Boulder Furniture Arts

Boulder Furniture Arts is a Boulder based company that has been in existence since 1985. Lee and Hannah purchased the company in 2005.The true craftsmanship of their furniture products is the main driver of the company.

Hannah and Lee participated in a SBDC manufacturing training series back in April. This series discussed lean manufacturing, strategic planning, marketing, and application of operational software.

They took this training to heart and initiated a solid strategic plan that they have adhered to in earnest. They now are operating with technological applications of financial tracking and project management for each custom furniture build.

Their workshop is comprised of a group of classically trained craftsmen and women with the tools, experience, and passion to create the finest furniture that tradition will allow.

The process includes drafting, creating cut lists and patterns, selecting boards and slabs, milling, joining, wood layout, positioning and orientation, joinery, assembly, fine sanding, and repeated applications of a hand-rubbed oil finish.

Hannah and Lee have created a work culture that inspires their employees to be creative and to hone fine craftsmanship skills. This combination of technology and culture has driven their success.

They have been working closely with a SBDC consultant in developing their road map for improvement. It has been a partnership that has driven optimum results.

303.443.2030
2055 26th Street, Boulder CO 80302
Owners: Hannah Rogal and Lee Nemerowicz
Consultant: Jon Jaggers
http://www.boulderfurniturearts.com/

4th Kind Entertainment

In the age of YouTube and smartphones, how does a small video production company distinguish themselves from anyone who can hold a camera? In the words of 4th Kind Entertainment’s owners and founders, Curt Donohue and Jason Graisa: empathy mapping and humor. “We spend a lot of time with our clients to find out who their clients are,” says Curt. 4th Kind Entertainment, a Denver area video production company, specializes on customer discovery and injecting

Meno

Meno is positioned as a meeting place of meaningful sustainability and appealing design. Jerri describes her motivation saying, “My goal is to not only do things differently but to actually show the industry a fresh business model and approach that can be profitable, all while being transparent for the customers.”

Colorado Swim School

Armed with the knowledge that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury fatalities for children under the age of four and the second leading cause in children under the age of fifteen, learning to swim was non-negotiable for Brent and Stephanie Scarbrough’s children. From the time their children were infants, they searched for a swim program that was child-centered, fun and engaging, yet also prepared children to know precisely what to do in the

Black Hound Design Company

Black Hound…a name one would at first think was associated to a dog training business or a hunting operation; however, the reality is that it belongs to a custom furniture design and manufacturing business…Black Hound Custom Furniture and Design. In 2013, the owners, James and Kate Hixson, had an idea…a vision that would expand and enhance James’s college education in sculpturing. What started as a wood sculpture for a friend, evolved into a prosperous and

Zoe’s Coffee

In May of 2008, Vaughn and Judy Pepper started a small coffee kiosk business. For many years, they dreamed of turning this kiosk into a full coffee shop. In 2012, they were able to turn this dream into a reality and they expanded into a full coffee shop—Zoe’s Coffee. They explained that location played an extremely important role in the new venture. “Judy and I established the shop based on demographics of the area.” The

Deltech, Inc.

Deltech Inc. designs and builds furnaces for the production of scientific products, from laboratory implements to semi-conductor components. Deltech is a small, family-run company with a large impact. It began in 1968 as an engineering services company for the mining industry. The co-founders, Calvin L. Stevenson and Donald J. Drinkwater, were mining engineers. Deltech built its first furnace for Coors Tek, then known as Coors Porcelain. Their second customer was Los Alamos National Laboratories. Mary