The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce wrapped up its 2025 series of Member Executive Luncheons with the traditional flourish. Today, Vinea Capital and PC Techware have an extra award on the mantle.
The chamber announced with winners of the 2025 Corporation of the Year as the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year.
Russell Wyatt, founder and CEO of PC Techware, was named entrepreneur of the year. The award pointed to Wyatt’s leadership in innovation, while more than doubling the company’s number of employees in three years. That workforce is 100% local, and 95% of PC Techware’s client base is in the CSRA.
Wyatt told ABD that receiving the recognition was extremely rewarding.
“Because the field we’re in is very interesting. We’re always dealing with bad things and helping our clients protect them from bad things,” he said. “So, it’s always fun to be recognized for our field because our goal is for our clients not to have to call us. So, when we get awarded, it gets us a little bit of recognition.”
The company selected for Corporation of the Year is just eight years old. Vinea Capital was started in 2017 by Allan Soto. The award recognizes the company’s leadership and innovation. Beginning with just under 160 employees, Vinea Capital now has more than 280 employees. That is coupled with a 55% increase in revenue.
“When you look around Augusta, there are so many wonderful businesses doing just great things, but we just wanted to be a part of it and give back to the community and make a difference. It’s nice to get that acknowledgement every now and then. It really keeps you motivated and wanting to do more,” said Soto.
In addition to growing their businesses, both Wyatt and Soto are active in the local community. For Wyatt, it means donations to support organizations, including the Red Cross and Ronald McDonald House.
Soto has been a familiar face around the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center (GCITC), including servicing as a judge for the annual pitch competitions for students.
“What Lindsay (Steinberg, Director of Innovation at GCITC) and her team are doing is wonderful and really continuing to inspire that next generation of entrepreneurs and future award winners and corporation of the year winners,” she said. “It’s really exciting to be a part of that, to hear all the different ideas that are happening. But also, maybe you find somebody that ends up joining your team or that you can partner with down the road.”
Both men said they could not have achieved the success they enjoy without their team of managers and staff. As an entrepreneur, Wyatt advised hopeful business owners that dedication to the team is critical.
“I couldn’t have done it without my team and my clients, because our relationship with our vendors and our clients is a partnership, and that’s probably the key word,” he said. “Key takeaway for entrepreneurs, you’ve got to partner with everybody and be a partner. It’s a collaborative effort to become an entrepreneur, not just one person. We do the direction, the leadership, the coaching. But it’s all a team effort.”
