Banda Group lands $3.5 million NASA deal
Phoenix Business Journal - by Cathy Luebke
Zeferino Banda started Banda Group International LLC five years ago as a mom-and-pop operation out of his home. But despite the economic downtown, he remains on a growth path with his first foray into government work: a $3.5 million, five-year deal with NASA.
BGI provides safety support staffing and outsourcing, auditing and training, including OSHA classes and customized programs. A team from the Chandler company will help NASA implement and oversee a safety program at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
The team comprises four of BGI’s 30 employees, who are spread out across the U.S. and internationally, said Banda, who serves as president and CEO of BGI. The NASA team likely will grow, he said.
That, along with projected revenue of $4.2 million this year, contrasts with BGI’s start.
Banda worked for Sandia National Laboratories and Intel Corp. in New Mexico, and later moved to Arizona to work for a large construction management firm. Then the entrepreneurial bug bit.
“I decided to hang out my shingle and go out on my own,” he said.
His first deal was with Intel in Ireland. He has since picked up other private-sector clients, including General Electric and a construction management firm.
In addition to its Chandler headquarters, BGI has offices in Rio Rancho, N.M., and will be setting up an office in Maryland, Banda said. It has 8(a) and Minority Business Enterprise certifications.
NASA is the company’s first government client, Banda said. Last year was busy, but as business dipped somewhat in the first quarter of 2009, planning was under way to expand into new areas.
“This is our first step into growing government work,” he said. “We are excited to be working with such a prestigious agency.”
The goal is to help the agency achieve OSHA’s top rating, Banda said.
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