FSBDC, UCF, Business Consulting

SBDC at UCF Celebrates SBA’s National Small Business Award Winners

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Three SBDC at UCF Clients and a Partner Being Honored as SBA Award Winners

May 20, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Orlando, FL – In a salute to the small businesses of Central Florida and the nation that are so important to job creation and the country’s economic wellbeing – the veritable heroes of our economy—the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) is celebrating the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National Small Business Week (June 17 – 21) in advance with a luncheon and awards ceremony recognizing local SBA award winners and champions.

The SBDC at UCF’s National Small Business Week celebration will occur on Tuesday May 21st at the 2013 Small Business Awards Luncheon, an invitation-only event being held at the Citrus Club in downtown Orlando. Eunice Choi, Regional Director at the SBDC at UCF, is hosting the luncheon which will feature remarks by Veronica Wallace, Lender Relations Specialist, U.S. SBA, and who will present the following awards to local SBA awards recipients in attendance:

  • 2013 Small Business Person of the Year
    North Florida District Winner
    Andre Uribe, Power Grid Engineering, LLC, Winter Springs
  • 2013 Small Business Exporter of the Year
    Regional, State and North Florida District Winner
    Harry Arnon, Hernon Manufacturing, Inc., Sanford
  • 2013 Woman Owned Small Business Person of the Year
    State and North Florida District Winner
    Elizabeth Burch, Dignitas Technologies, Inc., Orlando
  • 2013 Small Business Financial Services Champion of the Year
    State and North Florida District Winner
    Christopher Hurn, Merchantile Capital Corporation, Orlando

“We at the SBDC at UCF are so proud that our valued clients have been honored for their accomplishments and success by the Small Business Administration as part of its Small Business Week,” remarked Eunice Choi of the SBDC at UCF. “Their diligence and perseverance, and resulting business success, is indeed worthy of this recognition. It is gratifying to the SBDC that we assisted them in their achievements in some small way.”

“It’s an honor to recognize these extremely talented small business leaders and champions for their inspiring entrepreneurial spirit,” said Michael Myhre, Interim State Director of the Florida SBDC Network. “These innovative risk takers play a key role in driving job creation and economic growth. We are pleased that the services and support provided to Florida’s small businesses by our SBDC professionals is acknowledged in such a tangible way.”
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of this signature event, National Small Business Week is proclaimed by the President of the United States to recognize the critical contributions of America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. Traditionally held in May, this year the week-long celebration is scheduled to run June 17-21 with events being held in multiple cities from coast-to-coast that are designed to help small businesses start, grow and succeed. The week’s events culminate in Washington, DC, where the national winner will be announced.
The SBDC at UCF’s celebration of the SBA’s 2013 National Small Business Week Award winners is not only a salute to small business leaders and partners, the heroes of our economy, but works to open doors to new business opportunities for those self-same small business heroes.

–UCF–

With its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) is part of the UCF College of Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, providing business seminars and no-cost, one-on-one business consultation to small business owners. The SBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains seven satellite service centers. In 2012, the SBDC at UCF helped entrepreneurs create or retain 2,350 jobs, win contract awards worth $104.6 million, acquire $50.5 million in capital formation, and increase sales by $95.1 million. The SBDC at UCF is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

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