Melissa Whitehead was a star softball player through her college years but after suffering a serious accident she was unable to continue. Instead she decided to teach her love for the game to the next generation of players. She started Wooldridge Softball Academy in 2007 – an indoor, year-round training facility developing female athletes from the ages of 5 to 23. Her training emphasizes the physical mechanics and mental toughness necessary to compete at all levels. The business’s mission is to positively impact each and every person they encounter through participation in a well defined and disciplined program.
After leasing an industrial warehouse in Modesto, CA for 7 years, Melissa wanted to construct a facility on the ranch her and her husband had recently purchased. This way she would be able to see her young children much more regularly and literally bring her work and home life closer together.
A loan from Fresno CDFI helped owner Melissa Whitehead construct the new facility. As a result of the move, the company will be able to decrease its expenses by around 20% and increase its hours of operations – allowing Melissa to increase the time she can devote to training her customers as well as hire an additional part-time trainer.
