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 […]
Success Stories
How award-winning Grainman is shaping the future of American manufacturing
Eduardo Castellanos, now a CEO, didn’t take the traditional career pathway of obtaining a college degree or climbing a corporate ladder. In his last two years of high school, instead of taking electives he joined an on-the-job training program. “I was blessed to be able to work with my father, […]
This Miami healthcare company is changing lives, and SBDC at FIU helped it get funding to grow
Gilad and Anabelle Savion founded Lavior Pharma in 2010 to treat severe skincare issues. Their mission was to create a natural product without side effects, one that would address the root cause of skincare issues and change people’s lives, while also being accessible and affordable for their customers who suffer […]
Her small business providing ABA therapy is a labor of love, and SBDC at FIU has helped it grow
Born and raised in Miami, Jeanne Luis sees her small business as a gift to families in the city she loves. Her business is built around ABA – or Applied Behavioral Analysis – which is behavioral therapy that focuses on building social skills, communication skills, and other milestone skills that […]
Miliani Construction builds a strong foundation for growth, supported by sound strategy and adaptability
If you’ve ever played a round at the Palmetto Bay Golf Club or walked the new sidewalks and admired the monument signs in Pinecrest Gardens, you’ve experienced Miliani Construction Corp.’s work in South Florida. The Miami company’s renovations can also be found in restaurants and hotels, including a new project […]
At top of the class, Smart Home Studio owner finds market niche, powers up sales
Imagine starting a new business amid the pandemic. Now imagine starting from zero: “No connections, no money, no capital, no partners.” That’s what Juan Santos says he faced, along with a stiff learning curve, when starting his business, Smart Home Studio, from scratch. He had a successful event marketing business […]
Florida SBDC at FIU Business helps entrepreneur make his Caribbean Fusion Sushi dream a reality.
By Michelle Lopez Alden Chance began working in the kitchen almost 20 years ago, after he and his family came to the U.S. from Jamaica in 2005. He started as a dish washer and eventually worked up the ranks to becoming a chef. In 2010, after a night out with […]
Innovative medical practice with holistic approach experiences healthy growth
Like this company’s name suggests, South Florida Integrative Medicine is on a mission to deliver mental health care in an integrative, holistic fashion. Dr. Hugh Humphery, who owns the business with wife, Reed Haslach Humphery, explains that while this medical practice and small business based in Coral Gables specializes in […]
Vegan Art by Indira adds SBDC at FIU to its recipe for success
Imagine this. It’s a child’s birthday party and all his little friends are with him having fun and admiring the beautiful, multi-tiered cake. And when that big, magical moment arrives – to sing Happy Birthday and cut the cake – the guest of honor can’t participate because he has a […]
Immigrant hustle plus strategy set these business partners up for contracting success
Grit and hustle can get your small business off the ground but strategic thinking and planning can put the company on a strong growth trajectory and ensure its sustainability. Reliance Contractors is an example of that. Reliance Contractors is a Miami-based facility support services company owned by Joshua Becker and […]