Fervent Four: Strengthening Small Business

Strengthening Small Business

Dec 15, 2022

This week hosts Tim Ryan, and Zack Miller sit down with Jolie Spiers, Executive Director of Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a local resource that provides free business advising and technical assistance to existing and pre-venture entrepreneurs. Watch this week’s episode to hear about how the SBDC helps businesses, the importance of small businesses to our communities, the recent entrepreneurial growth, and more!

Tim Ryan is an angel investor and the Executive Director of StartWheel, an organization dedicated to connecting entrepreneurs with resources in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Learn more at: https://www.startwheel.org

Zack Miller is a serial entrepreneur and author of Anomaly, a guide on differentiating yourself and your business from the crowd.

Learn more at: https://www.zackmillersays.com

Enjoy the show? Watch the Fervent Four Show LIVE every Thursday at 11 AM.

Live: https://www.startwheel.org/live/

Watch past episodes: https://www.startwheel.org/fervent-four-show/

Listen to past episodes: https://fathom.fm/podcast/fervent-four

Show notes:

(0:00) Introducing Jolie Spiers + Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center

(5:42) How can HRSBDC help your business?

(9:41) SBDC Team formatting

(12:52) COVID impact on small businesses and advancement

(18:07) Becoming the Executive Director

(26:25) Utilizing connections and resources in the region

(36:49) Customer journey + counseling through SBDC

(42:56) Overcoming challenges during COVID

(47:54) Outside perspective + Coaching

(52:31) Top foods in the region

(59:44) Podcast and book recommendations + Conclusion

Companies Mentioned:

Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center: https://hrsbdc.org/

Virginia Peninsula Community College: https://www.vpcc.edu/

Virginia Peninsula Chamber: https://www.virginiapeninsulachamber.com/

Virginia SBDC: https://www.virginiasbdc.org/

George Mason University: https://www.gmu.edu/

SBA: https://www.sba.gov/

Zoom: https://zoom.us/

Wordpress: https://wordpress.com/

Jim Carroll: https://www.virginiasbdc.org/team/jim-carroll/

Mighty Dream: https://mightydream.co/

Blair Durham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-durham-15528a17a/

Hampton Roads Alliance: https://www.linkedin.com/company/757alliance/

Virginia ICAP: https://www.virginiasbdc.org/programs/icap/

Virginia PTAC: https://virginiaptac.org/

Virginia VBOC: https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/veterans-business-outreach-center-vboc-program

Bunker labs: https://bunkerlabs.org/

Start Peninsula: https://www.startpeninsula.com/

Black Brand: https://blackbrand.biz/

BizWheel: https://www.startwheel.org/bizwheel/

Bubba and Franks: https://www.bubbanfranks.com/

Redwood Smoke Shack: https://redwoodsmokeshack.com/

County Grill & Smokehouse: https://countygrill.com/

Benny’s Pizza: https://www.bennysva.com/

North by Scott Jurgk: https://www.amazon.com/North-Finding-While-Running-Appalachian-ebook/dp/B01N6Z44OZ

David Goggins: https://davidgoggins.com/

National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/

Michelle Obama Books: https://michelleobamabooks.com/

Fathom.fm: https://hello.fathom.fm/

This Week in Startups: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-startups/id315114957

Fresh Air - NPR: https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/

Checklist Manifesto: http://atulgawande.com/book/the-checklist-manifesto/

About Jolie Spiers & HR SBDC:

The Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center (HRSBDC) provides free business advising and technical assistance, low-cost training, and connection to resources for existing and pre-venture entrepreneurs. HR SBDC serves 18 localities from Williamsburg across the entire Peninsula and Southside over to the Eastern Shore. Each year, hundreds of entrepreneurs in Hampton Roads seek resources and experienced advisors to help them start, survive, expand and thrive. HR SBDC serves all small business owners at all stages, from pre-venture and ideation to existing/growth companies to those ready to exit and cash out.

“Throughout her career, Spiers has held many different positions, including English teacher and tutor in Beijing and Shenzhen; journalist at the Sun Herald; media relations manager at Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau; director of marketing and communications and director of resource development at United Way of South Mississippi; beautification director for Harrison County, Mississippi; and senior director alumni relations at the University of Rochester. After she earned her Master of Business Administration from the University of Rochester Simon Business School in 2017, Spiers took over as executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Mount Morris, New York. During her two-year tenure with the nonprofit organization, Spiers was responsible for a $1.6 million budget and generated more than $100,000 in new funding”.

Learn more: https://www.pilotonline.com/inside-business/vp-ib-jolie-spiers-0613-20220607-tlf5uqbspzf65ltelpxuozhujy-story.html

The Fervent Four Show:

Did you know that only 4% of businesses hit $1M in revenue? Tim Ryan and Zack Miller are the creators of The Fervent Four Show, designed to help you get there. Check them out Live every Thursday at 11 AM.

Social Media:

Jolie Spiers

https://hrsbdc.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolie-spiers-30683422/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/hampton-roads-chamber-of-commerce/

Instagram: @chamber757 (https://www.instagram.com/chamber757/)

Twitter: @chamber757 (https://twitter.com/chamber757)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HamptonRoadsSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter & https://www.facebook.com/chamber757

Tim Ryan

https://www.startwheel.org

Twitter (personal): @ryantnt (https://twitter.com/ryantnt)

Twitter: @StartWheel (https://twitter.com/StartWheel)

LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryantnt/