Precision Oncology Firm Partners with FSBDC at UCF to Unlock SBA Funding and Fuel Innovation in Cancer Diagnostics.

September 16, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

                 John Hickle, Consultant, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4846 or John.Hickle@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – For any business, but especially for small businesses, growth requires investment. Typically, that investment requires access to capital. For Protean BioDiagnostics, a groundbreaking innovator in precision oncology and cancer diagnostics, and its President and CEO, Dr. Anthony Magliocco, additional funding was the key that would unlock significant opportunities presented by revolutionary treatment advances for patients with cancer. But where could he turn to for help obtaining additional capital? Dr. Magliocco found the answers he needed from the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF).

Protean BioDiagnostics provides cancer profiling, next generation diagnostics, and data integration services and solutions. The company has developed a platform technology called Protean MAPS® to help guide doctors and patients regarding how to optimally treat cancer. “Our technology includes advanced and unique tests for early detection of cancer,” Dr. Magliocco states proudly, “as well as a guidance system to help doctors pick the right tests. In addition, we manage all that information for our doctors and patients to enable them to make effective treatment decisions.”

With that as the backdrop, Dr. Magliocco was eager to expand his business. He connected with the Florida SBDC at UCF and took advantage of its technical services, including no-cost, expert business consulting, training, and access to market research and data. “I was quite delighted about the services and about how they could help us develop our business,” Dr. Magliocco recalls.

Given Protean and Dr. Magliocco’s specific needs, John Hickle, an FSBDC consultant specializing in access to capital engagements, stepped in to offer guidance. “I found working with John really valuable,” Dr. Magliocco explains, “because John had really long and deep experience in the capital field, not only with the FSBDC but with other organizations. He was well equipped to guide me about things like SBA loans, about other sources of capital, and also ones to try to avoid. In addition, there are government agencies that we would like to work with, like the Veterans Administration, and the SBDC supplied really invaluable help connecting to those groups.”

Supported by the FSBDC, Dr. Magliocco quickly achieved his primary objective: unlocking new funding. “We were successful in obtaining an SBA loan and we’re continuing to look to bring in additional loans,” Dr. Magliocco summarized. “It was a tremendous experience and extremely pleasant working with the FSBDC and actually very successful. We raised over $300,000 on very good terms working together with them, which will help with corporate growth and debt consolidation.

“If I had to use one word to describe the FSBDC, it would be ‘helpful’” concluded Dr. Magliocco. “They were there to guide me through and help me every step of the way. I would encourage others to reach out, explore for yourself, and see the incredible value that can be delivered by working with the FSBDC.”

For information about Protean BioDiagnostics, please visit https://www.proteanbiodx.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

FSBDC at UCF – Palm Coast Helps Entrepreneur Secure Funding and Build a Successful Pet Care Business.

September 9, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Michael Oppenheim, Consultant/Area Manager, FSBDC at UCF – Palm Coast, 386.320.3313 or Michael.Oppenheim@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – Launching a franchise can be a daunting challenge even for a successful and retired corporate executive. Jackie Rector, the now proud owner of Hounds Town Palm Coast – Bunnell, experienced this for herself and knew that she needed support to make her new dream a reality. That’s when she turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) in Palm Coast. As she looks forward to celebrating her new business’s one year anniversary, she is glad she did.

Hounds Town is a fully interactive doggy daycare, boarding, and pet spa facility. Designed like a town for dogs, it features expansive play areas, luxury overnight suites, and a pampering doggie day spa. “What makes Hounds Town special is that the dogs are not caged or crated,” shares Rector. “We pride ourselves in the care we give our dogs. We make sure, when they come to us, that they can play interactively in a natural pack environment with dogs of the same size, temperament, and play style. What that does is help to socialize the dogs and make them happy. And that’s what it’s all about: Doing it for the Dogs.”

Rector’s professional background brought significant advantage to her new venture. “As a retired corporate executive from a Fortune 200 company, I knew I had the foundation to be a business owner,” she explains. “But I knew I needed some support in terms of developing a business plan, getting funding. I couldn’t do that alone. So I found the Small Business Development Center in Palm Coast, and I was fortunate enough to get the support I needed and that’s why I am sitting here today. I couldn’t have done any of this without someone by my side coaching me.”

That someone was Michael Oppenheim, a consultant with the FSBDC at UCF. Rector worked closely with him, leveraging the FSBDC’s no-cost consulting services. “It started with a conversation. It was then a lot of discussion and brainstorming so I could evaluate my decision to make this investment and take this journey,” she recalls. “I needed to think about everything and especially things I hadn’t thought about. I met with Michael of the SBDC and we discussed it all, from start to finish, which was really good for me because I needed that.”

Oppenheim also helped Rector secure the capital she needed to launch her business. He guided her through preparing a loan package, identifying lenders, and facilitating the transaction. “A huge piece of working with the Small Business Development Center is obtaining funding,” Rector explains, “and I was able to get the funding I needed.”

Today, the FSBDC supports Rector with marketing strategy and financial management best practices. “Working with the SBDC is a no brainer,” she concludes. “I was really amazed and actually surprised that these resources are available to individuals looking to start their own business. And it doesn’t cost me anything. It is the way to go to make sure you have everything you need in your toolkit to be successful.”

For information about Hounds Town Palm Coast – Bunnell, please visit https://houndstownusa.com/locations/palm-coast-bunnell/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=map&utm_id=palm-coast-bunnell.

— 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

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.

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) 1^st 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

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