#83 Building from Scratch - Carmen Nazario, Elyon International

Original co-host Carmen Nazario talks with us today about founding and running her business, Elyon International. Introduced to Veteran Founder Podcast host Josh Carter by Startup Radio Network co-founder Mark Grimes, Carmen worked to get the show off the ground and flying for over a year while keeping her own high-flying business moving forward. An incredibly quick learner, Camen learned to be a podcast host by studying Josh and jumping in and doing it, like entrepreneurs do. Learning her computer background in the '70s in the military, Carmen wanted to pursue her love, but there wasn't even a college degree available in the field at that time. So she started doing computer programming which led to analysis, then consulting and management. It was then she began the dream of owning her own consulting company, an extremely thoughtful process that took about 20 years. Starting in the basement of her home for the first two years, there was a need for Y2K prep and she contacted a company she has worked for as a consultant, gaining her first client and contract. Her timing was great, as the Internet was just becoming a real information highway and Carmen used it as her marketing resource. She began to understand government contracting and as a Veteran, a woman and a minority, saw several avenues to win more business opportunity. Of course, it's only opportunity if you can deliver, and Carmen has put her full faith and energy into keeping the standards of Elyon high and taking care to provide a healthy, open and professional atmosphere for the people who work with her. Veteran Founder Podcast with your hosts Josh Carter and Cynthia Kao We record the Felony Inc Podcast inside NedSpace in the Bigfoot Podcast Studio in beautiful downtown Portland. Audio engineer, mixer and podcast editor is Allon Beausoleil Show logo was designed by Carolyn Main Website was designed by Cameron Grimes Production assistant is Chelsea Lancaster Theme music: Artist: Tipsy Track: Kadonka Album: Buzzz Courtesy of Ipecac Records 10% of gross revenue at Startup Radio Network goes to support women entrepreneurs in developing countries thru kiva.org/lender/markgrimes Listen to the Veteran Founder Podcast every Friday at 1:00pm pacific time on Startup Radio Network at startupradionetwork.com