< PreviousPro Health Wellness Clinic, a sole proprietorship, has quickly become the most convenient, full-service wellness clinic in Memphis, Tennessee. The company offers weight loss solutions, testosterone replacement, B12 shots, and IV hydration therapy among many others.Pro Health Wellness owner Estes Folk, who started the business in March of 2016, credits his early success to building a great team and establishing a solid foundation by working with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at Southwest Tennessee Community College before opening his doors.After reviewing the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website, Folk decided to in a shorter amount of time. Pro Health Wellness is on a mission to use its platform to promote and raise awareness for health-related programs and initiatives that can make a difference in so many lives. contact his local Tennessee Small Business Development Center. Folk set an appointment at TSBDC’s satellite office located inside the City of Memphis Renaissance Business Center (RBC), a one-stop shop where entrepreneurs and small, minority, and women business enterprises (S/M/WBEs) can receive training, one-to-one counseling, and information. TSBDC staff met with Folk to begin free one-to-one business counseling and to help develop a solid business plan for the new venture. Folk was prepared to make an equity investment into the business, but TSBDC staff also introduced him to the City of Memphis Micro-Loan Program which is designed to enhance job growth and retention by providing entrepreneurs with access to alternative financing for working capital, inventory, equipment, and façade improvements. TSBDC staff, RBC staff, and Folk worked hand-in-hand to prepare a solid loan package to secure additional capital for the startup business. “I believe TSBDC and RBC are one of the best things going on in the city. They go beyond their responsibilities and do an excellent job. A professional, knowledgeable, and hard-working group if there ever was one! I would highly recommend their services to any business owner,” Folk said.With an early capital investment of $58,000 and the creation of four new jobs, Pro Health Wellness Clinic has provided hundreds of Memphians with that much-needed incentive to help them achieve their health and fitness goals Dr. Tracy Hall, PresidentSouthwest Tennessee Community College (SWTCC)30Pro Health Wellness ClinicSouthwest Tennessee Community CollegeAbraham George started SS Energy Technologies, LLC in 2014 with over 20 years of professional experience designing power systems for multiple industries across the United States. As a professional engineer, George recognized that every hospital, data center, and remote communication station required a reliable emergency power system. Consider a hospital with hundreds of life-support devices, which require a constant and stable source of electrical power, and the ramifications of a massive power outage. George designed, built, and patented a one-box solution for cost-effectively testing the readiness of a hospital’s emergency power system. During 2016, counselors at the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at Tennessee State University worked with him to develop a marketing plan and secure a $275,000 loan to market the emergency power test solution box. Today, George has a team of three sales engineers marketing the product to hospitals, data centers, and remote communication systems. SS Energy Technologies, LLC has an energetic and innovative engineering team that is always on the lookout for new opportunities. Recently, George and his team designed, built, and began marketing a micro-grid, which will provide a cost-effective, sustainable solar energy source to inhabitants of remote communities across the entire globe. The TSBDC team is currently working with George to secure financial support to place these sustainable micro-grids in multiple remote communities within the country of Zambia. Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, PresidentTennessee State University (TSU)31SS Energy Technologies, LLCTennessee State UniversityClient Highlightsthe trusted advisers I turn to for assistance. I would encourage anyone looking to start a business or get help with a business they’re operating to seek these folks out because they can really make a difference!” happens. The Smith County Insider focuses on local, breaking, sports, church, and political news, in addition to an in-house weather team.McKinney contacted the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at Tennessee Tech University (TTU) following a referral from the Smith County Chamber of Commerce. He was interested in taking an idea that he had and converting it into a reality. Meeting with the team at TTU, McKinney was able to receive the necessary advice on starting a business, as well as education and guidance on creating a website and accompanying social media platform strategy. “Because of the services provided by the TSBDC at Tennessee Tech University, I was able to bring my dream to life. The team there worked diligently with me to help me gain an understanding of the necessary skills needed to operate this type of business and I can’t thank them enough,” McKinney said. Working together with the TSBDC team at TTU, McKinney implemented the TSBDC’s business counseling recommendations and expanded his business. “I consider the team to be a part of my extended family now, and I know I can call on them whenever needed. Their approach to using multiple in-house advisers to address my businesses needs made me feel like I had a whole team of business experts supporting me,” he said. “They have shown me that it is possible to take an idea and turn it into something more, and they will continue to be Dr. Philip Oldham, PresidentTennessee Technological University (TTU)32Tennessee Technological UniversityThe Smith County InsiderColby McKinney is CEO of the Smith County Insider, an internet media news outlet operated in Smith County, Tennessee. Supported by local advertising revenue, the company has quickly grown to be the number one source for news in Smith County in just a year. At the helm of the venture, McKinney directs the company’s website and social media outlets to ensure Smith County residents see the latest news as it University of Tennessee at MartinVeterinary Home HealthcareHealthcare strives to develop relationships with patients and their families and to provide the best medical care possible for treasured family pets where pets are in a fear-free environment. The business serves customers in Martin, Tennessee, and surrounding communities. Reynolds’ Veterinary Home Healthcare practice now offers integrative medicine, through an online business called the Blessed Pet Shop. This new venture expanded the business to include pet products such as holistic foods and supplements as well as toys, trendy clothes, collars, and more. The online store was created for the convenience of customers. Products can be shipped anywhere in the United States. “This was a journey that I went on as God opened the doors,” Reynolds said. Reynolds was educated and prepared to be a doctor of veterinary medicine, but not as a small business owner. “The first place I went for help was the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at the UT-Martin Reed Center. There I began with a blank canvas and began building knowledge about running a small business. I received help with things like building a business plan, QuickBooks, taxes and more,” she said. “I have been there on occasion just to meet and ask for help about specific situations I was dealing with as a small business owner. Every time they were so kind to offer me help. I remember once in particular when they helped me with financial projections for a class I was taking. I am very grateful that they exist. They are a most valuable resource for me.” Dr. Keith Carver, ChancellorUniversity of Tennessee at Martin (UTM)33Veterinary Home Healthcare opened for business in 2011 when Dr. Debbie Reynolds left her associate DVM position in order to care for her daughter. After leaving her full-time position with an established clinic, Reynolds worked as a relief veterinarian at various clinics around west Tennessee. This allowed her to work part time and take care of her child. During this time, some of her previous clients continued to ask Reynolds to care for their animals even though she had no home clinic from which to work. Based on the persistence of her customers, Reynolds began making home visits. She found that there was a need for a home healthcare type of veterinary practice and decided to start the business when her daughter began kindergarten. Veterinary Home Healthcare is now a well-established growth business which offers customers medical care for their dogs and cats in the comfort of their homes. Veterinary Home Client Highlights34Dr. Jerry Faulkner, PresidentVolunteer State Community College (VSCC)Kristie Holdren’s passion for vegan cooking began in 2006 when she discovered a recipe for vegan cheese dip that was better than the real thing. From that moment on, Holdren began to transform meat-centric dishes from her childhood into delicious vegan masterpieces that would fool even the most devoted carnivore.She started My Veggie Chef, a vegan meal delivery service, in order to share her healthy, vegan creations with the community. Holdren is a strong supporter of local businesses and designs her menus around seasonal produce as much as possible. Holdren met with Charles Alexander, director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at Volunteer State Community College, in 2012. She wanted to get more efficient and have a plan to grow. Her goals were to double the size of the business and begin shipping to other states. Over the next few years, Holdren worked with the TSBDC to develop a business plan, create goals, and get organized. Since then, My Veggie Chef has moved to a larger location, hired multiple employees, increased revenue by 5 times, and is now also shipping to 22 states. As a client of her own business, Holdren is in the best health of her life! My Veggie ChefVolunteer State Community College“I got so much great advice and encouragement from Charles and TSBDC when I started my business! I still hear his voice in my head saying that it just takes time to build a business. In fact, I was telling someone just the other day to be patient and let things happen in their business. One minute you are just getting by and a few months later you are paying your bills and have extra money to invest in your business. Patience and focus have been my keys to success!” —Kristie Holdren35TSBDC’s Capital Infusion for the Year 2016 (SBA Core)$87,138,214Number of Clients CounseledHours of CounselingJobs CreatedJobs RetainedPeople Trained in Small Business–Related Subjects3,76114,4331,74798111,9192016 TSBDC Results RecapThe TSBDC NetworkA Partnership of Middle Tennessee State University and the U.S. Small Business AdministrationNext >