North Country CEO uses Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Vets training to grow firm

SYRACUSE — Thad Hunkins took over as owner, president, and CEO of NCC Systems, Inc. at the beginning of the year. 

The family-owned NCC Systems is an electronics-integration company with locations in Watertown, Potsdam, and Plattsburgh, as well as Washington, D.C., per its website. The company’s products include fire systems, commercial and residential-security systems, CCTV camera systems, door-access control systems, phone systems; and pro sound and public-address systems.

Hunkins’ father, David, is the firm’s VP and minority owner.

Thad Hunkins returned to the company after serving in the U.S. Air Force for nearly 30 years, having retired from service in July 2018.

When he agreed to assume control and operate the business, Hunkins realized he had a problem. “That’s not something I have any experience in,” he noted.

Hunkins was among 30 veteran entrepreneurs who participated in the 12th annual Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) held  in July at Syracuse University. The program targets those who want to start or grow their own business.

Getting involved

Once his family learned that Hunkins would be leading the family business, one of Hunkins’ sons asked him if he would be taking any business classes to prepare him for his new role. 

“I thought that was very sage advice,” said Hunkins, noting his son is a computer electrical engineer who works in New York City. 

Hunkins spoke with reporters during an EBV media day held July 24 at Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

As he was transitioning out of the military, he had a chance to participate in the military’s transition-assistance program, or TAP. It provides programs offering help in how to find a job and includes a program on entrepreneurship and starting your own business. Hunkins signed up for “all of them,” he said. 

At the same time, he also met Chris Dambach, president of Industry Standard USA of Clay, at a Veterans Institute for Procurement program. Dambach had recommended he get involved in the EBV program. 

“I had not heard of that … It was never on my list of things to do,” Hunkins recalled.

But it became part of his to-do list in 2019. Before the program concluded, all the veteran entrepreneurs went before an expert panel to pitch an idea they were pursuing to get some feedback on how to proceed. 

For his presentation, Hunkins planned to discuss NCC’s plans for growing geographically, specifically mentioning that the firm has a presence in Plattsburgh with “couple of technicians” but no dedicated office building. But he wants to change that.

“The team is on board with let’s go to Plattsburgh. Got some land. We’re going to put up a building and fill it with technicians who do nothing but secure and protect Plattsburgh,” Hunkins said of the firm’s plans for that area of Northern New York. 

About EBV

Veterans from more than 12 states participated in EBV, an eight-day program focused on starting and building a business offered through Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). 

Participants attended classes, networking events, and presentations, “learning the fundamentals of running a business from over 30 accomplished entrepreneurs and professors,” per a July 22 news release about the program. The program at Syracuse University continued from July 20 through July 27.

They learned about subjects that include social media, human resources, technology, accounting, and personal branding, said Misty Stutsman, director of entrepreneurship and small business at the IVMF.

“They really get a whole breadth of knowledge throughout the week,” Stutsman said in speaking to reporters at the July 24 media day at the Whitman School. 

Since its founding at Syracuse in 2007, EBV has expanded to a consortium of nine schools across the country and has graduated nearly 2,000 aspiring entrepreneurs, 79 percent of whom have gone on to start their own business. And, 92 percent of those are still in business, Syracuse University says.   

SYRACUSE — Thad Hunkins took over as owner, president, and CEO of NCC Systems, Inc. at the beginning of the year. 

The family-owned NCC Systems is an electronics-integration company with locations in Watertown, Potsdam, and Plattsburgh, as well as Washington, D.C., per its website. The company’s products include fire systems, commercial and residential-security systems, CCTV camera systems, door-access control systems, phone systems; and pro sound and public-address systems.

Hunkins’ father, David, is the firm’s VP and minority owner.

Thad Hunkins returned to the company after serving in the U.S. Air Force for nearly 30 years, having retired from service in July 2018.

When he agreed to assume control and operate the business, Hunkins realized he had a problem. “That’s not something I have any experience in,” he noted.

Hunkins was among 30 veteran entrepreneurs who participated in the 12th annual Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) held  in July at Syracuse University. The program targets those who want to start or grow their own business.

Getting involved

Once his family learned that Hunkins would be leading the family business, one of Hunkins’ sons asked him if he would be taking any business classes to prepare him for his new role. 

“I thought that was very sage advice,” said Hunkins, noting his son is a computer electrical engineer who works in New York City. 

Hunkins spoke with reporters during an EBV media day held July 24 at Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

As he was transitioning out of the military, he had a chance to participate in the military’s transition-assistance program, or TAP. It provides programs offering help in how to find a job and includes a program on entrepreneurship and starting your own business. Hunkins signed up for “all of them,” he said. 

At the same time, he also met Chris Dambach, president of Industry Standard USA of Clay, at a Veterans Institute for Procurement program. Dambach had recommended he get involved in the EBV program. 

“I had not heard of that … It was never on my list of things to do,” Hunkins recalled.

But it became part of his to-do list in 2019. Before the program concluded, all the veteran entrepreneurs went before an expert panel to pitch an idea they were pursuing to get some feedback on how to proceed. 

For his presentation, Hunkins planned to discuss NCC’s plans for growing geographically, specifically mentioning that the firm has a presence in Plattsburgh with “couple of technicians” but no dedicated office building. But he wants to change that.

“The team is on board with let’s go to Plattsburgh. Got some land. We’re going to put up a building and fill it with technicians who do nothing but secure and protect Plattsburgh,” Hunkins said of the firm’s plans for that area of Northern New York. 

About EBV

Veterans from more than 12 states participated in EBV, an eight-day program focused on starting and building a business offered through Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). 

Participants attended classes, networking events, and presentations, “learning the fundamentals of running a business from over 30 accomplished entrepreneurs and professors,” per a July 22 news release about the program. The program at Syracuse University continued from July 20 through July 27.

They learned about subjects that include social media, human resources, technology, accounting, and personal branding, said Misty Stutsman, director of entrepreneurship and small business at the IVMF.

“They really get a whole breadth of knowledge throughout the week,” Stutsman said in speaking to reporters at the July 24 media day at the Whitman School. 

Since its founding at Syracuse in 2007, EBV has expanded to a consortium of nine schools across the country and has graduated nearly 2,000 aspiring entrepreneurs, 79 percent of whom have gone on to start their own business. And, 92 percent of those are still in business, Syracuse University says.