Company Information:
Name: Coinsation LLC (SDVOB)
Location/headquarters: Colorado Springs, CO
Company Web site: http://www.coinsation.com
# of employees: 1
Military/Veteran Employees (if available): 1
Year founded: 2007
2007 revenues: None (Product Development/Concept Refinement (RDT&E))
2008 revenues: $10,000
2009 revenues: $15,000 (50% increase in revenue)
Ownership (sole proprietor/partnership/corporation): Limited Liability Company
What is the value proposition of your business?
Customer and Military Tradition driven. “Made By the Military for the Military.”
- Capability: Provide a truly unique, innovative niche product to a niche community.
- Impact: Immediate. Paradigm shift from decades of a traditional wooden display. Nothing like it!
- Proof: Product differentiation. Years of analysis absent of data to suggest a similar product.
- Cost: Greater upfront cost (risk), with potential of long-term/increased reward.
What services or products do you provide?
Contemporary Military Challenge Coin Displays
Who are your primary customers (if several, name all)?
1.) Primary Market: Military/Veteran Community, 2.) Secondary: Casino Chip Collector Community, 3.) Tertiary Market: Fire, LE, EMS communities.
How did you start your business?
Wanting an innovative coin display for the coins I earned during my service in the USAF (i.e. coins from CIA, FBI, Secret Service, etc.)
How did your military experience specifically prepare you to be a business owner?
Leadership, Vision, Innovation and Adaptation. Staying true to the Air Force core values: Integrity. Service. Excellence.
What were some of your concerns when you started your business?
Fear of the unknown, buyer/community acceptance, personal financial risk…biting off more than I could chew.
What were some of the challenges in getting your business started?
No financial support from legitimate financial institutions, personal support but very little professional support.
What is the key to the success of your business?
Self-drive, self-will were key aspects to my modest success thus far.
What advice can you share with other veteran business owners to help their business succeed?
Believe when no one else does. Sacrifice significantly but expect morsels of success in return.
What pitfalls should they avoid?
Dishonest business owners, which are normally only exposed through networking and seasoned interviewing skills/dialogue (this technique can be developed).
What jobs did you have between the time you left the service and starting your business?
Former USAF Special Agent, Chief, Counterintelligence Division, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. Post AF: DoD Contractor, Sr. Acquisition/OPSEC Intelligence Analyst (Air Force Materiel Command), Sr. Program Analyst (Air Force Space Command)
What is the most interesting thing about you and/or your business?
Full-time DoD Contractor, Full-time Vetrepreneur, Husband to ADAF Officer, Father and Youth Sports Coach to three (3) young boys, former (prior to military) professional recording (rap) artist (1990-91)/Recorded an album with three singles and 3 music videos (even a rap single with Andre Reed (Wide-Receiver) from the Buffalo Bills), 8 year cancer survivor (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma), Graphics Artist, Photographer, make-shift Web Designer, make-shift Attorney, make-shift contract officer, etc.
2001-2008: Retired as Special Agent, Chief, Detachment Operations, South Region, Lackland AFB,
Previously led criminal and counterintelligence (CI) investigations as a USAF Special Agent pertaining to allegations of murder, rape, illegal narcotics, espionage, sabotage, subversion, and terrorism.
· Responsible to investigate threats against AF/DoD assets
· Prior to retiring--responsible for training, development and case operations of 53 person detachment across all mission areas
· Given letter of appreciation from FBI Director for service to country.
· Awarded the prestigious USAF’s Captain Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, 2003 & 2006
· Received Distinguished Graduate and the Commandants Leadership Award (selected amongst peers and Commandant) at the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, GA, 2005
· Presidential Protection Division team member during POTUS visit to San Antonio, Texas, 2005
· Investigated threats to AF/DoD resources in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks
· John L. Levitow Award Winner (Airman Leadership School) Prestigious Leadership Award) 1998
Do you include other VOBs in your supply chain/procurement efforts?
Continuously seek VOBs, businesses seem so apprehensive even when you aren’t targeting their market (i.e. I don’t sell coins, I sell coin displays BUT coin industry folks are worried you will crowd their market…I have examples…arrrg)…success is right around the corner though as I am currently in negotiations with multiple VOBs, it is relationship and trust driven—it knowingly takes time. I strive for it.
When did you first join NaVOBA (month, year)?
May 2010
Is there anything else about your business you would like to add?
I love this! I medically retired due to cancer after 13 years in the USAF but I still get to intertwine myself into the military community that I love --due to the passion I had for inventing a military product for military ‘family’!!
Coinsation is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) that specializes in contemporary coin and casino chip displays. We are proud to be releasing such an innovative product, the STRATCOIN display, to the military, law enforcement, EMS, and coin collecting community.
The STRATCOIN was made in the spirit of military tradition-- invented and patented by an active duty Air Force member. Its contemporary design transcends the traditional without sacrificing our great American tradition.
OUR VISION
The world's foremost leader in innovative collectible displays.
OUR MISSION
To provide high quality, innovative products at an affordable price to all associates of the Department of Defense, law enforcement, emergency medical service, and collectible enthusiast communities.
CORE VALUES
Integrity. Service. Excellence.
Vetrepreneur:
Name: Oakley, Theodore M. (Ted)
Age: 40
Service branch: USAF
Military service: Years (i.e. 1985-2005): 1995-2008
Highest rank attained: Special Agent
What did you do in the military (military occupation)?
Special Agent, Counterintelligence Division Chief
Why did you join the military? College Education
Any significant military achievements/experience you’d like to mention? Resume Attached
What were your goals getting out of the service?
Service cut short due to cancer. But to obtain my degree and be a proud father, husband and provider for my family.
Does your military experience (general or technical) apply to your success in your current business?
Yes. Leadership, Liaison, Networking, Vision, Public Speaking, Dress and Appearance, Tradition, Customs & Courtesies, etc. SO MUCH!!
What is your fondest memory of the military?
My F-16 Flight in 1999 over the Patuxent River (I went 8.2 G’s!!! AWESOME!) Family memories (i.e. Trips to new assignments, vacations to visit family all over CONUS, Disneyworld, Universal, Sea World, etc.), beating cancer, the friends I’ve made for life, and yes, even memories as an agent, however sad or joyous the moment, my experiences molded me into who I am today—a vetrepreneur!
Education:
· Bachelor of Arts, Leadership, Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska, 2007 (Dean’s List, 2006/2007)
· Associate of Applied Science, Criminal Justice, Community College of the Air Force, 2007
· Associate of Applied Science, Health Sciences, Community College of the Air Force, 2006
Biography/Fun Facts
What is your favorite TV show? The Office
What is your favorite sports team? Buffalo Bills
What’s in your refrigerator? Red Wine/Dark Chocolate
What CD is in your car? Maxwell/Sade
What is your dream car? A Triple-Black Bentley
What do you do to relax? Play or Watch Basketball
What would you be doing if you weren’t a business owner?
Coaching even more than I do now to develop my sons – sports develops character in young boys, it is an important factor in developing men (other factors—active parenting, God and fellowship).