For Sam and Karissa Hunt, working with the CIRAS APEX Accelerator program has been a family affair. Sam is the owner of Hunter Quality Contracting, a mulching, land-clearing, and timber maintenance company. He connected with Julie Fagle, an APEX government contracting specialist, three years ago for assistance. She proved to be so helpful that he encouraged his wife, Karissa, to reach out to her when she launched West Main Co. 18 months ago. Located in Lisbon, the company specializes in custom apparel and engravable items. All embroidery work and laser engraving are done in-house.
“The timing seemed right, so we dusted off the plans we’d started earlier and moved forward with the company. Sam had the best things to say about Julie and how much she helped him,” said Karissa. “Running a business was new to me, and I needed someone to bounce ideas off. She was that someone.”
Julie helped Karissa develop her capabilities statement and complete her Targeted Small Business registration. Both are tools that will help West Main Co. grow. “I also showed her how to use our BidMatch program, which lists opportunities for government work,” Fagle said. “Through that, Karissa found an opportunity from a state agency. I guided her in preparing the proposal, and she was ultimately awarded a contract.”
That award led to three more contracts with the same agency, and another state buyer has recently contacted her as well.
“Our goal is to empower companies by providing guidance and resources to gain the confidence to pursue contracts they might not have considered before. Building strong relationships is key; we don’t just assist with a single contract but aim to foster ongoing support that enables companies to thrive in the government sector,” Fagle stated.
“Julie has been a tremendous resource,” Karissa said. “She’s introduced me to key contacts and simplified my journey as a new business owner. She’s been there to celebrate my success, and she’s made this journey much simpler.”
For more information, contact Julie Fagle at jafagle@iastate.edu or 319-390-8612.