Success Story: Maria Adigweme, Pathways Counseling and Consulting Services
It was May of 2007 when Maria Adigweme, a psychotherapist at a clinic became interested in starting her own private practice assisting children. Ms. Adigweme is a Certified Addictions Professional with over twenty years experience in the Behavioral Health field. This includes six years as the Clinical Director of a local mental health agency.
As a Licensed mental Health Counselor (LMHC), she had done a great deal of freelance work in association with local nonprofits engaged in foster care and adoptions. She liked the idea of having her own facility.
She visited the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida (SBDC) and met with both Cathy Hagan and Kevin Monahan. She seemed to have a good model for the business, but it was not on paper and she was encouraged to creat a business plan. The plan would serve as a blueprint for the business and would be the first hurdle when she sought financing down the road.
She and her husband worked diligently on a business plan and both the narrative and financials were tightened with the help of the SBDC.
The Adigwemes’ decided they would like to purchase a condo to house the offices of what would be called Pathways Counseling and Consulting Services. Given the amount required, Kevin Monahan recommended using the SBA 504 loan program and recommended several local Certified Development Corporations (CDC) who would assist in packaging the project.
Monahan arranged a meeting with a local CDC and facilitated the loan packaging process. American Enterprise Bank Took an interest in Maria’s project and approved a loan covering the cost of the facility and fixtures.
Today Pathways Counseling and Consulting is open and actively seeing clients. Maria intends to bring other therapists on board to council at her Sunbeam Road area location.
Maria Adigweme, LMHC
Pathways Counseling and Consulting Services Inc.
http://www.pathwaysbh.com/index.html
Phone: (904) 619 – 3010
