Release Date: July 9, 2008
Contact: Dr. Dianne Barlar, Marketing Director, dbarlar@uwf.edu or 850.473.7809

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Florida SBDC Network Presents
Annual Performance Excellence Awards

Pensacola, FL: On June 18, nearly 150 Florida SBDC Network staff members and conference attendees gathered to recognize staff, volunteers and resource partners for performance excellence in support of small businesses and entrepreneurs during 2007. The Performance Excellence Awards were presented at the Recognition Luncheon held during the Annual FSBDCN Professional Development Conference in Daytona Beach, Florida, by FSBDCN State Director Jerry Cartwright and the SBDC Regional Directors.

Florida Awards

The Florida Star of the Year, Julio Estremera, nominated by the SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University, was recognized as the FSBDCN employee whose contributions to the SBDC program were exemplary with respect to new program development, innovative special projects, client impact and/or overall Network performance. Julio is a major contributor to the SBDC at FGCU's annual counseling goals and client activities. In 2007, alone, Julio provided counseling to an amazing 343 clients. With the growing Hispanic business market in southwest Florida, Julio's bilingual skills are in high demand. He developed multiple SBDC seminars that he presents in English and Spanish. Julio knows no barriers to service and is known for integrity as he represents FGCU and the SBDC. Julio will be recognized as the Association of SBDC’s State Star for Florida at the National ASBDC Conference in Chicago, in September.

The Florida Outstanding Resource Partner is Todd Kocourek, President/CEO of Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC), with corporate offices in Tallahassee. The award recognized the partner that provided the most outstanding contributions to the statewide Network with advocacy, financial support, partnership building and advising. Todd is a Member of the FSBDCN Statewide Advisory Board and in that capacity advises the State Director’s Office to ensure legislative engagement and provides guidance to advance and improve the Network administration and programmatic operations. He is a generous sponsor and partner in business for many FSBDCN events and conferences. More than an advocate, Todd has a deep sense of commitment to and for the Network, its mission and success.


The Florida Volunteer of the Year, Stephen Beasley, nominated by the SBDC at FAMU, was recognized as the regional volunteer that has made the greatest contribution to the FSBDCN. The founder of Beasley & Associates in Tallahassee, he has volunteered 25 years for the Florida SBDC Network in various capacities including membership on the Statewide and SBDC at FAMU Advisory Boards. He developed, and has continued to assist with, the local Small Business Week Celebration, now in its 25th year.


The Network Service Excellence Awardee, Robert Goetz, was nominated by the SBDC at UCF in Orlando. The award recognized the FSBDCN employee that has made outstanding contributions to their clients. Robert has a results-driven leadership style that reflects service. His sub-center, the SBDC at Seminole Community College, consistently meets and exceeds programmatic goals, often as much as 200%. He is proactive about pilot testing new programs, collaborations and initiatives. A prime example is when Robert sensed the small business community's confusion and complacency regarding disaster planning, he crafted the "One Plan--Any Disaster" workshops and video. The result was 10 two-hour workshops he conducted at various universities, community colleges and economic development organizations in the SBDC at UCF region.

The Florida Innovative Program and Best Practice Award was presented to the SBDC at FAU for their Management Review Process. The award recognized the center that made a significant contribution to program improvement through innovative thinking, creativity, resourcefulness and determination in areas such as leadership, strategic plan deployment, customer relationships and satisfaction, performance and performance measurement, workforce engagement and resource development.

Regional SBDC Awards

Regional Volunteers of the Year, recognized for the greatest contribution to the regional SBDC with advocacy, counseling, training, program development and/or special projects, are Andrew Newitt, SBDC at UWF; Susan Berger, SBDC at FAU; Pamela Korn, SBDC at UNF; Toni Springer, SBDC at UCF; Millicent Schandorf-Lartey, SBDC at USF; Stephen Beasley, SBDC at FAMU; and Jim Jacoby, SBDC at FGCU.

Regional Outstanding Resource Partners, recognized for outstanding contributions to a regional center with advocacy, financial support, partnership building and advising, are the Office of Small Business Assistance-Palm Beach County, SBDC at FAU; Jaye Baillie, Ocala/Marion County Chamber, SBDC at UNF; Richard T. Crotty, Orange County Mayor, SBDC at UCF; Gene Telfair, President/CEO of FAMU Federal Credit Union, SBDC at FAMU; and United Bank, SBDC at UWF.

Regional Certified Business Analysts (CBAs) of the Year, recognized for demonstrating the greatest enhancement of scope, quality and/or impact of counseling services, are Sharon Triplett, SBDC at UWF; Chris Workman, SBDC at FAMU; Ken Stephanz, SBDC at FAU; Cathy Hagan, SBDC at UNF; Jill Kaufman, SBDC at UCF; Art Mahoney, SBDC at USF; and Julio Estremera, SBDC at FGCU.

Regional Employees of the Year, recognized for the greatest contribution to the operations or special projects of the regional center, are Renee Templeton, SBDC at SCC; Maria Yepes, SBDC at USF; Dr. Philip Geist, SBDC at UNF; Teri Takahashi (Boca Raton) and Carlos Cardenas (Miami), SBDC at FAU; Tom Hermanson, SBDC at UWF; Jill Belcher, SBDC at FGCU.

Click to view photos of all FSBDCN Performance Excellence awardees.

The FSBDCN, funded in part by the US SBA, is a statewide economic development partnership between higher education and other stakeholder organizations dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and established businesses with the assistance needed to start, grow and succeed, contributing to the Florida economy. For more information about the FSBDCN, visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.