Char-Koosta News
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SBA honors S&K Technologies managersST. IGNATIUS — Four managers for S&K Technologies - Dermot O’Halloran, Greg DuMontier, James Paro and Rita Matthews - have received the Small Business Administration’s Region VIII and Montana Entrepreneurial Success Award for 2008. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes-owned S&K Technologies provides information technology and aerospace services for private industry and government agencies. S&K Technologies, incorporated in 1999, was established as a division of S&K Electronics, which provides contract manufacturing to the Department of Defense and major commercial manufacturers. S&K Technologies goals and objectives included introducing new technology to the Flathead Indian Reservation and providing educational and employment opportunities to the CSKT. The original management team consisted of DuMontier, president and chief executive officer; Halloran, vice president of business development; and Matthews, vice president of operations and contracts. The company reported $284,789 in sales during its first year. Most of that revenue was from managing several information technology contracts for its parent company and for service work for federal agencies in the Pacific Northwest. In 2000, SKT submitted its application to the SBA’s 8(a) program, which is designed to help businesses owned by economically disadvantaged individuals. That year, sales grew to $6.7 million and S&K Technologies went from three employees to 60. In 2000, S&K Technologies opened satellite offices in Bremerton, Wash.; Houston; and Warner Robins, Ga. After securing 8(a) contracts with NASA’s Johnson Space Center for $10 million and the General Services Administration for $25 million, SKT and its partners secured a contract to provide logistical support for Wright Patterson Air Base in Fairborn, Ohio. In 2001, SKT’s sales grew to $21 million, and the enterprise employed 200 people in 10 states. With record growth of sales and employees, SKT was restructured into two groups: the information technology group, working in the Pacific Northwest, Montana and Texas; and the Aerospace Group, consisting of Warner Robins, Wright Patterson and Iraq. Paro was hired in 2002 as director of quality management. He was instrumental in helping the company improve its relationships with its customers by streamlining communications and training employees at SKT’s offices throughout the country. Under Paro’s guidance, the company in 2003 became certified in ISO 9001: 2000 processes. That means SKT understands, believes in and promotes a process-based approach to increase the effectiveness of operations and to improve customer satisfaction. “SKT is a leader in adapting to changes that affect the fast-paced IT and aerospace industries. Goals focusing on customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction and business growth translate into reality by meeting customer requirements through value added processes,” according to Martin M. Olsson, who nominated the company for the award. Sales grew to $84 million and employment reached 400 people in 2005. In addition to expanding the increasing list of contract vehicles, SKT continued to hire professionals throughout the country. SKT opened a new office in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2005, servicing the Department of Public Works and the U.S. Air Force. The company restructured again in 2005, into three groups: information technology, aerospace and materials engineering. These groups continue to maintain divisional offices throughout the country. SKT has compiled a long list of awards, including:
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