Winter 2009 A D D R E S S I N G T H E N E E D S O F PA L M B E A C H C O U N T Y S S M A L L B U S I N E S S C O M M U N I T Y The Business Pulse Certification Fees The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners approved an application processing fee for certification, modification of certification and recertification. Effective January 2, 2009, the Palm Beach County Office of Small Business Assistance imposed a non-refundable fee in the amount of $150.00 for processing each application. Payment can be made in the form of a money order or cashier's check and should be made payable to the PBC Board of County Commissioners. Only applications submitted with payment will be processed. For more information on the nonrefundable application fee please contact us at 561-616-6840. Certification Training Workshop For those persons seeking on-site certification, held on the second Tuesday of each month, it is now mandatory that you attend the certification training workshop held on the third Wednesday of each month. In this workshop you will become familiar with acceptable documentation to accompany your certification application and it affords you a two week time period to prepare your documentation for on-site certification. The next workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 from 10:30-12:00 p.m. in the OSBA conference room, 50 South Military Trail, Suite 209, West Palm Beach. THE MISSION The Mission of the Office of Small Business Assistance (OSBA) is to provide county departments and local businesses with excellent customer service, professional assistance and technical responsiveness to promote the economic growth, expansion and increased productivity of small business enterprises in Palm Beach County in accordance with established compliance policies and guidelines.
Vendor in the spotlight The Chandler and Campbelle Group A Professional Consulting Firm Darrell Searcy, Principal In November 2004, Darrell Searcy founded The Chandler & Campbelle Group LLC (CCG) and for the first several years worked on branding the company name, building relationships and performing small jobs to build experience. In 2008, Mr. Searcy relocated the company from Atlanta, Georgia to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and continued to focus on the development of his firm. After an extensive certification process, The Chandler & Campbelle Group achieved its status as an S/MBE on August 11, 2008. The company provides large and small business consulting services, public relations, organizational development and training services in the fields of Information Technology, Governance, Community Development and Affordable Housing to entities in the public, private and non-profit sectors. The firm s credentials include that of a SkillPath Certified Business Trainer; BoardSource Practitioner Trained Governance Consultant; NeighborWorks America Certified Housing & Foreclosure Implementation Consultant; Gerson Lehrman Group Business Consulting Council Member; and is currently pursuing certification as a Dale Carnegie Training Consultant. CCG is certified by Palm Beach County s Office of Small Business Assistance (OSBA), The School District of Palm Beach County, The City of West Palm Beach, and the South Florida Water Management District. Since achieving the certifications, CCG has successfully procured three contracts with local agencies comprising the County s Business Partners. The School District of Palm Beach County has contracted with CCG to develop a strategic business plan which will allow the Safe Schools Institute to market and deliver professional services to educators and school administrators across the nation. The City of West Palm Beach has contracted with CCG, in concert with Housing & Community Development, to implement a foreclosure assistance strategy that will be used as a model for Palm Beach County and the State of Florida. Their consultants also provide certification training and counseling to residents on becoming homeowners in the City of West Palm Beach. The City of Delray Beach Community Land Trust, through CCG, provides technical assistance to residents in home ownership and governance. Mr. Searcy emphatically states networking is the key to business success and The Chandler & Campbelle Group will continue to participate in the networking events sponsored by any one or all of the Palm Beach Partners. Networking events have created the opportunity to meet executives and decision makers with the authority to engage in professional services contracts. Attending networking events has produced immediate results evident in CCG s ability to build relationships with the purchasers of the company s products and services. SBE certification by OSBA opened the doors for the organization but it was the on-going networking that created the opportunity to do business. 2
PBCC Named Host of Small Business Development Center Palm Beach County OSBA has entered into a contract with Palm Beach Community College to host the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for consulting with small business enterprises in Palm Beach County. The SBDC at PBCC is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide service network of 33 centers funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Designated as Florida s principal provider of small business assistance by state statute, the Florida SBDC Network links the state s education system with community outreach to aid in the development and education of Florida s entrepreneurs and small business community. The SBDC at PBCC provides counseling at no cost and training in all areas of business management to help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs grow and prosper. Assistance with finances, marketing, production, organization, and feasibility studies are just some of the services that the SBDC provides to small businesses. We are excited and honored to lead the charge for economic recovery in Palm Beach County by hosting the Small Business Development Center, said Jacie Keeley, director of the SBDC at PBCC. Through partnerships with Corporate and Continuing Education at PBCC and local stakeholder organizations, we will play a vital role by helping small business clients open businesses, create and retain jobs, win contract awards, acquire capital for business formation and expansion, and enjoy higher sales. The SBDC at PBCC also provides counseling and training assistance to firms preparing to do business with the government through the Procurement Technical Assistance (PTAC) program. The PTAC program is funded through the Department of Defense and provides procurement specialists who counsel firms on how to acquire local, state and federal contracts. The SBDC for Palm Beach County was previously hosted by Florida Atlantic University. All PBCC campuses will participate; however, the main office location is on the Boca Raton campus. For more information or a referral for financial or technical assistance, please call OSBA at (561) 616-6840. On-Site Certification On March 10, 2009, April 14, 2009 and May 12, 2009 staff will be available to assist you with becoming a certified business as well as answer small business development questions. This service is provided on every second Tuesday of each month from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM at our office. Please visit our website at www.pbcgov.com/osba for eligibility requirements. Certification Training Workshop Future workshops will be held on Wednesday, March 18, April 15, and May 20, 2009 from 10:30-12:00 p.m. in the OSBA conference room, 50 South Military Trail, in Suite 209, West Palm Beach. Space is limited, so please call 561-616-6840 to schedule your appointment. 3
MANDATORY Pre-Onsite Certification Training The Office of Small Business Assistance now offers MANDATORY pre-onsite certification training on the third (3 rd ) Wednesday of each month. Any small business that wishes to submit an application for certification during on-site certification must attend this training. In this training you will become familiar with the acceptable documentation needed to accompany your certification application. All workshops will be held from 10:30 a.m. to Noon at Palm Beach County Office of Small Business Assistance, Suite 209 50 South Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33415 January 21, 2009 February 18, 2009 March 18, 2009 April 15, 2009 May 20, 2009 June 17, 2009 July 15, 2009 August 19, 2009 September 16, 2009 October 21, 2009 November 18, 2009 December 16, 2009 (Please circle your selection) You may register by any one of the following ways: E-mail your information to: pwilhelm@pbcgov.org or vhobbs@pbcgov.org (Write Pre-Onsite Certification Training in subject line) Fax your information to OSBA office at: 561-616-6850, or Call OSBA with your information at: 561-616-6840 Attendee s Name Business Name Business Street Address Suite # City Zip Telephone Number Fax Number 4
Bryan K. Boysaw, Esq. The SBA Advisory Committee is pleased to announce the addition of its newest member, Bryan K. Boysaw. He will represent The Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County. On December 2, 2008 the Board of County Commissioners approved the addition of a seat for a black chamber of commerce. Mr. Boysaw is an experienced and respected Trial Attorney who has been in private practice for more than 17 years. A graduate of Cornell College and the University of Iowa Law School, Attorney Boysaw formerly served as an Assistant County Attorney at the Palm Beach County Attorney s office. He has successfully litigated 100 s of Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Eminent Domain and Civil Rights related claims throughout the States of Florida and Michigan. However, there is another side of this Attorney. Attorney Boysaw downplays his law firm s community service activities which intrigued the Black Chamber of Commerce to recruit him as an active member. For the past several years the Law Office of Bryan K. Boysaw & Associates, P.A. has held its signature community event at the Westward Elementary School. The law firm s annual FCAT Movie Day awards every FCAT eligible student incentive packages to pass and increase their FCAT scores. Specifically, each student can earn up to $500. In addition, all students who pass with a minimum score are treated to a pep rally where they are each given t-shirts, pizza, and other gifts. Thereafter, a professional photographer photographs the students on a Hollywood style red carpet walk as they board buses and are taken to an inspirational and age appropriate movie. To date, the firm has sponsored more than 750 students. All donations are provided solely by the law firm. According to Attorney Boysaw, our firm s overall long term goal is to service all inner city schools in the cities of West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach. A staunch supporter of children and victims rights, Attorney Boysaw was featured in the Business Daily Review for successfully challenging and defeating the Palm Beach County School Board s neglect of several mentally challenged children. Hard work and perseverance have resulted in million dollar verdicts and judgments for his clients. He is a highly respected, experienced and accessible trial attorney. Attorney Boysaw also enjoys speaking and volunteering at local schools in Palm Beach County. For years, his law firm has been recognized as an outstanding business partner by numerous organizations. In keeping with that trend and in recognition of the firm s personal involvement and financial sponsorships, the Palm Beach County School District voted the Law Offices of Bryan Boysaw & Associates, P.A. its 2009 Outstanding Small Business Partner of the Year. Concurrently, Mr. Boysaw s incentive for participating on the SBA Advisory Committee is to see that the needs of local small businesses are being met. Bryan Boysaw and his wife Traci have two children: Bryan Jr. and Jonathan. The family attends Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. They are members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, respectively, as well as other civic organizations. 5
Boasting more than 522 attendees, the Second Annual Matchmaker Conference & Expo held on September 24, 2008 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center continued the tradition of bringing together small businesses for a day of workshops, training and one-on -one appointments. Hosted by the Palm Beach Partners which includes the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, School District of Palm Beach County, South Florida Water Management, City of West Palm Beach, the Center for Technology, Enterprise & Development, Inc. and the Paragon Foundation; this event provided interaction with key decision makers and many of the county s leading purchasers. Small business owners, potential entrepreneurs and sponsors received valuable information on How to Do Business with Palm Beach County, South Florida Water Management and the School District of Palm Beach County. Major sponsors included FP&L, AT&T, W.G. Mills, Inc., the Mims Construction Joint Partnership and Pirtle Construction. These sponsors were on hand to meet one-on-one with attendees interested in doing business. A major highlight of the conference and expo included the Spotlight on the 2008 Vendor Award recipients which included: Advocate of the Year, L.B. Limited; Corporate Partner of the Year, James B. Pirtle Construction Company, Inc.; Minority Business of the Year, Horace Construction Services, Inc.; and Small Business of the Year, Naztec International Group. 6
Bids and Business in Palm Beach County- Roadmap to Progress The Office of Small Business Assistance has developed a workshop series for small businesses seeking information on How to Do Business with Palm Beach County. The Small Business Development Center provides an overview of the bidding process with a focus on the different instruments used in the bidding process that include RFPs, RFSs, RFQs, and IFBs. County staff will discuss interacting with the following departments: Purchasing, Engineering, Water Utilities, and Facilities Development & Operations. For the first time ever, a representative from Risk Management Department will discuss insurance requirements on contracts awarded by Palm Beach County. All workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Palm Beach County Purchasing Conference Room 109 50 South Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33415 Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 (at Emergency Operation Center) Wednesday, May 13, 2009 Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (please circle your selection) You may register by any one of the following ways: E-mail your information to: smallbiz@co.palm-beach.fl.us Fax your information to the OSBA office at: 561-616-6850 or Call the OSBA office with your information at: 561-616-6840 Business Name Attendee s Name Business Street Address Suite # City Zip Telephone Number Fax Number Print E-mail address 7
FREE TRAINING Business Boot Camp. A Workshop Series The Palm Beach County Office of Small Business Assistance in conjunction with the IntraCoastal Group of Smith Barney is pleased to announce our upcoming educational series Business Boot Camp. This series of programs focuses on relevant topics facing the local business community. The speakers are experts in their respective fields and the programs are strictly educational. While pre-registration is required, they are FREE. You are invited to attend any one or all of the sessions. January 7, 2009 (Part I) Risk management professionals from Atlantic Pacific Insurance will teach the basics of Worker s Comp a highly misunderstood business necessity. The goal is to develop compliant and educated consumers, thus enabling you to drive down costs. March 4, 2009 (Part 2) - A risk management specialist from Atlantic Pacific Insurance will focus on how not to hire a worker s compensation claim and minimizing higher premiums, and what to look for when bringing on new people in regards to workmen s compensation insurance. May 6, 2009 The law team from McDonald Hopkins present alternate sources of funds, strategies to take money off the table and business valuations. July 1, 2009 The pension specialists of Benetech will teach the nuts and bolts of qualified retirement plans and the advantages and disadvantages of each. A primer on compliance and administration issues and pitfalls will be distributed. September 2, 2009 The CPA firm of Caler, Donten and Levine will present a tutorial on smart accounting practices, tax compliance, and related issues including developing an exit strategy. All workshops are held from 10 a.m. to noon at Palm Beach County Purchasing Conference Room 109 50 South Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33415 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 Wednesday, March 4, 2009 Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Wednesday, September 2, 2009 (please circle your selection) You may register by any one of the following ways: E-mail your information to pahart@pbcgov.org; Fax your information to the OSBA office at 561-616-6850; or, Call the OSBA office with your information at: 561-616-6840 Business Name Attendee s Name Business Street Address Suite # City Zip Telephone Number Fax Number Print e-mail address 8
Hazel L. K. Oxendine, Director Tyshon R. Grimsley, Senior Secretary Allen Gray, Manager Pamela A. P. Hart, Program Coordinator Patricia Wilhelm, Small Business Development Specialist II Tonya Davis-Johnson, Small Business Development Specialist II Tanoy Williams, Small Business Development Specialist II Vicki Hobbs, Small Business Development Specialist I Pamela A. P. Hart, Editor E-mail questions or comments to: pahart@pbcgov.org For more information on our program or services, please call us at: 561.616.6840 9
Jeff Koons, Chairperson Burt Aaronson, Vice Chair Karen T. Marcus Shelley Vana District 4 Jess R. Santamaria Addie L. Green Robert Weisman County Administrator Verdenia Baker Deputy County Administrator 10