10/29/2026
“Success is always under construction.”
Tonyia Smith knows that building a business takes more than a great product. It takes the right numbers, the right strategy, and the willingness to keep growing.
As the founder of Silver Slice Bakery, Tonyia turned experiments in her home kitchen into a growing business specializing in gluten-free baked goods and wood-fired pizza crusts. Today, her products are reaching new customers in the hospitality industry, and opportunities to expand are growing. But turning demand into sustainable growth meant learning to navigate the business side of her passion.
Through SCORE, Tonyia found a partner in mentor Suvendoo Ray. Together, they dug into cash flow, profit margins, and future sales projections, helping Tonyia understand where her business stood today and what it would take to reach her next goals. Suvendoo also helped her evaluate production workflows and identify opportunities to grow existing customer relationships.
That guidance helped Tonyia strengthen her partnership with Hyatt Regency Seattle, where Silver Slice Bakery has grown from a supplier into a gluten-free partner.
For Tonyia, SCORE has been about more than the numbers. It’s helped her move past the fear of success, focus on what matters most, and build the confidence to lead her business into its next chapter.
Because success isn't a finish line. It's the work of building something stronger, one decision at a time.
