Archive for category: Featured Success Stories

E-Mobilize Bike Service, LLC of Pinellas County

What began as an idea to fill a service gap in the growing electric bike market has quickly evolved into a thriving mobile repair business for E-Mobilize Bike Service, LLC.

Founded by Jake McFadden and supported by operating officer and marketing director Russ Hilton, the company delivers on-demand repair services for bicycles and a range of electric mobility devices throughout the Tampa Bay region.

“We are a 100% mobile electric bike and regular bicycle repair service,” McFadden said. “We do more than just work on electric bikes and bicycles. We also work on e-scooters, electric motorcycles, light electric vehicles in general, um, and we do it where we come right to you. So we fix it fast, we fix it right, we fix it right in your driveway, and we have a good time doing it.”

The idea for E-Mobilize came from firsthand industry experience and a clear need in the market.

“We decided to start E-Mobilize because we saw a giant gap in service, basically. There was this big need for somebody to be able to come out to someone’s location to be able to work on their electric bike. Not only to work on it, but to have the expertise to be able to diagnose any type of not only bicycle issue, but electronic issue as well, and that’s really where we shine,” McFadden said.

To build and scale the business effectively, the team turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED), where they began working with consultant Kurt Forster.

“So we’ve utilized Kurt as our consultant through the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development, and it’s been fantastic for us,” McFadden explained. “We’ve used him for all sorts of different things, questions about how to move forward with marketing, how to move forward with growing the business. We’ve taken classes like a Profit Mastery class at St. Petersburg College, and it’s just been fantastic to have an extra resource there. I come from a bicycle repair background, so being a business owner is something that I’ve had to really learn, and it’s been great to have help when it comes to that.”

Hilton emphasized the value of having a trusted advisor as the business evaluated new opportunities and strategic decisions.

“With my background with being in marketing and business, I don’t know everything, and so reaching out to a resource like Kurt has been fantastic,” Hilton said. “He’s been kind of that right-hand person to consult us on different projects that we’ve had. I mean, we’ve had different projects from looking at bike shops, [to] looking at vehicles. No matter what it’s been, we’ve always had to be able to bounce it off of Kurt to get the best ideas and make the best decisions for our business.”

With guidance from the Florida SBDC at PCED, E-Mobilize has experienced strong and measurable growth.

“So our business has grown by utilizing the Florida SBDC by using a lot of techniques that they have given us,” Hilton added. “With the marketing stuff, we increased our email marketing alone, which every time we sent out an email blast, we’d get 10 reservations just from one email blast. We have grown our business from 3,000 customers to 4,000 customers in just about a year and a half. Our business has increased by 16% over a year.”

In addition to customer growth, the company has strengthened its reputation through improved online engagement and customer feedback, further positioning itself as a leader in mobile repair services.

The company’s expansion beyond its original service area stands out as one of its greatest accomplishments.

“I think our biggest success so far has been expanding our business out of just Pinellas County,” McFadden said. “We started in Pinellas County, but we now have a technician that lives in Pasco County and one that lives in Hillsborough County, so we cover the whole Tampa Bay area, and we do it really well. We are able to support our other employees and, and they really enjoy it.”

Looking ahead, the E-Mobilize team plans to continue leaning on the Florida SBDC at PCED as they scale operations and enter new phases of growth.

“As we grow this business, we know we’re gonna need help,” Hilton said. “I mean, ’cause we are entrepreneurs, we don’t know everything on it. So we will use the Florida SBDC and Kurt along this way. We’re gonna take this journey together.”

For other small business owners, McFadden encourages building relationships and taking advantage of available support systems.

“Really check it out and make a relationship with somebody there, whether it be a consultant or just getting in touch with the program in general in any way,” he said. “That may be through a class, maybe it’s through your chamber of commerce. That’s how we got introduced to it. You’ve really got to utilize the resources that are available to you to help you grow your business. You can’t do everything yourself when you’re a business owner. I’m sure you’ve tried if you own a business, and it’s just impossible. You gotta have help, and that’s where they come in.”

With continued momentum and a strong support network, E-Mobilize Bike Service is well-positioned to keep expanding its reach and redefining convenience in the bicycle and electric mobility repair industry.

Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition of Pinellas County

What began as a grassroots response to persistent poverty in one of Pinellas County’s most underserved communities has evolved into an ambitious economic development initiative designed to create opportunity, foster entrepreneurship and revitalize a historic corridor.

The Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition, led by Executive Director Gloria Campbell and Director of Communications Marilyn Turman, is spearheading “The Village,” an innovative small-business incubator in the North Greenwood area. The project aims to support 10 to 12 small businesses and create up to 15 jobs in a neighborhood long impacted by disinvestment.

“We are a grassroots community organization focused on economic development,” Campbell said. “North Greenwood is the highest concentration of poverty in Pinellas County, and we wanted to create a vehicle to bring opportunity back to the community.”

The vision for The Village emerged after coalition leaders recognized that the area’s once-thriving commercial corridor had all but disappeared.

“As we looked down what was a commercial corridor… all the buildings are gone,” Campbell said. “There were no resources to put people into. So, this became a way to house new businesses and support existing ones.”

Since its inception nearly seven years ago, the coalition has worked to educate residents, build community support and develop a sustainable model for economic revitalization.

Central to the coalition’s progress has been its partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pinellas County Economic Development, particularly business consultant Jenee Skipper.

“We have worked with Jenee Skipper in a number of ways,” Campbell said. “She has been such a resource helping us as we rolled out our business plan and put together our pitch for our development.”

From refining financial strategies to shaping tenant selection and operational planning, Skipper’s guidance helped transform the coalition’s concept into a viable, structured initiative.

“When we first approached this project, she looked at all aspects of our proposal, including financing and cash flow,” Campbell said. “She helped us figure out how we were going to make this successful.”

Turman echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the SBDC’s role in preparing future business owners for long-term success.

“She has been an amazing resource,” Turman said. “Once we gathered our potential tenants, she helped us develop a curriculum to prepare them. We want to make sure they don’t just have a grand opening and a grand closing.”

The training component is a key part of The Village’s strategy. Participants receive education on financial management, business planning, risk mitigation and other fundamentals critical to sustaining a business.

“You may be the best cook on the planet,” Turman said, “but you better know about financial statements, balance sheets and cash flow projections.”

Campbell added that Skipper’s proactive approach has helped keep the coalition on track.

“She doesn’t wait for us to call — she calls us,” Campbell said. “She keeps us on track and makes sure our businesses are getting what they need.”

The Village is designed to be more than just a collection of storefronts. Leaders envision it as a supportive ecosystem where small businesses can grow, collaborate and eventually expand beyond the incubator.

“The key is to build an ecosystem where businesses can thrive, not just survive,” Campbell said.

The project will initially house 11 businesses, some sharing space to reduce costs and encourage collaboration. In addition, the coalition plans to host pop-up opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs who are not yet ready for a permanent location.

“That gives them an opportunity to test their product and grow,” Campbell said. “When spaces open up, we’ll have businesses ready to move in.”

The coalition also ties training participation to future funding opportunities and offers reduced rents to ease the financial burden on entrepreneurs. These measures are intended to improve success rates and address the high failure rates typically associated with small businesses.

“Our goal is at least a 90 percent success rate,” Campbell said. “We’re putting the tools in place to make that happen.”

Since partnering with the Florida SBDC, the coalition has seen significant progress, moving from concept to near completion of the project.

“Our business has grown significantly,” Campbell said. “We’ve partnered with multiple entities, and we’ve gone from an idea to a business model to a project that will be coming out of the ground very shortly.”

Collaborations with organizations such as St. Petersburg College have helped validate the coalition’s market strategies, including tenant and product mix decisions. Support from the City of Clearwater and Pinellas County Economic Development has also provided essential funding and resources.

Among the coalition’s biggest achievements is securing land for the project and providing opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

“We’ve been able to give 11 businesses a home,” Campbell said. “That’s huge.”

For many in North Greenwood, The Village represents more than economic development — it symbolizes renewed hope and investment in a historically overlooked community.

As the project moves closer to completion, the coalition plans to continue leveraging SBDC resources for ongoing training, mentorship and funding opportunities.

“We know that as businesses hit roadblocks, we’ll have resources to help them navigate,” Campbell said. “And we’re looking at how this model could be replicated in other communities.”

Turman encouraged other entrepreneurs to take advantage of the SBDC’s offerings.

“They’re free services,” she said. “If you don’t take advantage of them, you’re missing out on great opportunities.”

Campbell offered a similar message.

“If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it,” she said. “These resources are there to help you grow your business — whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand.”

With The Village poised to open its doors, the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition is demonstrating how community-driven vision, combined with strategic partnerships, can create pathways to economic opportunity and long-term success.

Suncoast Martial Arts Group, Inc. of Pinellas County

For Eric and Julee Taylor, Suncoast Martial Arts Group Inc. is more than a studio—it’s a place where discipline, confidence and community come together.

Located in St. Petersburg, the business offers instruction in kung fu, tactical jujitsu, Filipino martial arts and tai chi. But at its core, Suncoast Martial Arts Group focuses on something deeper.

“Our main focus is helping our students grow within and without,” Eric Taylor, owner and head instructor, said. “The greatest purpose we have for our students is to teach them not only external techniques, but internal techniques—the mind, body and spirit.”

That mission is rooted in Taylor’s lifelong passion for martial arts. He began training more than 40 years ago and credits the discipline for shaping his life.

“It helped me learn discipline and control and confidence and to stay in shape,” he said. “I want to give that same gift to other students and other people in my community.”

While Taylor had mastery in martial arts, navigating business ownership was a new challenge. That’s when he connected with business consultant Debra Schweikowsky at the Florida Small Business Development Center at Pinellas County Economic Development.

Through one-on-one consulting, Taylor gained the tools needed to grow and sustain the business.

“She helped me with my business plan,” Taylor said. “She helped me check out the demographics of the business to make sure I have the right clientele. She helped me also with marketing so I can know what my age group [is] and the people that I can touch more effectively.”

That guidance proved critical when Taylor pursued full ownership of the studio.

“With the help of Debra, she helped me to acquire the business,” he said. “I didn’t think I was able to, but she held my hand step by step, and so I was able to purchase or buy out the partners of Suncoast Martial Arts Group.”

Shortly after taking ownership, the business faced a major setback when hurricanes caused significant damage.

“It destroyed our vehicles, it damaged our mats, and because of the time period, it affected us financially,” Taylor explained. “I didn’t know where to go.”

Once again, the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County stepped in to help.

“I had to reach out to the SBDC and talk to Debra,” he said. “I was all worried, and Debra said, ‘No worries. I got you.’”

With Schweikowsky’s assistance, the business secured a bridge loan that helped them recover and rebuild.

“We were able to get new mats and get a new vehicle and work with our community,” Taylor said.

For the Taylors, success isn’t defined solely by financial growth—it’s measured by the transformation they see in their students.

“Watching the children develop as they grow and seeing how they transition from the beginning to where they’re at now—that’s important,” Julee Taylor said. “The fundamentals that we’re teaching the children is how we help our community.”

Eric echoed that sentiment, noting the changes he sees in students who come through their doors.

“To see that disruptive kid … and after a while being here, helping them say ‘Yes sir’ and ‘No sir,’ and their grades increase—that’s really touching,” he said. “Seeing the kids have purpose and discipline for the first time is really our biggest success.”

With a strong foundation and continued support from the Florida SBDC at PCED, Suncoast Martial Arts Group is planning for growth.

The business hopes to expand its facility and reach more families while also deepening its community engagement through events like Family Night, which brings parents and children together for training and fellowship.

“We gather all the families together, and we have a bonding moment where we work out and connect with one another,” Julee said.

Eric is already working with Schweikowsky on strategies to make expansion a reality.

“I really want to get a bigger spot and a bigger business so we can touch more of the community,” he said. “Debra has already started working with me on the strategy so that can make that goal happen.”

Both Julee and Eric encourage other entrepreneurs to take advantage of resources like the Florida SBDC Network.

“It’s a great resource,” Julee said. “Having a great mentor like Debra is vital for us.”

“I kind of look at Debra as my sensei in the business world,” Eric added. “You need a sensei. No matter how much you know, you need guidance.”

With continued mentorship and a commitment to community, Suncoast Martial Arts Group is poised to keep building strength, both inside and outside the studio.

V-Roll Vietnamese Rolls & Bowls of Pinellas County

At the heart of Pinellas County, V-Roll Vietnamese Rolls & Bowls, is redefining how the community experiences Vietnamese cuisine — blending authenticity, efficiency, and heartfelt tradition into a fast-casual model that is both unique and welcoming.

For business owner, Stephanie Nghiem, this commitment is rooted in a lifelong passion. Inspired by her mother’s deep expression of love through food — lavish family meals filled with multiple dishes — the owner transformed a personal hobby into a thriving business designed to share that same warmth with the community.

“Not many people are used to eating Vietnamese food in a fast casual setting, and this is a different way to serve Vietnamese food in an authentic way still and get you the quality that is still very high with fresh ingredients,” Nghiem said.

As a first-time restaurateur, she turned to the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development and the Florida SBDC at USF for guidance. With the support of business consultants Debra Schweikowsky and Greg Manning, she navigated financing options, developed detailed financial projections, and selected the ideal location after evaluating multiple markets. “It was definitely a journey getting here and doing a lot of planning, a lot of projections, and many meetings in order to get to the spot where we are today,” Nghiem said.

Since opening, the business has grown from five to 14 employees, launched online ordering, and established a strong presence in Gulfport. For Nghiem, success goes beyond growth metrics. “The biggest success so far is opening the restaurant in general, because so many restaurants fail, and especially with the tough economy today, it’s difficult to see small businesses thrive. And so being open for this long, staying open and keeping our head above water is more than I could have asked,” she expressed.

Looking ahead, she plans to continue leveraging SBDC resources to support future expansion. “I don’t see the SBDC as just a benefit for the restaurant, but truly the mentorship that I’ve had from Debra and Greg have been… I really wouldn’t have made [it] as far as I could of without them, and I’m so thankful,” Nghiem said.

Her advice to fellow entrepreneurs? “For other businesses that are starting out and thinking about getting help from the SBDC, for me, it has truly become just an instrumental part in growing this business and in having, the success that I do today… The guidance is not only valuable to me, but for the entire team and for me to grow into more than just one shop,” Nghiem said.

BioTechNMed of Hillsborough County

When Dr. Maryam Alavi founded BioTechNMed, a boutique incubator focused on wellness, healthcare, and biotech life sciences, the vision had been forming for years. “I moved to the U.S. and started my graduate school. From that time, I remember that every month, every week, in [the] lab, I start [thinking]: how about building this product? How about having that? So, I end up making a notebook for myself,” Alavi said. “I always [felt] like my mind gave me [a] million ideas, but [they stayed] in ideation,” she added. After completing her PhD, contributing to cell and gene therapy research at Harvard Medical School and Stony Brook, and later relocating to Florida, she recognized an opportunity to turn innovation into action.

What began as independent consulting evolved into something bigger: an incubator and consulting business designed to help founders bring ideas to market. BioTechNMed supports entrepreneurs from idea validation and formulation to pilot development, brand creation, and commercialization — guiding clients from “innovation to income.”

To make that vision a reality, Dr. Alavi partnered with the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County, working closely with business consultant Barry Haynes. Through strategic guidance, mentorship, and valuable networking opportunities, the Florida SBDC helped her confidently launch and scale her business.

“I want[ed] to build this business, and I didn’t know anything after that. So, the interaction that I had with Barry — you may call it accountable mentor, consultant — but he already knew the roadmap and he took me step-by-step,” Alavi said.

In just two years, BioTechNMed has grown in revenue as well as in its number of clients. “Since the time that I started working with the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County, my business [has] grown from zero, from scratch, to having almost 21 clients in two years — making the revenue close to the six digits,” Alavi said.

The business has also grown from a home office startup to relocating operations. “I ended up moving my office, not only the office, but also the laboratories, to USF CONNECT and right now I’m building a team of five people,” Alavi explained.

Her proudest milestone? “The new phase of being able to have my own laboratory and having this freedom of producing products in house for my clients,” Alavi said with a smile.

As BioTechNMed continues to expand, Dr. Alavi plans to keep the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County by her side. “As I grow my business, [the] Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County… I’m gonna stay with them forever, until the time that I really cannot stay with them, because I’m seeing how much it helped my business.”

Dr.Alavi concludes by sharing a piece of advice to her business owner colleagues regarding the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County: “Don’t hesitate and don’t even wait for one more second, because I’m a good example of the person who really didn’t know anything.”

“They’re very approachable. They even think more about your business than you think about your business… I don’t think you can find this amount of support and help from something outside, from any sort of like business development package outside.”