Mission Possible - PCC SBC Marketing and Mentoring

Last fall, you may recall having read about the Piedmont Community College (PCC) Marketing and Mentoring program that is a partnership with the local community college’s Small Business Center and the NCVA Media team. The program came to life when the two organizations were discussing how to best coach and facilitate small businesses as they work for a higher level of success. Developing a coaching program that specifically addresses each participant’s goals, the program strives to provide real life marketing guidance that works to help the small business owners accomplish and attain their missions.

The mission of Piedmont Community College is to transform lives, strengthen the community, and inspire individuals to excellence. NCVA Media is a regional media company engaged in telling stories of small towns, businesses, organizations and the people behind them. We believe relationships matter and strive to strengthen them through stories shared by citizens. At NCVA Media, our mission is ‘Enhancing our community with interesting stories, beautiful photography, and information while bringing together residents and local merchants.’

With these two organizations partnering to bring their missions to life, we wanted to share how we took on the task of guiding other entities in living their mission while also reaching their goals. Following are brief recaps of a number of the participants in the program and how they are thriving in the region to bring to life their individual mission through entrepreneurship.

Mission Possible Community Collaboration with Piedmont Community College, NCVA Media, and Area Small Businesses

Chef OB Catering and Cafe

After a couple of years of working on its newly opened location, Chef OB’s Catering and Café is now open at 238 Broad Street in Milton. After overcoming several setbacks in getting the kitchen equipment and new space operational, the café is now welcoming patrons to drop by for a bite to eat as their catering business continues to flourish. On site, Philly Cheesesteaks, wings and stuffed potatoes are among the favorites.

The operation is a true family effort. Amanda Pettiford, Chef OB’s mother, a school teacher by trade, shared that, “information is the key to a successful business and the more you learn and network the better you and your business will be.” Pettiford credits the program with Chef OB’s connecting with a lot of people to gather vital information to build the processes they needed to get the brick and mortar location marketed effectively.

Diamond Panes Window Cleaning

Joshua Brandon, who founded and runs Diamond Panes Window Cleaning, said he finds interaction with his customers one of the most enjoyable elements of his work. Coming to the PCC M&M program ready to embrace new ideas and approaches, Joshua enthusiastically worked to implement the tips and guidance shared in the sessions. He eagerly connected with leads and shared contacts and began to quickly build a strong reputation for a job well done in both the residential and commercial areas.

The Diamondpanes.com website shares the company mission statement: “Diamond Panes Cleaning is dedicated to providing top-notch window cleaning services that build trust, integrity, and positivity within the communities we serve. With our commitment to excellence, we strive to exceed your expectations and deliver exceptional results.”

Being a one-man window washing service, Brandon has been able to grow his business so that he could purchase additional equipment to make his work easier. Check him out on social media as he shares some fun videos of getting the job done.

Nerdibles

If you are in the Roxboro area, you may have stopped into a unique shop of interesting and amazing things. Nerdibles co-owner Tammy Lathan joined the PCC M&M program with a vast amount of business and customer service experience in the restaurant world and had researched many options for the marketing and path forward for the collectibles shop. Because so many offerings are available at the shop, the challenge of determining where to start and what to promote first was discussed. Tammy, along with her husband, Wes, began the shop with the mission to create a business life that could allow them to nurture their young son and his interests while also making a living.

Check out Nerdibles.com to see what this group is up to and also follow them on social media as you will no doubt see unique gift items along with some great ideas for that special friend or relative that is impossible to buy for.

Piedmont Wildlife Control

Piedmont Wildlife Control is a veteran-owned and operated business with over 50 years of combined wildlife experience. Conrad Shadel, the owner, is staying busy assisting both residential and commercial clients with their wildlife challenges. The company provides a range of services that include animal capture and removal, sealing and repair of structures from wildlife, odor diagnosis and treatment, bird control and site clean-up and much more.

Conrad’s adoption of social media and digital tools is assisting him in growing the business quickly. Check out his blog on his website, (www.piedmontwildlifecontrol.com) where he shares interesting information about his work. His social media videos are quite fascinating to watch as well.

The Wise Howle

The Wise Howle, owned by Rosie Howle of Roxboro, has been a way for Rosie to broaden her already vast network in the area. With many options in her purview of business ideas, the time spent with the PCC M&M coaching helped to narrow her scope as she got a website set up specific to the services she is best at offering.

With her vast knowledge and experience in overcoming financial challenges and managing finances for the future, she offers financial coaching packages for individuals and small businesses. She holds special events wherein she shares in person her wealth of knowledge in an entertaining and engaging manner. Her unique story of how she arrived here is worth making a visit to her website, (thewisehowle.com) where you can also schedule a free session with her.

To summarize, one of the program participants, Dirt Farmer Industries, that was at a crossroads in their product offerings shared, ”The program gave us invaluable insights and tools to help us grow and refine our business. From the personalized 1:1 mentoring sessions to the networking opportunities with other small businesses, the experience was both rewarding and enriching. We came away with a clearer sense of direction and a stronger brand identity. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to take their business to the next level, especially those who want to connect with our local community and understand how to make their business stand out in a meaningful way.” Check out DirtFarmerIndustries.com to learn more.

Please join PCC and NCVA Media as, together, we strive to promote and encourage our small businesses across the region.