Continental Testing was founded in 1991 in Aurora, CO as a calibration company specializing in onsite services for aviation maintenance companies. The company moved to a location near Dayton, OH in 2001 and in 2010, the company was purchased by Laura and DuWain Ake. Since then, Laura and DuWain have expanded the capabilities offered and achieved ISO 17025 accreditation.
In 2018, they also purchased a small calibration lab near Denver, CO to expand their business and help serve customers in Colorado. Now, Continental Testing calibrates a wide variety of tools and instruments, serving a wide range of industries. They currently have 20 employees and offer services customers all throughout the country, and a few international ones as well.
One of the major challenges today faced by the Akes, and many other small business owners, is dealing with COVOD-19. DuWain feels it will be necessary to protect businesses from lawsuits related to COVID-19 infections of workers and customers as the State of Ohio begins to reopen. But besides the current pandemic, Continental Testing finds it difficult to find employees and struggles with identifying the best way to market their company and its services.
Ake joined NFIB in 2013 to be a part of an organization dedicated to providing a voice for small businesses at the state and federal level. He likes the fact that NFIB has also allowed him to network with other small business owners from Ohio, and currently serves as the Dayton Area Action Council Vice-Chair for NFIB.
He says, “The recent COVID-19 crisis has obviously been a challenging time for everyone. For a small business, it can be bewildering trying to keep up with all the latest requirements, regulations, tax changes, SBA, unemployment, and all the other implications. NFIB has been an invaluable resource to allow us to keep up with the rapidly changing environment. This is work they do for us every day, but this situation has really made NFIB a critical resource for us in managing the crisis.”
DuWain Ake hosted Roger Geiger, Ohio Executive Director for NFIB, at Continental Testing in Union, Ohio for a tour of the business.
Some advice that Ake would have for someone starting their own small business today would be to find a mentor or network of other small business owners to talk to. He thinks that NFIB is a great means of finding such people.
Learn more about Continental Testing at https://continentaltesting.com/
