Student Planning Takes Place in a Business Rather Than a Classroom
The SBDC at UNF assisted Coggin College of Business Instructor Diane Denslow with identifying small business case studies for her Small Business Counseling class.  The students logged more than 300 hours in the Spring semester, providing marketing and business planning assistance to two SBDC clients.
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Community Outreach: Initiatives for Expanding,
Supporting and Partnering

SBDC at UCF Co-Sponsors Workshop with Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (FMEP)
The SBDC at UCF and its PTAC program teamed-up with the Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership on January 23 to offer a one-day workshop entitled Innovative and Competitive Solutions for Manufacturers. The workshop was presented to increase focus on assistance to the manufacturing sector.

Outreach Through Chamber and City Reap Benefits
The SBDC at Brevard Community College (BCC) is working closely with the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Cocoa on planning and executing programs for small business during tough economic times.  Director Peake is serving on two education committees at the Chamber, and the Chamber is delivering a series called First Aid for Small Business. 

The SBDC at BCC held the first of a series of workshops in conjunction with the City of Cocoa Economic Development office in May. The workshop was entitled Expanding Business Through Technology.

SBDC at BCC Director Victoria Peake and Operations Coordinator Sandy Pfrimmer are serving on the Melbourne/Palm Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Council (WE).  The group delivered its first Woman of Excellence Dinner on May 29, 2008 with General Susan Helms of Patrick Air Force Base as the keynote speaker.

PTAC and Veteran Programs Reach Out to Train and Develop
The SBDC at BCC sponsored a workshop on Doing Business With Local Governments in conjunction with the Technological Research Development Authority/NASA Incubator and the FSBDC's Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Tony Espinosa, PTAC Specialist, lead the workshop.

The SBDC at the Central Florida Development Council ended the Veterans FastTrac New Venture program with a graduation ceremony held in the PCC/USF auditorium on May 6, 2008.  January Dennison, guest speaker for the evening, extended her congratulations and shared with the graduates her journey through the world of entrepreneurship.  Also in attendance were family, friends and co-workers of the new entrepreneurs.  The SBDC extended appreciation to Polk Works for sponsoring the 12-week program. 

The SBDC at USF partnered with the SBA, USF Purchasing Department, the State of Florida Office of Supplier Diversity and many prime contractors to the Federal government in order to present the PTAC 22nd Annual Government Conference in Tampa on May 7 and 8. > Eileen Rodriguez recognizes Raytheon as a Conference Sponsor

CBA Ted Kramer completed teaching a multi-week FastTrac New Venture entrepreneurship program, free for disabled veterans, at the SBDC at FAU's Fort Lauderdale Downtown Campus. Ted is certified by the Kauffman Foundation to deliver the program. SBDC Regional Director Nancy Young coordinated arrangements for the class, which had 16 participants. The program was offered in partnership with the Workforce Board in Ft. Lauderdale.

SBDC Partners with Bank of America for Programming
The SBDC at UNF hosted two Rural Financial Training seminars in St. Augustine and Palatka in partnership with Bank of America.

Dr. Sean Snaith provides keynote address at Economic Outlook for Small Business

The SBDC at UCF hosted a free breakfast and presentation, Economic Outlook for Small Business, on Thursday, January 24, to kick off its 7th Annual Strategic Tools Seminar Series. Sponsored by Orange County Government, the first-time event received tremendous response with over 170 registered attendees. The event featured remarks from Mayor Richard T. Crotty, Orange County Government, and Dean Thomas L. Keon, College of Business Administration at UCF, followed by a presentation from keynote speaker Sean Snaith, Ph.D., economist and director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at UCF. Snaith presented his recent economic forecast for the region, state and nation, as well as comments regarding how the current economy affects small business.

With the recent downturn in the nation’s economy, small business owners are faced with tough decisions when planning their company’s future. To address these economic issues, the SBDC at UCF added a workshop to its 7th Annual Strategic Seminar Series entitled Financial Management for Small Business. The workshop was presented to small business owners on Thursday, April 24, and featured guest speaker Shannon Brouillette, founder and president of CFO Strategic Partners. Brouillette presented the essential components of understanding a business’ financials and the all-important metrics for analysis.

Strategic Seminar Series Participants

Victoria Peake (left) and Speakers

On April 2, 2008, Mary Davis, author of The Entrepreneurial Mom, spoke to students and the community on entrepreneurship. The lecture was part of the BW Simpkins Business Series for  Entrepreneurial  Development. SBDC at BCC Director Victoria Peake is Vice-Chair of the series; she and Sandy Pfrimmer organized a Women in Business Roundtable following the lecture. The event was co-sponsored by the Melbourne/Palm Bay Area Chamber Women’s Council (WE). The BW Simpkins Business Series for Entrepreneurial Development outreach has been extended by a $1 million endowment by Mr. Bernard Simpkins to further the development of an entrepreneurial curriculum at BCC. BCC contracted Ms. Donna Duffy and  Ms. Tina Sterling to speak on their curriculum development experiences. BCC administrators, department chairs and community partners were invited.

CBAs Add Reality for USF Students
During the Spring semester, honors courses taught at the USF Tampa campus by SBDC at USF CBAs Daniel Scott and Mario Iezzoni were:

• Major Works/Issues in Entrepreneurship (Honors College)
• Honors Entrepreneurship (Honors College)
• Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management (College of Business)

SBDC CBA Kim Parrish taught the Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management (College of Business) class at the USF St. Petersburg campus.

The SBDC at USF has had success developing and improving the Entrepreneurship class at the USF COB. Many SBDC CBAs have been involved over several semesters and are now qualified to teach the class. Entrepreneurship is a popular class and fills quickly. The SBDC brings seasoned, street-wise business counselors, entrepreneurs and business professionals who regularly work with today's business owners to this three credit level-4 course. Students that will graduate soon are exposed to a world they will soon join. The SBDC's effort is a clear example of how CBAs and staff have 'inspired and created' and worked in conjunction with academics so that each continue with the strategic initiative of bringing the University into the community.

Creativity Training Opens Doors for SBDC
The SBDC at UNF continued to offer Grant Writing and Advanced Grant Writing training to area nonprofit organizations.  In April, Kevin Monahan traveled to Boca Raton to share his Nonprofit Counselor’s Handbook for Certified Business Analysts with CBAs at the SBDC at FAU.

The SBDC at UNF partnered with the UNF College of Computing, Engineering and Construction to host a workshop on SBIR/STTR programs.  The workshop was open to business owners, UNF faculty and students.

Nancy Boyle, Small Business Resource Network director at the SBDC at UNF, achieved certification to present the FranklinCovey® FOCUS: Achieving Your Highest Priorities and will be the designated statewide FSBDC presenter for the program.  Boyle is already certified to present the FranklinCovey® 7 Habits of Successful Business Managers program.

Certified Business Analyst (CBA) Carlos Cardenas, CBA and Procurement Specialist Jackie Rule, and CBA Maggie Gunther from the SBDC at FAU attended the Ed Jones Train-the-Trainer program held in Lake Mary in late April to enhance their training skills. Carlos, Jackie and Maggie are pictured with Dan Telep from the SBDC at FGCU (second from right). SBDC training coordinators Aloha Balza, Jeanne Cimillo and CBAs Parbatee Chang and Rafael Cruz attended a previous session of the training in February.

L-R: Carlos Cardenas, Jackie Rule, Dan Telep and Maggie Gunther

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Diversity Through Collaboration

SBDC at BCC Director Victoria Peake continues to serve on the BCC’s Procurement Diversity Advisory Group. Both Victoria Peake and Sandy Pfrimmer are active in the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Brevard Small Business Assistance Council.

The SBDC at USF continues to collaborate with the Florida Minority Supplier Development Council on the on-site certification committee. SBDC CBAs in the Tampa, Venice, Lakeland and Avon Park offices conduct FMSDC on-site visits to small minority-owned businesses for their MBE certification.

The SBDC at USF had a booth display at the University of Florida Supplier Diversity Conference held on March 26 in Gainesville.

On Monday, May 5, SBDC at FAU training coordinator Aloha Balza and CBA Camilo Lopez participated in a free training event, Zero to a Million: From Breaking Even to Breaking Records, co-sponsored by the City of Miami, the Economic Community Partnership and the SBDC. The event was held in Miami at Jungle Island. Aloha assisted with organizing the event and Camilo was a speaker at one of the breakout sessions, Mercadeo Efectivo De Su Negocio (Effective Marketing for Your Business).

The SBDC at UNF participated in a grand opening for client DAK Resources in Jacksonville. Co-owner David Moorefield, a disabled veteran, participated in the SBDC's FastTrac for Veterans program in the fall of 2007. > Cathy Hagan, David Moorefield, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, and Kathy Shoff (DAK co-owner).

L-R: Eileen Rodriguez, Senator Nelson, Don Kramer, Eunice Choi, & Victoria and Tom Peake L-R: Dr. Lloyd Fernald, Victoria Peake, Congressman Feeney, Eunice Choi, Don Kramer and Tom Peake

The Florida SBDC Network State Director Jerry Cartwright and Assistant Director Katherine Hoelscher traveled to Washington D.C., along with several SBDC Regional Directors, for the 2008 Capitol Briefings on the Hill April 16. The group walked the Capitol halls and met with the Congressional Delegation and their staff to brief them on the current federal funding status. SBDC at BCC Director Victoria Peake joined the 2008 Florida Small Business Person of the Year, Don Kramer, Owner of One Senior Place and client of the SBDC at BCC., and SBDC at UCF’s Regional Director Eunice Choi. Other SBDC Directors and advocates that attended included Eileen Rodriguez, SBDC at USF; Janice Donaldson, SBDC at UNF; Dr. Philip Geist, SBDC at UNF; Dr. Lloyd Fernald, member of the FSBDCN Statewide Advisory Board;

The SBDC at BCC was a sponsor of the Founders Forum March meeting on Business Planning. Three area businesses spoke to the issue of planning in this challenging economy.

SBDC at BCC Director Victoria Peake was named by Space Coast Business Media Group as one of the most influential business leaders in Brevard County.

The SBDC at USF partnered with Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart to offer a How To Do Business with Wal-Mart seminar on April 8. Purchasing agents from Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club's Florida and corporate offices participated. Over 85 business owners attended the event.

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The SBDC at USF began offering a free International Trade Basics course on May 27. The course will be offered monthly through the center.

SBDC at FAU CBA Nancy Orozco spoke on a panel at the U.S. SBA's Growing Global Symposium where the Secretary of the Department of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez and SBA Administrator Steve Preston were featured.

The SBDC at UNF co-sponsored the International Trade Certificate Program: Exporting. < Program Participants

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Excellence in Achievements, Improvements and Contributions

Two SBDC at UCF Nominations Win Big at 2008 U.S. SBA Awards
Two Central Florida entrepreneurs nominated by the SBDC at UCF were honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration for their small business community efforts. Don Kramer, owner and president of One Senior Place, was selected as the 2008 Florida Small Business Person of the Year. Kramer is a long-time client of the SBDC at BCC and was nominated for the award by SBDC Director Vicky Peake. C. Russell Slappey, managing partner of Nperspective, LLC, was selected as the 2008 Financial Services Champion of the Year for the Southeastern United States. Slappey is a volunteer with the SBDC at UCF’s Advisory Board Council program and was nominated by Jill Kaufman, assistant director at the SBDC.

Gil Colon presents award to Don Kramer

The SBDC at BCC nominated Don Kramer of One Senior Place as the Florida Small Business Person of the Year. Don captured the award and, on April 29, 2008, Brevardians gathered to honor him. Gil Colon, Deputy District Director of the SBA South District Office in Miami, presented Don with the award. Gil and Tom Gallman, SBA South District Area Manager and SBDC Project Manager, also presented Victoria Peake an SBA award of appreciation.

SBDC at BCC Small Business Week Breakfast SBDC at BCC Volunteers recognized at Breakfast

Victoria Peake receives award

SBDC Encourages Professional Development for Staff
The SBDC at UNF continues to encourage professional development and quality improvement for its staff.  Eight staff members attended the Ed Jones Train-The-Trainer program. SBDC CBAs Cathy Hagan and Dr. Philip Geist completed NIMS online training in Disaster Management which is required to participate in their respective Emergency Operations Management Centers.

The SBDC at USF participated in USF’s COB strategic planning retreat on April 25, 2008.  All SBDC personnel were asked to answer a questionnaire giving the COB needed input on overall strategic operations.

The SBDC at FAU, as a whole, successfully completed an ISO 9001:2000 Surveillance Audit in the month of April with no findings-a great accomplishment!
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