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Conozca a Angelique Adjutant, Oficial de Relaciones Públicas en la Oficina de Distrito de Puerto Rico e Islas Vírgenes
Ashley Cassels
Post date: 03/07/2013 - 11:04

Angelique AdjutantCuando un amigo o familiar te pregunta qué haces para ayudar a las pequeñas empresas, ¿qué les dices?

Les digo que soy responsable de fortalecer la presencia de SBA en la comunidad, para que otros puedan realizar sus sueños de independencia económica, de crear empleos y proveer para miles de familias.  La SBA tiene una misión extraordinaria que siempre respaldaré.

 

De todas las cosas que la SBA hace para las pequeñas empresas, ¿cuál es tu favorita?

Tendría que ser la creación de oportunidades. Oportunidades de aprendizaje, mejoramiento, crecimiento y éxito para los pequeños empresarios.

¿Existe una “historia de éxito” de alguna pequeña empresa en particular que te venga a la mente cuando piensas cómo la SBA ayuda a las personas?

Me vienen a la mente muchos empresarios exitosos, y me siento afortunada de haber podido conocerles y contar sus historias.  Pero si tuviera que escoger sólo una, sería la de Jatniel Vázquez, fundador y presidente de Jayvee Air Conditioning en Bayamón, Puerto Rico.  De orígenes humildes, hoy Jatniel es dueño de una exitosa empresa dedicada a sistemas de aire acondicionado industriales y comerciales que genera más de $2 millones en ventas anuales; emplea a más de 15 personas, le paga la carrera de Ingeniería a su hermana, emplea a miembros de su familia y le compró a su madre la casa de sus sueños.  ¡Y todo eso antes de cumplir 30 años!  Jatniel se benefició de los programas de préstamos garantizados de SBA para expandir su negocio y crear empleos.

¿Tienes algún consejo para empresarios y dueños de pequeñas empresas en general?

Empieza pequeño pero siempre piensa en grande.

¿Algo más que desees añadir?

Sí. Como en todo lo demás, la perseverancia es crítica en el alcance de los sueños de cualquier persona. Para citar a Winston Churchill, “nunca te des por vencido, nunca, jamás”. Angelique Adjutant, Public Affairs Specialist

 

Meet Angelique Adjutant, Public Affairs Specialist in Puerto Rico and USVI District Office
Ashley Cassels
Post date: 03/05/2013 - 14:57

When a friend or family member asks what you do to help small businesses, what do you say?

I say that I am responsible for reinforcing SBA’s presence in the community, so that others may realize their dreams of financial independence, of starting a business of their own, of creating jobs and providing for thousands of families. The SBA has the most extraordinary mission – one I will always support.Angeique

 

What’s your favorite thing about what the SBA does for small businesses?

It would have to be the creation of opportunities. Opportunities for small business entrepreneurs to learn, improve, grow and succeed.

Is there a particular small business “success story” that comes to mind when you think about how the SBA helps people?

There are many successful small business owners that come to mind, and I am grateful to have been able to meet them and tell their stories.  But if I had to choose only one, it would have to be Jatniel Vázquez, founder and president of Jayvee Air Conditioning in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.  From very humble beginnings, today Jatniel owns a successful enterprise engaged in industrial and commercial air conditioning systems, generating more than $2 million in annual revenues; he employs over 15 people, provides for his younger sister’s education in Engineering, employs his family, and bought his mother the house of her dreams.  And all this before turning 30! Jatniel took advantage of SBA loan programs to expand his business and create jobs.

Do you have any advice for entrepreneurs and small business owners out there?

Start small but always think big.

Anything else to add?

Yes. As with anything else, perseverance is critical to achieving one’s dreams. To quote Winston Churchill, “never, ever, ever, ever give up”.

Meet David Leonard, Assisting in the Startup and Expansion of Small Businesses in Nevada
Ashley Cassels
Post date: 03/19/2012 - 13:00

Meet David Leonard, Branch Manager, Office of Economic Development, Nevada District Office

David Leonard, Senior Area Manager, Office of Economic Development, Nevada District OfficeWhen a friend or family member asks what you do to help small businesses,
what do you say?

My mission is to create jobs by assisting in the startup and expansion of small
businesses. I accomplish this mission with a wide variety of SBA programs and
services which are invaluable to the survival and success of small firms in Nevada
outside Clark County. I work to ensure that small businesses, financial institutions,
community organizations and local, state and federal agencies on all levels are
aware of SBA programs and services.

 
What’s your favorite thing about what the SBA does for small businesses?

I think the variety of programs and services we offer is our greatest strength. In my
current role, I have to be familiar with most of them, and it is satisfying to see how
SBA is able to help small businesses to survive and thrive.

Is there a particular small business “success story” that comes to mind when
you think about how the SBA helps people?

Previously, I worked for SBA Disaster Assistance. I processed and serviced the
disaster loans and submitted the nomination for the winners of the first SBA
Phoenix Disaster Recovery Award. The winner was a family-owned business and
the only grocery store in their rural Kentucky town. I processed loans to repair and
restock the grocery store and to repair their homes and their rental property, which
was leased to a hardware store and to which I also made a loan.

By the time the Small Business Week award winners were announced, I had
transferred from Disaster Assistance to the SBA PLP Review Branch. When
the award was presented to the mother and daughter I had nominated, I was at
work with my team, conducting a review of a bank in Puerto Rico, and
unaware they had won. A bank staff member came into the conference room
where we were working and let me know there was a call for me from the Office of
the President. I responded, "The president of what?" I'll never forget her
quavering reply, "the President of the United States!"

I answered the call and was asked to hold by a Presidential staffer. The mother and
daughter I nominated for the Phoenix Award soon came on the phone. When they
met with the President, they had asked him if I could be located, so they could tell
me right away about winning the award, about their adventures in Washington,
DC, and to say thanks in person.

Do you have any advice for entrepreneurs and small business owners out
there?

Take advantage of our programs and services. We are there for the entire life cycle
of your business.

Anything else to add?

The SBA has helped thousands of small businesses to start up, grow and succeed
and our communities depend on us for assistance in good times and bad. Our
agency needs assurance that SBA will not be folded into another part of the federal
government or eliminated altogether, but will to continue to help businesses for
years to come.

 

 

 

Cathy Hughes of Radio One Speaks to SBA Staff at Recent Black History Month Event
Ashley Cassels
Post date: 02/22/2012 - 12:04

 

SBA employees had the opportunity to hear from Cathy Hughes, the founder of Radio One, who also serves as the Chair of the SBA’s Council on Underserved Communities. 

Hughes, who herself started Radio One with the support of an SBA loan in 1979, now runs the largest black-owned media company in the country, and in 2004 launched TV One, a national cable and satellite television network.

During the event to celebrate African American History Month, Hughes shared her views on the importance of changing the perception of black women in the media.  She highlighted how important it is for people of color to be able to tell their story from their own perspective, and noted that she considers this one of her most important jobs today.  “Our obligation is to tell our story from our perspective is what owning black media is about,” said Hughes.

Hughes shared one anecdote from her past about her ongoing fight against the negative portrayal of African Americans in the media.  After leading a protest against the Washington Post, Hughes was called into a meeting with Katharine Graham.  Hughes remembers Graham asking if her time was better spent protesting or building a media empire of her own.   These remarks resonated with Hughes and since then she has continued to grow her media company and ensure that African Americans have the ability to tell their story in the media.

As Chair of SBA’s Council on Underserved Communities, Hughes has been committed to strengthening entrepreneurship and expanding opportunities for underserved.   One emphasis of her remarks was how important it is for the next generation to have even greater opportunities.  Hughes pointed out that the SBA is an important player in helping to make sure that young people who can’t find jobs know that entrepreneurship is an option. Hughes encouraged SBA employees to help this younger generation create opportunities for themselves and jobs for others by starting their own businesses. 

Hughes, the only African American woman to ever chair a publicly held company, credits SBA with her start.  “SBA was my saving grace,” said Hughes.  Hughes struggled to find funding when she first started in the communications industry, and was turned down by 32 lenders before finally receiving an SBA-backed loan. 

After a brief question and answer session, Hughes conveyed her appreciation for SBA employees who do a “thankless job”.  “I’m saying thank you on behalf of the small business owners you help every day,” said Hughes. 

What Happens to Your Government Contract if Your Company is Bought?
Ashley Cassels
Post date: 07/20/2011 - 17:00

By Bill Gormley

Acquisitions and mergers are a part of business – especially for a small company.

Let’s say you’re a small company with a GSA Schedule contract and you’re bought by a larger company, or merged with another small company. What happens to your contract? This is an important question not only from the perspective of continuing to do business with the government, but also from the perspective of continuing to get paid by the government.

Here are the rules, according to Carolyn Alston, General Counsel at Washington Management Group, and former senior attorney in the GSA’s Office of General Counsel:

“When a federal contractor is acquired, the Government contract follows the corporate assets. If the government contract holder sells all of its assets (or all the assets used to perform the contract) to a third party, that third party can be substituted as the new contract holder. The process of recognizing a third party as the new contractor is called “novation”.  Contracting officers can approve the novation, but will only do so after reviewing a list of documents that are required by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).”

Be warned: Processing a novation can take a long time. For better or for worse, processing a novation is last on pretty much everyone’s list.

On the corporate side, your attorneys are focused on closing the deal. It’s a time-consuming process to gather up all the documents the government needs in order to prove that the merger/acquisition took place. On the government side, officials are focused on awarding and modifying contracts; novations tend to fall to the bottom of the inbox.

What can you do to help the process along?

First, think ahead. If you know early on that your company is being acquired or will merge with another Government contractor, make your corporate team aware of the impact on the government contracts and brief them on the process.

Collect documents or identify the document owners along the way – as you go through the corporate acquisition process – instead of saving this process for after the merger or acquisition. It can be a challenge to find documents after the deal is done.

Another option: Avoid the novation process all together. When both the acquiring company and the one being acquired have GSA Schedule contracts, consider using the Modification clause of the GSA Schedule, to consolidate multiple contracts. By simply adding and deleting items, you may be able to transfer contract items and create a contract vehicle sufficient to market and sell items of the new corporate entity.

 

Additional Resources

 

Bill Gormley is president and CEO of Washington Management Group, chairman of the Coalition for Government Procurement, and Vice Chair at the Procurement Round Table.