Success Stories
- David Berg and Cat Schmidt started their business, Sweet Soil Produce, in the summer of 2007 after they participated in the Door County I&E club. They sell organic produce primarily in the Door County area. Although they are starting small, they hope to purchase some farmland in the near future and hire some employees to help with the work on the farm. They had been planning to start their business for some time, but the I&E club inspired them to realize the potential of their ideas. They credited the club with providing important information, especially on marketing and press releases. David and Cat also established good contacts through the club. Finally, they suggested one of the keys to making the leap was the motivation to start their business gained from the club.
- Pilar McDermott started her company, Bruno Innovation Group, in 2006 after participating in the Brown County I&E club. Pilar started the company as a way to balance family life (two young children) with work. Her business primarily works as a marketing firm for investment companies. At this point, she intends to keep the business small, at least until her children are older. She credits the I&E club with providing her with excellent resources, especially information on legal issues, accounting, and graphic design. Pilar points to her participation in the Brown County I&E club as an important catalyst in her decision to start the business.
- We also heard a story from one club attendee who related the importance of the social network in a very different, but meaningful way. She introduced an acquaintance to her local club who could best be described as “burned out” on corporate America. He assumed his feelings of being dissatisfied and undervalued (bordering on depressed) were simply facts of life he was going to have to live with. But something unique happened when he attended the club. He discovered there were others like him who didn’t fit the corporate mold and had a passion for being an entrepreneur. He discovered there was a network of support, both peer-based and technical experts, which could assist him in following his dreams. In short, he found his outlook on life was dramatically changed and he had a new perspective on his business prospects – in large part, because he attended an I&E club.