Success Story: Spruell & Spruell

Spruell & Spruell Turns SBDC Support into Government Contract Success 

Location: Northern California | Contra Costa County | Antioch

Business Type: Government Procurement and Product Sourcing

CalOSBA Partner: East Bay SBDC and NorCal SBDC

Assistance Received: Business advising, QuickBooks training, and financing readiness support

California State Assembly District: 15

California State Senate District: 9

Visit Spruell & Spruell online.

Click to hear Patricia Harris-Spruell describe the support she received from East Bay SBDC as she turned years of public service experience into Spruell & Spruell, a women-owned business that supplies government agencies.

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After many years working in public service, Patricia Harris-Spruell recognized an opportunity to combine her knowledge of government operations with entrepreneurship. “I wanted to build a company that could help government agencies solve procurement challenges while creating a legacy for my family.”

Spruell & Spruell, LLC, based in Antioch, is a certified Women-Owned Small Business specializing in government procurement and strategic sourcing for federal, state, and local public agencies. The company supplies office products, medical supplies, janitorial products, safety equipment, industrial supplies, IT equipment, and other hard-to-find products, backed by reliable supplier partnerships and responsive customer service. “My vision has always been to provide outstanding customer service, build long-term relationships, and demonstrate that a small, women-owned business can successfully compete in the government contracting marketplace.”

“Starting a government contracting business was both exciting and challenging,” Patricia said. “As a small government contractor, one of our greatest challenges has been obtaining sufficient working capital to purchase inventory before receiving payment from government agencies.”

Support came from East Bay SBDC, part of the NorCal SBDC network. Business Advisor Matthew Alix provided one-on-one guidance on business strategy, navigating the complexities of government contracting, marketing, and identifying new growth opportunities, while connecting Patricia with valuable resources. “His mentorship has challenged me to think strategically, remain resilient, and continually look for ways to grow my business.”

Alan Gohary added QuickBooks training that strengthened Patricia’s financial management skills, from maintaining accurate financial records to preparing her taxes and making informed financial decisions.

The SBDC also introduced her to financing opportunities and resources that helped the business to obtain the working capital needed to pursue larger government contracts. “Their guidance has been instrumental in helping me prepare for financing, understand lender requirements, and build a stronger financial foundation for long-term success.”

Since launching, Spruell & Spruell has earned multiple business certifications, including California Small Business, Microbusiness, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and the federal Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification. The company has supplied products to numerous California state agencies while expanding into new public-sector markets, and in 2025 alone it was awarded 17 government contracts totaling more than $214,000.

Patricia points to one-on-one advising as the most impactful support. “The personalized, one-on-one business advising has had the greatest impact on my success.” She added, “Through expert advising, practical training, financial guidance, and unwavering encouragement, they have been a trusted partner throughout my entrepreneurial journey.”

To learn more about Spruell & Spruell and the products it supplies to public agencies, visit them online. And if you are a small business interested in government contracting, connect with East Bay SBDC and the NorCal SBDC network for one-on-one advising and training.

[October, 2026]