2018 National Small Business Week Winners named for North Florida

Jacksonville, FLA. - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) North Florida District Director Wilfredo J. Gonzalez is pleased to announce the winners of SBA's 2018 District and State of Florida Small Business Week Awards.

"Small Business Week is an opportunity for the SBA to recognize the hard-work and accomplishments of small business owners throughout the country. I am pleased to announce the winners in our area. These winners are highly deserving of their respective awards and recognition,” stated Gonzalez.  

North Florida District and State of Florida Small Business Person of the Year

• Mr. Michael Zaffaroni, Owner
  Liberty Landscape Supply (Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach, Florida)

North Florida District Small Business Exporter of the Year

• Mr. Carlton Smith, Chief Operating Officer
  Heavy Equipment Resources of Florida, Inc. (Jacksonville, Florida)

North Florida District and State of Florida Veteran-Owned Small Business Person of the Year

• Ms. Barbara Kent, Owner
  BuyGones (Fernandina Beach, Florida)

North Florida District and State of Florida Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year

• Ms. Heather Bennett, Owner
  Paisley Grace Designs (Yulee, Florida)

North Florida District Minority-Owned Small Business Person of the Year

• Mr. Morris Jarmon, Sr., President
  Island Air Express, LLC (Panama City, Florida)

North Florida District Small Business Advocate of the Year

• Mr. Bernard Dandridge, SBA/USDA Loan Specialist
  Florida Capital Bank (Jacksonville, Florida)

North Florida District Community Partner of the Year

• Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)
  Accepting on behalf of the JTA is Mr. Ken Middleton, Sr. Manager, Diversity and Equity Program

The 2018 South Florida District, State of State of Florida, and Small Business National Exporter of the Year are Serenity Gardner, COO and Jason Gardner, Vice President of Marketing for SeaDek, based out of Rockledge, Fla. For a full list of South Florida winners, please contact Heather Hines at (305) 536-5521 x104.

The 2018 Small Business Week Award Winners from the Jacksonville area will be recognized at the Annual Small Business Week & Lender Awards Celebration on    May 4, 2018 in Jacksonville at the University of North Florida’s University Center from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. This event is hosted by Janice Donaldson, Regional Director for the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida. Fiscal year 2017 Top Lenders will also be recognized at this event.

Each year since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week.  National Small Business Week is set as the first week in May, and this year the dates are April 30 – May 5 with national events planned in Washington, D.C., Jacksonville, Florida; South Carolina; and North Carolina.

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

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

Tags: Florida Small Business