fbpx

Nova Engineering

An affinity for science and its potential applications drove Manhar Karsanbhai to pursue his Bachelor of Science at Colorado University in electrical engineering. After spending several years gaining experience in semi-conducting, storage, and research and development with companies from Colorado to California, Manhar decided it was time for a change. “It’s a big leap going from corporate America to jumping in to business ownership,” he said.

Nova Engineering was established in 1979 and Manhar took ownership of the company in 2013, the first business he’s ever owned. Being an established company, it came with its own set of unique challenges. As he began to realize his entrepreneurial dream, he drew upon previous experience to look for ways to improve the efficiency and flow of the business along with their manufacturing processes. By October of 2013, Nova Engineering began the process of earning ISO 9001:2001 certification that ensures certified companies comply with high quality processes, which would allow Nova to target larger companies to contract with. During this auditing process, Manhar began working with the North Metro Denver SBDC to streamline and add structure to their business processes. “Our consultant helped us through the ISO process, which was very challenging. We went from doing things ad hoc to very documented and standardized, which required a change in the company culture.”

Now that the company is ISO certified, they are working on building electronics that go in to medical equipment such as ultrasound probes for fetal monitoring, vascular products, infusion pumps and more. “It feels good to be part of a company that makes products that help with health needs, especially for a lower cost than many of the products that are out there.” Nova Engineering is proud to manufacture high quality products that are made in the United States and to provide skilled, well paying manufacturing jobs to the Colorado economy.

The challenges for Nova Engineering are never ending; their plan in working with the SBDC has shifted from their ISO certification to now developing leadership training for both management and employees, as well as implementing LEAN manufacturing processes. “Finding a skilled workforce and training existing employees on new technology are our next large challenges. Our growth will be ongoing.”

The future of Nova Engineering is bright, and owner Manhar says he’s, “Starting to see a little bit of light and everything is coming together. We are getting a better feel of how this business is run and how to improve.” In the near future, they are anticipating adding new equipment and working closer with original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) to better meet their needs as they build new products. “It all boils down to perseverance, patience and focus.”

Rocky Mountain Brownies

There is rarely a linear path to entrepreneurship. Often, it is a series of twists and turns, ups and downs, that wind us through the business journey. That has surely been the case for Lori Christensen, owner of Rocky Mountain Brownies. Lori was sailing through a highly successful law career, when a series of life altering circumstances forced her to reconsider what she valued most and what kind of life she wanted to lead.

Read More »
Colorado Swim School

Armed with the knowledge that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury fatalities for children under the age of four and the second leading cause in children under the age of fifteen, learning to swim was non-negotiable for Brent and Stephanie Scarbrough’s children. From the time their children were infants, they searched for a swim program that was child-centered, fun and engaging, yet also prepared children to know precisely what to do in the

Read More »
Deltech, Inc.

Deltech Inc. designs and builds furnaces for the production of scientific products, from laboratory implements to semi-conductor components. Deltech is a small, family-run company with a large impact. It began in 1968 as an engineering services company for the mining industry. The co-founders, Calvin L. Stevenson and Donald J. Drinkwater, were mining engineers. Deltech built its first furnace for Coors Tek, then known as Coors Porcelain. Their second customer was Los Alamos National Laboratories. Mary

Read More »
Mon Cheri Bakery & Bistro

Baking for Cheri Spickard owner of Mon Cheri started as a young child in her grandmother’s kitchen. Cheri loved spending time in Grandma’s kitchen making biscuits and cookies using Grandma’s method of a pinch of this and a bit of that. She did not learn about recipes until age 13 when working with her mother in her mother’s catering business. No one on her mother’s team liked to make deserts so Cheri took out the

Read More »
Black Hound Design Company

Black Hound…a name one would at first think was associated to a dog training business or a hunting operation; however, the reality is that it belongs to a custom furniture design and manufacturing business…Black Hound Custom Furniture and Design. In 2013, the owners, James and Kate Hixson, had an idea…a vision that would expand and enhance James’s college education in sculpturing. What started as a wood sculpture for a friend, evolved into a prosperous and

Read More »
Do Gooder Games Cafe

Dan Willman and his wife, Jessica, are co-owners of Do Gooder Games Café, a hybrid games store with an inclusive community where patrons are invited to play games with others while enjoying their favorite beverages and snacks from the café. The store also features new and diverse offerings for customers to purchase games and supplies. To further build community and set themselves apart from similar enterprises, they champion a unique rewards program where customers not only earn points for dollars spent, but also for participating in events such as meetups, art shows, and more.

Read More »
Skip to content