How This Veteran Is Building Ownership in Small-Town America

Biz Buyers,

Two people set out to buy a business…

One tries to go it alone.

The other has a room full of people breaking down their deals, guiding them through hurdles, sharing what works, and cheering them on.

Which would you want to be?

Today, you’ll hear about Anna, a business owner who leveraged the Contrarian Community to help go from searching to owning purposefully.

And here’s the good news: you don’t have to do this solo either.

For Contrarian Community member Anna Pavlack, the road to ownership was anything but conventional.

With a decade of experience in intelligence — first as a Marine Corps analyst, then as a civilian contractor — she developed a sharp ability to assess complex situations and make strategic decisions. But the longer she stayed in the field, the stronger her desire for independence became.

“This led me to explore real estate investing and eventually pursue an MBA at the University of Pittsburgh. However, the academic world fell short in teaching me about real entrepreneurship,” as Anna put it.

The real lessons came outside the classroom. Running a small CrossFit gym and later serving as an executive at a tech startup taught her more than any textbook ever could. But even then, something felt incomplete. “I knew there had to be a better way to approach entrepreneurship,” she says.

Two years ago, Anna joined the Contrarian Community, immersing herself in the world of Main Street business acquisitions. A year’s worth of hard work later, she made her move, purchasing not one but two businesses: Davis Brothers Heating and Air Conditioning and The Wholesale of Indiana.

“I didn’t just dip my toes in — I dove headfirst into the deep end,” she says.

With a combined purchase price of $1.5 million, including real estate, the two businesses were generating $3 million in revenue at the time of acquisition. According to Anna, the income generated from the deal was able to replace her salary and set the foundation for long-term growth.

Scaling a Business, Strengthening a Town

In the past year, Anna’s businesses have grown by 10% and now employ 21 people. But her vision extends far beyond her current numbers.

“My goal is to grow Davis Brothers organically in the local market, potentially reaching $10 million in annual revenue within the next 3 to 5 years,” she says. At the same time, she’s actively searching for additional service businesses to acquire — specifically in underserved small towns, a market she’s come to appreciate deeply.

“Moving to Indiana, Pennsylvania, has been one of the unexpected joys of this journey,” Anna explains. “This town embodies the small-town Americana that Codie Sanchez often speaks about. It’s a place where small businesses thrive and community support is palpable.”

For Anna, entrepreneurship isn’t just about potential financial returns — it’s about preserving and strengthening the fabric of small-town economies. “My mission is to provide valuable services and create meaningful employment opportunities,” she says.

The Untapped Potential of Small-Town Business

Anna sees 2025 as a year of opportunity for entrepreneurs willing to look beyond major cities. “The biggest opportunity I see in 2025 is the untapped potential of rural and small-town America,” she says. She points to several key advantages these markets offer her:

• Less Competition: Fewer businesses are competing for the same customers, making it easier to build brand loyalty.
• Ample Opportunity: Many essential services are underrepresented, creating a demand for reliable providers.
• Reduced Regulation: Smaller towns often have fewer bureaucratic hurdles, allowing businesses to scale more efficiently.
• Better Differentiation: The bar for quality and service is often lower, meaning businesses that execute well can quickly dominate.
• Community Impact: Business owners in small towns have the chance to become pillars of their communities, earning long-term trust and support.

However, these advantages come with challenges. “The most significant hurdle we face is attracting and retaining experienced talent in these small-town settings,” Anna explained. Many skilled professionals gravitate toward urban areas, making workforce development a persistent issue. To address this, she’s exploring a variety of proactive strategies, including:

• Offering competitive packages that emphasize quality-of-life benefits.
• Implementing remote work options where possible.
• Developing training programs to up-skill local talent.
• Partnering with local schools and colleges to create talent pipelines.

“We’re not just building successful businesses — we’re revitalizing communities and creating a blueprint for sustainable rural economic growth,” she says. “This approach embodies the Contrarian spirit of finding opportunity where others might not look. I believe it’s the key to unlocking tremendous value in the coming years.”

“I’m not sure I know enough to buy a business.”

Then let’s change that.

You don’t need to be an expert to start — you need to start to become an expert.

If you’re serious about buying a business, the right community can change everything. Not just any group, but a room full of people at every stage — those walking the same path, experts who’ve been there before, and newcomers bringing fresh perspectives, all working toward the same goal: ownership.

1/10th the cost of business school. 10x the real-world action. All across the country. That’s what we’re building at Contrarian Community.

The information contained here may not be typical and does not guarantee returns. Background, education, effort, and application will affect your experience. Your results will likely vary.