Archive for category: Featured Success Stories

Mijan Construction, LLC of Hillsborough County

For Charles Jackson, business owner of Mijan Construction, LLC, a Florida-based licensed general contractor, construction isn’t just a career — it’s a lifelong passion. “I chose to launch this business because I like construction,” Jackson shared. “I’ve been in construction pretty much my whole life. My technical background is in construction. I did construction in the military, and I got out of the military and was doing construction. So I love it,” he added.

Since incorporating in April 2010, the company has focused primarily on K-12 and higher education clients, while now expanding into federal government and healthcare sectors. Early on, the Florida SBDC at USF played a critical role in helping the business establish a strong foundation. With support from business consultant Brad Owens, the firm received guidance on registrations, certifications, and financial strategy.

“I’ve used the information that we learned from the [Florida] SBDC at USF primarily because it helped us start our business when we first started,” Jackson said. “I found [the] SBDC to be instrumental in getting you all the things you need to kinda help your business get formulated as far as registrations, getting certifications, getting financial information, knowing how to talk to the people that you need to, to get information to help your business,” he added.

That guidance led to measurable growth. By working with the SBDC team to develop financial projections and strengthen its financial position, the company increased its bonding capacity from $1 million to $5 million — unlocking access to larger contracts and boosting client confidence. “Mijan Construction has grown immensely in working with the SBDC at USF because we were able to first of all, get in the financial position to find out what is needed to get a loan, a line of credit. The biggest piece was we were able to work with Brad and SBDC because they helped us put together our projections and it launched us to grow from $1 million in bond capacity to $5 million. And that $5 million bond capacity put us in a whole other space as far as getting revenue,” Jackson explained.

The firm has since grown from $500,000 projects to multimillion-dollar opportunities and earned regional recognition as one of the top small businesses in the Tampa Bay area. “In addition to the SBDC, our information that we learned as a small business company with the Minority Accelerator Program out of the [Tampa Bay] Chamber, matching those two pieces, it helped us get recognition and we launched to be one of the top five companies as a small business company with five to 20 employees in the whole Tampa Bay area,” Jackson said.

Moving ahead, business success looks promising for Mijan Construction, “The next step for us in using the SBDC at USF is to be able to grow — we went from $1 million to $5 million in bond capacity. Now we’re trying to prepare and get ready for it to go to $10 million and meeting with Karen and [the Florida] APEX [Accelerator]. They’re preparing us to be able to have conversations with core engineers,” the business owner explained.

Jackson concludes with his plans to continue leveraging SBDC expertise and encourages other entrepreneurs to do the same: “I would tell any person that wants to start a business, grow their business, know more about their business, to look to the [Florida] SBDC at USF because they are the catalyst, I would say, to provide you with all the information you need.”

Mentoring & Services, Inc. dba Mastery Coffee of Hillsborough County

In the heart of Downtown Tampa, Mastery Coffee is redefining what it means to enjoy a cup of coffee. What began as a simple mobile setup by business owner, Nestor Ramirez, and his family has grown into a thriving specialty coffee business that delivers not just beverages — but an immersive cultural experience rooted in Colombian coffee traditions.

Driven by a passion for quality and education, the Ramirez launched the business to bridge the gap between commercial coffee and true specialty coffee. “When I make the specialty coffee and explain I explain to you about the make, the farm to the cup, and explain what you [are] feeling in your senses, in your mouth, it’s a total difference,” he shares.

His mission is clear: teach customers how to appreciate high-quality coffee while offering insights to aspiring entrepreneurs.

With guidance from Florida SBDC at USF Business Consultant Pablo Arroyo, the owner received critical support in navigating startup logistics, laws, and regulations.

“The information from Pablo and from SBDC is very important for me,” Ramirez said. “When I meet with Pablo, the best information for me is the business plan, how [to] expand my business according [to] the business[es] around, studies about the coffee in the country, the numbers is very important, and how much people [are] coming [for] the best coffee,” he says.

Starting with just a table, the entrepreneur leveraged SBDC networking opportunities to build momentum. “My business grows with the help of [Florida] SBDC [at] USF because when I start, I start in only [with] a table and remember [my] first event was in Florida SBDC of Tampa. I attended more than 15 [people] in networking,” Ramirez said.

Today, the business operates two fully equipped coffee trucks, participates in events across Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties, and has expanded its reach to obtain three partnerships with local businesses.

“In this moment I have three partnerships working with me, I make different events, last October, I bought another truck,” Ramirez said. From sporting events to corporate gatherings, demand continues to grow through strong community engagement and online visibility.

For this business owner, success is measured in customer satisfaction: “My biggest success is when the people appreciate about the drinks, about the service, about the coffee. When I receive your feedback and you discover that it’s good coffee, it’s for me the best reward.”

As he looks ahead, he remains committed to working with the Florida SBDC at USF and encourages other entrepreneurs to take advantage of its resources to turn passion into sustainable success.

“For the different entrepreneurs that want to start a business, I think that the [Florida] SBDC at the USF is a good way. Most important[ly] it’s free, [you] don’t pay nothing for their help, it’s true, not a scam… the [Florida] SBDC at USF is true, [it’s] help, and the people is always ready for help you,” Ramirez concluded.

Build it Brit, Inc. of Hillsborough County

Founded with a mission to break barriers in the construction industry, Build It Brit, Inc., a Tampa-based licensed general contracting company is proving that women can lead and excel in a traditionally male-dominated field. Over the last five years, business owner, Britney Mroczkowski, and her team have steadily grown the woman-owned business’ reputation in commercial and municipal construction while building strong partnerships across the region.

“I really wanted to start a construction company that was 100% women-owned so that I could show the next generation of women that they could also excel in a male dominated field,” said the business owner.

Together with her team, the company combines expertise in commercial construction, development, and luxury real estate to deliver high-quality projects for clients throughout Florida.

As the company expanded into municipal construction, they turned to the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County for guidance. Working with business consultant Retta Parsons, the team refined its business planning efforts and strengthened internal processes. “Retta’s consultation has been extraordinary,” Mroczkowski shared. “Retta was our guide to opening our eyes to how we expand further and truly started thinking about things like policies and procedures — what we need to start asking our subs that we were not currently asking.”

Since receiving consulting support, the company has secured more municipal projects, including courthouse and election supervisor projects, while also cultivating valuable industry relationships.

One of its biggest accomplishments has been building four Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming franchise locations for different franchise owners nationwide. “I think one of the biggest successes we’ve had so far is that we’ve cultivated relationships with several brands and several companies. We are now building our fourth Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming franchise, which is a national brand. And even though we’ve done such a good job for them that we’ve won four different locations. Each of those locations had a different franchisee and a different owner,” Mroczkowski said.

“We still had to qualify, win the job, and show our excellence to them. We also have worked extremely hard for a large national general contractor, and yes, we are a GC ourselves, but this national GC has really taken a relationship with us to be one of their subcontractors in the area,” Mroczkowski added.

Moving forward, the business owner expresses how they will continue using the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County for various services. “As we continue to grow our business, we’re always going to be partners with the SBDC in Hillsborough County,” Mroczkowski said.

“Retta consistently tells us about events we need to go to, people we should meet, other subcontractors, and she is very well connected in the industry to where she’s just happy to make connections and let us take it from there and we’ll continue to have that relationship going forward,” she added.

When asked what advice she would give to small business owners looking for business help, Mroczkowski said, “Take advantage of this free program. It costs you nothing and it’s so valuable. The knowledge, the steps, the ideas, even if you’re an existing business like we were, she opened our eyes to things we had not thought of and really pushed me as a business owner to start working on things for the next steps and expansion. She not only worked with me, but worked with our entire team, including Larry, our director of construction, and Pam, our project manager, to help cultivate that and grow our team for the next level of success.”

Today, the thriving company continues to expand its reach, strengthen partnerships, and pursue new opportunities with confidence, crediting the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County as an important resource in its continued growth and success.

IQ+ Cabinetry of Hillsborough County

What began as an unexpected opportunity for Carolina Ojeda and her husband, has grown into a thriving cabinetry manufacturing and remodeling business, specializing in custom cabinets, countertops, and closets. Using skilled local carpentry, IQ+ Cabinetry successfully produces custom cabinetry and millwork while also providing remodeling services and wholesale closet manufacturing to the Tampa Bay region.

The business owners did not originally plan to enter the industry. Instead, the opportunity emerged through a mentor who introduced them to the cabinet business through wholesaling. Over time, they discovered limitations in that model and decided to expand into manufacturing to gain greater creative and operational control.

Today, the owners take pride in transforming raw materials into high-quality finished products. “What excites me most about the manufacturing side of our business is the transformation process. Starting with a raw piece of wood and seeing what it can become is incredibly rewarding,” Ojeda explained. “We first visualize the project through renderings and then bring it to life using our equipment and machinery. Seeing the final product completed is truly amazing,” she added.

As they worked to grow their company, the owners turned to the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County for guidance. With support from business consultant, Janette Blanco, they explored new ideas and strategies to expand their services and streamline their operations.

“My Florida SBDC consultant, Janette Blanco, has been instrumental in our growth,” Ojeda said. “Since we began working with the SBDC, we have seen a clear difference in how our business operates. They helped us streamline our processes and focus on hiring the right personnel to support our expansion.”

Ojeda went on to explain how Blanco’s guidance led the business to implement technology and seek funding that ultimately benefits the company as well as their clients. “We are currently implementing AI tools to automate certain processes and improve efficiency in how we serve our clients. The SBDC has also helped us strengthen our financial position, allowing us to pursue the commercial contracts we have been working toward,” she added.

Through networking opportunities and strategic guidance, the company also achieved a major milestone — partnering with a local general contractor to secure a government contract for millwork and cabinetry at the Pat Frank Courthouse. “The SBDC has helped us achieve one of the main goals that we had, and Janette obviously, helped create this opportunity by partnering with a local general contractor, obtaining a government contract to do the millwork at the Pat Frank Courthouse. It was not only millwork, but it was also our standard cabinetry work. This was definitely new, but it was something that we wanted to get into and we were able to achieve that goal,” Ojeda said.

When asked what advice she would give to other small business owners, Ojeda said, “I always recommend the SBDC to other business owners. It is an excellent resource for anyone looking to grow their business, improve operations, and reach their goals. Their guidance can help you build the business you envision.”

Today, the business continues to grow with new opportunities, demonstrating how craftsmanship, vision, and expert guidance can transform a small business into a flourishing enterprise.

Armadillo Travel Adventures of Hillsborough County

For Kim Hilsabeck, owner of Armadillo Travel Adventures, a flourishing full-service travel company helping clients “explore the world one adventure at a time” isn’t just a job—it’s a lifelong passion. From booking airfare and hotels to coordinating tours, cruises, and rental cars, she guides travelers through unforgettable experiences across the globe.

Travel has always been part of Hilsabeck’s life, but it wasn’t until a transformative two-week trip to Iceland with her sister and friends that her entrepreneurial journey truly began. Tasked with planning the entire adventure—from lodging to car rentals— Hilsabeck realized mid-trip that she had found her calling. “About three quarters of the way around the country, I said, I’m going to be a travel agent. I can do this. And two weeks later, I was in business,” Hilsabeck said with a smile.

Starting a business, however, came with challenges. That’s when she connected with the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County and business consultant Retta Parsons. “Retta and I worked on budgeting, expenses, marketing, branding—pretty much the whole thing,” Hilsabeck said.

“I had never had a business before and jumped in headfirst. Retta helped me recognize the outline of what I needed to do next, how to track things, and making sure I had a good bookkeeper,” Hilsabeck said. “Every time I take a suggestion, she gives me, I implement it, and bam, then I get more business. So it’s been a fantastic relationship and I I’m really looking forward to continuing on over the next several months into the year,” she added.

The results speak for themselves. Hilsabecks’s net income grew from just over $8,000 last year to an expected $27,000 this year, with projections to double—or even triple—next year. “Just growing by leaps and bounds, and I’m so very excited that I could make this my career as I go into my late fifties,” she said when speaking about her business growth.

With the help of her community and her business consultant, Hilsabeck’s business has flourished quickly. Thus, she attributes much of her success to the support she received in the beginning of it all. “Having that support between the Temple Terrace Uptown Chamber and the [Florida] SBDC [at Hillsborough County] has just really been one of the catalysts that has truly helped my business grow,” Hilsabeck said.

Her biggest success? “Transitioning from a full-time corporate employee to a full-service entrepreneur. It’s a great accomplishment in being able to have the passion for what you do, and love what you do,” Hilsabeck explained.

Her advice to other small business owners: “I would tell my friends that are small business owners, just do it. There is no harm, no foul, no fee to use the [Florida] SBDC. They are there to help you, guide you, help your business grow and do everything to support you, to make your journey what you want it to be. You have to use the tools. They can give it to you, but if you don’t use it, then it’s not gonna help you. But the SBDC is there to guide you and I have benefited and it’s the best thing that I could have ever done,” Hilsabeck concluded.