Experienced advisers support
small business owners' aspirations

Barbara Dietrich or Karen McFarland at The BEST Center at Genesee Community College are experts in the small business world and they're excited to share advice, confidentially and free of charge, to new business owners.

Both Dietrich and McFarland have more than 20 years of corporate, small business and entrepreneurship experience. They have joined The BEST Center as advisers through the Small Business Development Center's (SBDC) satellite office on the Genesee Community College campus in Batavia. Funded in part by the Small Business Administration, the SBDC delivers counseling, training and industry-specific research to small business entrepreneurs.

Dietrich has a history of creating businesses and managing them into success. Her "Sizzle Sauce" grew from a home production product to contract bottling in a few years to meet the demand in local supermarket chains; Dietrich Salad Dressing line followed.

Dietrich said entrepreneurs must also address the "emotional side" of business. "There's a huge misconception that you start a business and within a year you're floating on a boat somewhere," she said. "It just doesn't work that way."

McFarland worked for Xerox Corp. as a financial and systems analyst for 13 years before starting her own business.

Dietrich and McFarland agreed that entrepreneurship means much more than a "9-to-5" philosophy. With that in mind, both said they will meet with people evenings or on Saturdays if necessary.

April 23, 2006