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Success Stories

Under Ramona Phillips leadership, Phillips Concessions has grown from a single unit food and beverage operation in 2006 to a five-unit food and beverage operation in 2020. Phillips and its partnerships operate food and beverage brands in licensed locations in Miami Dade County.  Phillips niche is operating in the urban core with an emphasis on hiring locally, socio-economic disadvantaged team members form the surrounding community and focusing on soft skills development.

The Florida State University graduate began her entrepreneurial journey into food and beverage in 2005. In 2013 Ramona stepped out and began looking for concessions opportunities on her own and was successful in securing four new locations by her own efforts from 2015-2016. She developed a great banking relationship with Florida Community Bank, now Synovus with VP Anita Aedo who really allowed her to grow her businesses so she could take advantage of the... Read More

The world is currently experiencing a technological boom that most people couldn’t even dream of 20 years ago. Anyone, at any given moment, can find an answer with a tap of their phone screen.   In order to thrive in today’s economy, every business, from small to corporate, has to make sure they are up to date with each breakthrough in technology. However, as technological advancement grows, so does the risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime. These days, it seems as though no person, business or even government entity is safe from the possibility of a cyberattack.   This threat is what inspired Carl Chaisson to start his company United One Communications in 2015.   United One Communications specializes in information technology, cybersecurity, system engineering, network communications and IT project management. The company provides a comprehensive range of communications, enterprise information technologies and cybersecurity solutions for government and commercial entities.  ... Read More

Board Certified Dermatologist and Pediatrician Dr. Aurora Badia founded Florida Skin Center shortly after completing her dermatology training in Albany, New York in 2001. Dr. Badia graduated from the University of Miami before obtaining her medical degrees from the Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and University of Health Sciences School of Medicine. In a mission to fulfill her childhood entrepreneurial dream, she took the leap of faith and started her business nine months before arriving in Southwest Florida via an ad in the Yellow Pages. She officially opened her office doors shortly thereafter with 13 booked appointments.

For the past 17 years, she has developed the practice to be a full-service dermatology center, offering state-of-the-art technology and amenities to her patients in both dermatology and pediatric dermatology. Dr. Badia is unique in her field as she holds a rare dual specialty as a pediatric dermatologist and is the only doctor... Read More

George Woodruff spent over 40 years at IBM, Hughes Aircraft, and Lockheed Martin developing new business in Advanced Technology and Innovation programs. Once he and his wife decided it was time to transition from corporate America, they started Raider Outboards.

Located in Central Florida – near Kennedy Space Center, Raider Outboards design and produce multi-fuel, submersible, lightweight outboard motors and associated parts that include a Safety Jet; transom plates; carts and transportation cages. One of the first successes of the family-owned business came on the heels of winning a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I and II contract for a robotics mast. The SBIR program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological... Read More

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