This successful small business case history illustrates a long-term SCORE mentoring relationship.    Over a period of 16 years we counseled the owners as they responded to an ever-changing market.  The business changed over the years from printed circuit board testing to selling sophisticated test equipment in the same industry.

The success story of Paul Benke and Michaela Brody and the role SCORE has played started on Aug 22, 1996 when they had a counseling session in Palo Alto with counselors Mike Mulcahy and John Edwards.  From this session and many more mentoring sessions and suggestions by counselors, ZD Test was founded and become the first SVSCORE success story.  Zero Defect International LLC is their second  success story with SV SCORE.

After the launch of ZD Test, Paul and Michaela, the two entrepreneurs decided to expand their horizon and started working on Zero Defect International LLC

Michaela Brody, the president of Zero Defect International completed her BS from California State University Fullerton. She worked in various companies as sales management and operations MRP and Paul Benke, the CEO of Zero Defects International completed his BS and MBA from California State University Northridge and worked with Mica Corp., Culver City, CA as the Director of Marketing and Sales, Nationally and internationally.
Their initial involvement in the electronics industry was with printed circuit board materials, copper clad epoxy glass laminates.

Mentoring continued with discussions of the changes due to globalization. Paul and Michaela foresaw the shift of volume PCB production to China and so began ZD Test's focus on more sophisticated fixtures such as those used to test backplanes and circuit assemblies [PCBAs]. Eventually the company became virtually 100% involved with backplanes. 

SCORE Counselor Mike Mulcahy (who had run a successful Rep company for big equipment) suggested that they become North American Reps for major test fixture equipment and related products. Thus Zero Defects International (ZDI) was formed as an LLC in October 2003 to take advantage of all previous work and contacts.  ZDI was created by incorporating and representing several companies including the Indian company Skyla Technologies for cam software and an Italian company, Seica SpA, for test systems to their list of principals. They also added German company Viscom and also Landrex Technologies, a major Asian-based provider of test solutions for the assembly industry worldwide. Now ZDI, LLC is truly a global rep company taking advantage of their experience and globalization. 

“SCORE counselors Mike Mulcahy and John Edwards enabled the company to define the best core businesses they helped us to focus on sales representation and to acquire more global clients to sell products in North America. Now services are generally performed essentially to advance the sale of equipment, a synergistic balance,” said Paul.

 Michaela agreed with Paul and added, “space is even rented to principals for sales purposes. The results have been very positive in terms of sales and in terms of having made lasting and mutually profitable relationships with the companies mentioned above. This will serve the company well going forward”.

The founders were recently able to secure an SBA loan to buy a building located 1931 O'Toole Way, San Jose, to house their business and allow for further expansion of clients and activities. Their web URL is http://zdefects.com/

“ZDI will continue with the identification of new opportunities, such as direct imaging for PCBs [as manufactured by Miva Tech in Germany, and to promote market penetration of these technologies.
From SCORE we would anticipate the same sound exchange of ideas and sharpening of our focus as we've enjoyed in our workings to date. We are currently working on long-term forecasting at the moment. Mentoring will continue for strategic planning, business planning and cash flow reviews.”  Paul and Michaela concluded the story.