SLCC, SBDC Honor Blind Veteran and Entrepreneur

Salt Lake Community College and the Utah Small Business Development Center honor the business success of U.S. Army and first Gulf War Veteran, Jeremiah Espinoza.

Following his tour of duty, Espinoza decided he wanted to start a business selling his handmade woven braided western whips, key chains and bracelets. There were many significant obstacles standing in the way of his dream to start his own business, however. Within a few months of active duty, Espinoza started to loose his vision and doctors were unable to determine if the vision loss was related to his service with the Army, or otherwise. “I was completely in the dark,” says Espinoza.

Despite his vision loss, Espinoza was determined to not let it stop him. Espinoza taught himself how to rely on touch rather than sight to create his braided goods. “Everything I do now is by feel. As for the difference (between my work before and after loosing my sight), I think I make them better now.” After crafting a few of his products, Espinoza quickly discovered that there was a potential market to make his dream become a reality.
“Jeremiah and his wife first came into the Vernal Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as a referral from Vocational Rehabilitation (Utah State Office),” says Mark Holmes, Center Director. “He needed a business plan to get some funding and assistance with Vocational Rehab paperwork related to the business. Holmes proceeded to help the Espinozas write the business plan and navigate the Vocational Rehab paperwork, which helped the couple launch the business.

“When Espinoza came into the office, blind and wanting to start a braiding business I was skeptical,” said Holmes. “I couldn’t have been more wrong in my assumptions, Jeremiah does excellent work.”
Espinoza says of his experience with the SBDC, “when I first started this whole business thing, the paperwork threw me and my wife (for a curve). We didn’t understand it. Mark helped us with the business plan and gave us some ideas that we ran with. Not a lot of people said it would work, but he said it could—with a lot of hard work. My very first sale went to Canada, and I (now) sell all over the U.S. through my website.”
Espinoza’s handcrafted whips are made of thick high-quality parachute cording and take an average of 12 hours to complete for six feet in length. Espinoza uses a variety of colors that can be customized to a customers’ preference. Currently, he is working on pink whips that are being created for donations to support breast cancer awareness.

For the future, Espinoza plans to hand-braid customized nosepieces for hackamore bridals. He also hopes to teach others his passion and skill for braiding, so that he can pass down the art for generations to come.
The UT SBDC provides consulting, training and other resources to emerging and existing small business owners in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), the Lead UT SBDC Center at Salt Lake Community College, and other colleges and universities in the state. To learn more about the UT SBDC program, please visit www.utahsbdc.org. For more information about Blind Man’s Whips visit www.blindmanwhips.com.

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog