This Larimer County small business success story captured by SBDC volunteers and fellow business owners Erin Bibeau, writer and Melissa English, photographer.

Orland Baker is hard at work in his shop on Commerce Drive in Fort Collins. He is working to fill an order from New Belgium Brewing Company for his custom-made beetle-kill wood bike racks to outfit New Belgium's 2010 employee bicycles. Orlando is far from his home base in Hawaii, where he started Carver's Surf Racks in 2003 to solve the issue of biking to the beach with a surfboard in tow. He has found success here in Fort Collins with his diversified business. He creates everything from his surf racks to bike trailers and tandem bikes, all with an artists eye and the skill of a welder and wood-worker. Orlando has brought a continued scope of creativity to his work and attributes this to his exposure to the arts growing up in Detroit.  (Click on the picture to advance the story)

"I found information and knowledge at the SBDC that helped to make my business more compliant," Orlando shared as he finished up his current round of staining beetle-kill wood with a new UV sensitive resin. He also received counseling from the SBDC on the application process for a Small Business Administration loan for which he has applied. "My advice to hopeful businesses is to look at the SBDC as a tool that can help you succeed in your business. The SBDC offers assistance, but also encourages you to invest your own sweat and equity into your business." Orlando attributes his success to counseling, encouragement, and direction from the SBDC as well as a drive to continue and go forward regardless of challenges in funding and outside business help.  ###