Southeastern Louisiana SBDC receives award from SBA

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southeastern Louisiana University was honored during the 2026 Spotlight Louisiana Awards, hosted by Louisiana Economic Development, alongside SBA and business leaders from across the state. The event celebrated Louisiana companies and organizations whose innovation, leadership, and investment are creating opportunities and strengthening communities throughout the state.

The LSBDC at Southeastern was recognized with the 2026 SBDC Excellence and Innovation Center Award, honoring the center’s continued commitment to supporting entrepreneurs, fostering small business growth and driving economic development across the region.

The winning team at the LSBDC at Southeastern includes Center Director Wayne Ricks, Business Consultant Dillon Sullivan, Business Consultant Raynard Francois, and Training Coordinator Karen Romero.

In addition to the center’s recognition, the LSBDC at Southeastern nominated Summit Bike Academy, recipient of the 2026 Rural Small Business of the Year Award. The recognition highlights the company’s performance and dedication to serving its community, while promoting growth, innovation, and opportunity in rural Louisiana.

Summit Bike Academy, founded by Toby Cortez, provides mountain bike coaching, trail rides, and outdoor recreation training for riders of all skill levels. Through his leadership, vision and development of the Mountain Bike Park within Bogue Chitta State Park in Washington Parish, Cortez helped advance rural development, eco-tourism, and community stewardship, driving a 171% increase in park visitation within six years.

Also nominated by the LSBDC at Southeastern, Apocalypse Sports was presented with the 2026 Excellence in Business Award. The award is in recognition of its outstanding business growth, entrepreneurial leadership, and positive impact on the local community.

Located in Ponchatoula, Apocalypse Sports is a veteran-owned small business founded by Joshua Burns that has become a small business success story through its dedication to customer service, business excellence, and community engagement. The company specializes in firearms sales, training, accessories, and an indoor shooting range.

“These awards are a testament to the hard work and determination of Louisiana entrepreneurs and the importance of strong business support partnerships,” said Ricks. “We are proud to support businesses like Apocalypse Sports and Summit Bike Academy and honored to be recognized for the work our center does to help small businesses start, grow, and succeed.”

The LSBDC at Southeastern provides confidential business consulting and training programs to entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the region. Through guidance in areas such as business planning, financing, marketing, and strategic growth, the center continues to play a vital role in advancing economic development in Southeast Louisiana.

For more information about the LSBDC at Southeastern, call 985-549-3831 or visit southeastern.edu/admin/sbdc/.