Business Owner Guides Students and Job Seekers Toward Their “True North”
North Star Consulting of Hillsborough County
After nearly 20 years in higher education, USF alumni, Christina Sanchez Bonner, recognized a growing need within her community—students, families, and adults were falling through the cracks, unsure of their next steps and lacking personalized guidance. Motivated to fill this gap, she launched North Star Consulting, a private college and career consulting firm offering one-on-one, unbiased support to help clients “find their true north and reach for the stars.”
Her vision was clear, but turning her passion into a fully functioning business required additional expertise. That’s when she connected with the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County and business consultant Shawn Ferguson, who provided guidance on business startup fundamentals, legal requirements, marketing strategies, and community networking.
“Shawn, he made all this happen. Previously, these were just ideas and dreams that I had, and if it wasn’t for the Hillsborough County SBDC, none of this would’ve turned into a reality. Now, this is going on to be a thriving business of almost two years, to where I don’t even have to consider looking around for a different job. I can do the job that I feel like I was meant to do,” Bonner said.
“Not only have my business dreams become a reality, but I also learned all the legalities, how to do marketing, and how to connect with the right people in the community… Without those tools, I probably would still be at my regular day job just contemplating a business,” she added.
Today, her consulting and résumé services are thriving, with steady bookings and a growing client base. “My business has grown since working with the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County because truthfully, it went from nothing to being something,” Bonner shared.
One of her proudest accomplishments has been earning approval from the State of Florida as a Step-Up scholarship provider, allowing her to serve homeschooling families at no out-of-pocket cost. “Something I’m extremely passionate about is reaching out to students and families of all demographics, education, et cetera, and through the Step-Up scholarship I’m able to provide these services to the community members that homeschool their families and they don’t have to pay out of pocket to have this additional support. That is something I feel very passionate about and being able to provide these services through state funding for these families is like a dream come true,” she explained.
As she continues expanding, she plans to lean on the Florida SBDC for ongoing mentoring and growth support. “There’s a lot of challenges that come with growing, which thankfully I still have my number one consultant, Shawn, to help me with thinking about future obstacles, planning for the future, how to expand, how to bring on more employees, how to deal with the finances, the marketing, and then executing the services,” Bonner said.
Her message to other entrepreneurs is clear: the Florida SBDC provides the tools, confidence, and connections needed to turn ideas into reality. “What I would say to other business owners or anybody who’s considering even starting a business is to not even think about it and to reach out to the Florida SBDC Hillsborough County because even if you think you know everything, I guarantee you don’t,” Bonner said.
“Whether it is that you need moral support, if you need an extra pair of eyes to look over your plans, or if you were like me where you were a complete novice and you really needed somebody to look over all of the fine print, it never hurts to have a friendly voice who has nothing but your best interest looking over your plans. It’s a win-win situation to reach out, and why not start off with being a part of a family that wants you?” she concluded with a smile.
