Tony Curtis of Current Home Technologies Takes Top Honors, Celebration to Recognize All Local SBA Award Winners May 3
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 2018 Washington State Veteran-Owned Business of the Year is Tony Curtis, owner of Current Home Technologies in Vancouver, Washington. Founded in 2008, Current Home Technologies specializes in custom residential design and installation of home theater, audio and integrated systems throughout northern Oregon and southern Washington.
Curtis always had a passion for technology. When he left the military in 1992, he started working in an apprenticeship as an electrician. Over time, he recognized an opportunity to use technology in the residential building industry and launched his first business specializing in home theater and low voltage systems in 1997.
He eventually sold that business to a larger company but continued to develop his skills in emerging technologies. After resigning from his job in 2008, he leveraged these skills to create income by establishing Current Home Technologies.
The first years in business were lean but sales steadily grew through 2012 when he saw a one-year jump in income by 700 percent and another 1,000 percent from 2012 to 2013.
He now employs seven full-time employees and has won eight different industry-related awards, becoming one the leading audio/video and integration companies in the Northwest.
“Curtis exemplifies how veterans transition their military skills to successfully operate a business. Just as service members are prepared for things to change at a moment’s notice and still accomplish the mission, Curtis recognized and adapted to critical changes in his industry,” SBA Seattle District Director Kerrie Hurd said. “Being agile and open to change as markets evolve is part of what makes a successful entrepreneur.”
The SBA Veteran-Owned Business of the Year award – part of National Small Business Week April 29-May 5, 2018 – recognizes veteran-owned small businesses that demonstrate staying power and substantiated history as an established business with at least three years of business operation. Winners must also show growth in net worth and business expansion, increase in jobs and sales, innovativeness of products or services, response to adversity and contributions to community-oriented projects.
“I am really proud to be a veteran-owned small business, I take a lot of pride in that,” Curtis said. “Winning an award that not only recognizes our hard work, but recognizes it as a veteran-owned business is just awesome.”
Curtis contributes to Children’s Cancer Society, local school programs and other nonprofits, helping to create a thriving community. He also strongly promotes shopping local and supporting other veteran-owned small businesses whenever possible.
“National Small Business Week is a time to recognize the impact of small businesses in the Pacific Northwest by sharing their inspirational stories of success, resilience and determination,” SBA Regional Administrator Jeremy Field said. “It’s my honor to celebrate the entrepreneurs who use innovation to solve problems, create jobs and make a difference in our local communities.”
A celebration honoring local SBA winners from Washington state and the SBA Seattle District – which serves the state of Washington and northern Idaho – will be May 3, 2018. Other SBA local awards that will be recognized at the celebration include the Small Business Person of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Encore Entrepreneur of the Year, Family-Owned Small Business of the Year, Millennial Entrepreneur of the Year, and Small Business Champion of the Year.
Each year since 1963, the President has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. SBA recognizes outstanding small business owners for their personal successes and contributions to our nation.
For more information about National Small Business Week, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. For more information visit www.sba.gov.
About the SBA Seattle District Office:
The SBA Seattle District serves the state of Washington and northern Idaho with locations in Seattle and Spokane, Washington. SBA Seattle District staff provides resources and services in three areas referred to as “the three C’s” – counseling, capital and contracting. Visit www.sba.gov/wa or follow @SBASeattle for more information including resource partners, lenders, workshops, success stories and other resources to help business start, grow and succeed.