L-F: Vicky Peake, SBDC at BCC; Heather Allen, SBDC at BCC; Tony Espinosa, SBDC at UCF; Sandy Pfrimmer, SBDC at BCC; Donn Miller-Kermani, WBC at FIT; Renee Couperthwaite, WBC at FIT; (seated) Tom Gallman, SBA

The SBDC at Brevard Community College played an integral part in the Melbourne Palm Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Council event entitled: "New Year, New You". SBDC Director Vicky Peake was on the steering committee, and BCC Melbourne campus Provost Dr. Katherine Cobb hosted the event on BCC’s Melbourne campus. Business and professional women in Brevard came together to provide education, clothing and career-building tips for victims of domestic violence and displaced workers who were seeking employment opportunities.

The SBDC at BCC also joined forces with the Florida Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) and the Florida NASA Innovation Center to provide a government contracting series to over 40 participants.

Toni Espinosa, PTAC Specialist, Presents Series

SBDC at FGCU Hosts Ninth Annual Entrepreneur's Law School The SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University provided a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, business owners and other conference participants to interact with 26 attorneys on January 31 in the FGCU Student Union ballroom, during its ninth annual Entrepreneur's Law School. More than 50 attendees spoke with attorneys and other business professionals about legal issues important to the successful management of a small business. The day consisted of concurrent sessions with attorneys addressing legal aspects of doing business, ranging from financial management and tax regulations to business planning, drafting contracts and compliance with employment laws. The luncheon keynote speaker was attorney Tim Cartwright, president of Gulf Coast Venture Forum and managing director of Compass Advisory Group. He spoke on "The Stress and Frustration of 'Maybe' Why is Raising Capital So Difficult?" Cartwright defined the capital continuum and discussed the basic principles of a successful capital raising effort. This year, the Entrepreneur’s Law School was sponsored by the law firm of Roetzel and Andress, KeyBank, and BriersCPA.
SBDC Staff Members Suzanne Specht CBA, Frank Losada, Jill Belcher	SBDC Regional Director Dan Regelski introduces Tim Cartwright, Luncheon Keynote Speaker	Participants at Luncheon

Because the topic of “going green” and sustainability has quickly become a topic of interest for small business, the SBDC at UCF developed and presented a new workshop entitled “Green Business: An Introduction to Sustainability in Business” on October 1, 2008. The workshop was designed to provide an understanding of sustainability, how sustainability in business is changing the marketplace and the opportunities and benefits associated with “going green.” The workshop featured “green expert” Mary Panks-Holmes of Climate Culture as well as representatives from both Progress Energy and Orange County Government. The workshop was presented free-of-charge to over 50 participants and was sponsored by Orange County Government.

E-Business for Small Business
The SBDC at UCF presented the latest in Internet marketing techniques and technology do’s and don’ts during a one-day workshop entitled “e-Business for Small Business.” The workshop, held on Tuesday, November 4, featured two experts in the Internet and technology fields including Hillary Bressler, founder and CEO of .Com Marketing, and Brian Killian, president of NorthPoint Technology Group. The workshop was sponsored by Orange County Government.

SBDC at USF's Center for Health Care Excellence Reaches Out to USF Students
SBDC at USF Center for Health Care Excellence is continuing with its on-campus efforts by bridging SBDC services normally offered to the community to a specific industrial sector. The Center conducts a 3 hour seminar called "The Business Side of Medicine". The class will be taught for the first time on campus at USF Health, making the topic more accessible to students, as well as other healthcare professional that interface with the University. Dr. Frances Rankin, who currently teaches a Practice Management Class for Doctorial Clinical Nurse Practitioners at USF, has found the depth of services offered by the SBDC particularly useful, providing incredible insight to individuals who will eventually own their own practice or play an important roll in existing healthcare firms. SBDC CBA Mario Iezzoni presented his first course for the Healthcare Center of Excellence, a 3.5 hour class covering a litany of topics on effectively managing a healthcare practice.
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Diversity Through Collaboration

Women and Minorities Learn About Franchising Opportunities
The SBDC at UNF partnered with the International Franchise Association to offer a Franchise Opportunities workshop, in November, for women and minorities in Jacksonville.

SBDC Reorganizes Small Business Assistance Providers Group
The SBDC at UNF took the lead in reorganizing the Small Business Assistance Providers group, made up of more than 20 non-profit and governmental organizations who are devoted to assisting small businesses. The SBDC hosted several organizational meetings, which resulted in a matrix of available services. The Small Business Assistance Providers group will make small businesses more aware of the diverse organizations that are available to assist them with a variety of services.

SBDC Staff Participate in Matchmaker Conference
SBDC at USF staff, Maria Yepes, Charlene Bostic and Eileen Rodriguez, participated in the 2008 Office of Supplier Diversity Matchmaker Conference in Orlando. The purpose of the event is to help minority, women, and service-disabled veteran enterprises connect with state government spenders. Eileen accepted the Chairman’s Award on behalf of the Florida SBDC Network.
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Community Awareness: SBDC Visibility

SBDCs and Clients Highlighted in Media
The SBDC at UNF was featured in the Gainesville Guardian on January 15, 2009. This front-page business story highlighted the SBDC program in Gainesville and discussed ways the SBDC assists business start-ups.

SBRN Central Florida Teams with Toys for Tots For the second year, the Central Florida Small Business Resource Network and the SBDC at UCF teamed up to collect toys for the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program. SBRN and the SBDC at UCF collected toys at the SBRN’s December 9th membership luncheon. Two marines attended the event and accepted the donation on behalf of the Toys for Tots program.

The SBDC at Daytona State College, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Florida District Export Council, presented a one-day workshop entitled “Export 101, An Introduction to Exporting” to 99 participants. The workshop was designed for new-to-export companies who have limited or no exposure to exporting. It covered a variety of topics including export readiness, developing an export marketing plan and understanding the basics about U.S. export regulations.

SBDC Partners With Continuing Education Division to Provide Export Certificate Program
The SBDC at UNF completed its International Trade Export Certificate Program, graduating nearly 30 small business owners interested in expanding to global markets. One participant reported increased sales of $1.2 million as a result. The SBDC partnered with UNF’s Division of Continuing Education on this program.
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Excellence in Achievements, Improvements and Contributions

SBDC at UCF Inducted into UCF Millionaires Club
The SBDC at UCF was inducted into the ninth edition of the “UCF Millionaires Club” by UCF’s Office of Research and Commercialization in November 2008. The UCF Millionaires Club includes researchers in areas ranging from education to simulation, with the sole criteria for induction into the club being to bring in external sponsored research funding of $1 million or more during a given fiscal year. Eunice Choi, the SBDC at UCF’s regional director, was recognized and applauded for her efforts of bringing in $1,005,360 in external funding to the college's SBDC program.
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