The Right Move at the Right Time

SBA Indiana 2025 Small Business Person of the year Sudhansu (Sam) Yadav is a problem solver who owns a company that helps other companies – big and small – keep people safe.  Quest Safety Products, Inc., located in a HUBZone near downtown Indianapolis, is a leading distributor and manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE) serving the life science, utility, and nuclear dismantlement industries.

“Winning the SBA Indiana Small Business Person of the Year award is an incredible honor and a deeply meaningful milestone in my entrepreneurial journey,” Yadav said.  “It reflects the hard work, resilience, and dedication that have shaped Quest Safety Products. More importantly, it’s a testament to the amazing team that supports our customer promise — delivering the right product, in the right quantity, at the right time.”

Yadav started Quest Safety Products, Inc. in 1997, building a successful business in Fishers, an Indianapolis suburb.  In 2019, one of his largest clients approached him suggesting that if his operation were in a HUBZone they could increase their buys from him exponentially.  Eager to take on the challenge, Yadav seized the opportunity and reached out to the SBA Indiana team for help. 

Yadav devised an expansion plan that included moving his primary place of operations.  The SBA Indiana team introduced him to local resource partners who helped him find the right space in the right location.  Then, the SBA connected Yadav with a local CDC for an SBA -backed 504 loan which he used to purchase, improve, and build a new headquarters in a HUBZone near the airport and downtown Indianapolis. 

“SBA amplified our capabilities,” Yadav said.  “We’ve been HUBZone for six years and we’ve grown 300% and become one of the top 10,000 companies in the United States.  That’s beyond any kind of strategy I could have planned.”

“Being in a HUBZone means that we employ more people from our community,” Yadav continues.  “So, we are establishing a more economically viable neighborhood.  The people that have worked with me for the last five years now have an opportunity to grow professionally into the type of leader or manager they want to become.”

Yadav and his wife, who serves as Quest’s CFO, are both active in the community serving on boards that support education and community focused initiatives. Yadav is also a passionate advocate active in the supplier diversity scene and has mentored five local small business owners fostering entrepreneurship and neighborhood growth.  Yadav says he’s grateful, honored, and humbled to by chosen SBA Indiana Small Business Person of the Year.

“This recognition highlights Quest’s commitment to giving back,” Yadav said.  “By being headquartered in an SBA HUBZone, we’ve prioritized hiring from our community, creating career opportunities, and reinvesting in local businesses to contribute to a stronger economic future. This award fuels our commitment to continue serving our customers, supporting our team, and strengthening the community. It’s a reminder that the path we’ve taken — one built on innovation, responsiveness, and a dedication to customer success — is making a real difference. I’m incredibly proud of what Quest has achieved, and I’m excited to keep building on our foundation.”

“Winning the SBA Indiana Small Business Person of the Year award is an incredible honor and a deeply meaningful milestone in my entrepreneurial journey,” Yadav continues. “It reflects the hard work, resilience, and dedication that has shaped Quest Safety Products. More importantly, it’s a testament to the amazing team that supports our customer promise - delivering the right product, in the right quantity, at the right time - and the mentors who have helped shape Quest’s vision for success. I’m also deeply grateful for the unwavering support of my wife, Vanita Khanna. Vanita has been my partner in life for 39 years and my business partner and Quest’s CFO for 28 of those years. Her dedication, financial expertise, and belief in our vision have been instrumental in building Quest into what it is today.” 

Quest Safety Products employs 41 people.  They have recently expanded distribution operations to New Jersey and North Carolina and significantly grown their e-commerce business to better serve their customers.

Learn more about how the SBA can help you live out your small business American dreams at Indiana .