Florida SBDC at UCF Named 2025 Region of the Year
Celebrating a Legacy of Innovation, Impact, and Service to Central Florida’s Small Business Community
September 15, 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) has once again earned top honors, being named the Florida SBDC Network’s 2025 Region of the Year—a distinction it last claimed just two years ago.
The Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of small business assistance, recently honored outstanding staff, partners, and volunteers at its Annual Performance Excellence Awards Celebration. Presented August 18, the awards are the network’s highest honor, recognizing staff and partners for making a lasting impact on Florida’s small business community.
This recognition reflects the FSBDC at UCF’s remarkable economic impact across its eight-county Central Florida region, where its team of certified consultants delivered more than 17,800 hours of expert guidance to over 2,200 small businesses. As a result, in 2024, the region helped clients start 142 businesses, access over $57 million in capital, and obtain more than $161 million in government contracts. From helping entrepreneurs launch new ventures to securing millions in capital and winning government contracts, the center continues to strive to be a driving force behind Central Florida’s economic vitality.
But the accolades didn’t stop there.
The FSBDC at UCF also took home the Network’s prestigious Alan Cowart Pioneer Award for its groundbreaking CEO XChange program. Born from client demand for deeper and ongoing support, this advanced program fosters meaningful dialogue, strategic insight, and collaborative problem-solving—empowering CEOs to overcome challenges, refine their vision, and drive sustainable growth.
Volunteerism was also in the spotlight, with longtime advisor David Rosenfeld named Florida Volunteer of the Year. A CFO consultant expert in corporate finance and strategic planning, Rosenfeld has spent two decades mentoring local businesses through the FSBDC’s Advisory Board Council, leaving a notable mark on the region’s entrepreneurial landscape and on the companies he has advised.
Three FSBDC consultants were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their significant contributions. Hal Thayer and Margaret Incandela were recognized for helping small businesses access over $75 million and $50 million in funding, respectively. Jamie Mead earned distinctions for guiding more than 75 entrepreneurs through the journey of starting their own businesses.
The center’s commitment to education and mentorship was further celebrated with the Student Project (Graduate) of the Year Award, highlighting its role in shaping the next generation of business leaders.
In addition, and emblematic of their long-term commitment to the economic health and prosperity of Central Florida and the FSBDC at UCF’s mission to help small businesses launch, grow, and thrive through expertise, resources and advocacy, FSBDC at UCF team members were also recognized for their years of service: 15 Years: Theresa Davis, Hal Thayer; 10 Years: Jessica Ali, Michael Oppenheim; 5 Years: Jamie Mead, Jose Molfino, Sharon Smith.
“I’m incredibly proud of our team’s unwavering commitment to helping small businesses succeed and our communities grow,” shared Eunice Choi, Regional Director of the FSBDC at UCF. “These awards are a testament to the passion, innovation, and impact our staff and partners bring to the region every day.”
From pioneering programs to lifelong service, the FSBDC at UCF continues to set the standard for what it means to empower small businesses—and build a stronger Florida, one entrepreneur at a time.
— FSBDC —
About the FSBDC at UCF
Hosted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), and with its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of part of UCF’s Office of the President and the Florida SBDC Network.
The Florida SBDC at UCF provides aspiring and existing small businesses with no-cost consulting, low-cost training, and access to business data and research resources. In addition to its core service offering, the Florida SBDC at UCF also offers specialized services to qualifying companies, including capital access, market growth, government contracting, international trade, business continuation, cybersecurity, disaster planning and recovery, and more. The FSBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains 9 service centers across Central Florida.
In 2024, the FSBDC at UCF served 2,277 entrepreneurs in Central Florida with consulting services, resulting in more than 2,855 jobs impacted; $564.3 million in sales growth; $57.2 million in capital formation; $161.1 million in government contract awards; and 142 new businesses started. For more information, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com.
About the Florida SBDC Network
For nearly 50 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.
In 2024, the Florida SBDC Network delivered 107,812 hours of consulting to 15,474 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing $304 million in capital, $732 million in government contracting, impacting 19,800 jobs, increasing sales by over $3.8 billion, and creating 1,019 businesses.
With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. Full funding disclosure available at www.floridasbdc.org/funding-disclosures/.
The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.
FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
sbdc@ucf.edu | www.sbdcorlando.com
