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2 0 1 0 – 1 1 TA L L A H A S S E E BUSINESS JOURNAL A publication of the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County, Inc.
SPECIAL SPONSORED SECTION OF 850 — THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA
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Marpan Recycling is committed to being a good neighbor to the community we serve. We are rolling up our sleeves, and investing in our environment by operating one of the only Class III recycling facilities in the nation. Marpan Recycling has partnered with Tallahassee/Leon County to accept all materials, except for hazardous and food waste. This partnership has led to several hundred million pounds of waste being recovered and recycled that would have been buried in a landfill. Marpan Recycling accepts mixed loads of construction debris, commercial or household waste, including, but not limited to, waste wood, concrete, dirt, metal, carpet, cardboard, plastic, tile, brick, shingles, appliances, furniture and mattresses. Marpan Recycling is located at 6020 Woodville Hwy. We are open Monday through Friday 7:30AM – 4:30PM, and Saturday 8:00AM–4:30PM. Materials brought into the facility are tipped onto a concrete floor under a roof. We have two scales, so we get you in and out fast. Together we are making a difference by recycling — we are preserving our environment for our children and future generations.
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W el c o m e letter
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TA L L A H A S S E E B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L A publication of the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County, Inc.
Welcome! On behalf of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County, Inc. (EDC) we invite you to experience the 2010–2011 Tallahassee Business Journal. We are so proud of what will surely become a valued resource for those looking to learn more about our diverse business community, as well as those looking to celebrate how far we have come. You most likely know that Tallahassee is home to the Florida Legislature, two state universities and one of the largest community colleges in Florida. However, throughout this journal you will learn so much more about the “quiet giants” found within our business community, as well as more about the rare balance of personal and professional opportunity available in the Tallahassee area. Page after page, you will be enveloped in stories about the continued success of so many of our area’s businesses, as well as the emergence of exciting start-ups. We hope that the Tallahassee Business Journal will pique your interest in our community and how the Chamber and EDC can help you and your business excel, despite serious economic and environmental challenges. Together, our organizations serve the needs of the thousands of businesses that make their home in our region by provid-
ing them with opportunities for growth, expansion and long-term success. We are committed to building a stronger community by supporting the businesses that drive our economy, volunteer for worthy causes, contribute to our non-profit organizations and provide the goods and services we rely on every day. The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization that nurtures a thriving business environment and provides the opportunity for small businesses to grow. Our mission is to encourage members to learn from each other by sharing ideas and to help them stay abreast of what’s happening in their community while learning about state legislative issues that may affect their business. The EDC is a public/private partnership that connects local government, education and businesses to nurture existing industry, develop entrepreneurial opportunities and attract innovative companies to the area. The city, county and more than 100 private investors are committed to creating jobs and building a stronger business community. The EDC is aggressively serving the needs of regional employers and creating opportunities for our graduates and our children to stay in Tallahassee. We are doing that through assisting with product development, research, marketing and
Sue Dick
Beth Kirkland
special incentives, as well as giving technical and business assistance.We have also established and oversee industry sector initiatives designed to strengthen the competitive advantage of our region. So grab a cup of coffee, kick up your feet and settle in for an informative read that will have you saying, “I didn’t know that,” to the very last page. Thank you,
Beth Kirkland, CEcD Executive Director Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County, Inc.
Sue Dick President Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County, Inc.
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TA B L E O F CO N T E N T S
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10 Business Incentives 16 Health Sciences & Biotech 22 Transportation & Infrastructure 25 Aviation 29 National Defense Cluster 33 International Business Development 37 Research, Development & Universities 41 Quality of Life 43 Area Vital Statistics
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TA L L A H A S S E E BUSINESS JOURNAL
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BUSINESS INCENTIVES
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Made in Tallahassee
Tax incentives, access to transportation and trained work force bring in new business
danfoss turbocor
When Danfoss Turbocor Compressors was looking to relocate its Montreal headquarters and manufacturing plant to the U.S., it was courted by many but zeroed in on Tallahassee as its new home. Not only did the city offer a highly educated work force, close proximity to major seaports (to distribute its product worldwide) and economic incentives — it also worked with the company to address its specific needs, even going so far as to establish
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a new training program to prepare local workers for the expected infusion of highwage jobs. Another major plus: the availability of engineering graduates coming out of nearby Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University and Florida State University and close proximity to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and its research capabilities. “We needed to support our growth and to bring in competent and skilled people and create a new generation of
entrepreneurs who could take us to the next step. FSU was an opportunity to create that pool of talent,” said Ricardo Schneider, CEO and president of Danfoss Turbocor, which manufactures energy efficient commercial air-conditioning compressors in a 65,000-square-foot facility in Innovation Park. “We run oil-free, so there is no friction. It was logical that we get closer to a high level of research in magnetic technologies.” Beth Kirkland, executive director of the Economic Development Council of
Incentives Available for Expanding or New Businesses LOCAL INCENTIVES City of Tallahassee/Leon County Targeted Business Program Offers incentives to new and existing businesses that create valueadded jobs within the city and county, rewarding businesses that will diversify the economy, are suited to the local business mix and will generate revenue growth from the sales of goods and services outside the local economy. The program also seeks to reward businesses that locate in designated target areas for economic growth and development; that build environmentally sensitive projects; and that do business with other local businesses. Funds awarded under this program would be used to reimburse 1) up to 100 percent of the cost of development fees and 2) a portion of the capital investment of the business project based on ad valorem taxes paid. Community Redevelopment Agency The Tallahassee CRA, created in 1998, consists of more than 1,450 acres of residential, commercial/retail and industrial land uses, all conveniently located near the heart of downtown Tallahassee. Included within the boundaries of the redevelopment area are (1) 13 neighborhood communities; (2) seven major commercial/retail areas; and (3) numerous mixed-use areas. In addition, the area borders parts of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and the Florida State University. Extensive city infrastructure, including water, sewer, electricity and gas, are available throughout the redevelopment area. Emergency Concurrency Relief Program The city has established a program that allows for a 50 or 75 percent reduction in concurrency fees for projects that have been determined by staff to “provide a public benefit.” The fee reduction is implemented in the concurrency agreement, which also lays out the specific “public benefit” for each project. This program is currently set to expire on Dec. 31, 2010. Redevelopment projects have been determined to provide a public benefit, as have projects that create new jobs. STATE INCENTIVES Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program Pre-approved applicants who create jobs in Florida receive tax refunds of $3,000 per net new full-time equivalent Florida job created; $6,000 in an Enterprise Zone or Rural County. For businesses paying 150 percent of the average annual wage, add $1,000 per job; for businesses paying 200 percent of the average annual salary, add $2,000 per job. New or expanding businesses in selected targeted industries or corporate headquarters are eligible. Quick Response Training Program Designed as an inducement to secure new value-added businesses to Florida as well as provide existing businesses the necessary
training for expansion. Through this incentive, Florida is able to effectively retain, expand and attract employers offering high-quality jobs. The program is flexible and structured to respond quickly to meet the business’s training objectives. Workforce Florida, Inc., the state’s public-private partnership created to coordinate job-training efforts, administers the program. Enterprise Zone The Tallahassee/Leon County Enterprise Zone is nearly 20 square miles in size. New businesses that want to locate there, or existing businesses that want to expand jobs, equipment or square feet, can earn a monthly credit against their state corporate or sales and use tax for wages paid to new employees. Also available: a state sales tax refund on equipment that costs $5,000 or more and is being used exclusively in the enterprise zone; a sales tax refund on building materials purchased for new construction or renovation of existing buildings; a corporate tax credit for a company that establishes five or more new jobs; property tax exemption for child care facilities; tax credits for businesses that donate to approved community development projects. Economic Development Transportation Fund (Road Fund) Designed to alleviate transportation problems that hinder a specific company’s location or expansion decision. Urban Job Tax Credit Program The program provides tax credits to eligible businesses that are located within the 13 Urban Areas designated by the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development and hire a specific number of employees. In the Tallahassee Urban Area, the credit is $1,000 per qualified job and can be taken against either the Florida Corporate Income Tax or the Florida Sales and Use Tax, but not both. Incumbent Worker Training Program The Incumbent Worker Training Program is funded by the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and administered by Workforce Florida, Inc. Through this program, Florida is able to provide training to currently employed workers to keep Florida’s work force competitive in a global economy and to retain existing businesses. High Impact Performance Incentive Grant Once recommended by Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) and approved by the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, the high impact business is awarded 50 percent of its eligible grant upon commencement of operations and the balance of the awarded grant once full employment and capital investment goals are met. Capital Investment Tax Credit Used to attract and grow capital-intensive industries in Florida, it is an annual credit against the corporate income tax for up to 20 years in an amount up to 5 percent of the eligible capital costs generated by a qualifying project.
For further information, contact the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County (850) 224-8116 or TalEDC.com
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Communities across the country are competing for new business and they’re getting more aggressive and creative in how they position their areas to attract outside companies. Tallahassee/Leon County (EDC), said the company’s relocation to the region has been a “huge success” because it has brought in more than 170 jobs that pay well above the median wage for the area. She said it has also showcased the value of local educational assets, has brought contracts to local manufacturing companies (Global CNC Solutions and TeligentEMS) and attracted industry partners to open offices in Tallahassee. Schneider estimates that the company’s presence has created at least another 170 jobs in the community through its network of suppliers. To help in its relocation, the company also received some tax incentives, including bonuses for creating high-tech jobs. Rick McCraw, community redevelopment coordinator for the city, estimates Danfoss Turbocor will receive about $28,000 in
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refunds this year, with the state providing about 80 percent of that total. In short, said Kirkland, it is “a model economic development project.” Communities across the country are competing for new business and they’re getting more aggressive and creative in how they position their areas to attract outside companies. So too have Tallahassee and Leon County. “This (economic) crisis has elevated people’s willingness to attract new business and we’re trying to use the whole value of the region to bring business in,” said Cecilia Homison, CEO of Florida Commerce Credit Union and a member of the EDC’s board. “What I’ve seen in the last year, more than any other, is a real emergence of the desire to cultivate business.” Since businesses can now cherry pick
where they want to go, local economic development experts have worked to zero in on what makes the Tallahassee region a good choice, providing extra incentives along the way. “We work to try to make sure there is space available for the need that would come here. And incentives can find themselves in the form of subsidized rent or constructing a building for someone, which recently happened at the airport with CICEFT, a cable assembly company,” explained Kim Williams, EDC chairman and president of Marpan Supply. But bringing in outside companies isn’t the only focus of the region’s economic development efforts. Local businesses that want to expand — or are willing to invest in projects designed to remove blight — can also benefit from existing programs. According to Kirkland, since 80 percent of new jobs come from existing industry “it’s very important to have a strong business retention and expansion program.” The First Focus on Local Business program aligns all the local resources needed for one-stop shopping that helps an employer seek anything from technical assistance to facilities to workforce training. The Community Redevelopment Agency has funded incentives (which require a dollar-for-dollar match from the business owner) that range from $800 to replace a business’s awnings to $150,000 to buy parcels of land, said McCraw. It will provide up to $50,000 for commercial façade improvement; among recent beneficiaries are the Crepe Vine and Bella Bella restaurants. Florida Commerce Credit Union is using facade improvement money to update a rundown building in downtown Tallahassee on College Avenue that it plans to open soon as a new branch. And Homison said the city also mitigated 50 percent of the impact fees and helped expedite the permitting for another new branch of the financial institution that just opened at the intersection of Thomasville Road and I-10 – in time for the credit union’s 70th anniversary. “The city did an amazing job of supporting us,” she said. The EDC is also launching projects
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Since businesses can now cherry pick where they want to go, local economic development experts have worked to zero in on what makes the Tallahassee region a good choice, providing extra incentives along the way.
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based on successful programs elsewhere in the county, among them an incubator program similar to those run by the University of Florida and University of Central Florida that help small businesses emerge from local research institutes and high-tech private sector companies. Another initiative, fashioned after a successful Colorado program, will help those second-stage businesses pair up with the needed resources to reach the next step in their development as a stand-alone company. “We realize that bringing jobs and relocating businesses here helps all of us. Whether they come to Summit East or other office parks is not as important as the fact they are coming to Leon County,” said George Banks, general manager of Summit East, the new eastside office park located off I-10. Summit East has already built out 300,000 square feet and just got permitted for another 800,000. When trying to bring in new tenants, Banks said he works to sell them on the resources available in the region. The city’s work at making the area more attractive for business in 2007 helped it win recognition by Expansion Management, a national trade publication, as one of “America’s 50 Hottest Cities” for companies to relocate. Out of 362 metro areas across the country, Tallahassee was among only five in Florida to make the list. “Tallahassee has special skills. Up to 48 percent of the population has a college degree. It is a very well-educated town,” said Schneider of Danfoss Turbocor. “It’s also not a typical mid-size town. It is the capital and FSU is a large university. There is a lot of cultural and social life. It is a good place to raise kids and to have a high quality of life.”
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Synthesis and Synergy Nurturing a growing biotechnology and health care cluster
As a graduate student in chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Greg Dudley remembers walking by a half-dozen labs on his way to school that catered to biotechnology and drug companies. These synthesis labs sold organic molecules that biotech and pharmaceutical companies used to develop drugs and other products.
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So Dudley was surprised to find, after moving to Tallahassee in 2002 to work for Florida State University as a chemistry professor, that Florida didn’t have any drug synthesis companies like the ones he had seen so frequently in Boston. Synthesis companies are key to development of a thriving biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry because they provide
the essential ingredients to make drugs. It’s expensive for one company to develop the organic molecules needed for drug development, but if several companies can rely on one to develop the active ingredients used in drug development, it saves those companies money. “Biotechnology and health care is a robust industry,” Dudley said. “It’s relatively
recession-proof because people always get sick. I’m all in favor of Florida investing in the biotechnology industry. And I thought it would be an interesting idea for a company.” Biotechnology is the popular girl of the economic development world, the industry that all cities and counties are working hard to woo, seeking a long-term commitment. And Tallahassee is no exception. It’s sought after because it’s seen as an industry that produces high-paying jobs and
focused on health sciences jobs because of the area’s strong medical industry. Biotech or health sciences firms interested in moving to or starting a firm in Tallahassee could take advantage of state and local tax incentives. It’s not just Tallahassee business leaders that want to see the health and biotechnology industry grow. Many area high schools and colleges offer programs intended to train more students for the biotechnology and health work force. Tallahassee Community College offers
FSU has launched its own programs to help grow biotechnology and health sciences start-ups in the Tallahassee area. In 2009 Dudley enrolled in Chempreneurs, a new program started by FSU that matches undergraduate business students with chemistry faculty to work on the development of business plans based on ideas developed by the faculty members. This program is run through the Jim Moran Institute at FSU's business school. “Halfway through the semester it became
will continue to grow as health care becomes an increasing priority for Americans. But it’s tough to lure biotechnology jobs because it’s such an in-demand industry and requires the right mixture of tax incentives, skilled workforce and infrastructure. The Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County, Inc., is trying to attract biotechnology firms, but it’s also
an associate’s degree in biotechnology, though it is currently re-assessing the program after only three students enrolled in a four-year period. “Many of the traditional areas of biology and applied biology are recognizing the importance of biotechnology,” said Frank Brown, the Dean of the Math and Science Division at Tallahassee Community College.
clear to us that every biotech hub we looked at there were a bunch of contract synthesis companies,” Dudley said. “But in Florida there was not. Today there are 150 biotech or pharmaceutical companies registered with Bio Florida, but none of them were contract synthesis companies.” Spying a great opportunity to start a business, Dudley helped incorporate the
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Biotechnology Companies in Tallahassee DiscovRx Headquartered at Innovation Park in Southwest Tallahassee, DiscovRx is researching and redesigning all-natural oils in skin creams for babies and children. Florida Custom Synthesis Located at Florida State University’s Entrepreneurs Building in Northwest Tallahassee, Florida Custom Synthesis makes the organic molecules needed in drug development. Animal Genetics Tallahassee’s longest-lasting biotech firm, Animal Genetics does DNA testing on animals, from horses to dogs and birds. The company tests for disorders, proper breeding and can even determine the family lineage of a prized horse. Biofront Started in March 2010 by Jason Robotham, Biofront develops Hepatitis C diagnostic testing kits. These kits will help researchers studying Hepatitis C at universities or pharmaceutical companies. Source: Florida State University, Tallahassee Democrat
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Biotechnology is the popular girl of the economic development world, the industry that all cities and counties are working hard to woo, seeking a long-term commitment — And Tallahassee is no exception. company in 2009. It is now run by Doug Engel and Timothy Kinney, though Dudley is a scientific adviser. Florida Custom Synthesis found the right lab space through FSU’s Entrepreneurs Building on Commonwealth Blvd. in Northwest Tallahassee. Already, Florida Custom Synthesis has clients in Florida and as far away as California. Dudley said the company is already starting to turn a profit. “(Drug or biotech companies) are going to be designing what they think are the new treatments,” Dudley said. “We are the ones providing the fuel for their testing process.” Tallahassee doesn’t have the thriving biotechnology and health sciences industries that cities such as Boston, San Diego and the Raleigh-Durham area have, but it shows promise.
One biotechnology company has been here since 1992. Animal Genetics, which started as Avian Biotech, was founded by Dr. Siwo de Kloet, a retired professor of biological science at FSU who had studied animal genetics. De Kloet wanted to focus on bird DNA sexing and disease testing. Determining the sex of a bird isn’t easy. Prior to DNA testing, birds had to undergo surgery to determine their sex. Thanks to genetic testing, the sex can be determined after the bird’s owner mails in a few feathers. It’s much less invasive and less expensive for the bird’s owner. Animal Genetics is now run by Siwo’s son, Arne de Kloet. Arne de Kloet said Animal Genetics has since expanded to include an office in the United Kingdom and testing on dogs and
horses, though it is still the largest private provider of genetic tests for birds in the world. Animal Genetics handles more than 90,000 tests annually. The company tests everything from genetic disorders and infectious disease testing to what the offspring of two animals would look like. “It’s all kinds of different issues with these animals,” said Arne de Kloet. Animal Genetics, which employs around 20 people in Tallahassee, works frequently with breeders, especially race horse owners, who want to test for performance abilities. “Another popular thing is DNA profiling,” Arne de Kloet said. “Determining the parents and lineage of a fowl is very popular.” “We do that with a registry that requires
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each horse to have a DNA profile,” he said. This helps horse breeders compare results from across the world. “If you are buying a horse for a quarter-million dollars, you want to make sure they have the lineage they claim it is. There’s lots of cases where they claim it’s from a particular stallion and we discover it’s not,” Arne de Kloet said. Dog breeders have a similar interest in determining what dogs to breed together to produce the best result. Animal Genetics can test if there are genetic disorders so two dogs with the same genetic abnormality aren’t bred together. “We can help with color, too,” Arne de Kloet said. “If somebody wants to breed only chocolate labs or black labs we have the potential to tell them which parents to breed in order to get what they are looking for.” Genetic testing on animals is still new. “When we started we were one of the first to offer genetic services to the public,” Arne de Kloet said. He said more biotechnology companies in Tallahassee would help his business. “We need more bio tech companies that don’t rely on Wall Street. Those companies can come and go pretty quick.”
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Though Tallahassee has had some success with biotechnology companies such as Animal Genetics, it is also known regionally for its health care and there are many education and work-force training programs geared toward the health industry. FSU has a College of Medicine and Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University has a College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Tallahassee Community College has also created the Ghazvini Center for Health Care Education, which will feature cutting-edge technology such as a simulated patient care unit. Early next year Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare will open a cancer center and the Red Hills Surgical Center, a new outpatient facility that is a joint venture between the hospital and local surgeons. And Capital Regional Medical Center recently opened a 24-hour clinic in nearby Gadsden County. Home to two hospitals and a thriving medical industry, Tallahassee is the perfect home for health care companies. Similar to biotechnology, which often focuses on drug development, health sciences is a field that is only expected to grow in demand. But before businesses look to
Statistics on Florida Biotechnology ›B iotech employment in Florida rose 18 percent from 2001 to 2008. ›A biotech job pays on average $55,264 a year in Florida. ›F lorida is 6th in the nation for biotech jobs with 27,960. ›F lorida is 14th in the nation for bioscience venture capital investments at $810 million. Source: Battelle and BIO, the Biotechnology Industry Organization
relocate or expand in Tallahassee, there must be a highly trained work force in place. One local high school has taken dramatic steps to ensure Tallahassee has a trained medical work force. At Wakulla High School, there is a medical academy that students apply to be in. Students still take their normal courses, but in addition participate in medical academy classes that teach them about the bio-medical field. TALLAHASSEE IS KNOWN REGIONALLY FOR ITS HEALTH CARE. THERE ARE MANY EDUCATION AND WORK-FORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS GEARED TOWARD THE HEALTH INDUSTRY.
Classes start with an introductory course in bio-medical research, and throughout the program students learn about anatomy, physiology and develop an in-depth knowledge of the health care system and its occupations. By the time students graduate, they are ready to sit for the certified nursing assistant exam, which is taken at Wakulla High. “They learn about everything from giving CPR to first-responder techniques,” said Sarabeth Jones, a career specialist for Wakulla High and coordinator of the program. “It’s designed to prepare students for entry-level employment or advanced training.” Students also shadow people working in the medical industry and help work at health care clinics, ensuring the students get handson practice. Jones said the program is popular with students, but there are academic standards that must be met. A student has to apply to be in the academy and must have a grade-point-average of 2.5. Once in the academy, a student has to maintain a 2.7 GPA. Currently, Wakulla High has 200 students enrolled in the academy, with 30 graduating each year. “They get to a certain point in their senior year in which they have to put in a certain number of hours at clinics,” Jones said. “They work an actual shift and participate.” A clinic could be giving flu shots or health screenings. “Health care is not going away,” Jones said. Many recent graduates of the medical academy acquired jobs right away.
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T R ANS P O R TATION
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TALLAHASSEE B U SINESS J O U R NAL
Crossroads of Commerce
Bring on the freight. We can handle it. Tallahassee’s geographic location may seem isolated at first blush, but the capital city’s economy stands poised to take advantage of an excellent system of highways and rails. “I think our region is in very good shape in terms of economic development, and its attraction for the movement of goods and
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people,” said Rob Palmer, projects director with Our Region Tomorrow, a 10-county organization focused on fostering regional collaboration. The Tallahassee-Leon County region has about 271 miles of principal highways and 343 miles of other roads that serve as major transportation corridors for travel within the central Panhandle region,
according to the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency’s (CRTPA) Regional Mobility Plan. According to the plan, up to 43,500 vehicles pass through the Tallahassee section of I-10 per day, making it the most heavily traveled corridor in the region. It is the primary east-west route between the port cities of Jacksonville and Pensacola. “We’re blessed to have Interstate 10. The improvements coming to I-10 and those that have recently occurred position us for outstanding east-west travel through the region,” Palmer said. Peripheral highways see significant usage as well. These roads include State Road 61, State Road 63, U.S. Highway 27, U.S. Highway 90, State Road 267 and U.S. Highway 319. These, and others, carry between 6,501 and 27,000 vehicles per day in and out of the Tallahassee region. They shuttle people and freight to Georgia, down to the Gulf, and all points east and west. Railroads, too, play a pivotal role here. CSX Transportation has a main rail line that runs east and west through Leon County, and carries commodities such as non-metallic minerals, chemicals and coal. Several short-line carriers connect with CSX at strategic north-south points such as Panama City and Perry. Rail shipments serve various distribution centers and warehouses throughout the region, but some say rail is under-utilized here. “We’re working with the railroads to see how they can (better serve the area),” said Harry Reed, executive director of the CRTPA. “There is a tremendous amount of rail capacity in this region. Florida’s rail is not completely used to its fullest capacity.” That means Tallahassee has much to
photo by LAWRENCE DAVIDSON
Tallahassee competes in a global economy via road and rail
recommend it to the business looking to move into this region. “Tallahassee has a great position for where it’s located and there are so many factors in its favor, not the least being the capacity of roadways and rail systems,” said Mark Llewellyn, president of Genesis Group, a civil engineering and development company and chairman of the Economic Development Council’s Transportation & Logistics Industry Sector Roundtable. “We’re right between Pensacola and Jacksonville. Atlanta to the north of us, and there are ports in Panama City and even a smaller version down in Port St. Joe. Location-wise, we’re really well positioned.” Palmer said the area has “tremendous capacity” because the infrastructure hasn’t been overwhelmed, and leaders have done a good job of understanding local assets and aligning various interests.
“Our ability to leverage our infrastructure — whether it’s communication or energy or natural environment — into the direction related to our economic development initiatives is key to our success,” he said. “We can’t rest on our laurels. We have to look at every opportunity as to how we can leverage it and connect it so there is a multiplier effect.” However, we can’t afford to be caught behind the eight ball. Looking statewide, there are changes coming in other corridors that will have a huge impact on Tallahassee. The most notable problem, Llewellyn said,
is the fact that Interstate 75 is quickly running out of room. “It’s quickly becoming over-capacity,” he said. “Miami is working hard to expand its port, so more goods will be coming in there. The only route to move them north is up the Turnpike to I-75, and maybe along the I-95 corridor. Both of those are heavily at capacity. The Tampa port is being expanded and Jacksonville is being expanded, so how are those goods going to be moved? There’s got to be another north-south route for them to get on, if it’s by truck or by train.” One possible solution could be a new toll road between Tampa and points east of Tallahassee. Suncoast Parkway/State Road 589, a new road opened within the last five years, runs north from Tampa between U.S. Highway 19 and I-75 and ends in Crystal River. Time will tell if that new road extends all the way up to North Florida; if it
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Our firm has deep local roots. Since 1976, we’ve offered fullservice representation to our clients ranging from small businesses and major international corporations to individuals and families. In helping our community and clients, we strive to make Northwest Florida a better place to live, work, and play. We are pleased to congratulate these attorneys who have been recognized by Florida Trend magazine and Super Lawyers.
FLORIDA TREND LEGAL ELITE Florida Trend magazine recognizes attorneys from nearly 30 practice areas. “Up and Comers” recognizes attorneys who are 40 or under, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. Nine of the nineteen Pensacola area attorneys recognized by Florida Trend are from our firm. ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED AS “LEGAL ELITE”
Kenneth B. Bell, Appellate Practice William E. Bond, Jr., Commercial Litigation Jeremy C. Branning, Civil Trial Dennis K. Larry, Civil Trial Bruce D. Partington, Construction Scott A. Remington, Commercial Litigation
ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED AS “UP AND COMERS”
Keith L. Bell, Jr. Charles F. James, IV H. Lee Strayhan, III
FLORIDA SUPER LAWYERS Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys from more than 70 practice areas. “Rising Stars” recognizes attorneys who are 40 or under, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED AS “SUPER LAWYERS”
Robert D. Hart, Jr., Business/Corporate W. Christopher Hart, Real Estate Dennis K. Larry, Personal Injury Plaintiff Bruce D. Partington, Construction Litigation Harry B. Stackhouse, Tax
ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED AS “RISING STARS”
Keith L. Bell, Jr., Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights Jeremy C. Branning, General Litigation Charles F. James, IV, Real Estate H. Lee Strayhan, III, Business Litigation Pensacola 125 W. Romana St. Suite 800 (850) 434-9200
Destin 34990 Emerald Coast Pkwy. Suite 301 (850) 650-3304
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does, it will only add to Tallahassee’s range of mobility. That’s an important draw for business, Reed said. “It’s been my experience (when businesses look to relocate) the big things they look at are education, transportation and quality of life,” he said. “They want to know where their future work force is coming from, how smart they are, and if they have a distribution center. They want to make sure your transportation infrastructure is functioning well.” Llewellyn said there’s nothing wrong with how Tallahassee’s roads handle local traffic.
the area has 'tremendous capacity' becausE ... leaders have done a good job of understanding our assets and aligning various interests.
While most commuters in bigger cities like Tampa and Jacksonville find themselves stuck in miserable rush hour conditions, “capacity on (our) highways is exceptional compared to other parts of the state,” he said. That’s a characteristic that businesses can take advantage of now, said Palmer. “Industry doesn’t have to wait. Tallahassee has capacity now,” he said. Meanwhile, the city continues to make improvements in its infrastructure to keep it on a competitive edge. “The reality is Tallahassee is certainly open for business and (there are) lots of opportunities for any type of business to come here and thrive,” Llewellyn said. “Tallahassee has done a good job recently of addressing roadway capacity issues, with work on Capital Circle and constructing Blair Stone Road. Now, they’re taking dramatic steps in the Gaines Street corridor to make it a friendlier corridor for pedestrians and business. With that project, and with FAMU Way, that’s a major investment in that part of town. That will bring the universities and student populations together. I think it will go a long way.”
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Catching the Winds of Change
PHOTO COURTESY FLIGHTLINE/HONDAJET
Tallahassee Regional Airport’s future flies on the wings of opportunity
Evolution. It’s the key to survival in the aviation industry these days. Two aviation executives, Bob Van Riper and Michael Clow, know firsthand that change and progress are essential to economic development, especially at Tallahassee Regional Airport. “There are a lot of opportunities to grow,” said Van Riper, vice president of sales for HondaJet Southeast, a Flightline Group
company located in the general aviation section of the city-owned airport. “There’s a saying that Mac and Danny (Langston), owners of Flightline Group, say and that is, ‘The only way to predict the future is create it.’” Clow, the airport’s capital program administrator, calls the airport a regional asset with great new improvements on the way that’ll better serve the 700,000 passengers
who go through the Ivan Munroe Terminal every year. “Our market area is a 32-county region, about a 100-mile radius,” he said. “We have 2,500 acres, two all-weather runways and all the things that you need to run a really nice airport.” The airport is located seven miles southwest of Tallahassee’s central business district. Aside from the all-weather runways, the airport boasts full-length parallel taxiways, three general aviation aprons (areas for loading, unloading, fueling and maintenance), and aprons for commercial and cargo aircraft. Runway 9-27 and Runway 18-36 are 8,000 and 6,070 feet long, respectively. Due to its “strategic” location in sunny Florida, the airport boasts more than 350 days of Visual Flight Rules (regulations under which a pilot can visually control an aircraft) conditions every year. The airport is host to a variety of air operations, from commercial flights (provided by four major carriers) to cargo transportation and general aviation. Because it’s in the state capital, the airport is a hub for business travelers from all over the world. According to Talgov.com, the Tallahassee market area covers a population of more than 1.4 million and includes Tallahassee, 11 neighboring Florida counties and 12 southern Georgia counties. Tallahassee Regional Airport accounts for 32 percent of air passenger travel in the Northwest Florida region. Clow said that aside from the hundreds of thousands of passengers that go through the 160,000-square-foot Ivan Munroe Terminal every year, about 2 million people pass through its doors when the meet-andgreet types and other folks are counted. The airport is the home to more than 40 businesses, including six rental car companies, FedEx, Million Air (an FBO services provider), HondaJet Southeast and SouthEast Piper. About 750 people work at 2010–11 / TA L L A H A S S E E B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L / 25
A highly skilled workforce is the heart of a strong manufacturing team‌
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photo by scott holstein
the complex, which has a direct economic impact of $102 million. “That’s what the people who work here get paid,” Clow said. “And counting all the direct and indirect multipliers, the total economic impact is more than $377 million and affects almost 4,000 jobs in the Tallahassee/Leon County community.” Van Riper, chair of the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County's Aviation/Aerospace Industry Sector Roundtable, said Flightline’s family of companies currently consists of not only HondaJet Southeast and SouthEast Piper but Flightline Technical Services, Piper Parts Plus, Flightline Aviation Consulting and Flightline Development Corporation. “Our focus is aircraft sales, aircraft maintenance and the development of facilities here at the airport,” he said. One of Flightline’s biggest projects that opened in 2009 is the company’s Regional Service Center, a 26,000-square-foot hangar/office complex. The center houses Flightline Technical Services. “It’s a great facility, a big step up for maintenance services,” Van Riper said. “It turned out to be exactly what we wanted … and it has drawn additional business to our technical services there.” Flightline’s goal is to sell high-performance personal jet aircraft through its HondaJet and Piper dealerships, but the poor economy has delayed the introduction of two new planes. First delivery of the HondaJet — the car company’s first
air operations include commERCIAL flights, cargo transportation and general aviation. aviation venture — is expected in 2012. The PiperJet, a new single-engine jet currently in development, was previewed in Tallahassee in 2008 but first deliveries are slated for 2013. HondaJet was delayed somewhat, Van Riper said, because of supply problems. “That’s across the aviation industry,” he said. “Some companies have gone out of business or reduced production, and suppliers are having a hard time keeping up with demand.” The delays have caused Flightline to reconsider the timeline for some of their local projects, which include a state-of-theart HondaJet dealership “showroom.” The showroom will be built “as soon as we start delivering aircraft,” Van Riper said. That will be around 2012, about the time the company expects its PiperJet offering to be certified. All of these new developments at the “old terminal” section will happen in an aviation business park development called Compass Pointe. “With the economy slow, things are definitely slow in aviation but we still see the opportunities in the future that are going to
be big for our business,” Van Riper said. Meanwhile, officials said the airport hasn’t been sitting idly waiting out the recession. Taking advantage of a fast-track, put-people-back-to-work program, officials embarked on a complete overhaul of the Munroe Terminal and its environs. Also, a Comprehensive Plan amendment will soon be approved allowing more development, and the city is working with the EDC to set up a Community Redevelopment Agency district at the airport. The Comp Plan change will open a lot of doors for the airport, according to Kim Williams, chairman of the Economic Development Council. “It basically allows them to build greater density at the airport,” he said. Clow said the amendment is a welcome change because they’ve reached the limit of what the Department of Community Affairs says they can do. He said the amendment will change the airport’s designation from a Development of Regional Impact to Government Purpose/Government Operation, and at that point, “There are a lot of things that will all of a sudden open up that we can do at the airport.” That’s not to say great things haven’t already happened at the airport. Outside, they’ve completed — or are in the process of finishing — about $7.5 million worth of projects. These include improvements to the apron near the old airport terminal, improvements along Capital Circle Southwest and to the internal road network, new signage and improvements in the airport’s maintenance complex. Inside, the terminal is undergoing its own multi-million dollar renovation. Two new emergency generators have been added, which means if the city goes dark, all airport functions will continue. Also, in late June, work crews were busy replacing all of the automatic doors at the terminal and upgrading the airport security system. There’s more to come, in the form of a five-year plan with some major projects that’ll cost roughly $80 million. Most of that money will go toward two important runway projects. The north-south runway is going to be re-paved and extended to 7,000 feet to accommodate another big project — the 8,000-foot east-west runway is going to be completely reconstructed and improved. 2010–11 / TA L L A H A S S E E B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L / 27
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Wings and Weapons Aviation research and defense industries cluster around the Tallahassee region
photo courtesy general dynamics
Tallahassee has seen the future
— and it’s cutting-edge aviation research and military systems. Multi-discipline research centers abound in the capital city, and factories hum along the outskirts producing war material needed on the frontlines. The North Florida region has much to offer these scientists and engineers. Good year-round weather, a business-friendly environment, land availability and outstanding universities contribute to the overall attraction. Syn-Tech Systems/FuelMaster, General Dynamics, St. Marks Powder, Chemring UK and TeligentEMS all have offices or manufacturing facilities here and are important national defense industries. Doug Dunlap, president and CEO of Syn-Tech Systems/FuelMaster, said Tallahassee’s educated work force has much to offer high-tech companies. His company, which has been here for 20 years, produces automated fueling computers for large fleet operators, including the city of Tallahassee. They also build automated munitions handling devices for the U.S. Air Force. “There is a work force with above average education and capability. We hire electrical engineers, business and computer science graduates from Florida State University and Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University,” he said. Syn-Tech/FuelMaster employs 160 people in Tallahassee, Dunlap said. The company markets nationally and 99 percent of its revenues come from outside Tallahassee. Additionally, one of the company’s major sub-contractors, TeligentEMS, is in Havana, Fla. “Therefore, our economic impact is much larger than most businesses located here and servicing customers here,” he said. Adding to this mix is a host of premier aerospace research and education institutions that test the envelope of new designs,
M1A2 ABRAMS TANK, GENERAL DYNAMICS
materials and energy. FSU’s High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) develops futuristic materials like “buckypaper” that may be the key to stronger, lighter and safer aircraft (and automobiles), and the FAMUFSU College of Engineering promotes education in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “The prestige and opportunities of FSU brought many of the HPMI researchers to Tallahassee,” said W. Frank Allen, operations director of the Institute. “The talent pool in the area is a major incentive. In addition to the knowledgeable students produced by FSU and FAMU, several military installations are in the area, which offer relatively young, disciplined professionals leaving the military service.” The FSU researchers who established HPMI started working with composites and nanotechnology about 17 years ago, Allen
said. The lab itself was officially established in 2006. Last year, the Institute moved into a $21 million, 45,000-square-foot facility called the FSU Materials Research Building. This new facility offers state-of-the-art nano-material research infrastructure and equipment valued at more than $6 million. Allen said HPMI takes an active part in promoting Tallahassee as the place for new industries to locate. “We frequently welcome and meet with industry representatives who are considering locating in the region,” he said. “We note all the resources HPMI has to offer, as well as promote the university and the region.” Tallahassee also has recently become the nexus, or integration point, of several previously isolated engineering disciplines. According to a white paper written by Aviation Week & Space Technology and Enterprise Florida, the fields of aero-propulsion, 2010–11 / TA L L A H A S S E E B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L / 29
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“mechatronics” (the integration of mechanics and electronics) and energy have existed as separate disciplines and are usually researched independently at various institutions around the world. As a result, there’s not much synergy between them because they’re physically isolated from one another. However, the new multipurpose lab being built for the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP) and other science labs will change that. The 60,000-square-foot building will cost between $22 million and $25 million. Called the Aero-Propulsion, Mechatronics and Energy Building at FSU, the center will house 50 grad students and scientists and play a huge role in studying advanced materials as well as training a new generation of engineers. “We want to eventually become a leader in applied technology. We also want to become a think tank,” said Farrukh Alvi, FSU engineering professor and director of FCAAP. Founded just two years ago, FCAAP is charged with developing the technology for next-generation aircraft. Research conducted here might lead to
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Tallahassee also has recently become the nexus, or integration point, of several previously isolated engineering disciplines. aircraft with “clean” drag, capable of carrying cargo with very little carbon dioxide discharge while reducing noise pollution. The loud, constant noise of jet fighters in particular has become a health concern for the military, and health care costs for treating hearing loss are high. If you think this is all about flying retirees to Miami more quickly and stealthily, think again. There is a serious national defense aspect to this research, as evidenced by some of its funding partners. The FCAAP is funded in part by aviation giant Boeing, and by the government’s elite defense and
intelligence organizations: CIA, NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). Funding also comes from Siemens, Hewlett Packard, Pratt & Whitney, Lockheed Martin and General Electric. Research partners include the University of Florida, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Central Florida. FCAAP’s mission puts more emphasis on the “aero” aspect of “aerospace” because of the changing role of our nation’s space program. “We are painfully aware of the shift in the space paradigm,” Alvi said. “We’re shifting toward more commercial launch programs.” Alvi and FCAAP won’t be alone at the new facility, which will also be home to the FSU Energy and Sustainability Center, the Institute for Energy Systems, Economics and Sustainability and the FSU Center for Intelligent Systems, Control and Robotics. Alvi said Florida is the place to be for such research. “Florida has a very large aerospace footprint,” he said. “Florida has to make sure it remains a factor in aerospace.”
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Global Connectivity
Tallahassee businesses doing well in international markets
The folks at H.B. Sherman Traps are spreading the word everywhere. For 55 years the small family-owned company has sold proprietary metal rodent traps to domestic customers, but in recent years they’ve gained popularity among international customers. So has King Arthur’s Tools, another local family business that has customers worldwide. Arthur Aveling makes and sells a wide range of power saws and grinders developed for working with wood, plastics, ice, fiberglass and even taxidermy specimens. His company has been in business in Tallahassee for 20 years, and over the past decade has accrued dealers and distributors in 14 different countries, as well as retail customers in 50 countries. They’re just two Tallahassee companies that have breached the connectivity barrier and gone global – proving that local entrepreneurs can do big things with the help of technology and some good old-fashioned person-to-person contact. “Our marketing is word-of-mouth,” said Sandra Screws, director of overseas operations for Sherman Traps. “Customers come to us, which is wonderful.” Aveling said he and his employees enjoy the educational challenge of doing business on the world stage. “We have a map of the world, and the U.S., and what my employees love doing is sticking a pin in a new place that we are dealing with,” he said. “It’s filling up. They get a big kick out of it. I’ve given my people an education on international time zones, currencies and foreign languages because they’re all local but have to deal with people overseas.”
Sherman Traps have been commercially available since 1955 and the company moved to Tallahassee in 1976. According to their website, they’ve earned a great reputation “as the most effective live animal traps available today.” They can catch a wide variety of small fur-bearing critters, from shrews, voles, mice and rats to flying squirrels and chipmunks. Professional researchers from Japan, South America, Africa and Israel have come to depend on these devices to safely and humanely capture their quarry, which are then used in environmental and
ecological studies. Screws said the company’s international market developed over time; their first, and oldest, customer is in Tokyo. “But now we have distributors in many different countries,” she said. “We have 11 good distributors.” News of Sherman Traps’ quality may travel by word of mouth, but nowadays that kind of marketing is done via the Internet — a vital tool in today’s global economy. The company has had an online presence for about 10 years now. 2010–11 / TA L L A H A S S E E B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L / 33
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“I think the main reason why our international business has grown is because we are online, because of the Internet,” she said. “That’s definitely the main reason. That makes it ever so much easier.” In the pre-Internet days, Screws said, they used to get a lot of “snail mail.” A lot of letter orders were processed. Then orders were faxed in. Today, there’s e-mail. The changing technology has really made life interesting for the small staff, most of who are part-time, she said. “I used to only work here two days a week, and now work four days,” she said. “I don’t even think we realized at first how much our international customers would look for us on the Internet. At first our web page was aimed at domestic customers, and now we are redoing our web page with a section for our international customers… to make it easier for our international customers to place an order.” The improved website for Sherman Traps may also have a feature useful for keeping track of the number of unique “hits” or business inquiries. This data could be helpful in future marketing efforts. Screws said the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County (EDC) like to keep tabs on where their product is going. “They ask me what countries we ship to, what new countries, and I get to go through everything and find what new countries have contacted us,” she said. Over at King Arthur’s Tools, Australia native Aveling said his first international business came as a result of attending a trade show in Philadelphia in 1998. He was given the name of a contact in Norway, who invited him on a cruise for woodworking craftsmen. Aveling took along 400 products he developed for the European market, and tested them while on the cruise. “In 10 seconds I knew it would be a winner. We sold out of product in five days on a 12-day cruise,” he said. “It was an instant hit, and we have been selling into Norway ever since.” That opportunity led to meeting other people from around the world. He soon had clients and dealerships in the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and other countries. “I have been to each one, and I know our dealers and distributors personally,” he said. “That’s how we break into the international market. King Arthur’s Tools doesn’t just build tools, we build relationships. If there is one thing we really
developed over the years it’s very strong relationships with our customers, dealers and distributor network.” Aveling’s international ventures benefited recently from a collaboration with the EDC’s International Business Development Program. With this help, King Arthur’s Tools was able to expand into markets throughout the Caribbean. “We also sell in South America, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Venezuela and Argentina — all out of this little place on Hartsfield Road in Tallahassee,” he said. Kara Palmer, coordinator of the international program, said its purpose is to help Tallahassee businesses think globally by equipping them with the tools and resources needed to do business overseas. Palmer said the IBD program offers educational sessions, one-on-one visits to companies that are already in foreign markets, as well as those who may have thought about expanding into foreign markets but may not have had the right resources. “We have offered three series of
educational sessions including exporting, international financing, e-commerce, importing, foreign direct investment and documentation. Along with a high level session on international business protocol,” she said. “Additionally, the IBD program wants to build and maintain an online international business development database to quantify and document the number and types of international business development activity via metrics, along with an online calendar of events via the Economic Development Council’s website,” Palmer said. The website will also provide additional resources including links to appropriate and knowledgeable support organizations. “The EDC has conducted several consular visits, specifically from countries with mutual business interests identified by key stakeholders, including Spain, Argentina, Canada and France,” she said. “Our goal is for the community to see all the international opportunities Tallahassee has to offer and in turn think globally.”
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The Future of Business
Universities join with research and development organizations to give Tallahassee an edge on the future
NATIONAL HIGH MAGNETIC FIELD LABORATORY
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a research scientist at Florida State University made a series of colorful photographs of beers, wines and cocktails through the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory using a high-powered microscopic. The psychedelic images they produced were once used for a collection of neckties, but were forgotten after necktie sales dried up. Fifteen years later, a business research analyst with FSU discovered the photographs and decided it was time to dust them off and sell them as wall art. Lester Hutt founded BevShots in 2009 and in 11 months has already made $20,000 in revenue. “One of the reasons I felt it was best for a local start-up is it didn’t require much startup capital, like a drug would,” Hutt said. “You’d spend tens of millions of dollars just to find out if it’s worth pursuing. All I needed to figure out was marketing.” BevShots is an example of the commercialization success that local universities such as FSU and Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University have had. Universities consider commercialization an important priority because it generates licensing revenue. If a researcher, faculty member or student has an invention, trademark or copyright, the university can take a chunk of the fees earned from the use of that intellectual property. But it’s extraordinarily challenging for universities to take an idea and develop it into a successful, moneymaking product because many companies and other investors are wary of putting money into something that has a good chance of failing. To help overcome those problems, the Economic Development
Council of Tallahasse/Leon County, Inc., recently launched the Entrepreneurial Excellence Program, funded through a $450,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, to create jobs by incubating small businesses, particularly by commercializing research done at local universities. FSU has had success in generating money from licensing revenue. In the mid-1990s FSU Chemistry Professor Robert Holton developed a way to more easily administer an anti-cancer drug called Taxol. That deal alone generated millions for the university and has allowed the Office of Research and Commercialization at FSU to develop a program intended to produce more market-
ready inventions. The Grant Assistance Program (GAP) awards $250,000 each year to FSU researchers who have presented the best idea for a potential product. Each award is capped at $50,000. A committee of local business members and business school faculty determine the awards. In the five years this program has existed, it has spawned several startup companies. One such company is Biofront, a start-up founded in March 2010 that develops Hepatitis C diagnostic testing kits. Biofront President Jason Robotham said the kits will help researchers studying Hepatitis C at universities or pharmaceutical companies. 2010–11 / TA L L A H A S S E E B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L / 37
CR MATTHEWS & HAWKINS, a well regarded and well-known law firm based in Destin, wanted a new brochure to show potential clients its depth of knowledge about the region and the breadth of its legal experience. Hoping for a fast turnaround, the firm approached a traditional advertising agency but was put off by a time-consuming intake process and the fact they couldn’t get a faceto-face meeting with a high-level agency executive. At his first meeting with the principals of Matthews & Hawkins, President Brian Rowland told them, “I’m here and I’m all ears.” After that, our staff carefully listened to what they wanted and we were convinced that Rowland Publishing was uniquely positioned to give the lawyers exactly what they were seeking. In the traditional model, an ad agency tells clients what they ought to be doing. But we think one of the biggest attributes we have is the innate art to listen, understand and then produce what the client wants. While clients might not always be able to articulate exactly what they’re looking for, our method is to ask questions and then provide them with some examples. Then they tell us what they like — and especially what they don’t like — and it helps us zero in on what they really want. After all, this is their business and their brand and we want them to have ownership from the outset. In the case of Matthews & Hawkins, the firm’s principals knew they wanted a “nontraditional” digest-sized brochure featuring an animal species that could be considered symbolic of the firm and the region. When we were kicking ideas around, everything pointed to the Florida Panther — its strength, its intelligence and the fact that it’s both rare and beautiful. For Northwest Florida, it was the only choice. The making of the brochure was the first step in what would become a total re-branding process for the firm. We looked at their logo and suggested they consider redesigning it. That meant new letterhead, business cards, envelopes … everything to go with a new look. It also meant redesigning the firm’s website and signage and an extensive photography shoot to update photos of the firm’s personnel. It started as a need for a brochure and it evolved into a complete rebranding of the entire law firm — a process that would take about a year to complete. During that time, the lawyers and other employees of the firm were “hands-on involved” in the decision-making process, right down to picking the exact color of the logo design. They wanted to exercise their creativity, and we supported them wholeheartedly. We engaged them, we earned their trust and we all enjoyed the creative back-and-forth. We also think Matthews & Hawkins felt very well taken care of. ■
“We think one of the biggest attributes we have is the innate art to listen, understand and then produce what the client wants.”
CAPTURING THE PANTHER Over the course of two days, our team of two professional photographers and a videographer set up camp at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Tallahassee during the morning hours to capture this iconic image of the panther. This image, processed using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2, was shot using a Canon 300mm f/2.8L USM lens mounted on a Canon EOS-1D Mark III body. The exposure was 1/640th of a second at f/4.0 and ISO 800, fast enough to stop the motion of the ever-pacing panther.
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“Initially our goal is just to market to researchers but the actual technology could be expanded to meet the needs of clinicians as well,” Robotham said. He worked with FSU Biology Professor Hengli Tang to develop the detection kits. Beyond the start-up capital from GAP funding, he also received $40,000 worth of lab equipment by setting up shop in FSU’s Entrepreneurial Building on Commonwealth Blvd. Robotham, who was working as a postdoctoral fellow at FSU’s biology department, said the opportunity to start Biofront was an ideal career move. “I’ve been in Tallahassee for 10 years now,” Robotham said. “I’ve seen a lot of friends and scientists leave because they didn’t have opportunity here.” He praises FSU for creating an environment, through the GAP program, where people could stay. “I’m really excited,” Robotham said. “I’m blown away by how helpful the research foundation and the Economic Development Council have been. Everybody is excited and pushing for these types of efforts. We’re overwhelmed by the amount of support.” Officials with the FSU Office of Research
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and Commercialization say it’s challenging to commercialize inventions and the GAP program’s early success is remarkable. Kirby Kemper, the vice president of the FSU Office of Research, touted the job opportunities that programs like GAP bring. “Before, you might have gone and worked for General Motors and you figured you got to work there your whole life,” Kemper said. “Now everybody outsources everything. And so the number of job openings in large companies continues to dwindle.” Kemper said this opens up more entrepreneurship opportunities. “You can start your own company here and make a success of it,” Kemper said. Thomas Painter learned about entrepreneurship when he started his own engineering firm in 2008. Called CICEFT, an acronym for “cable in conduit engineering fabrication and test,” the company makes component parts for specialty, high-performance magnets. Painter is a research associate at the National High Magnetic Field Lab. “I’ve always had an interest in being an
“I’m blown away by how helpful the research foundation and the economic development council have been. We’re overwhelmed by the amount of support.” j. robotham, president, biofront
entrepreneur and so I have been strategizing with my business partner for quite some time on how we could commercialize this technology,” Painter said. Their customers would be other research institutions and universities. “We submitted a proposal to Oak Ridge National Laboratory representing the U.S. contribution to this national project,” Painter said. “And we ended up getting it.’ This is good news for CICEFT because it meant its product was ready for the market and in demand. CICEFT has already had considerable success, winning a $5 million federal contract thanks to assistance from the the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County. This contract will be used to provide components to an international fusion energy project. This project may help lead to an alternative energy source that could provide an unlimited source of clean, carbon-free electricity. Painter now has two full-time employees and three part-time employees at CICEFT. Like Robotham, he is happy to have found a way to stay in Tallahassee and continue doing what he loves. At the same time he has created new jobs to keep other engineers employed. Both FAMU and FSU have also expressed interest in commercializing non-traditional areas, such as art and the social sciences. “In my mind, it’s capturing the intellectual assets of the faculty and staff and students, whether it’s an invention falling under patents or whether it’s a copyright or trademark,” said Tanaga Boozer, the acting director of the Office of Technology Transfer, Licensing and Commercialization. Boozer said her office does more than just try to make money for FAMU from inventions. She said a good commercialization office helps recruit faculty, improve research and generate local businesses. “A lot of people believe that research inherently is important and there is value,” Boozer said. “But the research has shown that publications of data don’t stimulate in the same way that patents do.”
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A Place to Call Home Tallahassee may be a good place to do business, but it’s a great place to live
For starters, Mother Nature has blessed the area with seasonal weather. Unlike further downstate, Tallahassee has refreshing autumns with color and falling leaves as well as winters — very mild winters. Many outdoor activities, such as golf, hiking and biking can be enjoyed year round. Promoters have described Tallahassee as the place “where spring begins.” And what glorious springs they are. The “season” starts with the blooming of Japanese Magnolias in February, soon to be followed by dogwoods, azaleas, crepe myrtles and magnolias that
fill the region’s emerald woods, parks and gardens with magnificent color. Summers can get hot and humid, it’s true, but there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the sunny days. No matter how hot it is, a plunge into the 70-degree waters of Wakulla Springs will take your breath away. Perhaps the ultimate iconic Tallahassee image is its shady canopy roads hugging the region’s rolling hills. The paths of several local roads follow trails created centuries ago by American Indians, which were later followed by Spanish explorers and American settlers. Now, the tops of the trees from both sides
of the road meet, creating a topiary canopy made all the more beautiful by tendrils of Spanish moss that adorn the branches. The historic routes are a picturesque look at Tallahassee’s rich history and include Indian mounds, sites from the antebellum period (including the beautifully preserved Goodwood Museum and Gardens) and former hunting estates. Of particular note is Mission San Luis. More than 300 years ago, Spanish missionaries and settlers coexisted with native Apalachee Indians on this site near Florida State University. Five structures have been recreated there and are populated 2010–11 / TA L L A H A S S E E B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L / 41
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with historically dressed interpreters who give visitors a living history experience. Tallahassee also has several sites of significance in Florida African American history, including the Knott House, site of Florida’s first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation; Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, one of the oldest historically black universities in the nation; and the John G. Riley House, now a museum dedicated to preserving African American history and culture. It’s hard to quantify, but Tallahassee has that famed Southern hospitality in abundance. People are nice. They’ll always say “hi” when they pass you on the sidewalk. Cashiers usually smile and make eye contact. And chances are someone will let you in if you’re trying to merge into traffic. Because it’s home to three major college campuses and the seat of state government, Tallahassee offers educational, cultural and recreational opportunities usually not found in a city of its size. Tallahassee has a booming college culture. On home-game weekends, the city is abuzz and the Seminole and Rattler football fans are sporting their team colors and school spirit. And plans are afoot for “College Town,” an entertainment, shopping and residential area that will better link the city with local universities. But the city is not totally geared toward the young folks. If you don’t live close to the campuses, you’ll hardly know students are here. And there’s nightlife geared toward “grown folks.” With its wine bars and eclectic mix of homegrown restaurants, Midtown 42 / TA L L A H A S S E E B U S I N E S S J O U R N A L /
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is fast becoming a magnet for those who have outgrown the young crowd scene on the Tennessee Street “strip.” For those who enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle, Tallahassee offers options galore, including a nationally award-winning recreation department with organized team sports for all ages, as well as dozens of parks, pools and bike and walking trails. Several golf courses and tennis facilities are open to the public. Also, Lake Jackson and nearby rivers and the Gulf of Mexico give plenty of opportunities for boating and fishing. The area is a regional shopping hub, with malls and several shopping centers. You’ll find most of the national chain stores here, as well as a healthy collection of locally owned specialty shops. The area traditionally votes pretty heavily in favor of Democratic candidates. But Tallahassee is Florida’s political nexus, and Republicans make up the majority of the Legislature. So, however you’re ideologically inclined, you’ll find kindred spirits here. Because it’s the capital city, Tallahasseans can take advantage of seat-of-government resources such as the Florida Museum of History, the State Library of Florida ... even the state Capitol itself. Actually, there are two: the domed and canopied “Old” Capitol, which now serves as a museum of Florida political history, and the 22-story “Tower of Power,” where history is made at least 60 days a year during the legislative session. Whatever your pleasure, Tallahassee has an abundance of artistic activities — from the high culture of the Tallahassee Symphony to
the do-it-yourself music-making at a drum circle in the Railroad Square Art Park. FSU is nationally known for its arts programs, and each year the university averages more than one concert, play, opera, dance or other type of performance per day. But its splashiest offering is 7 Days of Opening Nights. The entire city is invited to enjoy the event (usually lasting more than seven days), which gathers some of the greatest talents from throughout the arts world to perform at a cornucopia of events each February. Finding a place to live in the capital city is easy, whatever your pleasure. There are suburban neighborhoods throughout, with personalities ranging from the elegant estates of Golden Eagle to the planned-toperfection SouthWood community to the eclectic mix of free-spirited homes in Indian Head Acres, where the streets are called “nenes.” While Tallahassee was affected by the recent recession, property values didn’t drop as dramatically here as they did in other parts of the state because of the stability of the area’s job base. The newest additions to the housing mix are high-rise condominiums, offering urban living in the downtown area, which is in the midst of evolving from a strictly business zone to a lively urban center with the addition of Kleman Plaza. Nearby projects designed to enhance the look and feel of downtown include Cascades Park, the Gaines Street promenade and The Arts Exchange. Just about everyone would be happy to call Tallahassee home. Visit. Enjoy. Stay.
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Tallahassee by the Numbers Population, 2009 (estimate): 265,714 Population % Change: April 1, 2000 – July 1, 2009, 11 percent Leon County Population by Race/ Ethnicity, 2008 Non-Hispanic White – 60.4% Non-Hispanic Black – 31.3% American Indian – 0.3% Asian/Pacific Islander – 2.6% Hispanic – 4.6% Two or more races – 1.4%
Work Force, 2008 Private wage and salary – 62% Federal, state or local government – 33% Self-employed – 5% Income: Median household income, 2008 – $47,318 Per capita income, 2006 – $33,216
Households and Families, 2004 Types of Households: Families – 46.6 % Non-family households – 53.4% Age Distribution of People: 15 to 19 – 11.9% 35 to 44 – 11.9% 20 to 24 – 20.7% 45 to 54 – 10.95% 25 to 34 – 15.9% 55 to 59 – 3.4%
60 to 64 – 2.5% 65 to 74 – 4.1% 75 to 84 – 3.1% 85+ – 1.1%
HOUSING Home Sales: There were 1,171 sales of detached homes in Leon County during the first eight months of 2010: Median price/square foot – $110 Average price/square foot – $107 (In southeast Tallahassee – $103, in northeast Tallahassee - $118) 2010 Average Sales Price: 6/10 – $226,650 5/09 – $256,271 5/08 – 208,222 2/08 – $204,252 5/07 – $199,944 5/03 – $145,713 Employment, 2008 Top Industries: Educational services – 25% Public administration – 17% Retail – 11% Professional, scientific, management – 12% Arts, entertainment, recreation – 9% Finance, insurance, real estate – 7% Construction – 6% Information – 2% Transportation, warehousing, utilities – 3% Manufacturing – 2%
Business Ownership, 2002: Total number of firms – 19,194 Black owned – 9.3% Asian owned – 2.9% Hispanic owned – 2.8% Women owned – 28.2% EDUCATION Educational Institutions Barry University – bachelor’s, master’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – associate, bachelor’s, master’s Flagler College – bachelor’s Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – bachelor’s, master’s, professional, doctorate Keiser University – associate, bachelor’s, master’s Florida State University – bachelor’s, master’s, professional, doctorate ITT Technical Institute – associate, bachelor’s Lively Technical College – associate Tallahassee Community College – associate, certificate programs Education Level, 2008 Graduate or professional degree – 17% Bachelor’s degree – 24% Associate degree – 8% Some college, no degree – 21% High school diploma or equivalent – 21% Less than high school diploma – 9% High School Graduation Rate, 2008 – 81 % Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census, diversitydata.org, Trulia.com; Greg Lane, member, Tallahassee Board of Realtors MLS Committee
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