Pat Mack is the founder and CEO of PVM, a St. Petersburg–based technology company that “unlocks data for good.” A retired U.S. Navy officer, he launched PVM in 2010 to address unmet needs in command-and-control technology. Today, PVM helps mission-driven government teams—from local agencies to federal organizations—use data more effectively, whether tracking disease outbreaks for the CDC or making public information more accessible.
I was born and raised on the Southside of St. Petersburg. I’m a proud second-generation St. Petersburg native. I feel so fortunate that I’ve been able to run my business here and give back to the community that has given me so much.
The story of St. Pete is my story — and the story of PVM.
When I was growing up here in the late ’60s and early ’70s, St. Pete was a very different place. It was quiet, slow and, by all accounts, a retirement town. There wasn’t much opportunity for people who looked like me. If you were born here, the goal was often to leave and find your future somewhere else.
But this city has transformed. It’s vibrant, diverse and full of momentum. There’s an energy and pride here that wasn’t always visible when I was a kid. The new St. Pete Pier, for example, is more than just a landmark — it’s a symbol of that transformation. I have memories of fishing off the old pier with my grandfather, and now I see a space that represents growth, inclusion and forward motion.
Some of my earliest and fondest memories are of fishing off the old St. Pete Pier with my grandfather. That pier was more than just a structure — it was the heart of the city, as it still is today. It was also the only public beach Black families could visit during segregation, which makes its symbolism even more meaningful. I remember the heat of Florida summers, mowing lawns with my grandfather for his landscaping business and learning what it meant to work hard and earn your way. We didn’t have much, but we had everything we needed — family and community.
The pier still means a great deal to me. It is not just a reminder of my own childhood, but a representation of resilience, inclusion and the progress our city has made. Every time I see it, I’m reminded of where I came from, the values that shaped me and why giving back to this community will always be at the heart of what I do.
I was mostly raised by my grandparents, who were both entrepreneurs in their own right. My grandmother worked as a housekeeper, and despite never finishing school past the eighth grade, she owned three properties, raised three children and put them through college, and managed her finances with incredible precision.
My grandfather was a brick mason who, in his retirement, ran a landscaping business. They were hard-working, no-nonsense people who set a foundation for me built on grit, discipline and high standards.
My greatest supporters — and the most influential people in my life — were my grandparents. They were Black, raised in the rural South, with little formal education and modest means. Yet they gave me something far more valuable than money or degrees: unconditional love, wisdom and a set of principles that have guided me every step of the way.
They taught me resilience by example. Despite the obstacles they faced due to race and class, they never let adversity stop them. Their strength gave me the resolve to push through challenges, especially in the early days of founding PVM.
They taught me perseverance through tireless work. Day in and day out, they showed up for their family and their community. That spirit has been core to the growth of our company.
They taught me humility. No task was too small to be done with pride and care. That value has stayed with me as a CEO, reminding me that every task, every project, and every opportunity to learn is valuable.
And above all, they taught me the value of hard work. There were no shortcuts in their world, and that mindset became the foundation of PVM’s culture. Their legacy lives on in everything we do.
My first job was mowing lawns for my grandfather’s landscaping business. I was 14, out in the Florida heat, pushing a gas-powered mower and learning the value of showing up and doing the work. But it taught me more than just how to work hard. It really gave me the first real taste of what “a job well done” means.
I began noticing the other tasks our customers needed done beyond just mowing the lawn, and I’d offer to handle those too. Not only did it give me a break from the heat on those sweltering days, but it also taught me an important lesson: going above and beyond expectations builds trust and opportunity. By anticipating needs and delivering more than what was asked, I was able to grow the business and become the person customers instinctively called first. That mindset has stayed with me to this day.
Technology has always been my passion. From a young age, I was drawn to it. I taught myself how to program at nine years old by reading Byte magazine, and that early curiosity never left me. I eventually joined the Navy and earned a degree in computer science through an academic/ROTC scholarship. Later, I completed master’s degrees in computer science and operations research at the Naval Postgraduate School, graduating with distinction.
My years in uniform remain some of the most formative of my life. The Navy challenged me to grow both as a person and as a professional, and it gave me the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented minds and strongest leaders in the country. I served on multiple operational deployments around the world, and in the latter part of my service, I oversaw acquisition programs designed to help the Navy harness data for critical decision-making.
It was during that time that I began to see a gap: the command-and-control technology we were delivering wasn’t fully meeting the needs of those on the front lines. As I thought about the next chapter of my career, I knew I wanted to keep building solutions that made life easier for my shipmates and helped them tackle complex, data-driven challenges. That vision became the foundation for PVM.
In the 15 years since launching PVM as a one-man startup, the company has grown into a team of about 50 people, delivering technology solutions that support high-stakes missions. Today, we’re proud to call the St. Petersburg Maritime and Defense Technology Hub home. I’m grateful every day that my path brought me back to the place I love most.
I live by two sayings that shape how I approach our business: “Expect the best” and “We are better together.”
“Expect the best” speaks to mindset — believing in excellence, aiming high and holding yourself and others to a high standard. It’s about showing up every day with the belief that great things are possible when you put in the work.
“We are better together” reflects how I view teamwork and community. No one achieves success alone. Whether it’s within our team, with other small business owners, or through community resources, the best outcomes come when we support one another and lift as we climb.
A song I love is “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. It’s timeless, grounded and full of hope. No matter what challenges I’m facing, that song reminds me to stay present, be grateful and lead with a positive mindset. It’s the soundtrack to perseverance — and it’s got soul.
There have been many proud moments throughout the journey of founding PVM, but what stands out most to me is seeing how the company has grown from just myself into a strong, diverse team full of talented individuals.
This growth reflects not only hard work and determination but also a collective commitment to making a positive impact. When I’m in a room with our team, I’m constantly inspired by the dedication and skill everyone brings to the table.
It’s clear to me that success isn’t achieved alone. Every achievement and challenge we’ve faced has been met together, and that collaborative spirit is what truly defines our success. That shared journey is what I’m most proud of as the leader of this company.
The biggest honor of my life has been waking up every day with the opportunity to give back to my community. Bringing PVM to St. Pete and building a mission-driven company in the city that raised me has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.
If I could wake up tomorrow with this quality or skill, I’d be a polyglot. Language connects people, cultures and ideas, and I think the ability to speak with anyone in their native language is one of the most powerful and human skills someone can have. I’d use it to build relationships faster, understand people more deeply and expand the reach of our work around the world.
I love sailing. I learned to sail during my college years through ROTC, and that skill ended up shaping a major chapter of my life.
After retiring from the Navy, I spent time living aboard a 45-foot catamaran, sailing throughout the Caribbean. Life on the water taught me to slow down and stay present. There’s something powerful about experiencing the world by boat. You’re moving at a different pace, immersed in every place you visit while still having the comfort of home with you.
I believe my best quality is perseverance and mindset. I’ve said this before, and I truly believe it: you have everything you need to achieve the outcome you desire. That mindset — believing you already have the capacity, the ability and the resources — is extremely powerful.
It’s what’s carried me through my own journey, from a kid from the Southside of St. Petersburg to the Navy to where I am today. And it’s why I think it’s so important for PVM, as a business, to embrace that same belief. When we start from a place of confidence and resourcefulness, we unlock what’s possible.
I hope my impact is felt most in my community. I have dedicated my life to service, and that’s what I want to be remembered for. One of the greatest privileges of my journey has been building a company that supports the families of our PVM team — creating good jobs, career growth and a culture that values integrity and innovation.
Beyond that, I’m proud that our work helps stimulate the local economy and elevate St. Pete as a hub for meaningful, mission-driven technology. It means a lot to be able to bring that kind of energy and opportunity to the place I call home.
Ultimately, I want my legacy to be one of service — whether that’s through solving complex, critical challenges like public health, flooding and emergency response, or simply showing up every day to help people and make things better.
My “perfect” day would start on the boat, moored in the Vinoy Basin as the sun rises over downtown St. Pete. The city is just waking up, the water is calm and there’s a quiet energy in the air. I’d be surrounded by family and friends — no agenda, just time to connect. Maybe we’d walk into town for coffee or stay on the boat grilling fresh seafood and swapping stories. The day would unfold at its own pace, grounded in the things that matter most: people, place and presence. There’s no better backdrop than St. Pete — and no better feeling than being out on the water, right in the heart of home.
The biggest item on my bucket list is crossing the Pacific Ocean in a high-performance catamaran — ideally a Balance, Outremer or Kinetic. I’ve sailed thousands of nautical miles, but the Pacific crossing is the ultimate. It represents adventure, preparation, self-reliance and embracing the unknown. That’s how I try to live — and lead — every day.
What once felt like a far-off dream is now more within reach than ever. Thanks to technologies like Starlink, staying connected at sea is no longer a barrier. I can run my business, stay in touch with my team and chart a course across the world — without ever disconnecting from the mission. The ocean is calling. I plan to answer.
The last few years taught me that adaptability is everything. Between the pandemic, the rise of generative AI and the increasing pace of change across every sector — one truth stands out: you either evolve or you get left behind. We’ve seen firsthand how powerful data can be when it’s trusted, timely and actionable. But that power only means something when it’s paired with empathy, collaboration and the willingness to rethink old ways of doing business. The last few years reminded me that resilience isn’t just about staying strong — it’s about staying open.
Being recognized as a 2025 South Florida Veteran Business Owner of the Year is an incredible honor not just for me, but for the entire PVM team. This recognition from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reflects the hard work, passion and mission-driven mindset our team brings every day.
We’re a company built on service, made up of veterans, former civil servants and some of the brightest technical minds around. What’s most rewarding is seeing how the values we brought from our time in uniform and public service continue to shape how we operate, and that this approach is truly making an impact.
I’m incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received here in St. Pete — from the mayor and city council to the Innovation District and the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub, to the South Florida District SBA team and the Pinellas County Economic Development organization. This support system has made it possible for a company like ours to not just grow, but thrive and give back to the community that raised me.
So, while the award may have my name on it, it really belongs to every PVMer and to everyone who’s supported our mission to unlock data for good.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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