We've all heard of the adage "Learn from the mistakes of others", to avoid making the same mistakes yourself." If you like to think positive, here's an even better one, "Learn from the success stories of others" to learn how you too can increase your probability of achieving success.

One man who did his homework, and saw it pay off was Dwight Quarles, founder and president of Eagle Construction & Remediation, LLC. Eagle Construction specializes in the restoration of properties by first removing all lead-based paint and other environmental hazards that are present, then restoring the property to salable condition.

When Dwight wanted to start his new construction company, he first sought the free advice of local professionals found in Pittsburgh's business start-up assistance centers. According to Dwight, "These centers offer a ton of valuable resources for free! It would be a big mistake not to use them. They have helped me a lot".

One resource center that was especially helpful to Dwight was the Riverside Center for Innovation's Business Information Center (BIC). "They organize great seminars with knowledgeable speakers on a variety of topics ranging from securing start-up financing, to using QuickBooks for cash management and payroll. They have a nice library of business books and educational videotapes, and brand new computer systems loaded with great business planning and development software.

"But the best part about the BIC, is the business contacts you can make. The staff will introduce you to all the right people, from bankers to business leaders that will help make your business a success much faster."

For more information, feel free to visit the Western Pennsylvania BIC center any weekday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on the 5th floor of the main RCI building.