Catching Up With Successful Client Ken Shoemake

active and successful, but Ken’s goal was “to be diversified so no market sector or affiliation can close us down.” He also wanted to provide employment opportunities for veterans and service disabled veterans, because, as a former soldier, he regards them as his “band of brothers” to whom he is obligated.

With those goals in mind, Ken has carefully grown each of his Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE–State of California)/ Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB–federal) companies. They are Stay Safe Shred, the first certified DVBE owned shredding company in California; Stay Safe Scan & Storage, an opportunity that was a great fit with the shredding business; Stay Safe Construction & Transport, which boasts a 40,000 square foot warehouse facility at the former Sacramento Army

Depot and specializes in transporting and storing government goods; Stay Safe Supply, a distributor for True Value industrial supplies. Finally, Ken established a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit company, Success Skills Inc., of which he is especially proud. The purpose of the non-profit is to bid State of California contracts to help create opportunities for veterans, a model he likes because it is “not dependent on grants or fund-raising.”

Despite all his entrepreneurial activities, Ken still finds time to be President of the Central Valley DVBE Network, and Chair the Legislative Committee for The Alliance, the statewide DVBE association. He is also a valued member of the California Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, and a regular contributor to Challenge News, a trade and focus paper for SDVOBs. Ken recently received the National Institute for the Severely Handicapped (NISH) 2007 Small Business Partnership Award for creating opportunities for the severely disabled–affirmation that his goals are on track.

Jack Toney, Director of The Federal Technology Center’s (The FTC) Statewide Procurement Assistance Program says, “As a long-time client of The FTC, we’ve watched Ken utilize the resources available to build a competitive and diversified network of businesses. His enthusiasm and dedication to both business and service disabled veterans reflect great credit upon himself and his comvmunity.”

Ken states that it is essential to augment your knowledge and keep up to date. He has continued to use The FTC’s services to help with this process and is moving from focusing on State of California opportunities to engaging with the federal government. He says, “The FTC helps reduce the fear factor for business owners. What a service–you’re actually available, you answer your phones, you know your stuff…and it’s free!”