Latest news with #5000
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Startup co-founder was afraid to be CEO; until she took over and sparked a 10x revenue boom
When Jacqueline Tatelman co-founded State Bags in 2013 with her husband Scot, she wasn't ready to call herself a CEO. The brand, built not just on fashion but on social impact—providing for American families in need—had passion at its heart, but not yet structure. So instead of stepping into the driver's seat, Tatelman took charge of product and creativity, trusting outside consultants and eventually a hired CEO to manage the business. For a while, that seemed to work. But when cracks started to show in the company's foundations—overreliance on wholesale partnerships, unmanageable budgets, and sluggish sales—Tatelman found herself watching the dream she helped build slide into instability. When the Crisis Hit, She Put On Her Bathrobe and Picked Up the Pieces By 2020, State Bags was in dire straits. The company's second CEO, a former CFO who had helped implement much-needed reforms, suddenly stepped down—right in the middle of a global pandemic. With no one left to steer the ship, Jacqueline stepped in, quite literally from her living room, to take control of the business. 'I spent all of COVID in my fuzzy bathrobe,' she told Inc., recalling how she hustled to keep production running in China and scraped together just enough to keep the lights on. The team was furloughed, the office shut down, and every dollar counted. 'If we had a $1,000 day, we were celebrating,' she said of those early moments. But that personal plunge into leadership changed everything. You Might Also Like: From Symbiosis MBA to HUL's new CEO: Priya Nair follows two golden rules in her career She Was Scared to Be CEO; But It Changed Everything Her decision to stay in command wasn't immediate. But after her back-to-school hustle paid off and a kids' luggage collection she designed pre-pandemic turned into a runaway hit, Tatelman realized something profound: she didn't just have to lead the company—she could. 'Right now, I am the person to lead us,' she said. 'I have all of the tools, and I have all of the determination. I am fully equipped to be our leader. I love being our leader.' And the numbers backed her up. Since she took over in 2020, State Bags has seen a tenfold increase in revenue—reaching eight figures and earning a spot at No. 1,198 on the Inc. 5000 list. In 2021, the company raised $2 million in seed funding, validating not just the product, but the person steering it. The Gut Knows Before the World Does Looking back, Jacqueline admits the only thing ever holding her back was fear. 'My intuition was always like, I should just step into this, but I'm too afraid,' she said. Today, her story is not just about building a successful brand—it's about reclaiming confidence, listening to your inner voice, and embracing leadership when the world least expects it. You Might Also Like: Mindtree founder Subroto Bagchi has donated hundreds of crores but a Re 1 SBI cheque is his 'biggest wealth of life' In the end, Tatelman's biggest business breakthrough came from what she once considered her biggest weakness. As she puts it: 'Listening to yourself, tapping into your gut, trusting yourself—it's so powerful.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Everlight Solar Earns Comparably's 2025 Best Leadership Teams Award
VERONA, Wis., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Everlight Solar is proud to announce that it has earned Comparably's Best Leadership Teams in 2025. This recognition is based entirely on employee feedback, evaluating key factors such as confidence in leadership, clarity of vision, communication, and overall effectiveness. "Strong leadership isn't about titles - it's about trust, communication, and lifting others up. We've built a leadership culture that listens first, leads with purpose, and puts people at the heart of every decision. This recognition from Comparably is a reflection of the integrity of our entire leadership team," states William Creech, President and CEO of Everlight Solar. This meaningful honor highlights the trust, respect, and collaboration shared between Everlight Solar's leadership team and its employees. The company attributes this achievement to a core leadership philosophy rooted in servant leadership—elevating others, leading by example, and fostering an environment where every individual can thrive. A standout example of this philosophy in action is Level Up, Everlight Solar's annual leadership summit held at its Wisconsin office. During the event, team leads and executives gather to enhance leadership skills, align on company-wide goals, and collaborate on new ways to better support their teams. About Everlight Solar Everlight Solar is the fastest-growing solar company in the Midwest, with operations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Idaho, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. Everlight Solar earned a spot on both the 2023 Inc. 5000 and 2024 Inc. 5000 lists in its first two years of eligibility. To learn more about open job opportunities or about going solar for your home, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Everlight Solar
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tidal Wave Auto Spa Expands Footprint in Buckeye State With Grand Opening in Mason
Top Four Conveyor Car Wash Company Celebrates Opening with Free Washes THOMASTON, GA / / May 28, 2025 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing express car wash companies, is pleased to announce the opening of its newest location in Mason, OH at 5300 Kings Mills Road. To celebrate the grand opening, Tidal Wave's brand-new Mason location will offer eight days of free premium car washes from May 28 through June 4. This limited-time promotion provides an opportunity for car owners to experience Tidal Wave's premium wash option, Graph-X4, at no cost. Additionally, any new customer that joins a Tidal Wave Clean Club unlimited wash membership during Grand Opening week will enjoy their first month of unlimited washes for only $9.97 - saving up to $40. "We're excited to continue our growth in Ohio this week with the opening of our Mason location," said Scott Blackstock, CEO and Founder of Tidal Wave Auto Spa. "Our goal is to make car care easy, efficient, and enjoyable for every customer, every time, and this brand-new location is built to continuously deliver on that commitment for years to come." Mason, OH Location: 5300 Kings Mills Road, Mason, OH 45040 Nearby Locations: Fairfield Township, Fort Wright, KY, Alexandria, KY, Lawrenceburg, IN Tidal Wave Auto Spa proudly serves customers at 295 express wash locations across the United States, including three Ohio locations. Tidal Wave is committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and friendly customer service at every location. With single wash options starting at $12, unlimited car wash memberships and family plans, plus, fleet plans for businesses - Tidal Wave has your unique car wash needs covered. For additional information, including upcoming openings, fundraising, fleet plans, and more, please visit: About Tidal Wave Auto Spa Tidal Wave Auto Spa was founded over 20 years ago in Thomaston, GA by husband and wife, Scott and Hope Blackstock. What started as a small-town self-service car wash business, evolved into the first conveyor car wash open in Georgia, and is now the fourth-largest conveyor car wash company in the nation with 295 locations sprawling 30 states. Tidal Wave is committed to providing every customer an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and outstanding customer service. In 2020, the company partnered with Golden Gate Capital to facilitate their accelerated growth and has been included in the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest Growing Companies for the past five years. Tidal Wave has continuously strived to make a positive impact in the communities they serve, and has raised over $3 million dollars for local programs, service organizations, and non-profit organizations through the company's fundraising program and annual philanthropic Charity Day event. Contact Information: Heather Coleman Marketing Managermedia@ Andrea Traylor Senior Director of Digital SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto Spa View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Tidal Wave Auto Spa Expands Footprint in Buckeye State With Grand Opening in Mason
Top Four Conveyor Car Wash Company Celebrates Opening with Free Washes THOMASTON, GA / ACCESS Newswire / May 28, 2025 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the nation's fastest-growing express car wash companies, is pleased to announce the opening of its newest location in Mason, OH at 5300 Kings Mills Road. To celebrate the grand opening, Tidal Wave's brand-new Mason location will offer eight days of free premium car washes from May 28 through June 4. This limited-time promotion provides an opportunity for car owners to experience Tidal Wave's premium wash option, Graph-X4, at no cost. Additionally, any new customer that joins a Tidal Wave Clean Club unlimited wash membership during Grand Opening week will enjoy their first month of unlimited washes for only $9.97 - saving up to $40. "We're excited to continue our growth in Ohio this week with the opening of our Mason location," said Scott Blackstock, CEO and Founder of Tidal Wave Auto Spa. "Our goal is to make car care easy, efficient, and enjoyable for every customer, every time, and this brand-new location is built to continuously deliver on that commitment for years to come." Mason, OH Location: 5300 Kings Mills Road, Mason, OH 45040 Nearby Locations: Fairfield Township, Fort Wright, KY, Alexandria, KY, Lawrenceburg, IN Tidal Wave Auto Spa proudly serves customers at 295 express wash locations across the United States, including three Ohio locations. Tidal Wave is committed to providing every customer with an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and friendly customer service at every location. With single wash options starting at $12, unlimited car wash memberships and family plans, plus, fleet plans for businesses - Tidal Wave has your unique car wash needs covered. For additional information, including upcoming openings, fundraising, fleet plans, and more, please visit: About Tidal Wave Auto Spa Tidal Wave Auto Spa was founded over 20 years ago in Thomaston, GA by husband and wife, Scott and Hope Blackstock. What started as a small-town self-service car wash business, evolved into the first conveyor car wash open in Georgia, and is now the fourth-largest conveyor car wash company in the nation with 295 locations sprawling 30 states. Tidal Wave is committed to providing every customer an exceptional car wash experience through industry-leading car care technology, clean and attractive locations, and outstanding customer service. In 2020, the company partnered with Golden Gate Capital to facilitate their accelerated growth and has been included in the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest Growing Companies for the past five years. Tidal Wave has continuously strived to make a positive impact in the communities they serve, and has raised over $3 million dollars for local programs, service organizations, and non-profit organizations through the company's fundraising program and annual philanthropic Charity Day event. Contact Information: Heather Coleman Marketing Managermedia@ Andrea Traylor Senior Director of Digital
Business Wire
23-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Clara Capital Surpasses $300 Million in SMB Funding
WOODBURY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clara Capital Servicing LLC, a leading provider of alternative financial solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced that it has achieved a major growth milestone by surpassing $300 million in SMB funding. Our rapidly expanding technological infrastructure now matches our funding ambitions—fast, scalable, and highly accurate,' said Matthew Byron, CFO. In the past year, Clara has strategically expanded its financial infrastructure, operational footprint, sales channels, and technology stack—positioning the company as one of the fastest-growing financial services firms in the U.S. Clara Capital's 2024-2025 growth highlights include: $300M+ in capital deployed to SMBs nationwide. $20 million credit facility secured from Revere Capital New treasury banking relationship with M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB) 5-year lease for a significantly expanded HQ in Woodbury, NY Launch of a dedicated ISO vertical market to complement the company's direct sales channel Major technology investments enabling real-time application processing and funding calculation automation. Recognition on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list as one of the top fifteen financial services firms in the U.S. 'These milestones represent Clara's evolution from a fast-growing lender to a fully integrated fintech platform,' said Ryan Adwar, CEO of Clara Capital. 'With robust capital, multiple distribution channels, and a best-in-class funding engine, we're building the future of SMB finance.' Expanding Distribution with ISO Channel Launch In a move to further accelerate growth and broaden market reach, Clara Capital recently launched a dedicated ISO vertical, allowing independent sales organizations to originate deals through the Clara platform. The ISO channel complements Clara's direct sales force and is supported by a streamlined partner onboarding process, competitive compensation, and real-time application tech. Mr. Adwar further added, 'Our ISO channel gives us new velocity and reach across key verticals. We're giving partners the tools, transparency, and tech they need to win—and our clients more access to funding than ever before.' Automation and Scale Through Technology Clara has also invested heavily in its technology stack, now offering full automation of application and bank statement intake. Submissions are processed into automated funding calculators and staged for underwriting review within seconds, significantly reducing time-to-decision and increasing operational throughput. 'Our rapidly expanding technological infrastructure now matches our funding ambitions—fast, scalable, and highly accurate,' said Matthew Byron, CFO. 'We're setting a new standard for fintech-enabled SMB lending.' About Clara Capital Clara Capital is a leading alternative finance platform serving small and medium-sized businesses with fast, flexible, and tech-driven capital solutions. With over $300 million funded, Clara offers Merchant Cash Advances and custom financing options through both direct and ISO channels. Clara Capital was named one of the top fifteen financial services companies on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list. For more information, visit
