Florida businesses win awards during National Small Business Week

FSBDCN Headquarters: Seven Florida SBDC Network clients and nominees from across the state have won awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for their outstanding advocacy, performance, and economic contributions to the state.

As part of National Small Business Week, the SBA annually recognizes small business owners, entrepreneurs, and advocates from all 50 states and U.S. territories for their efforts in driving job creation and economic growth.

The Florida SBDC Network is pleased to recognize the following recipients who are clients and/or nominees of the Florida SBDC at the Regional, State and/or District levels: 

• Small Business Person of the Year 
  National Finalist, State of Florida, and South Florida District Winner
  Carol Craig, Craig Technologies, Cape Canaveral

• Small Business Person of the Year 
  North Florida District Winner
  Sandra Saft, S.Saft and Company dba Window Interiors, Altamonte Springs

• Small Business Exporter of the Year 
  Southeast Region (IV), State of Florida, and North Florida District Winner
  Douglas Worswick, Certified Slings, Casselberry

• Veteran-Owned Small Business Person of the Year 
  North Florida District Winner 
  Jeff Rawls, Synergy Fabrications, Palatka

• Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year 
  North Florida District Winner
  Margarita U. Howard, HX5, Fort Walton Beach

• Minority-Owned Small Business Person of the Year 
  State of Florida and North Florida District Winner
  Printella Bankhead, EBS Security, Inc., Jacksonville

• Financial Advocate of the Year
  State of Florida and North Florida District Winner
  David Marovich, Vice President of Business, 121 Financial Credit Union, Jacksonville

"Small business owners are the driving force of our economy," said Michael Myhre, CEO and Network State Director for the Florida SBDC. "It's an honor to recognize the achievements of these small business owners and advocates. These leaders play a key role in building our economy - helping our state and nation move forward."

For more than 50 years, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week to celebrate and recognize the achievements and dedication of the nation's entrepreneurs and innovators. This year's celebration kicked off today in Miami and will continue the rest of the week with events being held across the country. National Small Business Week will conclude in Washington, D.C. on May 8th. Florida SBDC client Carol Craig will join five other Small Business Person of the Year finalists from across the country at a special ceremony in which one winner will be selected as the 2015 National Small Business Person of the Year.

Florida SBDCs are hosting a number of events and functions across the state to honor winners and to help small businesses grow and succeed. 

• The FSBDC at USF will host its 28th Annual Government Small Business Conference on May 6. The conference will feature a half-day Business Opportunity Expo, in conjunction with a full day of seminars and keynote address by Congressman Gus Bilirakis.

• The FSBDC at UCF will honor Orlando-area Small Business Week winners at a special private event on May 19 at the Citrus Club, and on May 27-28 they will host their annual Government Matchmaking event.

• The FSBDC at FGCU will host the 4th Annual Distinguished Entrepreneur Award on May 19 in Bonita Springs (www.fsbdcswfl.org), and on May 6 they will co-host with Alliance Financial Group, The Spring Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Conference in Fort Myers (http://girlsgoingplaces-afg.com).

• The FSBDC at UNF in Jacksonville will host its 23rd Annual Small Business Week Celebration on May 28 to honor North Florida's small business leaders, lenders and supporters. The event will feature a keynote by Lisa Nicole Bell, founder and CEO of Inspired Life Media Group based out of Los Angeles, CA. Event information can be found at www.sbdc.unf.edu.

About the FSBDC Network
For nearly forty years, the Florida SBDC Network has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide emerging and established business owners with management and technical assistance, enabling overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for the state. In 2013, the initiatives of the Florida SBDC Network resulted in 39,536 jobs created, retained and saved; $5.5 billion in sales growth; $197.3 million in capital accessed; $602.2 million in government contract awards; and 685 new businesses started. A statewide network of over 40 centers, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida and other private and public partners, with the University of West Florida serving as the Network's designated lead host institution. The Florida SBDC Network is state designated as Florida's principal provider of business assistance and is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs.  For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org. 

Tags: Florida Small Business