A Man in Motion

Evans Kohn is a man in motion. Or, as his Columbia Area SBDC Business Consultant Allen Brown says, “Evans is always looking for the next opportunity.” Perhaps this explains Kohn’s impressive list of accomplishments: he retired from the Air Force Guard as a Senior Master Sergeant after a distinguished 26-year career, earned a real estate license while serving, invented a trucking route accounting software program, and launched three businesses, including founding Energi Transport in 2010.

Industry: Transportation

Initial Challenge: The client needed help with restructuring his business to reduce overhead and increase efficiencies so that he could sell his company for a sizable profit.

Approach: The consultant conducted a thorough analysis of the company and developed a four-pronged plan to generate revenue and increase the company’s value.

Results:

• Financing Obtained: $677,800

• 2022 Total Revenue: $1.8 million

While serving in the Air National Guard, Kohn worked in the Logistics Readiness Squadron as a Fuel Superintendent, where he managed fuel distribution for the Air Guard and Army Aviation. This experience was the genesis of Evans Kohn, the visionary and entrepreneur.

Kohn first visited the Columbia Area SBDC in 2019 when he needed assistance with restructuring Energi Transport to sell it in several years at a substantial profit. “Before meeting with Allen, I was trying to juggle too many ideas without a process for prioritizing them.” Kohn hoped Brown—a longtime business consultant and Veteran of the Army’s Transportation Corp—could help him develop a systematic approach to achieving his goals.

• Jobs Created: 2 full-time

• Jobs Retained: 15 part-time

After thoroughly assessing Energi Transport’s business model, internal processes and financial statements, Brown recommended a plan to increase efficiencies and reduce overhead that included the following: 1) regularly reviewing the balance between company drivers and owneroperators, 2) monitoring fleet operations performance, 3) effectively determining which hauling services Kohn could profitably offer, and 4) enhancing the company’s website.

Brown had devised a well-informed, innovative plan to revitalize Energi Transport, that is until the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Brown shifted his focus to helping Kohn apply for PPP and EIDL loans to compensate for lost revenue. Their quick response resulted in Kohn receiving $510,000 in EIDL loans and $167,800 in PPP loans. Brown helped Kohn invest these funds to sustain Energi Transport and pursue a complementary and potentially very lucrative new business venture.

Thanks to Brown’s wise counsel and the well-timed inflow of disaster funding, Energi Transport posted $1.8 million in 2022. Their combined objective is to continue growing and generate a healthy profit when Kohn eventually sells the business.

Services Provided:

> Industry Analysis

> Pivot Plan (Turnaround Plan)

> Loan Packaging

> Product Commercialization

> 8(a) Certification