Salem,

MA

Transcript

Bioengineering Group

I'm Wendy Goldsmith and I started Bioengineering Group back in 1992. At that point, I had a passion for handling water resources wisely in a built environment and I saw nobody else was doing it. A lot of construction practices change how land absorbs and processes water. If you just understood how natural systems worked, you could shepherd the water on a site more effectively with lots of ecological benefits, as well as cost savings. Bioengineering Group started out doing work on pretty small-scale research and development type things, doing pilot scale demonstration type projects. Bit by bit, we went from a small size, to a'well, I believe this can work. Clients were trusting us to work on a larger level to the point where we're actually in a leading role for design and program management on the single largest infrastructure projects going on in North America right now, down right in New Orleans.

The first SBA program that helped us was becoming an 8(a) firm which allowed us better access to new federal customers. Then, after 911, we had a tough time, and SBA came through with a 7(a) loan. That kept us going and succeeding. Next, with the SBA Mentor Protege program, we had assistance from our mentor, and we could form a joint venture to win the New Orleans work allowing us to add jobs in Louisiana and elsewhere. Recently, through a streamlined SBA line of credit program, we tapped funds to support our newest initiative, renewable energy. SBA helped me juggle a lot without dropping key balls. I've gotten good at juggling.