• SUCCESS STORIES

    North Texas SBDC Client Showcase

Angelina’s Mexican Restaurant

Company Overview

Isabel Valez has owned and operated Angelina’s Mexican Restaurant for over 14 years in Corinth, Texas and more than 20 years in Lewisville, Texas. Angelina’s Mexican Restaurant is a family-owned and operated full-service dining establishment known for authentic Mexican cuisine and a welcoming atmosphere that reflects generations of tradition. Angelina’s specializes in freshly prepared, made-from-scratch Tex-Mex and traditional Mexican dishes, including signature enchiladas, sizzling fajitas, tacos, burritos, and hand-crafted margaritas.

After working with the North Central Texas SBDC several years ago to expand their business, Angelina’s Mexican Restaurant was ready to grow again. They expanded into fast growing Hickory Creek, TX resulting in a significant increase in sales, profit, and job creation. The North Central Texas SBDC was instrumental in assisting Isabel with obtaining a $265,000 incentive through the Hickory Creek EDC. Isabel used the EDC incentive package along with $150,000 of equity investment to obtain a $3.4M SBA loan to buy land and construct a new building for this location.

Angelina’s emphasizes quality ingredients, family recipes, and generous portions that have built a loyal customer base over nearly four decades. Beyond dine-in service, Angelina’s offers takeout, catering, and special-event hosting. Guests enjoy an inviting family-style environment featuring warm décor, friendly staff, and consistent family-oriented service.

Isabel is bilingual and serves as a Board Member for the Denton Housing Authority, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Women Networking of Texas and Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce. Isabel serves in a number of volunteer capacities in the community while she provides on-site management of her restaurants. She also owns and manages Painting By Velez, LLC.

  • Angelina’s Mexican Restaurant
    Lewisville Location
    1396 W. Main Street
    Lewisville, TX 75067
    (972) 221-9892
  • Angelina’s Mexican Restaurant
    Hickory Creek Location
    101 Baize Blvd
    Hickory Creek, TX 75065
    (940) 321-1133

Economic Impact

6.74M

SBA Funding

7.78M

Total Capital Infusion

427

Counseling Hours

38

Jobs Created

Young’s Daughters Funeral Home

Company Overview

Sabrina N. Young is the owner of Young’s Daughters Funeral Home & Bereavement Center, a family-owned funeral home based in Temple, Texas. The business provides a wide range of personalized funeral and memorial services, including traditional funerals, cremations, pre-planning services, and veteran honors funerals. They also offer unique services such as DNA banking, body donation programs, and disinterment and reinterment services. Through Sabrina’s leadership, the funeral home has become an integral part of the community, known for providing high-quality services to each family.

Sabrina received critical business and financial planning support from the McLennan SBDC. With their help, she secured an SBA lender, FNBT Bank, and a Certified Development Corporation, which together provided over $2 million in funding. This financial backing enabled Ms. Young to establish a strong foundation for her funeral home, fostering its growth and ensuring its long-term sustainability within the Central Texas community. By 2024, the company had grown its workforce 10 employees, signaling ongoing expansion and sales reaching more than $515,000.

Young’s Daughters Funeral Home stands out for its compassionate approach, offering grief support, bereavement classes, and resources to help families navigate loss. The business is equipped with modern technology to provide a seamless and comforting experience for clients. They serve clients throughout Central Texas.

Sabrina dedicates her time to several organizations, including her roles as a Service Officer and Lifetime Member of VFW Post #1820, where she advocates for veterans and offers assistance to service members and their families. Her involvement with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and American Legion Post #133 further reflects her commitment to supporting those who have served in the military.

  • Young’s Daughters Funeral Home
    and Bereavement Center
    4235 US-190
    Temple, TX 76501
    (254) 401-1302

Economic Impact

1.8M

SBA Funding

2.4M

Total Capital Infusion

58

Counseling Hours

8

Jobs Created

Pack-n-Mail

Company Overview

Megan Heath and her husband, James, first visited the UT Tyler-Longview SBDC in June 2021. They were exploring the purchase of an established Longview, Texas business that specialized in packaging and mailing services for both individuals and local companies. Coincidentally, the seller had launched this very business with help from the SBDC more than 30 years earlier. Knowing the value of the center’s guidance, the seller strongly encouraged Megan and James to use SBDC advising as they navigated the purchase.

Because they were new to business ownership, their SBDC advisor recommended a professional valuation to ensure they were not overpaying for the company. By August of 2021, Megan and James had registered their LLC and obtained their Employer Identification Number (EIN). In November of that year, the couple successfully closed on an SBA 7(a) loan for $334,000, supplemented by their own equity injection of $37,250. With financing secured and legal requirements met, Megan and James officially acquired the Pack-n-Mail business and began operating under their new ownership.

Megan and James began receiving numerous inquiries about expanding their services into Gilmer, Texas. The couple located an ideal property and proceeded to negotiate the lease. Using revenues from their existing location, they funded the expansion. The new Gilmer location quickly demonstrated strong performance, validating Megan and James’ decision to expand.

Megan and James understood the legacy they were stepping into and made it their mission not to let anyone down. Additionally, the couple works with Graciously Broken, a recovery-minded and Gospel-centered program that shapes and motivates heart change. They aim to foster hope and healing, restore dignity, inspire resilience, and empower women and their children through a comprehensive 12-month recovery program.

  • Pack-n-Mail
    303 W. Loop 281, Ste 110
    Longview, TX 75605
    (903) 663-6366

Economic Impact

334K

SBA Funding

371K

Total Capital Infusion

62

Counseling Hours

12

Jobs Created

EQ Autoworks

Company Overview

Coye Harris was born and raised in East Texas. After moving with his family from Tyler to Mineola, he began working on automobiles with his father at very young age. Coye fell in love with the power and feel of vehicles. After graduating from Mineola High School, he attended Texas State Technical College in Waco where he honed his automotive repair skills. After working for more than 14 years at numerous automotive dealerships and independent auto shops, Coye decided it was time to build a business. Coye opened EQ Autoworks in 2019 in a small shop in Tyler. In 2025, he opened a second location in Mineola.

Coye came to the Tyler SBDC in 2019, referred by his banker. In 2020, he received an SBA loan with the assistance of Tyler SBDC to purchase his facility in Tyler and make improvements. In 2025, he received a commercial loan with the assistance of Tyler SBDC to build his second shop location in Mineola. EQ Autoworks has experienced strong growth year after year. EQ Autoworks’ 2025 sales are on track to show similar growth when the two shops are combined. The company’s workforce has grown to more than 10 employees since it first opened its doors in 2019.

EQ Autoworks does more than just fix immediate automotive issues. The professional automotive team advises customers on ways to save time and money in the future with no obligations. The team provides auto alignments, oil changes, drivetrain repair, diagnostics, and factory programming and updates on twelve makes of automobiles. They also provide fleet service and are the only full-service independent shop in East Texas with Hunter Revolution Touchless Tire Installation.

Coye donates to the Mineola Education Foundation for Trade School Scholarships at Mineola High School. He has also donated two cars to charity and donates funds to his children’s extra-curricular activities, including dance studios and soccer teams. He enjoys donating anything which helps kids.

  • EQ Autoworks
    4301 State Hwy 31
    Tyler, TX 75709
    (903) 521-3030

Economic Impact

595K

SBA Funding

1.75M

Total Capital Infusion

124

Counseling Hours

10

Jobs Created