Tools

Blog module icon

Jul 08

VA Paving, Inc.

Posted on July 8, 2019 at 1:06 PM by Samia Singleton

VA Paving, Inc. Debra Mallard, Al Mallard and Terri Hart




















Founded in 1982, VA Paving, Inc. is a family-owned, women-owned business led by sisters Debra Mallard and Terri Hart, and brother Al Mallard, located at 800 Cidco Rd. in Cocoa, FL.

“We are second generation, but we have been involved in the company from the very beginning,” says Debra. “Our parents started the company. We have been a women-owned business since 1982, because Mom owned a majority of the stock.”

Wanting to capitalize on his background in construction, their father convinced their mother to start a construction company. This company evolved into the VA Paving, Inc. we know today with more than 60 employees.

VA Paving, Inc. started out undertaking site work as subcontractor for projects, such as the Kennedy Space Center. In the beginning, the company would purchase asphalt to use in projects. In 1990, the company went from sourcing asphalt to making it when the company purchased its own asphalt plant. VA Paving, Inc. experienced exponential growth – the company went from building roads and parking lots to runways.

Owners went without for many years to grow the company. There were many times they were not sure they were going to make it. During 2007 recession when many contractors were out of work, VA Paving, Inc. relied on its government contracts to stay afloat.

The siblings credit prayer for success. “The money made doing site work supported development of asphalt plant,” says Al. “Now the asphalt plant is so successful, it supports the site work.”

All three siblings agree that one of the company’s most challenging and largest projects was building Space Commerce Way, a multi-phase road in Merritt Island that provides an alternate hurricane evacuation route.

Recently the company built an access road on the backside of Space Commerce Way to Kennedy Space Center. “The key to the project was they wanted us to get started in June and be 100 percent complete by December so they could be open for the Christmas tourist season,” says Al. “We made it on time and within budget through the rain and hurricanes, through whatever happened.”

VA Paving, Inc. intends to remain a family business for generations to come by grooming the next generation of family to take over the company and continue the legacy. “The opportunity was always there for our children to learn about the business if they wanted to,“ says Terri. “Some of them have gone to do other things, but migrated back to be a part of something that their grandmother and grandfather started.”

VA Paving Inc. was awarded the NASA “Small Woman-Owned Business of the Year” and has won the award four times over the span of 35 years. Last year the company grossed over $20 million in sales in 2018.

For more information about VA Paving, Inc. visit vapaving.com/.



Tag(s): VA Paving, Inc., Florida, Cocoa

Apr 10

Five Points Pharmacy & Wellness

Posted on April 10, 2019 at 8:46 AM by Samia Singleton

Owner James Knight standing in front of Five Points Pharmacy and Wellness

Since 1958, Five Points Pharmacy has been serving the Cocoa community and beyond, located at 1108 Lake Drive, Cocoa, FL. Purchased in 2012 by brothers James Wright and Clint Wright, the pharmacy is a perfect example of a community-focused business. 

James, a Pharmacy School graduate, was seeking a challenge from the typical pharmacist job, when he learned Five Points Pharmacy was closed and for sale. He and his brother sprang into action, purchasing the business, updating the interior, modernizing equipment and software, and improving processes. Within seven months from its purchase, the brothers re-opened the longstanding Cocoa business. 
 
As one of the few independently owned pharmacies in Cocoa, Five Points Pharmacy holds its own against the major national providers. Proven by the pharmacy’s very high patient retention rate.  James attributes this to offering a consistent, personalized experience to the nearly one thousand patients they serve. From offering free deliveries to mailing prescriptions, this independent pharmacy believes in a personal approach. “I’ve even made house calls to deliver a patient’s prescription,” says James.

“Ninety percent of our patients are in Cocoa, which is why we believe our patients deserve choice, access and affordability,” says James. Five Points Pharmacy partners with local community organizations that assist Cocoa citizens with purchasing medication. 

Not unlike most pharmacies, Five Points Pharmacy does experience the challenges of navigating the regulatory environment and coping with the opioid epidemic. “When we opened in 2012, the opioid epidemic was beginning,” says James. “It’s very stressful determining how opioids should be distributed and I’ve had to turn patients away.” 

Five Points Pharmacy offers non-sterile compounding and plans to eventually offer sterile compounding. Additional plans include hiring more employees and purchasing the building where it is located. The pharmacy currently has seven employees.

For more information on Five Points Pharmacy, visit www.fivepointsrx.com. 

Tag(s): Florida, Five Points Pharmacy, Cocoa

Apr 09

Mike Erdman Nissan & Toyota

Posted on April 9, 2019 at 2:12 PM by Samia Singleton

Councilman Don Boisvert, Assistant City Manager Matthew Fuhrer and Economic Development Manager Larr

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in August 2017 by Erdman Automotive Group, on the 35 acre site west of I-95 off State Road 520 in Cocoa, which will be the new home of Mike Erdman Nissan, Mike Erdman Toyota, and Erdman Pre-Owned.  District 3 Councilman, Don Boisvert, Assistant City Manager, Matt Fuhrer, and Economic Development Manager, Larry Lallo were in attendance for this ceremonial event.  

The expansion to the new location includes 160,000 SF of buildings and an investment of nearly $30 million in new construction, machinery, and equipment.  It is also expected to create over 100 new jobs in the Cocoa community. The new facility is expected to open very soon with the Nissan dealership being completed first and then an opening of the Toyota dealership and the Pre-Owned dealership.  

On July 4, 2018, Mike Erdman Nissan & Toyota held a Flag Raising Ceremony at their new Cocoa location, which the Mayor and Members of Council were able to attend and help welcome the organization to Cocoa. The new facilities will be state-of-the-art with new enhanced computer systems, equipment, machinery, and other amenities to enhance the customer experience.  The equipment and software will facilitate and enhance the tracking of customer flow through the service lanes and other shops. 

Other efficiencies will include the diagnostic aspect of the vehicles, the monitoring of the sales process and time it takes to purchase a vehicle.  In addition, the on-site computer systems will be upgraded and enhanced and will utilize cloud technology for both technicians, staff, and customers.  These upgrades will allow a more efficient handling of the customers from the sale of the vehicle to the service of the vehicle.  

We are excited to welcome Erdman Automotive to Cocoa!