Carolina Management Team

Wendy and David had previously worked with the SBTDC and its Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) when they were working for another start-up company. They were aware of the services available and understood that it would be confidential and free of charge – both important to a start-up. When CMT opened in 2003, they knew there was a lot of work ahead of them. Wendy called the SBTDC and worked closely with business counselor Annice Brown and PTAC counselor Mark Mills.

Wendy and Annice first reviewed the business vision for CMT, then helped them develop a realistic business plan. Next, Annice gave Wendy useful resources including marketing tools and financial information regarding banking and payroll support. She also advised Wendy to participate in an SBTDC strategic management retreat where they were able to analyze the opportunities and threats for their business and create action lists. The retreat was so successful that CMT has participated in two retreats and are planning another for 2007.

When CMT was ready to venture into government contracting, Annice referred Wendy back to Mark Mills. Mark first provided practical guidance on how to do business with federal, state, and local governments. He assisted Wendy with the identification of NAICS codes and Central Contractor Registration (CCR), which are necessary when bidding for government contracts.

Mark also provided registration guidance with Woman Business Enterprise, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, and Historically Underutilized Business through the State of North Carolina. This assistance has assisted CMT to build an impressive client list including the City of Burlington, Town of Cary, Konica-Minolta USA, City of Raleigh, Silver-Line Plastics in Asheville, Water and Waste Systems Construction, and the City of Winston-Salem.

“Mark has always made time to meet with me, and I always walk away better for having spent time with him. I hear his words in my head all the time: ‘Target your market, don’t use a shotgun approach.’ Those words have kept us focused on municipal water and wastewater facilities and our goal of becoming the painting contractor of choice for plant superintendents in North Carolina,” says Wendy.

CMT is doing better than ever. From 2003 to 2006, sales have grown from $200,000 to $750,000, and they are on track to break the $1,000,000 threshold in 2007. With offices in Waynesville and Cary, CMT has eleven employees including two new project managers and an assistant for Wendy. In order to strengthen their workforce, Annice steered them to a Workforce Development Grant from the state which allocates money for training that will lead to increased revenues. The grant allowed David and two other employees to become certified industrial coatings inspectors. There are only 2,400 such inspectors in the country.