Connect and Color®
July 29, 2026
Connect and Color® is an innovative experiential business based in Palatine, founded by entrepreneur, designer, and artist Dawn Pennacchia. Read More
Harper College is closed Friday, July 3, for Independence Day (Observed).
We’d love to hear about your business achievements and your experience working with the Illinois SBDC at Harper College! All Client Success Stories are shared with Illinois SBDC Lead Center and America's SBDC nationwide network. To submit a Client Success Story inquiry, please complete the form below. Thanks!
Illinois SBDC Client Success Story Inquiry Form
July 29, 2026
Connect and Color® is an innovative experiential business based in Palatine, founded by entrepreneur, designer, and artist Dawn Pennacchia. Read More
April 01, 2026
The Perfect Poke – IV Therapy & Wellness, founded by nurse practitioner Meghan Dzurovcik, is redefining patient care in Arlington Heights through a personalized, wellness-focused approach. Read More
December 19, 2025
In most classrooms, movement signals a break from learning. For Move2Grow Founder Jessica Walsh, it’s the very path to learning. Read More
October 23, 2025
After taking early retirement, Mary Curkov found herself back in the kitchen—this time, baking up a business plan. With more than thirty years in corporate sales and merchandising, Curkov was ready to launch a new venture, one that offered flexibility, purpose, and a creative outlet. Entrepreneurship was the natural next step, allowing her to blend career experience with personal passion to build a rewarding company from scratch. That became the recipe for Mary C Gluten-Free Treats, a brand built on empathy, creativity, and the desire to make life sweeter for those with dietary restrictions. Read More
August 26, 2025
Karlin Soelberg knows first-hand the challenges of maintaining health amidst a demanding career. She envisioned a facility that empowered people to achieve optimal health and vitality, leading her to establish Empowered Fitness & Recovery, LLC, in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Her holistic approach sets a path for success by focusing on three strategic pillars -- fitness, nutrition, and accountability -- while ensuring consistent support. Read More
January 14, 2025
Making smoothies was April’s culinary trick to blend good nutrition into her children’s treats. Little did she know that she would later blend this home skill with her career skills to create one of the most popular businesses in her hometown of Glenview. Blended Health and Smoothie Bar’s initial launch plan, however, was anything but harmonious. Its planned opening coincided with the onset of the pandemic’s shutdown, meaning April would have to blend all her industry experience, business acumen, creativity and determination to redesign her business to maintain the perfect harmony of safety, service and community while blending delicious, healthy products. Read More
January 14, 2025
Chicago leads the nation for the highest density of dogs in the U.S., averaging 1,037 dogs per square kilometer. With so many dogs sharing the bustling urban space, well-mannered behavior is essential for a harmonious environment. Asia Poe opened Good Manners Dog Training to address this need in the northwest suburbs, focusing on practical, real-world training to ensure that dogs develop the skills needed to coexist peacefully with their owners and the community. Read More
January 13, 2025
If you’re feeling stressed, you’re not alone. The American Psychological Association found that 76% of adults recently surveyed reported suffering health impacts due to stress and 27% said they’re often so stressed they can’t function. The American Heart Association warns that chronic stress can affect mental and physical health, including anxiety, depression, concentration problems, heart disease, stroke and more. Read More
March 15, 2024
Dedun Sonaike first savored a meat pie in Nigeria, where her father was the head of the catering department for the University community. Spicy beef pies and sausage rolls were staples in her home but creamy chicken pies were her favorite, instilling a lifelong love of the savory pie. Read More
March 14, 2024
Imagine being overcharged for supplies by $25,000 in just one month! All businesses need to monitor their expenses, but the construction industry has sky-high challenges. Dealing with an ever-changing number of vendors and a myriad of contracted and fluctuating prices means having to check every line of every invoice for accuracy. Read More