Leland Wetzel grew up playing baseball with a dream to play college ball and possibly go pro. After suffering shoulder injuries and multiple surgeries during his junior high and high school years, a future in baseball after high school was out of the question. Wetzel grew up with a love for woodworking, both his father and grandfather were hobby woodcarvers. In July 2012, Wetzel wanted to make a baseball bat for his nephew’s first birthday. He had no idea how to make one, but luckily, his grandfather taught him a few things. He made his first baseball bat and he wanted to make more. Leland Wetzel came to the SBDC at MSU in late 2013. At this point in time, work had spread about Wetzel’s craft, and he was busy making bats in addition to working his full-time job. The BSDC assisted Wetzel with his DBA, and cash flow projections, and discussed the importance of a business plan, pricing considerations, and marketing ideas. The SBDC worked with Wetzel over the next five months. Several years passed before Wetzel reached back out to Lynda Cannedy, the center’s Assistant Director and consultant whom he had first worked with. He had been operating Xylo Bats but hadn’t put much into it until recently, but he knew he needed help with his growing business. Lynda is currently working with Wetzel on a business expansion and new business plan.
