Volusia-UCF Business Incubation Program Site Manager Receives CareerSource Award

Daytona Beach, Fla.   –  Connie Garzon-Bernal, Associate Director and Site Manager for the Volusia County–UCF Business Incubator was recently honored by CareerSource Flagler-Volusia with its “Partner in Workforce Excellence” award.

Bernal said she was surprised by the award that was announced at the recent CareerSource monthly board of directors meeting in Daytona Beach, but delighted that her hard work teaching Volusia County entrepreneurs and innovators over the past five years has been recognized.

Robin King, President and CEO of CareerSource Flagler Volusia said Bernal’s efforts in partnering with CareerSource on several projects throughout the last five years including her Volusia Tech Hub with short-term technology classes at the Incubator site were among the several reasons she was chosen for the award.  “Connie played a key role in the establishment of our three-year program, ‘Startup Quest,’” King said.

Bernal was also nominated by CareerSource Flagler Volusia for a statewide award “Education Partner of the Year” with competing nominees and a winner will be determined the end of September at a workforce summit.

As site manager at the Volusia-UCF Business Incubator at the Daytona Beach Airport facility, Bernal provides constructive feedback to start ups which is essential to grow local businesses and jobs.

Photo Caption:   Volusia-UCF Business Incubation Program Site Manager Connie Bernal (left) with Robin King, President and CEO of CareerSource, was awarded the “Partner in Workforce Excellence” award at the organization’s recent board meeting in Daytona Beach.

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For more information about, media contacts –

Connie Bernal, Associate Director/ Site Manager, Volusia County–University of Central Florida Business Incubator Program, 386-872-3101 or connie.bernal@ucf.edu

Robin King, President / CEO CareerSource Flagler Volusia 386-323-7077 robinking@careersourcefv.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142 or LvershelCo@aol.com   

About CareerSource Flagler Volusia

CareerSource Flagler Volusia offers tools to find jobs and advance careers for residents of Flagler and Volusia. On average, the organization provides nearly 3,065 job seekers each month with services such as an online job bank, career counseling, recruitment events, training, financial aid, career assessments and internships. It also assists an average of 233 employers each month with recruitment, retention and training. For more information, visit www.CareerSourceFV.com

About the UCF Business Incubation Program      

The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth / impact enterprises.   Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped hundreds of local startup companies reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources.

With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs.  Participating companies sustain more than 3,600 local jobs and have had a total impact of $1.51 Billion on regional sales and $2.48 Billion on regional economic output.  During the last fiscal year, the program has returned $7.95 for every $1.00 invested in the program.