Jimenez, seated to left of President Bush, at White House conference.

This past spring St. Mary's University alumnus Anthony Jimenez (B.A.S. '84) found himself seated next to President George W. Bush discussing how the economic growth package's tax incentives will positively impact small businesses such as Jimenez's own company, MicroTech.

"I was the only individual representing a minority-owned small business invited to the White House to meet with President Bush. When I get a voice in this kind of discussion, it's a great opportunity and I'm so proud to have participated."

It has been a long journey for Jimenez, a San Antonio native who spent a few years working for a local cable company and taking a class here and there before landing an ROTC scholarship to St. Mary's.

One of the fastest growing small businesses in the nation, MicroTech stands out largely due to Jimenez's entrepreneurship. Jimenez is a minority, service-disabled veteran who actively recruits other veterans and service-disabled veterans into his organization. In fact, nearly half of MicroTech's employees are veterans or service-disabled veterans.

"Ultimately, it's about giving back. MicroTech focuses on hiring veterans and service-disabled-veterans. I think that comes as an opportunity to feel good about myself as well as providing veterans an opportunity to be a part of a company that is so diverse."

MicroTech employs about 130 people but this figure is expected to double in the next year. Having exceeded its four-year growth projections in three years, MicroTech has flourished thanks to Jimenez's charismatic leadership.

Once an ROTC scholarship opened the door to attend any college, Jimenez chose St. Mary's because he was deeply impressed by the University's "reputation and quality of education," which he says has continually served him well and contributed to his ongoing success.

In addition to the solid education he received at St. Mary's, Jimenez attributes much of his success in business to the military. "The military is very good at training people to believe that there's nothing that they can't do. If I hadn't been in the military, I probably would not have been as bold. I probably would have been more riskaverse."

—by Alyssa Wealty (B.A. '08)