This August, the Greater Memphis Chamber is featuring a local Black business owner each week as it celebrates Black Business Month. Read other features here.
Alandas Dobbins
President/CEO of Oteka Technologies LLC
What’s the nature of your business?
Oteka Technologies is a Low Voltage Cabling, Access Control, Security Camera, and IT service provider based in Memphis, TN. We do business in the Enterprise Space, Commercial, New Construction, Existing and Government entities and our footprint is in West and Central TN.
Why Memphis? Why your neighborhood?
Too many times, I hear everyone being very negative about our city. I take a totally different approach…There are very few places in the world where you can really make a difference. And Memphis is a place where you can make a difference and make your life count! Get involved, change your neighborhood for the better, volunteer, offer your talents to make Memphis better than ever. Our communities needs you more than ever!
My neighborhood is one that I grew up in and I have seen Whitehaven go through 360 degree change. I want to be a part of revitalization and uplift. I want to be part of the solution. My father, George Dobbins, often talked about entrepreneurship in the African-American community before he passed. Whitehaven is centrally located and we work hard to be a good example of entrepreneurship in our community!
What is the most important lesson you've learned from owning a business?
You have to have a very fierce belief in yourself and in your team. Put yourself in the client’s shoes. Offer the very best customer service that you can and always treat your team the best that you can so that they can offer the very best service to our customers. Never give up and keep God first!
What do you wish you knew when you started your business?
How much you have to work and sacrifice, so stay as healthy as you can. How rewarding it is to grow a business with your children!
What's the best advice you ever received?
God makes all of us as a masterpiece. Therefore, you should never ever take life for granted, never ever settle for less than you should and always try to have hope and go for your dreams no matter how big they are!