c o n t i n u e d f r o m p r e v i o u s p a g e The high-tech industries were really hit hard. Since then, however, just by word of mouth and other clients’ customers coming in, we’re really moving. I only have two small offices open.” “Generally, the areas we wanted to cultivate were oriented to high-tech organizations, and we’re trying to keep it at that,” notes Ted Duzenski, Augusta Tech VP of economic development. “But we’ve really gone beyond the technology area to businesses that look like they’ll have an economic impact on the area. We’re targeting minority businesses, female-operated businesses, disadvantaged businesses.” The SBI’s affiliation with and proximity to Augusta Tech benefits both institutions. “Working with the college, our mission is to ‘cross-pollinate’ with students,” says Geddings. “I utilize a workstudy student for my receptionist, and a couple of our clients have used students as interns. I had one client who utilized an entire class. He was developing a thermostatic control device and needed a marketing plan. So he took the device up to one of the electronics classes and the professor used that for a project throughout the quarter. The students researched it, came up with a marketing plan and presented it to the client. It helped the client and provided the students with a real-life, hands-on learning opportunity.” Including the SBI’s roster of 10 current clients, some 20 companies have so far worked with the incubator and almost all have been success stories, says Geddings. “Only one is not in business any more,” she says. Like
most incubators, the SBI tries to get its clients up, running and
“out of the nest” in about three years. “Normally,
that’s what we try for,” says Geddings. “However,
if there’s not a waiting list, they can stay a fourth year.
But hopefully, at that point, they’ve learned enough and saved
enough money that they can survive out there on their own.”
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John Hill’s first job was sweeping floors in a garage. Now he owns a garage. North Metro Technical College gave him the training to make the transition. The college’s Ford Asset program put the GED graduate on the right track, teaching him the automotive repair skills he needed. “It sounded like a really good opportunity,” says Hill of the innovative program. It was. The program gave Hill the expertise to open a successful garage with a friend in 2002. In 2003, Hill became sole owner of Garrett Motorsports and introduced towing services. As his own boss, “I get to spend a lot more time with my family,” says Hill, who named his company after his son. “That’s worth a lot of money.” |
