Monroeville businessman Bill Campbell named regional and statewide Small Business Person of the Year, and traveled to Washington, D. C., for the 55th Annual Celebration of the U. S. Small Business Administration’ s National Small Business Week.
Monroeville businessman Bill Campbell has always had the drive to do what it takes— from working solo in his oneman engineering crew 13 years ago to owning and operating WTS First Defense, a water treatment and facilities management company.
Campbell grew up in the Shaler area and lived there until he joined the Navy in 1999.“ I joined the Navy after graduating from high school because I wanted to mature and learn how to study,” he says.“ I was trained in the Navy’ s Nuclear Propulsion Program, eventually spending four years on the USS Atlanta, a nuclear-powered submarine.”
Following his service, he attended Penn State University on an academic scholarship, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering, and the University of Pittsburgh where he earned his MBA. Campbell has been happily married for 25 years, has one child and lives in North Huntingdon.
Campbell’ s background easily transferred to the private sector and he learned the intricacies of industrial water treatment.“ Industrial water is analyzed and engineered chemicals are automatically released to condition the water,” he explains.“ I realized I could do a better job and provide customers with solutions at valuable pricing, so I started my own business.”
Business was expanding until the shuttering of area coal facilities in 2009. That’ s when Campbell experienced firsthand the ebbs and flows of small business ownership. A business tip set in motion the transformation of his company from water-treatment based to facilities management.“ I had to know the operating systems to treat water, and a company suggested I bid on their systems maintenance contract, which I won and started hiring full-time employees to fulfill the bid,” he recalls.
Small Business Person of the Year
“ That’ s when we reinvented ourselves to concentrate on facilities management in the power, water and wastewater industries.”
Three years ago, Campbell, utilizing programs provided by the U. S. Small Business Administration( SBA), began steering his business into government contracting. Today, 80 percent of sales are from contracts with the Navy, Department of Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs.“ Just like the commercial sector, government agencies( customers) want companies that can provide expertise and value and that’ s what we strive to provide,” he says.
Earlier this year, Bill Campbell was chosen as the Pittsburgh District Office Small Business Person of the Year. The nomination package, compiled by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, was then forwarded to the regional SBA office in Philadelphia to compete with the Eastern Pennsylvania winner to represent the state.“ It’ s a great honor,” says Campbell.“ I feel very fortunate and respectful to receive such a significant award.”
He traveled on to Washington, D. C., to compete for the Small Business Person of the Year award during the 55th Annual Celebration of the SBA’ s National Small Business Week from
April 29 to May 5.“ The experience in Washington, D. C., was amazing,” says Campbell.“ It was interesting to see successful business people from all over the United States. The winners were such a diverse group of businesses, from a sausage manufacturer to a gym owner to a textile manufacturer. The event was first-class and was held at the Institute of Peace, which is directly across from the Lincoln Memorial.”
During his time at the celebration, Campbell had the pleasure of meeting Linda McMahon, Administrator of the Small Business Administration.“ I met another business owner at the event who inspired me to make a career move that has proven to be beneficial,” he adds.“ Interestingly enough, this woman won the Small Business Person of the Year award for the entire United States.”
SBA’ s initiatives are inspiring Campbell to pay it forward, making sure future scientists are ready to assist his efforts by visiting local elementary schools, sharing his trade secrets and hoping to spur an interest in STEMrelated fields.“ I think it’ s nice to plant that seed in young children to get them thinking about science,” he says.“ I come in with dirty water, add chemicals and put it through a filter and clean it right before their eyes and they are wowed.
“ I believe being recognized as Small Business Person of the Year, both locally and statewide, is important to the community in that it shows that the Small Business Administration can be a valuable resource to entrepreneurs,” Campbell continues.“ And, when someone‘ moves your cheese’ you learn that you need to find another way.”
His future plans are to continue to grow the business while giving careful consideration to any veterans who apply, and the company will continue to“ adopt” soldiers and send care packages while they are in training. n
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