UGA SBDC aid with financing, strategic planning assure success for Kingsland business

McNamee, American Eagle’s majority owner and CEO, and Beierle, the company’s director of operations, each held leadership positions with national infrastructure maintenance company DBi Services for several years. Beierle was still with DBi when it folded on a Friday afternoon in October 2021. Over that weekend, the siblings decided to pool their savings and launch their own company offering infrastructure and environmental maintenance services.

“By Monday morning, we were calling customers to see if we could get emergency contracts,” Beierle said. “Within the first week, we landed our first commitments and contracts, and knew we were in business.”

The first month was critical as they began talking to banks about financing and business loans. While looking for resources online, Beierle learned about loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) and contacted the UGA SBDC. Lee quickly set up a meeting to explain how the UGA SBDC could support them.

“Our first meeting dealt with getting surety bonding because of the size of their contracts,” Lee said. “They’d found it difficult to get million-dollar bonds because of the size of their company.”

To help prepare the business loan application, Lee registered Beierle for a no-cost UGA SBDC class on cash flow in downtown St. Mary’s. Lee also worked with McNamee and Beierle to develop a business plan and put together the information they needed for their financial package.

“We were approved for an SBA loan that was critical to our expansion,” McNamee said. “Without that loan, we would not be where we are today.”

The loan financed the purchase of trucks, equipment and chemicals, and improved the company’s cash flow. It allowed American Eagle to do more procurement, hire workers and take on more work. Lee then introduced McNamee and Beierle to Area Director David Lewis at the UGA SBDC in Brunswick, and he helped train McNamee on QuickBooks.

“Neither one of us had used QuickBooks before, but we needed an accounting system,” McNamee said. “David would get on a Teams meeting with me one hour a week and help me fix improperly quoted or miscounted data. Even with an accountant, we needed that support. It made us able to see our profit margins, balance sheet and what the business was doing, where it was going and how to correct it. We still use David’s help today. The way he explains things is amazing.”

McNamee and Beierle continue to work with Lee and Lewis on a strategic plan that helps them focus on the key activities that will have the greatest impact for their business. They meet monthly to review the plan and look for any adjustments to meet their goals.

Lee has also helped with American Eagle’s marketing plan, brought in business consultant Chase Cowart from the UGA SBDC in Savannah to help update the company website, and introduced the business to the cybersecurity risk review services offered by the UGA CyberArch program housed in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach.

“Shalana and Jamos are the ultimate clients,” said Lee. “They’re hungry for information and are constantly learning how to make themselves and their business smarter, better and more successful.”

American Eagle LLC, a veteran-owned and now certified woman-owned business, has re-employed a dozen staff members from DBi and subcontracts with substantially more. Sales have increased more than 50% since its first year.

“The UGA SBDC has worked tirelessly to help our company be successful,” McNamee said. “It helps us both to have their outside accountability, monthly meetings, business acumen and experienced guidance.”