Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Pelicano
Hi Matt, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The story of Whetstone Studio is a story of possibilities born of unexpected opportunities. But who can say where serendipity begins, or dreams take root? For the founding members of Whetstone Studio, roots mean family, and the dream of creating a company where family members could flourish has been a long time in the making. All that was required was that little dose of serendipity.
Thirty years ago, most of my seven siblings were still just starting out in their various careers. Software project management, programming, graphic design, marketing, financial management, business development, federal legislative lobbying, even high-ranking military positions in the Pentagon, between the eight of us, our paths were as diverse as our interests.
Even so, thanks to our father – model and hero to each of his children – who would frequently ask us what our “next big adventure” might be, we all felt compelled to explore the idea of forming our own company. But the timing wasn’t right; the dream waited upon the magic. Serendipity is a mercurial thing.
Scattered throughout the country, we had each put down roots in places as far flung as New York, Virginia, Wisconsin, Texas, Tennessee, and South Carolina. It seemed that the opportunity for shoulder-to-shoulder collaboration would never come. Until…
One by one, each of us began to dabble in our own entrepreneurial “big adventures” and side gigs. Anytime we’d run up against a business obstacle, it seemed that the solution could most easily and reliably be found by reaching out to a family member. Unexpected opportunities to work together strengthened the bonds of our common roots, roots that proved to be deeper and stronger than even geographic distances. We found new ways of being a family and the chance to get to know one another more deeply was very satisfying. Serendipity is a magical thing, too.
As the success of our own individual endeavors enabled us to explore more and more unexpected opportunities, and an ease of collaboration made space for the memory of an old dream to resurface, Whetstone Studio was born of a new family relationship.
From the early age of seven, Rikson Stanton wanted to build video games. His gifts for problem solving and his natural understanding of coding focused his interests so that, by the age of 17, he knew what he wanted to do for a living. He was ready for the “next big adventure.” It was then that Whetstone Studio was born, and I found myself, once again, building an IT Services company – this time, with my step-son.
As Whetstone took off, with Rikson and me at the helm, my siblings began to take an interest. My brother, Chris, a graphic designer with 40+ years’ worth of experience, whose work has encompassed everything from illustration for the US Olympic team to digital design to portraiture; my brother, Tom, a seasoned programmer and IT director with 30+ years of experience working for Fortune 500 corporations; my wife, Sandy, a Juilliard graduate, former professional classical ballet dancer, college instructor, and marketing director; my son, Joey, a professional photographer and videographer whose work can be seen online and in retail outlets nationwide; everyone brought their extensive experience to the table, took up a leadership role, and contributed to the meteoric growth of this company. But that’s not where the most amazing stroke of serendipity fell.
After decades apart, this common dream of creating a family-owned business began to bridge the geographic divides, and everyone started moving back to Greenville. This has proven to be the greatest “big adventure” yet, and the single most unexpected opportunity filled with endless possibilities. Serendipity is always worth the wait.
As the company continues to grow, taking on employees and partners, we remain a family-owned business because, for the founding members of Whetstone Studio, roots mean family and that is our defining strength.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Successful companies are led by people who look down the road ahead and anticipate challenges. At Whetstone Studio, that’s what the leadership team does on a daily basis. In the midst of our growth and development, as we commit ourselves to delivering quality products and high-class service, we are determined never to lose sight of our defining strength.
I travel on a monthly basis. This takes me away from my team and reintroduces distance into the powerful equation we have formulated for success. If we are to preserve our singular focus, we have to make communication a priority – and so we do!
Challenges exist to shed light on areas of improvement. My advice to any leadership team is to anticipate challenges and obstacles, ride out to meet them, welcome them for the opportunities they provide for strengthening your core commitments and fine-tuning your processes.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Whetstone Studio is a family-owned and operated IT Consulting, Software Development, Web & Mobile App Design, and Digital Marketing studio located in Greenville, SC.
We design custom software applications, mobile apps, websites, database solutions, and more. Whetstone Studio also provides digital and traditional marketing and graphic design services, photography and videography, and IT education and consulting to our clients.
A lot of companies will tell you that they’re different from all the rest, that they’re changing the way tech companies bring value to their clients. At Whetstone Studio, we don’t waste time and energy telling you when it’s so much easier and more compelling to show you what we mean!
Whetstone prides itself on providing truly customized solutions. There are too many off-the-shelf, out-of-the-box applications muddying the marketplace, adding clutter to what should be a streamlined workflow. These software packages expect you to shoehorn your processes into their prerogatives. Whetstone disagrees.
We believe that increasing your efficiency is the very definition of partnership, but this requires a different approach than the one taken by other software providers.
And so…
Whetstone begins by listening. Only then can we craft a solution that supports and improves your workflow with all the functionality and integration you need – and without the clutter.
Whether it’s software development, website design, graphic arts, photography & videography, or marketing, Whetstone is committed to showing you what we mean by partnership, all the while sharpening your cutting edge.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Cultivating relationships with clients in a diverse array of fields and disciplines provides ample opportunity to learn. I would say that the single most important lesson I’ve learned is that clients want to do business with real people.
Real people are professional but approachable. Serious about what matters but fun to work with. Focused, reliable, and committed to not just the project at hand but the relationship as a whole. Real people understand and respect the fact that business is a means to an end and that end is the livelihood of your client and his family; your client and her reputation.
At Whetstone Studio, where our defining strength is that we are family-owned and our name is our greatest asset, we get it. And we are committed to preserving it and fostering it with every client relationship we forge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.WhetstoneStudio.com
