Release Date: October 19, 2006
Contact: Dianne Barlar, Marketing Director (850.473.7809 or dbarlar@uwf.edu)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Florida SBDC Network's Carrie L. Duvall Recognized as Florida State Star
at the National Conference of the Association of SBDCs


Steven S. Little - The Business Growth Expert – ASBDC
State Star Reception Sponsor; John Massaua, State
Director, Maine SBTDC and 2006 Chair, ASBDC Board of Directors; David Weeks, Assistant State Director, Florida
SBDC; Carrie Duvall, 2006 Florida SBDC State Star;
Antonio Doss, Associate Administrator, Office of SBDCs,
U.S. SBA

Pensacola, FL: During the National Conference of the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) held in Houston, Texas, in September, Carrie L. Duvall was recognized as the 2006 Florida State Star for her outstanding contribution and creative excellence with the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida’s Advisory Board Council (www.advisoryboardcouncil.org) in Orlando.

"The award signifies that Carrie is our leading light—for others to emulate and still others to strive for," says Jerry Cartwright, Florida SBDC Network State Director. "We are very proud of Carrie's accomplishments and that she is a member of the Florida SBDC Network."

Carrie was selected through a competitive process that evaluates demonstrated excellence and outstanding contribution to the overall SBDC program in terms of innovative program development, creative special projects, enhanced center performance and client impact.

Since the launch in September 2003, the Council, under Carrie's leadership, recruited over 300 volunteers who have donated over 7,700 hours of service for an in-kind contribution of more than $1 million; helped clients obtain more than $5.5 million in capital formation through SBA loans, owner investment and federal contracts; secured fourth-year funds of $100,000 from Orange County Government; won the International Economic Development Council’s Program of the Year award in 2004.

"It is an honor to accept this award," said Carrie, "and to have the opportunity to help so many people achieve the dream of starting and succeeding in their own business."

Each year, the Association of SBDCs recognizes an outstanding employee from each of the 63 SBDC programs as a State Star. The State Stars are recognized and honored at a private reception and at a banquet during the National Conference.

America’s network of SBDCs is a partnership that unifies private enterprise, government, higher education and local/regional non-profit economic development organizations. It is the Small Business Administration’s largest partnership program helping small businesses start, manage and grow their businesses. In an average year, the over 1,100 centers across the nation will assist over 700,000 small businesses by providing confidential counseling and training.

The Florida Small Business Development Center Network, a member of the ASBDC, is a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development organizations dedicated to providing emerging and established business owners with assistance enabling overall growth and increased profitability that contributes to the economic prosperity of the state. For more information about the FSBDCN, visit our website at www.FloridaSBDC.com.


Florida SBDC Network
State Director's Office
University of West Florida
401 E Chase St, Ste 100
Pensacola, FL  32502
850.473.7800 / f 850.473.7813
fsbdc@uwf.edu / www.FloridaSBDC.com