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Building an Expanding Energy Business – #SBDC Client Showcase

Whites Energy Services, LLC (WhitesEnergy.com| @riggweld1)
Countdown to the 2019 Client Showcase: #5

Whites Energy Services, OklahomaSBDC: Northwestern Oklahoma SBDC – High Plains Technology Center (www.oksbdc.org)
SBDC Advisor: Andra Smith.

Whites Energy Services, LLC began as White’s Welding in 2000, with one person — Calvin White. Calvin had big dreams for his small business, and through hard work and determination he has made amazing progress.

The company continued to expand products and services not only in Oklahoma but in Pennsylvania and Texas. Due to sales growth and varied product lines offered, three new companies were started to help keep up with the demand, which resulted in the need for the parent company. In 2012, Whites Energy Services, LLC, was created. This company is the umbrella under which the four companies operate, and it employs 250 people in three states. 

Whites Energy Services develops and manufactures several pieces of equipment, one of which is the Centrifuge Mobile Unit (patent pending), which is a drilling and mud recycling unit with a reduced footprint and mobile capability. It has significant potential outside of the oil and gas industry in environmental security, through its ability to rapidly mobilize and separate solids from water and improve water quality in disaster and undeveloped areas. In addition, a Blast-Wall product, originally constructed for jet engine exhaust diversion, has potential uses for mobility and forward operating bases,as barriers filled with water or sand to provide protection and reduce penetration from outside sources.

Oklahoma SBDC advisor Andra Smith contacted Bill Riggs, director of White’s shop operations, about submitting the company’s Centrifuge and Blast-Wall product to an Encountering Innovation event. This event allows innovators to “pitch” their products to Department of Defense tech scouts, Homeland Security, the FBI, and other government agencies in private sessions. With Calvin’s permission, Bill and two OKSBDC advisors, Andra Smith and Barbara Bonner, were successful in both products being accepted to the event.

The products generated a great deal of interest, questions and discussion among tech scouts at the event. Bill’s ability to discuss the construction, design, potential modification, and shipping requirements of the products greatly improved the potential for doing business with the federal government. It was an opportunity for the company to reach outside of its traditional industry and showcase itself, its products, and ability to deliver as a viable, potential federal contractor.

As the company works with its OKSBDC advisor through the next steps resulting from this event, which includes business contacts as well as significant government contacts through the Department of Defense combatant commands, Bill Riggs is excited about what the future holds for Whites Energy Services, the local economies of each of its business locations, and its many employees. Both Calvin White and Bill Riggs continue to work with the OKSBDC as business continues to grow and develop.

“Working with the local SBDC has been a positive experience. Andra Smith has been extremely helpful in the process of diversifying our company, including requesting that we submit our products to the Encountering Innovation Event in Overland Park, Kansas. This experience was a huge success, allowing us to show our products and abilities to our Federal Government.” — Bill Riggs, Director of Shop Operations, Whites Energy Services, LLC

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The America’s SBDC Client Showcase and Reception will be held from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, in the Rayburn House Office Building Cafeteria.

Invite your Representatives and Senators to the Client Showcase and Reception now!

For more information about America’s SBDC and to find an SBDC near you, go to www.AmericasSBDC.org.

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