Building blocks
Barbara Carson of the U.S. Small Business Administration, left, speaks with a participant at last week's veterans business workshop.
Victor Maga, a veteran from Beaver County, relates his experiences of starting his own construction business.
Victor Maga’s eyes darted around a roomful of veterans, who were listening intently about how he built his business. They were hoping to do the same.
Maga’s construction company sets a foundation out of concrete, but he said his firm is built upon a sturdy set of principles – the same ones that sustain the military.
“As veterans,” he said, “we possess some qualities that are irreplaceable for anyone looking for a contractor: planning, execution, leadership, discipline and tenacity.
“… Again, those are irreplaceable.”
Maga, a former Army paratrooper, was the featured speaker during a business workshop for veterans Tuesday inside California University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Innovation at Southpointe.
The program was aimed at assisting small business owners and those planning to launch a similar enterprise. It was organized by the Pittsburgh office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center and Cal U.
SBA, which has at least one office in every state, provides counseling for startups, loans and loan programs, information on applying for grants and programs such as the one last week.
The Pittsburgh branch serves 27 Pennsylvania counties, essentially from State College to the state’s western border. That office has a counseling network composed of development centers, a women’s business center and chapters of SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Business).
Information and advice were plentiful Tuesday, on subjects and programs that some vets may not know exist. Maga was among eight speakers who addressed various issues over nearly three hours.
Maga is a disabled veteran who described himself as “medically retired” from the military. He is a compelling figure with a compelling story, a man who still lives in his native Beaver Falls, was in the service for 15 years and is a union carpenter.
Although he had a supervisor’s position with a successful firm, Mosites Construction Co., Maga wanted his own business. He left Mosites in June 2012 to start Spartan Construction Services, specializing in commercial work.
For a long while, it appeared Spartan’s existence would be brief.
“I left Mosites as the best-paid union employee,” said Maga, 53. “I had a company vehicle, bonuses. I opened my doors July 12 and did not get my first paycheck until August of the next year.
“Every day, I’d wake up and ask, ‘Why did I do this?’ But you will have satisfaction when you get going.”
Spartan Construction did get going, and more. Maga bids on projects throughout Western Pennsylvania, then tackles the ones he wins. They include an assignment at the 911th Airlift Wing near Pittsburgh International Airport.
He said he has made bids in Washington County, but has yet to secure any projects.
Launching a business, by itself, is time-intensive. Maga essentially preached the Boy Scouts’ motto – “Be Prepared” – during his monologue.
“When you start a business, it’s like giving birth to another child,” he said. “You make sacrifices for this child, you have a lot of ups and downs.
“You have to have a vision – know your industry. And do your research. Read everything. If you’re going to build a widget, have it be the best widget you can make and stay with it.”
Maga said a budding owner also should craft a business plan; build a team with a lawyer, banker, accountant, insurance agent and trade association; have capital on hand; know your target market; and realize there will be obstacles such as licensing, borrowing money and competition.
He gave props to Lindsey Biddle Gilkes, of Pitt’s SBDC, for the counseling she provided to him. Biddle, who also spoke last week, works at the SBDC sites in Oakland, Washington and Waynesburg. She assisted a number of businesses with financing, including a couple in this region: Skyview Drive-In in Carmichaels and Minteer’s Market in Claysville.
Spartan Construction got a boost from the federal government’s Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program, in which federal agencies set aside contracts for disabled vets. This makes the vets’ bid search less cumbersome; they don’t have to bid on a massive number of projects unless they want.
Maga also praised the services provided by the Government Agency Coordination Office, a federally funded economic development program that Cal U. runs.
“GACO is a wonderful resource,” Maga said. “They will match you with anything. You get a bid match every day.”
Debbie Wojcik of GACO also participated in the symposium, and said the program is now assisting 1,607 businesses in Washington, Greene, Allegheny, Beaver and Butler counties.
A proud soldier, and now a proud entrepreneur, Maga answered audience members’ questions following his presentation, then met casually with them in small groups.
In between, he had a message for those who own businesses or aspire to do so. Considering their backgrounds and mind-sets, it may not have been necessary.
“Hire other vets. Give them a chance. Treat them well, and they will treat you well.”