Heritage Global Solutions - Glendale, CA

In the Marines, recruits are trained to work hard, to believe in a team effort and to have a “can do” attitude. So when former Marine Jeff Estep decided to start his own business, naturally he knew could do it.

“The Marine Corps instills a sense of teamwork and a ‘can do’ attitude that still prevails with me and my management team,” said Estep, who was on active duty from 1975 through 1981.

Estep transitioned out of the Corps as a captain and a CH-53 pilot. He was also a member of the ANGLICO community — elite small units who specialize in coordinating artillery, naval gunfire and close air support for ground troops.

Estep had always hoped to control his own destiny. Encouraged by his tribal chief, Gregory Pyle from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, he founded Heritage Global Solutions, a corporation specializing in system engineering, project management, document management, multi-media training in 27 languages, and information technology services.

Founded in 2003, Heritage Global Solutions was approached by Northrop Grumman, the multi-billion dollar global defense and technology company, for help in the installment of an internal SAP project. At the end of the 2006 fiscal year, Heritage Global Solutions had grossed $4.8 million in revenue. In the four years since its founding, the company has expanded beyond its headquarters in Glendale, Calif., by adding two additional sites in the state (Sacramento and San Clemente), in addition to offices in Washington, D.C., Eugene, Oregon, and Dallas, Texas. Estep credits his team of “loyal soldiers” as the key to success.

“Heritage’s success is simply defined by our great management team of Lydia McCarthy (sr. vice president), Tom Thorley (chief technology officer), and Alex Hramstov (chief financial officer). We trust each other, bring complimentary talents to Heritage and work our rears off to ensure our customer’s success.”

Heritage Global Solutions has signed over 57 contracts with corporate America and the majority of its success comes from the private sector. The company’s focus for 2008 is to conduct more business within the public sector.

Now employing 46 people, Estep has made expanding the federal business portfolio one of his priority targets for Heritage Global Solutions. Estep believes 2008 will be a “breakout year” for his company, bringing more long-term contracts and less transactional work.

“I believe a combination of a solid past performance scorecard, and our emerging Knowledge Management Practice (multi-media in 27 languages) will culminate in a lot of new business. We hope to establish a mentor-protégé relationships with a major firm and will have our 8(a) (minority) and GSA Schedule 70 completed.”

In the meantime, recognition will likely continue to follow.      Heritage Global Solutions was nominated by the Disney Company for Diversity Supplier of the Year in 2005 and for the SBA Small Business of the Year in 2006 in California. It has also been awarded one of three national awards by the Native American Business Alliance.

In the Marines, Estep acquired an attitude which never allowed him to give up and learned to value teamwork above all else. His company’s success is proof that not only does Estep adhere to that attitude, but it works like a charm. 

Written by Michael Crawford