UGA SBDC client wins U.S. SBA Exporter of the Year award
Felipe Arroyave’s Spectrum International exports custom contact lenses to 68 countries. Recognized as the 2024 Small Business Exporter of the Year, the company overcame pandemic challenges with support for UGA SBDC and now boasts 28 employees and $3 million in annual revenue, growing steadily at 19%.
Attorney Turns to UGA SBDC for Assistance to Establish Firm
When Katrina Quicker was ready to start her own intellectual property law firm, she turned UGA SBDC Business Consultant, Daniel McCoy who helped her put together a business plan, secured funding, identified a rental space and set up the business side of her firm. Since then, the firm has grown 25%, adding two attorneys and increasing its client load.
Valdosta Therapy Business Expands with Assistance from the UGA SBDC
Erin Haskins founded Southern Therapy Solutions in February 2015 as a mobile speech therapy business. As it grew, she sought guidance from Alyssa Foskey, UGA SBDC area director at Valdosta State University. Foskey helped Haskins open a 13,000 sq. ft. facility, and the business now employs 30 people and continues to grow.
Partnership with UGA SBDC Helps Trade Show Display Company Enhance International Relations
Displayit was looking to enhance its relationship with its international agent and hire a freight forwarder to streamline imports. After working with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center’s International Trade Center, Displayit has increased revenue 5% by working with its international agent to develop a new product line and is importing up to 12 containers a year, each housing up to $200,000 of revenue.
UGA SBDC Aids in Expansion of Successful Co-Working Salon Studio
Amika Carter had built two successful locations of her co-working salon, Beya Salon Studios, in Atlanta and was ready to open a third near Atlanta’s West End when she reached out to Terence Strong, Fiserv business consultant at the UGA SBDC at Morehouse College, for assistance. Together they worked on strategic expansion plans, financial projections, a tenant recruitment plan and a review of the return on investment from her marketing efforts. Beya Salon Studio’s third location opened in September 2023, breaking even the first month with 21 studios leased. Now, the location is nearly at capacity with only five of its 34 spaces available.
UGA SBDC Clients Receive SBA Awards
For the past 60 years, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week as an opportunity to recognize the critical contributions of America’s small business owners. As part of National Small Business Week (April 28 – May 4), the US Small Business Administration (SBA) takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners and others from all 50 states and US territories. This year, five clients from the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) were named SBA award winners in the Georgia District. In addition, one client was named a national award winner.
UGA SBDC helps Panthersville Business Stand Out and Gain Steady Growth
In 2014, Nadine Marsh Coleman had the opportunity to acquire SERVPRO® of Panthersville, a franchise that provides residential, commercial and governmental water and fire restoration and mold remediation services. Her transition from a career as a software engineer to full-time business ownership led her to the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) for assistance. Coleman’s work with the UGA SBDC guided the trajectory of her business, transitioning it from fragile to thriving, and tripling sales within the first four years of her full-time ownership that began in 2019.
From Fitness Trainer to Keto-Friendly Baker: UGA SBDC Helps Scale Small Business
Amber Connor was baking keto-friendly sweets out of her house, and she was ready to expand her business, Sinless Sweets. She connected with Rick McMurtrey, area director at the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) in Augusta, to learn the best way to scale her business. McMurtrey helped her review potential retail locations, evaluate build-out costs, prepare financial projections and organize the financials and management of the business. Since working with the UGA SBDC, Sinless Sweets has moved to a brick-and-mortar location, experienced a 300% increase in sales and added six employees.
