Lora Nalberczinski initially came to the Shenandoah Valley Small Business Development Center just before opening her business back in 2007. While she had her medical license and the passion to help people, she needed a little help with the complex start-up process.
“I started this business without ever taking a business or accounting course,” Nalberczinski explained. “I didn’t know what a balance sheet was, or how to even begin working with a budget.”
Seven years later, The Speech and Language Center is wildly successful and still expanding to meet their growing client needs.
The Speech and Language Center began solely with speech therapy but quickly expanded to offering occupational, physical and behavioral therapies as well as counseling to clients across the Shenandoah Valley. The Center provides integrated, collaborative services through partnerships in the community, local schools systems, and physician’s offices. While their specialty is pediatrics, they also offer services for all ages and entire families.
After her initial startup in 2007, Nalberczinski has faced a number of happy obstacles, particularly with the Center’s rapid growth and need for hiring additional staff. The SBDC aided Nalberczinski by offering insight on when to hire as well as helping the Center access additional funds they may not have found otherwise.
“Without these loans and grants we would not have been able to sustain at times, and we definitely would not have been able to continue growth,” Nalberczinski exclaimed.
In 2012, The Speech and Language Center officially relocated to its current larger space on Port Republic Road, allowing them to hire much needed additional staff. Now the Center has 14 staff members, four of which were added in just the past year.
“Thanks to the SV SBDC connecting us with on-the-job training for hiring grants, we have completely filled our current space,” Nalberczinski remarked. “The SBDC will now be guiding us with looking for our next locations!”
The Speech and Language Center’s main goal has always been to meet the needs of the community while fostering a positive, happy environment for their staff and clientele. With the SBDC’s help, the Center looks to continue pushing this goal with a future location change and expansion, as well as revamping their brand to better demonstrate all of the services the Center provides.
TheSpeechAndLanguageCenter.com
https://www.facebook.com/thespeechandlanguagecenter
1591 Port Republic Rd.
Harrisonburg VA 22801
540.437.4226
