Grace Owa, a dedicated nurse, was driven by a desire to create safe and effective self-care products for herself and her colleagues. She began by creating natural deodorants and eventually expanded her self-care products to include body butters. Encouraged by her colleagues to share her creations, Grace decided to begin her entrepreneurial journey to start […]
Caitlyn Baker, the owner of the Brave Ember, successfully took her newfound hobby and transformed it into her own business. In 2021, Caitlyn found a creative outlet in candle-making. She discovered her passion after first crafting candles for a work gift exchange. From there, Caitlyn continued candle making as a hobby. Eventually, as she continued to […]
Jonathan Prieto, a seasoned HVAC industry professional with over a decade of experience, partnered with his wife Kate, a U.S. Air Force veteran with five years of service and two years as a military contractor, to embark on an entrepreneurial journey to establish their own HVAC business. With Jonathan’s industry knowledge and Kate’s business acumen, […]
Kelly Burton, the proprietor of Boards by Kelly, sought guidance from the OKSBDC three months after launching her business. She aimed to ensure her business was set up correctly and to increase its visibility within the Canadian County communities. With the help of Advisor Emily Beesley, Kelly established action steps for business insurance, customer reach […]
Bryan Pirtle, a driven entrepreneur, decided that he wanted to establish a vacation RV rental site in Ardmore. Wanting to turn his vision into reality, he registered with the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where he was paired with Business Advisor Ed Dyer. Bryan had four acres of land at his disposal, but he […]
From personal trainer to gym owner, Candy Tipton’s journey of determination and community support culminated in the grand opening of her business, IC Fitness, marking a significant milestone in her career. Candy, a personal trainer since 2017, harbored the ambition to open her own gym. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive business plan to secure […]
Jennifer Long, a family life studies graduate from the University of Oklahoma and a foster care professional, became interested in franchising opportunities with We Rock the Spectrum, a company that supplies inclusive gyms for special needs children. After three years of researching opportunities with them, she registered for advising with the Oklahoma Small Business Development […]
Starting a business can be a daunting task, but Alora Champagne was able to successfully start her own donut shop, Doughnut Theory, in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a great resource for entrepreneurs like Alora who need help with starting or growing their businesses. The SBDC provides confidential, high-quality, […]
Beginning with a garage-based youth sports performance fitness center, Major Fredrick Alcazar, USAF, Ret., went from training four student-athletes to 40 between June 2020 and January 2021. Because of this, Frederick and his wife, Heather, decided to search for a larger facility to accommodate them. Starting their search, they turned to the Oklahoma SBDC for […]
With a love for pets and travel, Jason and Ta Ratliff wanted to create a dog boarding and grooming facility. Focusing on service, quality, and cleanliness, this business aims to supply peace of mind for traveling pet owners. Looking for help with employee setup, marketing, and community outreach, Jason registered for advising with the Oklahoma […]
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Durant, OK 74701
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Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Full disclosure available here. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Cindy Ruminer via email or call 580-745-2877 for assistance.