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<\/p>\nUniversity of South Florida leaders, staff and students joined community partners Tuesday at the inaugural Nault Center for Entrepreneurship Awards Luncheon. The event, which took place at the educational institution\u2019s St. Petersburg campus, celebrated business excellence in the Tampa Bay community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe center touches every element of our strategic plan,\u201d said David Blackwell, who serves as the USF Muma College of Business Lynn Pippenger Dean. \u201cIt benefits our students with experimental learning and helps actually get companies off of the ground. It supports research and faculty engagement in the community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He explained that one of the guiding themes of the Muma College of Business is powering dreams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means helping students achieve their professional aspirations, but it also means helping entrepreneurs, founders and innovators bring their ideas to life and create meaningful impact in the world around them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blackwell said that the college is planning on launching a corporate entrepreneurship minor in the fall of the 2028-2029 academic year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also believe that entrepreneurial thinking extends far beyond just starting a business,\u201d he said. \u201cWhether our graduates become founders, executives, consultants or leaders within established organizations, we want them to think creatively, to innovate boldly and to identify opportunities where others may see obstacles.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Andy Hafer, who is an adjunct professor and the advisory board chair for the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship, received the Vanguard Leadership Award. A USF alumni, he co-founded audio-visual production and creative solutions provider DCE Productions. Hafer has been involved with multiple organizations including Metropolitan Ministries Board for Social Enterprise, Community Foundation Tampa Bay and The Village of Hope Haiti.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Hafer, the recognition was a surprise and a humbling experience. He explained that educating students has become a passion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hafer believes that to start and grow a company, learners need to participate in hands-on experiences. He argued that it\u2019s important to augment academics.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve often joked with my students that you\u2019re either born with it or you catch the disease,\u201d Hafer said. \u201cIt is really a disease. You look at the world and you just want to fix something. You want to fill a gap and that\u2019s what makes a good entrepreneur.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis concept of a major, minor or some kind of certificate in entrepreneurship is good for those who want to start a business,\u201d he continued. \u201cBut, I will tell you that what you learn is that grit. You learn that perseverance and you learn how to get knocked down and get up a hundred times if you need to, and that makes a damn good employee to any corporation out there as well.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jennifer Sineway, who is an entrepreneur in residence at the Nault Center, was recognized as well. She is the co-founder of Allied Analytic, which is a servicer and reseller of Vetscan blood analyzers. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Sineway created the organization\u2019s mentorship program. She has helped develop a network of business leaders, attorneys and investors for students to connect with. From one-on-one coaching to hands-on training, the mentorship program has become a key aspect of the Nault Center\u2019s work.<\/p>\n
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Jennifer Sineway, who is an entrepreneur in residence at the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship, created the organization\u2019s mentorship program.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs,\u201d she said. \u201cTo get real and really serious about it, entrepreneurship is hard. It can be really hard and it can get lonely. A lot of times, we just talk about the founding, the funding, the successes and the exits.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dennis Moncur was named the 2026 Mentor of the Year. Multiple students were also recognized.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Morgan Bierbrunner, who co-founded pre-workout gummy supplement manufacturer Rush Power, received the Perseverance Award. She has had to navigate through a variety of obstacles including manufacturing issues and packaging setbacks while pursuing a graduate degree. Bierbrunner has participated in multiple pitch competitions and received a $10,000 investment through the Nault Center\u2019s HUSTLE Business Innovation Cohort.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Versatility Award was presented to Julia Reding.\u00a0She graduated early with a degree in psychology and interned with the U.S. Office of Naval Research. Reding has supported the Nault Center\u2019s programs and helped oversee the USF Patent Commercialization Project.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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