FSBDC at UCF Congratulates Client Hernon Manufacturing For Receiving the President’s “E” Award for Exporting Excellence
Hernon Manufacturing Recognized Again as Industry Leader
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or hthayer@bus.ucf.edu
Orlando – Hernon Manufacturing, Inc., a longtime client of the Florida SBDC at the University of Central Florida, has received the nationally recognized President’s “E” Award, the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.
Exports continue to be a driver of the U.S. economy. And companies like Stanford-based Hernon are leading the way, seeing its exports grow by almost 100 percent, from 20 percent of its revenues to a projected 40 percent for 2015.
“Increasing U.S. Exports are critical to spurring economic growth and job creation,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penn Pritzker in a prepared statement when she made the award. “In 2014, U.S. exports hit an all –time high of $2.3 trillion, accounting for 13.4 percent of GDP. By exporting Made-in-America goods and services, U.S. businesses are growing faster, hiring more workers, and paying better wages.”
Hernon Manufacturing produces specialty chemicals in the U.S. and sells licenses to companies in over 40 countries around the globe to repackage and sell its product. The company points to understanding and respecting how local business cultures operate and to having a strong international workforce as sources of its international achievements.
The company also credits the Florida SBDC at UCF for some part of its exporting success. As part of the FSBDC’s International Trade Services, and in conjunction with Enterprise Florida and the U.S. Department of Commerce, the FSBDC produced an Export Marketing Plan for Hernon. “They helped us identify markets for potential business growth,” said Edgardo Rodriguez, director of sales and marketing at Hernon. The company then asked the U.S. Department of Commerce for assistance. “Their resources helped us identify customers in other countries,” Rodriguez stated.
The FSBDC at UCF’s Export Marketing Plan that Hernon benefited from assists qualified new-to-export manufacturers and service providers with overseas growth strategies through the development of customized Export Marketing Plans. Provided in partnership with Enterprise Florida and the U.S. Commercial Services, the Export Marketing Plan includes:
- a thorough readiness assessment;
- industry and market analysis with target market recommendations;
- a review of overseas trade opportunities; and
- an action plan that may include trade mission participation.
The 2015 President’s “E” Awards marks the 53rd anniversary of the award and this year honored 45 American companies and organizations, many of which are small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
— FSBDC —
About the FSBDC at UCF
With its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Florida SBDC at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) is part of the UCF Office of Research & Commercialization and the Florida SBDC Network (FSBDC Network). THE FSBDC at UCF provides business seminars and no-cost, one-on-one business consultation to emerging and established businesses. 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 2013, the FSBDC at UCF served more than 7,200 entrepreneurs and small business owners through consulting and training, resulting in 7,507 Central Florida jobs created, retained or saved; $1.0 billion in sales growth; $51.5 million in capital formation; $87.7 million in government contract awards; and 129 new businesses started.
About the FSBDC Network
The FSBDC at UCF is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide service network funded in part through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network is hosted by the University of West Florida and is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
For over 35 years, the FSBDC Network has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development organizations, dedicated to providing emerging and established business owners with management and technical assistance, enabling overall growth and increased profitability for the businesses and economic prosperity for the state. The FSBDC Network is a statewide service system of 41 centers with 60 outreach locations, including the FSBDC at UCF.
In 2013, the Florida SBDCs served over 34,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners through consulting and training, resulting in 39,536 jobs created, retained and saved; $5.5 billion in sales growth; $197.3 million in capital accessed; $602.2 million in government contract awards; and 685 new businesses started. And, for every $1 of Florida public and private sector investment in FSBDC programing, $35 was returned to the state in tax revenue
FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
