California’s Small Business Person of the Year made the transition from military service to entrepreneur

When Qais Alkurdi finished service with the U.S. Marine Corps in 2009 and was honorably discharged as a disabled veteran, he faced the same challenges many veterans encounter when transitioning into civilian life, such as navigating the private sector, balancing family responsibilities, and building a career.

Instead of viewing these challenges as obstacles, he gained work experience in the civilian sector and then launched his own business – HQE Systems of Temecula, California – in 2014.

HQE Systems has now grown to 60 employees, of whom 60 percent are veterans, with expertise in designing and installing life safety and electronic security systems for both government and corporate customers.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has recognized Alkurdi’s achievement by naming him Small Business Person of the Year for California, part of the agency’s annual Small Business Week event that selects outstanding entrepreneurs from each of the 50 states.

“As a legal immigrant and disabled veteran, my mission has always been clear: Do my part to help make the world a better place,” says Alkurdi. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our amazing team at HQE Systems, working tirelessly to develop technology that makes a difference and saves lives!

“Winning this award is not just about me,” Alkurdi adds. “Being recognized by the SBA is proof that veterans can lead and innovate in the highest levels of the private sector.”

Ooma is proud to have made a modest contribution to HQE Systems’ success with our Ooma Office phone service, which the company started using in December 2021.

“At HQE Systems, reliable communication is essential to delivering the high-quality service our clients expect,” says Nick Ellis, director of engineering. “Since switching to the Ooma business phone network, we’ve seen a noticeable improvement in both efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Ooma’s VoIP technology gives us clear, dependable call quality, whether we’re working from the office or remotely.

“The system’s features such as the virtual receptionist, call routing, and voicemail to email have helped streamline our communication and ensure we never miss an important call,” Ellis concludes. “It was easy to set up, simple to manage, and incredibly scalable, which is perfect for a growing company like ours. Ooma has proven to be a smart, reliable choice for HQE Systems, supporting our team and helping us stay connected with our clients more effectively than ever.”

(Connecticut’s Small Business Person of the Year is also an Ooma customer. Discover her story.)