Florida SBDC at USF Team Members Honored for Service and Excellence at the 2026 Florida SBDC Network's Performance Excellence Awards
TAMPA(August 25, 2026) - The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of South Florida (USF) proudly announces that several team members were recognized on August 19, 2026 at the Sunseeker Resort – Charlotte Harbor during the 2026 Florida SBDC Network’s Performance Excellence Awards, a prestigious statewide event celebrating outstanding contributions across Florida’s nine regional small business development centers.“We were honored to attend the Florida SBDC Network’s Annual Awards and
Polk State College District Board of Trustees elects leadership for 2026-2027
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Polk State College District Board of Trustees elects leadership for 2026-2027 Monday, August 24, 2026 – The Polk State College District Board of Trustees elected its 2026-2027 leadership during its Monday meeting, where Ann Barnhart completed her service as Chair. Greg Littleton, who served as Vice Chair, was elected as the new Chair, and Steve Lester was elected as Vice Chair. They serve alongside members Immediate Past Chair Barnhart, Ashley Bell Barnett, Kyle Davis, Cindy Hartley
Sherwin Williams, Blue Bucket Sale, 8-31-26 thru 9-4-26
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Lake Ashton Veterans Association Auxiliary Annual Craft Fair To Benefit Military Veterans
Lake Wales, Florida — 24 October 2026 — The Lake Ashton Veterans Association Auxiliary (LAVA Auxiliary) is again hosting their annual Craft Fair event, to be held at the Lake Ashton Clubhouse, 4140 Ashton Club Dr, Lake Wales, FL 33859 on Saturday, 24 October 2026. The Craft Fair will run from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM; admission is free, and the event is open to the public. More than 40 local vendors are participating, including custom wood crafts, wreaths, gnomes, painted glassware, table runners, seasonal
Randy Hayes Named Assistant Director of the Florida SBDC at USF
TAMPA, Fla.(August 12, 2026) – Since joining the Florida SBDC at USF in 2023, Randy Hayes has distinguished himself as one of the SBDC Network's top-performing consultants. In his first full year with the Florida SBDC, he led the entire state network in new business starts and capital transactions. He followed that accomplishment by ranking second statewide in both categories the following year, demonstrating a consistent ability to help entrepreneurs achieve measurable results. Hayes has also been
AdventHealth appoints new President/CEO for Polk Market Hospitals Amid County's Rapid Growth
West Florida Division Corporate Communications   WFD.CorporateCommunications@AdventHealth.com New AdventHealth Polk Market President and CEO Mike Murrill recently met with local government and community leaders during a special event at AdventHealth Heart of Florida. (Photo Courtesy: AdventHealth) AdventHealth names Mike Murrill President and CEO of AdventHealth Polk Market, serving growing Polk County
Webber Holds Annual Convocation Ceremony to Launch Centennial Celebration
Babson Park, FL (August 13, 2026)- Webber International University hosted its annual convocation ceremony on August 13, marking the official start of the 2026-2027 academic year and the launch of the institution's Centennial celebration. While convocation traditionally brings faculty and staff together to prepare for the year ahead, this year's gathering carried special significance as the university began a Centennial observance that will span the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 academic years, commemorating 100
Estate Planning - John Miller, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
AdventHealth Lake Wales team members donate hundreds of school supplies to support local students
LAKE WALES, Fla. (Saturday, August 01, 2026) -- As students prepare to head back to the classroom, AdventHealth Lake Wales team members are helping local families and teachers start the school year with the tools they need to succeed. Through a hospital-wide school supply drive, team members collected and donated thousands of school supplies for students at Spook Hill Elementary School. Donations included 31 backpacks, 54 spiral notebooks, 53 composition journals, 118 folders, 867 pencils, 1,392 crayons,
Webber International University Deepens Commitment to AI-Centric Executive Education as National Demand Accelerates
Babson Park Florida, July 9, 2026 — Webber International University today highlighted its continued partnership with Zschool, the executive education provider whose AI-integrated programs are equipping leaders across industries to drive measurable business impact. The university is one of more than 30 institutions nationwide collaborating with Zschool to deliver workforce-ready credentials to working professionals. Across the most recent quarter, the Zschool network has seen a marked acceleration in demand
Why Every Lake Wales Business Should Have a Media Kit Ready Before the Call Comes
A media kit (also called a press kit) is a curated package of materials that tells your business's story to journalists, partners, and investors — on your terms, before they ask. For businesses in Lake Wales and the broader Lakeland-Winter Haven area, where the Economic Development Council is actively drawing new attention to the region, being prepared matters. Studies show that 70% of journalists prefer finding company information independently rather than waiting for an email response — meaning if your
Scaling Market Research for a Changing Business Landscape in Lake Wales
Local businesses across the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council face a familiar challenge: the market never sits still. As customer expectations shift and regional opportunities evolve, companies must keep their research practices nimble enough to monitor new patterns, test assumptions, and make decisions with confidence. This article explores practical ways to expand and modernize your market research without overwhelming your team or your budget. Learn below about: Why
How to Get More Customer Referrals: Smart, Strategic Moves for Small Business Owners
Attracting new customers is essential, but when your existing customers become your biggest fans, you unlock one of the most cost-effective growth levers in business: customer referrals. Referrals build trust faster than advertising. They cost less than paid search. And they scale when you build systems—not just hopes—around them. But here’s the problem: most small business owners wait for referrals instead of engineering them. Let’s fix that.Summary in a Snap If you're a small business owner and want
These Are Smart Ways to Keep Your Costs Low When Starting a Restaurant
Opening a restaurant is exciting, but the financial side can be daunting. Rent, equipment, staff, and permits quickly add up. The good news: with the right strategy, you can keep costs lean without cutting corners. 1. Start Small Before Scaling Instead of investing heavily in a large location, many first-time owners test their concept in lower-cost formats: Food trucks or pop-up kitchens Shared commissary kitchens Weekend farmer’s market booths These options help validate your menu,
Beneath the Surface: What Founders Miss About Risk Until It Bites Back
Launching a startup is often described as a leap of faith, but that metaphor misses something important—it implies a single moment of risk. In truth, starting and scaling a company means walking a daily tightrope, balancing opportunity with uncertainty, growth with exposure, ambition with fragility. The mythology around entrepreneurship loves to spotlight risk-takers as if recklessness is a virtue, but smart founders know better. Risk isn't just something to stomach—it's something to study, strategize,
The CTA, BOI and FinCEN: What Does this Mean for Lake Wales, FL Businesses?
The Corporate Transparency Act may require certain U.S. companies to disclose beneficial ownership information to FinCEN to combat financial crimes. While a Texas federal district court’s preliminary injunction puts this requirement on hold, many experts expect that to be overturned. In that event, failure to file could lead to fines of $500 per day, up to a maximum of $10,000, and possible criminal penalties. Read more for details on how this may impact your business in the future. 1. Determine if
Business Acrobatics: Adobe Tools Help Women Entrepreneurs Nail the Landing
As we celebrate Women's Small Business Month this October, it's important to recognize the innovative tools that empower women entrepreneurs to streamline their operations and drive growth. Adobe Acrobat offers a suite of features designed to enhance productivity, making it easier to manage documents, collaborate with teams, and handle essential business tasks efficiently. For women business owners looking to save time and focus on scaling their ventures, these solutions can be a game-changer in
