Success Stories

CINET Registered Dietitians

"Paul and Lisa provided the expertise I needed to navigate some extremely complicated processes. Their guidance has certainly made these tasks easier and increased chances for success. It is great to have their services available locally. Their assistance has helped me take my business to the next level."

When Linda Locket Brown wanted to obtain additional working capital to meet her business' expansion needs and also to improve its potential to win government contracts, she came to the SBDC at UNF for assistance.

Being one of the few PhD-level trained Registered Dietitians in the country and the author or co-author of several highly regarded published works on diabetes, nutrition and health care, Linda has achieved a well respected reputation in her field. Her expertise in providing online diabetes therapy and education is recognized internationally.

Linda's business, CINET Registered Dietitians, was formed in 1985. She incorporated the business in 1990 with the thought in mind that the business' services would provide nutrition counseling for individuals and workshops for businesses in food and nutrition management. When Medicare began to reimburse Registered Dietitians directly in 2003 for Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) provided to patients with diabetes and chronic renal failure, Linda seized the opportunity to grow the business into one focusing on clinical services. Financing obtained in 2006 under SBA's 504 loan program enabled the business to purchase and improve new office facilities. Since then the business has enjoyed a continuing expansion of its physician referral network and patient base.

After failing to win two recent government contracts, Linda met with Procurement Specialist, Lisa Haggerty and Paul Arrington, a Certified Business Analyst with a government contracting background. Lisa and Paul helped Linda identify ways to improve her proposal writing and develop a compelling capabilities statement so that Linda could better market the business to government. Seeing an advantage in participating in SBA's 8(a) federal contracting and business development program, Linda also worked with Lisa toward obtaining 8(a) certification.

Approached in 2010 to become the provider of MNT services under a major contract, Linda met with Paul to pursue financing to meet projected working capital needs. Paul assisted Linda throughout the process of successfully applying for and closing a Patriot Express loan with Borrego Springs Bank.

The Patriot Express funds have enabled the business to hire office staff and expand its staff of Registered Dietitians. CINET Registered Dietitians now is positioned to provide unique, cost-effective worksite wellness and disease management programs to Florida businesses. Going beyond having worksite employees check generic goals, CINET's staff now will be able to provide those workers with individualized guidance, monitoring and coaching to meet their goals, at overall health-related cost savings to employers. CINET's worksite wellness program is designed to meet all criteria specified in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and participating businesses may qualify for tax credits or other incentives that can offset program costs.