2021 Women in Business

hey started their small business in 1982, just nine months after they got married. Matt Uebelacker, who had experience making cabinets, and his wife Diana, began the journey that became Busy Bee Cabinets, Inc., in his parents' Port Charlotte garage. In those early days they were the only employees. Matt did all of the sawing because he didn't want her to get hurt. She assembled and cleaned the units and Matt had the painter's touch. It was a good fit. Then the first of three children came and Uebelacker did not want to be pregnant around the chemicals of their trade, so she stepped back. Later she stepped back in. Busy Bee has stayed in business for so long, Uebelacker said, because they hire talented, loyal employees, and they treat both their employees and customers well. Customers include contractors – from as far away as Tampa and Naples. Many of their cabinets are in John Cannon Homes in Lakewood Ranch. They also serve local residents at multiple price points after they come in to the North Port showroom. Uebelacker, the company's vice president and owner, is the North Port honoree this year in Women in Business, a magazine published annually by the Sun Coast Media Group. During the early years Busy Bee was located behind Treasure Lanes in Port Charlotte. After they moved to Murphy Court in North Port they had 88 employees and things were going well. They downsized due to the Great Recession. Uebelacker says that was the most difficult time. Growth returned after they moved to 2845 Commerce Parkway in North Port. They added the showroom at 3455 Bobcat Village Center Road in North Port nine years ago. To stave off future recessions they now have three entities. XYZ Manufacturing Inc. manufactures cabinets, Busy Bee Cabinets, Inc. sells them and Installations Unlimited of Southwest Florida LLC installs them. "We're very blessed to still be in business because with certain things that have happened, over the course of time, I know many people who have shut their doors," Uebelacker said. "We've got a good group of employees, a good group of contractors that we deal with." Currently there are 35 employees. Several have been on the payroll more than 25 years. The pandemic did not affect Busy Bee much, Uebelacker said. If affected private sales to homeowners but Busy Bee still was busy with new home construction. Long- term planning is based on the economy and how far out customers are looking. "You have your ups and downs but I have very loyal employees," she said. "My sales force is excellent." T CABINETS continued on page 58 Photos by Ed Scott September 2021 Women In Business 57

• Cover