Florida SBDC Network Clients, Nominees Win SBA Awards
Media Contact:
Dianne Fazio, Director of Strategic Communications
(850) 898-3486
dfazio@uwf.edu
News Release
May 5, 2023
For Immediate Release
Florida SBDC Network Clients, Nominees Win SBA Awards
Florida SBDC Network State Office (Pensacola, Fla.) – The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, the state’s principal provider of small business assistance, is pleased to announce that eleven small business clients and nominees have won awards for their outstanding performance, advocacy, and economic contributions from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of National Small Business Week.
“We are very proud to recognize the accomplishments of our outstanding clients and advocates,” said Greg Britton, state director of the Florida SBDC Network. “The National Small Business Week Awards are very prestigious and we are honored to have so many of our clients and advocates recognized for their contributions to their local and state economy.”
Clients and partners of the Florida SBDC Network recognized as national, regional, state and district-level award winners are:
National Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award Winner
Florida SBDC at Florida International University
Graduate of the Year
Region IV 8(a) Winner
Mr. Gabriel Ruiz, LTC USA (R), President/Founder, Advanced IT Concepts, Inc.
Client of the Florida SBDC at UCF
Small Business Person of the Year
State of Florida and South Florida District Winner
Karina Doracio, President, & Luis Contreras, CEO, AmePower
Client of the Florida SBDC at FIU
North Florida District Winner
Mr. Tomas Santos-Alejandro, Owner and CEO, Advent Services LLC
Client of the Florida SBDC at UWF
Woman Business Owner of the Year
State of Florida and North Florida District Winner
Ms. Tonya Oxford, Owner and CEO, Global Technology Integrators, LLC
Client of the Florida SBDC at UCF
South Florida District Winner
Rochelle Graham-Campbell, President, Black Oynx World
Client of the Florida SBDC at FGCU
Rural Business Owner of the Year
State of Florida and South Florida District Winner
Dustin Blank & Stacey Howell, Co-Owners, B&H Farms
Client of the Florida SBDC at FGCU
North Florida District Winner
Ms. Ashley Simmons, Owner, Simmons and Co. DBA Callie Kay’s General Store
Client of the Florida SBDC at UNF
Exporter of the Year
South Florida District Winner
Christopher McKenney, President, Mango Publishing
Client of the Florida SBDC at FIU
Veteran Business Person of the Year
South Florida District Winner
David Hahn, Results Sales and Services
Client of the Florida SBDC at USF
Small Business Advocate of the Year
North Florida District Winner
Mr. Ken Middleton, AVP - Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Officer, Jacksonville Transportation Authority
Nominated by the Florida SBDC at UNF
National Small Business Week runs April 30 - May 6, 2023. Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of the country’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.
The Florida SBDC at FIU and AmePower were recognized in Washington, D.C. this week among winners from other states during a special awards ceremony. To learn more about National Small Business Week, please visit www.sba.gov/nsbw. |
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About National Small Business Week:
For 60 years, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, recognizing the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business and create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st-century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness. In recognizing the changing face of America, the SBA’s National Small Business Week awards honor individuals and businesses that reflect our Nation’s rich diversity.
About the Florida SBDC Network:
For more than 45 years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy. In 2021, the Florida SBDC Network delivered more than 157,000 hours of consulting to more than 18,000 small business clients – resulting in business owners securing over half a billion in capital, securing more than $380 million in government contracts, impacting 28,930 jobs, increasing sales by over $4 billion, and creating 778 new businesses.
With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org. |
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