Success Stories

Dan Fernandez has been in construction for 39 years and has had the opportunity to start and grow his own business in McKenzie Contracting LLC. McKenzie Contracting is a heavy civil contractor with...

Florida SBDC at UCF Supports Reproduction Classic Car Manufacturer With Business Training and Capital Access Consulting Smart entrepreneurs are the ones who know they dont know everything. And who...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Networks partnership to help Floridas...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Networks partnership to help Floridas...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Networks partnership to help Floridas...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Networks partnership to help Floridas...

Hyperform Inc. (d/b/a SeaDek Marine Products) is an All-American success story. What started out as a maker of products for the surfing industry like surfboard fins and traction pads has transformed...

When you walk into the Expressed Juice warehouse in Miamis Allapattah neighborhood, the produce district where trucks bring food from farms for distribution, the smacking smell of citrus instantly...

Ever the lifelong learner, Ahmed Cruz was at a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) training class when experts from the Florida SBDC at Florida International University (FIU) gave a...

Nestled between Sanibel and Captiva with beach views for miles is Tween Waters Resort, a property holding of Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts, offering 137 historic seaside cottages, suites, studios,...

Tampa Music School was opened in 2015 by owner Matthew Maines. Maines was a public education music teacher prior to launching his own business. The reason I decided to launch Tampa Music School was...

Mike Zaffaroni traded in his suit and tie for boots and blue jeans when he left his pharmaceutical sales job and purchased a landscape supply business. The business was started in 2005 as Fernandina...

Local entrepreneurs and business owners all have had unique experiences that have inspired them to do incredible things within their communities. For Krisha Mota, owner of Mozielle, her story began...

After spending his time as an executive within multiple companies, Larry Bull decided to leave his job as the president and chief operating officer at a commercial vehicle air conditioning company...

Advanced IT Concepts, Inc. (AITC) is a Central Florida-based Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and SBA 8(a) Minority-Owned Business that has, on the strength of its founders...

In 2000, with over 20 years of combined healthcare experience as a Registered Nurse and corporate healthcare professional, Sylvia Walker started her business, Natural As I Wanna Be (NAIWBE), in...

Rob Olin has held a number of corporate positions including radio announcer, marketing director for Georgia Techs athletic department, and his own public relations and marketing company. However,...

In 1981, after a week of having no work assigned through the court reporting agency she worked for, Diane Emery decided to make a change. A few hours after quitting her job, she embarked on her own...

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...

Emboldened by her passion for cultural and early childhood development, Tailleen Arias opened the Doral Conservatory and School for the Arts because she wanted her kids to enjoy music and arts...

In 2004, the Grisales family moved from Colombia to Bonita Springs in search of opportunities that would empower and improve their lives. At the young age of 13, Valentina Grisales, one of two...

Founded in 2000 by owners Rafael and Trina Gonzalez, the Tools Man, Inc. dba The Tools Man Industrial Supply is a wholesale/retail tool company that offers over 25,000 maintenance, repair and...

It happens often. An entrepreneur has an idea but is uncertain about how to turn their vision into a real business. And then how to make that business a success. Minetta and Neal Crosier were just...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Networks partnership to help Floridas...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Networks partnership to help Floridas...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Networks partnership to help Floridas...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Networks partnership to help Floridas...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Networks partnership to help Floridas...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Networks partnership to help Floridas...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, and the Florida SBDC Network’s partnership to help...

With nearly 15 years in the Orlando modeling and simulation industry, Dignitas Technologies LLC has established itself as a leader in the development of military training systems. Dignitas efforts...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Miami, International Jewelers Supply provides...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Pompano Beach, Gratitude Training LLC provides...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Data Clique, LLC provides...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in West Palm Beach, Bell Engineering and Construction...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Sebring, Busy Kids Creative Learning Center, Inc.,...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in New Port Richey, Dr. Cristen Mendoza wasnt sure...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. While Carbon Marines headquarters are based in Tampa, the...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Violas Pizza Pasta & Seafood is a family-owned restaurant...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Tamarha’s Secret manufactures natural skin care...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Pediatric Behavioral Services (PBS) is an applied behavior...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Peckett’s, Inc. is a plant nursery that specializes in...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. I-Tech Personnel Service, Inc. is a full-service staffing...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Casselberry, Circuit Motorsports provides high...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Apopka, Barracuda Building Corp. is a certified...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Delivery Signs LLC, a family-owned business located in...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Ketan Desai is the owner of a counter-serve Marco’s...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Leesburg, Pet Lodge & Spa is a professional...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Orlando, Sod Depot provides commercial and...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Altamonte Springs,Christie Island Shack LLC d/b/a...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Jacksonville, Fiesta Catering, Inc/ A+ Lunch...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Jacksonville, Castelli Chiropractic Center offers...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma.  As Hurricane Irma approached Florida, she took a toll...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Sarasota, Gulf Coast Psychotherapy is a small,...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Lehigh Acres, Lighthouse Pet Clinic is a small...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Tampa, Debt Relief Legal Group is a bankruptcy...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Naples, Best Moving & Storage is a...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Chokoloskee, a small town near Everglades City,...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Floridas small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Oviedo, Little Explorer Academy is a child care...

Disaster is a team effort. Read this story about partners working together to help Florida’s small businesses recover from Hurricane Irma. Located in Oviedo, Allen Sportswear is an...

Hanan Hamed-Furqan has had many successes as a small business operator, including being named the 2017 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) North Florida District and State of Florida...

When Joel Browns father passed away, his grieving family went through an ordeal to find the paperwork necessary to close accounts, notify clients and perform other business tasks. When his...

Elaine Cruz-Abril graduated from chiropractic school in 2015. After graduation, she and her fiancé set out to own a practice they could grow. They located an existing practice located in Flagler...

All Star Carpet and Tiles (All Star), owned and operated by Juan Perez, is a premier tile and flooring company that specializes in the sale and installation of tile, carpet, laminate, wood and marble...

Book Zurman Inc. is a company that develops interoperability standards for electronic health records, specifically for veterans and their families. The company moved to the healthcare space in 2010....

Advanced Furniture Solutions provides new, used, and remanufactured office furniture and commercial flooring. They fulfill the needs of government agencies, educational institutions, large...

Michelle Pellito is the owner and operator of Capital Music Therapy. Pellito was interested in growing her business by increasing her sales and also wanted to move into a facility, but wanted to make...

When the real estate market went down, Jeri Canale decided to retire as a realtor and jump into something new. Canale made the unusual switch to start up and operate her very own gun and ammo shop....

Founded on Beach Street in 1996, the Daytona Diner has grown to be a Daytona Beach institution over the years. Owner Linda Toffolon has worked ceaselessly 7:00am 3:00pm six days a week, year after...

Music finds people in many different ways. For some people, it was the guitar their parents bought for them as a child. For others, it was the tunes their parents played on the radio. For Maestro...

Adrian LaTrace has more than 25 years of varied experience in entrepreneurship. With varied work in start-ups and corporations, LaTrace has spent his career in growing sectors such as healthcare,...

People pursue the life of an entrepreneur for many different reasons. Some people are born entrepreneurs, others learn the skills to become an entrepreneur. For Beatriz Cardona, it was fulfilling a...

Tavares is known as Americas Seaplane City for good reason. The city has made a significant commitment to the seaplane businesses that call the waters of Lake Dora home, including opening the Tavares...

Access to capital is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, challenge faced by small businesses today. Even successful, established businesses can have trouble finding the money they need to grow,...

Success costs money. Business owners learn quickly that they often need additional funds to finance their growth. Sometimes it can come from their cash flow, an investor, or from a bank. One thing is...

J.T.D. Enterprises is a second generation, family-owned business of 35 years specializing in manufacturing tubing ensembles for sporting goods, tailgating, and defense industries. Originally from...

Omar Rivera and his wife Katherine are a Palm Coast success story. Together, and with assistance from the Florida SBDC at UCF-Palm Coast, they have built Dr. Paint, a residential and commercial...

Silver Shores Living was born out of a dream that Ann-Marie Knight held for over 25 years. At that time, Knight, a high school student, served as a candy striper at a local nursing home in New York...

Pete Wilking is the owner and founder of A1A Solar Contracting, Inc. With a MBA and BS in Environmental Science, along with a strong background in engineering and finance, he saw an opportunity in...

“After working as a RN in the home health field for several years and taking care of quadriplegic clients in and around Marion County, I realized there was no agency adequately equipped to deal...

In 1996, Mike Harris founded Sea Shutters after realizing that existing shutters being sold on the market cracked, pealed, and did not stand up to flying debris from gale-force winds. After...

A story about partners working together to help small businesses overcome challenges to grow and succeed. Carriage Way B&B is a bed and breakfast located in the very center of historical downtown...

Originally starting as their fathers idea in 2005, Kozuba & Sons Distillery of Pinellas County has jumped many hurdles since then. The distillery began in Poland offering two flavored cordials:...

A story about partners working together to help small businesses overcome challenges to grow and succeed. Founded by Dr. Amir Varshovi in 1999, GreenTechnologies is a manufacturer of environmentally...

Joe and Rhonda Wendling, originally from Chicago, have called Southwest Florida home since 2013. Joe and his brother Pete, who is also part-owner of Rosati’s Pizza Pub in Fort Myers, are...

A story about partners working together to help small businesses overcome challenges to grow and succeed. Chowder Teds is a restaurant located in Jacksonville that is known for serving fresh seafood,...

A story about partners working together to help small businesses overcome challenges to grow and succeed. Viola’s Pasta & Seafood Restaurant is located in St. Augustine. In early October of...

A story about partners working together to help small businesses overcome challenges to grow and succeed. Ocean Movers is a professional moving company owned by Amber Sahbudak and based in Orange...

After working for the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office for 25 years, Javier Nava decided it was time to trade in his badge for salsa. Originally from Mexico, Nava and his family moved to the...

Chained Concepts Bicycle Shop provides a full range of bicycle sales and technical services to families and bicycle enthusiasts in areas surrounding its retail store in Crestview. Owner Miguel...

A story about partners working together to help small businesses overcome challenges to grow and succeed. Cheval Golf and Athletic Club is a country club that offers a vast amount of fitness clubs...

One of the greatest challenges a small business faces is transitioning from its startup phase to being an established, high-performing second stage company. It is not for the faint of heart. The...

Jubilee Gym of Hillsborough County Being a contestant on American Ninja Warrior three times, as well as a lifelong gymnast, has taught MaryBeth Wang that you must fight for what you want. Wang left...

Established by Kristin Meek in 2008, Ishkabibbles Designs is a high-end clothing boutique that specializes in the creation of original wedding and bridesmaid dresses, as well as a complete line of...

CPR Tools, Inc. is a woman-owned small business, owned and operated by John and Sue Benkert. The Benkert’s began working for CPR Tools in 2004, John as a Senior Computer Scientist and Sue as...

A quest for affordable and collaborative workspaces lit the spark of what is today Moonlighter Makerspace. Its founders had explored similar maker ventures across the U.S. and in Europe, and they...

For a small to medium-sized business, growth can be as much of a challenge as a revenue decline. For Screenworks USA, a multi-million-dollar screen printing, embroidery and dye sublimation business...

Endoscopy Replacement Parts, Inc. (ERPI) is a Newberry-based full-service precision manufacturer of high-quality aftermarket products for repairing rigid and flexible endoscopes. Founded in 1997,...

Founded in 2011 in Martin County, Anything Electrical Company (AEC) is a state certified, licensed, and insured electrical services provider. The companys project capabilities include, but are not...

The Real Haiti website began with husband and wife team Endy and Diana Pierre-Louis wanting to share their personal experience with the country, which has often been portrayed as impoverished and...

With an origin story that parallels the beginnings of the very computers they destroy every day, Urban E Recycling has gone from a small, garage-based start-up to a growing business that shows no...

Mikal Butch Kissick served his country in the U.S. Navy for 28 years. He was a naval flight officer who flew the F-14 Tomcat. In Pensacola, he went through flight school then later retired there. At...

No matter what anyone says, its unusual to receive an almost instantaneous response when a business calls for assistance. Everyone promises the best service but only a few deliver. So you can imagine...

When Optimum Spring was established in 2007, owners Andrea de Palma and Marco Fortini had years of experience in the business because of their involvement with de Palmas family who had been...

In November 2012, Tommy Van Horn stepped down from his position as National Director of Fraternus to become a full-time beekeeper. Hehad spent many years after his 2007 graduation from Florida State...

Ice cream has long been one of Luisa Santos favorite things. As the nitrogen-frozen ice cream trend intensified, she made her first batch during her last semester at Georgetown University.In November...

David Rosen, who immigrated to the United States from Melbourne, Australia, started Kira Labs in 2001 in Pompano Beach, Florida. Offering over 200 premium formulations, they specialize in natural,...

Nancy Crews, Ph.D., started working with the Florida SBDC Network 18 years ago, with just an idea and licensing in hand for her new business, Custom Manufacturing & Engineering (CME). CME,...

Polygon Solutions, Inc. is a south Fort Myers-based company that specializes in making cutting-edge manufacturing technology, specifically a revolutionary rotary broach tool holder, and also...

Doing business with the government isnt easy. In fact, its challenging on multiple levels, especially for small businesses. Jerry Bennet, CEO of Privateer IT, learned that when his bids for...

Founded in 1999, The Argus Companies was established to support the U.S. Government and Department of Defense agencies in protecting the countrys national security interest. The company, spearheaded...

A new form of advertising and a new method of transportation FREE transportation has been wowing the Miami and Miami Beach areas since 2012. A fleet of fully customized open-air electric cars,...

Founded in 2005, the Florida Autism Center serves the Florida Panhandle, Central Florida, and Floridas Central East Coast. Owned and operated by Board Certified Behavior Analysts, the center provides...

Synergy Fabrications LLC., DBA Synergy Construction, was founded in 2001 by Jeff Rawls, a service-disabled veteran of the United States Navy, and his partners. By 2006, Rawls bought out his partners...

Doug Worswick, CEO of Certified Slings, Inc., had a balancing act to do: survive the great recession of 2009 while continuing the tradition and legacy of his father of abiding by his simple...

Carol Craig has done it allyet in some ways, her story has just begun. Craig is CEO of Craig Technologies, an engineering, technology and manufacturing business that she founded in 1999 and has built...

When buildings are constructed today, there is heavy emphasis on energy efficiency, both to lower costs and to be as green as possible. Beyond architectural design and glass treatments, one of the...

Alternate Energy Technologies LLC (AET), established by company founder, President, and managing partner Billy Byrom in 1987, is the U.S. solar thermal industrys leading manufacturer and integrator...

Robert Chism is no stranger to entrepreneurship. A long-time client of the SBDC, he first sought assistance in 2008 for his advertising firm, Mad Media. He met with a professional business consultant...

Jason Schuck was not unfamiliar with the Florida SBDC at UWF when he went to them for assistance for his participation in the first-ever Pensacola Business Challenge. After all, his wife had utilized...

J’s Pastry Shop is a family-run, full-service bakery/pastry shop located in Pensacola, Florida. First opened in 1946, Js offers a large variety of cakes, pastries, donuts, etc. In October of...

For Doug Herrick, his experience in the United States Navy was excellent preparation for business ownership. “The military provides fantastic professional training,” he said. “It...

When BioDerm first opened its doors in 1991, it was strictly a research and development facility. Over the years, founder, Dr. Dennis Kay and his team developed a proprietary hydrocolloid that the...

Founded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in November of 1950, Surface Logix manufactures and distributes products for the construction industry, including cleaners, clear coatings, and sealers to assist...

International expansion of H2O International, Inc. has always been part of the business plan for President Guillermo Guzman. Guzman is a Civil Engineer who, prior to starting H2O in 1993, worked as a...

Fenton Baijnath, CEO of Radical Cosmetics, is a well-known contributor within the cosmetics industry in domestic and international markets, having worked as a packaging engineer at companies such as...

Since 1998, Miranda Contracting, Inc. has provided site and utility contractor services in support of government public works projects, retail and commercial developers, and residential communities....

In 2009, Strategic Business Solutions (SBS) was just a small startup consisting of four partners and no revenue. It has now turned into a multi-million dollar technology services company that...

Tionna Bishop opened her first Bishop’s Coffee and Tea shop in Mary Esther in 2007 and has since opened a new Bishop’s Coffee and Tea on Alcaniz Street in Pensacola. Her success has been...

Attorney Kate Mesics parents immigrated to the United States from Russia when she was just 15 years old so Kate and her sister could have the chance at a better life in America. Kates first and most...

The definition of “one who undertakes an enterprise” places emphasis on the risk and the personal efforts of the individual who owns and manages the business. By definition John Rampino,...

Exporting has been part of the business plan at Hernon Manufacturing, a custom formulator of adhesives, sealants, and precision dispensing and curing systems, since 1999. The company’s...

George Goodwin, a master carpenter and home builder, was handpicking the finest materials to build his own dream home. He acquired some long-leaf pine logs a fisherman friend recovered from the...

The Rockhill Group, Inc. (TRG) is a Small Business Administration 8(a) company specializing in aviation services. These services include flight training, courseware development, aircraft leasing,...

When Hurricane Wilma ripped through South Florida in October 2005, husband and wife duo Michael and Kristen Nevils saw a great need to safely store and dispense safe potable water. Thus, Michael...

Founded in 2007 by former U.S. Reconnaissance Marines, Invictus is a Boynton Beach-based provider of security and training services. Invictus, which translates to “undefeated” in Latin,...

Kegman Inc. CEO Susan Glasgow had long wanted to grow the small security business that she and her husband had operated part-time since 1999. Glasgow, a 25-year Air Force veteran, worked for one of...

University of South Florida graduate Shaun Robinson has been a client of the Florida SBDC at USF since 2005. During that time, he attended eight Florida SBDC business seminars and consulted...

More than a business, it is a family affair — Impact Industrial Supplies, Inc., an industrial supplier, merchant wholesaler, and supply chain management company, celebrated its 22nd anniversary...

It’s no wonder that Dr. Amir Varshovi was recognized as the 2014 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Florida. Along with his business...

In late 2009, Arnaldo and Yanet Herrero of Kings Service Solutions first approached the Florida SBDC at UCF (FSBDC at UCF) Advisory Board Council Manager Jill Kaufman about their interest in becoming...

In November 2012, Brenda Wise, President of GLT Total Office in Lakeland, was looking for a way to spur the growth of her company. Like most companies, GLT experienced a slowdown in sales during the...

Julie Daniels, owner of Handyman Matters in Palm Harbor, has found great success as a small business owner. Despite the challenges of running a small business in a tough economy, the retired U.S. Air...

Beatriz Cardona comes from an entrepreneurial family. Following her dreams, she and her husband, Roberto, opened a Sign-a-Rama franchise in 2010. Growing in size and recognition Three years later, on...