Success Stories

ALPHA DAWG Diesel Repair, Inc.

ALPHA DAWG Diesel Repair, Inc. 
Monroe, OH

We first met Faith and Jose Lugo as an introduction from Andy Hlavac of Wright-Patt Credit Union. They primarily worked with Joe Schiesler throughout the entire planning and financial preparation process. They are a Veteran-owned and 50% woman-owned enterprise.They have been in operation since 2010. 

Alpha Dawg provides repair and maintenance with certified technicians ready to handle any tractor or trailer issue that may occur.They offer 34 different vehicle service repairs with free estimates. They also provide 24-hour roadside assistance within 150 miles of Exit 29 on I-75 in Monroe.              

Their company has been successful because it is built on the belief that customers’ needs are of the utmost importance. The entire team is committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of their business is from repeat customers and referrals.

Alpha Dawg was originally located at Lakeview Drive in Monroe, with I-75 frontage just north of Trader’s World. Their business was quickly expanding and their real estate footprint was not enough to support that growth. Their business has increased by over 30% in the last 2 years. 

The SBDC, Wright-Patt Credit Union, County Corporation of Dayton and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) collaborated on creating a workable plan to help the Lugo’s expand their workspace and increase their revenues. A new lot was identified and a structure was built at Baker Drive in Monroe, and we went from there. 

The SBDC was helpful in reviewing their personal and business financial statements as well as the loan application to make the process go smoother. An SBA504 Loan was secured. We worked with them for  8 Sessions and about 11 Hours. 

Mrs. Lugo said “the SBDC and Wright-Patt Credit Union helped us evaluate our short-term and long-term growth strategy and then executed the loan to make it happen. We are quite pleased with them and the outcomes”.  

This project did have some twists and turns, but overall it was a successful conclusion for the client and for our stakeholders.

 

Custom Traffic Solutions
Missy Valdivieso - Owner
Maineville, OH

Back in September 2013 I was contacted by a potential client requesting  my service of traffic control for projects as well as protect their employees. I took on the job by purchasing a service truck and hiring two employees. 

By mid-October 2013, I decided to expand the business. I was lost not knowing any of the details and strategies around launching a start-up venture. I browsed the SBA.gov web site, and was able to connect with Joe Schiesler, Warren County SBDC Director. After a discussion with Joe, I was aware of how many steps were required. Within a week after making my 1st contact with Joe, I had many questions answered and several solutions for problems that I was having.    

Custom Traffic Solutions was formed to provide temporary traffic control to utility companies, paving companies, and municipalities, etc. The business of driver and employee safety is our mission. We set up State and Local-compliant work zones and staff the area until the job is completed- and that is in any condition in all weather elements! 

I have had numerous meetings with both Joe and Mike Stater to develop my plan and strategies on how to build my business. With their guidance and support and attending numerous training classes, CTS is working its way to becoming a successful Warren County business. 

By the summer of 2014, CTS now has 9 operational trucks and has created 16 jobs in order to serve   11  Major Clients. With the guidance and connections that the SBDC provided, I am able to proudly say that I am a business owner and employer in Warren County. 

The SBDC center was able to provide counseling and assistance for a price that I could afford: FREE!  If there was something that Joe and Mike could not help me with, they never hesitated to refer me to an expert in the Alliance that could provide a solution. 

The type of service, support and content that is being offered by our Warren County Small Business Development Center is unheard of  in this world of small business.

 

BROADWAY BARREL HOUSE

Broadway Barrel House
Lebanon, OH

The central business district of Lebanon now has a full-scale family restaurant and bar/taproom. The team of Brew Salute, LLC worked overtime to bring the new Broadway Barrel House across the goal line. Mr. Bryan Taulbee and Mr. Dan Lech created the concept in May, 2015 and opened the site 2 years later. 

It is independently owned and operated- Not a Chain! It is located in a former pizza restaurant just south of the County Fairgrounds, at 402 N. Broadway. The building remodel is very inviting and customer-friendly. The owners have extensive experience from three previous restaurant launches. That is what made this project appealing to The SBDC and its lenders. 

The Broadway Barrel House is now open 7 days per week for lunch and dinner. They serve a lengthy “Happy Hour” from 2pm to 7pm every Monday through Friday. In addition, there is a special Pint Night every Wednesday. One of the most popular menu items is their Smoked Wings. They have about 24 taps featuring domestic, import and national and local craft beers. You won’t miss a game or event with the abundant TV screens around the room. The food menu offers many lunch and dinner choices for a family of all ages.

Coming in the summer of 2018, the BBH will add a 75-seat patio, with enough room for live music and private events. 

The BBH team enlisted the help of the SBDC in several areas: Creating the business plan; creating and reviewing the financial projections; creating a market demographic analysis; and providing SBDA connectivity. The Center worked with them for 9 sessions at about 9.5 hours. 

Vital to the launch of this operation were three Alliance members that need to be recognized: Mr. Jason Millard- City of Lebanon; Mr. Chip Bonny- LCNB; Mr. Andy McCreanor- Access Business Finance. From finding and securing the location, to City compliance issues, to achieving an SBA 504 Loan, this was truly a team effort on multiple fronts. 

Bryan said “We could not have gotten this far without everyone’s help at the Warren County SBDC and its connections. We really do appreciate your service and support”. 

Stop in to see and taste what the Barrel House is all about. And mention that the SBDC sent you!

 

GAC Fitness
Rebecca and Chico Grajeda
Springboro, OH

Based in Springboro and open 7 days per week. Rebecca and Chico took over in May, 2015.

They have 20-25 employees.  

GAC is a 13,000 sq ft fitness facility, athletic team training center and, soon to be, Boxing Gym. 

Rebecca and Chico both have formal education in Nursing and a Passion for Fitness, health and Wellness. That Passion is what has pushed them through many challenges and obstacles. 

We have been working with GAC since November, 2015, for a total of 18 sessions and 21 hours of counselling. This support will continue as they continue to grow. 

Areas of service have included:

  • Business Plan Analysis
  • Financial Management
  • Marketing
  • Strategic Planning
  • Business Concept Discussions
  • Organizational Review

Some specific support examples are:

  • Interface with the City of Springboro re: the commercial lease and permits & licenses required for property improvement and new construction.
  • Consulted to resolve rent & utility billing issues and maintain a Positive Cash Flow.
  • Helped to coordinate a loan application to purchase assets from the previous owner. 
  • Helped implement a personal capital injection to update the club and equipment and provide operating expenses.
  • Creating promotions and connections with the Springboro and Franklin Chambers to attract new customers and boost revenues. 

We have done a small part to help GAC Fitness survive Year 1- the Hardest Year! Rebecca and Chico have accepted the risk to their professional reputations and financial lives. They have never given up! They are both fighters, both in and out of the boxing ring.

Please welcome Rebecca and Chico Grajeda of GAC Fitness. 

 

Lebanon Feed Store

Lebanon Feed Store

Ralph and Jean Campbell @ 220 S. Sycamore Street, Lebanon, OH  45036 www.lebanonfeedstore.com

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell opened the Lebanon Feed Store in April, 2016. It is a “small town” business specializing in the needs of the local farming, agriculture and home & garden community. Inventory includes: Feed for livestock and large and small animals, home gardening plants & supplies, agriculture assistance and resources. They have an in-store community bulletin board for local organizations to post contacts and events.

The Campbell’s were referred to the SBDC by a Warren County official, to provide in-depth business and strategic planning. They wanted to start a new feed business, but timing and conditions were just not right in 2014. The SBDC staff continued to mold their business and organization plan, prepare financial projections, offer marketing ideas, provide banking and real estate connections, and form the new company entity. The Campbell’s worked with the SBDC for 9 meetings and over 13 hours. 

One specific issue was real estate evaluation and the loan application. The Campbell’s had looked at a few sites in the County that could accommodate their business. The SBDC suggested multiple options to purchase, rent or lease the different spaces, and would be workable within their plan and credit situation. We put them in an advantageous position with several choices. 

“The Warren County SBDC has been there with us every step of the way. They gave us valuable advice to help us achieve our dream. They are a valuable asset to the community”, Ralph Campbell said.

During this lengthy process, as fate would have it, the feed store where Ralph had worked for 25 years suddenly closed. Now they were ready. The Campbell’s seized the opportunity to move in, using industry contacts, local knowledge and SBDC support. They worked day and night to remodel the 78-year-old building and grounds. With the help of friends and relatives, the Mill has been restored. The Campbell’s have managed to create 5 jobs for Lebanon.

Ralph is also a Board Member of “Main Street Lebanon”. This non-profit is one of 38 “Ohio Main Street  Communities”, designed to create and sustain a vibrant downtown. But, just as important to the Campbell’s, they are proud to carry on the Warren County feed and seed tradition! 

 

Men in Kilts

Men in Kilts

If you’re wondering why there have been so many green, black and yellow kilts around town lately, you’re not seeing things.

Jennifer Faz, a successful, self-employed digital marketing consultant in the Cincinnati area, is now the owner of the first Men In Kilts window and exterior cleaning franchise in the Midwest. Men In Kilts provides professional window cleaning, gutter cleaning, siding cleaning, and pressure washing services to Cincinnati’s residential and commercial customers in their KILTS! All our work is fully insured and backed by a Clean Guarantee. The Wallace Hunting kilts have been turning heads around town since the business scheduled its first job in April, 2016 and Cincinnati continues to welcome this exciting, new concept. 

The Men In Kilts brand is fun, family friendly, and just a little cheeky (especially on a windy day!). When people hear of their “No Peeking” policy, it means they have usually accomplished their mission- which is “to bring smiles to the world, one kilt at a time”. While their kilts do all the heavy lifting when it comes to getting noticed, the professional service and reputation keeps their customers coming back.

The Men In Kilts brand attracts franchise owners who are looking for excitement, don’t want to sit behind a desk, and are bored wearing pants! As a self-employed consultant and single mother, Jennifer Faz was looking to invest in a business that could offer a guaranteed income, planning well ahead for retirement. She funded the business with a personal equity investment that included the franchise fee, a truck and equipment as well as working capital. 

“A service franchise seemed like the perfect fit because of its operation support, proven systems, training and low overhead. The Men In Kilts brand offers a distinct edge over its competitors and I knew if I could find the right employees, I could drive the business in an effective way using my marketing expertise”. 

In fact, it was Faz’s marketing prowess that drew her to the Men In Kilts concept. “As a marketer for nearly 20 years, I was instantly attracted to this fun and unique brand. And as a homeowner myself, I know how difficult it ca be to remember the name of the guy who cleaned my gutters the year before. Once you see Men In Kilts, you never forget us”. 

Men In Kilts was started in 2002 by Nicholas Brand, a Vancouver-based Scotsman who fashioned a hand-sewn kilt and put a visual to the otherwise faceless window cleaner. By 2009, the business had grown to over one million dollars in revenue. Men In Kilts now has franchise locations across north America and plans to expand to every major metro area by 2017. By opening the first franchise in Cincinnati, Ms. Faz was able to create 4 jobs in Warren County. 

Jennifer is currently the Men In Kilts Cincinnati area franchisee, plus works as Project Manager for Valvoline. She also owns a marketing and consulting communications business called Marketing Soul, LLC that develops and executes on-line business strategies. Ms. Faz is a self-starter, organized, creative and a professional leader, all important entrepreneurial characteristics. 

Jennifer contacted the Warren County SBDC in November, 2015. She worked with us through 7 sessions of almost 13 hours of contact and prep. She had a need to create a business plan, review the franchise agreement, and to understand cash flow projections. We connected her to many service providers, including attorneys, bookkeepers, accountants, the SBA, and the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation. The SBDC helped her outsource her “door to door and corner to corner” marketing efforts. 

“The Warren County Small Business Development Center has been a wonderful resource that has helped me properly and successfully launch and grow my business. I have really enjoyed their support. It’s nice to have someone to call who can be your advocate in helping to navigate through the various unknowns when starting a business” said Jennifer. 

If you’d like to try Men In Kilts professional service for your home or business, you can reach their friendly call center at 800-777-KILT (5458).