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by: Brianna Kwasnik '16, M.A '23
|
Feb. 20, 2026
Entrepreneurship Center Awards Honor Alums, Dean
Frank Ghannadian, dean of the Sykes College of Business, was recognized for his outstanding service to entrepreneurs.
Dean of the Sykes College of Business Frank Ghannadian is pictured at center with Rebecca White, Walter chair and director of the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, and Dean Koutroumanis, the center's associate director. Photo by Hannah Vazquez
TheEntrepreneur Alumni Awards ceremony held Thursday nightattheLowthEntrepreneurship Center on campus welcomed home alumni and gave students the opportunity to network with thosewhoonce sat where they are now.
FrankGhannadian, dean of the Sykes College ofBusiness,was given an “Outstanding Service to Entrepreneurs” recognition.
“Dr.ҳԲԲ徱hasbeen instrumental in his leadership, in growing the Sykes College of Business, and working with us hand-in-hand, in building what you see here today, theLowthEntrepreneurship Center,” said DeanKoutroumanis, associate director of theCenter, in announcing the award.
ҳԲԲ徱looked onin surprise, among the crowd of faculty, staff,alumniand students in the room, beforeapproachingthe podium to say a few words.
He later joked that if he had known about the recognition beforehand, he would have tried to “twist some arms”to humbly defer the recognition to others.
ҳԲԲ徱noted that when he joined theUniversityin 2007, the College of Business had only 1,500 students. There are now over 5,500 students. The faculty thennumberedabout 50, he said. Nowthereareover 160full-timefacultymembers—and more withpart-time faculty.
“The blessing has been that the University of Tampa has been my home,”ҳԲԲ徱said, adding that when he started, he never expectedtobe here 18 years later. He joked thatit’slike being invited to celebrate the birth of ababyandthen getting invited to their high school graduation.
ҳԲԲ徱announcedinAugust thathewould be stepping down from his position at the end of thisacademic year.
The overall message of the night was aboutwelcomingalumni home to the University of Tampa,strengtheningconnection to theentrepreneurshipprogram.
TwoUTampaalumsalsoweregiven honors at the event.
Steve Ciarleglio ’05was given the 2026 Innovator Award. He is the founder and CEO of NovusInformatics,a healthcare technology company heestablishedin 2012 to help hospitals improve supply chain efficiency.
Ciarleglio noted that what he took away from the University was not onlythe academics, but the people and the relationships he built while he was a student.
Alexis Alegre-Castro ’25 received the 2026 Young Entrepreneur Award.
Alegre-Castro is the founder and CEO of Give Back Snacks, a mission-driven food startup offering single-ingredient, freeze-dried fruit snacks through a“buyone,giveback”model that supports hunger relief. The company donates the equivalent of one meal per unit sold to Feeding Tampa Bay, a local food bank.
“Literallya year ago, I was sitting in this exactspotbutgiving a pitch about my business model and getting feedback from all of my professors,” Alegre-Castro said. “I reallycouldn'tdo it withoutall ofthe feedback that I got,all ofthe guidance and leadership that I got.
“I hope thatyou guysleave here inspired and encouraged to do the same thing for yourselves, becauseyou guyscan all do it,absolutely,” she addedto students in attendance.
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