Ms. Hurst has worked with the University of South Florida's Small Business Development Center for twenty years, specializing in Women/Minority Business Development, Startup, Business Planning, and Leadership. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Center.

In 1997, she started the Women Executive Forum that facilitates women business owners to support each other in solving business and worklife balance issues. The Forum continues to serve women entrepreneurs in the Tampa Bay Area. She is an honorary member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Tampa Bay Chapter. The center has been hosting the annual Women Business Owners Leadership Conference and this year hosted the inaugural Legacy and Leadership Awards for women business owners.

Ms. Hurst serves in numerous small business related committees for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, she chaired the Judging subcommittee for the Small Business of The Year sponsored by the Tampa Chamber. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Minority Economic Development of Tampa Bay Corporation as Treasurer. She serves in the Advisory Board for the STAR Technology Enterprise Center (Chair of Community Relation Committee) and the Supervisory Committee for the USF Federal Credit Union. She also is a small business columnist for the Maddux Business Report. Ms. Hurst was named 2006 Women Business of the Year by IndoUS Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay for her contributions to the IndoAmerican and Asian American community and one of 1997's "Women of Distinction" by Soroptimist International of the Americas.

Ms. Hurst graduated with a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of South Florida in 1986. Her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology was awarded by the University of Indonesia. She is a certified Fast Trac facilitator by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership since 2002.

Her current community involvement: