Family Business Finds Financial Help

The Chewning family is a tight knit bunch.

Daughter Lisa Demmi now runs the family inspection business that dad, Roger Chewning, started 15 years ago.

"This business has been built by our family. Up until last year, we were extremely successful," said Demmi.

Chewning Inspections Services grew steadily and thrived during the housing boom. But then suddenly, things changed.

"Last October, someone could have flipped a switch, that's what it felt like, and all of the sudden we were sitting here listening to the crickets. That's when we realized there was a big problem."

Small businesses make up a huge share of the businesses in the local community, and staying afloat in this bad economy is challenging for a lot of them.

Though the Chewnings know the inspection business inside and out, none of the family members had the financial expertise to deal with the situation they found themselves in.

Then Demmi crossed paths with financial analyst Anne Vickers a few months ago. She saw a niche and began looking at ways to help small businesses better understand their finances.

"We were making money in spite of ourselves," said Demmi. "What Anne has done is she has given us an education that allows us to see really where every penny. . . is going now."

But when Demmi first met Vickers through a business networking group, Vickers really had to sell her on the concept.

"I had to use a little bit of shock and awe," Vickers said" I explained the Warren Buffet quote where he says only when the tide goes out do you see who is swimming naked and that's effectively what's happening now in our marketplace."

That analogy is a pretty effective one for signing up new clients.

At a time when a lot of businesses are struggling, Vickers' own business, AMV Consulting, is growing.
She asks potential clients a simple question: "Where is your business today."

This satisfied customer now answers: In a much better place than it was before she met Vickers.
"There's a hope for our future again because of what she's done," Demmi said.