Sierra stays small, focuses on service

Community contributions cited in award to firm

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The family man, president and CEO of Sierra Management Technologies in California said keeping his business small has been key to his success. And his business model – which focuses on customer and community service – has earned the company recognition as The Patuxent Partnership Member Firm of the Year, part of the eighth annual Leading Edge Awards to be presented June 18 at the Jaycees center in Waldorf.

Sierra started out after college as a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton until he decided to work for friends who began Eagan, McAllister and Associates.

He broke away on his own in 1993 to start Sierra Technologies, using an entrepreneurial spirit he said he’d had his whole life.

His father had been a Navy pilot so Sierra’s always been interested in aviation. He began supporting V-22 Osprey flight tests – the multi-mission tilt-rotor aircraft developed to fill multi-service combat operational requirements – in addition to providing program and financial management.

‘‘We’ve been going ever since,” Sierra said, with more than 140 employees and offices all over the country now. ‘‘It was a surprise. We controlled the growth. It’s tough times right now with the budget hits in the Department of Defense but we’re still growing.”

But headquarters will remain in St. Mary’s County, where about 100 employees call home.

‘‘I fell in love with the county. I was only supposed to be here for less than a year. This place is absolutely beautiful,” Sierra said.

Sierra is vice president of The Patuxent Partnership, is heavily involved with the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, and also coaches youth soccer and basketball.

The company, which has sponsored numerous projects for National Children’s Medical Center, the American Cancer Society Daffodil Day, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, March of Dimes, Shop With a Cop, Leonardtown High School soccer teams, Hospice of Calvert County and local Rotary clubs, grew more than 40 percent last year despite more competition and fewer dollars to go around, Sierra said.

That’s probably because of its 95 percent satisfaction rating, which it measures by periodic interviews with clients. Sierra said that with the company’s small size, it places extraordinary value on its people.

‘‘We’re constantly trying to better our benefits and stay competitive,” he said.

Many of his employees, like Jodi Stanalonis, have been with the company a long time.

After 12 years with Sierra, Stanalonis said she stayed for the family atmosphere, diversity and growth potential.

‘‘Ed goes out of his way to bring everyone together. He took a small company and grew it to where it is today,” she said.

Sierra Technologies was chosen out of a ‘‘well-represented sample” of 10 nominees based on its contributions to public service, education, workforce development and business success, said Jean McHugh, a Patuxent Partnership board member who organized the committee to choose a winner.

‘‘The most important thing was the overall contributions to the community and participating, supporting the community, with education and encouraging employees to participate in volunteer programs,” McHugh said.

As for future goals, Sierra said he still wants to be classified as a small company during the next five years.

‘‘It’s been a fun ride,” he said. ‘‘It’s important to remember where your roots are. Remember where you started and how you started. We’re one of the few small businesses here that haven’t been bought or moved. I’ve got a lot of blood and sweat into this company.”

The Leading Edge Awards are given by the College of Southern Maryland, Calvert County Department of Economic and Community Development, Charles County Technology Council, The Patuxent Partnership and the Small Business Development Center for the Southern Maryland Region.