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Startups on the Move 
St. Louis Enterprise Centers celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of its nearly 50 clients and welcomes the following companies that recently have joined the small business incubator program: Moving in
Atelier3 Design LLC
- Wellston Enterprise Center welcomes Atelier3, a partnership of St. Louis-based design professionals offering master planning, preliminary design, construction document handling/support and construction management. 
MO's Medical Transportation LLC -
The
non-emergency medical transportation service provider that exclusively serves Medicare and Medicaid recipients, has moved into the South County Enterprise Center.
Growing
West County Enterprise Center client VES Solutions Inc, a provider of voice, data and hosting services and products, has earned the coveted ranks of Cisco Small Business Specialization Network.
ShadowOps, LLC - The GPS hardware/software provider based at the South County Enterprise Center
 | | ShadowOps GPS Tracker |
has been contracted by Universal Studios Orlando to provide tracking services for a portion of its fleet. ShadowOps products can track any asset within a five-meter accuracy and as frequently as every second.
Raymond Chiu, chief technology officer and founding member of West County Enterprise Center client Local Backhaul Networks LLC, has been invited to be an expert speaker at the communication industry's preeminent networking event, COMPTEL PLUS Convention & EXPO in Las Vegas.
 | | The Smashed Chefs |
The Smashed Chefs - The creators of decorative products such as plaques and serving pieces made from recycled glass were interviewed for KSDK's Show Me St. Louis. The Smashed Chefs is located in the West County Enterprise Center. Click here to see the show.
South County Enterprise Center client Mercury Communications & Construction Inc along with President Julie Steis is honored as the "2011 Top Women Business Owner" by the St. Louis Small Business Monthly. Mercury is also an American Subcontractors Association semifinalist for the "2011 Contractor of the Year" and winner of the National Association of Tower Erectors "2011 NATE Star Initiative."
Please send your small business news for inclusion in the next Startup newsletter to chendrix@slcec.com.
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Enterprise Center Benefits
- Low overhead costs
- Access to a variety of shared services
- Connection to financial sources
- Attractive conference and training rooms
- Expert mentors and other resource partners
- Seminars on a variety of relevant topics
- Networking opportunities with other small business owners
- Access to St. Louis County Economic Council's comprehensive services
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| Enterprise
Center Board
Arthur G. Baebler
Board President Matthew E. Gieseking
Board Vice President
Patrick M. Bannister St. Louis Development Corporation
Marc Braun
The Law Office of Marc W. Braun
George A. Brill Talisen Technologies
John G. Gatewood Northwestern Mutual
William R. Gilbert Q-Up Mobile Systems, LLC
Jeffery H. Kass Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C.
Kraig G. Kreikemeier Kreikemeier Group, LLC
Judy Meador
Missouri Venture Forum
Joseph W. Mooney III Mooney Favazza, LLP
Richard M. Palank St. Louis County Economic Council
Janet K. Poppen Poppen & Associates
James Seitz Lindell Bank
Dr. Patricia A. Suess St. Louis Community College
Kevin Wilson Small Business Development Centers
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St. Louis Business Plan Competition
 Every good business starts with a good idea and robust business plan. Showcase your business venture to prominent St. Louis regional business leaders while competing for tens of thousands of dollars in cash prizes and in-kind accounting, legal, marketing and mentoring services.
Startup and early-stage companies from all disciplines and industry sectors in the St. Louis region are encouraged to compete.
Do you have the winning business plan? For complete competition rules and to apply, visit www.slcec.com or follow us on Facebook. Application deadline is March 1, 2011.
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Why We're Here: The Fletcher Company
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Ted Fletcher
Owner, The Fletcher Company |
In 2000, after working for other mechanical contractors for over two decades, Ted Fletcher decided to use his years of experience to launch his own company. By 2005 his contracting firm, The Fletcher Company LLC, a spin-off of his initial concept, was born. Next, Fletcher began looking for resources to stabilize and grow his business and found the answer in St. Louis Enterprise Centers.
"In 2005 we joined the Wellston Enterprise Center after learning about the benefits of a supportive environment designed to assist startup and early-stage companies such as ours," said Fletcher. "Like most entrepreneurs, we did not have the resources, knowledge or insight needed to launch our company effectively."
Fletcher also said he appreciated the incubator's directors helping his business stay on track and connecting him with other resources within the local community.
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Small Business Employment Laws
If you are a typical startup company, you often find yourself wearing all the hats: marketing, sales, production, and even office cleaning and chief trash collector! Then one day you suddenly realize it is time to hire someone.
Where do I find an employee? How much do I pay? How do I know they have the skills I need? What skills do I need? What employment laws apply to my business?
Even very small businesses are required to comply with several of the employment laws. Below is a list of the major employment laws applicable to businesses with 1-14 employees:
- Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures of 1978
- National Labor Relations Act
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Immigration and Nationality Act
- Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
Help is available! St. Louis Enterprise Center clients enjoy memberships with AAIM Employers' Association (AAIMEA), which provides products and services to support the human resources needs. AAIMEA Member Answer Center, one of the member benefits, can assist with the laws mentioned above as well as other "people" issues.
Contact Margaret Kenyon at 314.754.0180 to learn more about membership benefits for St. Louis Enterprise Center clients.
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St. Louis Enterprise Centers
 | | St. Louis Enterprise Centers - Wellston |
St. Louis Enterprise Centers provide entrepreneurs with affordable office, warehouse and production space. The small business incubator program is managed by St. Louis County Economic Council and includes five state-of-the-art facilities: Midtown, South County, Wellston, West County, and the soon-to-be Helix Center. The Helix Center for plant and life science companies will open in 2011.
To learn how your business can benefit from one of our small business incubators, contact Dennis Breite at 314.615.7621 or dbreite@slcec.com. To learn more about each of the Enterprise Centers, visit www.slcec.com.
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