Improved Financials Position Savannah BBQ Owner for Rapid Growth
Bryan Furman was a laser operator at the JCB manufacturing plant in Pooler, GA when he decided to start a small BBQ business on the side. “I have a passion for cooking and felt like there was no good BBQ where we stayed. And I wanted to be able to leave something for our kids.” He tried to open a small place in Savannah in 2012, […]
GrowSmart® Brings The Business Long View To An Atlanta Production Company
Wendy Eley Jackson possesses the creative credentials eagerly sought by film and television production companies. She developed her artistry while working at TriStar, Sony and TBS. After a while in the industry, though, 60-hour weeks and a desire for a balanced lifestyle led her to form her own company, Golden Street Entertainment, in 1999. She had […]
UGA Outreach Program Helps Farmers Build a Better Business
Dennis Hollingsworth was fresh out of college the first time he tried running a farm. It was the early 1980s in south Georgia, and he stuck with it for four years in some of the roughest economic conditions since the Great Depression. Then he left for an IT job. “I went to Atlanta and I […]
Making the Dream a Reality
If you’re a college football fan, you can’t deny the success of Coach Kirby Smart in just year two of his tenure at Georgia. Not many people would think to look to Kirby for inspiration, but football coaches and small business owners have a lot in common. Both professions require leadership, dedication, commitment and a […]
UGA SBDC’s MP2 Program Brings “Practitioner” Experience to Pharmacy Students
Through a collaboration with the UGA College of Pharmacy, the UGA SBDC works with 4th year Pharmacy students through independent pharmacy management rotations as part of the UGA SBDC’s Medical Practice Management Program (MP2).
Guidance Through Loan Process Helps Metro Atlanta Restaurateur Triple His Locations
Diego Velasquez had worked in Georgia’s restaurant industry more than 14 years – moving up to district manager for a major chain – when he opened his first Tacos and Tequilas Mexican Grill in Buckhead with his savings and the support of family and friends in 2010. “I had decided that if I can open […]
Continual Learning Leads to Continual Growth for Columbus Sign Business
Richie Grantham first came to the UGA SBDC in Columbus in 2008. He had purchased Sunshine Banners and Signs and was seeking guidance on how to best structure this business and prepare it for growth. The SBDC’s GrowSmart program was accepting applications, so Grantham applied and was accepted. After attending the five-week program, Grantham learned […]
Full Knowledge of Funding Options Helps Launch New Macon Brewpub
“I found out that Josh and the SBDC were resources small businesses could use, for free. I thought, ‘Wow, here’s a guy who’s like an extension of my staff. Why wouldn’t I go to him?’ We got to talking, and he told me about the financing, market analysis and other help he could provide.”