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Member Spotlight: Renewable Ideas
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David Seidel has been an NASE Member since 2003. He owns Seidel Research and Development Company (SRADCO) in Columbia, Mo.
Tell us about SRADCO.
I founded SRADCO in 1991 as a part-time, home-based engineering software development company, because there was a need for computer software for basic engineering applications. I was a design engineer that saw a need in the engineering field for software that would benefit fellow engineers and clients. A short while later, I was doing energy efficiency studies for clients because of the energy expertise I achieved a decade earlier.
In 2003, I left being a director of a large mid-west environmental engineering company after 14 years to expand my work in the renewable energy field. My dream was to be a part of developing the technologies that provided sustainable, renewable resources for future generations. SRADCO is now a company that provides both energy and environment design and consulting.
What challenges have you faced in running your business?
The obstacles that I have faced in running my own business are not much different than those faced at the three other firms in which I was an employee, except that I am alone in the challenge with my company. Before, my bosses and I would brainstorm together to overcome the obstacles such as project budgets, deadlines, cash flow, and salaries and meeting payroll. The project work is the easy part. Managing the company alone, that is the hard part. With the experience that I’ve gained over time and through finding great resources such as the NASE, I’m overcoming these challenges to the best of my ability.
How has the NASE helped your business?
The NASE has helped my business by providing access to benefits such as medical and dental insurance, and legal business advice. I appreciate the NASE for representing me, the self-employed businessman, on Capitol Hill.
Tell us about your favorite project that you've worked on.
My favorite SRADCO project is the development of the renewable energy three-stage gasification process which I received a U.S. patent for. The patent was the result of the knowledge I gained over two decades of working with the forestry products industries. The patented process has many applications in the waste-to-energy and waste-to-value added products arenas. I’m excited about implementing this new patented technology in the near future.
What advice would you offer to your fellow NASE Members?
Follow your dreams. Too many times, great dreams are not followed because a person is not encouraged to do so. People are afraid that they may fail, so they do not even try. They do not realize that success comes after many attempts that fail.
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Read this article in PDF form here.