#WINNING: Small Business Enterprises are Proving to be MVPs in the ‘Big Business’ Game

I sat down and talked with several business owners who participated in the Center for Minority Business Development’s Local Minority Business Enterprise (LMBE) Accelerator Program. Their paths have all been unique…until now. Meet the Accelerators who are changing the game of business success.

Small businesses come in many shapes, colors and industries, and as for their owners, the palette consists of individuals from every cultural, economic and educational background imaginable. There is, however, one very important and common trait that weaves each member of the entrepreneur’s club together; passion. Having a bright idea is great, but if you don’t have the chutzpah to put that idea into motion…and even more audacity to pursue the abundance of resources available to help small businesses grow, then you, still, just have a bright idea.

Enter the Center for Minority Business Development (CMBD).

Designed to level the playing field in the Prince George’s County business community, the Center for Minority Business Development was launched by the Peterson Companies as a way to bridge the gap between contract opportunities and minority-owned firms who have been traditionally underrepresented. By enrolling in the Local Minority Business Enterprise (LMBE) Accelerator Program, business owners are placed on the winning track with access to services like on-site technical assistance and personalized training that builds the capacity to compete in the big business arena.

Since 2009, business owners who have successfully completed the LMBE Accelerator program have seen their enterprises escalate to new levels along with their client rosters.  It has been their tenacity, hard work and skills that have gotten them this far, but it’s their unbridled passion for their crafts that truly makes them successful.

 Who are the Accelerators?

Photograph by Michelle Chin of M.O. YOU Studios
http://moyoustudios.com/

Kathy Dixon is the owner of K. Dixon Architecture, with headquarters based at the National Harbor. As a professional architect and president of a certified woman-owned, minority-owned enterprise, she is more than familiar with what it takes to operate a successful company in the Nation’s capital. I had a chance to sit down with Ms. Dixon and learn more about her journey as an entrepreneur preparing for the next level.

From where does your passion for architecture originate?

My interest in architecture stems from a number of factors as far back as elementary school.  I loved playing with “Legos” and “Lincoln Logs”.  I was already good at freehand drawing and by high school age I was good at math and geometry.  I think all those things naturally came together for me in pursuing architecture as a career.  My father also worked as a civilian architect for the US Army Corps of Engineers so perhaps it’s also in my blood.

What was the turning point in your career (or business) that made the light bulb go off, and you realized you needed to find a concrete resource to take your company to the next level?

I initially started my company over ten years ago and was doing it on a part-time basis.  When I finally started to work for myself full-time, about three years ago, I knew I needed more resources to make the company successful.  In my case I knew that having a strong network was as important as signed contracts. Because we were in a recession, I felt it was a good opportunity to take advantage of resources that would help me when the economy began to rebound. 

Share with me one major "takeaway" you received from the program?

Much of the knowledge I gained was based on the idea of equipping your business not for the company that it is today, but for the company that you want it to be in the future.  This perspective only helps as the business grows and gains momentum.

What would you tell aspiring architects about entering your field and considering [one day] venturing out on their own?

I would encourage them to create as wide a network as possible through involvement with professional societies, local organizations, county officials and other colleagues to assist in expanding their market reach.  Being licensed, certified, experienced, etc. is necessary, but it’s the relationships that one establishes that really makes the difference regarding how many projects you are able to win.

When clients approach you, what are their main projects or needs?

It really depends on the client.   If it’s a residential client then they typically require more from us than a commercial client.  A residential client will need to be walked through the design and construction process from start to finish including programming, conceptual design, etc.  However a commercial client may only want permit set drawings and nothing more. 

Some clients come to us for construction documents, but others will only be at a stage of ordering a Feasibility Study to determine if their property or project is realistic.  We have also completed pro bono architectural design work for non-profit organizations which needed professional services, but did not have the resources to secure them.

How did the CMBD Accelerator Program prepare you to go after contracts, new/bigger clients, etc.?

The Accelerator program kept us informed of new developments and new legislation in the county.  It informed us of the processes and procedures we need to complete in order to take advantage of the opportunities.  On a task level I was able to enhance my skills, for example, using tools like QuickBooks via many of the free professional training courses in which we were able to participate including marketing, accounting, and federal contracting.  The instructors for the courses were experts in their respective fields and the information that they distributed to us was invaluable.  The professionals from Washington Concepts, Inc. Optimization Solutions, and Krendall Orren and other firms, shared their knowledge and advice with us and helped our cohort become better business people.  The business consultant assigned to me, Kelvin Jeter of Krendall Orren, was particularly helpful in guiding me though tasks that would help the business to receive large contracts like applying for business lines of credit.  Most importantly, the leadership of CMBD including Carl Brown and Dennis Smith were sincere and generous in their efforts to assist growing local and minority-owned businesses.

Give me three words to describe your overall experience in the CMBD Accelerator Program?

Professionalism, Networking and Camaraderie

To learn more about K. Dixon Architecture, visit www.kdixonarchitecture.com or call (301) 364-5053.
About Kathy Dixon, CEO: http://www.kdixonarchitecture.com/about-us/

***Stay tuned for more success stories from the Center for Minority Business Development**