Local sanitation company taps into UGA SBDC resources, experiences growth through excellent customer service
From Retired to Retirement Gig Mike Plowman was no stranger to the trash pickup industry. He previously built and owned a very successful trash pickup business and sold it with the plan to save the profit for retirement. But the business closure clearly left a void in the community. After many requests from friends, neighbors […]
UGA SBDC helps metal fabrication business grow
https://youtu.be/aInFac14eZU Greg Williams, president and CEO of Southern Metalcraft Incorporated, turned to the UGA SBDC for resources to help grow his small metal fabricating business in Social Circle. With the assistance of the UGA SBDC, Southern Metalcraft has grown 18 percent, year over year, from a revenue standpoint. “The biggest payoff I’ve seen from the […]
Rapid growth requires new employment strategies
When U.S. Army Major Reginald Foster began planning his retirement gig, he and his wife, Zenna, began researching franchise operations. They chose Tropical Smoothie Café and approached the Augusta office for help. The Fosters now employ 58 people and are preparing to open another store in Augusta.
Strategic guidance helps Thomasville cheesemakers grow and thrive
Raised on a South Georgia farm, Jessica Little never expected to return home—but a passion for cheesemaking and sustainable agriculture led her back to help grow Sweet Grass Dairy into a nationally recognized artisan cheese producer. With support from the UGA SBDC, the Littles expanded their creamery, added dozens of jobs, increased sales, and successfully navigated growth challenges, positioning the business for continued success in competitive retail markets.
Seasoned Entrepreneur Experiences Rapid Growth
Carey Jones has owned many businesses in his lifetime. His newest – Reliable Rolloff Solutions – is a commercial/residential dumpster service he launched with a dear family friend, Donald “DJ” Jones, in Wayne County in 2016. Quickly, Jones realized this company’s challenges differed from those he’d launched earlier. “I’d never owned a business that […]
Atlanta Architect Wins Clients and Awards
Business Knowledge Paired with Stellar Design Wins Clients and Awards for Atlanta Architect Monica Fenderson loves the design side of architecture, which she practiced in several private firms early in her career. But she wanted to start her own firm, so she took a part-time job as a construction manager for Gwinnett County and […]
UGA Assists with Launch of Turmeric Business
South Georgia couple launches turmeric supplement business with UGA assistance When customers ask Diane and Ed Taylor about the pain-relieving properties of turmeric, they tell them about Bo and Tarra. The two Asian elephants, who live on the 850-acre Elephant Refuge of North America (ERNA) in southern Georgia, no longer suffer from arthritis since […]
Closed, but not “Closed:” SBDC helps St. Marys business thrive during COVID shutdown
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Cottle & Gunn to close its doors in April 2020, owner Deborah Cottle leaned into creativity, community, and a strong online presence to keep her business thriving. With guidance from the UGA SBDCC, Cottle quickly launched an online store and leveraged social media to more than double—and then triple—her spring sales, transforming a crisis into a period of record-breaking growth.