Florida SBDC at USF Announces Regional Award Winners
TAMPA, FL (July 30, 2021) – The Florida SBDC at University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business hosted the 2021 Performance Awards Celebration Luncheon at Armature Works today to honor its regional award winners.
The Florida SBDC at USF announced the following award winners:
- Performance Excellence of the Year – Bill Burnham
- Volunteer of the Year – Dr. Mary Armstrong
- Student Project of the Year – eSmart Recycling, Inc. (Tony Selvaggio and University of Tampa)
- Outstanding Resource Partner of the Year – Manatee County Economic Development (Ruth Buchanan and Bruno Kapacinskas)
- Game Changer of the Year Nominee – The Elf Network (Stacey Dadd, Eileen Rodriguez, Yanina Rosario, Shaunda Wickham)
“It’s been a long, hard year and a half due to COVID-19,” Interim Associate Director, Stacey Dadd, said. “We are proud to finally have the chance to recognize these individuals for all of the hard work that’s been done in the past two years. They have accomplished some amazing things in that time and Tampa Bay’s small businesses are better for their dedication and hard work.”
The Florida SBDC at USF did not have awards in 2020, due to COVID-19.
The Florida SBDC at USF Performance Awards winners advance to the state-level awards for the Florida SBDC Network. State winners will be announced at the Florida SBDC Network’s virtual awards celebration, on August 24.
In addition to recognizing the above award winners, the luncheon also served as a celebration of regional director, Eileen Rodriguez, who is retiring effective August 6, after 24 years of service to USF.
The Florida SBDC at USF assists existing and emerging businesses in the 10-county Tampa Bay region, through no-cost confidential business consulting, information, and low-cost training. Learn more about the available services for businesses at SBDCTampaBay.com.
About the Florida SBDC Network:
For over forty years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy. Since 2011, Florida SBDCs have provided 624,331 hours of professional business consulting to 58,975 client businesses, resulting in 281,831 jobs impacted; $36.7 billion in sales generated; $2.7 billion in government contracts acquired; $1.6 billion in capital accessed; and 4,520 new businesses started. A statewide network of over 40 offices, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a 2016 recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.
