Jon Hammock, CEO and Founder of KeyLogic Systems, Inc., talked with Jim Matuga, host of The Positively West Virginia Podcast, about the West Virginia workforce and his advice to young entrepreneurs.
KeyLogic is a leading provider of professional services and engineering solutions for research and development technologies that transform how federal agencies operate. They specialize in developing unique solutions bolstered by exceptional service and comprehensive capabilities that improve an organization’s technology management, business intelligence, data analytics, budget formulation and biometrics.
KeyLogic supports critical domestic and global missions within the federal government, including at energy, national security and civilians agencies. They ensure their clients have the ability to unlock their full potential and empower them to reimagine their approach to mission success. Thanks to their approach to anticipating their clients’ needs, KeyLogic has never had a one-time customer since their founding in 1999. KeyLogic holds both an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certification and a CMMI Maturity Level 3 appraisal.
Key Logic, Jon Hammock
What was your worst business moment?
For some business owners, one moment defines their history of “worst moment.” This singular event can shake their foundation. Many will change course. The event will define how they run their business.
For Hammock: “In the early stages, when we’re skipping paychecks, and I was putting my resources out to make payroll, there were some sleepless nights. Having to tell someone that we can’t keep them on are always concerns that stick with you,” Hammock said. “And from another perspective, the wear of the company can make someone grow tired.”
“The potential for the gravity for a business to take a toll on you is one of the biggest concerns,” Hammock said.
“Keep that fire in your belly and a vision of the future,” Hammock advised.
“There’s never a true scoreboard that gives you true insight into how you are doing. In those early stages, there’s a lot of gut instinct to how you are doing,” Hammock said. “Stay true to what you know, and do not lose that confidence.”
What would you say is the best thing about being in business in West Virginia?
“The West Virginia workforce.We just have great folks here; we have great talent,” Hammock said. “We work with the federal government, and we have offices and employees in many different states, but we are headquartered right here in Morgantown, by choice. A lot of people ask what we are doing in West Virginia and why aren’t we located on the beltway. And I tell them, we have offices on the beltway. We are located in the DC metro area, but I choose to be in West Virginia.”
“There’s a sense of community that exists here in West Virginia and specifically Morgantown that we don’t always see.”
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone who has the entrepreneurial itch?
“I think at the center, it is having the confidence to believe,” Hammock advised. “You have to equip yourself and believe. You have to surround yourself with smart people and experts, but the biggest piece of advice is knowing when to listen to the experts and when to ignore them. There’s no single piece of advice that can trump your vision or desire for what you want to do.”
“You’ve got to be bold enough to put your goals our there.”
Hammock was a guest on The Positively West Virginia Podcast. Listen to his full podcast here.
PWV QUICK BITS | WEST VIRGINIA WORKFORCE
- RECOMMENDED BOOK: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, Good to Great by Jim Collins and Lucky or Smart by Bo Peabody
- RECOMMENDED RESOURCE: “Our leadership team and the advice and input of folks. I’ll tell you something that was really valuable to me was a few years ago, I joined a CEO peer group.”
- PIECE OF ADVICE: “I think it’s believing. You have to overpower, you have to see through, you have to constantly set that vision.”