Business 1 on 1 with Lori Brewer, owner of LBA Ware in Macon
Lori Brewer, owner, LBA Ware, 355 Cotton Ave., 202-2222.
How long have you been in business?: "I started this company in 2008 which was the height of the financial bust."
In the 1990s, Brewer started software development while in the U.S. Air Force at Robins Air Force Base when websites were just being developed. She wrote a website for the C-130 (aircraft) office and "got hooked in programming then. I was an engineer ... but I like writing code. They actually created a position for me. I was the first webmaster."
Later she created a website and software for a Warner Robins mortgage company and did software development until just before that business closed.
"I always wanted my own business, and I put out a website that I would do ... different software programs for different systems. I just worked out of my living room. ... I was essentially a software developer as a consultant. But at the same time I started rewriting pieces of software that I knew would be handy."
Her company now sells three main software products for the financial industry throughout the U.S. She opened an office on Vineville Avenue in 2011, and earlier this year moved to her current location. The business has grown to 15 people.
What do you like best about your job?: "I really like running a small business and being an entrepreneur. I never knew how much I would love it. Software allows us to organize data, and organizing data and cutting out duplicate tasks and being able to help our clients run their businesses more efficiently, I really like doing that."
What is your specialty?: "We have software that runs in the cloud that automates compensation for banks and mortgage lenders or integrates disparate systems."
What are your future plans?: She hopes to grow the business to about 20 employees, including adding a sales person next year.
"We've spent a lot of time developing the products so now our focus is turning to making our process more efficient to bring on more clients."
-- Linda S. Morris
This story was originally published November 22, 2015 at 7:41 PM with the headline "Business 1 on 1 with Lori Brewer, owner of LBA Ware in Macon ."