22 | 2020 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS AWARDS — NJSBDC 2020 Small Business Awardee NJSBDC AT RAMAPO COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY One Call Contracting, LLC Kenneth Rekuc 567 Willow Ave. Saddle Brook, NJ 07663 201-587-0986 The NJSBDC at Ramapo College of New Jersey received a desperate call from an accountant referring his small construction company patron to the SBDC for assistance. The construction business grinded to a halt and with no incoming revenue it was difficult to meet payroll or support equipment expense obligations that continued despite the COVID-19 stay-at-home order for non-essential businesses. The Regional Director of the Ramapo Center Vincent Vicari facilitated a collaborative service arrangement that the Ramapo SBDC created with Corporate Turnaround (a past NJSBDC client) to develop and design proper financial restructuring. The Center assisted the client, One Call Contracting, with funding opportunities. Ken Rekuc, the owner of the firm, was glad to receive an economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) as well as funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that saved his business. One Call Contracting is back in business, doing well and having survived the storm of COVID-19 effects. Additionally, the construction business client continues to rely upon the NJSBDC at Ramapo for further business guidance. A key aspect of being a business owner is accounting for unforeseen challenges along the way. However, how could any small business owner possibly account for a global pandemic turning the worlds economy upside down? When COVID hit the state of New Jersey, my business, One Call Contracting, LLC, was in a crisis. I had nowhere to turn for help in navigating such a storm. I searched for guidance. I needed to know what I should be doing. I needed to know how to keep my business alive through this pandemic. Then, after asking around and calling all sorts of different places, I learned about the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at Ramapo College, said Ken Rekuc. I was able to get in contact with Vincent Vicari, the Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center. Much to my surprise, he responded to a call I made late one evening. He provided me with resources and gave me that critical guidance I needed to navigate my business through its problems. I felt as though he saw my problems as his own continued Rekuc. With NJSBDCs help, I was able to receive PPP funding as well as an EIDL loan. These critical funds allowed One Call Contracting, LLC to stay afloat in those darkest of days added Rekuc. Now, as the state recovers, my business is doing better and getting busier. My business has survived. In fact, my business has even grown thanks to the Small Business Development Center at Ramapo College. The long-term benefit of Vincent Vicaris guidance is that my service area has now expanded and I am now looking forward to growth instead of trying to cut NJSBDC at Ramapo College of New Jersey looks forward to further assisting One Call Contracting, LLC as Ken Rekuc navigates these challenging times. 2012029 v2 NJSBDC 2020 Awards Book_TEXT.indd 20 12/10/20 3:24 PM
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