Leslie Medeiro spent years working in cargo sales for a major airline.

Three years ago, Medeiro and her husband Dennis, took a passion and turned it into a business.

Carson City’s The Solar Store has experienced a steady success with each passing year. Gross sales tipped from $50,000 to over $100,000 the first year.

Then came the economic tumble of 2008.

And last fall, the business lost five major clients due to economic conditions. As a result, they’re focusing on reaching commercial clients more than residential, in a business push to keep them afloat.

"We’re shooting for a half million this year," said co-owner Dennis Medeiro. "I don’t know if that’s gonna happen but we’ve grown, almost doubled, every year of those three years."

In the company’s 2009 plan, the Medeiro’s are following through with lessons learned at an entrepreneur expo that its members attended in 2008.

The annual event hosted by Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET) is designed exclusively for small and new businesses. The free day-long event features nearly 100 exhibits and over a dozen education sessions to help new and small businesses during current economic conditions.

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