Case Studies
Terrazon Group Inc.
Terrazon, formally Drill It Underground, was a small horizontal boring company owned by a father and son (Tim Van Barringer) team. The Tim came to the FVEC in April of 2020 for guidance to purchase the business from the father and then to grow it. After a few months of negotiation, the deal was done, and Tim owned the company. While Tim is an expert in horizontal boring, he needed a little guidance in business management. The FVEC continued working with Tim to develop policies and procedures, management infrastructure, financial controls.
In the first year, under Tim’s management, the company more than doubled in revenue. Working with the FVEC, K&L Story Tellers, and Existence Creative, Drill It Underground rebranded itself to Terrazon Group. The company continues to grow through organic growth and acquisitions.
Kimmers Ice Cream
Kimmer’s Ice Cream is the brainchild of Kimberly Elam, who fell in love with ice cream as a little girl, and never looked back. Now she is sharing her love with you, inventing new gourmet flavors, and making classic favorites fresh and homemade daily.
Kimmer’s had one location up and running, but while she was an expert in ice cream, business management skills were yet to be developed. Kimmer’s applied to the FVEC in 2014 to streamline her operations and financials. Because of the support and guidance, she received from the Fox Valley Entrepreneurship Center, in May 2015, she opened her second store on Front Street in Wheaton.
Kimmer’s Ice Cream continued to expand and in 2017 opened a new location in Elmhurst. At the same time, Kimberly got married to Isaac and together they are building out their management infrastructure and planning future growth.
M14 Hoops
Matt Miller started M14Hoops in September of 2009 to teach young men and women integrity and responsibility through the game of basketball. Mr. Miller had built a successful business renting gyms across the area and by 2014 had grown to service over 500 clients annually.
In 2015, M14Hoops Indianapolis was started and at the same time Matt was invited to present his vision at the Fox Valley Entrepreneur Center. The FVEC is a small business accelerator program where a limited number of businesses are selected each year to receive business guidance from some of the areas best business minds. Matt’s ‘ask’ from the board was help in building his own basketball facility. He felt strongly about his growth, community impact and wanted assistance in the loan process, land acquisition, as well as building the physical structure. Matt was accepted and the assistance was provided. On September 11, 2017, M14Hoops officially broke ground on their very own basketball facility.
“That was an incredible moment, not just for me but for my staff and the basketball community as a whole. The facility has given us a chance to help players turn their dreams into reality but more so, it has allowed us to positively effect society by leading, guiding and mentoring young people through some of the most influential years of their lives.”
With the facility officially opening August 28, 2018, M14Hoops increased their ability to develop basketball players by starting teams as well as offering speed, agility, and strength training. The facility is a one-stop shop for development. Less than a year later, they broke ground again and expanded the original 39,200 sq ft 4-court facility to a 53,000 sq ft 6-court facility. M14 Chicagoland now has a staff of over 20 employees and serves over 3,000 players annually.
Energy City Brewing
David Files was brewing beer in a small basement under the Limestone Café’ in Batavia, brewing one barrel at a time. They sold their beer on the first Saturday of each month, selling their beer three hours a month. Lines were around the block waiting for the one of the best beers in the area. They were quickly out growing the basement and needed to look at their options. That’s when they applied to the FVEC.
The problem was finding a balance between having a life and raising their children while at the same time building a business. What would that business be? A bigger basement, a garage, full brewery? What would the distribution be like? Local, nationwide, worldwide?
Working with the FVEC, several business plans were discussed, and financial models where created. Today, Energy City Brewing has a brewery and warehouse in Batavia. Shipping beer all over the world. And the good news for the local Batavia folks, you can still go pick up your brew on every Saturday.
