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Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses


 Contact Stu: CEO@FAVOB.ORG

Stuart Smith (Stu)


CEO


Stuart is the Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Association of Veteran Owned Businesses.  As CEO, he is responsible for growing the state-wide organization to be the recognized voice for veteran-owned businesses that positions Florida as the “Veteran State of Choice” to own and operate a business.

Since leaving the Army in 1992, he has focused his time and talent on Veterans’ advocacy in employment and entrepreneurship.  He is a founding board member of the Florida Association of Veteran Owned Businesses (FAVOB), Space Coast Chapter.  He has led the Military Affairs Council of the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce.  He is a member of the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, and Life Member of the Brevard County Veterans Center.

  • 2023 Appointment by the SBA Administrator as a member of the Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs (3-year term)
  • 2023 North Florida and State of Florida Community Partner of the Year, Florida Association of Veteran Owned Businesses.  Accepted by Stuart as FAVOB CEO
  • 2022 Small Business Association (SBA) South Florida Veterans Advocate of the Year
  • 2018 inductee into the Space Coast Public Service Hall of Fame, Outstanding Military Service Award, Brevard County, FL, Sheriff Wayne Ivey
  • 2017-2020 Small Business of the Month winner and Small Business of the Year finalist, Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
  • 2012 Awarded the SHRM Atlanta Presidential Volunteer Leadership Award for leading SHRM Atlanta’s Veteran Hiring Initiative
  • 2010 Named Paul Harris Fellow, the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International and awarded the Pat Adkins “Rotarian of the Year” award 2010 for his veteran advocacy work
  • 1995 Governor Executive Fellow, State of Washington Mike Lowry, Governor
  • 1987 9th Infantry, I CORPS and US Forces Command (FORSCOM) Soldier of the Year





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STATE Board Members


Trish Murphy - BOD Chair 

CEO, Marketing Smarty Pants

Air Force 




Justin Spears - Vice Chair 

Founder and CEO

MXI Consulting

Navy


TIm Farrell - Secretary 

President and CEO, Veterans4you

Marine Corps 


Neil Horie - Treasurer 

Business Relationship Manager

JPMorgan Chase & Co

Airforce



Ruth Osborne CFO

Partner, Abacus Accounting 

Marine Corps



Michael Waldrop - Founder and Immediate Past BOD Chair 

President/CEO, Blue Cord Construction

Army



Stuart Smith (Stu) - CEO

Army


Alec Hall - GOVCON

President, Alliance Cyber

Air Force


Chris Odgers - Legislative Affairs

Associate Attorney, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Army



Jim Lane - Technology and Infrastructure 

CEO, Lane Technologies

Air Force 



Shirley Baez - Greater Tampa Bay Chair

Senior Academic Instructor, Spathe Systems 

Army


James D'Cruz - Legal

Associate Attorney, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Army


Doug Cochrane - Jacksonville Chair

Financial Advisor, The Northstar Group at Morgan Stanley

Navy




Leadership Teams on the Space Coast and Panhandle 



Upcoming Events

FAVOB

Creating opportunities for Veteran Business Owners to THRIVE.

CONTACTS

Email: ceo@favob.org
Physical Address: 835 Bennett Rd. 
Orlando, FL 32803

Mailing Address: PO Box 540447 
Orlando, FL 32854-0447

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