Portia Carr has a clear vision for her business and says COVID-19 and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center helped give her that clarity.
Carr, a speech language pathologist, is founder and CEO of Infinity Therapy. The company provides speech, language, and social communication services for all ages. Based in Benton, Infinity contracts with area care facilities and schools while also working with private patients.
In March, business “pretty much dried up,” due to the pandemic, Carr said. “When school and everything shut down, we were not allowed to go into any facility.”
After a brief wave of anxiety and uncertainty, Carr decided to make the most of the slowdown. “This was an opportunity to gain clarity about my vision for Infinity Therapy. I could use the extra down time to work toward my goals.”
One of her first moves was to contact the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and the Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center.
Just before COVID hit, she had learned about the national programs from a favorite podcast.
“On the podcast ‘Private Practice Success Stories,’ a speech-language private practice owner in another state was telling her story about the help she received. I thought, ‘Okay, resources are out there that I’m not aware of. There must be something like that in my state as well,’” she said.
When Carr contacted ASBTDC, she was paired with Eyona Mitchell, one of the center’s business specialists. Specialists are business professionals with specific expertise. Along with the center’s full-time business consultants, they provide no-cost guidance to Arkansas small business owners.
To social distance, Mitchell worked with Carr by email, phone, and Zoom sessions. They focused on ways Infinity Therapy could attract new clients.
“I have been very, very impressed with the knowledge, competency, and professionalism of my specialist,” said Carr, who started Infinity Therapy in 2016 after working for a large therapy provider.
“I never owned a business and didn’t have a business background, so starting was hard. But expansion and growth seemed harder. I felt stuck. I was facing that pre-COVID, but COVID amplified that.”
Thanks to ASBTDC and Mitchell, Carr now has a message and plan to reach her dream clients.
“She has helped me to organize and streamline my onboarding process and account management process. She has also helped me define my target market and develop strategies to reach that market,” said Carr. “For example, I’ve developed a list of hospitals in rural areas that do not have a speech therapist on staff and I’m reaching out to them.”
Already, Infinity Therapy has added a charter school to its client base and renewed contracts with a large school district and an adult day care. Carr is also pursuing government contract opportunities with help from PTAC.
“Business is still very slow, but there’s still a need and demand. I don’t feel like some business owners who are thinking, “Can I come back?” I know it’s just temporary,” she said.
Other Mitchell recommendations, such as updating her website to show she serves all ages, not just children, are helping Carr position her business for growth.
“There’s a huge gap for adult services,” said Carr. “I feel like they’re forgotten almost. People are living longer and longer and they deserve the best quality of life. And stroke patients are not all elderly. I have a patient now who is 37, my age. He’s non-verbal. Several of my patients are in their 50s and 60s. That’s not old.”
Her desire is to deliver speech therapy to underserved and disadvantaged populations. She’s looking to expand her reach with teletherapy services, which are not prevalent in Arkansas.
“In Arkansas, 73 out of 75 counties are rural, and some have zero speech language pathologists, some have one or two. I would love to drive all over the state, but I just can’t. There’s another way,” she said.
The telehealth delivery model for speech therapy with stroke patients is the subject of Carr’s doctoral dissertation. While operating her business, Carr is also pursuing a PhD at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She expects to complete her doctorate in 2021.
With so much on her plate, Carr is grateful for the support available through ASBTDC.
“It has been a great experience and has fostered growth within my business and personal growth,” she said. “I needed to clarify my vision and what I really want from this business. I gained clarity throughout COVID working with (ASBTDC).”
Carr encourages others looking to start or build a business to reach out to the center. “Take the leap and do the work, and it will pay off. This is such a great resource for small business owners. Why wouldn’t you take advantage?”
