Two Florida SBDC at USF consultants to serve USF Connect
February 24, 2014
Editor’s Note (February 19, 2018: To view the current schedule for consulting as well as available consultants within the Florida SBDC at USF region, visit the Locations page.)
TAMPA – The Florida SBDC at University of South Florida has added two certified business consultants to its staff, to serve USF Connect. The FSBDC assists existing and emerging businesses through no-cost business consulting and low-cost training opportunities.
Christopher Class has more than 16 years of industry experience working with global brands in financial and legal services, healthcare, and fashion retail management. Class was an eCommerce project manager at PSCU, a leading credit union service provider, where he led more than 150 project implementations averaging a top Net Promoter Score of 81%. In addition, he also was the systems administrator for PICA Corporation, a loss prevention consulting company, where he implemented a management information systems project and led global teams within the regions of the domestic United States, Latin America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. He acted as a technology consultant for White House | Black Market, where he managed the migration of their technical specifications information systems. In his early years, he worked with Radiology & Nuclear Medicine Associates and Hollymount Diabetic Supply Company as a special projects manager to align multiple business units improving their interdepartmental communications, processes, and customer experience. Class holds a master’s from Colorado Technical University, a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from St. Petersburg College, and a bachelor’s in political science from the University of South Florida.
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Jim Taylor, a full-time certified business consultant, has 20 years of as an entrepreneur. He owned a venture capital software firm, partnered in a venture capital funded investment management firm, consulted and instructed other entrepreneurs, and developed several products with patent and intellectual property partners. Taylor has several years of experience with Big-4 consulting firms, has held multiple positions as a bank officer, and was a professional portfolio and mutual fund manager. His broad range of experience allows him to work with clients in finance, management, valuation, marketing, human resources, start-up, business development, risk management, and strategic business planning. Jim earned a bachelor’s in management from the University of Pittsburgh and holds a master’s in finance from Duquesne University. In 2001 he was named winner of the Enterprize Pittsburgh Business Plan Competition and was awarded a scholarship from the Pittsburgh High Technology Council to Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper Graduate School for a Certificate in Entrepreneurship. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of South Florida, researching a dissertation on Entrepreneurship Education.
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This new partnership was made possible, in part, due to collaboration with the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. To schedule an appointment with a consultant or find more information, visit the Florida SBDC at USF online at www.SBDCTampaBay.com or call 813.974.5238.
