Success Stories

CECA Supply Export Service

“What I like most about owning a small business is having the ability to make quick decisions and to adapt quickly to new market conditions,” according to Maher Touma, CEO, CECA Supply & Services, Inc. The successful U.S. drilling export service was established in Houston, Texas in May 2002 and has seen exponential growth thanks to various programs available from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

While a lot of new small businesses benefit from the 7(a) guaranteed loan program, in order to grow their business globally, assistance needed doesn’t end there. “We have used the SBA Export Working Capital program to help with expanding our services to other countries such as Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.” said CECA President, Rami Touma. “We have been able to order and provide supply-on-demand in the Oil and Gas industry overseas while managing a steady growth in a little over 12 years.”

Starting as a simple concept export business in 2002, CECA Supply &... Read More

Sidney Lacey, LNC principal/director

Networking and collaboration are instrumental to success in the growth and development of every small business. This is the experience of a well-established firm such as Lacey Newday Consulting, LLC (LNC) located in Houston, Texas. And with assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program, Sidney Lacey, LNC principal/director, has expanded his services leading to growth since the firm opened over 10 years ago.

“When I started LNC, I knew that I wanted it to be a place where passion, performance and integrity were paramount.  A firm where the clients were asking, ‘why are you guys trying to leave, we need help on something else.’ When I worked for someone else, that’s how we ran our practice and not only did it satisfy the customer, but it made work fun!” said Sidney.

Diversification is also attributed to LNC’s success over the years. The firm assists clients with project management, process improvement, internal controls analysis, staff... Read More

Axistrade, Inc. Staff

Axistrade, Inc. located in Houston, Texas is an export sourcing service to industries both domestic and overseas in need of material procurement and logistical support for maintenance, repair and operations.  The company formed in 2001 and has grown to more than 30 employees in 15 years. “It was a one man show for the first four years, and I wore every hat from Warehouse Manager to Owner,” said Sadik Dalal, President and Owner. Working long hours and doing a lot of research in growing a small business, Sadik was able to secure financial assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Export Working Capital Program (EWCP) which broadened opportunities and increased domestic and international sales.

 

Sadik is a graduate of Baylor University with BS and MBA degrees, and following graduation he has gained a great deal of technical experience from the corporate and financial industries. After he lost his job due to layoffs at one of the large energy... Read More

Drafting a Business with SBA

Saint Arnold Brewing Company sells craft beer in Florida, Louisiana and Texas, and has a brewery hall located at 2000 Lyons Avenue, Houston, TX with over 100,000 visitors every year. It is Texas’ oldest Craft Brewery founded by Mr. Brock Wagner and Mr. Kevin Bartol, graduates of Rice University. Brock graduated from Rice University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and spent six years as an investment banker, working on corporate finance mergers and acquisitions projects totaling more than $4 billion. After working in the investment banking industry, Wagner decided to start his own business and wanted to start a business that he had a passion for, a passion that he discovered while attending Rice University.

In 1994, Brock and Kevin opened the doors to Saint Arnold Brewing Company. The company got its name from St. Arnulf of Metz, France, Bishop from 612 A.D. to 629 A.D. who declared that everyone in Metz must drink beer due to the fact that the water was... Read More

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