4th Annual 2026 Florida SBDC at USF Business Awards Luncheon

Celebrate the outstanding achievements of small businesses within our 10-County Tampa Bay region at the Florida SBDC at USF Annual Business Awards! This signature event honors the entrepreneurial spirit and recognizes the success of our small business clients, the excellence of our dedicated staff, and the invaluable contributions of our partners.

Our keynote speaker, John "Jay" B. Rogers, Jr., CEO & Co-Founder of Haddy, grew up a lover of woodworking, machines, and a student of industry; his grandfather owned the legendary Indian Motorcycle Company, founded concrete and steel giant Texas Industries, and was the first Cummins Engine Distributor in the United States. Jay's grandfather is also credited with saving the Public Broadcasting System during the Nixon Administration and co-founding the Children's Television Workshop, which is best known for Sesame Street. In embracing his family legacy of manufacturing and innovation, Jay has added his military leadership, entrepreneurship, and education, in order to hand-select a team of co-founders and set forth on a most ambitious plan: Creating Haddy - manufacturer of heroic, beautiful, durable furniture for retailers, to their design, built locally in the most resilient and sustainable manner.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will also present their prestigious SBA Small Business Awards during this event.