From the article in the Virginia Pilot: Published on April 23, 2018 by Briana Adhikusuma

The current owner of SimIS Inc. in Portsmouth had other service businesses before, such as a beauty salon and antique shop. Technology was just a hobby for him.

But his boss’s suggestion was enough to push Garcia into discussing the idea with an Old Dominion University classmate in a hotel room in Washington, D.C.

And that discussion eventually led to the opening of SimIS Inc. – Simulations and Information Security – in 2007.

“It was because I loved my job in technology (that) I didn’t know if I could start my own business in it,” he said, referring to his work with General Dynamics. “And I took a risk back in 2007 and it was good risk.”

SimIS focuses on three information technology sectors: autonomous platforms, modeling and simulation and information security.

The company started with just him and his business partner, who is no longer with the company, working out of their homes. Garcia was still finishing his doctoral degree at ODU.

Garcia said he had his doubts.

“How are we going to survive? I took all the money out of savings, 401(k), sold stock that I had, mortgaged my house,” he said. “I dove in and that’s where I got a little concerned. I think that happens with most entrepreneurs that are taking the risk.”

He began leasing a one-room, two-person office in Portsmouth.

“My affinity for Portsmouth started then and I’ve stayed with Portsmouth,” he said. “I’m kind of a known commodity in Portsmouth and that’s why we stay here. This is our second award for small business of the year in Portsmouth. We do quite a bit in the city. It was kind of by chance, but I think it was meant to be.”

Throughout the years, Garcia said the business has had to change its focus in the marketplace. When it first opened, SimIS was strictly a defense company, but Garcia began looking into other markets such as health care technologies.

“I had to adjust. If I didn’t, I was going to go out of business. There were some trying times where we almost did,” he said. “But we weathered the storm. You have to change with the time. The area has and we’ve kind of changed with it.”

Those changes brought about good results for the company.

The number of employees doubled in 2016 and 2017. Garcia aims to double its current 100 employees this year as well.

Beyond employee growth, the company also has initiatives with expanding into the app development market, entering the cannabis industry by labeling edibles and continuing to partner with ODU with its GO Virginia grant for development of small, unmanned boats for several uses.

Garcia attributes the company’s success to his employees and their retention.

“I think it’s the way we run it and, of course, the people. We have unbelievably talented, highly skilled, qualified individuals in the company. Everyone is degreed (sic). Everyone is an expert in their field …,” he said. “But we also provide quality benefits to make sure that we can compete with much larger companies that are looking for the same talent.”