In the charming town of Fernandina Beach, a new preschool has opened its doors, serving children ages 2 to 5. The founder, Donna Ferreira, a dedicated educator with a passion for early childhood education, saw a pressing need for quality care in the community. Her journey began at the age of 15, and over the years, she accumulated a wealth of experience in both public and private sectors. For a year, she scoured the market for the perfect property, until a friend sent her a listing that seemed too good to be true. Located right off the historic district, the building was ideal for her vision. With a background as an ESE teacher in Nassau County, where she was honored as Teacher of the Year in 2012, and as the director of VPK at St. Michael Academy for eight years, she was well-prepared for this new venture.
Despite her extensive experience in education, she had no prior knowledge of starting a small business. Even with loads of experience in child education and property management, Donna knew starting a school was a different challenge altogether. This is where the SBDC consultant Jodi Henson came into the picture, guiding her through every step of the process.
The journey for purchasing and renovating the new property was not without its obstacles. The timeline for renovations was tight, with the property sale finalized in May and the school needing to open by August. This meant obtaining Department of Children and Families certification by July, a daunting task that required meticulous planning and execution. Staying on budget while ensuring timely completion was another significant challenge.
The assistance from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) was invaluable. Donna’s business lender from First Port Citibank recommended meeting with Jodi Henson of the SBDC, whose expertise was crucial in securing an SBA 7A loan. Jodi's templates and guidance on spreadsheets, along with market research and demographic information from the Nassau County projection plan website, made a significant difference.
Communication emerged as the preschool's greatest strength. Donna’s ability to connect with children, parents, and caregivers fostered a trusting environment. Surrounding herself with experts in accounting, marketing, and fundraising further bolstered the school's success. Donna is now a firm believer in small business ownership and actively encourages others to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. She says of her experience with the SBDC, “I have already recommended Jodi to multiple friends who have business ideas! I continually share the SBDC services and emphasize the importance of resources like the SBDC. While there are challenges to being your own boss, there are so many more benefits. I’ve even told people in other states that the SBA has people like Jodi in every city to help. Such a great resource that not enough people know about!”
Despite the challenges, the benefits of being one's own boss are immense, and she is eager to share this message with others.
