VeriClean Springs

When you meet Dee Anna Thompson, not only does she greet you with warm smile and welcoming hug, you would never know she was the President of a fast growing, award winning business based on her humble personality. Dee Anna Thompson, President of VeriClean Springs opened in 2000. At the time, Dee Anna needed to make ends meet. Given cleaning was the only experience she had coming out of high school, finding a job was tough. Being an entrepreneur and getting a paycheck was the only route that made sense. Dee Anna makes small business resources work for her. There is not a day that you don’t see Dee Anna networking with businesses, conducting events in support of a good cause, and utilizing the SBDC’s consulting services and workshops to increase her business knowledge. Since 2000, Dee Anna has visited the SBDC for multiple consulting sessions for the growth of her businesses. “When I first came to this town from Denver, I was not able to gain a single client….for MONTHS! After running completely out of money, I worried how I was going to support my 7 year old son. Someone told me that the SBDC gave out FREE business advice which was all that I could afford at the time. The SBDC was able to guide me into the successful business that I have today by helping me understand how to grow my company, if I should or should not franchise, how to create a system for my business, helping with accounting needed and how to market my business.”

VeriClean Springs differentiates itself from other cleaning companies in a number of ways. They are the only cleaning company that offers “white glove” testing, sales reps double check every job before the owners arrive and cleaners are spot checked to maintain quality. VeriClean Springs has been awarded several “Best Of” awards and articles had been written about her company’s growth in the Colorado Springs Business Journal and other local newspapers. Dee Anna attributes much of her success to the Pikes Peak SBDC office. “The SBDC taught me how to grow my business in Colorado Springs because of its unique community. Businesses grow differently here. By following their advice, they helped me grow from unemployed to successful, in a matter of months. I went back to the SBDC to figure out how to handle my new growth. The SBDC not only provided me with papers, charts and graphs, but were available for questions later as I implemented their advice. After a few years of growth and winning awards, I went back to the SBDC. Because of the SBDC I have received more growth and success with my company than I would have on my own or with anyone else! Four years after the first day I arrived at the SBDC office, I find myself still with new questions and new mentors that are able to answer my specific questions” Dee Anna’s goals are never limited. She plans to make VeriClean Springs the largest cleaning company in Colorado Springs in just a few short years. She wants the community to expect excellent service from all local cleaning companies that follow in the standards VeriClean sets.

Dee Anna doesn’t forget her roots and where she started in the year 2000. She has since made it a mission to hire on other hard working women that need a little boost in their lives to gain experience and provide for themselves and their families. Additionally, Dee Anna is the Founder of Women on the Move, a non-profit which encourages and supports women to grow in business. “I am so thankful for the SBDC program and their advisors because without them, Colorado Springs and its economy would not be what it is today”.

719-216-7844
http://www.vericleansprings.com

Midwest-Masters/ Spoiler Dude

United States Army veteran Paul Hasty had already been successfully installing window tints, car bras, and spoilers in the Pikes Peak Region for almost fourteen years before reaching out to the Pikes Peak SBDC. Just call him the Spoiler Dude of Spoilerdude.com. With a strong love for cars, Paul decided to open up his business with the challenges of educating customers. Paul differentiates Spoilerdude.com by anticipating customers’ wishes and questions with answers prior to work.

Broken Arrow

Bob O’Borne was taught by his father at the age of 5 to shoot a long bow. When he was old enough, he harvested the mighty “Wapati” and joined the United States Air Force. He traveled around seeking out different animals with his bow until he settled in Colorado. Bob has always had a desire to own his own shop but did not have the time or opportunity. He believed, “You will never rise to

Safe Ride 4 Kids

Firefighter. Paramedic. Emergency responder. Over an 18 year career, Greg Durocher spent his days and nights responding to some of the most devastating collisions and catastrophes. To prevent accidents and injury, Durocher decided to learn as much as possible about child passenger safety. “As responsible drivers we can only do our very best to ensure that our precious cargo is properly restrained with the best options available,” Durocher said, “so that if a crash occurs,

Denver Escape Room

For many businesses, being first to market is essential to their success. When owner Brian Lacertosa of the Denver Escape Room began planning his venture, there was nothing like it in the state of Colorado, but by the time he launched he was third to market in Denver. That didn’t stop his momentum though; just a year after opening his first location he has already opened a second location in Phoenix, Arizona, and by the

Southern Ute Cultural Museum

Lynn Brittner, Executive Director, started planning the Southern-Ute Cultural Center and Museum over ten years ago. The Center’s opening this past May was her reward for years of dedicatedly holding the vision. Brittner’s relationship with the Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center started way back at the beginning. She needed help and only had three staff. A grant from the Administration for Native Americans provided funds for her to take Board members to visit other

Ku Cha House of Tea

Originally from China, husband and wife entrepreneurial team, Qin Liu and Rong Pan graduated from the Leeds School of Business at Colorado University with the dream of starting their own company. The original business idea was from Qin’s Business Plan Preparation class while enrolled in CU. In 2005, they launched their business, drawing upon the 5000-year-old tradition of drinking tea. In 2007, Qin and Rong changed the company’s original name from “The Leaf – All