Priscilla Taylor’s affiliation with the WBDC has been rewarding both on a personal and professional level. After twenty one years of managing product development activities in a Research and Development environment, she was seeking a new challenge that would provide a source of income, utilize existing skills but also require that she learn new ones. She decided that she should explore business ownership and was introduced to the WBDC.

"The Jump Start series moderated by Sara Shifrin was the first important milestone along the way since it was there that I learned how to thoroughly research a business idea and was able to discard some ideas that I had nurtured over the years. I decided that franchise ownership was the path that I should follow and selected Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees and Smoothies with the help of a franchise consultant. Maui Wowi Hawaiian’s goal is to serve its customers high quality, gourmet products delivered with exceptional customer service – a concept that immediately resonated with me."

"Signing the franchise agreement was the first of many steps that would lead to opening the doors of my first store in December, 2006. I was supported along the way by the WBDC whose experts taught me, among other things, about marketing, retailing, writing a business plan and preparing a loan document. My success in being granted an SBA loan was very much a result of the expertise, counsel and guidance provided by Teresa Prim, Business Finance Specialist at the WBDC."

"My journey as a business owner has only just begun. However, I’m confident that my Maui Wowi Hawaiian franchise will be successful as I continue to tap into the resources provided by the WBDC and with their ongoing support."