Page One Consulting CEO Sheryl Page Named 2017 SBA Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year

Capitalizes on Growth Challenges with Assistance from the FSBDC at UCF

Friday May12, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Orlando, FL –    The “great recession” had a devastating impact on the construction industry and businesses like Page One Consulting, Inc. (POC) that serve the industry.

An engineering consulting firm, Page One specializes in providing construction inspection and testing services as well as owner’s representative services, primarily to State and local government agencies. The company provides services to an array of distinguished clients that include the Florida Department of Transportation, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, and Florida Turnpike as well as several government agencies in Central Florida including Orange County Public Schools.

Under the dedicated leadership of Founder/Owner/CEO Sheryl Page, during the recession and since then the company committed itself to maintaining long-standing customer relationships, new business development and superior service delivery during the difficult years. The company invested much of its net worth in keeping as many of the core employees on payroll and maintaining relationships with those lost through attrition. These steps served to position the company for optimum participation in the eventual economic recovery.

It is based on the remarkable success she and her company have achieved in the face of these and general market challenges, combined with extensive and significant personal and company contributions to the community, that have earned her recognition as the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 2017 Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Florida and the SBA’s North Florida District.

In 2012, Ms. Page set about to drive POC’s growth and began working with consultant Roger Greenwald of the Florida SBDC at UCF. As part of the FSBDC’s Growth Acceleration Services, an evaluation of many sides of the business was conducted, including cash flow budgeting and management, marketing communications, organizational structure and capital requirements and access, followed by taking the necessary steps to optimize performance in each of these areas.

Significant dividends began to appear in 2013 from the work Page One Consulting and the FSBDC had undertaken with sales growing 32% over the prior year. And the momentum has continued. Under Ms. Page’s leadership the company has grown from $2.3 million in sales with less than 30 employees in 2013 to sales of $6.2 million and 60 employees at the close of fiscal year 2016. These results equate to a remarkable revenue growth rate of 162% from 2013 to 2016.

One of Page One Consultant’s 2016 business highlights is its winning a prime consultant role as the Owners Authorized representative on the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s 1.8 billion South Terminal-C Phase I project. Other noteworthy projects underway at POC are work on the I-4 Ultimate roadway reconstruction, the Wekiva Parkway roadway extension, building of the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center.

Among many community service activities, Page One has partnered with Career Source of Central Florida to train, certify and hire nine (9) unemployed or under-employed local individuals into full-time skilled positions with the company.

In Ms. Page’s own words, “We are fortunate to have a growing business, but the challenges that come with growth are sometimes enormous. It is so nice to have someone who understands what small businesses are going through. Roger Greenwald with the FSBDC at UCF is that special person who understands the dynamics of growth and how to handle them. There are so many issues that arise daily; it’s nice to know someone who has been there and can provide suggestions on how to put them in perspective and handle them.”

— 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 2015, the FSBDC at UCF served almost 7,000 entrepreneurs in Central Florida through consulting and training, resulting in more than 7,300 jobs created, retained or saved; $990 million in sales growth; $74.4 million in capital formation; $101.7 million in government contract awards; and 111 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 2015, the Florida SBDCs served almost 45,500 entrepreneurs and small business owners through consulting and training, resulting in 217,849 jobs created, retained or saved; $29.3 billion in sales growth; $947.4 million in capital accessed; $2.1 billion in government contract awards; and 3,857 new businesses started.

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