Florida SBDC at USF personnel win state awards
Florida SBDC at USF (Tampa) – The Florida SBDC at University of South Florida had multiple award winners at the state level, given at the Florida SBDC Network annual conference in Fort Lauderdale, Wednesday, June 13.
This year, the Network honored 10 state employees with Valor awards, for their work during Hurricane Irma recoveries. Kyle King and Michael Noel, business consultants with the Florida SBDC at USF, both won valor awards.
Kyle King
When the State Network office called for volunteers to assist in the relief efforts in the Florida Keys, King answered the call. He served in the Florida Keys Oct. 9-17. King’s dedication and selfless contributions during the aftermath of Hurricane Irma is especially noteworthy given his short time with the Network. “His initiative and commitment to serve FSBDC clients is an example more seasoned FSBDC employees should strive to emulate,” Carl Hadden, Florida SBDC at USF Assistant Director, said. He logged 108.15 hours of Hurricane Irma related consulting via 33 distinct clients. While still supporting the Hurricane Irma recovery efforts with the FSBDC at USF, King, through the Stano Foundation, provided emergency survival backpacks to assist Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. The backpacks were filled with military rations, filtered water bottles, and personal care products. The backpacks represent approximately $7,000 of relief supplies for Puerto Rico.
Michael Noel
Michael Noel worked in a remote satellite office at South Florida State College in Avon Park. Despite being physically disconnected from the regional office and just a few months into his employment, Noel participated in conference calls and webinars to familiarize himself with the Emergency Bridge Loan process. Noel closed $2,753,000 in Emergency Bridge and Citrus Loans.
Noel coordinated Florida SBDC at USF relief efforts with local EDCs and government partners. “His initiative and commitment to serve FSBDC clients is particularly above the call of duty for an FSBDC consultant with only 42 calendar days on the job,” Hadden said. Michael logged 281.3 hours of Hurricane Irma related consulting via 87 distinct clients.
Denise Clemence
Florida SBDC Network Volunteer of the Year – Denise Clemence
Denise Clemence is a lending professional who specializes in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. To date she has helped fund more than $100 million to entrepreneurs in all stages of business. She has volunteered with the Florida SBDC at USF for more than 10 years. since 2010 Clemence has been part of the Florida SBDC at USF Bridge Loan Committee, reviewing loan applications for State of Florida emergency funds after disasters are declared in our region.
Florida SBDC Network Student Project of the Year – Ferrill Construction
In 2017 a student team with five members came together to provide Ferrill Construction Company, LLC with a strategic report that would look at the area’s economic, sociocultural, and competitive environments and their impact on the client. The team dedicated 461 hours to their research and report creation that concluded with a presentation of the 71-page report by the team to the client.
For more information about the Florida SBDC at USF, visit us online 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 emerging and established business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for the state. Since 2011, Florida SBDCs have provided 513,107 hours of consulting to 74,669 client businesses, resulting in 252,955 jobs created, retained and saved; $33.3 billion in sales growth; $2.6 billion in government contract awards; $1.4 billion in capital investments; and 4,159 new businesses started. A statewide network of over 40 centers, 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, with the University of West Florida serving as the network’s headquarters. The Florida SBDC Network is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs. 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.
