BTW Projects
White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Recognizes SCORE Partner
Diana David is the founder of BTW Projects, a consulting firm. In 2003, Diana started a part-time consulting business while continuing to work as a full-time bookkeeper. She talked to a friend about partnering. A member of New Covenant Christian Center in Seattle, told her about a church ministry called The Center for Empowerment (CFE) (http://www.centerforempowerment.org/). The Center had been started to help community members realize their life dreams, and it offered special expertise for those wanting to start a bus iness. Diana participated in CFE monthly meetings, which she calls "inspirational," and concluded she did not need a partner to start working on her own.
She continued working with CFE, which had become a 501(c)(3) organization. Her CFE mentor, Paul Hirz, was a SCORE counselor who became involved at CFE in order to fulfill a desire to work with business owners on a long-term, personal basis. Diana says that, initially, Paul was most helpful in helping her realize what she "could be and do." Where she thought that she needed a partner to handle sales, Paul helped her overcome her unwillingness to represent her value. His support became more technical as they evolved into biweekly meetings, and she is now the owner of a home-based business that has more clients than it can handle.
When she was laid off her corporate job in April 2006, she began working on her business plan in earnest. Diana now works full-time at a higher income than she achieved as an employee. When asked how CFE impacted her ability to start and grow her business, Diana said, "Paul changed my life. On a personal level, I've never been this happy with my work. And Paul keeps me from underselling myself – he puts money in my pocket!" Her faith is evidenced by the name she chose for her business; BTW is a common email abbreviation for By The Way, but it also signifies something more personal to Diana. She operates her business By Jesus' Way."
While the CFE is established as a two-year program from which business owners graduate, Diana continues to receive online and in-person counseling from Paul. Diana is looking forward to building a firm with multiple employees, and says she loves to help her clients pursue their dreams. "A lot of folks have the enthusiasm to start their business, but may not have the technical expertise. I help them fill in the gaps."
The Center for Empowerment, which also provides professional technology training and some human services, is sponsored by New Covenant Christian Center in Rainier Beach. Its objective is to work with other organizations without duplication of small business resources.