Page 34 - Montcross Area Chamber NCG 2023
P. 34

by: Lydia Cobb         montcross

                   entrepreneurship








          Do you know a changemaker or a    industrial brackets, among many brands.   focused and be able to motivate yourself
        dreamer – someone who is inquisitive     “Entrepreneurs need curiosity and   to keep going when times are hard and
        and curious? These are some of the   tenacity to work through differences   you feel like giving up,” said Huffman.
        innate qualities that entrepreneurs   that come our way,” said Scott Toal,   “Don’t ever give up on your dream! Keep
        possess. Our towns and cities provide   CEO of Short Run Pro Brands.    going when others would have quit!”
        ideal climates for entrepreneurs who     Not every entrepreneur finds     Entrepreneurs getting started are
        are working with startups or growing   success at the start, and Toal shared,   encouraged to contact the Chamber
        business opportunities. We have the   “We got smarter through failures,    as we can partner with you for success
        space, and the Montcross Chamber and   and it became more likely that we’d   and you secure resources, mentors, and
        Gaston College Small Business Center   have success.”                   networking opportunities.
        have the spirit to help you succeed.    Another local entrepreneur
          Many of the textile factories standing   headquartered in Belmont, Dodie
        in the Montcross Area today stitch   Huffman is the owner of Image Source   Gaston College Small
        together the past and the present, having   which offers commercial photography   Business Center
        been renovated to house new business   and video.
                                                                                 Gaston College’s Small Business
        enterprises and transformed into live/    “I have shot over 800 headshots in
                                                                                 Center provides entrepreneurs with
        work centers.                       the last two years and I never get tired
                                                                                 information to start or expand a small
          Short Run Pro is one of the businesses   of helping people look and feel their
                                                                                 business. They provide seminars
        responsible for renovating several   best,” said Huffman of her 15-year-old
                                                                                 and one-on-one counseling at no
        historic factory buildings and therefore,   photography business. What being an
                                                                                 charge. The center is one of dozens
        revitalizing the community. This    entrepreneur means to her is having the
                                                                                 across North Carolina. It is a state-
        company and its subsidiaries serve a   freedom to grow and achieve her dreams
                                                                                 funded organization and is part of the
        variety of clients, from homeowners to   and visions through business ownership.
                                                                                 Small Business Center Network of
        multinational corporations. They develop     “I think to make it as an entrepreneur
                                                                                 North Carolina (SBCN).
        custom ceramics, molded shapes,     you need to be passionate, creative,
                                                                                 Felicia Williams Director
                                                                                 704-922-6447
                          en·tre·pre·neur: A person who organizes and operates   gaston.edu/sbc-events
                          a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal   Gaston College – Dallas Campus
                          financial risks to do so.                              600 Rhodes Drive
                                                                                 Dalpiaz Success Center, Room 221
                                                                                 Dallas, NC 28034


      30 Entrepreneurship                                     2024 Welcome Guide & Business Directory • MontcrossAreaChamber.com
          n
   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39