Jim Matuga, the host of Positively West Virginia, hosted a special edition highlighting the West Virginia Small Business Administration’s 2020 award winners. Karen Friel, SBA District Director, and Steve Bulger, SBA Mid- Atlantic Regional Director, joined Jim for the special edition of Positively West Virginia.

Opening Thoughts On Small Business Week in West Virginia

“Small business week in West Virginia is one of our largest events. We are held on an annual basis in the first week of May. Even though we have had to shift to virtual surroundings, we want to make sure that our award winners realize how outstanding they are. National small business week is a time when the agencies celebrate the thirty million businesses across the country, and here in West Virginia, we have had national, regional and district winners,” stated Karen Friel.

Thoughts On West Virginia Small Businesses

“We have seen that small businesses are the backbone of West Virginia, and we have seen that throughout these past years. They are an integral part of the business community across the state. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our small businesses for doing the best they can in this unbelievable storm we have been in for the last six months. We know it has not been easy. I want to thank our West Virginia District Office, led by Karen Friel and Gorge Murry. They have done a great job over the years, but never has it been more important than these last few months. I would also like to thank our resource partners at Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, Women Business Centers and everyone working on trying and helping businesses overcome the challenges they face now,” said Steve Bulger.

Kim Eastman and Brenda Sheldon – Owners of Hospitality Cleaning Solutions, LLC.

Hospitality Cleaning Solutions, LLC, is a woman-owned, small business facilities management company with broad operations related to capabilities and over eighteen years of experience providing constructive solutions to organizations. HCS is a company that places Christian values as their foundation. Trustworthiness, dependability and attention to detail describe the standards they strive to accomplish with each and every customer to ensure a long-term partnership with their clients. By balancing time, cost and quality, HCS can use the best methodologies to analyze cost, risk and results while ensuring a successful, sustainable and attainable outcome for their clients.

What is the Current State of Your Company?

We are really blessed. We are an essential business, so we did not shut down or lose any employees. Through this COVID environment, we have actually flourished, we have seen our business grow, so things are going very well,” said Kim.

What is One Piece of Advice You Would Give To Someone Thinking About Starting A Company Right Now?

“I would say use all the resources you have. Through the SBA, there are many resources to make small businesses successful so take advantage of those resources,” said Kim.

Trey Yates – Owner of Greenbrier Dairy, LLC

Yates believes that West Virginia youth must stay home to rebuild the great state of West Virginia. With that thought in mind, Yates formulated plans for Greenbrier Dairy, LLC, while enrolled as a junior in high school in 2014. After attending West Virginia University for two years, Yates returned home in 2017 to southern West Virginia to begin the diverse food production company that Greenbrier Dairy has now become. Yates owns other entrepreneurial ventures as well. Greenbrier Dairy is an array of different food manufactures ranging from butter to specialty mustards, soups and sauces to wine slushie mixes.

What Does Being The Winner Of The West Virginia Young Entrepreneur of Year For 2020 Mean To You? 

“It means I beat that saying that you have to leave West Virginia at a young age to get a job. I believe that that is not true at all, and I have friends in Charlotte, New York, Pittsburgh – they all have great jobs, but you can make one here,” stated Trey.

What is the Thing You Are Most Optimistic For Right Now?

“I’m optimistic about the growth of every company I have. I really see things blowing up after things settle down a little bit. I cannot complain too much because we are doing better than most businesses right now,” said Trey Yates.

“Trey exemplifies what we want to take and put in front of every youth in West Virginia because you can do it here in West Virginia. It is not hard to do. All you have to do is be willing to listen and be willing to talk to people because there are so many resources just like him as a young business owner,” said Karen Friel.

Traci Phillips – CEO and Owner of Fun Fitness Kids Club

Traci focuses on bringing mobile fun to her customers in the Charleston, Huntington and Beckley areas. Traci’s spouse, Justin Phillips, is the COO of the business. They provide rental fitness equipment for any age from birth to five years old. Traci and her husband, Justin, would like to expand their business throughout the state with the Fun Fitness Bus. They also came up with an idea to start a non-profit organization, The Fun Fitness Foundation. The foundation has a mission to help curve the obesity rate in West Virginia; however, the non-profit provides fun fitness for all ages. The Fun Fitness Kids Club has been in operation since 2014, whereas The Fun Fitness Foundation has been in operation since 2018. Traci and Justin have been able to give back to the community by paying for a few grants to provide fun fitness. They also have some great partners in the community that help expand the Club and Foundation’s reach.

How has SBA Impacted Your Company?

“When we first contacted the SBA in Charleston, we were put in touch with Doug Spalding, and he has been our small business couch. He has been such a blessing from the very beginning, from sitting with him in his office to helping us with a business plan and even helping us secure funding for equipment. We ran the finances with Doug, and we came up with the idea to make this a mobile business. That way, we cut some overhead cost while also being able to expand in multiple places throughout the state,” said Traci Phillips.

Stay tuned to hear from the rest of the WV 2020 SBA award winners next week. 

Listen to Part 1 of the special edition podcast about the WV SBA award winners here.