• In conjunction with Brevard Community College's Institute for Business and Industry and Community Education's Super Summer program, the BCC SBDC offered a Young Entrepreneurship program this summer. Students ages 12-15 are working with local small business owner, Greg Jones, of Castalia Consulting. The students are meeting in a state-of-the art computer lab and are learning research techniques for business planning. Instructor Jones is a former research director and new industry recruitment director for The Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast.
• USF SBDC MBA student, Daniel Scott, has been continuing his work and research on measurements of our marketing and outreach efforts. Jane Bunch, Advertising Counselor, met with students to educate them about our services.
• Camp Entrepreneur® Jacksonville was held in June. Fourteen campers, high-school students ages 13-17, graduated from the program. The UNF SBDC assisted in the planning, organization, administration and presentation of the week-long camp. The campers completed the week by presenting their business ideas and business plans to a panel of experts. The camp was co-sponsored by the Women Business Owners of North Florida organization and was funded by private foundation donations.
• The FGCU SBDC once again teamed up with Alliance Financial Group of Ft. Myers and the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America to sponsor An Income of Her Own™, an entrepreneurship conference informally known as ‘Girls Going Places’. Eighty-eight girls from ages 12-16 participated in the conference, which is designed to encourage girls to take control of their financial future at an early age by broadening their understanding of the business world, creating an awareness of career options in non-traditional fields, and highlighting the advantages of financial independence. After spending the morning meeting with women business owners, the girls did a creativity exercise called “Product in a Box” in which smaller groups worked together to make a commercial product out of a variety of items in a box.
• Two new student assistants were hired at the FAU SBDC during the quarter. One student is involved in the preparation for ISO registration and the other is involved in seminar coordination at Office Depot locations. With three new locations offering three seminars per week, the additional workload requires considerable coordination and provides students with opportunities to gain valuable experience. One student works 24 hours per week and the other works 20 hours. The student helping to coordinate the Office Depot seminars, Rizmeer Rizak, is president of the student chapter of the American Marketing Association and a student government senator. The other student, Yasser Khan, has two bachelor's degrees in business and is working on a third.
• The FAU SBDC offered an entrepreneurship program for the Nova Southeastern School of Pharmacy focused on the SBA Loan process. The 25 pharmacy students who attended and their Director, Kathy Harrington, were very impressed and asked the SBDC to provide more programs next year.
  
  

• UNF SBDC Director Janice Williams Donaldson joined the Board of Core City Incubators Inc. and is actively involved in tenant recruitment and selection for the organization's first incubator, the Beaver Street Enterprise Center.
• The Navy's Fleet & Industrial Supply Center held its third annual "Acquisition, Logistics & Reform Conference," in April at UNF. The UNF SBDC played an active role in organizing the conference and in handling registration for the event. More than 400 participated.
• The UNF SBDC also played an active role in planning and conducting the "Government & Corporate Procurement Opportunities" conference held in June. More than 400 participated. Janice Williams Donaldson led a workshop on B2B Marketing, and members of the UNF SBDC staff manned the display booth.
• Philip Geist, Regional Manager of the UNF SBDC's Ocala Office, represented the UNF SBDC in a new coalition of economic development providers who are investigating creation of a mixed-use business incubator in Ocala. Due-diligence visits were made to incubators in Sanford and Jacksonville. Janice Williams Donaldson and Tanya Hall made presentations during the Jacksonville visit, at the Technology Enterprise Center and at the Small Business Center.
  
• Brevard Community College SBDC Director Victoria Peake served on a community task force coordinated by the Technological Research and Development Authority to determine the feasibility of a mixed-used incubator in the Melbourne Area.
• Victoria Peake, BCC SBDC Director, attended the grand opening of the Cocoa Enterprise Center and made BCC SBDC collaterals available to the Central Florida Community Development Corporation.
• USF SBDC staff attended the grand opening of the USF Area Community Center, which provides social services to residents of an economically "distressed" area known as "Suitcase City". The SBDC committed to helping the Community Center as soon as they are ready to start an entrepreneurial program. The SBDC has also started conducting seminars at the Hillsborough County Small Business Information Center. The seminars have been very well attended.
• FAU SBDC Director Nancy Young presented a proposal to the City of Lauderhill outlining a scope of services that could be provided to Lauderhill constituents. The proposal was approved by the City Commission with a start date of October 1, 2002. This is an exciting opportunity for the SBDC to reach out to a community comprised of many residents native to the Caribbean. Lauderhill is also expecting to construct a world-class cricket stadium that will attract a great deal of economic development activity, with which the SBDC can be involved.
• In northern Palm Beach County there are two Chambers which the FAU SBDC has worked for many years and are located within five miles of the Office Depot store where the SBDC delivers three seminars per week. In cooperation with Chamber executives and the Office Depot Store Manager, the SBDC created two monthly events called "Chamber Days", where one monthly evening seminar is promoted to Chamber members. On an alternative day per month, Chamber members are permitted to exhibit their goods and services in the Office Depot classroom as a mini-expo.
  

• The USF SBDC is actively involved in the Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week) planning committee, which will celebrate that event in September. The SBDC will conduct a Starting a Business seminar in Spanish.
• FAU SBDC Certified Business Analyst Rafael Cruz attended the Puerto Rican Chamber of Broward Board of Director's meeting to discuss the future activities of the Chamber in the areas of economic development and services to the small business community.
• FAU SBDC Certified Business Analyst Ruby Ortiz visited the Centro Cultural Español (Spanish Cultural Center) on June 14, 2002, where she met with the Director, Guillermo Basso. During the meeting she reviewed the SBDC services that are offered to the Miami-Dade County business community, which are available in both English and Spanish. He was given written information about the SBDC, and will be referring business people to the SBDC's programs.
• FAU SBDC Director Nancy Young met with the Director of the Broward County Main Library where the SBDC oversees the Bank of America Small Business Resource Center. Nancy was asked if the SBDC could provide counseling and training services at the newly built African American Cultural Center and Library in the Sistrunk area of Broward County, and she suggested the possibility of locating a part-time CBA on-site if a full-time office could be dedicated to the SBDC. Approximately one month after that conversation, Nancy was informed that an office would be made available to the SBDC in this new facility, and the space should be operational by October 2002.
• The Festival Plaza office staff continued to increase assistance to the minority business community by offering a Spanish version of the core classes offered in English. During this quarter, eleven classes were presented in Spanish, bringing in 164 attendees who rated the classes as excellent.
  
• Cathy Hagan, UNF SBDC Area Director and Certified Business Analyst, served on the panel of judges for the annual Women Business Owners of North Florida "Entrepreneur of the Year" awards. Janice Donaldson presented the WBO Service Award to an outstanding WBO member at the awards program.
• UNF SBDC Certified Business Analyst Tanya Hall serves on the First Coast Business Alliance Inc. Board as Secretary. This group is responsible for planning Minority Enterprise Development Week activities in Jacksonville this fall.

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• Tim Ledvina continued visits to key decision makers in Alachua, Gilchrist and Dixie counties and has established new circuit rides to Alachua, High Springs, Trenton, Cross City, Hawthorne, Live Oak. Newberry and Archer. The UNF SBDC now operates 18 circuit rides in rural locations across its 17-county service area. Mr. Ledvina also met with Philip Geist, Regional Manager of the UNF SBDC's Ocala Office, and government leaders in Archer about a possible new incubator facility there.
• The USF SBDC Marketing and Public Relations Manager has been meeting regularly with area reporters to raise awareness of the SBDC's diverse programs and expertise.
• FAU SBDC Certified Business Analyst Carole Hart visited Belle Glade in western Palm Beach County in April and made a presentation to 27 business owners, as well as the South Florida Water Management District and the Army Corp of Engineers regarding the 8(a) Certification Program. The Workforce Development Board of Palm Beach helped to sponsor the meeting and asked that the SBDC have an additional session for those who wanted one-on-one assistance with the certification process. A second meeting was held in May.

• Brevard Community College's SBDC partnered with the Miami District SBA to bring the July 23, 2002 workshop on Marketing SBA Certifications. Presentations were given on 8(a), SDB and HUBZone, Mentor Protege, Bonding and Financial Assistance, PTAC, NASA/KSC Small Business Assistance Team. GENESIS VII and DYNACS Corporation were featured success story.

• The UNF SBDC sponsored its 10th Annual Small Business Week awards program on May 8th. The program featured presentation of seven SBA Small Business Week awards to North Florida District winners, four awards to State of Florida winners and one award to a Regional winner. All of the winners were nominated by the UNF SBDC. Award winners were also honored at a pre-event reception on May 7th, sponsored by CEO Service Bureau. More than 200 attendees participated.
• The UNF College of Business Administration recognized former Regional Director Lowell Salter's contributions to the faculty of the College by presenting him with the Prime F. Osborn III Distinguished Professor Award. Janice Williams Donaldson, current Regional Director, introduced Dr. Salter and spoke of his accomplishments.
• The FAMU SBDC Director appeared on two television programs and two radio programs that promoted increased awareness of the SBDC and small businesses in general. These program were centered around the 19th Annual Small Business Week activities.
• FAMU Certified Business Analyst Janet Starks isan active participant in the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Women's Forum.
• USF SBDC Certified Business Analyst Kim Lee, who works in an outlying office the USF SBDC has supported in conjunction with Hillsborough County's Small Business Information Center, has taught several free classes to help raise awareness about SBDC services in the eastern part of the county.
• The USF SBDC Marketing and Public Relations Manager ensures that USF SBDC materials are highly visible at area libraries and conferences. She has partnered with the IRS public relations efforts to cross market services. That also applies to some University classes and seminars. She has contacted TECO regularly to keep their small business arm aware of SBDC programs and offerings.
• In July, the Fort Myers news-press.com ran an article highlighting the many business outreach programs and services that are available through the Florida Gulf Coast University, College of Business, Center for Leadership and Innovation. Included in the article was information about the services provided to small businesses by the FGCU SBDC.
• The FAU SBDC web site (www.fausbdc.com) draws an average of 30 Internet registrations per day--an increase of 100% over last quarter. The web site address is being added to paid advertisements and all promotional materials and, as a result, is becoming a primary source of business for the SBDC. In addition to the web site registration process the toll free number, 1-800-801-6520, continues to receive a steady stream of information inquiries and seminar registration calls.
• A staff writer from the City of Fort Lauderdale magazine, In-Focus, interviewed FAU SBDC Certified Business Analyst Ondria Merriweather-Brown. The article focused on the support of the SBDC to South Florida small businesses and procurement opportunities available for small businesses.
• Nancy Orozco, Acting Assistant Director of the FAU SBDC Festival Plaza Office in Miami, was interviewed by Alicia Gonzalez of Spanish speaking Radio Paz during the "Comunidad en Accion" (Community in Action) radio talk show. During the program, Nancy had the opportunity to present information about the SBDC, its services and training events, and answer questions posed by the listening audience. Nancy also was interviewed by a reporter from the Miami-Dade Calle Ocho newspaper. The result was a half-page article titled "A Small Business Can be Undertaken in Miami," which was published in the "Agencies" section of the newspaper in June. The newspaper also included a large picture of Nancy, taken in her office.
• The number one Spanish television station, TeleMundo, re-aired two interviews of Nancy Orozco, Acting Assistant Director of the FAU SBDC Festival Plaza Office in Miami, and FAU SBDC Certified Business Analyst Miguel Nieves. The first interview provided information about SBDC services and the second interview highlighted the small business financing services available free through the FAU SBDC. There were many inquiries following the broadcasts, resulting in additional seminar attendees and counseling sessions.
  

• The Miami Dade County Public Library System continued to provide space to the Festival Plaza SBDC for free seminars conducted each month. During the second quarter of this year three additional libraries in different areas of the county were used to teach FAU SBDC classes with different business topics.
• The FAMU SBDC is working with the Taylor County Chamber of Commerce to establish an Outreach Center.
• In partnership with the Department of Labor and USF/Safety Florida, the USF SBDC has planned a seminar to disseminate information on the new OSHA record-keeping regulations. This regulation will affect businesses with ten or more employees. The seminar will take place August 1, 2002.
• Alachua County has approved a contract to fund the UNF SBDC in Gainesville from occupational tax proceeds. The first release of $7,800 (10.4% of initial $75,000 distribution to economic development agencies) is expected any day.
• UNF SBDC (Ocala Office) Regional Manager Philip Geist has made several presentations to subcommittees of the Workforce Board for Alachua/Bradford counties to propose activities to be funded under an $80,000 annual contract. A full Board presentation is expected next quarter.

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• The USF SBDC has three non-counselors on staff currently enrolled in the FSBDC Network's Certified Business Analyst program to increase their knowledge of the SBDC program.
• The USF SBDC Marketing Manager continues to promote SBDC expertise to reporters so they will think of the SBDC as "the experts" for breaking news. As a result, the USF SBDC is finding its in-kind donations accelerating, despite the current economic times.
• During the quarter, FAU SBDC Director Nancy Young participated in a 'Bright Ideas' forum organized by the Enterprise Development Corporation. The forum provides an opportunity for new businesses to present their business ideas to a group of local business people and service organizations for advice and guidance. Most businesses are technology related.
• The FAU SBDC continued to work with its resource partners such as the U.S. Department of Commerce, Enterprise Florida, the U.S. Customs Service, the Food and Drugs Administration, Chambers of Commerce and Consulate Offices in its effort to provide international trade clients with current and accurate information.
  

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• Brevard Community College's SBDC and Space Coast World Trade Council are
  taking registrations for the Florida Small Business Development Center Network's Export Florida Small Business Certification Program.
• USF SBDC Assistant Director Eileen Rodriguez is currently crafting a six-week class in global trade that will allow participants to achieve certification. The class will be limited to small business owners with serious intentions of expanding their global trade programs.
• While there are frequent opportunities to meet with local city government officials and apprise them of the activities of the FAU SBDC in Key West, state and federal legislative officials rarely visit Key West. The organization of Ambassador Huddleston's speaking engagement in Key West is an example of ways in which the FAU SBDC actively worked with the City of Key West Mayor's office, Monroe County Mayor's office, the Chamber of Commerce and various news organizations. In this case, the SBDC was also in daily contact with the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Interest Section, Havana Cuba.
• FAU SBDC Certified Business Analyst Rafael Cruz had a display targeting international business and trade in the Small Business Resource Center of the Broward County Main Library. Various books, articles and data were compiled and displayed for the benefit of the business patrons visiting the center. Many positive compliments were given on the display and the information it provided.
• FAU SBDC Certified Business Analyst Jimmy Pinto attended the XXIII Hemispheric Congress of Latin Chambers of Commerce and Industry held by Camacol (Latin American Chamber of Commerce). Approximately 20 countries were represented. Many of the entrepreneurs showed an interest in SBDC services because either they had a company already established in Florida or they thought their representatives might wish to utilize the SBDC. Jimmy made an effort to meet each representative at the various booths.
• The FGCU SBDC received a grant from the Horizon Foundation Inc. with the intent to provide export assistance to Lee County Businesses. To meet the objectives of the grant, the SBDC invited a group of organizations involved with exporting in the area, including local Economic Development Offices and several different Chambers of Commerce, to the “Go Global Southwest Florida” Export Network Luncheon on July 24 at the Center for Leadership & Innovation in Bonita Springs. The purpose of the event was to discuss the region’s current export situation, exchange ideas and encourage the participants to develop an integrated effort to promote international trade in the region. The luncheon included a panel presentation moderated by Dan Regelski, Director of the SBDC, and composed by David Barton, Executive Director Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association; Hal Wilmot, Director of Farris Customs Brokers, Inc.; Dr. Karen Eastwood, MBA International Program Coordinator; and a group of FGCU’s MBA international students, representing several strategic economic regions of the world. The SBDC also invited businesses which have an interest in international commerce to participate.
  

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• Victoria Peake, Director of BCC's SBDC, presented two workshops at the national conference for Federally Employed Women held in Orlando in July. Peake presented Professionalism and Prosperity; and Home, Family and Entrepreneurship---A Choice for Women.
• The FAMU SBDC met with Boys and Girls Club special programs to discuss economic development opportunities through business development activities.
• FAU SBDC Certified Business Analyst Phil Scruton responded to a written appeal from Senator Bob Kerry to the FAU SBDC for information on obstacles local small business owners encountered in recovering from economic recession and the events of 9-11. Phil described the problems his clients reported, with emphasis on those applying for EIDL assistance. The information was to be entered into the annals of a Senate Sub-Committee examining small business issues.
• The FAU SBDC's Festival Plaza office assembled its advisory/visionary committee. This board is comprised of professionals from a literary and poetry association; The Miami Herald; First International Bank; and the Evolution Web. A meeting schedule is currently being arranged.
  
• The USF SBDC Marketing and Public Relations Manager has been networking and fostering relations between on-campus and off-campus agencies to ensure they are aware of SBDC programs and upcoming programs. This includes libraries, associations and not-for-profits.
• The USF SBDC Marketing Manager co-facilitated one of the FSBDC's Professional Development Conference sessions on marketing in an open forum format, sharing tips about how the USF SBDC creatively markets its services.
  

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• The GCCC SBDC hosted the 2nd Annual Congressman Allen Boyd Conference, July 2, at the GCCC’s Life Long Learning Conference Center, in Panama City. At the event, Assistant State Director Katherine Hoelscher, on behalf of State Director Jerry Cartwright, presented the Network's Small Business Dividend$ Award to Congressman Boyd for his lifelong support of small business. More than 100 attendees participated in this all-day conference, which featured trade show booths, procurement-related workshops, women in business programs, IRS workshops and a keynote address from Scott Denniston, Director of the Center for Veterans Enterprise in Washington, D.C.