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Success Stories

Photo of Eva

 Eva Bunkley, a two-time Emmy award-winning makeup artist and serial entrepreneur, developed the idea for the Makeup Bullet while doing makeup for local news in Atlanta and nationally-syndicated shows in New York. The Bullet is a makeup applicator sponge that fits snugly on the tip of a finger while providing smooth, precise coverage. Since launching the Bullet, Eva has seen sales growth of more than 2000 percent.

Sadly, this innovative tool almost never became a reality. Eva, like many other entrepreneurs, received bad advice, discouraging her to pursue developing her idea. After a seven year hiatus, Eva approached the Small Business Development Center at Georgia State University and received the encouragement and expertise needed to make her dream a reality. “They were so encouraging and made me confident about the decision to launch the Bullet,” she proudly exclaims.

After her consultations, Eva not only found and retained a manufacturer; she also patented the... Read More

Photo of Billy

In 2010, Billy Freeman started Technique Concrete, a small concrete finishing company in Atlanta. Billy started the company so that he could spend more time working together with his aging father, a lifelong concrete mason and carpenter. What started as a father and son operation has grown into a major construction company that employs more than 100 workers, with annual revenues exceeding $ 45 million. Technique’s success and growth has not come without its share of challenges. 

Shortly after launching the company Billy’s father passed away leaving him to run the business alone. Looking for help to guide his decisions, he visited the Georgia District Office and found a wealth of resources. He was connected to SCORE, Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center for counseling and training workshops. It wasn’t until he enrolled into the 8a program that was he able to fully appreciate the value of the SBA assistance he received.

Billy credits the SBA and his business... Read More

Picture of Robert Magbee

In 1954, in Atlanta, two brothers founded Magbee Contractors Supply, a small family-owned business that specializes in providing building material and products to professional builders. Over the years, as the city of Atlanta grew, the company grew from a two-person operation into a large regional supplier that currently employs more than 185 workers. Magbee’s success and growth has not come without its share of challenges and setbacks. 

 In 1992, Robert Magbee, a son of one of the founders, became the CEO. Magbee continued to grow the business until the great recession caused the housing market to crash. Revenue started dwindling as fewer houses were being built. As a former accountant, Magbee knew he had to find a way to reduce expenses and free up cash flow. Despite his company’s track record of success and established relationships with area lenders, he was denied several working capital loans. “The recession made us as risky as a startup in the bank’s eyes and they would... Read More

Kevin Boykin opened Path-Tec, a medical logistics company that specializes in the packaging, transport and tracking of laboratory specimens, in 2005. With the guidance and support from the Columbus office of the Georgia SBDC, he has grown the business from operating out of a cramped rental storage unit to owning a 130,000 square-foot facility that now employs more than 150 people.

After developing the entrepreneurial bug and hearing customers complain about rising laboratory costs and testing errors, he knew his vison for better products and services would work. Kevin leveraged more than 20 years of experience in the medical field that includes sales, manufacturing and laboratory operations, along with his can-do attitude and a desire to meets the needs of the market that were not being addressed to launch the business.

Along the way he has received immeasurable support from his local SBDC office, ranging from basic business idea development counseling, to access to... Read More

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