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A portrait of an academy graduate: entrepreneur Enamul Hoque
One of life's truisms states that lessons learned early in life tend to shape one's character and make lasting impressions. This is quite the case for Enamul Hoque, a graduate of the APS Academy for the Advancement of Small, Minority- and Women-owned Enterprises (AAAME).
 As a young boy growing up in poverty-stricken Bangladesh, Hoque recounts stories of his mother sending him and his siblings to neighboring homes to see if they had enough food to eat before eating dinner herself. If their neighbors were wanting, Hoque's mother would share her food with them.
"You see that as a child and you learn," Hoque says. The product of two educated professionals, Hoque was fortunate enough to grow up with parents who were able to provide a better life and who instilled an altruistic sense in their children. Hoque believes it's that same selflessness and willingness to enrich the lives of those around him that make his Phoenix-based engineering company, Hoque and Associates, Inc., unique and successful. He also credits his AAAME experiences with helping him grow his company, with expanding his circle of business associates and in achieving his business goals.
"AAAME refines you and helps you get to the next level. They don't simply give you a homework assignment and send you off to do it," said Hoque. "Through AAAME you learn to think and interact with other professionals and mentors like AAAME Director Rena Huber and others, who can assist you in solving problems and in getting to the next step in your business. AAAME is good for your business and is good for you as a person. It helps in all respects."
Launched in 1997, AAAME teaches small-business owners the skills necessary for their companies to succeed. These business skills include training in strategic planning, finance, management/operations and marketing. Participants are partnered with advisers from both the non-profit and private sectors - including APS volunteers, business consultants and retired executives - who provide lessons learned from their own experiences in the business world.
Hoque, a graduate of ASU, owns a consulting engineering firm specializing in geotechnical exploration, civil engineering, construction materials testing, environmental assessment and solid-waste engineering. His company is part of a fast-growing business segment in Arizona - the small, black or other minority-owned business.
APS recognizes the importance of nurturing small business and the impact its success has on the state's economy today and will have tomorrow. According to the latest census data, black-owned businesses have grown by 77 percent in Arizona between 1997 and 2002. In that same timeframe, small businesses grew by 16 percent.
"I consider the AAAME program to be like the ancient Greek schools of Socrates and
Aristotle," said Hoque. "There are no exams and no grades. AAAME is a forum where ideas are shared and challenged."
As a direct result of his AAAME experience, Hoque said he has grown his business considerably. So much so, he has been able to donate a quarter of a million dollars to the School of Engineering at ASU, which bears his name. He also built a school for teenage girls in his home village in Bangladesh.
"It's been said that the best way to help an impoverished country improve itself is to educate its mothers," said Hoque explaining why he choose to build a school geared towards teaching young women.
While his charity and volunteerism have earned Hoque many accolades and awards including volunteer of the year and entrepreneur of the year honors, Hoque says he gives back for the love of community and not for the praise he receives.
"I have had the good fortune to migrate to a country which has a great society that has an open-door policy for anyone willing to work hard. I just want to share my success. I want to get to the point where I can leave my business in the hands of my employees so I can dedicate myself to doing charitable projects."
Hoque said his personal philosophies mesh well with the lessons he learned through AAAME.
"I believe in the AAAME philosophy of teaching companies to better themselves," he said. "APS doesn't write a company a check or simply give them a contract to do work as a vendor, although APS contracts with many minority companies. The APS AAAME program gives small companies the ability to grow and prosper. That is a much more sustainable approach."
AAAME accepts 12 to 14 businesses into each class and the two-year program begins with weekly "Boot Camp" group sessions that include classes on strategic planning, finance, management, operations and marketing.
Boot Camp is followed by twice a month group meetings and individualized company meetings with specially assigned advisors that help each company achieve its growth targets.
The next AAAME class begins in August 2008 and applications are accepted through
June 27, 2008. The academy is free to those accepted. To qualify, the business must have been in Arizona for at least one year and display a potential to grow.
For more information on AAAME or for an application visit the AAAME Web page, or call (602) 250-4712 or e-mail Rena Huber, director of AAAME at Rena.Huber@aps.com.
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