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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