SBDC Orlando

Export Strategies for Growing Your Business

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:00:00 -1000

Is exporting a viable expansion strategy for your business? Attend this valuable workshop and find out! Participants will leave the workshop with action-oriented answers about exporting, including: how to assess export readiness, how to identify export markets, various exporting options, as well asinformation on international trade missions and trade shows.

Why Export?

Over 95% of the world’s customers are located beyond U.S. borders
Exporters realize higher employment growth than non-exporters.
Most companies that export have an easier time riding out fluctuations in the U.S. economy and are more likely to stay in business.

Presentations by Enterprise Florida and the U.S. Department of Commerce, hosted by Small Business Development Center at UCF and sponsored by Orange County Government.

WHEN:
Thursday, March 15
9 am - 12 pm

WHERE:
SBDC at UCF
Located at the National Entrepreneur Center
3201 E. Colonial Drive, Suite A20
Orlando, FL 32803

REGISTRATION:
$30 Registration Fee
No Cost to Orange County Businesses

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Companies new to export
Infrequent exporters

Hernon Manufacturing

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:13:00 -1000

With the assistance of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) and its no-cost Growth Acceleration services, Hernon Manufacturing, the innovator in adhesive and sealing technologies, continues to expand rapidly. The Company recently announced that it had won a large new order from a leading defense contractor and had entered into a new distribution agreement for Florida. Within the last three months, Hernon has received over one million dollars in contracts to deliver high speed application and inspection equipment to some of the world’s largest defense contractors. To facilitate this rapid growth, Hernon has also leased additional manufacturing space while it builds and expands into a 100,000 square-foot plant by year end 2013. The company credits the assistance of the SBDC at UCF’s Growth Acceleration Consultants for helping to make the company’s growth possible.

The SBDC at UCF’s Growth Acceleration services offers companies consulting assistance aimed at developing sustainable growth strategies in key business areas, including marketing and business development, cash flow management, strategic planning, market/industry research, as well as capital access. In the case of Hernon, the SBDC’s Growth Acceleration Consultants performed an in-depth business health assessment and, based upon it, identified ways to optimize cash flow and better position the company to take full advantage of its growth opportunities. They then worked closely with Hernon’s management team and assisted in implementing their recommendations.

"The SBDC at UCF’s Growth Acceleration services have been an important ingredient in putting Hernon’s expansion on the fast track," said Harry Arnon, President of Hernon Manufacturing. "We had aggressive growth goals to begin with and, thanks to the help of the SBDC’s growth acceleration consultants, have met and surpassed them. We look forward to continuing that rapid expansion in 2012 with the help of the SBDC as we look to hire new employees, expand our manufacturing facilities and introduce new technologies."

Dr. Tom O’Neal Joins SBDC at UCF’s Executive Advisory Board

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:31:00 -1000

Small Business Development Center at UCF
January 25, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, SBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or hthayer@bus.ucf.edu

Orlando, FL- Dr. Tom O’Neal, Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization at the University of Central Florida, Director of the UCF Incubation Program, and one of the leading voices supporting entrepreneurship and business formation in Central Florida, has joined the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida’s (SBDC at UCF) Executive Advisory Board.

With its vision of being the premier resource for small business assistance in Central Florida, the SBDC at UCF’s Regional Director Eunice Choi recognized the need for the center to reach out within the community and enlist its strongest advocates to provide support for the SBDC at UCF within the small business community and Central Florida. To that end, the Executive Advisory Board was formed in 2008 and serves as a sounding board for the SBDC at UCF with an emphasis on providing recommendations for program development, promoting SBDC services, advising on funding issues and supporting legislative activities.

The Executive Advisory Board consists of eight members from the Central Florida community including: Scott Cole, Vice President and General Counsel, UCF; Lloyd Fernald, professor emeritus, UCF College of Business Administration; Foard Jones, interim dean, UCF College of Business Administration; John Lewis, president, Good Question, Inc.; Don McGowan, president, BankFIRST; Sharad Mehta, president, ScreenWorks USA; Brindley Pieters, president, Brindley Pieters & Associates, Inc.; and now Dr. Tom O’Neal. John Lewis serves as chair and Don McGowan serves as vice chair for the SBDC at UCF Executive Advisory Board. The SBDC at UCF’s Eunice Choi, regional director, and Hal Thayer, communications director, represent the SBDC at UCF on the board.

“We are fortunate beyond words to have so important a champion of small business invention and growth as Tom O’Neal joining the SBDC at UCF’s Executive Advisory Board. He provides a very important link between the SBDC, the UCF Business Incubator Program, the UCF Venture Lab and other UCF economic development-related programs. Working with the Board’s other members -- all leaders from across central Florida, including several small business owners – Tom will add valuable experience and insight as this impressive group works to help guide and support the SBDC at UCF,” said John Lewis, Executive Advisory Board chair and President of Good Question, Inc.

“I look forward to working with all and hope I can contribute in a meaningful way,” commented Dr. O’Neal who has been part of UCF’s Office of Research and Commercialization team working to help UCF become a leading metropolitan research university. He has a long history as an entrepreneur and has assisted in the formation of several spin-off companies for technologies developed at UCF. He also serves a core team member of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida.

--UCF--

With its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center (formerly the Disney Entrepreneur Center) now located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) is part of the UCF College of Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, providing business seminars and no-cost, one-on-one business consultation to small business owners. The SBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains seven satellite service centers. In 2010, the SBDC at UCF helped entrepreneurs create or retain 1,241 jobs, win contract awards worth $38.3 million, acquire $20 million in capital formation, and increase sales by $18.4 million. The SBDC at UCF is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SBDC at UCF Opens 2nd PTAC Office

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:05:00 -1000

Orlando, FL – It just became easier for small businesses to bid for government contracts in Central Florida. The Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) is increasing its support of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center program (PTAC) with the opening of a new center at Daytona Beach International Airport in the offices of the UCF Incubator which is partially funding the center. The PTAC in Daytona Beach will have a full-time, dedicated procurement expert focused on serving businesses in Volusia, Flagler, Lake and Sumter counties.

The Procurement Technical Assistance Center program helps Florida businesses understand the government procurement process and provides no-cost consulting services to businesses seeking to sell their goods and/or services to federal, state or local governments. Included is assistance with identifying government projects, proposal writing guidance, and small business program application assistance, for example HUBZones, SBA 8a certifications, etc. Click here to read more.

SBDC at UCF Opens Procurement Technical Assistance Center Serving Volusia, Flagler, Lake and Sumter Counties

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:20:00 -1000

News Release
Small Business Development Center at UCF
January 23, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, SBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or hthayer@bus.ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – It just became easier for small businesses to bid for government contracts in Central Florida. The Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) is increasing its support of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center program (PTAC) with the opening of a new center at Daytona Beach International Airport in the offices of the UCF Incubator which is partially funding the center. The PTAC in Daytona Beach will have a full-time, dedicated procurement expert focused on serving businesses in Volusia, Flagler, Lake and Sumter counties.

Since its launch here in 2006, the PTAC program has been a boon to small businesses in Central Florida. Located in the offices of the SBDC at UCF in Orlando, the existing Procurement Technical Assistance Center has been assisting clients across 8 counties. In 2011 alone, PTAC consulted with more than 300 small business clients, helping them win almost $11.7 million in government contracts. Since inception, the local PTAC program has assisted on more than $94.2 million of government contracts going to Central Florida businesses. With the opening of the PTAC in Daytona Beach, the Orlando PTAC will now focus its efforts solely on assisting businesses in Orange, Seminole, Brevard and Osceola counties.

“We are thrilled to be opening a second PTAC in Daytona Beach dedicated to assisting businesses in Volusia, Flagler, Lake and Sumter counties,” said Eunice Choi, Regional Director of the SBDC at UCF. “PTACs have proven to be a valuable tool for small businesses seeking government contracts and they contribute to fulfilling the mission of the SBDC to help businesses start, grow and succeed.”

Assisting clients of the PTAC in Daytona Beach will be Derek Hudson, a procurement specialist and former U.S. Navy Supply Corps Officer with experience managing procurement as well as inventory budgets of up to $ 3.5 million. His areas of expertise include supply chain management, project management, contract management, and strategic communications planning in the private and government (military) sectors. For more than a decade he worked primarily as a consultant to the Florida Department of Transportation on Central Florida projects totaling more than $700 million. He has also worked closely with local and county governments. Mr. Hudson is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and earned his MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College.

The Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) was authorized by Congress in 1985 in an effort to ex-pand the number of businesses capable of participating in the Government Marketplace. Administered by the Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the program provides matching funds through coop-erative agreements with state and local governments and non-profit organizations for the establishment of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) to provide procurement assistance. The program in Florida is headquartered in Pensacola with branch offices in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Boca Raton, Ft. Myers and now Daytona Beach. The program operates under the umbrella of the Florida Small Business Development Center. Along with funding from the Department of Defense, the new PTAC in Daytona Beach is benefiting from financial support provided by the UCF Business Incubator.

-- UCF--

With its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center (formerly the Disney Entrepreneur Center) now located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the SBDC at UCF is part of the UCF College of Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, providing business seminars and no-cost, one-on-one business consultation to small business owners. The SBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains seven satellite service centers. In 2010, the SBDC at UCF helped entrepreneurs create or retain 1,241 jobs, win contract awards worth $38.3 million, acquire $20 million in capital formation, and increase sales by $18.4 million. The SBDC at UCF is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SBDC at UCF‘s Growth Acceleration Program Enables Business Expansion by Drive Solutions, Inc.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:29:00 -1000

Press Release
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, SBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or hthayer@bus.ucf.edu

Orlando, FL. – The Small Business Development Center at University of Central Florida’s (SBDC at UCF) new program, the Growth Acceleration Program (GAP), is assisting Drive Solutions, Inc., a Central Florida small business based in Clermont, FL, with its expansion into a new line of business manufacturing customized small-size couplings. With help from a SBDC at UCF GAP consultant, Drive Solutions prepared detailed business plans and financial projections that allowed them to obtain the financing necessary to start a new company, Easy Flex Couplings, LLC, which will manufacture the new small-size couplings. On the strength of a $150,000 loan, Drive Solutions expects to grow its revenue by nearly $1,000,000 and add at least 5 new jobs to the Central Florida economy over the next 2 years..
“Our company was interested in starting up a separate coupling manufacturing company as well as adding machine shop capabilities to our existing company,” said Fred Louwersheimer, CEO and owner. “Our bank recommended we get help from the SBDC which was the best advice that they could have given us. The SBDC GAP consultant’s command of business growth concepts and financial analysis guided us in producing an expansion plan and loan request package that impressed the bankers and helped us attain the financing we needed.”

The GAP is part of a $2.6 million grant received by the Florida SBDC Network (FSBDN) as part of the 2010 Small Business Jobs Act. The program targets small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with the main objective of supporting the creation and retention of jobs for Central Floridians by providing individualized, professional consultant services to growing businesses.

Specifically, the SBDC at UCF GAP consultants will provide high level consulting of 50 – 100 hours (fair market value of over $10,000) to help qualified SMEs develop sustainable growth strategies for SMEs, including services such as strategic planning, market/industry research, financial analysis and cash flow management, as well as capital access.

Qualifications for participation in the GAP include: goal of growth; in operation for at least three years; annual revenues of $500k to $10 million; and five or more employees.

The SBDC at UCF’s GAP is a FSBDCN state-wide initiative from which the funding came as a key provision of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, which provided $50 million in grants to Small Business Development Centers across the country. The FSBDC is a partnership program funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration and local and regional host partners, including Florida's state universities and colleges.
For more information about the SBDC at UCF GAP Program, contact SBDC at UCF Regional Director Eunice Choi at 407-420-4850 or echoi@bus.ucf.edu

# # #

With its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center (formerly the Disney Entrepreneur Center) now located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the SBDC at UCF is part of the UCF College of Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, providing business seminars and free one-on-one business consultation to small business owners. The SBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains six satellite service centers. In 2010, the SBDC at UCF helped entrepreneurs create or retain 1,241 jobs, win contract awards worth $38.3 million, acquire $20 million in capital formation, and increase sales by $18.4 million. The SBDC at UCF is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Sanford Company Continues its Rapid Growth With the Help of SBDC at UCF's Growth Acceleration Services

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:36:00 -1000

Even in a tough economy, some companies soar. With the assistance of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) and its no-cost Growth Acceleration services, Hernon Manufacturing, the innovator in adhesive and sealing technologies, continues to expand rapidly.

The Company recently announced that it had won a large new order from a leading defense contractor and had entered into a new distribution agreement for Florida. Within just the past three months, Hernon has received over one million dollars in contracts to deliver high speed application and inspection equipment to some of the world's largest defense contractors. To facilitate this rapid growth, Hernon has also leased additional manufacturing space while it builds and expands into a 100,000 square-foot plant by year end 2013. Click here to read more.

SBDC at UCF Hosts 5th Annual Economic Outlook for Small Businesses

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:29:00 -1000

Small Business Development Center at UCF

January 12, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, SBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or hthayer@bus.ucf.edu

Orlando, FL- The Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida University (SBDC at UCF) is hosting a presentation entitled “Economic Outlook 2012” with top forecaster Sean Snaith, Ph.D. on Thursday, February 2, 2012, 8:30 to 10:30 am, at the Embassy Suites Orlando Downtown, 191 East Pine Street in Orlando. The registration fee is $20 per person and includes a continental breakfast. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.

This annual SBDC event provides Central Florida business owners with the opportunity to hear from one of the nation’s top forecasters and address economic concerns facing the small business community. The event will feature keynote speaker Sean Snaith, Ph.D., economist and director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness with UCF’s College of Business Administration. Snaith, who was named one of the most accurate forecasters in the nation by Bloomberg News, will present his economic outlook and discuss how the economic conditions are affecting the region and state, as well as examine the real estate market and employment outlook. He will also entertain questions from the audience.

Snaith’s presentation will be preceded by remarks from Teresa Jacobs, Mayor of Orange County Government which is sponsoring the event. “Economic Outlook 2012” is part of the SBDC at UCF’s “Strategic Seminar Series”. To register or for more information regarding the Economic Outlook for Small Business event and the SBDC at UCF, visit www.sbdcorlando.com or call 407.420.4850.

--UCF--

Hernon Manufacturing, Inc. Continues its Rapid Growth With the Help of SBDC at UCF's Growth Acceleration Services

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:04:00 -1000

Small Business Development Center at UCF

January 9, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hal Thayer, Communications Director, SBDC at UCF, 407.420.4850 or hthayer@bus.ucf.edu

Orlando, FL – Even in a tough economy, some companies soar. With the assistance of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF) and its no-cost Growth Acceleration services, Hernon Manufacturing, the innovator in adhesive and sealing technologies, continues to expand rapidly.

The company credits the assistance of the SBDC at UCF’s Growth Acceleration Consultants for helping to make the company’s growth possible.

“The SBDC at UCF’s Growth Acceleration services have been an important ingredient in putting Hernon’s expansion on the fast track,” said Harry Arnon, President of Hernon Manufacturing. “We had aggressive growth goals to begin with and, thanks to the help of the SBDC’s growth acceleration consultants, have met and surpassed them. We look forward to continuing that rapid expansion in 2012 with the help of the SBDC as we look to hire new employees, expand our manufacturing facilities and introduce new technologies.”

The Florida SBDC’s no-cost Growth Acceleration services are available to companies throughout the state. To qualify for the services, the company must have growth as a goal, be in operation for at least three years, have annual revenues ranging from $500,000 to $10 million, and employ five or more workers. Florida SBDC Growth Acceleration consultants are available statewide to provide assistance to qualified emerging and growth business who are looking to advance. Specifically, the SBDC at UCF Growth Acceleration services consultants will provide high level consulting of 50 – 100 hours (fair market value of over $10,000) to help qualified SMEs develop sustainable growth strategies.

For more information about GAP, contact SBDC at UCF Regional Director Eunice Choi at 407-420-4850 or echoi@bus.ucf.edu.

--UCF--

About the SBDC at UCF

With its main office in the National Entrepreneur Center (formerly the Disney Entrepreneur Center) now located at the Fashion Square Mall in Orlando, the SBDC at UCF is part of the UCF College of Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, providing business seminars and free one-on-one business consultation to small business owners. The SBDC at UCF serves an eight-county area that includes Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties and maintains six satellite service centers. In 2010, the SBDC at UCF helped entrepreneurs create or retain 1,241 jobs, win contract awards worth $38.3 million, acquire $20 million in capital formation, and increase sales by $18.4 million. The SBDC at UCF is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

About Hernon Manufacturing

Hernon Manufacturing has been committed to delivering world class adhesive, sealant, and impregnation solutions along with precision dispensing systems for nearly four decades. A long-time member of Central Florida’s industrial manufacturing community, Hernon offers strong brands and technologies, all made in the United States, for a diverse range of industries. Hernon Manufacturing is proud to be an ISO-9001 registered company whose products meet or exceed Mil-Specs. For more information Hernon's custom dispensing equipment and high performance adhesives and sealants, please visit http://hernon.com or call 407-322-4000.

Get Bit Entrepreneur Gets Bit

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:30:00 -1000

Get Bit LLC was founded to offer the ultimate in extreme adventure. And, with the assistance of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (SBDC at UCF), the company is on its way to doing just that.

Whether its supplying custom rod building components, teaching rod building classes, guiding gator hunts or managing world class tarpon fishing trips, Capt. Kevin Brotz, the owner of Get Bit LLC, has an obsession for the outdoors. His passion is focused around sharing the world of nature in ways that most people don’t get to experience. When Kevin was two years old, he would wake his parents at 6:00 am to go 'pishing'. He couldn't pronounce the word ‘fishing’ but could cast his own rod even at that young age. He started his outdoor life then and hasn’t looked back since; he was hooked for life.

Harking back to the old saying that “It isn’t work if you love what you’re doing,” Kevin knew he wanted to build a business that incorporated his love of the great outdoors. After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Entrepreneurship, Kevin was licensed by the United States Coast Guard. Today, Captain Brotz has combined his professional designation, experience and solid foundation in business to make his dream a reality.

Help from the SBDC at UCF
Kevin wanted to set his business up for success from the very beginning and knew he needed assistance in getting the business off the ground. He contacted Pauline Davis, consultant at the Small Business Development Center at UCF, for no-cost assistance. Together, they worked on several versions of Get Bit LLC’s business plan and cash flow projections. Recognizing that he would have to fund the business himself, the planning process became even more crucial. Through a lot of prayer and even more hard work, Get Bit LLC opened for business in February 2011 and has been well received.

There’s a reason why Get Bit LLC is off to a strong start: it’s a sportsman’s paradise and a dream come true for anyone who enjoys the outdoors that is built upon a strong business foundation developed with the help of the SBDC at UCF. The business services include:

Custom Rod Building Supply & Academy – distributing components to wholesale and retail custom fishing rod builders. Through their full service e-commerce site, Get Bit has a global marketplace. Holding monthly classes in the shop, Get Bit Rod Building Academy teaches first timers how to build and customize their very own fishing rods.
Extreme Adventures – Guiding Trophy Alligator Hunts in Central Florida and Trophy Tarpon Fishing Trips in World Famous Boca Grande FL, Get Bit provides the Experience of a Lifetime!
Trophy Fish Mounts – Get Bit has a world renowned Taxidermist whose sole job is bringing that Trophy of a Lifetime back to life as a true piece of art.
Outdoor Ministry – Kevin loves nothing more than using the outdoors as a platform to help others find and build relationships with Christ. Kevin has full intentions to build Get Bit Outdoors to a level where he can devote his efforts to this ministry full time.

Kevin is very excited about the business’s potential and is grateful to his wife for her unwavering support and confidence in his ability to build this business. He also appreciates the assistance of Pauline Davis and the SBDC at UCF and states, “The SBDC has a wealth of knowledge and experience with small businesses. Every meeting forced me to do more due diligence and build a stronger business plan. Just knowing the resource that is the SBDC at UCF is available was and is reassuring and gave me the confidence to move ahead”.

Working within a tight budget, Kevin finds creative ways to market his business. “With huge potential for growth I refuse to let our limited marketing budget hold us back,” he commented. We have to think outside the box.”

Looking Ahead
Kevin loves nothing more than helping clients experience the extreme outdoors. “The opportunity to build this business is a blessing in many ways, not to mention the excitement of playing tug of war with Swamp Lizards weighing an average of 500 lbs!” says Kevin. “There is nothing to compare it to! It is an absolute Blast!” He is confident that his faith will successfully see him through this business adventure and hopes to be an inspiration for others to reach and achieve their dreams. And he is grateful to the SBDC at UCF for its assistance in getting him off to a strong start.

Get Bit LLC,
950 North Central Avenue, Suite 1,
Oviedo, Florida 32765
407-542-7840
www.GetBitOutdoors.com