Newsletter for January 2008



May 2008

Success Stories Jeremy and Sara Farmer Jeremy and Sara purchased Clements Cleaners, an existing dry-cleaning business in Pampa. Sara describes her experience with the SBDC. "The thought of buying our own business was almost too overwhelming… until the day I walked into the SBDC office. I remember calling my husband after my first meeting with David and saying, “I just found a gold mine!” David helped me take an idea and a long list of questions and turn it into a “to do” list and the confidence to go for it! I have been able to share my experience with the SBDC with friends who are thinking of starting their own business and I will continue to “sing your praises” and send friends your way!" Owners: Jeremy and Sara Farmer Location: 1437 N. Hobart Street Pampa, TX 79065 Phone: 806-665-5121 Employs: 9 Full-Time and 1 Part-Time Free Workshop Introduction to Business Ownership Writing a Business Plan Small Budget Marketing Financing your Business Should you Incorporate? May 13 1:30 - 3:30 AM May 20 5:00 - 7:00 PM May 27 8:30 - 10:30 AM Call 372-5151 to Reserve your seat Contact Us SBDC 701 S Taylor Suite L118 Amarillo, TX 79101 806-372-5151 website location map e-mail Sponsors Affiliations Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. WTAMU Small Business Development Center is a member of the Northwest Texas SBDC Region Network. Accredited by the Association of Small Business Development Centers
	WINNERS ANNOUNCED The Enterprize Challenge is a competition designed to help entrepreneurs start a small business or expand an existing one. For the past 12 years, 33 businesses have received cash grants totaling over $1.5 Million. On April 8th, four entrepreneurs were each awarded $75,000 to benefit their businesses. Three of the winners were SBDC clients. Innovative Product Solutions Wade and Elliot McKinney design and manufacture medical and safety products. Our nation averages over 1,000 back injuries every day, and the VerteMax back support trainer system drastically reduces back injuries by forcing the user into proper body mechanics when lifting. They will use the money to manufacture various components of their back brace. SouthCross Operating, LLC Brad Bingham and Spencer McElhannon own an alfalfa baling and storage operation that produces high quality alfalfa bales for the horse and dairy industries. The prize money will be used to buy a large bale processor that efficiently cuts large bales into small bales more efficiently than using a small baler. There are only four bale processors available in the U.S. Drug Assistant, LLC Mike Fisher produces software for the medical industry that helps to reduce paperwork and lower drug costs for hospitals and clinics. Mike plans to use the prize money to hire a new employee to help with the day-to-day operations of the business.
	Type, Talk, Text...with Tact! Communication Etiquette Workshop Presented by Erika Langill of Get Ahead Works Thursday, May 22nd $20 / Person 6 to 9 pm We communicate our messages every day using a variety of devices – cell phones, voicemail, email, and the internet. Making a good impression and communicating the correct messages are always important in business. But, could you be unknowingly communicating the wrong messages to your customers? Could you potentially lose a sale, or even a customer, because your email message was misunderstood, or your voice did not convey a certain tone when responding to a client over the phone? In this interactive workshop, we will discuss: Make a Great Impression Over the Phone and Through Email Tips to Improve Both Verbal and Vocal Communication Communicating with Angry Customers...and much more!! Register Now! THE CALL OF THE ENTREPRENEUR Premieres Thursday, May 15 8 pm on KACV-TV Channel 2 A merchant banker, a failing dairy farmer, a refugee from Communist China. One risked his savings. One risked his farm. One risked his life. Why do their stories matter? Because how we view entrepreneurs -- as greedy or altruistic, as virtuous or vicious -- shapes the destinies of individuals and nations. Free Phone System Hrycyk Financial will donate a used Samsung ProStar DCS Compact Phone System with 8 phones to a new small business or non-profit organization. For more information, contact Roberta at 677-0895.
	Quote of the Month Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it. Stephen Butler Leacock END This e-mail is intended for clients and associates of the Small Business Development Center. If you have received it in error, use this link to unsubscribe or call 806-372-5151. Content & Layout by Lisa Gray Typos & Errors are Property of the Finder. Copyright 2008 by WTAMU SBDC