Miami Lakes EDC finalizes Small Business Boot Camp plans, sets Best of Miami Lakes nomination timeline

The Town of Miami Lakes Economic Development Committee voted to stage its Small Business Boot Camp at Town Hall on Sept. 26 and to announce the finalists for the "Best of Miami Lakes" awards live at that event.

EDC Chair (name not specified) said the committee would not pursue the BankUnited Center because the space’s limited seating, security requirements and restricted Friday availability would prevent reliable on-site registration; the committee agreed Town Hall offers the best option for this year’s marketing and registration plan.

Why it matters: the boot camp is the EDC’s main public-facing small-business event of the season and will serve as the platform to reveal finalists in the Best of Miami Lakes program. The committee said combining the announcements with the boot camp will centralize promotion and encourage nominee attendance.

What the committee decided and deadlines - Date and venue: Sept. 26 at Town Hall (backup venue for future years discussed: Roberto Alonso Community Center). - Schedule: registration opens at 9 a.m.; welcome at 9:45 a.m.; first presentation at 10 a.m. - Best of Miami Lakes timeline: open nominations launch Wednesday, Aug. 27 and close Friday, Sept. 19; finalists will be announced at the boot camp on Sept. 26. - Speaker and marketing deadlines: speaker headshots and titles due by July 25; marketing collateral (flyer, Eventbrite page, agenda PDF) aimed to be complete by July 31.

Speakers and program The committee circulated a shortlist of presenters it plans to invite, including Carlos Padilla (EDC member), Alex Crespi (co‑founder/co‑owner, Lakes Orthodontics), and Melissa Alton (business‑litigation attorney). The EDC said it will recruit a finance panel (bookkeeping/QuickBooks or comparable, not necessarily a CPA) and one or two additional speakers focused on scaling businesses and operational efficiency. Committee members suggested local candidates including Denise Saenz (referred to as a former enrolled agent and current realtor), Alan Gonzalez (owner, Motobreeze), and other town entrepreneurs; final speaker confirmations were assigned as a follow-up task.

Budget and marketing plan The committee confirmed approximately $2,000 in event‑specific marketing funds and discussed using a larger, existing EDC marketing line if needed. The preliminary allocation presented at the meeting was: - $500 (approx.) to hire a contracted social‑media specialist to livestream and capture content during the event (the committee discussed contracting a freelancer referred to in the meeting as Vanessa Victoria). - $500 for giveaways and printed materials (agendas, flyers, swag bags). - $1,500 for digital ad spend over a roughly seven‑week campaign in August and September aimed at increasing turnout beyond the core audience.

Committee members asked that marketing provide post‑campaign analytics showing actual spend and reach so future allocations can be adjusted; staff agreed to provide campaign reports.

Sponsorships, logistics and assignments Committee members discussed soliciting in‑kind and logo sponsorships from local organizations (Chamber of Commerce, First Origin, BNI Miami Lakes and local businesses) for breakfast, giveaways and sponsor recognition on marketing collateral. The EDC assigned tasks including: Carlos Padilla to reach out to prospective speakers and the social‑media contractor; the chair to contact Alan Gonzalez and Denise Saenz; Matthew (graphics/print lead) to produce collateral and manage giveaways; and staff to confirm Town Hall reservation and a breakfast sponsor.

Next steps and meeting schedule The committee set a follow‑up meeting for Aug. 5 (5–6 p.m.) to review marketing collateral, the run‑of‑show and sponsor confirmations. If speaker headshots and titles are delivered by the July 25 deadline, the EDC plans to finalize the flyer and promotional materials by July 31 and launch nominations for Best of Miami Lakes on Aug. 27.

Quotes from the meeting "I am a small business owner here in the town. We have a very small shop called The Trellis Cottage. We've been in business for 9 years here in the town," said Kimberly Reyes, owner of The Trellis Cottage and a member of the Town's Special Needs Advisory Board, urging the committee to include newer businesses in the Best of Miami Lakes process and offering to host the EDC at her shop.

What the article does not assert The article reports the committee’s plans and preliminary budget allocations as discussed in the meeting. It does not assert confirmed speaker commitments, exact contractor rates or final sponsor contributions because those items were not finalized during the session.

Taper: The EDC adjourned after assigning tasks and scheduling the Aug. 5 follow‑up; staff and committee members will return with confirmations on speakers, contractor availability and sponsorships before broader promotional activity begins.