Ward Manufacturing, Inc.

The company was formed in 1948 and manufactures pews, chairs, chancel furniture and other types of wood furniture used by churches, funeral homes and courtrooms.  They also refinish and reupholster pews and other church furniture nationally and internationally.

The business is located in Greenville, Texas.  The current owners, Ronnie and Elizabeth Green, acquired the business in 1983.  Ronnie had worked for his father building houses while he was in college.  He had majored in business and industrial technology and always enjoyed the building process.  When acquiring his business it was as though he combined his hobby with his business.

Elizabeth majored in elementary education in college and worked in education before becoming a full time homemaker.

The company experienced hardship in 2001 when the facilities were destroyed by fire.  After being spread across four locations for two years they purchased their current location.

In February 2006 Ronnie’s secretary and bookkeeper, a loyal and valued employee, died suddenly; requiring Elizabeth to take over those responsibilities.  Not having a background in business or office procedures and being unable to find anyone to help her learn and assume those duties, she contacted Paris Junior College in an effort to get immediate assistance and was referred to the Paris Small Business Development Center.

Elizabeth states, “Counselor Rudy Slusher came the next Wednesday.  I don’t know what we would have done without his help.  He helped with QuickBooks, payroll taxes, accounting records, assistance with loans, office management and other related issues.  His accounting background and knowledge of QuickBooks were the perfect combination for the help we need.  His help is invaluable to Ward Manufacturing.

I have told many people about his help through the Small Business Development Center.  It is a wonderful program and service for small business.  I highly recommend it to anyone without reservations.”

WARD MANUFACTURING

RONNIE & ELIZABETH GREEN, OWNERS

903-455-4656

 White's Flooring Depot

White’s Flooring Depot has a thriving business, and credits much of its success to Rudy Slusher with the Paris Small Business Development Center.  White originally started his business in a leased building on N.W. Loop 286 in December 2006.  “Through support and encouragement of the community and people coming to me and encouraging me to go out on my own, I got the confidence that I could do it and started out on my own,” White said.

Around December of 2007, White was looking into purchasing a building on the loop, and says his business was looking for help straightening out their books.  White contacted Paris Junior College about his secretary, Pam Robertson, attending a class on QuickBooks Pro, and was put in touch with the SBDC.  “We called the SBDC and talked to Rudy Slusher, and he said he thought he could help us,” White said.  “He got started and for about 30 days, 45 days, he was there faithfully and helped us get everything back on track and get our financials straight where we could go to the bank and say, “hey we’re ready to buy a building.”  “They basically took us to school as far as learning [QuickBooks] Pro,” the business owner said.  “They came in and helped us get all our paperwork straightened out, our financial statements.”  White decided to purchase a building on North main instead of the building on the loop, and said it was due to Slusher’s help with the books that allowed him to get the financing from a local bank to purchase the building.  “He led us to the crossroads and past the crossroads,” White said.  “He was here after hours, whatever it took to get it done.  Even to this day he comes by and checks on us, just to see how things are going.  Just like it was his office, he will sit down in front of the computer and make sure everything is like it should be.”

White says there has been a substantial increase in the traffic flow to White’s Flooring Depot in the time it has been open on North Main.  “Everything has just unfolded,” White said.  White’s Flooring Depot does some commercial, but mostly residential flooring.  The business works with the housing contractors who do flooring in Greenville, Sulphur Springs, McKinney and Plano as well as locally.  “Our business is very strong,” White said. “We are far ahead of my personal goals.”

WHITE'S FLOORING DEPOT

KENNETH WHITE, OWNER

903-784-5455