Looking to grow your business through government contracts? Connect with the North Olympic Peninsula APEX Accelerator for no-cost expert guidance on bidding, certifications and marketing — everything you need to gain the competitive edge in winning contracts at the local, state and federal level.
We proudly celebrate our clients, stand by them through transitions and highlight their successes. This month’s client spotlight is on Seth Murray Architecture.
When custom-home architect Seth Murray wanted to add public-sector contracts to his worksheet, he turned to the North Olympic Peninsula APEX Accelerator.
“I was looking to diversify my practice into other project types and wanted to see what was available in the government sector,” Murray said.
The APEX program, hosted by the Clallam County Economic Development Council at the EDC’s Port Angeles office, is sponsored by the Department of Defense Small Business Program. It helps entrepreneurs in distressed economic areas participate in local, state and federal contracts.
APEX serves Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Program staff helped Murray navigate the bid application process and register with appropriate agencies to ensure eligibility for government contracts.
“They were extremely helpful, because it’s a very complicated process,” he said.
The 1993 Sequim High School graduate began his career as a 16-year-old neophyte, building architectural models and learning Computer-Aided Design (CAD) at architect Ken Hays’ office.
Murray, 50, attended the Rhode Island School of Design on a scholarship, later working at boutique Seattle and Washington, D.C., architectural firms designing custom homes and luxury hotel interiors.
He has witnessed home-design trends that include a bathroom evolution to large walk-in showers and the growing popularity of separate food-prep areas for kitchens.
Murray said that with the growth of AI, the design of government data centers comes to mind in matching his skill set with existing technology and government needs.
Learn more about Seth Murray Architecture at sethmurrayarchitecture.com.
The North Olympic Peninsula APEX Accelerator, funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense, is dedicated to helping local businesses break into the government marketplace. By providing no-cost advising and support, APEX helps businesses diversify their income, build resilience and strengthen the region’s economic vitality. Whether you’re ready to get started or simply want to learn more, reach out to your APEX Accelerator today at www.clallam.org/apex.
Be sure to check for next month’s story for details on our upcoming “Meet the Agencies” event, designed to connect businesses directly with public-sector buyers.
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Paul Gottlieb, a former editor and reporter at Peninsula Daily News, is a freelance writer and photographer. He lives in Port Angeles.