HALES CORNERS, Wis. – It was 1998 when Quinn Smith (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) started working for a moving company, learning the business from the ground up. For over 15 years, he gained experience, skills and determination, plus the vision to one day own his own company.
That path was not easy.
When Quinn decided to take the leap, he knew he would need more than just an idea. He needed a partner who believed in him. That’s why he picked up the phone and called Craig Anderson, then the executive director at First American Capital Corporation (FACC), a nonprofit financial institution which provides lending and business technical assistance to Native, tribal and underserved businesses and entrepreneurs.
Craig (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) was one of the founders of FACC in 2002. After a distinguished and impactful career, he passed away in 2020.
Together, Craig and Quinn started where many entrepreneurs do: with a business plan and a small loan.
“It takes only one person to believe in you,” Quinn said. “Craig made me work for it, but he
believed in me, and I wasn’t going to let him down.”
With that early support, Quinn launched About Time Moving Systems, LLC in 2014. The first couple years were tough, filled with uncertainty and lessons learned the hard way, but Quinn stayed the course – and by year three, his business began to grow.
Since then, About Time Moving Systems has become a trusted residential moving company in the Racine and Kenosha areas, with four trucks, a dedicated team and a reputation for exceptional customer service. What began as a small start-up loan eventually grew into one of the largest series of business expansion loans in FACC history – and Quinn has paid it all back in full.
“That was a proud moment,” he said.
As a revolving loan fund, borrowers’ payments are then available for FACC to relend to the next qualified prospective business borrower.
For Quinn, the impact of FACC went far beyond financing. FACC and its broader partnership with Bay Bank, owned by the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, opened doors that might have otherwise remained closed. While other lenders may have dismissed Quinn’s vision during his start-up phase, FACC took the time to understand it and fund it. They offered not only access to capital, but also guidance with the expectation of accountability.
“They’re on my side,” Quinn said. “We’re on the same team. We’re partners.”
That partnership has been reinforced through Quinn’s involvement with the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (AICCW), which he joined in 2014. Through both AICCW and FACC, Quinn found a network of support that strengthened his business and connected him to broader opportunities within the tribal business community. Today, Quinn sees firsthand the effect FACC has across that community.
“The impact FACC has on the tribal business sector is huge,” he said. “It’s that personal touch – it makes you stay loyal to them.”
For Quinn, it comes down to one simple truth: “Surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed.”
With the right people by his side – from mentors like Craig Anderson to partners like FACC – Quinn has done more than build a successful business. He has created opportunity, stability and a path forward for others to follow. And it all started with someone willing to say, “Yes.”
Visit the About Time Moving Systems website to learn more about its services or schedule your Fnext moving project.
