Minority Business of the Year Award Winner
Atlanta Tribune The Magazine August 2010 Issue
This is another great milestone for American Technologies. This feature article not only acknowledges the work of 16+ years, but salutes the efforts of the company as a business.
A Salute to Minority Business Owners
By Kamille D. Whittaker
It has become custom in technology circles to dismiss the Y2K scare as the alchemy of hyper-active minds and conspiracy theorists. But for Daniel and Marie Fowler, owners of American Technologies Inc., it warranted a total business model overhaul and family relocation,to boot.
Founded in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area in 1995, American Technologies began as computer manufacturing company building personal computer systems and providing for computer networking, databases and custom software arrangements for clients such as The Defense Logistics agency and other non-profit/commercial entities.
Making Atlanta Our Home
“We decided to relocate to the metropolitan Atlanta area where we began to develop websites that were rich in animation, media and design,” explains Daniel. “These online platforms were then woven with HTML, Adobe Photoshop, Flash, and several other Intellectual Development Secrets.” “It was a drastic change in scope because in the Metropolitan Washington D.C. Area, you’re dealing very heavy with politics, Military, NASA and Information Technology,” says Marie. “In Georgia, Black Businesses, The Music,Film, and Entertainment Industry is all the rage. Everything is about visual effects and music. Everybody needs audition tapes, high-tech portfolios and media kits.”
Expansion
American Technologies has also expanded all of its services in the areas of Conference Coverage and Vignette Productions, and increased the capacity to service a greater number of metropolitan areas around the nation.
In Development
“My father is skilled in the trades so he teaches us on that technological level, but, beyond that, he teaches us about sales, marketing and general people skills. My mother instructs us on the art of business — how to secure different deals and follow through, and how to look out for certain types of clients and gauge their ability to engage in a mutually beneficial relationships. She also teaches us about financial prudence and the consequences of our decisions. We can’t just go out and purchase a $50,000 camera without asking the question of precisely how we plan on making a return on our investment.”
The Legacy
“We’ve always had leaving a legacy at the forefront of our minds. We started this business with very little income, and we didn’t just want to start a business only to sell it once it became profitable. We wanted it to extend to the children, from generation to generation,” says Marie. “We want to make it sustainable so that even when the economy is bad they don’t have to worry, they can take care of themselves. Fortunately they have major plans for the future of the company.” “But you know how the saying goes,” adds Daniel,referring to the chain of events that brought them to this point, “‘if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.’”AT