SOLitude Lake Management®, an industry leader in lake and pond management, fisheries management and related environmental services for the United States, is pleased to announce the leadership of CEO Kevin Tucker on the Inside Business 2017 Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards panel. The annual event recognizes Southeastern Virginia entrepreneurs for their ingenuity and perseverance in the creation of businesses that are “successful, sustainable and growing.”
The panel, hosted by Regent University’s School of Business and Leadership on June 12th, consisted of four accomplished business owners who shared their entrepreneurial background and wisdom with this year’s award recipients. Tucker, a 2014 winner of the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, discussed his experience starting SOLitude Lake Management in 1998 and cultivating it into the company it is today.
“I started SOLitude Lake Management to focus on the growing need for adequate management of lakes and stormwater retention ponds and the preservation of our natural resources,” he said. “We are now an industry leader with more than 180 team members and a presence in 31 states.”
“We have always centered on providing exceptional quality and value over price. Our focus on team culture and creating exceptional relationships with our clients has been the true driver of our success,” Tucker noted.
For aspiring business owners and those just starting out, Tucker stressed the importance of creating a value proposition that differentiates the startup from others in the same space, and solves a real problem within the market or industry served.
“Above all else, do not focus on price as your competitive advantage. Anyone can do that, and when you do, you become a commodity with little ability to distinguish yourself,” Tucker said. “Focus on being the best and connecting with your clients in a meaningful way.”
Tucker was joined by entrepreneurs, Jeremy Grogg, CEO of KEES Vacations; William Burnette, President of Burnette Capital; and Mark Taylor, owner of The Ground Guys of Virginia Beach and The Car Exchange and co-owner of Flint Marine.
To view the full list of Inside Business 2017 Entrepreneurial Excellence award winners, visit www.pilotonline.com/inside-business
SOLitude Lake Management is committed to providing full-service lake and pond management services that improve water quality, preserve natural resources, and reduce our environmental footprint. Our services include lake, pond and fisheries management programs, algae and aquatic weed control, mechanical harvesting, hydro-raking, installation and maintenance of fountains and aeration systems, water quality testing and restoration, bathymetry, lake vegetation studies, biological assessments, habitat assessments, invasive species management and nuisance wildlife management. Services, consulting and aquatic products are available to clients nationwide, including homeowners associations, multi-family and apartment communities, golf courses, commercial developments, ranches, private landowners, reservoirs, recreational and public lakes, municipalities, parks, and state and federal agencies. Learn more about SOLitude Lake Management and purchase products at www.solitudelakemanagement.com.
