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[Pages S794-S795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING CARROLL BRADFORD, INC.
Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, it is my privilege to honor a
Florida small business that exemplifies what it means to provide
quality service and to give back to the community when it matters the
most. As chairman of the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize a small business that
exemplifies the value of hard work and the unique American
entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my pleasure to recognize
Carroll Bradford, Inc., of Orlando, FL, as the Senate Small Business of
the Week.
Carroll Bradford, Inc., is a full-service construction and
landscaping company that was founded in 2010 by Stephen Barnett and Jon
Menke, who were both born and raised in central Florida. Stephen and
Jon are related by marriage and were driven to follow in the footsteps
of their grandfathers, who were both successful small business owners
in the 1940s. The company's name combines the names of each cofounder's
grandfather: Stephen's grandfather, Carroll Barco, and Jon's
grandfather, G.L. Bradford.
Carroll Bradford started in the Baldwin Park community in Orlando and
now has expanded to Jacksonville. Through hard work and dedication,
Stephen and Jon built a reputation of providing quality construction
and landscaping services, being honest with their customers, and giving
back to the community.
In its first 8 years, Carroll Bradford has grown exponentially,
leading the company to create an app to respond to the expanding base
of customers. A testament to this growth is the company's partnership
with the Orlando Magic
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basketball team, for which Carroll Bradford proudly serves as the
Magic's ``Official Builder.'' As a result of its exceptional work,
Carroll Bradford has won numerous awards and accolades, including an A+
rating from the Better Business Bureau and recognition from the Orlando
Business Journal as a ``Fast 50'' business in 2017.
Carroll Bradford not only constructs many of the buildings and homes
that form the Orlando and Jacksonville communities, but it is also
dedicated to serving the people who live there. Carroll Bradford
supports its community in a variety of ways, including sponsoring the
Coaches and Friends Toy Drive Challenge golf tournament each December,
providing meals at Orlando's Ronald McDonald House, and hosting an
annual Arnold Palmer Hospital trick-or-treat event. In March of this
year, Carroll Bradford will sponsor the 2019 Arnie's March Against
Children's Cancer for the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
Additionally, the family at Carroll Bradford established the CB
Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families in need.
Carroll Bradford, Inc., is an outstanding example of what it means
for a small business to be more than just a workplace for a community.
The team at Carroll Bradford combines a desire to provide a useful
service for Floridians, while remaining committed to enhancing the
community through service. I would like to congratulate Stephen, Jon,
and all of the employees at Carroll Bradford, Inc., on being named the
Senate Small Business of the Week. I wish you the best of luck as you
continue to grow your business and serve your community.
____________________
