4/30/2010

Gray Building, LLC

"Gray Building, LLC"

In the fall of 2007, Brenda Gray, Avon Park, Florida resident, had the idea to turn one of the city’s vacant buildings into a business enterprise. Through a referral from the Highlands County Economic Development Commission, Ms. Gray discovered a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) only a few miles away. Though enthusiastic and determined, Ms. Gray realized that her dream had many obstacles and unknown pitfalls that could impede her success. When Ms. Gray learned that the Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida had an office at South Florida Community College (SFCC), she enlisted the help of certified business analyst Bill McKown. McKown assessed Ms. Gray’s status and began to counsel her on the business start up process. During the feasibility stage Ms. Gray researched several different ideas for the usage of her building. As Ms. Gray stated: “Speaking with Bill brought reality to the front line. I appreciate him & the SBDC for not holding anything back. He was as real as real can be. Thanks, Bill.” During a counseling session McKown told Ms. Gray about the REAL Road to Business Success. The REAL course was a comprehensive, 12 week entrepreneur training program supported through the partnership of the USF SBDC, Heartland Workforce and SFCC. Ms. Gray saw merit to the program and enrolled in the course in 2009. The REAL curriculum helped sharpen her focus of turning her dream into a reality. Ms. Gray studied with course instructors Bill McKown and David Noel. Between classes she continued to see them for specific one-on-one counseling. Completing the course in August 2009, Ms. Gray presented a summary of her business plan to her classmates and instructors. She confidently and articulately shared a plausible plan for her dream which she had constructed from her research and planning, her willingness to seek counsel, and her determination. Ms. Gray had the following to say about the class: “Being the only African American in the class was not a problem to me, but initially I did not know that the other students had the same thoughts and faced some of the same problems. The class helped me realize that in running a business ALL face the same problems, but with the proper training and planning the big problems could be no problem. The instructors in the REAL class taught you how to overcome and solve the problems.” After completing the course, Ms. Gray worked with architects, contractors and prospective tenants, all according to her business plan. Her dream is now a reality. The Gray Building, LLC, is open to tenants and has leased all but one of its office suites. It is positioned to be an economic plus for the Avon Park community. “Training, Planning and determination were the motivating factors for me along with wanting to see my community improve, hoping that by my example others would follow, and the younger generation will be motivated to do the same.”