Luis Yépez, Jr.,
Vice President Mainstream Global, Inc.

While on a European business trip in May 2006, Luis and Juan Yépez learned that the Merrimack River was flooding.  Their company, Mainstream Global—a distributor of integrated circuits and computer products—was housed in a 100,000 square-foot mill on the banks of the Merrimack.  Upon their return to the warehouse, they were stunned by the sight of floating inventory, debris and sewage.

They had lost hundred of thousands of dollars in inventory.  While Luis and Juan kept their staff of 12 on the payroll as part of the “recovery team,” the company was not fully operational and they were losing money.  They received a working capital disaster loan from the SBA, which helped Mainstream Global stay in business.  Three years later, the company has grown to 32, with sales that exceed $8 million.