By Ariyana GriffinAFRO Employees Writeragriffin@afro.com
Eronica Dew’s introduction to the navy was via curiosity.
Her husband, Brett Dew, a retired Air Power senior grasp sergeant, enlisted in 1991. After watching him for 2 years and listening to navy acronyms she didn’t perceive, she determined she wished to be within the know. She joined the Air Power in 1993 and cites it as the arrogance increase she wanted and “the perfect factor that ever occurred.”
“I didn’t achieve my confidence till I enlisted and joined the navy. From fundamental coaching to technical faculty – it fully modified my complete life,” mentioned Dew, now a veteran. “I started to consider in myself. I noticed at that time I used to be very smart – I simply had not utilized myself. The navy gave me a way of pleasure – it gave me a way of route.”
The Louisville, Kentucky native shared that after highschool, she didn’t have a plan for what was subsequent for her life. She struggled with giving faculty her all, as her early years within the classroom had been marred by the chaotic means of integration, which referred to as for her to be bussed to a college in a distinct group than her personal.
“Integration affected me in such a unfavorable method. The lecturers in these colleges that had been far-off from my neighborhood didn’t deal with the Black kids ‘heat and fuzzy,’” she mentioned. Nonetheless, the navy gave her the construction she wanted to succeed.
Dew served for 10 years in the US Air Power earlier than formally changing into a veteran. Her separation from the navy was bitter candy, however her unwavering love, dedication and dedication to her household ensured leaving was the correct resolution.
“The one purpose why I separated is as a result of we went to warfare, and we each had been twin navy. On the time I had 5 kids, I needed to decide,” mentioned Dew. “It was both for him or me to get out. I ended up getting out of the navy after 10 years, which was actually devastating to me. I didn’t wanna surrender my profession, however we needed to make it possible for our household had some stability.”
Dew shared that the navy launched her to wonderful applications and sources to assist her meet her targets, corresponding to incomes a university training debt-free, changing into a house owner and having accessible medical care.
This shift finally led her to her new calling, contracting and proposal administration.
“My first contract out of the federal government was at Walter Reed Military Medical Middle the place I managed a $26 million greenback contract for logistics and communications for Walter Reed Military Medical Hospital.” This deal was only the start, from right here she continued to develop and elevate her profession.
She started to work with varied different firms and companies as a proposal supervisor touchdown million and billion greenback offers earlier than taking the entrepreneurship route and specializing in consulting. After COVID-19 got here and enterprise began to decelerate she took the enterprise she based in 2018 extra significantly.
BES Options Inc., a authorities contracting firm that focuses on supporting the federal authorities. Program administration, IT, HR logistics amongst different companies are supplied by her firm.
She enjoys working for herself as a result of it permits her to provide again to the group and associate with different organizations to take action as effectively. Every year, her enterprise participates in varied group occasions corresponding to Toys for Tots and back-to-school drives. Dew additionally serves as a board member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Prince George’s County and enjoys offering sources and mentorship to members of underrepresented communities.
In relation to being a enterprise proprietor, Dew stresses the significance of collaboration and partnerships as a technique to develop as a enterprise and particular person. She enjoys her enterprise as a result of autonomy in her schedule, which permits her to stability her life obligations, corresponding to household and work.
To study extra about BES Options and Eronica Dew, go to bessolutionsinc.com.
