“I remember the first time I met Joe Keck, I was huddled by a wood stove in a 4,000 square foot building accompanied by a meager video inventory and a vinyl cutter”, said Bryce Capron, on meeting Joe in at his place of business in Dove Creek. He sat next to the fire with me and we talked. “It was my first contact with a resource that I value and rely on to this day.”
Bryce came to the area from Denver in 1978 to work with the local schools, retiring six years ago after a 29- year career in Industrial Arts and Art. His years in business overlap with a teaching career as he started the video business while still teaching.
Some years ago, the “woodshop teacher” saw the end of the video era coming. He enrolled in Leading Edge for Entrepreneurs class in 2011, laying out plans to develop a kitchen, entertainment venue and coffee shop. He remembers Cindy Dvergsten, Leading Edge Instructor, asking how many cups of coffee you could sell in Dove Creek in a day. The instructors had a way of making things clear, when he “was ready to hear it,” Bryce comments.
The owner of BC Signs llc, Bryce considers his experience with SBDC as a blessing. With no other formal business education, the classes and seminars were essential to learning to run a successful business. “Typcial art major,” he quips. The networking, education, consulting, and warm sense of community are all readily available. “There is no end to the value of being able to discuss your business with experienced business professionals.”
The business landscape in Dove Creek is tough in his estimation. “Though I haven’t been able to set in motion all my plans, SBDC has given me the tools to adapt, and shore up the foundation of my sign business. I would encourage anyone having thoughts about following a business dream to seek the services of the SBDC, make a plan, do your homework, and get to busy.”
He explains, “Yes, ‘Get to busy’ is an expression of mine.”
