Paul Morrow

Background

About Paul Morrow

Odds are against going from picking beans to running a multi-million-dollar company in a single generation. Paul Morrow, president and founder of SDAC (sdac8a.com), a small federal contractor located in Homestead, Florida and Selma, Alabama, has defied these odds, winning a prestigious government business award, SBA’s 2017 State of Florida Small Business Person of the Year. One measure of SDAC’s success recognized by the SBA is that the company has doubled its sales, tripled its staff and opened two new corporate locations in the past three years. Morrow’s award charts the phenomenal growth of SDAC, now recognized as one of the fastest-growing minority-owned small federal contractors in the country. Morrow is one of 19 children born to James and Mary Morrow of Plantersville, Alabama, near Selma, infamous location of “Bloody Sunday” civil rights march. Poor, black and only four years old at the time of the marches, Morrow grew up picking beans, okra and corn then helping his family sell it at the roadside produce stand in their front yard. He saw the Army as his ticket out and in 1979 he enlisted straight after high school graduation. Injured on duty, Morrow was discharged to heal then headed to Florida to learn A/C repair, opening SDAC in Homestead in 1985 then expanding to Alabama in 2014. Morrow also is a recipient of a Smithsonian Institution "Outstanding Contribution" Award in 2017 for SDAC's role in supporting the grand opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He proudly belongs to the Association of the U.S. Army and Veterans & Military Business Owners Association. He is Commissioner Appointee to the Miami-Dade County Council and he mentors teens and returning servicemembers in HVAC and starting small businesses. And, in addition to work, Morrow enjoys making time for his three kids and his extended family, hunting, fishing, spending time in nature, staying in shape, and he is an avid fan of the Miami Heat.