Turning a Setback into a Thriving Enterprise a USF Success Story

After being laid off from his field work job over a decade ago, Ryan Bethel turned adversity into opportunity. Drawing on his experience from an apprenticeship with Caterpillar and mobile work for a construction company, he began offering truck repair services straight out of his personal pickup truck. “Times got slow, so it gave me an opportunity on the side and the weekends to work on other people’s vehicles,” Bethel said.

What began as a humble operation with just a truck and trailer has grown into a full-service truck repair and maintenance business located on a 10-acre property. Together with his wife, Kelsey Bethel, they now run a successful operation that serves residential and commercial clients across the region.

Looking to expand into government contracting, the business connected with the Florida APEX Accelerator at USF. Government contracting consultant, Karen Krymski, worked closely with their Business Development Manager, Tony Kellis, offering strategic guidance on how to network with local government partners and navigate the contracting process.