Ozarks Profile: Rayanna Anderson

Tell us about your company/organization?

The Small Business Development Center is part of the College of Business Administration at Southwest Missouri State University. It provides businesses and potential businesses with analysis, consultation and training. The SMSU-SBDC is part of a nationwide network of SBDC programs and receives financial support from the U.S. Small Business Administration and SMSU. Our Web site is www.sbdc.smsu.edu.

What, specifically, do you do?

I help business owners evaluate and plan the financial area of their business. Within that area, I help people analyze their financial statements so they can better understand their business performance, and we work together to create a financial plan of how they might improve their fiscal results. I also help clients prepare loan proposals to secure financing.

What is the most common hurdle you help clients deal with in terms of business growth?

Growth usually requires money. Therefore, companies that are growing are "eating" money like crazy. Sometimes it's hard for companies to understand where all the money went when sales are up and profits are up, but there's not a lot more cash in the bank. Understanding the true costs of growth and how much cash is needed for that growth is one of the best pieces of information I can provide.

Who does SBDC serve?

The SMSU-SBDC serves potential and existing small businesses that meet the U.S. Small Business Administration's size standards, which is most of the businesses in southwest Missouri. Our services focus on providing assistance that will result in positive economic impact defined as job creation, job retention, increased sales, new business creation, business retention, dollar amounts of loans and increased profitability. We do this through a variety of ways including one-on-one counseling ... and training ...

What's the best part of your job?

That's easy. The best part is working with a client on a project that gets done, or teaching a seminar and seeing the light bulb go on as I try to present a complex financial concept.

What's the biggest challenge of your job?

Probably the same as it is for most consultants keeping all the projects going to meet the needs of my clients. Also, keeping up with the latest in regulations, trends and technology.

Tell us about your family and spare-time interests.

I have been married to John Anderson, a high-risk fetal-maternal medicine ultrasonographer, for almost 25 years. We have one daughter, Michelle, and are about to experience the empty nest syndrome as she will be a college freshman in the fall. After years of enjoying school activities and sporting events, we're keeping our options open.