Success-Stories - Florida SBDC at the University of Central Florida

Blezoo

Owning a business is an expedition into the unknown. Markets will shift, surprises frequently emerge, and even the most capable leaders eventually confront the limits of what they know. The old adage “it’s lonely at the top” resonates for a reason—especially for second‑stage business owners navigating growth challenges and opportunities that only they can ultimately address.

This was true for Dean Caravelis, founder and CEO of Blezoo, a creative branded merchandise agency. When he needed a sounding board and a trusted community of peers, he turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) and its award‑winning executive roundtable program, the CEO XChange.

Founded in 2008, Blezoo built its reputation on creativity and experiential marketing. While the company specializes in the education, finance, and healthcare sectors, its clients vary in size and span a wide variety of industries, each requiring unique solutions and personalized attention to detail. Blezoo’s promotional products range from rubber ducks to engraved glassware to branded apparel, and the firm is especially known for its “Experience in a Box” kits. These custom collections of items such as hats, t‑shirts, and mugs are designed to bring a client’s brand to life and delight recipients. The company’s mission is simple: help customers engage, delight, and promote their brand in memorable ways.

Caravelis often says that “creativity takes you to different corners of the universe.” But creativity alone doesn’t answer tough business questions or provide the candid feedback a CEO needs. For that, he sought out the CEO XChange, the FSBDC’s facilitated peer‑to‑peer roundtable where high‑performing, non‑competing CEOs collaborate, problem‑solve, and strengthen their leadership.

“It’s been ten years since I first connected with the FSBDC and the CEO XChange,” Caravelis recalls. “I first joined because I was interested in community and the CEO XChange had an immediate impact on me. I was able to fulfill that need for community and at the same time I was able to get other benefits as well. It would be naïve to think that we, that anybody, knows it all. Just being in a room with other smart people, that’s fun as it is, but at the same time to be able to introduce issues or challenges or even opportunities that you’re seeing and be able to access that brain trust, I think is priceless.”

The structure and facilitation of the CEO XChange particularly stood out to Caravelis. “I look forward to the CEO XChange,” he shares. “Hal (Program Manager and FSBDC consultant Hal Thayer) facilitates the group in a way where I think everybody feels heard, everybody feels like they are a part of it and they’re contributing. It’s also fun to be able to celebrate the victories of other members and to support each other when someone’s going through a rough patch.”

For Caravelis, the value is both personal and professional. “For me, it’s important to be part of a community like that because sometimes it can be lonely being a business owner. I think living on an island is foolish. It’s a lot more fun when you have a community and the CEO XChange gives you that.”

For information about Blezoo, please visit https://blezoo.com/.

MC Aesthetics

Regardless of a company’s size or industry, growth requires capital. Milestones such as expanding facilities, adding equipment, and increasing staff demand funding, and cash flow from operations often falls short in financing such new developments. This was the case for Melissa Castro, founder and owner of MC Aesthetics Laser & Wellness Center (formerly MC Elite Aesthetics). In seeking additional capital to expand her business, she turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) and found the guidance and support she needed.

MC Aesthetics Laser & Wellness Center specializes in anti-aging services and offers high-quality skincare products, aesthetic injectables, medical weight loss programs, vitamin IV drips, and FDA‑approved PDO threads. As an experienced medical provider committed to helping clients meet all their aesthetic and wellness goals, Castro prioritizes medical-grade care in a modern, cutting-edge environment. “Our patients love coming to us because we provide a wide range of services,” she explains. “We’re able to combine science with a mixture of beauty and strive to provide high quality patient care with great results.”

When Castro decided to expand her practice, she connected with the FSBDC at UCF and began working closely with consultant Jairo Batista through the center’s no-cost, expert business consulting services. Together, they mapped out the steps needed to elevate her business. “I was able to see local resources that were able to assist me in obtaining a Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loan for small business growth,” she recalls. “Some of the resources provided to me by the FSBDC was assisting with my business plan, future growth plans, and connections with lenders.”

Working with the FSBDC proved invaluable to Castro. “My experience with the FSBDC was amazing,” Castro shares. “Jairo was very attentive to my needs. If I had any questions, he was always very knowledgeable and always available for me. I would say to future entrepreneurs to definitely look into the FSBDC as a resource. You would have an incredible team that’s able to guide you through the process. It is an amazing opportunity.”

With the SBA-guaranteed loan she secured—assisted by the FSBDC—Castro achieved the expansion she envisioned. “The changes I have seen since working with the FSBDC has been significant growth within my practice, especially by obtaining a new building – a commercial property where we are able to expand our services for patients and add new devices. I just want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone that assisted in the process of helping me grow my business,” she concludes.

For information about MC Aesthetics Laser & Wellness Center, please visit https://mceliteaesthetics.com/ .

EME’s Food Hall

The food service and hospitality industry often attracts culinary-minded entrepreneurs eager to be their own bosses and to share the food they love. Jamie Farnell is one such entrepreneur. With energy, creativity, and goodwill, he turned a novel restaurant concept into a thriving business in Clermont, FL: EME’s Food Hall & Commissary Kitchen. His journey, however, was not a solo effort. Alongside support from friends and family, Farnell turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) in Lake County for guidance.

EME’s Food Hall is distinctive a virtual food court and commissary kitchen serving multiple purposes under one roof. For the public, it offers a takeout-only food hall featuring multiple restaurant brands, including Beef Heads with smashburgers and chopped cheese, EME’s Chicken and Seafood, Spice Wings, and Fornaro Pizzeria. For food truck operators, caterers, and food manufacturers, the commissary kitchen provides professional-grade equipment and resources to prepare products and sustain their businesses.

Farnell takes particular pride in supporting fellow entrepreneurs. “The commissary side has been a very great blessing to our business because we’re meeting and guiding new entrepreneurs,” he explains. “We help them along the way with every process, whether it’s filing their LLC, acquiring their food permit, or getting their serve-safe certifications.” For Farnell, EME’s Food Hall is as much about giving back to the community as it is about serving great food.

When asked why he sought help from the FSBDC, Farnell reflects: “I was pretty much prepared with everything I needed. I had my business plan. I had my pitchbook. But I was lacking in certain areas, including my financials. I needed a little guidance. I reached out to the FSBDC and they had the resources for me. Not only did they help me with my financials, but they introduced me to disaster relief grants and helped me along the way to my SBA loan.”

The impact was immediate. “Since working with the FSBDC, I’ve seen a lot of improvements, economic changes, in my business,” Farnell continues. “For instance, we went through our books and found discrepancies. My food costs were off. I wasn’t really making any money. We went back, we came up with a game plan, and from there on we’ve been profitable.”

Central to Farnell’s success has been his collaboration with FSBDC consultant John Doramus. “My journey with the FSBDC has been great,” Farnell asserts. “Working with my FSBDC consultant John Doramus has been a great experience. He’s helped in every aspect — putting together my projections for the SBA loan, helping me access capital, providing business coaching, the list goes on and on. Anything I’ve ever imagined that I could ask from John and the FSBDC has been delivered. I would recommend to anyone that’s seeking any kind of help to come to the FSBDC.”

For information about EME’s Food Hal& Commissary Kitchen, please visit https://www.emesfoodhall.com/.

High Point Academy

Launching a business in a new community — especially one far from home — can challenge even the most seasoned entrepreneurs. Unfamiliar markets must be understood, new relationships must be built from scratch, funding must be secured, and a fresh team must be hired and onboarded. For Deilys and Daniel Calzadilla, the wife‑and‑husband owners of SCHOOL 499 Inc. d/b/a High Point Academy, a decade of success acquiring and revitalizing underperforming schools across eight South Florida locations didn’t guarantee confidence as they prepared to open a brand‑new school from the ground up in Ormond Beach, Florida. They knew they needed local insight and support, which led them to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF).

High Point Academy is a combined preschool, elementary, and middle school built on a distinctive educational philosophy. Blending the structure of traditional schooling with the child‑centered Montessori method, the Calzadillas emphasize hands‑on, self‑directed learning. “We favor a ‘learning through play’ model,” explains Deilys Calzadilla, “where activities are very real world and hands on. For example, in preschool, they are learning to measure and mix ingredients; in elementary school, they are doing woodworking with real tools in age‑appropriate developmental activities; and in middle school, they are running a business, including recording their own content and making commercials to sell products, all while calculating their profit margins, their break even and start up costs. So it is very real world, not just being sheltered and learning the basics.”

Despite their extensive experience, the Calzadillas encountered new challenges with their Ormond Beach project. “We are very experienced in this field,” shares Daniel Calzadilla. “We’ve been doing this for a long time and been very successful doing it. But High Point Academy in Ormond Beach is the very first school that we were starting from scratch. So we felt we needed help from the FSBDC in doing the business plan, putting the financials together, and connecting all the pieces so we can be successful.”

The couple began working with Margaret Incandela, the FSBDC’s Ormond Beach‑based consultant, and quickly tapped into the center’s no‑cost consulting, market research, and business training services. “Maggie came in and helped us produce a wonderful business plan, very in depth with a lot of information,” Daniel highlights. “She helped us with marketing numbers, projections, and knowing the community and its growth. It was an excellent business plan and, because of it, we succeeded.”

Incandela also played a key role in helping the Calzadillas secure the financing needed to launch the school. “The bank approved our loan and we moved forward with funding,” Daniel reports. “Thanks to Maggie and the FSBDC. I thought I was going to get a little bit of help but I got a lot of help. She was amazing. We highly recommend working with them; it exceeded our expectations.”

Reflecting on their experience, Daniel offers a single word to describe the FSBDC: “Power. The SBDC gave us so much power and support to our business plan and to our thinking, and they gave us ideas that made for stronger solutions. We learned so much and gained power as business owners to be more successful.”

For information about High Point Academy, please visit https://www.thehighpointacademy.com/ .

World Housing Solution

For entrepreneurs and small business owners, a strategic pivot can mean the difference between success and failure. But executing that pivot often requires expert guidance. Ron Ben-Zeev, founder and president of modular shelter manufacturer World Housing Solution, made just such a bold shift — from targeting the disaster relief market to supplying the U.S. Department of Defense. To capitalize on this new direction, he turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF), where he found the support he needed.

World Housing Solution was born in 2010 in response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti. The company developed durable, sustainable shelters designed for rapid deployment in disaster zones. Despite the need, the market wasn’t ready. “No one cared at the time,” Ben-Zeev recalls. “We were met with a lot of skepticism and a lot of the word ‘No’. Then the Department of Defense discovered us and we pivoted. The U.S. Navy challenged us to make the shelters bigger and allowed us to actually start selling our ideas and inventions.”

That pivot proved transformative. “The main differentiator between us and our competition is that we truly listen to our customers,” explains Ben-Zeev. “We live and die by the fact that no one cares about our solutions; they only care about their problems. What we’ve been able to do is intersect our capabilities, our solutions, with problems the Department of Defense is facing when deploying in remote or austere environments.”

Yet navigating government contracting was unfamiliar terrain—and notoriously complex. That’s when Ben-Zeev turned to the FSBDC and its government contracting affiliate, the Florida APEX Accelerator at UCF. “The FSBDC as a resource has become invaluable to us,” he says. “Working with the Department of Defense and the U.S. government is truly byzantine. It is a difficult process, filled with traps and issues and acronyms. The folks at the FSBDC have been absolutely amazing in guiding us through the maze of doing business with the government.”

The FSBDC’s support extended far beyond contracting. “The assistance that is provided by the FSBDC is just endless,” Ben-Zeev raves. “Every time I speak with folks in the office, I discover new ways and other things that they’re doing to help business flourish and thrive. For us particularly, it has been phenomenal in learning how do we market abroad? How do we improve our online presence? How do we leverage other smart people in the Orlando ecosystem?”

World Housing Solution also participated in the FSBDC’s award-winning Advisory Board Council program, which assembles a customized board of expert volunteers to advise and guide businesses over 18–24 months. In World Housing Solution’s case, the Board was comprised of volunteers with expertise in government business development, accounting, the law, finance and operations who helped Ben-Zeev explore those and other facets of his business and its strategic plan.

But for Ben-Zeev, the biggest win came from working with Steve South, manager of the Florida APEX Accelerator at UCF. “Thinking back about how Steve took the time to better understand what we do; how to narrow our NAICS Search codes, for example; how to be able to take those codes and target them through the APEX Accelerator so that, when opportunities arise out there, we get alerted as quickly as possible. Then, going back to Steve, and leveraging his know-how and his capabilities, to decide if we respond and how we respond, and then maximizing our ability to then win the bid or get in front of the right person. All of it has been extremely helpful to us overall and has been instrumental in the success of our company in Florida.”

For information about World Housing Solution, please visit https://worldhousingsolution.com/.

Era Group

Entrepreneurship can be daunting for anyone, including for those with a military career in their background. For many veterans, like Marine Denny Ying, the unfamiliar terrain of business ownership presents a steep learning curve and new challenges. Fortunately for Ying, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF), specifically its Sumter County office, was there to help him navigate the unknown.

Ying’s entrepreneurial journey began with the decision to buy a franchise. “Starting a business takes a lot of time and resources and, quite honestly, I just don’t have all the know-how and confidence you need,” he admits. That’s when he turned to the FSBDC and consultant Jamie Mead for guidance. Together, they evaluated 10 franchise opportunities through market research, franchise disclosure document analysis, and financial modeling. “We really looked hard at all the different options,” recalls Ying, “in terms of viability, cash flow, financing, and also market data. I appreciate how Jamie worked to understand my needs and really helped guide me along the way to come up with the decision I did.”

Ying ultimately invested in an ERA Group franchise, a global leader in cost management consulting. ERA Group supports middle-market businesses and nonprofits with cost intelligence and savings strategies. Its ‘No Win, No Fee’ model ensures its clients only pay when savings are realized, minimizing financial risk. “We are never the star of the show,” describes Ying. “We are the wingman helping companies look at areas where they do not have the time, resources, or expertise to focus. We help unlock hidden cash flow that can be directed to mission critical opportunities.”

ERA Group’s reputation speaks for itself, having earned the Global Franchise Awards’ titles of ‘Best Business & Professional Services Franchise 2025’ and ‘2025 Grand Champion.’ Ying is now building his business around delivering measurable value to clients, backed by the support and structure of a proven franchise system.

When reflecting on his experience with the FSBDC, Ying encouraged other entrepreneurs to take advantage of its services and resources. “What I would share with another entrepreneur who is thinking about engaging with the FSBDC is: there’s no cost! There’s no risk! Why would you not want to?” he explains. “Their entire engagement is really to help support you and put resources around you, whether it is their consulting, workshops, or financial modeling. This is your time and Jamie and the FSBDC are waiting to help you.”

Thanks to the FSBDC’s expert guidance, Ying has successfully launched his business and is confidently forging ahead in his new civilian career. With a strong foundation and a clear mission, he’s proving that with the right support, veterans can thrive as entrepreneurs, just as they did as warriors.

For information about ERA Group, please visit https://usc.eragroup.com/.

Living Well Health Center

Entrepreneurs often become so immersed in the daily operations of their businesses that they overlook valuable resources available to help them grow. That was the case for Dr. Richard Takanen, founder and owner of Living Well Health Center in St. Cloud, FL—until he connected with the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF).

Living Well Health Center is a comprehensive wellness practice best known for its expert chiropractic care led by Dr. Takanen. Its mission, “Helping You Reach Your Full Potential,” reflects a broad spectrum of services including massage therapy, acoustic shock wave treatment, regenerative medicine, medical weight loss, bioidentical hormone therapy, and IV therapies. “What makes us different is we have all kinds of treatments to get people feeling better,” explains Dr. Takanen. “If they come in for chiropractic but they’re not getting the results they want, we have all kinds of different therapies and modalities that help patients reach their full health potential.”

In 2024, a series of setbacks—including two hurricanes within three weeks—hit the business hard. “While we didn’t have physical damage to our office, it cratered and plummeted our patient numbers,” he recalls. “We missed out on almost an entire month’s worth of income.”

That’s when Dr. Takanen discovered the FSBDC wasn’t just for startups. “I really thought it was only for new businesses, but I couldn’t have been more wrong,” he admits. “They’re also there for established businesses. So I reached out to them.”

He began working with FSBDC consultant Maria Cevallos at the center’s new St. Cloud office. Together, they took a deep dive into the business’s operations. “She was very helpful,” says Dr. Takanen. “We broke down how my office runs, who our clientele is, and found where the flaws are in our business. Then we came up with solutions and a game plan to turn things around.”

One key insight was recognizing the practice’s evolution beyond chiropractic care. “We’re able to provide more services and help more people,” he says. “We were able to take some of our resources and some of our marketing to help target new clients instead of just focusing solely on chiropractic.”

With renewed clarity and strategic direction, Living Well Health Center rebounded stronger than ever. Dr. Takanen is now a vocal advocate for the FSBDC. “If I had to think of one word to describe the FSBDC, it would be ‘Helpful’,” he affirms. “They were helpful in so many ways to make our business not only recover from last year but for us to grow this year and have one of our best years on record.”

Protean BioDiagnostics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hounds Town Palm Coast – Bunnell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GAVASHA, Inc.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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