Nitrotel Manufacturing: From International Telecommunications to Federal Contracting

Before Juan arrived in the United States, he spent several years in Spain. Upon his arrival in the United States from Cuba in 1995, Juan found work in a telecommunications company. He was successful as a logistics manager and was promoted to sales. Unfortunately, the company closed and he lost his position.

Juan studied flight engineering in Cuba, but this experience didn’t open doors for him in Miami. He decided to start a career as a businessman. He established two companies: Mia Data Inc, in 2001, and Nitrotel International Group, in 2006.

Ivette arrived in the United States in 2011. She didn’t plan on working with Juan, but determined her best opportunity would be to bring her graphic design expertise to Nitrotel International Group. She worked on catalog design, sales, and product design.

At first, Nitrotel International posed a number of challenges. Juan and Ivette worked on a new patent and needed to identify manufacturers willing to make the products. They also needed to create a chain of distributors to sell the newly patented product and others.

Thankfully, the couple found manufacturers in Asia, Turkey, and the United States who would make their products. Nitrotel International inherited key business connections from Mia Data, Juan’s previous business, so the company soon had a chain of distributors representing its brand throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Approximately 90% of Nitrotel International sales are registered in those regions including the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Colombia. The remaining percentage is in the United States. The couple’s ongoing goal is to adjust these percentages to enter the U.S. market in greater force.

To date, Nitrotel International offers more than 500 products related to the telecommunications sector. Here are just a few examples of their products:

• Fiber optic
• Coaxial cables
• Structured cabling connectivity
• Other equipment and tools

Launching Nitrotel Manufacturing

Due to the success of Nitrotel International and the couple’s goal of expanding their presence in the U.S. market, Ivette decided to start her own company. Nitrotel Manufacturing is responsible for the development and manufacturing processes of Nitrotel International.

Soon after founding the company, Ivette received a recommendation from a local client that would change the trajectory of the entire company. A client recommended Ivette reach out to Rafael Marrero for assistance in becoming a federal contractor. This was the point where Ivette and Juan decided to start doing business with Uncle Sam.

Becoming a Federal Contractor

Rafael Marrero & Company, a business-to-government (B2G) management consultancy, won the 2019 Sunshine Award as Small Business of the Year from the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is a two-time Inc. 500 honoree as one of America’s fastest-growing privately owned companies. It also has a spot on the Inc. Best 50 workplaces in America list.

Dr. Marrero has a proven track record of helping small business owners, particularly in the Hispanic community, win federal contracts and become federal contractors. Ivette and Juan decided to visit the renowned expert at his office on Calle Ocho (8th Street), a distinctive avenue for the Cuban community in Miami.

Becoming a Government Contractor, the Rafael Marrero Way

Qualifying for Certifications

First, the company applied for SAM registration and certifications through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Dr. Marrero and Ivette worked together to identify applicable SBA certifications and applied for the following programs:

• Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)
• Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB)
• Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Crafting a Capability Statement

Next, Dr. Marrero transformed the company’s image and profile. Nitrotel Manufacturing needed a capability statement to effectively communicate with key decision-makers in the federal government.

Nitrotel Manufacturing also received helpful insight into other areas of federal branding. Here are a few highlights of branding guidance the couple received from Rafael Marrero & Company:

• Website design
• Business card design
• Social media management
• Proper communication with government buyers and prime contract providers

The Future of Nitrotel Manufacturing

Ivette and Juan both feel that Dr. Marrero has been integral to the success of Nitrotel Manufacturing. They’ve begun to identify interesting prospects and platforms where they can offer their services as a federal contractor.

Thanks to Rafael Marrero & Company, this small business has grown to become a thriving player in the federal contracting marketplace. Request a consultation today to see how you can identify applicable SBA certifications and establish your own federal contracting small business to do business with Uncle Sam.