Milwaukee entrepreneur highlights the impact of Universities of Wisconsin small business resources

Photo: Natasha Broxton, owner of Select Auto Parts & Sales in Milwaukee

Natasha Broxton, owner of Select Auto Parts & Sales in Milwaukee, partnered with the Universities of Wisconsin’s Office of Business & Entrepreneurship (OBE) to access resources and support to grow her business.

As Milwaukee’s only indoor auto recycler, Select Auto Parts & Sales has a unique position in the local automotive industry. Broxton saw significant growth potential but recognized that improving visibility and investing in infrastructure would be essential to reaching more customers.

Through UWs’ OBE, she accessed free programs that helped her pursue funding, strengthen financial management, and expand her marketing efforts. Through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Technical Assistance program, Nora Roughen-Schmidt, OBE’s SSBCI Lead Specialist, helped Broxton prepare her business to pursue capital and identify funding opportunities. With this guidance, Broxton prepared a competitive application for The Confidence Project grant. Broxton’s business was one of only 20 to receive funding out of more than 200 applicants, 30 of which were selected to pitch.

Select Auto Parts & Sales used the $20,000 grant to fund exterior signage and visibility improvements. “Our exterior signage and visibility project improved drive-by awareness, customer confidence, and ease of access to our facility,” Broxton said. “Being selected validated the work we are doing and reinforced that our business model and impact resonated beyond our local market.”

Next, OBE’s Capital Readiness Program helped Broxton identify where capital would have the greatest impact. Wendy Potratz, Financial Consultant at OBE, assisted with financial projections and provided hands-on QuickBooks and accounting support, giving Broxton stronger financial management tools to guide business decisions.

Through OBE’s Digital Marketing Clinic, Broxton also partnered with University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee students to develop social media templates and content for LinkedIn and Instagram, helping expand the business’s digital presence.

With improved signage, stronger financial practices, and expanded marketing efforts, Select Auto Parts & Sales is better positioned to reach new customers and strengthen its role as a reliable partner to Milwaukee’s automotive service industry.

Broxton’s experience illustrates how accessible resources, expert guidance, and university partnerships can help small businesses overcome barriers to growth and contribute to Wisconsin’s local economies. Broxton said, “Increased visibility has already translated into greater awareness and engagement from both individual customers and business clients.”

Written by Stephanie Robey, Universities of Wisconsin’s Office of Business & Entrepreneurship (OBE)

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