Source One Distributors Inc., a leader in tactical gear distribution, recently announced support for the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation (MC-LEF). Source One CEO & President Mark Llano and Director of Operations Lori Stanek both attended the foundation’s Sixteenth Annual Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City following a donation of $3000.00 to MC-LEF.
MC-LEF’s mission is to encourage the spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical development of children through education. Founded by former Marines and law enforcement personnel, MC-LEF provides scholarships to children of Marines and federal law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. To date, the MC-LEF has distributed aid with a value of more than $50,000,000.00 to eligible children.
This is great and we are happy to see Source One Distributors support MC-LEF. It’s an organization that bridges both military and LE.
Mark Llano, CEO and President of Source One Distributors was recently awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2011 Florida Award in the Distribution and Manufacturing category. In its 25th year, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Award selections are made by an independent panel of judges.
“I am extremely humbled by this award,†said Source One CEO & President, Mark Llano, “And I am also extremely proud of my team at Source One, as I would not be here without them. I started Source One with the mission of providing improved distribution, best of class equipment and quality customer service to today’s war fighter. Since then, we have been blessed with the opportunity affiliating ourselves with people of the highest caliber to further support our Military and our country. The Ernst & Young award is representative of all that we have accomplished together at Source One in the last 8 years to help our troops come back safe and sound. In addition, I’d like to dedicate this award to the men and women who are fighting for our great country, they are the true winners.â€
As a Florida award recipient, Mr. Llano is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 National Award. Winners will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 12, 2011. Past winners include Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, Arthur M. Blank of AMB Group, LLC (Home Depot, Atlanta Falcons), Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Inc., Ruth Fertel of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Inc., Maxine Clark of Build-a-Bear Workshop, Tom Adams of Rosetta Stone Inc., and Matt Szulik of Red Hat, Inc. That’s some pretty distinguished company.
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Source One Distributors, Inc and its founder Mark Llano, are supporting this year’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program at Florida State University. The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines disabled as a result of their service supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The intent of the EBV is to open the door to entrepreneurial opportunity and small business ownership by developing competencies in the many steps and activities associated with creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture. This is also achieved by helping veterans coordinate their efforts with programs and services for Veterans and others with disabilities.
At the end of this summer’s boot camp, each of the 22 participating veterans will present his or her individual business plan and entrepreneurial dream to a panel of judges during the second annual Source One Commercialization Plan Competition. The SOD sponsored program was very popular last year with participants and panel judges alike. The winners will be announced at the closing ceremony and will be presented with cash prizes by Source One CEO and President Mark Llano that they may then use to pursue their business goals. SOD will award two Veterans with $1,500 first-place prizes, two with second-place prizes of $1,000, and two with third-place prizes of $500.
The money for the prizes was offered to the program by Source One Distributors and its President and CEO, Mark Llano. “It’s heartening to see high caliber schools in our state such as Florida State University supporting the men and women of the armed forces,†said Llano, a Marine Veteran himself. “Programs such as the EBV are essential to our nation’s economic growth and prosperity. We are honored to be involved again and look forward to seeing the results of the boot-camp.â€
The 2011 Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities will take place in Tallahassee, FL June 9-16th. For more information please visit: www.cob.fsu.edu/ebv
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Source One Distributors, Inc has been selected to receive the 2011 Innovative Business Performer of the Year award for Small Disadvantaged Business by the United States Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Source One, a current contractor on the DLA Tailored Logistics Support Program, was nominated by DLA Troop Support for outstanding efforts to partner with DLA to support the agency’s mission of providing supplies and services to America’s Warfighters.
“We are very humbled and excited to be receiving this prestigious award from the DLA. It recognizes Source One’s commitment the DLA to provide improved distribution, best of class equipment and quality customer service to today’s Warfighter,†said Source One President and CEO, Mark Llano. “And we are 100% Committed to the Mission….”
The US Small Business Administration South Florida District Office has selected Mark Allen Llano, President & CEO of Source One Distributors, Inc. as the 2011 District, State of Florida and Region IV Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year.
He was selected from a competitive field of several successful veteran entrepreneurs from the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee for his personal efforts and achievements in advocating for and advancing business ownership opportunities among veterans.
Although he is running a multi-million dollar company providing products and equipment to US military bases worldwide, Mr. Llano also frequently donates his time and resources to better help numerous veterans achieve entrepreneurial success. Whether teaching an Entrepreneurship Workshop at Palm Beach State College, sponsoring the Florida State University Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans or serving on the Florida Veterans’ Advisory Council, Mr. Llano has dedicated himself to sharing his business experiences and encouraging veterans to the same level of success he has achieved.
He will be honored for his achievement on May 17, 2011 during the 3rd Space Coast Entrepreneur Summit hosted by Congressman Bill Posey. The event will be held at the Florida Institute of Technology in the Hartley Room on the 2nd Floor of the Denius Student Center.
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We introduced 782 Gear’s Smokin Line during this year’s SHOT Show and as you may recall, they have taken product concepts that many of us grew up with and applied a modern material and construction story. Additionally, they didn’t just hit the market with one or two garments available in limited numbers. Rather, they have manufactured complete runs of base, mid, and outer layers and they offer FR options for many of these products. 782 Gear has also designed contact gloves, balaclavas, and beanies to complement their clothing. We have reviewed the line and can say that attention to detail is the standard. The mix of high tech fabrics with performance driven designs really impresses us. Take for example, the field jacket inspired softshell parka pictured above. It’s really more than a softshell as it also also incorporates hardshell technology, mixing fabrics for different effects based on location on the body.
One mid layer we want to point out is the APECS liner designed specifically to interface with the APECS parka issued to the Marines, Navy, and Air Force.
In addition to the clothing they also offer a blanket that is quite similar to the issue poncho liner except that there is an FR version. The blanket even has a hooded brother called the kloke (seen above). Also, they have introduced water resistant duffels made from PVC and ballistic nylon. We’ve shown you just a couple of products but everything is like that. It’s fresh and new and worth checking out. Colors options include Black, Coyote, Foliage Green, and MultiCam (including the head and hand wear) and several of the clothing items are reversible.
Mark Llano, head of Source One Distributors and Vetrepreneur of the Year recently authored an article on what it takes to be a good CEO. It is particularly poignant for military veterans turning their drive and good ideas toward the business world yet lack experience in this new environment.
Source One Distributors is hosting Band of Brothers member Ed “Doc” Pepping in their booth at SHOT Show. Stop by for an autograph from this member of the “greatest generation.”
Also on hand in SOD’s booth will be the premier of a select few pieces from 782 Gear‘s upcoming line. Additionally, ArchAngel Armor will be on hand to display their latest gear.
Source One Distributors is located in booth #8203.
Source One Distributors Inc., a leader in tactical gear distribution, recently announced support for the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation (MC-LEF). Source One CEO & President Mark Llano and Director of Operations Lori Stanek both attended the foundation’s Sixteenth Annual Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City following a donation of $3000.00 to MC-LEF.
