Your Guiding Light

Kate Snyder first reached out to the Kentucky SBDC in Berea to ask for assistance in developing a business plan and accompanying financial projections in early 2021. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Snyder worked as an administrator of a local non-profit arts organization and was also a working artist. Her love for the Danville community fueled Snyder’s desire to envision and ultimately create a business that would hopefully encourage her home community to thrive following the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately create a vibrant quality of life for families. Over the spring and summer, the client and coach worked diligently to develop a business plan and financial projections that informed Snyder on the viability of her proposed venture.

Women Clients Served in FY 2021

"I feel so lucky to have been partnered with [my business advisor] and have her support and advice throughout this whole process. I can’t say enough good things about [her] and SBDC as a whole. Their services are priceless and small businesses are so lucky to have them as a resource.”
– Hallye Anderson, Game Fish Guide Service

Lauren Hamilton is the Owner and Founder of Big Mouth Creative LLC in Hanover, MD. She founded her business as a college sophomore, with the aim of creating expressive designs for women entrepreneurs. Lauren met with her SBDC Business Consultant, Candace Pruett, DBA to walk her through the process of registering her business and establishing her "BAIL" team to consist of her banker, accountant, insurance agent, and legal resources. Lauren meets with her consultant quarterly for check-ins to discuss business operations, financials, and marketing for her business. Her firm has grown in 2021. Among other projects, she worked to create several illustrations that are featured on notebooks, available nationwide in Target stores.

Debbi Mallinson came to the MSBDC Central Regional Office for help with starting a consulting business. She reached out for counseling to help build her business acumen and committed to launching a new venture, Magic Lamp Consulting. Debbi formed a female-owned enterprise and began a strategic planning project. She worked to develop operational procedures, sales plan, and pro forma financials with help from the MSBDC. By fourth quarter, Debbi hired a second full-time employee and is earning more money than ever before. The company recently won a business plan competition and Debbi plans to expand operations and hire new staff for 2022. Her biggest challenge is managing the growth of the company as word-of-mouth continues to spread.