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Minority Entrepreneur Hesitant to Jump Full-Time Into the Business he Created After Getting Laid-off

Jeddy Johnson
/
WAER News

Syracuse-area minority entrepreneurs often face additional barriers in the business world that can discourage them right at the start.  In our final installation celebrating Black History Month, we hear from one motivated business owner who is actually enjoying some success thanks to a program that breaks down barriers.

A Liverpool man decided it was time to launch his own business when he was laid off from his high-paying job at New Process Gear after 14 years.

"When you lose a job where you're making $100,000 a year, you try to compensate by branching out into different areas, so that's basically what I've done with my business."

The African-American business owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, began Dovesview LLC in 2014. The certified heating and air conditioning technician and licensed real estate agent remodels homes and provides property maintenance such as lawn care and landscaping.  He sought assistance with his business plan and advice from mentors at the Southside Innovation Center.  Later, with help from the City of Syracuse, he was able to get his business certified so he could get access to contractors and contracts. 

"If you're doing business in the city of Syracuse, being a certified MBE contractor really helps out.  There are requirements for  any business entity, public or private, doing business in the city that they must satisfy a minority requirement.  So having access to that information  has been very beneficial.”                       

He says without that leg-up, he might not have gone into business.  But his passion for his company is not his main priority…at least not yet.  He says he’s not quite prepared to give up his full-time job at one of the area’s leading employers.

"I'm not ready to jump out of the window and go full-time with my business.  I work part-time.  Anytime I have a contract, I'm very up front with the customer and let them know when I'm available, and usually, for the most part, they work around my schedule.  So, my goal is, when the time is right, to branch out a little bit more.”          

                              

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.