Communications Test

In 1995, while taking a break from work to care for her first son, Heidi Akers started to get fed up with chores like laundry, food, and nursing. Akers, who had been working in marketing and PR for Raytheon, says “I pretty much went from going 100 miles per hour to what felt like a dead stop.”

So it was perfect timing when Akers's former vice president from Raytheon stopped by her house with a business idea. Although she didn't have experience running a business, Akers decided to join the VP in building a satellite communications company, SmartSAT.

The two built their business working from a garage. They hired all retirees, because Akers could relate to their wanting to keep busy, and it was relatively low risk if they didn't have enough work.