Santa Fe Small Business Development Center Whether you already own a small business or are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, the Small Business Development Center at Santa Fe Community College can help you climb the ladder of success. The SBDC offers FREE management consulting, training courses, and assistance with free computer/Internet use for northern New Mexico businesses. 2008 Success Client—Sylvia Johnson Celebrations Restaurant Celebrations Restaurant is the creation of owner and chef, Sylvia Johnson and has been a Santa Fe mainstay for 23 years. Sylvia grew up in southern Louisiana and loved to entertain dinner guests. She pursued her passion, training at the Italian School of Cooking in Florence, Italy as well as the Culinary Institute of American Cuisine in San Antonio. When Sylvia moved to Santa Fe in the 80’s, she started out small, catering private events. Her dream of owning a restaurant became a reality in January of 1988, when Sylvia and two employees opened Celebrations Restaurant in an old adobe building on Canyon Road. Despite the discomforts of an older building and its lack of parking, the restaurant rapidly gained popularity for its reasonable prices and fresh homemade dishes. In a tourist town like Santa Fe, the restaurant business is tough. Sylvia has proved to be tougher. She has successfully negotiated the many changes and economic challenges that the passage of time can present. After 9/11, tourism in Santa Fe declined and Celebrations did not escape its effects. Sylvia contacted the Santa Fe Small Business Development Center for help to develop a strategy to get her through this period. It happened to be Celebrations 15th anniversary and capitalizing on this milestone, they created three course specials called $15 dollars for 15 Years. They also devised a locals discount program and Early Bird Specials. Sylvia delivered menus to hotels and shops all over town. Her community involvement kept her in the forefront of locals’ minds and they repaid her with their loyalty. When Celebrations lost its historic Canyon Road location in 2006, Sylvia regrouped, renovating a space at 1620 Saint Michaels Drive. Had it not been for her ongoing efforts to focus on the local market, the restaurant might not have survived. Patrons now enjoy a cheerfully decorated and spacious dining room, an outdoor patio, central air and heat, free parking and a glorious view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Celebrations employs 15-20 people to help serve its famous dishes. Congratulations, Sylvia! Sign Up Now For One Of Our Workshops The Santa Fe Community College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers: • Excellent resource library • Workshop series • FREE Computer use • FREE Internet Access • FREE Business advising Sample Workshop Handouts Marketing for Money Part 1 Marketing for Money Part 2 Download PowerPoint Viewer Local Business Partners City of Santa Fe Santa Fe County Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce Santa Fe Alliance Finance New Mexico Santa Fe Business Incubator SCORE Santa Fe Hispanic Chamber of Commerce WESST Corp. New Mexico Internet Professionals Association New Mexico Small Business Resource Network **The Santa Fe SBDC is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information about any of our events, please call (505) 428-1343. SBDC Staff Michael Mykris, Director Steve Stephenson, Training Coordinator and Business Advisor Deborah Collins, Marketing Coordinator and Business Advisor Julianne Gutierrez-Ortiz Office Manager Contact Small Business Development Center Santa Fe Community College 6401 Richards Ave. Santa Fe, NM 87508-4887 (505) 428-1343 (505) 428-1469 fax sfccsbdc@sfccnm.edu Hours: 8 am–5 pm, M-F or by appointment