🎉 Volusia Business Resources presents Funding Readiness 2024 Workshop is in the books!
Earlier this month, we hosted a funding resources workshop that featured five learning sessions with lenders, financial professionals, and small business consultants who shared their expertise aiming to help small businesses navigate the sometimes-complex lending process of acquiring capital. Attendees were presented with the expectations of lenders and investors and equipped with tools to use to determine the type of funding that best fits their venture’s need. The main feature of the event was the Volusia Business Resources Funding Readiness Center (FRC), a new business funding resource, housed here on the VBR website, that provides users with tools to assess funding readiness, expand financial knowledge and guides business owners to outside capital alternatives that fit their business. https://www.volusiabusinessresources.com/funding-readiness/
A big thank you to all our speakers for taking the time to participate and contribute to the financial literacy of our business community!
Workshop Emcee
Jessica Lovatt, President & CEO, Volusia Manufacturers Association (VMA)
Funding Readiness Center (FRC) Overview
Stephanie Ford, President & CEO, Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce
Brad Harris, Business Manager, Volusia County Division of Economic Development
Organizing Your Financials
Suzanne Forbes, CPA, Managing Partner, James Moore & Co.
Matt Thompson, Tax Manager, James Moore & Co.
The 5C’s of Credit
Lisa Land, Business Banker, FAIRWINDS Credit Union
Bob Ludlow, Senior Vice President, Truist
Lisa Peterson, Vice President, Commercial Relationship Mgr., SouthState Bank
Funding Options 101
Trecia Arrington, Consultant, Florida SBDC at Daytona State College
Karlon Johnson, Community Development Officer, Black Business Investment Fund (BBIF)
S. Boyd Karren, Managing Partner, Otro Financial
Bob Reed, Program Director, StarterStudio
Keynote Speaker
The final session of the workshop featured our keynote speaker, Daryle Scott, who shared his entrepreneurial journey as a Stetson University graduate who founded a mail-order startup from his dorm room and transformed it into Venus Swimwear, a $100 million international brand. Attendees had the opportunity to hear his inspiring story and learn how he acquired funding that propelled his business to greater heights.
Team work makes the dream work!
Thank you to the VBR Resource Partners, supporters & Sponsors who helped to make this event a valuable experience for the business community of Volusia County by utilizing this opportunity to directly connect with local business owners and entrepreneurs!
CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia
CEO Business Alliance
DeLand & Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce
Duke Energy
Embry-Riddle Research Park
FAIRWINDS Credit Union
Florida SBDC at Daytona State College
Hispanic Chamber of Central Florida
Intracoastal Bank
Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce
Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation
Volusia County Business Incubator (Volusia Incubator)
Volusia County Division of Economic Development
Volusia Manufacturers Association (VMA)
We express our gratitude to everyone who attended the event! Your support and engagement are valuable feedback as the VBR Partnership plans future programs aimed to enable the growth and resiliency of our local businesses. It is our hope that those who attended left feeling informed and prepared with practical, vital information to utilize should a funding need arise for a business venture.
A video recap of the event will be available in the upcoming weeks, stay tuned.
If you are seeking business resources, business-centric events, or practical, how-to business guides, visit and bookmark https://www.volusiabusinessresources.com/.
