University of Hartford's Entrepreneurial Center | Women's Business Center 11
Jerado and Joyce Reynolds own Reynolds Welding and
Fabrication. Born from Jerado's passion for binding and bending
steel, Reynold's Welding designs, produces, and installs metal
fabrications. Despite years of hard
work the business was struggling,
however, their reputation for
excellent work, and on-time, on-
budget delivery, earned them
the attention of The Metropolitan
District's (MDC) Supplier Diversity
Office. The MDC referred them
to the center's Small Contractor
Development Program.
The business duo began
to work in-depth with center
staff; they developed marketing
materials, implemented lean
management in their office,
and improved their QuickBooks
system. The immediate result of
this hard work was a contract
award to provide structural steel
for the MDC Garage at 555 Main
St. in Hartford.
"Everyone at the center really
wants to see us win," Joyce said,
"At events, they help us connect
with key players. The center makes
it easy for us to keep up and we
can take classes and get specific
skills to use in our company. What
I like best is the detailed personal
attention we receive."
Small contractors face unique challenges and issues within their industry, such as
contract readiness, lean management, marketing, bonding, and more. The Small
Contractor Development Program identifies points where contractors need help
then focuses intense training and technical assistance in those areas. Offering
academies and clinics throughout the year, many of the classes are taught by local
general contractors in addition to the center advisors. Because of this close
connection to the construction industry, the program helps small contractors
to make connections with general contractors and resource partners.
SMALL CONTRACTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
"The Small Contractor Development
Program has helped me to become a
more effective business owner through
classes in financing, lean management,
marketing, contract readiness, and
more. Many classes are taught by
industry leaders, making connections
available to me that would normally
be very difficult, if not impossible, to
make on my own."
—Lana Nanowski, Owner,
Nano Construction Services
Jerado and
Joyce Reynolds,
Co-Owners,
Reynolds Welding
& Fabrication,
Hartford, Conn.
Determination Made of Steel
SUCCESS STORY
REYNOLDS WELDING & FABRICATION
