Teaming Like a Pro: Michael Nicholas

In 1983, Michael Nicholas left Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to pursue a career in Civil Engineering Technology with the US Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation. While there, Michael was responsible for technical drawing, developing structural and steel design and fluid mechanics design. In 1988, he took a leave of absence pursue further opportunities in energy under the guidance of the late Mr. J.T. Smith, CEO of SDS Petroleum Products, Inc. At SDS, Michael was responsible for the marketing of natural gas, fuels, and lubricants for this reseller of petroleum products.

In the summer of 2000, Mr. Nicholas started NIMS Services, Inc. During the formulation of the business, Michael faced many of the difficulties that confront entrepreneurs - no large contracts, no large line of credit and, as many small businesses experience, little or no operating income. For a while his car was his home. The business struggled to make ends meet for the first year and a half, until Michael heard about an upcoming Business Matchmaking event in Oakland, CA from his local SBA office.

Michael traveled to California to attend, and has been in attendance at almost every Business Matchmaking event since. Through Business Matchmaking, Michael learned not only about opportunities for contracts, but also about teaming. Michael was able to put the valuable teaming information into action and find successful teaming opportunities. These opportunities, coupled with guidance from Chuck Ashman, Executive Producer of Business Matchmaking, resulted in great success for NIMS. The company has now expanded and relocated to the

Washington, DC area to take advantage of relationships established through Business Matchmaking and teaming with the Department of Homeland Security, American Airlines, Lockheed Martin and the Valero Corporation.

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