TAMPA – The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida won the 2024 Region of the Year award during the State Performance Awards at the small business network’s annual conference.
Members from the Florida SBDC at USF region received multiple state awards, including the Florida State Star of the Year Award, a Capital Access Lifetime Achievement Award, the Laura Subel Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Florida Student Graduate Project of the Year Award.
Carl Hadden
“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,” said Carl Hadden, regional director of the Florida SBDC at USF, which is part of the USF Muma College of Business.
The event was held at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
“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." - Carl Hadden
“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,” he said.
Region of the Year
The Florida SBDC at USF received the Region of the Year award for delivering substantial consulting and training services in 2023 that resulted in a significant return in investment. The center 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 region's professionally certified business consultants delivered 21,481 hours of consulting to 3,401 entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Capital Access Lifetime Achievement Award
Selma Canas, a Florida SBDC at USF business consultant and international trade specialist, won the Capital Access Lifetime Achievement Award. She helped Florida small businesses access more than $50 million in capital in 2023. Canas is a NASBITE International Certified Global Business Professional and teaches courses on international trade basics and market research at the Florida SBDC at USF.
Selma Canas
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.
Other honorees included:
- Yolanda Goodloe, a government contracting consultant at the Florida APEX Accelerator at Pinellas County Economic Development, won the Florida State Star of the Year
- Janette Blanco, an assistant director at the Florida SBDC at Hillsborough County, and Karen Krymski, a government contracting consultant for the Florida APEX Accelerator at USF, each won the Laura Subel Lifetime Achievement Award.
- A USF graduate student team won Project of the Year for their collaboration with Dinner Done!
- Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development business consultant, Debra Schweikowsky, and Florida SBDC at USF business consultant, Scott Carpenter, were recognized with five-year service awards.