Small banking makes big splash
And so it is with Steve Drobysh, who received the 2012 New York State Financial Services Champion of the Year award by SBA.
Drobysh is a lifelong banker who has spent the last five years at Provident Bank as vice president and managing director. He”™s also got a lifetime love for startup businesses and entrepreneurs, which got the SBA to take notice of his ongoing commitment.
When Scott Mace opened his first pharmacy in Sullivan County”™s Rock Hill in 2004, he did it with a loan obtained by his banker, Drobysh. Mace owns his own building now, and even though Drobysh moved on to another bank, Mace is still his customer. Drobysh says customer relationships are key for anyone in his business, and he”™s had many who have followed him from one bank to another. “Banking is all about relationship building … build a solid relationship and you become more than just a banker.”
Drobysh”™s forte are those young and restless innovators who also have unique problems that take time to solve when they are starting a new business. “A good business plan and financial projections to present to a potential lender are the most important asset they need. Unfortunately, they are doing so many things at once and are so energized by their ideas that getting all the details down on paper often doesn”™t get the attention to detail it needs,” he said.
“There are resources out there to help them accomplish that goal: the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Small Business Administration, as well as our local chambers of commerce and economic development corporations. They have the same goal as the small business owner: making it happen and helping them stay in business,” he said.
“I was working for Provident Bank when Scott contacted me and told me he wanted to stop renting and own his own store. He found a perfect property in Rock Hill down the street from his old location,” Drobysh said. With Drobysh”™s help, along with the SBDC and the SBA”™s 504 program, Mace obtained the $1.7 million he needed to buy the property and construct the 7,500-square-foot building.
“Most of our new entrepreneurs are super savvy about social media,” Drobysh said. “In Scott”™s case, his business relies on people contact. He”™s made a niche for himself by making himself available, even if it”™s to deliver a prescription in the middle of the night. In his case, social media does not create the kind of repeat business he needs to be a success. But look around the store; there is a constant flow of people coming and going. He knows what his business needs to be successful and he”™s very good at delivering it.”
Drobysh said the SBA has been a great resource. “When you are thinking of going into business, your banker and your accountant work to help you be a success. Your success is their success. If you have a good relationship with them, you stick with them.”
Jorge Silva-Puras, administrator for SBA”™s Region II, said Drobysh was nominated by Arnaldo Sehewert, regional director of the Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center and selected based on his outstanding record and commitment to provide small business owners throughout the Hudson Valley region with access to capital. The award is part of SBA”™s National Small Business Week celebration (May 20-26).
“In just five years Steven Drobysh and Provident Bank have provided Hudson Valley small businesses with $60 million in loans to start and grow their ventures,” Silva-Puras said. “He is a true catalyst for economic development in this region; just think of the ripple effect and impact that his work has made on the local economy.”