Business Growth Sparked by UW-Whitewater SBDC Assistance

Cheryl Sment has transformed her career from full-time nursing to owning and running Interstate Sealant & Concrete (ISC), a company that has provided sealing services for concrete highways, parking lots, and airport runways across the US since 1998.

Sment attended the SBDC Entrepreneurial Training Program in 2004 where she created her business plan. Sment said that the class helped her develop goals and objectives, look at her leadership style and focus on the bigger industry picture.  In 2006, Sment joined an SBDC facilitated peer learning group which has further helped her develop as a business owner.

Sment has become increasingly successful in gaining contract work since having her company designated as a certified woman-owned business. Sment’s business has been growing and expanding its reach into other states and now employs more than 55 people.  This growth was welcome, but it brought with it some challenges.

SBDC Director Ronald “Bud” Gayhart met with Sment several times in 2006 to evaluate the company’s financial position, to offer input on ways to improve their bonding position, and to help the business connect to area resources that would be able to further leverage ISC’s capabilities.

Sment has most recently asked for input on the potential for diversifying her business into another market segment.  This expansion would be a vertical integration and could provide ISC with a significant price advantage when bidding on contracts.

Sment said, “With the help of SBDC business student interns and the other resources that the SBDC provided, I was able to see what my competition was doing, what the standard expectations of my industry are and where I need to be to have the competitive edge.”  Due to Sment’s hard work and wise utilization of SBDC guidance, Interstate Sealant & Concrete is well positioned for continued growth and profitability.