By Cynthia Corzo and Michelle Lopez – FIU News Hosted at FIU Business, Isabella Casillas Guzman, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), met in July with South Florida small business owners who shared their challenges and offered suggestions on how the organization can improve opportunities for growth. “It’s […]
Success Stories
Florida SBDC at FIU helped launch more than 250 businesses in the last two years. Here’s how they did it.
The Florida Small Business Development Center at FIU, which was recently named the National SBDC of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration for its work supporting small businesses in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, may be best known for its work helping established businesses grow larger, creating more jobs […]
Engineering minds, founder chemistry and SBDC at FIU’s assistance help catapult Air Changes to win big HVAC contracts
Sebastian Munera and Ricardo Ardila have known each other since their college days at Florida International University, both earning undergraduate and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering. They worked in the HVAC industry for many years, including industry giant Carrier. As they were contemplating leaving their leadership roles at their companies […]
Owner takes Caribe International to new heights, with the help of SBDC at FIU
For Karina Vaguez, owner of a full-scale meetings and events production company, the pandemic could have been a time to retrench. Obviously, a business like hers was going to be hit hard with convenings shut down. But instead of wallowing in worry, Vaguez used this traumatic time to prepare her […]
Award-winning small business AmePower exemplifies how a success story is made
Vision. Expertise. Tenacity. Hard work. Perseverance. Teamwork. Resilience. These are ingredients of a successful small business. AmePower, an industry-leading technology company in the transportation and renewable energy sectors, is a success story. This week, as part of National Small Business Week, the Miami small business’s CEO, Luis Contreras, and President, […]
Leaping into business ownership becomes a ‘magical’ experience, with help from SBDC at FIU
When Kenerly Wright and her husband decided that she would leave her job as a successful property manager to be a stay-at-home mom for several years after her children were born, she discovered that she was having so much fun being home with her kids. When contemplating what she would […]
With Florida SBDC at FIU’s help, small business success stories thrive in North Miami Beach
Small business owner Melissa Guzman offers the beloved foods of her Caribbean homeland – but she veganizes them for healthier living. She should know – it’s helped her, too. Now she wants to expand The Caribe Vegan brand into retail. Darren Mendoza’s Lutong Pinoy restaurants are wildly popular with the […]
After the pandemic’s punch, Amazon Printers is thriving. Owner’s advice? Never stop learning
No matter how long you have run your small business, there is always something to learn about entrepreneurship. And in times of crisis, such as during the COVID pandemic, those lessons become even more important. Cristina Serralta is a believer in the never-stop-learning ethos. In recent years, she has gone […]
Florida SBDC at FIU wins statewide award
By FIU News The Florida Small Business Development Center at FIU Business has been recognized as the Florida SBDC Network Center of the Year for 2022. In 2021, the FSBDC assisted 2,050 clients, providing over 20,660 consulting hours. FSBDC at FIU consultants also led the state network in access to […]
IV Hydration Station in Key West grows in healthy ‘leaps and bounds,’ with help of Florida SBDC at FIU
Over lunch one day, Suzyjo Moore and Bobbie Vurro, both emergency room nurses, started talking about joining forces to open a new health and wellness small business. As they envisioned it, the IV therapy company would offer IV hydration, hangover relief, energizing vitamins, minerals, athletic performance and immune boosting infusions. […]