Growth soars for veteran-owned contracting business

I'm Dave Goudreau, President and Founder of Northern Wings. We're an aerospace and defense company. My military career began in 1977 as a seamen recruit in the U. S. Navy. I left the service in 2001 as a major. My first real contact with the SBA was when I received an invitation to attend a one-day per month course. It was a Fundamentals of Government Contracting 101. The classes taught the huge advantages we would have in doing business with the government and its prime contractors. This is master's degree level stuff. SBA has programs that take you from beginning to a mature company. VIP is Veteran Institute for Procurement, funded primarily by the Small Business Administration, and an exposure to all of the latest government contracting mandates, everything one needed to know, because we live in a world of regulations. Northern Wings has 32 current employees, roughly 20% of that is veterans. Our current revenue is around $20 million a year. Our projected growth is only to get larger. The advice I give other veterans that are considering entrepreneurship is: Do it. Don't wait for the perfect time. Start. It is a difficult journey, but the rewards are immeasurable.