Veteran St. Pete named the owner of the small business year

The US Little Business Administration has named Pat Mack, founder and CEO of PVM, its 2025 Veteran business owner of 2025 of the year. He credits the support of his hometown and a faithful team for recognition.

The data analysis company in the Native of St. Petersburg operates from the maritime technological and defense center of the Innovation District. The PVM has thrilled in the city and counts the centers for the control and prevention of diseases and the contraintelligence and security agency among its more prominent customers.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) award highlights Mack’s innovative approach for data analysis and lifetime commitment to public service. The self-entrusted non-written computer in southern St. Petersburg called the extremely humiliated recognition.

“To be 100% honest and transparent, we do not receive this prize without the interested parties in this community and SBA,” said Mack. “Recognition is truly indicative for a collective effort from people who really love the country and have been interested in helping this child from the wrong side of the city, in those days, to have an impact.”

Small beginnings, high impact

Mack was raised by his grandparents in the 1970s and early 1980s, when the city looked significantly different than at present – especially for black residents. The two had limited opportunities and resources; They have instilled the importance of hard work and perseverance.

His father bought Mack, then 9, his first computer with a successful day at the Grayhound track. While this started a love story, throughout life with information technology, Mack never thought he would hold a business in a day.

“I couldn’t dream so big,” he said. “Honestly I could not quickly transmit the horizon far enough to be the owner of a company that succeeds, flourishing and growing.”

Mack attended Miami high school and was sent to the US Marina in 1986. He completed several implementations, helped to modernize war vessels and, before withdrawing as a commander in 2011, led procurement programs based on data.

Its military prizes include a bronze star for heroic or meritorious achievements or services against an armed enemy. Mayor Ken Welch presented to Mack with the honored veteran prize in St. Petersburg in 2022.

Mack, inspired by the challenges he faces in Marina, founded PVM in 2011 while living in San Diego. The startup has become a reliable partner of Big Data Analytics Palantir.

“Data for good”

In 2020, the intention to give back to his hometown, especially his underestimated communities, Mack moved PVM to St. Petersburg. The startup, which is committed to “unlock the data for good”, now hires 50 people.

“I made a leap of faith in the city that made a leap of faith in me and supported me,” Mack said. “I feel that we are just beginning.”

Mack said 90% of its customers operate in the public sector. PVM began to associate with Florida Flood Hub for research and innovation, hosted on the campus at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, in January 2024.

The PVM also assisted the local law enforcement agencies, and Mack said that “the vast majority of the activities we have fundamentally employed to make our community safe.” He and his company believe that artificial intelligence services can help the community customers and parts to solve “truly heavy problems.”

The SBA district of Florida SBA extends from Pasco to Miami-Dade county. The agency grants the owners of small businesses annually that create local jobs, offer innovative products and services, exceed challenges and contribute to the surrounding community.

Part of the written strategy of the PVM is to guide three owners of small businesses. “Pay it before,” Mack said.

PVM also participates in the Skillbridge program of the Defense Department, which allows the service members to spend the last six months of active activity with a private company. Mack still receives mentoring from the owner of a larger company, which he met 30 years ago in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

“We have 50 families who contribute, sacrifice, invest and believe in the vision I started 15 years ago,” said Mack. “My management team … we were together – most of them – since I was in uniform. And all since I founded the company.”

While PVM was an inaugural tenant at Hub, many employees work remotely. Mack intends to strengthen operations in St. Petersburg and look for “talented engineers” to “enter this artificial intelligence journey with us” at the waterfront installation, oriented towards collaboration.

“I would like to continue to grow in this community, that I am very lucky to be proud,” Mack added. “We are just starting at PVM, and our future is completely aligned with the growth of the city.”

This content provided in partnership with stpepecalyst.com.