By Teresa Talerico
SBN Editor
Love to cook? Dream of feeding the public but dread the overhead of owning a restaurant? You might consider a venture that puts a new spin on "road food."
Food trucks are a booming startup for small businesses, says market research firm IBISWorld. Its January report, "Hot Industries for Startups," predicts the foodie fleet will grow by nearly 6 percent in 2012, as American consumers seek convenient, more palatable alternatives to fast food.
Owner Kevin Kordek, president
Main location 2500 Encounter Court, Virginia Beach
Phone 425-0855
Website www.123bugfree.com
Company philosophy Improving the quality of customers' lives by removing the anxiety over pestilence in their homes or offices.
Employees 37
Growth in the past year 7.6 percent
By Teresa Talerico
From cockroaches to carpenter ants, A-Active Termite & Pest Control has been debugging Hampton Roads for 45 years.
Company name Accelerated Financial Solutions
Location 4016 Raintree Road, Chesapeake, Suite 140A
Phone 484-5455
Website www.acceleratedfinancial.net
Number of employees 64
Amount of growth 2007 revenue - $2.5 million. 2011 revenue - $4.5 million.
[By Teresa Talerico?]
By the time they'd reached their 30s, Josh Tawes and Anthony Stile had started not one, not two, but three businesses together.
Owner Johnny Garcia
Main location 200 High St., Suite 305, Portsmouth
Phone 372-5746
Website www.simisinc.com
Company philosophy Innovation for our customers, opportunity for our employees, and our community
Number of employees 21
Amount of growth 30 percent in personnel and 45 percent in revenue with 15 percent of the revenue being used for internal research and development of medical, manufacturing and emergency preparedness applications.
By Susan Smigielski Acker
Company name The Breeden Co.
Location 560 Lynnhaven Pkwy., Virginia Beach
Phone 486-1000
Website www.thebreedencompany.com
Number of employees 250
Amount of growth in the past year 6 percent
By Teresa Talerico
Low turnover means great leadership, and The Breeden Co. is no exception. Some employees have spent three decades with the Virginia Beach real estate development firm.
Owners Ronald Verostek, David Spanka, Spencer Sigmon, Phillip Olson
Main location 630C Woodlake Dr., Chesapeake
Phone 228-1730
Website www.phoenix-group.com
Company philosophy To bring together the right people, products and resources to solve our customers' most challenging problems.
Number of employees 55
Amount of growth in the past year Revenue, 24 percent; employees, 19 percent
By Susan Smigielski Acker
Chesapeake-based Phoenix Group of Virginia Inc. is a multi-tasking company.
By Susan Smigielski Acker
Correspondent
Small business owners, take note: Keeping your employees healthy benefits the business.
According to statistics, healthy employees are less likely to be absent and are more productive than their non-healthy colleagues.
"If people are not at work because they are sick or if they are not healthy while at work, then it affects the business, especially a small business where people are important," said Mary Mitchell, wellness program manager with the Virginia Business Coalition on Health in Virginia Beach.
Owners Jon Pruden and Peter D. Pruden III
Main location 6464 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, with five additional stores
Phone 425-3011
Website www.tasteunlimited.com
Company philosophy TASTE is a family-owned specialty food store, restaurant and catering business that aims to provide a food experience
Number of employees 125
Amount of growth in the past year 26 percent
By Susan Smigielski Acker
It is not just about good-tasting specialty food at Taste Unlimited, it's also about customer service.
Owners Dr. Michael Abu-Absi, Dr. Habib Barakat, Stefan Brecke, Rhonda Bunch, Patricia Collier, Kimberly Garrett, Laura Joyner, Dr. Venu Koduri, Dr. Miley Walker, Dr. William Adkins, Dr. David Ranstad, Dr. Edilberto Pelausa, Dr. George Cornell, Dr. Moussa Menasha,
Dr. Joseph Verdirame, Dr. James Holleran, Dr. Ronald Buckley and Michael Stout
Main location 1514 Holland Road, Suffolk
Phone 934-9452
Website www.remdiesmedispa.com
Company philosophy The goal is to provide salon, spa and barber shop service to the people of the community.
By Teresa Talerico
SBN Editor
Does your small business focus on clean energy or education? Or have you invested in a disadvantaged neighborhood by headquartering within its boundaries? Well, the U.S. Small Business Administration wants to invest in you, by teaming with a venture capital firm that backs socially responsible companies.
