Sandia National Laboratories' Mentor-Protégé Program and its leadership have once again been recognized by the Department of Energy for their success in helping small businesses grow.
The DOE Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization recognizes programs, administrators, contractor managers and small businesses that have demonstrated exceptional performance in making small businesses a vital part of DOE's mission success.
Director's Excellence Award
This year, program lead and supplier relations specialist Royina Lopez received the Director's Excellence Award, an honor given at the discretion of the OSDBU director.
Lopez manages Sandia's Mentor-Protégé Program, the largest and most robust in the DOE complex. The program currently mentors five small and disadvantaged businesses, helping them grow, succeed and navigate doing business with Sandia and others in the DOE enterprise.
She was recognized for her leadership and commitment to advancing small business engagement and positioning Sandia as a model for mentor-protégé collaboration and innovation. She also earned recognition for improving the program's execution and impact and helping develop a comprehensive Mentor Program Guide, now used throughout DOE to establish consistency and enhance the quality of mentor-protégé relationships.
In the last year, Lopez also conceptualized and organized the inaugural Mentor- Protégé Forum, which brought together mentors, protégé's and aspiring participants. The event helped raise awareness about the program and its value.
In the award announcement, Lopez is described as a respected leader, a passionate advocate for small business inclusion and an indispensable asset to the DOE small business community.
Protégé of the Year
DOE also named one of Sandia's protégés as Protégé of the Year for its significant development as part of Sandia's program.
Strategic Industry Inc., a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business based in Kingsburg, California, specializes in general construction and electrical trades.
The family that owns the company is proud to say the business is founded on deep roots in the skilled trades with a vision for building something greater together. Some might say fate played a role as well.
"I've always been an entrepreneur at heart," founder Jason Miller said. "I knew I wanted to start a business but didn't quite know what I wanted to do until an opportunity presented itself."
That opportunity was the last thing Miller thought he would be taking, after growing up in a construction family.
"I always saw a lot of challenges with the seasonal aspect of the business. I was encouraged at a young age by my dad and uncles to go to college, get a degree and not follow in their footsteps."
Miller followed that advice, earned his MBA and went to work in the corporate world.
Then in 2007, the opportunity to start a construction company arose. Miller took it and Strategic Industry Inc. was born.
It became a family affair in 2018, when Miller brought in his dad and uncle to help the business grow. His dad, Charles Miller, a Vietnam-era veteran, was an electrician for more than 30 years. His uncle, Rick Arteaga, was a contractor for just as long.
"I just needed some support, and they had this depth of knowledge that could add a lot of value to the business. Plus, my dad and I always had a dream to work together," Miller said.
While the business was taking off, there was still one challenge Strategic Industry had yet to achieve; doing business with Sandia National Laboratories in California, located just a couple of hours down the road.
"We always wanted to do business with Sandia but it's a tough place to get your foot in the door," Miller said.
Then a call went out about the Mentor-Protégé Program in California, and Miller responded. The company was accepted into the program in 2020, launching a prosperous relationship with Sandia.
"What I love about the Mentor-Protégé Program is that it taught us how to do business with Sandia," Miller said. "It made us a better contractor. I think the results show in the amount of work we're now getting through Sandia."
Strategic Industry was awarded several projects on the Sandia California campus in 2024, including a lab renovation, electrical services and security installations worth more than $2 million. It was also awarded a $500,000 project at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and recently began a project on the Sandia Albuquerque campus. The company is also pursuing projects at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and New Mexico Veteran Affairs facilities.
At the beginning of 2025, the Strategic Industry opened an Albuquerque office to support its growth.
As for the DOE Protégé of the Year award, the company is grateful.
"This honor isn't just about leadership, it's about the incredible people who show up every day and make this company what it is," said co-owner Rick Arteaga. "From the field to the front office, our team is the backbone of Strategic Industry. To the families who support our employees, especially those who work away from home, we're deeply grateful. Their sacrifices don't go unnoticed."
As for Miller, he chuckled as he looked back on the journey that brought him here: "It's funny that this is how it worked out. They wanted me to do anything but construction, but here I am, and I love everything about it. I enjoy who we serve and who we support and don't second-guess it. It was meant to be."
