Access Communications

Situation

Access Communications Group started in 1996 when Mark Dittmar who had been working in the automotive field decided to move towards IT.  He took a DOS class in 1993 and opened his first business in Colorado shortly thereafter. Ana Espinoza joined the team in 2015, with a degree in computer science and a background in business management, most recently in the maquiladora industry in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Solution

Mark and Ana were steadily growing but could see an untapped market in government contracting.  They decided to participate in the SBA Emerging Leaders program and submitted an application for the 8(a) program. Their major obstacles were managing growth, finding and keeping qualified employees and leaders; as well as tapping into vertical markets via partnerships. Both the 8(a) and the Emerging Leaders program helped steer Access Communications towards its new path of becoming general contractors. Specifically, Emerging Leaders showed Mark and Ana the need for standardizing business practices, which has been integral to this recent expansion in scope. In 2008 the company had one employee and 1.2 million dollars in sales, and they currently have 16 full time employees and project to have over 2 million in sales by the end of this year.

Outcome



The assistance provided by the SBA has been pivotal to Access Communications Group’s success.  Both Mark and Ana have used what they have learned via the Emerging Leaders and 8(a) programs to implement proven business practices and learn to evolve and develop to meet their customers’ needs.  They can attest to the benefits of owning their own business and state that they find “joy in creativity”.  Mark comments that it is widely believed that Lincoln won the civil war in great part due to the telegraph, which is why Access Communications is not in business just to make a dollar, they are committed to improving life via communications. 

Company Name: 

Access Communications Group, LLC

Location: 

El Paso, Texas