OCHLOCKNEE- In recognition of his role as the owner of an emerging service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), entrepreneur and business owner Matt Williams has been honored with a $10,000 scholarship from Bank of America’s Supplier Diversity and Small & Diverse Business Scholarship Program.
Bank of America’s initiative aims to support certified small and diverse business owners by providing financial assistance for training and educational programs that enhance business operations and competitiveness in their respective markets.
Williams is the owner and president of Purchinex, LLC, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in Ochlocknee, Ga. Specializing in the supply of industrial laundry equipment, Purchinex has successfully secured more than $60 million in federal government contracts, primarily servicing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Purchinex is actively expanding its product offerings to include brokering the sales of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) to various government agencies. The company also recently won a contract with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to deliver seven park model cabins manufactured by Vacavia Cottages & Cabins. Purchinex is focusing its growth in the coming year on the outdoor recreation and morale welfare and recreation (MWR) markets. A native of North Canton, Ohio, Williams has spent much of the past two decades in Thomas County, Ga. A U.S. Navy veteran and political scientist by training, Williams holds a master’s in public administration from The University of Akron and a graduate certificate in applied politics from the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at The University of Akron. In addition to his role at Purchinex, Williams serves as the president and operating partner of Vacavia Cottages & Cabins. Prior to founding Purchinex in 2017, Williams was a marketing consultant to several RV manufacturers and served as a marketing executive to several industrial manufacturing companies.
“I would like to use this opportunity to thank Bank of America for this generous award,” Williams said. “This scholarship has enabled me to enroll in a weeklong intensive executive education program at Columbia University in March 2024 that focuses on finance and accounting for non-financial executives.”
According to Williams, this program aims to provide a solid financial accounting foundation for executives and small-business owners whose educational background may lie outside the traditional business-finance track.
The scholarship underscores Bank of America’s commitment to empowering local businesses and fostering community economic growth. Williams is a testament to the impactful role entrepreneurs play in driving innovation and prosperity, and this scholarship will undoubtedly contribute to further success in his ventures.