The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Arizona district office recognized Sonoran Technology and Professional Services, as an SBA Legacy Business.
Founded in 2007, Sonoran Technology and Professional Services, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, is a business dedicated to delivering transformational training and technical solutions to a host of customers and was recognized as a part of the SBA agency’s 70th Anniversary Celebration.
Paul A. Smiley, founded the company and during the first few years of operations, he drew on personal finances to grow the business and remained home-based for the first two years.
As Paul puts it, “we started small with a corporate culture of frugality. Our emphasis was on marketing, and while we won seven small contracts early on, we took no salary for the first two years, deciding instead to plow the revenues back into the business.”
He adds, “our business know-how and the lessons we learned truly helped us compete.” Paul established a customer focused corporate culture where customer satisfaction and relationships are paramount. As the business grew, Paul pursued a “sub-first” approach to government contracting, deciding to gain experience and build relationships by serving as a subcontractor first rather than bid as a prime contractor. The business grew and soon he was bidding as a prime and winning.
Sonoran Technology has worked with an impressive array of federal agencies including: the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Justice, Air Force and the General Services Administration.
His advice, “start small and build strong relationships”. Focus on your proposal writing and, when you don’t win a contract ask for a debriefing and learn why others succeeded. Hire part-time employees until your business dictates the need to hire full time. Marketing and business education are good places to spend your money.”
Sonoran Technology and Professional Service, Secret to Success: “We take every opportunity to learn whether from our successes or our failures. Our corporate culture with the focus on customer satisfaction drives customer loyalty and our lean approach to running the business has helped us sustain growth.”
The company was named the 2019 Small Business of the Year for Arizona having received assistance from the Arizona Small Business Development Center, graduating from the 8(a) Business Development Program, and receiving 7(a) Loan Assistance.
The SBA’s Legacy Celebration recognizes past or current small businesses that benefitted from SBA resources in their early stages. For 70 years, America’s entrepreneurs have relied on SBA support to help start and grow their small businesses.
Today, the SBA is building upon its success. The agency has provided billions of dollars in support to small businesses, assisted millions of small business owners in building meaningful, lifelong connections and helped entrepreneurs power local economies.
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