Success Stories

The end of an unexpectedly volatile 2020 is a great time to tell the success story about one of Aurora’s prized businesses. David LeVesque spent about a decade perfecting his technique of home brewing with some help from The Brew Hut and visiting Colorado breweries. The idea of opening a business location started ‘brewing’ about six years ago, and Launch Pad’s mission came together after working on the start-up’s financials over several meetings with an SBDC consultant. A loan for working capital from Aurora’s Revolving Loan Fund also helped with the purchase of equipment, and Launch Pad Brewery was officially ‘launched’ in 2015.

The loan was quickly paid off thanks to success as a start-up. The hard work and natural marketing prowess of Owner and Founder David Levesque, along with business partner, Co-owner and Founder Henry Rusch, have made Launch Pad Brewery a favorite destination for locals, Buckley Air Force Base personnel and lovers of micro-brews. Launch Pad has a unique military theme in both brews and décor. Launch Pad is veteran-owned and operated. Both business partners are Air Force veterans, and the staff is either active military or the spouse of a military veteran.

Expansion plans began with the help of SBA loans, through both Colorado Lending Source and Independent Bank, and a stepped-up marketing plan. The brewery went from 2500 sq. ft. to 5800 sq. ft., increasing occupancy from 84 to 184. They also expanded distribution to over 45 local bars and tap houses, necessarily pivoting during 2020 to reach more customers while social distancing, offering an online store for curbside and indoor pick up, as well as offering gift certificates.

The co-owners won the U.S. Small Business Administration Colorado Small Business Person of the Year Award at a soft presentation on March 27, 2020 and officially at a very small gathering on September 24, 2020 to receive the physical award at Launch Pad. SBA’s Colorado District Director Frances Padilla, the District’s SBDC Coordinator David Benavides and Lead Lender Specialist Steve White were on hand to outline all the ways that Launch Pad has contributed to the business community with innovative outreach and consistent quality. One of Launch Pad’s SBDC consultants, Chuck Hahn (retired), was there to not only speak highly of Launch Pad’s hard work, but to also receive the Small Business Advocate of the Year Award.

Henry Rusch has presented some of Launch Pad’s secrets of success as host to the SBA’s Veterans Small Business Week in 2018 and 2019, in conjunction with the Aurora-South Metro SBDC, the Aurora Chamber and the Veterans Outreach Center. The educational panel has given a wealth of advice to veterans interested in growing their businesses. The team at Launch Pad credits the SBDC, “We treasure the advice and working relationship with the SBDC. The SBDC team, the City of Aurora and the SBA have been supportive of our business from the beginning, and we are truly grateful.”

Dry Dock Brewing Company is an award-winning microbrewery and Aurora’s first. Established in Octo-ber 2005, Dry Dock is co-owned and operated by Kevin DeLange and Michelle Reding. Dry Dock has enjoyed tremendous success and growth in a very short time. To-date, the brewery is producing al-most 20,000 barrels of beer each year. It’s the largest brewery in Colorado that’s only distributing in-state. At the brewery on Hampden and Chambers, there’s a cozy bar with casual seating, a jovial at-mosphere and a staff eager to serve. Patrons flock to the bar to taste new and frequently changing brews. Behind a glass wall lives the brewery’s small production facility, and also on the premises is the Brew Hut, a supply house for homebrewers and wine makers.

“Dry Dock has grown tremendously in the past 10 years, and the Aurora – South Metro SBDC has been with us every step of the way. Working with any government agency can be daunting, so it’s great to have a partner to help you through regulations, training or just to point you in the right direction if you have questions,” commented Kevin DeLange, co-owner of Dry Dock Brewing Company.

Dry Dock Brewery may be “landlocked” at South Chambers Road and East Hampden Avenue, but this small microbrewer has the wind at their backs and clear sailing ahead in Aurora. In 2013, Dry Dock opened a 30,000 square foot production facility, North Dock, on I-70 and Tower Road where it began canning its Home Fleet beers. In 2014, Dry Dock opened the Canoe Room tasting room at this facility.

A $4.5 million dollar SBA 504 Loan allowed Dry Dock to produce a larger volume of beer to distribute much more widely.

Dry Dock began with just two employees in a 900 square-foot space with less than 20 seats in the back of DeLange and Reding’s homebrew supply shop The Brew Hut. Dry Dock brewed less than 500 BBL of beer in 2006.

With the addition of their production facility, the company and has grown to 24 full-time and 22 part-time employees. The company projects 26,000 – 32,000 barrels that will exceed $7 million in 2016, with 98% of the volume being wholesale accounts and 2% retail sales in the tasting room.

Dry Dock has partnered with their local community, the City of Aurora, in various activities. This hometown business delights in being a part of city events like Punkin’ Chunkin’. They are quick to lend a hand to local nonprofit or civic groups in need of support. In 2015, Dry Dock hosted the Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association to discuss how they worked with the City of Aurora and the Aurora-South Metro SBDC to overcome obstacles of starting a small brewery.

Since Dry Dock opened in 2005, the brewery has won 22 Great American Beer Festival medals, making it the most medaled Colorado craft brewery at this competition in the last decade. Dry Dock has also won at least one medal in every World Beer Cup it has entered (5 medals total) and 40 awards at the Colorado State Fair. Check out Dry Dock’s complete list of awards at drydockbrewing.com/about-us/awards.

Freddie and Tom Hancock took one look at their new home in Montrose and saw something beyond a magnificent house. Their dream was to transform it into a bed and breakfast, plus a base for their not for profit animal rescue operation. Familiar with SBDC consulting services in Arizona where they had moved from, the Hancock’s contacted the SBDC for assistance in achieving their dream.

Reviewing their 5-year financial forecast, the SBDC consultant provided instruction in Excel so that Freddie could complete her application for a bank loan. The loan was approved and they moved forward and opened.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without the competent help and support from our local SBDC consultant. We are living our dream.” Freddie Hancock

When it came time for their first magazine ad to be designed, they sought the input of their SBDC consultant for coaching on ad content, photographs and layout. Two different sales brochures were recommended – one for the B & B and one for special events. After reviewing their drafts, the SBDC consultant helped them target their message. Planning for their first overnight guest was again supported by the consultant as she is a trained chef and has B & B experience. On top of this, she provided comments on their sign-in forms plus recipes and food plating tips. Needless to say, the Hancock’s were thrilled with the ultimate outcome. With their sign hung on the street and their doors officially open, the Montrose Manor B & B has hosted two successful community events and several overnight guests.

“Not only did I learn a great deal from these exercises, but I was also able to produce solid projections on productivity, which led to raising seed funding for my business. I even had the luxury of choosing the investor of my choice.”

Element Pet Nutrition was born out of the love for dogs and cats and the mission to provide them a better quality of life. While working in a veterinary clinic, Marney Zafi an noticed a sizable disconnect between the high-quality health care provided and the inappropriate, unhealthy food available. Marney established Element Pet Nutrition, providing healthy, locally-sourced food diets and treats for dogs and cats.

Marney knew she would need help to achieve success in her business. She reached out to local support entities—the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Manufacturer’s Edge. Marney enrolled in the collaborative program, Small Manufacturer’s AdvantEDGE (SMA), and received assistance on several facets of her business. Several SMA program consultants helped Marney to learn about accounting and bookkeeping as well as lean manufacturing and productions processes.

“Not only did I learn a great deal from these exercises, but I was also able to produce solid projections on productivity, which led to raising seed funding for my business. I even had the luxury of choosing the investor of my choice, ”exclaimed Marney. Manufacturer’s Edge was able to help her better understand her productivity and efficiency. To date, she and her team have increased production by over 300 percent and increased sales by $250,000.

When referring to the SBDC assistance, Marney explains that she was “able to utilize the consulting expertise to become proficient in general bookkeeping and good business practices. My consultant is well-suited to train and has been a frequent resource for me as our revenue continues to increase.”

Element Pet Nutrition has benefited immensely from the multiple levels of support offered through the SMA program and is looking forward to continued support as the company continues to grow.

“The whole idea is to keep it as local as possible,” says Matt Cudmore who started Meier Skis in 2009. “We emphasize home-grown, local wood and a product coming right out of Glenwood Springs.”

Matt, who had been making skateboards for several years, began making the skis using primarily Colorado-grown beetle kill pine, working in a one-car garage. As the story goes, he gave up searching for “the next perfect ski” and decided to build them himself. He now uses a variety of wood from around the Roaring Fork Valley and Grand Mesa, including aspen, poplar, maple, pine and Douglas fir.

Matt got set up with the Northwest SBDC and says, “Roaring Fork Business Resource Center offered the Leading Edge Course, and as a start-up, I decided to take this as I hoped it would provide the insight my small business venture would require. Between the course and the mentoring provided by the SBDC, it did just that. This class has taken me and my ski manufacturing business, Meier Skis, from 0mph to 60mph.”

In the three years since he started Meier Skies, Matt Cudmore has filled between 30 and 40 orders per year. He said he’s on track to sell about 60 pairs of skis this season, and is targeting upwards of 150 sales in future years.

The majority of Meier Ski sales have been to locals, though some Internet sales have come from Montana, where Cudmore’s sister lives. He’s also sold skis to friends in Idaho.

“We’re still pretty focused on marketing to locals, but I’d like to get the name out in California and some other states, maybe next year.” Matt Cudmore