With guidance from the UGA Small Business Development Center, The Miner Agency strengthened its HR operations, earned federal certifications and secured major government contracts—fueling sustained growth.
Chrissy Miner has always believed that success comes from using every resource at her disposal. So when she set out to launch a full-service communications agency, one of her first calls was to the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC). With their guidance, and her own relentless drive, Miner transformed her idea into a thriving enterprise.
In just five years, she has expanded her business into two companies, three product lines, tripled her employee count, and generated an eightfold increase in revenue.
The Miner Agency provides strategic communications, marketing and workforce solutions to government and private-sector clients. As the Warner Robins-based company grew, it broadened its scope even further, launching a product division supplying American-made cleaning and disaster mitigation products to government agencies across the country.
“Our evolution has been a little unique,” Miner admitted. “Over time, we’ve built a business at the intersection of corporate communications, organizational support and mission-driven products — all focused on helping organizations move their work forward.
Miner launched the agency in 2018 and initially worked at home building her client base. By 2020, growing demand led to a move to a dedicated office. A year later, as her team began to expand, she contacted Lisa Rackley, area director of the UGA SBDC in Macon, for guidance on strengthening her human resources operations.
Rackley conducted a comprehensive HR review, asking detailed questions about Miner’s business structure, hiring practices and internal processes. She then provided Miner with a robust suite of tools – including hiring and termination checklists, independent contractor review materials, required employment posters, and additional resources – all designed to help the agency improve its HR practices.
“There’s so much to learn in being in business, you can’t possibly know everything,” Miner said. “The UGA SBDC is a great resource, and the price is right.”
After completing the review, Rackley continued to work with Miner. Hoping to expand into government contracting, she was looking at certification through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) Business Development Program.
“I wanted to explore that line of effort more seriously,” Miner said. “Even though I’ve worked in government for 27 years, it was a new space for us. Coming in from the outside is a lot different than navigating the system internally.”
Rackley supplied Miner with access to both practical tools and subject matter experts to support her application process. When Miner sought help refining her social disadvantage narrative for the 8(a) program, Rackley directed her to the U.S General Services Administration (GSA) eLibrary to review current GSA contract award information and connected her with advisors in the UGA SBDC’s Specialty Programs Division. These specialists provided Miner with the detailed feedback she needed to strengthen her submission.
“Lisa is like a Professor Gadget. Whenever we needed something, she’d say, ‘I have an expert for that,’” Miner said. “There are so many rules and regulations and ways to be successful in this space, you just have to learn the ropes. She helped lay out a good foundation for us and kept us accountable.”
Miner’s SBA 8(a) application was approved in 2023, and by the following year her business had secured a state-level government contract to provide recruiting and retention services. In addition to earning 8(a) certification, the company now holds six federal certifications, including an SBA Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and an SBA Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB).
Since Miner began her work with Rackley, sales revenues have grown to seven figures. Every quarter, Miner and Rackley meet to do a health check on her company’s growth, making sure it remains on track.
“Chrissy is very big picture, a visionary,” Rackley said. “However, she makes time to circle back to core business principles to plan for and manage her growth. It’s been a pleasure helping her navigate her company’s different phases.”
“The UGA SBDC’s help has been invaluable,” Miner said. “It’s an ongoing effort, and we want to stay connected. My challenges five years ago were not what they are now, and the SBDC can still help me address those. I’m a tremendous fan of the program and am thankful to be a part of it.”
“The UGA SBDC’s help has been invaluable. It’s an ongoing effort, and we want to stay connected. My challenges five years ago were not what they are now, and the SBDC can still help me address those. I’m a tremendous fan of the program and am thankful to be a part of it.”
