SBDC Success Awards

• DeSantis Construction Wins 2008 Success Award
• The Country Mechanic Wins 2007 Success Award
• Discover Wine Wins 2006 Success Award
• Taste of Crete Wins 2005 Success Award
• Stellar Academy Wins 2004 Success Award

At the age of 15, like many teenagers, Dominick DeSantis wanted to earn money so he could save up for a car when he turned 17.  His father, who worked for a construction company, suggested his son apply for a job there. As destiny would have it, DeSantis was offered a job and for the next two years he worked part time while he was in school and full time during the summer.  Upon graduating from high school he decided to stay with the trade and worked for the next 16 years learning about excavation techniques and machinery. 

By December of 2006 he recognized there were many deficiencies in his financial record-keeping so he contacted the Small Business Development Center at Raritan Valley Community College (SBDC at RVCC) for assistance.  SBDC Operations Director Bill Harnden sat down with DeSantis and his office manager, Danielle Pallitto, to review their record-keeping and office procedures.  They identified a number of inefficient areas.  Harnden went to work to help make sense of the numbers and begin shaping a more useful system.  “Our reports and processes were all over the place,” says Pallitto.  “The SBDC came in and taught us how to organize our general ledger and our paperwork so we could effectively make decisions and submit competitive bids.”  After several months of counseling, DeSantis Construction was back on track.  Their revenues went from $1 million in 2006 to $1.3 million in 2007.  They expect to top the $2 million mark in 2008.

The love of farming flows through the veins of Toni and Jeff MacDade.  The MacDades began grain farming in 1980.  As a farmer Jeff learned how to maintain and repair farm equipment to save on expenses.  After 14 years of farming the MacDades faced a variety of economic uncertainties farming in New Jersey so they decided to parley Jeff’s mechanical repair experience into a small business called The Country Mechanic. To gain further knowledge of diesel technology Jeff enrolled in the Somerset County Technical Institute (SCTI) and received his degree in May of 1995.  Soon after his graduation they purchased a repair truck and The Country Mechanic went on the road conducting on-site repairs.  The new business venture created the need for a bookkeeper so Toni enrolled in several classes at SCTI.   From 1995 to 2005 the MacDades saw their little business grow from 2 to 4 employees with revenues of $327,000.   

In January of 2005 they decided to expand their business by selling Montana tractors, tractor implements, parts, ATVs, scooters and farm accessories.  With expansion came unforeseen operational and record keeping challenges so they sought counseling and training assistance from the SBDC at Raritan Valley Community College in February of 2006.  SBDC Assistant Director Bill Harnden has worked extensively with the MacDade’s on record keeping and improvement of office efficiency.  According to Toni, “Bill helped us get organized.  His assistance in revising the General Ledger accounts enabled us to post entries properly and make better financial evaluations of our business. Our record keeping became more complicated with the floor planning of our equipment but the training that he has provided made the transition easy.  If he didn’t prepare us we would have had problems.”

In March of 2006 The MacDades decided that a one-truck mobile operation limited their sales and so they opened a retail store at 472 State Hwy 31 in Ringoes, NJ.  Several months later they opened a second shop at the Quakertown Farmers Market in Quakertown, PA.  The new stores increased their staff from 4 to 6 employees and in 2006 generated annual revenues of $551,000.  Their projected sales for 2007 are $600,000.  “The MacDades competitive edge is their honesty and work ethic, according to Bill Harnden.  “They are very loyal to their clients and their clients are loyal to them.”

Currently, the MacDades are working with the SBDC to obtain a $1 million loan package to purchase the 37-acre tract their Ringoes store sits on.  The acquisition will allow them to add repair bays and expand their sales operations.  The future looks very bright for The Country Mechanic.

Discover Wine, located in Somerville, NJ, first put out their carpet in November of 2004.   The store’s concept began in July 2003 when an architect (Kevin Cahill), a banker (Ken Rommel) and an anesthesiologist (Mark Pillon) met at several functions for their children.  At each get together they would take turns supplying the wines and soon they became well known for picking fine wines around a $15 price tag.  What began as a social interaction became the foundation of their business plan.  “See what kids can do?” said Cahill. 

When drafting their business plan they identified the need to get assistance with their marketing plan.  Cahill and Rommel met with RVCC SBDC counselor Vicki Lynn Morgan to map out their marketing strategy. “Vicki stressed the importance of customer service to better the competition,” stated Rommel.  “She convinced us that price alone will not build loyalty.”  They also met with SBDC at RVCC Regional Director Sue Johnson to go over the planning stages.  According to Cahill, “We are amazed that we haven’t made any BIG mistakes.  We made the mistakes on paper and then fixed them with the help of Morgan and Johnson and Nat Bender who provided us with helpful guidance on putting our requirements together for our website.”   “Because of this our business is doing great.  Gross sales increased 20% from our 3^rd quarter figures in 2005 compared to the same period in 2006 and we have been able to add four employees and are gearing up for what is anticipated as a big holiday season,” said Rommel.

Discover Wine’s motto is “Great value means more than a great price.”  They make it easy to choose a delicious wine because the wines are arranged by how they taste—not by where they come from or which grapes they’re made with.  It’s easy to get great value when you buy their wines because they are hand-selected and pre-tasted from the most exciting, new and undiscovered vineyards around the world. New selections are offered to the public at wine tasting sessions every Saturday from 1 to 4pm.  Approximately 50 to 60 people attend these sessions.  In addition to the Saturday sessions, Discover Wine provides team building events for major corporations and is partnering with RVCC’s Corporate and Continuing Education Department providing wine tasting classes to the community.

Taste of Crete, a gourmet food company, is the winner of the SBDC RVCC 2005 Success Award.  According to Taste of Crete (TOC) founder, Esther Psarakis, “Taste of Crete was born out of a personal passion for the people, culture, history and food of Crete.”  Ms. Psarakis, born and raised in America, married into a Greek family.  After several annual excursions to her husband’s family farm in Crete she began to understand the history and dietary importance of olive oil in the Greek culture.  TOC's officially opened its doors for business in early 2004 and began importing Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Crete.  The oil carries the “PDO, Protected Designation of Origin” seal, a highly coveted European Union recognition for quality.  In 2005 TOC introduced ‘Evangelia’s Traditional Greek Cookies’ to its line of products. The recipe is made with olive oil and wine.  Also in 2005 TOC gained national recognition by winning a Silver Medal at the 2005 International Olive Oils of the World Competition.  You can visit their website at http://tasteofcrete.gourmetfoodmall.com/ .

Pictured is Taste of Crete owner Esther Psarakis

Pictured L to R: NJSBDC State Director Brenda Hopper, Esther Psarakis, RVCC SBDC Regional Director Sue Johnson, Barbara Roos and RVCC SBDC Assistant Director Bill Harnden.

The SBDC at RVCC 2004 Success Award Winner is Stellar Academy

 Pictured (L to R) Mary Matthews, SBDC Director Sue Johnson and Dr. Margaret Buley

Nestled in the Township of Bridgewater is one of New Jersey’s premier childcare learning centers. Stellar Academy is exactly what its name implies; the concept is out of this world. The academy is owned and operated by two sisters; Ms. Mary Matthews, who serves as the Business Director, and Dr. Margaret Buley, who serves as the Education Director. In September of 2002, Ms. Matthews attended the NJEDA Entrepreneurial Training Institute program hosted by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC). SBDC Director, Sue Johnson, was a facilitator for the program and assisted Ms. Matthews with developing her business, marketing and financial plans. With their business plan completed, Ms. Matthews and Dr. Buley secured an SBA loan from Valley National Bank.  With the essential funding and after a year of careful planning, they opened for business in September of 2004. Expecting a gradual climb in attendance, Stellar Academy blossomed quickly to 130 children - 80% of the Academy’s operating capacity, and full capacity could be reached within the first year of operation.   Visit the Stellar Academy website at www.stellaracademy.com  .