Seen at the TED Center smooth jazz and networking event ...

By DAVID SEDORE, Palm Beach Business.com
DELRAY BEACH — As many as 80 business people from Broward and Palm Beach counties gathered Friday for the TED Center’s monthly smooth jazz and networking at the Blue Fish Japanese restaurant in Delray Beach.

The event was free.

The Florida Business Development Corp. sponsored the event. FBDC Vice President Derrick Martin advised the gathering to take advantage of the programs at the TED Center — formally known as the Center for Technology Enterprise and Development. Most of the programs are free.

One critical offering: Assistance in writing a business plan. It’s especially important if a business is going to lenders for money.

“If you don’t have that, you’re not even going to get a call back,” Martin said.

Next networking event: July 11, also at the Blue Fish.

two women Annette Gray, CEO of Rainbow Marketing in Delray Beach, with Evelyn Dobson of the Delray Beach Community Land Trust.

four people at table Javier Quintero and Claudia I. Mendoza, both of I.Q. Constructions Inc., left, with Derrick Martin, vice president of the Florida Business Development Corp., and Franziska Schliffke of Farm Credit. The Florida Business Development Corp. sponsored Friday's event.

Seabron Smith, TED Center executive director, with Jennifer Brin, director of the Florida Women's Business Center, and Geneva Gray, program director at the Florida Women's Business Center.

two women standing Monica Erin, left, with Judi Asch.

two women and a man Judith Clark, accounting/ operations manager at the TED Center, left, with William Hatcher of Hatcher Construction in Delray Beach and Renu Surana of the TED Center staff.