Mike Robinson had practiced family counseling for over twenty years before he came to the University of Northern Iowa SBDC in Waterloo to seek start-up assistance to open a family counseling firm. He firmly believed he could bring a unique, culturally sensitive counseling style to minorities in eastern Iowa. After speaking to Mike Hahn, director of the UNI SBDC, Robinson moved into the 4th Street Incubator and opened Heal The Family, Inc.

Like most small businesses, the early phases of starting up were difficult. Mike Hahn worked closely with Robinson to project cash flow, give him support with crafting and implementing his business plan, and found extra office space within the 4th Street Incubator for the expanding company.

Robinson started with primary counseling, then added night classes and family counseling sessions. As the first African American-owned business in Iowa offering remedial family counseling services, Robinson found broad-based acceptance among minority families in the Cedar Valley.

As his business grew, so did his staff. What started as a husband and wife office has developed into a full-time staff of 28 counselors and three different office locations; offices are now open in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids and another office will open soon in Iowa City. Robinson is currently working on plans to expand Heal The Family, Inc. outside of Iowa, to other communities with large numbers of minority families. Most impressively, however, all of this growth has taken place in just over one year.

Heal The Family’s success can be tied directly to the quality of the services that Robinson and his staff offer. Nowhere is this more evident than at 7 o’clock on Monday nights when Robinson and his staff are gearing up for another one of their after hours children’s group counseling sessions at the UNI SBDC.

The company’s sales figures also tell a compelling story—the first month’s revenue was $900; in September 2009 the company made $60,000. Heal the Family, Inc. is now on track for approximately $360,000 in sales for 2009.

Of course, the company’s economic impact is only one part of this success story. The hidden impact of Mike Robinson’s company is much more difficult to quantify. Mike and his team are improving the quality of life for many minority communities across the State of Iowa by offering needed services to communities that had a hard time accessing them previously. Robinson has worked diligently to build close relationships with local community leaders, church representatives, school district administrators, and with his clients. His hard work has helped, and will continue to help, many struggling families.

Mike Robinson says, "I could not have done it without the support of the Iowa SBDC and UNI."