Marlon Romero is the owner and CEO of World Truck Parts, which specializes in sales of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts. He began the company as an import-export business just after he moved to Miami from Venezuela. His 19-year-old company is thriving, and today it focuses 70% on the domestic market and 30% on exports. World Truck Parts offers more than 2,000 SKUs, and their product line includes LED lights, suspension parts, clutches and accessories. More growth in both the domestic and export market is in the plans for the coming year.
Romero is especially proud of his company’s investment in technology, particularly a B2B customer portal that improves every year. “They can find the products, the specifications, quantity in each warehouse, they can pay their bills online — they can serve themselves on that platform,” Romero says.
This month, Romero has something else to be proud of. He was honored as Entrepreneur of the Year at the Florida SBDC at FIU’s annual awards ceremony. This honor was bestowed on an exceptional business owner demonstrating outstanding leadership, innovation and growth.
“I’m humbled to be recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by SBDC at FIU,” says Romero. “This award inspires us to continue pushing boundaries and driving growth. This award validates our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our customers and contributing to the local economy.” [View a short video about World Truck Parts here.]
In total, the small business development center bestowed six awards at SBDC at FIU’s Business At Its Best Awards on May 8, during National Small Business Week. The small business leaders were honored for their innovation and achievements.
“While each of the award categories is different, a common thread is that each award winner has demonstrated business success and their stories inspire current and future entrepreneurs,” says Brian Van Hook, Regional Director of the Florida SBDC at FIU, the small business development center within FIU’s College of Business that provides no-cost business consulting and training to small businesses in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
The event also had national and regional small business leaders join in the celebration. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development Paul Fitzpatrick provided keynote remarks. Fitzpatrick oversees the office that funds programs such as SBDC, SCORE, and Women’s Business Centers. He reiterated the SBA’s commitment to small businesses and to growing U.S. manufacturing.
Additionally, the SBA South Florida District Office presented the 2025 State of Florida Community Partner of the Year award to Myrna Sonora from Prospera. SBDC at FIU is a longtime partner of Prospera and nominated them for the award.
With no further ado, here are the other big winners from SBDC at FIU:
The 305 Client of the Year Award went to Vickie Lopez, CEO of Venus Builders. Venus Builders provides stylish and energy efficient impact windows and doors. This award celebrates a Miami-Dade small business that has shown significant progress and success through engagement with the SBDC at FIU.
The Small Business Spotlight Award went to Gilad and Anabelle Savion, founders of Lavior Pharma. Lavior Pharma provides top-tier skin care solutions that improve the quality of life for people with diabetes. The award honors a small business that has demonstrated remarkable perseverance and success in its industry. [Read more about Lavior Pharma in Growbiz here.]
The Woman-Owned Business of the Year Award went to Fania Carter of Sterile Services, which specializes in comprehensive logistics solutions and mission-driven professional services, enhancing operational efficiency for government agencies and commercial enterprises. This award recognizes a woman-led business that has made a significant impact in the community.
The Manufacturer of the Year Award went to Eduardo Castellanos, owner and president of Grain Machinery Manufacturing Corporation, also known as Grainman. Grainman manufactures equipment used by laboratories, universities, testing agencies and grain processing facilities around the world. This award celebrates a manufacturing business in Miami-Dade County that has shown excellence in production, innovation and economic impact. Castellanos said receiving the award was a deeply meaningful milestone. “It represents not just our commitment to quality and innovation, but also the resilience and heart behind everything we do.” [Read more about Grainman in Growbiz here.]
And last but not least, the FIU Student Entrepreneur of the Year was Olbin Gil and his startup, Mango. With technology, Mango aims to enable small farmers in South Florida to compete effectively with larger players and distributors. This award recognizes an FIU student who is making strides in entrepreneurship while pursuing his or her education. [Read more about this student in FIU News here.]
“Small businesses are the engine of our economy in Miami-Dade County. These small business and partner awardees have made a big impact in our communities, inspiring current and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to grow their own businesses,” said Brian Van Hook, Regional Director of the SBDC at FIU. “Their entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to community deserves recognition and SBDC at FIU is proud to shine a light on these major accomplishments.”
Over a hundred members of the small business community attended the awards ceremony, held at the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center on Florida International University’s main campus. Event guests had the opportunity to engage with key stakeholders and discover other valuable business resources and support programs. These include those offered by FIU, including B.I.G, a business innovation and growth accelerator, the Executive Education Program and the Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center, as well as other community partners. They all provide a wealth of resources to the small business community.
