Winners announced at Florida SBDC at USF Performance Excellence Awards

TAMPA (June 9, 2015) – The Florida SBDC at University of South Florida recently recognized the Outstanding Resource Partner of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Consultant of the Year and Employee of the Year, at the Performance Excellence Awards luncheon, held in Tampa on June 5.

The Florida SBDC at USF provides no-cost consulting, low-cost training and information to thousands of business owners each year, helping them to grow and succeed.

CareerSource Suncoast was recognized as the Outstanding Resource Partner of the Year. Since February 2014, CareerSource Suncoast has been an integral partner for the Florida SBDC at USF Sarasota-Manatee. They provide no-cost office space for consultants covering Manatee and Sarasota counties, as well as access to training rooms for seminars and consulting locations in Bradenton, Sarasota and Venice.

Barbara and Steve Manuel, owners of WWJB Radio AM and FM since 1982, were recognized as the Volunteer of the Year. The duo has been steadfast supporters of the Florida SBDC at USF in Hernando county for the past four years, airing more than 5,000 public service announcements with an in-kind value in excess of $150,000. WWJB AM and FM Talk Radio covers Hernando and Pasco counties, with a listening audience in excess of 100,000.

Javier Marin was recognized as the Consultant of the Year. Marin, a consultant in Polk county located at the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, has made significant contributions to serving the Florida SBDC Network’s mission, vision and strategic direction through his assistance in developing an interactive rubric to assist consultants in achieving their goals. He also traveled to Tampa once a week to see in clients seeking finance assistance. Marin also volunteers to serve as the State Department SBNA Program Fellow, working closely with our Mexican counterpart in Merida.

As the Marketing and Communications Officer for the region, Stacey Pierce was recognized as the Employee of the Year. Because of Pierce’s efforts in supporting the region’s consultants, in 2014, the USF region doubled its production of feature stories, which are routinely picked up for publication by the State Director’s Office and various partner organizations. In 2014, Pierce completed her master’s degree in Digital Journalism and Design at University of South Florida St. Petersburg, and earned the Certified Marketing Executive credential from Sales and Marketing Executives International. She is also a certified consultant in the FSBDC Network.