FSBDC, UCF, Business Consulting

SBDC at UCF’s Growth Acceleration Services Helps Local Companies Build and Manage Growth

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imageJune 20, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Orlando – With small businesses representing 98.9 percent of all employers and employing 42.3 percent of the private-sector workforce, according to the latest available data, it’s no wonder that the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) is charging ahead with the implementation of its Growth Acceleration services.

The Growth Acceleration services  offered by the SBDC at UCF help small- to medium-sized businesses create and retain jobs for Central Floridians. Funded with part of Florida’s $2.6 million under the federal Small Business Jobs Act, the program has helped multiple companies in eight Central Florida counties since it started in March 2011 and is currently accepting new applications for the program.

“The in-depth assessments and counseling provided by our Growth Acceleration consultants have helped small businesses seize opportunities that may not have been apparent to them,” said Eunice Choi, regional director for the SBDC at UCF. “These companies have been able to implement the strategies they’ve identified with the help of our Growth Acceleration consultants to increase the pace of their growth, which means much-needed jobs for our region.”

Most businesses in Florida have 500 or fewer employees, and most new employment growth is attributed to startups and small businesses, according to recent U.S. Census figures. More than 6.7 million people work in small businesses in Florida.
Through the program, companies develop sustainable growth strategies in key business areas, including marketing and business development, cash flow management, strategic planning, market/industry research, as well as capital access.  Consultants are certified business analysts who provide up to 100 hours of counseling to help companies in a variety of industries, including retail, construction, professional, scientific and technical services.

Qualifications for participating in the program are that a company must have a goal of growth; be in operation for at least three years; have annual revenues ranging from $500,000 to $10 million; and have five or more employees.

One company helped by the program is Maple Street, Inc., a Longwood, FL financial services company providing outsourced vendor management, contract negotiation and regulatory compliance oversight for financial institutions. Founder and President Michael Crofts met with a Growth Acceleration consultant from the SBDC at UCF who identified the firm’s strengths and weaknesses and assisted Crofts with developing a plan of action to guide future growth.

“We are fortunate to have a growing business, but the challenges that come with growth are sometimes enormous,“ remarked  Crofts. “Having terrific expert advice and counsel from the Small Business Development Center at UCF consultants has been tremendous for our business as well as a great opportunity to learn to run our company better. The consulting we have received from the SBDC at UCF through its Growth Acceleration Services has been incredibly helpful, having assisted us grow our business and create new jobs at a rapid pace.”

The SBDC at UCF’s Growth Acceleration services are part of a state-wide initiative of the Florida Small Business Development Center Network. The FSBDCN is a partnership program funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration and local and regional host partners, including Florida’s state universities and colleges.

For more information about Growth Acceleration services, contact SBDC at UCF Regional Director Eunice Choi at 407-420-4850 or echoi@bus.ucf.edu.

–UCF–

With its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center (formerly the Disney Entrepreneur Center) now located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) is part of the UCF College of Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, providing business seminars and no-cost, one-on-one business consultation to small business owners. The SBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains seven satellite service centers. In 2011, the SBDC at UCF helped entrepreneurs create or retain 1,517 jobs, win contract awards worth $28.9 million, acquire $17.7 million in capital formation, and increase sales by $51.9 million. The SBDC at UCF is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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

FSBDC, UCF, Business Consulting

Rock Solid: Concrete Contractor ConTech Construction Stronger Than Ever

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Benefits from SBDC at UCF’s Advisory Board Council Program

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Small Business Development Center at UCF
May 29, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Orlando, FL – Believing that “innovation and modifying your business to keep up with ever-changing realities” are keys to a company’s success, the founders of Contech Construction Alan and Joan Haughey took action on this belief when they sought the assistance of the Small Business Development Center at UCF’s Advisory Board Council (ABC) in 2007.  “For me, joining the Advisory Board Council was our first major step in the process of working on the business rather than in it,” said Mr. Haughey.  “We were so overwhelmed with the day-to-day operations that it was very difficult to focus on the strategic business changes that we needed to make to survive in a changing economy.  That’s why we sought out help from an advisory board at the SBDC.”

In classic entrepreneurial style, the Haugheys started ConTech Construction in 1993 in the living room of their Orlando home.  At its founding, the firm was a general contractor and concrete contractor that employed a staff of three.   Today, ConTech has offices in Winter Garden, employs a full time staff of 62, and Alan and Joan are joined in the business by their son Jeff.

ConTech’s success has come about in large part as a result of the solid reputation for integrity, collaboration and high performance that the Haugheys have built for the company. In fact, ConTech’s name is so esteemed in the industry that 92% of the firm’s work comes from repeat business and direct referrals.  Alan Haughey’s more than 35 years in the concrete industry has enabled him to establish many long term relationships with clients and industry-leading firms.  That, combined with the firm’s strong financial standing and bonding capacity of over $10 million, has enabled them to take on larger jobs.

ConTech’s projects can be seen all over the region including Winter Garden City Hall, Uptown UCF, SunTrust Plaza and an eight-inch thick ice floor at Amway Arena.   The firm has poured over 160,000 cubic yards of concrete ranging from theme park rides at Disney World to a nuclear power plant and boasts a 99.998% rate of accuracy.

ConTech has won many accolades for their work.  Their $6.5 million restoration of the Royal Floridian Resort in Ormond Beach earned them 2011 Project of the Year by the International Concrete Repair Institute.   The firm has also received the Eagle Award from the Associated Builders and Contractors for excellence in construction of Winter Garden City Hall.
Jill Kaufman, the SBDC at UCF’s ABC program manager, worked with ConTech and hand-picked a board of volunteer advisors for the firm comprised of professionals in the fields of finance, business development, human resources, succession planning and law who were willing to donate their time and energy to working on the board.  According to Haughey, “The people who were on the advisory board were absolutely expert in their fields and they encouraged us to look at everything we do rather than just operations.”

When ConTech experienced the impact of the recession and downturn in the construction market, they were prepared to make changes which enabled the firm to rebound.  “What we did was take the seeds that were planted from the board and we started making continual changes in the company based on insights we gleaned from those folks,” commented Mr. Haughey.   Some of the changes that grew out of the work with their advisory board include a rebranding effort, new lines of business and a new business focus.

Today, ConTech specializes in concrete restoration with a greater focus on hospitality industry projects and has rebranded itself as ConTech Restoration.   Existing structure renovation projects include condos, timeshares and parking structures. The company has also expanded their scope of work and now offers commercial painting and waterproofing.  From 2009 to 2011 ConTech added 49 jobs and realized a 63% increase in revenue.
Haughey encourages other business owners to also take proactive steps for their business.  “I would absolutely recommend the SBDC at UCF’s Advisory Board Council to other businesses,” remarked Mr. Haughey.  “An advisory board helps a business owner fast track changes in his business because the board members have ‘been there and done that’ and their advice allows the business owner to learn from their years of experience.”
Founded with the purpose of strengthening Central Florida’s economy, the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida conceived and developed the Advisory Board Council in 2003 to help small businesses reach the next level.    Funded by Orange County Government since the program’s inception to facilitate sustainable revenue and job growth, the Advisory Board Council provides established businesses with no-cost advisory boards comprised of area professionals who volunteer their expertise.

The ABC has found an extremely cost effective model to tap into community resources for the benefit of small businesses.  The program’s $100,000 annual budget is modest compared to the economic impact achieved by its participating companies.  The program has formed over 150 advisory boards for Orange County businesses, which have achieved $72.4 million of sales increase, 2,422 jobs created and retained, $15.0 million in capital formation and $62.3 million in government contracts obtained.

–UCF–

With its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center (formerly the Disney Entrepreneur Center) now located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) is part of the UCF College of Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, providing business seminars and no-cost, one-on-one business consultation to small business owners. The SBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains seven satellite service centers. In 2011, the SBDC at UCF helped entrepreneurs create or retain 1,517 jobs, win contract awards worth $28.9 million, acquire $17.7 million in capital formation, and increase sales by $51.9 million. The SBDC at UCF is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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