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Page 10 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor March 29, 2012

Habitat needs help

By Bob McDonnell The Surveyor Berthoud Habitat for Humanity thrift store manager, Sharon Gingerich, has been shaking her head a lot lately. It seems the store’s shelves are not as full as they should be.

Gingerich acknowledged that February 2012 was “the slowest in seven years.” March donations are down too, she added. “It’s dead here” the manager lamented. She said donations typically slow down when

the weather is bad but, now that it is warming up, she expected to see more items dropped off at the store.

Gingerich hopes people will remember the Habitat ReStore, located at 157 Mountain Ave., when they do their spring cleaning. If someone is upgrading their patio furniture, the Habitat store welcomes the old set so they can sell it. Also, there is a need for flower pots and garden tools. Gingerich noted that clothes are “always a best seller.”

The hours for the Habitat store are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Thursday evenings, people can shop until 7 p.m.

If you have items to donate to Habitat, stop by Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The store manager said there is pick-up service available for people who cannot bring their items in.

Due to the price of gasoline, this service is available for large items, not just one or two small boxes of goods, so it is costeffective.

Even though the store is located in Berthoud, pick-up of large items can be arranged in town and also Loveland, Milliken, Johnstown and Mead. Call 532-2872 for details.

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor June 14, 2012 Page 3

Page 8 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor June 28, 2012

The Small Business Development Center holding hours in Mead

By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer The Surveyor Whether you are considering opening a business or you have questions about your existing business, Jesse Esparza can help. Esparza is a business advisor/ counselor with the Northeast East Central Colorado Small Business Development Center, and he will be holding regular hours at Colorado East Bank and Trust.

Esparza has 30 years of experience as an educator and, after retiring in 2005, he opened a business to help small businesses. He wanted to focus on Latino-owned businesses, but as he said, “It mushroomed into something bigger.” Soon he was helping people of all backgrounds and experiences.

Sometimes Esparza helps business owners who are having trouble in their businesses, whether it is financial hardships or just quality-of-life issues. For instance, one business owner came to Esparza because his business was bringing in six figures a year, but the owner was working 80 hours a week and was only taking home $25,000 a year.

After two months of sitting with him, Esparza was able to help restructure this man’s business and, within a year, the owner was working fewer hours and taking home twice as much in income.

“This really changed his whole

Business Series meeting On the agenda for the next Business Series meeting in Mead is a discussion of the “good, bad and the ugly” of the first Mead Scavenger Hunt and Business Fair that was held on June 9, 2012. The meeting is scheduled for July 10, at Mead Town Hall located at 441 Third St. The meeting runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and attendees should bring their own lunch. Drinks will be provided.

life,” said Esparza.

Esparza says many of the people he counsels are interested in starting a business, and he encourages those in that position to talk to him prior to signing a lease or making themselves financially liable in any other way.

“We can help them put together a business plan and guide them to specific banks to obtain the loan,” said Esparza. “In most cases, with some tenacity, of course, they are successful in obtaining operating capital for their business.”

Esparza says he works hard to give potential business owners a realistic point of view. He advises that before starting anything a potential business owner really needs to examine his or her passion for business. Most potential business owners come to him with a talent that they want to turn into a profitable company.

“They want to exploit their talent, but they don’t have a business background, so that’s what they have to connect with their talent — the business part — or else it’s just a talent,” said Esparza.

Esparza will be holding regular hours in Mead to help people connect their talent to a business plan and to counsel current business owners who may be looking for financial help, marketing strategies, or other resources to help them succeed.

Esparza will be at Colorado East Bank and Trust at 141 Main St., in Mead on the second Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Set up a meeting for free assistance from the SBDC by calling Esparza at 720-837-0416 or by e-mailing him at jacii1@msn.com.

Learn more about the Northeast East Central Colorado Small Business Development Center at www.NEECCoSBDC.org.

Let’s grow together!

The Mead Area Chamber of Commerce is organized to advance the general welfare and prosperity of the Mead area. All necessary means of promotion shall be provided and particular attention and emphasis shall be given to the economic, civic, commercial, industrial, and educational interests of the area.