Success Stories

Alternatives Credit Union

Awura-Abena Ansah, Owner of Alta Spa and long time Alternatives business member, credits Alternatives for enabling her to realize a successful business. "I have come to Alternatives every day for 5 years now," Awura-Abena says of her relationship with the Credit Union. "I discuss ideas with Patrick and he's always very helpful - always ready to listen. Alternatives has been instrumental in expanding my business from standard salon and spa services to expanded services you often don't find anywhere but in large cities. I don't think of Alternatives as a bank - it's a family I always want to be a part of!"

Alta Spa is planning a 5 Year Celebration and Grand Re-Opening on February 1st to celebrate the start of its 6^th year in business.The Spa is expanding to the 2^nd floor of its location on East State Street. This space will allow for multiple services and lunch hour executive treatments.Awura-Abena is excited about the growth of her business.  "Alternatives has given me more than loans and support. They've given me exposure in the community.  This event is a thank you.to Alternatives.and to the community that's enables me to grow."  For more information about Alta Spa, call 273-6818 or visit their website at www.altaspa.net.

In these days of mega-mergers and high-priced start-ups--when dollars are tallied in the millions and billions--it may be hard to imagine how much help a loan of $500 to $10,000 can be. How much impact can a few thousand--or a few hundred--dollars have on a business and on the women who are pursuing their dreams? The answer is plenty. Meet a few women who received Count-Me-In loans.

Heather McCartney, first time loan recipient
Ethnic Edibles, Bronx NY www.ethnicedibles.com
Heather McCartney found a delicious way to share her fascination with the tribal arts of Africa: Ethnic Edibles, a company that produces cookies and cookie-making kits based on traditional African (and now Puerto Rican and Cuban) shapes and symbols. With no business experience, she doubted she'd get a traditional bank loan. Fortunately, she found Count Me In's website and received a $5,000 loan for packaging and marketing. With a growing distribution base and a flurry of media attention Heather has built what the New York Post calls "a flourishing business and a way of sharing her culture."

Sherry Shefts, first time loan recipient
Beastly Bakes, Bellevue, WA
www.beastlybakes.com

After her wedding cake showed up wrong - Sherry knew that there was a need for someone who could really fulfill a bride's wishes. She knew she could do it - she had studied art while growing up. To Sherry, a cake is not just a cake - it's a sculpture.

So, this mother of two started making cakes - not just for her family and friends - but for the Seattle Mariners, local celebrities, sports figures, large events, parties, anniversaries... and the list goes on.

They told her she was crazy, "No business can survive just selling cakes." So she introduced cookies and bars aka Beastly Bakes. Sherry's loan from Count Me In built her website, purchased equipment, supplies and ingredients. Currently, Beastly Bakes has two corporate gift accounts an appointment with a major grocery store chain in Seattle and appointments with several Espresso bars.

Sherry can't get over her feeling of empowerment since opening her business and says she owes it all to Count Me In.

Joyce Patterson, second time loan recipient
JMPS Phlebotomy Services, Alexandria VA
Joyce plans on being Count Me In’s first million dollar Business. And, with two Count Me In loans, 30 employees (including two of her children) and more than $800,000 in annual sales, she is right on track.

JMPS Phlebotomy Services, is a 24 Hour on call service in the Virginia, Maryland and DC areas. JMPS provides phlebotomy services for laboratories, doctors' offices, health screens, home patients and paternity tests.
JMPS is a mobile company that comes to the contracted facility providing Phlebotomy Technicians that are highly skilled and well trained to obtain laboratory specimens for testing in laboratories outside the facility. It is a service-oriented business, accommodating to the needs of their clients and satisfying the requests of the testing laboratories.

JMPS provides services in the collection of specimens, mainly blood and urine. They assure that these specimens are taken to the clients' requested laboratories. Skilled Phlebotomists perform venipunctures necessary to obtain blood, and well-trained technicians follow legal procedures of "chain of custody" when handling blood for paternity cases or performing drug urine screens.