Al Wofford of CDO Technologies
When and why did you start your business?I was president of another company for seven years before I started CDO. After learning how to run an organization on a day-to-day basis from that experience, I started CDO to address market needs and insert my personal values and vision to the company at large.
Did you consider yourself an entrepreneur before that?Yes. I believe some people are just wired that way, and I've always felt that entrepreneurial tug.
Where did you find your first employee?Previous relationships. My first several employees were people that I had worked with in another capacity before starting CDO.
What state or local resources did you take advantage of and how did they help?As an African-American business owner, I've been an active member of the South Central Ohio Minority Business Council for several years. This enables our team to network with large corporations who're looking for qualified, value-added partners like CDO Technologies.
What's the most difficult thing about running your own business?Our markets are ever-changing. When you're in a service business, your people are the most important assets you can have. So finding the right people to achieve our goals and our customer's goals is also a challenge.
What has contributed most to your growth?The people around me. I truly believe that the right people with the right Can-Do attitude can make a world of difference. There is a reason that in the tagline of our company (People, Technology, Results), the word people is first. Our success boils down to two basic things. First of all, we always focus on the customer. Secondly, we always try to leverage our people and our creativity in the marketplace.
What companies or founders do you admire and why?
Any company that innovates and creates is admirable. A few in particular come to mind- Apple, for its innovation and knowledge of market trends. Also Procter & Gamble for its market savvy. Finally, General Electric for its ability to seemingly create and fill its own market spaces.