Gulfshore Business February 2020 by Gulfshore Life

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F E A T U R E S ____ FEBRUARY 2020

____ P.24

EASING THE STICKER SHOCK How Southwest Florida employers can apply innovative solutions to reduce health care costs in 2020. By Denise Scott Photography by Brian Tietz

____ P.34 FLYING HIGH Top-of-the-line interiors bring new levels of customizable luxury to prestige jets. By Artis Henderson

____ P.40 THE WAIT IS OVER How a “medical office of the future” promises to speed up a visit to the doctor.

BRIAN TIETZ

By Phil Borchmann

_ FEBRUARY 2020

gulfshorebusiness.com

Our experience is your advantage. With over 70 years of experience, our law professionals focus on legal areas that are at the core of the challenges facing individuals and businesses today. Having the right attorney can make all the difference. Let Pavese guide you in the right direction. As a new decade begins, we look forward to continuing to serve the community and representing our clients with unwavering determination.

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West Palm Beach 561. 471. 1366 JANUARY 2020 _

D E P A R T M E N T S ____ F E B R UARY 2 0 2 0

P.8 From the Editor ___

P.18 Truth of the Trade ___

P.74 Fitness ___

40-under-40 nominations are

What pharmacists do.

Get your Chi on with goat

open.

P.78

BUZZ

P.19 Made in SWFL ___

Product

Naples’ Natalie Zellers intro-

Review ___

duces the Gym Bib.

Nutritious Noodles.

yoga. P.76 Hot Wheels ___

The 2020 Mercedes GLC 300 is the company’s most affordable.

P.12 Front & Center ___

P.20 40 under 40: Where are

Soukup Strategic Solutions

they now? ___

helps nonprofits shine.

Kelly Davis, Naples office man-

P.78 How to De-Stress ___

aging partner at Quarles and

Put down that smart phone.

P.14 Spotlight ___

Brady Law Firm. P.78 Nutritious Noodles ___

Susan McManus, executive director and president of

P.21 Startup Story ___

Champions For Learning, The

Beach fashion by Lazy Turtle. P.80 From the Desk of ___

Education Foundation of Collier County.

Not your college ramen.

P.22 Charitable Notes ___

Banking executive Kyle

A digest of nonprofit news.

DeCicco.

P.23 Out & About ___

Candid views of Southwest Florida Business events.

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE P.64 Power Advice ___

Harry Chapin Food Bank’s Richard LeBer knows nonprofits.

conscience is. P.68 On the Move ___

Career notes and kudos. P.16 Trendline ___

The insured vs. the uninsured.

OFF THE CLOCK P.15 My First Job ___

Photographer and fine artist Mila Bridger.

P.70 Food for Thought ___

___ S pecial Reports Advertising

Maks Asian Kitchen & Sushi. P. 45 Women of Fifth Avenue P.72 Weekend Getaway ___

P. 53 Who’s who in Law

The rich culture of Little Ha-

P. 57 Naples Airport Authority

vana.

_ FEBRUARY 2020

gulfshorebusiness.com

F R O M L E F T: E R I K K E L L A R ; C O U R T E S Y V I T A R A M E N ; S I N E L A B

P.66 Impactful Investing ___

Putting money where your

C R E AT I N G GULFSHORE BUSINESS

Florida-born journalist Lane Nieset Lives part-time in Paris and covers luxury lifestyle and travel for pubs such as T Magazine, Bloomberg Pursuits and National Geographic. For this issue, Lane speaks with Harry Chapin Food Bank’s Richard LeBer.

Justin Paprocki is the student media advisor at Florida Gulf Coast University. Justin had been with Gulfshore Life Media for four years, previously as managing editor of Gulfshore Business and digital media manager and senior editor at Gulfshore Life. Before arriving in Naples, the native Ohioan spent a decade as a writer and editor at community newspapers before earning a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

(left) Brian Tietz, a regular contributor to the pages of Gulfshore Business, is a versatile commercial and editorial photographer specializing in portrait and lifestyle images.

Naples resident Erik Kellar, an award-winning photographer and photojournalist. Kellar began his photography career immediately after graduating from Naples High School in 1990 and furthered his studies at the Southeast Center for Photographic Studies. His photos appear regularly in Gulfshore Business magazine.

Melanie Pagan is a writer and digital media specialist now living in Portland, Oregon, after spending more than two decades in Southwest Florida. Melanie, who formerly served as assistant editor at Gulfshore Business, continues to contribute on a regular basis, writing stories for the magazine as well as Gulfshore Business Daily.

Beth Luberecki is a Nokomis–based freelance writer who writes about business, travel, and lifestyle topics for a variety of publications and websites. She has written for Gulfshore Business for more than a decade, covering topics ranging from startup businesses to bluegreen algae.

Artis Henderson spent most of her adult life in places like New York, Paris and Dakar before returned home to Florida. Her first book, Unremarried Widow, was published in 2014. And each month, Artis explores cool destinations for our “Weekend Getaway” feature.

James Raia, a reporter for more than 40 years, has been a staff writer and columnist for three metro daily newspapers and a freelance journalist since 1987. As publisher of theweeklydriver. com since 2004, Raia began contributing the Hot Wheels column and lifestyle articles to Gulfshore Business in 2016. He lives in Sacramento, California.

FEBRUARY 2020 _

EDITOR-IN- CHIEF

Phil Borchmann

philb@gulfshorebusiness.com G R O U P A S S O C I AT E PU B L I S H E R

Kimberley Evans kevans@gulfshorelife.com M A R K E T I N G C O N S U LTA N T S

Mar y Beth Johnston mar ybeth.johnston@gulfshorebusiness.com Kathleen Hill khill@gulfshorelife.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Dorothea Hunter Sรถnne CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Artis Henderson, Beth Luberecki, Lane Nieset, Melanie Pagan, Justin Paprocki, James Raia, Tess Raines, Denise Scott, Chelle Koster Walton A RT CRE ATIVE DIRECTOR Jerr y Pomales ART DIRECTORS Felipe Echeverria, Mar y Rich CIRCUL ATION DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DE VELOPMENT Kerri Nolan PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION MANAGER Mar tha Leavit t M A RK E TING MARKE TING AND E VENTS MANAGER Rachel Galante A DMINI STR ATION ADVERTISING SERVICES MANAGER /REPRINT SALES

Kathleen Hill CONTROLLER Marcia Jaquith

Volume 24/Number 7, January, Gulfshore Business (ISSN 1935-8199), is published 12 times a year by Gulfshore Life, 1421 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 100, Naples, FL 34109. Subscriptions are free to qualified individuals residing in the United States. For customer service inquiries or to change your address by providing both the old and new addresses, contact: Gulfshore Business, PO Box 17156, North Hollywood, CA 91615-7156. Telephone (818) 286-3160 or email subscriptions@gulfshorebusiness.com. Periodicals postage paid at Naples, FL, and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2019 by Gulfshore Life. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts without return postage will not be returned. DISCLAIMER: Advertisements in the publication do not constitute an offer for sale in states where prohibited or restricted by law. Occasionally we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services that we believe would interest our readers. If you do not want to receive these offers, please advise us at Gulfshore Business, PO Box 17156, North Hollywood, CA 916157156. Please include your name and address as it appears on the mailing label of your most recent issue.

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_ FEBRUARY 2020

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N O M I N AT I O N S A R E OPEN FOR THIS YEAR’S 40 UNDER 40 AWARDS

WEBSITE gulfshorebusiness.com

V I S I T G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S . C O M / 4 0 U N D E R 4 0 F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N

FEBRUARY 2020 _

FROM THE EDITOR

Calling all rising stars Nominate yourself, or somebody else, for our annual 40-under-40 story

For all of the benefits a workout can yield, it also can produce copious amounts of sweat. There’s always a towel, which seems to fall off the shoulders during activity, or the shirt, which is not that efficient. After suffering through that perspiration problem one too many times, a Naples woman decided to develop a product that would stay around her neck during exercise. Natalie Zellers invented and patented the Gym Bib, which is now available for purchase. Read more about it on page 19..

gulfshorebusiness.com, locate the 40-under-40 banner and click in. The application can then be completed and submitted electronically. Nominees must still be under 40 by Sept. 1, when the story is published. After the selections are made out of what we know will be a large field, our editors will interview the winners and write profiles; and we’ll also take a lot of studio-quality photos. When that’s all done, we will present our next 40-under-40 installments and celebrate with a gala awards ceremony.

P.19

_ FEBRUARY 2020

PHIL BORCHMANN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

gulfshorebusiness.com

FROM TOP: BRIAN TIETZ; COURTESY OF THE GYM BIB

The march toward our September issue has begun. That’s when we will publish our 18th annual 40-under-40 story, which honors Southwest Florida’s talented young leaders who have distinguished themselves in their jobs and the community. Since 2003, we have recognized 680 honorees from an array of professions including medical, legal, education, sports and public safety as well as many entrepreneurs. And just as we anticipated, when we made our choices each year, many of these individuals continued to excel at their organizations and provide leadership in our region. Those qualities are particularly important these days as Southwest Florida continues to grow. So on to the class of 2020 and the promises it holds. You can nominate yourself or other people. Only one submission is necessary, because our panel of judges chooses the winners on merit rather than popular vote. Just visit our website at www.

ALSO INSIDE

ÂŠ2020 First Horizon Bank. Member FDIC.

P.15

Photographer Mila Bridger’s first job ____

Front & Center “Having that rhythm in business, working together in a structured way, has been really helpful.” — Sheryl Soukup

P.12

B U Z Z BUZZ N E A N E A

W S M A K E R S N D S O U N D W S M A K E R S N D S O U N D

T R E A D V I , T R E A D V I

N C N C

D S E D S E

P.18

___ ‘We Love Nonprofits Here’ Naples-based Soukup Strategic Solutions helps nonprofits shine. By Artis Henderson

The truth about pharmacists ____

BUZZ &

C E N T E R

very weekday morning, the team at Soukup Strategic Solutions, a nonprofit advisory firm in Naples, sits down to a 10-minute meeting. Most days, its founder, Sheryl Soukup, is there, leading the meeting in her clear voice and tapping the table with her pen for emphasis. Everyone speaks about his or her priorities for the day, and they wrap with “one good thing,” a positive update from each person at the table. “It’s our rhythm,” Soukup, 48, says of the morning meetings. “Having that rhythm in business, working together in a structured way, has been really helpful.” The 10-minute meetings are just part of the successful strategy that has led Soukup’s firm to expand from a one-woman operation when it began in 2012 to a nine-employee company to-

day. Annual revenue has grown 328 percent since 2013, its first full year in business. The company typically works with 10 to 15 clients at a time. Most are in Southwest Florida, but because some have statewide offices, Soukup and her employees travel to other cities across Florida. The company also has a national client, the Administration for Community Living, a federal agency that is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Soukup brings such an order and precision to her business that it’s no surprise she began her career as a scientist. She trained as a microbiologist, and her professional goal was to teach at the university level and run her own lab. “Then I had Eva,” she says, referring to her daughter, now 22, who was born with cerebral palsy. “When your first child has a disability, sometimes your life takes a different path.” Soukup found herself in nonprofits, first as a volunteer, then as a staff member then as a director. She served as executive director of three local organizations—Immokalee Housing and Family Services, Naples Therapeutic Riding Center and Families First of Southwest Florida—before she decided to set off on her own. “When you’re the CEO of a small to mid-size nonprofit, you often wear many different hats. I was searching for a way to concentrate my time on the things I was

___ “ I have a whole team of people that can provide expertise.” —Sheryl Soukup

uniquely talented in.” Her specific talents revolved around strategic planning, fundraising and grant-writing, and for the first years her consulting company was in business, that was its focus. Today, Soukup Strategic Solutions has expanded its offerings to include marketing, social media, graphic design, content development, committee structuring, administrative support, database management, recruitment and hiring. The company can even stand in as executive director.

gulfshorebusiness.com

BRIAN TIETZ

F R O N T

MORNING PRIORITIES: (above) Soukup starts the day with a staff session at (left) her office.

“There’s a great need for this kind of service,” Soukup says. “I’ve been able to offer nonprofits a large variety of support services, and I have a whole team of people that can provide expertise in different areas.” Before she started her consulting firm, Soukup met with other consultants who worked in the industry and asked for their perspective. What did they find especially challenging? “One of the things they all told me was keeping projects in the pipeline. There are dry periods, and consultants that have been in this business 10-plus years have weathered that well.” Soukup launched with a multi-year contract from the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council in Tallahassee, which gave her the financial security she needed while she grew her business locally. Luckily, that didn’t take long. “I had collaborated with a lot of other nonprofits as a nonprofit CEO, so it was natural to continue working with people that I already knew and respected and had a good working relationship with.” By 2014, she was ready to move out of her home office and hire her first employees, an assistant and a consultant. From there, her business continued to grow to what it is today. “We love nonprofits here,” Soukup says. “We get great satisfaction from helping them be the best they can be.” FEBRUARY 2020 _

S P O T L I G H T By Denise Scott

What drew you to working for Champions For Learning? I realized I could be a teacher in the classroom, but in a not-for-profit organization I could work alongside community leaders. The impact I could have was broader. I could build some of those programs. How has the mission evolved over the past 30 years? High-quality teachers can impact a student’s life. That’s our core belief. The more we worked with teachers, they encouraged us to directly serve students and families. Our role became very clear that we could make a change in the student’s life through support of the community. We started mentoring students, providing college and career programs. Two hundred juniors and seniors each week come to work on essays, college applications, work on SAT scores, get financial aid forms filled out. We help them not just lay out a career pathway but also a financial pathway.

Susan McManus

of Naples, a former fourth-grade teacher, has been involved with Champions For Learning, The Education Foundation of Collier County, since it was founded by community and business leaders 30 years ago. She spent the first three years on the board of directors, followed by 27 years as executive director and president, pursuing the nonprofit’s goal of creating life-changing learning experiences for Collier County students.

How important are partnerships with community leaders? What made this organization unique is the commitment from local business organizations. They understand that in order to have great employees, you need great schools and great teachers. I’ve learned from the business leaders in the community and always appreciated that wealth of talent. We became the backbone of a collective impact model, Future Ready Collier, helping

_ FEBRUARY 2020

over 60 organizations all work together. Helping to engage the community became our single most important role. What are your goals for the future? We know we’ve been successful in sustaining and growing our education fund. The next 30 years, we want to build an endowment so that it’s here forever. How do you garner support from residents of Collier County? We have a vision of a community that is 100 percent engaged. Not that everyone will volunteer, but that everyone in Collier County will understand that we have wonderful schools here and value education when they look at their tax bill. What type of students participate in Champions For Learning? The students who come to our programs are competitive, respect their mentors and take advantage of the help opening every possible door they can for their future. I’m hiring on staff some of our [former] students. That’s really fun. They’re paying it forward. It restores your faith in the future. Are you having special events to celebration the 30th anniversary? We decided this year to recognize past board chairs at our key anniversary event, Night of Champions on Feb. 7. (For tickets, call (239) 643-4755 or visit www. ChampionsForLearning.org/ night-of-champions.) gulfshorebusiness.com

ERIK KELLAR (3)

B U Z Z ___

B U Z Z ___ M Y

F I R S T

J O B

___ M ila Bridger The Southwest Florida-based fine artist learned how to perfect prints in her home country of Poland.

“

was still in high school when I worked at our family

That job definitely taught me little things, though, like having

business in Poland, Orlowski Printing Co. My fam-

to show up on time, doing the best you can, and quality over

ily had started out very small, with just a little Xe-

quantity. But, I was really waiting for the weekend to just get

rox machine and built it up to a printing company.

out and take some photos. I had a little film camera and I would

Every summer, I would be recruited to work

travel with it. All of my money was going toward extra film.

there, so all my vacations in high school were

[My family was kind of concerned that I was like (photography])

spent at the printing company in the front office doing tiny

too much and were afraid I might want to pursue it as a career,

jobs. My uncle, who ran the company, would walk in with his

which actually happened.]

clients who needed brochures, advertising leaflets or manuals.

There was a lot of paying-attention-to-details with prints [on

He would ask, ‘Can you bring us two coffees or two teas?’ and I

the job]. Colors would always have to match, and that kind of

would be petrified because I had no idea how to make coffee or

steered me into looking at my own prints very carefully and

tea, probably up until 10 years ago. (I’m so bad with cooking!)

choosing the right place to print them. Now, there are lots of

Back in Poland, we are very into having tea and coffee, and

places—let’s say those little drugstores—that will print your

I never knew how much to add. In my head I’m like, ‘I’m going

family photos, but they’ll have a red hue in it because nobody

to make such a strong tea and they’re going to have a caffeine

really cares. But, I remember [my family] was really anal about

overdose!’ I would always try to avoid doing it. I’d ask older

colors having to match, and the letters could not be shadowed,

people to make the coffee because I was so ashamed to ask

and the quality had to be good. That all put my eye into it too,

how to make it. I never had a complaint, but I saw a bunch of

and when I look at my work, it has to be the exact color and the

coffees and teas that were still in full glasses when the clients

print has to be perfect.”

left.

—As told to Melanie Pagan

FEBRUARY 2020 _

BUZZ T R E N D L I N E

Source: Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida. *Year ending 2017; under 65 years old.

___ H ealth

Care Access*

CHARLOTTE COUNTY Individuals with health insurance coverage: 83% Individuals without health insurance coverage: 17%

LEE COUNTY Individuals with health insurance coverage: 81.4% Individuals without health insurance coverage:18.6%

COLLIER COUNTY Individuals with health insurance coverage: 77.2% Individuals without health insurance coverage: 22.8%

I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y S I N E L A B

FEBRUARY 2020 _

B U Z Z ___

___ Pharmacists

t’s easy to judge another industry from the outside, with ideas formed by what we see on TV, hear on the news or experience through our friends. But not all stories and stereotypes are true. The best way to de-

bunk myths about an industry? Turning to those who know it best.

The Myth: Pharmacists just count pills. The Truth: “There is an old joke around pharmacists with the perception that all we do is count pills, lick the labels, stick them on, and pour the medicine,” T.J. DePaola, president and pharmacist in charge of Cypress Pharmacy in Fort Myers, says. “There’s a lot more to it than that.” Of top importance: Making sure a patient has the right medication at the right dose. If the prescription is listed or filled wrong, it can harm patients rather than help. “We’re essentially the last line of defense for them,” DePaola says. Pharmacists also look out for drug interactions based on what else the patient may be taking. “The patient can be on multiple medications, and you have to make sure the drug interactions are minimal so they don’t have an adverse reaction,” DePaola says, adding that, for example, an antibiotic can make birth control less effective. “You have to be on your toes, and there is no break in monitoring this.” That means if a pharmacist has 600 orders in a day, they’re cross-checking each one for possible drug interactions. “You could, in theory, be going through 2,500 medications on a daily basis,” DePaola says. While a pharmacist’s ultimate goal is patient care, different pharmacies offer different things. Cypress Pharmacy, for instance, takes more of a clinical approach to address the overall well-

_ FEBRUARY 2020

ness of a patient (it even has a natural health consultant on staff). As an independent pharmacy, Cypress Pharmacy can also customize medication. “When a drug company makes a medication, there are standardized dosing forms that are not always the appropriate dosage for the patient, so we can actually make a customized prescription for that patient,” DePaola says. Florida pharmacists who are specially certified can even offer a range of immunization shots. In the future, they may even be able directly treat patients who test positive onsite for flu and strep, thanks to a proposed bill (HB 389). “There is a lack of healthcare providers, so lawmakers are looking to expand the pharmacist’s role to take some of the pressure off practitioners,” DePaola says. That way, congested customers can get their flu tests and prescription all in one place, letting them skip the doctor’s office completely and spend more time recovering in bed. —Melanie Pagan

BRIAN TIETZ

T R U T H O F T H E T R A D E

gulfshorebusiness.com

B U Z Z ___ M A D E

I N

S W F L

By Melanie Pagan

___ N o Sweat Natalie Zellers creates a convenient way to keep dry during exercise.

aples resident Natalie Zellers had had enough: “As

Zellers strives to spread the word about The Gym Bib daily,

soon as I’m done with this workout, I’m going to

including selling the product at local events. In November 2019,

get on the computer and find a towel that stays

she participated in a Sip & Shop event at iBrows and Beauty in

around your neck,” she thought to herself.

Naples and did more than $300 in sales in less than two hours.

She was on her Peloton stationary bike, tired of wiping her sweat with her shirt or retrieving her towel when it fell off the handlebars. “You’d have to unclip your cleats [to pick it up], so it was a pain.” But she couldn’t find anything on the market to fix the problem. “So, I thought to myself, well, if this is something I want, maybe I should create it. And that was that.” That was in January 2019. In November of last year, Zellers officially launched her website for The Gym Bib, a lightweight, moisture-wicking towel that fastens around your neck to keep you dry during workouts.

“Almost everyone who came in bought [The Gym Bib] and thought it was such a good idea,” she says. Zellers is also fine-tuning her business plan and could potentially bring in outside investors, as she has big goals for the one-of-a-kind product. (Right now she’s self-funding it.) “My dream is to see The Gym Bib on Peloton instructors,” Zellers says. Eventually, she’d like to see it in mass retail stores. “I have big plans for this, and I’m going to keep at it.” The feedback Zellers has received tells her she’s on the right path. “I get messages from people who have bought [The Gym

Zellers had started a business before (a graphic design com-

Bib], and it makes me so happy to share the product with them.

pany she’s run with a friend since college), but it’s her first time

It’s so convenient, and I feel like once you have it, you can’t live

in the retail market. She’s enlisted some help along the way, like

without it.”

Prototype House in Miami, which created the technical draw-

Shop The Gym Bib at thegymbib.com.

ings she sent to a manufacturer to design the product. “I want to say I went through four to five rounds of samples before I got it exactly where I wanted it,” she says. Since the product didn’t exist before, Zellers needed to protect her idea. “I didn’t say anything to anyone other than my family until I had a patent application in,” she says. Zellers went with The Plus IP Firm in Miami to help her with legalities, like COURTESY THE GYM BIB

trademarking the towel’s name. When the product was ready to go public, Zellers had Naples advertising agency IMA Creative steer its social media accounts. “I had people reaching out to me before the website launched, so I thought as soon as the website went up, it was going to be sales like crazy.” But, “That’s not how it works, and I’m quickly finding out that I need to get out there more.” FEBRUARY 2020 _

WA TN

4 0 U N D E R 4 0 : T H E Y N O W ?

lass of 2014 honoree Kelly Lyon Davis advised then

named a 2014 40-under-40 winner, she had secured the post

that a good way to ensure success is to not get too

of partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment practice group.

comfortable and simply follow a routine. “Because

As busy as she was in the office, Davis maintained a de-

that’s how we have always done it” is no reason to

manding schedule outside of it. As chair of the firm’s Naples

do it that way this time. We can all do better; we can all be

Quarles Cares initiative, Davis organized charitable efforts

better.

with many organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, St.

True to form, Davis still follows her own guidance, now

She’s also the mother of three sons, who, in 2014, were

Quarles and Brady Law Firm. And, she instills that in her col-

under 5 years old. She toiled to impress them with her skills

leagues.

in building Lego towers and fashioning Rainbow Loom brace-

“I always want to learn better ideas,” she says. “I try to push people [to do the same].”

lets, necklaces and rings. (They’re now 8,10, and 11.) In November, Davis was promoted to her current position,

Undoubtedly, that has been her focus since she joined the

in which she oversees day-to-day management, implement

national firm 14 years ago, her first job as an attorney after

operating and strategic plans, manage budgets, and repre-

earning her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin

sent the office within the community. She will still maintain

College of Law. (She received her Bachelor of Arts from Penn-

her practice, however.

sylvania State University.) Davis practiced in all areas of labor and employment law, helping employers manage their workforces. When she was 20

Matthews House, Heart Walk, Adopt a Family and more.

as the recently named Naples Office managing partner at

She likens her new role to being the “chief people officer.” “I describe myself as a people person … making sure that people are happy,” she says.

_ FEBRUARY 2020

gulfshorebusiness.com

ERIK KELLAR (2)

BUZZ

W H E R E

A R E

W H E R E A R E T H E Y N O W

B U Z Z ___ S TA R T U P

S T O R Y

By Denise Scott

L azy Turtle

with three kids and also wearing the apparel myself, I was sick of buying these shirts that would only last a few wearings. For me it’s really about wearability, comfort and a soft fabric that makes you reach for the shirt again and again.” Surfing the Web: Once she had her logo and products, Elwell created an online retail site for the company and uses its social media accounts to help drive traffic to the e-commerce storefront. “We have a pretty healthy social media following,” says Elwell. (The company has more than 1,300 followers on Instagram and 1,100 on Facebook.) “We get about 30 to 40 orders a month online, but I would like to grow that.”

FOUNDERS: Megan Elwell YEAR FOUNDED: 2019 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 1 (herself)

What’s in Store: Lazy Turtle products are currently sold in eight retailers in Florida and the Caribbean. Elwell hopes to at least double the number of retailers she works with in the near future and plans to do that by attending trade shows and making sales calls

The Business: Megan Elwell, 39, founded Naples-based Lazy Turtle in March 2019. The company sells T-shirts, hoodies, rash guards, hats and other beach gear, all featuring its cute turtle logo. The Idea: When Elwell and her family moved to Naples from Chicago some three years ago, they needed Sunshine State apparel instead of Windy City garb. But they had a hard time finding rash guards and T-shirts they wanted to wear outdoors. So Elwell started making her own. She named the company Lazy Turtle because her three kids had developed a love for sea turtles after seeing all the nests in the area. The Location: Naples is an ideal place to start a company like this. “My whole family are water people,” says Elwell. “So that’s the brand I wanted to create, and there is inspiration everywhere.” Her Background: Elwell, who has an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University, worked in corporate finance for about eight years. She also did a stint in the consumer packaged-goods industry. She drew on this past experience and the marketing fundamentals she’d learned in business school when launching her new venture. Getting Started: Elwell worked with a graphic designer to create the turtle logo. “I wanted it to be a brand that embodies the Naples laid-back beach lifestyle,” she says. She found a company on the east coast of Florida called SunSafe to supply her shirts. “That was an important thing to me, the quality of the products,” she says. “As a mom FEBRUARY 2020 _

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by phone and email. She also takes part in local events and partners with likeminded nonprofits. Lazy Turtle donates 10% of its profits to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the world’s oldest sea turtle research and conservation group that’s based in Gainesville. The Money: Elwell has completely self-funded the new business. (She declined to provide specifics in terms of startup costs or revenues.) “I set a budget and I stick to it,” she says. “It’s still early, so right now I’m just trying to stay afloat as I grow.” Though committing to donate 10% of her profits to the Sea Turtle Conservancy can be challenging at times for the fledgling business, she feels it’s an important part of her company’s mission. “I really want to model for my kids and encourage other businesses that what’s most important is giving back and leaving the world a better place than when you found it,” she says. “I do think that consumers more and more are aware of these kinds of things and they are searching for retailers that have a mission beyond just selling a shirt. The average consumer wants to spend money on a good product, but they also want to feel like they are contributing to the greater good in some way.” The Staff: Elwell is the only full-time employee of the company and handles all aspects of the business herself, though she does work with freelancers at times. She hopes to be in a position to hire staff one day. “That would be delightful,” she says. “As I grow, I would need someone to help with fulfillment and sales. But I don’t have that luxury right now.” What’s Next: Elwell looks forward to her first full season in business here in Florida. “I would like to increase our local presence,” she says. “I would love for this to be a local Naples company that tourists to the area look for and locals feel good about.” 22

C H A R I TA B L E N O T E S

FUNDRAISING SWFL Children’s Charities Inc. has pledged $3 million to establish the SWFL Children’s Charities Eye Institute at Golisano Children’s Hospital. Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and Lee Physician Group currently provide ophthalmology services to children throughout Southwest Florida. For the last five years, they have had only one pediatric ophthalmologist operating in a 1,400-squarefoot clinic with three examination rooms. This has created an access issue with the wait time for first available appointment exceeding six months. During the 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, auction-goers can raise their paddles in support of this year’s Fund-A-Cause to support the establishment of the SWFL Children’s Charities Eye Institute. The 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest will take place Feb. 2122. Naples philanthropists Sandi and Tom Moran have committed $1.5 million in support of the new Gulfshore Playhouse Theatre and Education Center at the corner of Goodlette-Frank Road and First Avenue South. The Morans have been longtime supporters of excellence in the arts. Sandi Moran is a producer for such Broadway musicals as Hadestown, the 2019 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical; and Once on This Island, winner of the 2018 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical; as well as Anastasia and Moulin Rouge. The Next Stage Capital Campaign is rounding the corner on $25 mil-

lion toward the construction goal for the new theatre, creating a 40,000-square-foot cultural center that will extend the downtown Naples corridor further east, spurring economic growth in that quadrant. KOVA Foundation raised $111,625 through its inaugural Mercedes-Benz Dealer Championships golf tournament. Presented by Mercedes-Benz of Bonita Springs, the tournament was held Oct. 21 at Talis Park Golf Club in Naples. Proceeds from the event support KOVA Foundation, which is dedicated to providing resources to area nonprofits that support individuals and families in need, furthering initiatives related to health, including addiction recovery, Parkinson’s disease and breast cancer. As part of its continuing community outreach efforts, the Red Sox Foundation’s three fall fundraising efforts raised $88,335.98 for Southwest Florida scholarships. The eighth annual Swings for the Sox golf tournament raised $49,189; the Ultimate Red Sox raffle, which includes airfare, hotel, Green Monster seats, Grandstand seats, dinner in the State Street Pavilion Club and a VIP tour at Fenway, brought in $12,600; and the Foundation’s online auction through MLB.com raised $26,546. All proceeds will benefit the Lee County Red Sox Scholarship program. Each year, the Red Sox Foundation awards a $5,000 college scholarship to one deserving student from each of the 13 public high schools in Lee County.

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BUZZ

OUT & ABOUT

S TA R

G A Z I N G

STARability Foundation hosted a STAR Gala Diamond Drop VIP Patron Preview Party in December at Crown Jewelers of Naples. The STAR Gala will be held Feb. 29 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples.

1. Carrie, Brett and John Cooney 2. Gabriel Alves, Karen Govern 3. Phillip and Lisa Kahn-Allen 4. Laura, Tori and Lou Georgelos 5. Merrylee and Joe Kandel 6. Randy and Elizabeth Kurtz Photos: E. Sue Huff

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How Southwest Florida employers can apply innovative solutions to reduce health care costs in 2020.

BY DENISE SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN TIETZ

It should come as no surprise that health care insurance premiums are on the rise—again. Costs for businesses to cover employees are expected to increase by a median of 6 percent in 2020, according to the nonprofit Business Group on Health. And just like in years past, companies small, medium and large are trying to find a balance between shifting increasing insurance costs to workers and not overburdening them to the point that they seek better benefits elsewhere. “If we can offer competitive and above-market wages, and sweeten it with benefits, we are going to be able to attract good, hard-working, tech-capable people, and also retain them,” says Michael Clark, president of Fort Myers-based United Mechanical Inc. But finding affordable solutions can require a great deal of expertise, negotiation and innovation. The big question is how? Enter solutions such as self-insurance, virtual care and wellness programs that boost prevention and change the focus from sickness to wellness. “Seventy percent of the American population is overweight or obese,” says Jim Nathan, who served as CEO of Lee Health from 1981 until his retirement in 2017. “Gun violence, suicide, drug abuse—it all gets added into the cost

of health care. Our lifestyle issues here prove that American society is not the best way to live.” To learn more about preventive measures aimed at combatting such an unhealthy lifestyle, Gulfshore Business interviewed several local experts in the health care and insurance industries, as well as employers, who explain the reasons for the rising costs and how to help mitigate them. Why Is Health Care So Expensive? It’s estimated that the average annual health care cost for each large employer with 100 employees is nearly $1 million, according to Gray Davis, agency executive and senior vice president for McGriff Insurance Services in Fort Myers. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that employers pay on average 82 percent of the health care costs per employee for single coverage and 71 percent for family coverage each year. That equated to $6,896 for single and $19,616 for family coverage in 2018. The United States spends more

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on health care than any other country, with costs approaching 18 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Nathan says the American health care system has an ongoing problem of commercial insurance and major employers having to cover the costs for Medicaid and Medicare recipients, and for the underinsured and uninsured. Also, he says, 20 to 40 percent of American health care costs are for non-value-added overhead. Dr. Allen Weiss, former president and CEO of NCH Healthcare System in Naples, says health care insurance costs are a reflection of the high—and increasing—costs for labor, drugs and other supplies, as well as increasing utilization and fees. But there is a way to reduce costs. “Avoiding the approximate 25 percent of waste is a huge opportunity,” Weiss says, referring to the six domains of waste identified by the Institute of Medicine: failure of care delivery, failure of care coordination, overtreatment or low-value care, pricing failure, fraud and abuse, and administrative complexity.

costs onto employees is reaching its limit.” So, Wojcik says, over half of the large employers are trying to improve and maintain health by negotiating contracts with hospitals and physicians. “There’s a financial incentive not to do more but to produce better health outcomes,” he says. “Hospitals and physicians have an incentive to refer and care for people in the lowest-cost setting—a clinic, nurse practitioner or in the home with virtual care. They provide the same or better level of care in a less-expensive setting.”

Negotiation Is Key Each year, two to three health insurance companies court United Mechanical through Clark’s outside benefits coordinator. “[Blue Cross] came back with a package to entice us away from another group,” he says. “Every year during the renewal period, we go back and forth negotiating the deductible and final costs.” In determining rate increases, the insurance company analyzes the company’s claims history. Clark says United Mechanical can handle the 4 to 5 percent cost increases he negotiates each year. “That gets built into our cost estimates of how we price our work,” he says. “But if others are not providing benefits, are you pricing yourself out of work? The other way to look at it is we are able to attract the best people.” If yearly increases were to enter the double-digit range, United Mechanical — John Chomeau would have to research other options, including self-insurance. “If we cover 100 percent but the team member can’t cover their deductibles, it’s not that great of a benefit,” he says. Who Bears the Cost Burden? United Mechanical involves employees in a leadership Unlike United Mechanical, which provides 100 percent committee on health care. With so many different health health care coverage for employees, many large employers care options, Wojcik agrees that it’s important to get emare not able to fully cover it. And small businesses with 50 or ployee input. “To the extent you can, have your employees fewer employees don’t have to offer the benefit at all. as part of the process—what they want and what they’re willDavis says there has been a significant cost shift over the ing to make in terms of choice and tradeoff,” he says. “Maybe past five years, moving the burden from the employer to the they’re willing to restrict choice for lower premiums.” employee through higher deductibles, premiums and preWojcik says the smaller the business, the greater the anscription copays. And if an out-of-network doctor is needed, nual health care cost increases. “As a smaller employer, they the costs are even higher. have less bargaining leverage,” he says. “It’s like wholesale “They have an inability to budget [for that cost], so they’re rather than retail.” shopping employers for benefits as much as anything else,” Jeffrey M. Folkman, a tax and business attorney with Davis says, noting employers risk losing good employees. Hahn, Loeser & Parks LLP in Naples, says in addition to that Steve Wojcik, vice president of public policy for the Busiwholesale price, employers who provide health care for their ness Group on Health, agrees. “Wages have been stagnant employees get a lot of tax advantages. for quite a long time,” he says. “[40 percent of adults] have “[Health care] is deductible, and to the extent they’re usless than $400 in savings. The ability to shift the health care

“ The mission is keeping people out of the hospital [through the Blue Zones project].”

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PREVENTIVE CARE ADVOCATE: Allen Weiss is chief medical officer for The Blue Zones Project and former NCH CEO and president.

HEALTH CARE COSTS Large employers are predicting that for 2020, their health care costs will increase a median of 6% without any cost management adjustments. Taking negotiations and other initiatives (e.g., alternative delivery models) into account, employers are expecting a 5% increase. While this constancy in health care cost trend provides some level of predictability to employers, it is still a sizable increase in health care budgets, well above general inflation and representing millions each year for the average large employer. Actual plan costs for 2018 came in at the lowest in recent yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; 3.6% (Figure 8.1). Figure 8.1. Large Employersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Predicted and Actual Median Health Care Cost Increases, 2015-2020. Source: Business Group on Health. Before changes

After changes

Actual plan costs

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TELEHEALTHY: John Chomeau, chief population health officer for Lee Health.

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ing money they would otherwise be paying the employee in compensation, they’ll save on payroll taxes,” Folkman says. “Normally, the employer has to pay the employer’s share of Social Security tax, so they’ll avoid that.” The Reimbursement Option The most popular insurance plan—and most expensive—is the preferred provider organization, or PPO, which allows employees to go in or out of network for care. But what options exist for employers who can’t provide any type of group health plan? A Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is a program that reimburses part or all the premiums and outof-pocket costs of employees who purchase their own health insurance on the individual marketplace. But, says Wojcik, wholesale pricing isn’t available to individuals. “Even with small group coverage, you get a better deal,” he says. “But if you’re a very small employer and don’t have the resources, this is better than nothing to help your employees.” Benefits Attract Qualified Employees United Mechanical’s Clark says the 32-year-old air conditioning and electrical services company provides a variety of benefits to its approximately 200 employees, including medical and vision insurance. He says health care alone costs the company a “very upper six-figure number” for coverage beyond the basics. Why invest so heavily in health care? “Skilled tradespeople are very hard to come by,” Clark says.

to hire, but they can’t target individual employees to exclude from health care coverage. “With smaller employers, insurance companies typically won’t provide insurance coverage unless all the full-time employees, or a high percentage, are offered coverage. Once hired, you can’t say, ‘We’re not going to insure the older people.’ That would be discrimination,” he says. Wellness and Prevention Programs Wojcik says many employers are expanding the scope of health care to include smoking cessation, diet and exercise programs. “They’re even broadening it to include emotional health and financial well-being, community involvement, satisfaction on the job, stress management. A lot of these things affect your health,” he says. “They’re looking at the total well-being of the employee.” Many of those wellness programs are not quick-fix solutions. “But in the short-term, quitting smoking, managing diabetes, losing weight—these all have immediate health impacts,” Wojcik says. “And they lead to better productivity, fewer absences and a boost to morale.” United Mechanical is trying to have a positive impact on claims by encouraging healthy choices. The company teamed up with a local gym and pays a greater percentage of the membership fee for employees who use it more often. Unfortunately, Clark says, only 10 to 20 percent of employees take advantage of it. “Typically, blue-collar jobs have an increased incidence

“ Telehealth increases access. Most insurers are offering that, too.”

Health of the Workforce While it may seem like hiring younger employees is a simple solution to curb the rising health care costs, Wojcik disagrees. He advises not to hire only younger employees under the assumption that they are healthier. “There are laws against age discrimination in the workplace,” he says. “An employer should look at the characteristics of that workforce, hiring and retaining based on experience and expertise. The health care cost differential pales in comparison to having a workforce where experience is valued and necessary.” And, he notes, age is becoming less of a determination of how healthy an employee is, as inactivity and unhealthy diets are more common among the young. “The connection is weakening as the younger generation is not as healthy as younger generations of the past were,” Wojcik says. Folkman says employers are free to choose who they want

— John Chomeau

of smoking and obesity,” Davis says. “They have to get the youngest, healthiest employees on the plan to offset the cost of older employees’ chronic issues. If you don’t have an effective wellness program in place, the costs could be higher. But larger employers are pushing back and saying the return on investment isn’t there.” John Chomeau is chief population health officer for Lee Health. He previously served as president and CEO of Magellan Health’s Commercial Behavioral Health Division and as president of Aetna’s Medicare Health Care Division. He

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agrees that wellness program engagement rates have not been large enough to produce the desired results. Of those employees who do participate, he says, most already have a healthier lifestyle. Nathan says the problem is that insurance pricing is done on an annual basis while wellness programs are a long-term investment. “If there were a culture of healthier lifestyles, it could have a positive impact,” he says. “The fun part of health care is being able to improve health care coordination of the highest-risk patients.” Davis says 80 percent of the costs come from 20 percent of the population. However, the challenge as an employer is that you can’t know which of your employees have chronic conditions because of privacy laws. Instead, you

must arrange with your insurance provider to provide chronic care management. Weiss, who practiced rheumatology, internal medicine and geriatrics for 23 years in Naples, is now chief medical officer for The Blue Zones Project by Sharecare. It is helping communities duplicate the healthy lifestyle choices being made in areas that have a higher percentage of people living to 100. He says the problem with traditional health care is that the medical industry gets paid for sickness. “As the payment system is changing from volume to value, the focus will change to prevention and keeping people well,” Weiss says. “The public will benefit from this. [Insurance companies] have to start helping people, particularly small em-

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FINDING AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS: (left) Gray Davis, agency executive and senior vice president for McGriff Insurance Services; (right) Michael Clark, president of United Mechanical Inc.

ployers, who don’t have the time, energy or expertise to do a prevention program for folks.” Under his leadership, NCH began giving health insurance discounts to employees who embraced preventive screenings. It also became the first Blue Zonecertified health care system in the nation. Weiss says several Collier County government entities heard about NCH’s success and began copying the formula to decrease their own health care costs. “The mission is keeping people out of the hospital,” Weiss says, noting changes he made included removing sugary beverages from the hospital cafeteria and refusing to hire smokers, who are not a protected class. “Rather than be a repair shop, move upstream and keep people from getting diabetes, heart disease. It’s much more satisfying.”

Telehealth and Virtual Care More health care plans are offering telehealth, aka telemedicine, consultations via online chat as well as other digital virtual care services. Davis says telehealth is not a full replacement for traditional health care, but its accessibility provides an opportunity to reach more patients and to interact with complex cases more frequently. And, he says, many new doctors have chosen telemedicine as a career. Wojcik says these virtual opportunities meet the needs of today’s health care consumer. “It’s access on demand,” he says. “In areas of mental health, there is a provider shortage. Telehealth increases access. Most insurers are offering that, too.” Wojcik says smartphone apps can even transmit vital signs and other medical data. He encourages small emFEBRUARY 2020 _

WELLNESS FOCUSED: Jim Nathan, retired CEO of Lee Health.

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ployers to ask their insurance providers what options are available, as well as to request demonstrations so their employees can become comfortable using the new technology. He says larger employers often provide telehealth kiosks in a convenient, private location in the workplace. “Just schedule your appointment, go in the booth and have a session at work,” Wojcik says. “There’s a lot of exciting potential for things to come on the virtual front.” Chomeau says another benefit of telemedicine is the peerto-peer interaction of physicians working as a team. “Consults occur across the world with experts,” he says. Self-Insurance Davis says one way to save 18 percent or more on premiums is for employers to go self-insured. An insurance broker can assist in setting up the program, in which employer funds are put in a dedicated fund to pay claims. However, he says, self-insurance is only an option for businesses whose employees are healthy. “If it’s an unhealthy population, self-insurance is not going to work,” Davis says. Wojcik says a benefit of self-funding is less-frequent rate

increases. “A smaller employer every year has to redo its rates and everything,” he says. “For self-insured plans it’s every three years, and a third-party administrator does the back-office work of the insurance plan. But the employer is on the hook for paying the claims.” Folkman says a self-insured employer can only deduct the health care cost when it’s been paid out through the plan. He says for employers with 250 or fewer employees, there is a tax credit. Wojcik says if a self-insurance health care fund is underestimated, the employer subsidizes the additional expense, and the employee contribution may have to be increased. “When you get to around 100 employees, you should seriously look into whether self-funding makes more sense,” Wojcik says. “You probably have enough cushion to handle excess cost for a year.” To self-fund, Wojcik recommends speaking to a financial adviser and an insurance/benefits consultant. “As health care expenses keep going up,” he says, “the more information you have and the more shopping you do, the better off you are.”

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor statistics reports that as of June 2019, employer costs for total employee compensation averaged $36.61 per hour worked. Wages and salaries averaged $25.12 per hour worked. The additional $11.48 came from average benefit costs—including health insurance, disability insurance, paid leave, supplemental pay, retirement and savings, and other legally required benefits. Health insurance averaged $3.04 of total benefit costs. Employer cost per employee hour worked, June 2019

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Top-of-the-line interiors bring new levels of customizable luxury to prestige jets.

____ B Y A R T I S H E N D E R S O N PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY EMBRAER

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n a three-story hangar at the Naples Jet Center, a brand-new Praetor has just arrived from the Embraer plant in Brazil. The private jet gleams in the clear morning light, not a speck of dust on its shiny black exterior. The tail rises dramatically overhead, and its wings stretch to 66 feet. Behind the cockpit, a stairway folds down and offers a black-carpeted walkway into the jet. Inside, the spotless interior shines in a blend of blacks and creams. It smells like a new car, but vastly more expensive. If the Praetor’s exterior is a monument to luxury then its interior—every bit of it custom, down to the champagne-gold seatbelt buckles—is an entire religion. Buying a private jet signals many things about a person, and the interior of that jet carries a lot of significance. Many of today’s jets come out of production already tailored to a customer’s specifications, and the higher one goes up the line of luxury jets, the more customized the interior becomes. For companies like Embraer with its prestige aviation line that includes the Praetor (which starts at $21 million but is typically equipped with options that put it over $22 million), onstaff designers ensure that a jet’s owners are satisfied with the most exacting details. “We have a lot of private jets in the industry today that look like RVs with wings,” says Jay Beaver, vice president of design operations at Embraer’s headquarters in Melbourne, Florida. “You get inside the plane and there’s a wood veneer-covered hutch with hardwood nosing around the corners.”

The Praetor is anything but an RV with wings. This particular version at the Naples Jet Center offers eight seats that fold down into four full-sized beds. Each seat is upholstered in a soft, luxurious cream leather. A pair of black cashmere throws drape over two of the seats, and several gold throw pillows accent the interior. For many of Embraer’s customers, says Beaver, an important wow moment comes when they realize that the mindset they’ll need to bring to the jet’s interior is the same thought process used to decorate a home or a yacht. “This is furniture,” Beaver says. “Not a seat in an airplane. This is purposefully built environmental design, set up as an office or social space more than transportation. The beauty comes in the details.” And those details on the Praetor are stunning. All of the plane’s brightwork is identically matched in a pale, brushed, champagne gold. That includes seatbelt buckles, cupholders, LCD controls, air vent knobs, seat control hardware—essentially every button, lever and switch—as well as the visible structural elements, such as the metal holding the bulkhead in place at the front and back of the cabin. In the galley, the cabinets are constructed from a piano black veneer, and the countertop is a gold-flecked black granite veneer, one-sixteenth of an inch thick, bonded to a honeycomb material made out of Kevlar that is both light and flame retardant. In fact, flame retardation is an essential component to any jet interior decision. Weight is also key. “The weight of new cabinetry, the latest generation seats, inflight entertainment—that all adds up,” says Rob Mark, a pilot and publisher of jetwhine.com. “The heavier the weight of the aircraft, the less fuel you can carry. Or you have to take a smaller passenger load.” Though pilots are rarely consulted on a jet’s interior design—“That’s above our pay grade,” Mark says— weight is never far from their minds. Luckily, companies that design custom jet interiors are also worried about tonnage. “I don’t know of too many companies that would put in an interior that was extremely heavy and then say, ‘Good luck!’” Mark says. “They would know they would be limiting the range of the aircraft.” For planes that are a little older and need updating, the Naples Jet Center does custom refurbishing of everything from soft goods like seats, headliners, side-

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FLYING IN STYLE: The Praetor jet’s interior is designed with the same meticulous care that would go into decorating a house. High-end furniture covered with rich upholstery and handsome accents are arranged in the passenger area. Pilots fly with hightech instruments.

walls, carpeting and paneling to hard goods like cabinetry doors, lavatories, galleys, woodwork and glass. The Jet Center is careful to weigh planes before and after interior work. “You don’t realize how heavy some things are going to be,” explains Jim Goodwin, head of maintenance at the Naples Jet Center. Goodwin’s team has updated a number of aircraft over the years, but he rarely sees wild requests. “Most people just want a nice aesthetic.” Embraer’s Beaver echoes this sentiment. “Some people would expect that our customers have to have real cheetah skin on the whole interior, but that’s not it,” he says. “Most customers are pretty tame. They like timeless.” Still, Embraer is constantly sourcing new technology to add a heightened experience to its jet interiors. The latest project in the works: transparent metal. Accord-

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ing to Beaver, the U.S. government is working on creating ballistic vehicles using see-through aluminum, and the jet industry is already finding creative ways to bring that technology to its aircrafts. “We’re asking, ‘How big of a window can we make?’” Beaver says. “A window the size of an emergency exit in the past would have been a big no-no because of cabin pressurization issues, but we engineered large windows for Coast Guard observation purposes, and we’ve incorporated that into the Lineage, our biggest aircraft.” In the Embraer Kyoto Airship, a Japanese-themed concept design that comes in around $80 million and currently has a two-year wait, the body of the aircraft is outfitted with large vertical windows and skylights, allowing natural sunlight into the plane and creating a dramatically different flying experience. In the Kyoto Airship, the interior is outfitted with shoji screens and a low sushi table, a profile that takes advantage of the floor-to-ceiling windows. “This goes beyond trim and leather and interior aes-

thetics,” Beaver says. “It goes into the structure of the aircraft being modified to suit an individual’s lifestyle.” Of course, not every jet that comes out of production is already tailored to a customer’s needs. Some clients opt to order their private jets “green,” meaning the interiors come empty. From there, they hire an outside design firm to trick out the jet’s interior. That’s when things really get luxe. Los Angeles-based firm SottoStudios, an experiential design and brand agency, launched its $83 million Skyacht One conceptual design in 2016. Skyacht One marries the Embraer Lineage 1000E aircraft with an interior design inspired by one of the world’s most breathtaking yachts—the 1939 mahogany-hull Thunderbird. The jet is outfitted with gleaming wood veneer panels, white leather soft details and brass fittings. In separate sleeping quarters meant to resemble a ship’s berth, there’s a full bed, nightstand and built-in bookshelves complete with leather-bound volumes. Chuck Farney, sales director at the Naples Jet Center,

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feels that a jet’s interior is a reflection of quality and status—both of the airplane and its owner. “A lot of times people don’t see the inner workings of a highly sophisticated jet aircraft, it’s powerful engines or state-of-the art avionics systems,” Farney says, “but what they do see is the jet’s interior. Like when you look at the Mona Lisa, when you look at a beautiful and luxurious interior, you get a certain feeling of quality, value and expertise. It’s a reflection of its owner, how it is maintained and the value added within the investment.” He compares a private jet’s interior and design to other upscale purchases like an expensive home, a luxury car or a stay at a five-star resort. “Without a beautiful, sophisticated and high-quality design, what do they have?” From floor-to-ceiling windows, to design inspirations pulled from outside of aviation, to exquisite levels of personalization that reach all the way down to the seat buckles, private jets have achieved new heights of customizable luxury.

MAHOGANY RUSH: The Skyyacht One aircraft boasts gleaming wood veneer panels, white leather soft details and brass fittings, a separate sleeping quarters and even skylights.

How a ‘medical office of the future’ promises to speed up a visit to the doctor.

By Phil Borchmann

BRIAN TIETZ

reezing in and out of a doctor’s appointment is a welcome treat, right up there with hitting a long stretch of green lights on the drive to work. Of course, speed is not often associated with a medical practice, where the number of steps required to complete the visit add up. That includes paperwork, the wait to be called in and a lot of shuffling in the exam room. Dr. David McAtee, Millennium Physician Group’s chief medical information officer, knew there had to be a better way. So, he and his colleague, Millennium Chief Innovation Officer Jeffrey Nelson, spent two years developing a tech-driven system that has streamlined the process at the doctor’s office. “My goal is to perfect the workflow,” says McAtee, a family practitioner in Port Charlotte. “In the world of medicine, time is of the essence.” Hence, the “Medical Office of the Future,” as it has been dubbed, where the solutions range from the practical to the gee whiz. For example, patients can check in for their appointment through a mobile device prior to the office visit. Payments and insurance updates can also be made ahead of time. There’s also a kiosk in the office that allows patients to bypass the front desk. One of the more interesting features at McAtee’s office is an exam table that automatically weighs patients and takes their vital signs, which are sent directly to the doctor’s device. The equipment eliminates a routine that goes like this: a patient sits in a chair where the nurse conducts an interview; the patient goes on the exam table for a check of the vitals. The patient then sits back in the chair. The seating sequence is then repeated by the doctor.

(left) Millennium’s Dr. David McAtee

Plus, the new exam table, which adjusts positions, is fun. “The patients love it. They kind of giggle the first time,” McAtee says. The whole idea behind all of these efforts is to “gain back time by removing redundancies and increasing efficiencies,” he says. That adds up to enhancing the patient experience and healthier outcome by allowing for longer visits with the staff and shorter waits to get in. Because of that, McAtee’s office has yet to install a TV in the waiting room. “No one’s complained,” he says. McAtee hopes the prototype will be adopted by other Millennium practices across Southwest Florida. The company employs more than 500 healthcare providers among its nearly 3,000 treating patients in an area from Marco Island to Jacksonville. To see what the futuristic office features look like, please view the following photo essay, with descriptions submitted by Millennium.

and Jeffrey Nelson developed the “future office” system, which they say is a firstof-its kind design.

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T H E W A I T I S O V E R

A visit to the “Office of the Future” starts well before the patients ever get to the doctor’s office:

1. Millennium’s Patient App: Patients can schedule appointments online through Millennium’s app. The goal is to have this feature available to all the patients—even new ones making their first appointment—with all of Millennium’s 500 healthcare providers.

Once at the Office of the Future: 3. Check-In Kiosk: If they’ve pre-registered, patients only need to type in their name and date of birth at the Check-In Kiosk upon arriving to the office, bypassing the “front desk.”

2. Millennium Advance Check-In: Several days before their appointment, patients receive a text or an email to pre-register. They input important information such demographics, medical history, health concerns and insurance and billing details into the system when it’s convenient for them before arriving at the doctor’s office. All patient registration is done electronically. And the office is paperless. The automation pays off on time saved in subsequent visits.

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Once in the Exam Room:

4. Patients’ time in the waiting room is shortened because the clerical work has already been taken care of. The system tells the staff the patient has arrived, and he or she is called into the exam room by the nurse. If patients have not pre-registered, handheld tablets are available to do so.

5. Automated Exam Table: No stop at the scale. The exam tables weigh patients and send that reading electronically to the patient’s chart. Blood pressure and other vital signs are also sent, eliminating transcription errors and saving time. The exam table is also programmed to raise the patient to the appropriate height and into the most common position for examination, again saving time—about 3 minutes per patient visit.

6. Electronic Wall Boards: These interactive digital displays teach patients about conditions and demonstrate treatments better than a plastic model or doctor’s drawing. Every part of the anatomy is available for viewing, along with patient X-rays, test results, information on medicines and even treatments pertinent to their conditions. All can be projected onto these boards to help patients better understand and get them invested their health.

PHOTOS BY: CURT TREMPER

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A special section recognizing the female business owners at the heart of downtown Naples.

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Many of Fifth Avenue’s major players are women who have transformed the street into a dynamic community—and some of them are just getting started. B Y T E S S R A I N E S

THE WIDE VARIETY of businesses and industries along Fifth Avenue make it an alluring destination for both locals and tourists, who always seem to find something that caters to their interests. Many of the business owners and entrepreneurs are women who’ve developed an affection for this coastal city and an itch to make the experience here even richer. The fusion of their brands—culinary, arts, service and hospitality—has transformed the avenue into a place where anyone could walk away with not just a few bags of high-end goodies, but with the indelible memory of having had a wonderful time.

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DEANNA WALLIN

Take, for instance, Deanna Wallin, the founder and CEO of Naples Soap Company. After finding herself unhappy with her job in 2009, a friend recommended that Wallin consider a new career in retail. While brainstorming concepts for a business, another friend pointed out the wide array of body soaps and skincare products stacked in Wallin’s bathroom. “I’ve always been a skincare junkie from the time I was very young; I’ve always had dry skin,” she explains. Her friend suggested that she simply sell what she knew, and in Wallin’s mind, “It just made sense,” she says. Naples Soap Company started up in a 300-square-foot space in Tin City and drew a large crowd almost immediately. “I had people driving from Boca, from all over the state,” Wallin recalls. Naples Soap outgrew its quarters within months, and eight years later, after the flagship store took a hit from Hurricane Irma, the company needed to expand. Wallin acted fast—she secured a space on Fifth Avenue, signed the lease within 72 hours and opened the second Naples location eight weeks after the hurricane swept through. The retail giant, Dillard’s, now carries the line. Naples doesn’t stand alone as a spot that’s hospitable to female entrepreneurs. The rate of women-owned businesses around the country has steadily increased over the last decade. In 2018, women-owned companies made up 40 percent of all businesses in the United States, according to the American Express 2018 State of Women-Owned Businesses report. The trend is reflected in this year’s statistics for Fifth Avenue, provided by The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce: out of 237 total businesses on Fifth Avenue, 24 of them—about 10 percent—are women owned. Downtown Fort Myers is similar in what it offers—arts, dining and entertainment—but out of the 600 businesses reported in that zip code, only 18 are women-owned.   Each business venture represents a gamble for success—even if you’re deciding to downsize. Like Wallin, Dr. Svetlana Kogan reached a point where she questioned how content she was in her career. In her New York internal medicine practice, she felt a disconnect from the city and SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

its constant fight-or-flight energy.  She was hooked on the tranquility of Naples after a couple visits and moved her practice into a suite on Fifth Avenue in 2018.  Naples’ smaller population enabled Kogan to establish a concierge practice, which isn’t easy in a metropolis like New York. “I wanted to keep it very small and cap it at about 250 patients,” she explains. “I want to invest myself into every SVETLANA KOGAN case. It should be how it used to be where the doctor was a family friend.” Kogan credits her time in New York for shaping her character and developing a great appreciation for her new hometown. “Naples is a thriving community, very cosmopolitan and diverse,” she says. “The people, business owners and residents are always out, strolling. The weather is great—being out there, not cooped up in the office but being able to go outside and connect with people.” Fifth Avenue’s lively atmosphere makes it receptive to new businesses. While the close proximity of storefronts makes it easy to know your neighbor—and even those farther down the road—there’s an undeniable sense of community that seems to ward off competition with each other. Just ask Cathy Christopher, the director of sales and marketing at Inn on Fifth. Her friendliness might be the product of her years in the hospitality business, but it’s also the sign of someone invigorated by her career. “I do feel very much at home here,” Christopher says. “It’s very much a part of me. It’s like walking into a comfortable place.” Christopher helped open the inn 22 years ago, and over time has become well-acquainted with the other players along Fifth Avenue. “The one thing that has been constant is that Fifth Avenue then and now is the main street of Naples,” she says.

CATHY CHRISTOPHER

“Fifth Avenue has thrived because of the character and personality of the street and the town. Naples has maintained that aura of being a magical place to be without being glitzy or pretentious.” She cites the special events that take place on the avenue throughout the year, like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Christmas Fest that features a visit from Santa himself, as a major component beSHERYL SASHIN hind the avenue’s liveliness. Mayor Bill Barnett notes that the women’s influence has been all positive and credits their determination. “They’re all special individuals that have worked their way into entrepreneurship, that have worked their way up the ladder,” he says. “They are where they are today because of hard work. They all add to the ambience and charm, plus the business acumen.” Beth Ressler is the owner of Wind in the Willows, the dandelion-yellow store at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 8th Street South. She was a department store buyer before eventually owning her own clothing store in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ressler opened up Beth’s Boutique on Third Street after moving to Naples, and in 2001, bought the popular gift shop Wind in the Willows. She merged the best lines of both stores before moving onto Fifth Avenue. The store, which sells a funky mix of products like bib-overalls and handmade ponchos, stays current because Ressler isn’t afraid to let the business evolve. She frequents gift shows throughout the year and consults with her staff to find out what’s trending with customers. The vibe of the store translates well with the lighthearted atmosphere that visitors come to soak up on Fifth. And for those wanting a dash of sophistication, there’s Arabesque. The combination fine stationery and gift shop pays

BETH RESSLER

KRISTEN COURY

tribute to a time when personal touches like handwritten cards and letters were a pillar of relationships. Owner Sheryl Sashin opened Arabesque to preserve this tradition, and after years of communication via Facebook, “the tide is turning,” she’s happy to note, and people are returning to more formal notes. “I think people understand the value of having something tangible,” says Sashin. She explains that she’s seen a surprising surge in young clientele, specifically young men. “They are really getting back into fountain pens and to caring about what kind of paper they’re writing on.”  It seems Sashin had exceptionally keen foresight when she established her business on Fifth 20 years ago. She notes that the avenue was quieter then, but still had an upscale flair where “everyone felt very comfortable wearing their diamonds day and night.” Fifth Avenue doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Folks can look forward to wearing their diamonds— or anything else they choose—to a show at the new Gulfshore Playhouse, across the street from Tin City. Just 17 years ago, the theater wasn’t even a blip on the radar of founder and Executive Director Kristen Coury. After arriving from New York in 2003, Coury fell in love with Naples and applied for a 501c3. Performances in the Norris Center followed, as did tight community partnerships. Now, Naples boasts a New York-caliber professional theater. Reflecting on her endeavors  and entrepreneurship, Coury admits that success was earned through perseverance. “You have to be willing to keep rowing the boat amongst the really wild and choppy waves of the business,” she says. “We’ve suffered extraordinary downturns in the market. We’ve taken our licks and kept on prodding through it.”  She pauses a moment before summing up what seems to be any entrepreneur’s key to success, a trait that each of these women have clearly aced over the years: “Ultimately, you grow alongside the business and continue to watch what the company itself needs you to be.”  FEBRUARY 2020 _

S H I N I N G A S P O T L I G H T O N F I F T H AV E N U E Highlighting the contributions of some of Naples’ key players is no easy feat, but Bruce Barone is up to the task. As the executive director of Fifth Avenue South’s Business Improvement District, Bruce Barone juggles a host of responsibilities: he plans—and often executes—the events that take place on the avenue, oversees the landscaping and enrichment projects and directs media and public relations opportunities. In that same breath, Barone, 38, has already found a new outBRUCE BARONE let to commemorate the glamour of downtown Naples and celebrate the ingenuity of the people who work there. He recently partnered with Gulfshore Business magazine to showcase some of the women entrepreneurs who have shaped Fifth Avenue. “I’ve been working on how to build awareness about Fifth Avenue and the merchants here and this was in the same vein as the Faces of Fifth project,” he says. “We have a really successful street and some really tenured businesswomen that are pretty much templates for success.” Fifth Avenue is the vibrant heart of downtown Naples. It offers a generous sampling of some of the best fashion, cuisine and art in the area. The area’s success has much to do with the

SHERYL SASHIN

Creator & Designer, Arabesque of Naples

his past summer when I broke my leg, I received a handwritten note from one of my busiest, most prestigious customers wishing me a speedy recovery. This lovely note helped me reflect on the reason I opened Arabesque of Naples. Emails disappear. Notes can be treasured, read and reread. I filled Arabesque with all of the things that I love— writing instruments, stationery, wrappings, journals, greeting cards, invitations and tabletop. Arabesque afforded me a venue in which I could design invitation suites that set the tone for my clients’ special events. I chose to open my shop on Fifth Avenue South as I felt that I needed a Fifth Avenue address to give my business the prestige to attract vendors like Montblanc and Crane. We remain on Fifth Avenue because it is the heartbeat of Naples—a town that is not only incredibly beautiful, but one that is filled with kind, relaxed and philanthropic people. Arabesque of Naples is so very proud of our 20 years on Fifth and our Five Star rating! Arabesque of Naples | 350 Fifth Avenue South Naples, FL 34102 | (239) 403-0043 ArabesqueOfNaples.com

overarching support each entrepreneur has for one another. They’ve all shaped downtown by generously sharing their own unique service, but in merging their strengths have created a formidable community that draws thousands of visitors every year. Take Veljko Pavicevic, for example. The general manager of the well-regarded Sails Restaurant on Fifth partnered with Barone to provide the space for the women entrepreneurs’ photoshoot—and a coastal European brunch on the house—to boot. Barone acknowledges that the variety of businesses on the avenue enhance the dynamic, and however the community responds, the businesswomen listen. “They’ve seen the flow of the avenue; they’re masters of their crafts,” he says. Because of this, Barone wants to get the word out. Every new task he takes on is in an effort to enhance recognition of the powerful players on Fifth. He wants to get visitors excited, and, more than anything, wants to get the locals on board with savoring Fifth Avenue, a destination they have access to throughout the year. The fabric of Naples is a rich one because of the contributions of devoted businessowners like those on Fifth Avenue. “I think we’re creating a culture on Fifth,” says Barone. “It’s about sophisticated luxury, a place where you can bring your family. It’s a well-articulated masterpiece.”

NANCY MACDONALD Managing Broker, Naples Coldwell Banker

have been in real estate for almost 30 years in Southern California, Connecticut and now as Managing Broker of the Naples Coldwell Banker office on Fifth Avenue South. Over time the Avenue’s activity dramatically expanded as has our office. I am a board member of the FASBID whose mission is to promote Fifth Avenue South through marketing, avenue enhancements, and events. As a Realtor, I too have the pleasure of “selling” our beautiful area and lifestyle to visitors from all over the world. Our professional sales staff is knowledgeable in the area and well educated in all aspects of buying and selling real estate in Florida.

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 550 Fifth Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102 (239) 262-7131 | coldwellbankerhomes.com

EMILY JAMES Emily James Gallery

he Emily James Gallery recently cele– brated its fifth anniversary and was a lifelong dream of the artist. The gallery has become a treasured Fifth Avenue South landmark and continues to be voted Best Gallery in local magazine and newspaper polls. The gallery, with its amazing variety of subjects, styles and colors, has become a popular destination as Emily sits at her easel creating and personally customizing pieces for her clients. She has achieved her desire for opening her very own gallery to meet and interact with art lovers. Emily James Gallery in the courtyard at 720 Fifth Avenue, Suite 111 Naples FL 34102 | (239) 777-3283 EmilyJamesArt.com

“

MARYLOU CHRONISTER Owner, Gallery One

“E

veryone knows that Fifth Avenue is the heartbeat of Naples and being a part of Fifth Avenue comes with a tremendous sense of pride for me and the Gallery One Team. Our goal for our clients is to connect life, personality and interest to daily living and work spaces thru art.” Gallery One owner MaryLou Chronister, originally from Indiana, has owned and operated Gallery One for 15 years. Gallery One is a colorful contemporary art gallery that specializes in glass art, paintings, sculpture and artesian jewelry. MaryLou lives in Naples with her husband Tom, they enjoy spending time with friends, boating, walking the beach, and exploring all that Naples has to offer. Gallery One | 770 Fifth Avenue South Naples, Florida 34102 | 239-263-0835 www.galleryonenaples.com

KRISTEN COURY Gulfshore Playhouse Founder and Producing Artistic Director

ollowing a career working for Broadway producers, Kristen Coury moved to Naples inspired by the possibilities to fill a gap in the local arts scene by creating a professional, self-producing, regional theatre. Coury established Gulfshore Playhouse in 2004, and has served as Founder and Producing Artistic Director committed to enriching the cultural landscape of our region by bringing Broadway-quality theatre to Naples showcasing a dynamic slate of the nation’s top actors, designers, and directors from New York City and around the country. Today, Gulfshore Playhouse serves annually over 40,000 patrons through live theatre and 14,000 students through its diverse theatre education programs—and soon will create a stunning new cultural landmark that will be the home of the new Gulfshore Playhouse Theatre and Education Center. Performances at The Norris Center 755 8th Ave. S. | Naples, FL 34102 (239) 261-PLAY (7529) | GulfshorePlayhouse.org

DEANNA WALLIN

Naples Soap Company Founder and CEO

aples Soap Company Founder and CEO, Deanna Wallin, has turned her passion for naturally better skin care into a thriving multi-million business in just 10 short years. After personally struggling with eczema and psoriasis, Wallin set out to find a solution that was not only effective, but healthy, too. Today, the Company sells over 450 products made with natural and organic ingredients from 13 retail stores in Florida, over 100 wholesale partners across the nation and a robust ecommerce site. Wallin draws inspiration from the health and wellness-focused lifestyle we all enjoy in Southwest Florida. You’re invited to visit one of her two stores on Fifth Avenue or others throughout the region. Tin City of Naples | Fifth Avenue South of Naples Coconut Point | Historic Downtown Fort Myers Sanibel Island | Fishermen’s Village Punta Gorda (239) 302-6909 | naplessoap.com

LISA BAYARD The Face of Salons by JC

alons by JC Managing Partner, Lisa Bayard, opened Salons by JC on Fifth Avenue South in 2015. Lisa’s mission was to provide beauty and wellness professionals the opportunity to run their own businesses at a fraction of the cost of a large retail space, in an upscale facility with luxury amenities, a great location and ample parking. Salons by JC has 39 salon suites which are leased by individually owned hair salons, med spas, nail salons, esthetics and massage practices. Salons by JC is a one stop shop for all your beauty needs whether you are looking for specialty skincare, full service haircare, brows, microblading and so much more. Salons by JC even has a full time concierge who will connect you with one of Naples top rated beauty professionals running their own salon suite. Salons by JC | 800 Fifth Avenue South Naples, FL 34102 | (239) 908-6900 salonsbyjc.com

MEMORIES

IN THE

MAKING

naples’ historic main street     

FifthAvenueSouth.com

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K NOWLEDGE IS POWER

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John R. Wilson GoffWilson P.A. is a partner to businesses working worldwide—assisting them in accessing and employing the best and brightest people, regardless of geography. Voted “Best Immigration Lawyers in America” for 15+ years, and with decades of experience working with clients from around the world, GoffWilson brings unrivaled experience in immigration procedure and strategy to companies operating in today’s global economy. Our focused, personalized service has guided thousands of businesses and individuals through the complex immigration process. In addition to our world-class business representation, GoffWilson is a leader in compliance. The firm’s I-9 audits and training programs ensure businesses avoid costly fines and embarrassing penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, families benefit from the same expertise and client-first service as our business clients. By solely practicing immigration law for over 30 years (it’s our passion!), we’ve helped thousands of employees and individuals achieve their American dreams. Learn more about us at GoffWilson.com.

from:

At a Glance GoffWilson, P.A. 780 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 200 Naples, FL 34102 (239) 261-9082 / goffwilson.com Practice Areas Exclusively Immigration Law, representing various industry sectors including: Entrepreneurs, startup Businesses, Healthcare (Hospitals, doctors, dentists), Energy, Financial, Engineering, High/Tech, Hospitality and Manufacturing. Education UNH School of Law 1982 Select Memberships NH Bar Association American Immigration Law Association (AILA) Society for Human Resources (SHRM) Diversity Workforce Coalition

Anywhere in the World to: Your Office For quality business immigration services, contact Goff Wilson and put our team to work for you.

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Our focus is immigration law 54

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Erin E. Houck-Toll, Esquire Walt Disney said “[W]e keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” Erin Houck-Toll’s path has led her to be the new chair of Henderson Franklin’s Business & Tax, Health Care, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Intellectual Property practice areas. She takes the reins from Guy Whitesman, who served as chair for nearly three decades. As a Florida Bar Board Certified Health Law expert, Erin works with physician groups and medical professionals to help them navigate complex laws and regulations so their time, energy and resources can be focused on what matters most—patient care. She is also a Florida Bar Board Certified Tax specialist and represents individuals, businesses, and tax exempt organizations before the IRS, Florida Department of Revenue, and United States Tax Court. Off the clock, Erin combines her love of horses and community and serves on the Board of Directors for Special Equestrians, Inc., an organization that offers therapeutic and equine assisted activities to children and adults with disabilities.

At a Glance Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. 1750 Monroe Street Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 344-1100 / henlaw.com Practice Areas Health Care Mergers & Acquisitions Business & Tax Education Cornell University, Bachelor of Arts Tulane University, J.D., cum laude University of Florida, L.L.M. (Taxation) Select Memberships Board of Directors, Special Equestrians, Inc. Chair, The Florida Bar Tax Certification Committee

Erin Houck-Toll Chair, Health Care Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Organizations & Planning, Tax, and Intellectual Property Florida Bar Board Certified in both Health Care Law and Tax Law

Our Clients Know Health Care. We Know Health Care Law. Medical professionals and physician groups are faced with numerous and complex compliance issues that often take time, energy and resources away from their main focus, which is caring for their patients. Erin works with her clients to provide a comprehensive approach to ensure compliance with state and federal health care laws and regulations. She also counsels clients on mergers and acquisitions, tax matters, and general corporate and business issues. Erin understands that doing what she does best for our clients means that they can do what’s best for theirs – just as we’ve done since 1924.

Adapting. Changing. Moving forward. henlaw.com • 239.344.1100 Fort Myers • Bonita Springs Naples

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Anthony R. McClure Anthony R. McClure is a partner in Porter Wright’s Litigation Department, where he represents clients in a variety of disputes in both state and federal courts. He is a member of the firm’s Probate Litigation, Business Competition, Product Liability and Appellate Practice Groups. Tony has experience in matters including probate, construction, complex commercial litigation and product liability.. Tony was named a top lawyer in Product Liability Litigation by Naples Illustrated in 2019. He serves as an Associate Editor of Litigation News, a publication of the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation. In the community, Tony is a member of the 2015 class of Leadership Collier. Currently, Tony serves as Past President of the Board of Directors of the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, and he is on the Public Policy Committee for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and the Pro Bono Committee for the 20th Judicial District of Florida. He also serves as an attorney coach for the Immokalee High School mock trial team and serves as a mentor for the Leadership Collier Mentor Program.

At a Glance Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP 9132 Strada Place, Third Floor Naples, FL 34108 (239) 593-2952 Practice Areas Commercial litigation Probate litigation Product liability Education Chicago Kent College of Law (J.D., 2001) Miami University (B.S., 1995)

At Porter Wright, we believe in dynamic legal counsel. In this ever-changing world, we stay agile, work smart and reach further to deliver inspired outcomes.

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E L E VAT I N G After celebrating its 50 th anniversary, the Naples Airport Authority

prepares for the future

E X P E CTAT I O N S

BY BETH LUBERECKI

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MIKE HUSHEK

he N a p l e s A i rpo rt Au th o ri ty celebrated a major milestone in 2019, marking 50 years in operation. It provided a time for reflection, a moment to take a look at how much the NAA and Naples Airport have grown over the years. The one-time military training facility was purchased by the City of Naples in 1951 and later began offering general aviation services. In 1969, the Florida State Legislature created the City of Naples Airport Authority, an independent, governmental agency responsible for the operation, development, and improvement of Naples Airport. Fast-forward to 2020, and Naples Airport is now one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country, with 112,800 operations (takeoffs and landings) in fiscal year 2019. (By comparison, Southwest Florida International Airport had more than 82,000 total operations in 2018). It’s also one of the most well-respected: Professional Pilot magazine named Naples Aviation (the fixed-base operator at Naples Airport run by the NAA) the 15th-best fixed-base operator and the eighth-best independent FBO in the United States in its 2019 survey. Naples Airport has an estimated annual economic impact on the region of more than $440 million, brings in approximately 150,000 visitors annually, and has become an important part of the local community. “The success of the community is in part because of the convenience of this great airport,” says Chris Rozansky, executive director of the Naples Airport Authority. “Having lived here for 47 years, the airport and I have been connected for a long time,” says Bill Barnett, mayor of the City of Naples. “I’ve watched the airport grow and it has really come into its own. It’s a flourishing, wonderful airport and everybody cares about it. It’s a very valuable asset, and the

bottom line is there is no downside to the airport.” But as the NAA celebrates its history, it’s also looking toward the future to ensure that the airport continues to serve the community at the highest level possible. After creating a strategic plan in 2017, the NAA is now finalizing a 20-year master plan for the airport and embarking on a Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study to examine noise concerns in more detail. “Naples is selling itself through its beaches, water, and downtown, and we make it very convenient for folks to get here,” says Rozansky. “We are a visitor’s first impression of Naples, so from arrival to departure we strive to do everything with excellence and represent the Naples community well.”

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Planning for the Future The NAA’s strategic plan includes a series of goals to provide a safe, modern and efficient airport, strengthen the airport’s economic vitality, serve the community as an engaged and responsive partner, and prepare its employees for the future. In FY 2019, the NAA achieved 99% of its strategic plan goals for the year. “The state of the airport is excellent,” says Donna M. Messer, chair of the NAA’s Board of Commissioners. “We’re extremely fortunate to have one of the premier general aviation airports in the country. It enables us to add incredible value to Southwest Florida, and we’re looking forward to the next 50 years.” As it embarks on those next decades, the NAA is

when looking out 20 years and developing the master plan. So, some older hangars will be demolished and replaced. And the plan outlines a need for a brandnew general aviation terminal to both better serve customers and meet the most current flood-level and wind-resistance requirements. “It’s about keeping up with our customer numbers and their expectations,” says Messer. “It’s not meant as a way to gain more business or increase our market. It’s meant as a way to enhance the services that we already have and help our customers have an even better experience than they do today.”

completing the draft of its new master plan, which went through a round of public open houses and will next be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration and State of Florida for their review and comment. Airports that receive development grants from the FAA and Florida Department of Transportation, like Naples Airport, must conduct periodic updates of this long-range document to remain eligible for future grants. The NAA’s master plan takes into account the current picture at the airport and the capacity and safety improvements that will be needed down the road as both the airport and the community continue to grow. “Our runaways are in pretty good shape; they will need rehabilitation over time, but we don’t anticipate any significant changes with the runways,” says Rozansky. “What we do anticipate is the increasing trend of more people and more aircraft moving to Naples and Southwest Florida.” That includes a continuation of a shift toward more high-performance aircraft, some of which are jets but some of which are single-engine planes. The master plan forecasts a need for more than 100 additional hangars for parking jets and about 50 additional hangars for single-engine aircraft. “This past Thanksgiving, for example, there were some aircraft that had to be parked on the crosswind runway, which is not an ideal situation,” says Rozansky. During peak periods at the airport, it’s common to see more than 500 operations in a single day. The day after Christmas is usually the single-busiest day of the year; on that day in 2018, 150 transient jets were parked on the ramp overnight. Because the footprint of the airport is limited, the NAA took a “highest and best use” approach 60

Acting as a Good Neighbor The last FAA-approved Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study for Naples Airport was completed in 1997. (An update was done in 2010 but was not submitted to the FAA for approval.) So, it’s definitely time for a new look at the issue, especially since jet operations and the number of people living near the airport have both increased since then. “I think it’s fair to say that with the growth of Naples comes more potential for noise impacts,” says Cliff Holland, chair of the NAA’s Noise Compatibility Committee. The nine-member committee meets regularly to review the airport’s noise-abatement program and make appropriate recommendations to the NAA. “There’s a lot of growth going on, so the challenge of making sure we’re good neighbors to that new growth is even more important,” he says. The more than two-year effort will depend on input from the community collected through public meetings and workshops. The NAA is also forming a Technical Advisory Committee that will include community volunteers representing the city and county. “On one hand, the airport is a great asset for the community, because it’s so close to downtown and the beach,” says Rozansky. “On the other hand, that enhances the noise exposure being so close to the coast where everybody wants to be. Even though the runways are like I-75, in that they are public transportation infrastructure, we are sensitive to noise emissions and want to evaluate if there are any additional steps we can take to mitigate the impacts of aircraft noise. We are very sensitive to the fact that quality of life is a big reason why people come down here, and we want to do everything we possibly can to ensure that we’re enhancing the quality of life for everyone who lives here, whether you fly with us or not.” The first half of the study will identify the issues, while the second half will examine the possible solutions. “We want to first define the problem, and clearly defining the problem can only be done with citizen input,” says Rozansky. “That will help us the best that

_ FEBRUARY 2020

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we can to develop solutions.” The airport instituted a ban on Stage 1 and Stage 2 jets (older, noisier aircraft) in the 1990s and has invested more than $7.8 million since 2000 on noise-abatement efforts. Holland points out that while jet traffic at the airport has increased, jet engines have gotten a lot quieter since 1997 thanks to technological advancements. He also says the airport has about a 98% compliance rate with its voluntary curfew establishing quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. “Part of our work in this new study is to figure out how we can even enhance that compliance, and to look around the industry to see what are some of the latest trends and ideas to address other means of noise abatement,” he says. The FAA must approve any changes the NAA wants

to make to reduce noise. “We expect that there will be some opportunities to look at some noise mitigation primarily through modified flight procedures,” says Rozansky. “The 1997 study had a goal to increase the departure altitude for jets after takeoff, but that goal was rejected by the FAA back then. But I think that with some of the improvements to navigational technology like GPS, we will have some opportunities to finally achieve that objective.” In the end, it’s about allowing the airport to provide its vital and valuable services to the community, but in the most respectful way possible. “We’re going to take our time with this and make sure we have the appropriate amount of community feedback,” says Holland. “Our ultimate goal is for everyone to fly safe and fly quiet.”

Committed to Service Excellence One of the NAA’s guiding principles is to “provide service excellence every day,” and one of the components of its strategic plan is to “promote a values-centered culture in order to better serve our employees, customers, and community.” Superior customer service is a big reason why Naples Aviation was ranked even higher by Professional Pilot magazine in 2019 than it was in 2018. In 2019 it was named the 15th-best fixed-base operator, up seven places from its 2018 ranking, and the 8th-best independent FBO in the United States, up three spots from 2018. “We are very fortunate to have a tremendous team of passionate and dedicated people who make safety and customer service their top priorities,” says the NAA’s Rozansky. The airport frequently surveys customers, pilots, and staff to get a sense of how it measures up. “All of these things tell the story of how we’re doing,” says the NAA Board of Commissioners’ Messer. “All of it together is a measurement of our mission, our vision, and where we want to be as an airport.”

Contributing to the Community Even if local residents don’t fly in or out of Naples Airport, the facility still plays an important role in their daily lives. The Collier Mosquito Control District, Collier County MedFlight, and Aviation Unit for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office all operate out of Naples Airport. Naples Fire Station No. 3 is located there and serves both the airport and the surrounding community. The Naples Museum of Military History, Humane Society of Naples, and Naples Recycling Drop-off Center are also situated on airport property. “I don’t think people realize all of the community public services that are at the airport,” says Messer. “The community is part of our airport, even if citizens don’t use our airport.” All of the funds needed for the airport’s operation, maintenance, and improvements are generated from activities at the airport or come from federal and state grants. The airport doesn’t receive any local tax dollars. “The airport is financially self-sustaining,” says Rozansky. “I think that is the biggest success story, that not only are we a significant contributor to the local economy but that the airport also pays for itself.” 62

Is Commercial Service Coming? When putting together its new master plan, the NAA looked at the potential for future commercial airline service at Naples Airport. It saw a demand for air travel throughout Collier County, but concluded that Southwest Florida International Airport, Punta Gorda Airport and the airports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale were filling that need. “With all that nearby competition, it was determined that the near-term prospect of financially sustainable airline service at Naples Airport is not very compelling,” says the NAA’s Rozansky. “I think there might be a point in the future when it is more viable, but I don’t see it happening in the short term.”

_ FEBRUARY 2020

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BI B U S I N E S S I N T E L I G E N C E

a partner of Feeding America, who were looking for an interim executive director, his first reaction was, “Yeah, that sounds like fun.” The role allowed LeBer to take what he learned at a citywide level and apply it to an entire state, working with BY LANE NIESET

12 member food banks that support more than 2,200 local charities and feed over 2.8 million Floridians fighting hunger. LeBer traveled all across the state, visiting each of

N avigating Nonprofits

Florida, the region’s largest hunger relief network. “Atlanta was a much bigger market than Southwest Florida, so I learned a lot about the possibilities for ways to serve the community,” he says, adding that he brought skills from his corporate days, such as strategic planning, to his current role, which he’s held for four years. Harry Chapin Food Bank, now in its 35th year, distributes 24 million pounds of food annually, feeding about 28,000

hile serving as the president of the Na-

people per week. LeBer says they donated about $43 mil-

tional Linen Service in Atlanta in the

lion worth of food last year, but the organization still has the

early 2000s, Richard LeBer helped pro-

potential to double in size and reach even more people,

vide textile rental services to more than

provide even more food. In 2019, Harry Chapin Food Bank

45,000 restaurants, hospitals and ho-

received support from organizations such as Publix Super

tels in 16 states. Through these restau-

Markets Charities in the form a $150,000 check toward a

rants—his customers—he started get-

new refrigerated truck and partnered with the School Dis-

ting involved with food banks in Atlanta. “When I began to

trict of Lee County on a pilot program to donate items

realize the remarkable job food banks do, I fell in love with

close to their expiration date. Now food from schools that

the cause,” says the 61-year-old, now president and CEO

would otherwise go to waste is instead dished out to those

of the Harry Chapin Food Bank. “I started in corporate

in need in the community.

America but working with food banks is my way of giving back to the community.” LeBer was good friends with Bill Bolling, the founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and started assisting

“It’s tremendously rewarding to go out in the community and see what we do through mobile pantries and food pantries,” he says. “It’s hard not to walk away from that feeling motivated and inspired.”

by raising money and serving as a member of the board.

LeBer has garnered 30 years of operating, finance,

When a position opened in 2012 for a vice president in

and consulting experience in non-profit and for-profit

finance and strategy, LeBer “fell into a calling.” He spent a

sectors—10 years of which have been working with food

little over three years as a member of the senior leadership

banks—and for him, a big part of program development

team and adviser to Bolling. The organization works with

“comes down to people,” he says. Of course, the tangible

more than 600 nonprofit partners, from community kitch-

results of his work—ensuring more people in the commu-

ens to childcare centers, and distributes over 60 million

nity are fed, less are suffering from hunger—are motivation

meals to over 755,000 people in 29 counties across Atlanta

enough to keep going down this path, but “it’s also reward-

and North Georgia. LeBer was the liaison to the partner or-

ing to see people in the organization grow,” he says.

ganizations, which includes Feeding America, the leading

For those looking to get involved in the nonprofit sector,

domestic hunger-relief charity, and developed two strate-

he advises seeking out the best people you can in the com-

gic plans to help the food bank double in size and expand

munity, who you can learn from. “Find a great organization

its programs.

that is doing work you admire,” he says. “Nonprofits need

When he received a call three years later from the Florida Association of Food Banks (now called Feeding Florida),

Fort Myers-based Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest

a lot of help, so the best thing to do is roll up your sleeves and learn the ropes.”

_ FEBRUARY 2020

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BRIAN TIETZ

___ P O W E R A D V I C E

the food banks, which is how he became familiar with the

Richard L eBer President and CEO

Florida); president

of the Harry Chapin

and CEO of the

Food Bank of

Harry Chapin Food

Southwest Florida

Bank of Southwest

Age: 61

Florida for the past

Hometown:

four years

Ottawa, Canada

Personal: Married

Residence: Estero

for 38 years to his

Education:

wife, Marion, and

Bachelor of

father to two grown

Mathematics from

children, Robert

the University of

and Anna. His

Waterloo; MBA

passion outside of

BANKING ON

from Harvard

work? Marathons

EXPERIENCE:

Business School

(heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s completed

Richard LeBer

Partial Work

11). As for guilty

History: CEO of

pleasures, LeBer

the National Linen

loves cheesy

Service; VP of the

movies.

has combined executive skills with his knowledge of nonprofits.

Atlanta Community Food Bank; Interim Executive Director of the Florida Association of Food Banks (now known as Feeding

FEBRUARY 2020 _

____

BUSINESS INTELIGENCE

BY BETH LUBERECKI

___ I mpactful Investing

criteria, things like the sustainability practices and environmental impact of a company, what its record is on labor relations or workplace safety, and whether there’s 66

diversity on its board. More than one out of every four dollars under professional management in the United States—or more than $12 trillion—was invested by following an SRI strategy as of the end of 2017, according to the US SIF Foundation’s 2018 Report on U.S. Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing Trends. “It’s just growing at a huge rate, much faster than the overall industry,” says Andrew Hill, cofounder and president of Naples-based Andrew Hill Investment Advisors, which has $100 million in assets under management and looks at ESG criteria when working on investment plans with clients. “SRI started to take off after the financial crisis, when people were mad at banks and saw another bump two years ago when environmental and ethical issues really started to take hold. Investors want to place funds in companies that may be more aware of those things.” We spoke with Hill to get his insights on why a socially responsible investment strategy is a good idea—and how it can pay off. SRI means less risk. A company with strong corporate governance and a desire to create positive environmental and social impacts has less chance of negative

outcomes, says Hill. Andrew Hill Investment Advisors does its own research and is skilled at spotting businesses where there’s potential for bad behavior from a CEO or a violation of environmental regulations, things that could impact a company’s bottom line. “Quite often when the issue is disclosed it tends to have a dramatic and immediate impact upon the company’s stock price,” says Hill. “Just by reading financial statements we have come across a lot of potential problems. And the big problem usually isn’t the first one. There’s usually a series of small events leading up to a much larger event.” And the potential for more reward. Many of the companies focused on doing environmental and social good are emerging leaders in their fields. “There’s a big growing economic opportunity with the kinds of companies that we target,” says Hill. “A lot of these emerging trends that quite often result in better outcomes for society are also actually better outcomes for your portfolio.” He points to companies his firm invests in like NextEra Energy, the parent company of FPL that’s known for its clean-energy focus and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas

_ FEBRUARY 2020

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GETTY

We all should know by now the importance of planning for retirement, whether you’re coming at it from an individual level or you’re a business owner deciding on a retirement investment plan for your employees. And when you’re looking for ways to invest for the future, it would be wise to consider a sustainable, responsible and impact investing (SRI) strategy. That kind of investment approach takes into consideration environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG)

utilities industry on Fortune’s 2019 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies,” and Trex, the manufacturer of composite decking that uses components like recycled plastic film in its eco-friendly products . Companies that strive for diversity are also often leaders in innovation. “It’s a significant benefit to companies as they continue to grow to be seeking out new ideas and insights,” says Hill. “It’s very helpful to have people of different backgrounds who understand society differently.” It’s a chance to do good while doing something necessary. “You need to invest if you want to be retired someday,” says Hill. “And we want to have holdings that have attributes that really stand out in their positive benefit to society.” Hill rec-

ommends that employees ask their employers about SRI options when it comes to their 401(k)s or pension plans. “It’s a matter of getting the asset options into the plans,” says Hill. “Like a lot of things in life, it doesn’t happen [extensively] until people start shifting their business to firms that do offer those.” It’s the way of the future. Hill sees a day when SRI will just be the norm when it comes to investing. “I think in the future there won’t be any demarcation between firms like us that are recognized as experts in this area and the rest of the investing community,” says Hill. “I think it will just be a skill set that everyone will learn. Very quickly the lines of demarcation will be blurred, and this will just be a basic analysis that you need to do if you want to be successful.”

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O N T H E M O V E ____

C A R E E R S

Christopher Westley, Ph.D, was named Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business new dean. Premier Sotheby’s International Realty appointed Budge Huskey as the company’s chief executive officer and Nancy Nagy as president. STARability Foundation named Miriam Pereira as the chief philanthropy officer. Hole Montes Inc.’s PEREIRA board of directors elected Robert “Bob” Mulhere as president. Dr. Matthew L. Young joined Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida as a family medicine physician. Neal Communities named Tim Oak as the new Southwest Florida Regional President. Florida Skin Center appointed Dr. Chetan Vedvyas to its executive committee. Sanibel Captiva Community Bank hired Jeffrey A. Muddell as senior vice president, wealth services, and promoted Rudi Hamer to assistant vice president and commercial relationship manager. Wilderness Country Club appointed E. Alan Raulerson as general manager. Roetzel & Andress LPA associate Jennifer A. Nichols was named shareholder at the firm. Lee Health promoted Terry Mainous to vice president of operations for Lee Physician Group. Sanibel Captiva ComMAINOUS munity Bank promoted Kyle DeCicco to senior vice president and senior loan officer. John Hill was hired as the new chef de cuisine for Hospitality Group Holdings. Kory Foltz was appointed executive chef of Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor. The law firm of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. elected attorney Kayla Richmond as stockholder and

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_ FEBRUARY 2020

named attorney Jeff Wright chair of the firm’s Land Use & Environmental Law Department. The Inn on Fifth & Club Level Suites in downtown Naples promoted Milena M A K S I M O VA Maksimova to general manager. Valerie’s House hired Jennifer F. Clark as grants and advancement manager. Ashley Shenk assumed an equity partnership position with NOISE Inc. GATES Construction announced the addition of David Wumkes as senior superintendent and Michael Beaudette as superintendent. Cintron Custom Builders named John Blaine as vice president of the custom home-building company. K U D O S

Jim Henderson, owner of William C. Huff Cos., joined the Audubon Western Everglades’ board of directors. The South Lee Economic Development Council announced three new board members: Sabra Smith of London Bay Homes; Aysegul Timur of Florida Gulf Coast University; and Stephanie Wardein of Lee Health. Youth Haven Inc. O’CONNOR appointed Brenda O’Connor as president of its board of directors, Sara Girard, investigative reporter with WINK News, and Devan Patel, public safety enterprise reporter with the Naples Daily News, were selected for Young Journalists Awards by the Press Club of Southwest Florida. Angie Manley, the director of University Advancement for Hodges University, earned the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential. Nelson Taylor, lead appraiser and market research director of LSI Cos. Inc., was awarded the designation of Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. gulfshorebusiness.com

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O TC

OFF THE CLOCK

HOT WHEELS ___ The 2020 Mercedes GLC 300.

F O O D F O R T H O U G H T

Maks Asian Kitchen & Sushi â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lunch and dinner menus cover typical pan-Asian specialties in a wide variety.

SCOTT MCINTYRE

P.70

O T C ____ F O R

T H O U G H T

ical pan-Asian specialties in a wide variety. The crispy rice appetizer of either spicy salmon or spicy tuna wins raves. For the main course, you can’t go wrong with the garlic broccoli and your choice of protein—chicken, beef or shrimp. It’s available also in a luncheon Bento box with miso soup, a small salad in a nice sesame-rice vinegar dressing, four pieces of California roll and steamed white or brown rice. For an authentic finish, try the mochi ice cream in green tea, mango or red bean flavor. (We recommend the mango.) Vibe: Cheerful and tasteful, Maks welcomes diners with brightness and contemporary Asian design. Interpretive art accents the walls, and pendant lighting adds style. For large groups, a partitioned section holds an eight-top with a filmy white curtain backdrop that has a rather elegant feel.

BY C H E L L E K O S T E R W A LT O N

__ M aks Asian Kitchen & Sushi 13650 Fiddlesticks Blvd., Fort Myers, (239) 985-9632, maksfl.com

Why We Love It: Maks traces its pedigree back to Hong Kong and to the original staff of Blu Sushi. The two accomplished Mak brothers opened this sleek, chic corner storefront in the Publix plaza on Fiddlesticks Boulevard in Fort Myers last year. Its location off Daniels Parkway makes it a convenient lunch or dinner stop for airport runs. Room dividers create privacy for down-to-business encounters, or you can sit at the L-shaped sushi bar to take in the action and interact with the Mak brothers, who are always ready to suggest something that might not be on the menu of 25 or so traditional and out-of-the-ordinary rolls. Ideal Meal: Starting out your Maks experience with sushi, sashimi or a roll is tantamount, because that is truly where the restaurant shines with freshness and expertise. For American palates, the PBJ roll combines raw and cooked fish—spicy tuna and tempura white fish—with avocado, cream cheese, spicy mayo and eel sauce. Maks’ lunch and dinner menus cover typ-

A FRESH APPROACH Lunch and dinner menus cover typical pan-Asian specialties in a wide variety.

_ FEBRUARY 2020

SCOTT MCINTYRE

F O O D

gulfshorebusiness.com

Southwest Florida

THOUGHT LEADER OF THE MONTH Investing In Women Investing for women, and by women, has many key differences from investing for and by men. Women have historically lived vastly different lives than men, and therefore, have needed to approach many of the same ideas and challenges as men in diverse ways. In older generations, the female spouse often was (and sometimes still is) completely left out of the investment and financial conversations and decisions. Fortunately, our culture is shifting, and women are approaching this very important relationship with their advisor with more autonomy and power than in decades past. It has opened the door to a great deal of research, and changing the way that advisors approach married couples and single female investors. After removing gender biases, many of the challenges in the investing landscape are similar between women and men with some key differences. One of the most important and obvious is the fact that women live longer. Right now, the average age for a male is 79 years versus 84 years average for a woman. Women need to account for five more years of income than men. Also, statistically it is likely that women will, at some point, take charge of their family finances due to the death of a partner, landing her with all of the responsibilities for managing a portfolio she may know little or nothing about. At the same time, women are statistically more likely to be paid

less than men throughout their careers. Women currently earn $80.5 cents for every $1 their make counterpart earns. The peak of a woman’s income also occurs earlier than a man. A woman’s earnings peak in the period between 35-44 years of age, while a male’s earnings continue to increase until the period of 5564 years old. This earlier peak in earnings combined with living longer and earning less, sets women up for a higher chance of outliving their retirement savings and a diminished standard of living in their later years. Women are much more likely to take a period of leave from work for the care of children or parents, which means that women on the whole, are working with a much smaller average nest-egg for retirement. Additionally, throughout their lives, women are paying much more for healthcare and accessing the healthcare system more often. While some of these gender-gaps are beginning to change, women have to continue to prepare for their retirement taking all of them into account and translating that into actionable investing behavior.

conservative investors and less prone to get turned on by the stock of the month.

This changing behavior and the understanding of the phenomena that impact a woman’s portfolio is what make women generally “better” investors. Because of all the factors discussed above, women are usually working with a smaller portfolio to grow for retirement. Thus, studies have shown that women are generally more

Female investors generally do more research before investing, trade less often and are more likely to accept advice from a professional. This combination of a more conservative approach, doing the research and less emphasis on trading in and out of hot stocks put the female investor on track to be able to withstand a longer retirement with a smaller nest-egg.

A. Scott Hansen Vice President

1415 Panther Lane Naples, FL 34109 Office: (239) 591-6615 Cell: (239) 919-4095 scott@karpus.com www.karpus.com

O T C ____ W E E K E N D G E TA W AY S

BY ARTIS HENDERSON

___ H avana Bound Calle Ocho in Miami offers a taste of all things Cuban.

THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE: Food, cigars and

iami’s Little Havana began filling

the classic cookies from Goya, and the Plat-

music are plentiful

with Cuban exiles in the 1960s,

ano Maduro, made with sweet plantains, are

in Little Havana.

and over the decades the neighborhood

crowd favorites.

west of downtown Miami has become the epicenter of Cuban-American culture. Cen-

Where to Drink

tered around Southwest Eighth Street, or

The upscale atmosphere of Café La Trova

Calle Ocho, the district offers some of the

(971 SW Eighth St., Miami; (786) 615-4379;

hottest salsa music, rum bars and cigar

cafelatrova.com) pays homage to pre-rev-

shops on the east coast.

olution Cuba with a cocktail menu that highlights Havana’s glamorous past. Try the

Where to Eat

Hotel Nacional, a blend of pineapple rum,

Offshoots of Versailles (3555 SW Eighth St.,

apricot liqueur, pineapple juice and lime,

Miami; (305) 444-0240; versaillesrestaurant.

or the Hemingway Special made with rum,

com) have popped up across Miami, but this

maraschino cherry juice, grapefruit juice and

is the original Cuban food hotspot. Its din-

lime.

ing room has an old-school opulence—think

Looking for something more adventur-

chandeliers, etched mirrors and stone stat-

ous? Seek out Los Altos (521 SW Eighth St.,

uary—that still manages to be casual. Cus-

Miami; (305) 874-7414; losaltosmiami.com),

tomers come for the Cuban sandwiches, the

a lushly decorated speakeasy hidden behind

pastelitos and the strong Cuban coffee.

a Mexican candy store. The cocktail list is

In the mood for something sweet? Azucar

more Mexican-influenced than Cuban, with

(1503 SW Eighth St., Miami; (305) 381-0369)

tequila and mescal options, but one sip and

is an artisanal ice cream and sorbet shop

you won’t mind.

that pulls its flavor inspirations from local

culture. Many of the ingredients, like sugar-

Where to Listen

cane and mamey, are sourced from nearby

Little Havana offers some of the best live mu-

fruit vendors. The Abuela Maria, named for

sic venues in Miami. Ball & Chain (1513 SW

_ FEBRUARY 2020

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chainmiami.com) regularly tops the list with its live salsa, mambo and jazz music. The hotspot has a storied past that dates back to 1935, and in previous incarnations it welcomed music legends like Billie Holiday and Count Basie. Little Havana offers some of the best live music venues in Miami. The Cubaocho Museum and Performing Arts Center (1465 SW Eighth St., Miami; (305) 285-5880; cubaocho.com) features live Latin music, dancing and one of the most well-stocked rum bars in Miami. Hoy Como Ayer (2212 SW Eighth St., Mi-

Providing Comprehensive Financial Services Since 1974

ami; (305) 381-0042; hoycomoayer.business.

1470 Royal Palm Square Boulevard Fort Myers, FL 33919

(239) 939-2233 hughessnell.com

Members of the FICPA and AICPA

site) has live acts featuring modern and nostalgic Cuban tunes. Come ready to dance.

HSC_GSBusAd4_1-6-20_M.indd 1

Where to Smoke a Cigar With its dim lighting, plush leather seating and shiny brass fixtures, Art District Cigars (1638 SW Eighth St., Miami; (305) 644-0444; artdistrictcigars.webs.com) has an old-world smoking club vibe. The shop features a range of popular cigar brands, plus local

GETTY

specialties like the Canimao, which is handmade in Miami. It’s BYOB, so be sure to pack a bottle of good rum. And don’t forget the limes.

1/6/20 12:04 PM

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O T C ____ F I T N E S S

She began with one class, on a lark, and it was an instant hit. Since then, Little Big Beak has been hosting yoga classes every Saturday morning. Thanhoffer serves as goat wrangler—bringing them into the yoga pen, disbursing BY ARTIS HENDERSON

animal crackers and taking photos—while a yoga teacher gives the class. With our mats spread out in three neat rows, we began in a seated pose, eyes closed, breathing deeply. Some yoga studios play New Age music and some prefer contemporary tunes. This yoga session flowed to the sound

__ T hey Chew, They Burp, They Poop The mood-lifting, laugh-inducing hilarity of goat yoga.

of clinking bells, occasional bleats and a rough crinkling as one very intent Billy goat tore at the siding of the old dog kennel. As the yoga teacher instructed us to breathe in, I peered beneath my eyelids at the goats who wandered the pen, strolling casually across mats and chomping at clumps of grass. The goats were up to four months old and they ranged in sizes, though most were knee-high. We transitioned into Mountain Pose, and as I stood with my feet-hips’ width apart and my hands at my sides, I watched the roaming goats as they cruised the corral. One straddled my neighbor’s mat and set to work chewing a hole through the middle. She tried to keep her balance as we moved into tree pose, and I giggled so hard I almost fell over. The mat-eating goat moved off to other corners I could get my foot propped up on my leg, the goat was back and again intent on eating my neighbor’s mat. By now, I was laughing so much that I was useless at

he first thing Cigdem Thanhoffer told the eight

yoga. Which is fine, because we were moving into table-

yogis gathered inside the pen at her Little Big

top pose, which involves crouching on all fours with a flat

Beak Farm on Bokeelia was to make sure we put

back. Easy enough, I figured. Just as I had settled into

our shoes outside the fence.

the pose, congratulating myself on my good form, I was

“Anything you don’t want nibbled on,” she says, “goes

outside.”

my back as a 10-pound baby goat with light brown fur and

Our yoga mats stayed—although, she warned us, those

a small set of horns wobbled and tried to get his footing.

might get nibbled on, too. But Tanhoffer made no apolo-

He tumbled off, and thunk! A second goat, this one black

gies for her goats.

with pale yellow eyes, about the same size as the first,

“They chew, they burp, they poop,” she said as she

took his place. He didn’t stay long before jumping across

walked around the pen, sprinkling animal crackers, a pa-

to my neighbor’s back. I sat up, laughing too hard to stay

rade of goats following her. “What do you expect? They’re

in that position, and watched as goats leapt across the

real goats.”

pen, from flat back to flat back, playing king of the moun-

Real goats are the draw of the experience at Little Big

knocked flat by a heavy thunk. Four hooves danced across

tain and head-butting as the yogis on all fours squealed.

Beak’s weekly goat yoga class, what brings yogis of all

Goat yoga started in 2016 on a farm in Oregon. Its

skill levels to this 3-acre farm in the middle of Pine Island.

originator, Lainey Morse, was suffering a bout of depres-

Thanhoffer, 34, owns Little Big Beak with her husband,

sion following her divorce, and she found that spending

Gerard, 62. The two have been married for the last 12

time with her goats lifted her spirits. She started inviting

years, and they both hail from Switzerland. They’ve lived

friends over for a goat “happy hour” to share in the de-

on Bokeelia since 2011.

lightful riot, and before long a yoga teacher friend asked

In 2017, when Thanhoffer told her yoga teacher that

if she could host yoga classes at the farm. Morse gave her

they were getting goats on the farm, the teacher asked

the green light, and the concept exploded in popularity.

if she was going to host goat yoga classes. Thanhoffer

Soon, Morse had a waiting list 1,000 people long for her

thought, “Why not?”

yoga-with-goats concept.

_ FEBRUARY 2020

gulfshorebusiness.com

BRIAN TIETZ

of the pen, and I managed to find my balance. But before

DOWNWARD

At Little Big Beak, and in general, the practice is

just grinned and held her pose.

FACING GOAT:

less about the yoga and more about the goats. A goat

By now, we were nearing the end of class and the

Little Big Beak

yoga class isn’t striving to strengthen your chaturan-

goats, for the most part, had settled down. When the

Farm yoga

ga or perfect your pigeon pose—though both poses

class was officially done, I sat up and made to stand,

instructor Jessica

may be part of the day’s class—the idea is that goats

and the little girl from earlier pointed at my leg.

Jimenez teaches

are fun and mischievous. They do unexpected things

her class, with a

like jump on your back and nibble on your fingers.

I looked down to see that she was right—a few pel-

little help.

They try to eat your mat, and then they poop on it.

lets had mashed against my leg. I brushed them off

They are unpredictable and hilarious, and a little hilar-

and started rolling up my mat. My belly ached from

ity is good for our wellbeing.

laughing, and I was in a spectacularly good mood.

“You’ve got poop on you,” she says.

When we’d been thoroughly stomped-on, the yoga

Different yoga styles have different benefits, it’s

teacher had us transition to another standing pose.

true, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d left a

The little girl behind me let out a long, “Eeeeeeeww-

yoga class with a smile that wide. A little goat poop

www,” and I turned to see a fresh pile of goat pellets

seemed like a small price to pay.

on her mat. “It’s OK,” Tanhoffer reassures her, “just shake them off.” The little girl took it in stride. She shook the pellets into the dirt and moved seamlessly back into Warrior Three. Meanwhile, at my neighbor’s spot, a strolling goat showered the corner of her mat with a stream of urine. I looked at her and she looked at me, and she

FEBRUARY 2020 _

O T C ____ HOT

WHEELS

BY JAMES RAIA

__ C ompact Luxury Machine The 2020 Mercedes GLC 300 is the company’s most affordable.

ercedes-Benz may be the most diverse vehicle manufacturer. It introduced gull-wing race cars and station wagons

in the 1950s, about 30 years after the brand debuted. The enduring carmaker’s modern-day sedans still define automotive maturity. The German marque also made a hybrid in 1906 and it customized sedans in the 1930s with bullet-proof windows

by LED headlights, a power liftgate and power-adjustable and heated front seats. The new MBUX infotainment system is anchored by a 10.25-inch touchscreen as well as Apple CarPlay

AFFORDABLE,

With the 2020 GLC 300, one of its nine sport utility ve-

and Android Auto smartphone integration. Standard

UTILITARIAN:

hicles, Mercedes-Benz is also at the forefront of the luxury

safety features include automatic emergency braking,

The exterior

people mover market. It’s the carmaker’s youngest seg-

a drowsy driver warning system and blind-spot mon-

styling and high-

ment; SUVs have been part of the brand since 1997.

itoring.

quality interior

As a five-passenger compact SUV, the GLC 300 is

There are also a centerpiece console touchpad and

the carmaker’s most affordable utilitarian vehicle. But it’s

voice control. Tap the button on the steering wheel

well-disguised as another Mercedes-Benz luxury machine.

and use the phrase, “Hey, Mercedes,” and you’re in

Its exterior styling and well-crafted, high-quality interior

business. (The voice-command system inadvertently

are among the brand’s signature traits.

activated a few times when someone in the vehicle

The GLC 300 with rear-wheel drive or 4MATIC (all-

An exhaustive list of stand-alone and package

other manufacturers’ entry-level models, it’s unfairly cate-

options is offered. Highlights include a self-parking

gorized.Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder

system, upgraded leather seating, console wood and

engine with 255 horsepower and a nine-speed automatic

aluminum door trim and 64-color ambient lighting.

transmission, the GLC 300 perfectly meshes performance

None of it is cheap. The GLC 300’s MSPR is $44,500,

with prestige. The upgraded engine (an additional 14

but the price jumps to $64,605 with more than

horsepower) helps launch the SUV from 0-to-60 miles per

three-dozen additions. Beyond its engineering, Mercedes-Benz is equally

Mercedes-Benz has maintained the industry’s furious

renowned for its vehicles’ driving characteristics. The

pace in technological advancement. The GLC 300 in-

GLC 300 complies. The ride is smooth and power-

cludes a complete host of standard features highlighted

ful, the steering responsive. Maneuverability is keen

signature traits.

said words similar to “Mercedes.”)

wheel drive) is the so-called “base” offering. But unlike

hour in 6.1 seconds.

are among the

_ FEBRUARY 2020

gulfshorebusiness.com

COURTESY MERCEDES BENZ

for the German regime as it approached WWII.

Facts & Figures: 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 300

Plan for your future. And theirs.

Acceleration: 0-60 mph, 6.1 seconds. Airbags: 7. Fuel economy: 21 mpg (city), 28 mpg (hwy.). Horsepower: 255. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $44,500. Manufacturer’s Web site: www.mbusa.com Price As Tested: $64,605. Warranty: Bumper to bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles; Powertrain, 4 years/50,000 miles; Corrosion, 4 years/50,000 miles; Roadside Assistance, 4 years, 50,000 miles.

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in traffic, on the open road and if tight circling is needed. The saturated SUV marketplace is rich in similar vehicles. The GLC 300 isn’t like the others. Everything it offers proves it. James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, Calif., publishes www. theweeklydriver.com and its corresponding free podcast.

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FEBRUARY 2020 _

O T C ____ D E - S T R E S S : H O W T O R E L A X P R O D U C T R E V I E W

BY JAMES RAIA

___ N utritious Noodles One of the easiest go-to fast foods has gone nutritious. Thanks to Tim and Tom Zhang, brothers and recent graduates of the University of California, Da-

By Justin Paprocki

for example, you can set a time limit,

vis, eating ramen noodles isn’t

and you’ll get a notification when you

so bad, after all. The entrepre-

exceed it. Or, if you get desperate,

neurs, culinary experts, debuted

QualityTime can even lock you out of

a Kickstarter program for Vite

your most time-consuming apps.

Ramen in April 2018. The idea

Don’t look at your smartphone for the

for nutritionally complete ramen

rest of the day. We dare you.

Create phone-free zones

quickly raised nearly $250,000.

Does the thought of that give you a

Try a low-tech way to curb your

The noodles have high protein,

brief fit of anxiety?

smartphone use. Set phone-free zones

polyunsaturated fatty acids and

If so, you’re not alone. The beeps and

in your house. For example, tell your

fiber to balance out the carbo-

buzzes coming from our purses and

family that the dining room is a no-go

hydrates, according to company

pockets have worked their way into the

for iPhones. Maybe even make the

literature. Macronutrients are

rhythm of our everyday lives. It’s hard

bedroom phone free. Often what

well within the National Acade-

to imagine our lives without them. But

keeps us up at night is that enticing

my of Medicine’s recommended

maybe we should.

glow from a smartphone screen. And

Acceptable Macronutrient

Smartphone stress is a real thing. Re-

what do we reach for in the morning?

Distribution Ratios. Vite Ramen

search is showing that too much time

The smartphone. Why don’t you let it

is available in four-ounce packets

on the iPhone or Android can lead to

sleep in a bit?

in soy sauce chicken, vegan

everything from sleep loss to increased

miso and garlic pork flavors.

anxiety. But then again, disconnect-

Counter the urge to look

Six-packs, $25.50; nine-packs

ing is an issue, too. If you’re already

Too often during a moment of down-

$38.25. Viteramen.com.

hooked, going cold turkey is likely to

time, that first instinct will be to reach

become a stressor.

for the phone. Whenever you feel that

So think of it like a balanced diet. It’s

urge coming on, try to move in an

all about moderation. Here are a few

opposite direction. Sometimes literally.

ideas to get you into the right frame

Let’s say you arrive 15 minutes early

of mind.

to a meeting. Instead of just staring at your phone in the waiting room, leave

Employ the app police

it in your pocket and go for a quick

Yes, cut down on your time using apps

walk around the block. It will clear

by downloading yet another app.

your head and at the least, something

There are dozens of apps that track

other than your thumbs will be getting

how you use your phone and can let

exercise.

you set limits. Spending too much time on Twitter? With QualityTime, 78

_ FEBRUARY 2020

gulfshorebusiness.com

F R O M L E F T: G E T T Y; C O U R T E S Y V I TA R A M E N

SMARTPHONE MODERATION

2019 Winner Pelican Wire is the winner of the 25th annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award. Chosen by a panel of judges from eight applicants, CEO Ted Bill has overcome personal and professional challenges to maintain, restructure, and expand his family business. Founded in 1969 by Larry and Theresa Bill, Pelican Wire originated in Hebron, Illinois as a small business operated out of the Bill’s basement. The couple decided on the name “Pelican Wire” to coincide with their dream of someday moving to sunny Southwest Florida. In 1976, that dream came true. The Bill’s and their young son, Ted, loaded two moving trucks and headed south for sun, fun, and opportunity. Since their move in 1976, Naples has been home to Pelican Wire’s headquarters and the company has grown rapidly becoming a globally recognized leader in the manufacture of fine-gauge, high temperature resistance, and thermocouple wire.

Congratulations to the Lee, Charlotte, and Collier County small business owners and entrepreneurs who have seized opportunities, managed resources and overcome adversity to serve as role models for other business people. We are inspired by their stories of determination, innovation and success.

Sadly, Larry Bill passed away in 2008 following a courageous battle with cancer. At this time, Ted was well into a successful career with Disney in Orlando, but as a dedicated and loving son, he left it behind to move home and help his mother fulfill his father’s wish of turning the company over to its employees. Throughout the next year, Ted, Theresa, and a team of lawyers, accountants, and advisors worked together to restructure the company into an Employee Stock Ownership Program.

Finalists § Blue Diamond Jewelers

Since the restructure, Pelican Wire has continued to grow both organically and through acquisition, obtaining multiple companies over ten years and establishing a parent company, Pelican Holdings Group. Today, Pelican Wire and its sister company, Rubadue Wire, have more than 150 employee owners and generate annual revenues that exceed $40 million.

§ Golden Gate Nursery and Sod, Inc. § LCM Engineering § Pelican Wire § Purely You Spa

SPONSORED BY AND Endorsed by: Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce · Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce · Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce · Charlotte County Economic Development Office · Christian Chamber of Southwest Florida · City of Cape Coral Economic Development Office · Estero Chamber of Commerce · Florida Gulf Coast University · Florida South Western State College · Florida Weekly · Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce · Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce · Gulfshore Business · Hodges University · Lee County Economic Development Office/ Horizon Council · Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce · Southwest Florida Business Today · Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce · The Chamber of Southwest Florida · The Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce · The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce

FT DO F R O M T H E D E S K O F





___ Kyle De Cicco



Senior vice president and senior loan officer Sanibel Captiva Community Bank

Recently promoted



to Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s executive manage-





ment team, Kyle DeCicco is responsible for overseeing the solicitation, negotiation, underwriting and coordination of closing major and complex consumer, residential, equipment, SBA, commercial building and business loans. A Fort Myers native, DeCicco joined the

1. Wedding picture—married almost eight years to my high school sweetheart, Jenny. 2. Wharton

bank in 2016 with

Binder—currently enrolled in the three-year executive banking ABA Stonier Graduate School of

more than a decade

Banking Program through The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. For me, education

of banking experi-

never stops. The more I can learn, the more value and expertise I can deliver to my company and

ence.

my clients. 3. Name tag—I’ve been a board member of The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools since 2017. My wife is a teacher, so this is an organization I’m passionate about supporting. 4. Cell phone/iPad—technology keeps me connected to my clients and our employees 24/7, including triple desktop monitors and a laptop. The importance of technology in banking is like every other industry, we cannot fall behind if we want to stay ahead of our competitors. Fitness is another passion of mine and I’m always seeking out new things to challenge myself. 6. Bank maturing loan list—I review this daily and weekly to track maturing loans and manage loan renewal processes.

_ FEBRUARY 2020

gulfshorebusiness.com

ERIK KELLAR

5. Accolades—2019 finisher of Ironman Florida, 2018 Gulfshore Business 40-under-40 honoree.