Posted by Molly Nelson – Pat Bennett, owner of Wicked Coursing and an NASE Member from La Mesa, Calif., answered that question with “launch a new product.” Pat is the owner, and as she says on her website, “and designer, engineer, machinist, test dummy...,” of Wicked Coursing, a company that creates high-quality lure coursing equipment for pet owners.
Pat applied for and was awarded an NASE Growth Grant in 2010. She used the grant funds to bring Wicked Coursing’s newest product, the entry-level ZippityDog, to market. A short time after putting the ZippityDog up for sale on her website with the help of her NASE grant funds, Pat had already received orders for 20 of the machines.
The NASE was so impressed with how Pat has carefully grown her business since starting it in 2008, her use of the grant funds and her plans to make Wicked Coursing “the #1 source for lure coursing equipment in the world” that we’ve selected her as our Achievement Award recipient for 2011. Along with the bragging rights, as our Achievement Award recipient Pat will receive a further financial award of $20,000 to help her achieve her goals for her business.
You’ll hear more about Pat and how she’s using the award to further grow her business here on our blog and in SelfInformed as the year goes on. I’m looking forward to traveling to California next month with other NASE staff to meet Pat and officially present her with the Achievement Award (and see her lure coursing machines in action!).