Why I Built My Business in St. Joseph, MO, and You Should, Too
A local shares why this region is ideal for entrepreneurs looking to launch a business.
St. Joseph, MO, is known for being creative and innovative, especially when it comes to its business scene. This is the city where items like pancake mix and saltine crackers were invented in the late 1800s. Though St. Joseph’s industries and businesses have diversified over the years, that same drive to develop, advance and improve remains. In fact, in 2023, the city ranked 18th on Site Selection Magazine’s “Top 50 Cities to Start a Small Business” list.
To learn more about the city’s small-business scene and its opportunities for entrepreneurs, we sat down with Travis Hawkins, president of the full-service IT solutions business Tech Team. He details why St. Joseph is ideal for entrepreneurs looking to launch a business.
Of all the places you could have launched your business, what made you decide on St. Joseph?
I was born and raised in St. Joseph, MO, and lived here most of my life. My business partner, Jason Chase, is not native to the area, but he moved here in 2005. We first started working together in 2007. We founded Tech Team in 2012 after acquiring the SMB division of Triggerfish Corp., our former employer, in December 2011.
Starting our business in St. Joseph was an easy choice because it’s the community where we lived and worked and where our core clients were based. St. Joseph is a very friendly community, and personal relationships are important to the people here, including in business. Although we’ve grown beyond the local area of St. Joseph over the years, it is still and will most likely always be our primary location.
When you started your business, what resources were available to you in St. Joseph?
Although we didn’t utilize any specific programs initially, throughout the years we’ve had the privilege of working with several excellent resources in the St. Joseph area.
We’ve been able to utilize various networking programs through the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce to meet new people and grow relationships in the business community. The chamber has also provided the opportunity for Tech Team to host and sponsor several Lunch & Learn events throughout the years, which gives us a chance to share our experience with others in the community.
How has Tech Team grown over the years?
Since 2012, Tech Team has maintained a steady growth of nearly 30% every year. Growth continuously brings new challenges, so we’ve had to continue to seek advice from our community and peers to meet the new needs that arise.
Over time, we’ve had to become more operationally mature because we’ve learned that some processes that work for a small startup aren’t scalable once you have a larger organization with departments, managers and employees who have needs. People are the most important asset any business has, and we feel that it’s important to take care of our team.
What else have you learned as a businessperson and entrepreneur?
I believe the thing that I’ve learned most through my entrepreneurial journey so far is that it’s important to have a good support system of family and friends who understand your goals and want to see you succeed. Having a business partner, for me personally, has also been a very positive experience. It’s nice to have someone to share your victories with and bounce ideas off of and someone who can provide a different perspective at times.
Another thing I’ve learned over the years is that as your business grows, it’s important to have a strong, like-minded team to support you. Managing staff is one of the most difficult aspects of running a small business, but finding the right people for the right seats makes all the difference in the world.
Would you recommend St. Joseph to others looking to start a business? Why?
Yes! St. Joseph is a great community – large enough to provide plenty of resources and a skilled workforce, but small enough to feel like a tight community. The people and businesses here truly value strong relationships and personal touch.
There are always plenty of people willing to offer their assistance and expertise when you need it. MWSU is a great resource for the community and for local businesses looking to hire. We have worked with the university, Hillyard Technical Center (a technical school) and the St. Joseph School District over the years to provide internship programs for students. There are always opportunities to work and give back in the community, and there are so many people here who have a passion for making St. Joseph a great place to live and work.
What advice would you give other entrepreneurs?
Being a member of an industry-specific peer group of business owners and entrepreneurs can be extremely valuable. Some industries have lots of resources for peer groups and even organize meetings to share financial and operational strategies to help you grow your business the right way. You can avoid some of the hard-learned lessons through the experience of others in the group.
If you don’t know of any such groups for your business industry, find a mentor who has experience starting and growing businesses who is willing to share their experiences with you. Lastly, don’t be afraid to make mistakes or take chances.
Starting a business can be scary, and growing a business can be even scarier, but it can also be more rewarding than you imagined. Being an entrepreneur has forced me to step out of my comfort zone more times than I can count, but that has also contributed directly to my personal growth. I am involved in programs and clubs, I’ve spoken at many events, and I’ve done things over the last decade that I never imagined I ever could or would.
This article was sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.