Seventeen local companies have been selected for the second group of ScaleUP! Kansas City, a free program that helps small businesses “get over the hump” and generate more than $1 million in annual revenue.
The program is a collaboration involving the U.S. Small Business Administration and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. ScaleUP! Kansas City graduated its first class of companies earlier this year.
“We were astounded by the talent, drive and early successes of our first cohort,” said Jill Meyer, program director of ScaleUP! Kansas City. “We’ve already seen companies make early, significant strides with strategic plans, fresh branding, capital infusions, expansions, new employees—and one, El Padrino Soccer Nation, was even named the Kansas City, Kansas Chamber’s Small Business of the Year.”
ScaleUP! Kansas City is actually part of a national effort by the SBA to help small, but established businesses keep growing. Kansas City was one of the first cities in the United States to launch a ScaleUP! program.
Who’s part of the new ScaleUP! class?
Sharon Auck of Fresh Approach Cleaning Professionals, a professional cleaning service
Chris Bird of Project Blackbird, a motion-graphics company
Lori Bryan of Lynch Bryan Consulting, a talent management and development firm
Russell Criswell of Vulcan’s Forge, one of the country’s largest retailers specializing in silver jewelry
Steve Crockett of Gray Swan Software, maker of software for doctors’ offices and home-health companies
Karl Dunivent of Choice Cabinet KC, which produces cabinets for kitchens and baths
Steve Redmond of FEWDM Fitness, manufacturer of fitness products based on a proprietary ball-bearing technology
Kris Fredrickson of TeeQuest Solutions, which offers software and hardware for golf courses
Sheldon Gray of Peak Roofing, a local construction company with specialties in roofing and lead abatement
Ben Kittrell of DoodleKit, creator of a free website builder
Sharon Kwon of Korean Restaurant Sobahn
Patrice Manuel of P/Strada, a management consulting company
Vincent Rodriguez of Velo, a bicycle shop, + Maps Coffee Roasters, which produces coffee for retail and wholesale
Chris Rosburg of CR Promotions, which sells branded promotional items
Natasha Shirey of Freedom Transportation, which handles freight jobs
Joseph Thomas of Joeycuts & 180V Barber|Salon
Summor White of Sitting Comfortably Pet Care, which offers pet- and house-sitting and private pet boarding
All ScaleUP! businesses have been in operation for two years or more, have annual sales between $150,000 and $750,000 and do business in a market that could potentially support more than $1 million in sales per year.
