may 2014

Transcription

may 2014

EXPERT CONSULTING
TRAINING PROGRAMS
DISASTER READINESS
SPECIAL EVENTS
Great looking corporate
THE SMALL BUSINESS VOICE
The
March 2014
Small Business Voice
Volume 10, SPECIAL ISSUE
May 2014
PLUS
NJSBDC Client
Jams at
Super Bowl
- PAGE 16
NJSBDC 2013
Impact Figures
- PAGE 22
NJ Small
Business
Success Takes
Center Stage
NJSBDC clients prove success is in
reach. Clients receive recognition.
PAGE 5
NJSBDC Receives
Silver Gull Award
NJSBDC at Brookdale Community
College awarded for outstanding
commitment to small business.
PAGE 21
www.NJSBDC.com
Making New Jersey
www.pseg.com
PSE&G’s forward-looking Energy Strong program will
invest $3.9 billion over 10 years to create a resilient energy
infrastructure that will better withstand storms like Sandy
and other natural disasters. This will save New Jersey
businesses hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue
and protect our families from the devastating impact of
extended power outages.
PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group.
We make things work for you.
4 | SMALL BUSINESS VOICE - NJSBDC
Making
New Jersey
Stronger
Business by
Business
SMALL BUSINESS VOICE - NJSBDC | 5
The NJSBDC
Network
Continues
Growing New
Jersey’s Small
Businesses and
Entrepreneurs
Small Business Success Takes
Center Stage at the NJSBDC Small
Business Growth Success Awards
At its December 13, 2013 Annual Business Growth
Success Awards Luncheon, the New Jersey Small Business
Development Centers (NJSBDC) network recognized 14
highest achieving clients statewide.
Those successful small business owners and entrepreneurs from diverse industry
sectors, with varying revenue ranges and employment levels, each credited the
organization with their success in moving and compelling testimonials at the Forsgate
Country Club, Monroe Township. The event was sponsored by key financial supporters
-- PNC Bank and PSEG -- and the banquet room was packed with 275 business and
economic development leaders in attendance.
This year’s event was even more poignant than years before because it included
small businesses which were impacted by Super Storm Sandy, but, with the help
Continued on pg. 6
Making New Jersey Stronger
Business by Business
The NJSBDC Network Continues Growing New Jersey’s Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Continued from pg. 5
of NJSBDC succeeded in revitalizing business operations to
further their success.
David Pillischer, CEO of Electronic Brailler, LLC, River Vale, who
has created products to enhance the lives of blind persons and
has contracted worldwide now, summed up the comments of
the businesses.
“Many years ago, I came to NJSBDC with a prototype that was
next to impossible,” he said of the center at Bergen Community
College. “They kept me focused and I can tell you, my device
would not exist without you,” he said addressing the audience
but looking at the directors of the center.
other victims, Bill Lashovitz, president of RBA Homes, Red Bank,
credited the assistance he received from the center at Brookdale
Community College, for everything it did for his company.
“They really helped us recover, double our staff and our sales
“The NJSBDC helped us
double our staff and our
sales revenues by 100
percent over two years”
Kathleen Rana, owner of Jersey Girl Café, Hamilton, told the
audience that the center at the College of New Jersey “put
everything right after an auspicious start and allowed me the
training and guidance to open a new location planned for
early spring. I am so thankful.”
revenues by 100 percent over two years and now we are
building homes for Sandy victims. I thank the center and the
customized counseling and courses I received from the center
as well as the social media counseling. It made an incredible
difference.”
A victim of Super Storm Sandy and then a business that helped
NJSBDC Chief Executive Officer and State Director Brenda
Success Award Event Photos By: Keith Mills Photograhy
Hopper noted that due to population
migration and “funding always being a
challenge, we have made a difference!”
Hopper personally awarded and thanked
each client with enthusiasm and excitement. “This is my favorite event because
we hear all their stories,” she told the
audience. “It’s so moving.”
“Post-Super Storm Sandy, the state’s
campaign became New Jersey Strong;
with the thousands of business owners
we’ve served since Sandy hit, we like to
say we are making a difference business
by business,” said Deborah Smarth,
NJSBDC chief operating officer and
associate state director. “In 2012, the
NJSBDC network counseled more than
5,300 clients with a total of more than
20,000 counseling hours, sponsored
more than 900 business training seminars
with about 10,000 attending, facilitated
$69 million in financing for our clients
and our assistance helped our clients
create and save more than 16,000 jobs
in New Jersey. This represents all grant
activities.” The NJSBDC network issued
its 2013 impact data in February.
The keynote speaker, Senator Anthony
Bucco (Morris and Somerset Counties),
Ranking Budget Officer, Senate Budget
and Appropriations Committee, and the
owner of a small manufacturing company
in Paterson, credited the network with
the success of small business owners
across the state.
He commented that businesses get
frustrated with taxation and bureaucratic
red tape even though there are ongoing
efforts by the Legislature and Christie
administration allaying those concerns
on the part of business owners. He
explained how he tapped the services
of the NJSBDC to help his business. He
also noted the exceptional advocacy that
NJSBDC’s Chief Operating Officer, Deborah
Smarth, provides for the NJSBDC network
in Trenton. He said he would continue
his advocacy efforts to provide necessary
funding support for the network since it
grows jobs for New Jersey’s economy.
The Assistant Majority Leader, Senator
Linda Greenstein, (parts of Middlesex
and Mercer,) praised the network for
“its passion” and promised to support
its efforts. She received recognition for
her efforts this past year.
The NJSBDC network also recognized
Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin (Middlesex
The 14 small business Success Award
Winners who were recognized in December
2013 include: An inventor of a classroomfriendly Braille device to assist blind
students; a custom modular home builder;
a gymnastics training facility; a womanowned family physician practice; a film
producer, writer and cinematographer;
a manufacturer of dietary supplements;
a science technology firm; a brewing
company; a full-service marketing agency in
the construction/transportation industries;
a defense contractor to support software
engineering, infrastructure and technology
services; a family-owned restaurant with
strong roots in the community, revitalized after Super Storm Sandy damages; a
“They kept me focused and I can
tell you, my device would not exist
without you.”
County) and Senator Steven V. Oroho
(Sussex and parts of Morris and Warren
counties) for their support of the network
and its mission to assist small businesses
statewide.
Al Titone, District Director of the Small
Business Administration, who had just
arrived from the airport from a business
trip, introduced each recipient and told
their story of success and how proud he
was of each winner.
Glenn Shafer, Dean and Professor, Rutgers
Business School, stressed how proud he
was to be a partner with the network and
referred to the organization as “vital”
and is “playing a significant role in the
major revitalization happening in the
City of Newark, the state’s largest city.”
corporate/event catering business with
a retail establishment serving unique
ethnic and healthy foods; a baking goods
business, grown with social media and
Internet marketing, attracting thousands
of online customers.
Their detailed stories are part of this
newsletter publication (See pages 8 - 15).
“It is an honor to be recognized
by NJSBDC, which has done so
much to foster the growth of
small businesses in New Jersey.”
Senator Steven Oroho
NET
INCOME
+126%
Senator Steven V. Oroho; Deborah Smarth,
COO-Associate State Director, NJSBDC; Senator
Anthony Bucco (left to right)
Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin
Deborah Smarth, COO-Associate State Director,
NJSBDC; Senator Linda Greenstein; Brenda B.
Hopper, CEO - State Director, NJSBDC (left to right)
2 0 13 njsbdc
c L I E N T s U CC E S S
AWARD winners Mallory’s marvelous muffins
owned and operated by Leslie Nist and located in Basking
Ridge, NJ, was hit hard by the 2008 recession. Leslie Nist
turned to the NJSBDC at RVCC, receiving 23 hours of counseling and training from the Center on issues like business
development including marketing and sales. Then, Leslie decided to tap further assistance from specialty E-Business Lead
Consultant, Sunny Kancherla, under the Portable Assistance
SBA Grant. Sunny provided Leslie with more one-on-one
counseling to further enhance website development, marketing and an enhanced business plan for a new direction.
Leslie has grown her customer base online due to an aggressive Internet marketing/and website sales campaign that
feature her diversified array of gifts and baked goods.
NJSBDC’s resources, Leslie says, “has made all the difference in the world” which has fueled her business growth
and online sales.
Optimal Solutions, Inc. (OSI)
established by Vijay Hanagandi, Ph.D., CEO, is based in
Lyndhurst, NJ. OSI started working with NJSBDC’s Tech
Consultant, Randy Harmon, on an array of grant proposals
to help commercialize its products. The company delivers
customized software applications that model, optimize and
simulate complex industrial processes to help companies
optimize efficiencies and increase profitability. OSI applied
for and won a $150,000 SBIR grant in 2012, and obtained
another SBIR award for the same amount in January 2013.
Then, in June, the business submitted 2 National Science
Foundation grant proposals. The firm worked with
Randy on a Phase II SBIR proposal and was just awarded
$1 million. With assistance received by NJSBDC and the
Meadowlands Regional Accelerator, the company has succeeded in charting a course to become a products company
while maintaining its steady consulting practice, too. Vijay Hanagandi notes that the assistance OSI received “has
been invaluable.” The New Jersey Technology Council provided Optimal Solutions, Inc. with a business membership
gift and Eisner Amper LLC, a longtime partner of NJSBDC,
provided a complimentary consulting session.
NJSBDC E-Business
Specialty Program
NJSBDC Technology
Commercialization
Specialty Program
2013
NJSBDC CLIENT SUCCESS AWARD winners Electronic Brailler, LLC,
located in River Vale, NJ and headed by David Pillischer has
done some amazing things! In 2011, leveraging his 25-plus
years of experience in creating products to help the blind,
David established Electronic Brailler LLC, and soon developed a classroom friendly Braille device that allows a blind
student to quietly imprint Braille on paper without any
disruption to others in the classroom. This product along
with another product he formulated – the first remote
software application allowing teachers to monitor a student’s work over the Internet - benefits long distance
learning for the blind. Vince Vicari, acting director at
NJSBDC at Bergen Community College, supported David
through counseling and advice to help the project progress and as David Pillischer says, he is “grateful to the staff
at NJSBDC for their service and sound advice,” noting that
he “found the SBDC to be professional, knowledgeable and
sincere in their desire to see new businesses succeed.” The
Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey provided
a business membership gift to Electronic Brailler.
NJSBDC at Bergen
Community College
RBA Homes
and its President, Bill Lashovitz, specialize in modular home
building with custom floor designs. The company, located in
Red Bank, NJ and started in 1986, has become the leading
custom modular homebuilder throughout Monmouth,
Mercer and Ocean counties. RBA homes was severely impacted by Super Storm Sandy, but as a result of specialized
training its employees received from the NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College, it was able to bolster its presence
in the construction industry. With the help of Center Director
Jackeline Fuertes, RBA worked on new marketing strategies
including social media practices. The company has increased
the number of employees from 8 to 13 and its sales levels
have reached $6 million plus. Bill readily acknowledges that
the NJSBDC and Jackeline Fuertes cannot be thanked enough for its assistance in initiating aggressive social media and
marketing strategies in the Post-Sandy period.
NJSBDC at
Brookdale
Community College
2013 NJSBDC CLIENT SUCCESS AWARD winners Morris Family Medical Center
and its founder Elena R. Jauregui, M.D., have an amazing
story. Dr. Jauregui was working as a physician and medical
director at a Health Center in Jersey City when Elena’s mother
encouraged her to open up a much-needed bi-lingual practice in her hometown of Elizabeth, NJ. The Urban Enterprise
Zone in the City of Elizabeth referred Elena to the NJSBDC
at Kean University for guidance on how to start her practice. There, she received one-on-one counseling concerning
business planning, start-up legal aspects, record-keeping and
marketing strategies from the Center Director, Mr. Nat Sims,
and other NJSBDC consultants. Since opening her family
medical practice in 2000, Dr. Jauregui has more than 3,000
patients. She also serves on the center’s advisory board. Dr.
Jauregi says, “Thanks to the NJSBDC and its highly informed
coaches and instructors we were able to fulfill our dreams.”
NJSBDC at Kean
University
KVibe Productions, LLC,
located in Jersey City, NJ, was established by Khoa Dinh Le,
while he was still working full time as a Web and Motion
Engineer with Ernst & Young. Consultants Ryan Silvestre,
Alycea Nightingale and Don Egan of the NJSBDC at New
Jersey City University assisted Khoa on his business plan,
strategic outline, marketing strategies and certifications.
At that point, Khoa decided to resign from Ernst & Young
and run his business full-time. Within a two year period, he
has built his film producing/cinematography business from
$30,000 to a half a million dollar business. Since working with
the NJSBDC, he has received numerous awards including the
New York International Film Festival award for Best Suspense
Short Film, and Incubator of the Year for NJ Fastest Growing
Small Business. His achievements are numerous and he
acknowledges that the assistance he obtained from NJSBDC
helped him get to this growth benchmark. The New Jersey
Business and Industry Association provided a business membership gift to KVibe Productions, LLC.
NJSBDC at New
Jersey City
University
2013 NJSBDC CLIENT SUCCESS AWARD winners Giant Gymnastics
has come a long way since Jennifer Packard and John Skorski
partnered to open their first facility in Hackettstown, NJ in
2006. In addition to offering a variety of classes and programs for all ages, Giant Gymnastics also facilitates competitive programs, birthday parties and other special events.
Jennifer and John are also recognized for promoting gymnastics. In 2010, the partners approached NJSBDC of
Northwest Jersey Assistant Director Mary Adelman, whose assistance with some thorny business issues and problems proved to be the turning point in their business plans and future.
Soon thereafter, the business paid off two SBA loans, made repairs on an existing building and ice rink, and expanded their
customer base in the process. The company now has 6
full-time and 19 part-time employees, a second facility in
Sparta, and revenues projected to reach $800,000 for 2013.
The business also is very involved with the community, from
Torch Runs through town, to Food Drives. GIANT Gymnastics
received a business membership gift from the Warren County
Regional Chamber of Commerce.
NJSBDC of
Northwest Jersey
Herbakraft,
a manufacturer and distributor of dietary and related supplements, started out in 2004 as a one-person, home-based
business. Over the years, company President Nisha Khanijow,
along with her husband and Executive Vice President Vinod
Khanijow, have grown the business by providing quality
products at an affordable price, while promoting employee
growth, loyalty, accountability, social responsibility, education and hard work. Located in Piscataway, NJ, HerbaKraft
sought the assistance of the NJSBDC at Raritan Valley Community College in February 2012 to better manage its rapid
expansion. Under the SBA Jobs Act Grant, center consultants
Rita Auld, Linda Dousis, Carla Fallone, Karen Katcher, Vicki
Lynne Morgan, and Sal Ricciardone, provided expertise in
business development, record keeping, human resources,
and insurance. The company now employs 13 individuals,
with annual sales expected to reach $7 to $8 million. The
NJSBDC is also helping to formulate a $700,000 loan package
for expansion into the south Asian market.
NJSBDC at Raritan
Valley Community
College
2013
Small Business
Success Awards
Highlights
Senator Anthony Bucco,
Success Awards,
Keynote Speaker
Brenda B. Hopper, CEO - State Director, NJSBDC; retiring Bergen Center
Director, Vince D’Elia, receiving Achievement Award; Deborah Smarth,
COO-Associate State Director, NJSBDC (left to right)
Al Titone, District Director
Small Business Administration (SBA)
New Jersey District Office
Glenn Shafer, Dean,
Rutgers University Business School,
Newark - New Brunswick speaks
Gregory Dunlap, Manager at Public Service
Electric and Gas Company (PSEG) Success Awards Sponsor
Jordon Peterson, Senior Vice President,
PNC Bank Success Awards Sponsor
2013 NJSBDC CLIENT SUCCESS AWARD winners Tuckahoe brewing company,
located in Oceanview, NJ, has a unique beginning. Tim Hanna,
Matt McDevitt, Chris Konicki, Jim McAfee – all from different
careers but having roots in Cape May and Atlantic counties
-- decided to start their own brewing company. In 2011,
the team approached Joe Molineaux, Center Director of the
NJSBDC at Richard Stockton College, for assistance with business start-up planning, site selection, financing options and
other business development needs, including the licensing
process to open a production facility. Within that first year
the team opened their brewing location and tasting room.
Currently, they are entering into distribution agreements to
supply their products to restaurants and bars regionally. Also,
with the help of NJSBDC at Stockton, they received an SBA
7(a) loan for $75,000 through Ocean City Bank to help them
bottle and distribute their products to distributors and retail
locations. No doubt, success has been brewing at Tuckahoe
Brewing Company!
stokes creative group, inc.,
owned by Joanne Stokes, and located in Southampton, NJ,
provides full service marketing services with specialization in
the construction and transportation industries. The services
include public outreach, visualizations, aerial photography,
print collateral, training videos, commercials, video productions and full-length feature documentaries. Gary Rago, former Center Director of NJSBDC at Rutgers-Camden, assisted
the company in developing a business plan that enabled Sun
Bank to provide the necessary financing to achieve its next
stage of growth. Then, NJSBDC consultant Steve Applebaum
helped the company with its ongoing financial analysis to ensure healthy maintenance. Recent successes include the NJ
Turnpike widening project, the NY Thruway Authority/Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement Project and more. The company
continues to win contracts in New Jersey and New York and is
on the right track for further advancement and growth.
NJSBDC at Richard
Stockton College
NJSBDC at Rutgers
University - Camden
2013 NJSBDC CLIENT SUCCESS AWARD winners The Portuguese Fisherman Restaurant,
has been in operation since 1976 in South River, NJ. Mark
Silva took over the restaurant that specializes in Portuguese and Spanish dining after the death of his father in 2009.
Forced to close due to reconstruction necessitated by Hurricane Sandy, Mark was able to partially re-open in December
2012 by using the upper level of the restaurant. Acting on
the advice of The Mayor’s office, Mark visited the NJSBDC at
Rutgers-New Brunswick, where he obtained advice on business continuity and growth, and assistance with procuring an
SBA loan, which helped him remediate the damage, and reopen a fully operational and refurbished restaurant in August
2013. The makeover has attracted new customers and added
to the restaurant’s recognition as one of the largest non-franchise establishments in the state. “There are a lot of people
counting on me,” stated Mark, including his 35 employees,
which ensured the re-opening of this restaurant.
NJSBDC at Rutgers
University - New
Brunswick
WisEngineering, LLC,
led by Cheryl D. Hall and located in Dover, NJ, provides
leading edge technology solutions and consulting services to both the private and public sectors. Cheryl has
taken full advantage of the business counseling, mentoring,
and other forms of technical assistance services provided
by the NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark. The strategies that the
Center developed helped the company re-group, diversify and get back on track after a Department of Defense
savings initiative resulted in the loss of a contract. Subsequently, WisEngineering sales are projected to reach about $4 million even during these difficult economic times. The company
won two major contracts for software engineering in support
of US Army weapon systems and for providing infrastructure
and equipment services to the Armament Software Engineering Center at Picatinny Arsenal. Cheryl Hall and her staff
of 30 are grateful to both the NJSBDC and US Small Business
Administration for imparting their knowledge to her team.
NJSBDC at Rutgers
University - Newark
2013 NJSBDC CLIENT SUCCESS AWARD winners Jersey girl Cafe,
owned and operated by Chef Kathleen Rana, has been a
client of the NJSBDC at the College of New Jersey since 2005.
Kathleen obtained advice on business development, planning, and marketing, and continues to attend many of the
center’s workshops. During her start-up, Kathleen rented a
commercial kitchen from the local VFW to keep costs down.
After the first 18 months, she was able to expand beyond
corporate and event catering to include a retail establishment
featuring healthy foods and an innovative menu. In August,
2011, she opened Jersey Girl Café in Hamilton, NJ, where she
now employs 6 full timers. A culinary adventurer, Chef Rana
has traveled extensively in the U.S, Asia, Europe and South
America, introducing her clients to cuisines learned from
master chefs around the world. Kathleen credits the NJSBDC
for providing her with the necessary resources and help to
move in the right direction. The Princeton Regional Chamber
of Commerce provided a business membership gift.
Jethwa Management
in Paterson, NJ, owned and operated by Ramesh and Ranjana
Jethwa, has been operating for more than 25 years. Originally
from India, the family moved to New Jersey from Michigan in
1989 and purchased their first Burger King franchise. Today,
Jethwa Management operates several Burger King, Dunkin
Donut, and Popeye’s Chicken franchises. Annual sales reach
over $13 million with 250 employees. The NJSBDC at William
Paterson University helped the company restructure its cash
flow and consolidate outstanding loans, enabling the company to be subsequently approved for a $6 million SBA 504
loan. The NJSBDC also helped the company restructure its
payroll system for greater efficiency. Having experienced
flooding and loss of power from prior storms, the SBDC
helped the company implement a backup accounting
system utilizing cloud-computing technology. According to
the Jethwas, NJSBDC assistance has resulted in a 6% increase
in sales/profitability and 30 additional employees since 2012.
NJSBDC at
The College of
New Jersey
NJSBDC at William
Paterson University
NJSBDCJAMMING
CLIENT WITH
JAMS WITH
THE SUPER BOWL
SUPER BOWL
Super Bowl Host
Committee Calls Upon
NJSBDC Network Small
Business Client
The Super Bowl Host Committee, through a representative of theirs, reached out to Kim Osterhoudt
and said they wanted to purchase some native
New Jersey products to be included in gift bags
for the NFL owners. They decided, after finding
Osterhoudt’s website JamsbyKim.com, to make
contact and ordered her business’ blueberry and
lemon jam.
Photo Courtesy of: The Intersect Fund
After sending them jams along with some cranberry
chutney and the carrot and ginger jam as well as
toast crackers, the Host Committee ordered jars of
the blueberry and lemon jam for NFL team owners
attending the Super Bowl.
Having worked for Prudential in Newark, Kim
decided she was ready for a change and opted
for early retirement. So, she transitioned from the
corporate world to starting her own business and
her passion was producing artisan jams from all
natural ingredients in a variety of flavors. Her one
employee and her volunteer sister along with her
make about 7,000 jars of jam a year.
Kim went to the Small Business Development
Center at Raritan Valley Community College to
learn the basics of starting her own small business
and she will be in business almost five years now.
Osterhoudt buys her ingredients at farmers markets
in different geographic regions of the state.
The jams are available through her website and
locally at Bottle King stores in Hillsborough and It’s
A Wrap Café in Plainfield. They can be served at
breakfast or used in preparing chicken or salmon,
like the carrot and ginger jam, as well as a base
for salad dressing.
“We’re glad for her success,” said Bill Harnden, regional
Center director at the NJSBDC at RVCC. “It is great
that her business was able to make some additional
sales revenues with the Super Bowl in New Jersey.”
National SBDC
Executives Meet in
Virginia Followed
by Congressional
Hill Visits
America’s SBDC national network of executives
met in Crystal City, Virginia for its Annual Meeting
(March 24-28). Following its meeting to discuss
key issues of importance, the national network
of SBDCs followed up with congressional visits to
members of their respective states’ congressional
delegations concerning the FY 2015 federal budget
for the national SBDC program.
The national program has the support of key
Congressmen/Congresswomen and U.S. Senators
across the country due to the program’s strong
results and outcomes in assisting established
small businesses and start-ups across the nation
and generating jobs in an economy which has
remained relatively flat.
“We joined our national colleagues to focus on
best strategies and our advocacy for small business
creation and jobs,” said NJSBDC CEO-State Director
Brenda Hopper.
“Sharing ideas and discussing concepts adds value
to the national network of SBDCs,” added NJSBDC
COO-Associate State Director Deborah Smarth. “It
helps us refine and perfect.”
The SBDC program has been highly ranked by the
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). In
a recent past analysis when the GAO studied 52
small business/economic development programs,
it referenced the SBDC’s best practices including
solid metrics for measuring program outcomes,
accountability, certification and accreditation, and
its deep strategic alliances at all levels of government and the private sector.
WHERE BUSINESSES
GO TO GROW
1
2
AROUND THE
STATE
1 - Senator Cory Booker with
NJSBDC Rutgers-New Brunswick
Regional Center Director, Elayne
McLaine;
2 - Sunny Kancherla, E-Business
Program Lead Consultant speaking
on location for the Live Webinar
Series, NJIT;
Photo Courtesy of: Rutgers University
3
Photo Courtesy of: AnthonyAlvarezPhoto.com
4
3 - NJSBDC of Northwest Jersey
business seminar training;
4 - NJSBDC at College of NJ QuickBooks, March business seminar;
Photo Courtesy of: Rutgers University
5 - Vince Vicari of Bergen Center
with former Governor Thomas
Kean at public event.
5
Photo Courtesy of: The College of NJ
Photo Courtesy of: Bergen Community College
{ SNAPSHOTS }
COMING UP
2014 BUSINESS BAZAAR & PROCUREMENT EXPO NETWORKING EVENT
Friday, June 6, 2014 | 9:00am - 3:00pm
Paul Robeson Campus Center
350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd | Newark, NJ
The NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark Small Business Bazaar & Procurement Expo
Networking Event is a business-to-business and business-to-consumer
marketing, promotional, selling and networking event. In the past the
Business Bazaar & Expo Networking Event has given entrepreneurs and
small business an opportunity to market, promote, and sell their products
or services to a diverse audience. In addition attendees enjoy networking
opportunities provided, that enable them to grow, gain visibility, establish
contacts with resource partners and other small businesses. The Expo is a
great way to increase sales and directly market to consumers.
MORE INFORMATION: (973) 353 - 5950 | [email protected]
Photo Courtesy of: JF Imagery
NJSBDC Center
Receives Silver
Gull Award for
Sandy Related
Services
New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC)
at Brookdale Community College Receives Silver Gull
Award for Its Sandy Related Services, Strong Support
for Small Businesses
Ribbon-cutting ceremony at new offices of the NJSBDC
at Brookdale (from left to right) Marie Lucier-Woodruff,
Dean, Business and Community Development,
Brookdale Community College; Brenda B. Hopper,
CEO - State Director, NJSBDC; Maureen Murphy, President, Brookdale Community College; Deborah Smarth,
COO - Associate State Director, NJSBDC; Jackeline
Mejias-Fuertes, Regional Director, NJSBDC at Brookdale
Community College
Photo Courtesy of: Brookdale Community College
Lincroft, NJ —The New Jersey Small Business
Development Center (NJSBDC) at Brookdale
Community College was named a recipient
of the annual Silver Gull Award for economic
development by the Monmouth-Ocean
Development Council (MODC).
Recognizing outstanding work in economic
development, community service and
tourism, the NJSBDC at Brookdale was
selected for this award for its strong commitment to helping small business owners and
aspiring entrepreneurs create and expand
their business enterprises. This includes
its ongoing efforts assisting businesses
impacted by Super Storm Sandy.
In the aftermath of the storm, the center
provided more than 870 hours of consultation services to more than 250 clients. Their
efforts facilitated more than $4 million in
total financing within the last nine months
alone. In addition, the NJSBDC at Brookdale
became the host office for the Small Business
Administration (SBA) Disaster Recovery
Center in the immediate days following the
storm and continuing for a period of time.
“The NJSBDC at Brookdale Community
College is proud to be recognized for our
services as a business community leader,”
said Jackeline Mejias-Fuertes, director. “The
MODC is a highly respected advocacy group
and it is an honor to be acknowledged for
our hard work and dedication in supporting
our small business community during a
challenging time for all.”
“We couldn’t be more pleased,” said NJSBDC
CEO-State Director Brenda Hopper. “Many
some outstanding work for our business
owners in Monmouth and Ocean counties,”
added NJSBDC COO-Associate State Director
Deborah Smarth.
“The network as a whole undertakes important functions every day to support the small
business sector in New Jersey, saving and
creating jobs.”
The Center received the award at the 49th
“The NJSBDC team at Brookdale
has done some outstanding work
for our small business owners in
Mounmouth and Ocean Counties.”
of our centers in the hardest hit areas
have been working with small businesses
devastated by the Storm to ensure they
come back to full capacity. Our Center at
Brookdale deserves this award. ”
“The NJSBDC team at Brookdale has done
Annual Silver Gull Awards Dinner held Thursday,
May 1, at the Jumping Brook Country Club,
Neptune. For more information, visit www.
modc.com. For more information on the
NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College,
visit www.mosbdc.com.
New Jersey’s
Entrepreneurship
and Small
BusinessFriendly Policies
In a recent December 12, 2013 study issued by
the non-partisan Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC), New Jersey ranked 49th
of 50 states in terms of having the least small
business friendly environment. But, the New
Jersey Small Business Development Centers
network, part of a national network of SBDCs,
continues to provide comprehensive assistance
for small business and entrepreneurs around
the state, helping small businesses save and
create new jobs as well as helping individuals
to start new businesses.
According to the most recent national survey
of state SBDCs, New Jersey invests far less
than the average $1.1 million state funding
investment by states nationally. “I’d like to see
New Jersey be the leader in funding for this
accredited program that helps produce jobs
through its small business clients,” said Hopper.
“Turning around NJ’s ranking in small business
and entrepreneurship friendly policies should
start with the state’s investment level in the
NJSBDC program,” added Smarth. “We are
boots on the ground for retaining and growing
businesses as well as turning around small
businesses post-Sandy.”
Congress Restores Funding
for National Small Business
Development Center Program
(SBDC) After Automatic
Sequestration in 2013
In January 2014, the US Congress finalized and restored congressional sequestration, this also puts new pressures
funding for the national SBDC program for its 2014 federal on the NJSBDC to raise additional non-federal funding
budget. Due to automatic sequestration cuts in 2013, in order to obtain its full share of funding in 2014 due
the national SBDC program was reduced from $112.5 to the federal dollar for dollar match requirement,” said
million to $103 million. As a result of the latest actions by Deborah Smarth, chief operating officer-associate state
Congress and the President, the national SBDC program director of the NJSBDC network.The national program
will get $113.6 million to be distributed among all 50 has the support of key Congressmen/Congresswomen
state SBDC networks based on a
population formula and those in
the American Territories as well
“This is some good news for our NJSBDC network as specialized Portable Assistance
Grants in economically depressed
However, it presents some new challenges since our
areas.
state will not necessarily get its full share unless
“This is some good news for our
NJSBDC network,” said NJSBDC
other requirements are met.”
Chief Executive Officer-State
Director Brenda Hopper. “However,
it presents some new challenges since our state will not and U.S. Senators across the country due to the program’s
necessarily get its full share unless other requirements strong results and outcomes in assisting established small
are met.”
businesses and start-ups across the nation and generating
“While this will help reinstate funding levels to state SBDC jobs in an economy which has remained relatively flat.
networks that lost 8 percent of its funding during 2013
Brenda’s Blog
Every year, the annual Small Business Growth Success Awards Luncheon gives us the opportunity to bring together our partners,
friends, and supporters to recognize a very special group of small business owners and entrepreneurs from around the state.
Our small business clients came from so many diverse sectors in 2013, but, they all have one very important commonality:
They strive for development and growth and have persevered despite economic conditions and other obstacles in today’s
marketplace.
Our NJSBDC network, has succeeded in helping business owners hurt by Super Storm Sandy. Despite an automatic congressional sequestration cut to our SBA core mission grant in 2013, the network was able to apply for and win two additional SBA
grants aimed at implementing Sandy-related assistance and services in 2013.
We’ve effectively leveraged our state and federal funding with other private sector and public grants as well as sponsorships to
serve business owners and entrepreneurs in the best manner as possible and we have many success stories that have emerged
as a result of assisting those businesses physically damaged or economically hurt by the ravages of Super Storm Sandy.
We honored 14 successful clients in December 2013 at our annual
event, two of whom were affected by Sandy. Their stories are provided
in this issue of our statewide newsletter. We are so very proud and
privileged to have assisted these clients and are glad that they have
come such a long way in reaching successful benchmarks in their
business development and growth.
These business owners, who have true grit and drive to reach this
level of success, were assisted and guided by our Network’s business
experts. Our key financial sponsors, PSEG and PNC Bank made this
event even more successful. Our additional primary partners like
SBA, our centers’ host institutions, the NJ Business Action Center,
and State legislators (who continue to protect our state funding in
support of our mission) allow us to deliver this successful program.
With this level of support, our staff - who works arduously, providing
quality services to help small business owners succeed – can
continue to provide quality customer service for small business
owners and entrepreneurs in New Jersey.
Brenda B. Hopper is the Chief Executive Officer
and State Director of the New Jersey Small
Business Development Centers Network
“The services at NJSBDC have been phenomenal with the incredible support my business
partner and I have received. Our SBDC consultant is of the highest caliber when it comes to
business acumen in multiple industry segments and has provided countless guidance. I’d
like to thank NJSBDC for their continued support and guidance.” (NJSBDC at Bergen)
Alexander Rivera
Digital Marketing Has Changed
Small Business Forever
By Sunny Kancherla,
NJSBDC Network E-Business Program Lead Consultant
This Internet revolution has changed the way businesses and
consumers interact. This is the first time in history that consumers
now drive business entities to consumer conversations, and due
to the inherent empowerment via the Internet, consumers trust
online user comments more than traditional media avenues.
This means that your business is now defined by what your
customers, critics, and brand advocates say online!
So when asking yourself why you need digital marketing or what
should you be doing, the real question is ‘Can you afford not to
monitor, manage, and influence online conversations about your
livelihood?’
It’s no surprise that media and local advertising have evolved.
As most small businesses are realizing, traditional advertising
channels are not sufficient anymore. It’s obvious that new media
works and digital marketing allows businesses to grow, but how
do you do it?
That’s why the NJSBDC network has reinforced its commitment
to help small businesses develop an effective digital strategy that
can help build their website, manage their online reputation,
harness e-mail marketing and help connect with their customers
through social media.
So, do you know what’s being said about your business online?
What does your digital footprint look like?
Whether you know it or not, the conversation about your business
is happening online. So if you aren’t working with the NJSBDC
E-Business Program to employ a digital marketing strategy, you
may be letting customers go to your competitors.
Take advantage of our highly rated and most popular E-Business
webinars and connect with our Internet marketing expertise
through our specialty E-Business Program, so you can better
develop your digital marketing strategy. It’s never too late!
Visit www.njsbdc.com/blog/e-business/ to take your small business
marketing game to the next level!
REFERENCES
1.
Anderson, Myles (2012). Study: 72% Of Consumers Trust Online Reviews
As Much As Personal Recommendations. Retrieved from
http://searchengineland.com/study-72-of-consumers-trust-online-reviewsas-much-as-personal-recommendations-114152
2.
Nielsen (2012) Consumer Trust in Online, Social And Mobile Advertising
Grows. Retrieved from
http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/newswire/2012/consumer-trust-in-onlinesocial-and-mobile-advertising-grows.html
3.
Solis, Brian (2010). In Social Media, Engagement Has Its Rewards.
Retrieved from
http://www.briansolis.com/2010/06/in-social-media-engagement-has-its-rewards/
NJSBDC Network Launches New Services
for Established Small Businesses
Beginning in March, five of the 12 NJSBDC centers in the State will pilot the use of a new, software program which will further
enhance assistance to established businesses in the analysis of their financial information - providing powerful financial and
narrative reports for the business owner.
The software will help our network’s business experts: --Benchmark our clients existing financial information in comparison to
peers in their industry (more than 1,400 industries and 60 financial ratios that are benchmarked); --provide clients with recommended actions; --prepare cash flow projections; and provide ratio and liquidity analysis.
While this type of approach and provision of services occurs for new and very young businesses throughout the NJSDC network,
the new software provides SBDC specialists with further capability and tools to provide such comparative, targeted benchmarks
for established businesses with two years or more business life cycle and with 10 or more employees.
Economic development and job creation will be generated by these established businesses, and the type of analysis provided
by NJSBDC using this special software program will further bolster opportunities for increased business performance.
Centers that are participating in this pilot include: NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College; NJSBDC at The College of New
Jersey; NJSBDC at Rutgers-New Brunswick; NJSBDC of Northwest New Jersey; and NJSBDC at Rutgers-Camden.
“As an independent business person
who is still in the formative stages
of bringing my very first business
dream to life, having this kind of
support is a true Godsend.
I can speak in person or via email
at regular intervals with a seasoned
business coach, get advice on legal
and tax matters, and learn what
I need to know in a way that is
thorough and unhurried...Thank
you for providing this fabulously
supportive service!”
(NJSBDC at RVCC)
Gemma Keremedjiev
2 8 | SSMMAALLLL BBUUSSI INNEESSSS VVOOI ICCEE - - NNJ JSSBBDDCC | 2 8
Invest More in Small
Business Development
and Growth
By Deborah Smarth
Over the years, the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers (NJSBDC) network has had the good
fortune of growing support among state legislators from both parties for this jobs producing program. Despite
the economic and budgetary constraints over the last several years, the NJSBDC program has been funded at a
stable level, but, lower than its peak $1 million in state funding several years ago. Yet, the funds invested bring
a rate of return on investment (ROI) that strongly exceeds its funding level.
If there is one message that should reverberate throughout the Legislature and this administration in 2014, it
is that investing in the NJSBDC network and restoring funding to its prior level of $500,000 and $1,000,000 are
long-term objectives that should be fully considered. The average state funding level for SBDC state networks
across the country is $1.1 million. States like Georgia and North Carolina, with similar population levels as New
Jersey and to which New Jersey is losing residents and small businesses, invest 9 to 12 times more than Jersey’s
investment. Surely the Legislature and the Governor/Lt. Governor can work together to restore funding for small
business technical assistance, so that New Jersey moves up on the states’ roster. It has been documented over
and over again that in-depth assistance in the form of customized management consulting, training and other
forms of technical assistance has great impact on business creation, business retention, business expansion and
job generation.
Small businesses create more than 50 percent of all employment in the State and represent 98.4 percent of all
businesses. The State Legislature and the current Administration should work together to ensure that the small
business sector is the beneficiary of public policies. If $175 million is invested each year in business grant incentives primarily aimed at mid and large size businesses, it should be an easy step to restore state funding for small
business assistance through the NJSBDC network. The network’s solid track record in helping individuals start
businesses and assisting established businesses to get to their next stage of growth has resulted in creating and
retaining thousands of jobs throughout New Jersey. These facts alone should be further impetus to have New
Jersey’s state government increase its investment to catch up with other states’ investment in this regard. New
Jersey needs to improve its ranking among the 50 states when it comes to small business and entrepreneur
friendly policies. While efforts have been underway to improve New Jersey’s business climate, the state’s efforts
to further invest in small business development and growth are strongly needed.
Public elected officials holding small business forums, main street tours and discussions with small business
owners in communities across the state has much greater meaning when matched by action. Small business must
be made the number one priority in 2014. The NJSBDC network, on behalf of the thousands of small business
owners and entrepreneurs who tap our services each year, hopes that Legislative-Executive ACTION will make
this “priority” a reality.
Deborah Smarth is the chief operating officer and associate state director of the New
Jersey Small Business Development Centers network.
News Abounds ...
The Philadelphia Inquirer published
an article on March 3, 2014 mentioning
the national network of Small Business
Development Centers. The State DirectorCEOs of the Pennsylvania SBDC (Christian
Conroy) and New Jersey SBDC (Brenda
Hopper) were quoted concerning the
impact of their networks on creating
new businesses and generating jobs.
NJSBDC COO-Associate State Director
(Deborah Smarth) was also quoted in
terms of New Jersey’s investment.
On February 12, 2014, The Record,
published a story about Vijay Hanagandi,
Ph.D., chief executive officer of Optimal
Solutions, Inc. receiving a $225,000 grant
from the National Science Foundation as
a result of assistance from the NJSBDC
Technology Commercialization Program.
In addition, several additional excerpts
appeared in the Jersey Tribune.com,
NorthJersey.com, BergenNow.com, etc.
NJSBDC at Raritan Valley Community
College small business client, Kim
Osterhoudt, founder and CEO of Jams
by Kim, was the subject of an article
published by MyCentralJersey.com on
January 29. The article entitled “A Taste
of New Jersey Will Be Spread by NFL
Owners,” indicates that Jams by Kim was
asked by the Super Bowl Host Committee
to supply them with some blueberry and
lemon jam jars.
On January 29, the Home News Tribune
and The Courier News published a story
“Centers Help Grow Small Businesses.”
The article provides an overview of the 14
companies honored at the December 13,
2013 NJSBDC network Business Growth
Awards Luncheon at the Forsgate Country
Club inMonroe Township. CEO-State
Director Brenda Hopper and COO-Associate
State Director Deborah Smarth were
quoted in the article. Senators Anthony
Bucco, guest speaker, and Senators Steve
Oroho, Linda Greenstein, and Assemblyman
Craig Coughlin, recipients of awards for
their support of the NJSBDC’s mission
were also mentioned.
On January 21, The Press of Atlantic City
published an article written by Joseph
Molineaux, who is regional director of the
NJSBDC at Richard Stockton College. The
article entitled “Business Beats: Nouns, Not
Verbs, Drive Business, Community Growth”
highlights how “People are at the center of
all the growth potential. People have the
ability to dream up, develop, design and
deliver the desired results that customers
and visitors are seeking.”
On January 16, The Paramus Post published
an article “Women-Owned Small Business
Clients of the NJSBDC Network Reach
Success” highlighting some of the womenowned small business clients of the NJSBDC
network, some of whom with annual
revenues of a million-plus, who were
assisted by NJSBDC experts in their path to
growth. They included HerbaKraft (Nisha
Khanijow), Morris Family Medical Center
(Elena Jauregui, MD), GIANT Gymnastics
(Jennifer Packard), Stokes Creative Group,
Inc. (Joanne Stokes), WisEngineering, LLC
(Cheryl Hall), Mallory’s Marvelous Muffins
(Leslie Nist), and Jersey Girl Café (Kathleen
Rana). They were among 14 small businesses
which received recognition by the NJSBDC
network at the December 13, 2013 Business
Growth Awards Luncheon.
EIN News Desk (http://www.einpresswire.
com/) recently announced that under a
U.S. EPA grant award the NJ Small Business
Development Centers network --in partnership with the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection -- will provide
pollution prevention and sustainability
technical assistance to small and medium-sized
businesses to help them reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, use of hazardous materials
and water consumption. NJSBDC will create
a web based application and business
registry and will recognize participating
businesses with a New Jersey Sustainable
Business Award.
“Stronger than the Storm: New Jersey Native
Successfully Brings Economic Growth to
Jersey City Community,” was published
on January 6 in PR Newswire, highlighting
“The NJSBDC is
an indispensable ally
for businesses in
New Jersey.”
Senator Anthony Bucco
how a young entrepreneur who received
assistance from the NJSBDC at New Jersey City
University increased his company’s earnings
from $30,000 as a start-up to a half a million
dollar business in just two years. President
Khoa D. Le, founder of Kvibe , a film and
video production company, was presented
a Success Award at the NJSBDC network’s
annual Business Growth Awards Luncheon.
On December 20, 2013, a post entitled
“Bucco Honored as Keynote Speaker at NJ
Small Business Development Centers Award
Ceremony” appeared on http://www.senatenj.
com. In the piece, Senator Anthony Bucco
noted that “The NJSBDC is an indispensable
ally for businesses in New Jersey.”
The Burlington County Times published a
December 29, 2013 article, “Southampton
Company Wins Recognition,” indicating
that Southampton resident Joanne Stokes,
owner of Stokes Creative Group, a full service
marketing agency specializing in transportation and construction industries, received
a Success Award at the NJSBDC network’s
annual Business Growth Awards Luncheon.
Contact the NJSBDC
Headquarters and Administration
Specialty Programs
Rutgers Business School
1 Washington Park, Suite 360
Newark, NJ 07102
973-353-1927
www.njsbdc.com
[email protected]
Veterans Business Outreach Center: 973-353-3429
NJSBDC Specialty Services: 800-432-1565
- E - Business
- International Trade
- Procurement
- Technology Commercialization
Regional Offices
NJSBDC at Bergen Community College
(Bergen County)
CIARCO Learning Center, 355 Main Street, Room 121
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Acting Regional Director: Vincent Vicari
201-489-8670
NJSBDC at Richard Stockton College in Atlantic City
(Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties)
35 South Martin Luther King Boulevard
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Regional Director: R. Joseph Molineaux
609-347-2174
NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College
(Monmouth and Ocean Counties)
765 Newman Springs Road, ATEC Building, Room 111
Lincroft, NJ 07738
Regional Director: Jackeline Fuertes
732-842-8685
NJSBDC at Rutgers University - Camden
(Burlington, Camden, Gloucester & Salem Counties)
419 Cooper Street
Camden, NJ 08102
Regional Director: Clarence Fullard
856-225-6221
NJSBDC at Kean University
(Union County)
1000 Morris Avenue, Willis 301
Union, NJ 07083
Regional Director: TBD
908-737-4220
NJSBDC at Rutgers University - New Brunswick
(Middlesex County)
100 Rockafeller Road, Suite 4005C
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Regional Director: Elayne McClaine
848-445-8790
NJSBDC at New Jersey City University
(Hudson County)
285 Westside Ave, Suite 189-191
Jersey City, NJ 07305
Regional Director: Barbara O’Neal
201-200-2156
NJSBDC at Rutgers University - Newark
(Essex County)
25 James Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Regional Director: Tendai Ndoro, Ph.D.
973-353-5950
NJSBDC of Northwest Jersey
(Sussex, Morris and Warren Counties)
207 Main Street
Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Regional Director: Dolores Stammer
908-269-8475
NJSBDC at The College of New Jersey
(Mercer County)
2000 Pennington Avenue, Forcina Hall 253
Ewing, NJ 08628
Regional Director: Lorraine Allen
609-771-2947
NJSBDC at Raritan Valley Community College
(Hunterdon and Somerset Counties)
14 Vogt Drive
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Regional Director: Bill Harnden
908-526-1200 ext. 8516
NJSBDC at William Paterson University
(Passaic County)
131 Ellison Street
Paterson, NJ 07505
Regional Director: Kate Muldoon
973-754-8695
1 Washington Park
Newark, NJ 07102
Tel: 800-432-1565
www.NJSBDC.com

may 2014

Transcription

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