Axe ’Em, Jacks!
SFA students with big ideas are connecting with alumni and local business owners
Story by Johanna Gilmore
Photos by Lizeth Garcia
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in East Texas, including at SFA. Through SFA's entrepreneurship academic program, Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship, Small Business Resource Hub and Piney Woods Entrepreneurship Network, students with big ideas are connecting with alumni and local business owners to help them turn their dreams into reality.
To honor that entrepreneurial spirit growing on SFA's campus, we're highlighting several Nacogdoches-based businesses that bleed purple and have seen great success locally and beyond. Self-described Type A personalities who love to stay busy and constantly yearn to learn, these entrepreneurs know how to balance the corporate with the creative. All are owned by or employ SFA alumni and work hard to give back to their community and hometown university.
Auntie Pasta's, Clear Springs and The Fredonia Hotel
Food, beverage and hospitality
The father-son team of Richard '72 and Bud '07 DeWitt is dedicated to providing the Nacogdoches community with delicious Italian food at Auntie Pasta's; comfort food at Clear Springs; and a boutique hotel and convention center featuring 1st City Café, Nine Flags Bar & Grill and Republic Steakhouse at The Fredonia Hotel. Read in full
Hydrex Environmental
Environmental consulting, engineering and drone services
The company was launched in 1994 by Glen Collier '95 to help municipal solid waste clients address stricter environmental regulations for landfills. With more than 40 years of combined service at Hydrex, Clayton Collier '05 and Trae Scarborough '00 bought the company from Glen in 2017. Today, Hydrex geologists, biologists and engineers measure the volume of waste at landfills by using drones and special photogrammetric software to stitch together aerial photographs and produce high-resolution 3D models of sites. Read in full
Jack Backers
SFA clothing and gifts
"We emphasize customer service," Alan Fitch '98 said. "As a small business, we have the flexibility to do what is necessary to meet customers' needs. We maintain competitive pricing on e-books, college apparel and gifts, so there's less hardship for students on strict budgets to buy items and show their school pride." Starting a business is always a challenge and a risk, but working closely with SFA faculty and staff was one of the best ways to ensure Jack Backers succeeded. Read in full
Loblolly Properties LLC
Real estate brokerage firm
Olivia Kiritsy '06 & '11 has built a company that works to company provide personalized real estate services to their clients, with listings ranging from $10,000 lots to $2 million homes. "My greatest success is not only building a recognizable brand but also building a company culture known for hard work, success, professionalism and a commitment to community," shared Kiritsy.
She draws inspiration from a painting of the Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues, which reminds her of her stint on Wall Street and the glass ceiling women have to break through to be successful in the real estate industry. Read in full
Polk Dental Associates
General, cosmetic and implant dentistry
As a dentist and business owner, Polk said he has to think like an entrepreneur as well as a health professional. "There are a lot of moving parts in a dental practice. You have to have a really good team like I do. Working with insurance companies can be challenging, but we're successful when we can meet the needs of a patient medically and financially. If you need us, we're here. We don't have patients or clients. We treat friends." Polk is also the dental care provider for SFA's student-athletes as part of the university's sports medicine team. Read in full
University Rental
Party and tool/equipment rentals, permanent external illumination
University Rental offers supplies for weddings, conventions, company picnics, parties, climate-controlled outdoor events and festivals. Party services include delivery, setup, breakdown and pickup for an area that starts at Crockett in the west, stretches up north to Henderson, extends down to Toledo Bend and circles back through Diboll. "Our inventory is always growing with the latest trends in designer décor, food service, games and entertainment," says Kyle Sanders '07. Read in full