Small business celebrates National SBDC Day
America’s SBDC Montana will join with the other 49 states’ SBDCs across the nation to celebrate SBDC Day on Wed., March 21. Nearly 1,000 offices nationally will join in promoting the core mission and successful outcomes of America’s SBDC program. Telling the stories of its clients is the best way to celebrate SBDC Day.The Butte Small Business Development Center is pleased to announce the selection of two local businesses from southwest Montana who will be highlighted at the National SBDC DAY statewide recognition event. Mark Huntington, owner of The Copper Tee in Butte, and Dan Durham and Logan Miller, owners of Ranch Resources in Sheridan, will be honored in Great Falls on Wed., March 21. Governor Bullock will be on hand as well to celebrate the success of the Small Business Development Centers and their clients.
Julie Jaksha, Regional Director of Headwaters SBDC stated, "It is very rewarding to help clients achieve their dreams. Through determination, innovation, and hard work they are able to turn their dreams into reality, We are excited to talk about what the SBDC programs are doing on both a state and national level and to share the programs successes."
Huntington started his small business in college and has been growing his footprint since then. Success hasn’t happened overnight but his hard work and dedication to his small business has paid off. He is a talented, innovative, small business owner, who is focused on providing exceptional customer service to his clients. Huntington took the initiative to ensure he was making smart decisions to help foster positive growth for his company. He needed to expand his operation, and purchase new equipment that allowed him to increase capacity and shorten turn time for new orders. Huntington is a successful entrepreneur with astonishing knowledge in owning and operating his business.
"With Julie’s help, I now truly enjoy running my business and have been able to avoid many issues of day to day operation that would have gone unsolved without her guidance,” he said.
Ranch Resources was established in Sheridan by Les Gilman to assist landowners in the Ruby Valley with managing their ranch properties. As properties changed hands from long-time landowners to non-resident, part-time owners, there was a tremendous need to ensure that the land continued to be managed properly. After a successful career starting and running Ranch Resources, Gilman decided it was time to transition ownership. Gilman approached Miller, one of his long-time employees, about the idea of purchasing the business and, in turn, Miller reached out to Durham, a trusted colleague who he had worked with on several projects with Ranch Resources. With an incredible knowledge of the business, the new partners turned to Headwaters SBDC for assistance in purchasing the business.
"We could never have completed the purchase of Ranch Resources Inc. without the organizational, educational and funding resources available from the Butte SBDC and their employees," said Durham. "Buying our business was a long and complex process, but the assistance that we received from Headwaters SBDC provided a clear path forward and a better understanding of the steps required to be successful. The staff at Headwaters RC&D was always responsive and patient as we worked through various hurdles along the way, and gave us the confidence to keep going. We have now owned our company for six months and are really enjoying the opportunity and pride that come with running a small business in rural Montana."
SBDC Day is a national, collective announcement of the success and impact of America’s Small Business Development Center in economic development and the small business community. SBDC’s certified consultants offer free one-on-one business advising to entrepreneurs statewide.