Woodworking Business Owner Turns to 10KSB For Fast, Effective Growth

Jessica Brown Wood Thingamajigs grows and thrives with Tri-C program

Jessica Brown's love of woodworking began when she took a woodshop class in middle school in her hometown of Norwood, Massachusetts.

After attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and moving to Northeast Ohio, she started a woodworking business in 2016. Her company, Wood Thingamajigs, creates laser- and CNC-cut wood products such as ornaments, home decor, cornhole sets, and kitchen and barware.

While searching the internet for resources to help her grow Wood Thingamajigs, Brown learned about the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). She enrolled in the program in 2022.

"10KSB was the exact thing I was looking for to catapult my business up several levels," Brown said.

10KSB is a $750 million investment that provides entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing them with greater access to education, financial capital and business support services. The program fosters collaboration among participants and connects them with a broader network of resources, including one-on-one business advising and the opportunity to learn from other like-minded business owners.

"10KSB was the single greatest thing I have done in over six years to make my company grow faster and more effectively," Brown said. "I learned how to understand my numbers, which was life-changing."

The business growth plan that Brown developed and implemented during the program gave her a road map to expand her business.

"I started a new company called Wicked Seven, which focuses exclusively on drink coasters," said Brown. "If it weren't for the things I learned in the program from the faculty and my cohort mates, that would not have been possible this fast."

The company celebrated nine years of business on April 28.

Learn more about the program on Tri-C's Goldman Sachs 10KSB web page.

May 01, 2025

By Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu