After returning home from active duty in the U.S. Air Force in the early ’90s, Wade Day began working as a service technician for Graseby STI. By 2003, Wade was ready for a change. He branched out on his own, starting STI CEMS from his personal shop with little more than severance pay, a punctual UPS guy, and two extremely dedicated partners willing to work long hours without pay.

That resourceful team built STI on a commitment to continually develop their expertise and their relationships. Unafraid to find out what they didn’t know, they surrounded themselves with—and leaned on—the knowledge and experience of some of the industry’s most respected CEMS technicians and suppliers.

Today, STI CEMS is still headquartered in an expanded version of that same shop in the small community of Waldron, Arkansas. The company has grown to almost 50 employees, and we’re proud that nearly half of our team are U.S. military veterans.

Every freedom, privilege, and opportunity available to Americans is a debt owed to the men and women who sacrifice these benefits in service to our country. The priceless cost of their service can never be repaid, but many people want to honor and thank veterans through community and financial support. About three million veterans have opened small businesses across the nation, and for them a business certification, such as VOSB or SDVOSB, can open the door to better business, bigger clients, and exclusive government contracts. By joining this diverse global supply chain, veterans are open to new opportunities and give their communities another way to say, “Thank you for your service.”