[ entrepreneurship ]
Advice from
the Experts
CONTINUED
ON THE WEB
SAMANTHA CART
Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in economic growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015 startups
that were less than a year old created 3 million jobs. The National Small Business Associations’ 2016 Year-End Economic Report
showed that small business owners were anticipating economic expansion in 2017 to increase significantly, the highest indicator
reported since 2008.
As confidence increases across the nation, more West Virginians may be inspired to start their own businesses and join the ranks
of these six successful Mountain State entrepreneurs. These visionaries are operating in a variety of markets, impacting their local
economies and communities, creating jobs and living their dreams from the comfort of their home among the hills.
Donovan Beckett, DO
CEO, Williamson Health & Wellness Center
Tell us about your business.
I have a medical practice I started
in 2003. I then created a real estate
company, followed by a nonprofit
federally qualified health center.
Tell us about the success
you’ve had as a West
Virginia-based business.
We’ve been able to create unity
and collaboration within our com-
munity through starting the health clinic. We started with seven
employees and five dozen square feet, and now we have over 60
employees and about 20,000 square feet at Williamson Health
& Wellness. Not only that, but we’re able to use the revenue
we create to help support a lot of outreach programs and also
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
reinvest and create economic opportunities for our population.
I think that’s my biggest success.
What advice would you give other West Virginians
interested in entrepreneurialism?
Look for the resources. Do a lot of research on the front
end to see what types of workforce training or other incentives
are available. Work with the financial institutions to see what
kind of opportunities are out there for businesses. If you’re a
minority-owned business or woman-owned business, there are
some distinct programs that could give you the opportunity to
have additional resources.
How can West Virginia encourage more
entrepreneurs, and why is this important for the
future of the state?
The tax code is one way of incentivizing people. Giving
them the ability to take a risk and have a lower business tax
would be advantageous. We also need to create opportunities
that make younger people want to come in, not only to visit
but also to start businesses.