Florida SBDC Network Announces 2024 State Performance Excellence Award Winners
TAMPA (August 22, 2024) – The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network announced its 2024 State Performance Awards on August 21, during the 2024 Florida SBDC Network Annual Conference. The event was held at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. State award winners from the Florida SBDC at USF region were acknowledged in multiple categories including, Region of the Year, Florida State Star of the Year Award, Capital Access Lifetime Achievement Awards, Laura Subel Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Florida Student Graduate Project of the Year Award.
“Throughout the year, I’ve witnessed the unwavering dedication of the Florida SBDC at USF team as they support our business community and boost our local economies,” Carl Hadden, regional director of the Florida SBDC at USF said. “Attending the Florida SBDC Network Awards is truly inspiring, as it celebrates the remarkable achievements of my colleagues, from years of service to lifetime achievements, and student projects. I am honored to work alongside such passionate and professional individuals and partner organizations who strive for excellence every day.”
SBDC Region of the Year Award: Florida SBDC at USF
The Florida SBDC at University of South Florida (USF) has been awarded the Region of the Year Award. As Florida’s trusted principal provider of business assistance, Florida SBDC helps small businesses launch, grow, and thrive through expertise, resources and advocacy. Serving Desoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota Counties, the Florida SBDC at USF region delivered substantial consulting and training services in 2023 that resulted in a significant return on investment. Professionally certified business consultants delivered 21,481 hours of consulting to 3,401 entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Florida State Star of the Year: Yolanda Goodloe
Yolanda Goodloe is a government contracting consultant at the Florida APEX Accelerator at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED). During the awards luncheon at the Florida SBDC Network’s Annual Conference, Goodloe was awarded the Florida Star of the Year Award for helping Florida small businesses access substantial amounts of capital. With a remarkable 14-year journey marked by unparalleled dedication and expertise, consistently exceeding expectations and driving substantial results. Moreover, her expertise in government contracting has opened doors for businesses, resulting in a total of $127,267,600.09 in government contracts secured. With 21 businesses successfully launched under her guidance, Goodloe’s time as a business consultant embodies the essence of fostering entrepreneurship and driving sustainable economic growth within the Florida SBDC Network.
Capital Access Lifetime Achievement Award: Selma Canas
Selma Canas is a Florida SBDC at USF business consultant and international trade specialist. During the awards luncheon at the Florida SBDC Network’s Annual Conference, Canas was awarded the Capital Access Lifetime Achievement Award for helping Florida small businesses access more than $50 million in capital in 2023. Canas is a NASBITE International Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) and teaches courses on international trade basics and market research at the Florida SBDC at USF. For export-ready companies, she develops Export Marketing Plans in partnership with SelectFlorida. She has developed more than 40 plans during the past eight years and participated in trade missions to Brazil, Chile, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and Panama.
Laura Subel Lifetime Achievement Award: Janette Blanco
Janette Blanco serves as an assistant director at the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County. During the awards luncheon at the Florida SBDC Network’s Annual Conference, Blanco was awarded the Laura Subel Lifetime Achievement Award for helping Florida small businesses obtain more than $50 million in government contracts. In addition to her procurement expertise, Blanco 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.
Laura Subel Lifetime Achievement Award: Karen Krymski
Karen Krymski serves as a government contracting consultant for the Florida APEX Accelerator at USF. During the awards luncheon at the Florida SBDC Network’s Annual Conference, Krymski was awarded the Laura Subel Lifetime Achievement Award for helping Florida small businesses obtain more than $50 million in government contracts. Krymski assists clients in data driven identification of potential government clients, identifying contracting vehicles that may or may not be available to them and how that may impact their federal marketing, understanding relationship building in the agencies and how that influences contracting, and explaining teaming and sub-contracting and how to work with prime contractors. She has helped clients secure more than $250M over the course of her Florida APEX Accelerator at USF career, thus far.
Florida Graduate Student Team Project of the Year: Dinner Done!
University of Tampa graduate students Alberto A. Contreras, Michael Pettijohn, Samuel J. Akers, Yaridis L. Garcia, and Juan Fernandez Garcia-Barrero in collaboration with Dinner Done!, led by Audra and Daniel Nasser, were awarded the Florida Graduate Student Team Project of the Year Award during the Florida SBDC Network’s Annual Conference this year. Tasked with navigating the competitive landscape of shippable food products and ready-to-cook meals, the team invested over 540 hours into market research and strategic planning. Their efforts culminated in four key recommendations: strengthening organizational infrastructure, implementing a value-based pricing strategy, redefining brand identity, and optimizing customer relationship management. Through their dedication and expertise, these students have left an indelible mark on Dinner Done!’s growth trajectory.
Service Year Awards: Debra Schweikowsky and Scott Carpenter
Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) business consultant, Debra Schweikowsky, and Florida SBDC at USF business consultant, Scott Carpenter, were also recognized with service year awards for their five years of hard work and commitment to the Florida SBDC Network.
Media Contact: Stephanie Ordonez, ordonez25@usf.edu
About the Florida SBDC at USF
The Florida SBDC at USF helps create a better Florida for all by providing businesses the expertise and resources needed to succeed and grow. 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 lead host institution. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals.
