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Since 1995, Filtration Products has manufactured air filters for HVAC systems. The company is owned by David Dilling. Other companies in San Antonio resell air filters, but Filtration Products is the only manufacturer of filters in South Texas. The company’s products are used in professional office buildings, retail centers, hotels, restaurants, and hospitals, and are sold to distribution companies and air conditioning service companies as well as individual homeowners. The pleated air filters are of high quality and can be manufactured in any size needed for every business application.
Dilling came to the SBDC initially for help with his website and marketing his business. Senior Business Advisor Crystal Darby helped with updates to his website and assisted him in obtaining publicity in the San Antonio Express-News about his home delivery service. Crystal also helped him prepare for government contracting. She researched the GSA pricing of his competitors and helped him put together a price list which he has used for several government bids, including the City of San Antonio and CPS Energy.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dilling has had to rapidly innovate. His new focus as a result is offering their same quality air filter that they have been manufacturing for government, commercial, and residential facilities for the past 25 years and turning them into inserts for face masks.
“We are used to protecting hospitals and military bases from dust, allergens, and other airborne contaminants,” says Dilling. “Now we can give individuals that same protection, just in a smaller, portable size.”
Filter inserts convert cloth masks to M14 / 95 protection. They are 5-inches by 6.75-inches, the right size to slip into a pocket or lining in a face mask.
Filters4Air has donated filters locally in San Antonio, while also offering individual and wholesale options. “Our service in San Antonio is contact-less, and we ship nationally as well. We take the stress away from measuring air filters, going to the store, and searching shelves,” Dilling says.
For more information on Filtration Products and their services visit Filters4Air.com.
View the KSAT12 News Feature
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Meet Vicki and Deidre, owners of The Refinery Men’s Grooming Lounge located in New Braunfels, Texas.
Vicki and Deidre, owners of The Refinery Men’s Grooming Lounge
The Refinery Men’s Grooming Lounge is the creation of two local women who aspired to create the premier men’s salon in New Braunfels. Their business is centered around the idea that a men’s salon can be a different kind of experience. Top notch attention to detail no matter how simple the service.
The Prince Solms Royal Shave with steam
Here like-minded stylists and barbers provide the highest quality services in a clean and masculine setting. Their goal is to provide the best service to every client, every time. They are extremely grateful for the support they have received from the local community and strive to reciprocate that support at every opportunity.
Cleansing Comal Facial with steam
At The Refinery Men’s Grooming Lounge they love to mix old school tradition with modern trends and cutting edge skill. They’re not a salon, but an uncomplicated place for men of all ages to get a cut, trim or a shave. If you’re feeling adventurous, try their new facials and waxing–they won’t tell!
You can find The Refinery Men’s Grooming Lounge at 2363 Gruene Lake Drive, New Braunfels, Texas 78130, United States Unit A, online at https://refinerynb.com/ or by calling 830.609.9727.
Client Assistance:
Vicki and Deidre used the assistance of the UTSA Small Business Development Center Satellite Office and met with Business Advisor Larry New to help with their business formation. Together, they worked on detailed financial projections and their business plan for a business loan. The UTSA Small Business Development Center’s Satellite Office is located at 940 W. San Antonio Street in New Braunfels and you can reach Larry at 830-214-6435.
We are proud to be a part of The Refinery Men’s Grooming Lounge’s success!
Find the UTSA Small Business Development Center at 940 W. San Antonio Street in New Braunfels and call us at 830-214-6435.
Check out more New Braunfels and Seguin success stories!
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Frank McKay, a UTSA alumnus and U.S. Army veteran, and L.J. Letourneau have spent the majority of their careers working for an oil services company that did inspection and testing for high-pressure fracking wells. In 2018, they decided the time was right to fulfill their shared dream of owning their own business. With 20 years of combined experience in the oil industry—and a new, innovative technology to share with customers—the pair launched their own company, 2A Energy Services, LLC.
The company provides services and products to the well stimulation and completion processes in the Eagle Ford Shale. Their products and services primarily focus on pressure containment, well control, and fluid transfer equipment. 2A Energy Services’ customers include companies who specialize in hydraulic fracturing, cement pumping, coil tubing, well drill out, well flow back, and well testing. They also have been carrying iron supplies, and well and gauge parts, in order to provide real time repairs in the area. 2A Energy Services also helped to design and build a radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology app with a prominent technology company. This innovative technology allows their customers to obtain inspection data and asset management in real time right from their phones, saving them down-time, money, and ensuring accurate field data.
Frank and L.J. approached The University of Texas at San Antonio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and worked with Senior Business Advisor Lisha Garcia. She helped with the initial launch of their company by reviewing and refining their business plan and assisting them with developing financial projections. As the company grew, they needed to hire additional workers and were also seeking to move from their start up location in L.J.’s garage to permanent office space. Lisha worked with the owners to revise their business plan and prepare them to meet with high profile lenders, investors and CEOs, in order to help them reach their new company goals. The pair has now hired workers and has permanent office and shop space in Pleasanton, Texas. The move also allowed them to increase their capacity to store more equipment, hire additional employees, and fulfill their number one goal of providing health insurance for their employees.
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Sam Pena of SAMS (Spine and Musculo-Skeletal) Clinic
Sam had been a chiropractor working with a corporate practice for three years. He was able to save up some startup capital and planned to open his own practice. With his own practice, Sam is now able to operate and treat his loyal patients with the absolute passion and quality that he’s always wanted to provide under his own business model. Sam’s wife, Sunny, was familiar with the services of the UTSA Small Business Development Center. Once she and her husband were ready to make the leap of starting their own practice, Sunny recommended her husband visit with the UTSA SBDC in order to gain some startup assistance. During Sam’s session with his Business Advisor Hector Ramirez, they first discussed legal structure and the process of attaining an EIN in the effort of opening up a business checking account. Sam and Hector also reviewed several sample business plans. By understanding the value of business planning, Sam is well on his way to building a practice with future growth potential. Sam anticipates continuing to use the services at the UTSA SBDC by attending marketing workshops and follow up sessions with his Business Advisor.
Additional therapy room on site
Sam and Sunny Pena
Website: https://provider.kareo.com/samuel-pena
Facebook Page: SAMS Clinic SATX -
Carlos De La Cruz Jr. is a retired veteran whose dream was to open a 9Round Fitness franchise. From the military, he knew the benefits of having structure in his life, so being a 9Round trainer fits him well. He and wife Annette decided to buy a 9Round fitness franchise in San Antonio since they found the other seven 9Round fitness franchises there had been successful. The fitness center offers a full body workout with an emphasis on kickboxing and personal trainer guidance. Members get their workout at their leisure and complete the circuit in 30 minutes. They are the 8th franchise in San Antonio and are located in the northeast side of the city. Carlos and Annette shadowed an existing 9Round Fitness franchise for a few months so they would get an idea of how it runs. They needed assistance in researching and finding an ideal location for the gym. They engaged with FranNet prior to getting in contact with the SBDC, so they were aware of the franchise opportunity. They had a preliminary business plan that was provided by the franchisor, but they needed help in getting it into a format that would be acceptable to a bank. They met UTSA SBDC Senior Business Advisor Lisha Garcia at a franchising business class. At that time, they were seeking a loan through their bank, and they had also already attended several small business workshops at the UTSA SBDC. Lisha assisted with initial market and territory analysis, and developing a business plan and projections.
Also, with the assistance of SBDCNet (SBDC National Information Clearinghouse), Carlos was able to research and locate his franchise in an ideal territory. The SBDC further assisted with a business plan and projections to secure a 7a SBA loan. The SBDC helped them start the business in 2018. Carlos is at the business full time. Annette is a full time nurse and works in the operations side of the business. The business began with four employees and has now grown, in just over a year, to nine employees. Carlos has employed a successful marketing strategy to meet his area needs with targeted marketing in his territory. His sales grew significantly in 2018, and in 2019 they are projected to double his 2018 results. The SBDC continues to work with Carlos on his goals for 2020, including purchasing more equipment to continue to expand his business offerings.
