Mind and Brain Care Dr. Mabel Lopez

Knowledge and desire are usually prerequisites for starting a business. But if the entrepreneur does not perform all of the duties, such as planning, leasing the office, hiring the correct employees, considering building codes and licenses, failure is usually the short term result.

When Dr. Mabel Lopez decided to open her Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist office, The Mind and Brain Care in Fort Myers, Florida, she needed some sound business advice and a loan to help financially support her new venture. Dr. Lopez planned extensively---more than 50 pages of material and data and projections. She became overwhelmed, especially upon speaking with bankers. Her legal counsel suggested that she make an appointment with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at Florida Gulf Coast University- Lutgert College of Business. She met several times with Certified Business Analyst, Norm Jacobson. With the simplified plan in hand, Dr. Lopez discussed the loan possibilities with several banks, three of which had serious interest. Each bank had their own review process. (SBA) loan guarantee program. Dr. Lopez, based upon her own business knowledge and expert counselors, successfully got through all of the hurdles and financial maze.

“Norm was able to simplify the planning and loan package process. Much of the data, many, many pages were placed in an appendix. We ended up with a very clear, one page ‘executive summary’ that all three banks commented positively upon. One banker said that “your plan is the best one that I’ve ever seen.” The SBDC helped most by recommending a simpler business plan, easier to read, and clearly stated. As Norm said, remember who you are writing the loan package plan for----a bank who will have several reviewers and who are busy. The banks want to know who you are, why you want the loan, how much of a loan is required, and can you and the community support the planned pay back to the bank. And, like it or not, all businesses are ‘money businesses.’ “The process works! And now I can achieve my passion of helping my clients!” states Dr. Lopez.

Today, she performs the important duties of Chief of Psychiatry and Psychology for Lee Memorial Health Systems, Advisory Board Member for the Dubin Alzheimer’s Center and President-elect for the local Calusa Chapter of the Florida Psychological Association.

Dr. Lopez received her Ph.D. from Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine and Science, formerly known as the University for Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School. Following this, she completed a clinical neuropsychology internship and postdoctoral residency at the renowned Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida.