Southern Success Stories

Jordan Research and Development, LLC is an innovation-based company with a primary goal of creating solutions to the world’s biggest problems. These solutions are created in the form of new products, ideas and innovations. The Airzooka is the company’s most successful product to date. The Airzooka is currently being marketed world-wide and has sold millions of units. The company has also created a prosthetic finger called the Digitouch. This was created out of necessity, as the company president lost several digits on his left hand due to an accident.

Jessica’s first session was filled with lots of hesitation and a few tears on starting the endeavor she knew she was meant to launch. The strategic planning session gave her the clarity she needed and a process to start and grow her business. From the beginning, Jessica’s business grew rapidly with a focus on LinkedIn training with sales and marketing services.

Emily has been working with Wynne Briscoe of the Small Business Development Center since April 2017 from the beginning stages of business planning to the grand opening of her own agency. We are focusing on the strategic marketing, growth and expansion of the business. As a long time employee in the insurance field, Emily had always thought about owning her own agency one day. The opportunity came when a local agent relocated leaving the area in need of additional agency locations. Upon first discussions with SBDC Consultant Wynne Briscoe, Emily shared her desires to take the leap from employee to business ownership

Rubing connected with the SBDC from an event Wynne Briscoe created called “Small Business Love Day” in February 2017. A collaborative open house style event between the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development and her SBDC office to connect with the local community. There he met the other SBDC regional staff to include Bill Hitte from Charles County and Kathy MacAdams from Calvert County.

Kera has been working with Small Business Development Center since February 2016 from the beginning stages of her business to the grand opening events. We are now focusing on the strategic marketing, growth and expansion of the business.
Kera Cherrey has grown from working as an employee of an interior design store to owning her own interior design and staging business with three employees in less than 5 years. During this time, she has obtained her Maryland Home Improvement Contractors License which allows her to offer renovations and home remodeling services to her clients. Last year during the Annual Business Showcase, Kera was honored by the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce as the Winner of the 2018 Emerging Business Award. Chesapeake Staging and Interiors was awarded the Real Estate Staging Association Top Ten Rising Star Home Stagers of the year 2017.

Gerrie LHeureux has been working with Wynne Briscoe of the Small Business Development Center since April 2017 from the beginning stages of business planning to the grand opening events. We are focusing on the strategic marketing, growth and expansion of the business.

It was 2002 when Deborah Taylor attended SBDC's Start Right for Success class. One week later she met with Business Consultant, Bill Hitte. Deborah came to the meeting with industry experience, a business plan including researched startup costs, a tentative location and family support. In their first meeting Bill Hitte learned more about Deborah's experience, plan, research, and intended location. Bill provided additional insights and considerations and gave Deborah some homework - the business plan was still in her head and they needed it in writing to . . .

"As I entered into the program . . . I thought of Mr. Hitte's advice - and how right he was! got the experience I needed to run a spa from the ground up and acquired my aesthetician's license for the State of Maryland in May 2016. In Sept 2016, I opened my business. In July 2017 I had the chance to re-connect with [Bill] . . . a consulting session in mid-August. After those discussions, I emailed [Bill] "I cannot believe I didn't reach out to you sooner."

Although this is a relatively new business, BEKÔZ has wasted no time in fulfilling their mission of being a business that is willing to tackle any challenge; no job is too small or too big as long as it has a cause and mission to reach others. From the beginning, Glynis and Sheebah recognized that in order to succeed and grow they needed help along the way.

Terri St. Cloud found that she had a passion for short writings which would help women with "emotional healing" concerning challenges in their lives. She called them "Bone Sighs", so she started Bone Sigh Arts in April 2002. She also found that she had a streak of "artistic creativity" which adapted well to complement.

No Thyme to Cook began as a personal chef service in 1999. Owned and operated by Gwyn Novak, it provides in-home personalized gourmet meals to clients, and has evolved to include a robust series of seasonal cooking classes and additional streams of income. Beautifully situated on the Patuxent River in the heart of Solomons Island.

Wynne Briscoe, Business Consultant So MD SBDC, discusses the various avenues for drone companies to monetize as a business, work in their niches, and create income streams.

Lowell Cade’s invention of the RYG Light, a portable, handheld device is used to control pedestrian and auto traffic. His patented device won first place in the 2018 Southern Maryland Innovation and Tech (SMIT) Initiative finals of the 4th annual Crab Pot Pitch Contest.

On October 20, 2016, the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce recognized Heather Maertens, owner of Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts in Lusby MD, as the 2016 “Chamber Member of the Year”.