I attended our local chapter of the Army Aviation Association of America’s holiday party this past week, and I made a comment to a local partner that has resonated in my thoughts since, “small businesses are bigger than they used to be.” I was immediately corrected that this sounded like an oxymoron, but indeed there is some truth behind the fact that small businesses, especially within federal contracting, are a bigger deal now than ever before!
Small businesses provide innovation and advancement at a click faster than the “big dogs” just by default. They’re not bogged down with internal bureaucracy that can slow the pace of advancement in technology and new ideas.
Living in Orlando presents a myriad of advantages with this perspective. We not only have a huge GovCon community, we are the hub of military Simulation for pretty much the entire world, and we are a melting pot of veteran business owners and workers creating a huge support to the Defense community. Orlando is a Big, small town, which is a great place for those businesses that provide that same analogical support. So, why the explosion of small business strength over the last say, 10 years? Well, for one, the Department of Defense added the 25% mandatory small business allocation on their contracts. The bigger Primes are forced to include the little guy in order to continue gaining contracts. A great opportunity for young, fresh ideas and technology to be added into the ‘same ole’ same ole’ mentality.
These allocations have allowed veteran-, female-, minority, disabled-owned, etc., businesses to provide a huge foundation of what keeps our country safe in such a tumultuous world. No one can deny the need for continuous innovation to keep us ahead of our enemies in their quest to dismantle the last of the Superpower nations. We need to encourage young businesses to keep at it, look for opportunities to strategically grow and innovate, so they can keep us ahead of the curve as it pertains to National Defense and Security.
Technology is constantly changing the playing field, upping the stakes for security, and pushing the envelope for who will go further first. Small businesses are a vital part of what makes our country strong, and great and among the World’s most innovative and advanced. I am a proud employee of a growing small business, owned by former Federal Contractors and with a leadership team comprised of veterans with top honors and accolades. I feel a part of the greater good just by association, so the least I can do is shed some light on the necessity and gravity of impact of this community of entrepreneurs. So, cheers to the sole proprietors, the small businesses of today and those who are to come! You are the present and the future, and you are destined for BIG things!