Success stories

A Business that Popped Up

What challenge did you have? Neal Crosier, COO/Owner of Popcorn Junkie LLC, started the business in 2016 along with his wife, Minetta. The couple wanted to bring a wide array of gourmet popcorn...

Indira “Indy” Vega, President and CEO of Indy Interpreting Inc. DBA CCI Group, started her business in 2012 with the vision that she wanted to provide professional linguistic services to immigrants...

Sailing with the Navy to Millions in Sales

Mr. Tomas Santos-Alejandro, CEO of Advent Services, joined Advent Services as VP of Operations in 2014, before taking over. Advent Services provides cybersecurity, systems/software engineering, and...

Sisters United in Business

Mary Jane Culhane, co-owner of Culhane’s Irish Pub, started the business along with her sisters Lynda, Michelle, and Aine in 2005. The sisters had a dream when they left their family farm in Limerick...

Security Guard to Security Services Provider

Printella Bankhead, President of EBS Security Inc. (EBS) started her business in 2002 with limited resources and 1 client. EBS provides armed/unarmed security services, as well as bodyguard, and...

Law School vs. Chef and Business Owner

Dennis Chan, Owner of Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro and Bar started his restaurant in 2005 after attending the Culinary Institute of America. Initially, Chan wanted to go to law school after completing...

Living the American Dream

Jeannette Coronado, CEO of JIRACOR, started her business in 2011 along with her husband primarily to provide online training for a certification program. Ms. Coronado is an immigrant from El Salvador...

The Business of Engineering

Sarah Blake, President of Elipsis Engineering and Consulting initially relocated to Florida in 2002 hopes of accepting a position with one of Central Florida’s largest employers, but decided to accept...