By Jessica O. Swink
Editor, Small Business Insight
Photo by Paul Chin, Jr.
Doña Storey presents a standing challenge: Put anything in front of her, and she can find out where the government bought it. Her company, Quality Technical Services, Inc., has managed the supply chain from items ranging from lipstick, to office chairs and bombs.
Founded in 1980, Quality Technical Services offers a complete range of services to assist clients through the total change management process. This includes design, master planning and strategic consulting with each client.
After 30 years of managing her business, Storey has now begun work on GovTips, LLC, a federal contracting consulting entity.
“As people helped me over the years, I kept writing down the advice,” Storey explains.
Through books, webinars, workshops and conferences, Storey now offers the same learning experiences she learned while growing her business to other businesses across the country.
“There are hundreds of consultants who will sell all sorts of services for lots of money,” Storey says. “When I did background checks on some, there was no one like me. I had actually done what everyone was talking about.”
She considers her writing and GovTips her retirement. Her goal is to provide free and low-cost information to companies that want to run successful government contracting businesses.When asked about the different qualities women can bring to running a business, it’s all about the ability to juggle.
“When I talk with other women, they always agree. Women are just better multitaskers,” Storey explains. “Men can’t compete.”
Storey also states that women, particularly mothers, tend to have entrepreneurial, innovative ideas. However, she stresses that this is not, in her opinion, gender specific.
“A human brain is a human brain,” she explains. “Men and women are no more creative than each other. It’s not that one can’t be creative, it’s just that some struggle with it more.”
Storey’s father plays a large role in her confidence. His strong work ethic led him to become a millionaire by age 32.
“He taught me: ‘Be who you are! They will respect you,’” she explains. “This is America, so I get to be who I want to be.”
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