September/October 2017
Local Knowledge, Tools & Tips to Inspire and Grow Your Business
Business is Bloomin’!
CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Cape Coral: Where successful businesses excel in the art of expansion
Seven years of continual growth spurred AAE Glass to relocate to a 20,000-squarefoot studio, warehouse and retail shop on Pine Island Road, with plans for a November grand opening. AAE Glass has worked closely with the Cape Coral Economic Development Office (EDO) since its beginning. “The team has helped us with everything that goes with expanding a business,” says Mark Veit, vice president. “Knowing that the EDO has our back is reassuring.”
Cape Coral Economic Development Office +1 (239) 574-0444 ecodev@capecoral.net bizcapecoral.com
Cape Coral is ranked the No. 1 fastest-growing metro area in the nation. New and existing businesses are taking advantage of this great opportunity. Contact the Cape Coral EDO today to learn how we can help you with a startup or expansion.
2017 The Ca pe
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Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
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6
Entrepreneur 101 The Level III Relationship
Management Top-Ten Employee Traits
10
Finance Want To Start a Business?
Six ways entrepreneurs can mitigate personal financial risk
11
16
Insurance Commercial General Liability Coverage
17
SBDC I’m from the Government And I’m here to help you!
18
Process Are Your Processes Missing any Key Elements?
Relationships The Spotlight is on YOU!
12
19
Technology Backups! Restores?
Legal Who needs a Lawyer?
14
22
Technology Consult an IT Professional Before Starting a Business or Opening a Branch Office.
15
Exit Strategy What’s in a Value?
Surprising Elements of Business Pricing
CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
What’s Inside
8
Marketing Sizzle This Summer
Now is the Time to Sizzle and Fine-Tune for next Season
4 A Word From Economic Development
20 Chamber of Commerce 21 Cape Business News
23 Cape Connection - Dana Brunett
24 Non-Profit Sector
26 Networking Events
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
3
A Word from Economic Development
By Dana Brunett
When I first arrived in Cape Coral in the
facility, ESA Tubing, a manufacturer
fall of 2011, Cape Coral was in the throes of a major economic downturn. evidence
was
everywhere,
The
from
boarded-up houses to empty storefronts,
related jobs. There are two new to the mix. From an economic development
even bus tours featuring foreclosed homes.
recruitment standpoint, we attacked retail
report on the worst news they could find and
faster, especially in a vastly populated city
We had national news crews looking to
headlines proclaimed Cape Coral “ground zero for the foreclosure crises.”
Our EDO
team clearly had our work cut out for us.
Six months after I started, John Szerlag came
on board as my third City Manager. At that
first because that sector usually rebounds like Cape Coral.
The plan worked in our favor as we successfully
recruited
numerous
retail-
related businesses. It was slow at first, but we created serious momentum that resulted
time, our revenues were down 43% due to
in new restaurants, retail entities and
was reduced by about 25% and there had
Cape. The most recent announcements were
lost property tax revenues, our city workforce
entertainment related businesses to the
been no regular capital expenditures since
for The Fresh Market in the Coralwood Mall
measures
many, businesses for which residents have
2010.
Mr.
to
Szerlag
ensure
instituted our
several
short-term
sustainability. In order to be successful in
our attempts to bring in new businesses, it
was essential to create an environment that people wanted to invest in.
Looking back, it’s hard to believe we’ve
recovered to the point we’re at now, so fast.
We had to try and ensure that we kept the businesses we had while also working to add
4
from Germany and numerous medical
and Aldi’s on Pine Island Road. Two, of the been asking in Cape Coral.
More recently, our focus has changed to
target those businesses that are a good fit
for Cape Coral and create better paying jobs
for our residents. We have been successful in that endeavor as well.
We’ve added
Caldwell and Kerr Advertising, Natural Health Products, the new Florida Cancer Specialists
Assisted Living Facilities, Palmview,
which just opened as a part of the Gulf Coast
Village campus, and Atrium at Liberty Park,
which is now under construction near the VA
Clinic.
The other great impact happening today is
the fact that we’re working with several existing businesses that are looking to
expand and add jobs--a great sign for Cape Coral. As Cape Coral continues to expand its
utility system, it will open many new, larger
parcels for future development in north Cape Coral. We also look forward to developments
at Bimini Basin, Seven Islands, Village
Square, Rubicon Plaza and Academic Village,
all large-scale development projects that will bring in new jobs and amenities to our
residents.
South Cape, Cape Coral’s downtown area
(and the location of our CRA) is seeing some
amazing
growth,
adding
many
new
restaurants and entertainment venues. Local
business owners have created the South
Cape
Hospitality
and
Entertainment
Dana Brunett is the Economic Development Manager, City of Cape Coral FL. The Cape Coral Economic Development Office can be reached at 239574-0444 or ecodev@capecoral.net
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
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Association (SCHEA.) This group meets regularly to coordinate concerts,
trolley events and other entertainment-related activities in the Entertainment District within South Cape. SCHEA partners with the City on events such as
Bike Night, held four times a year.
Presently, we’re seeing new housing starts at much higher levels than in years
past. And our commercial tax base has increased by more than 50% over the
past two years. We’re also adding new residents at a rate of over 4,000 per
year. A few years ago, when I was driving around town and looking at the
effects of the downturn, never did I imagine that we would come so far, so
quickly. Not that we’re all the way back, but we’ve definitely put ourselves in
line to get there.
Cape Coral continues to generate positive press through our ranking on Top
10 lists from the likes of Forbes, CNN Money and Bloomberg. We are part of
an MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) that’s one of the best in the country
for job creation; we are still a desirable location for retirees; and, with 400
miles of canals, a large inventory of rental housing, access to other eco-
tourism and waterfront amenities and a new conference center underway at
the Westin Resort, we remain an important player in the tourism arena.
From ground zero during the foreclosure crisis to a growing hot spot in just a
few short years, Cape Coral has had an interesting ride and, from our perspective, it’s just beginning.
From the Publishers
A few months back we had a conversation with Russ Winstead from the SBDC. He brought up the idea of doing a magazine just for local businesses
in Cape Coral. After all, we have a few here. Originally the idea was to
produce something that supplemented the 4th Wednesday BizChat hosted
by Karen Ramos with the Cape Coral Economic Development Office and Russ.
We took the idea and decided to expand the reach to as many businesses
as possible on the Cape. We wanted to provide a magazine that is more of
a “toolkit” with relevant articles that business owners can use. We also
wanted those articles to be relevant and written by some of the best
people in their respective categories. This is our first issue of Cape Business
Magazine and we hope you enjoy it, learn something and perhaps become
a contributor in futures issues. This is a work-in-progress and we welcome any ideas for topics or anything else you think will make Cape Business
Magazine one of the premier publications of its kind in the country.
Along with the magazine we have launched CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM. This
is designed to complement the mission of the print magazine with
expanded articles, new content and the most comprehensive business calendar in the area. Like us on Facebook @capecoralbusiness.
Thanks
Kevin & Susan
CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
5
Entrepreneur 101
By Jim Griffiths
Level III
The Relationship As a kid working at the boat rentals in Key Largo, I remember wanting
to own a company so I could be my own boss. I hear this same sentiment regularly from people who fantasize about quitting their
job. It’s the American Dream. It’s independence and why most people
come to this country.
your business.
A business needs the same attention and respect of any relationship if you want it to be able to withstand the inevitable challenges to
come. The business that develops and grows, the one that can
A small percentage of new businesses survive their first few months,
withstand a recession, ongoing obstacles and the winds of change,
field for years and figure with that kind of experience they can do it
business.
and I credit most of the failures to the same thing. People work in a
independently. They soon realize that owning and running a company do not involve the same tasks as working in one.
For the few new businesses that survive, the owner reaches a point of realizing that they don’t own the company, it owns them. This is level two; few reach level three. Level two is where the owner
operates the business for years and eventually claims at the footer
of their e-mail “25 years experience”. That’s not quite accurate. At
level two, what they have is one year of experience that has been
6
repeated 25 times. Level three is when you build a relationship with
are the ones where the owner has developed a relationship with their
I host monthly public talks on entrepreneurism, but business is never the topic. It’s about what goes on in an entrepreneur’s mind. My goals are to get this concept into the school system. Entrepreneur classes
are about business plans, and a business plan alone will not be able
to offer much to your business. Companies have a high failure rate
not because people can’t work spreadsheets or buy the right office
supplies, but because people do not understand how to “Think like an entrepreneur™”.
Jim Griffiths Publisher, Nautical Mile Creator, The Third Draft www.TheThirdDraft.org
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
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When what we refer to as “the recession� occurred about a decade
I had built a relationship with my company. That came from Walt,
exciting time because I had just started to see a noticeable proďŹ t
furniture to save mine, and it would do the same for me. Our
ago, one of my companies was only a couple years old. It was an against a lot of heavy competition. It was a company I started with
no experience and still had a lot to learn about. My ďŹ rst thought
was doom. How could I possibly deal with what I’m up against? That wasn’t negative thinking, it was reality and fear. Companies were
going bankrupt and people were losing their homes.
I decided to rise to the challenge, and this company is now the most successful business of its kind in the state. I credit Walt Disney the
most. I studied him well, and one thing he was known for was doing
the opposite of most. He ďŹ gured that most people are wrong most
of the time, so make a habit of doing the opposite most of the time,
and you’ll have made the right decision more often than not.
(Especially when it doesn’t make sense to do so.)
Competitors cut corners; I added corners. They cut quality; I added
quality. Whatever they did, I did the opposite. I had no experience
with what I was up against, and there was no rule book to follow.
Not knowing exactly what to do, how could I argue with Walt
too; he loved his company and would do anything for it. I sold relationship is as strong today as it was when we met 15 years ago.
We need each other and we trust each other. When I want to go on
vacation, the business says “Go, I’ve got it covered,� because it
knows I wouldn’t go if it needed me here. We have each other’s
back and we share a solid foundation. I trust my company, and it knows it can trust me in return.
When businesses fail, blame seems to take center stage. It’s
because of the government, the mayor, the competition, the
employees, etc. It’s always someone else’s fault. No, it isn’t. It’s
because the owner never learned how to think like an entrepreneur
and a proper relationship was not formed.
I know many business owners who have nice wheels on their truck
and a new kitchen, yet old parts and supplies at work. Your business
needs you. Beware, if you’re not there for your business, it’s not going to be there for you.
Disney? It worked, but hindsight tells me that it all worked because
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Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
7
Management
By Mike “Q” Quaintance
Top-Ten Employee Traits In a recent survey conducted at Keiser University’s Fort Myers campus, local employers shared their top-ten employee traits. This
is a list of traits that employers deemed most important for new hire success in their businesses. This list also provides some suggestions
to job candidates regarding topics which they should be prepared to
discuss during the interview. 1. Responsible
2. Team player
3. Integrity/Ethical
4. Good Communicator
5. Punctual
6. Problem Focused
7. Life-long Learner
8. Loyal
9. Accountable
10. Passion
Responsibility is the ability to differentiate between right and wrong while acting the right way. This is important today as society seeks
eliminates bias and listens with the intent to learn what the sender
is communicating. This is extremely important for customer service,
communicating direction and sharing ideas.
Punctuality is important as managers attempt to create an effective
organizations that behave ethically to engage in commerce with.
and efficient workforce. The rule of thumb in many workplaces is to
then customers will migrate to new business relationships. Research
Problem focused suggests that the employee be open to visualizing,
Customers expect relationships founded in trust; if trust is lacking,
has consistently shown that ethical behavior leads to higher levels of organizational citizenship in a company, thus encouraging greater
be prepared to work five minutes prior to your scheduled time.
sharing and solving problems that occur in their daily work activities.
This helps improve customer service and with employee job
productivity.
satisfaction as they contribute in the success of the company.
A team player is someone who cares about putting team success
In today’s dynamic business environment, and due to globalization,
before their own. It implies that, by taking care of the needs of the team, an individual’s needs will be realized. Research shows that
team players are often more successful because of the law of
reciprocity, where behavior garners reciprocal behaviors from peers and managers.
Integrity refers to normatively appropriate behaviors of a team,
the political environment and technology, the world is in a constant
state of change. This requires consistent efforts to remain current
on knowledge in every industry. Life-long learners realize this and
the importance of remaining relevant in order to create value.
Loyalty refers to a state of being faithful to a cause, idea, custom,
product or institution. This behavior has a similar influence as being
group, or society which expects a firm adherence to an acceptable
a team player where organizational loyalty is often rewarded with
find themselves rising through the ranks of corporate leadership.
employees who support the organization.
moral or ethical code. Workers with high levels of integrity often
8
A good communicator refers to an employee who speaks with clarity,
promotions and extra compensation.
Most organizations value
Mike “Q” Quaintance, MBA, is Business Department Chair at Keiser University-Ft. Myers. He welcomes any feedback at mquaintance@keiseruniversity.edu or by calling (239) 277-1336 ext. 34128.
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
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Accountability refers to an employee’s willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own actions.
Most employers use
A More Tailored Approach for Women
employee mistakes as teaching moments and embrace the
opportunity to show them how to avoid them in the future.
Employers often consider employees who reject accountability as un-trustworthy and are unlikely to be promoted.
Employee passion is often portrayed as an intense and driving feeling or conviction to the organization, leader or product.
However, some would argue that it runs deeper. Some suggest that passion for one’s job is reflected by the enthusiasm with
which he or she awakes in the morning. If you spring out of
bed looking forward to the day, then you probably have a great
deal of passion for your job.
While this is certainly not an exhaustive list, it does represent a
Women often look at investment decisions differently than men and with good reason. • Because of salary discrepancies, many women start the investment process with fewer investable assets than their male counterparts. • Thanks to longer life spans, women often must find ways to make their assets last longer. We recognize that women face unique challenges and bring a more tailored perspective to the financial planning and wealth management process. Contact us today, and let us help you plan successfully for your financial future.
consensus of thought regarding the traits that employers seem
Rebecca A. Ross Vice President
interview, it would be appropriate to ponder possible discussion
The Ross Group Private Wealth Management 239-541-9090 therossgroup-rwbaird.com
to cherish in our local marketplace. When preparing for a job
points to these topics as you research the company and industry for which you are applying. Personally, I believe you can never
over-prepare for the job interview and your expressed
rwbaird.com
knowledge may improve your salary and benefit negotiations.
©2016 Robert W. Baird & Co. Member SIPC. MC-48535.
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
9
Finance
by Rebecca Ross
WANT TO START A BUSINESS?
SIX WAYS ENTREPRENEURS CAN MITIGATE PERSONAL FINANCIAL RISK The TV show "Shark Tank" is popular because it speaks to a desire
shared by many Americans: to achieve financial independence by starting their own business. This is particularly strong among
millennials. A recent survey by Bentley University found 66% of
millennials respondents wanted to start their own business, 37%
would like to work for themselves and 25% would like to own their own company.
"Shark Tank" makes this seem easy, but many new businesses don't
pan out. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), only
half of business start-ups survive more than five years. Fortunately,
it's possible to reduce the personal financial risks of starting a business by making smart choices:
1. SEPARATE BUSINESS AND PERSONAL ASSETS
Establishing a limited liability company (LLC) and a separate bank
account can help reduce our personal liability and make tax
compliance simpler.
2. LEAVE YOURSELF A CUSHION
According to the SBA, the number one source of financing for new
businesses is personal assets/savings. Set parameters around how much of your personal savings you're willing to risk.
3. BE CAREFUL ABOUT USING RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
Some qualified retirement plans like 401(k)s allow participants to
borrow from the account. But if you fail to repay the loan within
the established time frame, it is treated as a distribution and taxed.
You may also face a penalty for early withdrawal.
4. DON'T TAKE ON TOO MUCH PERSONAL DEBT
Generally speaking, total monthly debt service payments (including housing and personal debt) shouldn't exceed 36% of your monthly
gross income. And keep in mind that if you take out personal loans for your business and it fails, you may have to declare personal
bankruptcy.
5. DON'T RELY ON COMPANY CREDIT CARDS
It can be tempting to charge expenses to your business credit card,
but most commercial cards charge high interest rates. Also, many lenders require a personal guarantee when someone applies for a
business credit card. So even if you've kept your business and
personal accounts separate, you may be personally responsible for the business credit card debt.
6. HAVE A FALLBACK
If you are a licensed professional, be sure to maintain that license – even if it's not relevant to your venture. And give careful
consideration to continuing to work at least part-time while your
business does become a full-time pursuit. It's a good idea to keep
up your skills in case you ever wish to return to your old line of
work.
10
Article provided, Vice President and Financial Advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co., member SIPC. She has 32 years of financial services industry experience, and can be reached at 239-541-9090 or rross@rwbaird.com.
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
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Process
Elizabeth McQueen, PMP®, CSM
ur o e Yesses ny r A oc A Pr sing y s ? Mi Ke ents m e l E To provide a quality product, system or service to your customers,
and to have an efficient organization, your processes need to be
defined appropriately and followed consistently. There are two types
of processes, Production and Operational.
Production processes relate to creating the product or service you are selling. Even if you are not a major manufacturer (creating cars, for
example), if you produce a product, then you need a process that
defines your particular “5 Ms”:
• Materials: what are the raw materials, parts, system components, etc., that are needed to produce your product?
• Machinery: what equipment (robotic or human-operated) is needed to execute your manufacturing method?
• Manpower: what are the skills or training your people need to produce your product? • Method: what are the steps by which the raw materials are fabricated and assembled to create your product?
• Measurement: what is your system to measure each aspect of the process, from the raw materials’ quality and quantity to the acceptability of the final product? Operational processes relate to the “people work” that supports your
business and the servicing of your customers. They are just as critical as your production processes, and they should be documented,
addressing these key elements:
• Entrance / Start Criteria: when or under what circumstances do you perform the process (e.g., how do you know it’s time to order supplies?)
• Inputs / Outputs: what do your employees need to perform the process, and what should they have to show for it once they have done so? (e.g.: do they need a requisition form? Bids from three
suppliers for big-ticket items? What makes the process “finished”: a completed, approved order form?)
• Roles: who are the “players” involved in performing the process? (e.g., the Office Assistant? The Manager? The Owner?)
• Steps: from among the roles, who does what, and in what order, to perform the process? (Does the Manager only get involved when it comes time to approve the order? Under what circumstances is the Manager more involved?)
• Metrics: what will you measure to determine that the process is “working?” (How long it takes to perform the process? The percentage of times the process got the right results?) Both kinds of processes need to have the proper environment. For
production processes, this may include for example a specific
temperature range for the equipment to operate at peak efficiency.
(Come to think of it, this may be the case for the operational,
“people” processes, too!)
A systematic review of both kinds of processes can usually yield
greater business success, more efficiency, and less waste. If you are
having quality or efficiency problems, or if you are doing well but
want to get even better, look first to these elements to find ways to
improve, or to find the root cause of your problem. If you haven’t
yet documented your processes, you will find that doing so can help
you improve in areas where you didn’t even realize it was needed.
Finally, note that training on your processes is also critical. If the processes are not followed consistently, then you don’t know how to
find the source of any problems. The more solid your processes are,
the more successful your company will be!
Elizabeth McQueen, PMP®, CSM has over 20 years of experience in corporate quality management, project management, and management / leadership training. She is the owner of McQueen Improvement Solutions (MQIS) in Cape Coral (www.mqis-us.com). CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
11
Technology
Submitted by Rick Ciglar
E
veryone says they have it…others rave about it…BUT, do
you truly have a good backup of your Data? Yeah, sure…
you spent the money for the backup software license, you
bought a new RDX drive with a few TB cartridges or a shiny new
It’s a great question to ask. It really works in having the person
think about what it is backups are really for – RESTORING DATA!!
Anyone can “setup” a backup system. It’s easy to buy
software/hardware, come up with a bullet-proof strategy…yada,
NAS. You then spent a few hours setting up your backup jobs and
yada, yada. BUT – can you restore the Data?? Since most folks
log entry which tells you that your backup jobs worked. You can
definitely cannot RAVE about it either.
SUCCESS right?! When the jobs finish, you get to see an email or
check the cartridges or hard-drives and see that hey, there is a bunch of data there! Nice work Sparky…
Oh wait! Hold on just a sec while you pat your own back there…
have you tried to RESTORE the Data? Have you tested the limits of
never try, then you can’t REALLY say that you have it. And you
According to a 2014 Gartner study, a full 49% of small businesses
queried explained that they had problems during disaster recovery
exercises. Of those, about half had either “significant problems” or
complete failures. Only 35% of the study participants were able to
your backup software and performed any test restore jobs to ensure
meet their needs with the remaining 16% unsure, which in my book
successfully restore your CEO’s mailbox back to Exchange? Find
Broken State of Backup)
that it actually grabbed the data you specified? Can you that spreadsheet from accounting that has your bonus info?
isn’t a good thing. (Gartner Report: Best Practices for Repairing the
Hmmm. Good question, right?
Many companies today still struggle with assembling the skills,
Just about everyone I’ve ever spoken to about backups (both tech
preparedness. It is never important until it is needed, which is
time or money to adequately plan and test their backup/DR
pro’s and clients) usually answer that question with a cold, blank
usually way too late.
their server, at 4am, after a failure, and NOT being able to restore
My suggestion of course, put your backup system through its
stare…almost as if they are imagining themselves sitting next to
data, wondering OHHHH SNAP! (Not exactly the word SNAP, but you get the idea…)
paces. Perform a few mock data restores of different types of data
and ensure that you are the Superhero your boss thinks you are.
Otherwise, you’ll find yourself at 4am, next to your server, after a
failure, wondering…WHY ME?!
Backups! Restores? 12
Rick Ciglar is VP/Operations for Zypha Corporation. He can be reached at 941-629-9742 or rciglar@zypha.com
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
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'HO 3UDGR %OYG 6 &DSH &RUDO )O ::: 3&%%$1. 1(7 Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
13
Technology
Submitted by Dusty Shelton
Consulting an IT professional before starting a business or opening a branch office When we take the leap to start a new business, we contact an
accountant or CPA, our banker, commercial realtor and even our
friends and family. Many business owners seem to forget to contact their trusted IT professional.
So, you ask yourself, why do I need to contact the "computer guy"
when I start my business?
When first speaking with your IT consultant, you will want to discuss
the type of business you are opening, the security expected and your
business plan for the next 5 years and 10 years. This is to ensure
that, when you are looking at computers and network equipment, it will be something that can grow with you, and support you and your business.
The next thing would be location, location, location. While working
with a commercial realtor, have your IT consultant look at the areas
you are looking to purchase or rent. You need to know if the correct
Internet wire has been placed to support your business and
computers. You also need to be sure there is the correct placement
for your equipment. This is to ensure that all municipal services and
equipment (i.e. network switches, security appliances, patch panels) go into a safe place in the office that can be locked for safety and
14
Another reason to speak with your IT consultant is to make sure you
get adequate Internet and phone service. Cape Coral offers multiple
options for Internet and phone services; in some cases, it is important
to have both. In most professions, it can be detrimental to the
business to lose service for any length of time. The option of having
redundant services secures the business for any loss of customers,
profit and future business.
And finally, one of the most important discussions you need to have
with your IT consultant is security. A beach in security can not only
cause fiscal devastation, but can also have customer consequences.
The 2014 US State of Cybercrime survey conveyed that 60% of all
breaches could compromise systems and organizations within
minutes. Depending on your business and the compliances that our
federal governments requires, your IT professional can guide you to
help protect and monitor your computers and networks from any of these breaches taking place.
When starting a new business, or even moving to a new location,
contacting your IT consultant will save you time and money, allowing you to move forward and grow your business with confidence and security.
security.
For additional questions or more information, please contact It’s IT at 239-935-9891 or check out their website at www.ITsITLLC.com
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Exit Strategy
Submitted by Michael Monnot
What’s in a Value? Surprising Elements of Business Pricing If you have been thinking about what your business is worth, or have
and workload more appealing by hiring a proper staff and delegating
been thinking about selling or putting an exit strategy in place for
some of what you do. In most cases, delegating some of your
of business value first - like cash flow, the inventory and what
more business, transfers knowledge which allows your employees
years down the road, you should consider the most common metrics
comparable businesses have actually sold for. There are, however,
some lesser-known elements that can affect the value of your
business to a buyer.
workload can have many other benefits. It allows time for you to gain more latitude, gives your employees the capability to step in when
someone leaves - and so much more.
● You can be the face of you company, but yours shouldn’t be the
● The condition of your assets. If you own a limo business and your
only face. In order for a business to sell, it needs to be able to
how much you can charge per ride and therefore your bottom line. If
your customers ever have, it will be very difficult for a new owner to
limos are 20 years old, it’s likely that their condition has an effect on
function without you at the helm. If you are the only contact that
your aging fleet of cars needs to be replaced by the next owner, then
take over and maintain the trust of those customers. If you don't
the top. What should you do if you have assets that need to be
massive problems - especially during a transition to new ownership.
you can expect prospective buyers to take that replacement cost off
replaced? Have a conversation with your business broker about
whether it makes sense to replace those assets or leave that responsibility to the new owner.
● The amount of work you, as an owner, currently do. Say there are
two very similar pizza shops generating about the same amount of
teach your staff how to do all of the things you do, it can cause These are issues that might cause a buyer to choose another business over yours, so delegate and cross train now.
Buyers care about common business pricing metrics like cash flow -
but they also care about replacing assets, the hours they’ll need to
work and whether or not the business will survive without the
revenue and are listed for the same price. In one shop, the owner
original owner. Paying attention to the elements of your business
buyer, which one would you pick? People who are buying a business
to sell successfully.
works 80 hours a week. The other, 20 hours a week. If you were a are essentially buying themselves a job, so the more appealing the hours and workload, the greater the value to a buyer. If your business has you working an insane number of hours, you can make the hours
that are important to buyers will always put you in a better position
If you have more questions about how businesses are priced or are
curious about what businesses like yours have recently sold for,
please get in touch with us today.
Michael Monnot is the owner of Infinity Business Brokers. He can be reached at 941-518-7138 or mike@infinitybusinessbrokers.com CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
15
Insurance
Submitted by Frank V Bonsignore
Commercial General Liability Coverage All businesses use many techniques or some format to reduce liability exposure. No matter how hard you try, however, you can never fully
account for the actions of others. On any given day, your business
could be found on the wrong end of a lawsuit for injuries or damages
caused to a third party as a result of your operations. Commercial
General Liability insurance is your first line of defense in these
situations.
In spite of your best efforts at removing all the potential hazards
from your business, you might still find yourself being sued.
Commercial General Liability insurance is your best defense against claims that could destroy your business. Commercial General Liability insurance is designed to protect business owners from a variety of
exposures. It can cover liability arising from accidents on or off
premises, to products sold by the insured that result in injury to the user, to contractual liability, leaving an owner free to concentrate on
managing their business.
Just as important, CGL coverage protects owners even if their
company isn't legally liable for a claim. Legal defense costs are
continually rising; and the expense to defend oneself against a claim
whether justified or not can be financially devastating to a business.
A CGL insurance policy will usually cover the costs of your legal
defense and will pay on your behalf all damages if you are found
liable—up to the limits of your policy. CGL coverage is one of the
most important insurance products, due to the negative impact that
16
a lawsuit can have on a business and because such liability suits
happen so frequently.
Finally, the liability policy will also fund the premium for any bond
the court requires, ensuring that the judgment will be paid if the
business owner is found legally liable for an injury or property
damage.
Commercial Auto
As a business owner, you need the same kinds of insurance coverages
for the car you use in your business as you do for a car used for
personal travel -- liability, collision and comprehensive, medical payments (known as personal injury protection in some states) and
coverage for uninsured motorists. In fact, many business people use
the same vehicle for both business and pleasure. If the vehicle is
owned by the business, make sure the name of the business appears
on the policy as the "principal insured" rather than your name. This
will avoid possible confusion in the event that you need to file a claim or a claim is filed against you.
Whether you need to buy a business auto insurance policy will
depend on the kind of driving you do. A good insurance agent will
ask you many details about how you use vehicles in your business,
who will be driving them and whether employees, if you have them,
are likely to be driving their own cars for your business.
While the major coverages are the same, a business auto policy
differs from a personal auto policy in many technical respects.
Frank V Bonsignore is the Agency Owner & Your Agent at FLB Insurance Agency 1716 Cape Coral Pkwy East 239-205-1500
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
SBDC
Submitted by Russ Winstead
“I’m from the Government and I’m here to help you!”
“I’m from the Government and I’m here to help you!” Many have
What does that mean to you as a business owner? It means that there
many do not believe it. I understand that if your friendly IRS agent
are available to help you with the common, and not so common,
definition of help.
at no cost to you!
However, I do have a surprise for you! Some programs out there from
Some of the consultative business services offered include, but are
heard this statement in the past, mostly as a punchline, and well,
knocks at your door with this statement, you might question the
the government really do offer excellent services. Actually, there are many, but I want to introduce you to just one.
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at Florida Gulf Coast University.
The SBDC is a business client-driven organization of business
professionals (consultants) dedicated to helping small businesses
succeed by providing creative business solutions with a goal of
exceeding our client’s expectations. The Florida SBDC Network is
is a local professional network of Certified Business Consultants that
issues related to running your business. These services are provided
not limited to, Market Development Plans, Business Planning,
Strategic Planning, Marketing, Sales, Social Media, International
Business and Exporting, Doing Business with the Government,
Business Loan Assistance and much more!
In addition, for those of us in Cape Coral, the SBDC has a branch
office right here for our convenience. We collaborate with many
business support organizations throughout Southwest Florida,
including the City of Cape Coral’s Economic Development Office.
designated as Florida's Principal Provider of Business Assistance [§ 288.001, Fla. Stat.]
The FSBDC at FGCU is a member of the Florida SBDC Network; a
statewide service network that is funded in part through cooperative
agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA),
Defense Logistics Agency, the State of Florida, the City of Cape Coral
and other private and public partners and is a part of Florida Gulf Coast University.
If you would like to find out more information on how the SBDC may be able to help build your business, contact us at 239-745-3700 (Main office, FGCU) or at our Cape Coral Branch Office at 239-573-2737. You can also search our website at www.FSBDCSWFL.org CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
17
Relationships
Submitted by Robin Griffiths
The spotlight is on you…. Whether you are a big corporation or a small
one-person company, the world is watching
best fit.
the only perception a person will have of
the group on board, an incentive with big
you. You may not realize it but this could be
your company. What are you telling them? Are you branding your company as helpful,
timely, resourceful and trustworthy? I was
surprised how much time and effort is put into advertising, social media and website
construction, but little to no effort in good
manners, timely returned calls, and good
listening skills.
Now, change can be hard to
assimilate and resistance is great. To bring
bonuses
and
a
chance
for
national
recognition was given to push them a little faster to this new philosophy.
A new model of consulting with clients was
introduced and it started with a visit to a
business decision maker after researching
the company to learn more about the
organization. Open-ended questions were
I was fortunate many years ago to work for a
asked and, in most cases, this uncovered
“order takers.” They were seen as inflexible
meeting was set up with the intention to
company that was traditionally known to be
important information. The purpose of the
and they were losing business. By taking
uncover information to be able to see where
big adjustment in their business model and
future.
stock of what was happening, they made a
it started with their sales force. This
department was known to be the least
accommodating. The department’s typical
answer was "we can't" to clients.
They
would decide what a client needed based on
18
the budget with no thought to if it was the
they may be able to help each other in the The assignment was to explore the company
took place, a plan to offer solutions was scheduled and presented.
The end result to this type of process would
create new and better business relationships.
Many times this increased business, but aside from financial reward, the overall result included
more
understanding,
respect,
trustworthiness and knowledge. As a result,
better, stronger communication skills were obtained.
Recently I have been taking notes on my personal interactions with business people in
the community. I encourage you to do the same.
Think about how your clients are
looking at your organization from the first phone call or contact with your company.
Look to see if you are seeking solutions for
your clients and not just acting as a service provider. Building these strong relationships
and find ways to solve their issues and
will take you further and give you more
and services. After these initial meetings
business cycles.
problems within the scope of their products
strength in the long run of economic
Robin Griffiths Engaging Communication and Leadership, She is a Trainer, Speaker & Consultant. Robin can be reached at Robinannegriffiths.com
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Legal
Submitted by Bruce H. Vanderlaan, Attorney at Law, P.A.
WHO NEEDS A LAWYER? Lawyers are expensive. Even lawyers know that. What isn’t well
known is that lawyers like me are far less expensive than lawyers like
my partner. My practice involves setting up companies, putting together contracts and employee agreements, transactional work,
and working with clients to advise them on compliance, both in
business and regarding health care, which increasingly touches all our lives. I even try to work with my clients on a “concierge” basis,
where I’m already a part of their team on a flat rate basis. In fact, I’m their least expensive “employee.”
My partner, however, charges $350 per hour to fight cases out in
a “savings” of a few thousand dollars in attorney fees to properly
structure the business and set up dispute resolution terms and buy-
out provisions, each side spent tens of thousands and the business
was destroyed.
Another client went to sell her business to a former employee. The
two of them spent a great deal of money and time putting together
the Purchase Agreement and negotiating over price, non-competes,
payment terms, guarantees and other material terms. Then the buyer
told my client she didn’t need an attorney to close it, the attorneys
were taking too long and they could just do it themselves. If you’re
Court. 4 hours to draft one complaint (not unusual) will cost $1,400,
trying to work out an agreement with someone and they tell you that
We have recently had a run on clients who have come in with
The sale of that business was to be for $250,000 over a 3-year
and you’re just getting started.
businesses that they feel are being “stolen” out from under them, or
that weren’t properly formed in the first place. Now we have to try
to solve the problems and, as you can imagine, it’s a very emotional
and tense situation. Everyone believes that they are in the right, and everyone believes that the other side should have to pay.
Let me give you some examples. I have a client who formed a
company with a partner, where they were both supposed to invest
the same amount of money to start. It was a significant amount of
money, over $100,000. The other partner got married, and now my client was in a partnership with the husband and wife, which he never intended, of course. They ended up in a dispute and the husband and
wife team would not provide corporate records, as required by law.
The company ended up in receivership and had its assets frozen. For
you do not need an attorney, run, don’t walk.
period. Each side spent over $120,000 in attorney fees to try to do
what would have been done for at most a couple of thousand dollars
if they had just used their attorneys.
Another client agreed to do their partner a favor. Their partner had
some personal liabilities and a bankruptcy. The client agreed (prior
to my even meeting them) to take all the ownership of the company.
The actions of the partner turned out to be fraudulent and the client
got hit with an IRS tax liability, a State of Florida Department of
Revenue Unemployment Tax liability, and the threat of criminal prosecution if he didn’t pay tens of thousands of dollars in taxes and
penalties he did not owe.
Those are the problems. Next time, we will look at the solutions.
Bruce H. Vanderlaan, Attorney at Law, P.A Specializes in Small Business and Healthcare Practice Law. He can be reached at 239-220-3326 or bruce@brucevanderlaan.com CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
19
Chamber of Commerce
Submitted by Donna Schuman Germain
Get In & Get Busy As a business owner, determining where to
Awards. Through those popular events, our
include our Business Card Exchange, General
sense of community, which speaks not only
host four regular networking events that
receive the best return on your investment,
Membership Lunch, Networking at Noon and
most important decisions you can make. To
you must consider all your options.
While some may not look at a Chamber of
Commerce
as
a
traditional
marketing
medium, if used properly, it could be one of
the best investments you ever make to build your business.
our
Business
After
Hours,
giving
our
members the opportunity to meet literally hundreds of prospects each month.
We support the symbiotic relationship
between business and community as both
are equally dependent on each other for their
The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral not
success. Through our two welcome centers,
local and state government, but provides
and maintain a website for the community
only serves as an advocate for business with support,
networking
communication, and
business
opportunities to its members.
exposure,
training
“Get In & Get Busy” is not just a tag line, but
we greet more than 35,000 visitors each year
that receives more than 2.5 million referrals
per year through our online membership directory.
Community involvement speaks volumes to
a way of life to our Chamber. We encourage
consumers when building your business. We
to see the best results for your investment.
special events like the Cape Coral Farmers
all our members to embrace that philosophy Face to face networking is invaluable in
building your business. As a chamber, we work hard to provide as many opportunities
20
as possible to our members. Each month we
invest your marketing dollars is one of the
bring the community together through our
strongly but well of those members.
We facilitate one of the finest Leadership
programs in the State of Florida that includes Jr.
Leadership,
Leadership
Cape
Coral,
Advanced Leadership and the Community Trustee Program.
We do all this through the generosity of our
members and the business community.
At the core of the Chamber is a team of
dedicated staff members and volunteers. At
its foundation is a Board of Directors that
includes some of the most successful
businesspeople, entrepreneurs, marketing
experts and community leaders in the state.
As a Cape Chamber member, you have all these resources at work for you every day.
Market, Surfside Sunset Market, Holiday
For more information about joining the
Cape and the Excellence in Education
contact us at (239) 549-6900.
Festival of Lights, Freedom 5K, Taste of The
Donna Schuman Germain is President/CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
members can participate in and foster that
Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, please
CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
National Recognition for Zypha Corporation Zypha Corporation has just been recognized as one of the top 20 most promising Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) solutions providers in North America.
This recognition has been awarded by CIO Investment Review magazine, where their selection panel evaluated hundreds of BYOD solution providers based on their ability to assist CIOs and enterprise holders overcome the challenges in the sector and to help companies choose the perfect BYOD solution.
CIO Review magazine reaches out to 77,000 qualified subscribers across the U.S. About 75% of readers are senior-level IT leaders such as CIO, CTO, EVP - IT, SVP - IT, VP IS/ IT, Director IS/ IT. The remaining 25% are senior corporate management leaders such as CEO, CFO, VP - Finance, CMO. About 80% of the readers are directly involved in IT purchases for their organizations. In addition, the BYOD edition is sent out to 27,000 subscribers who have exclusively opted for the 2017 issue.
Cape & Local Business News
Hallway Stories: Personal Struggles Lead to Online Support Community
Cape Coral resident Carey Ralston is
that shift in my life," says Ralston, "and
Stories to bring people together so they can
Stories. We're a place to come and connect
launching an online forum called Hallway share their struggles and successes with
that's what we're doing with Hallway to someone you may not know, but they
weight loss and body image, cancer and
have been there and know what you're
Ralston got the idea after moving to Cape
Studies show that loneliness is a serious but
mental and behavioral health challenges.
experiencing."
Coral a couple of years ago, when she was
overlooked
dilemmas. In addition to the changes she
doctor visits.
overwhelmed
by
a
slew
of
personal
faced, she struggled to lose weight.
problem
that
manifests
physically, leading to pain and fatigue, and
Hallway Stories is a private, member-based
"I looked in the mirror and I felt horrible. It
community. Members can sign up to the
heavy every single day," recalls Ralston,
"giveback model" through which group
was emotional, mental and physical. I felt adding, "I realized I wasn't the only one who felt alone."
Then she met Christin Collins, System Health
&
Wellness
Strategic
Business
Partner for Lee Health. Their short meeting
evolved into a deep conversation. Collins
referred a weight-loss book to Ralston, who
secure site for free. The platform includes a
members can contribute to a nonprofit.
Ralston, who has a background in branding
and marketing, says she moved to Cape Coral to launch a startup tech company, though she had not ever visited. She was
inspired by the development of Cape Coral
by the Rosen brothers not so long ago. "To
went on to lose 35 pounds. Ralston felt
start a town, that's a big feat. I was inspired
connect with someone, with her, to have
she says.
inspired by Collins' support. "I had to
by that entrepreneurial spirit and vision,"
Make Lasting impressions Today Since 1985, Direct Impressions has been producing Southwest Florida’s highest quality commercial prin ng, digital prin ng, and e ec ve direct mail campaigns. Call us today to see how we can help grow your business!
HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT ONE SHEET AT A TIME From furniture to facial ssue, we all use forest products every day in our lives. The condi on of forests in the US and around the world is in decline. Because forests provide the air we breathe, clean water to drink and resources we need to live, it’s important to do what we can to preserve this vital legacy. At Direct Impressions we believe that we all share a personal responsibility to pass down healthy forests to our children and grandchildren. By using and promo ng forest-friendly paper products, the Forest Stewardship Council helps ensure healthy forests will thrive. By buying Forest Stewardship Council cer ed goods, we can all do our part to protect the world’s forests.
DIRECT IMPRESSIONS USES PAPER FROM RESPONSIBLE SOURCES 1335 MIRAMAR STREET • CAPE CORAL, FL 33904 • 239.549.4484 • WWW.DIRECTIMPRESSIONS.COM CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
21
Marketing
Sizzle This Summer
Submitted by MerriBeth Farnham
Now is the time to review and fine-tune for next season
Different Is Better Than Better
should be the result of a deep dive into
summer is the slow season. Sure, it’s a great
what you want customers to associate with
Coral for more than a year, you know that
opportunity to unwind from the sometimes
hectic winter season. But it’s also the best
time to reflect on how the season went.
Where did you succeed? Where were the weak spots? This is the ideal time for you to
review your benchmarks and consider ways to make your company run more efficiently.
1. Take stock of your company brand and
mission • Are your customers crystal clear on the products and/or services you offer?
•Are you communicating your company’s personality? When seasonal residents and visitors are in town, many of us are so busy taking care of
asking yourself and your employees exactly your business.
If you don’t have one, develop a mission
statement that lays out your intent and
values as a business owner. Make sure that
your employees read and discuss it with you
so that there is no confusion: everyone is on
board with your values and goals. From here, your brand should come into sharp focus.
2. Check out your competition
Set up Google alerts for your top competitors
to see what type of buzz they are creating in the
media
website(s).
and
online.
Review
their
Follow your top competitor’s social media
customers that we don't have time to focus
accounts and pay close attention to:
culture are being perceived by others.
•Which posts are getting the most engagement and how are they are responding to feedback, negative or positive
on how our products, services and company
Branding is a term that can be a turn-off if you aren’t in the marketing world.
22
simply put, your public brand—or face—
If you’ve worked or owned a business in Cape
But,
•The type of content they are posting
In each issue of Cape Coral Business Magazine, the HD PR Group team will offer our take on three areas of business and offer suggestions to give your company a creative business boost.
Analyze your social media metrics each month. Stay on top of online reviews.
3. Create a customer rewards program
It costs businesses more to find new
customers
than
to
existing
customers—and studies show that existing
customers tend to spend more than new
ones.
This is a solid reason to look at creating an
easy-to-use customer rewards program.
This program will vary, based on what
services or products you supply. Who doesn’t
like cash back, a thank-you discount or free
gift from a company or business that you
have regularly supported. This can be tallied
through number of visits (haircuts or oil
changes, for instance) or through points or
amount of dollars spent, which is a popular
option for restaurants that take online
orders.
What can
you
do
infrastructure and resources?
MerriBeth Farnham brings 26-plus years of public relations and marketing expertise through HD PR Group, based in Cape Coral. MerriBeth can be reached at 239-464-3345
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
serve
given
your
CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Cape Connections
Mr. Brunett is a graduate of State University of New York at Fredonia
with a BS in Economics. Originally from Upstate New York, he has
been involved in economic development for over 28 years.
His
experience includes stints in the public, private and non-profit
sectors. A little over five years ago, he took on the challenge of
helping to turn around the Cape Coral economy after the foreclosure
Dana Brunett Economic Development Manager, City of Cape Coral FL
crisis made the city one of the hardest hit communities in the nation.
Sabermetrics is also an area of interest to Mr. Brunett. Being an
goes home to his wife of 31 years, Sharon. They have two boys,
always been a passion. When the two come together in Sabermetrics,
Given that challenge, what happens after the work day is over? Dana
Taylor and Dylan. Taylor lives and works in Cape Coral and Dylan
just graduated from Syracuse University and will be pursuing work in
New York City. The empty nesters are adjusting just fine to the
Florida lifestyle. They enjoy leisurely weekends by the pool and
exploring all that Cape Coral offers to its residents.
In his downtime at home, Mr. Brunett can be found enjoying one of
several pastimes he enjoys. The most typical is model building. The
economist, he has always worked with statistics and baseball has
it creates a world that makes a ton of sense to Dana and he reads a
great deal about the craft, as well as dabbling in some of his own data analysis using baseball statistics.
The one overarching passion of Mr. Brunett’s is music. Music in the
car, music at his hobby space, music in his office and very loud music when his wife is not home. His musical interests are wide reaching,
including the standards like Sinatra, classic rock, a little bit of
shelves in his home are packed with various types of completed
country, classical and smooth jazz, but his favorite by far is classic
Brunett said “when I’m working on a model, it tends to shut out
Canada near Niagara Falls, he was influenced by the Toronto music
Dana also has a large stash of unbuilt kits in his garage awaiting their
eventually grunge.
models, ranging from airplanes to tanks, ships, cars and trucks. Mr.
everything else and allows me to relax.” Much to his wife’s dismay, turn on the hobby bench.
The next is writing. Over the years, Mr. Brunett has found enjoyment
in writing. He has been a reader since he graduated college and has
alternative music from the 1980’s. Growing up on the border of
scene which, at the time was very heavily into alternative, punk and
Go to his house and you’ll hear the likes of
Depeche Mode, New Order, Bauhaus and the like. Said Mr. Brunett,
“Toronto was our playground, we went there for concerts, to hit the
clubs and to just have fun in general.”
since turned to writing as an outlet. In his home office, you can find
Because of that association with Toronto, Mr. Brunett is a lifelong
says, “there’s no best sellers yet, but you never know what’s going
Florida. Unfortunately, his remaining allegiance lies with Buffalo in
a plethora of books related to the craft of writing. As Mr. Brunett to come out of your head next.” He refers to the story of JK Rowling,
a poor, single mother who created a billion-dollar career by putting
her thoughts to paper.
CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM
Toronto Blue Jays fan and still tries to see them play down here in
both the Bills and the Sabres. He laments, “the playoff drought is
much longer than the drought we’re experiencing in Florida this year.
We know it’s going to eventually rain here, but the next playoff run
in Buffalo is a mystery indeed.”
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
23
Non-Profit Sector
Submitted by Michael Chatman
Companies That Give Have Lower Employee Turnover and Higher Sales Growth
It is well known that there are companies in Cape Coral that help the needy and care for
more information on developing and running
often create company “benevolent” and
employee engagement program, contact the
their employees. These good companies
“employee engagement” funds to help them
give back to the community. You are most
likely to see this kind of business giving in
companies where there is lower employee turnover and more sales growth. That’s more than an interesting correlation; there’s a
powerful cause-and-effect situation at play. External Business Benevolence
Some companies open their benevolence
funds to charitable organizations, while
others
conduct
programs.
their
own
charitable
Because you may not know those who are coming to your company for help, it is
important to provide some accountability.
Forms are necessary, but this may be handled through an interview process. A second visit may include meeting with a
a successful company benevolence and Cape Coral Community Foundation and ask
for free information on starting a company giving program.
Internal Business Benevolence
A business may be great in giving back to the
community, but does its own employees feel
empowered to ask it for help? Often, when the help is available, it is given to meet one-
time needs only – the payment of a bill or a
voucher for food or clothing for instance. At
the Cape Coral Community Foundation, we
believe it is vital to meet the needs within the company before reaching out to others,
and that many of these needs will be ongoing. An example is committing to pay a single mom’s heating bill during hard times
or providing a scholarship for her child to
attend day care while she is working.
There should be a specific fund to help
community relationship-building process.
host an annual fundraiser to raise funds for
Companies that give back provide a great opportunity to reach out to those in need
company employees.
Companies should
their company benevolent fund, or give a
portion of sales to benefit the fund. Cape
Coral
Community
Foundation
resources and support to help companies
create benevolent funds and employee engagement programs.
Benevolent funds should be available when
any employee has a need. Decisions to
dispense money from the fund should be done by committee, based on need and
grants committee. The idea is not just to give
funds to the needy, but to start an ongoing
24
and make a real difference in their lives. For
provides
amount of the request.
Companies that give back to their employees
and community generate more sales and retain their employees. Where there’s a cause, companies are uniquely suited to
magnifying effect. It only gets better when the effect magnifies the bottom line.
The Cape Coral Community Foundation, the
global center of generosity, based in one of
Florida's largest cities, is committed to
working with organizations to cultivate a
network of generous donors, endowment
building
and
leadership
development.
Through its affiliate foundation program,
CCCF partners with organizations to create foundations. CCCF provides the platform and
technical assistance, board recruitment,
fundraising strategies, corporate employee
engagement programs and development of grant program management.
Michael Chatman is president & CEO of the Cape Coral Community Foundation, the global center for generosity, and can be reached at michael@capecoralcf.org, on Twitter @michaelchatman. The foundation is located at 1405 SE 47 Terrace, Unit 2, Cape Coral. For information, call 239-542-5594 or go to www.capecoralcf.org
Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
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Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
25
Networking Events September 7th Food
for
Thought
Luncheon
Seminar:
October Selling
Government, presented by Chamber of Commerce.
to
the
3rd
Biz Card Exchange, presented by Chamber of Commerce. WHERE: location TBA.
WHERE: Cape Coral Technical College, 360 Santa Barbara Blvd N.
WHEN: 7:30 – 8:30 am
12th
WHERE: Big Blue Brewing, 4721 SE 10th Pl.
WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Lunch & Learn with Cape Coral Business Alliance.
Lunch & Learn with Cape Coral Business Alliance.
WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
11th
WHERE: Palmetto Pine Country Club, 1940 SW 9th Ct.
13th
General Membership Luncheon of Chamber of Commerce. WHERE: Cape Cabaret, 4725 Vincennes Blvd. WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Annual
Principals
Luncheon
&
Luncheon of Chamber of Commerce.
General
Membership
WHERE: Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Parkway WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
16th (Note New Date)
15th
CapeStyle Networking, NOTE: WE ARE BACK TO THE 3rd
WHERE: The bus leaves promptly at 6:00 pm for the casino and
fun!
Seminole Casino Immokalee Trip with Chamber of Commerce.
will return around 12:30 am. We will be meeting at the Big
MONDAY OF THE MONTH. Free appetizers, door prizes and
WHERE: Fathoms Restaurant & Bar, 5785 Cape Harbour Dr.
Johns Plaza.
WHEN: 5:30 – 8 pm
26th
17th
WHERE: Crown Plaza Bell Tower, 13051 Bell Tower Dr, Fort
WHERE: Point 57 Restaurant, 3522 Del Prado Blvd,
LCBW Annual Anniversary luncheon. Myers.
WHEN: 11 am – 1 pm
21st
(Note New Date)
CapeStyle Networking, Free appetizers, door prizes and fun!
WHERE: Fathoms Restaurant & Bar, 5785 Cape Harbour Dr. WHEN: 5:30 – 8 pm
27th
LCBW Monthly luncheon.
WHEN: 11:30 am – 1 pm
25th
4th Wednesday Biz Chat, hosted by Economic Development
Office and SBDC.
WHERE: City of Cape Coral Public Works Building (Nicholas Annex) 815 Nicholas Parkway.
WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
4th Wednesday Biz Chat, hosted by Economic Development
Office and SBDC.
WHERE: City of Cape Coral Public Works Building (Nicholas
Annex) 815 Nicholas Parkway. WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
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Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017
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