Synchronicity, Inc. is an independent training and consulting business that works for companies and organizations that want their employees, teams and leaders to “be in synch” and make an impact. President Carol Horner develops partnerships with each client to develop large scale, positive changes within their organization.

Carol started Synchronicity in 2000. She knew that she wanted to be an independent trainer and that she had the skills to lead organizations to positive change. Her challenge was that she knew nothing about running a business.

Carol visited the Iowa Western Community College SBDC to receive guidance and assistance on running her business and help in writing a business plan. She wrote a business plan primarily to develop her business model. Carol said, “I was confident I could think like a trainer. I needed to think like a business owner and the SBDC helped me through that process.” She also received suggestions and advice from the SBDC, including help in attaining affordable health insurance. Because of her business knowledge and use of resources through the SBDC, Carol borrowed very little money.

Carol began working with companies on a one-time basis. Since those early days of running one-day workshops, she has grown a system to develop long-term partnerships that advance large scale change within organizations. Her clients have included international companies such as PayPal and Shell; large businesses like Cox Communications, Comcast, Ramp Rynerson & Associates, Creighton University, Freemont Medical Center, and Union Pacific; non-profit organizations like Children's Square USA and the American Red Cross. In the past eight years Carol has grown her gross sales ten fold.

Carol has remained the only employee of Synchronicity, on purpose. This decision helped her keep her business simple and self-fulfilling. Instead of growing the business by adding employees, Carol developed many partnerships with leadership organizations and individuals. Today, Synchronicity partners with the most talented and experienced professionals in organization development, adult learning and performance improvement. Through her partnerships, Carol is able to accomplish what a larger company does—by conducting multiple programs at one time—and still not compromise her simple business model.

During the past eight years Carol came back to the SBDC for various reasons. Most recently Carol was faced with the challenge of updating her Web site to better serve her clients. The SBDC worked with her and made suggestions that helped her achieve her goals.

Carol Horner would have started Synchronicity without the SBDC’s help. She didn’t have any overhead, didn’t need a loan, and was ready to start with her ideas in hand. But with the help of the SBDC, Carol has been able to take the business to a new level. She is an active participant in her community, a great contributor to the Council Bluffs and Southwest Iowa economy, and Synchronicity has grown into a well-respected business in the community and in her industry.