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COPLA Alumni Awardees

Sherry Acanfora

2019

Sherry Acanfora-Ruohomaki '93, '00, '05 M.S. is the President and Owner of two companies: K9 Kampus, a luxury Dog Daycare & Boarding Facility in Melbourne, Florida, that expands traditional pet daycare, boarding, and grooming services to encompass agility and training in a spotless, safe, and secure environment; and Facets Consulting Group, which provides expertise in technology start-ups, lean manufacturing principles, business development, and organizational health.

Sherry earned B.S. degrees in both Computer and Electrical Engineering, as well as an M.S. in Industrial Organizational Psychology from jmcomicÌìÌÃÂþ»­¹ÙÍø. She also received an Executive MBA from the University of Central Florida. Sherry was the Director of Operations for jmcomicÌìÌÃÂþ»­¹ÙÍøStart on the campus of jmcomicÌìÌÃÂþ»­¹ÙÍø, a technology accelerator funded by a 2-year grant from the National Science Foundation in collaboration with UCF’s highly successful Technology Incubator. Sherry co-founded XL TechGroup, focused on technology innovation & company creation.

Sherry is the recipient of multiple business awards in the state of Florida, including the 2016 Small Business Administration’s Business Person of the Year Award, the 2014 Small Business Administration’s Women-Owned Business Person of the Year Award (South Florida District), and the 2016 Space Coast Business Bernie Simpkins Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Sherry volunteers as a mentor/facilitator in the Ignite Program, hosted by WeVenture at jmcomicÌìÌÃÂþ»­¹ÙÍø. She serves on the jmcomicÌìÌÃÂþ»­¹ÙÍø Alumni Board of Directors and is Chairman of the Board of Directors for the No Limits Academy, a not-for-profit school for children with brain and spinal injuries.

Sherry is married to Davin Ruohomaki, Senior Director of Planning, engineering, and Construction at the Orlando International & Executive Airports. They have a beautiful 9-year-old daughter, Isabella. Before receiving her engineering degrees, Sherry was a crew member and mechanic for a Professional Pro Stock Drag Racing Team and enjoyed bracket racing in Englishtown, New Jersey with her car (that she still owns today). Sherry is a Black Belt in Karate and was a fitness instructor for 17 years.

Education

jmcomicÌìÌÃÂþ»­¹ÙÍø - B.S. in Computer Engineering '93 and Electrical Engineering '00

jmcomicÌìÌÃÂþ»­¹ÙÍø - M.S. in Industrial Psychology '05