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

Fun for Tots

Fun For Tots: Imaginative Play and Parties in Clermont

Indoor Playground Started and Growing with Assistance from Florida SBDC at UCF – Lake County

February 17, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

                 Jose Molfino, Area Manager/Consultant, FSBDC at UCF – Lake County, 407.385.0420 or jose.molfino@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – Starting a new business can be daunting, but Janselis Maldonado wasn’t intimidated by the thought in the least. She knew she wanted to start her own company, and she knew she needed funding to do it. What she didn’t know was how or where to begin this entrepreneurial journey, and so she turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) in Lake County for assistance. By taking advantage of the FSBDC’s no-cost, expert consulting, business training, and market research resources, today Maldonado is the proud owner of Fun For Tots, an indoor playground in Clermont, FL that is profitably making children and their caregivers happy at birthday parties, open play hours, and special events.

Indoor playgrounds are a fantastic way to support the holistic development of young children while ensuring that they have fun and stay active. Fun For Tots caters to ages 7 years old and younger and offers an open play area with learning toys and multiple themed playhouses including a nursery, a veterinarian’s office, a grocery store (with real groceries!), and even a ball pit just to name a few. “What makes us special is that we focus on imaginative play and pretend play,” explains Maldonado, “allowing the child to explore and expand their imaginations through play.” The emphasis is on providing a safe, sanitary, and fun space for children as well as a relaxing and comfortable environment for their waiting caregivers.

Fun For Tots is off to a great start, but it took work to get it started. Maldonado was smart and didn’t try to do it alone. “As a young entrepreneur and new business owner, I was looking for help and seeking guidance on how to start a business,” she recalls. “That is why I found the FSBDC, and they helped me a lot, and helped make my dream come true.”

Maldonado began by attending a How to Start Your Business training class, then scheduled a meeting with FSBDC Lake County Area Manager and consultant Jose Molfino. “I set up a consult so they could guide me on the right way to find funding to start my business and then be able to make the business come true,” she shares. “The SBDC was the easiest part of creating my business. There were no complications. They meet with you and give you all the information and orientation that you need. They guide you in the right way, without you losing any time.”

Working with the FSBDC really paid off for Maldonado. With Molfino’s help, she secured the funding she needed and navigated some hiccups in the permitting process. “The FSBDC helped me to find the startup capital I needed and guide me in the right direction to find the right bank to work with. If I had to use one word to describe the FSBDC, it is “supportive” because they have given me all the help I needed from the very beginning. I have to say that the FSBDC is the best thing because they are available for you, guide you in the right way and make things as easy as possible.”

For information about Fun For Tots, please visit https://funfortotsplay.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

Wonder Waffel

Wonder Waffel: Helping Customers Create Waffle Wonders

European Food Concept Comes to Melbourne Assisted by Florida SBDC at Eastern Florida State College

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 – Starting a business is typically a steep climb for anyone, but the degree of difficulty is heightened significantly if you happen to be in a new country and introducing a foreign food concept to a different and unfamiliar customer base. All of that and more was true for Swiss-born Seraina Hug, founder and owner of popular European restaurant chain Wonder Waffel, when she set about bringing her concept to Melbourne, Florida. Fortunately, Hug contacted the Florida Small Business Development Center at Eastern Florida State College (FSBDC at EFSC), a sub-center of the FSBDC at the University of Central Florida, which was able to assist her on her way to a successful opening of her waffle shop.

Boasting its position as one of the first in the US, Wonder Waffel Melbourne features a different take on comfort food. All of the dishes on the menu are built around a waffle made from a proprietary recipe then loaded with amazing ingredients chosen by the customer. “We serve waffles made from scratch,” explains Hug. “We have savory (think Mexican, Italian, or chicken bbq-like sandwiches made with waffles). We have sweet ones (piled with the customer’s choice of sauces, fruits, and toppings). We have shakes. We have sundaes. We have Italian coffee. We are a place for a sweet tooth!”

“What makes us unique? Hug continued. “You can customize your own waffle with us. Just let me know what you want and I make it possible. I am from Switzerland and we don’t eat waffles for breakfast. We it all day, especially in the afternoon and after dinner for a sweet treat.”

“We immigrated to here and things are a bit different. The rules are different, the laws are different, its hard and you have to learn a lot,” recalls Hug. Under new circumstances, she turned to Robin Braswell, sub-center director and consultant at the FSBDC at EFSC for help. “From our first appointment with the SBDC where we met Robin, she helped me a lot with many questions. She helped me with marketing research, with permits or if we had any question. We are so thankful that Robin is always here and she is part of our amazing journey.”

“Frankly speaking, the SBDC helped us open our restaurant. Robin and her team have been so supportive,” Hug states today. ”It’s hard to be self-employed. My head is everywhere. It’s with the customer, it’s in the kitchen, it’s with my employees. I have to do the marketing, the social media, pay my bills on time. There’s just a lot and the SBDC and Robin have helped me focus to be here and to run my business.”

Today, Wonder Waffel is open and thriving, having already built a loyal clientele. “We did great,” exclaims Hug proudly. “We opened our restaurant and I’m happy Robin is on my side all the time.”

For information about Wonder Waffel, please visit https://wonderwaffelmelbourne.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

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

Small Business Development Center Expands Its Services in St. Cloud

No-Cost Business Assistance from Expert Consultants Available through Florida SBDC at UCF

Florida SBDC at the University of Central Florida

January 29, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Orlando, FL – No-cost business consulting and business training and webinars are now available in the City of St. Cloud from the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF). Thanks to new funding by the City, the FSBDC will now offer office hours at St. Cloud City Hall on SBDC Thursday in St. Cloud during which FSBDC consultants will be available to meet with and advise local entrepreneurs and small business owners to help them grow and succeed.

Service to the St. Cloud business community from the FSBDC on SBDC Thursday in St. Cloud will be led by consultant Maria Cevallos. With over 15 years of experience on Wall Street, Maria has expertise in strategic advisory, business development, fundraising, go-to-market strategy, artificial intelligence, business process redesign, and executive mentoring. She has worked with a diverse range of clients, bringing a forward-thinking approach to help businesses navigate complex challenges and achieve sustainable growth. Her ability to design and implement tailored strategies makes her an invaluable partner for clients seeking transformational growth and results-driven solutions. She can be reached at maria.cevallos@ucf.edu or 407-847-4311.

“Small businesses are key drivers of St. Cloud’s economy,” said Veronica Miller, the City Manager for the City of St. Cloud. “Our new partnership with the SBDC demonstrates its dedication to supporting the entrepreneurs and small businesses in our community and fostering its positive economic growth.”

“We are excited and pleased to offer our valuable services to the business community in St. Cloud through this new office,” said Eunice Choi, Regional Director of the FSBDC at UCF. “Helping entrepreneurs and small businesses start, grow and thrive is our mission and we are eager to be delivering on it in St. Cloud.”

For more information about the FSBDC at UCF, now in St. Cloud, or to request consulting or other services, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com.

— FSBDC —

About the Florida SBDC 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

Kern Halls, Ingenious Culinary Concepts

Kern Halls of Ingenious Culinary Concepts Named 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year

Florida SBDC at UCF Announces 2024 Small Business Excellence Award Winner

January 23, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Orlando, FL – The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) announced its 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year on January 17th in the culmination of the third annual FSBDC at UCF Small Business Excellence Awards program celebrating the success, growth, business acumen, and community involvement of FSBDC at UCF’s clients from across its 8-county region.

Named as the 2024 FSBDC at UCF Entrepreneur of the Year is:

Kern Halls                                                       Ingenious Culinary Concepts                               Ocoee, Orange County

The FSBDC at UCF Small Business Excellence Award program recognizes local small business owners for their innovation, determination, and resilience as demonstrated by the growth of their business and through their contributions to their communities. Nominations from across Central Florida were made by FSBDC at UCF consultants to acknowledge their clients’ significant growth; their resourcefulness in overcoming the challenges presented by small business ownership; and their involvement in their communities.

In total, there were 13 distinguished and remarkable Small Business Excellence Awards Entrepreneur of the Year nominees. The 12 other nominees included:

Amanda Gaskin

Ultimate Health Direct Primary Care, LLC

Leesburg, Lake County

 

 Carlie Paluzzi, Jason Paluzzi, Kyle Kroeplin

BWH Plant Co

Apopka, Orange County
Chad Drummond

Drummond Carpenter

Maitland, Orange County

 Eric and Bianca Rey

Urban Perch – A Boutique Home Builder, LLC

Winter Park, Orange County

 
Fred Price and Amy Becker

Becker’s Best Shoes

Mt. Dora, Lake County

 Janine Klein

Emotional Intelligence Institute

Orlando, Orange County

 
Mark Fugett

Managed Services Group

Maitland, Orange County

 

 Michael Heyman and Brett Meyers

The Reimagined Classroom

Orlando, Orange County
Michael Workman

M5K Enterprises, Inc. dba “CorTru”

Titusville, Brevard County

 

 Paulo Francisco de Vilhena Toledo

BRISA America Corp.

Celebration, Osceola County
R. Sans Lassiter, PE

LTG, Inc

Ormond Beach, Volusia County

 

 Stacey Cook

S Cook Productions, LLC

Orlando, Orange County

 

Small businesses are the engine that drives the Florida economy. According to the SBA,  there are roughly 3.1 million small businesses in Florida. They make up 99.8% of all businesses in the state and employ 3.5 million workers, about 39.7% of the state’s private-sector workforce.

As the list illustrates, the nominees for the FSBDC at UCF Small Business Excellence Awards represent a broad cross section of Central Florida small businesses operating in multiple industries. Nearly 70% of the nominees are women- and/or minority-owned businesses, and/or veteran-owned firms. All are valued clients of the FSBDC at UCF who have benefited in some way from its no-cost, expert consulting; business training; and/or market research resources.

The award winner was selected by the FSBDC at UCF’s Executive Board comprised of local small business leaders and stakeholders committed to supporting the FSBDC’s mission to help small businesses launch, grow, and thrive through expertise, resources, and advocacy. The announcement of the award winner was made at an Awards Luncheon held the Citrus Club in Orlando, Florida and was made possible through the generous support of its sponsors: Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, Orange County Government, and SouthState Bank.

In addition to the Entrepreneur of the Year award, the FSBDC also recognized six (6) Start Up Companies to Watch, a new element of the SBEA program which celebrates early-stage companies with significant promise for the future. The Start Up Companies to Watch nominations were based on a company’s business planning effectiveness, coaching receptivity, and potential.

 

“We are excited to recognize Kern Halls of Ingenious Culinary Concepts as our 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year and all of the Small Business Excellence Award honorees for their accomplishments and success,” shared Eunice Choi, FSBDC at UCF Regional Director. “Small businesses like these are the engines of our local economy, creating opportunity, prosperity, and generating jobs in our communities. It is an honor to be able to celebrate them.”

2024 FSBDC at UCF Small Business Excellence Awards Entrepreneur of the Year

Kern Halls with Ingenious Culinary Concepts: This firm transforms cafeterias – from menu to the ambience itself – into hot spots that increase participation in K-12 dining programs and access to nutritious meals. The company has received numerous accolades for innovative contributions to school food services.

2024 FSBDC at UCF Small Business Excellence Entrepreneur of the Year Nominees

  • Fred Price and Amy Becker with Becker’s Best Shoes: This family-owned and operated footwear company based in Mt. Dora boasts a vast collection of top-quality footwear from over 45 leading brands.
  • Paulo Toledo with BRISA America Corp: The firm is dedicated to supporting companies and governments through information technology and telecommunications, including building high-quality, flexible, and reliable software.
  • Carlie and Jason Paluzzi and Kyle Kroeplin with BWH Plant Co: BWH Plant Co brings nature to your doorstep in the form of high-quality, rare indoor plants that are affordable and easily accessible through a direct-to-consumer model.
  • Chad Drummond with Drummond Carpenter: The firm specializes in environmental and water resources engineering and applied research. Its services even include nuclear disposal and storage.
  • Janine Klein with Emotional Intelligence Institute: EII bridges the gap left by AI with live, human-led interactions through advanced avatar technology to provide nuance, empathy, adaptability to create authentic experiences.
  • Sans Lassiter with LTG Inc: The firm provides traffic engineering and transportation planning solutions to both public and private sector entities through use of innovative engineering and progressive planning solutions.
  • Mark Fugett with Managed Services Group: This firm offers computer system design and full IT support services including affordable Remote Monitoring, Remediation, and Preventive Maintenance and a help desk technical center.
  • Michael Workman with CorTru: CorTru is a specialized general contractor with expertise in metal fabrication, SSPC-QP1 certified corrosion control, and painting.
  • Stacey Cook with S Cook Productions:  S Cook Productions offers a one-stop video development and production shop for all their clients’ needs, including crew and most equipment needs. Services range from Still Photography, to Directing/Producing, Production Management, to full broadcast.
  • Michael Heyman and Brett Meyers with the Reimagined Classroom: The Reimagined Classroom develops educational content for PreK–12 and Higher Ed in all subject areas. They are reimagining the way to engage students and empower teachers!
  • Amanda Gaskin with Ultimate Health Direct Primary Care, LLC: This practice offers a personalized approach to medical care management and an affordable, patient-center model. Their focus is to provide every patient with individualized attention to meet his or her specific health care needs.
  • Eric and Bianca Rey with Urban Perch – A Boutique Home Builder, LLC:  Urban Perch is an experienced general contractor creating elegant, efficient homes that inspire holistic living and healthier spaces. They strive to exceed client expectations whether you are building, buying, or selling your home.

2024 FSBDC at UCF Start Up Companies to Watch

  • Javier Garcia and Angelica Moncada of Candelaria Eatery & Café – Oxford, Sumter County
  • Greg Chatelain of Chatelain Engineering – Winter Park, Orange County
  • Rodrigo Costa of DeTask Corp. – Orlando, Orange County
  • Janselis Maldonado of Fun for Tots – Clermont, Lake County
  • Grace Acevedo Dobbins of In America with Grace – Sanford, Seminole County
  • Amanda and Gina Manzano of Terra Craft Sandwiches – Melbourne, Brevard County

 

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