WSV Group grows revenues with Florida SBDC assistance
WSV Group, Inc. of Pinellas County
Sean Carter, owner of WSV Group, Inc., came to the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) in 2006, searching for a way to break into the government contracting market. What he found was much more.
WSV, a construction management company licensed in building, roofing and HVAC traditionally worked only in the private sector. With the need to diversify their client base and grow their business they decided to seek out government opportunities. “I was trying to find somebody who would assist me in navigating and understanding government procurement” Sean Carter, President of WSV Group, Inc., said. “The staff at Florida’s SBDC in Pinellas County brought the various government certification options to our attention and then assisted us with the application.”
Through more than 50 business consulting hours with multiple certified business consultants, and a few educational events, such as the Woman, Minority and Service-Disabled Veteran seminar, Carter was able to secure Florida Minority Supplier Development certification. He is also certified with the City of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County government.
“Our work doesn’t end with information sharing. We work with clients to cultivate their varied needs over the life of their business,” Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Center Director for PCED, said. “We continue to work with small and medium size companies as they grow and evolve, ensuring that they have the tools and support necessary for continued success.”
With just over $5,000 in revenues his first year, Carter has managed to grow his business at minimum of 150% each year. Now he has three employees and plans on continuing to work with the Florida SBDC at PCED as he grows his business for the future.
Carter said beyond business consulting, the Florida SBDC at PCED is an industry resource as well. “They open up your eyes to economic conditions and opportunities. I stay in constant contact with the FSBDC; it has been one of the best ways to keep you informed about what’s going on out there.”
“I hope to team up with a top tier construction company and be a construction management liaison that reaches out to other smaller contractors,” he said. “The FSBDC team encourages business to business relationships and supports our efforts to reach out to those top tier companies and keep trying. It gets rough sometimes but it’s nice to know that you have a professional FSBDC team cheering you on. You can just call them up and they respond no matter where they are. Everybody has been super.”
