FSBDC Admin and IRSC graduate wins statewide award

Katie Muldoon serves the community and Indian River State College as the Marketing Specialist for the Florida SBDC at IRSC.

Katie Muldoon, who serves as the Administrative & Outreach Specialist for the Florida SBDC at Indian River State College (SBDC), has been named the Florida SBDC Network 2022 Rising Star. This annual statewide SBDC award recognizes a young professional in the network for their outstanding talent, exceptional achievement, and the marked difference they have made to their center, the network and community during the year.

“From her first day as the Marketing Specialist with the Florida SBDC at IRSC TEAM, Katie has accepted and taken on every task and responsibility included in the job description with a high level of professionalism and enthusiasm,” said Tom Kindred, Regional Director Florida SBDC at IRSC. “Beyond her proficiency in conducting the day-to-day work of marketing specialist Katie has also accepted additional responsibilities, including taking on a lead role with the center’s support of the 2020 COVID-19 Emergency Bridge Loan program (EBL).”

Muldoon is a graduate of the Indian River State College School of Business, earning her degree in Organizational Management. She has been employed at IRSC since 2017. Muldoon was recognized and accepted her award at the recent inaugural Florida SBDC Network’s Small Business Success Summit in Tampa Bay, Florida. The award was presented by Greg Britton, Florida SBDC Network State Director during an awards celebration, attended by over 150 conference participants and network professionals.

“I am completely humbled and overwhelmed by this recognition, thank you to my team for the nomination and recognition,” said Muldoon. “I look forward to continuing my education and a career in the small business sector.”

Muldoon’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic required her to spend countless hours managing the application process and moving EBL applications from submission to final approval. Her work was instrumental in assisting over 95 applicants receiving over $3 million in emergency funding. Following her work on the EBL program she accepted the leadership role in supporting and facilitating the center’s partnership and collaboration with local municipalities in support of their small business grant programs.

During the center’s small business pandemic support programs, she also assumed responsibility as TEAM Leader for a group of IRSC students who served as grant processors for St. Lucie County. Katie’s efforts helped hundreds of Treasure Coast businesses gain access to over $7 million in pandemic-related grants. While executing her job responsibilities for the SBDC at IRSC, Katie maintained her volunteer leadership role with Indian River State College’s DECA program.

“Going beyond the call of duty is standard operating procedure for Katie,” said Kindred.  “Each day she demonstrates a willingness to learn, serve and support the Florida SBDC Network and the regional center as we carry out the mission of providing credentialed consulting to help businesses, start, grow and succeed.”

For more information regarding the FSBDC at IRSC, please contact your local center at (772) 336-6285 or fsbdc@irsc.edu

About the Florida SBDC Network:

For over forty years, the Florida SBDC Network, the state’s principal provider of business assistance [Fl. Stat. 288.001], has nourished a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development to provide existing and emerging small and medium-sized business owners with management and knowledge resources that enable overall growth, increased profitability, and economic prosperity for Florida’s economy.

In 2019, Florida SBDCs provided 114,064 hours of professional business consulting to 12,535 client businesses, resulting in 37,966 jobs impacted; $4.4 billion in sales generated; $496.5 million in government contracts acquired; and $255.3 million in capital accessed; and 453 new businesses started.  With over 40 offices statewide, the Florida SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida and other private and public partners. The Florida SBDC Network, headquartered at the University of West Florida, is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs and is a recipient of the President’s E Award for Export Service. Florida SBDC services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for individuals with limited English proficiency. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.