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

Solutions By Salm

Solutions By Salm: An Entrepreneurial Success Story

Local Text Marketing Firm Continues to Grow with Florida SBDC at UCF – Palm Coast Assistance

December 18, 2024

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 – When one is bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, there is no going back. The opportunity to chart your own course and deliver new and different solutions to customers – all while realizing your vision for the business you have invented – is often too compelling to ignore. For Jeff Salm, founder and owner of Palm Coast, Fl-based text marketing company Solutions By Salm, entrepreneurship felt like a calling. As he contemplated and then started his foray into entrepreneurialism four years ago, he turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) in Palm Coast for the support he needed.

Solutions By Salm works with business owners and non-profits to increase their customer bases and engagement. “I am in the text marketing business of marketing and advertising,” explains Jeff Salm, “helping business owners and general managers to stay connected with their audience through texting. We work directly and closely with you about your content and about how you communicate to your customers to drive more traffic and transactions. What we do is take your business from overlooked to overbooked via text messaging.”

Salm found the FSBDC through his sister who is a U.S. Small Business Administration executive in California, the SBA being the primary funding resource of the FSBDC. “I’ve always tried to do entrepreneurial-spirit type side businesses above and beyond what I normally did. My sister suggested the FSBDC, and I took her advice. I couldn’t be happier for that reference and actually being able to find a service that’s local and to work with an individual who knows my business and knew my demographics.”

As Florida’s principal provider of business assistance, as designated by the state of Florida, the Florida SBDC offers entrepreneurs and small business owners a range of valuable services, primary among them being expert business consulting; business training and education; and access to market data and research, all at little or no-cost. In the case of Solutions by Salm, through its Palm Coast-based FSBDC consultant Michael Oppenheim, the FSBDC aided with market research to identify sales prospects and consulting related to sales presentations and marketing promotions.

“At my first session with Michael, I was able to lay out my scope, my vision and we had an immediate connection,” Salm recalls. “And that connection goes through to today. He offered me a suite of services that were amazing to me that I didn’t even know were available. He easily shifted to fulfill my requirements, my needs, my scope and I was and am continually impressed with the number of products, services, the whole suite that goes along with the SBDC.”

Thanks to his entrepreneurial spirit, determination and business acumen, Salm’s business has achieved exponential growth since its launch. The FSBDC is proud to have assisted him in making his entrepreneurial dream come true.

For information about Solutions By Salm, please visit https://solutionsbysalm.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

Reimagined Classroom

The Reimagined Classroom: Growing in the Government Market

Company Assisted by Government Contracting Expert The Florida APEX Accelerator at UCF

December 2, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Steven South, Program Manager, Florida APEX Accelerator at UCF, 407.420.4859 or Steve.South@ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – Doing business with the government is different from working with the private sector. Winning government contracts – whether at the federal, state, or local level – requires learning a new vocabulary, adopting particular strategies, and applying specialized processes and procedures. Though it can be a complex process, selling to the government can open doors to a huge new market and growth opportunity for small businesses, offering a path to new customers and fresh revenue streams.

For Michael Heyman and Brett Meyers, co-founders of The Reimagined Classroom, a one-stop shop for custom educational content, the potential to win a Department of Defense Educational Activity (DoDEA) contract looked promising. They even had the request-for-proposal (RFP) writers on staff to prepare a bid. What they did not have was experience with the government as their customer. It was then that they turned for assistance to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida’s (FSBDC at UCF) government contracting affiliate, the Florida APEX Accelerator at UCF.

The Reimagined Classroom has built a very successful business serving the corporate community. “We can take a concept from ideation and brainstorming and bring it all the way to print and web ready content,” Heyman explains. The team at The Reimagined Classroom subcontracts and works with large companies by producing and bringing to life engaging textbooks and educational resources for K-thru-12 students. Interestingly, before starting the company, Heyman and Meyers were third grade teachers and this background informs their corporate strategy, with every one of their content creators being or having been an educator. “We are a people-first organization creating things with a teacher’s mindset considering all learners and all educators,” Heyman highlights proudly.

“We first reached out to the APEX Accelerator and the FSBDC because we were interested in government contracting,” Heyman recalls. They had identified the DoDEA contract and had begun writing up their bid. “We were already about 75% of the way through when we realized that we could contact Steve South, the APEX Accelerator at UCF program manager, for assistance. Our RFP specialist worked with him and the APEX Accelerator to help us really go after our first contract. We learned so much through the process, even though we lost that one. We took APEX’s feedback and applied it to our next opportunity and wound up winning the very next DoD contract we bid on.” And that $400,000 contact was just the beginning.

“Our journey with APEX has been incredible. We’re just thrilled to be multi-award winners now and we attribute that, not solely but largely to our work with APEX and our SBDC here in Florida,” Heyman continued. “It’s been an amazing learning experience. When my co-founder Brett and I had the opportunity to initially meet Steve South we were just blown away at the value of the free resources offered, and the value of the experience and insight. It was almost like Government Contracting for Dummies but working with an insider who would explain it like you were five. It was incredibly valuable.”

Though pursuing government contracts may not be like chasing commercial business opportunities, as Heyman and The Reimagined Classroom will attest, the APEX Accelerator at the University of Central Florida can help a company learn the ropes and be successful.

For information about The Reimagined Classroom, please visit https://www.reimaginedclassroom.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

Genstar

Accessing the Help You Need: The Genstar Generator Service Story

With Assistance from FSBDC at UCF’s Advisory Board Council, Company Grows into and Becomes Acquisition Target

October 31, 2024

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 – Going it alone often proves to be a failed growth strategy for all too many entrepreneurs and small business owners. On the other hand, finding mentors, coaches, and advisors can become the key to both the short-term and long-term success they seek. For Lance Metcalfe, owner and founder of Genstar Generator Service, bringing in Edgardo Rodriguez as his general manager was a big step forward. When Rodriguez subsequently enlisted the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) and its award-winning Advisory Board Council (ABC) program for support, Genstar was on its way to the growth it sought and the exit strategy Metcalfe desired.

Genstar Generator Service has proudly served Central Florida since 2002. As a factory authorized dealer employing factory certified technicians, its knowledgeable team of experts is available to help customers with all of their generator installation, maintenance, and repair needs anytime – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “What makes Genstar unique is our customer service,” explains Rodriguez, “Lance started the company with that in mind and every employee understands it is paramount.” “What really makes us unique,” laughed Metcalfe, “is we answer the telephone with a live person every time. No telephone trees. No answering service. You get someone on the line every time you call, whether its during business hours or after hours at our emergency service number.”

Fast forward 20+ years and, despite a lot of success, Metcalfe decided his company was ready for more and that he would need help to achieve this. “In the beginning when Genstar was founded,” he recalls, “you would call it a ‘Mom & Pop’ operation. We really didn’t have the structure it takes to grow. We brought Edgardo on board because he had experience in company growth. He knew about the SBDC and was able to bring them in and make use of the resources they provide.”

“We came to the SBDC because we needed to grow,” Rodriguez affirms. “I had experience with them before and knew they had the tools and programs that we were looking for.” Specifically, Genstar took advantage of the FSBDC’s Advisory Board Council program led by program manager Jill Kaufman. ABC 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 Genstar and area professionals who volunteer their expertise and are purposefully selected to address the specific needs of the FSBDC client.

“Our Advisory Board was composed of different experts with different skills, including accounting, finance, sales, marketing and general business professionals, that Jill put together thinking of what we needed to meet our goals,” Rodriguez commented. “They served as a sounding board from whom you receive advice and counsel. The Advisory Board was there to help us, guide us, to tell us if we were going in the right direction or not. It wasn’t always easy but that’s what they were there for and I was very appreciative.”

“Three or four years ago, Edgardo came on board to help us and brought us together with the FSBDC and the Advisory Board,” Metcalfe expounded. “He took us from being a $1 million company to a $5 million dollar company, from 5 employees to 20 plus employees. He did it in just a few years with the SBDC’s Advisory Board’s help and that was exactly what we wanted.”

“The ultimate goal as an owner of Genstar was to find an exit strategy,” continued Metcalfe. “The SBDC helped us grow into a viable company that could serve as a platform for an equity capital company who acquired us and has used Genstar as the base from which to acquire other companies to grow into the largest generator company in Florida. If I had to use one word to describe the FSBDC, it would be ‘lucky’,” Metcalfe concluded. “Not that the SBDC is ‘lucky’ but that Genstar was lucky. ‘Lucky’ that Edgardo was aware of the SBDC and that he had the knowledge to use the SBDC as a resource to bring us to exactly where we were trying to go.”

For information about Genstar Generator Service, please visit https://genstarservice.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

Vision & Heels

Vision & Heels: Blazing New Trails in Coworking Space for Women and Women Allies

Florida SBDC at Daytona State College Assists with Executive Roundtable Growth XChange Program and Consulting Support

September 30, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

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

Orlando, FL – Ask any small business owner or entrepreneur -regardless of their business’s size or industry- “Have you ever felt like you are ‘on your own’ while trying to manage everything?” and they will likely answer “Yes!” The cliche about it being “lonely at the top” is too often true. Jeannette Rodriguez, the CEO and founder of Vision & Heels, a female-forward co-working space located in the heart of downtown Deland, FL, was dealing just such aloneness as she worked to grow her business. She turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College (FSBDC at DSC), a service center of the FSBDC at UCF, for assistance by utilizing its no-cost, expert consulting and a new specialty program called Growth XChange.

Vision & Heels is a coworking space built for women and women allies. Its space offers opportunities for Central Florida to experience a new way of working together and connecting. Through its memberships and space, the company offers a range of amenities to help clients do their best work. “What makes Vision & Heels different is community,” Jeannette Rodriguez explains proudly. “We’re not just space. Yes, we have offices and conference rooms, but we are also truly a community. I don’t want an empty, cold space. I want a space where folks can come in, feel like their home, and connect with everyone here.”

Research has shown that one remedy for the isolation that can come with building and leading an organization is connecting with and collaborating with like-minded and like-positioned executives to share challenges, experiences, solutions, and more. To that end, and borrowing from the FSBDC at UCF’s award-winning CEO XChange, the FSBDC at Daytona State launched its Growth XChange, a roundtable program serving progressive business owners in Volusia County. Growth XChange provides a confidential setting to discuss vital business issues, opportunities, and trends with a group of peers designed to assist its members with managing the solitary nature inherent in leading an enterprise.

“I sought out the assistance of the FSBDC because I felt I needed, as a new business owner, to learn the ins and outs of owning a business and to know I wasn’t alone,” recalls Rodriguez. “All the feelings, all the fears that come with owning a business, from starting a business, from self-funding that business, I needed help in all aspects and being part of Growth XChange has allowed me to get that help. I have also had access to the FSBDC team, specifically Trecia Arrington, the FSBDC at DSC director and consultant,” shares Rodriguez. “She was able to make it comfortable for me and it’s been a great journey working with her.”

“I had the wonderful opportunity to start with the Growth XChange program from the very beginning,” Rodriguez continued. “I was able to get the support of the group and the services of the FSBDC that I needed to make the right decision, to make those marketing-spend decisions, to make those hiring decisions to continue to run my business while trying to expand. All of these services were provided by the FSBDC and they were amazing for me.”

“The FSBDC at DSC helped Vision & Heels grow to where we are today,” concludes Rodriguez, noting that, after only two years in business, the company has increased its available space by 100% and projected revenues have increased 50%. “In an area that was in decline, we are growing and we’re still growing and I have the FSBDC to thank for that.”

For information about Vision & Heels, please visit https://www.visionandheels.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

Florida SBDC at UCF

Florida SBDC at UCF Announces Third Annual Small Business Excellence Awards

Business Assistance Center Serving Central Florida to Recognize 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year and 2024 Start-Ups to Watch

September 17, 2024

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) announces its third annual Small Business Excellence Award program in celebration of the success, growth, business acumen, and community involvement of FSBDC at UCF clients across its 8-county region. New this year, in addition to honoring the nominees and winner of the FSBDC at UCF Entrepreneur of the Year award, the Center will recognize Start-Ups to Watch in Central Florida. This new category will highlight emerging and growing small businesses who are new to the Central Florida small business community.

The Small Business Excellence Awards Program honors local small business owners for their innovation, determination, and resilience as demonstrated in the growth of their business and by their contributions to their local communities. The FSBDC at UCF’s 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year nominees and award winner, as well Start-Ups to Watch, will be recognized at an invitation-only Awards Luncheon on November 14, 2024, at the Citrus Club in Orlando, FL. This event is sponsored by Orange County Government, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and SouthState Bank.

Nominations from across Central Florida will be 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. The 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year will be selected by the FSBDC at UCF’s Executive Board which is comprised of local small business leaders, educators, and stakeholders committed to supporting the FSBDC’s mission to help small businesses launch, grow, and thrive through expertise, resources, and advocacy.

“We are excited to shine a spotlight on our clients’ achievements through our Small Business Excellence Award program and to celebrate the nominees for the 2024 FSBDC at UCF Entrepreneur of the Year award,” shared Eunice Choi, FSBDC at UCF Regional Director. “Small businesses are the key drivers of our local economy, creating prosperity, generating jobs, and improving the quality of life in our communities. The companies and individuals we will honor deserve recognition for their important accomplishments in and contributions to the Central Florida economy and community. It is an honor to be able to celebrate them.”

— 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 offerings, 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

Sunbeam Mental Care

Sunbeam Mental Care Thriving Again

Florida SBDC at UCF – Osceola County Consulting and GROWTH XChange Program Assists Behavioral Health Practice

August 7, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

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

Orlando, FL – Entrepreneurs and small business owners often encounter a formidable sense of isolation that can stem from starting and leading a company. Whether as a start-up or while navigating through difficult times, too many try to handle everything alone thinking that they have no other choice if they are to realize their dreams and build the business they envision. For Stephanie Cruz, founder and owner of Sunbeam Mental Care, challenges were mounting in her behavior health, counseling, and consulting company but she found the guidance and support that she needed at the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) office in Osceola County, Fl.

Sunbeam Mental Care distinguishes itself by its unwavering attention to providing a ‘sunbeam’ of hope in the form of the highest and best possible quality care and service. “We really care about people, and we really care about serving the community,” explains Stephanie Cruz, “but most of all we care about focusing on achieving the individual goals of the children, adolescents and adults, as well as couples and families, that we support and treat.”

“Originally I sought assistance through the FSBDC because my strengths are all in counseling and therapy,” Cruz recalls. “I have a lot of knowledge and training on the clinical side, about how to work with and help clients. But the business side was where I really needed support. I was in a desperate moment about how to do things right for the growth and stability of the business. That’s when I reached out to the FSBDC and had the opportunity to participate in their amazing programs.”

“When I started the process of getting help through the FSBDC,” Cruz shares today, “I had a lot of support through my FSBDC consultant Rafael Pratts. He provided so many resources, so many ideas, so many options about how to do things better. It was really, really helpful and was not just business support but also human support that I needed at that time.”

Cruz admits that Sunbeam Mental Care was struggling when she first approached the FSBDC at UCF for its advice and consultation. Pratts assisted in mapping out a strategy for performing a successful turnaround by working with Cruz to develop a business and marketing plan, including methods for managing people, boosting morale, building a budget, and uncovering ways to save money. The results have been powerful; since beginning with the FSBDC, Cruz has hired 12 new employees, won a working capital business grant from the City of St. Cloud, and is growing once again.

The FSBDC’s support didn’t end there. Cruz currently participates in the FSBDC at UCF Osceola County’s GROWTH XChange which presents top executives 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.

“The Growth XChange has been a really, really good experience,” affirms Cruz, “learning from other people about their journey and their challenges and how they have been able to overcome them. It gives you the sense that you’re not the only one going through the struggles of business ownership. I have to confess that I felt lonely at times as a business owner even though I had a very good team. All of the pressures and all of the responsibility are on you. I’m really grateful that Rafael launched this initiative because the Growth XChange has been so encouraging and has given me the motivation to keep focused and keep building my business.”

For information about Sunbeam Mental Care, please visit www.sunbeammc.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 2022, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 117,750 hours of consulting to 14,758 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $446 million in capital, $445 million in government contracting, impacting 23,515 jobs, increasing sales by over $4.5 billion, and creating 825 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

Maple Street Inc

Maple Street, Inc.: A Small Business Success Story

Leveraging FSBDC at UCF Services, Support and Programs, Vendor Management Services Company Founders Achieve Lucrative Exit After Growing from Start-up to $20 Million

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Orlando, FL – Success in business often begins with a visionary idea and the relentless pursuit of excellence. For founder Michael Crofts and CEO Teresa Crofts of Maple Street, Inc., their journey from startup to industry leader exemplifies this entrepreneurial spirit. Today, they celebrate the profitable sale of Maple Street, marking a significant milestone and the completion of their 20-year history of growth and innovation.

Founded in 2003, Maple Street emerged as a pioneer in vendor management services, revolutionizing the industry with innovative solutions that not only ensured regulatory compliance but also optimized client expenses and enhanced vendor performance measurement. “We differentiated ourselves by focusing on service over software, providing unparalleled value to our clients,” explains Michael Crofts, reflecting on the company’s inception and strategic direction.

A pivotal moment for Maple Street came with the guidance of the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF). Recognizing the need for structured growth, the Crofts turned to the FSBDC’s consulting services which provided crucial insights and strategies. “The FSBDC’s advice was instrumental in our decision to expand our team and refine our operational focus,” noted Michael Crofts. “This strategic shift, including the decision to bring Teresa on board as my partner, marked a turning point for Maple Street.”

Under Teresa Crofts’ organizational prowess and Michael’s sales leadership, Maple Street’s annual revenues grew from $1 million to over $20 million through the course of a decade. Beyond benefiting from the FSBDC’s no-cost, expert consulting, the company’s success was further bolstered by ongoing FSBDC’s support including business education programs and participation in the Advisory Board Council (ABC). “The ABC program guided us through critical growth phases, instilling discipline in goal-setting and strategic planning,” remarked Teresa Crofts, emphasizing the program’s impact on Maple Street’s operational efficiency and market positioning.

Another key resource for the Crofts included the FSBDC’s CEO XChange program, which facilitated collaborative discussions with peers and executives facing similar challenges. “CEO XChange provided invaluable networking opportunities and strategic insights that enriched our decision-making process,” shared Michael Crofts, highlighting the program’s role in fostering continuous learning and innovation within Maple Street.

Through their determination, perseverance, wisdom and hard work, the Crofts created the success that Maple Street has become. A fact that was recognized when they were named the 2023 Florida SBDC at UCF Small Business Excellence Award Entrepreneurs of the Year, the FSBDC’s most prestigious and significant annual recognition.

With Maple Street’s growth trajectory firmly established, the Crofts began exploring strategic opportunities for the company’s future. The decision to sell Maple Street was met with careful consideration and strategic planning, culminating in a successful transaction in March 2024. “Navigating the sale process was a journey that reinforced the importance of perseverance and strategic alignment,” reflected Michael Crofts. “We are confident that Maple Street is in capable hands with Cornerstone Advisors, poised for continued success.”

Looking ahead, both Michael and Teresa Crofts express gratitude for the FSBDC’s unwavering support throughout their entrepreneurial journey. “The FSBDC provided us with the expertise and resources needed to navigate complex business challenges and achieve sustainable growth,” emphasized Teresa Crofts. “Their support and counsel were important contributors in transforming our entrepreneurial vision into a thriving $20 million enterprise.”

As they embark on new endeavors, the Crofts encourage fellow entrepreneurs to leverage FSBDC’s resources and expertise. “Working with the FSBDC was invaluable for us,” concludes Michael Crofts. “It enabled us to focus on strategic growth and innovation, laying a solid foundation for Maple Street’s success.”

— 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 2022, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 117,750 hours of consulting to 14,758 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $446 million in capital, $445 million in government contracting, impacting 23,515 jobs, increasing sales by over $4.5 billion, and creating 825 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

LTG Engineering & Planning

LTG, Inc.: Prepared for More and Bigger Projects Ahead

Transportation Engineering and Planning Leader Solidifies Its Future by Leveraging Learning from FSBDC at DSC’s CEO XChange Program

June 26, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

               Trecia Arrington, Sub-Center Director/Consultant, FSBDC at DSC, 386-506-3317 or Trecia.Arrington@daytonastate.edu

Orlando, FL – Entrepreneurs and small business owners tend to be an independent sort of breed. From the beginning, they choose to become their own bosses and that decision most often proves to be the right choice for themselves and for their businesses, especially early on. As a company grows in revenue and head count however, the decision-making process becomes more complex and the stakes become higher. Even as employees and managers come on board, a business owner soon learns that the adage that says ‘it’s lonely at the top’ can be a truism.

Having built his transportation engineering and planning consultancy into a highly successful company boasting over 22 years of service, Sans Lassiter, founder and president of LTG, Inc., formerly Lassiter Transportation Group, was contemplating his retirement and preparing his organization for the transition to new leadership. Rather than tackle this alone, he sought counsel from the Florida Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College (FSBDC at DSC), a sub-center of the Florida SBDC at the University of Central Florida, and its peer-to-peer executive roundtable coaching program for senior business leaders, the CEO XChange.

LTG, Inc. specializes in transportation planning, traffic engineering design, future roadway projection analysis, urban area modeling, and much more planning work of many types. Projects that the firm has worked on include Daytona International Speedway, I-95 at LPGA Boulevard Exchange, Tanger Outlet Mall, and Trader Joe’s Distribution Center to name just a few. “What I believe sets LTG apart is its strong belief in customer service,” explains Lassiter. “We typically get most of our work by word of mouth. We maintain our client base because we believe in doing quality work, providing it on time and within budget.”

Overseen by FSBDC at DSC sub-center director Trecia Arrington, the CEO XChange is a unique program designed to connect chief executives and cultivate their leadership of established, second stage companies. In monthly professionally facilitated sessions, members are empowered to broaden their business perspective and gain knowledge through collaborative thinking and problem-solving with the leaders of other non-competing companies from a diverse set of industries. “The thing that attracted me to the FSBDC’s CEO XChange program is the fact that it brought together some of the CEOs of good-sized firms in the area to discuss issues impacting them, their companies, and their company growth,” recalls Lassiter. “It provided me with a forum to ask questions and an opportunity to share what I’d learned through my years leading LTG.”

“It came about at a time in our company progression that was very important, “Lassiter continued. “I was in the midst of development of an ownership transition plan. What we were able to discuss with other members, as well as with some of the speakers brought in to speak to us at the CEO XChange, was very helpful in allowing me to crystalize what I was looking to do in terms of eventually retiring from my firm and yet making sure the company continued on successfully.”

“The relationships that you’re able to develop with other CEOs on a personal level were invaluable, “Lassiter affirms. “We were rewarded by finding out we’re not the only ones going through whatever issues we’re having and there may be a whole myriad of potential solutions that we can arrive at or make use of in bettering our companies. I think any firm would benefit from being a member of the FSBDC’s CEO XChange.”

For information about LTG, Inc., please visit https://lassitertransportation.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 2022, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 117,750 hours of consulting to 14,758 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $446 million in capital, $445 million in government contracting, impacting 23,515 jobs, increasing sales by over $4.5 billion, and creating 825 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

Airway Management

Turning It Around: Airway Management Gets Back on Track

Home Medical Equipment Company Returns to Profitability with Florida SBDC at UCF Assistance

June 17, 2024

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 – The ability of a small business to overcome adversity becomes the difference between success and failure in almost every case. There are times, however, when the market’s headwinds are so formidable that even the most resourceful and resilient business owner needs help. Such a time unfolded for Daniel Ramsaywack, owner and President of Airway Management, Inc., and he turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) for support.

Kissimmee-based Airway Management, Inc. is a home medical equipment company serving Central Florida and a leader in the delivery of professional healthcare products and services. It offers an extensive inventory of medical equipment, healthcare solutions, and supplies ranging from advanced respiratory care devices to mobility aids, all carefully selected for quality and reliability and delivered directly to the client’s doorstep – ensuring comfort, convenience, and peace of mind.

“Airway Management is unique and special because we provide individual service to our clients,” Ramsaywack says proudly. “When they call us, we pick up the phone. Even if it’s in the middle of the night, our therapists are there. Airway’s approach contrasts significantly with the big multinationals where calls go to a call center which then tries to reach someone in Florida which can be tough.”

Despite its strong business model, Airway Management found itself wrestling with difficult market conditions and a challenging insurance and Medicaid reimbursement environment. “I originally sought out assistance from the FSBDC because we were on a downward slide in sales and in margin,” recalls Ramsaywack ruefully. “We were losing money every month and it was not sustainable. We were going to go bankrupt. I needed to turn the company around and asked the FSBDC for help.

The Florida SBDC extended a full complement of resources to assist Ramsaywack. He participated in its award-winning Advisory Board Council (ABC) program, led by program manager Jill Kaufman. The ABC is a customized, no-cost board of experts providing advice to help businesses grow. The FSBDC acts as a matchmaker between established local businesses like Airway Management and area professionals who volunteer their expertise and are purposefully selected to address the specific needs of the FSBDC client.

The FSBDC’s services didn’t stop there. Ramsaywack took advantage of its no-cost consulting; its CEO XChange program, a peer-to-peer coaching group for growth-minded business leaders; and its Small Business Institute® program in which UCF graduate students work as consultants focused on defined projects under FSBDC supervision.

“The Advisory Board Council, in particular, helped me see a future for my business,” explains Ramsaywack. “It was like taking a microscope to my business to see where we were losing money, how we could mitigate those losses and turn it around. They did strategy analysis and financial projections. They reviewed the staff and our approach to human resources. They evaluated our marketing plan. They looked at so many aspects of our business and those insights helped me grow the business and turn it around.”

Significant credit goes to Danial Ramsaywack himself for his determination and willingness to be a change agent, especially through his lobbying efforts, relationship building, and service in various state level health care organizations that turned the tide for his industry on the insurance and Medicaid reimbursement front.

At the same time, he is vocal about his gratitude to the FSBDC. “Since working with the FSBDC, we have seen a growth in sales, cost reductions, improvement in gross margin and net income growth that is very positive for us,” Ramsaywack states. “We have helped people in our community as we have increased our employee base by one-third.  One of our proudest accomplishments is to have our patient count grow 300% over the last four years.”

“I’m just very grateful for the support of so many people at the FSBDC and elsewhere that helped make that all possible. For me, the FSBDC was Airway Management’s ICU (Intensive Care Unit). We needed emergency help, and we got it. For that I say, ‘Thank You’.”

For information about Airway Management, please visit www.airwaymanagement.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 2022, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 117,750 hours of consulting to 14,758 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $446 million in capital, $445 million in government contracting, impacting 23,515 jobs, increasing sales by over $4.5 billion, and creating 825 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