 | U.S. Army veteran Carl Newmister has always believed in doing “the hard right over the easy wrong”. That same “can-do” mindset that guided his military service now drives his entrepreneurial journey as the owner of Carl’s Patriot Dumpsters, a veteran-owned roll-off dumpster rental company serving Wood County, Perrysburg, and the surrounding Northwest Ohio region. Carl’s Patriot Dumpsters provides reliable waste management solutions for homeowners, contractors, and local businesses — including construction cleanouts, home renovations, yard debris, and small demolition projects. But like many startup business owners, Carl faced challenges in turning his vision into a sustainable operation. So, Carl reached out to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce for guidance. |
From Idea to Launch: How the SBDC Helped
With support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) Program and the U.S. Small Business Administration, the SBDC team helped Carl strengthen his business plan, structure his finances, and secure funding for equipment purchases.
Through this collaboration, the VA approved grant funding toward essential equipment — enabling Carl to launch operations officially in 2025. The SBDC also provided ongoing coaching on business planning, capital access, and financial projections.
“Starting this business has been life-changing,” Carl said. “As a veteran, I take pride in serving my community again — just in a different uniform. The SBDC and VA gave me the tools to turn my plan into reality.”
With support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) Program and the U.S. Small Business Administration, the SBDC team helped Carl strengthen his business plan, structure his finances, and secure funding for equipment purchases.
Through this collaboration, the VA approved grant funding toward essential equipment — enabling Carl to launch operations officially in 2025. The SBDC also provided ongoing coaching on business planning, capital access, and financial projections.
“Starting this business has been life-changing,” Carl said. “As a veteran, I take pride in serving my community again — just in a different uniform. The SBDC and VA gave me the tools to turn my plan into reality.”
| Growing a Local, Veteran-Led Business Since launching in mid-2025, Carl’s Patriot Dumpsters is now operating as a self-sustaining business that continues to grow each month, maintains multiple weekly rentals, and continues to grow through word-of-mouth referrals and repeat customers. One of Carl’s satisfied customers, Mike Perry, shared his experience: “I’ve rented from Carl’s Patriot Dumpsters twice now, and both times the experience was top-notch. Carl runs his business the same way he served his country — with pride, honesty, and attention to detail. He showed up on time, handled everything professionally, and made the whole process easy. You can tell he truly cares about his customers and his community. I wouldn’t rent from anyone else.” |  |
Making an Impact — One Dumpster at a Time
Today, Carl’s Patriot Dumpsters stands as a self-sustaining, community-focused business that reflects the determination and service-oriented values of its founder. The partnership between the SBDC, the VA, and Carl’s entrepreneurial spirit demonstrates the powerful impact of small business support programs in the Toledo region.
“Starting this business has been one of the hardest and most rewarding things I’ve ever done,” Carl said. “As a veteran, I take pride in serving my community again — just in a different uniform.”
Today, Carl’s Patriot Dumpsters stands as a self-sustaining, community-focused business that reflects the determination and service-oriented values of its founder. The partnership between the SBDC, the VA, and Carl’s entrepreneurial spirit demonstrates the powerful impact of small business support programs in the Toledo region.
“Starting this business has been one of the hardest and most rewarding things I’ve ever done,” Carl said. “As a veteran, I take pride in serving my community again — just in a different uniform.”
About the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBDC Program is also funded in part by the Ohio Department of Development. All services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals. Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
Thinking of starting or need assistance growing your small business? Contact the SBDC at (419) 243-8191 ext. 5 or email us at [email protected].
The Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBDC Program is also funded in part by the Ohio Department of Development. All services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals. Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
Thinking of starting or need assistance growing your small business? Contact the SBDC at (419) 243-8191 ext. 5 or email us at [email protected].
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