Florida SBDC at FGCU Distinguished Entrepreneur of Southwest Florida Awardees Announced
Fort Myers, Fla. (May 5, 2021) – Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) announced the winners of the 2021 Distinguished Entrepreneur of Southwest Florida Awards during a live-streamed virtual awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.
The FSBDC awards are held annually to recognize three Southwest Florida small businesses for their innovation, advocacy, and business growth. This year’s awardees include Distinguished Entrepreneur of SW Florida, Bill Daubmann of MY Shower Door/D3 Glass; Innovator of the Year, Reema Bhatia of Stickboy Creative; and Advocate of the Year, Ryan Young of Rising Tide Explores.
“It’s so important to celebrate the resiliency of all our 2021 small business finalists. Small businesses form the backbone of our local economy, generate jobs and improve the quality of life for citizens.”, said Lois Knox, FSBDC Regional Director.
Previous winners of the awards include Norman Love of Norman Love Confections in 2012, Pam Oakes of Pam’s Motor City in 2013, Felix Lluberes of Position Logic in 2013, Gary K. Mart of Global Tech LED in 2015, Chris Spiro of Spiro and Associates in 2016, Dr. Aurora Badia of Florida Skin Center in 2017, Scott Fischer of Scott Fischer Enterprises in 2018, and Ryan Carter, owner of Scotlynn USA Division in 2019.
The awards ceremony was made possible through the generous support of the Hallmark Sponsor, Markham, Norton, Mosteller, Wright, and Company, P.A.
Other sponsors include: Fifth Third Bank, Suncoast Credit Union, Brennan Manna Diamond, Roetzel Law Firm, Scott Fischer Enterprises, Path of Being, Spada Salon & Day Spa, Scotlynn, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Fenix Beauty, and U.S. Small Business Administration.
About the Florida SBDC at FGCU:
The FSBDC at FGCU offers one-on-one, confidential, no-cost consulting and low-cost workshops for businesses throughout Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties. The state designates the Florida SBDC Network as Florida’s principal provider of business assistance. The FSBDC at FGCU is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide service funded in part through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida, and other private and public partners; and is hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University and nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs.
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