Marilyn Brodeur recently started her small business, Infant Dental Center, near downtown Corpus Christi, and she’s planning to open a second office in Houston. Courtesy photo
With a newborn baby at home, Marilyn Brodeur was a little uncomfortable about starting her own business. She was a stay-at-home mom, she told herself, and to step out of that role and try business ownership would make her feel like an impostor.
Then, she got a pep talk from Theresa Moffitt, her counselor at Del Mar College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), who convinced her she could wear the “business owner hat” and the “mom hat” at the same time.
“That was a huge motivator to me,” Brodeur said. “It gave me the confidence I needed and helped legitimize what I was doing.”
Brodeur, a dentist, took the leap and launched her business, Infant Dental Center, near downtown Corpus Christi. She offers a niche dental practice that specializes in a laser procedure on babies to improve their ability to breastfeed. She now plans to open a second office in Houston.
Brodeur said she consulted with Moffitt every step of the way, from financial planning to setting her fees and creating a brand. Once her business model proved solid, she started making more decisions independently.
Then, she got a pep talk from Theresa Moffitt, her counselor at Del Mar College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), who convinced her she could wear the “business owner hat” and the “mom hat” at the same time.
“That was a huge motivator to me,” Brodeur said. “It gave me the confidence I needed and helped legitimize what I was doing.”
Brodeur, a dentist, took the leap and launched her business, Infant Dental Center, near downtown Corpus Christi. She offers a niche dental practice that specializes in a laser procedure on babies to improve their ability to breastfeed. She now plans to open a second office in Houston.
Brodeur said she consulted with Moffitt every step of the way, from financial planning to setting her fees and creating a brand. Once her business model proved solid, she started making more decisions independently.
GRASSROOTS SUPPORT
Partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBDCs across the country provide grassroots support for local business development free of charge. Del Mar’s SBDC has served the Coastal Bend for 26 years.
“People come in with a glimmer of what they want to do, we set them up with an advisor, create a path and help them get started,” said Ann Fierova, Del Mar SBDC director. “Their success is all we’re worried about.”
Last year, Del Mar’s SBDC advised and trained more than 2,400 entrepreneurs. Their businesses secured more than $13.7 million in government contracts and $8.4 million in loans, increased sales by $19.2 million and created hundreds of jobs across the Coastal Bend.
Assistance isn’t limited to business startups. Counselors help entrepreneurs expand, buy or lease new locations, hire more employees and even get out of a business, Fierova said.
SBDC counselor Larry Ellis is helping William and Gina Marin apply for loans to grow their businesses, which include a restaurant group, a laundry company and a real estate holding company.
“It requires a lot of paperwork,” William Marin said. “Larry puts everything together and makes our job easy. It’s extremely valuable because, otherwise, I’d have to go out and pay for the services he provides.”
Marin and his wife first bought a Subway sandwich shop franchise in 1998 with help from the SBDC, he said. Their companies now employ about 170 people.
“People come in with a glimmer of what they want to do, we set them up with an advisor, create a path and help them get started,” said Ann Fierova, Del Mar SBDC director. “Their success is all we’re worried about.”
Last year, Del Mar’s SBDC advised and trained more than 2,400 entrepreneurs. Their businesses secured more than $13.7 million in government contracts and $8.4 million in loans, increased sales by $19.2 million and created hundreds of jobs across the Coastal Bend.
Assistance isn’t limited to business startups. Counselors help entrepreneurs expand, buy or lease new locations, hire more employees and even get out of a business, Fierova said.
SBDC counselor Larry Ellis is helping William and Gina Marin apply for loans to grow their businesses, which include a restaurant group, a laundry company and a real estate holding company.
“It requires a lot of paperwork,” William Marin said. “Larry puts everything together and makes our job easy. It’s extremely valuable because, otherwise, I’d have to go out and pay for the services he provides.”
Marin and his wife first bought a Subway sandwich shop franchise in 1998 with help from the SBDC, he said. Their companies now employ about 170 people.
SECRETS TO SUCCESS
Entrepreneurs such as the Marins and Brodeur are successful because they’re passionate about their businesses and they’re coachable, Fierova said. They also use the abundant resources the SBDC offers including referrals for professional services such as legal opinions and website design.
The SBDC also keeps pace with changing economic conditions. Experts might offer training on how to survive a recession and a slumping economy, for example. Others teach business owners how they can take advantage of the Eagle Ford Shale oil-and-gas boom.
“The training matches the economy locally,” said Debbie Fernandez, branch manager of the Corpus Christi office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The SBDC also keeps pace with changing economic conditions. Experts might offer training on how to survive a recession and a slumping economy, for example. Others teach business owners how they can take advantage of the Eagle Ford Shale oil-and-gas boom.
“The training matches the economy locally,” said Debbie Fernandez, branch manager of the Corpus Christi office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
ECONOMIC REALITY
A current economic reality the SBDC is helping entrepreneurs navigate is stricter, post-2008 lending practices, Fierova said.
Nevertheless, she said it’s a good time to start a business if you offer professional services such as doctors, lawyers, physical therapists and accountants or if you’re a specialized tradesperson such as a plumber, a carpenter or an electrician.
Whatever the business, the SBDC can be an entrepreneur’s best friend.
“You need help,” Brodeur said. “It’s vital. You need to be able to run your decisions by someone else who has experience with small businesses.
“I’ve heard that a lot of businesses fail after a few years,” she added. “I feel a lot of them fail because there wasn’t a lot of planning done.”
For more information on the Del Mar College Small Business Development Center, call 361-698-1021 or visit www.delmar.edu/sbdc.
Nevertheless, she said it’s a good time to start a business if you offer professional services such as doctors, lawyers, physical therapists and accountants or if you’re a specialized tradesperson such as a plumber, a carpenter or an electrician.
Whatever the business, the SBDC can be an entrepreneur’s best friend.
“You need help,” Brodeur said. “It’s vital. You need to be able to run your decisions by someone else who has experience with small businesses.
“I’ve heard that a lot of businesses fail after a few years,” she added. “I feel a lot of them fail because there wasn’t a lot of planning done.”
For more information on the Del Mar College Small Business Development Center, call 361-698-1021 or visit www.delmar.edu/sbdc.
