Wired for success: Mars Electric鈥檚 federal contracting breakthrough

Mars Electric, a third-generation, family-owned independent distributor, saw the opportunity to grow by expanding into federal contracting.

With a strong commercial foundation and a wide-ranging product line that includes lighting, electrical gear, and supplies, the company was well-positioned to serve government customers. However, they needed help understanding the federal marketplace and determining which U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) contract options aligned with their business.

The at 花季传媒 located within the provided targeted, one-on-one support. Don Zavesky, procurement specialist at the Cleveland APEX office, worked closely with the Mars Electric team to simplify the GSA process, set clear expectations, and identify the best pathways forward.

Support included:

• Help navigating the GSA application and understanding contract requirements
• Set up with the Ohio APEX Accelerator Bid Match service to track relevant opportunities
• Provided tools and resources for identifying and pursuing federal contracts
• Connected to government contracting training and educational programs

"Working with Don Zavesky was an outstanding experience,鈥� said Andrew Doris, vice president of Mars Electric. 鈥淗e helped us clearly understand the scope of the GSA and the different contract options available to distributors like Mars Electric. He set clear expectations for the application process, guided us to the right resources, and made sure we felt supported every step of the way. Don was always responsive, genuinely had our best interests in mind, and offered valuable perspectives on what a small business should focus on to succeed. We鈥檙e grateful for his insight and guidance."

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The team at Mars Electric stayed engaged throughout the process, utilized APEX support services, and applied the resources in a way that aligned with their business goals.

With APEX鈥檚 guidance, Mars Electric successfully entered the federal contracting space as an approved GSA Schedule vendor, extending their reach beyond commercial markets. Backed by a team of 215 professionals and a central distribution center with more than 20,000 products, they are now positioned to deliver fast, reliable service to government agencies across the United States and around the world.

Their success strengthens not only their own operations but also contributes to the regional economy by enhancing Cleveland鈥檚 supply chain capabilities and supporting growth across their vendor network.

"Working with Mars Electric was a great example of how a company with strong commercial capabilities can adapt those strengths to succeed in the federal market with the right guidance,鈥� Zavesky said.  鈥淢y role was to help them through the process and provide support as they moved forward. They took it from there. Mars Electric stayed engaged, asked many questions, and remained focused on what made sense for their business. They made good use of APEX Accelerator resources and kept momentum throughout the process."

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