Your Guiding Light

During the pandemic, Sonja Miller created her own nature-based quality beauty products and worked with the Illinois SBDC at Southeastern Illinois College to grow her business. “The Illinois SBDC helped keep me focused as I navigated through my goals. They provided me with direction, guidance, support, and resources I didn't have access to before. Starting Luna Silk was the best decision I have ever made. My heart fills when my customers tell me how good my products make them feel, inside and out. My goals are to continue to grow, create more products, meet new customers, and enter new markets. With the help of the SBDC, we will continue to explore new ways to make a positive impact with quality products that emphasize personal self-care.”

Jere Richardson’s path has taken her from the school cafeteria to owning and operating Miss Jay’s Cafeteria. With the help of the Illinois SBDC at SIU-E Metro East, she and her team won first place in the East St. Louis Café of Champions Challenge. “The Illinois SBDC helped me more than I could have imagined.” Richardson shared. “After losing my job, I knew I wanted to be my own boss, but didn’t know how to. The SBDC team assisted me with my paperwork, credit counseling, insurance, financial projections, and so much more." Miss Jay’s Cafeteria serves as an inspiration to individuals in the area, reminding them that you can do anything you put your mind to. Richardson is determined to increase her brand recognition and increase locations.

Tovi Khali and Storie Devereaux own a business where they make soaps, candles, and other home goods. “Shopping for soaps was difficult; Tovi has alopecia and Graves’ disease, and most products are harsh on sensitive skin. She created soaps, tested them on herself, then made them available to others with the same issues.” Devereaux said. Being surrounded by other Black entrepreneurs at the Boxville business incubator, in partnership with the Illinois SBDC at Build Bronzeville on the south side of Chicago, is a source of inspiration for them. “Anytime you’re an entrepreneur in the Black community, it’s always a plus. We were already entrepreneurs when we were performing. Anytime you work for yourself, that’s entrepreneurship,” Devereaux said.

Green Valley Manufacturing, Inc. has been in business for 25 years and is recognized as an industry-leading manufacturer of Die and Mold Handling Equipment. Nominated for and chosen to receive the "New Exporter of the Year" award by the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Bradley University, they have significant manufacturing and engineering flexibility while operating from a 32,000 sq/ft facility on 10 acres.

Jalen Ponder, CEO of Eventdor began his entrepreneurship early. "I have started multiple businesses since I was 13. I just can't seem to sit still; if I'm not improving, I feel as if I'm not achieving all I can be. At a young age, I knew I had to be successful and give back." Jalen began working with the Illinois SBDC at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce when he was 16. “Edward gave me a lot of direction when I didn’t have direction. There is a whole lot of dumb stuff I did, and Edward helped me through that learning curve.” Another business he started with other young entrepreneurs, Evolution, is one of the fastest-growing, minority-owned digital marketing agencies in the Midwest.

When the pandemic hit, the biggest challenge Crandall Stats and Sensors faced was the limitations of being unable to meet with customers in person. Owner Schscha Lofquist says, “We didn’t know what we needed to do as far as content creation, ideas, and scheduling were concerned. The Illinois SBDC at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce really helped us develop that and get it to our social media platforms. The SBDC helped us reinvent ourselves and kept us working through the pandemic.”

When the pandemic closed schools, the effect was a perfect storm. Without the schools open, the primary mission of HR Imaging could not be fulfilled. Dan Reynolds reached out to the Illinois SBDC at the Starved Rock Country Alliance for guidance on accessing stimulus funds. “Without the help of the SBA and the SBDC, many businesses would have failed,” testified Reynolds. While there were challenges, the business was able to hold onto half its photographers, down from a usual force of more than two hundred. Reynolds reflects on lessons learned during the pandemic: “Now that Covid-19 has taught us that the unexpected can happen, pictures will be a little more treasured.”

Richard Schwab, a 4th generation military veteran, and owner of Great Revivalist Brewery needed capital to make necessary changes to adjust to the pandemic. “We needed help financially and the Illinois SBDC (at WIU Quad Cities) really stepped up. Securing SBA loans was so complex I can’t even remember it all. Honestly, without their help, I don’t know where we would be. They put the “we” in “brewery! We still have challenges, but with the help of the ITC (at College of DuPage), soon we will be exporting beers to three countries. I’m proud we didn’t lay off any employees and like to think we're a welcome respite in these times of uncertainty.”

Owner Karen Grotbo created The Language Spot from her belief in the importance of learning another language and to fill the void of Spanish learning opportunities for children and adults. She offers Spanish education services for all ages, including reading, writing, speaking, listening, and cultural immersion. Karen learned about the Illinois SBDC at Ilinois Wesleyan University through her realtor. She needed help with business management, financial projections, and marketing. The SBDC helped her secure marketing resources and create a solid legal structure for her business. In addition, they helped with her website. The one piece of advice Karen has for other entrepreneurs is to contact an SBDC if they need help with their small business.

During the pandemic, Calvette Brown needed hands-on assistance for transportation which meant close contact with numerous people. She had an idea for a shielding device that would allow safe guidance of a disabled person, protecting both people from possible infection. She reached out to the Illinois SBDC at Greater Southwest Development Corp for assistance in industry research, e-commerce, patents, and to identify potential funding. In November of 2021 Calvette virtually attend the Viscardi Center’s nationwide pitch competition for disabled entrepreneurs—where she won first place! Now Calvette has funding and consulting expertise to assist her in bringing The Guider Shield to market.