Ken Novotny readily accepts the title of “computer nerd” even though the 30-year-old husband and father hardly looks the part.

But then again, he does not exactly look like the owner of a multi- million-dollar corporation either.

It has not come easy, but it has come relatively quickly for the IT company that specializes in defense contracting.

Revenues began three years ago for the startup CSI Oklahoma (which stands for Consulting Services Incorporated) at $63,000. Last year, earnings blossomed to a robust $403,000.

This year, even if the company does not pick up any more contracts for the rest of the year, Novotny estimated earnings to fall somewhere between $1.5 and 2.5 million.

It has been a quick journey, but one that was sped up dramatically by the Oklahoma Small business Development Center.

Novotny admits the company would not be where it was today if not for the services provided by the OSBDC.

“I’d like to say yes, but it’s definitely no,” Novotny says with a laugh.

With a solid understanding of government contracting and the IT business, Novotny says going out on his own was a no-brainer three years ago.

As far as business experience, Novotny had a little except for “mom-and-dad owned businesses back in Pocasset,” he said.

That is where the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center into play.

Novotny went to the Oklahoman Small Business Development Center located Aat Rose State University where he met director Mike Cure.

“HE walked me through everything,” Novotny said.

From the business planning to the financial and certifications, the center helped Novotny and partner David Mitchell.

“I’ve always had the entrepreneurial spirit, I just didn’t know where I was going to apply it, Novotny said.

The spirit and the experience was there, but Novotny quickly learned that huge brick walls had been thrown in his path in the form of “past performance.”

Past performance, or a proven track history, is a necessity in government contracting, as are several certifications.

“I knew I needed these certifications in order to get my foot in the door,” Novotny said. “As someone looked at me over the large company, they were going to go with large company every time.”

The first hurdle was obtaining a HUBZone certification.

The designation enables a business to negotiate sole source contracts, participate in restricted competitions limited to HUBZone businesses and receive a 10-percent price preference in full and open competition.

With Novotny’s Native American heritage, the center also was able to help CSI Oklahoma obtain a Native American Small Disadvantaged Business designation, which helps in the contracting process.

From the HUBZone certification, Cure mentioned Novotny should try the state’s business incubator program if they ever wanted to get their office out of Novotny’s house.

From there, Novotny was in touch with Norman Economic Development Coalition’s. Don Wood who had space available in Norman.

CSI Oklahoma expects to employ nearly 40 people by next quarter and has its own office space located just blocks from Campus Corner.

The company is a contractor for Northrop Grumman and others.

Dr. Grady Pennington says Novotny’s story is repeated hundreds of times each year in the state. IN fact, the center counsels some 7,500 Oklahoma businesses each year.

Statistically speaking, a business that has been helped by the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center opens every 36 hours, Pennington says.

The center is partnership with the Small Business Administration and the state. The center’s $2 million budget comes from the SBA and matching funds from the Oklahoma Legislature.

Thirteen locations are situated around the state, all with the same mandate to provide counseling services at no charge.

“I think [the center has] a significant impact and we’re very quiet, “ Pennington says. “We sometimes say we’re the best kept secret in Oklahoma.”

Pennington says while the centers help in business planning and certifications, the most common request is startup money, which can be obtained through small business loans and other capital sources.

“Certainly that’s appropriate to the picture, but we try to get our clients to look down the road a few years and say, ‘What’s the next step?’” Pennington said. “You can’t just take the first step and survive.”

Novotny understands and he’s happy that the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center had already helped him outpace projections on his first five-year plan.

For more information,please contact Dean Anderson at writers@okcbusiness.com