Success Stories
Tin Star Restaurant
Tin Star restaurant provides a healthier choice of unique Southwest and Mexican cuisine. Tin Star is an emerging leader in the "fast-casual" dining. Every menu item is made from scratch on-site with high quality, fresh ingredients.
Equipped with nearly 30 years of experience working in restaurant chains, Jay Battle and his wife Sarah were determined to follow their dreams of owning a restaurant franchise. The Battles met with Senior Business Advisor Jaime Martinez to discuss their options and have their business plan and financials reviewed. In June of 2010, Mr. and Mrs. Battle funded the opening of their own Tin Star restaurant, which is located in an active area of central San Antonio off of Callaghan Road. Noticing their restaurant’s immediate success, the Battles knew they needed working capital to continue forward. They again met with Jaime for assistance with a loan request, as well as advice throughout the loan process. With Jaime’s help, the Battles were approved for a commercial loan from United San Antonio Federal Credit Union. With these loan proceeds, the Battles continue to realize their dreams of restaurant ownership with the help of 25 employees. Jay and Sarah enjoy serving patrons their unique cuisine and feel that their guests appreciate the unique flavor profiles of their food
The Enrichment Academy
The Enrichment Academy is a unique, comprehensive children’s center that provides quality child care in a nurturing, developmentally appropriate environment.
Mandy Pruitt has used the services of the San Antonio Business Development Center since 2007. Most recently, Ms. Pruitt sought assistance from Mike Reyes, Senior Certified Business Advisor for help in expanding into a new location. Mike helped research the competition in the area and also reviewed the center’s new location layout. With Mike’s guidance, Ms. Pruitt learned about marketing and pricing strategy, financial projections, budgeting and strategic planning in preparation for her business expansion. Mike helped Ms. Pruitt focus on ways to grow the business while maintaining cost containment and monitoring operating expenses. Ms. Pruitt received Mike’s assistance with reviewing and updating her business plan and financial projections. Since their expansion in May 2010, the business has significantly increased annual sales and has grown from 24 to 31 staff members.
SMITH/Associates
SMITH/Associates is a small, woman-owned consulting firm that focuses on bringing numerous parties with divergent goals and approaches together to achieve measurable results. Their clients are the U.S. military, federal government agencies worldwide, as well as local government agencies.
SMITH/Associates was founded in 2001 by owner Patti Muller-Smith. Leigh-Ann Fabianke, the company’s vice-president, began working with Senior Certified Business Advisor Richard Sifuentes in 2006 to seek advice on how to grow the business and obtain additional government contracts. At that time, the company had fewer than 10 employees in their San Antonio office. With Richard’s help, the company developed strategies for increasing their government business. The company also sought the advice of the SBDC Contracting Resource Center for assistance with human resource policies. Since then, the company has expanded their sales force to 65 employees throughout the country, as well as in Korea and Portugal. The company has also created a GmbH subsidiary, a German limited liability company, so they may conduct business in Germany and other overseas areas. SMITH/Associates recently obtained their GSA schedule.
Ritchie Limb and Brace
Ritchie Limb and Brace provides comprehensive orthotic and prosthetic services. Each device a patient receives is provided with exceptional quality and care.
David Ritchie’s desire to help others began in 1981 when his father had his leg amputated below the left knee due to vascular disease and diabetes. The service his father received as an amputee was marginal; today, Mr. Ritchie is in business to provide a higher standard of care for amputees. A graduate of the Northwestern University Medical School Prosthetic and Orthotic Center, Mr. Ritchie has long wanted to open his own business. When he saw an opportunity to purchase a building in Seguin last year, his dream began to become a reality. He approached Schertz Bank and Trust for a business loan and was referred to Wayne Looff, Senior Certified Business Advisor with the San Antonio Small Business Development Center. With Wayne’s help, he revamped a business plan and created three years of financial statements. He and his wife Lori opened the doors to Ritchie Limb and Brace, LLC, in August. The company markets to doctors, nursing homes, and other medical-related businesses in Seguin and surrounding areas. His vision for his business is that each patient receives the quality service and care that he would have liked his father to receive.
Pet Bath & Beyond
Pet, Bath and Beyond is a professional pet grooming business in San Antonio that provides quality pet grooming in a safe, serene, and loving environment. The salon features a hydro-massage therapy bathing system, safe nail trimming and polishing methods, and other high quality pet grooming care procedures.
After 15 years of providing pet grooming services at two veterinary clinics, Ms. White decided to open her own business. In August 2008, she approached Senior Business Advisor Jaime Martinez at the San Antonio Small Business Development Center for assistance with starting her own animal grooming business. With Jaime’s guidance, Ms. White developed and refined her business plan and financial projections and worked with Jaime regarding site location. She was able to open her facility through an SBA loan and a commercial loan from United San Antonio Federal Credit Union. Ms. White’s pet salon opened its doors in June of 2010 in a prime location in northwest San Antonio. Ms. White’s goal at her pet spa is to make it a comfortable and peaceful place for pets and their owners.
More Articles...
Page 1 of 5
