4 minute read
Wayne Martin | The Motivator
Presented by Stock and Leader, Attorneys at Law
BY CASEY NIXON | DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
One hard-working mother, plus a few teachers to provide guidance, multiplied by life lessons to develop grit and determination, equals Wayne Martin, President and Director of Engineering for Martin Data Solutions.
Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, Wayne reminisces back to his elementary school and middle school years when he realized he excelled in math. “I would challenge the kids in my class and then started challenging my teachers to math contests. Who would complete the most math problems the fastest? I beat my teachers.”
With the support of his teachers early in Wayne’s education, he applied and was accepted to Eastern Tech High School where he got serious about his football career. Wayne always felt that sports, football specifically, would be the vehicle to get him to college. However, after committing to Morgan State University, he was faced with a tough decision: play football at a Division I-AA college which would mean dedicating the majority of his time to training and traveling for games, or shift his focus to a longer-term goal: his career.
Wayne has met people at different stages of his life who would influence the man he has become today. But it wasn’t until college that he understood who was the most influential over his future: himself. After leaving the football field to focus on his career, Wayne found himself reading a letter notifying him that if his grades didn’t improve, he’d be forced to drop out of college. That’s when it hit him. He couldn’t keep doing what he did in high school to succeed. Something needed to change.
This realization of altering the way of working to create a better outcome serves as a leading theme for Wayne’s company, Martin Data Solutions (MDS). Wayne launched into entrepreneurship in June of 2021, with MDS providing engineering and design services. Having worked on projects exceeding $1 Billion and beyond in construction cost scale throughout his career, Wayne brings extensive knowledge and expertise to his new venture.
“The world is changing, and we need to adapt and modify our ways of design with more innovative and collaborative practices,” Wayne says. MDS rivals some of the leading companies in the industry all while securing contracts that require a certain percentage of Disadvantages Business Enterprises (DBE) involvement. “My mission is to do better and stop the stigma of DBE teams not being good enough. I call it being a conduit. Trying to be a conduit between my connections to bring these communities together.”
Leading by example and achieving success outside of sports has given Wayne his passion for showing underserved youth about the opportunities that are available to them. With a focus on STEAM / STEM programs, Wayne understands the value of showing young minds that they can succeed through intellect and finding ways to apply themselves.
“Many young athletes think the only way to get to college is through sports,” Wayne says. He wants kids to know that’s not the only way. “While athletics are helpful in teaching kids life lessons and leadership skills, they need to know they can get to college by using their minds. You don’t have to play a sport to be successful in life. Use your God-given skills and your mind to be successful.”
Wayne and his wife recently chose York to call home where they’re raising their two boys and running a business. Seeing York as a place that would provide their family with a better way of life and cost of living, Wayne says he feels the community has embraced him.
