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Five SBDC at UCF Clients and Partners Honored as North Florida's 2012 Small Business Champions

Small Business Development Center at UCF
March 21, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, SBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or hthayer@bus.ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – Five (5) small business clients and partners nominated by the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) have been recognized as 2012 Champion Small Business Week Winners by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) North Florida District Office.

Annually for the past 45 years, the President has issued a proclamation declaring Small Business Week (this year to be held May 20 – 26) as a time for America to salute the achievements and contributions of the Nation’s 25 million small businesses. As part of the celebration, SBA District offices across the country call for nominations of small businesses and SBDC partners in their region that have distinguished themselves in a variety of categories.

The SBDC at UCF is pleased to have five of its nominated clients and partners selected as winners by the SBA North Florida District Office and to be the Florida SBDC regional office whose nominees won in a majority of the North Florida District’s small business award categories.

Together with the SBA North Florida District Office, the SBDC at UCF is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of out-standing small business owners from across the eight Central Florida counties served by the Small Business Development Center, including the following 2012 Champion Small Business Week Winners:

Neal Kimball, President of Kimball Companies, LLC (Orlando) has been awarded the distinguished 2012 Entrepreneurial Success Award for the District, State, and Region. To qualify for this award, individuals must own and operate businesses initially launched as small businesses according to SBA size standards and subsequently developed into large businesses; and they must have received SBA assistance to help the businesses grow.

Anthony Marlow, President of TCC Marlow Enterprises dba The Golden Lion Café (Flagler Beach) has been named the District, State, and Regional 2012 Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year.

William Patton, Vice President, Strategic Business Development for KRATOS Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Orlando) has been named the District 2012 Minority Business Champion of the Year.

Dr. Kerry Giedd, President/CEO of Eola Eyes (Orlando) has been named the 2012 Women in Business Champion of the Year for the District and State.

Joanne Jolin, Vice President of Atlantic Coast Bank (Orlando) has been named the District and State Financial Services Champion of the Year.

“The SBDC at UCF is truly honored to be able to work with so many outstanding small business owners and partners,” said Eunice Choi, Regional Director, SBDC at UCF. “And to have so many of those we work with recognized by the SBA for their accomplishments and assistance is great motivation for us to continue to provide the best service and support possible to small businesses in Central Florida.”

“We are extremely proud of the number of amazing nominations that came into our office for Small Business Week” remarked Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, SBA District Director. “It was difficult for the judges to choose the winners for this year based on all of the successful small businesses nominated. We wish we could highlight all of the extraordinary entrepreneurs in North Florida. It is truly an honor to witness the success of the small businesses adding value to the business community in Florida. Congratulations to this year’s winners. “

The Orlando area Small Business Week winners will be honored by an event hosted by the Small Business Development Center at UCF, on May 15, 2012 at the Citrus Club. For more information, please contact the SBDC at (407) 420-4850.

For more information on Small Business Week, please visit www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.gov. For more information about local winners or programs available through the Small Business Administration, please visit the agency Website at www.sba.gov/fl/north or call (904) 443-1900.

--UCF--

With its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center (formerly the Disney Entrepreneur Center) now located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) is part of the UCF College of Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, providing business seminars and no-cost, one-on-one business consultation to small business owners. The SBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains seven satellite service centers. In 2011, the SBDC at UCF helped entrepreneurs create or retain 1,517 jobs, win contract awards worth $28.9 million, acquire $17.7 million in capital formation, and increase sales by $51.9 million. The SBDC at UCF is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Filed Under: Press Releases