SBAC Celebrates Women Owned Businesses for Women’s History Month

As March is beginning to wind down, we wanted to wrap up Women’s History Month with three special profiles about SBAC clients who run women-owned businesses. We collected their inspiring firsthand accounts and wanted to share them with you now.

Natalie Moultrie
Natalie’s Hauling Company, LLC
Savannah, GA

My Entrepreneurial Journey
I never wanted to be an entrepreneur because as a child I witnessed the hardships that my
parents experienced as African Americans business owners living in the South in the 1970s. It
was not easy, and I promised myself that I would never be a part of that world.
So, I grew up, graduated from college, and worked as an accountant for city, county, and state
governments. Everything was going smoothly until the world took a turn for the worse in 2020
with the coronavirus pandemic. I lost my job and found myself at a crossroads in my life with
only one path as the way out: to become an entrepreneur.
It actually wasn’t a scary or daunting path because I was quite familiar with the journey, and
once I secured my small business loan with SBAC, my mind could be more at ease. However, I
had resisted this path for so long. I strongly believe that God allows things to happen for a
reason and that being an owner of a dump truck business was purpose driven for me.

My Unique Experiences as a Female Entrepreneur
My parents’ experiences definitely prepared me for my journey. My dad taught my sister and me
to never be afraid of anyone, especially when it comes to speaking up for yourself. My mom
taught us to always be kind and treat people the way you would want to be treated. She instilled
in us that if you always do what is right, then you can’t go wrong.

My Advice for Other Female Entrepreneurs
Like every entrepreneur, I’ve experienced both challenges and joys. I love this business
because it affords me an opportunity to share my story and inspire others. The advice I would
give to other women entrepreneurs who are just starting out is to listen to that drive that you
have inside of you, and always know that you have more inside of you than you think you need
to be successful. I believe in you! Keep moving forward in spite of the stumbling blocks. They
are there to build you up. You will win, my sister. See you at the finish line!

Rebecca Gardner
House & Parties
Savannah, GA

My Entrepreneurial Journey
My first venture as an entrepreneur was selling homemade peppermint patties door-to-door in
my childhood neighborhood. They were hot pink mounds of boiled sugar—looked very
unappetizing. But my neighbors were very supportive, and I was able to save up enough money
for a pet hamster, which horrified my parents. This was the unlikely start to my entrepreneurial
spirit.
In 2011, I worked with SBAC on a business loan and started my design firm, specializing in
events and interiors, and launched an ecommerce shop another decade later. My full-service
event and interiors design collective has been named one of the best in the world by VOGUE
and Harper’s Bazaar. My work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Architectural
Digest, Town & Country, The Financial Times, and The New York Times.

My Unique Experiences as a Female Entrepreneur
I work in a creative field with mostly women and gay men. It’s a very supportive industry and
loads of fun, which is always a benefit in business. I think that women, with mad multitasking
skills like me, are well-suited to entrepreneurial pursuits.

My Advice for Other Female Entrepreneurs
I have an old, tiny sticky note on my desk that reads, “Grit and adaptability equals success.” It’s
guided me for over ten years.

Teresa Brandow
Avocado Bleu
Bluffton, SC

My Entrepreneurial Journey
I started my first small business 15 years ago baking dog treats called “Stella Snacks.” At one
point, they were sold in 22 stores including Whole Foods, Piggly Wiggly, and many local dog
stores and boutiques.
I also worked in country clubs at the same time as a chef and pastry chef. While looking for new
accounts one day, I couldn’t believe there weren’t any truly healthy grab-and-go places in the
Hilton Head or Bluffton area. I then spent most days at work trying to figure out how to open a
small business to provide this service.
Finally, about seven years ago, I contacted Pat Cameron from SBDC to help me with a business
plan. We worked together for at least three years as we perfected my plan. She helped me
choose a location, come up with the name, and apply for my SBAC small business loan. If it
wasn’t for her, I know I would not have been able to come this far with my business. Pat, SBA,
and SBAC have all been incredibly helpful as I navigated my way through this entrepreneurial
journey.

My Unique Experiences as a Female Entrepreneur
The biggest hardship I have experienced as an entrepreneur is that I didn’t have someone to
guide me through the construction buildout of the restaurant. I was naïve and didn’t understand
the process. I had no idea how long it would take to open. Since then, I have recovered though!

My Advice for Other Female Entrepreneurs
Starting a small business is a lot to take on as a single woman. Of course, there is a lot of hard
work and determination that goes into it, but there’s also little things like missing out on life
events while trying to grow the business. But when the day is done, it is such a rewarding
feeling