MENTOR-PROTEGE OF THE YEAR FROM DHS
The honor was bestowed upon the company and its Protege AEPS. In his introduction during the award ceremony, Kevin Boshears, Director of the DHS Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization office repeatedly stressed the value of such partnerships to the effective growth of small businesses. As a company that has grown from 8(a) roots, the company is pleased to give back to those who seek support and guidance from stalwart in the industry.
According to its CEO at the time, Mr. Kevin Sandkuhler, ‘Participating in a mentor protege program makes the industry better, and allows us all to provide a better service to the Government’. Paragon has several active relationships with small business partners at any given time. This award recognizes the hard work and effort that is required to support those relationships, even if they are not all under a mentor-protege. ‘Some partners bubble up to the top and are perfect candidates for a mentor-protege relationship, while others do not seems to understand the value. AEPS valued our role as a supporter and tutor and has continued to blossom under this program’, says Les Kaciban, President of Paragon.