Small-business owners, you deserve a moment in the spotlight. In this regular column, we highlight entrepreneurs from all over the U.S. who can answer the question: "What makes you stand out from the crowd?" We know you're proud of your accomplishments — now you can tell the world about them, too.

Michael Szyliowicz, CEO of Mont Blanc Gourmet, answers our questions:

What makes you stand out from the crowd?

People may not have heard of our name, but millions have tasted our products. We make custom-formulated blender drinks, cocoa powders and chocolate syrups that are used in specialty coffee drinks at top-tier café chains, including Peet's Coffee.

My name is: Michael Szyliowicz
My business is: Mont Blanc Gourmet
Industry: Food and Beverage
Location: Denver, Colorado
Year founded: 1985
Number of employees: 14
Web address: www.montblancgourmet.com

What's the best part about owning your own business?

Living a life focused on innovation. It’s energizing to come up with ideas that some may consider impractical and then see them come to life in the marketplace.

What's the biggest hurdle you've overcome?

Finding a successful business model. Mont Blanc has continually evolved over the past 20 years. We started making high-end chocolates in a basement kitchen, tried our hand at retail stores and cafés, ventured into making cocoa powders for drinks and finally found our niche in creating customized and private-label beverages for our customers.

Now, we compete against some of the biggest names in the industry and have a profitable, flexible business model that gives us unlimited production capacity and worldwide manufacturing abilities. We could double production tomorrow and not have to hire a single employee.

What's the best business advice you can offer?

Do what you love to do, enjoy your work and know that it’s never about the money. If you handle your business well, the money will come.

Are You a Stand Out?
To be considered for this column, please send an email (and a digital headshot!) to Editors@smSmallBiz.com , answering these questions:

My name is:
My business is: (name of business, plus description)
Location:
Year founded:
Number of employees:
Web address:

What makes you stand out from the crowd?
What's the best part about owning your own business?
What's the biggest hurdle you've overcome?
What's the best business advice you can offer?
If a business organization referred you to us, please tell us which one.

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• Stand Out: Architect Turned Entrepreneur