TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida SBDC at USF will honor businesses from the 10-county Tampa Bay region at the 2024 Florida SBDC at USF Business Awards Celebration Luncheon on May 152024.
The 2024 Business Awards Luncheon will commemorate Florida SBDC at USF and U.S. SBA business award winners for their efforts and dedication in 2023.
In addition, Florida SBDC at USF team members will be acknowledged for their exceptional work.
Guests will have a chance to network, enjoy lunch, and hear from keynote speaker Andrea Gonzmart Williams at the University of South Florida (USF) Marshall Center, located at 4103 USF Cedar Cir, Tampa, FL 33620 (second floor).
Read: USF Announces Stadium Groundbreaking
The event will kick off at 11:30 a.m. with a welcome from Florida SBDC at USF regional director Carl Hadden and continue with presentations of small business awards, SBA business awards, network performance awards, and the keynote.
Gonzmart Williams is the great-great-granddaughter of Casimiro Hernandez Sr., founder of the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City in 1905.
She began her career at the Columbia Restaurant at the age of 10 by performing filing duties in the corporate office. By the time she was 12, she was working as a hostess at the Ybor City restaurant and continued working there through high school.
She graduated from the University of South Florida in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Business Administration. Andrea joined the family business full-time after graduating from USF.
“Entrepreneurs play a vital role in shaping our communities,” Florida SBDC at USF regional director, Carl Hadden, said. “Like our distinguished keynote speaker, Andrea Gonzmart Williams, they are respected for their unwavering commitment to community betterment. They consistently strive for excellence in every situation while overcoming challenges along the way. This event, hosted by the Florida SBDC at USF, celebrates excellence across multiple award categories, including internal SBDC performance excellence awards, regional small business of the year winners, and SBA award recipients.”
This event is open to the public. Cost is $50 per attendee. For more details, please visit https://bit.ly/2024-sbdc-usf-awards.
This event’s sponsors include platinum sponsor Suncoast Credit Union and silver sponsors BankUnited, Central Florida Development Council, USF Corporate Training and Professional Education, SMARTStart a Pasco Program, Minority Economic Development Corporation, and TD Bank.
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.