Fred Wellman, founder and chief executive officer of Fredericksburg based ScoutComms, Inc., has been named Veterans Business Champion of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration Richmond District Office.
Wellman will be honored June 13 for his advocacy of veteran entrepreneurship during the “Heart of a Champion” Small Business Awards Luncheon at the Richmond Omni Hotel.
The retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. founded ScoutComms in 2010 as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business and Virginia Benefit Corporation. “I recognized the lack of military veterans in the public relations sector,” Wellman said. “I designed the company to help fill that gap in the major firms and provide subject matter experts on public relations efforts surrounding defense, aerospace and veteran’s topics.”
In more than 20 years and four combat tours, Wellman served in multiple capacities in aviation and public affairs. These included as an Aeroscout pilot leading combat helicopter units, and as the Chief of Public Affairs and official spokesman for General (retired) David Petraeus, and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Martin Dempsey with Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq.
Wellman holds a Bachelor’s of Science in International Relations from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He later attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government as a Presidential Scholar/Public Service Fellow and Center for Public Leadership Fellow, graduating with a Masters of Public Administration with honors as a Lucius N. Littauer Fellow for outstanding academic achievement, public service and future leadership potential.
Under Wellman’s leadership, ScoutComms won a Gold SABRE from the Holmes Report and two coveted Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil awards for outstanding support to The Home Depot.
The Stafford County Virginia Economic Development Authority named ScoutComms the 2013 ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ and the ‘Best Place to Work’ for businesses under 25 employees.
Wellman supports a number of local veteran oriented causes. Currently he serves as the Community Outreach Director for Team Red, White & Blue Fredericksburg as well as Vice Chairman of the Fredericksburg Area Veterans Council.
Wellman is also a member of the University of Mary Washington Center for Economic Development’s Veteran Owned Small Business Executive Roundtable.
ScoutComms recently moved its offices from Stafford County to 1210 Princess Anne St. in Fredericksburg.
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