Countryside Disposal

Herman Rosas has worked in the trash disposal business in Cortez for twenty years.  He had developed a stellar reputation amongst the customers he served over that span.  In 2016, one disposal company Herman used to work for sold their business to their corporate competitor, which made them the only disposal business in town.  He and his wife, Kim, started to receive calls soon after from former customers.  The people asked them to start their own business.  They were unhappy with the lone disposal company’s service and billing.  To serve the community need, the Rosas decided to open a business.

A friend had suggested they contact the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Durango, which they did.  The Rosas were told about the Leading Edge (LE) program, a course designed for entrepreneurs to construct a business plan and learn from professionals about the various aspects of business. Herman knew all disposing of trash, but little on how to operate business within an office.  They registered and took their first class soon after.

The Rosas found the class arduous.  The Rosas describe themselves as “hands on business people.  We learn by doing.”  The business terminology and concepts were new information for them.  Without having the experience for what the work entailed, there were moments when they wanted to give up.  Also, the LE class in Cortez was geared primarily towards agricultural businesses.  The Rosas were the only business not involved with farming.

They persevered and gleaned some useful information.  Their instructor, Cindy Dvergsten, helped direct their focus to begin service in the neighboring town of Dolores.  A guest speaker for one class was a certified public accountant.  He and his staff member showed them how to properly set up bookkeeping software with QuickBooks and Excel.  Lastly, there was support from classmates who provided encouragement as the program went on.

Countryside Disposal became operational in August 2017.  They presently have over a thousand customers and receive approximately thirty calls a week from people wanting to switch to their disposal company.  The Rosas have seven employees and operate four trucks.  One of their employees is office manager Ellie LaLonde.  She has thirty years of office experience with disposal companies.  Ellie has taken the foundational lessons the Rosas learned from LE and take business operations to the next level.  “With a working business, we have a better understanding of the concepts the LE program taught us.  We have recommended SBDC to people we speak with.”  The Rosas are thankful for the community support, wanting their customers to be happy and have a good experience.  “Our customers want to work with local businesses.”

Farm to Summit

Nothing says Durango like dehydrated meals. After all, we use them for everything…camping, backpacking, river trips, backcountry ski trips, and even lunch on busy workdays. Thanks to Farm to Summit, you can now purchase dehydrated meals made right in the heart of Durango! The company also makes instant lattes for those mornings when you don’t have time to stop by the coffee shop. “Our focus is on providing better tasting meals for the backcountry market,”

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 »
River Rim Teardrop Trailers

By Malia Durbano Tim Rossiter and his wife Peg, love to camp and hike. They bought a cargo trailer and turned it into a camper. In researching their design, they discovered a “big movement for people who wanted a small footprint.” In March of 2013, they started researching and planning a design for a teardrop camper. Their vision was to create a custom product with quality materials and craftsmanship. The Rossiters met with Joe Keck

Read More »
Earthsense Herbals and Gift Gallery

There is a saying that “if you can dream it, then you can achieve it,” -Zig Ziglar. Lake McCullough is an example of this by turning a hobby into a growing business. Earthsense Herbals and Gift Gallery is a quaint and sunny store located in the heart of downtown Pagosa Springs. Creatively decorated, the store is full of handcrafted items from perfumed soaps, herbal teas and remedies, to silk paintings, porcelain sculptures, greeting cards and

Read More »
Guild House Games: A Game for Everyone

About three years ago, Danny Perez got an idea. He was the manager of Radio Shack in Durango, and the company had recently filed for bankruptcy. Danny’s wife had mentioned that Durango needed a game store, so he started looking into it. He soon realized that this could be a viable new career path. Danny’s first stop was the SBDC. They guided him through the business plan and loan application process, and in May of

Read More »
The Wine Merchant

By Malia Durbano Eric Allen and Lesley Ponce needed some expert advice as situations in their business changed. They were moving from their location next door to Nature’s Oasis to their current location, next to the VFW at 1514 Main Avenue in Durango. Ponce who had been employed by The Wine Merchant for 10 years, would become a partner after the move. Allen explains, “I had some questions about how to structure a lease. I

Read More »
Skip to content