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Harper will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.
We鈥檇 love to hear about your business achievements and your experience working with the Illinois SBDC at 91制片厂! All Client Success Stories are shared with Illinois SBDC Lead Center and America's SBDC nationwide network. To submit a Client Success Story inquiry, please complete the form below. Thanks!
October 05, 2026
For more than 26 years, Zakia Gaston-Hobbs has dedicated her career to helping families through some of life's most difficult moments. As owner of Agape Funeral Services Inc., she has built a business founded on compassion, professionalism, and service while mentoring future funeral service professionals. Read More
October 05, 2026
For Fourth Dimension Flavors founders Sean and Donna Christopherson, food has always been about more than ingredients. It is about bringing people together, creating community, and sharing experiences that leave a lasting impression. What began as a passion for cooking and serving others has grown into a thriving family business that is steadily expanding throughout the Chicagoland area. Read More
July 29, 2026
Connect and Color庐 is an innovative experiential business based in Palatine, founded by entrepreneur, designer, and artist Dawn Pennacchia. Read More
April 01, 2026
The Perfect Poke 鈥� IV Therapy & Wellness, founded by nurse practitioner Meghan Dzurovcik, is redefining patient care in Arlington Heights through a personalized, wellness-focused approach. Read More
December 19, 2025
In most classrooms, movement signals a break from learning. For Move2Grow Founder Jessica Walsh, it鈥檚 the very path to learning. Read More
October 23, 2025
After taking early retirement, Mary Curkov found herself back in the kitchen鈥攖his time, baking up a business plan. With more than thirty years in corporate sales and merchandising, Curkov was ready to launch a new venture, one that offered flexibility, purpose, and a creative outlet. Entrepreneurship was the natural next step, allowing her to blend career experience with personal passion to build a rewarding company from scratch. That became the recipe for Mary C Gluten-Free Treats, a brand built on empathy, creativity, and the desire to make life sweeter for those with dietary restrictions. Read More
August 26, 2025
Karlin Soelberg knows first-hand the challenges of maintaining health amidst a demanding career. She envisioned a facility that empowered people to achieve optimal health and vitality, leading her to establish Empowered Fitness & Recovery, LLC, in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Her holistic approach sets a path for success by focusing on three strategic pillars -- fitness, nutrition, and accountability -- while ensuring consistent support. Read More
January 14, 2025
Making smoothies was April鈥檚 culinary trick to blend good nutrition into her children鈥檚 treats. Little did she know that she would later blend this home skill with her career skills to create one of the most popular businesses in her hometown of Glenview. Blended Health and Smoothie Bar鈥檚 initial launch plan, however, was anything but harmonious. Its planned opening coincided with the onset of the pandemic鈥檚 shutdown, meaning April would have to blend all her industry experience, business acumen, creativity and determination to redesign her business to maintain the perfect harmony of safety, service and community while blending delicious, healthy products. Read More
January 14, 2025
Chicago leads the nation for the highest density of dogs in the U.S., averaging 1,037 dogs per square kilometer. With so many dogs sharing the bustling urban space, well-mannered behavior is essential for a harmonious environment. Asia Poe opened Good Manners Dog Training to address this need in the northwest suburbs, focusing on practical, real-world training to ensure that dogs develop the skills needed to coexist peacefully with their owners and the community. Read More
January 13, 2025
If you鈥檙e feeling stressed, you鈥檙e not alone. The American Psychological Association found that 76% of adults recently surveyed reported suffering health impacts due to stress and 27% said they鈥檙e often so stressed they can鈥檛 function. The American Heart Association warns that chronic stress can affect mental and physical health, including anxiety, depression, concentration problems, heart disease, stroke and more. Read More