SUCCESS STORIES

Thousands of business owners and entrepreneurs have accessed our services over the years. The following are just a few of the success stories resulting from the efforts of our dedicated staff.

REGIONAL STORY OF THE YEAR:

OTHER AREA SUCCESSES

Quality Control Testing, Inc. (Port Lavaca)

With over 18 years of health and occupational safety experience, Kay McPherson had a vision to solve a growing problem. She determined that South Texas could use a mobile drug and alcohol screening unit to prevent supervisors and suspected abusers from having to travel to local hospitals, which can become a public spectacle and burden on health care facilities. In addition, area school districts expressed interest in drug testing students.

McPherson turned to the SBDC for assistance and found a wealth of resources at her fingertips. Her business advisor, Keith Mudd, assisted with developing a business and marketing plan and then made two referrals for McPherson to meet with resource partners for specialized assistance. Peg Callahan, Director of the UTSA Human Capital Program assisted with drug testing certifications and human resource protocols. Sean Smith, Procurement Program Manager of Del Mar College’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center, in Corpus Christi provided guidance with historically underutilized business certification and government contracting processes. The collective efforts of Callahan, Smith and Mudd proved to be highly beneficial to the early success of Quality Control Testing.

• Business Startup

 • Contracting Obtained: H.U.B., C.C.R., C.B.M.L.

 • 16 new jobs created

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Kactus Korral, Inc. (Gonzales)

Kactus Korral, Inc. grows and ships grafted cacti and succulent plants. These nationally popular grafted plants form unusual and multicolored shapes. The company has its own fleet of climate-controlled tractor-trailer rigs to ensure top quality to its retail buyers. Additionally, the business operates an onsite retail outlet for local traffic. The business ships plants nationwide (CONUS only) and customers include Home Depot, Builder's Square, WalMart, and HEB. Currently, the closest competitor in North America is a Canadian firm, Sorrenson Greenhouses.

Kactus Korral, Inc. started as a sole proprietorship in 1970 and incorporated as a Sub-S Corporation on 1 June 1976. Since then, Al Jenkins, President, (who has been a part owner of the business for over 20 years) has become the only stockholder of the corporation.

The economic impact of the SBDC helping with a business expansion loan proposal was to retain 87 jobs in the local market and to create an additional 30 full-time jobs. Mr. Jenkins was very appreciative of the SBDC's help.

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Coleto Creek Emporium

Being marketing-minded, Taylor became involved in the local business community. She helped the Main Street merchants organize to promote the City of Yorktown for "stopping to shop" on Main Street. Business increased with the additional traffic, and two additional retail stores opened on Main Street during the first six months Taylor was in business.

During that time, Taylor realized there was a lack of restaurants on Main Street. The promotion efforts were bringing more shoppers to the Main Street area, but the shoppers would leave during meal time. Taylor began formulating a plan to incorporate a restaurant component with her existing business. As Laura's Place quickly outgrew the 300 square foot space it leased, an opportunity came available to purchase a building down the street from her present location. This building, constructed in 1909, was full of old world charm and had ample space to support Taylor's existing business and future plans for a tea room, which would serve breakfast, lunch, and a light, afternoon meal called "High Tea." Taylor approached Cuero State Bank for a loan. Not knowing how much money she would need for the total project, the lender sent her to the University of Houston-Victoria Small Business Development Center for assistance.

Taylor worked with Mike Samford to put together a business plan, financial projections and a loan proposal for the bank. Taylor went back to the bank in February 2003. The loan was approved in March and closed in April. Taylor kept her other location open for the two more months while she renovated the new location. She changed the name of her business to Coleto Creek Emporium and opened for business in June 2003. Taylor now offers breakfast and lunch, with "High Tea" by appointment only in the evenings. She still offers her unique assortment of gifts. In addition, she caters events and hosts birthday tea parties for children. Taylor also plays host to many monthly meetings, including local bridge and Bunco groups, reunions and has plans for a regular game night where people can gather, eat and play in a family atmosphere. Taylor was very pleased with the caliber of assistance she received from the SBDC. She regularly keeps in touch with Samford, and knows that the UHV SBDC is there whenever she needs them.

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Incredible Journeys (San Antonio)

Miller and Chris McCool, President of Incredible Journeys Inc., flew to D.C., in search of assistance. The two company leaders met with Stephanie Smith, staff assistant of US Representative Charles Gonzalez. Stephanie Smith contacted Representative Gonzalez, who is a member of the US Small Business Committee. Representative Gonzalez setup an appointment for the owners to meet with Barry Pineles, staff attorney with the US House of Representatives who is also a member of the Regulatory Counsel Committee on Small Business. Mr. Pineles was influential in communicating Incredible Journey's needs to US Representative Donald Manzullo, Chairman of the Small Business Committee. Representative Manzullo gave firsthand information about a tour operator who received a disaster loan from the SBA. Miller was able to obtain information on the company, and discovered that this tour operator's sales were nearly four times the size of Incredible Journeys.

Mudd presented the new findings to the SBA Disaster Office in Fort Worth. The time, effort and perseverance paid off, and Incredible Journeys Inc. was approved for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The company was able to stay in business and ten people in San Antonio were able to keep their jobs as a result.

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OTHER AREA SUCCESSES