Dr. Bobbie Hansel-Union established Hansel Union Consulting, PLLC in 2010 to provide personal therapeutic services. After experiencing, and surviving, a brain aneurysm in her late 30s, Bobbie was convinced of the value of therapeutic services.

“After my experience, I realized it was only through therapy I was able to come back,” Bobbie says. Inspired by a desire to help others with developmental, intellectual and neurological disabilities, she opened her office in Portsmouth with a staff of one – herself. However, even though Bobbie embarked on her business venture on her own, she knew that didn’t mean she had to go about it alone.

“I was the only one on staff,” she says. “But I knew about the Hampton Roads SBDC, so I reached out to them for help.”

Bill Holloran, a Hampton Roads SBDC Business Analyst, answered Bobbie’s call and has been her advisor ever since. Their partnership started with a business plan Bill helped her write, along with developing business goals for Hansel Union Consulting’s future.

As Hansel Union developed its primary goal – to serve children and adults “from birth to the end” – the company experienced steady growth, both in personnel and clientele. While the SBDC was instrumental in getting Hansel Union off the ground, their assistance didn’t stop there. Bill and the SBDC helped Bobbie secure grants of $25,000 and $10,000 and advised on staffing as Hansel Union expanded.

“Next we added recreation therapists and occupational therapists,” Bobbie says. “From there we added psychologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, and a nursing staff.”

As Hansel Union’s team expanded, so too did its footprint in the community. They now provide both in-person and virtual services across the commonwealth, from Richmond to Roanoke and Northern Virginia.

As the company continues to move forward, Bobbie plans to take the SBDC along.

“Without the SBDC I don’t think I would have been as successful as I am,” she says. “My first year in business I made $33,000; today Hansel Union is a $5 million agency with 36 on staff.”

“The SBDC has always been there for me,” she adds. “I don’t understand why anyone would start a business without SBDC support. They provide a wealth of knowledge — and it’s free.”