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Business men honored by SBA
Friday, June 5, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Photo by LAUREN JESCHELNIK
Eric Franklin, CEO of Erimax Inc. in Dunkirk, was awarded the 2009 Maryland Minority Small Business Champion of the Year by the Small Business Administration.
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Charles M. Baker devoted 20 years and one day to the U.S. Air Force. Since then, he's devoted a good chunk of his time to his successful lighting and electrical contracting business and to helping fellow veterans succeed as entrepreneurs.
For his efforts, the U.S. Small Business Administration last week presented Baker, president of MCB Lighting & Electrical of Owings, with its annual Veteran Small Business Champion Award. Eric Franklin, CEO of ERIMAX Inc., a Dunkirk management consulting and acquisitions firm, was recognized as Maryland Minority Small Business Champion of the Year for his efforts helping other companies, owned by minority and disadvantaged people, succeed, and passing on the message the spirit of entrepreneurship.
Baker and Franklin were two of 15 businesspeople honored by the SBA at an awards luncheon in Washington,D.C., for their support of entrepreneurs. Other Maryland businesses honored by the SBA last week included Cardinal Technologies of Bethesda and Integral Systems of Columbia.
"It's phenomenal," Baker, 46, said of winning the award, "primarily because it means so much to help veterans and give any kind of exposure to the veteran community."
Privately held MCB and its Government Logistics Solution subsidiary provide electrical, telecommunications and control system integration services and construction-related services. Major clients include Clark Construction, Hensel Phelps Construction and the U.S. Air Force, Baker said.
So far this year, the service-disabled, veteran- and minority-owned small business has had sales of about $7.5 million, he said. The company has 17 employees, with a total of about 250 through its joint ventures.
Baker, who lives in Owings, is retired from his position as the chief of facilities at Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs, where he designed, implemented and managed energy-conservation projects for the Air Force, including new lighting systems. He retired with the rank of senior master sergeant-select.
He launched his business part-time while still in the military. His first year, he netted $380,000, he said, followed by $480,000 the next year.
Then he was promoted and was scheduled to be transferred to Korea, so "I decided to retire," he said.
Baker attributed his SBA honor to the fact that he's spent upward of 4,000 hours and thousands of dollars training veteran-owned businesses on how to do business with the federal government.
"I've trained probably more than 2,000 in the past five years, over the whole country," he said. He's given presentations in Las Vegas, Dallas, Pittsburgh, Miami and Washington, D.C., among other cities.
"He's been very active in that environment for many years nationally … that impacts our local area because service disabled veterans in the local area can get more opportunities," said Dawn Tucker, president of the Calvert County Minority Business Alliance, who knows Baker.
Franklin, who started his company part time in 2001 after leaving the contracting world after 20 years, began with "one little contract and ended up growing a business into a thriving consulting firm." He knew that his experience helping other companies grow and prosper would allow him to do management consulting and acquisitions for himself. In 2003, he went full-time with the company and moved to Calvert County from Upper Marlboro three years ago.
"I made other companies a lot of money in my life. I was determined it was time for me to start my own company because I knew that I could do it," he said. "We don't sell widgets … we sell knowledge."
Franklin's "business accomplishments and community contributions are exemplary. Maryland's small business community is fortunate to benefit from [his] strong entrepreneurial leadership and tireless advocacy efforts," according to an SBA nomination.
Franklin has made many efforts to encourage and foster the success of other minority and disadvantaged entrepreneurs. He is a member of the Southern Maryland Workforce Investment Board, the Tri-County Minority Opportunities Task Force, Calvert County Economic Development Commission and is vice president of the Calvert County Minority Business Alliance.
Franklin helps small and disadvantaged companies tap into government programs and grants.
"He's involved … he gives himself, his time and knowledge to the businesses. He comes and does trainings for us. Whatever you ask him to do, he'll do it," Tucker said.
"Wherever I've lived, I've been very active in the civic aspect of the community," he said. "I kinda fell into [helping disadvantaged businesses develop] because I saw a need and I think entrepreneurs have an eye for problems they see in their communities. I try to be a mentor for people who want to do their own thing. I believe fervently in the entrepreneurial spirit. I didn't have the mentors early on ... I want people to be able to look in their communities and find those inspirations."
Franklin said future efforts will include helping young people see the value in self-employment and frequently gives talks to businesses on how to network effectively.
"The SBA is proud to honor these men and women as true champions of small business, whose tireless efforts have provided tangible and significant support to small businesses and to their communities," said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills in a statement. "They provide the counseling, advice and support that small-business owners need, and foster an environment in which the spirit of entrepreneurship can flourish."
