Archive for category: Blog

Revive Auto Works LLC of Pinellas County

Built on years of hands-on experience and a shared commitment to honesty, this newly launched mechanic shop, Revive Auto Works, is quickly becoming a trusted resource in its community. Owned by two longtime automotive professionals, Sean Charest and Ricky Fellner, the business services most makes and models, offering everything from engine work and brakes to tires and routine maintenance. After eight to nine years in the industry for Charest—and about 28 years for Fellner—the decision to open their own shop came naturally. They chose to focus on what they knew best while serving the community they already understood.

What truly sets the business apart is its transparent approach to customer service. Every vehicle is thoroughly inspected and compared against manufacturer recommendations, with clear explanations of what is due now, what can wait, and what fits a customer’s budget. Fair pricing, honest timelines, and safety-first guidance are principles the owners are proud to stand behind.

“We will inspect everything and we will say, hey, this is due, according to the manufacturer recommendations. We can do that service whenever you want. This is the price and we have a fair price, fair labor rate. And we’re very honest about it, like, hey, this can wait. If you can’t afford this now, let’s try, you know, next month or whatever depending on the importance of the fix. And that’s something that we’re both very proud to be able to offer to our community and really just keep moving forward and keep the people on the roads safely,” Fellner said.

As they prepared to launch, the owners turned to the Florida SBDC at USF and business consultant Brad Owens for guidance. With support on financial projections, reviewing numbers from the previous owner, and building future forecasts, they were able to present a strong case to lenders. “I’ve mostly been dealing with Brad and the Florida SBDC at USF. We got off to a running start on this project, so they really helped us get things rolling with the numbers, the projections from the previous owner, and our future projections, which helped with our loan. We still use that to do our projections for our future sales, which is extremely helpful. And the SBDC still helps with things like state taxes, learning things like that,” Charest said.

When an initial private loan fell through, the Florida SBDC at USF connected the business owners with Sanjay Dave at HomeTrust Bank, helping secure financing for their building, renovations, and new equipment. “Our business started off as a private loan. That fell through and we reached out to a few different avenues and the Florida SBDC at USF got us in touch with Sanjay Dave at HomeTrust Bank. They helped us secure the loan for our building, for our business and for the equipment that we have purchased and installed in the building. Our building is not brand new, but we did paint, we did a roof, all new equipment, so it is coming along. Certainly, couldn’t have done it without them,” Charest explained.

Now up and running, the business continues to grow—learning how to strengthen their partnership, attract new customers, and secure fleet contracts with local companies. “Our biggest success as of right now is actually still learning each other and getting that partnership to really mesh together and to generate new ideas on how to bring customers in,” Fellner said. “And getting that first customer in the door, getting the first money rolling in the business,” Charest added. “Also, our other biggest success would probably be the contracts we got, the fleet vehicles that we have from some of the local businesses,” Fellner mentioned afterwards.

Charest credits the Florida SBDC at USF for being there from “the starting line to the finish line,” offering guidance on everything from financing to state taxes. Their advice to other small businesses is simple: take advantage of the Florida SBDC at USF.

“They went above and beyond on everything when it comes to the loan, from just the silly little questions that you [Charest] and I [Fellner] were like, well, we don’t know. And you guys [Florida SBDC at USF] were right there with us and it’s a blessing. Thank you, guys, so much,” Fellner concluded.

French Flare of Pasco County

When Léo-Paul Horlier relocated from France to Tampa three years ago, he brought with him a decade of experience in photography and videography. Back home, he operated as a solopreneur, but as he settled into Florida, he envisioned something more structured for his U.S. venture. He launched his photo and video services company, French Flare —offering professional headshots, event photography, and videography—with the goal of establishing a sustainable business.

As a newcomer to the U.S., navigating business regulations felt overwhelming. “Coming from a foreign country and not knowing how to develop my business here, I wanted to talk to somebody official who could help me basically launch the business, but also, of course, develop it,” Horlier shared. That led him to the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County, where he began working with business consultant Retta Parsons.

With guidance on startup requirements, marketing strategies, and business development, he quickly began seeing results. “Since working with the SBDC, my business, I can say with confidence, has grown tremendously. I grew my clientele base, I was also able to develop the video side of my activity, and get some guidance on marketing,” Horlier said.

His progress reached a major milestone when he achieved his highest-earning month in 10 years of working as a photographer—his best month ever, even compared to his time in France. “Since I’ve been doing what I’m doing with photo and video, for 10 years, I got my biggest revenue here in Florida in the month of last May,” Horlier explained.

Today, Horlier’s business enjoys steady income, a larger client base, and renewed confidence in the Tampa Bay market.

The business owner continues to meet with the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County for ongoing guidance and encourages others to do the same. “You might have a great idea, you might have a great product, but if you’re not able to talk to somebody about your business every day I think it can be quite difficult. So that’s why I advise everybody to talk to [Florida] SBDC,” Horlier said.

Casa Bruni of Hillsborough County

When Tampa entrepreneur Bruni Oquendo launched Casa Bruni, her vision was to transform underutilized venues into vibrant, cultural destinations. “We activate different venues and spaces that are looking for a vibe,” Oquendo explained. “So, we’ll come in, we’ll bring something in such as Latin Lounge, Noche Latina, Afrobeats nights, and comedy nights—so a lot of different activations to bring in the community and connect talent, community and culture together.”

Inspired by Tampa’s rapid growth and emerging luxury venues, Oquendo saw a unique opportunity. “We’ve [Tampa] been named one of the best places to live in the world, and that’s really bringing in a lot of upscale, elegant venues,” she said. “But again, you know, these different venues are not always being utilized.”

To bring her vision to life, Oquendo turned to the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County and business consultant Shawn Ferguson. “Shawn really sat down with me and talked me through it step by step,” she said. “We talked about, you know, opening my business bank account and then just being there through the whole process as a mentor, which has been incredible,” she added.

Since launching, Casa Bruni has grown rapidly, producing a variety of high-energy community events and even securing a $10,000 pitch competition win. The success has opened unexpected doors—including a project with a Netflix client in Turks and Caicos and work on a political campaign.

“We organized a trip to Turks and Caicos, for the premiere party of a show that’s currently on Netflix. So just having that opportunity and then launching and utilizing the funds that I won to be able to now go into having higher caliber talent at my different showcases. So, for example, my Latin Lounge – I was able to get Grammy nominated billboard charting Salsa artists, Frankie Negrón to host my event and it’s been an incredible journey,” Oquendo mentioned when speaking about her biggest successes thus far.

As Casa Bruni continues to expand, Oquendo plans to keep collaborating with the Florida SBDC for mentorship and business growth while offering this piece of advice to other entrepreneurs: “When you think to yourself, I need someone to help me with marketing. I need someone to help me with my website; there are a lot of free resources that the SBDC can help you with and they are there to guide you in the right direction. So, make sure that you reach out and use them,” she said. “At the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center, there is the SBDC at Hillsborough County and it’s just been a crucial part of my business expanding. So, make sure you take advantage of those mentorships,” she concluded.

North Star Consulting of Hillsborough County

After nearly 20 years in higher education, USF alumni, Christina Sanchez Bonner, recognized a growing need within her community—students, families, and adults were falling through the cracks, unsure of their next steps and lacking personalized guidance. Motivated to fill this gap, she launched North Star Consulting, a private college and career consulting firm offering one-on-one, unbiased support to help clients “find their true north and reach for the stars.”

Her vision was clear, but turning her passion into a fully functioning business required additional expertise. That’s when she connected with the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County and business consultant Shawn Ferguson, who provided guidance on business startup fundamentals, legal requirements, marketing strategies, and community networking.

“Shawn, he made all this happen. Previously, these were just ideas and dreams that I had, and if it wasn’t for the Hillsborough County SBDC, none of this would’ve turned into a reality. Now, this is going on to be a thriving business of almost two years, to where I don’t even have to consider looking around for a different job. I can do the job that I feel like I was meant to do,” Bonner said.

“Not only have my business dreams become a reality, but I also learned all the legalities, how to do marketing, and how to connect with the right people in the community… Without those tools, I probably would still be at my regular day job just contemplating a business,” she added.

Today, her consulting and résumé services are thriving, with steady bookings and a growing client base. “My business has grown since working with the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County because truthfully, it went from nothing to being something,” Bonner shared.

One of her proudest accomplishments has been earning approval from the State of Florida as a Step-Up scholarship provider, allowing her to serve homeschooling families at no out-of-pocket cost. “Something I’m extremely passionate about is reaching out to students and families of all demographics, education, et cetera, and through the Step-Up scholarship I’m able to provide these services to the community members that homeschool their families and they don’t have to pay out of pocket to have this additional support. That is something I feel very passionate about and being able to provide these services through state funding for these families is like a dream come true,” she explained.

As she continues expanding, she plans to lean on the Florida SBDC for ongoing mentoring and growth support. “There’s a lot of challenges that come with growing, which thankfully I still have my number one consultant, Shawn, to help me with thinking about future obstacles, planning for the future, how to expand, how to bring on more employees, how to deal with the finances, the marketing, and then executing the services,” Bonner said.

Her message to other entrepreneurs is clear: the Florida SBDC provides the tools, confidence, and connections needed to turn ideas into reality. “What I would say to other business owners or anybody who’s considering even starting a business is to not even think about it and to reach out to the Florida SBDC Hillsborough County because even if you think you know everything, I guarantee you don’t,” Bonner said.

“Whether it is that you need moral support, if you need an extra pair of eyes to look over your plans, or if you were like me where you were a complete novice and you really needed somebody to look over all of the fine print, it never hurts to have a friendly voice who has nothing but your best interest looking over your plans. It’s a win-win situation to reach out, and why not start off with being a part of a family that wants you?” she concluded with a smile.

Hi-Performance Designs of Hillsborough County

For one Florida-based designer and manufacturer of aluminum alloy wheels, Hi-Performance Designs, cars have always been more than a business—they’re a lifelong passion. “Since I was about two or three, all I did was cars, go-karts, racing—so my background is automotive, and that’s my passion,” the owner, Henry Gaudens shared.

From a blank sheet of paper, he and his team design and develop wheels for everything from golf carts and trailers to classic and specialty cars. With six market segments and a focus on innovation, they create distinctive designs, engineer them overseas, and bring them to life for customers across the country.

But when a hurricane brought over a foot of water into their facility, the business faced a serious setback. “Our showroom was nice but completely destroyed from the inside,” Gaudens recalled. “Getting hit by the hurricane couldn’t come at a worse time,” he added.

That’s when he turned to the Florida SBDC at USF and senior business consultant Bill Burnham for help. “Bill was awesome – absolutely incredible,” Gaudens said.

Through the Florida Emergency Bridge Loan, the business was able to recover and begin rebuilding. “He helped a ton, and I explained what we were doing [and] he goes “We can figure it out.” Within I think two or three weeks we had it nailed down and finished after about four or five months of waiting… so without Bill I wouldn’t be sitting here with you guys,” he added.

The business owner thanks the Florida SBDC at USF and his business consultant for all of their help during the tough times and looks forward to what’s to come. “Since Bill helped us, he’s a source, so SBDC in general [is] fantastic,” Gaudens said.

Now, the team is back at work—reconstructing, designing, and staying positive. “Hopefully within the next couple months we’ll have this thing looking nice – having a good place, a clean nice place to work in,” Gaudens said.