By Amish Jindal, Communications & Marketing Intern
In honor of Veteran’s Day, the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) wanted to honor its veteran-owned, member businesses. Learn more about a few of them and what advice the company founders would give other veterans looking to start their own businesses.
Strunk Media Group | 15040 Kutztown Rd, Kutztown | strunkmedia.com
Strunk Media Group is an award-winning, veteran-owned digital marketing agency that develops personalized business solutions for
its clients. The company provides a large variety of services from web development to social media management. Strunk prides itself on bringing an unique approach that has been proven to drive real results in a diverse range of industries.
“Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to pivot. I can’t even list the number of times we had to pivot and change up what we were doing. Nine times out of 10 your gut is probably right,” said Matthew Strunk, Founder and CEO.
KMX International | 2nd and Grand Streets, Hamburg | kmxintl.com
KMX International is a full-service, specialized carrier and rigging company that has a worldwide presence. KMX’s use of the latest technology and time-honored professional standards leads to success for many businesses. Its fleet of heavy-haul equipment now ranks among the most sophisticated and varied in the United States.
“Remember back in Basic Training, the ability to push yourself to extremes and be a leader? You made sure you did not allow your squad or company to fail during training exercises. Starting a business? Only now, it is real and 24/7. It’s no longer an exercise,” said James Vitez, President and Owner.
CertaPro Painters of Reading | 2669 Shillington Rd Ste 312, Reading | certapro.com/reading/
CertaPro Painters of Reading incorporates a customized project plan to provide consumers with a worry-free painting experience. It provides services for both residential and commercial units. CertaPro also looks to support the local economy by hiring Berks County painters.
“For the most part, veterans have been taught and possess the discipline and leadership needed to successfully start and run their own business. What the military does not teach is the operations, marketing, financial acumen and business savvy required to sustain a business. I believe any veteran that is starting their own business should first seek the resources that will help provide the assistance and skills in those critical areas. Services like SCORE, Vistage, Franklin Covey, Global CEO Network or other business owners provide the foundation for starting and operating a successful business enterprise,” said Tim Meade, Owner.
Kissinger Associates Inc. | 2117 Main Street, Centerport | kissingerassoc.com
Kissinger Associates is a business consulting firm that guides companies in procedure to fix bottlenecks, streamline workflows, standardize processes and gain cost-saving efficiencies. It has been in business for over 36 years and has achieved a 98.8% customer satisfaction rating.
Founded in 1985 by Darryl Kissinger, the company set out to meet customer needs and gain respect from the community. It continues to pride itself on its dedication to its customers.