farm, learning the value of hard work and responsibility.

“I learned my work ethic from Mr. Brock, and when he passed away, I wanted to continue earning money doing good, honest work,” said Thomas.

At 15, Thomas bought his first piece of equipment—a $30 push mower at a yard sale—and began mowing lawns for families and friends. By his senior year of high school, he had purchased a larger mower and was cutting grass daily after school.

After graduating, Thomas was balancing college coursework with a growing customer list. As demand increased, so did the complexity of the business. Thomas hired employees, expanded into small landscaping projects, and eventually faced a decision.

“I really didn’t have time to do both,” said Thomas. “I found myself trying to juggle school and work and not having enough time in the day.”

Thomas decided to focus exclusively on his business. Over time, TopLine expanded from basic lawn maintenance into landscaping, hardscapes, irrigation and design-build services.

“I’ve had some good mentors along the way, but a lot of it’s been self-taught and trial and error,” said Thomas. “Some people might be intimidated by that, but I guess you really just need to love what you do.”

Griffin Thomas, owner of TopLine Lawncare and Landscaping in Carrollton, Ga.

As the business grew, Thomas identified a new opportunity—a centrally located building that would support expansion, improve efficiency and provide needed office space. However, he was unfamiliar with the commercial loan process and financial projections required to move forward. That’s when he was referred to the UGA SBDC.

Troy Vollenweider, area director of the UGA SBDC at the University of West Georgia, worked closely with Thomas to develop a business plan and financial projections to support the purchase. Vollenweider helped Thomas better understand the commercial lending process and available loan options.

For Thomas, the UGA SBDC’s guidance changed his approach to financial management.

“When you learn how to look at your financials, you’re able to manage cash flow better and project where you’re going to be,” said Thomas. “I wasn’t really doing that before, but now it’s something I review monthly. That’s been the biggest takeaway for me.”

With support from the UGA SBDC, Thomas was able to obtain commercial financing through First Bank, utilizing the Georgia Cities Foundation and the State Small Business Credit Initiative loan programs.

The new facility, located in downtown Carrollton, has been transformative. The business used to operate out of a barn used primarily for equipment storage but now has dedicated office space to support structured meetings, improved communication and more intentional business operations.

The new location has also increased TopLine’s visibility and brand recognition, supported workforce recruitment and contributed to measurable growth. Since moving into the facility, TopLine has added three new crews—one installation and two maintenance—and up to eight employees. Year-to-date revenue is up 24% compared to the previous year, and higher visibility has helped the company secure major contracts, including work with the city of Carrollton.

“Through our work with Troy and the UGA SBDC, we have experienced significant operational growth. We’ve been able to invest in new trucks and equipment to support that expansion. Whether it was a quick phone call or sitting down for hours going over charts, Troy and the UGA SBDC made it happen when deadlines mattered."

Griffin Thomas, Owner of TopLine Lawncare and Landscaping Tweet

Most recently, Thomas was named this year’s SBA Georgia Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

“It’s incredibly meaningful to see that effort acknowledged,” said Thomas. “I’m truly grateful for the opportunity and the journey that brought me here.”

DeLong’s Gizzard Equipment Expands Export Markets with UGA SBDC Support and Training

May 20, 2026

DeLong’s Gizzard Equipment, a specialty poultry equipment parts manufacturer, has carved out a niche in an industry dominated by one-stop poultry machine shops. When owner Mary DeLong Murray set her sights on expanding her company’s export business five years ago, she turned to the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) for expert advice and training. Today, international sales account for 20% of the firm’s annual revenues.

The Macon-based company provides a full array of poultry processing machinery — offering replacement peeler rollers and parts to rebuild old machines or repair and enhance newly manufactured machines. Its roots stretch back more than 50 years to Murray’s grandfather, Horace DeLong, who originally founded the business in Gainesville as a maintenance service for poultry processing plants before expanding into parts and equipment.

Under the leadership of Murray’s mother, former CEO Pat DeLong, the company contacted Dimitris Kloussiadis at the UGA SBDC’s International Trade Center in the mid-1990s, launching a long-standing partnership that continues to support DeLong’s global growth.

“Pat was invited to attend a trade show in London,” Kloussiadis said. “So, we met, and I helped her identify the top poultry-processing equipment distributors in the United Kingdom. Together, we worked out methods to negotiate pricing and international logistics, and they started exporting.”

Kloussiadis soon identified additional world markets, and Pat DeLong pursued those opportunities aggressively. Within a year, DeLong’s was selling in parts of South America and Canada.

The partnership continued, and by 2021 the Georgia Department of Economic Development honored DeLong’s Gizzard Equipment with a GLOBE Award in recognition of its success in expanding into new markets. Around that same time Murray, who had been with the company since 1997, stepped into her leadership role and began guiding the business into its next phase of growth.

“The SBDC has done several things to help us grow in this area. Dimitris helped us do a detailed worldwide market analysis and provided us with a list on who’s importing most of the products we sell. Then he connected us with the right people. We don’t have to travel anywhere. Dimitris feeds us this information so we can get in touch with the customer.”

Mary DeLong Murray, CEO of Delong's Gizzard Equipment Tweet

Kloussiadis recommended that Murray’s company focus on Colombia and Mexico, the top two markets in Central and South America for poultry processing equipment. He then connected Murray to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Gold Key Service, which provides matches with up to five potential partners in another country. He briefed her on Colombian business and culture before she traveled to meet potential distributors.

“Mary was pleased with all the assistance provided for her preparation and the effectiveness of her first overseas business trip,” he said. “She came back with about four good distributor leads, and we’re working now on following up with companies in Colombia and next, Mexico.”

Murray participated in the UGA SBDC’s ExportGA program in 2021 and found it so helpful she returned with her staff in 2024. Led by the UGA SBDC International Trade Center in partnership with the UGA Terry College of Business, ExportGA is an intensive, four-session course designed to prepare businesses for exporting. Terry College students engage directly with business owners to provide targeted research to support their specific industries.

“ExportGA is hands-on,” Kloussiadis said. “Georgia companies learn how to set their international pricing, work through foreign trade regulations, manage international payment methods and develop an international marketing plan they can readily execute by the completion of the program.”

Murray has used her ExportGA training to introduce new staff to these skills until they, too, can participate in the program.

Exports now stand at 20% of DeLong’s total business, and Murray believes they make a significant contribution to the company’s success.

“Every time we do something to increase our exports, we see at least a one percent increase in sales,” she said. “However, we’re only a small part of what goes into a poultry plant. Many want to buy from a one-stop shop. We specialize, but we got that business. That one percent in a new market makes a difference.”

Murray and Kloussiadis meet every quarter to further explore ways she can maximize the export potential of DeLong’s.

“The more you get into international business, the more you realize the world is smaller than you think it is,” Murray said. “The UGA SBDC gives us the feedback and exposure we need to expand and learn about our product and what it looks like in the international community.”

Albany Apparel Brand Triples Sales with UGA SBDC Support

June 23, 2025

Roy Steinberg’s golf apparel business was in full swing in Albany, Georgia, but his business needed additional cash flow to increase inventory and meet demand. With guidance from the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center, Steinberg was able to develop a strong financial plan to refinance existing loans and improve cash flow. His hard work paid off—sales for his business, Steinberg Sportswear, have tripled.