James Epling has been selected as the West Virginia 2014 State Star by America’s Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC), announced Kristina Oliver, state director of the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WVSBDC). The ASBDC State Star honors outstanding employees from Small Business Development Centers.
Epling, representing West Virginia, and Stars from other states, will be recognized Sept. 9 in a private reception during the ASBDC national conference in Grapevine, Texas.
“Jim Epling was selected as the 2014 West Virginia State Star in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, his commitment to clients and dedicated service to the Small Business Development Center,” said Oliver. “He has not only shared his business planning, financial and loan packaging expertise with his clients, but has been a willing resource for others as well. He has also worked in collaboration with other WVSBDC business coaches and local economic development authorities to help West Virginia small businesses succeed.”
A native of Summersville, Epling graduated from West Virginia Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Management and later received his Master of Business Administration from Marshall University. Before joining WVSBDC in 1986, he worked in the coal industry and for an industrial supply company. Epling also taught business and accounting classes on a part-time basis for various colleges in the area. Epling is one of this year’s six WVSBDC business coaches to receive a certificate for Capital Access Recognition for accessing more than $1 million dollars of capital infusion for their clients.
During 2014, Epling was one of six business coaches to receive a certificate for Capital Access Recognition for accessing more than $1 million dollars of capital infusion for their clients.
“It has been an honor to meet with hundreds of small business owners and to help start and expand their businesses in the central and southern counties of West Virginia,” Epling said. “The businesses have been diverse, from logging companies to beauty shops, from hospitality/tourism to coal mining equipment rebuilders, from convenience stores to wood manufacturing. It has been a very interesting and rewarding 28 years.”
Some of Epling’s small business clients described the value his coaching has added to their companies.
Bill and Sharon Glasscock are owners of Laurel Creek Hardwoods, a sawmill and lumber wholesaler in Richwood, Nicholas County.
“If it were not for Jim Epling, our business – and 26 jobs – would not be here now,” said Glasscock. “In 2002, I was working as plant manager and Sharon as lumber sales in a mill in Richwood when the owner decided to close the operation. The employees said if we bought the plant, they’d work for us. We didn’t have the capital. The New River Gorge Economic Development Authority put together a financial team and suggested that Jim Epling with the Small Business Development Center help us with our business plan.
“The finance providers asked a lot of questions. A week before the closing, one asked a particular question. Jim and I worked together for eight hours to address that question. We must have done a good job because we got the loan. I know of no one else who would work that hard for a business that wasn’t his own. Jim has also encouraged us to attend several workshops on financial management of small businesses. Jim really wants his clients to succeed.”
Aaron Huffman owns Green Mountain Builders, but it was in his quest for a different business that introduced him to Epling.
“My wife and I were in the process of securing financing for a major business purchase,” Huffman said. “We learned about SBDC through our local bank and were put in contact with James Epling. We knew the numbers for the business would work, but Jim was able to show us how. He also formatted the data to meet the requirements of our loan application. Jim was a great help and we felt like he truly wanted the purchase to go through for us. He communicated with us, as well as our bank, throughout the entire process. It took almost four months for the whole transaction to be completed. As of noon, Friday the 22nd of August, my wife and I are the proud owners of the Historic General Lewis Inn — a 25-room, full-service hotel and restaurant — in Lewisburg. Thanks for your help, Jim!”
Paul and Jennifer Breuer, owners of Country Road Cabins near the New River Gorge National Recreation Area, has had a working relationship with Epling for more than a decade.
“Jim has been invaluable in developing and refinancing our business here at Country Road Cabins in Hico for more than 15 years,” Paul Breuer said. “He has provided sound, wise advice and pointed us in the right directions. Many, many thanks!”
The WVSBDC is part of the West Virginia Development Office and creates economic impact through offering entrepreneurs and small businesses cost-effective business coaching and technical assistance. The West Virginia SBDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The WVSBDC is an Accredited Member of America’s SBDC network.
