This is an archived site
This site contains information from September 2006 - August 2020. Visit the current MBDA.gov site.

Entrepreneur of the Month - August 2016

Image(s) included
Post a comment

Donald L. Mooney is the founder and CEO of Donald L. Mooney Enterprises, and is a quintessential selection for our August Entrepreneur of the Month. Donald L. Mooney Enterprises provides human capital resources and workforce solutions to the public and private sectors, and has built a roster of clients that includes the United States Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Don comes from humble beginnings in Texas, where he was raised by his grandparents. He worked hard to obtain an appointment to the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point. Don entered the U.S. Army, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 22 years of service. In 1997, he started his second career, serving as Dean of Boys and Commander of Cadets at the high school from which he had graduated, San Marcos (Texas) Baptist Academy. By the year 2000, Don could no longer deny his entrepreneurial spirit. A conversation he had shared with the owner of a staffing company inspired him to start his own business. He had always loved working with people, gravitated toward the staffing business model, and found he could apply his knowledge as a former Operations Officer in the Army to that line of work. Don decided it was his time, and submitted three months’ notice to his alma mater. He had a desire to ignite generational wealth, and felt it was important to create a successful business for his grandchildren.

But the road to entrepreneurship was something of an enigma for Don, and he immediately sought guidance from the MBDA, whose business centers and other resources helped him take the first steps toward creating business and marketing plans. Don poured money, resources, and time into the company, and his family lent their support: his wife worked two jobs, and his children helped during the summers before he could hire staff.

“With savings depleted, long family work hours, persistence, faith in God, and a lot of love, the company grew its value five times more than expected in its early years,” Don shares. “Today, Donald L. Mooney Enterprises employs over 1,200 people and is in 35 states.”

Don continues to foster his relationship with MBDA, which has served the role of providing a platform for his company’s success. MBDA helped Donald L. Mooney Enterprises obtain its 8(a) certification in 2005, and its current line of credit in 2013, which brought his banking/factoring fees down from $200,000 to approximately $26,000 annually. Don advises aspiring MBEs to use resources like MBDA. We are proud that Don has been able to turn his vision into reality for his ultimate reward—family.

Donald L. Mooney’s Advice to Entrepreneurs

“We can all win if we treat our teammates, colleagues, patients, and clients with respect, dignity, kindness, honesty, and compassion.”

About Entrepreneur of the Month

In January 2016, MBDA launched Entrepreneur of the Month, a showcase for business owners and executives who have leveraged MBDA’s programs and services in unique ways to foster growth. At MBDA, our core mission is infused with the energy and vision of minority business entrepreneurs. In highlighting those who exemplify passion, innovation, and determination, we hope to inspire business owners of today and tomorrow.

Do you know a stellar entrepreneur who exemplifies excellence, leadership, and determination? Nominate him/her today for our Entrepreneur of the Month! Please submit a nomination letter stating your reasons to Alicia Sowah at asowah@mbda.gov.

Entrepreneur of the Month

Entrepreneur of the Month