Susan is very knowledgeable and experienced. She is an excellent listener, and she focused on giving us the help we were seeking. She was also honest and direct in her appraisal of our business situation without being judgmental. Her advice makes good sense, and we were encouraged to try the approach to licensing that she recommended.

Bernard has helped me in countless ways, from making me feel confident that I have set up the right type of company (all the legal & accounting details that accompany that) to support me in my marketing efforts. He has helped connect me with the relevant organizations that might want my services and has provided invaluable insight for my website. Just last week he helped reduce my bounce rate by 30%..I have used other services that have been able to help me with specific areas of my business, but Bernard has been my business strategy consultant, not just my legal or accounting advisor.

I had been running my business part time while I worked a full-time job.  When I was laid off from my position, I did my business full time.  Despite a business degree, as well as being a CPA and Certified Management Accountant, I didn’t have much confidence or experience in how to market my services.  George took the time to learn about my business and goals and offered me concrete action items to get me moving in the right direction.  He also spoke to me as an intelligent person who had experience in the business world.  It was time well spent, and I look forward to speaking with him more in the future.

My counseling sessions with Mr. T.J. Master began in October 2019. At the onset, Mr. Master listened intently to the “as-is” state of my business while masterfully calculating the most successful path forward. During our first meeting, he reviewed my documentation to ensure that the proper procedures for registering the business in Prince William County were followed plus provided a listing of resources to assist me during this unfamiliar and frightening journey. At one point, I mentioned that I was seeking a licensing agreement with Tuskegee Airman Incorporated ® (TAI). Much to my surprise, when I arrived at our meeting, T.J. was making himself more familiar with TAI and presented new information to me regarding some of the Tuskegee Airmen.. Since COVID-19, he’s provided several platforms that are offering assistance to small businesses, programs, that I would not have known about otherwise. Our sessions are both engaging and enjoyable and I look forward to each meeting. T.J. is trustworthy and has gone above and beyond to show that he cares about me, my family, and my business.

My Counselor Mr. Bernard Ferret is an extraordinary professional and incredibly gifted entrepreneur. His insights and recommendations – and especially his encouragement – on so many levels have put me on path to success and transformed the direction of launching my product and structuring my business vision down to creating the financial foundation as one of the key building blocks. Bernard’s patience and genuine desire to see my business to launch and succeed comes through with every session. I’ve worked for 8 years with many challenges in a vacuum – and to have discovered this Mason small business offering – and being paired with Bernard – has been nothing but a God send. I am deeply grateful for him.

Coach aka Mr. Siragusa is such an awesome person. His willingness to work with you and aid you in the process to success is priceless. As an entrepreneur, one of the hardest things is getting people to understand you, your vision, and the opportunity you see. At most what we need is someone that shows us they believe, sees the opportunity, and has a willingness to help you if you’re willing to work. I really am thankful for all his help and he has become another person on my list that I pray I make them proud and happy they poured into me.

The Mason SBDC (Small Business Development Center) has already been a huge part of my business and this blog for the past 2 weeks…..Mason SBDC is very responsive via phone or email. I gave them the information about my new business, and they scheduled me with a counselor for a one-on-one to discuss strategy, among other things.

I was paired with the head of the Mason SBDC Timm Johnson, and we had a great 1 hour one on one discussion about my business, potential customers, and my web presence.

This business counseling was an excellent experience. The counselor gave concrete action steps to gauge potential interest in my business, evaluate the feasibility and cost, and to target potential customers.

I had an excellent experience and would highly recommend this to any small business owners whether starting out, transitioning, or established.

The entire experience so far has been extraordinary. From the initial contact and speed of which they responded, to the warm welcome by reception (including a complimentary cup of coffee) they have exceeded my expectations.

George Siragusa is a true professional, and he’s not only given me food for thought but also an encouraging and motivating counseling session that will assist in ensuring my new start-up business will be a success. I highly recommend the services of Mason SBDC.

Working with the SBDC has been extremely helpful in furthering the progress of Proctor360. As a startup, the guidance George Siragusa provided through counseling sessions allowed us to navigate the market effectively in a short amount of time. We continue to meet with him and take his advice.

I was assigned to Gary Alfano and from our 1st session I knew he was the one to assist me with my business needs! Mr. Alfano was very professional, patient, and knowledgeable regarding the possibility of becoming a vendor for the Federal Government, as well as becoming certified with other agencies that could help my business. Throughout our counseling sessions, there was never a dull moment! His method of teaching/counseling style is OUTSTANDING! He listens to all of my “many” questions, assigns homework, and ends the session with… “It’s been a pleasure to assist you. If you any questions, please know that I’m available.” THANK YOU FOR CONNECTING ME WITH AN AWESOME COUNSELOR! What a wonderful experience!!!

The counselors at the SBDC have been invaluable to my business development and growth. They have walked me through the difficult process of obtaining a PPP and EIDL loan, having the most up to date answers and information at their fingertips. They have also helped me in all other aspects of my business from determining who to hire next, to financial projects and marketing reviews. It’s easy to schedule consistent monthly meetings where I bring my most pressing issues. I now consider George another member of my ‘team’ and look forward to our meetings where we can brainstorm together and consider his advice invaluable. I cannot recommend utilizing the services of the SBDC enough for entrepreneurs at any stage or level in their business especially during these unprecedented times.