2002 ALBUQUERQUE SBDC SUCCESS STORY
Betty's Bath & Day Spa 
Elissa Breitbard, Owner
On January 31, 2002, Elissa Breitbard, owner of Betty's Bath and Day Spa was recognized at the State Legislature on NMSBDC Day as the 2002 SBDC Business of the Year. This is an annual event where all 18 centers of the NMSBDC Network recognize their own successful businessperson.
Ms. Breitbard first visited the Albuquerque Small Business Development Center in January of 1999. She was seeking assistance with the development of a business plan and loan package for a relaxation spa in Albuquerque's North Valley. For the next six months she worked extensively on the project with the director of the SBDC, Mr. Ray A. Garcia. Based on her vision, a business model for Betty's was developed complete with financial projections, which were eventually included in a business plan and loan package. "Ray played a rare dual role-- the devil's advocate realist AND the supportive cheerleader who believed in our vision. Ray's taking us seriously was pivotal in giving us the strength and resolve to push the project forward." In July of 1999, Mr. Garcia submitted a Women's Pre-qualification Loan package to the SBA on the behalf of Ms. Breitbard. At the same time, Ms. Brietbard submitted a similar package to a local bank. After some minor tweaking and a few phone calls, both the SBA and the bank accepted the package.
In August 2000 Betty's Bath and Day Spa opened its doors and has since been very successful. Betty's is located at 1835 Candelaria NW in Albuquerque and can be seen online at bettysbath.com. Betty's employs two full-time and five part-time employees and 17 subcontractors working at the day spa. Ms. Breitbard continues to work with the SBDC in order to improve her share of the day spa market. "Services with the SBDC do not end once the doors to the business are open to the public; rather, the support--education, business-wise, and emotional-is constant." In July of 2001, Ms. Breitbard became a member of the Albuquerque SBDC Advisory Board. In this fashion she has come full circle, becoming a trusted advisor to the SBDC staff. "The staff at TVI's SBDC is savvy, friendly, and genuinely supportive."
