Op-ed: How America can help mint more million-dollar businesses amid the pandemic

Op-ed: How America can help mint more million-dollar businesses amid the pandemic

Waring Abbott | Michael Ochs Archives | Getty ImagesWhen architect David Mason started David Mason & Associates, his infrastructure engineering company in St. Louis in 1989, it was a two-man operation, run from a 10 x 12 room. He and his business partner, James O. Hacking, did business development during the day, then worked until midnight on their engineering and architectural projects.With credit hard to come by, neither could take a paycheck for the first eight or nine months. "It was very rigorous and took a lot of sacrifice," says Mason.Steady commitment to the business paid off. The business, which now has offices in St. Louis, Chicago and Philadelphia, has grown to 180 people. Its revenue was in excess of $20 million last year and the business was profitable.With many