Starting a business and making it grow is no easy task. According to the Center for Women's Business Research, only 3 percent of women-owned firms have revenues of $1 million or more. Founder and CEO of Bradley Morris, Inc., Sandy Morris, found her niche when she started her million-dollar business.

BMI in Kennesaw provides job placement services to those undergoing military separation, and also to those with military experience who have worked in the civilian sector.

"We're the largest military focused recruiting firm in the country," she said. "Our focus is to help military personnel find civilian jobs. Our goal was to be the biggest and the best at what we do - and we have achieved that. We love what we do. We think we offer a great service."

Inspired by her father who served in WWII and at D-Day, Morris founded BMI in 1991 with co-founder Shaun Bradley, who retired in 2007. Prior to BMI, Morris started a placement firm that provided administrative support to metro Atlanta corporations. Familiar with military recruitment, Morris knew the military offered long-term potential.

Morris, who has always been employed in the recruiting field, was ready for a new challenge. Coincidentally, Bradley was as well. The two had worked together previously.

"(Military recruitment) is something I always wanted to do," said Morris.

"I grew up with such an appreciation for what these men and women do for us," she explained. "I grew up seeing my dad, hard-working, committed, determined, loyal. He had such a huge influence on me."

Morris brings her understanding of the military to BMI. Not only does BMI provide transition assistance such as helping with resumes free of charge, they also introduce military-experienced job seekers to companies all over the country.

An equally important aspect of what BMI does is to educate potential employers about the unique qualities military personnel possess that many companies do not know is out there.

"Our mission is to introduce employers to this great resource. Along the way, while we do that, we help both sides," Morris said. "To me, we make a difference."

Although many military-experienced jobseekers have superior educations or other training such as technical skills, qualities such as teamwork, motivation, initiative, commitment and decision-making ability cannot be learned.

"Those are all leadership qualities that you don't get sitting in a classroom. You get that day-to-day working," Morris said. "(Military-experienced jobseekers are) overall, well-rounded individuals that bring specialized skills, talent, decision making ability, and commitment to the job," she explained.

"(Military personnel) have the training to go into business that most people don't have," she said. "They have all the intangibles and tangibles."

BMI has placed more than 20,000 military-experienced job seekers.

"I really didn't know what kind of impact (BMI) would have," Morris said.

BMI is located at 1825 Barrett Lakes Blvd., #300 in Kennesaw. For more information, call (770) 794-8318 or visit www.bradley-morris.com.