Machine Nation News Team
June 10, 2025 at 10:00:00 AM
The Small Business Association North Florida District Has Recognized Vested Metals International President And Founder Viv Helwig As The Small Business Person Of The Year
The Small Business Association (SBA) North Florida District named Viv Helwig, President and Founder of Vested Metals International in St. Augustine, Florida, as its Small Business Person of the Year during the 33rd annual Small Business Week Celebration on May 9, 2025, at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Helwig, honored for transforming a single-office startup in 2014 into a thriving enterprise, leads a metal distribution and fabrication firm serving aerospace, medical, and defense sectors, with exports to over 20 countries. The company, employing 25 workers, generated $10 million in revenue in 2024, leveraging tariff-driven reshoring trends under President Trump’s 10% tariffs. Previously recognized as the 2020 Minority-Owned Small Business Person of the Year and Florida Small Business Exporter, Helwig’s leadership supports Florida’s 50,000-strong manufacturing workforce. The award, backed by the Florida SBDC Network, highlights Vested Metals’ $1 billion metals market impact, driven by demand for custom stainless steel and titanium components.
For the precision machining industry, Helwig’s recognition underscores the critical role of conventional milling in metal fabrication. Vested Metals’ components, such as aerospace fittings, often require conventional milling, where the cutter rotates against the feed direction, to achieve robust cuts in high-strength alloys with tolerances within ±0.001 inches. 5-axis milling machines, optimized for conventional milling to handle tough materials, deliver surface roughness as low as Ra 16 µin for automated production with real-time quality control. The firm’s growth drives demand for local machine shops to supply precision tooling, adopting Industry 4.0 technologies like AI-driven milling and additive manufacturing. As part of a $50 billion precision manufacturing market, this achievement creates opportunities for suppliers in Florida, where manufacturing jobs grew 2% since 2022, strengthening supply chains for high-value industries.
Source:
Small Business Association North Florida District Press Release, May 9, 2025
Source:
Social Media Buzz (powered by X):
X is abuzz with Viv Helwig’s SBA award, with posts on May 18, 2025, calling it a “proud moment” for St. Augustine. Users praised Vested Metals’ 25 jobs, with one noting “Florida’s metal fab shines,” while another tied it to “reshoring success.” The excitement reflects optimism for small business growth and manufacturing.
What is the Conventional Milling?
This is one of many key terms of our broad Machine Nation Essential Modern Precision Industries Guidebook (MPIG). Click here to get a copy straight to your inbox.
Conventional Milling - A CNC milling technique where the cutter rotates against the workpiece feed direction, critical for robust material removal and precision in component production.
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#VestedMetals #VivHelwig #ConventionalMilling #PrecisionMachining #SBAAward #Reshoring