WMADO Small Business Winners

LS Technologies Wins 2013 Business of the Year

Each year since 1963, the President of the United States has designated a week as National Small Business Week in recognition of the small business community’s contributions to the American economy and society.

In partnership with public- and private-sector small business supporters, the U.S. Small Business Administration sponsors special activities honoring the nation’s entrepreneurs at the local, state and national levels.

The presentation of prestigious awards highlights Small Business Week activities. At the district, state and national levels, these awards spotlight the outstanding contributions of small business persons, champions, exporters and young entrepreneurs, as well as those who have developed their small businesses into large ones. At the regional and national levels, awards will highlight the contributions of outstanding small businesses, prime contractors and subcontractors for the federal government.

The Washington Metropolitan Area District Office Congratulates the District’s 2013 Small Business Week Special Award Recipients:

• Tom J. Loftus
• President and CEO
• LS Technologies, LLC

2013 Small Business of the Year

After a distinguished 23-year career with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration, Tom J. Loftus founded LS Technologies, LLC in October 2000. The company graduated from the Small Business 8(a) program in July 2012.

As President and Chief Executive Officer, Tom’s vision of engineering and telecommunications support to government markets gradually expanded to include acquisition support, program management, business and financial support, multi-tiered help desk, secure communications and emergency operations, enterprise strategy and solutions, operations and network control center, and information security support.

Tom’s business model is built on a true trust-based relationship with his customers. The company stepped in when the Private Branch Exchange at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Ogden Service Center failed and their contractor gave one day’s notice that they were going out of business jeopardizing their work. IRS had to find another qualified 8(a) firm quickly. LS Technologies met that requirement and had the personnel with the right skills. Most importantly, they understood the urgency for continuity of service to the American taxpayer.

“LS Technologies had a very successful experience as a U.S. Small Business Administration certified 8(a) business. With SBA’s help, LS Tech was able to grow a small business focused on engineering and telecommunications into a multi-faceted business that created more than 200 jobs” said Antonio Doss, District Director (Acting) Washington Metropolitan Area District Office. The 8(a) Business Development program is a nine-year program established to assist eligible socially and economically disadvantaged individuals develop and grow their businesses.

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• Vinson Xavier Palathingal
• President and CEO
• Amsco Global

2013 Small Business Exporter of the Year Award

Based in Tysons Corner, Va., and a leading exporter of American brands to the Middle East, Amsco represents over 1,000 U.S. manufacturers, offering Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing products, Engineering equipment, Spare parts, Building materials as well as Oil & Gas industrial products.

Middle Eastern clients, who were mostly disappointed with their prior U.S. buying experience due to lack of flexibility on the American side, love Amsco’s custom tailored account management approach. Customers wanted to work with an American company who understood their specific needs and industries according to their preferences including their business schedule and language. Using an SBA loan to start the business, Amsco met such needs often exceeding their client expectations. During his business trips to the Middle East, Vinson Xavier Palathingal sold the idea that “at Amsco, our clients can find the most responsive U.S. trading partner ever” and apparently that message combined with matching performance is producing results.

Amsco’s business is 100 percent export that grew from $500,000 in sales to $4 million in 2 years, with a goal to reach $10 million dollars by the end of 2013.

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• Founder and President
• Sudhir Arora, M.D.
• The Arora Group, Inc.
• 8(a) Graduate of the Year

Nearly a quarter century ago, Dr. Sudhir Arora founded the Arora Group, Inc., a medical staffing company that provides long-term healthcare staffing services. His business has grown from a kitchen-table operation to the thriving minority-owned small business that Healthcare Executive Exchange magazine labeled “one of the nation's premiere professional healthcare service providers for the U.S. government.”

The firm serves the U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy as well as the Departments of Homeland Security and Commerce from its headquarters in Gaithersburg, Md. Through partnerships and ventures, the firm has created nearly 2,800 jobs in 31 states and the District of Columbia.

Dr. Arora found his niche while working with the military. “As a practicing physician, I began wondering about the effect of HMOs and Health Insurance companies at a time when the public was losing confidence in organized medicine. Within the military, there are no external pressures from insurance companies and the like. At times we have had our hands so full that we’ve subcontracted part of our business to meet the demand for our services.”

Dr. Arora credits the SBA’s advice and oversight during the company’s early years with helping it avoid unnecessary risks, especially when deciphering the sometimes-arcane rules governing a highly regulated industry.  He especially cites the Advanced 8(a) Academy training held at Howard University Business School as instrumental in building a strong foundation in business development that proved critical for competing, growing, and thriving in the dynamic federal contracting arena.

Because a company’s record of past performance is perhaps the weightiest factor the government considers in healthcare staffing procurement, companies must exercise great care to maintain positive performance records.  Here, too, Dr. Arora believes that SBA training showed the Arora Group how to avoid common mistakes that could have devastated his small business.

By the time the Arora Group was preparing to graduate from the 8(a) Program in 2003, the company had a foothold across the country and already had begun mentoring another 8(a) company.