SDV Office Systems

Honoring Tommy

In 2007, Dan Whisnant and Mike Gilbert began formulating a plan. Mike had just lost his son, Tommy, during his service in the Marine Corps. Dan had been Tommy’s commanding officer. These men understood the struggles active military members and veterans go through to obtain adequate care, and they envisioned a solution for improved veteran care with less red-tape and quicker response times.

Fulfilling the Vision

By 2016, their vision began to take shape. Dan’s son, Tyler, joined the company as Chief Operating Officer to help steer their new small business. Working with Mike’s connections, SDV Office Systems planned to supply furniture and medical devices to VA hospitals to ensure the comfort of veteran patients and their families. But while the company had connections with suppliers, they struggled when it came to the government contracting procurement process and applying for government certifications. They needed help winning contracts, complying with government requirements, and building their business around a procurement strategy. “I knew enough to be dangerous,” Dan said, “but had never gone through the process. We needed someone to help shepherd us through.”

They also knew that to provide quality services, they’d need to build a cohesive and effective team at a rapid rate. They already had strong core values. But they needed local connections.

The Inside Scoop

The father-son duo initially reached out to the Government Contracting Assistance Program (GCAP) at the SBTDC. GCAP counselors walked them through the process of applying for several certifications, including HubZone, VA CVE, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. 

“I wanted to get the inside scoop on how to navigate the process to make sure we pass muster and that we do it the right way,” Dan Whisnant said, referring to the procurement process. Their counselor “helped navigate the submission process and got us approved and certified.” 

“Knowing that we had an outlet to reach out to on the contracting side sped up our process . . . to help understand things that we didn’t have any expertise in.”

Dan Whisnant

Early Expansion

By 2018, SDV wanted to expand their offerings to include medical devices. The SBTDC helped them with specific market research to identify NAICS codes, opportunities, and competitors in this new market. SBTDC counselors reviewed contracts and offered feedback for SDV, which gave them the operating room and time to negotiate with the VA. “[Our counselor] Pam helped us narrow the playing field and get to ‘no’ quicker, which is important,” Dan said. 

Additionally, the SBTDC introduced the Whisnants to local businesses for new partnership opportunities. This expanded network allowed the business to grow efficiently; they quickly identified highly capable individuals to bring onto their team. 

Goals Met and Exceeded

In 2017, their first year of operation, SDV Office Systems acted as a prime contractor and met their goal of nearly $1 million in sales. By 2024, they had increased that number by a multiple of one hundred, reaching $100 million in sales. Today, their team has grown to nineteen full time employees across two locations, and they supply 30-35% of all the VA’s furniture. They have also won numerous awards, including being named a Vet100 company in 2024 and an Inc5000 company in 2023. That same year, Dan was named Asheville Entrepreneur of the Year.

Keeping it Fun

Operating a successful small business relies on strong core values. Most of SDV Office System’s employees are fellow veterans, several of them service-disabled. The Whisnants have built the company culture around improving veterans’ lives, and their close-knit office demonstrates their commitment to supporting their staff. “You’ll see in all of our internal and external values, we want to have fun.” Dan explained. “We make some tough decisions, there’s some tough things we’re going through even right now, but we’re still having fun doing it.”