Sandy Westfall, who was reluctantly closing her business of 30 years, found herself at the Employment Development Department.  She was there with the sole concern of taking care of her now former employees.  Sandy was unsure of her future and where she might be headed.  While at the center, she found that she too could use their assistance.  She saw that they had a professional organizer certification and decided to go for it.  However, once she received her certification, she didn’t know where to go from there.  The Employment Development Department then referred Sandy to the North Coast Small Business Development Center.

Once at the SBDC, Sandy received help from her SBDC counselor, Tina Nerat.  Sandy began taking the SBDC business classes, in order to improve her small business knowledge.  In addition to the classes, Tina introduced Sandy to the graphic designer at the SBDC.  They were able to collaborate and create a logo, business cards, announcements, and a website for Sandy.  These gave Sandy the professional look and appeal she wanted to portray to clients.  But the SBDC didn’t just help Sandy with business logistics.  “The SBDC was a support group for me when there was no one to lean on.  The SBDC gave me to tools to conquer my self doubt about starting over so late in my life.  This enabled me to pick up my life, start over, and try to be an example for all women who came after me.”

After about a year and a half of working with the SBDC, Sandy is now running a successful business with an ever-expanding list of clients.  She has had huge growth in her clientele.  Not only has Sandy experienced personal success, but she is now in a position to help others in her local community.  One way she does so is through the free demonstrations at the Eureka Library, called Office á la Carte.  However, Sandy may be giving back the most through the SBDC.  Sandy now helps clients, much like herself, who come to the SBDC for guidance.  She knows how important the help she received from the SBDC was, and wants to give the same to others.  “The SBDC is like a safety net when you are starting a business.  You have no idea about all the things you will be faced with.  But the SBDC is a safe and confidential place, where a counselor is always there to help guide you through.  SBDC gives you a place to go and a helping hand when you are on your own.”

Sandy Westfall can be contacted at PO Box 1440 Ferndale, California, 95536 in Humboldt County.  Her website is located at http://www.westfallcompanies.com/sandy-home.html.