TSBDC Rising Star Award 2012

Gregg Overman, owner of River City Soap Company, has been awarded the 2012 Memphis Rising Star Award from the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC), at Southwest. The Rising Star award is given annually by the TSBDC to the company that best exemplifies not only business success, but an outstanding working relationship with the TSBDC and uses the services it provides.

In giving the award, the local TSBDC is also recognizing the entrepreneurship spirit and the company's contribution to the local business and economic environment.

Overman states, "I've had the entrepreneurial spirit all my life." Having worked for other soap and chemical companies, and after convincing his wife it was a good idea, he opened his own company on January 1, 2006, financing its start-up mostly with credit card debt. Starting with two employees, Gregg never looked back. Utilizing TSBDC's Contractor Development Program's training and one-on-one counseling services, he grew his company to reach revenues of over $1 million and five employees in 2012.

River City Soap Company manufactures many types of auto cleaning products, floor waxes, industrial detergents for sale primarily business-to-business. TSBDC introduced Overman to David Spann, from the Department of Commerce; and now Overman, in consultation with Spann, is in the process of developing a line of products to be exported overseas.

"Gregg Overman is very deserving of this award and we here at TSBDC are very proud of his accomplishments," says David Doyle, executive director of TSBDC Memphis located at Southwest.

For more information about the River City Soap Company, call 901-487-6927 or visit www.rivercitysoap.com. For more information on TSBDC, visit www.tsbdc.org or call David Doyle at 901-333-5085.

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Photo caption: Gregg Overman