• Link to Facebook
  • Link to Youtube
  • Link to X
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Flickr
  • Link to Slideshare
  • Link to Rss this site
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
SBDC Tampa Bay
  • Home
  • Solutions
    • Certifications
      • Business Certifications
      • Minority-Owned Business
      • Woman-Owned Business
      • Veteran-Owned Business
    • Consulting & Training
      • Training
      • Training Calendar
      • Consulting
      • Schedule a Consultant
      • Consultación
    • Business Solutions
      • Growth Acceleration
      • Government Contracting
      • International Trade
      • Starting Your Business
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Student Teams
      • Financing Your Business
  • Resources
    • Business Resources
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Insights
    • Blog
    • Media Inquiries
  • About Us
    • Mission / Vision
    • Consultants
    • Meet the Staff
    • Meet Our Clients
    • Partners / Affiliates
  • Training
    • Training Calendar
    • On-Demand Training
  • Results
    • Success Stories
    • Economic Impact
  • Locations
    • Tampa
    • Hernando County
    • Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto
    • Hillsborough
    • Manatee
    • Pasco County
    • Pinellas County
    • Polk County
    • Sarasota
  • Contact
  • Request a Consultant
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
Blog

Business Certifications Open Doors

Blog, Certifications, Featured News

Many businesses consider becoming certified for many reasons, but before applying to become certified, the business needs to understand who they are selling to and how the certificate will influence their current and future business relationships. Becoming a certified business should be part of any business’ marketing plan.

There are several categories of certification provided by various local and state agencies:

  • Small Business – based on the number of full time employees and average sales for the business.
  • Minority Owned – business which is at least 51 percent owned by an ethnic minority person(s) whose management and daily operations are controlled by such person(s).
  • Women Owned – business which is at least 51 percent owned by women whose management and daily operations are controlled by such persons.
  • Disadvantaged Business – business which is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Recently I had the opportunity to ask Julius Davis, CEO of VoltAir Consulting Engineers, about how business certifications have influenced the business in its 10 years of continued growth. Davis was very clear to mention that in the beginning being a certified business gave them the leverage they needed to get the attention of larger businesses because they had the professional experience but no business history.  He and his team have proven they are knowledgeable professionals that can compete on their own, but recognize being certified still provides them with a competitive advantage.

Davis started with a list of target clients he wanted to develop relationships with. The certification helped open the door many times and accelerated the relationship building process. He secured City of Tampa and Hillsborough County Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and State of Florida’s Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) certifications. He also secured the Florida Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification. The certifications have allowed VoltAir to compete as prime and sub-contractors with different agencies and clients. Recognizing no one certification fits every opportunity, Davis maintains all their certifications while looking for new certification programs that may benefit his business.

Local government MBE and CBE contracts make up 80 percent of VoltAir’s government contracting portfolio. The remaining 20 percent are federally funded DBE contracts.  It is important for businesses to understand that no one certificate meets all needs in the marketplace. Deciding which certificate to get and when to seek a certification is a strategic marketing decision.

Much of VoltAir’s growth and stability come from a diversified public/private client base. The private sector does business with VoltAir because they are competitive in both price and quality, not because they are certified. The private sector accounts for 40 percent of the VoltAir contracts with government/public sector contracts making up the remaining 60 percent of total contracts. Davis believes their status as a certified business continues to open doors and create opportunities for the company to grow.

Business certification can open many different doors for your company. Determining what doors are best suited for your business is part of your marketing strategy. Marketing decisions should be made before pursuing your business certification.

Author

Yanina Rosario

Yanina Rosario

Certification Consultants, Consultants, Rosario, Tampa

Associate Director, NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP), Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP), Florida SBDC at USF, Tampa

Specialty: Women/Minority/Veteran Certification

Yanina Rosario is an associate director and business consultant for the Florida SBDC at USF. Rosario provides business owners with one-on-one expertise for optimizing business performance through marketing, strategic business planning, and business certification. She also teaches the Women/Minority/Disabled Veteran-Owned Certification seminar.

As associate director for the center, Rosario is responsible for outreach. This involves educating the community, establishing strategic partnerships and working on special projects.

Rosario’s expertise comes from more than 23 years in economic development, guiding pre-venture and well-established business owners through procurement, licensing, planning, marketing and financing. She’s helped clients secure more than $5.5 million in small business loans.

Read more
https://enwqtxc9es4.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/YaninaRosario_2025WEB-e1742403810452.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1 1024 1024 admin /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Locked-Host-Logos-Horizontal-USF-Small-e1728920602651.png admin2020-11-28 20:57:172025-05-29 16:18:04Yanina Rosario
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://enwqtxc9es4.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/image09272142848.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1 530 530 admin /wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Locked-Host-Logos-Horizontal-USF-Small-e1728920602651.png admin2016-09-28 18:34:352022-01-03 14:30:24Business Certifications Open Doors

Categories

  • Business Essentials
  • Business Plans
  • Buying a Business
  • Certifications
  • COVID-19
  • Crowdfunding
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Economic Development
  • Finance
  • Government Contracting
  • Growing Your Business
  • Healthcare
  • Human Resources
  • International Trade
  • Marketing
  • Press Releases
  • Radio and Podcast
  • Starting a Business
  • Success Stories
  • Success Stories Videos
  • Tech Commercialization/Tech Transfer
  • Veteran
  • Web and Social Media
Subscribe to Newsletter

Contact Us

Regional Office Contact Info

USF CONNECT
3802 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 201
Tampa, FL 33612

813-396-2700

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Florida SBDC Network

The Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide partnership program nationally accredited by the Association of America’s SBDCs and funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida, and other private and public partners, with the University of West Florida serving as the network’s lead host institution. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals.

Logos

Business Assistance

USFMuma

State Designated as Florida’s Principal Provider of Business Assistance [§ 288.01, Fla. Stat.]

© Florida SBDC at USF | contact webmaster
Link to: Deadline Approaching in Florida for SBA Working Capital Loans Link to: Deadline Approaching in Florida for SBA Working Capital Loans Deadline Approaching in Florida for SBA Working Capital LoansPress Release Link to: President Declares Major Disaster for Florida Link to: President Declares Major Disaster for Florida Press ReleasePresident Declares Major Disaster for Florida
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top
  • Get Answers