The Chronicles Of Aspirations:
Tony Jimenez

Spring/Summer of 2019

As a teenager, Mr. Tony Jimenez knew he had aspirations.  A specific plan, though?  No.  He did know that going to college was critical, but how to earn that higher education was a dilemma.

He was raised by a mom and dad – Cecile and Ray Jimenez – who had limited resources.  His father was of Puerto Rican descent, while his mother – who grew up in Alabama – had roots in a variety of places, including Cuba.  While neither parent were high school graduates, both earned a GED.

Mr. Ray Jimenez served our country in the United States Navy for 20 years.  While stationed in Florida, he met Cecile in Pensacola. 

“I was told that it was love at first sight,” stated Mr. Tony Jimenez.  “They were married a few months later.”

While in the Navy, the family moved around to various locales.

During his teenage years, Mr. Tony Jimenez was raised in northern Los Angeles County in California.

He worked a variety of jobs while going to high school.  His initial goals were to earn enough income so he could buy a car and have some spending money.

“I delivered two newspapers – one in the morning before school started and one in the afternoon after school,” stated Mr. Jimenez.  “In addition, I delivered the local Thrifty Nickel once a week.”

Beyond delivering news publications, Mr. Jimenez also cut grass, edged lawns, and provided a variety of landscaping services.

“I started out using my parents’ lawn mower,” Mr. Jimenez explained.  “By the time that lawn mower broke, I had earned enough money to buy a better lawn mower.  As I earned more money, I was able to buy additional tools so that I could offer my customers even more lawn care services.”

After graduation from high school, Mr. Jimenez joined the United States Army.

“My father didn’t encourage me to join the military,” stated Mr. Jimenez.  “Both of my parents, though, encouraged me to go further with my education.  I joined the Army because I saw the military as a way to serve our country and at the same time enhance my skills through education.”

“I believe there were greater opportunities within the military for a person like me than existed outside of the military,” Mr. Jimenez explained.  “Everyone was equal within the Army.  Barriers that might have presented difficulties for someone like me outside the military did not exist within the military.  If you worked hard, you were able to see success.”

“I started to believe that the only thing that could stop someone like me from success would be me.”

Mr. Jimenez was able to go to night school during his first three years in the Army.  He then was able to complete his college education through the Army at Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.

He later earned two Masters degrees.  His official biography details a Master of Arts Degree in Computers and Information Systems from Webster University as well as a Master of Science Degree in Acquisition Management from Florida Institute of Technology.

Overall, Mr. Jimenez served 24 years in the United States Army, five years as an enlisted member and 19 years as a commissioned officer. 

“I was stationed in a number of communities throughout the world,” Mr. Jimenez explained.  “Locations included Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, among other nations, as well as places in Alabama, Texas, and Virginia, among other states.”

“I served as a Contingency Contracting Officer.  My responsibilities included securing the products and services needed by the Army, including such items as water, fuel, food, latrines, and tents, among other products and services.”

Through the years, his responsibilities grew into telecommunications, internet connections, and other technology-related products and services.

He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army in 2003.

A year later, in 2004, Mr. Jimenez and two other partners founded MicroTechnologies, LLC.  The firm operates under the “MicroTech” name.

Initially, MicroTech was owned by these three men, Mr. Jimenez and two passive investors.

“In 2015, I purchased the entire company,” stated Mr. Jimenez.

“MicroTech offers technology integration, telecom and cloud solutions, and product solutions to commercial enterprises as well as the public sector,” according to the firm’s website today.  “MicroTech is a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business…that is afforded special status based on established federal government programs.”

Mr. Jimenez has a 30% service-related disability.  “This is the outcome of living in a variety of environments during my years with the United States Army,” stated Mr. Jimenez.

Today, annual net revenue for MicroTech is approximately $14 million, according to Mr. Jimenez.  He indicated that about 75 people work at the business headquarters in Tysons Corner, Virginia, located in suburban Washington.

Mr. Tony Jimenez served our country in the United States Army for 24 years.
This photograph is from when he served in Bosnia in 1995.

Growing a business has presented a number of opportunities for success by Mr. Jimenez, but it also presented a number of difficulties.

He has faced questions that appear to be rooted in assumptions and stereotypes.

“I have had people question me because, from their perspectives, someone who was in the military for much of their life does not typically become a successful business person,” Mr. Jimenez explained.  “I’ve also had individuals question my business experience because of my background as a Hispanic individual who grew up without all of the opportunities that others might have had.”

Mr. Jimenez noted a major difference between life within the military and life in the business world.

“In the business world, you can do everything correct and yet fail,” explained Mr. Jimenez.  “There are far more variables that affect outcomes in the business world.”

“In the military, the environment is different.  Your success, career-wise, is dependent on working hard and following a set path.” 

In late 2013 and early 2014, Mr. Jimenez found his life turned upside-down.  In the years since founding MicroTech, he had achieved a number of successes in business and had been honored by several groups within the small business, veteran, and Hispanic communities.

A series of news articles detailed allegations that some of his successes were ill-gotten.

An investigation was undertaken by the Small Business Administration (SBA).  Audits were done by several Federal agencies.

Debarment – an action that would preclude MicroTech from doing business with the Federal Government – was a possibility.

“It was a tough time period,” Mr. Jimenez stated.  “I chose to fight the allegations.  I removed myself from day-to-day operations of the firm.  I appointed an interim Chief Executive Officer and instead focused on long-term aspects of the business as Chairman.”

“When you’re successful and that success is not typical for people like you, others naturally have suspicions,” stated Mr. Jimenez.  “Did the person cheat to get success?  Did the person actually earn his degrees in higher education?  Did the person act as a front for others?”

“People are skeptical when success does not match expectations.”

Through it all, Mr. Jimenez indicated that some stood with him and MicroTech.

“I learned who really were true friends during this time period,” Mr. Jimenez continued.

Not everyone was supportive of Mr. Jimenez and MicroTech.

“Many people showed their true selves,” stated Mr. Jimenez.  “Some stopped doing business with us.  Some didn’t return phone calls.  Some took longer to pay us for work completed.  Some took advantage of the situation and did not pay for invoices for work previously done by MicroTech.  Some employees left the firm.”

“I decided to fight rather than give up,” stated Mr. Jimenez.

That decision to fight the allegations eventually worked.

Mr. Jimenez resumed his CEO role a few months later after coming to an agreement with the SBA.  As part of the agreement, he attended ethics and compliance classes.  “These were classes that I was more than happy to attend,” stated Mr. Jimenez.

“Some likely hoped that I would grow bitter because of what happened,” Mr. Jimenez indicated.  “I decided to focus on business and be as successful as possible.”

That focus on moving forward has helped MicroTech prosper.

“Some of our previous customers came back,” Mr. Jimenez stated.

Even today, though, Mr. Jimenez indicated that there are times when prospective customers of MicroTech question him about the allegations.  “There have been times where people have done internet searches, see some of those news articles, and then decline to do business with us.”

“Today I want more than ever to help others and to prevent what happened to me from happening to others,” stated Mr. Tony Jimenez. “My aspirations of today are different from my aspirations earlier in life, because earlier in my life I was naïve and believed that as long as you were trustworthy, kind, reverent, ethical, and you basically lived a clean life, good things would happen to you.  Fact is that’s only partially right, but the truth is had I not been trustworthy, kind, reverent, ethical, and living a clean life I would not have survived my ordeal.”

A bright spot for MicroTech has been its work for several departments of the Federal Government.

In 2017 and 2018, MicroTech was one of nine businesses selected by the General Services Administration to participate in a $50 billion Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract for the Federal Government.  This contract includes a five-year base period and two five-year options, according to a news release from the firm.

In addition to MicroTech, the nine businesses include such firms as AT&T and Verizon.  “We are the smallest of the nine businesses,” stated Mr. Jimenez,

The efforts of Mr. Jimenez have not gone unnoticed.

In 2016, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation awarded its Tech Award to Mr. Jimenez at the 29th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards. 

Mr. Jose Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, detailed in a news release why Mr. Jimenez was chosen for this award:  “He has been an example of what Latinos are capable of in the tech sector for years as an innovative visionary, as a businessman, and as a role model.  As a Veteran, he also represents the great patriotism we share as Latinos.  All our Honorees, including Tony, embody what it is to be real Americans and a source of inspiration.  The Hispanic community has made significant contributions throughout history, and we are proud to recognize that impact in the present and the future.”

In the same year, Mr. Jimenez was the recipient of the highest honor, the Reginald F. Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award, of the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council.  According to a news release at that time, “This award is given to an individual who is considered to most closely walking the path paved by Reginald Lewis, an entrepreneurial legend, brilliant financier, and business manager, left a roster of accomplishments that compares to those of any great man in history.”

In December of 2018, Hispanic Executive named Mr. Jimenez as one of its “Top Ten Líderes”.

“Each year, Hispanic Executive selects ten outstanding leaders who have made a marked impact on their respective fields, including everything from the media to construction,” according to a statement on the website of Hispanic Executive.  “This year, each member of our ‘Top Ten Líderes’ has made a major contribution through their role in the Latino Donor Collaborative.”

Mr. Tony Jimenez is an individual who has shown that aspirations are not only goals to strive for, aspirations are also attainable.With hard work, dedication, and education, Mr. Jimenez has shown that success is possible.

Credits:

 Photographs are provided by Mr. Tony Jimenez and MicroTech.

 If you know of an individual with aspirations,

please contact Richard McDonough at chroniclesofaspirations@gmail.com.

 Your suggestion may be used in a future news column.

© 2019 Richard McDonough