Success Stories

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 machine, medicine balls and jump ropes. “We keep people moving all the time.”

That is one of the reasons she sought guidance from the SBDC. They were teaching all the classes and running the business. The partners met with Joe Keck who advised them to hire more trainers so they had time to focus on running the business. She shares, “Joe helped us remove ourselves from teaching so much so we could help the business grow. We had to learn to delegate.”

They have a great business plan and the business is doing so well that they were also contemplating opening a second gym. Joe suggested they watch their numbers closely to determine if that was a viable change. Checking the numbers monthly they watched for consistent growth and decided to just move to a bigger location, rather than open a second one.

Time to focus on the business allowed them to come up with creative ideas to keep growing. “We want to make it bigger and better.” The Vault moved to a larger location in the beginning of the summer. Their current and third location is bigger and on the north end of town, in the Core Value complex.

Donnis Dolso, co-owner has a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science from Fort Lewis. New partner, Logan Noonan, was born and raised here and has been a client of The Vault since they opened.

While Tim and Micki Hassemer waited for the perfect retail location on Main Ave. to become available, they were lucky enough to secure retail space at the entrance to Four Leaves Winery. During the one-and-a-half years they occupied that space, they met with former SBDC Executive Director, Joe Keck numerous times.

The couple moved here from Los Angeles and Tim chuckles, “It’s a little different here. We had to learn the rules and requirements for doing business in Colorado. Joe helped us navigate the processes to get a permit, a business license and with some accounting details.”

Micki had a background in marketing as the manager of a professional photo lab in Hollywood, CA. Tim ran a gallery where he displayed his custom woodwork products. They secured a Small Business loan through Region 9 Economic Development Alliance that required them to attend the Leading Edge for Entrepreneurs Class in the spring to secure a very good interest rate.

Tim explains, “The class was very thorough. It clarified things we were already doing. We identified things we were doing right, things we were doing wrong and things we could do differently.”

Micki adds that, “We were juggling so many things – signing leases, opening the store, gathering consigners, etc. The class served as a focal point once a week where we got to focus and hone in on a different area of the business.”

She was grateful for the personal assistance from Jasper Welch on their web page, the suggestion of starting a marketing calendar and for help with Social Media.

Tim handles the accounting and appreciates Terryl Peterson and Laura Hokanson for sharing their expertise. “Learning about projections was important. Now that we’ve been in business for over a year, we can compare projected to actual and really gauge how we are doing.”

Laura also helped them set up their accounting system in QuickBooks. Tim had learned the system on his own and acknowledges how, “Learning from a real accountant who set it up totally differently was helpful. It makes a whole lot more sense now.”

Their retail location at 734 Main Avenue, which opened in January of this year, features silver jewelry with gem stones made by Micki and gourds, water colors, pottery, hand-made soaps and lotions and other items from 12 local artists. “They are all Durango artists, with one coming from Mancos and one from Aztec.” All items are displayed on beautifully handcrafted wooden tables and display cases created by Tim.

“I don’t like to waste the scraps of wood, so Micki suggested I make earrings out of them. They are some of the biggest sellers in the store,” Tim explains.

Jeff Edens learned about Doggy Day Care in Pagosa Springs because his friends Maria and Linda worked there. He purchased the business in July of 2011 and now they both work for him. Edens had a good business background as a result of previous business experience as a home builder and realtor.

Doggie Day Care provides socialization for the dogs which includes reinforcing proper social manners such as no barking, no fighting and no jumping. This integration with other dogs is important to maintaining a calm pack thus protecting each dog and their handlers.

Daily day care and overnight boarding services are available to locals while on vacation and to visitors staying at the 500 room Wyndom nearby which does not allow pets.

Jeff met with advisor Rich Lindblad before he bought the business. Rich helped him put the projections and the business plan together to approach the SBA for a loan. Together they analyzed the business strengths and potential. Jeff shares, “Rich is a remarkable guy. He opened my eyes to lots of things.”

The five year projections they compiled enabled Edens to secure the SBA loan on June 17, 2015 to take over the whole 5000 square foot building. They occupied 3200 square feet when he bought the business. While analyzing the cost structure, they determined that a price increase was warranted. The Day Care facility now supports five employees who keep the place open 365 days a year. The dogs sleep at night and then exercise and play all day. Last year on Black Friday, they achieved a record of 61 dogs.

Edens explains, “Rich was really a friend. We talked about everything from business philosophy to challenges with employees.” Having Lindblad’s assistance with the business plan, “really solidified my relationship with the bank to get the loan. My credibility went sky-high.”

Rich encouraged Edens to “get to know the hard costs of doing business and to run a tight ship.” The business is thriving on word-of-mouth advertising with great compliments from their clients. And of course the best compliment a kennel can get is – “it doesn’t smell like a kennel.”

By Malia Durbano

Ryan, Tom and Ellen Beavers are all partners in San Juan Trading Post, a new business that opened in Pagosa Springs in October of 2013.

Parents Tom and Ellen live in Pagosa and develop properties there. Son Ryan was managing a pawn shop in Ohio. When Tom and Ellen looked around, they realized there wasn’t a pawn shop in Pagosa and thought it might be a good place to open one.

Ryan explains how they met with Advisor Rich Lindblad and former Director Joe Keck to “brainstorm and come up with some numbers to figure out if the community was large enough to support a pawn shop.” Rich helped them “think in concrete terms and set projections to meet expenses and know how much working capital they would need to open the business.”

Joe Keck helped them, “Walk through the steps of what it would take to open.” Joe also introduced them to the owner of the largest pawn shop in Cortez who provided lots of practical advice on managing the business as well as contacts to purchase merchandise.

After analyzing the data, the owners and advisors weren’t sure Pagosa had the population to support a pawn shop, but decided that if they incorporated a few businesses under one roof – it would work. A variety of merchandise would ensure a larger customer base.

San Juan Trading Post now has something for everyone. For visitors to the area, they offer souvenirs including turquoise jewelry and Navajo Pottery. For the hunters, they have a wide selection of guns and ammunition and for the bargain hunters; they offer many items that have been pawned.

Ryan shares, “It was great to have Rich and Joe to brainstorm with and to learn from their vast business experience and knowledge of the area. I appreciated their input and encouragement.”

By Malia Durbano