Since a young age, Pat Mack, Founder and CEO of PVM, has had an interest in computers and technology, so when the Navy offered him the opportunity to attend graduate school to study information technology (IT), he jumped at the opportunity, leading him to eventually start his own IT business.

During his time in graduate school, Mack fell in love with the tech space all over again, especially since there are so many problems to solve within the field. “I’m a junkie when it comes to technology and it allows me to satisfy a lot of my desires to work on relevant problems but also to help in areas where there is tremendous need for the services we provide,” he said.

Since starting PVM in California, Mack and his team have been successfully helping businesses analyze their data effectively. When he decided to move the business from the Golden State to the Sunshine State, he knew he would need some guidance to keep the momentum going.  

Once moved to St. Petersburg, Mack said, “one of the first calls I made was to the Florida APEX Accelerator and one of the first persons I spoke with was Yolanda at Florida APEX Accelerator at Pinellas County Economic Development, and to be brutally honest, I had no idea of the breadth and depth of the services they provided.” Once connected with the Florida APEX Accelerator at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED), Mack was paired with procurement specialist, Yolanda Goodloe, for help with business growth strategies, 8(a) certification assistance, and government contracting services.

Since working with the Florida PTAC at PCED and Goodloe, Mack says that he has seen growth within the business as well as in the number of opportunities that continue landing at their doorstep. “Our business has increased 30 percent in the last twelve months,” he said. “I’m a member of probably one of the most innovative tech spaces within the region, in the St. Petersburg Maritime Technology and Defense Hub. All of that was enabled by my relationship with PTAC.”

He also credits Cowart for her help in finding PVM’s new home at the Maritime Technology and Defense Hub, where the business has been able to flourish and gain partnerships. “I’ve been able to participate in opportunities in our business area that we would not have been able to engage in – work that we do with the Foundation for Health of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County Schools, and the mayor’s office. All of that local impact came out of that relationship,” Mack added.

He also says that with the help received from Cowart and the team at Pinellas County, his business was able to receive its 8(a) certification in March 2023, although it was not an easy task.