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Success Stories

Young Entrepreneur Expands Business in Houston and Beyond

 

Young Entrepreneur Expands Business in Houston and Beyond

Young entrepreneur Masroor Fatany started Sears Garage Solutions of Houston in 2009 at the age of 22.  Sears Garage Solutions is a Sears franchise that provides repair and installation services and offers a full line of garage doors and accessories.    

Masroor’s exposure to entrepreneurship came at the early age of 10 when he frequently accompanied his father on service calls in his air conditioning business.  He later worked in another family business in retail packaging and shipping.  While attending college he and his father launched Unlimited Calling, Inc. selling pre-paid Cricket wireless products.  They expanded the business and now have 6 locations.

After graduating from Texas A&M with a bachelor’s in accounting and a Master’s in Finance, Masroor worked as an Assurance and Advisory Associate at Ernst and Young.  In less than a year, he realized he wanted to be a full... Read More

Logical Innovations, Inc.

Logical Innovations, Inc. is an SBA-certified 8(a)/Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Woman-Owned and Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB, EDWOSB) providing technical and business support services to the federal government and energy industry, owned and operated by Denise Navarro.  Growing up in Galveston County, Navarro, not surprisingly, had the goal of one day being a member of the NASA community.  She has worked for several companies and has enjoyed supporting NASA and other federal agencies since 1984.  In 1999, based on a recommendation from a commercial client (and friend) she supported as an independent consultant (and still supports today), Navarro decided to incorporate Logical Innovations, Inc., but continued to work full time.  

Navarro spent seven years researching all the steps and requirements necessary to become a successful company before taking the company fully operational in 2006.  To enhance her knowledge, she attended some... Read More

Rayford Crossing RV Resort

Gwen and Billy Craig are the owners of Rayford Crossing RV Resort in Spring, Texas, near The Woodlands.  With the help of a 504 program loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the RV Park opened in 2005 and is a beautiful 27 acre landscaped park offering 115 sites and fully furnished cottages. 

Billy is no stranger to entrepreneurship.  Prior to developing the RV resort, he was co-owner of a family A/C business for 29 years and a developer of a storage facility business.  Both Gwen and Billy work at the resort and have eight employees.  In 1998 they purchased an old timber site and while they researched and put together their business plans, they also waited for the construction of the Woodlands Waterway to be complete.  Their location near The Woodlands allows them to offer their guests off-site attractions and activities at The Woodlands Mall, Market Street, which is lined with shops and diving venues, the Cynthia Mitchell Pavilion, a popular concert venue, and... Read More

Local Entrepreneurs Enjoy Sweet Success

The Baker’s Dozen Kolaches and Donuts is owned and operated by Laura Auhing.  With the help of her husband Rick, Laura opened the neighborhood donut shop at 23933 Nichols Sawmill Rd. Hockley, TX 77447, in February, 2008.     

The stay-at-home mom turned entrepreneur stumbled on the donut industry by accident.  In 2001, while looking for a temporary part time job to make a little vacation spending money, Laura noticed an advertisement of a donut shop opening in her neighborhood.  She stopped by and applied and when asked what type of experience she had in the food industry, Laura admitted to no food or retail experience.  She didn’t know how to bake, cook, or work the register, but was eager and willing to learn.  Laura was hired and worked for six weeks, the only amount of time she was able to commit.  She learned a lot about the business in the short time she worked there and was asked to come back to work when she returned from vacation.  Laura initially agreed to return... Read More

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