Cleveland Daily Banner - Hicks wins coveted Rising Star Award

Cleveland Daily Banner - Hicks wins coveted Rising Star Award
 

Hicks wins coveted Rising Star Award

by LUCIE R. WILLSIE, Associate Editor 

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Impressions Catering owner and chef Greg Hicks received the Rising Star Award Wednesday at the second annual small business luncheon held at the Museum Center at Five Points.

Some 150 people attended this year’s event which was preceded by an hour of business displays by eight participating vendors.

“I am incredibly humbled and honored to receive the award,” Hicks said. “I’m not a typical business that would go to the [Tennessee] Small Business Development Center.”

He was in business for 10 years before first going to the local TSBDC. He operated a variety of food-related services before opening his own operation. But every one helped shape what he is doing now and what he’ll do in the future. He had hoped to write his own paycheck six months after opening his current business.

But it only took roughly two months. And he has made a profit ever since.

But the economic downturn did affect his business — especially near the end of 2009.

“I felt burnt out, ready to throw in the towel,” he said, “or, go to the next level. I chose to go to the next level.”

That’s when he prayed to God to show him what to do.

“I firmly believe God brought Brenda into our lives,” he said.

Early in 2010, he turned to the Cleveland State Community College TSBDC and Brenda Sheehy, its director. He decided to make a year’s commitment to the program to turn his business around.

“There was no magic bullet,” he said. During this time, he learned to understand his financials, pursue his niche markets, learn who they are and implement procedures in a regular and consistent way. “It was 1 1/2 years of hard decisions.”

Business affects everything in your life, Hicks said.

“It’s your child,” he said.

There is no way, he said, his company could be where it is today without the help and guidance of the center, especially from Sheehy. Right now, he is booked for almost two months.

“I want to thank Brenda personally,” he said, which was followed by giving her a warm embrace.

“It wasn’t me, it was you,” Sheehy told Hicks. The TSBDC counsels a lot of people, she added, and not all are as successful. It takes a lot of hard work. “I take my hat off to you. I applaud you,” she said.

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Impressions Catering wins TSBDC Rising Star award!

Rising Star Award event to honor small business

by LUCIE R. WILLSIE, Associate Editor

THIS YEAR’S RISING STAR AWARD winner is Greg Hicks, owner/operator of Impressions Catering. From left are Dr. Carl Hite, president, Cleveland State Community College; Hicks; Brenda Sheehy, director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center; and David Hudson, small business specialist at the TSBDC. Banner photo, LUCIE R. WILLSIE

“Greg Hicks is a passionate small business owner who exemplifies entrepreneurship,” Sheehy said. “He is a consummate professional who continues to put forth whatever effort it takes to grow his business and prosper.”

The yearly Rising Star honoree is chosen based in part on a variety of factors, including that company’s level of involvement with the TSBDC programs, as well as involvement by the company and its owner in the local business community. Rising Star also honors a company’s exceptional achievements in bringing its business to a new level.

“This year’s winner is unique,” Sheehy said. “They have exponentially excelled over many businesses.”

Hicks has been in business for 10 years, but in less than a year he has improved the bottom line of Impressions Catering by 30 percent.

“The TSBDC doesn’t just help starting businesses, but also established businesses,” Sheehy stressed.

The second Tennessee Small Business Development Center Rising Star Award Luncheon will be held Wednesday, Aug. 10.

“Last year we had over 125 attendees,” said Brenda Sheehy, director of the local TSBDC at Cleveland State Community College. She hopes to exceed that number this year.

“The Rising Star Luncheon is a wonderful venue,” she offered.

This luncheon is the main fundraiser of the year for the local TSBDC. Funding for the center comes from a variety of other sources in addition to the luncheon, including federal money from the Small Business Administration, host institutions such as CSCC and other benefactors like the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce and various banks, and small-business owners.

“The more funding resources our center has, the more service we can offer the community,” Sheehy said.

New this year will be an hour of small business vendor table visits held between 11 a.m. and noon before the actual awards ceremony luncheon. It was created as a celebration of small business entrepreneurs. A 6-foot table will be provided to those who want to be part of this segment of the luncheon. Businesses just need to bring some sort of table covering along with their business materials.

“It’s a nice addition. It’s appropriate to represent other small business owners at Rising Star,” Sheehy said.

Since January, Cleveland’s TSBDC has helped more than 30 new businesses get started. In addition, the local TSBDC has achieved 110 percent of its matrix-mandated goals for 2011 and Sheehy hopes to double or perhaps even triple its expected goals by the end of this year.

“This is an excellent opportunity for them to let the community know who they are and what they do,” she said.

The keynote speaker, who will be introduced by Sen. Mike Bell, will be U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann. Walter N. Perry III, the district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Tennessee District Office; and Patrick Geho, director of the TSBDC, will also speak.“Each and every small business is important and I welcome celebrating with them on Aug. 10,” Sheehy said.

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