Small Business Showcase

Three Massachusetts companies to receive national awards from SBA

Featuring Associated Elevator, Chestnut Bay Cabinets, Curley Direct and Keeling Financial Strategies. To view or download the PDF, click here.

Wareham-based SMH Electronics is also turning increasingly 'green'

Tom First found success as co-founder of Nantucket Nectars. Now he's doing it again. This unlikely entrepreneur shares his story - and explains how anyone can do it.

While Don Quixote may have tilted at windmills, Diana Duffley has been busy constructing one.

A young entrepreneur seeks his fortune on Cape Cod

Longtime South Shore manufacturer now sells 35 percent of its product abroad. Can your company become an international player?

You don't have to be big to export

SCORE’s highly popular “Successful Small Business” courses will begin September 9 at Cape Cod Community College. The course will be held at 7 PM each Tuesday night for seven weeks and also at a number of other dates and locations. It will cover a wide range of topics useful to business people and to those contemplating starting a business. This Fall’s courses will include tips on managing in an economic downturn. The fee for the course is $95. Reservations for the CCCC course may be made by calling 508-375-4012 and requesting course WGB075. For other times and locations visit www.scorecapecod.com.

The Red Pheasant Inn is a 30-year-old fixture in Dennis Village, serving some of the finest food on Cape Cod. But patrons – both loyal and new – may not realize what it takes to sustain that excellence.

Most small businesses fail within the first five years. Small businesses receiving Mousetrap awards from SCORE Cape Cod must have survived the first five years and appear to be headed for long-term success. Chambers of commerce participate in any given year depending on whether they can identify a member who satisfies these basic criteria.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” ––Robert Frost

Marybeth Andrea O'Sullivan, Veterans Upward Bound: Veterans Small Business Advocate Award Winner

Donna Mullen Good, Center for Women and Enterprise: Women in Business Enterprise Award Winner

Lynn Turner, Clear Vision Alliance: Small Business Journalist Award Winner

Ben & Adrie Lester, Wheatberry: Young Entrepreneur Award Winner

James Hanlon, Sovereign Bank: Financial Services Champion Award Winner

Nader Acevedo, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Boston: Minority Small Business Champion Award Winner

Kathleen and Nikki Walsh, PK Walsh: Family-Owned Small Business Award Winner

Dr. Stephen Fantone, Optikos Corporation: Small Business Exporter Award Winner

Robert Delhome, Charter Environmental: Small Business Person of the Year Award Winner

Sandy Blitz takes over the regional SBA office after helping launch a technology incubator

As part of its Celebrating Success awards program, the Massachusetts Small Business Administration has honored 11 companies and organizations from across the state. We are proud to share the winners with our readers.

Longtime South Shore manufacturer now sells 35 percent of its products abroad. Can your company become an international player?

The paperless office may be a quest only slightly less ambitious than the Holy Grail. But for John Garner, the concept intrigues him enough to have built a big chunk of his business model around it.

F.W. Davison’s software lets even the smallest business operate its own human resources department.

When we first met James Canedy – and discovered his talent as a writer – it occurred to us that he was very qualified to articulate the thoughts, emotions, dreams and experiences of all our small business readers.

For the second year, the American Business Women’s Association of Cape Cod has collaborated with Cape Business to honor the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. This year’s award was bestowed on Lori LaBarge of LaBarge Homes.

No retirement for this corporate executive: At 65, Dave Roberts buys a Truro winery with his wife and his children.

The SBA Office of Advocacy recently released its 3rd quarter 2007 Quarterly Indicators, which include data on trends in the U.S. economy and small businesses. To view or download the Quarterly Indicators, click here.

The arrival of a new maestro is more than the next chapter for the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra. It reflects the changing face of Cape Cod, and suggests other possibilities that can dramatically alter the cultural and economic landscape of the region.

Bob Maffei turns to General Electric, McDonald’s and Morton’s Steakhouse for inspiration building his growing business.

Most small businesses fail within the first five years. To recognize those that survive, SCORE awards its Build a Better Mousetrap award to small businesses that have survived the first five years and appear to be headed for long-term success.

There is an impending crisis being driven by the aging of the baby boomers. Within the next 10 years, about two of every three small to medium-sized enterprises will be transferred as older owners look to cash out. In addition, many non-owners will be leaving the workforce.

To take the succession planning survey, click here.

Please note: Enter code A10 when asked for an ID code. The survey will take approximately 5 minutes. If there are enough responses, we plan to prepare a report on the data gathered so our readers can benchmark with area businesses.

September 12, 2006 -- Comcast announced it was ranked number one in small and medium business (SMB) Internet access customer satisfaction for the second year in a row.

Businesses run by married couples come with unique advantages and risks. Across Cape Cod, there are hundreds of married couples who have entered business partnerships. Cape Business asked three of them to share their stories.

JUNE 8, 2006 -- The U.S. Small Business Administration today released a disaster preparedness audio public service announcement reminding residents throughout the nation of the importance of being prepared.

Seventy-five-year-old Demos Young buys back his struggling company and invests heavily to resurrect the brand.

What is the most important and necessary item to have when starting or running a business? Money, of course. Many entrepreneurs wonder how to get it, and how to keep it once they have it.

All business owners know what cash flow is – if not technically, then emotionally. Nevertheless, it’s worthwhile to approach this subject from the very beginning because it is central to business success.

Cape Business and the American Business Women’s Association have again joined forces to sponsor the second annual Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award. We will profile the nominees in our pages, and a panel of judges will select the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.

Three entrepreneurs tells a story that is becoming more and more typical across Cape Cod.