EDGE BUSINESS MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE ISSUE 2016
ENTREPRENEURS DEDICATED TO GROWTH & EXCELLENCE EDGE CEO & Founder Kelly Wilson is a candidate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Woman of the Year!
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Escaping the Cons of Business Co-Ownership
BUILDING THE PLATFORM TO FULFILLING YOUR DREAMS
An Interview with Rob Canton, Founder & CEO of Athletes + Causes
CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS Effective Communication When it Matters Most
ENTREPRENEURS & TIME BLOCKING Compartmentalizing for the Crazy
DIGITAL INSECURITY What You Don’t Know WILL Hurt You
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Rob Canton, Founder & CEO, Athletes + Causes 501(c)(3)
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EDITORIALS THE PLATFORM TO FULFILLING YOUR DREAMS ...............................
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THE PARTNER TRAP ........................
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Interview with Rob Canton, Founder & CEO, Athletes + Causes. By: Kelly Wilson
The ins and outs of business partnerships. By Sheryl Hunter, Esquire.
TRANSFORMING YOUR BUSINESS .
Transforming your business with today’s technology. By Koby Bryan
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“While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” - Steve Jobs
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EDITORIALS DIGITAL INSECURITY ........................... 26
What you don’t know will hurt you. By Chris Jenkins
ENTREPRENUERS & TIME BLOCKING .................................. 29
IF YOUR MARKETING ISN'T DRIVING TRAFFIC, MAYBE IT'S TIME TO SHIFT GEARS.
Compartmentalizing for the crazy. By Topher Morrison
CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS ................ 31
Effective communication when it matters most. By Rick Monsipapa
GROW YOUR BUSINESS ...................... 34
Get out of your own way. By Juliann Nichols
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FROM THE PUBLISHER Welcome to spring! A time when the weather is perfect and our minds are focused on improvements; positive changes, hence the term, spring cleaning. It’s time to get rid of what is not working, focus on what is working and continue strategizing forward. If you do not know by now, life is too short and goes by way to fast. If I could share only one piece of advice, it would be to follow your hopes and dreams no matter what. Stop taking tomorrow for granted and start appreciating what’s right before you today. I was reminded recently, due to the passing of my Mother, just how fragile and precious life is. As dedicated entrepreneurs & business professionals, yes, it is imperative that we stay focused on our goals, our destination. However, it’s just as important to focus on today and be mindful of everything around us. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” It is never too late to start what you’ve been putting off. It’s never too late to be what you are your destined to be. Start building your platform and paving your way to success today! Everyone started somewhere. Remember, you may not have any control of where you start but you’re in full control of where you finish. We sincerely hope you enjoy this issue of EDGE Business Magazine as much as we all enjoyed compiling it together for you! Wishing you much success, never stop dreaming!
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I am asking for your help. I am honored to be a candidate for LLS 2016 Woman of the Year! I am grateful for the opportunity to raise money in honor of my Mother, Emily "Susie" Wood. In 2010, we were given the devastating news that my mother had terminal lymphoma. With the current treatments available, her life expectancy was three to five years. Mom passed away 11/30/2015. Almost five years to the day of her diagnosis. The treatment that kept my mother battling the deadly disease for five years was funded originally by an LLS Study. My goal is to raise $50,000 by May 7, 2016. If we do so, LLS will honor my mother by naming an upcoming LLS Research Portfolio in her name. This would mean the world to me. Time is running out, please don’t delay! The campaign ends May 7, 2016. We’re so close to our goal. We need your support to make it happen! Please visit: LLS online today and make your donation. http://www.mwoy.org/pages/sun/sun16/kwilson Thanks so much,
Kelly Wilson
nominee 2016
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BUILDING THE PLATFORM TO FULFILLING YOUR DREAMS FEATURE EDITORIAL: BY KELLY WILSON
If you do not know Rob Canton, you certainly know his clients! Rob is Founder & CEO of “Athletes and Causes” a 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission it is to assist professional athletes and coaches in their philanthropic efforts to protect, educate, mentor, and instill hope in children. Prior to devoting full-time to Athletes and Causes, Rob served as Executive Vice President Finance & Strategy for the Tampa Bay Lightning and, most recently, Senior Advisor to Ownership for Vinik Family Office. Jeff Vinik, of course, is the owner of the Tampa Bay Lighting and a leader and developer in the revitalization of Tampa’s downtown waterfront district.
Following is my interview with Mr. Rob Canton: Kelly – What do you remember most about your childhood?
Rob – It’s funny how things come around in life. One of the last consulting assignments I worked on prior to working with Athletes and Causes full-time was exploring philanthropic options for Mr. and Mrs. Vinik in the area of early childhood education. KELLY WILSON & ROB CANTON This happened to be an area that is near and dear to me, having started kindergarten in the U.S. without speaking a word of English. My parents both came to the U.S. from Cuba, fleeing the oppression of Castro in 1959 and 1961, and I was born in Long Beach, California before eventually settling in Luna County (Deming), New Mexico, then and still now Rob Canton is well educated, very one of the poorest counties in the U.S. What knowledgeable and quite experienced in business strategy and economics. Yet, Rob is is memorable to me was still feeling I started absolutely one of the most caring and humble elementary school with a head start because individuals that you would have the pleasure my mother was formerly a teacher in Havana. of knowing. FEATURE I 11
As a young child while the other kids were out playing, my older brother and I were home studying Spanish. Learning how to read and write at a very early age, even though not in English, taught us how to learn which made the transition much smoother. I experienced first-hand the importance of “early childhood education” and how that early stimulation in your life can make such a big difference throughout the rest of your schooling.
a free spirit before having that and everything else taken away. He came to the U.S. thinking he was going to find the “American Dream,” and I think he certainly lived a full and free life before passing away last year. And I also feel lucky and blessed that the education and career my brothers and I have achieved was part of his American Dream.
Kelly - Have you spent any time in Cuba?
Rob – No doubt. In many ways you have to create your own luck by creating the opportunities to capitalize on it. I achieved a degree in finance from the University of South Florida and was the first person in my family to graduate from college in the U.S.
Rob – No, I have never been. Kelly - Any plans on going? Rob – I have contemplated the idea, as I do still have family there; however, I grew up in a household that had very strong anti-Castro sentiments, so as long as the Castro regime is still in place there, even though I am not extreme one way or another, it would be difficult out of respect for my parents. They and my grandparents and so many like them were essentially kicked out of their homeland; faced with either accepting communism and giving up all their rights and staying in Cuba, or taking the first boat or plane off the island. That is what my grandparents and parents did. They left their extended families, property, and everything they knew in search of freedom and the American Dream. Kelly – And did they find the American Dream? Rob – I suppose it’s all relative. My parents were living a dream in Cuba. My mom was well educated, and while my father dropped out of school in junior high he lived the life of
Kelly – So, would you say luck has played a part in your past success?
While I worked hard throughout college, I was lucky to be in the right class at the right time when an internship opportunity, which would become my first job as a sports and tourism consultant, was announced. So I was lucky in that the planets all were aligned when I needed them to be; however, I did still have to work very hard in school and during that internship, in order to graduate and land my first job as a consultant in the sports industry. Coming from the background I did, where we didn’t have many of the things that so many people take for granted, helps me appreciate hard work and determination. I certainly do not take anything for granted and this is a big reason I am so involved right now, in different efforts of giving back. Kelly – Speaking of giving back, please tell us about your foundation, Athletes and Causes. Rob – It started off as an event called
MR. ROB CANTON
“Athletes+Causes,” which I created as a fundraiser to help one particular charity. After being an international consultant for 25 years with the world’s largest professional services firm, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, where I led their Sports and Tourism Practice, I spent a lot of time traveling so I didn’t really have an opportunity to be as engaged or involved with the local community as I would have liked to have been. I spent my entire career helping other cities and sport teams with improvements to make their cities more attractive to their residents and visitors. Though I’ve lived in Tampa for 30 years, I always felt like a lot of things were happening throughout Tampa Bay where I wanted to contribute more. When the opportunity came to work for Jeff Vinik and the Lightning Organization, and no longer having to travel as much, I had more time so immediately started exploring local causes to get involved with. Some of them were community organizations like, “Visit Tampa Bay” and “The Florida Aquarium”; two boards that I’ve sat on. However, I was diagnosed with Type-One (Juvenile) Diabetes while finishing my undergraduate degree at USF; and began the very challenging daily routine of four to six injections of insulin and eight to 10 finger sticks to check my glucose levels. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) was a natural choice for me to get involved with, so I began attending meetings. I think it was the second meeting that I attended, before even being asked to be a board member, that their leadership asked me if I would “Chair” FEATURE I 13
their annual Gala. I knew how hard it was to orchestrate a Gala and the expectations and responsibilities that come along with it. Fundraising is very challenging. I agreed to accept the challenge with a few conditions.
raise their contributions. At the end of the day, JDRF succeeded in doubling the prior year’s Gala fundraising to over $600,000, due in large part to the marriage of professional athletes and the cause.
First was that my dear friend and 1999 Miss America Nicole Johnson would agree to be my co-Chair. Second, was that the Board needed to understand that I was not going to ask Mr. Vinik for a big check--I agreed to use the platform that my position with the Lightning has provided me to help with the Gala but the direct ask was not going to be a part of it. The last condition was that JDRF would support my creation of a “satellite event” to bolster the Gala fundraising. I named this event “Athletes + Causes” when I learned that we had three athletes in town, representing the three major sports that were all directly connected to JDRF (Type 1 Diabetes).
Soon after that event, those players were no longer with the Tampa Bay teams they once represented. They were either traded or released. So, recognizing how successful that event was, I immediately started the process of creating the 501(c)(3) “Athletes and Causes” and planning our next event which would be more true to the name, meaning multiple athletes and multiple causes. JDRF would still be beneficiary of the event, as would several other charities including the Toby Hall Foundation, Derek Brooks Charities, and Make a Wish Foundation, which was represented by Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, and DeBartolo Family Foundation.
B.J. Crombeen, at that time with The Tampa Bay Lightning, is a Type 1 Diabetic; Sam Fuld, center fielder for the Tampa Bay Rays at the time, is a Type 1; and the wife of Tom Crabtree, who was a tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is a Type 1 Diabetic. All three were passionate about the cause and supported JDRF, whose mission is to fund the research to cure the disease. I asked the three to be my celebrity hosts and invite their teammates. The event would essentially be an intimate three hour cocktail party with great food and drinks, all while raising money and awareness for JDRF.
Kelly- What a wonderful opportunity to benefit multiple causes, all at one time.
We had about six weeks to plan it and pull it off and thankfully, that is just what we did. We raised approximately $70,000 that evening, but also got the Gala sponsors to
Rob – That’s the idea. We ended up raising just under $100,000 in our second year, and our third annual event in March of this year raised nearly $250,000. Last year I started to strategically plan to expand the foundation to act as an umbrella 501(c)(3) for other athletes that wanted to form their own foundation. We provide a turnkey solution at a significantly reduced cost and with much less risk to the athletes. For example, we are currently engaged
with the Carlos Carrasco (ace pitcher for the Cleveland Indians) Family Foundation, whose passion is early childhood education. We are also helping launch the (Lightning winger) Ryan Callahan Foundation, which is focused on assisting kids and their families as they are undergoing cancer treatments by developing his brand, logo, website, and organizing a launch event to help fund the Foundation’s endowment. Kelly - You are helping others help others. Congratulations. Rob – Thank you. It starts with having a platform, whether you’re George Clooney, Michael Jordan, or one of our athletes, having a platform and knowing how to take advantage of it makes such a difference in fundraising and generating broad support for philanthropic causes.
affect an athlete’s personal brand if they don’t do things right, and doing things right can be costly when it comes to hiring the right staff and all the related expenses. Athletes and Causes helps eliminate those risks, while also reducing the costs significantly because we’ve developed a shared-services model. We share, among multiple athletes/clients, an executive director, a legal team, accounting, a single physical office, etc. This model cuts costs quite significantly, particularly as it relates to the 80/20 rule. Kelly – What do you mean by the 80/20 rule? Rob – The 80/20 rule was developed in the study of management techniques and principles, and has been applied in numerous business scenarios. Simply put, it states that 80% of outcomes can be attributed to 20% of the efforts. It is a rule that helps managers identify problems and determine what the most efficient uses of resources are to tackle those problems. What our research has found is that many athletes simply don’t need a full-time team to run their foundations, particularly in today’s digital environment where so many factors are disrupting the public relations and fundraising industries.
Kelly- What goes into an athlete’s creation of their own 501(c)(3)?
Kelly- I was delighted to attend recently your 3rd Annual Athletes + Causes Gala on March 10th, at the Chase Club in Amalie Arena. You do know how to throw a party. Fabulous causes, people, auction items, food, drinks, entertainment, venue, it was an amazing evening.
Rob – Because of the tax-exempt status received by 501(c)(3)’s, there are a lot of hurdles, challenges, and risks involved. The risks can be significant and can negatively
Rob – Thank you. We are extremely fortunate to have raised approximately $250,000 that evening that directly benefited the individual causes involved. FEATURE I 15
ROB’S CHILDHOOD HOME IN NEW MEXICO
Kelly – Congratulations! Rob – Thank you! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to make such an impact. We have already started to talk about replicating this event in other cities and other markets including Toronto, Dallas, Raleigh, and South Florida. It’s very exciting. Kelly – I love stories about the struggle to success. For many years, people wouldn’t discuss the depths of turmoil they endured during their journey to becoming successful.
my car a couple of nights. Kelly – What was your focus in college? Rob – I attended the University of South Florida, where my primary focus was Finance and Real Estate. It was that real estate concentration that got me focused in the consulting world and landed me my first internship. A Professor announced an intern opportunity and a couple of us from my class went and interviewed for it and I was given the opportunity. It was a real estate consulting internship, but it was a very specialized type of consulting which dealt with stadium,
ATHLETES & CAUSES AT AMALIE ARENA
The past few years, leaders like Steve Jobs and arenas, and convention centers. We did others have started to. I love the stories when market research on supply and demand someone tells me they slept in their car. related to these venues. After graduation they offered me a full time position. My focus then Rob – I had to sleep in my car once. was the Sports and Tourism Industry such as, Civic Centers, Performing Arts Centers, Kelly – Please share that story. Outdoor Amphitheater, and Stadiums. Later on I attended The George Washington Rob - After I graduated from High School, University, where I achieved a Master’s I started taking classes at a local university. Degree in Tourism Administration from the I soon concluded that I should leave GW College of Business. New Mexico if I wanted to maximize my career options so I took my 1969 Chevelle Kelly - What was your first project? Malibu—a rust bucket with a 350 engine and 300 horsepower that I was very proud of Rob – I was so excited to be asked to do a and drove it from New Mexico to Tampa. I study for a new civic center in Rome! My couldn’t afford to stay in a hotel, so I slept in boss quickly dampened my enthusiasm,
though, when he clarified that the project was Rome, Georgia. It was actually a lot of fun and I’m proud that that first study resulted in the development of a building that did end up getting built and is still successful today. It’s a very active little civic center called, The Forum in Rome Georgia. So that’s the type of work I did for 25 years—strategic planning, economic analysis, and market studies for sports and tourism developments—most of which were urban development projects that led to my being recruited by the Tampa Bay Lightning as Executive VP of Finance & Strategic Planning as the first employee focused on developing the land outside the arena. Kelly – Looking back on your 25-year consulting career, what are your proudest accomplishments? Rob – I had the privilege of being involved in the Yankees’ new stadium in New York. I did an economic analysis for the team and then I did an independent economic impact study to show the city and state of New York the jobs that would be created. When you are the person in charge of a study you are also the one that is called to testify in the public forums and city council meetings; that’s always interesting. There are often protestors, as was the case with the Yankees’ new ballpark. I also did several tourism studies ranging from the City of Dallas to the State of Virginia. One of the last projects I worked on at PwC was a tourism strategic plan for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It required traveling quite often over a period of twelve months to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Certainly, not a city that was on my bucket list. Kelly – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wanted
a study on how to bring tourists into the country? Rob – Actually, no, this was a unique situation. The Kingdom did not want to bring tourist into the country. Instead, the Kingdom wanted to keep their residents and their residents’ money there locally when on vacation instead of residents traveling outside of the country to Dubai or other nearby destinations. Tourism to the Kingdom was defined as keeping their residents home, rather than welcoming outsiders to their country. Kelly – I’m sure when completing your studies, there are times when you have to go back to the client with not the news they were hopeful to hear. Rob – This is true. In this type of consulting, your longevity is dictated not only by providing value, but also by telling the clients the truth. While some consultants had a reputation for telling their clients what they wanted to hear, my reputation and that of
ATHLETES+CAUSES 2016, KEVIN KIERMAIER #39, CENTER FIELDER, TAMPA BAY RAYS, KELLY WILSON & CHRIS ARCHER #22, STARTING PITCHER, TAMPA BAY RAYS
PwC was quite the opposite. In many cases I had clients that were not happy with the results at the end of the study, which is understandable as nobody likes to hear their baby is ugly. FEATURE I 17
In many cases investors or clients start with a clear vision of what they want and hire consultants to fine-tune it or to convince bankers to finance it. But sometimes you have to significantly scale back your client’s
both locals and tourists. It’s the honesty and integrity that kept me in the business for 25 years and positioned me to work for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kelly – When you are honest and you have integrity, you are respected and you are trusted. Rob – That is exactly right. One of my favorite quotes is by Colin Powell, who said, “Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off.” My interpretation of that is that while you don’t want to set out to upset anyone, sometimes it is inevitable and may even be necessary. Certainly you do not want to measure your effectiveness by how many people you piss off; however, doing the right and often difficult thing will nearly always annoy or even infuriate someone or the consensus. Doing the right thing, doing anything outside-the-box, or going against the status quo is going to bring out the critics and rivals. You need to be willing to take the heat as you state and make your case. Kelly – What is the best advice you have ever been given?
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original plans. They may have great ideas about building an “Oz” theme park in the middle of Kansas, but at the end of the day, you only have so many local residents nearby and so much market demand and a theme park requires significant demand from
Rob – I don’t get advice, I give advice (with a grin). Not so much advice, per se, but I believe Jeff ’s decision to hire Tod Leiweke to be the CEO of the Lightning ultimately allowed me the opportunity to learn a lot about community and philanthropy from the best executive in all professional Sports. There is no one better at understanding customers and clients—Tod simply gets it. The strategies and lessons I learned from Tod as he turned the Tampa Bay Lightning Organization around and led it to be nationally nominated as the 2016 Sports
Team of the Year, are lessons I am using with Athletes and Causes. He has been one of the most impactful people I’ve encountered. Today Tod is the number two guy, right under Roger Goodell for the National Football League. It’s a huge win for the NFL to land Tod Leiweke as their Chief Operating Officer. But honestly, I believe the best advice I’ve ever been given was the advice I received from several of my Board members and family when I recently had to choose between continuing to work with the Vinik organization, versus devoting all of my time to Athletes and Causes. At this point in my career, I felt Athletes and Causes provided me with a great opportunity to help others by helping brand new organizations like the Ryan Callahan Foundation and Carlos Carrasco Foundation achieve their philanthropic goals. Not only am I proud to work with athletes that put such a high priority on giving back, but I’m also proud of the awesome Board of Directors and staff we have assembled as we take Athletes and Causes national. Kelly – It’s interesting to think about all the different choices and experiences that lead us to right where we are today As we look back on our lives, our stories, it’s like pieces of a puzzle coming together and forming a visual roadmap that brought us here today. Patience and perseverance are truly a virtue. Rob – They certainly are, but while patience, perseverance, hard work, and a good education are critical to one’s success, you simply cannot underestimate the value of a little luck and a strong supporting cast.
Rob and Debbie Canton
FEATURE I 19
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The Partner Trap:
Escaping the Cons of Business Co-Ownership Editorial by: Sheryl Hunter, Esquire, The Entrepreneur’s Attorney Over the last 20 years as a small business attorney, I have witnessed the emotional and financial devastation resulting from toxic business relationships. The breakdown of a relationship between co-owners can cripple any company. Employees, vendors and customers are typically pulled into the eye of the storm, causing widespread damage. When the co-owners are family members, a fallout is even more devastating. Yet rarely are the challenges of owning a business with one or more other people talked about candidly, leading far too many people to walk down the aisle and say “I do” to a business marriage without adequate thought and planning. In 2014, after handling four business divorces in one year, I started giving presentations on The Partner Trap and writing a book by the same name. My intent is to help people evaluate whether to own a business with other people, how to structure co-ownership, and what to do if the relationship goes sour. Here are a few tips for escaping The Partner Trap. Tip #1: Avoid the “Crutch” No one actually says “I need a crutch” yet too often it is the sense of inadequacy that propels someone into a business marriage. The story looks something like this: a woman has an idea for a business. She knows the path she wants to carve out in the market and how to navigate the path. Yet, she fears embarking on her entrepreneurial journey alone. So she offers up her provisions – her money, ideas and know-how – to another person who makes her feel more secure on the journey, but that partner makes her no more secure, or capable, or likely to succeed.
Don’t ever let it be your insecurity that leads you to seek a partner, and make sure you’re not giving up more than you are gaining.
the operational savvy and is left to execute all of the ideas. Problems rise if the doer is implementing ideas with little or no help from the dreamer.
Tip #2: Consider the Alternatives Certainly there are many pros to partnering with others to grow a business. No one person has all of the skills and resources needed to accomplish their goals. This leads founders to seek out people who can provide labor in exchange for equity (“sweat equity”), provide capital, or both. Benefits of a partnership include having a teammate with skills you lack, existing vendor or client contacts, or industry expertise.
It is critical that you understand the dynamics of your relationship, your own traits and the needs of your partner and regularly make adjustments to maximize the benefits of your differences.
Ask yourself whether you can enjoy these benefits without sharing ownership in your business. For example, can you instead enter into a contractual joint venture agreement, which can be terminated if things do not go as planned? TIP #3: Date Before You Marry Often people start a business with a friend. Just because two people get along well socially, that doesn’t mean they can have a successful working relationship. The only way to test that theory is to work on professional projects together to determine whether compatibility felt over a glass of wine is sustainable when burdened by business demands. TIP #4: Understand Your Relationship Being aware of productive versus destructive differences is one way to make a positive choice for a business partner. To illustrate, consider this match-up: The Dreamer & the Doer: This dynamic arises when the creative force behind a company, the dreamer, is constantly cranking out new ideas. The doer has
Tip #5: Sign a Business Prenup A business marriage should not be entered into with only a handshake. Co-owners should agree on ownership (percentages of equity), control (how are decisions made and by whom) and compensation (what can the parties expect in terms of salary and distributions of profits). Fundamental terms to include in an “Operating Agreement” for a limited liability company and a “Shareholder Agreement” for a corporation deal with (1) what happens if an owner dies, or becomes disabled or incapacitated? (2) how will disagreements be resolved? (3) are transfers of ownership to other parties permissible and if so, under what terms? (4) do some owners have preferential treatment in terms of distribution of profits or upon liquidation? Tip #6: Before Your Serve Divorce Papers, Get Advice If you simply cannot tolerate running your business with your partner any longer, pause long enough to get legal advice about your options before you take any action. In addition to your written agreements, state statutes, past practices and applicable case law impact your rights. Chances are you will irreversibly harm your best interests if you act precipitously, without counsel and forethought.
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HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS WITH TECHNOLOGY BY KOBY BRYAN
At
one time, all the computers in your business were a necessary evil. Only a few of your employees liked working with them, and you didn’t like paying for them. You had as much joy upgrading software as you did upgrading the plumbing in your building. Technology was a line-item expense. Any required maintenance for your tech was your dead-last priority. “Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke!” The good news is all this stuff was all taken care of by the people who loved working with it. The bad news is the tech guy spoke a completely different language, if you could afford him at all. At least you could talk to your plumber. Now things are... different. Most of your business runs on the Internet. That is most likely where all of your new customers are coming from, somehow. Things changed fast. You don’t know what the technology in your business does anymore, or what the geeks in your business do from day to day. You hope they are helping you. Your teenager has a cell phone that is more powerful than the computers that powered the Apollo 11 mission. Now more businesses see technology as an investment, instead of an expense. This is because small inexpensive software tools can give instant return on that investment. Technology is becoming cheap and free, even if the “know-how” and technical part isn’t. In the corporate world, there are people that get paid to think up and perform strategies to grow the business. In technology, one executive type is a Chief Technology Officer (“CTO”). Their job is to make sure the technology improves and supports your business. CTO’s can be expensive, but you do not have to employ one full time. Also, you can perform some basic CTO duties yourself, I will show you how. The hard part is mindset, seeing the areas where some part of your business could be transformed. This part is easier done by others, because it is hard to work on your
business if you are working in it. You cannot see the forest for the trees. Also, if you see technology as an expense, you will never see the possibilities or make the right choices. I knew of a businessman that saw his delivery trucks as an expense. His entire business broke when his trucks did. Once you have your “CTO goggles” on, you then do two things, mapping and researching. You will not have the knowledge and skill of a CTO. You might not hit what you are aiming for the first try, or decide the best target. However, if you have time and do not give up, you will do some good for your business. You can do mini-missions instead of a large complicated one. Mapping is just like drawing a treasure map. Write down all the things that happen from the moment you get the thing you sell, to delivery. Try and use basic details, like who, where and what tools - if any. That is the easy part. Now for the research, look at the parts of your business that cause you the most pain. Look for areas that there are no software tools. Look especially in areas where someone is doing a repetitive task. Then ask yourself, how could technology help here? Bingo, a problem to solve. Now you know what to research, keep an open mind, and get to it! Here is a super-tip. If you have technical people, you can ask them to research on your behalf - and most would love to. Here is a secret, most geeks want to help, but do not know how. I know from experience. Technical jobs are complicated and take time, and work only with facts. This makes it hard for technical people to guess your vision, and they haven’t the time to imagine your perspective. If you are willing to share your vision with details and ask some open-ended questions with no pressure or consequences, you might be surprised! Koby Bryan - 2016
TECHNOLOGY I 25
Picture this: you arrive to work on a normal Friday morning. You sit down at your desk, log on to your computer, and instead of your normal desktop, you’re presented with a large warning screen indicating your hard drive has been locked by a government agency for possessing illegal pornography, and it lists files that have supposedly been detected on your computer. Strangely, it indicates that you can resolve this issue immediately by paying a fine of $300. Is this a virus, you wonder? Browsing your hard drive, you see that it’s true. Every file on your machine has been encrypted, and is unable to be accessed.
ended up forking over cash to unlock computers in their office after both the FBI and the US military were unable to provide any substantive assistance. It only gets worse. If one machine in your network is infected, common sharing protocols may distribute the malware around your office. That was the case in a South Carolina school district in early April this year. Within minutes, 60% of the district’s computers had been infected. It cost administrators nearly $10,000 in ransom to recover their data from the criminals responsible, delivered via the digital currency
Knowing you don’t browse questionable content (especially on a work computer), you send a request to IT for help with what appears to be a virus. That’s when the other shoe drops: your IT tech confirms that you’ve been hit with ransomware, and what’s more, that there’s absolutely nothing they can do to help. Your only option is to fork over the cash for a digital key to unlock your hard drive. This may seem like some Hollywood hackers movie scenario, but it’s been increasingly playing out in real life. In 2015, 58% of corporate computers had been attacked with some form of malware. The number of ransomware type attacks doubled. Think you’re safe because you’re using a Mac? Think again. The KeRanger ransomware discovered earlier this year specifically targets OSX. Don’t count on law enforcement to help either; at the 2015 Cyber Security Summit, Joseph Bonavolonta (the FBI’s top dog in their Cyber Crimes division) offered this advice:
Bitcoin. It was a painful price to pay, but the only pragmatic option according to county administrators, who noted:
“The ransomware is that good...to be honest, we often advise people just to pay the ransom.”
“You get to the point of making the business decision: Do I make my end-users — in our case teachers and students — wait for weeks and weeks and weeks while we restore servers from backup? Or do we pay the ransom and get the data back online more quickly?”
They should know; law enforcement agencies themselves have been the victim of ransomware. In 2014, it became national news when the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee
The future of ransomware only brings greater fears. As internet connected devices and vehicles slowly become more commonplace, ransomware could effectively disable that shiny new Tesla,
Digital InSecurity What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You By Chris Jenkins
crank that Nest thermostat to 100 degrees, and/ or shut out inventory management and logistics systems. For both businesses and consumers, a strong understanding of digital security is no longer something you can leave to the resident nerd. It must become as common knowledge as how to use a cell phone. So, let’s start with the basics: how did this thing get on my machine to begin with? It generally begins with clicking something you shouldn’t: • • • • • •
Visiting a compromised website Clicking on online advertising Opening sketchy email attachments Clicking links in Facebook Messenger Downloading “cracked” or “free” versions of paid software Installing browser toolbars
While there are legitimate use cases for most of these scenarios, if you’re engaging in one of them, you need to be extra careful. Do you trust this source with all of the data on your computer? Are you absolutely positive this email or message is from whom it purports to be from? If you’re not 100% sure, don’t click it. These are general safety rules that apply to all computer viruses, but with the rise of ransomware, they are increasingly more important. Next, you need to take additional steps to protect all data on your computer or network, and just like a good football team, you need both an offense and a defense. Starting with the defense: • • •
Every machine in your network needs to have a strong antivirus with updating enabled. Your network controllers need to have a strong firewall, hardware solution preferred. Set strict policies for computer users in your office regarding the use of software downloaded from the web, browser toolbars, and the use of unlicensed software.
On the offensive side, take proactive steps to protect your data integrity, and make sure you never lose it:
•
•
When possible, use cloud or network solutions to store data physically separate from your machine. Collaborative services like Google Docs allows for you to interact with your data without physically storing it, making it essentially bulletproof to ransomware attacks. Use an offsite backup service like CrashPlan to fully back up your hard drive, including OS. This will allow you to wipe your computer and restore in case of a comprehensive infection.
By storing your mission critical data outside of the local machine, you remove any possibility for it to be damaged or encrypted, and you put the responsibility for security in the hands of systems administrators who are far more qualified to handle the responsibility. Finally, if you do find that you’ve been compromised, you may be forced to make a payment, but do take the steps to report the ransomware to the FBI’s Cyber Crimes unit at http://www.ic3.gov. The more instances law enforcement is able to investigate, the greater the chances of a permanent solution being developed (and, potentially, that a few of these scumbags get locked up). Once upon a time, it was almost en vogue to claim ignorance surrounding technical security, but these days, that ignorance can cost you in time, money, and lost productivity, not to mention general aggravation. If you want to continue to take advantage of technological advancements, there’s no longer an excuse. Get up to speed on security, before the opening scenario in this article becomes your personal nightmare. Chris Jenkins - 2016
TECHNOLOGY I 27
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COMPARTMENTALIZING FOR THE CRAZY THE SECRET BEHIND SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS - Editorial by Topher Morrison -
P
sychology defines compartmentalization as a defense mechanism, or a coping strategy used to avoid stress associated with conflicting values or beliefs. Not very flattering, and it has relatively negative connotations. Yet, compartmentalization seems to be a very effective strategy for entrepreneurs to go about their day. My conclusion: Yes, entrepreneurs are crazy. So why fight it? Let’s use our “crazy” to be the best crazy entrepreneurs we can be. And if that means using coping mechanisms to keep all of our conflicts, focuses, etc. in check, I say go for it. Most entrepreneurs think and work in their businesses all day long with no prioritized focus at all. Typically, every day, has the same ending. Nothing gets done and our to-do lists continue to grow. The answer to this is Compartmentalization. Prioritize and compartmentalize everything. Isolate all of your issues and challenges that you are dealing with. We have to accept the fact that we will always have several fulltime focuses and only a limited amount of mental and emotional energy to devote to each one, each day. Prioritizing is saying “no” and focusing only on what is priority at that time. Here are some quick tips on how to compartmentalize your day so you actually get things done.
*Sleep well with “Do Not Disturb”
Set your phone on Do Not Disturb so you don’t hear text messaging and app alerts all night long. I have mine defaulted to go silent at 10 PM and stay that way until 7 AM. But what if I miss an important invite? It doesn’t matter, it’s after 10:00 just go to bed, you’ll be better for it the next day at work.
*Say “no”
Say no to things that don’t have a compartment already. Okay, we are crazy. I get it, but let’s not invite more crazy in … just say no and limit the number of compartments.
*Open a Compartment, apply focus
Open a compartment and apply extreme focus, but only for a short pre-determined amount of time.
This is often referred to as “time blocking”. Before you begin a task at hand, determine how long you will spend on it regardless of whether you get it done. It will always be there tomorrow. If you think you have all day to get something done, you lack the urgency needed to get it done. If you have an artificial limit of time self-imposed on a project, it will allow you to get moving more quickly and efficiently. Move forward in incremental steps. And once you see progress … close the compartment and open the next one.
*Compartmentalize the right things
Compartmentalize your to-do list. Franklin/ Covey day planning systems has the best way to compartmentalize your to-do. You only have 3 things to do: A: Things that must get done. B: Things that should get done. And C: Things that could get done. Then, prioritize all your A’s in level of urgency. So if you have 10 things that must get done you’ll have a list reaching from A1 - A10. If you have say, 6 things that should get done, you’ll have B1 - B6 and the same numbering system continues for the Cs. Start with the A’s, and end with the C’s. Say “no” to things that don’t deserve a compartment. As an entrepreneur you’re going to have to compartmentalize your entire life. The stress of being a business owner, father (or mother), son (or daughter), potentially running out of cash flow, being rejected by a potential investor, getting involved in lawsuits, or having public opinion suddenly sway against you or your company—even balancing your social life with everything else. In conclusion, as an entrepreneur, you’re going to get hit by big all kinds of things, all at once. Your ability to compartmentalize, prioritize, and focus the required attention to each area in order to make incremental progress towards a successful conclusion will be your most important skill set to achieve yet. Topher Morrison - 2016
BUSINESS ADVICE I 29
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CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS “Effective Communication When it Matters Most”
A
Crucial Conversation happens typically when opinions vary; the stakes are high with emotions being very strong. How do we communicate when it matters most? How do we say what needs to be said while avoiding an argument with a boss, child, or loved one? Most importantly, how do we turn crucial conversations into the results that we desire? Have you ever had a discussion with your business partner about a critical aspect of your business that is of concern to you? What about a conversation with your boss about a possible promotion? She thinks you’re not ready; you know that you are. How about your teenager’s choice of friends or their curfew? These are crucial conversations!
By Rick Monsipapa secure in the environment you have created you have significantly increased the opportunity to reach a mutual understanding. When you sense emotions starting to run high or the other person is shutting down, you need to back off and start over. Keep listening when others blow up or clam up. In the process of seeking a shared solution, focus will be required by you “the skilled communicator”. Remember you can only control one aspect of this communication process and that is YOU. Keep your composure; speak tentatively because your tonality can be a strong force in creating the proper environment for successful communicating. It is important to remember and understand that you are not selling, persuading or manipulating. Always be aware of your motives and the outcome you desire. Be persuasive not abrasive. “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”― Stephen R. Covey
image courtesy of graphicstock
Those are just a couple of examples of daily conversations we have frequently that affect our life. So how can we make it safe to talk about almost anything? Let’s start with skill development to master the art and science of critical technique. Stephen Covey said it best; “Seek first to understand, Seek to be understood and then find common ground”. Simple right, but not so easy! The most important art of crucial conversations is to provide and promote a safe haven or environment for sharing information. You can accomplish this by showing your humility, being transparent and building trust with the other person. If the person you are speaking too feels
Always listen intently to what is being said and refrain from thinking about your come back response. Quality listening is just that, listen to what is being said and “seek to understand”. Master communicators have a knack for asking the right questions at the right time and they always leave you with the sense of making you feel worthy and important. The individual that can master the art of crucial conversations is destined for success both personally and professionally. May your next crucial conversation be manageable as well as successful! Rick Monsipapa - 2016
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Get Out of Your Own Way Grow Your Business Editorial By Juliann Nichols
D
o you have the focus you need to master or excel at growing your business?
Timothy Ferriss, author of The 4 Hour Workweek, defines “elegance” as the balance between dabbling and obsessing that enables you to build your business without losing yourself. Many CEOs start their businesses by doing, doing, doing. They run their businesses as employees of their businesses, not the CEO. Eventually the wheel (you) gets stuck and can’t run any longer. They lose who they are and why they started this darn business in the first place. They know they need to get off the hamster wheel and make things happen. The phone starts ringing off the hook and customers keep coming back for more. You are now stressed, overwhelmed and unable to make a confident decision on how to move forward or grow their business. Why? Fear. Fear is the number one reason business owners do not grow their business. Often times they fail to plan and fall victim to their own success.
CEO’s do not do it all. They lead, firefight and go global. They do not do. It is important in the early stages of building your business that you learn to build processes. Growing your business without a plan or without clear processes in place will get you stuck. This in turn leads to overwhelm and burnout and affects who you are, and ultimately you feel you lost yourself.
your own way. Take the time now to be proactive instead of reactive. Get the CEO mindset that your business is going to grow and prepare for it. Learn to turn fear into fun. Go after it, don’t avoid it. Focus On YOU! Remember why you started this business? You will soon realize your potential and accomplish any goal your mind can conceive and remain true to yourself.
Can you let go to be free, get unstuck? Can you build processes to delegate tasks and be free to be the CEO? Being busy, stressed and overwhelmed is not a badge of honor. It is actually a death sentence. It will cost you your personal life, your business, your dreams and ultimately yourself.
Jim Rohn once said, “You cannot achieve beyond your current level of personal development. You don’t achieve goals. You grow into goals.”
Build yourself an organizational chart. Delegate all that you do to a different position in your company. You will quickly find that you are doing the work of five to ten people. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t become an entrepreneur to do the work of 10 people.
We’ve all been down the rabbit hole and have been forced to choose between growing or staying put. If you are overwhelmed you need to make 34 I GROW YOUR BUSINESS the decision quick. Get out of
Invest in yourself. Invest in learning and growing. When you think like the CEO of your business and less like an employee of your business, you are more confident and make better decisions. Delegate and lead. You can be you and so much more. Juliann Nichols - 2016
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www.EDGEBusiness.org 35 I MEMBER DIRECTORY
4D Studios LLC – member since 2014 Alex Buffalo – Partner Small Business Member 813-873-9400 2511 W. Swann Ave. Suite 100, Tampa, Fl. 33609 www.4dstudiosllc.com
180 Coaching – member since 2014 Laura Scott – President Small Business Member 813-769-9038 301 W. Platt St. #51, Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.180coaching.com
AjA Channelside – member since 2016 Italo Pignano – Partner EDGE Corporate Member 813- 223-5758 290 S. Meridian Ave., Tampa, Fl. 33602 www.ajanightclub.com
Anthony Beauchamp – member since 2015 Student Member EDGE Cartel 813-600-0954
Armando Martinez / Creative Designer A3M Solutions – member since 2015 EDGE Professional Member 973-405-9228
Athletes + Causes – member since 2016 Rob Canton – Founder & CEO EDGE Non-Profit Member www.athletesandcauses.org
Awesome Jewelry – member since 2014 Jeff Thomas – Owner EDGE Small Business Member 813-831-2419 6305 S. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, Fl. 33611 www.awesomejewelrytampa.com
Bavaro’s – member since 2014 Dan Bavaro – Founder & President EDGE Corporate Member 813-868-4440 514 N. Franklin St., Tampa, Fl. 33602 For additional Bavaro’s locations visit: www.bavarospizza.com
Breezin Entertainment – member since 2014 Cindy Dervech – Owner EDGE Small Business Member 813-348-4998 3711 Swann Ave., Tampa, Fl. 33609 www.breezin.com
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza South Tampa – member since 2014 Marcus – Manager EDGE Corporate Member 813-258-2625 1901 S. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, Fl. 33629 www.acfp.com
Ciccio Restaurant Group – member since 2013 Jeff Gigante – Owner/Partner EDGE Corporate Member Including, Green Lemon, The Lodge, Ciccio, Fresh Kitchen & Daily Eats For Ciccio Restaurant locations visit: www.cicciorestaurantgroup.com
CoCreativ – member since 2014 Joseph Warren – Partner Jason Stoll - Partner EDGE Small Business Member 727-277-9522 3902 Henderson Blvd. #208, Tampa, Fl. 33629 New Downtown Location www.cocreativ.com
Cooperative Medicine – member since 2015 Dr. Michael O’neal – Founder/Physician EDGE Small Business Member 813-221-0310 *Mobile Business Member* www.cooperativemed.com
Daniel Funk - member since 2015 Pilot & Entrepreneur EDGE for the Arts Member 727-492-8939
Eddie’s Custom Cleaners – member since 2015 Richie Alverio – Partner EDGE Corporate Member 813-247-5500 4330 W. Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa Fl. 33629 For additional Eddie’s Cleaner locations visit: Eddie’s Custom Cleaners online
Elite Auto Salon – member since 2015 Dallas Cathey – President EDGE Small Business Member 877-345-4440 *Mobile Business Member* www.eliteautosalon.com
Everything Outdoors – member since 2015 Jared Dorsey – President EDGE Small Business Member 813-321-8733 *Mobile Business Member* Tampa, Fl. www.everythingoutdoors.biz
The Fernandez Law Group member since 2013 Frank Fernandez – President EDGE Small Business Member 813-489-3222 506 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, Fl. 33609 www.thefernandezlawgroup.com
Homeowners Ins. Agency – member since 2015 Greg Snodgrass – President EDGE Small Business Member 727-614-0304 2240 Bellair Rd. Ste. 200, Clearwater, Fl. 33764 www.homeowners4less.com
Focus On You Strategy – member since 2015 Juliann Nichols – CEO Laraine Chulla – Dir. Of Business Development EDGE Small Business Member 813-609-2223 3030 Rocky Point Dr. W. #150, Tampa, Fl. 33607 www.focusonyoustrategy.com
Hugo’s Spanish Restaurant – member since 2014 Cari Reynolds – General Manager EDGE Small Business Member 813-251-2842 913 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.hugostampa.com
John Trimm – Integrated Media Solutions Provider iHeart Media – member since 2014 EDGE Professional Member 813-832-1473 4002 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa, Fl. 33611 www.iheartmedia.com
Hunter Business Law – member since 2014 Sheryl Hunter – President Adam Hersh - Attorney EDGE Small Business Member 813-867-2640 119 S. Dakota Ave. Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.hunterbusinesslaw.com
Keith Lindquist Photography – member since 2014 Keith Lindquist – Photographer EDGE for the Arts Member 813- 523-9819 *Mobile Business Member* www.keithlindquist.com
Hyde Park Storage – member since 2015 Tina Rodriguez – Manager EDGE Small Business Member 813-254-8752 1600 W. Platt St., Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.hydeparkstorage.com
Ken Walters Promotion & Products – member since 2014 Ken Walters – President EDGE Small Business Member 813- 251-0500 www.kenwalters.com
Innovative Front – member since 2015 Koby Bryan EDGE Small Business Member 813- 609-2003 www.innovativefront.com
Key Person of Influence – member since 2014 Topher Morrison – Owner/Managing Director Jodi McLean - KPI Business Development EDGE Small Business Member 813- 258-4372 412 E. Madison, Suite 800, Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.keypersonofinfluence.com/usa
Fulfill Your Destiny – member since 2014 Lt. Col. Karen Mertes – Founder & President EDGE Community Member 813-481-9895 3030 N. Rocky Point Dr. W. Suite 150, Tampa, Fl. 33607 www.fulfillyourdestiny.org
Gilit Kontny – Advertising Executive/ Graphic Designer Gg Graphic Designs, Inc. – member since 2015 EDGE Professional Member 813-629-3900
Green Earth Building Maintenance – member since 2015 Ramone Garriga – Partner EDGE Small Business Member 813-280-4850 *Mobile Business Member* www.gebm.net
Insure U Exchange – member since 2015 Sherry Perri-Anzalone – LUTCF, Owner/Broker EDGE Small Business Member 813-361-3444 3225 S. MacDill Ave. Suite 342, Tampa, Fl. 33629 www.insureuexchange.com
Joe and Son’s Olive Oils – member since 2014 Andrea Gebbia – Owner EDGE Small Business Member 813-831-5600 3401 W. Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa, Fl. 33629 www.joeandsonsoliveoils.com
EDGE MEMBERSHIP I 37
Kostas Stoilas – Senior Associate CBRE Commercial Real Estate – member since 2015 EDGE Professional Member 239-822-7816 101 E. Kennedy Blvd. #1500, Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.cbre.com
LaBoom by Crystal – member since 2016 Crystal - President EDGE Small Business Member 314-603-2622 www.laboom.life
Lenny’s Sub Shop – member since 2014 Martin Watson – Managing Partner EDGE Small Business Member 813- 281-0700 4050 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, Fl. 33609 www.lennys.com
Majestic Balance 4 Fitness – member since 2015 Karlton Meadows EDGE Small Business Member 813-476-3472 *Mobile Business Member* www.majesticbalance.com
Mary Osada Hair by Mary – member since 2014 Mary Osada – Stylist EDGE Professional Member 813-777-5131 533 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, Fl. 33606
Mathnasium – member since 2016 Ferdinand Desir EDGE Small Business Member 210-471-8750 Riverview, Florida www.mathnasium.com
38 I EDGE MEMBERSHIP
Michael Murphy Art Gallery – member since 2013 Michael Murphy – Owner Lauren Godfrey - Gallery Assistant EDGE Small Business Member 813-902-1414 2701 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, Fl. 33629 www.michaelmurphygallery.com
MIT Computers, Inc. – member since 2014 Mit Patel – CEO & President EDGE Small Business Member 813-849-0303 407 S. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, Fl. 33609 For additional MIT Computers locations visit: www.mitcomputers.com
Not Just Beans – member since 2015 Rick Monsipapa – Director of Operations Nancy Monsipapa – Business Leadership EDGE Small Business Member 813- 210-2695
Orange Theory Fitness – member since 2013 Terry Blachek – Franchise Sales & Partner/ Area Developer EDGE Corporate Member 813-356-0620 115 S. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa Fl. 33609 For additional Orange Theory Fitness locations visit: www.orangetheoryfitness.com
Rosco Freed – member since 2015 Vocalist EDGE for the Arts Member 813-735-8996
Schakolad Chocolate Factory – member since 2013 Archie Bourne – Owner EDGE Small Business Member 813-259-1099 408 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.schakolad.com
Sentinel Background Checks – member since 2015 Rachid Zahidi – CEO Dawson Hicks - Business Development EDGE Small Business Member 888-725-2535 710 Oakfield Dr. #254, Brandon, Fl. 33511 www.sbchecks.com
Sewfast Alterations and Dry Cleaning – member since 2014 Nick Awad – Owner EDGE Small Business Member 813-258-0161 2209 W. Platt St., Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.sewfast.info
Silly Dilly Tot Spot – member since 2014 Katie Kyres – Owner EDGE Small Business Member 813-839-8687 3217 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, Fl. 33629 www.sillydillytotspot.com
Square 1 Burgers & Bar – membersince2014 Carol Pooley – Director of Marketing Square 1 & Bella’s EDGE Corporate Member 813-414-0101 3701 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, Fl. 33609
For additional Square 1 locations visit: www.square1burgers.com
SWC * Swiss Watch Center – member since 2014 Shaant Varjabedian – Owner EDGE Small Business Member 813-258-5520 1155 S. Dale Mabry Hwy. Ste. 4, Tampa, Fl. 33629 www.swisswatchcntr.com
Symphoni Media Group – member since 2015 Chris Jenkins – EDGE Small Business Member 813-251-5522 449 Central Ave., Suite 201, St. Petersburg, Fl. 33701 www.symphonigroup.com
Thanecha Anderson – member since 2016 Vocalist EDGE for the Arts Member 813-360-5497 www.thanecha.com
The Centre for Women –membersince2016 Kathleen Pravlik – Marketing Director EDGE Non-Profit Member www.thecentre.org
The COO Experience – member since 2014 Elizabeth Fanslow – Owner EDGE Small Business Member 727-403-6751 1111 N. Westshore Blvd. Suite 200A, Tampa, Fl. 33607 www.thecooexperience.com
The Ghost Publishing – member since 2015 Eli Gonzalez – President EDGE Small Business Member 727-692-5289 www.theghostpublishing.com
Yellow Credit – member since 2013 Joe Carlo – Owner EDGE Small Business Member 813-251-0999 Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.yellowcredit.com
Zudar’s – member since 2014 Eric Weinstein – Owner EDGE Small Business Member 813-250-6272 201 W. Platt St., Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.zudarsdeli.com
The Patio Tampa – member since 2014 Rick Warmack – Partner EDGE Small Business Member 813-873-7846 421 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, Fl. 33609 www.patiotampa.com
The UPS Store – member since 2014 Tariq Khan – Managing Partner EDGE Corporate Member 813-251-9593 301 W. Platt St., Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.theupsstorelocal.com/3751 Downtown 813-387-3335 503 E. Jackson St., Tampa, Fl. 33606 www.theupsstorelocal.com/4639
Troy Anthony Fashion – member since 2015 Troy Anthony – Owner / Fashion Designer EDGE for the Arts Member 813-333-3996 www.troyanthonyfashion.com
EDGE BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY MAY/JUNE 2016 www.EDGEBusiness.org