V (Five) Questions for Veteran Small Business Owners Featuring Matt Tarjick, South River Federal Solutions

November 4, 2022

To commemorate the last day of National Veterans Small Business Week (October 31 – November 4, 2022), an initiative of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Office of Veterans Business Development, and also celebrate National Veterans And Military Families Month (November 2022) AAEDC is again publishing an interview series that highlights some of the many great Veteran-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County:

“V (Five) Questions for Veteran Small Business Owners”

Our first Q & A features Matt Tarjick, owner of South River Federal Solutions – a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) offering management consulting and professional staffing to the federal, state, and local government.

What’s the name of your business and how did you come up with the name?
My company’s name is South River Federal Solutions LLC. It’s often shortened to SRFed (pronounced S. R. FED) or SRFS (pronounced ‘surfs’). When naming it, I opted to include “South River” since the company is headquartered near the South River in Edgewater, Maryland and “Federal Solutions” to highlight the company’s primary focus – federal contracting. Our website, SRFed.com, is easy to remember and convenient for government buyers.

What does your business do and what motivated you to start it?
SRFed is a boutique management consulting firm offering professional services and medical staffing for the federal and state government, primarily in the National Capital Region.

If you had to name just one, what quality or skill from your service most applies to being a small business owner?
The ability to be comfortable with ambiguity and thrive in a constantly changing environment is something that I developed over my 20+ year Army career.

What aspect of your business are you most proud of/what’s your favorite part of running it?
Since opening in 2019, the company has delivered exceptional value to its government clients and teaming partners – all while the government dealt with budgetary pressures and adapted to unprecedented changes to government operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What’s the top piece of advice you’d give a veteran who’s thinking about starting a small business?
Veterans are not alone in their entrepreneurial pursuits – there are many programs available to help provide foundational support and ongoing mentorship regardless of what stage your business is at. I’m extremely grateful for all who have provided support! My company’s success and growth is in large part attributed to all who continue to help.

To learn more about SRFed, visit: https://srfed.com/

To learn more about AAEDC’s Inclusive Ventures Program – an initiative that aims to help small, minority-owned, woman-owned, and Veteran-owned businesses in Anne Arundel County succeed and grow by providing their owners with the resources that early-stage entrepreneurs so often lack: business education and training, access to capital, and mentorship – visit: https://www.aaedc.org/minority-business/

Eleven Anne Arundel County Business Owners Graduate from AAEDC Inclusive Ventures Program »