Gavasha, Inc.

From Overwhelmed to Empowered: How FSBDC Helped GAVASHA, Inc Thrive

Strategic Consulting and Growth XChange’s Peer Coaching Fuels Facilities Management Company Growth

August 6, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or HThayer@ucf.edu

Rafael E. M. Pratts, Area Manager, FSBDC at UCF – Osceola County, 407.847.2458 or RPratts@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – Grisselle Supriana, founder of GAVASHA Inc., knows firsthand the challenges of launching and growing a small business. Even with a strong business model and boundless determination, navigating the early stages of entrepreneurship can be overwhelming. As many have found, it is hard to know exactly what to do first, where to go for help, how to make the right decisions, or even what the right decisions are.

That’s why Supriana turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF). For her and her facilities management company, it was the right move at the right time. Becoming a client of the FSBDC—and taking advantage of their no-cost consulting and specialty programs—was the right first step, one that she’ll tell you has paid off for her handsomely.

Founded in 2012, GAVASHA Facilities Management Services provides commercial and residential cleaning, janitorial, maintenance, handyman, and landscaping services. The company prides itself on delivering high-quality service with a personal touch. “We are the perfect touch for all the spaces you trust,” Supriana explains. “Hiring GAVASHA takes the stress out. Our main goal is to make our clients’ life easier, and to ensure we bring beautification and calmness to our clients, and make their property into an oasis when they get home or into their office.”

Although GAVASHA quickly achieved early success, Supriana recognized the need for guidance as the business began to scale. “As we started really growing, I felt overwhelmed, and I found refuge in the FSBDC,” she recalls. “They actually oriented me and guided me through the growth process. It’s been a great help. Their services have been excellent for our company’s growth and also great for my peace of mind.”

Working with Rafael E.M. Pratts, area manager at the FSBDC’s Osceola County Office, Supriana received one-on-one consulting tailored to her business needs. She also joined the FSBDC’s Growth XChange, an executive roundtable program that brings together business owners to share insights, solve challenges, and support one another in a confidential setting.

“Being a business owner is very lonely at the top,” Supriana affirms. “With the Growth XChange, you have other business owners there and they can relate to what you’re going through. It’s a support system where we throw out ideas that will help the other business owners and yourself. We’re kind of a team in that sense, all looking to help each other.”

The results have been remarkable. “The changes we’ve seen since we started working with the FSBDC and Rafael’s consultation support has been that our business has grown about 400–500 percent,” Supriana says. “And it’s just getting better. I am so grateful and I’m seeing that the more time I am with the SBDC, using their programs and services, the more we are going to be able to grow and go further.”

For information about GAVASHA Facilities Management Services, please visit https://gavasha.com/ .

— FSBDC —

About the FSBDC at UCF

Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 9 service centers across Central Florida.

In 2024, the FSBDC at UCF served 2,277 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 2,855 jobs impacted; $564.3 million in sales growth; $57.2 million in capital formation; $161.1 million in government contract awards; and 142 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com .

About the Florida SBDC Network

For nearly 50 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2024, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 107,812 hours of consulting to 15,474 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $304 million in capital, $732 million in government contracting, impacting 19,800 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.8 billion, and creating 1,019 businesses.

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. Full funding disclosure available at www.floridasbdc.org/funding-disclosures/.

The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com

Mecatos Cafe

Mecatos Bakery & Café: Driving Growth with Experience and Expertise

Columbian Bakery Chain Achieves Aggressive Goals with Assistance of FSBDC at UCF’s Advisory Board Council

June 4, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or HThayer@ucf.edu

Jill Kaufman, Associate Director/ABC Program Manager, 407.420.4854 or Jill.Kaufman@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – Finding broad industry experience and deep functional knowledge that can accelerate revenue growth in a small business is generally not easy, even for the most ambitious entrepreneurs and business owners. Edwin Lurduy, founder and CEO of Mecatos Bakery & Café, had built a successful company from a simple, family-owned business started in 2015 that shared his passion for Colombian food and culture with its diverse communities. Featuring Mecatos’ by-now renowned Colombian specialty coffee, delicious baked foods, hot bites, and desserts offered in a welcoming, relaxed, and modern setting, the company had grown to four stores in Central Florida by 2022.

Lurduy believed Mecatos Bakery & Café could be much more, however, and to achieve the growth he imagined possible, he sought fresh perspectives and deeper expertise. This led him to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) and its award-winning Advisory Board Council (ABC) program. Led by program manager Jill Kaufman, it offers small business owners the opportunity to work with a customized board of experts providing advice to help businesses grow – all at no cost. The FSBDC acts as a matchmaker between established local businesses like Mecatos and area professionals who volunteer their expertise and are purposefully selected to address the specific needs of the FSBDC client. Lurduy could not be happier with the results of his Advisory Board experience.

“The benefits we received from working with our Advisory Board, which was composed of people with decades of experience in marketing, legal, finance, and more, was incredibly valuable to a young organization such as ours” Lurduy recalls. “Every single idea or input they shared with us was important. They have lived this in much larger companies and it helped us to prevent or reduce mistakes and go in a better direction. It has meant significant changes at our stores and in our distribution center, some of the more critical ones being menu simplification, display and signage improvements, expansion of our catering operation, and help with sourcing and procurement of new products, how to look for them and how to negotiate them.”

Lurduy has long had aggressive expansion goals in mind for Mecatos and the ABC has helped him realize them. “We have received tools from the Advisory Board on how to reach those goals,” he continued, “all obtained from the Board based on their experience working with companies that have done this. From their feedback and advice, we have saved money, saved time, and made our operations more efficient. We have learned things that would have taken years and many resources to learn on our own.”

“During the term with our Advisory Board, they were crucial to our expansion plans,” Lurduy concluded. “While we were working with them, our organization grew from four to nine stores. Our revenues doubled. Our employee count doubled. Our distribution center expanded as far as labor and production. These are all numbers that were impacted in one way or another by the advice, help, and support of our Advisory Board Council.” And exactly the result he was looking for when he brought in its experience and expertise to help him.

For information about Mecatos Bakery & Cafe , please visit https://mecatoscafe.com/.

— FSBDC —

About the FSBDC at UCF

Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 9 service centers across Central Florida.

In 2024, the FSBDC at UCF served 2,277 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 2,855 jobs impacted; $564.3 million in sales growth; $57.2 million in capital formation; $161.1 million in government contract awards; and 142 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com .

About the Florida SBDC Network

For nearly 50 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2024, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 107,812 hours of consulting to 15,474 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $304 million in capital, $732 million in government contracting, impacting 19,800 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.8 billion, and creating 1,019 businesses.

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

FSBDC at UCF, University of Central Florida, Small Business Assistance

FSBDC at UCF Celebrates 2025 National Small Business Week

FSBDC at UCF to Honor Clients as U.S. Small Business Administration Award Winners and Local Advisor as Regional Volunteer of the Year

May 15, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or hthayer@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – In recognition of the significant contributions to a healthy economy made by the entrepreneurs and small business owners of Central Florida and the nation, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is celebrating the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National Small Business Week with a luncheon and awards ceremony recognizing local SBA award winners.

The FSBDC at UCF’s National Small Business Week celebration will occur on Wednesday, May 21st at the 2025 Small Business Awards Luncheon, an invitation-only event being held at the Citrus Club in downtown Orlando. Sponsored by Chase Bank, Florida Business Development Corporation and SouthState Bank, the luncheon will feature remarks by representatives from the Florida SBDC and the U.S. Small Business Administration who will present the following awards to the local FSBDC at UCF and state and district SBA awards recipients in attendance:

Veteran-Owned Small Businessperson of the Year

2025 State of Florida & SBA North Florida District Winner

Chad Drummond, President and Chairman of the Board

Drummond Carpenter, PLLC – Maitland

www.drummondcarpenter.com

 

Woman-Owned Small Businessperson of the Year

2025 State of Florida & SBA North Florida District Winner

Amanda Gaskins, MSN, APRN, Founder and Owner

Ultimate Health Direct Primary Care – Leesburg

www.ultimatehealthdpc.com

 

Small Business Community Partner of the Year

2025 SBA North District Winner

Leslie Giscombe, Founder/CEO

African American Entrepreneurs Association – Daytona Beach

 

Regional Volunteer of the Year

2025 Central Florida / Florida SBDC at UCF Winner

David Rosenfeld, CFO Consultant/Business Advisor

 

“It gives the FSBDC at UCF great pleasure to honor our valued clients Amanda Gaskins of Ultimate Health Direct Primary Care and Chad Drummond of Drummond Carpenter as U.S. Small Business Administration Award winners as part of its Small Business Week,” remarked Eunice Choi, Regional Director of the Florida SBDC at UCF. “We are also indeed pleased to congratulate and applaud David Rosenfeld as the Central Florida / FSBDC at UCF Regional Volunteer of the Year for his longstanding support and dedicated volunteer work supporting the FSBDC at UCFs clients in our Advisory Board Council program.

“Drummond Carpenter and Ultimate Health Direct Primary Care are outstanding examples of small business success stories, each one built upon the vision, energy and determination of their entrepreneurial founders,” shared Choi. “The FSBDC at UCF works to provide no-cost consulting, business training, and access to market research that allows companies like these to excel. We are gratified to have assisted them in their achievement in some small way,” Choi continued.

Drummond Carpenter is a full-service civil and environmental engineering consulting firm certified as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) and headquartered in Orange County.   Its primary services include green infrastructure and sustainability, civil and water resources engineering, environmental modeling, nuclear waste disposal and safe storage, and environmental assessment and remediation. The firm serves clients across the nation including NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as well as various municipalities across the Midwest and in Central Florida, including the City of Orlando and Orange County.

Ultimate Health Direct Primary Care is a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice – a new and innovative personalized approach to medical care management. This affordable, patient-centric model gives members access to unlimited primary care. The focus is to provide every patient with individualized attention to meet his or her specific healthcare needs; 24/7; days, nights, weekends; and in whatever manner they choose: phone, telehealth, email, in office, all covered by a single, monthly fee. The monthly direct pay, flat fee is likely to cover 80-90% of the issues for which patients need to seek medical care, including: routine and preventative care; sick visits, weight loss management, and chronic disease management.

“Both Ultimate Health DPC and Drummond Carpenter have built themselves from start-ups into impressive businesses by meeting the needs of their customers, employing our neighbors, and serving our community, thereby contributing materially to our local economy and the wellbeing of Central Florida,” said Choi.

“Florida’s 3.3 million small business owners work tirelessly everyday to launch and grow their businesses, and the Florida SBDC Network is proud to stand alongside them to help make their dreams a reality,” said Greg Britton, state director of the Florida SBDC Network. “We are proud to be able to celebrate the success of some of our highest achievers, and acknowledge all our small businesses do to help make Florida the best state in the nation to work, live, and play.”

National Small Business Week is proclaimed by the President of the United States to recognize the critical contributions made by America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs to our economy. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness. This year’s week-long celebration ran May 4 – 10 with events being held in multiple cities from coast-to-coast throughout the month of May that are designed to help small businesses start, grow and succeed.

— FSBDC —

About the FSBDC at UCF

Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 9 service centers across Central Florida.

In 2024, the FSBDC at UCF served 2,277 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 2,855 jobs impacted; $564.3 million in sales growth; $57.2 million in capital formation; $161.1 million in government contract awards; and 142 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com.

About the Florida SBDC Network

For nearly 50 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2024, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 107,812 hours of consulting to 15,474 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $304 million in capital, $732 million in government contracting, impacting 19,800 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.8 billion, and creating 1,019 businesses.

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com

Small Business Institute, SBI

UCF College of Business Students Win Small Business Institute® National Honors in Florida SBDC at UCF Program

Student Team Assist Local Small Businesses with Award Winning Consulting

May 12, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or hthayer@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – In a sweep of its competition entries, the University of Central Florida’s College of Business recently won two (2) 1st Place prizes in the 2024-25 Small Business Institute’s® (SBI®) annual Experiential Learning Project of the Year Competition, with two separate UCF CBA student teams taking the top honors in the ‘Graduate Specialized’ and ‘Graduate Feasibility/Business Plan’ categories.

In addition to receiving their awards at the SBI® national conference this month, the students will be recognized and honored at the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF)’s National Small Business Week luncheon and awards ceremony honoring local Small Business Administration award winners in May.

Competing against MBA teams from across the country, the UCF student team of Matias Falckenheiner, Alexander Meleis, Victor Robinson III, all in the MBA program, and Tiama Washington of the Accounting MSA program, won in the ‘Graduate Specialized’ category on the strength of their consulting project for BWH Plant Co, an Apopka-based tropical houseplant company operating both online and brick-and-mortar storefronts. The second winning UCF student team of Branden Fernandez, Connor Murphy, Leomar Vasquez and Daniel Velez, all in the MBA program, won in the ‘Graduate Feasibility/Business Plan’ category on the merit of their consulting engagement for Sanford-based McCarthy Fabrication, a contract manufacturing, miscellaneous metals, and structural steel fabrications business.

This is the 20th and 21st time that UCF student teams have won an award since 2009 when UCF and sponsor Florida Small Business Development Center at UCF first participated in the SBI® national competition. SBI® is the premier provider of professional development for experiential student team consulting and entrepreneurship education, research, and activities.

Led by faculty advisor and Department of Management Adjunct Lecturer Dr. Carl Blencke, the Small Business Institute® is featured as a graduate level class in the UCF College of Business’s Department of Management: ENT 6946 – Small Business Consulting. The Florida SBDC at UCF manages the program by recruiting its clients, evaluating the students’ skills, and then matching them to the clients’ needs. The student team is then guided through the process by an FSBDC consultant acting as the Case Supervisor.

“This national recognition is a testament to UCF’s bold commitment to empowering students with real-world experiences that prepare them for their future careers and drive meaningful impact for our community,” said Mike Kilbride, Executive Chief of Staff, who oversees FSBDC at UCF. “These awards highlight the power of combining student talent, faculty mentorship, and industry partnerships, and they recognize UCF’s role in driving innovation, collaboration, and economic growth across our state.”

“What exciting accomplishments by our UCF College of business students!” said Rebecca Bennett, PhD., Professor and Chair of the Department of Management at UCF. “Our congratulations go out to each and every one of them. The SBI® program as part of our course offering is an important educational partnership between UCF and the FSBDC and a valuable experiential learning platform that contributes to the quality of the student educational opportunity at UCF.”

In the winning project for BWH Plant Co., the UCF team offered recommendations to enhance the company’s greenhouse inventory management processes and to optimize its warehouse space to help streamline and ensure accuracy and efficiency. The team from UCF’s first place project for McCarthy Fabrication delivered a comprehensive market feasibility study that ultimately provided a clear recommendation on whether the company should pursue expansion by introducing canopy fabrication.

— FSBDC —

About the Small Business Institute® Program in Central Florida

The Florida SBDC at UCF (FSBDC at UCF) sponsors the Small Business Institute® in Central Florida and, in conjunction with the Department of Management at the UCF College of Business Administration, manages the SBI® program locally. It recruits and evaluates FSBDC clients for the program, lends FSBDC consultants as SBI® case supervisors, and provides a range of guidance and support.

At the UCF College of Business Administration (UCF CBA), SBI® is a graduate‐level elective course. Students enrolled in the class provide management consulting services to local small businesses. Each student team has direct contact with the client and produces a professional case report. The report is the ultimate product of the program and is tailored to each business. Case study reports have included market research, marketing plans, competitive analysis, advertising strategy, customer surveys, strategic plans, financial analysis, human resource best practices, and business plans.

The SBI® Program is offered as a full-semester credit course through the CBA’s Department of Management. During the semester, the student teams complete extensive research and analysis to determine industry best practices; meet regularly to understand company processes and procedures; and perform wide-ranging analysis of business and industry strategies and performance. As a result of their efforts, the students are able to provide a comprehensive final report and set of recommendations.

SBI® is a nation‐wide program that provides high‐quality business assistance to companies in need while providing an extraordinary opportunity for university students to learn through field case studies. Each project is led and conducted by a group of students under the supervision of  a case supervisor and faculty member. The experience is often cited by students as being one of the most rewarding of their academic careers. In today’s collegiate environment there is a strong emphasis on experiential learning, and the SBI® has been at the forefront of this movement for over thirty years.

About the FSBDC at UCF

Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 9 service centers across Central Florida.

In 2023, the FSBDC at UCF served more than 2,800 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 10,100 jobs created, retained or saved; $743.5 million in sales growth; $59.2 million in capital formation; $122.5 million in government contract awards; and 164 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com.

About the Florida SBDC Network

For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2023, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 111,720 hours of consulting to 14,808 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $346 million in capital, $576 million in government contracting, impacting 19,263 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.9 billion, and creating 1,058 businesses.

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com

Urban Perch Boutique Homes

Urban Perch Transformed with FSBDC at UCF’s Assistance

Boutique Home Builder Urban Perch Transformed with Florida SBDC at UCF’s Advisory Board Council Program Assistance

April 9, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or HThayer@ucf.edu

Jill Kaufman, Associate Director/ABC Program Manager, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4854 or Jill.Kaufman@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – It’s a hyper-competitive world out there for entrepreneurs and small business owners. They can have a great idea and love what they do but will always need to have focus and a competitive advantage to establish themselves in the marketplace and make their companies the successes they desire. Bianca and Eric Rey, the wife/husband team and co-founders and owners of residential home builder Urban Perch Boutique Homes, had launched their business and enjoyed some success, but soon found themselves at a fork in the road that brought questions about the next best steps to take in their entrepreneurial journey. Fortunately, they discovered the Advisory Board Council (ABC) program offered by the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) and it has made all the difference.

Headquartered in Winter Park, FL, Urban Perch Boutique Homes is a design-build firm that specializes in helping clients to find land, design their dream home, and turn its customers’ wishes into reality through new construction. With the help of its Advisory Board Council, Urban Perch has recently repositioned itself and carved out a special niche in a crowded and demanding industry. “What makes us unique,” shares Eric, “is that we are a design-focused wellness builder focusing on clean air, clean water, and a healthy home for your family.”

Having such a clear direction and unique focus was not always the case. As Bianca recalls, “when we started our journey with our Advisory Board Council we were at a crossroads with our business, feeling a little bit lost, not sure how to grow, not sure if we even wanted to grow and continue with this industry. The board we worked with completely changed our business. Working with the Advisory Board Council has been incredible for us. We rant and rave to everyone we can about how impactful the Board has been to us.”

The FSBDC at UCF’s Advisory Board Council program is an award-winning economic development driver for small businesses. Directed by program manager Jill Kaufman, each advisory board is a customized, no-cost panel of experts providing advice and counsel to help businesses grow over a set, 18-month term. The FSBDC acts as a matchmaker between established local small businesses like Urban Perch and area professionals who volunteer their expertise as members of the advisory board, with each advisor purposefully selected to address the specific needs of the FSBDC client.

“Every meeting they provided us with very insightful viewpoints and were a great sounding board to help us get to where we are today,” remarked Eric. “When we started with the Advisory Board Council, we were not clear as to what our unique value proposition was. They convinced us we needed to identify what that was and helped us develop what ended up becoming our wellness brand focus which is very unique in our industry.”

That new wellness positioning has worked admirably for Urban Perch. “We’ve seen some great business results since working with the Advisory Board,” declares Bianca, “because we’ve been able to stay focused on what we truly do well and what we know. We have been able to elevate our product and what we offer and been able to price our homes a little higher.”

Growth has also included new team members to expand Urban Perch’s marketing and social media presence while also attracting two seasoned project managers who have helped keep projects on time and moving along. “On the revenue growth side,” Eric noted happily, “from right before we began with our Advisory Board to the time we finished, we will be about five time (5X) larger revenue wise than when we started.”

For information about Urban Perch – A Boutique Home Builder, please visit https://urbanperchhomes.com/.

— FSBDC —

About the FSBDC at UCF

Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 10 service centers across Central Florida.

In 2020, the FSBDC at UCF served more than 2,800 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 10,000 jobs created, retained or saved; $1.2 billion in sales growth; $92.4 million in capital formation; $92.7 million in government contract awards; and 86 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com.

About the Florida SBDC Network

For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2023, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 11,720 hours of consulting to 14,808 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $346 million in capital, $576 million in government contracting, impacting 19,2635 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.9 billion, and creating 1,058 businesses.

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com

EII, Emotional Intelligence Institute

Eii Triumphs in Government Contracting

APEX Accelerator at UCF Paves the Way

April 8, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or HThayer@ucf.edu

Steven South, Manager, Florida APEX Accelerator at UCF, 412.888.9401 or Steve.South@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – Selling to the expansive government market is a major opportunity for small businesses, one that is often overlooked. It is different in important ways, however, with a specific vocabulary and new and often unfamiliar processes, procedures and tools. In fact, it often requires training and guidance to enter the market, win contracts and be successful. For Janine Klein, CEO of Eii, a leadership and emotional intelligence training company, opportunities abounded in government contracting and she turned to the no-cost, expert consulting, business training and market research resources of the Florida APEX Accelerator at the University of Central Florida (Florida APEX at UCF) for the assistance she needed. Her payoff has been remarkable.

Eii provides a mental training gym that bridges the gap left by artificial intelligence (AI) with live, human-led interactions through advanced avatar technology. Using familiar platforms like Zoom, their solutions bring nuance, empathy, and adaptability to create authentic experiences tailored to their clients’ needs. “We work in a very niche space with a blend of AI and human interaction,” Klein states, “addressing emotional, trauma-based issues. We create customized scenarios with our clients and train our interactors to perform as avatars with their staff to practice real world difficult conversations in real time.”

Having successfully penetrated the private sector, Klein saw an unmet need for Eii’s services in the government, especially the military where hard conversations are the order of the day. To educate herself on how to enter that market, she contacted the Florida APEX at UCF, an affiliate of the Florida SBDC at UCF.

“Our journey with the APEX Accelerator has been instrumental for us in navigating government contracting,” recalls Klein. “Their expertise has helped us secure our Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) certification and their continuous guidance in this ever-changing landscape of government contracting has been invaluable. We’ve benefited greatly from their seminars and workshops. They have helped us understand local contracting opportunities and having access to their market research and databases has been crucial in tracking requests for information and requests for proposals and to identify potential opportunities.”

“Personally, working with APEX has been great for me,” Kelin shared. “To find support when I’ve felt alone as a leader has contributed to my success as an owner and as a person.” She has also seen a lot of success on the business side. “The changes that have happened since working with APEX is our revenues have increased steadily these last four (4) years from $500,000 to $3.6 million. We started with one and have grown to 25 employees. We currently hold four (4) active government contracts with the help of APEX and are exploring loan opportunities as well,” Klein reports.

“I would highly recommend anyone to work with the APEX Accelerator, “ Klein concluded. “Their expert guidance, resources and support have been invaluable in navigating the challenges of government contracting and achieve business growth. Having experienced advisors and consultants who understand the industry and have offered tailored solutions is something that money really can’t buy. If you’re looking to grow, APEX is a game changer.”

For information about Eii, please visit https://www.eiieq.com/ .

— FSBDC —

About the Florida APEX Accelerator

The Florida APEX Accelerator (formerly the Florida Procurement Technical Assistance Center) is part of a national network of APEX Accelerators working to help businesses compete successfully in the government marketplace. The Florida APEX Accelerator is powered statewide by the University of West Florida and funded in part by the State of Florida and local partners. This APEX Accelerator is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense. In 2022, the Florida APEX Accelerator network served 1,387 new clients, resulting in businesses creating and retaining 25,919 jobs and helping businesses secure $246 million in government contracts. For more information, please visit www.flapex.org.

About the FSBDC at UCF

Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 10 service centers across Central Florida.

In 2020, the FSBDC at UCF served more than 2,800 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 10,000 jobs created, retained or saved; $1.2 billion in sales growth; $92.4 million in capital formation; $92.7 million in government contract awards; and 86 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com.

About the Florida SBDC Network

For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2023, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 11,720 hours of consulting to 14,808 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $346 million in capital, $576 million in government contracting, impacting 19,2635 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.9 billion, and creating 1,058 businesses.

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com

DeTask

DeTask: On Course for Success

AI-Powered HR Solutions Company Thrives with Florida SBDC at UCF Support

March 18, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or HThayer@ucf.edu

                 Sharon Smith, Consultant, FSBDC at UCF, 407.497.5933 or sharon.smith2@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – For even the smartest and most motivated entrepreneurs, the breadth and depth of the daily challenges presented by a new business can undermine efforts to achieve the ultimate goal: profitable revenue growth. Working “in” the business, with little opportunity to work “on” it, and extinguishing those daily fires can distract a business owner from implementing proven processes, procedures, and methodologies that will contribute to building a successful company. Such was the case for Rodrigo Costa, CEO and founder of DeTask, an HR-focused information technology company dedicated to solving the universal problems of employee motivation and retention. Fortunately, Costa contacted the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) and took advantage of its no-cost, expert consulting to gain new insights, set goals, and achieve new growth.

DeTask utilizes AI and immutable data to motivate employees, reduce turnover, and deliver measurable results – ultimately leading to growth and improved ROI. “The problem we are solving here is that 46% of Americans are leaving their jobs or not being appreciated,” Costa explains. “We created a gamification that helps a company achieve goals on time and keeps their people working happy and delivering.”

“Gamification is a way for us to reward people when they deliver things on time,” Costa continued. “They accumulate points for good work and can exchange those in the company’s marketplace for what motivates them. We also include recognition for their achievement so they can show to others their hard work inside the organization. Our unique value proposition is to look for what the company needs to achieve and what the employees need to feel rewarded. We combine both in one simple solution that allows you, the owner, to understand what’s happening in your company.”

So, where does the FSBDC fit in with DeTask’s growth plans? “Well, since I’m creating a very complex product, I need specialists to help me,” recounts Costa. “That’s why I went to the SBDC and was lucky to find Sharon Smith (an FSBDC at UCF Consultant) to work with me. She helped me with my marketing plan, my financial plan, and my business plan, and to put all the pieces together and start to move the market. We were creating a road map for what I should do next. The beautiful thing about that is…it’s free and you are talking with very high-quality specialists that are helping you develop your next steps.”

“After understanding more about my marketing plan, I was able to define and create a strategy to go to market,” Costa concluded. “Things started to happen after SBDC helped me with that part. We were getting pretty much one customer a month and we were increasing our revenue almost double the numbers every month since then.”

Rodrigo Costa is grateful for the SBDC’s assistance in charting a growth course for his company. “Since I started working with the SBDC, to every entrepreneur I meet I say ‘you must go there!’ because it’s going to help you a lot to understand where you are and what you have to do next. I recommend the FSBDC to everyone that I can.”

information about DeTask, please visit https://detask.io/.

— FSBDC —

About the FSBDC at UCF

Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 9 service centers across Central Florida.

In 2023, the FSBDC at UCF served more than 2,800 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 10,100 jobs created, retained or saved; $743.5 million in sales growth; $59.2 million in capital formation; $122.5 million in government contract awards; and 164 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com .

About the Florida SBDC Network

For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2023, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 111,720 hours of consulting to 14,808 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $346 million in capital, $576 million in government contracting, impacting 19,263 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.9 billion, and creating 1,058 businesses.

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com

Just Peachy Clean

Just Peachy Clean: How Support Sparks Success

Volusia Cleaning Service on Growth Path with Assistance from Florida SBDC at Daytona State College

March 11, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or HThayer@ucf.edu

                  Trecia Arrington, Consultant/Sub-Center Director, FSBDC at DSC, 386.506.3317 or Trecia.Arrington@daytonastate.edu

Orlando, FL – Small business ownership can be demanding and requires “wearing many hats.” Even the most experienced and successful small business owners can struggle with handling everything alone, but finding the right counselors, partners, and especially peers who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise can make a dramatic contribution to a company’s success. Establishing a strong support system offers a distinct advantage and for Jen Rodgers, founder and CEO of Daytona Beach-based professional cleaning service Just Peachy Clean, connecting with the Florida Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College (FSBDC at DSC), a sub-service center of the FSBDC at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF), and taking advantage of its no-cost, expert consulting and special programs for second stage businesses has made a big difference.

Serving coastal Volusia County for almost 11 years, Just Peachy Clean is a locally owned residential cleaning company that does it all. The firm provides recurring – meaning weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly – cleanings for homes; vacation rental cleans; real estate move-ins and move outs; make ready’s when residential real estate is for sale; post construction clean ups, and the list goes on, all customized to its client’s needs.

Beyond delivering the highest quality deep cleans possible and operating legally, ethically, and responsibly, Rodgers prides herself in the reliable, experienced, and trustworthy team she has built. “One of the things that makes Just Peachy Clean better and different from other cleaning businesses out there is we provide continuing education, various certification opportunities, and a career path for our technicians to go through, as well as offering an above living wage for the area and the industry,” she explains. “I was born and raised here, as were my mother and grandmother. I’m very tied to the community so everything we do within Just Peachy Clean is to make the community a better place.”

“I originally reached out to the Florida SBDC because I’d heard such great things about it,” recalls Rodgers. “I have a thirst for knowledge and when I heard about the SBDC and all the things that they have to offer I was quick to jump on board. My journey started with their Growth XChange program and I loved it right away,” she declares. The FSBDC’s Growth XChange meets monthly and offers a confidential setting for top executives to discuss vital business issues, opportunities, and trends with a group of peers led by a trained facilitator, providing members with the opportunity to broaden their business perspective and gain new knowledge by engaging in collaborative thinking and problem-solving – giving them the ability to more effectively lead their companies.

“I have also worked with the consultant in our area Trecia Arrington (FSBDC at DSC sub-service center director) to receive business consulting and business coaching for my 2025 goals and business plan,” Rodgers continued. Additionally, the FSBDC has assisted Rodgers with a financial review and website analysis, including search engine optimization guidance.

With the FSBDC in her corner and as member of its Growth XChange program, Rodgers has found the help and guidance she needs as a business owner and the results speak for themselves. “Since joining the SBDC not only have I become a better leader, but we have also seen huge revenue growth. Last year alone we grew 50% above revenues from the previous year,” Rodgers concluded. “I’m very thankful for all the advice the SBDC has given me and how they’ve helped me grow. They have been invaluable to my team and to my business. I can’t speak highly enough about them.”

For information about Just Peachy Clean, please visit https://alwaysjustpeachyclean.com/.

— FSBDC —

About the FSBDC at UCF

Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 9 service centers across Central Florida.

In 2023, the FSBDC at UCF served more than 2,800 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 10,100 jobs created, retained or saved; $743.5 million in sales growth; $59.2 million in capital formation; $122.5 million in government contract awards; and 164 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com.

About the Florida SBDC Network

For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2023, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 111,720 hours of consulting to 14,808 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $346 million in capital, $576 million in government contracting, impacting 19,263 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.9 billion, and creating 1,058 businesses.

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com

Journey Fitness

FSBDC at DSC Helps Journey Fitness Get Results

Volusia County-based Multi-center Fitness Company Growing with Florida SBDC at Daytona State College and Growth XChange Support

March 4, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or HThayer@ucf.edu

Trecia Arrington, Consultant/Sub-Center Director, FSBDC at DSC, 386.506.3317 or Trecia.Arrington@daytonastate.edu

Orlando, FL – Small business ownership and management is a full-time job, and then some. Exceeding customer expectations, providing vision and direction, and ensuring that operations are running effectively are just a few of the priorities to balance in order to achieve success. Amid putting out the daily fires and keeping the business on track, planning and goal setting sometimes get short shrift. Mary Hall, co-owner and manager of Journey Fitness Center and its multiple locations, was in exactly that predicament until she turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College (FSBDC at DSC), a sub-center of the FSBDC at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF), and took advantage of its no-cost, expert consulting and its Growth XChange program.

Journey Fitness Center is not your ordinary gym or health club. With four locations across Volusia County, two in New Smyrna Beach and two in South Daytona, it offers three different fitness concepts to meet a wide range of customer preferences. “Let me tell you about our three concepts,” Hall says proudly. “We have an amazing 24-hour club down in New Smyrna Beach where you can work out 24/7/365, at your convenience. We have two group facilities in New Smyrna and South Daytona with the most dynamic classes available; think power yoga; think strength and conditioning; even boxing. We also have a private personal training studio where you can feel completely comfortable working out exclusively with your trainer.”

As successful as Hall has been over the last eight years since her company first opened, she wanted to continuously improve and focus on growing her businesses. To do so, she connected with the FSBDC for one-on-one consulting but also found peer-to-peer coaching through the FSBDC’s Growth XChange. Comprised of a cohort of 10 -12 small business owners, the Growth XChange offers a confidential setting for top executives to discuss vital business issues, opportunities, and trends with a group of peers led by a trained facilitator. The meetings provide members with the opportunity to broaden their business perspective and gain new knowledge by engaging in collaborative thinking and problem-solving – giving them the ability to more effectively lead their companies.

“One of the services I have used at Daytona State College and the SBDC is the Growth XChange,” Hall testifies. “It’s a group of business owners – local business owners – that come together once a month for round table talks and for finding business solutions. It’s a great way to not only network but to get problems solved in your business. I’ve had such a great time meeting other business owners, lots of them in business much longer than I have been, and I have gained so much from their wisdom and experience. It’s been quite amazing!”

“One of the biggest benefits I have gotten from the Growth XChange is greater accountability on my part,” Hall recalls. “It’s what I was looking for in a mentorship and my mentor Trecia Arrington (FSBDC at DSC consultant and sub-service center director) has been invaluable every step of the way. Trecia has helped me set annual and quarterly goals and then we check on them monthly to make sure we are reaching them. It has been a big game changer for my business.”

“My experience with the SBDC has been nothing short of amazing,” Hall concluded. “And my time in the Growth XChange has been miraculous. In 2024 my revenue was up 11% and a lot of that has to do with goal setting with Trecia. It has been a great thing to help me change direction. I can’t imagine all the things I’ve learned over the past two years at the SBDC and in the Growth XChange and I’m looking forward to learning more.”

For information about JOURNEY FITNESS CENTER, please visit https://journeyfitnesscenter.com/

— FSBDC —

About the FSBDC at UCF

Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 9 service centers across Central Florida.

In 2023, the FSBDC at UCF served more than 2,800 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 10,100 jobs created, retained or saved; $743.5 million in sales growth; $59.2 million in capital formation; $122.5 million in government contract awards; and 164 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com .

About the Florida SBDC Network

For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2023, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 111,720 hours of consulting to 14,808 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $346 million in capital, $576 million in government contracting, impacting 19,263 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.9 billion, and creating 1,058 businesses.

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com

Terra Craft Sandwiches

Terra Craft Sandwiches: Putting Flavor First in Melbourne

Fast Casual, Elevated Sandwich Shop Successful Thanks in Part to Assistance from the Florida SBDC at EFSC

February 19, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or HThayer@ucf.edu

                 Robin Braswell, Sub-Center Director, FSBDC at EFSC, 321.433.5573 or braswellr@easternflorida.edu

Orlando, FL – Having a great business idea that is unique and appealing is only the beginning for an entrepreneur. So many steps must then follow: testing the market, finding funding, writing a business plan, and more. Sisters Amanda and Gina Manzano, owners and founders of the restaurant Terra Craft Sandwiches, had moved down the start-up path and covered a lot of those bases but soon realized, as the saying goes, that they ‘didn’t know what they didn’t know.’ That’s when they turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at Eastern Florida State College (FSBDC at EFSC), a sub-center of the FSBDC at UCF, to take advantage of its no-cost, expert business consulting and to access the FSBDC’s market research resources.

Based in Melbourne, FL, Terra Craft Sandwiches is a fast casual, elevated sandwich shop that prides itself in being “Flavor First”. “One of the things we feel makes our restaurant unique is our focus on flavor and high quality, fresh ingredients,” shares Amanda Manzano. For example, one of their Signature Sandwiches is the Mojo Pork Banh Mi, featuring roasted pork, creamy ponzu vegetable slaw, and chicharron crisps on a hoagie roll. “We take ‘center of the plate’ food and put it into a sandwich for a very flavorful, globally inspired bite,” Amanda states proudly.

With that and many other exciting choices on the menu, the Manzano sisters were eager to launch their business but had questions they then began posing to the FSBDC. “One of the many reasons we sought out counsel from the SBDC was because we were new to the Melbourne market and really valued the expertise they had in this area and they’ve done just a wonderful job guiding us,” remarked Gina Manzano. “The SBDC had honestly been integral since Day Zero of our journey opening this restaurant,” added Amanda. “Everything from helping us scout a location to market research of the demographics in this area, and best practices for marketing to the local demographic and even making great connections with other local business leaders and community figures.”

“Apart from the invaluable business advice that we’ve gotten through the SBDC, our favorite part is the relationship we have with the people there,” Amanda Manzano continued. “Robin Braswell (FSBDC at EFSC sub-center director and consultant) has made the experience so wonderful for us. Having her as a trusted support and then a great customer and friend of Terra, it’s just been marvelous to work with the SBDC because of the people like her.”

“From opening our doors to coming around the corner to our first year, the impact of the SBDC on our business has been huge,” Amanda claims. She credits the SBDC with helping the business with both marketing and human resources issues that have resulted in Terra achieving profitability and contributing to local economic growth through job creation. “We have been so fortunate in our first year to really flourish and every day is truly a great day here,” Gina Marzano declares.

“I definitely speak for both of us when I say we would recommend the SBDC to any aspiring business owner,” concluded Amanda. “It’s been a wonderful resource. So, I would reach out to them. You won’t regret it.”

For information about Terra Craft Sandwiches, please visit https://www.terracraftsandwiches.com/.

— FSBDC —

About the FSBDC at UCF

Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 9 service centers across Central Florida.

In 2023, the FSBDC at UCF served more than 2,800 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 10,100 jobs created, retained or saved; $743.5 million in sales growth; $59.2 million in capital formation; $122.5 million in government contract awards; and 164 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com .

About the Florida SBDC Network

For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2023, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 111,720 hours of consulting to 14,808 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $346 million in capital, $576 million in government contracting, impacting 19,263 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.9 billion, and creating 1,058 businesses.

With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.

FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com