Orem SBDC Success Stories: Volti

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Volti

VOLTI
While on a skiing retreat in February of 2000, two unaffiliated clients of Charles Acklin's approached him at separate times announcing that they were no longer going to work with his partner and himself. Each client explained that the company Acklin was working for and the senior partner could not practice what they preached. The clients described the work Acklin had done for them generated revenue and improved their processes, but the company was not willing to take care of its assets. The clients both asked Acklin "How long are you going to put up with this?"Months earlier, in August of 1999, Charles Acklin was approached by two investors, Doctors from Michigan and Pennsylvania, offering him start-up capital if he would consider leaving the partnership and starting his own venture. At the time, he had been uninterested, but after this chance encounter on his ski trip, and three months of attempting to define and improve the partnership with no success, Acklin called up the investors and accepted their offer. Acklin officially resigned his position on October 1, 2000, and started VOLTI on October 31, 2000. VOLTI's mission is to accelerate and increase the success of it's clients. Volti goes into a company as a guest, "embedded" rather than imposed. They learn a company's style, values and traditions, and then the companies needs. Then they go to work for the company, working with teams and individuals in everyday, real-life situations to bring out the needed improvements, employing the proven elements of Volti's program. Volti focuses on the strengths of the present staff to begin creating improvement from the inside. Improvement in people brings improvement in their work, and that brings improvements in company performance. This ends in profit."VOLTI would not be where it is without Ken Fakler. Ken targets issues and goes beyond textbook definitions. He doesn't cheer lead, he facilitates results. Together we clarified propriety elements, infrastructure, our unique business model and sales process. During times of lost funds, negative cash and discouragement, Ken supported me as I refocused and recovered." Fakler has helped stabilize, expand, innovate, and transform VOLTI from a highly successful 'one-man operation' to a team, really taking it to the next level.

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SBDC In The Spotlight

The Orem Small Business Development Center, located just west of Utah Valley University, assists startup business owners and entrepreneurs to navigate the often treacherous waters of becoming self employed. Among the center's staff are (left to right) consultants Eddy Yujra, Marynika Miche , director Ken Fakler, consultant Camille Pendleton, and administrative assistant, Karen Wenn. Michael Rigert - NORTH COUNTY STAFF With the economic turmoil depleting personal finances, displacing employees and forcing some to seek new career paths, more and more Utah County residents are turning to self-employment to support themselves and their families. Floralyn Martinez, a master hair stylist for 17 years, researched the possibility of opening her own salon last summer. It was at that time that she came into contact with the Orem Small Business Development Center located just west of Utah Valley University. She didn't have a clue about the steps to starting her own business."I'm an artist behind the chair, but I'm computer illiterate," she said. "I was either going to start up my own place or go to another salon."A free resource provided to entrepreneurs, startup businesses and existing merchants, the Orem Small Business Development Center is one in a network of such centers across the state tasked with not only helping the self-employed get into business, but stay in business, said Ken Fakler, the Orem center's managing director.Funded through the Small Business Administration, the state of Utah and Utah Valley University, the Orem center assists clients in applying for SBA loans, putting together a business plan, doing market research and strategies, and learning the nuts and bolts of business ownership. It serves clients in both Utah and Wasatch counties.Martinez said Fakler and Orem center consultant Laurie Ann Thomas taught her how to write up a business proposal, where to find resources and apply for funding, and how to navigate the often treacherous waters of self employment.In October, Martinez and her husband, Marcos, opened Katumba's Day Spa and Salon, 1015 S. State St. in Orem, which offers a wide range of services from hair styling, massage therapy, skin care and aesthetics. Their salon employs a full staff of stylists and therapists, and business is slowly but steadily increasing, she said."Ken is absolutely incredible and knows what he's talking about," Martinez said. "It was a huge, huge help. I would say they are a major aspect of getting me started."With the housing slump and high gas and food prices hurting businesses and residents, Fakler said the center has seen a large influx of clients in recent months. From the newly unemployed to people looking to earn some income on the side, the center's clients come from all walks of life and range from college-age students to people in their 70s.The center supports clients who own businesses with dozens of employees to stay-at-home moms who want to take their eBay sales to the next level.The center works with about 35 to 40 new businesses a month, or nearly 500 per year. About 50 percent of the center's clients are women, Thomas said."It's really an entrepreneurial area," she said.Because approximately 80 percent of small businesses go under in the first five years, the center stresses the importance of formulating a strong business plan and funding options as well as forming a long-term relationship with owners to continue to provide advice as their companies grow. The center also offers free classes on a variety of related topics taught by professionals."We have very, very few businesses that go broke if they're doing the things we ask them to do," Fakler said.Just two weeks ago, Martinez said Fakler stopped by her salon to inquire about her business's progress and see if there was anything he could do to help. Without the assistance of resources like the Orem Small Business Development Center, she doubts if she would have taken the risk of living out her dream."I would have probably ended up going to another salon," she said. "I wouldn't have had the guts to try to go out on my own."