Best Financial Advice for 2015
Meet our champions of diversity PAGE 18
Hey, Coach!
Executive trainers can put you on the fast track Page 32
education Winner
Neil Phillips
PAGE 28
We don’t just get involved. We help support the entire community.
Our commitment to involvement goes beyond our commitment to helping our clients succeed. It extends to the community where we all live and work. Every year, Shumaker donates its time and resources to more than one hundred area organizations. In keeping with this spirit of giving, our associates within the firm have even created their own charitable foundation. So beyond our commitment to our clients, our involvement in the community brings a higher purpose to everything we do.
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick,LLP
C H A R L O T T E
C H A R L O T T E
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick,LLP Attorneys Law S A at R A S O T A
C O L U M B U S
C O L U M B U S
S A R A S O T A
941.366.6660
•
T A M P A
T A M P A
slk-law.com
T O L E D O
T O L E D O
Zenith Insurance Company Zenith is proud to be associated with independent insurance agencies, brokers and policyholders who share our vision and commitment to diversity.
Zenith helps a broad spectrum of businesses with their workers’ compensation needs. We are committed to: • Improving workplace safety and health • Striving for optimal medical outcomes • Managing the claims process • Fighting fraud and abuse • Returning injured employees to work
Excellence. Commitment. Stability.
©2014 Zenith Insurance Company. All rights reserved. ®Zenith and TheZenith are registered US service marks. The A.M. Best logo is a registered trademark of A.M. Best Company. For the latest rating access www.ambest.com.
JANUARY 2015 Lori Sax
Diversity is Hard Work
Since this is our Unity Awards issue—our fifth annual celebration of the people and companies that strive to create environments of inclusion—I poked around to find the latest research about diversity and workplace performance. The general consensus? An inclusive, multicultural work environment is not just on the right side of social justice, it’s also a smart way to boost your bottom line. A more diverse workforce creates a more productive workplace. And that makes sense. As one observer said, you wouldn’t want a sports team comprised of nothing but lefthanded pitchers, right? When a company employs people with different backgrounds, skills and ideas, the company has a bigger data set to draw on. More information means more innovation, which means more revenue. We’re stronger when we’re inclusive. A 2014 MIT study bears that out, but there’s a twist. While the researchers discovered that diversity is good for the bottom line, they also concluded that workers aren’t necessarily happier in a diverse environment. Why? Because it’s hard work to stay open-minded and have your thoughts and values challenged. Group think is way more comfortable. Our Unity Award winners, however, are living proof that opening your mind can expand your life. Not only have they created opportunities for others; to a person, they say their efforts have also helped them to grow and succeed in ways they never dreamed. Please join us on Jan. 27 at 11:30 a.m. for our Unity Awards luncheon to honor them. Visit unityawards2015.eventbrite.com.
18
Meet our 2015 champions of diversity. Cover Photo by Barbara Banks
he Best Financial Advice 28 TI Ever Received Nine money-savvy professionals share tips for success.
ow Try This 32 N How executive coaching furthered three business leaders’ careers.
6
43 Financial
Talk
Stuff you need to know, from monitoring employee social media to a survey of the area's foreign buyers.
37 What I’ve Learned
Jay Vandroff of Yarnall Moving and Storage Solutions.
Intelligence
Start the New Year on the right financial foot.
63 FAST TRACK Movers, shakers and headline makers.
47
73 The Seen
Airbnb’s impact on the region’s hotel industry.
80
Tourism Beat
59
HR Corner
Solutions for highemployee turnover.
People and events in pictures.
Off the Clock
Attorney and international soccer referee Christina Unkel.
ADVERTISING SECTIONS
39 Sarasota Human Resources Association:
Advancing the Human Resources Profession
50 Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Guide 69 Top Lawyers of Sarasota and Manatee susanb@biz941.com
biz941.com Check out our website, featuring new and archived articles, and sign up for our e-newsletter, Biz(941) Daily. JANUARY 2015
BIZ(941) 3
We’re Lending to Local Businesses!
CEO
Dan Denton
Executive Vice President & Group Publisher
Kelley Lavin
Vice President & Editorial Director Consulting Publisher Vice President & General Manager
Editor
Pam Daniel Randy Noles Pamela Flanagan
Susan Burns
Editorial Managing Editor Senior Editor Associate Editor Web Editor Web & Editorial Assistant Interns
From small businesses to corporations, our family-owned, privately-operated bank has over $6.23 billion in assets and is ready to lend to you!
Contact Sally Beyer at 941-345-1159
Kay Kipling Hannah Wallace Megan McDonald Chelsey Lucas Bobbilynn Hollifield and Sara Mineo
Art and Production Publications Director
Norma Machado
Art Director
Lauren Pritchard
Art Director
Ian Solomon
Designer Advertising Services Manager
Amy Hoffarth Katherine Orenic
Advertising Senior Account Executive
firstbanks.com
!! I ! ! !
Kim Davis
Account Executive
Keith Magnuson
Account Executive
Debra Clark Maradiaga
Account Executive
Dan Starostecki
Account Executive
Sandy Moore
Account Executive
Christie Busch
Sales Support Manager/ Assistant to the Group Publisher
Regina Walters
!!!
nternship Partners Wan ted!
!!!
Ilene Denton
Marketing
Director of Events & Marketing Marketing Intern
Circulation
Circulation Director
Circulation Coordinator
Cindy Christo Brown Danielle Dygert
Diana Clenney Joy Quici
!
Business
Clerk Credit Manager Sales & Marketing Assistant
Sara Clements Deborah Feinsod
Contributing
Writers
New College of Florida is seeking organizations who are interested in partnering to offer internship opportunities to qualified college students. For program details, please contact Internship Coordinator, Andrea Knies, at 941-487-4421 or aknies@ncf.edu.
Contributing
Photographers and Artists
David Ball, Brad Edmondson, Lori Johnston, Kim Hackett, Cooper Levey-Baker, Molly McCartney, Rich Rescigno, Jackie Rogers, Carol Tisch, Abby Weingarten, Johannes Werner Jenny Acheson, Barbara Banks, Kathryn Brass, Matthew Holler, Chris Lake, Gene Pollux, Lori Sax, Alex Stafford
330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236 Phone: (941) 487-1100 Fax: (941) 365-7272 Biz941.com | SarasotaMagazine.com
4 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
WESTCOAST
BLACK THEATRE
TROUPE
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Board of Trustees, Staff and Artists applaud Nate Jacobs for providing cultural diversity and electrifying professional theater for the past 15 years.
941-366-1505 | WESTCOASTBLACKTHEATRE.ORg WBTT THEATRE | 1646 10TH WAy | SARASOTA, FLORidA
Talk JANUARY 2015
I NNOVATOR
➜ Chris
Cantolino
Anyone who’s grown tomatoes in Florida knows these plants are finicky in our oppressive heat, so Chris Cantolino, CEO/founder of Vizco US, Inc., invented SimGar: The Simple Garden to tackle this dilemma. “I’d plant [seeds], forget to water them and the plant would die,” he says, “so I came up with something that waters itself.” Cantolino dubs the system a hydroponics-terraponics hybrid. It comes with a plastic tub base that houses irrigation and filtration systems and either a solar panel for outdoor use (priced at $169.99-$229.99) or specially selected LED lights that provide optimal growth for your plants indoors (priced at $149.99-$219.99). After the 15-minute set-up process and adding soil and water, the system weighs approximately 300 pounds. Cantolino and his team of 25 employees added wheels for easy relocation. “My mom has one and she loves it,” he says. “She’s older and can’t bend over so I figured out a way to make her happy.” Cantolino also manufactures the plastic used in SimGar, and his factory is entirely run on solar power installed by Sarasota’s Region Solar. And SimGar is not limited to tomatoes; Cantolino uses his for herbs and leafy greens. There was a soft launch last July, but Cantolino expects things to progress this year with TV advertisements, local distribution and experimenting with the current design. “Our system has add-ons,” he says, “Right now we’re experimenting with worms.” ■ By Chelsey Lucas
6 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
alex stafford
SimGar: The Simple Garden
o v e r h e ar d
“I would like a city where I could bike and walk, but what I really want is better jobs and the ability to take my small income and find an affordable place to live.” —Roger Butterfield, 24, at the “Building a Regional Economy to Keep and Attract Youth” panel hosted by the South West Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice.
METRIC
$77.8 million
The dollar amount of SBA loans made to Sarasota and Manatee businesses in FY 2014. In FY 2013, the amount was $78.2 million and in FY 2012 the amount was $51.6 million. SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration South Florida District
Biz Rules
By Chelsey Lucas
Monitoring Employee Social Media Last month, Republican Party staffer Elizabeth Lauten resigned after posting a snarky Facebook comment about Sasha and Malia Obama. But how should employers handle this issue when one of their own employees is griping or gossiping? It’s complicated, says Kimberly Page Walker, a labor and employment attorney with Williams Parker. “There’s a difference between personal venting and protected speech,” Walker says, and it’s important to determine what type of speech it is before taking disciplinary action. Various laws protect an employee’s conduct outside of work, including private and public whistleblower laws, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the constitutional freedom of speech. If the employee is sharing confidential information like trade secrets or client information, or is engaging in the violation of the rights of others, it’s likely that disciplinary action will be advised.
But employers should think twice about consulting social media profiles in the hiring process or during an employee’s tenure in case they learn about “protected characteristics or conduct,” such as a mental illness or having formerly filed for bankruptcy. Down the road, the employee could accuse the employer of discrimination if the employee is terminated or passed on for a promotion. “Employers like to not be aware of those things so there’s no accusation,” Walker says. Employers can establish social media policies in the employee handbook, so long as those do not trump employee rights as established by the NLRA. Walker also suggests limiting social media access at work. “Employers should review social media policies to ensure that they are narrowly tailored to keep up with developing case law in the area,” Walker says. ■ JANUARY 2015
BIZ(941) 7
Talk
biz makeover
When Jody Jester and her husband, Ray, parents of two children, adopted six siblings who had been in foster care, it was evident that life
was going to change forever. “We knew taking on six kids would be a huge undertaking, but we wanted them to have the opportunity to grow up together,” she says. Jody was introduced to Bridge a Life, a support and advocacy organization for foster and adoptive families, through a free babysitting program offered to foster families. Now, several years later, Jody is an executive assistant for the organization.
JODY’S Goal “I wanted to find something suitable for work that is both stylish, comfortable and not so far out of my comfort zone that I won’t wear it.” Jackie’s Goal “I wanted to give Jody a polished look, infusing color while maintaining her sporty casual style. Her petite frame calls for clothes that are tailored and worn close to the body to define her shape; clothes that are too long, loose or baggy can overwhelm your look and visually shorten you. I selected a jersey knit skirt for its cut, length and versatility. I added a textured, zip-front cotton jacket that defines her shape and adds just the right amount of professional vibe without being too formal. Although this outfit could be worn with many different colored tops, I selected red to brighten her skin tone and rev up the gray.” JODY’S TAKE “I had a lot of fun seeing the outfit come together. I trusted Jackie to do her thing, because this is clearly not my area of expertise. I knew I would simply gravitate towards the same old things. We accomplished my goals.”
story and styling by Jackie Rogers Photography by alex stafford, Hair STYLED by Tammy Gamso AND Make-up by Lana Moreice , both of Fresh Salon. Spa. Style
8 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
BEFORE
In the comfort zone.
after Out-ofthe-box, showstopper style .
Where to buy Ann Taylor skirt, $79; Lavender
Brown top, $128, from Fresh Salon.Spa.Style; Drew jacket, $69, Hue tights, $9, both from T.J. Maxx; Vince Camuto boots, $139, from Dillards.
New Year. New You. New Tax Plan.
What changed for you last year? A new house, job or family member can mean significant tax breaks and considerations for you in 2015. Tax planning is more complicated than ever; meet with an experienced CPA to learn what opportunities exist for you. CS&L CPAs is an award-winning accounting firm that has been serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties for over 60 years.
SARASOTA
BRADENTON
(941) 954-4040
(941) 748-1040
Download our free tax guide at www.CSL Cpa.Com
Talk
THE LIST
Sarasota and Manatee’s Foreign Buyers
The top five countries international real estate buyers came from, Aug. 1, 2013-Sept. 30, 2014* Sarasota
Number of Purchases
Total Value
856
$138,509,100
$161,810
United Kingdom
87
$26,008,700
$298,951
France
75
$2,775,700
$37,009
Australia
59
$312,500
Germany
29
$5,283,700
Number of Purchases
Total Value
401
$49,608,937
$123,713
United Kingdom
43
$7,696,397
$178,986
Germany
19
$4,446,916
$234,048
China
8
$455,120
$56,890
Switzerland
6
$1,472,299
$245,383
CountRy of Origin
Canada
MANATEE CountRy of Origin
Canada
AVERAGE Value
$5,297 ** $182,197
AVERAGE Value
*The Sarasota County Property Appraiser recorded 1,267 purchases from buyers outside the U.S. totaling $216,225,600 from Aug. 1, 2013-Sept. 30, 2014. During the same period, Manatee County recorded 529 purchases from foreign buyers totaling $73,381,477. **Australians’ purchases were all North Port lots except for a condo in Serenade on Palmer Ranch. SOURCES: Sarasota County Property Appraiser and Manatee County Property Appraiser. Compiled by Chelsey Lucas and Mike Towler.
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Talk
Agenda
JANUARY
JAN. 8 Manatee Young Professionals networking social, 5-7 p.m. at Gecko’s Grill & Pub at Braden River Plaza, 4310 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton. Free for MYP members; $5 for guests. For more information, visit manateechamber.com.
JAN. 15 Bradenton Area EDC Economic Forecast Breakfast with economist Henry H. Fishkind, Ph.D., 7:30-9 a.m. at Manatee Technical College, 6305 S.R. 70, Bradenton. $55 for EDC Investors; $65 for future Investors. Register at thinkbradentonarea.com.
JAN. 21 Lakewood
Ranch Business Alliance Annual Membership Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, 7650 Legacy Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. $25 for members; $35 for nonmembers. Register at lwrba.org.
JAN. 19
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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JAN. 26 Manatee
Chamber of Commerce Pancakes & Politics 2015 Legislative Session Preview, 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the IMG Academy & Golf Club, 4350 El Conquistador Parkway, Bradenton. $25 for Manatee Chamber and paid MYP members; $35 for nonmembers. Reservations required to Lisa Reeder at (941) 748-4842 ext. 123 or manateechamber.com/ events.
JAN. 27
Unity Awards luncheon sponsored by Biz(941) and La Guia magazines, honoring local champions of diversity, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Michael’s On East, 1212 East Ave. S., Sarasota. $50. To register, visit unityawards2015. eventbrite.com.
FEB. 5 Gulf Coast Builders Exchange Annual Dinner with keynote speaker Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, 5:30 p.m. networking, program at 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota. $135. Register at gcbx. org or call Albani Gustason at (941) 907-7745.
trendspotter
Mixing It Up
Millennials (the group currently between 18 and 34 years old) are the “most racially diverse generation in U.S. history” with 43 percent of its members nonwhite. By comparison, boomers (now aged 50-69) are 28 percent nonwhite and GenXers (currently between 34-49 years old) are 39 percent nonwhite. SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau Monthly Population Estimates (June 2014) as reported on npr.org
reader meter
The region’s unemployment rate has dipped to 6 percent. Will you be looking for a new job now?
64 Yes
%
36% No
SOURCE: Biz(941) Daily poll
WE VALUE the power of teams.
For Richard and Jennifer Gans, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s value is in bringing like-minded donors, volunteers and causes together. As an estate-planning attorney whose clients need ideas about how and where to give, Richard sees the Foundation as the perfect resource. It is “right at the heart” of the community, with deep insight into local issues and challenges. Jennifer values the fact that the Foundation provides information and then anyone can participate. “It’s up to you how much you give. I like that.” Richard and Jennifer Gans
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is here to help guide you in your philanthropic journey. With over $239 million in assets in more than 1,100 individual and nonprofit funds, the Community Foundation offers the security and peace of mind that comes from the knowledge that your philanthropic wishes will be carried out – now and in perpetuity. To learn more, call 941.955.3000. 2635 Fruitville Road, Sarasota | www.CFSarasota.org
Ask the Originals www.DineOriginal.com
Eat Like a Local “Can you recommend a great place to go for a special date night?
Talk
By Hannah Wallace
Biz bites
Sarasota’s Curry Station is a hidden gem of Indian cuisine.
CHAD SPENCER
(941) 366-8111 | bijoucafe.net
(941) 388-4415 | cafeleurope.net
(941) 484-9551 | crowsnest-venice.com
(941) 778-1515 | thewaterfrontrestaurant.com
14 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
The Place
Curry Station, 1303 Washington Blvd., Sarasota, (941) 312-6264, currystation.net. A clean and sunlit hole in the wall in a strip mall just north of downtown Sarasota, Curry Station is the perfect hideaway for a relaxing lunch—or even a big-time business deal in a private, out-of-theway setting. About a dozen four-top tables are arranged in front of a small buffet offering appetizers and salads, chutneys, rice and six or so
stew-like entrées to choose from.
The People
College kids who appreciate an international all-youcan-eat option; p olo-shirted pros from nearby print shops and automotive businesses.
Time Factor
Depends on how fast you can eat.
The Food
The buffet ($9.95) offers a selection of traditional Indian staples, depending on the day, as well as a small, Western-
style salad option. Snag some batterdipped vegetable pakodas with some creamy mint chutney or tzatziki-like raita, then top a scoop or two of jasmine or spiced rice with one of the rich main dishes on hand—the butter chicken is always a winner, as is spicy chicken or seafood curry, and of course vegetable options like chickpea chana masala. Mop it all up with delicious, doughy naan. (You can ask for a lunch menu, too, but really, the buffet is all you need.) ■
GOODWILL MANASOTA’s MARDI GRAS GALA Tuesday, February 17, 2015 6pm – 9pm, Michael’s on East Please join Maverick & Lulu -- 106.5 CTQ personalities and co-chairs of Goodwill’s signature event! The party continues at Michael’s on East in a fun-filled night of spectacular entertainment New Orleans style complete with King & Queen crowning, colorful characters and beads galore.
Tickets available at www.experiencegoodwill.org
& THANK OUR 2015 UNITY AWARDS EVENT SPONSORS FOR PROMOTING INCLUSION AND ACCEPTANCE IN THEIR CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTS.
Nikhil Joshi Robert C. Meade CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DOCTORS HOSPITAL
At DOCTORS HOSPITAL, we are committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect. That is why we foster a culture of inclusion and acceptance across all areas of the hospital, which embraces and enriches the diversity of our workforce, physicians, patients, partners and community.
Roxie Jerde PRESIDENT AND CEO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY
At the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY, our values of compassion, empowerment, innovation, integrity, quality and stewardship guide everything we do, every day.
FLORIDA BAR BOARD CERTIFIED LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY HULTMAN SENSENIG + JOSHI
At HULTMAN SENSENIG + JOSHI LAW FIRM, we celebrate, practice and advocate the peaceful coexistence of different ethnic backgrounds, cultures, interests, convictions and lifestyles. We seek equality for all in every aspect of our practice.
Bob Rosinsky PRESIDENT AND CEO GOODWILL MANASOTA
GOODWILL MANASOTA’S mission and core values define our perspective on diversity; maximizing the potential of every person we help and hire, regardless of disability, handicap, race or profundity of need. Our actions—providing jobs for people with disabilities and barriers to employment—firmly establish our unwavering commitment to respecting the uniqueness of individuals.
WE SUPPORT DIVERSITY IN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
John Weber SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND FLORIDA REGIONAL MANAGER ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY
At ZENITH, we are committed to an inclusive workforce rich in diverse people, talent and ideas. We believe that a mix of experiences and backgrounds fosters cultural growth, tolerance and mutual respect, and that these core values have made us into the company that we are today.
DOUG WAGNER DIRECTOR, MANATEE TECH AND ADULT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MANATEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE
MANATEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE is dedicated to being an educational community where all individuals are welcomed and afforded courtesy and respect. We believe that valuing diversity enhances learning and adds to the quality of life for all.
Dulcy Kushmore PRESIDENT
Jeff Benninghoff
CANADA MED SERVICES/ DISCOUNT PRESCRIPTION SERVICES
VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER
CANADA MED SERVICES / DISCOUNT PRESCRIPTION SERVICES is dedicated to the diverse needs of our community, and to responding to recent changes in health care. Our diversified programs support not only seniors, but those under 65 who face challenges in this arena, and assist local businesses and the changing needs of their employees.
ABC 7
ABC 7 is committed to achieving diversity in our work environment. We celebrate our differences and strive to create a culture that fosters tolerance, respect and courtesy among our team members.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARBARA BANKS
MEET OUR 2015 CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY. For the fifth year, Biz(941) and La Guia magazines are proud to honor the individuals and companies that embrace the range of humanity in our workplaces and community. They are creating an environment of equality, where every person’s race, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, cultural background and experiences are valued and contribute to the way we do business. This year’s winners have been bringing health care to underserved communities, ensuring immigrant workers’ rights, educating the disadvantaged and creating jobs for the hard-to-employ. They show all of us that such work leads to stronger companies, more successful organizations and a more vibrant Southwest Florida.
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NONPROFIT WINNER
Eladio Amores “THE BEST SOCIAL PROGRAM IS A JOB,” says Eladio Amores, who has worked to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities since the age of 12, when his older brother became a quadriplegic and Amores became his attendant. Last summer, after 14 years of volunteering for The Able Trust—a statewide nonprofit created by the Florida Legislature that raises money for programs like jobskills training, employer outreach and ADA compliance education—Amores was named its 2014 Volunteer of the Year. “During my chairmanship, we gave more money than at any other time, $2 million a year,” he says. (Among the recipients are Easter Seals, Goodwill and ARC-the Association for Retarded Citizens.) The Cuban-born, Venezuela and Puerto Rico-raised Amores, 65, owned a consulting firm that trained companies on diversity. The “Pathways to Independence” training program he developed for Marriott International resulted in 3,000 people with disabilities gaining employment. He also spent 10 years with the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Amores recently joined Goodwill Manasota in the newly created position of director of employment services. He works with employers to hire people with “barriers to employment—disabilities No. 1, and also criminal records, or people who are coming off welfare, or young people who have no work experience but need a job,” he says. “There’s a lot of myth, unfortunately,” he says. “[Employers] think because somebody has a disability that’s going to make their workers’ comp go up, or if they hire somebody then they cannot ever fire them; that’s not true. I do a lot to educate employers.” –Ilene Denton
“THE BEST SOCIAL PROGRAM IS A JOB.” JANUARY 2015
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LEGAL WINNER
Laura Safer Espinoza IN 2011, WHEN LAURA SAFER ESPINOZA
“IT PROVIDES SAFE AND HUMANE CONDITIONS FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HARVEST OUR FOOD. IT’S A NEW DAY IN AGRICULTURE.”
became the first executive director of the tiny nonprofit Fair Foods Standard Council, headquartered in downtown Sarasota, she didn’t anticipate that her organization would so quickly receive worldwide attention for its fight to protect farmworkers. But last fall the Fair Foods Program won a 2014 Clinton Global Initiative Global Citizen Award. President Clinton stated that the program “is the most astonishing thing politically happening in the world we’re living in today.” Espinoza, 61, is an attorney, retired New York Supreme Court Justice and lifelong social activist. She retired to Southwest Florida in 2010, after her husband told her to approach this next phase of her life like a candy store. “You’ll get to pick what you want to feast on,” he said. The Fair Foods Standards Council ensures that the hard-won rights of Florida’s 30,000 tomato pickers, recently won by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, are upheld. Those rights include an extra penny per pound for the tomatoes they pick, clean drinking water and other basic decencies. Espinoza and her crew monitor the treatment of workers in the field and do meticulous financial audits. In just three years of existence, their work is paying off in a big way for the agricultural workers who harvest Florida’s $650 million crop, and Espinoza is taking the campaign to other states. “This is a beautiful partnership of workers, growers and buyers,” Espinoza says. “It provides safe and humane conditions for the men and women who harvest our food. It’s a new day in agriculture.” —Susan Burns
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BUSINESS WINNER
Zenith Insurance Company ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY, a workers’ compensation insurance company with offices in seven states, has been in business for some 60 years and has always had a commitment to diversity, says Ursula Nixon, vice president of human resources. But two years ago, the company decided to formalize its commitment to its 1,400 employees, 215 of whom are in downtown Sarasota, by instituting a diversity and inclusion program. “Zenith’s diversity and inclusion policy goes beyond gender, race, age and sexual orientation to concentrate on the individual,” says Nixon. The company’s statement is powerful: “We particularly value diversity of thought.” Zenith’s Diversity and Inclusion Councils include members from every level of the company. Every employee goes through training to build trust. Zenith employees
Ensuring diversity: Zenith employees Edwin Orama, Christine Mathis, Nikelia Belvin, Thomas Cummings.
receive paid time to volunteer at the All Faiths Food Bank, and the company partners with Easter Seals of Southwest Florida to provide work experience for high school students with disabilities and learning challenges. The company also has sponsored NAACP events and the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. Such efforts have led to an increase in company bowling leagues, baseball teams and a greater mingling of employees. “We care what you do, but it’s how you do it and how you treat others,” says Nixon. “People come with different backgrounds and experiences. It’s their normal. We want employees to appreciate everyone’s journey and challenge their own assumptions.” All of this, of course, is good for business. “We pride ourselves on our service,” Nixon says. When employees feel cared for, so do customers. — Molly McCartney
JANUARY 2015
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ARTS WINNER
Nate Jacobs FOR ACTOR-PLAYWRIGHT-DIRECTOR Nate Jacobs, founding the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe—one of only two professional black theater companies in the state—back in 1999 was a natural outgrowth of both his theatrical background and his passion for mentoring youth. Now, celebrating its 15th anniversary, WBTT enjoys a building that has been completely paid for, a sellout season of shows, dedicated board members and “graduates” who’ve gone on to perform on Broadway and around the world. But for years the troupe struggled, playing in whatever spaces they could and often barely paying the bills. About five years ago, when Jacobs was close to giving up, he gained a new executive director and board president—former bank president Christine Jennings and former Asolo artistic director Howard Millman. The two helped the theater achieve financial stability and widen the audience for its productions, which focus on African-American playwrights and the African-American experience. (Both have now stepped down and a new artistic director, Richard Parison, recently took the reins.) “At the beginning, I thought I was the only one who wanted to see diversity on our cultural landscape,” says Jacobs, 55. “But I’ve been convinced the entire community desired the same dream. Our theater is successful because we are able to attract the black, Jewish and Hispanic community to our board of directors, advisory board, event committees and to our shows and events.” And, he points out, “WBTT has been a catalyst for getting African-Americans to come to the theater. No other theater organization in town hires and trains actors of color on the scale we do.” — Kay Kipling
“AT THE BEGINNING, I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTED TO SEE DIVERSITY ON OUR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE.” 22 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
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“MY RESPECT FOR THE AVERAGE WORKING GUY IS IMMENSE.”
ENTREPRENEUR WINNER
Joe Gonzalez
GROWING UP POOR in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen, Joe Gonzalez says he was “a ricocheting bullet moving through space.” His Cuban father and his Croatian mother divorced about the time Joe was born, and he spent many hours hanging around the bar where his mother worked. The turning point came when he passed the test to enter a parochial high school where he learned discipline and began socializing with kids who planned to go to college. Gonzalez eventually earned an accounting degree and worked as a financial analyst and later a globetrotting design specialist. In 1990, he bought a lawn maintenance company in Venice now known as ArtisTree. Gonzalez, 66, took the company from a fourman mow crew to a 250-member workforce serving Sarasota, Charlotte and Manatee counties. Annual revenues are now about $17 million. Gonzalez believes in providing opportunities for his employees. “My respect for the average working guy is immense,” he says. “Look at how hard they work, raise their kids and try to advance. These people are the backbone of my business.”
ArtisTree’s robust recruitment program puts Hispanic workers in managerial and foreman positions, women in management roles and people over 50 in a variety of jobs. The company conducts a number of employee appreciation programs, including an annual safety-training barbecue where account executives prepare and serve lunch to the crews. Gonzalez is especially proud of his “Thank A Landscaper” campaign to raise awareness of landscape workers, who are often viewed as a faceless commodity. “They make it possible for the homeowner to have a beautiful lawn,” he says. —Molly McCartney
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“I’VE ALWAYS LOVED TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE GROW.”
EDUCATION WINNER
Neil Phillips NEIL PHILLIPS IS THE FOUNDER, CEO and principal of Bradenton’s Visible Men Academy, an elementary-level public charter school started in August 2013 that caters to boys from low-income families. The school currently serves students in kindergarten through fourth grade, with plans to add an additional grade each year through eighth grade. “We start with the premise that traditional methods of educating boys from this demographic are failing, [and seek] to creatively deliver a school experience that effects different outcomes,” Phillips says. The school currently serves 105 boys, 51 percent of them
African-American, 39 percent Hispanic, 7 percent white and 3 percent Asian. Phillips, 48, is a former pro basketball player, a Harvard graduate and an Aspen Institute Educational Entrepreneurship Fellow who has been involved in minority economic imbalance and social justice issues on the national level. He developed an afterschool Visible Men program in Washington, D.C., and, after moving to Sarasota-Manatee and taking note of the region’s impoverished student demographic, opened VMA in Bradenton. “I’ve always loved trying to help people grow,” he says. Visible Men Academy uses a threepronged approach of academic excellence, character development and aspirational goals to inspire its students. Uniquely, the school has recruited African-American and Hispanic professional men to volunteer as role models. Only a year into the program, the first classes have reported impressive gains in reading. Only 17 percent of the boys entered the school reading at grade level; by the end of the year, more than 70 percent of the student body had reached that reading benchmark. “We’re an intense learning environment,” Phillips says. “If you’re fighting them every day about engaging, it’s time wasted. But if they’re stimulated and engaged they can see their own progress in real time.” —Chelsey Lucas
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MEDICAL WINNER
Shon Ewens AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, Shon Ewens, 40, understands that the earlier someone positively impacts a child’s life, the better the chance that child has of becoming a successful adult. “I wanted to be part of that change,” she says. Healthy Start programs begin at pregnancy, teaching women of all ages and walks of life how to care for themselves and raise healthy, productive children. But the disparity in birth outcomes between the advantaged and disadvantaged has always been difficult to navigate. Ewens is especially proud of the Save My Life program, which provides free prenatal and postpartum support for African-American families. It’s the first and only program in Sarasota County to concentrate on this population. Although most Healthy Start Coalition programs are government funded, Save My Life depends entirely on private contributions. The budget last year was $43,000. The program has been remarkably successful. In 2005, in Sarasota County, there were 23 deaths of babies more than 20 weeks old per 1,000 deliveries for AfricanAmericans compared to 4.8 deaths per 1,000 deliveries for Caucasians. During 2012, the fetal death rate dropped to 7 per 1,000 deliveries for African-Americans compared to 5.5 for Caucasians. Infant mortality also declined for African-Americans. Each year, Save My Life reaches 200 women, giving them and their children the support and skills to live a healthier, productive life. “Everyone deserves a healthy start,” says Ewens. —Molly McCartney
“EVERYONE DESERVES A HEALTHY START.” JANUARY 2015
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“IT WAS A TURNING POINT TO STAND UP AND SAY, ‘I’M GAY.’”
ALUMNI WINNER
Ken Shelin FORMER SARASOTA CITY COMMISSIONER Ken Shelin was a 2012 Unity Award winner as part of the Sarasota County Bar Diversity team. This year, we honor Shelin as our Alumni winner for his ongoing work to win rights for the LGBT community. Shelin, 75, who recently earned cheers when he stood up at a Sarasota Bar diversity event and said, “I’m Ken Shelin, I’m a Sarasotan, and I’m gay,” in 2012 convinced the city of Sarasota to establish a registry of domestic partners so that unmarried couples of any sex have the same basic rights, such as participating in health care and end-of-life decisions, as their married counterparts. Then Shelin took his crusade on the road, persuading Venice, North Port and Punta Gorda to enact similar ordinances. He’s currently in talks with Manatee, Lee and Collier counties as well as Bradenton and Naples. Recently he successfully lobbied the city of Sarasota to amend its ordinance to include transgendered individuals. In addition, he’s chair of Equality Florida, which is dedicated to equality for Florida’s LGBT community. Shelin says he understands that winning legal rights won’t prevent all discrimination. But attitudes are changing. “It was a turning point for me to stand up publicly and say, ‘I’m gay,’” he says. And then there was his daughter’s recent comment before he and his partner visited her in Connecticut where same-sex marriage is legal. “Why don’t you get married here?” she asked. “I’ve been with my partner for 38 years,” says Shelin. “I never thought I’d hear that.” — Susan Burns
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The Best
Financial Advice I Ever Received
By Lori Johnston
Nine money-savvy locals share guiding principles for success. The start of a new year marks the launch of well-meaning goals to save more, spend less, invest more wisely, and a slew of other personal and financial aspirations. To help you get started, we asked several of the region’s top financial professionals, business owners and philanthropists to weigh in with their favorite financial advice.
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Ned Davis, founder, Ned David Research. “I have always considered the most important financial advice the magic of compound interest. I tell the story of two 19-year-olds. The first put only
$16,000 into investments ($2,000 per year for eight consecutive years starting at age 19), and at age 65, due to compounding returns in an IRA at 10 percent, the $16,000 had grown to over $1 million. The second 19-year old invested $78,000 starting at $2,000 per year at age 27 (at 10 percent); at age 65 that investor had only $805,000. The lesson applies not only to savers and
investors but also to debtors who get hit owing compound interest. Compounding returns on investments is a guaranteed way to get rich. Compounding interest on debts is a good way to go broke.” Bill Johnston, former president and chief operation officer, New York Stock Exchange, and New College of Florida trustee. “The first financial advice I received was from my father and it was ‘your word is your bond.’ In my career at the NY Stock Exchange that was the credo under which we lived. In the good old days if you welshed or cheated they would ring the bell, stop trading and announce your crime. It’s no longer politically correct to do so, but what a message that sent to me as a 23year-old starting on the floor of the exchange.” William M. Isaac, senior managing director, global head of financial institutions, FTI Consulting; former FDIC chairman. “Diversify your risks, and don’t make bets you can’t afford to lose. This advice has served me
well. If more bankers had heeded this advice, we would have had a much more stable economy and few thousand fewer bank failures over the past half century.”
“Compounding returns on investments is a guaranteed way to get rich.” Christine Jennings, founder and former CEO and president of Sarasota Bank. “When I was a very young girl starting to work, the advice my father gave me and that I believe works was: You will never obtain what you want by worrying about that annual pay raise every year. To reach your financial goals, you have to watch your money every day. Everyone thinks, ‘Oh, this raise is going to change my life.’ Very few raises are that great. If you get in the habit of watching your money daily, then you can achieve the financial goals that hopefully you have set for yourself. In fact,
a smart person would save half their raise and not start living on more money.” John Jakes, Sarasota resident, best-selling American writer of historical fiction. “The best advice came in similar language from my father and father-in-law early in my marriage to Rachel: ‘Don’t buy anything you can’t afford.’ No cars on time. No appliances on time. No vacations on time. By ignoring this ‘commonsense’ idea Americans blithely continue to dig financial holes for themselves. The exception we had to make was our first house with a mortgage; at the time my salary as an advertising copywriter was unspectacular and so were my earnings from writing.” Kim Githler, CEO, InterShow and MoneyShow. “I have had so many phenomenal experts surrounding me, from Steve Forbes to Louis Rukeyser, who was an economic commentator, the best in the business. Buy value. Apple is a value buy. Look for growth. Look for the thing that will see 20 percent or 30 percent growth.
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“Live within your means. That applies to business, to life, to everything.”
Growth stock with value is probably the most important ingredient. I am not someone who puts a large nest egg ever at risk. It’s always value-oriented and growth-oriented.” Bob Carter, president and CEO, Bob Carter Companies. “The best financial advice I probably ever got was from my father. Early on, I learned the relationship between working and getting paid. If you wanted something, you worked to earn the money to get it. Growing up, it was very simple. The entitlement game didn’t get played very much in my house. In terms of [additional] financial advice from my father, it was to be an owner and not an employee. I was always a stockholder in the company, an owner in the company. He was big on the fact that you were always at the whim of the people who owned the company.”
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Georgia Court, owner, Bookstore 1. “Live within your means. That applies to business, to life, to everything. My mother and father always said that. If it has been outside my means or if it had been a huge financial risk for me to open this bookstore, I just wouldn’t have done it. I’m not a big risk taker. I wouldn’t buy a house, for example, that I had to struggle to pay a mortgage on. To me it doesn’t make any sense. I’m not going to buy a Lamborghini. Those are lovely cars, but to me that’s a foolish expenditure of money.” Thomas E. Beames Jr., senior vice president, managing director, SunTrust Private Wealth
Management. “It was from my father: Pay yourself first. My first paycheck was when I was 16 years old, working at Dairy Queen. I came home. He took me right to the bank. We opened up an account. The check [went] to the bank first. Then I could take out $10 for me. It just started that habit of not cashing a check
“Be an owner and not an employee.” but depositing a check, and then keeping a little bit out for myself. It shapes the conversations I have with clients in that we are to be stewards of our money. Typically, at least in our business, our clients’ money is very often not for them. It’s for the next generation or two. It’s for community service. It’s for a specific charity. When I tell them that, ‘We like to look at the stewardship of your resources,’ it gives that conversation more gravity.” ■
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B IZ(9 41) 201 2 U N I T Y AWA R D W I N N ER ‘S ‘
Lisa Merritt, M.D. Multicultural Health Institute
ACHIEVEMENTS ➧ Developed Gatekeepers of
Community Health, Sarasota Community Health Guide ➧ 2011 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute
3260 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34237 (941) 225-8198 the-mhi.org
➧ 2012 BIZ(941) Unity Award ➧ 2014 National Medical Association (NMA) Council on Concerns of Women Physicians Award
Through her integrative medical practice, Kinesia Rehab Group, and her nonprofit Multicultural Health Institute, Dr. Lisa Merritt has been the change she wants to see in the world. “Everyone should have access to health care and know how to take care of themselves,” she says. Her nonprofit addresses health disparities through education and prevention, development of community health workers, and collaboration between existing health care and social service organizations. “When we are all involved in improving wellness,” she says, “our communities are better off, and our kids’ futures are brighter.”
JANUARY 2015
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NOW TRY
THIS
How executive coaches inspired three local professionals.
Is it lonely at the top? Maybe not for executives and managers who work with a coach to bolster their careers, learn new skills or act as a sounding board for ideas and strategies. Here’s how three local professionals have used executive coaching to further their careers. By David Ball | Photography By Chad Spencer
Cynthia McCague Retired senior vice president and human resources director, Coca-Cola Company After nearly 40 years in human resources, including 28 years at Coca-Cola, Cynthia McCague, 64, matched up many company employees with coaches, and used her own coach to help cement her legacy at one of America’s most visible brands. However, it was the coach’s advice for McCague’s life after Coca-Cola that made the most surprising impact.
Q: Why did you hire a coach? A: “Four or five years before I retired, I contracted with somebody about the legacy work I was trying for in my business, things I wanted to accomplish that I wasn’t sure would get done. She talked to me about that, but then asked, ‘Now how much planning
32 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
have you done about the next chapter, about your retirement plans?’ That’s what we did for [the next] three years—worked very steadily on a game plan for how I wanted to spend my life after I wrapped up a career.” Q: How did she approach retirement coaching?
A: “She asked me what a typical day will look like. I said I liked to kayak, so I’m sure I’ll get up and kayak every morning. She said that will last about three weeks and then you’re going to want some other things in your life. I learned in order to have a satisfying next chapter you really need to be clear about what rings your
chime and what makes a happy life. For many of us in an executive role, some sort of intellectual stimulation is necessary. How you get that comes in a lot of different ways.” Q: What did your coach help you find? A: “She made me get very clear in the nonprofit area where my passion was and to not simply get involved with the first thing that comes along. My No. 1 passion is global women’s issues, so I got involved with the Global Fund for Women, which is a micro-grant organization focused on developing countries.”
Q: What are the challenges with hiring and using executive coaches? A: “There is a broad range of individuals with different kinds of backgrounds. There are people who have been through fabulous graduate-level executive coaching programs, and I’ve seen other people with much less preparation who have hung out their shingles and become an executive coach. Identifying the right person with the right skill set can actually be quite challenging. The fees attached to it can range wildly, so understanding if you are getting value for the service is important.”
MY EXPERIENCE Coaching history: Talked once a month by phone, occasionally in person, for three years. Biggest takeaway: Find a coach you trust; let him or her challenge you, but solve the problems for yourself. Finding the right coach: The initial meeting is important; make sure you are both aligned on your goals, potential outcomes and the coaching process.
Brian Hall Executive vice president, Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida Brian Hall, 57, has used executive coaching a few times over his 30-plus years in banking, mostly to deal with specific issues. His most recent coach was Jim Bos of MBJ Group in Sarasota, who assisted Hall with a common managerial need: assembling a professional team of employees.
Q: How did you connect with your most recent coach? A: “In 2002, I was a senior lending officer and then promoted to market president and CEO at SouthTrust Bank [before it was acquired by Wachovia in 2004]. The previous CEO initially had introduced me to Jim.”
Q: What was the goal for your coaching sessions? A: “We had quite a few people at the professional staff level who were new at SouthTrust and came from varying backgrounds and various markets around the country. Jim helped us work together to accelerate building a sense of team.”
Q: Did the coach address philosophies and attitudes among the team? A: “Some of the assessment tools led us to better understand preferred communication styles and understand [people’s] preferred way of being managed or led.”
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Q: Which is more important: to have trust and chemistry with a coach, or to find a coach with experience in your business? A: “I think the former. If I had an issue with something specific to my business, I’d be looking less at an executive coach and more at a consultant. Coaching is more generic to the challenges of managing organizations. You have to trust the things that are said are kept confidential. There has to be a certain compatibility.” Q: How do you know when it’s time to end the coaching relationship? A: “The team had clicked and was performing at a high level, we weren’t having turnover issues and things were running
smoothly. And then SouthTrust Bank ended up selling to Wachovia so that brought a natural conclusion.” Q: How do you know if you are getting value from a coach? A: “I’ve always had very specific issues or items I wanted to address. I would start with the end in mind and I’d be able to determine over a fairly short period of time how to get to a solution in a timeframe we all hoped for.”
MY EXPERIENCE Coaching history: Met in person once a month for three years. Biggest takeaway: Accelerating team building. Finding the right coach: Constantly evaluate; know when and how you will reach your goals so coaching doesn’t continue longer than necessary.
Q: What about cost? A: “Cost is always an issue, but it’s an investment like training and building skills. Don’t be afraid to stop it, change the frequency of meetings or adjust something. Make sure you are making the progress you want.”
Huldah Mathis Financial adviser, Northwest Mutual At 31, Huldah Mathis might seem young to employ an executive coach. But many young professionals see past the stigma of seeming weak or ineffective if they seek executive coaching. Mathis, in fact, has consulted with two coaches, both located in other states, as her career has evolved.
Q: How did you learn about coaching and its benefits? A: “It’s fairly well encouraged in our industry, and I’ve had coaches in other areas of my life, like sports, so I saw the value. The way our business is structured there is so much autonomy. That’s what drove me to do it—to have some-
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one give me an objective look. It’s no different than any other area where I’ve needed that.” Q: What did you want to improve or work on? A: “I wanted to grow and work on the business rather than in it. When you think about things like
infrastructure and hiring staff, building out a scheme and balancing that while also working with clients and doing the day-to-day stuff, you need some outside perspective.” Q: What were the coaching sessions like?
*
Who Gets Coaching
credentials and cost
REGULATION
There is no regulatory body governing education and qualifications of coaches; basically anyone can call himself or herself an executive coach. The International Coaching Federation, however, does offer credentialing and certification courses for members, and several colleges like University of Texas, Georgetown University and Pepperdine University offer graduate-level programs on coaching and executive leadership.
Fees Rates can vary vastly depending on a coach’s experience and expertise, though Forbes magazine suggests a good coach should cost the same as a top attorney, up to $400 an hour or more.
A: “I would set out my business plan for the year and we would stick to that on our calls and see where I was. And, of course, we would talk about other things that would come up, like looking to hire new staffers. A lot of it was sticking to the progress that was set out in the beginning of the year and modifying it.”
Q: What did your second coach help with? A: “A whole reorganization of my office, having systems in place, having everything as efficient as it could be from a process standpoint. It was partly people placement, but partly things that could go paperless or things that we were only touching once.”
Q: What were your coaches’ professional backgrounds? A: “My first coach’s background was in my business; her career evolved into coaching later. That gave her instant credibility; she spoke from experience. My second coach did not have experience in my business, but she did have a lot of executive coaching experience and probably could translate that into every kind of high-level opportunity.”
Q: Have your coaches helped make changes in your personal life, too? A: “Both of them have been good about helping me think first as a person and not as a business robot.”
Q: Why did you change coaches? A: “I needed to focus on different areas. Also, I felt like it was good to have someone who wasn’t as familiar with me and could be completely objective.”
MY EXPERIENCE Coaching history: Talked on the phone twice a month for five years with two different coaches. Biggest takeaway: Don’t be afraid to change coaches if your goals change. Finding the right coach: Use references; successful colleagues can be good resources for finding a coach.
and Why
66%
of CEOs do not receive coaching or leadership advice from consultants or coaches, while 100 percent stated that they are receptive to it.
78%
of CEOs said using a coach was their own idea; 21 percent said coaching was the board chairman’s idea.
60%
of CEOs said progress made in their coaching sessions is kept between themselves and their coach; a third said this information is shared with the board of directors.
43%
of CEOs rated “conflict management skills” the most important area for personal development.
The top two areas board directors want CEOs to work on are “mentoring skills/developing internal talent” and “sharing leadership/delegation skills.” Bottom of the list areas CEOS use coaching for are “motivational skills,” “compassion/empathy” and “persuasion skills.” SOURCE: A 2013 Stanford University study that polled more than 200 CEOs, board directors and senior executives of North American companies.
JANUARY 2015
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By Kim Hackett
What I’ve Learned
JAY VANDROFF Jay Vandroff, 52, is the third generation in his family to run Yarnall Moving and Storage, a firm started by another family more than a century ago and purchased by his grandfather in the late 1940s. No longer just brawny men and trucks, the Sarasota-based company, affiliated with United Van Lines and Mayflower, also operates a massive records storage division where employees move, scan, store and shred millions of documents in an 80,000-square-foot facility. On top of moving possessions to all 50 states, Yarnall provides white-glove moving services for designers and builders. It recently added a senior citizen relocation division, where a small team works closely with retirees, some with dementia, handling all the details of boxing, selling or moving furniture and heirlooms. Yarnall is truly a family affair. Gina, his mother, is CFO; Anita, his sister, is vice president; and his wife, Beth, handles the marketing.
brought me in as a little boy, and they’d put me on the floor with a toy moving truck to play with. When I was older, they handed me a broom.
I got first-hand schooling in the business in 1986 after college when I bought into a moving company in Syracuse with other family members. I was far enough away from my dad but close enough to get guidance. The first lesson I learned was in crisis management. Coming from small-town, no-union Florida, I was thrown in with a company that had a bad reputation dealing with unions, major accounts
and staff. I was fairly new and some employees thought they were more in line for my position. I learned how to take advice from a lot of people and develop relationships.
Keep quality high. Our biggest concern in New York was dealing with vendors who had been burnt. We overcame that by being personal and assuring them that we’re not going anywhere. We picked up a couple of big accounts; our quality scores went through the roof. We sold the company in 1991 and it continued to grow and I moved back here to get out of the snow.
alex stafford
I pretty much always knew that Yarnall was an opportunity for me. My parents
Pick your battles. That was my dad’s philosophy and one of the hardest things I had to learn. JANUARY 2015
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What I’ve Learned I used to spend too much time on small issues and not see the big picture. You have a customer who is adamant they were promised one thing, for example, and you know that they weren’t. Instead of charging them, you just take care of it. It’s something that is so simple, but you don’t see it at the time. Those are the things that come with age and time.
Listen to your customers; they will always tell you what services you need to provide. We had a commercial customer who had all these records and asked us if we could store them. We started in the record management business with one customer and a rack. It has grown to
half our warehouse space and is one of our biggest businesses.
The key to any business is quality people who are not only going to look out for the customer but the business as well. When the economy was really bad, we were facing dismal options: cut hours or lay people off. Our six-member management team came to us and offered to take a 15 percent pay cut so we didn’t have to lay anyone off. It helped our guys stay whole. As soon as the economy picked up, the first thing we did was restore their pay. You know you have a good team when they come to bat for you during a bad time.
Be active in the community. It’s a philosophy my dad had and I take it very seriously. We try to help out as many organizations as we can. I was on the Florida Winefest and Auction board; my wife is involved with Junior League Manatee.
I think a lot about succession planning. One of the last things you want to think about is your own demise, but if something happens to me, my mother or my sister, what happens to the business? It’s an issue that is ongoing, and our attorneys revisit it every year. I want to make sure the footprint I leave is the same as my father’s footprint. It’s finding the right person to make that happen. ■
What is your plan? At Capstan Business Solutions Group, we empower Business owners and their employees in pursuit of the greatest goal of all: a secure retirement and financial future.
Flexible Plan Options 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit, non-qualified, and more with direct access to industry leading providers Employee Consultations & Education Receive the highest level of service and personal attention… that’s the Capstan difference! Jen Russell/Administrative Assistant, Mark Nickles/ Financial Consultant, Partner, Tiki McKelly/ Director of Branch Administration, Nicholas Feather, CRPC®, AAMS®/Financial Consultant, Partner
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Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network and Capstan Financial Consulting Group do not act as a fiduciaries and do not provide tax or legal advice. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (“WFAFN”), member FINRA/SIPC, and a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate Wells Fargo and Company. WFAFN uses the trade names Wells Fargo Advisors.
38 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
Advancing the HR Profession. Advancing the HR Professional. The Sarasota-Manatee Human Resources Association is an affiliate chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), the largest professional association in the world devoted exclusively to human resources management.
Sarasota-Manatee
Human Resources Association
ADVANCING the HR Professional Certification and Professional Development
To increase certified human resources professionals in our community, SHRA maintains exceptional certification preparation spring and fall classes for members wanting to increase their HR knowledge and earn that all-important HR certification. The Certification and Professional Development Committee works with SHRM and HRCI to offer competency based preparation materials. Certification prep classes help members: • Understand the material tested on the HRCI- PHR (Professional in Human Resources) / SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) exams, or SHRMCP (Certified Professional)/ SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional) exams. • Keep on track with certification studies, and • Network with peers. Completing the certification program benefits both HR professionals and their employers by increasing HR knowledge, improving efficiency and developing job skills. Find out more about the spring and fall SHRA Certification Class at myshra.org.
SHRA Recognized for Taking Certification to Another Level
The Sarasota-Manatee Human Resources Association was the recipient of the HR FL State Chapter Excellence Award and National Pinnacle Award, given by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) to its state councils and chapters for highly notable contributions to the HR profession. Only 12 human resources organizations across the country received this prestigious award this year. SHRA was recognized for achieving outstanding certification results for its members. HR Florida Chapter Excellence awards are also given each year to honor achievements and inspiration in core leadership areas: diversity, workforce readiness, college relations, membership, certification, global and legislative affairs. Chapters who win this award are recognized at annual state conference and in HR Florida Review magazine, and receive an honorarium.
SHRA was recognized for achieving outstanding certification results for its members.
Join SHRA Today! myshra.org
Mission
Value
Vision
Provide a local forum for professional development opportunities for human resources professionals.
Champion the highest professional standards of HR ethics and performance.
Provide ongoing professional development, resources, networking and support for our members and our community.
40 BIZ(941 JANUARY 2015
ADVANCING the HR Profession The team from Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s Office, left to right: Karene Leworthy, Lori Tolksdorf, Judy Powell, R.B. “Chips” Shore, Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Lori Stephens, Carole Pettijohn, Angel Colonneso, Cathy Slusser, Christine Clyne and Dan Wolfson.
Join SHRA Benefits of membership
The First Annual SHRA Alltrust Diversity Award
Workplace diversity can be thought of as “the collective mixture of differences and similarities that includes, for example, individual and organizational characteristics, values, beliefs, experiences, backgrounds, preferences and behaviors.” (Source, SHRM.) Workplace diversity is about appreciating differences and adapting practices to create an environment in which diverse skills, perspectives and backgrounds are valued. This year for the first time, SHRA is recognizing the member and their company who have demonstrated that appreciation for differences and who have successfully created an inclusive work environment. The 2014 Sarasota-Manatee Human Resources Association Alltrust Diversity Award is awarded to Christine Clyne, SPHR, Director of Employee/ Public Relations, R.B. “Chips” Shore Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. SHRA also honors annually their Volunteer of the Year, a chapter member dedicated to and actively involved in advancing the profession and serving the professional through volunteerism. Recipients are recognized at the January meeting and receive a gift and an honorarium, which is matched by SHRA to be donated to a charity chosen by the winner.
Educational Programming. Learn from local and national speakers on timely HR topics. HRCI Recertification Credits. Attend programs preapproved for recertification credit through the Human Resources Certification Institute. Networking Opportunities. Attend monthly meetings and special events for an opportunity to network with hundreds of HR professionals from Sarasota and Manatee counties. Certification Preparation Program. Share expertise, review test strategies and contribute study tips in preparation for certification exams. Scholarships and Awards. Receive scholarships for degree programs and certification prep, and awards for the HR Professional and Volunteer of the Year, and the Diversity Award. Free Job Posting and Resume Bank. Post job openings and resumes on myshra.org. Newsletters. Receive the member newsletter with program information, legislative updates, event information, and more. Manatee and Sarasota County human resources professionals and students who are enrolled in an accredited HR degree program are encouraged to join SHRA.
The Sarasota-Manatee Human Resources Association began in January 1963 as the Sarasota Personnel Association, a small group of people who wanted a meeting ground for discussing issues related to personnel administration. Today, SHRA has more than 200 HR professional and student members from across Sarasota and Manatee counties. SHRA’s members are some of the area’s most talented and dynamic human resources professionals. SHRA provides monthly professional development meetings for members and guests. SHRA is a SHRM affiliate chapter and proudly supports our state council, HR FL. SHRA represents 28 chapters and more than 14,000 members in the state of Florida.
Visit us at myshra.org and follow us on Twitter @SHRA_HRchapter.
By Lori Johnston
Financial Intelligence
to new and existing businesses. Often he finds that expense projections are too conservative and don’t allow for surprises. “Things always happen slower and cost more money than you’ve thought,” he says. “The whole downside of that is that it will cause you to underestimate your needs for cash.” He suggests adding 20 percent to initial expense projections.
Avoiding Money Mistakes How to start the New Year on the right financial foot. It’s time for a clean slate. As 2015 begins, remaining ignorant of your business’ finances or making the same bad fiscal decisions can keep you from reaching your goals before January ends. Instead, avoid these four common small business money mistakes.
Letting unbridled optimism rule. Entrepreneurs often have financial projections wrong from the beginning, which can be costly
when it’s time to pay loans or other bills. “Revenue projections are way too optimistic. Guys think they’re going to open the door and be running third-year volume on Day One when nobody ever heard of you,” says Bob Bertelsbeck, a former CPA who worked in management for NCR Corp., a $6 billion technology company. Bertelsbeck now assists business owners through the Manasota chapter of SCORE, which provides free mentoring, business advice and workshops
Not factoring in “opportunity cost.” What’s called “opportunity cost” is essentially an opportunity that was missed while you are pursuing another action. For example, you will likely have to wait for a bank to review a loan application, which could be a couple of weeks to a month. If approved, it could take that long, or longer, to fund the loan. The process may require you to take time out of serving customers or making products to provide documents and materials that support your financial projections, or to pay an accountant or bookkeeper to handle these inquiries from the bank. You may be unable to serve a customer or to pursue new business during the time spent going through the loan process, or you will pay greater expenses to have documents prepared by someone else. Always anticipate that projects will take longer than you think, and factor in more time and money to compensate. JANUARY 2015
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Skimping on expert help. The idea of paying professionals to help with financial and legal decisions may make a business owner, especially one just getting started, cringe. But it’s consistently the one piece of advice that successful business owners recommend in order to comply with tax laws and to meet any government requirements, depending on your industry. “If you are thinking about starting a business, definitely meet with a CPA who specializes in businesses and work with an attorney. That’s your team,” says Christine Jennings, founder, and former CEO and president of Sarasota Bank. “You can get yourself in trouble fast if you don’t have them. If you get into the trap of finding things out too
late, it can cost you much more money and stress.”
“If you are thinking about starting a business, definitely meet with a CPA who specializes in businesses and work with an attorney.” Being unclear about your loan interest rate and terms. If a bank is willing to give you a loan, congrats. But weigh the pros and cons of the type of loan. For example, a fixed-rate loan may cost more, but can offer
CHOOSE THE LANDSCAPER THAT LUXURY BUILDERS USE
a level of security over a variable rate loan. “The trade-off is you have no uncertainty as to the future financing costs,” Bertelsbeck says. Also, make sure you are correctly calculating your interest rate and the real impact on monthly and weekly payments. Some businesses have lines of credit with local banks that they fail to pay down to zero annually, he says. When this happens, that line of credit, meant to be for the short term, essentially serves as a long-term financing vehicle. Finally, recognize extra costs such as origination fees that lenders charge, as well as potential application, administration, due diligence, contract and processing fees. They may be rolled into the cost of the loan, which makes them easy to overlook. ■
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Tourism Beat
JENNY ACHESON
By Cooper Levey-Baker
The Lido Beach House is one of hundreds of Airbnb listings.
Turbulence Ahead?
How Airbnb is impacting the hotel industry. Without a doubt, they’re the most buzzed-about four syllables in the vacation rental world: Airbnb. The website is simple. Type in your destination and dates and up pops a list of locals willing to rent out their space. Accommodations range from a humble air mattress, the type of bed that gave the site its name, to an opulent $1,000-a-night, 4,000-square-foot Sarasota School of Architecture treasure on Siesta Key. And those
are just two of the more than 1,000 options listed in Sarasota and Manatee counties in early November last year. Airbnb is hardly the first DIY rental site, but it’s had a deeper impact than any other site like it, mostly thanks to the wide latitude it grants renters and tourists and the ease of its reservation system. Sarasota freelance photographer Jenny Acheson has used Airbnb almost since the site launched in 2008. She owns
an apartment in the ultrahip Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg. When she moved to Sarasota, she started using Airbnb to book short-term rentals, which she found to be much more lucrative than long-term arrangements. At one point, Acheson was earning $245 a night for access to her 900-square-foot Williamsburg loft. The arrangement was such a boon, in fact, that when Acheson and her husband were looking to buy property on Lido Key, JANUARY 2015
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Tourism Beat
they specifically searched for a place that would be appealing on Airbnb. Acheson now lists three separate “Lido Beach House” units on the site. The idea of inviting a stranger to crash in your home might give you the willies, but Acheson says she’s never had major problems. One plus of the site is that property owners can review their guests, which can alert fellow users to shady tourist behavior. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how big an impact Airbnb is having on Suncoast tourism. Sarasota County deputy tax collector Liz Klaber says her office can only directly trace around $5,000 in tourist development tax dollars from the first 10 months of 2014 back to the site, a tiny amount considering the county collected $915,000 in August alone. But since those paying the tax don’t have to specify the exact source of their rental income, it’s impossible to know exactly how much money is changing hands through Airbnb. According to Debbie Meihls, executive manager of the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, hotels in Manatee County have seen no drop-off in revenue because of the site. Visit Sarasota County president Virginia Haley says the site’s impact here may be minimal because of the region’s huge number of short-term condo rentals. Out of approximately 15,000 Sarasota County rental units, only 5,000 or so are traditional hotel or motel rooms, she points out. The appeal of Airbnb in a city
48 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
like New York is that you don’t need to pay exorbitant hotel rates. But in Sarasota, tourists have always had plenty of non-hotel options. Still, as Haley points out, many Airbnb listings may not be legal. The office of New York State attorney general Eric T. Schneiderman recently issued a report claiming that 72 percent of New York City Airbnb rental units violate zoning laws and other regulations. In Sarasota County, the zoning code prohibits rentals shorter than 30 days except in designated areas on barrier islands. Violators face a fine of up to $250 per day. Within the city of Sarasota, the rules are also strict. For rentals shorter than eight days, property owners must follow all the same regulations as hotels and B&Bs. So if you’re interested in renting out your place, that’s your first step: Find out if you can do it legally by contacting the zoning department in your county or municipality. The second step: Pay your taxes. Airbnb entrepreneurs must pay both the 5 percent tourist development tax to the county, plus a 7 percent sales tax to the state. In addition to your taxes, Airbnb charges a 3 percent fee for use of the site.
When Acheson first got started on Airbnb, she looked at properties near her Williamsburg loft to gauge initial pricing, then slowly raised it. Small details, like the apartment’s proximity to the subway, its views of the Williamsburg Bridge, etc., made her property more attractive than the competition. The higher price also means the apartment remains empty at times, allowing her to visit New York, too. Another tip from Acheson, appropriate coming from a professional photographer: Take good photos. Airbnb is a graphicheavy site, and bright, colorful images that show tourists exactly what they’re in for lead to success. In fact, a small number of property owners make a disproportionate chunk of the money on Airbnb. The Schneiderman report found that the top 6 percent of owners made 37 percent of the revenue. Hotels and other traditional rental companies may cry foul about Airbnb’s success, but users say the site offers flexibility to travelers and extra income for those with space to spare. New York hotels may not like the competition she provides, Acheson admits: “I quite frankly don’t care.” ■
Airbnb entrepreneurs must pay tourist development and sales taxes.
ADVER TISEMENT
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KEISER UNIVERSITY is a regionally accredited, Students gain valuable real-world experience in private university serving students seeking doctoral, a sport setting by participating in four internships master’s, bachelor’s and during their sport management program. associate degrees in nearly This provides students professional “Students in the 70 concentrations. Whatever opportunities in entry-level settings sport management including professional sports teams, college they hope to do professionally, program receive students can advance their athletic departments, sport communication career opportunities through and public relations firms, sport marketing a well-rounded these highly marketable and advertising agencies and recreational education that links degree programs. The Bachelor facilities. sport management of Science degree in sport Skilled sport management professionals management presents a wide theory with industry are the true force that powers successful range of professional and sport organizations around the country practice.” academic opportunities. and around the world. Keiser University’s The sport management program creative scheduling (one class at a time), at Keiser University provides an opportunity to combine students-first philosophy and effective support a student’s love of sports with a career in business. systems will help prepare students for the fast-paced, This hybrid program couples the convenience of online established sport industry. learning with personalized, face-to-face instruction Don’t delay your dream of working in the sport in the classroom. Students learn about the business industry field. For more information, please visit the of sports, including topics such as sport marketing, school’s website at keiseruniversity.edu. sport journalism, consumer behavior and social media and technology usage in the sport industry. At Keiser KEISER UNIVERSITY SARASOTA CAMPUS University, students in the sport management program 6151 Lake Osprey Drive, Sarasota, FL 34240 receive a well-rounded education that links sport (866) 534-7372 | KeiserUniversity.edu management theory with industry practice.
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ADVERTISING SECTION
MARKETING Q&A SMART TALK FROM TOP COMMUNICATION EXPERTS.
boostDFM Q What is a “Digital Marketing Agency”?
“Internet marketing” implies web development services like SEM and SEO. While almost everything we create communicates over the Internet, not all our projects are viewed in a web browser. We design and build digital products embedded in standalone devices, mobile phones and touchscreen kiosks. That’s an important distinction: We’re always looking at future marketing solutions so there’s no limit to the solutions we provide.
Q Do you still do traditional marketing, too?
Yes. At boostDFM, we focus on inter50 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
active digital media, but traditional approaches are also important. We believe digital technologies are tools to complement, not replace, traditional marketing. Our expert team combines innovative marketing strategies with award-winning branding, design, advertising, marketing and print media that are integral to the whole project. With this broad palette, we can deliver the best solutions possible.
And if the unexpected happens, we can respond immediately. Companies, organizations and individuals know that working with us means we’re accessible and responsive at every stage of a project and beyond.
Q How do you characterize your relationship with clients?
7317 Merchant Court, Suite A Lakewood Ranch, FL 34240 (941) 907-9293 boostDFM.com Contact: Jason Drosky
We think of our clients as partners. “Client” suggests someone you only see at the start and finish. We develop ongoing relationships to ensure we stay connected and our strategic marketing remains on track.
BoostDFM delivers strategic thinking, responsive service and true partnership. “BoostDFM has been a genuine partner in providing us with quality development work, responsive service and an award winning website design. Their project approach is well organized, inclusive and thoughtful… and their command of technology and collaborative spirit delivers innovative solutions and quality outcomes.” Peter J. Hayes President/Founder, Tandem Construction
boostdfm.com
ADVERTISING SECTION
Digital Image Business Solutions
tent that entices prospects into finding out more about your products or services. Examples include: Search Engine (Content) Marketing, Blogs, Events, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media and more.
Q How can I determine if my advertising efforts/investments are paying off?
With over 30 years of business development and consulting experience, I am always amazed to find that 90 percent of companies spend money on advertising to see if it will work. First ask the question, “What is my company, customer and product profile?” Then connect the dots between marketing, advertising and sales to determine the most effective advertising approach by measuring the number of leads and cost/lead.
Q What is inbound marketing?
Inbound Marketing is customer driven. A prospect searches for your product or service at the time they are ready to buy. Effective inbound marketing allows you to target a core audience by providing useful and quality con-
52 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
Grapevine Communications Int’l., Inc. – Advertising Agency Q How do you keep your ideas fresh year after year?
7216 21st St. E. Sarasota, FL 34243 (941) 757-1880 dibsfl.com Contact: Gregg Anderson
New clients and technologies keep us exploring new ideas that often redefine the way we approach our strategies for effective advertising, marketing and public relations. Plus, our multi-award-winning team is truly the best in the business. They are passionate about their work, and they crave the challenge of dreaming up fresh, bold and intelligent solutions that bring real results for the businesses we serve.
Q How important is it to work with a full-service advertising agency? Brand awareness begins with
BoostDFM delivers innovative ideas, real collaboration and effective marketing. “When we needed a partner to work on the BioScanR, a new medical technology tool, we turned to boostDFM. They brought fresh ideas, quality work, and quick response to every phase of development, from design of the product and user interface, to branding and strategic marketing.� Tracy Ingram CEO, Intention Technology, Inventor of BioScanR, xPrize Top 21 team finalist
BioScanR diagnostic app design
boostdfm.com JANUARY 2015
BIZ(941) 53
ADVERTISING SECTION
consistency. Creating, maintaining and exposing your brand and its message to all forms of media commands the attention of an agency that can do it all with an experienced creative team— not just focus on certain segments. We establish and encourage consistency in the use of our clients’ brands, giving target audiences enhanced levels of recognition, familiarity, awareness and expectations.
Q What makes Grapevine stand out in your industry?
Grapevine Communications is much more than the high-quality work and bottom-line results we provide our clients—we’re also a big part of our community. Since our inception, Grapevine has operated under the philosophy that it is a privilege to serve our community. With this belief comes a deep, longstanding commitment to give back—and we do so with pride. We’ve donated over $1.6 million in services to date.
Q How important is it these days to work with a full-service advertising agency? 5201 Paylor Lane, Sarasota, FL 34240 (941) 351-0024 grapeinc.com Contact: Angela Massaro-Fain
Next-Mark, LLC Q What makes you stand out in your industry?
Though we’re based in Sarasota, our clients are worldwide. Thus, we’re not your typical 9-5 business. Rather, we have a model that allows us to work to our clients’ schedules and rhythms. Large enough to meet any marketing need, we’re small enough to ensure personal attention. Knowledgeable and strategically focused, we have a proven track record of successful longterm relationships with clients of all sizes.
It is critical. Working piecemeal and with a variety of vendors is not the way to promote a business. A strong brand requires a solid business and marketing strategy, a consistent, powerful message, carefully plotted tactics, and analytics to test and guide. True fullservice agencies are getting harder to find, and companies should seek out those that provide integrated solutions and not just individual tactics.
32 Osprey Ave., Suite 203 Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 893-3140 ext. 100 Next-Mark.com Contact: Joseph S. Grano Jr.
TRANSFORM YOUR BRAND Forget everything you know about ordinary agencies. Discover Next-Mark. Numerous global and national companies, including LexisNexis, Nuance Communications, Elsevier, Westfield Malls and California Pizza Kitchen, have come to Next-Mark to build their marketing communications programs and transform their brands. We also work with growing local enterprises, such as The Rivolta Group, Ad-Vance Talent Solutions, Yarnall Moving and Storage and The Sarasota Film Festival. Full-Service and Seasoned Located in downtown Sarasota, the award-winning Next-Mark is a truly full-service agency providing marketing strategy, communications, public relations, social media management, video production, website creation, marketing research and more. We welcome that powerful conversation that will lead to a new level of success for your business. Call us today for a free consultation.
www.Next-Mark.com 941.893.3140 54 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
Expect Something e r e Diff nt…
Take your business to a new level of creativity with effective marketing solutions that bring groundbreaking results. Burst through the edge of your comfort zone and take a stride towards something extraordinary. Give us a call today.
941.351.0024 ~ www.grapeinc.com
The most award-winning agency in the region: 2014 Small Business of the Year Award - Manatee Chamber of Commerce 2014 Best of SRQ - “Best Marketing/PR Agency” 2014 Tampa Bay Business Journal - “Top 25 Advertising Agencies of SW Florida”
2014 Gulf Coast Business Review - “Gulf Coast Top 500” 2012 Living On The Suncoast Magazine - “Best Advertising & Marketing Firm” 2010 Small Business Award - Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce 2006 Young Business Award - Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
ADVERTISING SECTION
Vetted Communications LLC Q You’re new on the scene. What’s up with your name?
To vet is to evaluate. That’s what I do—I listen so I can evaluate your situation, your issues, your goals. That way, I can understand where you are, where you want to go and help you develop a plan that will get you there—not a year from now, but yesterday. (Not to mention that penchant I have for my Corvette… but that’s another story!)
Q So what’s different about Vetted Communications from a full-service agency?
I can help you place ads; I can put you in touch with good designers. But if what you need is someone to help you create a plan to tell your story in a way that resonates with your audience, that’s me. And, with 20 years of journalism, writing, editing and public rela-
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tions under my belt, I’ve learned to do it quickly, accurately and very well.
Vetted Communications, LLC Bokeelia, FL (239) 339-7914 vettedcommunications.com Contact: Nadine Slimak, owner
Ward Group PR, Inc. Q Can you describe one of your successful public relations programs?
U.S. Masters Swimming, usms.org, is the premier resource for adult aquatic fitness in the United States. The organization is focused on making fitness through swimming available for as many adults as possible. In 2014, USMS declared the month of April
“Adult Learn-to-Swim Month” after the Centers for Disease Control reported that 37 percent of American adults cannot swim the length of a standard pool.
Q Can you recap the media results achieved?
We worked with USMS to shape their message and deliver mainstream media coverage with fresh eyes and from all angles. A national radio media tour (1,500 stations) and a television PSA (aired in 28 states) helped people understand you are never too old to learn how to swim. Print coverage in The New York Times and USA Today told the story from the perspective of a new swimmer.
5511 Lucia Place Sarasota, FL 34238 (941) 961-3708 allisonmoorepr.com Contact: Allison Ward Moore
“We hired Allison to generate PR for our April Adult Learn-to-Swim campaign. The result was a 10-to-1 return on our investment. Allison has two decades of experience as a PR professional. She intimately knows how the media industry works and how to shape the message to generate published stories. Her media relationships are currency we leveraged to deliver significant national exposure. Naturally, Allison will continue to help us with other messaging and PR.”
Rob Butcher, executive director, U.S. Masters Swimming
Let’s give them something to talk about.
Ward Group PR 941.961.3708 allisonmoorepr.com
PUBLIC RELATIONS • STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS • MEDIA RESULTS
Interview By Susan Burns
HR Corner
Don’t Leave Me! Listening is the first step toward reducing employee turnover.
Q
Robert owns a small software business with eight employees. His business has grown 20 percent in each of the last two years and he is starting to win bigger, more complicated projects that require longer timetables and highly experienced employees. Unfortunately, he can’t take on all the projects he’d like because he keeps losing so many employees, and he has no idea why they’re leaving. “It feels like I spend all this time training new people, and then they leave in less than a year,” he says. Because he’s in the tech industry, many of his workers are millennials. Robert wonders if they just don’t have the same work ethic and habits as older employees. He isn’t making enough profit to raise salaries. All this turnover is hampering his company’s growth. Is there anything else he can do to keep his employees?
A
Lisa Eding, human resources director, Sunset automotive
I would suggest that Robert sit down and talk to his people individually about what’s happening. If he’s not comfortable one-on-one to sit and talk, he can do a survey. It could be anonymous, but he needs to craft the questions carefully so he can get the answers to the issues that he has. He could get an online survey at little to no cost. SurveyMonkey is the most popular, but an online search will reveal several options. If he does the survey, I would suggest he ask another business owner, a confidant or an HR con-
sultant to look at the survey to get feedback before he sends it out. Once he gets the responses, he needs to analyze the information, meet with employees and discuss the issues. It’s important that Robert understand there must be follow-up. If the owner wants to think the answers are all garbage, he’s done more harm than good. But if he takes the feedback and goes over it with staff and says, “Here are the things we can take a look at,” he will be making progress. Maybe employees’ issues are specific: “Our lunchroom is dirty.”
That’s an easy one to fix. Half a dozen complaints might be simple and he can solve those immediately so employees can see tangible efforts and progress. If the high turnover turns out to be a result of inadequate training, CareerSource Suncoast has training programs paid for by the state and customized for each business. Robert could go to CSS, talk to a business development counselor and talk about their On The Job program; there are grants available to help defray the costs. JANUARY 2015
BIZ(941) 59
HR Corner
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ONLINE SARASOTAMAGAZINE.COM
Vote for your favorite local dining, shopping, entertainment and more! Winners will be announced in our May 2015 issue. Enter by Jan. 15, 2015, and you could win two tickets to our
Best of Sarasota party April 21, 2015, at Selby Gardens.
60 BIZ(941) JANUARY 2015
Another important initial factor for him is to reevaluate his interviewing selection process. He simply may be selecting the wrong candidates. There is a lot of material online and many books on interviewing and selection. CareerSource Suncoast has experts to assist him with this as well. But some issues—particularly business services the company offers and the benefit packages available—might be impossible to fix, and Robert needs to be honest and say, “These are the things that aren’t going to work and here’s why.” He must be upfront about “These are my non-negotiables.” Robert can ask employees for their input and get their ideas, but he must let them know that the owner has the final decision. For example, a non-negotiable might be that a business with a storefront must be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flextime might not be an option here. The ultimate culture is set by the owner, and employees will mirror what they see. If the employer talks about fairness and morality but employees are not treated well, they lose respect. Employers need to walk the talk. It’s becoming more so in the workplace. People are becoming more educated about what is right and what is important to do. The most effective style is firm but fair. You
don’t treat everyone exactly the same, but you treat them equally. When I talk to employees, the managers who are most respected are fair and usually quite firm. They tell their employees, “Here’s the standard I will hold everyone to.” Working with millennials can be a challenge if you’re from a different generation. Millennials like projects and they like their bosses to give them a deadline and the instructions for how they want it done. They like flexible schedules and will work at 3 in the morning, especially if that means they can quit early and go to a movie or the beach. Since Robert is in the tech industry, this might be an option. He should be open to giving them a project with a deadline and see if they can do it on their own timeframe. Millennials also like a lot of feedback and enjoy team work, so Robert might consider providing more input about projects and setting up teams for some tasks. In the end, Robert needs to ask his staff, “How can we turn around our culture and enjoy our workplace, be fulfilled and feel like you are making an honest day’s wage?” He has to make his employees understand that we’re all in this together and that if the business isn’t successful none of us have jobs. ■
“The managers who are most respected are fair and usually quite firm.”
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Fast Track
Movers, Shakers & Headline Makers
TOM WATERS
SAMANTHA CUMMINS
POSITIONS TAKEN Gary King, chief sales and business development officer, Tervis. Jason Frost, vice president of land acquisitions; and Elayne McKinney and Bill Panebianco, area sales managers, Neal Communities. Melissa Larkin-Skinner, promoted to chief clinical officer; Heidi Blair, promoted to chief administrative officer; Roger Johnson and Melanie Teves Bell, promoted to senior vice presidents, medical and clinical services; and Shawny Robey, promoted to vice president of business development, Manatee Glens. Tom Waters, president and CEO, Easter Seals Southwest Florida. Kameron Partridge Hodgens, president and CEO, Glasser Schoenbaum Human Services Center.
JACK COURSON
BRIAN THOMAS
Dawn Stanhope, president, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. Scott N. Schroyer, public utilities director, Sarasota County government. Cynthia M. Clark, associate attorney; and Paul E. Olson, of counsel, law office of Dunlap & Moran, P.A. Bradley J. Ellis, associate attorney; and Lori Molnar, real estate closer, law firm of Icard Merrill. Samantha Cummins, property management and rental leasing, Jennette Properties Manatee Avenue office. Clinton Burgess, chief executive officer; Christine Bellaire, vice president of client relations and human resources; Nicholas P. Kapiotis, general counsel; and Darby Brown, field risk manager, PEMCO (Progressive Employer Management Company).
ALEXANDER K. JOHN
TOMMYE BARIE
Jack Courson, project manager, Bruce Williams Homes. Charla Burchett, estate planning attorney, Shutts & Bowen LLP. Dr. Delia Cotera, dentist, Osprey Dental. Harry V. Wright, M.D., surgeon, Hillstrom Facial Plastic Surgery. Brian Thomas, special assistant to the president for constituent and government relations, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Joshua Edelmayer, client relationship manager, First Security Capital Management, LLC. Alexander K. John, attorney, business and corporate and health care practice groups, law firm of Blalock Walters. C.J. Bannister, director, American Veterans & Their Families Initiative, Goodwill Manasota. Dan Sidler, communications and marketing manager, Lakewood
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Fast Track Ranch Business Alliance. Andria Piekarz, director of philanthropy, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. Susan Burke, executive director, Gloria Musicae. Forest Balderson, grant coordinator, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. Marty Katz, director of development and marketing, Friendship Centers.
ACCOLADES Drew Smith, president of Two Trails Green Consulting, was named Certifying Agent of the Year for the fourth consecutive year by the Florida Green Building Coalition.
Alltrust Insurance was named one of the Best Places to Work in Insurance by Business Insurance and Best Companies Group. U.S. News & World Report ranked New College of Florida the No. 5 public liberal arts college in the nation as part of its Best Colleges 2015; the 10th consecutive year it has ranked in the top six. TripAdvisor recognized The Ringling as one of the 25 top museums in the U.S. in the 2014 Traveler’s Choice Awards, and one of the top six art museums in the U.S. for visitor experience. DWY Landscape Architects received three design awards from the Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects
in the categories of institutional, residential and conceptual design. Kimley-Horn and Associates received an award of honor in the category of open space. Misty Servia of King Engineering Associates was elected Manatee area director of the Florida Suncoast Chapter of the American Planning Association. Andrea Tetla of First Bank was named treasurer of the Humane Society of Manatee County. Bruce Williams Homes celebrated its milestone 45th anniversary. ROBRADY Design received an international Red Dot Award for its work on the Merlin Power Systems portable fuel cell.
Fast Tracker When he lived in New York, Paul Orsino took his two children to a birthday party at Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park. “I just saw the children’s happy faces and thought ‘This is a good thing to get into,’” he says.
After two years of market research, Orsino, whose family is originally from this area, decided to jump into the Sarasota market. “Sarasota is a community very involved with fitness and being healthy, and that’s what this business is all about,” he says.
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He partnered with the Starling Group on the construction of a 30,000-square-foot building just east of I-75 near Bee Ridge Road, making the space more conducive to the trampoline layout than if he’d moved into an existing structure. And with so much space, capacity is set at 181 jumpers per hour. Although the target age group is 5 to 25 years old, Orsino’s Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park offers programs for
everyone from toddlers to those who suffer from joint pain. Birthday parties, skill-level fitness classes that allow you to burn up to 1,000 calories per hour, team sports and open jump are just some of the available programs. “I’d like to help change everybody’s minds about fitness in Sarasota and show that fitness can actually be fun,” he says. —Chelsey Lucas
David R. Kotok
Chairman & Chief Investment Officer Since 1973, Cumberland Advisors has been a trusted source for expert, personalized money management. Our firm has a wealth preservation bias and a conservative investment orientation to manage both risk and return. As a fee-for-service manager, our firm manages more than $2 billion in fixed income and equity accounts. Our clients include individuals, institutions, retirement plans and government entities.
One Sarasota Tower
2 N. Tamiami Trail, Suite 303 Sarasota, FL 34236
800.257.7013
www.cumber.com
@CumberlandADV
614 E. Landis Avenue Vineland, NJ 08360
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Fast Track Marc Lazarus was elected 2014-2015 chair of United Way 9-1-1 of Manatee County’s board of directors; Dan Vigne was elected vice chair. The New College board of trustees elected Keith D. Monda chair, and Felice Schulaner vice chair. PGT received Window & Door’s 2014 Crystal Achievement Award for best product literature. Scott Antritt of Caldwell Trust Company received the Florida Bankers Association’s TinsleyWells Honor Graduate Award upon his graduation from the Florida Graduate Trust School. Steve Harner of The Crow’s Nest Marina Restaurant was elected
chairman of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals restaurant group. Jennifer Compton was elected president of the board of Girls Inc. Port Manatee received the Quest for Quality Award from Logistics Management magazine. Elisa Graber of Iberiabank is the 2014-2015 chair of the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness. Motorworks Brewing won a bronze medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival competition presented by the Brewers Association, the largest national beer competition that recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States. Robert Coppenrath is the
2014-2015 president of the board of the Glasser Schoenbaum Human Services Center. Michael J. Wilson and Holly Dennis have joined the board of Center for Architecture Sarasota. Garrett Shinn, Christine Yekel and Christy Cardillo have been named partners at Shinn & Company CPA. Brian Loughrey, Sarasota County Property Appraiser administrative director, received the national Thomson Reuters Public Sector Champion Award for Excellence in Office Leadership. Tommye Barie of Mauldin & Jenkins was elected to a oneyear term as chair of the board of
Fast Tracker Emmy Award-winning composer Michael Cohen, 64, opened Signature Sound Recording Studio at 2047 Global Court in Sarasota late last summer, and since then he has completed an album and worked with such local musicians as singer-songwriter Sheree Cade of Bradenton, tenor Jonathan Herman of Sarasota and the Backbeat Blues Band of Tampa.
With $200,000 invested in equipment, including a Rupert Neve Designs 5088 mixing console, his studio offers analog music recording, tracking, mixing and mastering services. “It doesn’t matter what genre of music you’re recording,” he
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says, “the most important thing is to get the tracks in high fidelity and then, after the fact, you can add all the effects to get the desired attitude of the music.” A former psychologist and alto saxophone player, Cohen says his interest lies in exploring people’s creative sides. He says that, beyond producing
music, he is considering offering people the opportunity to chronicle their histories, like a vocal scrapbook for future generations. “This type of creation is more on the psychological end, the satisfaction of knowing ‘Here is my voice and my story,’” he says. —Chelsey Lucas
As a Sarasota insurance agency, we represent a range of personal and business insurance options from the most financially sound and respected companies. Sarasota Insurance Services Inc. has been a trusted provider of auto, home and business insurance to families, individuals, businesses and property owners in the Sarasota area with 30 years of combined experience.
AUTO - HOME - BUSINESS - HEALTH - LIFE - BOAT - MOTORCYCLE 941-331-1360 - www.SarasotaInsuranceServices.com 3737 Bahia Vista St Suit 3 Sarasota, FL 34232
We Celebrate Giving Throughout The Year! Thanks to our committed and caring donors, the Manatee Community Foundation distributes over $2.6 million in grants to nonprofits, awards over $100,000 in scholarships, and honors over 125 Legacy Society members.
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US ON MARCH 4 FOR THE
OF MANATEE AWARDS
Marilyn Howard, Executive Director
941- 747- 7765 www.manateecf.org www.facebook.com/manateecf
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Fast Track directors of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Cliff Walters, Jo Rita Stevens, State Sen. Bill Galvano and Realize Bradenton were honored as Goodwill Amb assadors of the Year by Goodwill Manasota. Freedom Boat Club honored Oscar Liberatoscioli of Venice as Dockmaster of the Year; Marti Wagley of Venice and Englewood as Instructor of the Year; Todd Pirro of the Marine Center in Englewood for Outstanding Achievement; Joe Bettley of Venice for the Innovation Award; Anne-Marie Micalizzi of Venice, who won the Alison McMillen Employee of the Year award; and
the Sarasota dock crew won Freedom Boat Club of the Year.
MOVING AND OPENING The Bradenton-based law firm of Blalock Walters has opened a third office at 146 Second St. N., Suite 100, St. Petersburg. Bryan and Cheri Guentner of RE/MAX Platinum Realty have opened Platinum Title, LLC at 410 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey. Ben Nathan has opened WunderKraft branding, marketing and advertising agency. Canine Ranch Country Club has opened at 5557 Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch.
Moseley Investment Management has opened an additional office at 1630 Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota. Dolce Italia has opened at 6551 Gateway Ave. in Sarasota. Just Because, an art gallery, has opened at 7 Boulevard of Presidents on St. Armands Circle. Web design and SEO company Destiny Group has relaunched as Nextiny Marketing. Sweet Repeats & Boutique, a children’s resale and boutique, has opened at 1937 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. Nathan Maciejowski has opened the Sarasota office of Clevelandbased Redwood Financial Network.
Inventing is Easy. Selling is Tough. The Biz(941) and New College Aha! Creativity Conversation and Cocktail Hour Join renowned global mega-inventor Walter Herbst as Rob Brady, CEO of ROBRADY, peeks into his entrepreneurial and imaginative brain for an inspiring discussion about how not only to create amazing products, but also how to make them profitable. Walter Herbst, IDSA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 • 5:30 – 7:30 pm College Hall • New College of Florida
After the conversation, mingle with the entrepreneurs featured in Biz(941)’s 2015 Aha! issue for a cocktail hour to motivate your own creative and enterprising spirit. For tickets go to aha!2015.eventbrite.com or call Cindy Christo Brown at (941) 487-1100. 68 BIZ(941 JANUARY 2015
AD VER T IS ing secti on
Top Lawyers of Sarasota and Manatee Counties 2015
Leading attorneys in our region with a broad range of legal ability, experience and expertise. BIZ(941) 2013 UNITY AWARD WINNER
SARASOTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION DIVERSITY COMMITTEE PROUDLY SUPPORTS
SARASOTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION DIVERSITY COMMITTEE MISSION STATEMENT THE SARASOTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION DIVERSITY COMMITTEE’S MISSION is to encourage a diverse legal community truly representative of the diverse population of Sarasota County by promoting dialogue among bar members concerning the benefits of inclusion, by educating lawyers and the public about diversity policies and practices, and by creating programs to foster cooperation between members of the local legal community and people of diverse races, ethnicity, religions, cultures and backgrounds.
SARASOTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 507 | SARASOTA, FL 34230 scba@sarasotabar.com
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A D VER T IS EM ENT
PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION
Dan Dannheisser A NAME YOU CAN TRUST.
DAN DANNHEISSER PADEREWSKI, DANNHEISSER & FLAHERTY, P.A. (941) 365-7600 DANDANNHEISSER.COM
Trial attorney Dan Dannheisser—AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating given to attorneys—represents injured people facing medical and financial challenges resulting from devastating injuries. A skilled trial litigator with over 30 years of experience representing injured people, Dan takes his work and his clients’ welfare very seriously. He is adept in communicating complex issues to juries, helping clients and witnesses communicate in trials, and working with doctors and other experts to present the full extent of his clients’ injuries and damages. Initial consultations are always free. Dan views client-attorney relationships as more than just court representation. He cares beyond the courtroom and seeks the best medical physicians to help his clients regain their quality of life. With an extensive understanding of medicine and law, Dan provides his clients with both the legal and medical attention they need to make a real difference in their lives.
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Dan explains, “We represent people who have been injured because someone was negligent. Their injuries are often catastrophic, and they don’t know what to do next. They need a real trial attorney who knows how to best represent them—someone who listens and understands their problems. This is what we do every day, and we FOR DAN never charge an attorney fee DANNHEISSER, until our clients recover their IT’S ALL ABOUT compensation. THE CLIENT. THERE “My clients are faced with IS NOTHING ELSE. seemingly insurmountable financial and medical challenges. Often they can’t work and have rising medical expenses. They’re afraid, and we understand that. We know how to help them overcome their challenges and create a future they and their family need. For me, it’s all about the client. There is nothing else.”
A D VER T IS EM ENT
PERSONAL INJURY LAW
M. David Shapiro DEDICATED TO JUSTICE.
SHAPIRO GOLDMAN BABBONI & WALSH Accident Attorneys
SHAPIRO GOLDMAN BABBONI AND WALSH, P.A. 308 COCOANUT AVE. SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 954-4000 GETMEJUSTICE.COM
For more than 25 years, AV-rated civil trial lawyer M. David Shapiro has honed his expertise in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death. He and his partners, David Goldman, Michael Babboni and Bernard Walsh, have dedicated their combined experience to assist accident victims who have suffered the devastating consequences of injuries. Together, they have successfully handled more than 10,000 personal injury claims. Shapiro is a Florida Bar board-certified civil trial attorney who received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and graduated with honors from the Florida State University College of Law. During his career, Shapiro has successfully litigated cases in courthouses throughout Florida and before the United States Supreme Court. He dedicates his practice to fighting for people who have been needlessly injured or who have wrongly lost a loved one. He is also a certified circuit court mediator. Shapiro is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a group of attorneys who have achieved
million dollar recoveries, settlements or verdicts. He is also an Eagle member of the Florida Justice Association. Shapiro and his wife, Robin, a Sarasota native, have three children. He serves on local organizations’ boards, including the TOGETHER, Sarasota Film Festival and SHAPIRO AND HIS Children First. Shapiro is a trustee member PARTNERS HAVE of the Sarasota Chamber of SUCCESSFULLY Commerce and a member of HANDLED MORE the Downtown Sarasota AlliTHAN 10,000 PERance. He has lectured and authored numerous articles SONAL INJURY on personal injury law. A CLAIMS. strong supporter of historic preservation, Shapiro’s firm is located in the 100-yearold Halton House, a registered historic landmark. Based in Sarasota, the law firm of Shapiro, Goldman, Babboni and Walsh serves the west coast of Florida with additional full-service offices in Bradenton and St. Petersburg.
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AD VER T IS EM ENT
CONSTRUCTION AND COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
David E. Gurley FLORIDA BAR BOARD CERTIFIED IN CONSTRUCTION LAW. David E. Gurley has over 30 years of experience providing legal counsel for development and construction projects throughout Florida and the Caribbean Basin; he’s also the founding shareholder of Gurley Vitale, a Sarasota-based commercial litigation, construction and surety law firm with a national and international reach. Gurley Vitale combines market-leading legal services with a comprehensive understanding of its clients’ needs to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and business opportunities for its clients. The firm is committed to providing the expertise, responsiveness and personal service of a boutique law firm and the quality and attention to detail that are the hallmarks of large firms. By delivering the highest-quality legal services possible while maintaining a constant focus on each client’s goals and objectives, Gurley Vitale provides solutions, not just legal services. 601 S. OSPREY AVE. SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 365-4501 GURLEYVITALE.COM
FAMILY LAW
Edward B. Sobel ALL SIDES OF FAMILY LAW. Board certified by the Florida Bar in marital and family law, Edward B. Sobel provides specialized advice and representation for individuals involved in complex family matters. His areas of practice include divorce, prenuptial agreements, domestic violence, paternity, child custody, nonparent/grandparent child custody, alimony and child support. His Bradenton law office serves all of the west coast of Florida. Sobel graduated cum laude from Muhlenberg College, where he was a member of the Psychology National Honor Society, and received his law degree from Emory University. Designated an AV lawyer—the highest ranking for professional abilities and ethics—by Martindale Hubbell, he’s also been certified as a family mediator by the Florida Supreme Court, a designation that indicates his commitment to full services for his family law clients. In addition to his legal practice, Sobel strives to share his experience and expertise as an instructor of seminars for Florida Bar Family Law continuing legal education. 4900 MANATEE AVE. W., SUITE 206, BRADENTON, FL 34209 (941) 746-1203 LAWYERS.COM/EDWARDBSOBEL
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The Seen
Photography by Lori Sax
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LWR Business Alliance Sandies 1 Darren Haimer, Dianne Kopczynski, Mauldin & Jenkins; Rick Bennett, Lahese and Associates 2 Sherie Becker, Heather Kasten, LWR Business Alliance; John Macy, Macy's Pest Control; John Wojtyna, Aqua Plumbing & Air 3 David Fink, Rogan & Associates; Violetta Huseman, Keiser University 4 Jeana Schmidt, American Cancer Society; Jay Riley, USF Sarasota-Manatee 5 Ken Swan, Wagner Realty; Barbara Zdziarski, LWR Business Alliance
➜ See more photos from The Seen at biz(941).com.
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The Seen
Photography by Lori Sax
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Manatee Sarasota Chamber Expo 2014 1 Bill Ames, Lacee Evans, Sandy Young, iHeart Media 2 Holly Alvarez, Port Manatee 3 Josh Jett, Nancy Netherlend, SouthTech 4 Troy Peterman, Gigi Schaefer, Ryan Hargraves, PayServ 5 Van Smith, Jeff Benninghoff, Regina Hopper, Don Brennan, ABC7
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PINC Sarasota 1 Isabel Norton, Carolyn Johnson, Ringling College of Art and Design 2 Rich Swier Jr., The HuB; Megan Greenberg, atLarge 3 Andrea Knies, New College of Florida; Laurel MacDonald; Joani Spadro, Ringling College 4 Anand Pallegar, atLarge; Nelleke van Lindonk and Oliver van Lindonk, PINC 5 Lisa Seidensticker, Louies Modern; Roger Capote, Selby Gardens
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Celebrating 20 Years
CONNECTING EMPLOYERS to Workforce Solutions Talent Sourcing Employee Development Retention Strategies Call for your personalized workforce solutions! 941.714.7449 ext. 3109 Follow Us @ CareerSourceSC
2007 Manatee Chamber Small Business of the Year
An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.
careersourcesuncoast.com
Workplace Experts We Help You Build Business Results Through:
A Better Workforce A Better Workplace Daniel J. Forssell, AAI
Brett M. Lacey
More Options. Better Choices. That’s Benefit Advisors! • Reliable employee benefits consulting • Committed to acting in YOUR best interest • Focused delivery of our proven expertise
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Bradenton/Sarasota
941-201-5610
www.benefit-advisors.com
Pat Mathews
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The Seen
Photography by Lori Sax
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EDC Sarasota's "From All Things Batman"
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1 Liam Jordan, Sean McGann, Ringling College of Art and Design students; John O'Keefe, actor; Robert Gray, Suncoast Technical College 2 Michael Uslan, producer of Batman, etc. 3 Steve Heinz, Custom Air; Patrick McCall, actor 4 Rob Jones, Megan McDonald, Sarasota Magazine 5 Chris Purnell, Sarasota County EDC; Robert Foti, Sarasota County Film + Entertainment Office
➜ More Seen photos at biz(941).com.
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Volume 12/Number 1, January 2015, Biz(941) (ISSN 1936-7538) is published in January, February, April, June, September and November, six times a year, by Gulfshore Media, LLC, 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236. Subscriptions are free to qualified individuals. For customer service inquiries, subscription inquiries or to change your address by providing both the old and new addresses, contact: Subscription Department, Biz(941), 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236. Phone (941) 487-1100 or (800) 881-2394, Fax (941) 365-7272. Periodicals postage paid at Sarasota, Florida, and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2014 by Gulfshore Media, LLC. 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.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Biz(941), 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236.
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The Seen 1
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P.J. O'Rourke at Sarasota Tiger Bay Club 1 P.J. O'Rourke 2 Susan Holic; Rita Ferrandino, Sarasota Democratic Party 3 Judge Rick DeFuria; Kristina Ferro, Michael's On East; Morgan Bentley, Bentley & Bruning P.A.
Scott Dennis
Hayley Wielgus
Chief Meteorologist Bob Harrigan
Your Suncoast News We’re Here For You
MySuncoast.com JANUARY 2015
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Off the Clock
By Ilene Denton
"I’m attracted to the overall team struggle. I like the passion, the teamwork."
CHRIS LAKE
CHRISTINA UNKEL
Goal! Attorney Christina Unkel scores big as an international soccer referee. A soccer player since age 5, Christina Unkel was captain of her college soccer team until she tore her ACL twice. Now 27 and a Sarasota-based business law, civil litigation, and sports, arts and entertainment attorney with her own firm, U&A Group, P.A., Unkel turned to refereeing—an avocation that took her to China in August for the Nanjing Youth Olympics Games as a FIFA referee. She’s also one of just three female referees who represent the United States Soccer Federation domestically and internationally. Why soccer? “It’s hard to explain to people who don’t understand the sport,” says Unkel. “I’m attracted to the overall team struggle. I like
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the passion, the teamwork. And it crosses all cultures.” Unkel started refereeing at age 10. “It was an easy way to earn money and get free concession stand food,” she says. She never aspired to play professionally simply because “there wasn’t a professional league when I was growing up. Now there’s the National Women’s Soccer League. I referee college soccer, too, for the NCAA, and it’s cool to see the students have ambitions to play professionally.” Unkel must pass quarterly fitness tests to remain a referee, so she devotes a couple of earlymorning hours daily before work to weight and interval training.
“As a referee you have to be where the ball is, so you’re running for all 90 minutes of the game,” she says. And she brings her passion for the sport back home. She’s past president of the Sarasota Area Sports Alliance, and she organizes an annual kickball event through the Sarasota County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. “The judges, state attorney and public defender come out for it; it’s a fun, social thing,” she says. Unkel’s husband, Ted, travels the country as a Major League Soccer referee, something she’s aspiring to. “We don’t travel together,” she says, “although we’ll see each other sometimes in the Atlanta airport.” Another aspiration: refereeing the Women’s World Cup in Canada in June. “Fingers crossed that I’m selected,” she says. “If not, I’ll make another run for it in four years.” ■
TS
SATURDAY
RAN OM G O R S CLAS CHOOLS S IDING PROV OR LOCAL F
1.24.15 Payne Park 2050 Adams Ln, Sarasota
RACE DAY INFORMATION Opening Ceremony Starts at 8am 5K | ½ Mile Dog Walk | ½ Mile Fun Run For more details or to register online visit www.AchievaRunForGood.com. Questions: runforgood@achievacu.com or 727.431.7362
Proceeds benefit local schools through the Achieva Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Corporation. This is a fundraising event, therefore refunds cannot be issued.
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