Cindy Kroske has been on a 30 year journey to make her family’s meals (and yours!) healthier and tastier. It all started back in college at the University of South Carolina where she proofed whole grain breads in her (meticulously cleaned) dormitory bathtub. Since those early days she’s expanded to a 1,600 square foot storefront offering a wide variety of natural products and complete with space for cooking classes.
Owner/Founder
Cindy Kroske, Mark Kroske
My Successes
For the Kroske’s, success is measured by the number of people who benefit from their products and information. Cindy says, “We’re all about education…much more so than sales.” The store is filled with educational displays that introduce each item and illustrate its benefits and best uses.
My Favorite Things now operates a webstore (www.my-favoritethings.com) offering a huge array of natural products including nuts, dried fruits, whole grains, honeys, oils, coffee and more. Through their monthly newsletter they’re able to share information, recipes and tips with an even bigger audience seeking healthy alternatives.
How SCORE Helped
When Cindy and her husband Mark found SCORE in 2008 their business was turning a slight profit but needed something to really kickstart significant growth. Their mentor, John, provided them with the tools they needed to test and analyze the profitability of potential products and innovations. Completing a 3-year Cash Flow analysis did the trick – Cindy felt like she’d “gotten out of the rut I’d gotten myself into” and could accurately visualize her growth.
How does one make the transition from a career in radio to running a successful cupcakery and managing 20+ employees? For Melissa Johnson of Oh My Cupcakes! it took years of research, some solid business guidance and many dozen batches of practice. She traveled far and wide to see how the growing cupcake trend was taking shape and compile information on how she could do it better. After many, many trials resulted in her perfecting the recipes of over 30 flavors, she knew the sweet taste of success was well within her reach. www.ohmycupcakes.com
Sioux Falls
SD
United States
My Successes
Melissa measures success in human terms; her goals for the business are to care for her employees, her family and her community and she’s taken unique approaches to accomplishing all three. Her store’s hours are designed to allow employees time with their own families and her leftover cupcakes are donated to the Good Shepherd Center on a daily basis.
In addition to operating a retail store and distributing her products in several retail outlets in her area, Oh My Cupcakes! has established a vibrant online store (www.ohmycupcakes.com) that allows customers all across the country to place an order and receive treats the very next day. Utilizing their retail space to its maximum potential, OMC also hosts private events, from birthday parties to holiday gatherings and more, where guests can belly up and create their ultimate cupcake at the “cupcake bar.”
What's Great About My Mentor?
“Truman asked me some tough questions and wasn’t afraid to lay it out there in black and white terms. He helped me see what the realities would be.” Melissa keeps in close contact with Truman and other advisors at SCORE. “It’s all about relationships and with a SCORE mentor they keep the conversation going, over months, and over the course of your business’s growth.”
How SCORE Helped
Attending the Sioux Falls chapter of SCORE’s How to Really Start Your Own Business workshop got the ball rolling by teaching Melissa how to assemble a business plan and demystifying the intimidating worlds of permits, licenses and tax laws. The workshop also introduced Melissa to a business banker who understood her needs as a small business and helped her get a plan in place to achieve her goals.
Published Nov. 15, 2011
An advisory board is an informal group. This is not a board of directors. It is a group of mentors. The group has no financial interest in your firm. This is a group of outside advisors who share their knowledge to help you be more competitive, think strategically and offer specific advice in key skill areas.
The benefits of an advisory board include: setting aside time to think strategically, obtain feedback and insights from outside the company, and gather information and expertise from peers who have knowledge in different areas than your own. In general, a three to five person board will likely meet your needs.
Published Nov. 15, 2011
This documents reviews types of business insurance available and provides some information on each.
Published Oct. 31, 2011
This document explains the importance of your credit score, the method used in its calculation, how it's used and how to obtain a copy.
Published Oct. 26, 2011
No Free Lunch, by Emily Lambert. From Forbes, June 9 2003
Investment Guide
No Free Lunch
Emily Lambert, 06.09.03
One in two new restaurants fails within two years. If you're thinking of trying to beat the odds,
here's the dish.
Three and a half years ago Gary Fuller was vice president of operations for a Cincinnati Bell affiliate. But what he really
liked to do was cook. Two years and $400,000 into a new career, Fuller and his wife, Kelly Kimberly, a public relations
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City: Beaumont, CA
Have owned and operated many different restaurant and foodservice concepts in the past 40 years. Experienced in all aspects of operating quick serve, cafeteria, family, and fine dining concepts. Specialities include local marketing, operational controls, cost analysis, menu development, and wine lists.
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Education
AA in Restaurant Management, 2 years of Business Administration at Cal State LA.
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Current
City: Northfield, NH
Held CEO & President positions achieving growth and expansion of globally focused Fortune 500, turnaround and start-up organizations. Early career experiences in small business devlopment within the specialty retail, automotive and recreational products segments. Posess skills in leadership, focused strategy, organizational development and sound financial management. Participated on boards of non-profit organizations serving Emergency Services, Handicapped Workplace Integration and Economically Diadvantaged Housing. BS in Management and Finance.
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Documented record of strong, decisive executive leadership in organizations ranging from $20 million to $800 million, global in reach and scale, and with interdisciplinary teams of 1,400 employees. Noted for sound, practical management style centered on impact-driven financial models and strategies. Strong boardroom presence.
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Results-proven, growth-oriented, globally focused leader with repeated success in multiple industries and markets, expanding international footprint, building shareholder value, driving vision, and achieving critical strategic goals. Valued contributor to key strategic acquisitions and highly successful joint ventures.
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Dynamic change agent skilled in repositioning organizations to achieve operational and manufacturing excellence. Delivered dramatic improvements to quality, market positioning, and financial performance by leading organizations to adopt Six Sigma tenets, Lean Manufacturing strategies, and metric-based management.
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Education
London Business School, University of London – Senior Executive Program
INSEAD – Advanced Management Program
B.S., Management & Finance, Post University
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City: Louisville, KY
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Current
City: Pikeville, KY
Professional Business Experience: I have in excess of 25 years of senior management experience in businesses from start-up to working with other businesses who are experiencing operating and financial distress. My diverse business background includes consulting and training, commercial loan underwriting, coal mining operations, oil & gas exploration, retail convenient stores with quick service restaurants, and a FAA Part 145 aircraft repair station.
I have a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Masters in Business Administration in Management.
Financing, Equity, "Venture Capital", "Starting a Business", Idea, Loan, SBA, "Economic Development", "Convenience Store", Gas, Gasoline, "Natural Gas", CNG, LNG, "Business Model", "Business Idea"
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