This Thursday, Washington Business Journal recognized the 12 top veteran-owned businesses in the greater Washington, D.C. area at the first annual Veterans in Business Awards ceremony.
The award recognizes veterans and companies for their work in helping the veteran community in the workplace and beyond.
"The military is...the most respected institution in the United States." And that's because of you — your drive, your leadership, your initiative, your dedication to our country, your selfless service," said John Nicholson, president of the PenFed Foundation and retired four star general, one of the program sponsors. "And number two in terms of respected institutions is small business. The combination of small businesses that provide jobs and drive our economy with the military is a natural fit."
And, of course, working in small business is no easy feat — it helps to go in with the determination and perseverance characteristic of military veterans.
Keynote speaker, retired Army Master Sgt. and double amputee Cedric King, explained how starting a business requires the same courage military service does.
Double-Amputee Army Ranger wants fellow veterans to 'get back on the horse'
"Can you do that? Can you ration with the warrior on the inside that says, 'You ain't enough. You ain't smart enough to be no business leader. You didn't go to business school. You don't know what you're doing.' But here I am. And here you are," King said. "Here you are in spite of what you're not. In spite of what you don't know. In spite of what you haven't learned. You have the courage to be here."
King explained how learning to walk and recovering after losing both legs was about disappointment — and learning from it.
"Disappointment teaches a great curriculum. One of the best. One of the best. I'll tell you this. Be a willing student," King said. "Get your teeth knocked in every day. Be a willing student when you get the diagnosis and it doesn't come out good. Be a willing student. That is the moment when you enroll in the greatest course of them all. The course of yourself. The course of disappointment. It's also the course that will get you to where you always wanted to be."
The companies recognized in the inaugural class of Veterans in Business awards were:
Christopher Baity, Semper K9 Assistance Dogs Gregory Coleman, SworkitKatie Crotty, Praescient AnalyticsAvis Dillard-Bullock, JMA SolutionsVivian Greentree, First DataKimberly Hayes, The Ambit GroupFrancis "France" Hoang, FH&HEmily McMahan, Bunker LabsPat Pacious, Choice Hotels International Inc.Mark Rockefeller, StreetShares Inc.Ryung Suh, Atlas ResearchFrank Tucker, MicroHealth LLC
And the winner of the Veteran-Owned Business Award was Flags of Valor — a company of combat veterans who produce handmade flags including the ones presented as awards at the ceremony.
"I'm honored to be selected but also humbled to be sharing the stage with so many other great veteran entrepreneurs," said award winner Ryung Suh. "They're doing great and wonderful things beyond the uniform."
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