Small Business, Big Dreams - Celebrating National Women’s Small Business Month

Gena Bofshever Alon, chiropractor and Owner of Dr. Gena Chiropractic in Plantation, won the final round of the BankUnited Women in Business Challenge, held before a live audience after completing three rounds of pitching. Bofshever Alon’s wellness-based, state-of-the art clinical practice is dedicated to nurturing the health and well-being of everyone from pediatric to geriatric patients.

“All of our judges were impressed with Dr. Gena’s energy, passion and knowledge of where her business is heading and what it will take to achieve her big dreams,” said Lisa Shim, BankUnited Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Technology and Innovation.

Taking home the first runner-up prize of $5,000 was Taenika Sands, owner of New York-based My Own Lane Aquatics, a Black woman-owned swim school that provides underserved and minority communities with access to swim lessons and water safety education. The second runner-up prize of $2,500 was awarded to Samantha Tiel, owner of West Palm Beach-based Soul Movement, a classical and contemporary dance studio focused on introducing inner-city students to arts education, wellness and performance opportunities.

BankUnited’s annual event brings together established and up-and-coming women business leaders and small business owners to hear from some of the region’s most successful women in business, who generously share their insights about achieving success, overcoming challenges and leveraging support networks to benefit their businesses and communities.

“This exceptional event continues to grow and build on previous years, drawing women business owners who are not afraid to dream big in order to achieve their professional and personal goals,” said Shim. “I am proud of BankUnited’s role in continuing to foster these relationships. Our annual Small Business Big Dreams Summit exemplifies the passion and dedication our bankers bring to the table each and every day to help business owners turn their ambitions into reality.”

During the event, award-winning business leader, global influencer and author Ann Marie Sorrell, CEO of The Mosaic Group, delivered the keynote address. Shim moderated a panel discussion that featured advice and insight from Germaine Smith-Baugh, Ppresident and CEO of the Urban League of Broward County; restaurateur Danielle Rosse, founder and owner of Oceans 234; Francy Rueda, Senior Loan Program Manager at Miami Bayside Foundation; and last year’s winner of the Small Business, Big Dreams Challenge, Sydney Hughes, Founder and CEO of Senior Proof.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners can find resources and information at: www.BankUnited.com