Small Business Spotlight: Scott Whitney ’84
This year has been particularly hard on our UCF alumni small business owners, so leading up to Small Business Saturday, we’re spotlighting a few Knights from our Business Directory!
Meet alumnus Scott Whitney ’84, owner of Whitney Media Productions:
What inspired you to start this business?
The inspiration behind my business stems from a passion of helping people. Every video project is different, but we get a chance to highlight a business, share their story, and let their prospects experience what it’s like to work with them.
What is the best part about running your own company?
I love the challenge. I love waking up knowing that I have the chance to impact lives with what we do. We can help market a business through the videos we create, we can generate more sales, we can share what makes them extraordinary and attract more prospects to their business.
What was the biggest thing you learned during your time as a Knight that you apply to your life today?
Dr. Stuart Omans was an English professor at UCF, and he was the one that challenged me and also made me believe in myself. His praise was really uplifting and inspired me to continue creating.
Why did you sign up for the UCF Knights Network Business Directory?
I felt that it would give me the opportunity to connect with alum, and use the platform to benefit my business, and expand my outreach.
How has the pandemic affected your business?
I had Covid-19 myself, so I learned about it first hand. Early on the pandemic really hit us hard. It wiped out about a third of our projected revenues for the year. Those were event projects, awards videos, and other studio related productions. We pivoted into a real specialty area, producing settlement videos for personal injury firms where we can use Zoom for off-site interviews with injury victims. Covid-19 is definitely responsible for moving us into another product line that we’re now offering.
Why is it important to support small business owners?
Small business owners truly are the heartbeat of our country. They’re the lifeblood of our cities and towns, they create opportunity, inspire people to live better lives. There’s absolutely no reason not to support a small business owner today! Go to your downtown bakery, buy a cupcake, take a dance lesson from a dance studio, walk to your neighborhood brewery and buy a growler. It’s important to support our small businesses in our communities.
Where do you see your business in five years?
It’s hard to wager a guess because of how much change can occur in our industry. I’m pretty confident though that we’ll still be using video as a business tool to communicate, educate prospects, and enhance systems.
Find more Alumni-owned Businesses on UCF Knights Network!
UCF Knights Network is our alumni professional networking platform that promotes career and professional development, entrepreneurship, job opportunities, and mentorship. Once you’ve signed up (it takes only a minute to do if you sign up with Facebook or LinkedIn!), you can access the official UCF Alumni Business Directory via the platform.
This service is offered at no cost to our alumni, it’s simply a perk of being a grad! So, join today to reconnect with fellow Knights and expand your professional network.
