When Begona Sevilla Fernandez, Marketing & Communications Specialist of the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CT SBDC), invited me to a networking event at Goodwin University on March 19, 2025,
it was more than just an opportunity to connect—it was a moment of deep reflection on my entrepreneurial journey and the immense gratitude I have for CT SBDC.
ABOUT SBA AND SBDC
The Small Business Administration (SBA), established in 1953, was created to aid, counsel, assist, and protect small businesses while fostering free competitive enterprise and strengthening the national economy. As a key partner of the SBA, CT SBDC provides counseling, training, and resources to help small businesses thrive.
The current District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Connecticut is Catherine Marx, who leads the SBA team in delivering and managing financial and business development programs, advising, assisting, and advocating for small businesses.
ABOUT THE EVENT
At this event, I reunited with my mentor, Denise Whitford
and she introduced me to Joe Ercolano, the Lead Officer of CT SBDC, along with several business advisors who have been instrumental in supporting small businesses across the state. He stated the purpose of the event was to meet and greet.
The 2024 SBA Award winner, Anthony DeFeo and his team, XCalibur, formerly known as DeFeo Manufacturing Inc, were in attendance.
Treats were provided by the 2025 SBA award winner, Michelle Nicholson, a small business owner and founder of The Flour Girl Bakery.
I also connected with other business owners such as Alessandro Valentino, a cinematographer, Willona Amoakah, children's book author and owner of Alasa Media,
and Jessica Olander, President of the CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce,
further reinforcing the power of community and mentorship in the entrepreneurial world.
REFLECTION
Starting and growing a business is no easy feat, but with the right guidance and support, the journey becomes much more manageable. When I launched Lauren Simone Publishing House in 2017, I quickly realized the challenges of running a small business—navigating financials, marketing strategies, and networking opportunities. Through the mentorship of Denise Whitford and Christine Sullivan, I was able to expand my business, increase my revenue, and give back to my community in meaningful ways.
I first connected with Denise Whitford in 2020,
and later with Christine Sullivan in 2022.
Both women played a crucial role in shaping the direction of my business. Denise provided me with invaluable tools, including worksheets to develop a customer persona, customer segment, market space analysis, marketing plan, sales activity plan, and customer pipeline. With her support, I refined my business plan and capability statement and discovered funding sources in the form of grants, accelerators, and pitch competitions. Denise's recommendations helped me access critical funding and opportunities:
- August 6, 2020 – She suggested I apply for a Citizens Bank grant, and I successfully received it.
- September 2020 – She introduced me to New Voices and Target Accelerator, and I made it to the semifinals.
- February 2021 – She recommended Accelerate UCONN, UConn’s National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Program. Its mission is to propel entrepreneurial teams whose technology concepts are likely candidates for commercialization.
- May 2021 – She suggested I apply to work with UCONN VERGE, a consulting company made of UCONN graduate students who work with CCEI and Connecticut's SBDC to support startups and small businesses as they overcome the hurdles of starting and growing their companies. Verge Consultants work together as a team to consult between 8-12 companies per summer in various industries, life cycles, challenges they face, and types of projects. Through a partnership with Connecticut Small Business Development Center, Verge Consultants get the opportunity to work directly with SBDC's business advisors to learn firsthand about consulting and supporting businesses. Consultants receive a stipend for 10 weeks of consulting between the end of May and the beginning of August.
- October 26, 2021 – With Denise’s guidance, I pitched at Girls for Technology and won Audience Favorite, gaining insights from industry leaders like Kim Roxie and Sabrina Tucker-Barret.
- January 10, 2022- Denise and Christine also helped me prepare for the Reset Impact Accelerator, where I pitched in June and became the first-place recipient.
- July 27, 2022- One of the most transformative experiences was applying for the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) grant for $10,000. The first time, I didn’t get it, but with Christine’s help, I applied again and succeeded.
- August 17, 2022 – Christine encouraged me to apply for the Havyn Hatch Pitch Competition, held in October, where I won second place.
- October 2023: I was the recipient of the WBDC Women Rising Award.
Beyond securing funding, Denise helped me weigh options between digital strategists to improve my website’s search ranking. As a result, customers began finding Lauren Simone Publishing House on Google, proving that her advice worked. She also connected me with SCORE, a network of business mentors, and introduced me to key community members through emails. Denise even suggested placing my books in book vending machines, an innovative approach to expanding accessibility. Additionally, she nominated me for an SBA award twice—on November 29, 2022, and November 8, 2024—a testament to her ongoing support and belief in my business.
Thanks to my SBDC and SCORE mentors, I tripled my revenue between 2019 and 2020. Many small business owners speak about the isolation of entrepreneurship, but having a CT SBDC mentor meant I had a knowledgeable support system helping me make sound decisions. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.
As John Crosby wisely said:
"Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction."
Denise and Christine expected nothing in return—just respect for their time and the completion of an annual survey. Their selflessness inspired me to give back.
As my business grew, so did my commitment to service and community involvement. I became an Advisory Board member of East Hartford Academy of Finance and Reset Impact in January 2024. I also donated a portion of my profits to organizations that align with my values, including:
- Charter Oak Cultural Center, a historic and vibrant nonprofit promoting social justice through the arts.
- Hartford Boys & Girls Clubs, which provides children with a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment after school.
These initiatives helped me achieve B Corp Certification, which verifies that my company meets high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Being part of the B Corp community allows me to use my business as a force for good.
I am deeply grateful to CT SBDC and my mentors Denise Whitford and Christine Sullivan for their unwavering support. Their guidance helped me grow my business, gain financial stability, and create lasting community impact.
To any small business owner feeling lost or overwhelmed, I highly recommend seeking mentorship through SBDC. The right guidance can make all the difference—and as my journey has shown, it truly takes a village to build a successful business.
🚀 Thank you, CT SBDC! 🚀