Suzanne Specht

Assistant Director and Certified Business Analyst for the SBDC
sspecht@fgcu.edu
Office: Lutgert Hall 2321
Phone: 239-745-3704

MBA, Florida Gulf Coast University (2006)

Suzanne Specht is the Assistant Director, professional development coordinator, and full-time certified business analyst for the Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University. She has been with Florida Gulf Coast University since 1997. Suzanne has financial experience and expertise gained from her career as a loan officer with Barnett and SouthTrust Banks. This banking background and Suzanne’s ability as a really good listener are two key traits that make Suzanne an effective business analyst. Suzanne recently was awarded the Excalibur Award from the Florida Small Business Development Center Network and represented Florida as the Star Performer in 2004.

Also, Suzanne is a Certified Fastback Facilitator with the Kauffman Foundation and passed a professional Testing Corporation exam to be designated as a Certified Business Communicator. Suzanne is a tireless networker and works diligently to provide sound and knowledgeable business information for our SBDC Clients.

At the SBDC, Suzanne has counseled over 2000 small business owners in the past 12 yrs. She has spent over 12,600 counseling hours with clients assisting them with business plans, financial statements, and loan applications resulting in 140 business start-ups and capital formation over $15 million dollars. Her expertise includes SBA loan packages.

Also, Suzanne has conducted 400+ training seminars, not only in SW Florida but also in faraway places such as Russia, Trinidad, and Haiti. Her international training skills have built relationships with different organizations including partnerships with Halmstad University in Sweden and Kabardino-Balkaria Business Institute in Russia.

She sits on the Access Florida Finance Board, is a member of Gulf Shore Business Magazine editorial board, and is supportive as a small business advisor to many local chambers of commerce. In her spare time, Suzanne enjoys international travel, missions work, and reading.