Mountain View TLC

By Malia Durbano

Family Physician, Kirsten “Kicki” Searfus originally approached the SBDC to learn how to structure the partnership she was entering with Megan Lewis Grotefund. Instead, Megan moved away and on June 1, 2013, Kicki officially was in private practice.

Having always been an employee at clinics or hospitals, she was wondering where to start in figuring out how to be an entrepreneur. Advisor Joe Bishop “was super helpful” in assisting her regarding the structure to choose for the business and helped her with the business plan.

He then recommended her to attorney Lindsey Nicholsen who drafted the purchase agreement. When she needed help with Accounting and Taxes, Joe Keck referred her to Virginia Cavanaugh from AccounTax. “If Joe recommends her – she must be good. I don’t know where else I would have gotten all this information.”

When Kicki was ready to add partners, again Joe Bishop “was open to our ideas. It was great how he approached it and made it so much easier. He basically said, if this is what you want to do we’ll figure out a way to make it work.” Lynn Asano helped her compile the demographic data to put into the business plan and assisted with marketing advice to tap into their market.

The group, which now consists of four separate business entities decided to structure it that way and form a collaborative rather than a partnership.

One of the other members of the collaborative, Exercise Physiologist, Kevin Dehlinger, also got assistance from Joe Bishop. “The task seemed daunting.” Kevin faced the challenges of securing financing, structuring his business, and deciding to hire independent contractors or employees.

Joe Bishop helped him decide what a reasonable amount of debt to accrue would be weighed against projected income. They put it in the business plan and the loan was approved in a week! “It was really helpful to have all those things sorted out and decided upon before I asked for money.”

In addition to Dr. Kicki Searfus and Exercise Physiologist Kevin Dehlinger, the smoothly running collaborative now also includes Registered Dietician Nutritionist, Lisa Smith and Judith Vanderryn, Ph.D providing Psychotherapy and Behavioral Health.

Kicki summarizes, “Having these specialists in house is a tremendous resource. It enables us to really move clients forward and be incredibly transformative. It’s remarkable how much more effective our work is and there is a huge benefit to the client.”

Mountain Dough Bakery

Cupcakes…cookies…muffins…scones…is your mouth watering yet? Kim Solecki has always had a love for baking. It’s a passion she shared with her mother, and she’s always known she wanted to pursue it as a career. But, with a successful career in technology sales, she wasn’t sure how to fit it in. In 2011, she started attending classes at Johnson and Wales on the weekends. “I didn’t want my day job to know, so I snuck into

Read More »
The Vault

Donnis Dolso and her partner Logan Noonan offer both group and private exercise sessions and classes at The Vault from 6:00 am until 6:30 pm six days a week! The specialized gym offers circuit training, cardio and strength training, agility and mobility exercises and weight training in a class environment or one-on-one personal training. Donnis explains, “We fit a lot in a one hour session.” Other equipment available includes free weights, a pull-up bar, rowing

Read More »
The Ring of Champions

Maria and Anthony Archuleta are in the process of fulfilling one of Anthony’s long time dreams – to own and run a boxing gym. Anthony used to box when he was young and remembers how it affected him. He wants to share his passion to influence youngsters. “I lived in Las Vegas for a while and trained at a gym there. I experienced first-hand how it changed me and saw it changing others. My business

Read More »
James Ranch Grill

Cynthia Stewart’s entrepreneurial story is one that brought her around full circle.   The values instilled in her childhood were reinforced and focused on the establishment of the James Ranch Grill.  Cynthia is the daughter of Kay and David James, the founders of James Ranch, and one of five siblings.  The ranch was established in 1961 in the Animas Valley north of Durango.  As a child, she was taught how to care for animals, as well

Read More »
Durango Car Care

After 20 years, Bryan Hill decided it was time to make his dream come true. He’d been working as an auto mechanic in a local shop but had always dreamed of owning his own business. When Durango Car Care came up for sale, he and his wife, Jenn, knew this was the opportunity they had been waiting for. They jumped on it. Shortly thereafter, they realized that they needed help. They reached out to the

Read More »
Cafe Au Play

Kelly Tregillus and her mother-in-law, Liza Tregillus, are the co-founders of Durango Café au Play (DCAP). DCAP is a non-profit organization (NPO) that offers co-working space and childcare for new and expecting parents in a family friendly ‘café’ environment. Parents with young children are provided a space to work, socialize and attend parenting classes. DCAP provides a support system for moms and dads who feel disconnected and isolated at home. Kelly relocated from San Francisco

Read More »
Skip to content