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Security Knowledge Solutions is Named GrowthSPURT7 Winner

INCspire, the Incubator Program of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, announced today that Security Knowledge Solutions LLC, an e-solutions company specializing in homeland security, is the winner of the GrowthSPURT7 Business Plan competition. The semiannual business plan contest affords the winner more than $10,000 in benefits, including an initial five month tenure in the coveted Incubator Program, high-level mentoring and consulting support, exposure, networking and free business software.The brainchild of CEO Glenn Bartholomew, SKS operates in the Homeland Security arena providing eLearning, ‘hands-on’ simulation and knowledge management services to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Security personnel at any type of checkpoint facility anywhere in the world.“While my background is primarily in IT, I have worked in the security arena for a number of years with numerous local and global security companies and experts,” Bartholomew said of SKS’ origins. “I saw a huge need to provide quality content based information, education and simulation of real world experiences to the millions of security personnel working in the USA and the rest of the world.”While the emerging firm is still largely in developmental process, SKS already has a considerable head start. The company has already released its first commercially available product—'i-screen' —a simulation system which introduces security personnel to the image interpretation techniques used in x-ray machines. This technology, according to Bartholomew, provides security personnel insight through real life simulation into theentification of prohibited items like guns, knives and explosive devices along with a host everyday permitted items. i-screen is available over the Web, on CD or through an organizations internal network.“We are proud to say the US Army is one of our early users,” Bartholomew noted.Designed to celebrate and encourage the many pioneers of new business in our region, GrowthSPURT is an excellent opportunity to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship with a competitive challenge that yields great economic results for the region as well as benefiting the winning firm. Applicants submit a business plan for review by judges representing all segments of industry. Three finalists are chosen for the “interview” segment, during which the judges will dissect and challenge the plan, and encourage the applicant to defend and elaborate the business opportunity. All finalists emerge winners, having had the opportunity for high-level exposure and constructive feedback.“Over the last 15 years I have worked for a number of companies based in the Greater Reston area and have been well aware of how active and highly respected the Chamber is,” Bartholomew said. “To join the Chamber as a new company was a very positive step for us so to win the Growth Spurt program was just an amazing experience.“Joining the incubator gives us the opportunity to interact with some of the best business minds in the USA which I am sure will add tremendous clarity and value to our decisions which in turn will ensure we offer even more appropriate solutions to our market.”“Although the GrowthSpurt judges received many high quality applications, SKS impressed us for several reasons but most importantly, because they are offering services that are vital to us all – our physical and emotional security,” said Darcie Davis, Co-Chair of the INCspire Advisory Board and president of Davis, Kingsley & Company. “They have already received traction with important customers and we believe their services are timed right for our local as well as national marketplace.” For More Information Contact:Erica MaslesVP Sales & MarketingSecurity Knowledge Solutions LLCwww.sksco.com