941CEO March 2016

THE CEO

HOW RAMESH BULUSU KEEPS M y US THE WORLD’S LARGEST PACKAGE EXPORTER

BRIGHT IDEAS

GAME-CHANGING INNOVATIONS FROM FIVE LOCAL COMPANIES

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LORI SAX

March 2016

CONTENTS

22

CALLING ALL (SERIOUS) INVESTORS

WHAT IF? EIGHT INNOVATORS WHO ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.

28 30

MAKING IT REAL

Ringling College's students design cars, animate music videos, produce films and more.

THE CEO

Ramesh Bulusu has made MyUS the world’s largest exporter of consumer packages.

8

Talk

Stuff you need to know, from family business strategies to power purses.

38

Fast Track

Movers, shakers and headline makers.

48

The Seen

People and events in pictures.

ADVERTISING SECTION Tech, Web Design and IT guide Top Wealth Advisors

34 42

941CEO.com Check out our website, featuring new and archived articles, and sign up for our e-newsletter, Biz(941) Daily.

MARCH 2016

52

Off the Clock

Banker Max Shaw leads prisoners toward financial freedom.

IMAGINE A BOOT CAMP where young entrepreneurs get help and funding for their ideas. Business accelerators exist all over the country, so why not here? That’s the thinking of Chuck Stormon.

Syracuse-based Stormon has started and sold three companies for tens of millions of dollars, turned around another for $20 million, invested in dozens more and manages an accelerator fund in Syracuse. The Gulf Coast Community Foundation recently invited him here to survey our entrepreneurial climate.

The foundation, which launched BIG (Bright Ideas on the Gulf Coast) three years ago to help innovators start companies in the 941, asked Stormon to find out why bright, young people don’t stay here and how we can keep and attract more of their kind. Some creative entrepreneurs do come here (see “What If?” on page 22). But they’re often isolated and unable to get traction for their ideas.

We have challenges: no major research institutions and few angel investors. But Stormon also spotted opportunities: top-notch institutions like New College, Ringling College, Mote Marine and IMG; considerable wealth in the form of successful retired CEOs; and a superior quality of life.

Stormon suggests creating a business accelerator with 20 to 40 investors and staging a national boot camp competition that awards a winner a $25,000 grant. He thinks it could kick-start things. Any investors out there?

COVER ILLUSTRATION

Borja Bonaque

3

ADVERTISING & MARKETING GROUP PUBLISHER Kelley Lavin SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kim Davis ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Debra Clark Maradiaga, Keith Magnuson, Sandy Moore, Dan Starostecki SALES AND MARKETING TEAM LEADER

Regina Walters MARKETING MANAGER Amy Overbay SALES AND MARKETING ASSISTANT

Bobbilynn Hollifield EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Pam Daniel EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 941CEO Susan Burns MANAGING EDITOR Ilene Denton SENIOR EDITOR Kay Kipling ASSOCIATE EDITORS Cooper Levey-Baker, Hannah Wallace WEB EDITOR Megan McDonald

ART CREATIVE DIRECTOR Gigi Ortwein ART DIRECTORS Pepe Nieto,

Mark Howell

DESIGNER Amy Hoffarth

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER Norma Machado ADVERTISING SERVICES MANAGER

Katherine Orenic BUSINESS STAFF ACCOUNTANT Diana Clenney DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Tim Scott CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Joy Quici IT SPECIALIST Shawn Lamb

FOUNDER EMERITUS Dan Denton

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS David Ball, Tony D'Souza, Brad Edmondson, Lori Johnston, Kim Hackett, Rich Rescigno, Jackie Rogers, Carol Tisch, Johannes Werner CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & ARTISTS Barbara Banks, Salvatore Brancifort, Chad Spencer, Robert Castro, Alex Stafford, Lori Sax, Jenny Acheson, Everet Dennison, Kathryn Brass Piper, Matthew Holler, Chris Lake, Gene Pollux.

330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205 Sarasota, FL 34236 Phone: (941) 487-1100 Fax: (941) 365-7272 941CEO.com | SarasotaMagazine.com

4

941CEO

AD VER TI SI NG SECTI ON

The Roskamp Institute INNOVATION IS IN THE DNA OF THE ROSKAMP INSTITUTE.

2040 WHITFIELD AVE., SARASOTA, FL 34243 (941) 752-2949 RFDN.ORG

What if you brought together the best minds, technol-

causes of Alzheimer’s disease. “Our scientists and

ogies and resources to find cures for the most complex

clinicians work together with a real focus on deliver-

diseases and disorders of the brain, such as Alzheim-

ables and an end goal in the clinic,” said Crawford. “I’m

er’s disease? That was the genesis of Bob and Diane

not aware of any other research facility like that.”

Roskamp’s “Aha moment,” which turned from a vision to reality when they, along with Drs. Michael Mullan and Fiona Crawford, founded The Roskamp Institute.

The nonprofit public charity operates in a state-of-the-art, 50,000-squarefoot biomedical research facility in Sarasota and employs more than 50 world-class scientists, researchers and

The culture of collaboration and creativity within

“The purpose of The Institute is not just to put Band-Aids on things, but to find cures.”

The Institute has led to significant advancements in several areas, including disorders that impact veterans and active military personnel, such as Traumatic Brain Injury, Gulf War Syndrome and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

Another important aspect of The Institute's work is to provide support and novel

clinicians working tirelessly and passionately towards

therapies for its Neurological Clinic and Clinical Trials

a single goal: eradicating complex human diseases and

Division, which participates in clinical trials for promising

disorders. Leading the effort is Dr. Fiona Crawford,

new treatments. A novel drug therapy for Alzheimer’s

The Institute’s CEO, who was a part of the team of

is currently in a Phase III Clinical Trial in Europe, with

pioneering scientists that identified the first genetic

results expected by the end of 2016.

MARCH 2016

5

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GULF SHORE MEDIA, LLC A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF SAGACITY MEDIA, INC. PRESIDENT & COFOUNDER Nicole Vogel COFOUNDER & EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Scott Vogel SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EDITORIAL & OPERATIONS Bill Hutfilz CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kate Madden DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL & PRINT PUBLISHING Claire McNally AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Dana Such DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL OPERATIONS & DEVELOPMENT Dan Derozier DIRECTOR OF IT Jimmy Fecteau CONTROLLER Simba Rusike

Gulf Shore Media is a member of the City and Regional Magazine Association, Florida Magazine Association, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Manatee Chamber of Commerce and The St. Armands Circle Association. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted ©2016. Unsolicited photographs and manuscripts are welcome, but return cannot be guaranteed. Circulation audited

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941CEO

TALK

NEWCOMER

David Raistrick Co-founder/Vice President, En-Vision America

PEOPLE, COMPANIES AND ISSUES YOU NEED TO KNOW.

D

ALEX STAFFORD

avid Raistrick began En-Vision America 20 years ago with his father, Philip, to make it easier for people with blindness or partial blindness to read medication labels. The Illinois-based company makes large print, Braille and audible prescription labels for brick-andmortar and online pharmacies; products also include a talking barcode reader. Revenue in 2015 was about $4 million with customers such as CVS Health, WalMart and Rite-Aid. En-Vision recently opened a Palmetto office for its customer service and tech support staff, with the potential to expand its local workforce if it moves production and other functions here.

8

“We’re hoping to attract some of the best people in the pharmacy industry,” Raistrick says.

“Being from central Illinois, we get cold, cold winters and hot, hot summers, and we wanted to trade some of those winters in.”

About 10 people work out of Palmetto and 20 people in Normal, Ill. By the end of 2016, En-Vision expects to have at least 60 employees in Illinois and Southwest Florida. The company expects to reach $6 million in revenue in 2016 and $10 million in 2017, due to growth in pharmacy products, including at CVS Health’s 8,000 locations nationwide. Other major customers include Rite Aid, with 4,600 locations nationwide, and pharmacy benefit organizations such as Caremark and Express Scripts. Wal-Mart customers can request the labels at its 4,000 locations.

Palmetto sweetened the move with tax rebates in exchange for En-Vision beautifying the property. “We made the decision to relocate to the Suncoast, no matter what. “[But] the county needs to be a shining star if they want to bring folks [and diversify the economy]. Folks like us are the future,” says Raistrick.

—Michelle Baruchman

941CEO

REAL ESTATE

METRIC

● BY BRAD EDMONDSON

H

ousing in Sarasota and Manatee has posted a respectable rate of return for buy-and-hold investors. But short-term investors will probably have more fun in Las Vegas.

The average price of a home in the Sarasota-Manatee county metropolitan area increased 256 percent between the end of 1991 and the end of 2015. That's about three times as fast as the rate of inflation, which isn't bad. But your money would have done a lot better in an S&P 500 index fund, which rose more than 600 percent over those 24 years.

DOLLARS (THOUSANDS)

The number of people Florida added to its population every day from July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015.

The state now has about 20.3 million people.

People often say that housing isn't as risky as the stock market. That was true in Sarasota-Bradenton in the 1990s, when prices rose steadily at a rate of about 6 percent a year. A lot of folks believed it right through 2006, even as prices more than doubled in five years.

And when the big bubble popped, homeowners who did not sell also did not lose money. What they lost was a decade of rising value. Prices at the end of 2011 were almost exactly where they had been at the end of 2001.

Now, it seems, happy days are here again. Or are they? The price index increased at a rate of about 13 percent a year between the end of 2011 and the end of 2015, which seems like a boom.

The history of Florida real estate strongly hints that there will be also be another bust. But when? Step right up, folks, don't be shy— just put your money down, and you'll find out.

986 SOURCE: ECONOMIST HANK FISHKIND’S 2016 BRADENTON AREA EDC FORECAST.

TRACKING HOUSING PRICES, 1991-2015

$350

$300

$250

$200

$150

$100

$50

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

$0

SOURCE: FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY QUARTERLY INDEX OF SEASONALLY ADJUSTED SALE PRICES OF NON-DISTRESSED RESIDENCES.

Another Bubble?

OVERHEARD “BUSINESS IS MOSTLY ABOUT COMMON SENSE AND ETHICS.” –Former Disney CEO M I C H A E L E I S N E R , speaking at the Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Lecture Series.

MARCH 2016

9

TALK

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MARCH 2016

11

TALK ASK THE BOSS What’s your most important strategy for running a successful family business? ● BY LORI JOHNSTON

Drs. Anne-Marie Chalmers and Bo Martinsen Husband-and-wife founders, Omega3 Innovations “A KEY THING people respond to with a family business is the personal touch and the credibility of the family who runs it. In other words, don't become a nameless, faceless corporation. Take time to personally connect with your customers. Talk with them on the phone, greet people at the door when you can, meet them at the farmer’s market.”

Brice Hoopingarner CEO, Décor Direct “MY FATHER-IN-LAW, William ‘Bill’ Keeton, founded our company in 1951. I have been in the business since 1980. We were compatible in our beliefs about how important employees are. If you take care of them, they will take care of the company. I employ over 30 people and more than half have been here more than 10 years. The best ideas and solutions come from getting our employees involved. I call it decisions by committee. It gives them a sense of ownership. I empower people to make judgment calls for what is best for the customer and our company. Making a wrong decision is better than not making a decision at all.”

David Dignam Owner/agent and president, Key Agency “I’M THE THIRD generation. My dad, Tom Dignam, and grandfather, George Dignam, told me to be open to new ideas but be respectful of the past. You’ve got to really appreciate and respect your staff. Don’t ask them to do anything you wouldn’t be expected to do. I’m instilling [those values] in my son [Brandon, who now is owner/agent for Key’s office in Englewood]. I told my son, ‘Start at the bottom and work your way up and your staff will respect you.’ When the time is right and I start [leaving a management role] it will be comforting knowing that he will be ready.”

12

CAREER PATH Nick Choat

OWNER, SPORT CLIPS OF SW FLORIDA

(1968-1978) PART-TIME WORKER, GOODSPRINGS GROCERY, NEAR ETOWAH, TENN.

“All I had to do to get this job was to be born and to turn 10 years old.”

● BY LORI JOHNSTON (1987-1995) SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, THE BOEING CO., PHILADELPHIA AND SEATTLE

“Boeing defined large scale. During one annual budget cycle my boss advised me to not ask for any project less than $1 million.

[It] would be thought of as trivial.”

(1995-2000) SENIOR MANAGER, ERNST & YOUNG CONSULTING, GREATER SEATTLE AREA

“[I learned] executive presence. If you’re going to present to an audience, whether it’s two people or 2,000 people, as you’re walking on stage, take a deep breath.”

(2000 -200 4) VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING, GETTY IMAGES, GREATER SEATTLE AREA

“I transformed a traditional business into an online, digital business.”

(200 4-2005) CTO (INTERIM) AND SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING, DRUGSTORE.COM, GREATER SEATTLE AREA

“The one thing I would have done differently at Drugstore.com is not take the job. The new CEO was determined to control costs. You can’t control costs and grow the business at the same time.”

(2008-2012) VICE PRESIDENT, BIG DATA ANALYTICS AND DIGITAL ADVERTISING TECHNOLOGY, THE WALT DISNEY CO., GREATER SEATTLE AREA

“You quickly get in the middle of corporate politics. A friend of a friend … shared with me the secret cultural sauce: ‘Build relationships first and that will give you credibility.’”

(2012-PRE SENT) CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER, PINE LAKE ADVISORY SERVICE, SARASOTA

“I’m reconnecting with my management consulting background, focusing on the digital needs of small businesses.”

(2005-2008) VICE PRESIDENT, CALLVISION/VERISIGN, GREATER SEATTLE AREA

“I spent a lot of time with [ founders and brothers] Derek and Dwayne [Edwards] to make sure I wasn’t going to get into the middle of a sibling war.

I witnessed the only time you can use the phrase ‘Don’t be a moron’ in a professional setting.”

(2014-PRE SENT) CEO AND OWNER, SPORT CLIPS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, SARASOTA AND BRADENTON

“After leaving Disney I wanted to return to my childhood roots, but not back to the grocery business. Instead, my wife and I own a Sport Clips Haircuts franchise.”

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TALK Sage Lake in northern Michigan

WHAT INSPIRES ME

This is where I met my wife.

I was 16 and she was 15. We’ve built a big, beautiful family lodge and bought 400 acres of hunting land around it. It’s the ultimate getaway.

● INTERVIEW BY SUSAN BURNS

Walking the warehouse of my distributorships I get to see my employees, ask them about their families, what they are trying to accomplish.

Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms

Battle flag from my armored command vehicle, “Amtrack” It symbolized the respect my Marines had for me. It was filled with oil and grime from the oil fires. They cleaned it first, framed it and put a wonderful sentiment on it.

It’s in my office.

M16 bullet This bullet was the last round left in my magazine from my first combat action in [Desert Storm] Kuwait. It reminds me how easily life can be taken from you.

14

Anheuser-Busch is the top distributorship you can own. It’s even sweeter because I was a distributor for all the competing brands before I got to use it.

It’s a symbol that I accomplished almost all of what I wanted to accomplish in this business.

It told you exactly what war was going to be like. Hemingway was one of those guys who didn’t have to go to WWI. He volunteered because he believed in the cause.

John Saputo Owner and president, Gold Coast Eagle Distributing

AnheuserBusch’s A&E Eagle Symbol

Marine Corps workouts I do three to four a week. It’s the time I use to clear my head and think of innovations.

Charge of the Light Brigade This painting is a symbol of raw courage.

It was a tragic charge.

Wedding ring

The Pieta

Always makes me think how lucky I am. Denise has stayed with me for 43 years with the demands of my Anheuser-Busch beer distributorships and after leaving her and four daughters on numerous Marine Corps deployments and missions.

A strong, tough woman.

This sculpture represents the ultimate sacrifice.

941CEO

Build Relationships

Develop Ideas

Find Solutions

The Gulf Coast CEO Forum is dedicated to helping its members be the best business leaders they can be.

Become a member today / Contact Kim Miele / kim@gulfcoastceoforum.com

INNOVATION IS THE FOUNDATION OF COMMUNITY Philanthropy is our innovation engine.

At Gulf Coast Community Foundation, we invest in things like developing 21st-century talent, assisting entrepreneurs, and providing more opportunity for all residents. Things that will move our region toward an innovation economy. And in everything we do, we leverage the big ideas and strategic giving of our generous donors.

Together with our donors, we transform our region through bold and proactive philanthropy.

941.486.4600 | GulfCoastCF.org

Learn more about these and other Gulf Coast initiatives on our website:

MARCH 2016

15

TALK AGENDA MARCH

8

mar.

mar.

Manatee Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours networking event, 5-7 p.m. at AutoNation Ford, 5325 14th St. W., Bradenton.

Free for chamber members; $10 for nonmembers. No RSVP required. For details, visit manateechamber.com.

I5

Suncoast Technology Forum Techbyte Luncheon with guest speaker Jeffrey Garbus, 11:30-1 p.m. at Polo Grill, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. $18 for members; $28 for nonmembers. Register at suncoasttechnologyforum.com.

APR.

mar.

I-3

Manatee Millennial Movement (M3) Manatee County’s team of Millennial employees, hosts #4Progress–Millennial Conference (MCon), focusing on topics important to local Millennials such as housing, networking, financial stability, entrepreneurship and how to take ownership in your community; at various times and locations. $30 per person through Feb. 29; $35 March 1–19; $40 March 20-31.

For details and tickets, visit eventbrite.com/ e/4progress-millennial-contickets-18795418603.

30

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance March luncheon, “The Suncoast on a Tankful,” with guest speakers Elliott Falcione, president of the Bradenton Area CVB, and Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Fete Ballroom at Polo Grill, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. $25 for members; $35 for nonmembers. Register at lwrba.org. mar.

7

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Monday Mixer, 5-6:30 p.m. at Square 1 Burgers and Bar, 1737 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers.

For more information, visit sarasotachamber.com.

READER METER TRENDSPOTTER

SRQ AIRPORT

Would you prefer a universal single-payer health care system?

SOUNDS GREAT, BUT IT WILL NEVER GET THROUGH CONGRESS. YES 15 %

60 16

%

YEARLY TOTAL PASSENGER COUNTS FOR SRQ

NO

25%

SOURCE: 941CEO DAILY POLL

2000: 1,474,068 2005: 1,337,571 2010: 1,332,680 2015: 1,220,363

SOURCE: SRQ-AIRPORT.COM

941CEO

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Intellectual Property Protection Abroad: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You ~ Elizabeth M. Stamoulis Every business has intellectual property, such as trademarks (words, phrases, or designs associated with a brand or product), copyrights (literary, pictorial, or musical works), or patents (processes, machines, or product designs). Infringement of these rights could cause lost profits, loss of customers, and damage to your company’s reputation. With the rise of the Internet and the convergence of foreign markets, now, more than ever, it is important to think about protecting your intellectual property on a global scale. If you are an owner of intellectual property that has been, or will be, placed in the stream of international commerce, here are just a few of the questions to consider:

Q Will US intellectual property laws adequately protect my property against infringement in foreign countries?

A

US courts will generally enforce trademarks in international markets if the infringer is an American citizen or if the infringing acts have had a “substantial effect” on US commerce. For US copyrights and patents, US laws will generally protect only against infringement that occurs within the United States. The only arguably “foreign” conduct protected against is the importation into the US of products that infringe a patent and the exportation of a patented invention’s parts from the US to a foreign country for assembly.

Q Is my property something that is protected or protectable under the intellectual property laws of the other country?

A

The concept of “intellectual property” is not the same throughout the world. Some works that would be protected under the copyright laws of one country may be protected under the so-called “neighboring rights laws” of another country. These categories are critical when determining the extent of the work’s protection in that country.

When protecting patents internationally, many countries require that the invention be “novel.” This can be a worldwide standard—therefore, even if something has not been patented in the country in which you file, if it has been patented or made public in any other country (even by you!), your patent registration may be denied if there is no grace period allowed under the laws of the country or a treaty.

Some countries will protect trademarks used, but not registered, as so-called “common law trademarks.” This may preclude registration of a trademark in a particular country even if the other similar trademark has not been registered there. But note that the converse is also true—some

Liz Stamoulis is a Williams Parker associate and a graduate of Stanford Law School.

She practices in the intellectual property and corporate areas of law. Prior to joining the firm, Liz practiced in the New York office of a Global 100 law firm where she provided day-to-day advice to corporate clients regarding mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. (941) 366-4800 WilliamsParker.com

MARCH 2016

US trademarks may be protected as common law trademarks in other countries even though they have not been registered in that country. While this may provide US owners with some protection in other countries, typically this protection will be less than that of a registered trademark.

Therefore, if a mark must receive protection in a particular country, it is always best to seek registration where possible.

Q What rights do I have in the property?

A The level of protection each country provides

is also different. Certain countries provide copyright owners with “moral rights,” which can include the right of attribution and the right to preserve the integrity of the work—rights that are not recognized in the United States. Moral rights in other countries may provide US intellectual property owners with stronger rights under international laws but also increase the likelihood that the rights of others may be infringed in another country.

Q Has the transfer of intellectual property rights been properly effected?

A

In cross-border transfers or licenses of intellectual property, it is important to understand the extent to which rights may be transferred under a country’s laws. Cross-border transfers may also raise questions relating to the law that governs the transfer. Attorneys often try to avoid these issues up front by including an agreement in the document concerning which country’s laws will govern. Although courts will usually honor these provisions, a foreign court may determine that the choice of law violates public policy in the country and consequently refuse to apply the chosen law.

Using intellectual property in foreign markets can raise several complicated questions that require consideration of US law, foreign law, and treaties.

If you are an owner of intellectual property rights who has not yet entered foreign markets, you should review the protections available under US and foreign law before deciding to place your intellectual property in the commerce stream of certain countries.

excerpted from

REQUISITE V

The International Edition

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TALK ● BY ILENE DENTON

GENE PAYSON customizes drones for all kinds of commercial applications. Payson took

Sarasota-based Troy Built Models from a company that sold radio-controlled airplanes for hobbyists to one that customizes unmanned aerial vehicles (better known as drones) for commercial applications. He brought the company to Sarasota from Michigan in 2002 and now has 15 employees.

Payson also is a civilian contractor for the Air Force. “I fly their drones every couple of months for the group that develops the newest sensors that detect roadside bombs overseas,” he says.

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LOOK HERE

“Our customers use drones mainly for inspections. Oil refineries use them to look inside their flare stacks. Power companies monitor their transmission towers and poles for corrosion and lightning damage. Transportation departments inspect bridges and survey roads. Farmers use drones to fly over fields and determine if their plants are stressed.”

ROBERT CASTRO

YOU DO WHAT?

FLY TIME

“People think it’s easy to fly a drone, but it’s not. They wind up hiring outside companies. My company is going to do that as soon as we get authorization from the FAA.”

CRUISING

“Crystal Cruises wants customers to be able to fly a drone and see whales and glaciers in the ocean where there are no FAA jurisdictions. They’ll have a certified [drone] pilot on board who will help guests zoom, pan and tilt the camera system. We are assembling the [drone] for their needs.”

BRAVE NEW WORLD

“The FAA really doesn’t have any drone regulations at the moment; they’re all considered a manned airplane. You need a pilot’s license and current medical, and you have to go through an exemption process to get your drone airworthy.

We’re on the leading edge of all this.”

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T O P WE A LT H A D V IS O R

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How does The Otto Group define Wealth Management?

BY MATTHEW OTTO

NOW A SUCCESSFUL private financial advisor with SunTrust Investment Services, Inc., CFP®, Senior VP and Private Financial Advisor, Matthew Otto’s career began over two decades ago with A.G. Edwards. Today he focuses on comprehensive asset management for high net worth investors. “We define wealth management vis-à-vis a unique formula: investment consulting plus advanced planning plus relationship management,” Otto says.

“Of the 450,000 people that call themselves wealth managers, only about 4 percent apply the advanced planning component— which adds tremendous value and we take great pride in offering.”

Advanced planning can be further subdivided to include tax

mitigation, cash flow planning, wealth transfer, philanthropy and asset protection. The Otto Group incorporates a professional network of tax, legal and insurance professionals that collaborate planning for the client’s benefit.

“What sets us apart are the case studies we conduct with our professional network,” Otto says.

“We’ll ask them: ‘Where is there something missing in our client’s financial profile?’”

Otto believes that earning a client’s trust is the greatest professional compliment he can receive.

“Risk is what is left over when you think you’ve thought of everything. We want to keep adapting to the ever-changing landscape,” he says. “We want to add value and continue to earn that trust.”

ABOUT THE OTTO GROUP Otto’s career as a financial advisor began over 20 years ago; he joined SunTrust Investment Services, Inc. in 1998. Otto primarily focuses on comprehensive asset management as well as estate strategies for high net worth, accredited investors. His typical client is retired with between $2 million and $10 million in managed assets. His experience includes options trading, equity derivatives, both fixed income and equity hedging strategies, managed money, managed futures, commodities and alternative investments.

SUNTRUST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC. 1777 MAIN ST., SEVENTH FLOOR, SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 951-3052 | SUNTRUST.COM/WEALTH Investment and Insurance Products: •Are not FDIC or any other Government Agency Insured• Are not Bank Guaranteed •May Lose Value. Securities, insurance (including annuities) and other investment products and services are offered by SunTrust Investment Services, Inc., an SEC registered investment adviser and broker-dealer affiliate of SunTrust Banks, Inc., member FINRA, SIPC, and a licensed insurance agency.

Ask the Originals

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www.DineOriginal.com 20

Drago’s brings Cuban flavors to downtown Bradenton. the place Appropriate for the historic brick building it occupies, the interior calls to mind bygone ice cream parlors, with a storefront window, black-and-white linoleum floors, low tables and a handful of seats at the hefty marble bar backed by a large mirror.

Find the menu on a large chalkboard on the wall.

the diners Young locals in pairs; precocious high school kids learning about good coffee (or ice cream). time factor Great for grabbing a quick cup of coffee, or sit down for a sandwich and make it back to the office within the lunch hour. the food Boar’s Head sandwiches in

small (eight-inch) or large (12-inch) sizes, including a “Sicilian Special” Italian ($7.05, $9.30) and a killer hot-pressed Cuban ($8.20, $9.50), as well as other standard combinations. Also offered are hummus, flavorful black beans and a rice bowl ($6.25) featuring mojo pork, beans and plantains. Not to mention excellent coffee and espresso drinks, ice cream, fresh-made Italian sodas and milkshakes.

drago's > 904 Manatee Ave E., Bradenton, (941) 757-0953

941CEO

WHAT IF? These

Healthy Slumber

innovators

> RUBIN HANAN. DEEPSPORT

believed there must be a better way —and found it. ANU BY

Sarasota and Manatee attract —and nurture— plenty of creative spirits with entrepreneurial talent and technical know-how. We found eight innovators whose products could change lives.

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VARMA PHOTOGRAPHY BY

BARBARA BANKS

RUBIN HANAN IS HOPING that the best investment athletes make this year will be a new set of bedsheets.

“All athletes are looking for an edge, whether they are professionals or 5K runners on the weekend,” says Hanan, CEO of Sarasota-based Deepsport. “Sleep is a major contributor to performance.”

About a year and a half ago, Hanan, who also runs a consulting firm for sports executives, honed in on a North Carolina company that had created a material used in hospital settings— an FDA-approved medical fabric to treat chronic dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis. Clinical trials had proved this nylon-polyester proprietary weave prevented night sweats, promoted restful

Rubin Hanan's anti-microbial bedsheets are used by major sports teams.

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sleep and was odorless, stainless and anti-microbial. As the former CEO of Bradenton-based athletic apparel retailer Champs Sports and Foot Locker Canada, Hanan immediately wondered how athletes might benefit from the fabric.

Hanan licensed the sheets for athletic use and tried them out at IMG Academy in Bradenton, where users liked them so much that Deepsport became their official supplier. He has since become supplier to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Dolphins, the U.S. Olympic track team and the Louisiana State University football team. Hanan also sells to online customers through the company’s website, Deepsport.com, and on Amazon. com. The sheets retail at around $200, and a travel “sleep sack” for the athlete on the road costs about $120. His goal is to sell 100,000 units within the next 12 to 18 months.

“We feel that’s achievable,” he says. “We spend a third of our life on our sheets.”

Lauren Danielson makes poultry probiotics.

Antibiotic-free Chickens > LAUREN DANIELSON. BIOTECHNICS INC.

WHEN OSPREY Biotechnics Inc.’s scientists and executive team noticed that consumer demand for antibiotic-free meat was growing, CEO Lauren Danielson says it created an opportunity for the 63-year-old Sarasota company, which makes bacteria for environmental, agricultural and industrial uses.

They knew that chicken farmers add antibiotics to feed to prevent the birds from getting sick and spreading infections. The practice has contributed to antibiotic resistance, which has facilitated the rapid spread of hardto-treat superbugs and diseases.

Danielson figured that making a special bacteria, a probiotic, for chickens to help them stay healthy without antibiotics was a natural fit for her company. Osprey Biotechnics began isolating strains from the more than 2,000 MARCH 2016

cultures in its library and testing them several years ago. Direct trials for the poultry microbe took place here in Sarasota and in a Georgia lab over the past two years. The new product, called MicroLife, has just been released and is already being purchased by poultry companies, feed additive manufacturers and distributors.

Danielson anticipates 2016 sales of $6 million from the company’s poultry products alone; in September 2015, Microlife earned the company an “Innovation in Creative Design Award” from Ringling College and the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.

“We’re starting to work on swine and we also have work going on in aquaculture,” Danielson says of similar products that could reduce the need for antibiotics in pigs and fish. “It’s going to be important; I see it as a growing need.”

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WHAT IF?

CJ Cooper, Domenic Aluise, Elezar Tonev and Jacob Barrineau won a national competition for their “smart” leg.

Smarter Prosthetics > DOMENIC ALUISE, ELEZAR TONEV, JACOB BARRINEAU AND CJ COOPER. RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT LLC (RDM) currently in design and testing phases with a IN FEBRUARY 2015, Domenic Aluise, Elezar Tonev, Jacob Barrineau and CJ Cooper, juniors at Braden River High, won a state-level Technology Students Association competition to create a medical device. Their product: a “smart” prosthetic limb that learns how to function with the other leg by rewriting its own program in response to its environment.

During the euphoric bus ride home, the friends decided they were on to something big, so they founded Research Development and Management LLC (RDM), which is run out of Aluise’s parents’ garage in Bradenton. Soon after, their “smart” leg took first place at the national level of the TSA competition.

Once the boys realized that they would be looking at a $15-million to $20-million price tag just to get the leg produced, they shifted toward developing a more affordable prosthetic leg by using 3D printing and open source software. The leg is 24

view to enter the market at the end of 2016.

In the meantime, the team is raising funds by prototyping other products for clients, such as a new camera lens grip called BandIT, requested by a newspaper photographer.

BandIT could be on shelves of specialty photography stores by the end of March.

Aluise and his crew are often up until 2 a.m. (school and soccer take precedence). “Our work rate is pretty scary,” he admits. “But I’m loving every second of it.”

FOUNDERS: Elezar Tonev, Jacob Barrineau, CJ Cooper and Domenic Aluise. ADDITIONAL STAFF & CONSULTANTS : Jason Krywko, Kasim Fatmi, Michael Klene, Chandler Pridgeon

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Living Seawalls > TODD BARBER. THE REEF BALL FOUNDATION

Todd Barber with his living reef wall in Palmetto.

MARCH 2016

A LONDON SCHOOL of Economics grad, Todd Barber is the inventor of reef balls— hollow concrete structures sunk into the ocean to serve as “seeds” for artificial reefs, by attracting fish and other plant and animal life and eventually spreading. His Sarasota company, the Reef Ball Development Group, now the public nonprofit Reef Ball Foundation, places these big spheres in wetlands and marine habitats to restore environments disrupted by development and climatic factors.

Half a million have been deployed in 62 countries.

Barber is now working on a brand-new system—living reef walls—that are designed by the Reef Ball Foundation but built by Sarasota

contractor Reef Innovations, which has worked with the foundation from the beginning. The first wall is for the City of Palmetto, which is replacing a nearly century-old seawall. He’s also contracted to build another living seawall in front of OLeary’s Tiki Bar & Grill at Bayfront Park in Sarasota.

Above the water level, the wall will be partially covered with vegetation to appear as natural as possible. Barber also envisions tidal pools, frozen waterfalls, LED lighting and hollow reef balls atop the structure that will function as living aquariums, all of which he hopes will attract visitors who want to walk or fish.

“We know what the fish like,” says Barber.

“Now we’re trying to figure out what people like.”

25

WHAT IF?

Dr. William Bennett with his new surgical solution.

KNOTLESS TISSUE repair is a seemingly simple and elegant concept, but it’s taken Sarasota orthopedic surgeon William Bennett nearly 20 years to perfect it. Now Bennett is on the cusp of releasing the product for sale through his company, Ziptek LLC. The ZipE device is a surgical button that slips down the suture and locks, much like a zip tie. When attaching tissue to bone or to other tissue, tying a knot wasn’t the ideal

Knotless Surgery > DR. WILLIAM BENNETT. ZIPTEK LLCS INC.

26

solution, says Bennett, a pioneer in arthroscopic rotary cuff repair in Sarasota. “I realized back in the mid-’90s that if I had a surgical button to hold tissue down, I would get better repair than tying knots,” he says.

Bennett began to develop the ZipE for a commercial market in 2009. He acquired a partner, Ramses Galaz, a professor of biomedical engineering, but until 2014, he funded the company personally. Then an angel investor came on board. Now, with seven staff between his office in Sarasota and laboratory in Mexico, Bennett is conducting final FDA testing and compatibility studies. Once FDA approval is secured, Bennett can start selling the system. He expects the venture to become profitable within a year.

“Our next step will be to introduce it to surgeons, which we are planning to do immediately here in the United States and Europe,” says Bennett. Ziptek has also filed for government grants to conduct research that will help get the device into surgeons’ hands. “Once adopted by surgeons, we see its growth really escalating,” he says. π 941CEO

A D VER TI SEMENT

Thomas E. Anderson

> PROTECTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INVESTMENTS.

“I’M AS MUCH A BUSINESS ADVISER AS I AM AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWYER.”

T

For more than 25

homas E. Anderson’s patent prac-

years, Thomas

much a business adviser as I am an intellectual

tice consists of advising clients on

E. Anderson

property lawyer.”

how to protect intellectual property

has helped his

Anderson’s AV rating is the highest rating

throughout the world. He advises busi-

clients to navigate

given by Martindale-Hubbell, which rates

nesses and inventors on how to evaluate

the intricacies

lawyers for professional skill and integrity. He

and protect technologies and brands. This

of intellectual

periodically lectures on patent and copyright

includes conducting patentability searches,

property.

law and contributes to various American Bar

drafting applications, and applying for

Association publications. He has served as

patent grants and amendments from the

chairman of the intellectual property litiga-

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and foreign patent agencies. After

tion committee of the ABA. He was selected

a patent has been granted, he vigorously represents the clients in

for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America

enforcing their rights.

2016. He is admitted to practice in Florida,

He also works closely with clients to protect intellectual property, seeking federal registration where appropriate and pursuing legal action in the courts and at U.S. borders with the goal of preventing unauthorized copying, reproduction and other acts

Michigan, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

In addition to his juris doctor, Anderson studied engineering at the University of Michigan.

of infringement.

“Providing IP counsel involves a healthy amount of consideration and restraint,” he says. “The investment associated with filing and

TEL.: (941) 346-1530

enforcement has to be part of an overall commercial strategy. I’m as MARCH 2016

27

MAKING IT REAL

by Cooper Levey-Baker

28

CLIENT: Nash Next NO. OF STUDENTS: 9 GOAL: Edit, animate and add motion design to music videos for emerging country music artists RESULT: Ten music videos that promoted singers and bands participating in Nash Next’s national country music competition R O N B E R R Y M A N , the founder and CEO of Sum Entertainment, had seen press releases about the Collaboratory, but it wasn’t until he visited Ringling that he understood the wealth of talent there. Five interdisciplinary Ringling teams worked with country singers and bands to edit and create animation and motion design flourishes for 10 music videos that were used in his Nash Next, a national country music competition. The company was so pleased that it’s working with Ringling again, this time collaborating with students on tour and merchandise branding.

Designed for Speed

A little Bit Country

REAL CLIENTS. REAL PRESSURE. REAL RESULTS. That’s the essence of Ringling College of Art and Design’s Collaboratory Commitment, a guarantee that any student who wants professional work experience can get it. For years, Ringling classes have connected students with outside clients. But in late 2014 the college formalized its commitment to providing every student on campus with professional experience, two years after the school partnered with The Patterson Foundation to create the Collaboratory and one year after Ringling hired Cynthia Gravino to oversee the program. Clients include national giants like GM, local nonprofits A student-designed speed like Southeastern Guide Dogs and form for a GM car. government agencies like the Sarasota Police Department. Here are a few examples:

CLIENT: General Motors NO. OF STUDENTS: 12 GOAL: Create speed form designs for vehicle development RESULT: Storyboards, sketches, 3D renderings and clay model sculptures developed in coordination with GM designers G M H A S H I R E D Ringling grads for years, so the company was eager to take advantage of students’ creative thinking through the Collaboratory. “[GM] teaches the technical side of things,” the Collaboratory’s Cynthia Gravino says. “They can’t teach the creative.” Students signed up for a full-semester elective course developing storyboards, renderings and clay models of potential vehicles while learning about the principles of vehicle design from GM experts and working with stateof-the-art industry software. Impressed by their work, GM is repeating the program again this spring, with a new crop of students.

941CEO

Ringling College’s Collaboratory students design cars, animate music videos, produce films and more.

Filming With the Stars

Dylan McDermott and a Ringling student.

CLIENT: Dylan McDermott NO. OF STUDENTS: 15 GOAL: Write and shoot a dramatic online video series RESULT: Sixteen five- to six-minute episodes written and produced by Ringling students A C T O R D Y L A N M C D E R M O T T (Steel Magnolias, In the Line of Fire) is another talent who came to visit Ringling and ended up working with students on a project. McDermott had already mapped out a 22-minute pilot for a new series, Sugar, but he worked with Ringling students to develop more than a dozen more episodes.

Pre-production begins here in April, with a 22-day shoot that will include a significant amount of student work.

McDermott's project is developed with e-commerce in mind. Since actors today have strong personal brands with built-in audiences, Ringling students are learning how this new business model works, experience that puts them at the forefront of entertainment trends.

MARCH 2016

On the Web

Actor Justin Long, in green, discusses his video with Ringling students.

CLIENT: Justin Long and Christian Long NO. OF STUDENTS: 10 GOAL: Create and film an Internet video series RESULT: Eight short videos that spoof travel shows, shot in and around Sarasota I N A D D I T I O N to bringing Hollywood movers and shakers to town, Ringling College built a pipeline that helps students land work on film and TV projects. As with other Collaboratory Commitment programs, the key is to get industry leaders to campus to show them that Ringling students are the real deal. Justin Long, best known for roles in Apple’s Mac vs. PC ad campaign and films like Live Free or Die Hard and Idiocracy, came to campus in 2013. After visiting, he and his brother, producer Christian Long, turned to students to create a web video series mocking travel shows. After lengthy meetings discussing tone, lighting and production with students, the brothers began filming the series in Sarasota in March.

29

THE CEO

RAMESH BULUSU TACKLED BIG DATA AND CUSTOMER SERVICE TO MAKE SARASOTA’S MYUS THE WORLD’S LARGEST EXPORTER OF CONSUMER PACKAGES.

DATA DRIVEN RAMESH BULUSU

30

In

by David Ball

Photography by Salvatore Brancifort

2014, Ramesh Bulusu, the new CEO of Sarasota-based MyUS, saw a problem: Hundreds of thousands of customers loved his company’s services. MyUS, the world’s largest package consolidation company, makes it easy for shoppers all over the world to buy U.S. goods online and ship them overseas. But despite lots of reminder emails, customers weren’t coming back, at least not in the numbers Bulusu wanted.

941CEO

So Bulusu, an expert in data analytics, did what he is good at. He pulled together the purchasing data and shopping habits of his customers and combined them with special offers and loyalty programs designed to incentivize more purchases. This “recommendation engine” was fed into customers’ emails and spurred more than $100,000 in revenue growth the first three months.

“Applying math and science principles to solving any problem, that’s what the world is turning to,” says Bulusu, 44, who was born in India and came to the U.S. in 1993. “Everything is data driven, and that’s been my core competency for a long time.”

Since becoming CEO of MyUS in October 2014, Bulusu has used his data analytic skills to further the company’s position as one of the leaders in delivering U.S. goods overseas. Revenue is $80 million, and the company employs nearly 300 workers at its main office and warehouse on Express Lane off Clark Road in Sarasota, along with six employees at its marketing headquarters in Chicago.

MyUS, founded in 1997, ships more than 10,000 packages daily, comprising $270 million in purchases every year.

More than 340,000 customers have used the service, which allows them to buy U.S. products on Amazon.com, Ebay.com or 100,000 other online merchants. During online checkout, a customer enters the address of the MyUS warehouse in Sarasota as his or her shipping address. When the products arrive at MyUS, they are bundled together, repackaged and shipped to the customer’s home address in any of 220 different countries.

Other companies and online retailers can ship products overseas. MyUS, however, ships to more countries, ships a broader range of products—including hazardous items—and uses lighter, smaller packages, which save on shipping costs. The company also takes advantage

MARCH 2016

RAMESH BULUSU

31

THE CEO of lower international shipping rates through high-volume partnerships with companies such as DHL, FedEx and UPS. And then there’s the convenience of great customer service. For example, four times a month, a customer in Switzerland buys bedding, linens, supplements and books from several U.S. retailers and only has to deal with MyUS when shipping. “MyUS is awesome,” the customer wrote on the company website. “Don’t need to travel around the world to buy what I want….thumbs up for the customer service team.”

This business model requires great attention to data, analytics and logistics. Bulusu says even if a CEO or manager is not a numbers person, he or she at least should understand early in their career how data is used in his or her industry.

“You can’t just turn to an IT guy to give you some data in the way you’d want to see it. You need to learn the basics,” Bulusu says.

“Later, if you move up the corporate path, that’s when I would strongly advocate [developing] people skills, relationships, listening and leading.”

Bulusu, the youngest of three children, comes from a middleclass Indian family that passed on the importance of education. An aptitude in math and science led to a chemical engineering degree at Andhra University in India and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Oklahoma State

“As an immigrant myself and someone who’s traveled the world both for business and leisure, I know there is significant demand for American products.”

32

BULUSU'S BITS AND BYTES INSTILL CORE VALUES At MyUS I emphasize teamwork, mutual respect, trust, accountability and ethics. I expect myself and our employees to abide by these in our daily work lives.

As a U.S. export company, we have a complex business to run. Sticking with our core values helps us navigate the challenges we face.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF FAILING I want our team to work hard and do our best towards meeting or exceeding our longterm goals. We can’t have the fear of making mistakes conquer our minds; we learn from those mistakes and get stronger.

HAPPY EMPLOYEES LEAD TO HAPPY CUSTOMERS We strive towards higher employee satisfaction and engagement. That’s the only way we’d be able to keep our promise to the customers and delight them every time they receive a shipment.

University. Although he didn’t start his career in engineering, his scientific background landed him a job in Dallas in the airline industry using data and analytics to help fill plane seats and maximize revenue.

This type of applied math to solve business problems intrigued him, and he later earned an M.B.A. in marketing and finance from the University of Michigan.

He led ecommerce and online marketing efforts for Sears and Orbitz in Chicago before moving to Jacksonville, Fla., in 2012 to serve as vice president of ecommerce, marketing and pricing for Interline Brands, a nationwide distributor of maintenance supplies recently purchased by The Home Depot.

He left Jacksonville in May 2014 to join MyUS as chief marketing officer, and was named CEO five months later. Bulusu wanted to return to a true business-toconsumer company and thought MyUS’s business model offered high growth potential.

“As an immigrant myself and someone who’s traveled the world both for business and leisure, I know there is significant demand for American products,” Bulusu says. “MyUS is a small piece of the overall cross-border ecommerce model. However, it solves a critical piece of it.”

But it hasn’t been all analytics and data for Bulusu, especially in the last year. He starts each day walking the warehouse f loor and talking to employees, from entrylevel on up. After meeting with managers and project leaders, he spends a good deal of time listening to customer phone calls and reading their emails.

“Customers tell us where we are falling short and where we are doing well,” Bulusu says. “There’s no better way to create a roadmap for our future. Our customers are not shy; all we have to do is just ask.”

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A recent success for Bulusu was leading the company’s expansion into major growth sectors in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. Bulusu says he focused on marketing and brand awareness, setting up partnerships with Middle East shipping and delivery companies and, most importantly, using free trials and incentives to build trust in customers who have few consumer protections offered by their governments compared to Western countries.

Customer growth came through emails and other online marketing, but customer service was key to keep the customers coming back.

“That goes back to Ramesh being focused on the customer above all else,” says Neal Cung, MyUS chief technology officer. “There is a language difference and a courtesy difference, and we have to deliver those while sitting here in Sarasota, Fla. All of our touch points—our websites, emails, every communication that goes to the customer—have to gain that trust and reinforce it.”

Bulusu sees further growth for the company, though it won’t likely MARCH 2016

MyUS ships more than 10,000 packages daily, comprising $270 million in purchases every year.

“CUSTOMERS TELL US WHERE WE ARE FALLING SHORT AND WHERE WE ARE DOING WELL. THERE’S NO BETTER WAY TO CREATE A ROADMAP FOR OUR FUTURE.”

occur with entrances into new countries but within existing customer channels. Sarasota has provided a large pool of employees for MyUS, though some upper-level and executive staffers with analytic and technical backgrounds have come from outside the state.

Bulusu and other MyUS employees often describe the company as a “start-up” because of the growth potential in new ways of marketing and utilizing data and analytics to spur new sales.

Still Bulusu says a lot of what’s made the company a success is a focus on customer service in order to maintain customer loyalty.

“Our mission since I’ve come on board is to truly treat each of our customers’ packages as if it’s our own,” he says. “That’s how you keep their business and turn them into more loyal customers. It sounds obvious, but it’s something that all businesses need to keep focusing on.” π 33

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BUSINESS

IQ FEATURING EXPERTS IN:

TECH/IT THINK DONSON FELICIA DONSON CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Why do you need a tailored marketing solution?

Q.

A. The ever-evolving digital landscape changed the way we do business.

SEO, branding, content marketing, web analytics, responsive web design, social media—all are necessary components to reach your targeted audience—and beyond. The key is to discover and then analyze meaningful data that can turn into “aha” moments—and result in a strategy that drastically improves your bottom line.

Do your marketing dollars convert?

Q.

A. KPIs (key performance indicators) show which marketing strategies are performing at optimal levels. At a minimum, KPIs should include conversions through analytics, new lead generations, web traffic channels and social media

34

insights. The key is knowing which KPIs translate to direct results. 5,000 Facebook likes for a widget company may generate online buzz, but if it doesn't result in increased sales, you may not be getting the most for your money.

8586 POTTER PARK DRIVE, SUITE 15 SARASOTA, FL 34238 (941) 960-7426 THINKDONSON.COM

FOUR WINDS NETWORK SERVICES DON BORDEN

What are the biggest challenges facing small/medium businesses when outsourcing I.T. support?

Q.

A. Finding an I.T. engineering firm that is not married to one technology solution or product. One solution does not

fit every business. For example, not every business should move critical applications and data to the cloud or invest in an elaborate I.T. infrastructure.

A true engineering firm has the depth of knowledge and experience to offer a customized solution without locking clients into a long-term contract.

What is the best advice you can give business owners concerning their I.T.?

Q.

A. Have a network assessment done.

The network assessment will provide the business owner with a comprehensive technology road map that will tell them where they are and where they are going. That road map will provide a true understanding of their disaster-recovery capabilities, as well as current technology options, security vulnerabilities, cost savings and improved efficiency.

5331 PAYLOR LANE, SUITE 100 SARASOTA, FL 34240 (941) 315-2380 FOURWINDSNETWORKSERVICES.COM

941CEO

LOCKHEED MARTIN FORTIS HUMAN POWERED EXOSKELETON

Bring Your Idea to Life.

“Design Thinking“ proves the possible.

ROBRADY’s team of award winning engineers, designers and fabricators can help bring your research to reality.

ROBRADY combines over two decades of design experience and market insight to create innovative product solutions. From the start, our approach not only delivers captivating concepts but the lean, effective strategies that maximize your ROI.

Give your product the ROBRADY advantage www.robrady.com info@robrady.com

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IQ ROBR ADY DESIGN ROB BRADY CEO/DESIGN DIRECTOR

What trends are you seeing in the business of design?

Q.

A. ROBRADY enjoys a unique view into the business of product development because we work in such diverse markets. We are seeing many of our unrelated mainstream clients embracing what designers call “design thinking.” More and more, they are finding that the true value is in focusing first on the user experience to find market gold. Technology and material sciences will follow.

What trends are you seeing in your industry?

Q.

A. The proliferation of 3D printing.

Today we wouldn’t think about printing a simple document and then shipping that to a client for review, and 3D printing is fast becoming the same story.

Many of our clients have their own 3D printers, so we’re more likely to quickly transmit the simple data for 3D printing to our customer’s facility. Physical collaboration has never been faster.

How else are you collaborating with your customers?

Q.

A. We are seeing more and more of our customers (re-)focusing on their core business and, in turn, asking ROBRADY to support our innovative design solutions directly to their end customer. We’re using our “design thinking” methodologies in collaboration with specialized contract manufacturers to provide our customer’s customers seamless transition to user-centric products. It’s all about simplifying the path to market.

1040 COMMERCE BLVD. N. SARASOTA, FL 34243 (941) 359-6656 ROBRADY.COM

Powerful IT Engineering for Your Small / Medium Business Your Small/Medium Business Deserves: • Affordable IT solutions customized for your unique needs • Control of your data with fully encrypted secure back-ups • Fast, flexible design implementation and expert support

941-315-2380 Plan Design Implement

36

FourWindsNetworkServices.com 5331 Paylor Lane, Sarasota, FL 34240

941CEO

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TV

classical wsmr

89.1 103.9

wusf.org

wusf

89.7

watch, listen & learn

MARCH 2016

37

FAST TRACK TALK MOVERS, SHAKERS & HEADLINE MAKERS

POSITIONS TAKEN

SANDRA L. PEPPER

director of volunteer services and community outreach, Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the Suncoast. ▶▶ A M B E R H O W E S , operations manager, Sarasota office, NCC Property Services.

▶ ▶ S A N D R A L . P E P P E R , vice president and senior trust officer, Caldwell Trust. ▶▶ K I N D S E Y P E N T E C O S T , vice president of operations, Selah Freedom. ▶ ▶ T O M H A I N E S , promoted to regional director of operations; and B R A N D O N M A R S H A L L , promoted to corporate director of sales, Mainsail Lodging & Development.

38

JAMIE M. SMITH

C I N DY U N D E R W O O D ,

of communications and marketing, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. ▶ ▶ J O H N H A L E , vice president of information technology; D E B R A H E T Z E R , vice president of risk management; and K AT B U S H , promoted to vice president of payroll operation, PEMCO (Progressive Employer Management Company). ▶ ▶ S TA C Y R O S E N B E R G and P E T E R K I N G S L E Y , sales agents, Ian Black Real Estate.

STACY ROSENBERG

▶▶

Aquatic Nature Center Associates (SANCA).

MARTY KATZ

▶ ▶ M AT T H E W L . C H R I S T I A N , vice president and business banking relationship manager, Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida. ▶ ▶ J A M I E M . S M I T H , director of communications and marketing; and C H R I S T I N E M A N R I N G , assistant director

▶ ▶ M A R T Y K AT Z , vice president of marketing and development, Senior Friendship Center. ▶ ▶ B I L L WA R R E L L , business development officer and branch manager, Everence Federal Credit Union. ▶▶ R A C H E L D E N T O N , communications manager, Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. ▶ ▶ A M Y FA R R I N G T O N , vice president for public policy and Sarasota Tomorrow initiatives, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. ▶ ▶ J A S O N WA G A N H E I M , general manager; and M I C H A E L L I T Z E L , executive chef, CinéBistro. ▶ ▶ C H R I S R O W E , system support team member, SouthTech. ▶▶ Z A C H H I L F E R D I N G , program manager; and J E S S I C A S H O R I N , office and events coordinator, Suncoast

ZACH HILFERDING

CHRIS TOMASSO

▶▶ C H R I S T O M A S S O , promoted to president, First Watch.

▶ ▶ D A N I E L L E M I K E S E L L , vice president, marketing, R&D and customer services; and MARTIN BR ACAMONTE , vice president and general manager of glass operations, PGT Inc.

ACCOLADES New College of Florida president D R . D O N A L O ’ S H E A is co-winner of the 2016 American Mathematical Society’s Leroy P. Steele Award for Exposition, one of the highest distinctions in mathematics. ▶▶ H A L F L A N T S + P I C H E T T E ▶▶

STUDIO FOR MODERN A R C H I T E C T received the top honor, the H. Dean Rowe FAIA Award for Design Excellence, for its design of the Verandah House, plus three other design awards from the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. ▶ ▶ Global Trade magazine named P O R T M A N AT E E one of the top 20 niche ports in the U.S. ▶ ▶ M I R E YA E AV E Y of United Way Suncoast was named Female Executive of the Year (government or nonprofit, 10 or fewer employees) in the international 2015 Stevie Awards for Women in Business. ▶ ▶ J O H N M C I N T Y R E of McIntyre Elwell & Strammer General Contractors was 941CEO

A D VER TI SEMENT

{

GAIL BOWDEN TOP PRODUCER

My Top Three:

Notable Sales

1 MOUNT DORA MEDICAL CENTER Sold $16,300,000 Mount Dora, Fla. Medical Building, NNN Leases, Class “A” Structure.

51,357 square feet.

2 “Be advised. There is a difference.” With recent sales exceeding $50 million in medical office buildings, Gail Bowden knows that success sells.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, Bowden is well known for her business ingenuity and ability to navigate the complexities of venture capital, project finance, construction and development. Her project list is extensive as well as her list of accomplishments as an expert and industry leader. She has received various awards and accolades, including her fourth “Top Commercial Real Estate Advisor of the Year.” Bowden currently ranks #1 in Florida and #5 nationally with Sperry Van Ness through her determination to get the job done as well as her ability to remain focused regardless of the circumstances.

Bowden’s talent for orchestrating the many components of even the most complex deals while maintaining a demeanor of utmost poise keeps her in high demand among real estate investors and property owners alike.

•

Gail Bowden - Senior Investment Advisor 1626 Ringling Blvd., Suite 500 Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 223-1525 GailBowden.com

All Sperry Van Ness® Offices are Independently Owned and Operated

MARCH 2016

MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING Sold $8,500,000 Winter Haven, Fla. NNN Leases, Class “A” Structure.

37,519 square feet.

3 DEBARY MEDICAL VILLAGE Sold $6,345,000 DeBary, Fla. Lakefront 4.2 -acre site, NNN Leases, Three-story, Class “A” Structure.

24,000+/- square feet.

39

FAST TRACK TALK

of the law firm of Icard Merrill joined the board of directors of the American Hiking Society. ▶ ▶ M A R I N A J A C K was named the 2015 National Marina of the Year by Marina Dock Age magazine. ▶▶

▶▶

BR ADLEY J. ELLIS

MICHAEL SAUNDERS

was named to the “Inman Top 101,” the magazine’s new ranking of the most influential people in U.S. real estate. ▶▶

L AKEWOOD R ANCH

was named a 2014 Top Performer MEDICAL CENTER

40

C.J. BANNISTER

on Key Quality Measures

by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in the U.S., in the areas of heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, stroke and perinatal care.

▶▶

C .J. BANNIS TER ,

Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services program director, was named the John H. McLain 2015 Woman Veteran of the Year by the Sarasota County Veterans Commission. ▶ ▶ Manatee County Area Transit driver D AV I D S I M P S O N was named Manatee County 2015 Employee of the Year. ▶ ▶ Sarasota architect M I C H A E L C A R L S O N was elected secretary to the board of the newly formed Florida Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, and Sarasota County Government recently recognized him as a leader for his longstanding career in sustainable design.

MICHAEL CARLSON

BRADLEY J. ELLIS

inducted into the M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management Hall of Fame. ▶ ▶ The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance named its 2015 Sandies Members Choice Award winners: J A N E T A R E N A , Van Wezel, One of a Kind; C O U R T N E Y G R O VAT T , Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rising Star; M A R I A H U S S E Y , Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Ray of Sunshine; M I K E W I C K , Gator Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Networking King; YA S E M I N C H A I N , ComCenter of Lakewood Ranch, Networking Queen; H E AT H E R W I L L I A M S , Kerkering, Barberio & Co., Young Professional of the Year; D AV I D F I N K , Halliday Financial, Bull by the Horns; B R A D C R A N S T O N , PostNet of Lakewood Ranch, Best Rancher; S U S A N A B B O T T , C1 Bank, Volunteer of the Year.

▶▶

CHARLIE HUNSICKER

was named Tourism Ambassador of the Year by the Manatee Tourist Development Council.

▶ ▶ S T E P H E N J . M A R T I N of SRQ Wealth Management was elected president of the Estate Planning Council of Manatee County. ▶▶

CHRISTOPHER G.

has joined the board of Everyday Blessings, Inc., and E R I N C H R I S T Y was named corresponding secretary of the Women’s Council of Realtors; both are with the law firm of Williams Parker. ▶ ▶ J U L I E H O R S T K A M P of the law firm of Berlin Patten Ebling was reappointed by the Florida Bar to serve another two-year term on the Florida Realtor-Attorney Joint Committee representing the 2nd Appellate District of Florida. ▶ ▶ B E T S Y B E N A C was elected to a one-year term as chairwoman of the Manatee County Port Authority, the governing board of Port Manatee. ▶ ▶ D A R R E N I N V E R S O of Norton, Hammersley, Lopez & Skokos, P.A. was elected chair of the board of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance; L O R I R U T H of the Observer Media Group was elected incoming chair. ▶ ▶ N E A L C O M M U N I T I E S was named Builder of the Year by the Florida Green Building Coalition.

BR ANDON

▶▶

F R E E D O M B O AT C L U B

was listed No. 283 in the exclusive Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list for 2015. ▶ ▶ The W O M E N A N D CHILDREN’S CENTER AT L A K E W O O D R A N C H M E D I C A L C E N T E R was honored by the March of Dimes and Florida District XII of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for reducing the number of early elective inductions and cesarean deliveries.

MOVING AND OPENING Jina Morgese and Alex Webster have opened E M B E R & E A R T H P H O T O G R A P H Y at 238 S. Links Ave. in downtown Sarasota’s Towles Court artist colony. ▶ ▶ Joanne and John Bradshaw have purchased LY T E W O R K S at 816 Manatee Ave. E. in Bradenton. ▶ ▶ Jonathan Marsh has opened a H O M E H E L P E R S ▶▶

AND DIREC T LINK OF B R A D E N T O N at-home care franchise in Bradenton. ▶▶

IT’S A SECRET BE AUT Y

LOUNGE ,

a full-service spa, has opened at 1806 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. ▶▶

THE ROSEMARY

restaurant has opened in Citrus Square at 411 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota. ▶▶

CARIBOU COFFEE &

EINS TEIN BROS. BAGEL S

has opened in the former Einstein Bros. Bagels restaurant at 3800 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. ▶▶

AMI OUTFIT TERS

C O A S TA L G E A R & A P PA R E L

has opened a second location at 401 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria. ▶▶

SOL MEYER NY

has opened at 1473 Main St. in downtown Sarasota. ▶ ▶ John Wolterman has launched N E T Z E R O C O N S T R U C T I O N in Sarasota. ▶ ▶ Sarasota-based JMX Brands has opened its first D U T C H C R A F T E R S retail store at 3709 N. Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota.

D E L I C AT E S S E N

▶▶

IAN BLACK REAL ESTATE

has moved to 1 S. School Ave., Suite 600, in downtown Sarasota’s Kane Plaza. ▶▶

S TA R R T I T L E I N S U R A N C E

AGENC Y

has merged with

T H E R O K N I C H L AW F I R M . ■ 941CEO

AMANDA E. STIFF, MBA Investment Advisor

Join us at our

Money Savvy

Women Series

a series of enlightening and fun events designed to impart financial confidence.

Daniel J. Forssell, AAI

Brett M. Lacey

More Options. Better Choices.

That’s Benefit Advisors!

• Seasoned employee benefits consultants • Member firm of NFP/Benefits Partners • Family owned and operated since 1986 Bradenton/Sarasota

941-201-5610

www.benefit-advisors.com

Tuesday, April 19 “Must Have” Docs for Life Well-Planned Tuesday, May 10 Martinis & Markets For reservations call 366-7504 or email kcook@harborfs.com.

AccessAdvice.net 941 366 7504 astiff@harborfs.com 1990 Main Street Suite 750 Sarasota, FL 34236 Security and Advisory services offered through Harbor Financial Services, LLC Member FINRA/SIPC clearing through Raymond James & Associates, Inc. Member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Access Advisors, LLC is not an affiliate nor subsidiary of Harbor Financial Services, LLC

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Ashley Leon

Director of Professional Recruitment (941) 957-4537 sarasota.nm.com ashley.leon@nm.com

05-3080 © 2015 The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual).

41

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BUSINESS

IQ

FEATURING EXPERTS IN:

WEALTH C A P S TA N F I N A N C I A L C O N S U LT I N G G R O U P NICHOLAS FEATHER FINANCIAL CONSULTANT, SENIOR PARTNER

Why has your team grown so quickly?

Q.

A. Capstan’s independent structure has allowed us to invest our profits in our people, growing from 8 to 18 people in five years. Our advisors are compensated at higher levels than industry averages. The administrative team is larger and more specialized compared to other firms. And uniquely, just as Capstan is independent, each advisor independently operates their client book of business with no non-compete agreements.

What makes your team distinct?

Q.

A. We believe clients deserve more than generalist capabilities and a universal, rigid approach to the markets, so we custom built a team capable of managing virtually every aspect of your financial well being. Experts from many different capacities serve each client's portfolio, resulting in the creation of a comprehensive yet flexible program that reflects a true understanding of your unique needs and today's everchanging market conditions.

238 S. WASHINGTON BLVD. SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 256-9300 CAPSTANFINANCIAL.COM

42

CUMBERLAND ADVISORS MICHAEL McNIVEN MANAGING DIRECTOR AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER

What range of investment products do you offer?

Q.

A. Cumberland Advisors is an assetmanagement firm based in Sarasota with a national client base of individuals and institutions. Since 1973, we have used separately managed accounts for high-quality bond accounts. We adopted exchange-traded funds (ETFs) exclusively for equity management beginning in late 1999, making Cumberland Advisors one of the first firms in the industry to adopt ETFs exclusively for equity portfolios.

What differentiates you from your competitors?

Q.

A. Since 1973, Cumberland Advisors has been a trusted source for national and world market expertise, personal service and individual and institutional money management. We are an independent, fee-for-service money management firm managing over $2 billion in assets. We emphasize long-lasting relationships and continuous personalized discussion among clients, their consultants, tax advisors and our firm. We offer high expertise with competitively low fees.

How often should a business or individual reassess their investment strategy?

Q.

A. Investors should seek investment partners who demonstrate high ethical conduct and competence and who place the client’s needs first in all decisions. Within

that context, investment strategy must be positioned to avoid market whipsaws but be flexible enough to account for life needs, capital events and other contingencies. We perform quarterly reviews of all accounts to assure that the investment strategy suits the current client need.

ONE SARASOTA TOWER 2 N. TAMIAMI TRAIL, SUITE 303 SARASOTA, FL 34236 (800) 257-7013 EXT. 316 (941) 926-6279 EXT. 316 CUMBER.COM

J.L. BAINBRIDGE & CO., INC. INVESTMENT ADVISORS KIP D. SCHOONOVER SENIOR INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Q. If I need growth, how can I get the most for the least amount of risk?

A. Own publicly traded American companies that are growing based on long-term trends like urbanization, which means the global standard of living is rising, creating infrastructure build-out and increasing travel. There are 18,000 commercial airplanes in use today and there are 9,000 new planes set to be built. Another example of a long-term trend is America’s coming energy independence.

Why would an investor want to invest with J.L. Bainbridge & Company, Inc.?

Q.

A. Our firm has a proprietary disciplined investment program which has been

941CEO

Since 1973, Cumberland Advisors has been a trusted source for expert, personalized money management.

Our firm manages more than $2 billion in fixed income and equity accounts for institutions, retirement accounts, non-profits and government entities.

cumber.com | 800.257.7013 2 North Tamiami Trail, Suite 303, Sarasota, FL 34236

@CumberlandADV

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IQ successfully utilized since 1981 to identify companies with proven growth records, strong financials that generate significant free cash flow and are available at a reasonable price, which reduces risk and enhances appreciation. This approach has enhanced clients’ lives and provided the wherewithal to finance children’s education and provide for an enhanced retirement.

What is the difference between a financial planner and an investment advisor or financial adviser?

Q.

A. A financial planner covers six topics in one’s financial life: financial planning, insurance planning, investment planning, income tax planning, retirement planning and estate planning.

An investment advisor focuses on one thing—investing—possessing a timetested, very well-thought-out discipline and criteria to create an ongoing successful portfolio of investments.

1582 MAIN ST. SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 365-3435, (800) 899-5171 JLBAINBRIDGE.COM

PETER G. MAGNUSON PETER G. MAGNUSON CHFC®, CASL®, CLU®

Q. Who are your typical clients?

A. Most of my clients are people who need to either grow their investments or take income from them to pay their

bills. When I started in this business, interest rates were at 11 to 12 percent; those were the days. This is a much more challenging environment for retired people as well as those preparing for retirement. We help people address this problem.

Why did you choose to have your Financial Planning business in Sarasota?

Q.

A. Sarasota is a wonderful community and has a tremendous amount to offer retirees from all over the world. Caring for people in retirement has been my focus for over 30 years. I grew up here in Sarasota and I truly never thought about moving. I went to Phillippi Shores, Brookside and Riverview and graduated from Prew School, which

Investment Management 3900 Clark Road, Building R Lakeshore Village Plaza, Sarasota 941-923-7489 PMagnuson@harborfs.com Peter G. Magnuson, ChFC®, CLU®, CASL® Securities offered through Harbor Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC OSJ (888) 397-7358 Accounts carried by Raymond James & Associates, Inc. Member NYSE/SIPC

44

941CEO

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IQ became part of Out-of-Door Academy.

Why leave paradise?

3900 CLARK ROAD, BUILDING R SARASOTA, FL 34233 (941) 923-7489 PMAGNUSON@HARBORFS.COM

P I N K E R T O N W E A LT H MANAGEMENT GROUP OF WELLS FARGO ADVISORS GLORIA HIKADE SENIOR CLIENT ASSOCIATE, WELLS FARGO ADVISORS, LLC, MEMBER SIPC

Q. How can we make sure we are going to be OK? A. First, you have to understand what you need to enjoy your quality of life.

That includes knowing your spending

needs and other goals. Then, you need to test whether those goals are measurable and attainable. Second, enjoying your quality of life means not only achieving your goals, but also living the journey. We believe an investment strategy should be understandable, time tested and confidence building.

Q. What is the most common mistake that young retirees make?

A. Often, they don’t have a realistic plan for cash flow. You need to know where your money goes and where you will get it. Don’t make the mistake of relying on markets to provide for short-term needs.

The markets are too volatile to meet short-term cash flow requirements; the probability that you will need funds when markets are down is high.

SERVICE | INTEGRITY | COLLABORATION

What advice can you share about these “crazy” markets?

Q.

A. It is like surviving a hurricane.

Develop your plan, implement it—and when the storm comes, stay inside.

Don’t go outside in the middle of the storm. You won’t have good information, and emotional decisions are often bad decisions. We cannot predict hurricanes, but we can build your house to help survive them. Likewise, we cannot predict or time the markets, but we can build your plan to help survive ups and downs.

4242 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL VENICE, FL 34293 (941) 408-8557 PINKERTONWMG.COM

Our company was founded to provide comprehensive financial services and the highest degree of personal attention to individual and institutional clients by using a team-focused approach to ensure expert guidance, preparation, and responsiveness through all stages of life and regardless of market conditions.

• Investment Planning • Investment Management • Business Retirement Plans • College Planning • Risk Management

238 S. Washington Blvd., Sarasota

(800) 515-8176, (941) 256-9300

www.capstanfinancial.com 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.

46

941CEO

LOCAL. NATIONAL. INVESTMENT ADVISORS

MAIN STREET, SARASOTA, MAY BE OUR HOME BASE, BUT OUR CLIENTS ARE COAST TO COAST. With 35 years of professional portfolio management experience, we deliver a highly disciplined, long-term investment approach to help you achieve your financial goals.

We don’t sell products. Instead, we use our decades of experience, our integrity and our commitment to quality and risk minimization

Jerry L. Bainbridge

Fay E. Bainbridge

1582 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 365-3435, (800) 899-5171

to build investment portfolios that help our clients finance their children’s education, build and preserve the resources for an enhanced retirement, and achieve a meaningful higher standard of living.

We don’t get paid unless you’re satisfied. Please call for a free investment review.

Kip D. Schoonover

Joel G. Oldham

John B. Leeming

Jlbainbridge.com

THE SEEN TALK

1

941CEO AND LA GUÍA UNITY AWARDS

2

2016

UNITY AWARDS

1 Christine Sensenig and Nikhil Joshi, Hultman, Sensenig & Joshi 2 Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 3 Unity speaker Ambassador James A. Joseph 4 Tomeika Koski; Teresa Simmons 5 Rosa Rodriguez, Iberia Bank Mortgage; Julio Castillo, La Guía; Milva Belloso, Iberia Bank Mortgage; 6 Ken Shelin, Equality Florida; Steve Stockwell; Charlie Ann Syprett, SFF PHOTOGRAPHY: LORI SAX

THE 2016 UNITY AWARDS WERE SPONSORED BY: HULTMAN SENSENIG & JOSHI WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE U.S. TRUST MANATEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE THE ZENITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY

3

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MORE SEEN PHOTOS AT 941CEO.COM

7

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7 2016 941CEO and La Guía Unity Awards 8 Eleanor Merritt Darlington, artist 9 Luis Eduardo Barón, La Guía; Mary Braxton Joseph; Junior Salazar, United Nations Organization 10 Susie Bowie and Murray Devine, Community Foundation of Sarasota County 11 Jennifer Rust, Synovia; Susan Buck; Carolyn Keystone 12 Bob Geyer, Sunset Auto and Vincent Academy; William McKeever, Vincent House; Phil Delaney, Northern Trust 13 Mark Jackson, Becky Culp; Mike Rosario, RoseBay International

PHOTOGRAPHY: LORI SAX

11

12 MARCH 2016

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THE SEEN TALK

MORE SEEN PHOTOS AT 941CEO.COM

1 4 2

LAKEWOOD RANCH BUSINESS ALLIANCE ANNUAL MEETING 1 Mike Wick, Gator Air Conditioning and Plumbing; David Fink, Halliday Financial 2 Matibeth Phillips, Meals on Wheels Plus Manatee; Dani Fox, Dani Fox Hypnosis; Judy Bjork, Renaissance on 9th; Heather Kasten, LWR Business Alliance 3 Rex Jensen, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch 4 Darren Inverso, Norton, Hammersley, Lopez & Skokos, P.A. 5 Matthew Bobulsky, Esposito Law Group; Austen Legler, Next-Mark; Sean Flynn, Esposito Law Group 6 Ken Burke, Hometown News USA; Brandon Linder, Fawley Bryant Architects 7 Amanda Zipperer, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch; Gabriel Vest, Grapevine Communications 8 Stephen Downes, SVN; Adele Green, Watson & Co.

3

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THE SEEN TALK

MORE SEEN PHOTOS AT 941CEO.COM

1

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MANATEE CHAMBER 2016 POLITICS AND PANCAKES 1 Casey Welch, USF; Michael Gallen, Manatee Chamber; State Rep. Jim Boyd; Violeta Huseman, Keiser University; State Sen. Bill Galvano; State Rep. Greg Steube 2 Virginia Zimmerman, Manatee County Port Authority; Mary Chilton, Bradenton Area EDC 3 Carol Whitmore, Manatee County Commissioner; Adam Davis, Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee 4 Kathy Galea, Whitney Deem, Office of Sen. Galvano 5 Abigail Oakes, Nature's Academy; Chris Fensterle, Manatee Memorial Hospital 6 Mary Ruiz, Centerstone; Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube 3

PHOTOGRAPHY: LORI SAX

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Volume 13/Number 2, March 2016, 941CEO (ISSN 1936-7538) is published in January, March, April, June, September and November by Gulf Shore Media, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SagaCity Media, Inc., 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236.

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MARCH 2016

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OFF THE CLOCK TALK ● BY ILENE DENTON

I

nstead of traveling the busy fundraising gala circuit as many bankers do, Max Shaw, branch manager at Cadence Bank in Sarasota, spends his volunteer time teaching state prisoners how to manage their money when they are eventually released from incarceration.

Shaw linked up with the Sarasotabased nonprofit Project 180’s financial literacy program initially to earn the Community Reinvestment Act hours required by the federal government.

His first assignment was teaching a four-week financial literacy course with two colleagues for 24 students of all

FINANCIAL FREEDOM

ages at the Hardee State Prison work camp facility. “I didn’t know what to expect,” he says.

“In my mind, from what you see on TV, I thought big mean guys, rough around the edges.”

The experience was enormously eye-opening. “They were so receptive, their questions were so smart. It was amazing to me,” he says. “Some had had checking accounts and others had never worked with a bank before or saved any money. They were hungry for the information.”

The class covers the basics of opening and balancing a checking account, how to use a debit card and ATM, how to save money by paying yourself first—“the basic knowledge we take for granted,” Shaw says. He subsequently got permission to teach literacy programs in the Hillsborough County jail, and in 2016 will start teaching in the Sarasota County jail.

The mission of Project 180 is to reintegrate newly released prisoners into community life. According to the nonprofit organization, more than 45 percent of the 100,000-plus inmates housed in state prisons are repeat offenders, and almost 40 percent test below a fifth-grade education level.

The ultimate goal, Shaw says, is to build a residential home for former offenders and enroll them in a twoyear program—“a safe place to go, to educate and train them, help them find a job.” Shaw felt so rewarded that he joined the board of Project 180, and in 2015 served as president.

Through his financial literacy coaching, Shaw learned “to not go in with preconceived ideas about people or situations. We all make choices.

These people deserve a fair shot; they’ve paid their dues.

They need the tools and knowledge to not end up where they just got out of.” ■

BARBARA BANKS

“THESE PEOPLE DESERVE A FAIR SHOT; THEY’VE PAID THEIR DUES.”

Banker Max Shaw teaches checkbook literacy to state prisoners.

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941CEO

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28th AnnuAl CelebrAtion lunCheon

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Friday, April 1, 2016 the ritz-Carlton, Sarasota 10:30 a.m.

Dream harbor boutique Shopping 11:30 a.m. luncheon For more information, call 366-6646 x218 or visit our website at www.girlsincsrq.org