Archive for category: Featured Success Stories

Leonora-SAGE Aging Support & Care Coordination of Hillsborough County

When families are faced with the complex challenges of caring for an aging loved one, navigating healthcare systems, coordinating services and making critical decisions can quickly become overwhelming. For Marlene Nicholson, those challenges became personal long before they became professional. Inspired by her own family’s experience and strengthened by guidance from the Florida SBDC at USF, Nicholson launched Leonora-SAGE, an aging support and care coordination practice serving East Pasco County, North Tampa and surrounding communities.

As the founder and owner of Leonora-SAGE, Nicholson works as an Aging Life Care Manager®, helping seniors and their families navigate healthcare, community resources and long-term care planning. The business serves communities including Wesley Chapel, Brooksville, Spring Hill and North Tampa.

Nicholson’s path to entrepreneurship was shaped by both professional expertise and personal experience. A licensed clinical social worker with nearly two decades of experience in case management, discharge planning and utilization review, she recognized a growing need for specialized support for older adults and their caregivers.

“I chose to become an Aging Life Care Manager® primarily after I saw some of the struggles that my mom, myself, my sister were experiencing with my father when it comes to managing his care,” Nicholson said. “I realized there are other families that are experiencing the same challenges, and I would like to be able to be a support and resource for them.”

After learning more about the profession, formerly known as geriatric care management, Nicholson decided to pursue a business that aligned with her passion for helping seniors while allowing her to leverage her years of clinical experience.

As she began turning her vision into reality, Nicholson quickly discovered that launching a business required expertise beyond her clinical background. An SBA lender referred her to David Vargas, business consultant at the Florida SBDC at USF, a connection she says proved invaluable.

“I had a first meeting with him and realized this is a wealth of knowledge and resources,” Nicholson said. “I was able to get a lot of the answers and tailor my big vision into something that is manageable. I can start here and grow into where I initially wanted to work.”

Working alongside Vargas, Nicholson developed a business plan, refined her financial projections and gained access to trusted professional resources that helped establish a strong operational foundation.

“Because I was a clinician for almost 20 years, I have no background in business at all,” she said. “He helped me with developing a business plan, looking at a template and figuring out where do I need to put my business. We worked on the marketing aspect, and he provided resources on marketing, business attorney, and an accountant.”

Since officially opening its doors in February 2025, Leonora-SAGE has focused on creating systems and processes that allow Nicholson to respond quickly to clients and provide personalized support. “Because of the strong foundation, I’ve been able to now have clients calling and families reaching out to me,” Nicholson said. “I have a good system, a solid system, and so I’m able to really be available for my clients.”

One of Nicholson’s proudest accomplishments has been increasing awareness of aging life care management services, which many families are unfamiliar with despite their potential benefits.

“I think my biggest success so far has been just the ability to provide a resource that a lot of people are unaware of,” she said. “I just like being able to be a resource for people. Even if they don’t sign up for care management services, a lot of times I can answer some of the questions and point them in the right direction.”

The practice also supports veterans through the McPherson Fund, a grant program that provides eligible veterans with up to six hours of complimentary care management services. Nicholson believes programs like this help strengthen the community by connecting individuals with resources and guidance they may not otherwise receive.

Looking ahead, Nicholson expects her business to continue growing and plans to maintain a close relationship with the Florida SBDC at USF as new opportunities and challenges emerge.

“I do believe that my services are widely needed, and it’s going to require growth,” she said. “Because I’m more or less a clinician, I do need help with that business aspect. There’s always questions that I have and resources that I may need.”

She anticipates seeking additional guidance in areas such as marketing, human resources and operational growth while continuing to expand her impact throughout the region.

Nicholson also encourages fellow entrepreneurs to take advantage of the no-cost consulting and resources available through the Florida SBDC at USF.

“I think a lot of people are unaware of the Florida SBDC at USF,” she said. “If you’re a small business and you’re unsure and you don’t feel confident, the [consultants] there are warm, friendly and knowledgeable. They will let you know that you’re not alone in this journey. Just don’t give up and make sure you reach out.”

 

Arinc Instruments Inc. of Hillsborough County

For more than two decades, Sammy Cartright built a career developing advanced technologies for some of the nation’s largest defense and aerospace companies. But when he launched Arinc Instruments Inc., his vision extended beyond creating another product for the market. He wanted to solve problems that had long challenged the aerospace industry.

Today, the Florida-based startup is gaining traction with innovative avionics technology while leveraging the guidance and connections provided by the Florida APEX Accelerator at Pinellas County Economic Development to expand its reach and capabilities.

“We were aiming at creating a product that actually helps other aerospace products regardless of the platform,” Cartright said. “A product that does a lot of different things.”

Unlike many startups that begin with outside investment, Arinc Instruments was launched without investor backing. To generate revenue while developing its technology, the company initially provided engineering services to organizations awarded federal Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, contracts.

Over time, those efforts helped support the development of the company’s own product line. Today, Arinc Instruments manufactures a ground support station product that is already being sold commercially and is preparing to introduce a flight-certified version attracting significant interest from military and aerospace organizations.

Cartright describes the company’s technology as a versatile solution designed to help aircraft operators modernize existing systems without replacing expensive equipment.

One example is flight data recorders. When operators need to add new sensors or capabilities, existing recorders often lack sufficient inputs, forcing costly equipment replacements. Arinc Instruments’ technology provides a way to expand those capabilities while preserving current systems.

“With Arinc Instruments’ product, you can actually put in our products. It will allow the flight recorder to connect to a lot more inputs than it already has,” Cartright said. “You can preserve your existing avionics, preserve your existing products, and actually grow it without throwing it away.”

While building cutting-edge technology comes naturally to Cartright, navigating government contracting and business development required additional support.

“As an entrepreneur, I’m very technical. I’m not as much of a businessperson,” he said. “I rely on the Florida APEX Accelerator to actually help me along with that.”

Working closely with APEX Accelerator consultant Yolanda Goodloe, Cartright gained access to resources and opportunities that would have been difficult for a small company to find independently. The assistance helped Arinc Instruments identify government contracting opportunities, locate regional manufacturers and connect with organizations that support innovation and technology commercialization.

“The business has made some great advancement working with the Florida APEX Accelerator at Pinellas County Economic Development,” Cartright said.

One of the most valuable benefits has been the ability to tap into local manufacturing resources. “If you’re running a small business, you are focused on the technology, especially if you’re making something new,” Cartright said. “The APEX Accelerator has allowed us to get manufacturers and resources around the area for that purpose.”

The organization also facilitated introductions to regional innovation partners, including the USF Institute of Applied Engineering and the Florida High Tech Corridor, helping the company identify additional services, quotes, and technical resources to support its growth.

“I think our biggest success has been perseverance,” Cartright said. “We have produced a product that is very innovative, a product that has multi-use.”

The company’s achievements have already drawn industry attention. Cartright noted that Arinc Instruments was featured in an avionics industry publication for its novel approach to solving longstanding technical challenges.

“When they look around, most companies are doing pretty much the same thing or slightly different versions of the same thing, where we came up and did something completely new,” he said.

As Arinc Instruments continues to grow, Cartright sees the Florida APEX Accelerator as an ongoing strategic partner. Current efforts are focused on connecting the company with engineers, technical specialists and decision-makers who best understand the value of the company’s technology.

“Moving forward, the Florida APEX Accelerator and Pinellas County Economic Development will be used in every possible way we can because they are valuable resources, they have valuable connections and they’re local,” Cartright said.

For other entrepreneurs considering government contracting or looking to accelerate growth, Cartright’s advice is simple: engage early. “You should engage as early as you can,” he said. “The earlier you do this, the better it is for you because they can get you connected to the right people.”

My Gym South Tampa of Hillsborough County

For Amy Morin and Laura Loshin, opening My Gym South Tampa was more than a business opportunity. It was a chance to bring a program they personally believed in to families throughout the community. The co-owners launched the children’s fitness franchise after seeing firsthand how the program benefited their own families.

Today, the South Tampa facility offers age-appropriate classes for children from as young as 2 months through 10 years old, focusing on motor skills, coordination, confidence and social development.

My Gym South Tampa is also a Step Up for Students marketplace provider, which opens their services up to more students, especially families who utilize the state scholarship system are able to pay for services through their EMA portal.

“We started out actually as customers ourselves,” said Morin. “I have a three-year-old and a six-year-old, and I started out as a My Gym parent, and I saw my children flourish, make friends, grow in confidence. We love the programming so much that we decided to bring it to the South Tampa community and plant our roots there.”

Morin and Loshin, who are neighbors and share connections through their church and local fitness community, both dreamed of owning a business someday. As working mothers and career professionals, they searched for an opportunity that aligned with their values and interests. “We just kept coming back to something that really resonated with us, which was fitness and fun,” Loshin said. “We found My Gym, and it’s the perfect combination of creativity, fun and fitness that really spoke to both of us and how we live our lives, but what we also want to bring to our community.”

Like many entrepreneurs, turning an idea into a viable business required careful planning, financing and expert guidance. That’s where the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of South Florida (USF) stepped in.

Early in the process, the pair worked closely with Florida SBDC at USF business consultant Brad Owens to develop a business plan, refine their financial projections and prepare for conversations with lenders. “He helped us come up with the best way to introduce ourselves, make a business plan and explain our financials to people that were not familiar with our concept,” Loshin said. “Brad has been amazing to work with. He went above and beyond, having several meetings with us so we would feel confident when we started talking to lenders.”

Owens also facilitated a critical introduction to a lender that ultimately helped the owners secure SBA financing for the project. “He even helped us make an introduction to a lender that ended up being the final one we chose, and they chose us to move forward in the SBA loan process,” Loshin said.

With financing in place, Morin and Loshin were able to transform their vision into reality. What began as an idea on paper became a fully operational children’s fitness center housed in a renovated former pharmacy. “Since we started working with the Florida SBDC at USF and Brad, we were able to really start building our business and we took it from just an idea on paper and turned an old pharmacy into this beautiful facility,” Morin said.

The Florida SBDC at USF’s support extended beyond startup planning and financing. The owners also tapped into the organization’s network for marketing guidance and referrals, ultimately connecting with a marketing firm that helped strengthen their social media presence and generate new leads.

“We also used the SBDC to get advice for marketing firms,” Morin said. “We are partnered with a LocalIQ marketing firm who has done all of our social media posts and really helps grow our leads and our customer base. We can’t be more grateful for all the help and support we’ve received from everyone at the SBDC at USF.”

As the business has grown, one of the owners’ proudest accomplishments has been building a team committed to serving both children and parents. “Our biggest success as My Gym South Tampa has been hiring an amazing team of coaches and teachers,” Loshin said. “Not only do they love children, but they love creating a community for moms that come with their little ones here to use our facilities.”

Looking ahead, Morin and Loshin have ambitious plans. While their immediate focus remains on growing the South Tampa location and delivering exceptional customer experiences, they hope to eventually expand elsewhere in the Tampa Bay region. “We would love to open up another location in Tampa Bay, closer to Brandon or Riverview down the line,” Morin said. “Right now, we’re just trying to make this one as successful and grow it as much as possible and have an amazing customer experience.”

The owners credit the Florida SBDC at USF as a valuable partner throughout their entrepreneurial journey and encourage other aspiring business owners to take advantage of its services.

“SBDC is amazing to work with,” Loshin said. “I would use them from the beginning of an idea that you’re thinking about opening a business all the way through full implementation and execution on any business plan you want to implement.”

HighTide Intelligence of Polk County

When Adrian Santiago Tate left Stanford University in 2020 to launch a flood risk technology company, the journey back to Florida was anything but smooth. His aging Subaru broke down multiple times during a cross-country drive in the early days of the pandemic, and he arrived at his mother’s home with little more than an ambitious vision and determination to make it work.

Today, that vision has become HighTide, a Florida-based flood risk data company helping communities, governments and organizations better understand and prepare for rising flood threats. Founded by Adrian Santiago Tate and Noah Dewar, HighTide combines advanced geospatial technology and data science to help decision-makers manage flood risk. The company’s mission is straightforward but significant. “Our mission is to accelerate flood adaptation with data-driven technology,” Dewar said.

The company was born from a desire to help communities confront one of the world’s most pressing challenges. “Flooding is one of the biggest problems that the world will face in the coming decades,” Santiago Tate said. “Millions of people around the world are going to have to grapple with that and make tough decisions. We’re trying to make the data that they need to make those decisions readily available so that they can not lose everything to a flood.”

The company’s commitment to public access led to the development of Arkly, a platform that makes flood-related data available online at no cost.

For Dewar, solving complex challenges is what drives the business. “I just really love to solve hard problems, and flooding at scale is one of the hardest problems there is,” he said. “We don’t just want to solve a problem and make money. We want to do something that matters.”

As the company began exploring growth opportunities, the founders turned to the Florida SBDC at USF for guidance, where they connected with International Trade Specialist, Selma Canas.

“We reached out to Florida SBDC at USF at first to get help with procurement in other markets, which is the main question mark that I had,” Santiago Tate said. “Then beyond that, we learned about the grant that was available for businesses to begin exploring exporting and also received the export marketing plan, which gave us some pretty insightful information about the market that we were interested in.”

Through assistance from the Florida SBDC at USF and support from the State Trade Expansion Program, or STEP grant, HighTide began laying the groundwork for international expansion.

Santiago Tate used the STEP grant to travel to Bogotá, Colombia, where he presented at the AmeriGeo conference and connected with government officials, academics and infrastructure professionals from across South America. “Thanks to this grant, we started that process, and we’ve connected with a lot of folks, and we’re well underway,” he said.

The international focus aligns closely with the company’s mission. While Florida remains HighTide’s largest market, the founders see opportunities to address flood-related challenges in regions where communities often lack access to sophisticated planning tools.

“South America has a huge number of people who are exposed to flooding, and they don’t necessarily have the resources to develop solutions for this themselves,” Dewar said. “We’re able to do this because we are mission-driven.”

The founders credit Florida as an ideal proving ground for their technology.

“Florida is the place where we’re dealing with a lot of these issues for the first time,” Santiago Tate said. “We’ve been on the ground through that process from early on and have built our software around making that entire process very scalable, so we can then take it to Georgia, to South Carolina, we can take it to Colombia. Really, anywhere in the world could benefit from the problems that we’re solving here in Florida.”

The company’s growth has already produced significant milestones. HighTide is currently working for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to modernize how the state manages critical environmental asset data.

“It’s contracting with the state to help them clean up and really bring into the twenty-first century the process of managing critical asset data in Florida,” Dewar said.

The company is also collaborating with researchers at Stanford University on a project funded through the university’s Sustainability Accelerator that examines how satellite-derived land movement data can be integrated into flood risk management workflows.

Reflecting on the support he received, Santiago Tate says one of the greatest benefits of working with the Florida SBDC at USF was access to knowledgeable consultants.

“I honestly felt that I had just left Stanford. I know everything,” Santiago Tate said with a laugh. “Then all of a sudden I’m very lost. I actually don’t know anything about government procurement. Knowing that there’s a resource there where there are people that actually really know their stuff, and that all the advice I’ve gotten so far has been on point, that’s extremely helpful.”

For entrepreneurs considering seeking assistance, both founders have a simple message. “It’s a great resource that should be utilized,” Santiago Tate said.

“When you’re starting something, you can very quickly get lost,” Dewar said. “The Florida SBDC at USF is very good for this because there are people who can answer your questions, but they can also help you understand what questions you should be asking.”

For HighTide, those answers have helped transform a startup born during a global pandemic into a growing Florida company with ambitions that reach far beyond state lines.

C&B Wellness Studio & Café Inc. of Polk County

What started as an idea inspired by the desire to help women prioritize themselves has become a reality for Ashley Miller, founder of C&B Wellness Studio & Cafe, a new wellness-focused business in downtown Haines City.

Created as a welcoming environment where women can focus on both physical and mental well-being, C&B Wellness Studio & Cafe offers a variety of fitness and wellness services designed to help women recharge amid the demands of everyday life.

“So as women, we’re mothers, we’re wives, we’re sisters, we’re friends, and while we’re pouring into everyone, we’re not pouring enough into ourselves,” Miller said. “I wanted to create a safe space where they can work on not just their wellness, but their mental health. This is a safe space from their home that they can come to and just really relax.”

The studio features Pilates reformer classes, mat Pilates, yoga, Zumba and twerk fitness. In addition to its fitness offerings, the business includes a cafe component that will serve coffee, protein shakes and other beverages.

As Miller transitioned from corporate America to entrepreneurship, she found guidance and support through the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of South Florida.

Working with Florida SBDC at USF business consultant Randy Hayes, Miller received assistance navigating every stage of the startup process, from establishing the business structure to developing a plan for growth.

“Florida SBDC at USF has been phenomenal,” Miller said. “Randy Hayes really guided me through this whole transition of leaving corporate and becoming a business owner. He was able to provide me with tools and resources I did not know were out there. It was a lot of handholding, and I was appreciative of the time that he took out for me.”

Hayes helped Miller formalize her business concept, register the company and secure the necessary business credentials. During that process, he also encouraged her to define the story behind the business.

Miller explained that the name C&B Wellness reflects a personal legacy. “C and B are the last names of my two boys, Clark and Blanc,” she said. “I wanted something that can be a legacy impact that has my boys’ last name.”

Beyond helping establish the business, Hayes connected Miller with resources that proved critical to launching the studio, including referrals to a commercial realtor who helped her secure a 2,000-square-foot location in downtown Haines City.

Once the location was secured, Hayes worked with Miller to develop financial projections, discuss operational goals and prepare for opening day. “He asked me a lot of hard questions, but he made me feel very comfortable when he asked those questions,” Miller said. “It really guided me and let me know exactly what it is to be a business owner.”

Throughout the process, Miller also received assistance with opening a business bank account, connecting with local networking opportunities and identifying contractors needed to complete the buildout. Most recently, Hayes has helped Miller navigate licensing requirements for the cafe portion of the business.

For Miller, successfully launching C&B Wellness Studio & Cafe is already a major accomplishment. Like many first-time entrepreneurs, she faced uncertainty as she invested personal savings and worked to transform her vision into a sustainable business.

“My biggest success so far is just really getting C&B off the ground,” she said. “As a small business owner, you’re frightened with what’s to come. You’re probably taking from your savings, and that’s something your family relies on.”

Today, Miller is focused on building an inclusive community where people feel welcomed regardless of their background or fitness level. “I want all shapes, sizes, colors, wherever you’re from, to come here because this is a safe space,” she said. “This is a wellness studio that is not a mean-girl studio.”

Looking ahead, Miller hopes her entrepreneurial journey inspires others to pursue their own business dreams and take advantage of the no-cost consulting services available through the Florida SBDC at USF. “When Randy and I met, I had an idea. I had a thought process, and he was really able to assist me with making that dream a reality,” she said. “Even if it’s an idea, that idea can blossom into more and really show you that it can become reality.”

Miller encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to seek support and mentorship as they begin their business journeys. “Florida SBDC at USF is really a partner,” she said. “It’s a free service that they really pour into you. If you don’t have friends, family members or mentors that can assist you, you definitely have a consultant that believes in your dreams and will really assist you in being more as a small business owner.”