Success Stories
Every thriving business you see here started with a single step: Reaching out for guidance.
At the Ohio SBDC at Ashland University, success stories aren’t just
highlights we celebrate—they’re the heart of why we do what we do.
Whether you’re sitting on a business idea, navigating a challenging
growth phase, or ready to take your venture to the next level, we’re here to help you write your
own success story. The entrepreneurs featured below came to us with dreams, questions, and
sometimes uncertainty—and with our no-cost advising, they turned those into real, sustainable
businesses.
Just Good Whole Food
From Health-Conscious Consumer to Whole Food Pioneer: Tracy and Rachel’s Journey
Tracy, along with her daughter, Rachel, were tired of only being able to find
highly-processed foods loaded with hard-to-pronounce ingredients. Tracy saw an opportunity, as
she knew she wasn’t the only one wanting to watch what she put into her body. Tracy realized the
critical importance of a healthy, unprocessed diet, but as she looked around her own community
for a food establishment that focused on these qualities, she was aware that there were not
really any local food trucks focusing on these kinds of ingredients. This inspired Tracy and
Rachel to launch a food truck. Their mission? To serve “Just Good Whole Food,” just as the name
promises.
Tracy wanted to create a simple, high-quality menu centered on locally sourced meats and
vegetables whenever possible. Tracy, who had successfully run a busy restaurant in the Ozarks
years ago, knew the food industry, but launching a business in Ohio was a new challenge. She
felt unsure of the Ohio-specific requirements and next steps—and that’s when she connected with
the Ohio SBDC at Ashland University.
Navigating the Road to Launch
The Ohio SBDC at Ashland University immediately stepped in to help Tracy navigate the
complexities of starting a food truck in Ohio.
Establishing the Foundation — we worked through key decisions, including choosing the right business entity and the follow-up steps required to solidify it.
Licensing and Compliance — we provided guidance on regulations and licenses, and directed her to the Health Department to clarify the necessary licenses, equipment specifics, and setup for inspection.
Tracy purchased her truck and began the setup, but the journey wasn’t without bumps.
Mechanical issues postponed the launch until the fall of 2024, and more minor setbacks delayed
the start of the 2025 season. But Tracy’s determination prevailed! By spring 2025, the truck was
fully operational and passed all inspections.
A Successful First Season
Tracy, Rachel, and Michalina with the SBDC had discussed strategies for food trucks, such as
where to set up specifically. With food truck trailers, there are a lot of different strategies
for growing the business, and they all come with pros and cons that they discussed. This led to
Tracy setting up closer to home at local wineries and breweries, as they weren’t as interested
in taking the food trailer farther out. Their strategy was to focus on building a name and
reputation locally.
The 2025 season was a resounding success! By focusing on quality, locally-sourced
ingredients, and authentic, perfected recipes, Just Good Whole Food quickly developed a devoted
following. Customers sought out the food truck at the various locations they set up at, and
spread the word about the simple, healthy, and delicious options.
Tracy and Rachel continue to work with the SBDC, focusing now on strengthening their
marketing and social media presence. An AU MBA intern was involved in a summer 2025 semester
project in taking and editing some videos for the client, and in helping to determine posting
ideas. We are proud to continue supporting Tracy as she sustains and grows her impactful,
whole-food business!
Are you ready to turn your passion into a thriving business? We can help you navigate the
business planning, operational, and strategic steps, just like we did for Just Good Whole
Food.
— Tracy, Just Good
Whole Food
Jeromesville Daily Grind, LLC
Jeremiah Cordes’ Grind: Building a Coffee Shop and Community in Jeromesville
In May 2023, Jeremiah Cordes had a vision: to bring a vibrant coffee shop to Jeromesville,
Ohio. He had already been dabbling in entrepreneurship as he created beautiful resin-topped
tables and sold them, but he didn’t have a lot of experience with opening anything
brick-and-mortar. He reached out to the Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Ashland
University for help purchasing a commercial building, after a lender referred Jeremiah to the
business planning services of the local SBDC—but this wasn’t just a simple storefront.
The property was a savvy investment: a fixer-upper storefront that would become the future
coffee shop, plus two established commercial tenants (a beauty salon and an antiques shop) and
an upstairs apartment, all with up-to-date leases. These existing tenants were key, offering a
reliable cushion against the projected monthly mortgage. We got to work on helping Jeremiah
create a comprehensive business plan, which took some time and planning, but was eventually
submitted to the lender for financing consideration.
Overcoming the Initial Hurdles
When the loan process stalled to purchase the building, Jeremiah didn’t wait. He purchased
the building using his own funds and then later shifted his focus to a new job to rebuild his
capital while serving a vital community need.
Later in the year, still needing financing for the build-out of the coffee shop, the SBDC
stepped back in. We dusted off his year-old business plan that the SBDC had assisted him in
writing previously, and updated it with current information. This preparation was crucial,
especially after a disappointing surprise at one bank’s closing. Jeremiah was deterred by other
funding surprises that he didn’t want to deal with, so he invested his own funds, once again. At
least this way, he knew he would be going into this venture debt-free.
By the summer of 2024, Jeremiah completed the extensive renovations, purchased equipment,
installed seating, and added a stunning bakery display case. He also wanted to make sure that
the community felt pride when they walked through the doors of his coffee shop, so he had
historical black and white photos of different old businesses from Jeromesville blown up and
displayed in his shop. The Jeromesville Daily Grind, LLC, officially opened its doors in 2024
and was a little slow to grow, but with a little marketing help, the shop began to sustain
itself without his further investments.
An Ongoing Partnership for Success
The SBDC’s support didn’t end at the ribbon cutting. We routinely check in to offer
assistance, focusing on areas like marketing strategies and social media ideas, or whatever
assistance Jeremiah might be seeking.
In Fall 2024, Jeremiah took advantage of a unique opportunity through the SBDC/AU “Special
Topics in Entrepreneurship” class. A team of Ashland University students helped the Jeromesville
Daily Grind elevate its digital presence, specifically focusing on utilizing TikTok for content
creation and developing a simple website. The students walked Jeremiah and his staff through how
to produce and edit these videos, and encouraged his team with some various posting ideas.
Jeremiah and his staff were thrilled with the practical, real-world assistance.
Jeremiah knows the Ohio SBDC at Ashland University is a crucial resource for his future
plans. He has stated he’ll be reaching out again as he embarks on his next venture—because the
Jeromesville Daily Grind is just one part of his entrepreneurial spirit. He also has aspirations
to turn another property he owns into another thriving business in downtown Jeromesville, and he
will need help in preparing another business plan for this future venture.
Keep up with our clients
More wins on Facebook
A video success story from Gordon’s Aquatics is coming soon.
Your success story could be next.
All you need to do is get started.