Whistle Pig Country Store Deli & Coffee Shop grew from intention, purpose, and a deep connection to place. After more than forty years away, sisters Jan Brown and Melissa Hubbard returned to Lee County and quickly recognized the shift around them. Diversity had increased, yet the shared spaces that once anchored community life had faded. A “For Sale” sign on a long-standing country store signaled more than a real estate listing. In that moment, the sisters recognized an opportunity to restore connection, not simply reopen a building.

In 2025, Jan and Melissa opened doors to Whistle Pig Country Store Deli & Coffee Shop inside the former Wheeler Store along Wilderness Road. Today, local residents mingle with visitors, travelers, and students from nearby universities. Unique merchandise lines the shelves, while a full deli and coffee shop invite guests to pause or stay awhile. From the outset, the vision held steady. Whistle Pig would foster gathering, create local jobs, and support employees through a culture of respect and care.

Opening a business in rural Appalachia brought real obstacles. Infrastructure gaps, startup logistics, and limited access to nontraditional financing shaped early decisions. Support arrived through the Mountain Empire Small Business Development Center, where the sisters partnered with advisor Becki O’Quinn. Her experience guided them through rural startup requirements, operational planning, and financial readiness.

Although funding options remained narrow, SBDC support helped identify viable opportunities and assess next steps. Small grants followed, enabling critical infrastructure improvements and paving the way to opening day.

Today, Whistle Pig Country Store Deli & Coffee Shop continues to operate with its founding purpose intact. Each morning begins with community at the center, guided by connection, service, and sustainability. Jan and Melissa credit Becki for practical guidance and for clarifying the responsibilities tied to building something meaningful in a rural place.

Their story reflects the resolve required to return home, invest locally, and create a business that serves more than customers. It serves a place.

Economic Impact

• Opened a new rural retail, deli, and coffee shop in Lee County
• Created 10 local jobs since opening
• Secured $35,000 in local grant funding to support startup infrastructure needs
• Provides a gathering place for residents, travelers, students, and park visitors
• Continues to experience steady sales growth since opening

Road Striping Services began with a straightforward idea that felt anything but simple at the time. After leaving a large company when culture and priorities shifted, Danielle Brouillet and Murray Hood set out to build a lean, values-driven operation centered on people and performance. The mission was clear: earn trust through quality, serve clients of every size, and grow only as fast as excellence allows.

From its first job in August 2024 to a full calendar in 2025, the company specialized in pavement markings, temporary traffic control, bike lanes, and ground-mounted signage. Work contracts span from federal and state projects, local municipalities, commercial sites, and neighborhood lots. Relationships drive the business model: many contractors already trusted the leadership team’s reputation and were eager to have Road Striping Services tackle delayed jobs once its doors opened. That early confidence, coupled with thoughtful hiring and training, transformed a small crew into a tight-knit six-person team.

The Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center ( SBDC) served as a trusted guide at every stage. Danielle first connected through a webinar and quickly moved into one-to-one advising. With SBDC support, the business developed a compliant startup checklist, secured the necessary licenses and pre-qualifications, established financial systems, and accessed expert resources for bookkeeping and accounting.

As the company grew, advising evolved from “how do we start” questions to capital planning and equipment strategy, helping the team scale responsibly while maintaining its hands-on quality.

“Could I have achieved this on my own? Perhaps. However, would it have been as focused, swift, and consistent? Definitely not. I had a team, a roadmap, and the assurance to continue progressing.”

Looking ahead, Road Striping Services intends to remain deliberately sized and consistently reliable, expanding capacity only when the right people and processes are in place. The vision is steady: maintain crew safety; keep traffic moving; and deliver every project on schedule, on budget, and true to the company’s promise.

Economic Impact

• Launched operations and completed first projects in 2024, with sustained growth through 2025
• Built a six-person full-time team, with workforce development and on-the-job training for new hires
• Achieved required licenses and pre-qualifications to compete for state and municipal work
• Diversified customer mix across federal, state, local, commercial, and private sectors
• Strengthened cash-flow management through vendor terms, bookkeeping systems, and SBDC financial advising
• Pursuing growth capital to add equipment and expand capacity while maintaining quality standards

IvySys Technologies began with a clear purpose. After completing his PhD at Georgia Tech and working as a software engineer and program manager at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, James DeBardelaben noticed a recurring challenge: large organizations collected massive amounts of data yet struggled to convert it into meaningful insight. That widening gap between collection and understanding motivated him to build a company capable of closing it for the defense and intelligence communities.

James launched IvySys in 2006, supporting government agencies as a traditional contractor with expertise in measurement and signature intelligence. As social media, publicly available information, and emerging data sources reshaped the information landscape, IvySys expanded its capabilities to meet the moment. The company now delivers artificial intelligence and advanced analytics tailored to mission-critical environments.

At the core of IvySys’s work lies DataFaucet, a platform that generates scalable synthetic datasets for operational analysis, predictive modeling, and scenario testing. The technology emerged from years of research supported by national science and defense initiatives. It has advanced into a Phase III SBIR effort and now actively supports government missions, including spatiotemporal synthetic data development for operational analysis teams.

Transitioning from consulting to true technology development forced IvySys to rethink its structure, streamline operations, and build a foundation focused on innovation rather than hourly contract work.

“That transition was challenging but necessary,” James explained. “We had to reshape our company into one that could move quickly and build products with real long-term value.”

As James refined the business, he also cultivated relationships within Virginia’s innovation ecosystem. His first connection to the Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) came through a statewide innovation roundtable, where he met TJ Master from the Virginia SBDC – Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP). Their conversations evolved into a mentorship that has guided IvySys through strategic planning, marketing insights, introductions to university partners, and access to programs aligned with the company’s goals.

TJ kept James informed about opportunities spanning campus-based innovation programs, venture conferences, and pitch events. These introductions helped IvySys forge connections at George Mason University and gain insight into business development resources throughout the region. “The most valuable part of working with the SBDC has been the personal relationship,” James said. “Even when he does not have the exact answer, TJ always knows who to connect me with.”

Looking ahead, IvySys aims to expand its capabilities within defense markets while adapting its technologies for commercial applications. The company also participates in entrepreneurship programs that offer go-to-market expertise and a network of advisors focused on commercialization. Over the next five years, James hopes to position IvySys for a strategic transaction or merger that accelerates the reach of its technology.

“We have built something that has the potential to support both national security and the commercial sector,” James said. “The SBDC has helped us stay connected, focused, and aware of the resources available in Virginia. That support has been invaluable as we grow.”

Economic Impact

• Sustained employment with 6 full-time & 2 part-time staff
• Advanced research into a commercial-ready synthetic data platform
• Earned a $2.1M Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant to support tech development
• Strengthened ties with Virginia’s university & small business ecosystems
• Established new pathways for commercialization through SBDC mentorship

When Katie Shull chose to step away from her desk job, she did not begin with a sweeping business plan—only a clear desire to spend her days around dogs. What started as a simple wish to “work with dogs instead of computers” evolved into a growing small business defined by care, commitment, and steady ambition.

After volunteering at a local animal shelter and several rescue groups, Katie realized that while she loved supporting animals, the emotional strain and limited income made long-term work there difficult. Seeking a more sustainable path, she reached out to a local kennel to gain hands-on experience. Sunny Ridge Kennels, just minutes from home, proved to be the ideal setting. When the longtime owner shared plans to retire, Katie began working part-time, learning everything from daily care routines to customer service. Over three years, she became part of the kennel’s rhythm and built lasting relationships with both the dogs and their owners.

When the moment arrived for Katie to assume control of the business, she encountered her greatest challenge: purchasing it. She sold her home to make the down payment and secured an SBA 7(a) loan to finalize the purchase. “It sounded a little crazy to some people,” she said, “but I knew this was what I wanted. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

That determination led her to the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where advisor Barry Henderson became an essential guide. “I didn’t know where to start,” Katie explained. “Barry helped me understand what banks needed to see. He taught me how to build a business plan and financial projections that made sense.” He also connected her with key resources, including an attorney who later became one of her boarding clients.

With guidance from the SBDC, Katie successfully transitioned from employee to owner in October 2024. She and her husband, Dustin, now operate the business and live on the property full-time, supported by a dedicated team of six part-time staff. Under their leadership, Sunny Ridge Kennels continues to offer a safe, clean, and nurturing environment for pets while preserving the personalized care that clients have come to rely on.

“The SBDC made a process that felt impossible seem achievable,” Katie said. “They gave me structure, confidence, and the right people to talk to when I needed them most.”

Katie’s journey is a testament to what happens when passion meets preparation. As Sunny Ridge Kennels celebrates its first anniversary, she remains focused on steady growth and happy dogs. “Every day I get to do what I love,” she said. “That’s success to me.”

Mountain Thyme Honey began as a simple dream. After nearly thirty years in Northern Virginia, Sarah Melendy moved to a quiet log cabin surrounded by mountains and wild thyme, imagining a slower, more intentional life. She had long been fascinated by beekeeping, inspired by her daughter’s college course in honeybee biology and a high school honeybee club where students shared jars of fresh honey like precious gifts. When Sarah discovered stacks of unused hive equipment in the garage of her new home, it felt like a sign. The former owner told her she could keep everything, and Sarah stepped into beekeeping with curiosity and a sense of wonder that still shapes her business today.

Growing up on a family farm in Botetourt County, Candace Monaghan and her family worked the land and tended cattle as a team. When 20 acres of the farm became the epicenter for the annual Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival, a need to expand that team prompted Candace to bring in the Greater Roanoke & New River Valley SBDC.

“We’ve been a family farm since 1900, my great-grandfather, grandfather, father, myself and siblings, and so on; so it’s always been a huge part of my life,” Candace says.

As a child on a dairy and cattle farm, Candace grew up milking cows and bottle-feeding calves, but she also harbored an interest in the arts. She went on to study graphic design at Virginia Western Community College and, after graduating, launched Candace Monaghan Design where she designs marketing materials.

And when Candace’s father planted Beaver Dam Farm’s first sunflowers in 2015, Candace’s creative, entrepreneurial mindset saw potential. She organized the first Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival in 2016, and the annual event has since grown to cover multiple weekends, draws more than 20,000 people and 100 vendors, and won a Blue Ridge Golden Star Award.

All of that foot traffic created a significant revenue stream for the farm, but also a need for business and marketing expertise. In 2019, with the event growing in scope and attendance each year, Candace connected with Greater Roanoke & NRV SBDC Business Advisor Heather Fay. Heather helped Candace and Beaver Dam Farm Sunflowers, LLC secure a $20,000 Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Grant and provided a guiding hand in 2021 when Candace won first place at The Gauntlet, a prestigious Virginia business competition.

The SBDC has also guided Candace to new marketing opportunities for the festival, ranging from advertising to digital media and public relations. The two continue to collaborate through the GrowthWheel Peer group Heather facilitates. They are currently planning for the sunflower festival’s 10-year anniversary in 2025.

“When I have an idea and think, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the best idea ever, that’s when I’ll meet with Heather,” Candace says. “Then she’ll come back with another amazing idea that I hadn’t thought of. It’s just a highlight for all of us to be able to meet monthly and discuss what’s going well and what’s not going well.”

Along with the anniversary planning, Heather and Candace are currently collaborating for the upcoming “Agripalooza,” a brainchild of Heather’s that will connect agriculture, technology and tradition in the Greater Roanoke and NRV SBDC’s coverage area.

“Heather has helped me so much,” Candace says. “From applying for the Virginia Tourism Grant every year to advertising opportunities and just somebody to share ideas with.”

If you are looking for the face of the future, you will find it at Beach Baby Ultrasound. Run by ultrasound technologist-turned-business owner Karen Devlin, the Virginia Beach business introduces babies — complete with chubby cheeks and smiles — to parents and other family members before birth.

“This ultrasound studio is a happy environment,” Devlin says. “It’s very different from working as an ultrasound tech in the hospital where you’re looking for problems. At the Beach Baby studio, we focus on cute baby features.”

Beach Baby Ultrasound offers parents-to-be a large ultrasound room with ample space, a comfortable seating area and a large TV that provides 3D, 4D and 5D tracking of a baby’s development from seven to 30 weeks. That’s part of the peaceful, celebratory vibe Karen envisioned when she purchased the facility in December 2023.

“I had always wanted to be a business owner,” says Karen, whose pre-entrepreneurial career was as a licensed ultrasound technologist. “I thought it would be a great opportunity.”

As a new business owner, Karen first found the Virginia SBDC Network through the organization’s online resources for starting a business. However, she soon realized she needed more personalized guidance, which led her to contact the Hampton Roads SBDC and advisors Bill Holloran and Donna Norman. While Bill worked with Karen on the key elements of buying a business and arranging a business loan; Donna offered guidance on human resources, business management, and marketing.

“Bill was a wealth of knowledge and gave me suggestions for lawyers and accountants and introduced me to Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, which I eventually went with,” she notes.

Making the transition from employee to business owner, Karen renamed her newly purchased business to Beach Baby Ultrasound, updated the website, and changed the packages offered to clients.

With an existing client database in hand, Karen focused next on marketing.

“Bill and Donna suggested flyers and business cards as well as email marketing campaigns,” Karen explains. “I’ve done two email campaigns that brought in a lot of customers.”

Turning to human resources, Karen increased the employee pay scale and changed a random work schedule to regular four-hour shifts.

“Donna helped me create an employee handbook and advised me on situations like firing an employee, which I had to do,” Karen continues. “She also helped with social media and encouraged me to start and post on an Instagram account. I was able to grab some new clients from that. All her suggestions were really helpful.”

Since signing on with the SBDC, Beach Baby Ultrasound has realized a 29% increase in sales and hired three more technologists and a receptionist.

“Working with the SBDC has been wonderful, and I learned a lot,” Karen concludes. “Working with the SBDC, I don’t feel alone. I know I can turn to them for advice — a good feeling for a first-time business owner like myself.”

When a search for a retirement property brought Mike and Kathie Boyce from Hagerstown, Maryland, to Scottsville, Virginia, the couple brought along their love for wine-making with them. With help from the Longwood SBDC, the Boyces turned their hobby into a thriving business in Buckingham County.

“I’ve been making wine for about 17 years,” Mike says. “Kathie and I joined an amateur wine-making group that included chemists from Ft. Meade as well as members from Appalachia that learned from their granddads. I use both techniques in wine-making.”

The Boyces opened Muddy Paws Winery in October 2023 and currently offer 17 varieties of fruit wine and mead. The couple started the winery with Mike concentrating on wine-making and Kathie focusing on developing the business. The name “Muddy Paws” is inspired by the Boyces’ love of dogs and animals. Over 23 years of marriage they have adopted numerous animals and chose to honor their memories by opening a dog-friendly winery and naming each wine after one of them.

They initially contacted the Longwood SBDC to get more information on grants, but soon discovered how much the center had to offer.

“I learned about the SBDC during a Women in Business presentation,” Kathie explains. “I was referred to the Longwood SBDC and Regional Director Dana Knott. At the time I didn’t realize all the SBDC had to offer. Since then, Dana and others from the local SBDC office have helped with resources and educational opportunities to help our business grow. I also love the training webinars the SBDC offers and have taken many of them.”

Dana connected Kathie with CO.STARTERS, an accelerator program designed to provide insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn business ideas into action.

“Although we had already started our business, CO.STARTERS was really helpful,” Kathie notes. “The six-week program included basic business concepts from marketing to funding — invaluable information for a new business — and all for free!”

The Boyces still meet regularly with the SBDC to expand their business acumen and ensure their winery’s financial health.

“Dana’s an ongoing help,” Kathie says. “And she’s a good resource on Facebook — things like what days to post what — and helping me with Canva. When we get together, we’ll plan one topic that transitions into two or three others. She also kept me informed about grant possibilities and helped compile a list of businesses the winery might partner with.”

Those conversations have spurred more ideas on how to creatively package Muddy Paws’ wines through services like a wine club, subscriptions, and creation of custom wines for weddings and special events. They have also discussed future expansions to their facility, including a nature trail, an observatory for “wine and star” nights, and a dog park that would put the “paws” in Muddy Paws.

The Boyces also give back to their local community by donating to various animal organizations. Muddy Paws is also gaining accolades, winning the People’s Choice Award at the Powhatan Wine Festival. As their business grows – in accolades, sales, offerings, and more – the couple plans to rely on SBDC advice.

“We exceeded our expectations for our first year,” Mike concludes. “The SBDC definitely played a part in that.”

Perry and Diane Sandy began their entrepreneurial journey when they started a yard sign business in Pennsylvania during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That business wasn’t intended to be permanent,” Perry says. “But it helped me discover the freedom of being my own boss.”

Perry, a 23-year military radio specialist and 14-year government IT manager, and Diane, a veteran and nurse practitioner, began looking for a business they could own and manage full time. They found Communications-Applied Technology (C-AT) in Reston, deemed it “a good fit”, and purchased it in May 2023.

Already in operation for several decades before the Sandys took ownership, C-AT produces communications systems designed to link rapid responder communications across a variety of systems and platforms.

After previously working with the Pennsylvania SBDC, the Sandys wasted little time in connecting with the Mason Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Starting in June 2023, they participated in a training titled Organization of Daily Business. Then, with the goal of “learning more about export markets as part of our long-term strategy,” says Perry, they connected with the Virginia SBDC’s International Business Development (IBD) Program and Senior International Trade Specialist Dulce Zahniser.

“Learning the international side of business was very useful,” Diane comments. “We reach out to Dulce a lot — and still do.”

The SBDC recognized that C-AT’s team needed comprehensive training in international trade documentation, particularly in the Harmonized Code and Schedule B Systems.

Through the SBDC IBD program, the Sandys were able to identify and update outdated product classifications that C-AT had been carrying from the business’ 30 years in international markets. With these product updates, C-AT successfully engaged the U.S. Department of Commerce and received formal product export control classifications.

“Dulce put in a lot of hours helping us with that,” Perry adds. “We couldn’t have done it without her.”

The company’s commitment to international growth led to their participation in the SBDC’s inaugural Summer 2024 Global on Ramp program, supported by the Small Business Administration’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. Additionally, the SBDC provided student-led market research information on four target markets: Argentina, Chile, Indonesia and Kuwait. Following this research and assistance from the SBDC, C-AT relaunched its export program in the Kuwaiti market.

The Sandys are also taking advantage of SBDC training on business-related topics. Perry is currently engaged in a three-part training session on financing with Director of the Mason SBDC Timm Johnson, who also helped the Sandys revamp the C-AT website.

C-AT’s partnership with the SBDC has yielded additional benefits. In October 2023, the company was accepted into the Global Defense Program (GDP) that helps Virginia defense companies diversify into international markets and received a $10,000 grant for an international export initiative.

“Since May 2023 we’ve increased our revenue and started new product development,” Perry says. “We also added two more employees for a total of eight.”

As their company continues to grow, Perry and Diane plan to continue their connection with the SBDC.

“We have confidence in the SBDC’s trusted experts,” Diane concludes. “It’s a great resource that’s helped us a lot.”

Chantel West-White’s Wick & Pour Candle Bar started in a basement during the COVID-19 pandemic, borne out of a desire to stay busy and connected with her friends and neighbors.

“I’m an elementary school nurse and wanted to keep my family safe during COVID,” she says. “I spent a lot of time in my basement then and started making candles. I sent them to friends with encouraging notes on the labels — everyone loved that.”

The feedback was so positive that Chantel considered molding her basement hobby into a business. With help from the SBDC – Lynchburg Region and the CO.STARTERS business accelerator program, it soon began to take shape.

“At CO.STARTERS I was introduced to the services offered by the SBDC,” Chantel adds. “After the program ended, I connected with SBDC Executive Director Stephanie Keener and others at the Lynchburg office, including Financial Planning Advisor Jordan Reeves and Branding/Marketing Advisor Jawansa Hall, who helped me prepare for the Launch LYH.”

Similar to CO.STARTERS’ 10-week entrepreneurship training program, Launch LYH is an eight-week educational course that culminates in a pitch competition. Launch LYH is funded by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development via the Community Business Launch program. Although Chantel wasn’t among the pitch competition’s winners, she says that she gained valuable business knowledge from the course as well as important connections that led to more milestones for her then-fledgling company.

Participants in Launch LYH were introduced to available retail and offices spaces in Downtown Lynchburg, which led to Chantel finding a physical location.

“Those connections helped me find a permanent location for my business,” she says. “The SBDC gave me a high recommendation — I wouldn’t have had that without those connections”

At her store, Chantel not only sells her own handmade candles, she hosts workshops to teach the candle-making process. And even as she has settled into her downtown location on Lynchburg’s 9th Street, Chantel has continued to consult the SBDC.

“Jordan helped with the financial piece by getting spreadsheets ready for my business plan,” she says. “Jawansa assisted with marketing and offered suggestions to improve my website. Then Stephanie connected me with students at a local community college who helped me create my new website.”

The SBDC is also providing help as Chantel prepares to hire her first employee.

“Stephanie helped me write an employees’ manual,” Chantel adds. “She also advised me about financing as we get into the holiday season. I’m looking into it — one step at a time.”

Chanel recently tried out the idea with a small working capital loan of $1,000. She also continues to make connections in her new downtown location, partnering with neighboring business owners for special events. Among those is a community display shelf where she and other owners showcase products from their downtown businesses.

With the SBDC’s help, Chantel’s candle business continues to burn bright.

“The SBDC has had a hand in every aspect of my business,” Chantel concludes. “They not only tell me what I need to change in my business but also how to change it. The information, guidance and connections I gained from the SBDC have been wonderful.”