About Us
The SBTDC at UNC Wilmington is affiliated with the UNCW Cameron School of Business and is located next to the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Our experienced business advisory team offers confidential, in-depth business counseling to small- to mid-sized company business owners and management staff and to entrepreneurs preparing to launch their next venture. 
UNCW SBTDC Team
 
Heather McWhorter
Regional Director
910.962.4248 or 


Robin Bennett
Business Counselor
910.962.3744 or 


Diane Lantz
Business Counselor
910.962.2869 or 


Gloria Monroe
Business Counselor
910.962.7307 or 


Jamie Stalfort
Business Launch Specialist
910.962.0537 or 


Paige O'Neill
International Business Development Specialist
910.962.0592 or 

YOUR BUSINESS. BETTER.
  
As a first responder to the small business community after disasters, SBTDC plays a critical role in the midst of this time of uncertainty. According to a study recently released by America's SBDC and Thryv, Inc., 82% of small businesses are extremely concerned about the potential impact of COVID-19 on their business and 69% of small businesses have already seen a large decrease in demand for their products and services. View the full infographic here .

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) SBTDC team has established a virtual office and continues to actively meet with business owners by videoconference (Zoom), phone, and email. Small business owners and entrepreneurs are critical to our economy and are our family, friends, and community and we want to help. Our Center has already encountered a large influx of inquiries and new requests for assistance, but have capacity to help more. If you know businesses that need assistance, please ask them to contact a Business Counselor or email us at uncw@sbtdc.org .

The COVID-19 partner website for recovery resources for North Carolina small businesses is http://www.sbtdc.org/coronavirus . If you are struggling with how to strategically approach the COVID-19 crisis, start with this SBTDC tip sheet about How to "Quarantine" Your Business . If you are confused about which new or revised SBA loan program (PPP, SBA EIDL, EIDL Advance, 7a loan relief) is a fit for your business, review this SBTDC publication: SBA Emergency Loans Overview . Additional important information is available on the website, which is continuously updated with final, verified disaster loans and programs.

Stay safe, plan strategically, and innovate!

Heather McWhorter
UNCW SBTDC Regional Center Director
Many business owners are wondering what they can do (outside of taking on additional debt) to help meet the challenges of COVID-19. The Guide to Conquering a Business Crisis provides suggestions for cash management, pricing and cost containment, supply chain management, and marketing.

Get started now to help your business survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Some steps to take are listed below. Additionally, we recommend developing a 30-60-90 day plan for resilience and recovery.
  1. Look at financials and cash flow
  2. Slash overhead
  3. Communicate, communicate, communicate, and get online!
  4. Understand your insurance policy
  5. Look at supply chain
  6. Develop an incident response plan
  7. Practice social distancing!
Additionally, there are many examples of businesses in our community that are helping to get through the pandemic and showing innovation and creativity. From businesses that are donating personal protective equipment (PPE) to health care systems to businesses that are offering their products and services in new, innovative ways, small business owners and entrepreneurs continue to innovate and support the community that we live in.
SBTDC CLIENT SUCCESS STORY: THE VERANDAS     
 
C ontributed by Gloria Monroe, SBTDC General Business Counselor
The Verandas, a beautifully restored 8,500 sq. ft., four-story antebellum mansion, is a bed and breakfast accommodation located in Wilmington's Historic District. The eight luxurious guest rooms, two beautiful parlors, four verandas, garden terrace, and screened porch are in the historic style with antiques, museum-quality art pieces and furnishings, and custom accents. It offers gourmet breakfasts and has received consistent AAA 4-Diamond, Google 4.9, TripAdvisor 5, and NC B&B 5-star ratings. 
 
The owner, Chuck Pennington, began working with UNCW SBTDC in November 2018 after experiencing major interior/exterior physical and economic damages from ten days of heavy wind and rain from Hurricane Florence. The front doors were blown in. The interior content was severely damaged or destroyed. A centuries-old oak tree ripped through the rear of the structure. One of the home's immense chimneys crumbled. Because of the age of the mansion and the quality of the furnishings, the best craftsmen, artisans, contractors, work crews, and materials were employed for the restoration.

Chuck sought assistance from the SBTDC to help secure the approximate $500,000 needed to restore and redecorate the structure. The SBTDC provided assistance with loan package preparation and connecting with lenders. Industry information and trends were also shared. Chuck was able to obtain a SBA loan to help with the restoration.
 
After over 14 months of extensive renovations, the more-beautiful-than-ever mansion re-opened all new with just about everything repaired or replaced. The heartwarming ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by the mayor and many prominent citizens because of the significance of The Verandas to Wilmington's Historic District. 
CONGRATULATIONS TO SBTDC CLIENT: FLOW SCIENCES
Contributed by Ginny Vaca, International Business Development Specialist
Congratulations to Flow Sciences, Inc. of Leland for being a winner of the MADE competition! The Greater Wilmington Business Journal features small business owners, artisans, manufacturers, and exporters in the tri-county area. 

Flow Sciences was selected as one of two winners in the category of "exporters" and was featured in the March 6 issue of the Business Journal. Flow Sciences designs and manufactures containment solutions.
WELCOME: PAIGE O'NEILL, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
Paige O'Neill joined the SBTDC team as an International Business Development (IBD) Specialist for southeast NC. Paige is a dynamic leader with strong global experience in business development, business acquisition and integration, multi-site operations, and strategic technology development. She embodies a unique skillset across business strategy, venture capital, and technology strategy. Paige has an extensive background in the technology field and led strategic planning, new technology introduction, equity investments and acquisitions of technology companies. Most of her business experience has been in the financial services sector. Paige lived overseas for 15 years in Asia Pacific, Australia, and Canada focused on large scale strategic projects. Paige and her husband are also entrepreneurs and own a small business in Wilmington.

Paige will be working with Ginny Vaca, IBD from the SBTDC at NC State University, to meet clients who receive IBD services in our region. Thank you for your continued service to our region, Ginny, and welcome to the SBTDC team, Paige!
Upcoming events
Do you have a big idea that you want to turn into a business? We are offering a free online program to learn about different aspects of starting a business, including identifying potential markets, writing a business plan, running the finances of a business, and marketing a business. You will work with mentors and peers in fun breakout activities designed to help strengthen your business ideas and prepare you for success. Programs listed below are being held by NC SBTDCs and are open to NC residents.

Apr 7 - Apr 28, 2020, Tuesdays 6-8 p.m. - click here to apply

April 20 - May 11, 2020, Mondays 5-7 p.m. - click here to apply

April 28 - May 19, 2020, Tuesdays 6-8 p.m. -click here to apply

There are even more programs hosted by members of The Business Coalition: Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center (SBC) Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) , Brunswick Community College , and SCORE . Other members of the Coalition include AARP, Coastal Women's Ventures of the Carolina Small Business Development Fund, Brian Hamilton Foundation, North Carolina Military Business Center, SBA, and tekMountain. The complete monthly Coalition Calendar can be found here . If you are in Onslow County, also check out the upcoming workshops and events at the Coastal Carolina Community College SBC , Columbus County should check out the Southeast Community College SBC programs, and Duplin County should visit James Sprunt Community College SBC . Please email us at uncw@sbtdc.org if you need assistance from or information about any of these organizations.


SBTDC at UNCW
803 S. College Rd, Suite A
Wilmington, NC 28403-5977
919.962.3744