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Government Contracting: Big Business for Small Businesses

Tom Ledbetter
Mike Switzer/SC Public Radio

Of course, government contracts can mean big business for big businesses, but small businesses can benefit, too.  For example, just one government agency last year awarded $5 billion in prime contracts to small businesses.  Our next guest says that many small businesses are unaware of how to pursue these opportunities which is why he’s hosting a free outreach event on this topic in Columbia, SC on May 23rd.

Mike Switzer interviews Tom Ledbetter, associate vice president at the Center for Entrepreneurial Success and Community Engagement at Midlands Technical College in Columbia, SC.  “Getting Back 2 Business” Outreach Event.

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After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.