Entrepreneur Boot Camp Brings Results For Oklahoma Business Owner

Dan Bewley, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Owning your own business is a dream come true for many Oklahomans. But knowing where to look to get that business off the ground can be a challenge.

Now, a unique program is helping business owners get the entrepreneurial spirit.

At the end of 2nd Street in Avant, Oklahoma is an eclectic little building with a big mission. Nona Roach operates her accounting business here, Agape and Associates Inc.

"I'm the largest employer in Avant, of course there's nothing here except the school," Roach said.

Roach says owning her own business has been one of the best things to happen in her life, but she was also looking for ways to improve. So she enrolled in the Cowboy Boot camp for Entrepreneurs.

"It literally changed my whole life and the focus of my company," she said.

Roach has been keeping the books for oil and gas companies for more than a decade, but now she's heading down a different path and expanding to include wireless devices and mobile apps to help oil rig owners. She says it would have never happened without the entrepreneurial boot camp.

"Because it really showed me that I need to really look at what I was doing, and change how I was looking at it to be able to diversify into something that was going to be better," she said.

The boot camp is a six week course held on Saturdays in Tulsa. It's for anyone who has either dreamt of owning their own business or those who already do. Students learn about marketing, business planning, accounting and more.

"If you have an idea or you're already in business and you want to maximize the profits or change the strategy of your business," said Nola Miyasaki of Oklahoma State University. "It's really just to get everybody to the next level of where they're at in terms of wanting to start or owning your own business."

Roach is about to expand to Kansas and Texas. She's amazed at where the boot camp helped her take her business.

"That's what the class taught me was that I need to open my eyes and look around and realize that there are other things to do," she said.

The six week entrepreneurial boot camp begins October 8th at OSU-Tulsa. It costs $650 but there are scholarships available.