Veterans Trading Center - Park City, UT

Army Staff Sgt. Jack Climer learned a great deal from his six years in the military. He learned to focus and take charge, but more importantly he learned to oversee large-scale operations without getting in the way – a problem he saw within the business world. After stepping down from a career as a military policeman, Climer set off into the business world and founded Veterans Trading Center.

“My primary partner and I were tired of the challenges, changes and bureaucratic blunderings of ‘big business,’” Climer said. “We found a ‘niche’ and decided that we could do it better. And, so far,
we have.”

Veterans Trading Center distributes and resells electronic components and related products and provides operational outsourcing services targeted specifically to government prime contractors and some federal agencies.

“A rock solid authorized supply chain and industry leading executives form the core of our business,” Climer said. “We are nimble, experienced and highly efficient. We are not a broker and we do not play in the ‘gray’ market. SDVOB and HUBZone Certified Small Business certifications are icing on the cake.”

The start was rocky for Veteran Trading Center, however. Climer’s personal credit was damaged when WorldCom, Climer’s former employer, filed for bankruptcy. Climer lost everything, and founding a company on poor credit proved to be no easy task. Fortunately, Climer had good people in his corner.

“My partners’ patience, trust, personal capabilities and our financial partners’ open-minded views have been particularly helpful in overcoming that and in achieving our growth,” Climer said. “We have been able to grow without incurring large debt.”

The nimble, highly efficient experience of the company has paid, however, turning a profit shortly after its founding. Veterans Trading Center grossed $3.5 million in revenues in 2007, nearly a $2.7 million leap from 2006 fiscal year revenues of $820,000. The company now has 10 employees and has branch offices in Texas, Florida and Maryland. Climer estimates revenues of $10.4 million dollars for 2008.

Altera Corporation, a world leader in the design and manufacturing of programmable logic devices, has appointed Veterans Trading Company a franchised distributor of Altera’s products and design tools with specific marketing targets and opportunities within the defense and aerospace industries.

“We are honored beyond words to have earned the trust and confidence of Altera as together we work to expand Altera’s market share,” Climer said. “Altera’s FPGA, PLD and ASIC devices are world class and second to none. Our relationship allows our clients to obtain these outstanding products while also obtaining diversity spend relief through a service-disabled veteran-owned and HUBZone certified small business without increased costs to purchase.”

For now, Climer hopes to keep the performance and reputation of Veteran Trading Center clean and positive as the company works to incorporate newly proposed business opportunities which may change the company.

“Our future is very bright,” Climer said. “We are at a crossroads that will … change our dynamic positively and will provide the ‘comfort cushion’ that we all desperately want. Nothing is forever, of course, but we want to grow our business, take care of our employees and their families, perform well for our customers and have some fun while we’re doing it.”

Written by Michael Crawford