Ed Egan leveraged his manufacturing and warehouse experience to start a company offering leadership training that leads to enhanced skills, improved team morale and greater employee retention.
THE BUSINESS
Double E Workplace Solutions, in Kenosha County, leads supervisory training that meets the specific needs of the client organization. Ed offers both virtual and in-person classes as well as online e-learning content that leads to increased overall team performance and satisfaction. His 24/7 delivery options cater specifically to those not working a traditional weekday schedule, and his options minimize time away from the job.
Ed said one of the things he has discovered as an entrepreneur is the important of building relationships first. “Meeting with the client first to truly understand their needs helps me save time in content development and deliver a more valuable product to the client’s team.”
He also related this relationship building to external organizations as well. Locally, he is involved with the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, Lakeside Curative Services, Sharing Center, Inc. and the United Way of Kenosha County. These organizations allow Ed to give back to the community and utilize his expertise as needed.
THE RESOURCES
This ability to network as well as build trust and credibility has served Ed well throughout his journey. He partnered with SCORE for small business advice, and he attended the Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP) at UW-Parkside Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The class led him to Mary Fisher-Tracy, an SBDC consultant who helped validate Ed’s business plan and narrow his target audience. Ed said, “Mary always had my best interest at heart and helped keep me going in the right direction.”
Mary then connected Ed with the UW-River Falls SBDC for help with marketing and he enrolled in the E-Commerce Academy offered there. “The academy gave me the outside perspective and tough feedback that was exactly what I needed to hear,” Ed said.
THE CHALLENGES
A challenge Ed met in starting his business is the long lifecycle of customer acquisition. He focuses on the “Know, Like and Trust” factor to introduce himself and his abilities to help shorten that cycle.
Another obstacle Ed is now encountering is one lots of small business owner face: he can’t be in two places at one time. His growing client base means he is in the classroom more with less time available to develop specific trainings. As a solution to this dilemma, he is creating additional e-learning material clients can use more independently as well as scaling up to a Trainer on Retainer model so he can serve more customers.
THE FUTURE
The future is full of opportunity for Ed and Double E Workplace Solutions. He has been hired to run a manufacturing training for the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership and is working on an initiative with The Midwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries (MBBI) association to aid employees going through mergers and acquisitions changes.
Double E is also launching a workplace inclusivity training, specifically designed for those who work on the shop floors of manufacturing facilities. The training helps build a sense of respect and relatability as well develop team bonds and a sense of welcoming and belonging. We look forward to seeing how Double E continues to grow in the future.
Check out this additional article featuring Double E.
Accomplishments with UW-Parkside and UW- River Falls SBDC
- Entrepreneurial Training Program
- Business plan
- Target audience
- Marketing strategy
- E-Commerce Academy