FSBDC at UCF Consultants Earn Economic Development Certification
Adds to Capabilities to Help Business Grow and Succeed.
March 8, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, FSBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or hthayer@ucf.edu
Orlando – On January 29, 2016 , Hunt Dawkins, Associate Director, and Rafael E.M. Pratts, Area Manager for Kissimmee/Osceola County, both consultants at the Florida SBDC at UCF, received certification as Economic Development Finance Professionals with emphasis in Business Credit Analysis (EDFP-BCA) from the National Development Council (NDC).
The EDFP-BCA Certification is a designation given to individuals who successfully pass a comprehensive written examination after completing an intensive economic development finance training series that is conducted by the National Development Council (NDC). The courses provide individuals working in the field of economic development with training in credit analysis, loan packaging, deal structuring and negotiating and the creation and implementation of development programs.
Dawkins and Pratts are consultants at the FSBDC, working with clients daily to help their businesses grow and succeed. This certification augments their already rich business knowledge and experience, and will be invaluable as they assist Central Florida entrepreneurs and business owners who are working to build and grow their businesses.
Hunt Dawkins joined the FSBDC at UCF as the Associate Director in 2013 after a 30 year career in commercial banking where he gained extensive experience in business lending, sales leadership, training, human resources and operations. He has specialized in retail, commercial and small business development and client relationship management most recently at Hancock Bank as Senior Vice President, Regional Retail Banking Manager. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President, Regional Retail Banking Executive at Colonial Bank where directed regional and retail banking initiatives, including business banking, across 11 counties and 62 branch locations in Central Florida. He also held executive commercial lending positions at Suntrust Bank and Southtrust Bank. Hunt earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida and is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University. Hunt has actively served his community through organizations such as Rotary, The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Heart of Florida United Way, Boys & Girls Clubs of Seminole County, and Leadership Seminole.
Mr. Pratts joined the FSBDC at UCF after an extensive career in business-to-business marketing management, business analysis and development, digital marketing, market research, marketing strategy, and international business, most recently served as a marketing executive at Control Micro Systems in Winter Park, FL. In addition, he has been an educator and course director at Full Sail University and a member of the adjunct business faculty at Polytechnic University specializing in information technology and management. Pratts earned a BBA in International Business from Florida International University and a MBA in Marketing from Regent University. He holds additional professional certifications: Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) and Certified Business Consutlant. Lastly, he is a proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran and recipient of the Good Conduct and National Defense Service Medals.
The New York based National Development Council was established in 1972 and is a private non-profit corporation, which specializes, in economic/housing development training and technical assistance for economic/housing development. NDC has provided training to approximately 50,000 development people working in the field of economic and housing development. Participants come from many diverse groups: city and state governments, public agencies, community-based organizations, professional organizations, bankers, etc.
— 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 2014, the FSBDC at UCF served more than 8,200 entrepreneurs and small business owners through consulting and training, resulting in 12,387 Central Florida jobs created, retained or saved; $1.70 billion in sales growth; $26.1 million in capital formation; $39.7 million in government contract awards; and 105 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 2014, the Florida SBDCs served almost 30,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners through consulting and training, resulting in 42,644 jobs created, retained or saved; $5.8 billion in sales growth; $142.5 million in capital accessed; $210.2 million in government contract awards; and 486 new businesses started.
FSBDC at UCF | 3201 E. Colonial Drive | Orlando, FL 32801 | p 407.420.4850 | f 407.420.4862
