The competition for photography jobs has always been tough. Being deaf has always made it harder for Kevin Haggenjos to get hired. With the economic down turn the competition for those jobs has gotten even harder to land.  Tenacious, creative and entrepreneurial, Haggenjos decided to launch Haggenjos Photography.

Working with Michiana SCORE, Haggenjos identified a market niche and has turned what many call a disability to strategic advantage.

Americans are so big on small business that large companies are launching pro-small-business marketing campaigns in hopes of squeezing their way into the spotlight.

The latest small-business champion: Sam's Club. The Wal-Mart-owned wholesale club is partnering with non-profit small-business counselor SCORE to award $1,000 of free merchandise to each of 102 small businesses across the country, the company will announce Wednesday. Sam's Club will also fly the owners to a small-business conference in Dallas that it's paying $547,000 to fund.

“Being able to have an objective set of eyes to look at a situation and say, ‘Have you thought about this? Have you thought about that?’ is important. Absent that, it becomes a little bit more of a challenge.” 

SCORE NYC has partnered with the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) New York District Office to offer resources and services to small businesses hurt by Hurricane Sandy.

The collaborative effort will offer free counseling and comprehensive business assessment, as well as development strategies designed to keep small companies afloat during the recovery process.

Carson City-based Critical Tattoo is making its mark in the world. Owners Sarah and Kenneth Brown developed a product for the niche tattoo market because of his passion for body art. They design, manufacture and distribute tattoo equipment for a global market, including power supplies, wireless foot pedals and tattoo machines.