Success Stories

"Thank you so very much for your leadership, kindness and constant support. I may not have expressed that before, but I have been so very grateful for how you have treated our members. Thank God for you!" - Christine Overton, PhD, New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce

"It was a pleasure meeting you on February 8th at the SBA seminar held at TCNJ and then again at the doing business with Mercer County Seminar held at the Windsor Library. Your help and guidance by connecting me with the appropriate people to move my business forward was and continues to be invaluable. Both sessions attended proved to be informative and necessary for anyone desiring to do business with Mercer County or the State of New Jersey. I have moved forward with navigating through what resources are available to my business via the material given at the seminars and the web sites. It's a long process, but it is no longer a mystery, thanks to you. The networking the businees owners did at both seminars also is proving its potential. These are connections that will become a constant in the growth of my company. Again, thank you for your help and I look forward to seeing you again." - Jayne M. Kelly, BSC Solar Commercial Integrators

"The services offered by the NJSBDC have been invaluable. Not only have I met and traded ideas with other small business owners but the quality of the individuals working with or for the NJSBDC is top notch. I have been provided with many helpful tools/ resources to start my business and hopefully to continue a successful consulting company. The group meeting was very insightful and I have also taken advantage of the one-on-one counseling. Both were highly beneficial to my company." - Mary Makarski, Princeton Claim Services

"I wanted to let you know that our company, MRS Airfield Lights & Supplies was certified WBE/SBE today with the help and guidance of Patrick Guidotti. He is a true professional who made the process of applying for certification a less daunting task. I am thankful for the NJSBDC and people like Patrick who share their time and talent with small business owners. Again, thank you to all of you at the NJSBDC who help small business's in their endeavors. " -Michele Schindewolf, MRS Airfield Lights & Supplies

"One thing I know and that is that the Small Business Development Centers help bring the best in advocacy and counseling services to start-ups and existing business throughout New Jersey year after year.

There is not a week that goes by without notice of leading edge presentations designedand facilitated by experts in the fields of marketing, business finance, human resource management, and on-line media marketing. And there’s more…..

The professional staff of the TCNJ SBDC bring their years of experience as a model for the business community. Trenton Business Week, for example, has for fifteen years established the leadership and staff of TCNJ SBDC as team players and indeed leaders in the greater Mercer County Region. "- Carl Muehleisen, True North Dynamics, LLC

"As a new nonprofit, we are always looking for ways to increase awareness about our program.  Ellen from the NJ Small Business Development Center was enthusiastic, specific and extremely helpful in her advice on what steps I could take to get the word out about our wish-granting efforts.  Thanks to Ellen we got in touch with a very well known speaker in our industry who may soon be hosting one of our events." - Danielle Gletow, One Simple Wish

"The technology database that you provided has enabled me to be more effective in targeting potential clients. In less than one month I have secured two new clients and am 3/4 way completed in the development phase of three new products and/or services. " - Cheryl Patnick, Capella Consultants, LLC.

"This was my third webinar in recent weeks. I personally liked your format where we all could hear one another and exchange commentary. I can take away several comments and reminders that should serve me well in my ongoing business practices. Thank you for organizing this." -Tom McManimon, StimulusBrand Communications

"You go above and beyond the call of duty for your clients and the overall health of the small business community. I am proud to say that we partner with you on programs and services." - Wayne Staub, Mercer County Office of Economic Development and Sustainability 

"Thanks to the mentoring help and support of the NJSBDC we are now registered to do business in the state of NJ. We have acquired our SBE certifications and are a self declared WBE with our certification paperwork underway. In addition, we now have contracts that will generate over $250,000 annually and have just been awarded our first ever U.S. government contract with Princeton University and the U.S. D.O.E. With the continued help and support from the NJSBDC, we will acquire more certifications and through their mentoring/counseling programs we are constantly meeting new business contacts and government contacting agencies. My business is growing and evolving thanks to the NJSBDC." - Elizabeth Borsuk- Bellonio, WCI Grounds Maintenance Services, LLC.

"The NJSBDC office at The College of New Jersey was very helpful in providing the information I needed. They set up a meeting with an experienced professional and I was able to apply for and get the approval of small business vendor status with the state. The whole process saved a lot of time. I didn't have to call different state offices to get information. Instead I had one point of contact which provided all the answers." - Juhi Puthur, Interlink Network Systems, Inc.

"As a small business owner Exceed Resources Inc.  I was pleasantly surprised when I received a notification from the NJSBDC network on assistance in the areas of “Business Plan Samples, Competitor Lists, financial ratios, etc”. I know how important and strategic these artifacts are to any business especially a small business such as “Exceed Resources” with limited funds and personnel.

I had embarked on a solo effort to research these and compile these for our business efforts. But when I received this notification I decided to entrust this engaging task to the NJSBDC.

My thoughts were 'Let me focus on the operations and revenue of Exceed Resources. Let me use NJSBDC as a strategic partner.' I made the right decision, thank goodness for that. Just today I received a compilation of business plans, statistical data, financial ratios, research material and much more from NJSBDC. 

And that two in less than 2 weeks.

Thank you for providing me this service in a timely and efficient manner." - Brenda Rebello, Exceed Resources

"I could not imagine there was more to learn after our first session. Wow! The second meeting there was so much more! Thank you." -Mary Innocenzi, The VillageLearning Center

"Thank you very much for consulting with me. Our discussion was lively and stimulating. I am excited to move forward with the direction you provided. I am very appreciative of your assistance. " -Joan Brame, Empower Fitness

"The NJSBDC has been a great resource for information, advice, and especially an integral part of our learning how to do business in the NJ public sector. We have also gained valuable exposure to new potential clients via the NJSBDC."

"Just wanted to send you another THANK YOU to you. Your introductions have resulted in an amazing series of opportunities for us. We have learned a lot about doing business with the government, have completed several certifications, and have met and developed relationships with several key players/agencies in the local public sector. Keep up the good work, it truly makes a difference in the lives of small businesses." - Steve Jones, Websignia

"I've learned so much your workshops, this past year that I'm in the process of retooling our company to be able to secure more work with prospective prime contractors as well as state and federal agencies. In addition to retooling we've also obtained our SBE, MBE, and DBE certification; which has helped us obtain several construction jobs estimated at $250,000, we would have otherwise failed to get. I just want to say thank you again for all your help. I am confident that this year will be a great year for our company." -Leroy Brown, LCB Inc. 

2008 Award Winner:

Ruby Wesley, A Taste of Rubies

www.atasteofrubies.com

"The NJSBDC is a great organization, truly geared towards assisting small business owners succeed. Within the first two months after I decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge, I could attribute one of my first business accomplishments to my NJSBDC representative, who helped me prepare for and win a business plan competition valued at $10,000." -Ruby Wesley

9/24/09 Courier News: Young entrepreneur finds biz "a piece of cake"

2007 Award Winner:

Kiran K. Gill, PARS Environmental, Inc.

www.parsenviro.com

Winner of the 2008 EBJ Business Achievement Award! Click here to read more.

"I wanted to once again thank you for all of your help over the last few years. The SBDC has been a vital partner in helping my business grow. With the assistance of your procurement center we bid on and were subsequently awarded two large contracts this year and nearly doubled the size of our business. I know we will continue to utilize your services as the business continues to grow. Thanks again!" -Kiran Gill

2006 Award Winner:

Joseph Huang, MicroDysis, Inc.

www.microdysis.com

“NJSBDC provided not only business services for marketing, business plan, and financing by its professionals, but also proposal review for grant applications through its knowledgeable and experienced consultants, which meet every aspect in the business development of a technology-based company… Lorraine Allen, devoted a lot of her time working closely with us on our business development and funding application, which brought many milestones on the Company’s success path.” - Joseph Huang

2005 Award Winner:

Ezekiel Fleming, Jr., Airseal Insulators, LLC.

Knowing plenty about his craft but little about business, Zeke was directed to The College of New Jersey NJSBDC. Through Lorraine Allen and other NJSBDC counselors, Fleming learned the basics of running and managing a business. He learned how to develop a business plan and obtain insurance, and how to divide business responsibilities between himself and his partner. Zeke says that the NJSBDC’s advice and assistance is responsible for the company’s solid foundation and the success he has achieved in such a short time.

2004 Award Winner:

Monif and Elaine Clarke, Buy4Less Esales

“From the first time we met with Tyra Sartor Brown from NJSBDC, we knew we had stumbled onto a resource that would prove invaluable to us. All three consultants, Tyra Sartor Brown, Nat Bender, and Roger Cohen have given us advice and information that continues to steer our business in the right direction. It is a great feeling to know that NJSBDC is in our corner always willing to help us bounce around ideas and make connections with the right people."- Monif Clarke

2003 Award Winner:

Larry Ransom, Ransom Painting

Some people hurt themselves at work, but 73-year-old Larry Ransom found that upon his retirement his joints hurt from not working. So now Larry is enjoying moving past the golden anniversary of his painting business and the opportunity to brighten the colors for a new generation as he qualified for a contract with the NJ School Construction Corporation. Working with the NJSBDC, Larry also secured a contract of $28,000 for starters.

2002 Award Winner:

Daniel J. Hogan, Hogan Security Group Inc.

“The NJSBDC introduced me to Lear & Pannepacker CPA's, who have substantially improved our financial reporting techniques, implementation of sound cash flow management procedures and continued consulting on expansion and operational strategies." -Daniel Hogan

2001 Award Winner:

Harry Luna, Director's Video

Harry Luna has owned and operated a video store in Trenton for more than a decade. After an uphill battle to purchase his current location, Director's Video is considered an icon in a neighborhood where other retailers have long retired their entrepreneur hats. While other business owners are boarding up their windows and doors, Mr. Luna is expanding his operation to cover more than 5,000 square feet. Since opening his doors in 1991, Mr. Luna has grown his business to employ 3 people besides his wife and himself.