When it comes to real estate, relationships are everything. At least, that’s what Heather Erb believes, and this guiding principle is what inspired her to start her own real estate company. After more than 20 years of working as a Realtor and running real estate offices, Heather knew she was ready to launch out on her own.“Since I had spent many years in management, I didn’t have the same questions that many others might have had in my shoes. But, when I walked into the bank with the first draft of my business plan, they laughed.”

Heather reached out to Laura at Region 9, who put her in touch with the SBDC. Mary explained that there are only a few ways to get a business loan and connected her with Bob Jagfeld, who proved to be instrumental. “Bob’s background is in the financial industry. In just 40 minutes, he skillfully answered my questions and guided me through the sections of my business plan that needed work. His responses were nothing I could have anticipated. He told me, ‘Pick one thing and go for it. Create attainable goals, then blow them away.’”

After Heather redrafted her business plan, Bob met with her again and made a few more suggestions. “I can’t explain how much help that was. This time, I found the right loan product and walked out with the money I needed to launch my business…all because I was steered in the right direction.” Destination DRO Real Estate Group launched in January of this year, and Heather is thoroughly enjoying the joys and challenges that come with small business ownership. The company is locally owned and operated, and all of the branding is based on life in Southwest Colorado.

“We pride ourselves on the collective belief that there is a different way to run a business. We are customer centric, value driven, and rooted in the belief that we will never compromise our core values. In our view, it’s relationships that matter.” Destination DRO was named because the company seeks to serve people who are already here—people who have made Durango and the surrounding communities their destination and home. The real estate group serves La Plata and Montezuma Counties, including Durango, Mancos, Ignacio, and Bayfield. The company is actively growing and expects to have five Realtors by fall. “It’s such a joyful and totally terrifying experience to open a business,” Heather says. “But there is a network of people who will help you get there, support you, and cheer you on. When you have a great plan, you can keep using it day to day. The more time you spend on it up front, the less fear and more joy you will have in the process. Thanks to the SBDC, it’s been 95% elation and 5% terrifying…without them, it would be more like 50/50.” She encourages other entrepreneurs, “Take time to plan up front, then take the plunge—don’t let fear hold you back.”

For more info visit www.destinationdro.com

When it comes to real estate transactions, experience counts. And, that’s exactly what sets Three Rivers Title apart. Anne Alexander has more than 25 years of experience in the title business—and closings are her specialty. That’s exactly what inspired her to open her own title company. She explained, “Often, title companies are opened by a title officer or attorney who don’t have as much experience on the closing piece. I’ve worked with most realtors in the region, and they appreciate my attention to detail and that I’m a great communicator. I strive to keep everyone up to date and am easily reached.”

The more she thought about it, the more she realized she had a unique niche and could provide a specialty service for the Four Corners. When she got serious about starting the business, she reached out to the SBDC. “I met with Mary, who is a great resource. She gave me ideas of who to reach out to and guided me through my business plan.” After doing some research, Anne found an organization that specializes in helping new title companies get off the ground. They helped her get her website up and running while guiding her through the launch process. “It was a great experience,” she says. “They helped me get up and running much faster than if I had tried to do it all on my own.” Then of course, the business needed a name. In a nod to the beauty of living in Southwest Colorado, Anne named the company Three Rivers Title. With a smile, she explains, “The name came about because I cross three rivers on my way to and from work each day.”

The business has been open since July 2023, and Anne is loving it. “I provide another closing option with a more personalized approach. I’m locally and woman owned, and my expertise lends itself to closings.” Anne has worked hard to get her name out to the local community and has joined the Durango Association of Realtors, Land Title Association of Colorado, the Durango Chamber of Commerce, a Chamber Leads Group, and the Business Improvement District (BID).

“It was a very productive and busy fall leading into winter,” Anne said. “I recently reached out to the SBDC again, just to check in. They provided support on my financials and directed me to Handshake, so I can look into getting additional help from interns in the future.” Currently, Anne has one, part-time assistant, and she is looking forward to growing and providing opportunities for college students to learn the business.

Three Rivers Title is located behind Alpine Bank, just across the street from 11th Street Station. She looks forward to continuing to build the Durango community through positive relationships with realtors, lenders, buyers, and sellers.

For more info visit www.3rtitle.com

Annie Sewell has had a lifelong passion for healthcare. In late 2020, she started IV hydration to optimize her own health. “I really loved it. It did a great deal for me. As an athlete, my recovery times were accelerated, and my ability to relax greatly improved.” One day, while she was driving to Durango for treatment, she wondered why Pagosa Springs didn’t have a hydration lounge of its own…and Right Molecule was born.

But, it would be two years before her own business would launch. “It was a long process,” she explains. “Being nurse owned, I had to first establish a medical practice and find a medical director. I took a ton of continuing education classes and earned several certifications. There was a long legal process too, but through it all, I had a great team.” At some point along the way, a friend asked her if she’d connected with the SBDC. “I’d never heard of them, but thankfully, I got in touch. They connected me with Rich Lindblad, who was amazing. He gave me tons of time and lots of excellent feedback and counsel. He helped me with my business plan and taught me how my financials worked. Best of all, he directed me to Region 9, who was super generous in giving me a loan.”

Once she secured the funding, Annie needed a location. She started working out of a chiropractor’s office, which gave her great visibility. However, soon it became apparent that she needed a space with a little more privacy. Now, she rents an office in Lush Beauty Lounge, which is working out fabulously. “I absolutely love it! I’m also set up to do mobile visits, but so far, there hasn’t been much demand for that service. Most clients prefer to come to the office.” Currently, Right Molecule offers intravenous hydration and nutrition injectables, along with three lines of supplements. Now that the first year is behind her, Annie’s focus for 2024 is to start reaching her financial goals. The first year of opening any business includes a lot of expenses, so year two is a great time to start focusing on profitability.

Looking forward, Annie hopes to expand her clinic to include a partnership with other practitioners. “I’m really passionate about optimizing health and finding ways to blend alternative and allopathic healthcare. I see tremendous value in the crossover—I love the idea of a blend.” She is already starting the process of establishing a health group to meet this need.

After her first year in business, Annie realizes she still has a lot of growth ahead, but she also recognizes how far she’s come. She encourages other entrepreneurs, “Really, really make sure you understand your financials before you launch. Often, we small business owners are good at doing our business, but we don’t know much about running our business. Financials are critical.”

If you’re interested in learning more about IV hydration to optimize your own health, give Annie a call. She is passionate about her work and would love to chat with you!

For more info visit https://www.rightmolecule.com/