Archive for category: Hillsborough

Carol Minor

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Center Director, Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County

Specialty: Capital Access, Business Strategy, Exit Strategy, Valuation

Carol Minor is the Center Director of the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County. In her present role, Minor manages the delivery of business consulting and training to existing and start-up businesses throughout Hillsborough County. A specialist in finance, she helps businesses with financial and cash flow management as well as loan packaging and helps to identify the best financing option.

Prior to joining Hillsborough County’s Economic Development Department in March 2014, Minor founded and operated GIM Associates, LLC, a management consulting and training firm established in 1997. Previously a bank executive, she has more than 25 years experience in the financial services industry with nearly 20 years in small business, church and non-profit lending. She is an adjunct professor with Saint Leo University, Hillsborough Community College and Pasco Hernando Community College teaching business, management, business finance and entrepreneurship.

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Janette Blanco

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Assistant Director, Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County

Specialty: Construction Industry Regulations and Licensing, Contract Compliance, Strategic Planning, City/County Contracting

Janette Blanco, assistant director of the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County, is a civil engineer from Venezuela. As a graduate from University of Massachusetts with 25 plus years of professional experience, she has spent a decade working with the entrepreneurial community in the Tampa Bay area.

Blanco’s style and approach has given rise to the development of strong relationships with significant business leaders in the Tampa Bay area. Over the course of 10 years, Blanco has provided services to approximately 1,500 with more than 10,000 consulting hours. She was the recipient of the 2016 and 2017 Florida SBDC at USF consultant of the year award for the result of her work. She has helped clients obtain more than $48M in government contracts and capital access. Blanco also teaches business-related seminars and aids clients in English and Spanish.

Janette holds a Strategic Management Performance System certification from the George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, a Master Compliance Administrator certification from the American Contract Compliance Association, a Yellow Belt certification from the International Association for Six Sigma Certification, and Post-Crisis Leadership and Diversity, Equality, Inclusion certificates, both from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.

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Retta Parsons

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Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County

Specialty: Start-up, Bookkeeping

Retta Parsons brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in business management and public administration to her role as a business consultant. She previously served as CEO of Shiawassee United Way. In that position, she provided leadership to ensure the construction of a $26 million county medical care facility. She also led the change process and alliance establishment that resulted in the implementation of United Way 2-1-1 in Shiawassee County. Parsons also served as a training director for Girl Scouts, where each year she managed the delivery of approximately 124 trainings for more than 700 attendees.

Parsons enjoys being active in the community. Past roles include chairperson for the State of Michigan, Department of Health & Human Services, Shiawassee County, board; chairperson of the Shiawassee Human Services Council; and ambassador for the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce.

She earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resources Management from Spring Arbor College. She is a certified Child Care Facility Inspector, Instructor of Trainers, and Bridges Out of Poverty Trainer.

In her spare time, Parsons enjoys bike riding with her husband, Roger, and spoiling her children and granddaughter.

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Shawn M. Ferguson

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Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County

Specialty: Start-Up, Technology

Shawn M. Ferguson specializes in technology and finance. He is passionate about helping start-up businesses. With more than 25 years of experience in technology and education, Ferguson is familiar with devising successful strategies for software development teams, enhancing the educational experience, and providing professional services to help businesses succeed. His expertise lies in making the entrepreneur resourceful and developing leading-edge, actionable recommendations for his clients. He is tenacious about helping entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life.

Ferguson is an Entrepreneurial Mindset Certified Facilitator and a certified Profit Mastery Facilitator who holds an associate degree in computer programming, a Magna Cum Laude bachelor’s degree in management information systems, and an MBA from The Ohio State University.

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Barry Haynes

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Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County

Specialty: Operations, Technology

Barry Haynes started his career in engineering and has extensive experience in computer integrated manufacturing and manufacturing automation. Haynes became a serial entrepreneur in the 80s and has started and sold four multi-million-dollar companies. He brings to the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County more than 36 years of experience as a business owner and in-depth knowledge of operations, business automation, sales, customer service, marketing, and corporate development. He also brings with him more than 30 years of senior management and company-building experience, as well as in-depth knowledge of web-based technology.

A lifelong coach and fan of the game, Haynes has coached youth baseball teams for more than 10 years and served on many youth association boards. He holds an associate in instrumentation engineering from Tennessee Technical Institute, a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering with a minor in economics from Washington University and did his MBA work in manufacturing at Southern Illinois University.

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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 headquarters. Full funding disclosure available at www.floridasbdc.org/funding-disclosures/. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency.

All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA or other funding partners.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and/or limited English proficiency will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. To request accommodation or language assistance, please contact Nelson Reyes, nreyes@usf.edu, 813.396.2700.

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