The AVA Method, LLC. Business Plan Competition 2014 1 | Seite 8

Operations Plan

Physical Facility Requirements

AVA is completely cloud-based; therefore, the company requires minimal accommodation for a physical space. AVA currently has an office space at the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center as a result of its membership to the center's incubation program. AVA is moving towards a more eco-friendly business environment by utilizing the cloud-based business model.

Labor Needs

At the moment, Joanne and Edie are managing their business themselves. AVA has forecasted approximately 310 customers by the first quarter of 2015. This customer base allows AVA to start a hiring plan. AVA has anticipated the following labor needs:

Y1: 1 full-time customer service representative

Y2: 2 full-time customer service representatives in total

Y3: 3 full-time customer service representatives in total

Primary and Secondary Suppliers

Due to the nature of cloud-based business, AVA does not have the need for primary and secondary suppliers. The cloud-based platform will be hosted by a third party company - Quacito, LLC.

Management profile

Personal History

The AVA Method, (AVA) is an LLC, operated by Joanne Soward and Edith Bujnoch.

Joanne graduated from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas with a Bachelors of Arts degree and graduated in 2000. As a mother of two, Joanne relocated several times as her husband began his career. The continuity in occupations was that she streamlined processes so that the departments would work more efficiently. From the Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners in Austin to the office of the Dean of Physical Therapy at Texas Woman's University in the Medical Center, Houston, Joanne was able to look at systems and eliminate redundancy and reduce costs. As a single mother, this strength proved to be her key to success when she started her own companies.

Edith ( Edie ) Bujnoch graduated from Southwest Texas State University and is the mother of four, wife for 48 years to Joe. She is a family and Consumer Sciences (also known as Home Economics) teacher for 40 years, rancher and four absolutely wonderful grandchildren. She has an incredible eye for details and thinking 'outside the box.' When Joanne gets stuck on an issue, Edie is about to look at the situation with a fresh pair of eyes and years of experience and gives her insight.

This mother/daughter team structured AVA to be an LLC with Joanne controlling 75% ownership and Edith with 25%. As Joanne is responsible for day-to-day operations and client relations, she retains the larger share. Edith is working full time as a Family and Consumer Science teacher and is available on weekends and summer breaks. During summer breaks and holidays, they travel together to events to promote AVA as a team to the industry.

Nitesh Jain a business consultant with Quacito, LLC, in San Antonio has been instrumental in development of AVA.

Operations Plan