Entrepreneur Advances Technology and Job Creation Across America

Before launching his own company in 1996, Kevin Didden was responsible for technology management at the United Technologies Corporation. Some of his core projects involved fiber optic sensors in helicopters, designed to provide real-time performance feedback. Mr. Didden saw an opportunity to scale this technology for work in the world's oil fields- specifically within the wells, themselves.  As a result, he raised $152 million in venture capital and started CiDRA in Wallingford, Connecticut, which specialized in the installation of sensors to report the pressure, temperature, and flow rate of active oil wells. The outcome was an innovative company, started in the United States, creating jobs for highly skilled engineers.

Mark Fernald, VP of Engineering, installing a CiDRA SONARtrac system in the oilsands of Alberta, Canada.

Sharing Entrepreneurial Wisdom with Fellow Veterans

Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

In 1987, as a Master Sergeant with 21 years of U.S. Marine Corps’ active duty service, I retired from the Marines and settled in the Washington, DC area. Two years later, during December 1989, I started Quality Support, Inc., with just $600 and a small loan from my father. Quality Support has since grown into a successful small business that provides world-wide administrative, management, technical, and conference and meeting support services to federal government and commercial clients. 

It is a fact that we Veterans are particularly well suited to own and operate our own businesses. This fact is documented through ongoing research and reporting sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy. Thus, I take great joy in personally helping other Veterans embark upon their own entrepreneurial journeys. There are many ways in which we can give back to our fellow Veterans and one of the first ways for me was to give cost-free entrepreneurial classes through local military Transition Assistance Program (TAP) gatherings for our Troops leaving active duty.  It is truly a delight to receive e-mails and calls from Veterans that attended a TAP class I provided in previous years, informing me that they are now in business and they themselves are hiring and sharing entrepreneurial wisdom with fellow Veterans . . . passing it on! 

In addition to appearing at TAP classes, I have also given entrepreneurial talks at Bethesda Hospital for our Wounded Marine Warriors. I believe we should all  have a “Personal Program” and this Program simply includes “passing it on,” helping other Veterans find jobs; helping other Veterans learn the ropes of starting and operating small businesses; informing Veterans of pending legislation relative to their benefits and their futures. We do not stop serving once we depart active duty; rather, I believe like many of my fellow Veterans, that serving and giving back is a lifelong endeavor. True Service is a labor of love.

Mile High City with Mountains of Ideas

Last week, I met with 20 business leaders from all over Colorado at a White House Business Council roundtable in Denver.  It was an opportunity for me and my Colorado staff to get feedback on government programs, policies, and innovative ideas that are working to help create jobs – as well as ones that could be improved.  Other Cabinet officials and top White House staffers have hosted more than 100 of these sorts of roundtables around the country.  And over the coming weeks we will be holding these conversations in rural areas.

In Denver, I heard from business leaders who discussed the value of President Obama’s tax policies for businesses of all sizes, and appreciated the administrations work to better partner with the business community.  We had a productive dialogue about how the pending trade agreements with South Korea, Columbia and Panama will benefit local agricultural producers, with the potential to create hundreds of jobs in Greeley, Colorado and other towns.  And we discussed how resorts might form partnerships on recreation to make better use of forests and other natural environments to help create jobs in communities throughout the Rocky Mountains.

Secretary Vilsack addresses participants at a White House Rural Business Council meeting held in Denver, CO. Attendees represented the renewable energy, telecommunications, tourism, and agricultural industries on June 28, 2011. (Photo by Amy Mund, USDA Rural Development)

Everyone in the room agreed that there are incredible opportunities for growth in the economy as long as we believe in the strength and determination of the American people to work hard and innovate.