Florida SBDC Network State Office (Pensacola, Fla.) – – The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, the state’s principal provider of small business assistance, hosted its second annual Small Business Success Summit August 2-3rd in Fort Lauderdale.
Held at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, the Success Summit brought together nearly 300 small business owners, experienced Florida SBDC network consultants, partners and resource providers to share valuable information to help business owners take their business to the next level.
“This year's summit was an outstanding opportunity for entrepreneurs and business owners to invest in their future," said Greg Britton, Florida SBDC Network State Director. “The event featured an exceptional lineup of presenters and speakers. Their knowledge and expertise provided immense value to all attendees, equipping them with the tools and strategies necessary to thrive in today's competitive business landscape. We are grateful to everyone who participated and made this Summit a success. We look forward to welcoming businesses next year for another incredible experience of learning, networking, and growth.”
Farooq Mitha, director of the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs, and Secretary Alex Kelly of the Florida Department of Commerce welcomed attendees. U.S. Senator Rick Scott, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis provided video welcome remarks.
The two day conference featured keynote presentations by Kristen Hadeed, leadership expert and author, and Jordan Crenshaw, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Engagement Center. Attendees also participated in breakout sessions and a multitude of networking opportunities, which allowed small businesses to walk away with strategies and connections to help further their business.
Attendees also had an opportunity to attend a Mash Up event, which brought together representatives from entrepreneurial service providers and accelerators from across the state to share information and resources available to small business owners. Attendees were able to learn more about each organization and schedule time to pitch technologies, form collaborative partnerships, and accelerate novel solutions and capabilities in a one-on-one environment.
The Florida SBDC Network wishes to thank its 2023 event sponsors and partners: Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, Florida Power & Light, Florida Commerce/Select Florida, United Midwest Savings Bank, Florida Economic Development Council, Thryv, Florida Business Exchange, CareerSource Florida, Suncoast Credit Union, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Square, the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, FloridaMakes, The Able Trust, Florida Trend and The Business Journals.
The network is planning its 2024 event and will announce details soon. For more information about the Summit and to sign up for 2024 updates, please visit https://floridasbdc.org/success_summit/. For pictures from the event, please click here.
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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