State helping disabled veteran-owned businesses

ALBANY, N.Y. » New York State Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito recently announced the State’s Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) program reached a significant milestone with 900 certified SDVOBs now active.

“New York State recognizes the important contributions our veterans make every day to our country. This program honors our servicedisabled veterans by offering opportunities to grow their businesses. This wonderful achievement proves that SDVOBs are a growing force in New York State’s economy,” Commissioner Destito said. “I want to applaud my agency’s Division of Service-Disabled Veteran’s Business Development for all their hard work over the past seven years. A military veteran leads the division, and the staff has demonstrated an extraordinary determination to see this initiative grow to its full potential.”

The Division of ServiceDisabled Veterans’ Business Development was created within OGS following the enactment of The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Busines Act, which was signed into law on May 12, 2014. The Act allows eligible business owners to get certified as an SDVOB and encourages and supports eligible SDVOBS to play a greater role in the State’s economy by increasing their participation in the State’s contracting opportunities.

The Act promotes and encourages participation of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses in the State’s public procurements of public works, commodities, services, and technology to foster and advance economic development in New York State. The Act established a 6 percent participation goal for SDVOBs on State contracts.

State agencies’ utilization of SDVOBs has grown from approximately $16 million in payments to certified companies in 2016 to nearly $150 million in 2020 and is on track to reach approximately $170 million by the end of the current fiscal year.

In 2017, OGS announced that a new, searchable, webbased directory of New York State-certified service-disabled veteran-owned businesses was available on the OGS website. The directory makes it easier for State agencies as well as private sector companies and the public to search for and find SDVOBs based on their location and the services, commodities, or technology they provide.

The directory, along with more information about the program and the certification process, can be found on the OGS website — www.ogs. ny.gov — in the “Do Business With OGS” tab.

Joining Commissioner Destito at the Great New York State Fair today were Division of Service-Disabled Veterans’ Business Development Executive Director Ken Williams and the owners of two State-certified SDVOBS:

Christopher Geherin, owner of Builder’s Choice Lumber Co. in Auburn, N.Y. The company is a supplier of lumber, doors, windows, and building materials of all types for residential and commercial work. Geherin’s company was already doing business on a State contract and was seeking additional opportunities when it became one of the first 100 companies to receive its SDVOB certification.

Tony Baird, owner of Tony Baird Electonrics Inc. in Syracuse, N.Y. Both an SDVOB and a minority-owned business that was established to support the inner-city community economically, Tony Baird Electronics has three main divisions: custom cable and wire harness assemblies; audio-visual installation and

distribution; and its largest division, distribution.

Commissioner Destito also announced that the following 15 businesses were recently certified, which brings the total number of active, certified

SDVOBS to 900:

Vee Management LLC, located in Syracuse, is a management consulting firm.

Matthew Grant Jubelt, Attorney & Counselor at Law, located in Cazenovia, N.Y., is a general law practice.

Old Vet LLC, located in Highland, N.Y., specializes in business management

consulting.

NorthStar Solutions Group LLC, located in Blue Bell, Pa., provides business management consulting.

Veterans’ Priority Services, located in Rockway Beach, N.Y., provides mobile health care services.

RE and Son Trucking LLC, located in Piscataway, N.J., specializes in trucking and hauling.

Gladden & Metz Inc., located in Bryant, Ariz., sells medical and safety supplies.

Lunacap Ventures Management LLC, located in New York City, is a growth capital and private equity firm.

Stephen Matthew Designs LLC, located in Coral Gables, Fla., specializes in urban planning and design. Brundige Enterprises LLC, located in Ballston Lake, N.Y., provides low voltage construction and consulting services.

Operation Freedom Construction LLC, located in Hamburg, N.Y., specializes in excavation, trucking, and sewers.

Gallerie Services, located in Wynantskill, N.Y., is a general construction company.

Sheila Dianne Nelson, located in Brooklyn, N.Y., provides management consulting services.

Paro Brothers Construction Services, located in Gloversville, N.Y., is a general construction firm.

M&P Engineering and Land Surveying, PLLC, located in Skaneateles, N.Y., specializes in engineering and surveying.

Sponsored by Lockheed Martin, The Great New York State Fair celebrates the men and women of the military each year on Armed

Forces Day with free admission to any active duty or veteran with military identification.