Small business owners attend Small Business Bootcamp

Business owners gathered Wednesday for a free training organized by the Small Business Development Center in Owensboro, the “Small Business Bootcamp,” at the Party Space Place. Upwards of 50 community members attended the event.

The training session, crafted to coincide with Small Business Week, is designed to help equip business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with essential skills and knowledge to promote growth and innovation within the Owensboro business community, according to a press release issued about the event.

“I just started a new business, so I’m here to learn new things to help make my business successful,” said Virginia Hardesty.

Hardesty recently opened Displaced Pages, Owensboro’s only independently owned bookstore. She is currently running Displaced Pages out of a booth in the T&T Vendor Mall on Commerce Drive.

Jamie Johnson, the director of Owenboro’s Small Business Development Center, said the bootcamp came about as a response to surveys completed by business owners.

“At the start of the year, our Small Business Development Center clients voiced their desire to learn from successful entrepreneurs and connect directly with local service providers,” Johnson said in the event’s press release. “The Center wants to bring those small business owners together to learn from each other and professionals in the industry.”

Various community business leaders and educators took to the floor to discuss topics like human resources, accounting, law, marketing and entrepreneurship.

Eddie Goodwin and his wife, Donna, recently purchased 54 Pizza Express. Goodwin was attending the workshop with his daughter-in-law, Annika, to gain leadership insight from community professionals.

“When you buy a business as recognizable to the community as 54 Pizza, that requires a certain level of trust from the community,” Goodwin said. “Trust that we’re not going to change recipes or the service that everyone expects and loves from the shop. So, we, as owners, definitely need guidance on that transition.”

The Goodwins are keeping the business in their family: Annika’s husband, Jonathan, leads the West location and her brother, Brent Narhi, captains the East side location.

“We’re looking for guidance in adding our own spin, but keeping the traditions that everyone knows and loves,” Goodwin said.

First to speak to the crowd was Dr. Nikie Walker, a professor from the Brescia University School of Business, who also owns and manages a human resources consulting firm called 20/20 Walker Consulting.

“I first started the business to guide office managers in optometry fields and locations, but we’ve branched out into offering human resource guidance to all types of businesses,” Walker said.

In addition to Walker’s presentation, T. Tommy Littlepage, from the law office of Wilson, Hutchinson and Littlepage, spoke about laws regarding small businesses. Drew Hardesty, owner of Wonder Boy Media, and Matt Purcell, owner of Owensboro Insulators, provided their valuable knowledge from being at the helm of small businesses to the audience.

Tina Tinsley heard about the program from Johnson and decided to attend. Tinsley is in the process of starting her own small business, Derby State Rentals, a residential property rental company.

Tinsley said that Derby State Rentals will be a family-run business and those family members have all obtained degrees and certifications in the business field, but said gaining extra knowledge is never a bad idea.

“I’m looking to add as much education and experience to my resume as possible, so that those involved in funding the business know that I’m dedicated and passionate about learning everything I need to know that relates to business,” Tinsley said.