Entrepreneur Stories

Judith Moore | Advertising by Cookie

Over the last three and one-half years of building her business, Judith Moore has retained nearly all of her employees. Why such a low turnover? "Maybe it's the cookies," laughs Moore, CEO of Charleston Cookie Company in Charleston, South Carolina.

Tom Bowles | Aquatic Environments Inc

I've been in business for 20 years, but for the first 19, I was winging it," admits Tom Bowles. Owner of Aquatic Environments Inc., a pond and waterfall construction business in Ocala, Fla., Bowles was especially frustrated over financials. "I thought it was good if there was a plus at the end of your P&L statement," he says. "But that doesn't necessarily mean you're making money."

Lynn Sutton | Chasing the Right Target

For Lynn Sutton, the progression from independent contractor to entrepreneur unfolded in stages. She first enrolled in the JumpStart Your Business workshop offered by the Women's Business Development Center in Chicago. Through this program the former corporate executive grew more committed to launching a business. That's when Sutton founded Kairos Management, a Chicago-based consulting firm that helps companies leverage existing resources to improve business performance. She took FastTrac the following year.

Bobbie and Mark O'Neill | Cruise Center Hill

When they opened their business, Bobbie and Mark O'Neill knew their top priority: attract customers. So they invested in print advertising in local publications.

Neil Parham | Eagle Packaging, Inc.

Like beauty, value is in the eye of the beholder, says Neil Parham. Owner of Eagle Packaging, a $3.5 million supplier of packing materials in Lawrenceville, Ga., Parham can't stand out from the crowd on product alone.

Raymond Nowak, Owner | Fast-teks Franchise

“After 23 years as an engineer and manager with a corporate automotive supplier in western Michigan, I took a buy-out. I was intent on owning a business, so I knew FastTrac NewVenture would be valuable.”

Irvin Campbell, Manager | Gullah Heritage Trail Tours

Tour Business Meets Market Demand, Maintains Important Cultural Heritage.

Joe Runyan, President | Hangers Cleaners

Even if you’re not looking for entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship may find you. A corporate buyout leads to an environmentally friendly cleaning venture.

Heather Hesketh, CEO | hesketh.com

That’s a lot of what we do today at hesketh.com — assemble what’s needed from different business disciplines inside and outside a client organization, apply our creativity and experience, and make it all fly.

Bob Wald, CEO / Strategic Technology Advisor | In-Knowvation

FastTrac made me think through some very difficult questions: Do I really want to do this? Does this make sense to do? Does my product or service really have a market? When will the market be ready for a product or service like mine?

Alex Glasgow, CEO | Island Porch Beds

Island Porch Beds, LLC was funded with money I had earned from a variety of sales jobs. In these jobs I learned the importance of customer service.

Rick Krska | LaserCycle Inc.

If you’re going to make a significant impact in this world, you have to be a servant to many people, says Rick Krska. He guides his company, LaserCycle Inc. of Lenexa, Kan., with that maxim. LaserCycle, which racks up annual sales of $15 million annually, recycles inkjet printer cartridges and repairs and sells printers.

Gina Danner | Mail Print Inc.

Operating a family business didn’t guarantee that Mail Print functioned as a cohesive unit. Mentors developed as a result of taking FastTrac helped Gina Danner plan for strategic growth of the company.

David de la Rosa | PhoenixMicro, Inc.

FastTrac GrowthVenture was just the start of my education. It gave me momentum to find my financial compass.

Jan Phillippe Eiras, President | Quadras Corporation

I had attended other business planning classes and seminars, but I surprisingly found the FastTrac approach to be significantly different and better than all my past experiences.