April 2018 Southwest Florida Business Today by Southwest Florida Business Today

Celebrating 10 Years

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 11 No. 6 / APRIL 2018 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples

TAKE ONE

North Fort Myers is open for business Leaders offer commercial redevelopment incentives Special to SWFBT Karen Moore, Publisher

Commercial Real Estate

A comprehensive 8-page pullout section that is a quarterly SWFL Commercial Real Estate market overview.

Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman at a commercial real estate association meeting expanded upon the details of the newly announced North Fort Myers $2-million redevelopment incentive program adopted by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners in January. “This is a pilot project,” he said. “We hope its success serves as a springboard for other areas of the county.”

The background Following a market study conducted in North Fort Myers in February 2016, the Lee County Commission directed the Economic Development Office to research and design a program to spur the revitalization of areas within the county that have lagged behind other areas during the ongoing economic recovery. In February 2017, EDO staff recommended a pilot project in North Fort Myers with the focus on job creation through encouraging new commercial, office

BONITA SPRINGS CHAMBER HOSTS EXPO Experts help you navigate the most recent changes in the law that could impact your business.

Brownfield symposium highlights local impact

RSW reports recordbreaking January

During January, 965,981 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, an increase of 8.2 percent compared to January 2017. The traffic leader in January was Southwest Airlines with 180,817 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Delta Air Lines (172,258), American (126,502), Spirit (113,804) and Frontier (111,900). Southwest Florida International Airport had 9,266 aircraft operations, an increase of 2.8 percent compared to January 2017. Page Field saw 8,437 operations, a 9.5-percent decrease.

FUTURE See page 13

LEGAL REVIEW

Special to SWFBT Jacob Ogles, Editor

IN THE NEWS

FDEP See page 14

and industrial development, as well as redevelopment of obsolete buildings. A key factor in the selection of North Fort Myers, and other areas, was that it reflects geographies that would benefit most from economic development efforts and, according to a market study, have an opportunity for the attraction of new business, business retention and the absorption of new jobs. According to the approved program, these targeted areas are within the Mixed Use Overlay, as identified

Summit discusses combating ID theft

Focus on Legal Review

The Florida Department of Environment Protection announced a brownfield redevelopment symposium will be held at the Chateau Elan hotel and conference center in Sebring on June 7 and 8. Department officials invited, developers, investors, Realtors, governments and other interested parties in all South Florida, including Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Palm Beach and Southwest Florida to learn about the Florida Brownfields Program.

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Members showcase businesses at event

The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce in March held its 2018 Community Business Expo at the Promenade at Bonita Bay. The event featured 60 Chamber member exhibitors. Above: Cory Lavey and Bill Daubmann work a table at the expo. Left: Peter O’Flinn, Nigel Fullick and Bob Rosier. Bottom left: Shady Wheeler Below: Thomas Hecker and Trish Leonard visit with a Floridian flamingo friend during the event.

At a time when all businesses deal in e-commerce, the threat of data breaches and identity theft become increasingly relevant to major corporations and startup entrepreneurs alike. A summit in Naples will bring leading experts on the subject to discuss ways the mitigate risk and enhance cybersecurity. Hodges University will hold its inaugural Organizational Privacy Summit from April 30 through May 2. The event will take place at the Hilton Naples. Carrie Kerskie, director of Hodges Krebs University’s Identity Fraud Institute, saw a need for a summit focused on the needs of businesses. “We discovered that there seems to be a disconnect between the consumer and businesses when it comes to cybersecurity,” she says. “We want to help organizations approach data privacy from a complete, holistic approach.” The summit will include a keynote address by cybersecurity expert and investigative journalist Brian Krebs, who in 2013 broke the story that Target’s data had been breached and 40 million credit cards were compromised. Kerskie expects Krebs’ participation in the event to draw attendees from around the country. The three-day event will also include sessions on cyber insurance, the Dark Web, causes of internal data breaches and best practices to proactively get ahead of hackers, among other subjects. ID THEFT See page 13

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

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APRIL 2018

LEGAL REVIEW

Don’t miss chance to reclaim missed business deductions

Business is booming in SWFL and many companies are expanding into new facilities or renovating existing structures. However, due to the new tax law changes, 2018 accelerated depreciation will be at 21 percent instead of 35 percent. Therefore, your overall deduction is worth 40 percent less. The value of your depreciation just took a huge hit with the new tax law change. 2017 is the last year you will be able to maximize your accelerated depreciation and deductions not captured in past years. There is a specialized tax incentive called “Engineering Cost Segregation” that you as a business property owner—or if you have made significant renovations to a business property you own or lease—may be able to use to maximize your 2017 deduction and reclaim missed deductions from past years. What Tax Benefits? This Study applies tax compliant depreciation time-lines to certain nonstructural components. For instance, instead of depreciating carpeting over 39 years as if it were a structural item, it would be depreciated in five years. Many other non-structural building components can be depreciated in 5, 7 and 15 years versus 39 years. So, here are the benefits of reducing Federal and State taxable income by safely ‘accelerating’ depreciation on certain building components with a rigorous Study: • New renovation, purchase or construction will result in increased cash flow in the first 6 years. • Owned for 5 or more years qualifies for all unrealized depreciation carried forward into the current tax year. From our experience, it’s not uncommon to document as much as

$200,000 in accelerated depreciation per $1MM worth of building; assuming a 35-percent tax rate, the resultant reduction in taxable income would translate to a $70,000 bottom line improveBY M. DERRICK ment. JENKINS This must Guest Columnist be done for Tax Year 2017, to maximize your benefit. To see what tax credits or incentives your business may qualify, go to www.yourtaxcredits.us * According to the IRS a Cost Segregation Study is a lucrative tax strategy that should be used on almost every major purchase of commercial real estate. A Cost segregation analysis is a logical tax strategy dating back to 1959 when the Tax Court first allowed component-based depreciation of buildings (though greatly clarified over the past decade with the IRS’s Audit and Technique Guidelines). Even properties purchased years ago can capture benefit with a very attractive cost-tobenefit ratio for performing an Engineering Based Cost Segregation Study. Any commercial building whether purchased, constructed or renovated for costs in excess of $500,000 should consider this service.

M. Derrick Jenkins is senior business consultant with Enduring Business Solutions and has been consulting with businesses for the past 27 years. He can be reached at (239) 941-6716 or at derrick@ebswork.com.

Naples-Marco Island ranked happiest city For the third consecutive year, Naples and the nearby communities of Marco Island and Immokalee tops the ranking at the number one spot in the Gallup-Healthways State of American Well-Being 2017 Community Rankings, released on March 13. The report measures how residents of 186 U.S. cities feel about their physical health,

social ties, financial security, community and sense of purpose. Communities are positioned to promote wellbeing improvement by transforming policies and environment so that people move naturally, eat wisely, connect and have the right outlook. HAPPY See page 15

APRIL 2018

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

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FPL unveils Babcock Ranch solar field

More than 340,000 solar panels comprise the FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center.

LEGAL REVIEW

Labor Dept. changes internship standards

In January of this year, the U.S. Department of Labor updated its standard for determining when an intern qualifies as an intern or is actually an employee. This new standard provides for a new flexible standard that is consistent with numerous court rulings over the past few years (citations omitted). The courts rejected the DOL’s prior standard as being too rigid and instead adopted what is referred to as the “primary beneficiary” test. The priBY CHRISTINA mary beneficiary test HARRIS SCHWINN looks to the followGuest Columnist ing seven factors: 1. The extent to which the intern and the employer clearly understand that there is no expectation of compensation. Any promise of compensation, express or implied, suggests the intern is an employee—and vice versa. 2. The extent to which the internship provides training that would be similar to that which would be given in an educational environment, including the clinical and other hands-on training provided by educational institutions. 3. The extent to which the internship is tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit. 4. The extent to which the internship accommodates the intern’s academic commitments by corresponding to the academic calendar. 5. The extent to which the internship’s duration is limited to the period in which the internship provides the intern with beneficial learning. 6. The extent to which the intern’s work complements, rather than displaces, the work of paid employees while providing significant educational benefits to the intern. 7. The extent to which the intern and the employer understand the internship is conducted without entitlement to a paid job at the conclusion of the internship. Unlike the old test where each factor had to be met, under the new test no one factor is determinative and there is no bright line rule that can be relied upon either. Rather, each internship has to be evaluated based upon its own merits. Regardless, this new standard for determining internship status is welcome news for employers and students seeking internships. Christina Harris Schwinn is a partner and an experienced employment and real estate attorney with the Pavese Law Firm. She can be reached at (239) 336-6228 or christinaschwinn@paveselaw.com.

Florida Power & Light Company on March 9 unveiled the company’s latest innovation: the largest combined solar-plus-storage facility in operation in the U.S. A 10-megawatt/40-megawatt-hour battery storage system connected to the FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center, a 74.5-megawatt solar power plant, enables the facility to store energy that can be used to provide power to the grid when it is needed, even when the sun isn’t shining. This helps make the delivery of solar energy more predictable and reliable, officials said. Matt Valle, FPL vice president of development, joined with Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners and founder of Babcock Ranch, at a special event unveiling the project. In addition, the company installed a new 32-foot

high visitor viewing tower overlooking the FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center. From a platform, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree birds-eye view of more than 340,000 solar panels comprising the FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center. [BUILD] officials announced the company completed the construction of a new structural steel observation tower, and said it includes a 20-by-20-foot platform structure. The tower also features a pavilion below with a cistern built for fire protection. This is the second project BUILD has completed with Florida Power & Light. In 2009, BUILD also built Florida’s first ever solar energy center in Desoto with 90,500 solar panels. This facility continues to serve customers using photovoltaic technology.

Visitors bring billions in economic impact to Collier Special to SWFBT Karen Moore, Publisher

It’s all good on the Paradise Coast, according to Jack Wert, Executive Director of the Naples, Marco Island and Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau. Formed in 2003 with only one person—Wert—the CVB staff has grown to 15 members today and is part of the Collier County Manager’s department. He points out that the CVB is 100-percent funded by the 5-percent tourist development tax. “Our mission,” he shared, “is to promote year-round distinctive, world-class vacations and group meeting experiences, resulting in economic growth and stability for Collier County.” He notes that, unknown to many, 40 percent of Collier County’s visitation is from meeting/conference attendees, many of whom then come back on a vacation, and then they often come to live in Collier County. Amateur sports is the fastest growing addition to visitation in Collier County. The recently announced sports complex allows

Collier County to host stadium events the County couldn’t otherwise host. “As you probably know,” Wert explained, “Collier County has recently been in discussion to host the spring training for a few major league baseball teams. The County Commission made a conscious decision to turn down these spring training opportunities in lieu of developing a sports complex where Collier County can host amateur sports events year-round.” These amateur events, he indicated, drive economic development, bring new businesses to Collier County and support job growth in the local community. Last year, he shared, 1.8 million visitors stayed overnight at least one night (this number does not include snowbirds) and supported 38,000 tourism jobs, which is 10 percent of Collier County’s population, according to Wert. In 2017, the net economic impact of tourism on Collier County was up 3.4 percent from 2016—a powerful $2.1 billion of local economic impact. As Wert noted, “That’s economic impact of 2.1 billion with a b!” That’s a powerful number that bodes well for future economic growth in Collier County-and that’s “powerful” with a “p!”

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APRIL 2018

LEGAL REVIEW

Five ways to parlay patent infringements into profits

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There are some instances where it’s necessary to use legal means to make patent infringement work in your favor. – Tim Murphy, CEO of Rebounderz Family Entertainment Centers

“

According to a January 2018 Seyfarth Shaw LLP report titled “2017 Patent Litigation: A Statistical Overview,” the past five years have seen a “significant increase” of patent litigation cases filed with the Patent Trial and Appeals Board and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Last year, the United States Patent and Trademark Office itself published its own report citing a “drastic rise in patent litigation” that also referenced a USPTO working paper ominously revealing “economists, legal scholars and policy makers are concerned about the impact of patent litigation on the rate and direction of U.S. innovation and on the functioning of the U.S. intellectual property system.” These and other factoids make clear patent infringement is alive and well in the United States, most often to the financial dismay of patent-holders who spend untold hours and egregious sums of money trying to protect their intellectual property—and the marketplace edge often reliant on those assets. However, what if rather than issuing the kneejerk Cease and Desist and otherwise going the exhaustive and expensive litigation route attempting to prosecute inadequately responsive offenders, patent owners instead strategically engaged said offenders in ways that actually boosts their own bottom lines, accelerates growth, raises capital and expands market share? While this might sound like a far-fetched notion, it’s exactly what Tim Murphy, CEO of Rebounderz Family Entertainment Centers is doing with tremendous success.

Having serially found himself in situations where other competitive businesses were utilizing industryleading materials and methodologies for which he and his company held patents, Murphy took a surprising, gutsy and rather ingenious approach. Rather than litigating with the sole intention of shutting down the offenders or certainly their use of his IP at the very least, Murphy instead adopted a strategic partnership mentality, enforcing his patent rights in a way that’s earning his company significant ancillary revenue streams and hastening corporate growth. Below are a few of Murphy’s suggestions on “what it takes” to parlay a patent infringement situation into profits: • Strategize ways to near-term and long-term monetize. Create new opportunities together in a joint venture or strategic partnership. New services, additional product lines and spinoff businesses can be created to benefit both parties. Just because an entity has infringed on a patent does not mean that they want to or intend to continue infringing in the future or that they are unscrupulous. Clearly layout a plan that is ‘win-win’ for both parties and work together to build both bottom lines. Strategize how you and the infringing party can work together as strategic partners ongoing, for the long-term, in order to sustain value. Explore if the relationship can evolve to possibly work together to sell additional products or services that you were previously not exploring or that didn’t make sense in the shortterm? There are several ways the relationships can be extrapolated for mutual gain. It’s just a matter of aptly conveying the value your organization brings to the table, not the least of which is the patent license or usage opportunity for the party that would otherwise have neither. • Offer a licensing and/or royalty fee for continued use. While you should certainly have a Cease and Desist letter at-the-ready, the other party may actually be unaware of their patent infringement to begin with. Most good business people want to do the right thing and don’t intentionally violate a patent. Develop a program offering a usage license or royalty fee for the life of the patent either payable

in a lump sum, as annual payments or as monthly payments to make it easier for the infringing party to budget for. Your patent attorney or your company’s corporate counsel can readily help create this license agreement to help protect your company as well as the ownership integrity of the patent itself. • Make your outreach binary; either work together to monetize or face legal action. Try to give your patent offenders options that make it easy and attractive for them to work in synch with you. It’s not hard to open your net wider to provide new and creative solutions, and opportunities abound. These include: 1) providing a license for the length of the patent; 2) selling a license for a shorter period; 3) providing an outlet for them to sell you their business if that is their intention, or if there is little opportunity to collect a license fee; 4) suggesting operating as a joint venture or partnership such that your patent license serves as your investment into the new entity; 5) creating new products with the infusion of the patent that each party could bear responsibility for selling; 6) developing a scenario that whereby both parties could come together to sell both companies to a larger entity, such as a private equity firm that may purchase both businesses. • Get a sense of intent and beware the “patent pending game.” Some infringing businesses and manufacturers will claim to have patents pending, however all too often these companies only have patents “pending” that are actually infringing on perfected patent claims of another party. So be sure semantics isn’t getting in the way of everyone’s clear understanding of the legal situation and real ramifications. • Vehemently protect your well-earned Patent Holder rights. You achieved patent protection for a reason, and by all means file everything necessary to keep the patent valid and unencumbered. Let the industry know your intentions so there is no misconception of who owns the patent, who has the protected claims, and the rigorous legal action that will be taken against anyone violating your patent’s protected claims. Take an offensive strategy by ensuring patent infringers know with specificity how your claims are far superior than their designs. To accomplish these objectives, have your attorney write letters to the patent infringers as soon as possible, outlining exactly how, when, where and why they have misused your patents without a proper license. Continue aggressive follow-up and take pictures and collect other evidence, as appropriate, of how the infringers have illegally utilized used your perfect patent. Ultimately, have some bite in you! Always be willing to act and pursue legal action if need be. PATENT See page 15

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COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida

Engineering firm opens new office

Morris-Depew Associates, Southwest Florida’s premiere civil engineering and land use planning firm, has relocated its corporate headquarters, increasing the size of its former home to accommodate a growing staff and menu of services. The new office is on Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. The new space encompasses the land planning, civil engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying/mapping department offices under more than 10,000 square feet of interior space. “We’ve continued to expand our workforce and expect to continue growing as a result of the strong economic growth and commercial and residential development projects underway throughout the county,” said Bill Morris, vice president and principal for Morris-Depew Associates. “We’ve created a great working environment in the new building, and the space is organized to enhance team collaborations.” Celebrating 30 years of serving Southwest Florida, Morris-Depew Associates is a multiservice consulting firm with specialties in civil engineering, land planning, expert witness, landscape architecture, and surveying and mapping services. MDA’s efforts are based on a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to the planning and design processes, which emphasizes interaction within the firm’s allied professional expertise in conjunction with the client’s objectives and ultimate needs.

R.D. Johnson Construction completed construction management services for the interior renovation of the Woodlands Commons building at Shell Point Retirement Community, on Woodsong Lane in Fort Myers.

R.D. Johnson completes Shell Point renovations R.D. Johnson Construction completed construction management services for the interior renovation of the Woodlands Commons building at Shell Point Retirement Community, on Woodsong Lane in Fort Myers. The project included a complete renovation of the 27,125-square-foot resident activity center in The Woodlands neighborhood at Shell Point. The remodeled building now features coastal decor with modern features and new meeting spaces for Shell Point residents to enjoy. The project included upgrades to the building’s Grand Cypress Room, Arts and Crafts Room, Game Room, Buttonwood Room and lobby, as well as the renovation of an existing restaurant, The Palm Grill, and the creation of a new dining facility called The Blend.

The project was successfully completed in seven months and under budget by R.D. Johnson Construction, led by Matthew Johnson as the project manager, Chrissy Zimmerman as the project manager assistant and John Crocillo and Steve Hall as job superintendents. Artefact Studios served as the architect for the project and Wegman Design Group provided the project design. “We are impressed with the outstanding results from the R.D. Johnson team on this renovation to the Woodlands Commons,” said Adam Hinds, senior director of operations at Shell Point. “Completed just in time for the celebration of our 50th anniversary, the Woodlands Commons enhancements provide our residents with opportunities to enjoy amenities that reflect the very best of our community’s resort-style setting.”

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

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COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida

GUEST COMMENTARY

Incentive program paves path to growth in North Fort Myers The Lee County Economic Development Office is using the Horizon Council as a vehicle to help spur economic development in the North Fort Myers corridor. It is no secret the area is tired and blighted. The Horizon Council created a North Fort Myers Development Task Force to facilitate activity and create energy and thus results. As a member of the task force, I and my member cohorts have been working and meeting for nearly three years. Nothing in this arena happens quickly, but like the proverbial tortoise, we will finish the race. Things are moving. The vacant, old Walgreens will be torn down and become a new RaceTrac convenience store. Several properties have been sold. A beautiful and expensive assisted living facility has opened on Hancock Bridge Parkway just west of North Cleveland Ave. The old Winn Dixie at Hancock Bridge and Orange Grove is under contract and an application is pending to repurpose the building. Several members of the task force made a visit to Miami to meet with the owners of the nearly vacant Hancock Bridge Square. It was learned at this meeting the ownership of the center is well along with plans to refurbish the property and begin to bring it

back to economic viability. It was truly exciting to learn of the plans. There is a plan afloat to build a boat launching area on the North shore with parking for cars with trailers. We have a New Mexican restaurant that has opened at North Key Drive near Dandy Dee’s Ice Cream Parlor. There is also movement on the widening to four lanes and realignment BY RANDY KRISE of Littleton Road to Kismet Guest Columnist Parkway with a new “roundabout” traffic circle at Littleton Road and Corbett Road. As a professional commercial real estate broker for 40 years, it is my firm belief North Fort Myers is ripe for major development, which will increase land prices dramatically. Now is the time to grab a piece of land or buy an old building. I promise you, the person who just bought the old shopping center containing Daddy Dee’s, Rib City, the New Mexican restaurant and another strip of suites behind

Daddy Dee’s line of suites is never going to regret the purchase. The corridor from Tuckers Grade in Charlotte County all the way to the bridge and north shore are now in play. Estrada is nearly half built. Magnolia Walk near the Lee-Charlotte county line is building another phase with 100 acres cleared. Lely Corp., which bought the 563 acres on the north side of Tuckers Grade between U.S. 41 and Interstate-75, is nearing a start of this massive development. All of these projects will affect the North Fort Myers business district. I invite all of you to come across the river or drive down Hancock Bridge Parkway or Pine Island Road and take a fresh look at North Fort Myers. If you wait to invest, you will just have to spend more money to acquire a property and make less profit in the final analysis. Remember that old adage: “You make the money when you buy it, not when you sell it!” Randy Krise is the broker/owner of Krise Commercial Group in Fort Myers and a member of the Horizon Council and the North Fort Myers Development Task Force. He can be reached at (239) 633-8672 or randy@krisecg.com.

Spectra Apartments sell for record $71.425 million Cushman & Wakefield’s Florida Multifamily Group negotiated the sale of Spectra Apartments for $71.425 million, or $220,448 per unit. That means the per-unit price for the 324-unit community established a new high water mark for the Fort Myers market, the company announced. Led by Vice Chairman Robert Given, the Cushman & Wakefield investment sales team responsible for executing the disposition was comprised of Zachary Sackley, Neal Victor, Luis Elorza, Brad Capas and Gary Tasman. Spectra Apartments was developed and sold by Naples-based Stock Development. Stock has a long history of developing luxury single-family homes and Spectra marks its first completed multi-family asset. The property was acquired by an entity affiliated with Coastal Ridge Real Estate based in Malibu, Calif. Completed in July 2017, Spectra consists of 324 luxury apartments in 12 three-story apartment buildings on 32.5-acre site. The average unit size is approximately 993 square feet. The property experienced a rapid lease-up and strong rent growth through stabilization. Spectra Apartments is located within minutes of Interstate 75. “Southwest Florida is among the most rapidly expanding submarkets in the country, and as a result, it is attracting the attention of multifamily investors nationwide,” said Victor. “The Spectra offering attracted a broad range of investor interest ranging from major institutions to regional private investors.” Added Capas: “In addition to Spectra establishing the new high price per unit mark for Fort Myers, we are very encouraged to have received offers from multiple bidders in record-price territory. This makes a strong credibility statement for the investment appeal of the Southwest Florida multifamily market.”

Diplomat RV & Boat Storage, located on Diplomat Parkway in Cape Coral will combine storage, amenities and services. It will be the first of its kind in Florida.

RV, boat storage facility planned for Cape Coral

Wright Construction Group is beginning construction on Diplomat RV & Boat Storage, located on Diplomat Parkway in Cape Coral. This facility, combining storage, amenities and services, will be the first of its kind in Florida and will provide storage spaces to Cape Coral and Central Fort Myers. The project is of significance to residents of Cape Coral, who by city ordinance are unable to

store boats or RVs in their home driveways for long periods of time. The new facility will provide a multitude of amenities to its customers including a covered wash bay, LP gas service, boat lockers for fishing equipment or water skis, two sewer dump stations, an owner’s lounge with restrooms and showers, concierge services for RV and boat cleaning and state-of-the-art security, Wright officials said.

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APRIL 2018

COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida

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RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL LAND INVESTMENT SALES & LEASING

CCIM

If you are a CCIM-SWFL Chapter member, as a benefit, you are eligible to participate in this section. Contact 2017 CCIM SWFL President Gerald Hendry for details at geraldh@mhsappraisal.com 2016 CCIM-SWFL President Ron Struthers says: “This ad got me listings. It works!”

RON WELEBNY, CCIM

Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry & DeSoto Counties

Qualifying Broker / Managing Director Licensed Real Estate Instructor Director Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association Director, CCIM-SWFL District Past President Commercial Investment Professionals of Southwest Florida Past President SWFL Commercial Alliance Vice-Chair Laguna Estates CDD

COMMERCIAL REALTY ASSOCIATES of SWFL 239-677-2381 Ron@CRA.us www.CRA.us

• • • •

BROKERS ANALYSTS ADVISORS CONSULTANTS

ADAM PALMER, CCIM Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, Tampa & Orlando Principal & Managing Director LandQwest Commercial, President - Florida CCIM Chapter, 12-time CoStar Power Broker Award Winner

LANDQWEST COMMERCIAL

239-898-8686 adam@adampalmer.com www.adampalmer.com

• • • • •

OFFICE INVESTMENT LAND RETAIL INDUSTRIAL

Southwest Florida Partner, licensed real estate broker and architect in Florida & California with 34 years of real estate and design experience. Specializes in land marketing and investment properties.

Why use a CCIM?

There are countless benefits to working with a CCIM. Commercial real estate investment requires the counsel of a qualified professional. A Certified Commercial Investment Member provides clients with the assurance that every decision will be made in the best interest of their investment objectives. When assembling a commercial real estate investment team, start with a CCIM.

• LAND • INVESTMENT

CRE CONSULTANTS

239-659-4960 fred.kermani@creconsultants.com www.creconsultants.com/go/fredkermani

BOB WHITE, CCIM Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Active Southwest Florida Commercial broker for over 25 years. Specializing in industrial, office and investment properties. Past president SWFL CCIM and REIS.

CREDIBILITY

CCIM is the most prestigious designation commercial real estate professionals can achieve within the industry. Graduate-level education, coupled with industry-leading technology tools, practical proven experience, and in-depth knowledge of their local markets, gives CCIMs the ability and the credibility to conduct business confidently and successfully. By partnering with a CCIM, you effectively utilize the top-level, most reliable performers in the industry: with an average of 19 years of experience, 70% of CCIM members hold executive-level positions and 90% of members refer clients to other business services. When you use a CCIM, you choose the most credible professional in the business.

BOB WHITE, INC. 239-850-2217

bob@bobwhiteinc.com

• • • •

Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties A partner with CRE Consultants and 15-year commercial real estate veteran, he specializes in the medical and professional office market.

CRE CONSULTANTS

239-994-3703 enn.luthringer@creconsultants.com www.creconsultants.com

INTEGRITY

MEASUREMENT

Overall, CCIM’s global network enables members to close thousands of transactions annually, representing more than $200 billion in value. But closing transactions is only part of what CCIMs can do. In addition to holding deal making occupations in every property sector, CCIMs are also found in’ leasing, asset management, development, lending, financing, property management, site selection and corporate real estate positions. So, whatever assistance your real estate project requires, a CCIM can help you achieve a better result. In fact, only 6 percent of all commercial real estate practitioners hold the elite CCIM designation, which reflects not only the caliber of the program, but why it is one of the most respected designations in the industry. When you use a CCIM, you choose a professional who produces measurable results.

The CCIM designation is conferred by the Chicagobased CCIM Institute, a commercial real estate affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS. Learn more about the value of working with a CCIM.

INDUSTRIAL OFFICE LEASE OR SALE INVESTMENT

ENN LUTHRINGER, CCIM

COMMUNITY

Today there are CCIMs in every state, across Canada and Mexico, and in more than 30 countries around the world. Domestically, the network encompasses more than 1,000 markets, from large metropolitan areas to small cities and towns. A truly global network, CCIMs are a powerful force in markets large and small. When you use a CCIM, you choose a trusted community of real estate professionals that are consistently sought for their dependability, intelligence, success and confidence.

• GAS STATIONS • RESTAURANTS

• COMMERCIAL • OFFICE • INVESTMENT

MARYANN MIZE, CCIM Lee, Collier, Charlotte & Sarasota Counties

Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer. More than 30 years of commercial lending experience. CCIM Senior Instructor and 2018 SWFL CCIM District Treasurer. • FINANCING OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

CHARLOTTE STATE BANK & TRUST

941-624-1916 mmize@csbtfl.com www.charlottestatebankandtrust.com

STEVE GANT, CCIM, MAI Charlotte, Desoto, Lee & Sarasota Counties

Steve is a Charlotte County native and commercial real estate expert with 21 years of experience. Local Knowledge. Expert Qualifications.

RIVERSIDE REALTY SERVICES, LLC

941-628-2625 steve@riverside-services.com www.riversiderealtyservices.com

• • • • •

OFFICE RETAIL INDUSTRIAL LAND LEASING

APRIL 2018

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 9

COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida

Choose the right commercial professional for you MICHAEL J. FRYE, CCIM

DAVE WALLACE, CCIM, SIOR

Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Recipient of the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award. Serving the SWFL market for over 30 years. We have 7 CCIMs to serve all our clients' needs.

RE/MAX REALTY GROUP

• • • •

239-281-0441 mfrye@ccim.net www.michaeljfrye.com

OFFICE RETAIL INDUSTRIAL LAND

RANDY KRISE, CCIM Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Broker/owner of Krise Commercial Group and 2016 Florida CCIM Regional Vice President and Institute Board Member.

KRISE COMMERCIAL GROUP

• • • • •

239-633-8672 randy@krisecg.com www.krisecg.com

COMMERCIAL VACANT LAND INVESTMENT RETAIL INDUSTRIAL

RON STRUTHERS, CCIM Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, North Port & Venice

Specializes in all facets of commercial brokerage and leasing in Charlotte County area. 2016 CCIM Florida Chapter Southwest District President: 2018 President-Elect

COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL NRT

• • • • •

941-769-3316 rstruthers@ccim.net www.commercialrealtyfl.com

INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL LEASING

THERESA BLAUCH-MITCHELL, CCIM

Lee, Collier, Charlotte & Sarasota Counties SWFL CCIM Past President, Florida CCIM Membership Chair, CCIM International Committee. Hablo Español. • • • •

SPERRY COMMERCIAL GLOBAL AFFILIATES

INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL

239-265-2628 theresa@ccim.net www.sperrycga.com

DEBRA JOHNSON SHUEY, RPA, CP, CCIM Collier, Lee, Charlotte & Hendry

Started in Commercial Real Estate in 1980. She is a Certiﬁed Paralegal. A Lee County resident since 1968, she has astute knowledge of the Southwest Florida market.

MILOFF AUBUCHON REALTY GROUP

239-850-2811 debrajohnsonshuey@icloud.com www.debrajohnsonshuey.com

• • • • • •

RETAIL HOSPITALITY OFFICE INDUSTRIAL LAND LEASING

Collier County

An office, industrial and investment property specialist with more than 30 years of commercial real estate experience in successfully assisting clients with acquisitions, dispositions and leasing.

Why use a CCIM?

CRE CONSULTANTS

Naples Office 239-649-7755 dave.wallace@creconsultants.com

COMMUNITY

State-Certified General Real Estate Appraiser RZ2245 The firm specializes in litigation/ expert testimony, as well as, commercial and residential appraisal services. Hendry is a Managing Partner of the firm. 2017 CCIM Florida Chapter Southwest District President.

MAXWELL, HENDRY & SIMMONS LLC

• • • • •

239-337-0555 geraldh@mhsappraisal.com www.mhsappraisal.com

WILLIAM H. ROLLINS, JR., CCIM, ALC

CCIM designees are bound to the strictest ethical guidelines and standards of practice in the industry today. In addition, each CCIM has successfully completed a graduate level program comprised of 160 hours of education. If you ask around the industry, you’ll learn that companies and other real estate professionals are more likely to seek out experts who possess the CCIM designation, as they know CCIM stands for trust, knowledge and reliability. When you use a CCIM, you choose experts with integrity. Overall, CCIM’s global network enables members to close thousands of transactions annually, representing more than $200 billion in value. But closing transactions is only part of what CCIMs can do. In addition to holding deal making occupations in every property sector, CCIMs are also found in’ leasing, asset management, development, lending, financing, property management, site selection and corporate real estate positions. So, whatever assistance your real estate project requires, a CCIM can help you achieve a better result. In fact, only 6 percent of all commercial real estate practitioners hold the elite CCIM designation, which reflects not only the caliber of the program, but why it is one of the most respected designations in the industry. When you use a CCIM, you choose a professional who produces measurable results.

The CCIM designation is conferred by the Chicagobased CCIM Institute, a commercial real estate affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS. Learn more about the value of working with a CCIM.

APPRAISAL CONSULTING COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL TAX APPEALS

CCIM

INTEGRITY

MEASUREMENT

OFFICE INDUSTRIAL SALES & LEASES INVESTMENT

GERALD HENDRY, MAI, CCIM

CREDIBILITY

• • • •

Lee, Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto & Hendry Counties Senior broker. He is licensed in Florida, Georgia and Alabama and is an Accredited Land Consultant.

LAND SOLUTIONS, INC. 239-633-1963 wrollins@landsolutions.net www.landsolutions.net

• AGRICULTURAL • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL

HEATHER RIDEOUT, CCIM Southwest Florida Heather comes to the commercial real estate world with over 20 years experience in small business consulting, as a successful small business owner and as a real estate investor.

KW COMMERCIAL PEACE RIVER PARTNERS

• • • 941-979-1174 • Rideout@kwcommercial.com www.RideoutCommercialGroup.com •

HEALTHCARE HOSPITALITY INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE

Page 10

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

APRIL 2018

COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida

Studio+ joins Thrive at Four Mile Cove team

Mosaic at the Forum was completed in December and consists of 252 apartments in 10 three-story buildings. Incore Residential will manage the development.

Mosaic at the Forum signifies growth trend A marketing campaign has begin for the newly constructed Mosaic at the Forum Apartments in Fort Myers, developed by St. Petersburg-based Mosaic Development and managed by affiliated Incore Residential. The offering presents a prospective investor the opportunity to acquire one of the newest, highest-quality multifamily assets in the nation’s fastest growing MSA. Cushman & Wakefield, as exclusive marketing agent, has announced the launch of its marketing campaign for the new Class A multifamily community in Fort Myers. The marketing team for Mosaic will be led by Luis Elorza, Brad Capas and Robert Givenof Cushman & Wakefield’s Florida Multifamily Investment Sales Team. Mosaic at the Forum was completed in December and consists of 252 apartments in 10 three-story buildings. The gated community offers the ideal combination of high-quality construction, well-appointed unit interiors and a comprehensive array of community amenities. The average unit size is approximately 908 square feet.

“Southwest Florida is a rapidly evolving market that has captured the attention of multifamily investors nationwide, many of whom are shifting their focus to Southwest Florida from larger or more expensive markets,” said Elorza. “This region’s demographic trends and solid multifamily fundamentals are very attractive to investors who are targeting growth markets.” According to a recent study prepared by Cushman & Wakefield, the Fort Myers MSA led the nation for population growth in 2017. The region is projected to add over 130,000 new people by 2022. As of February, the reported unemployment rate in Fort Myers was a low 3.4 percent occupied. Added Capas: “Real population growth, low unemployment and ongoing facility expansions by major employers such as Gartner and the Lee Memorial Health System signal market strength, a critical element necessary to attract investment capital.” Mosaic at the Forum is positioned on a 13-acre site on Champion Ring Road.

Studio+, an integrated services firm, partnered with Fortress Ventures to provide architecture and interior design services for Thrive at Four Mile Cove, a 140-unit luxury senior campus offering independent living, assisted living and state-of-the-art memory care unit in Cape Coral. The 11-acre, $31-million community is expected to be completed by January 2019. Studio+ has been involved with the project since its inception in 2017. Studio+’s Jaclyn Arcy is the interior design manager, and Sandra Troffer is the project architect and in charge of project management. DeAngelis Diamond Construction is the general contractor. Thrive at Four Mile Cove is the first luxury rental campus in Cape Coral to offer transitional senior care with high-end amenities such as a salon, movie theater, dog park and putting green. Located near Veterans Parkway and Del Prado Boulevard, residents will be able to walk, drive or take a shuttle to enjoy easy access to nearby resources and amenities. “Expanding Fortress Ventures into Cape Coral, with its explosive growth and demand, provides abundant opportunities to develop a resort-style rental community,” said Mike Faulkner of Fortress Ventures. “Thrive at Coral Cove will be a senior-living campus that will offer residents all the amenities, services and care programs they need on-site, all in one place.” This is Fortress Venture’s fourth property in Florida. With 140 apartments and a total of 170 beds, Thrive at Four Mile Cove will offer an array of senior living options to encourage aging in place. Sixty of the independent living apartments will offer studio, one- and twobedroom floor plans with full kitchens, granite countertops, stacked washer and dryer. Select units will also include screened balconies.

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239-437-6300

A Team of Trusted Professional Business Owners, for all your commercial needs. Top Industry Specialists work together on your projects and goals.

For more info, go to www.PreferredCommercialAlliance.com or call Deb at (239) 821-8382

ConstruCtion ManageMent Design-BuilD general ContraCting

239.313.6603 VantageConstructionLLC.com

Tyra N. Read ATTORNEY AT LAW Handling all Real Estate Needs from Contract to Closing throughout Florida 12140 Carissa Commerce Court Ft. Myers, Florida 33996 Tel: 239.628.4937 tread@beckerlawyers.com www.beckerlawyers.com

Selling your business is our business

Buyers are looking for profitable businesses to purchase

Call now for a private discussion about the marketability of your business and how we can help.

(239) 433-1343 LARRY STEINBORN, Broker

SAND DOLLAR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS DEPOT BizDepot@aol.com 6309 Corporate Ct. #205, Fort Myers, FL 33919

APRIL 2018

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 11

COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida

Prima Luce unveils plans for community Prima Luce is sharing never-before-seen interior renderings of the two-tower, 22-story waterfront condominium community, set to become a part of MacFarlane Grand Properties’ skyline in the Historic River District of Downtown Fort Myers, overlooking the Caloosahatchee River. The first rendering features a fitness center with premium cardio and strength training machines, as well as free weights. Residents can work out independently in the main fitness center or meet their friends in the group training studio for a spin class, TRX suspension training, CrossFit-style training and yoga, as suggested by the next rendering that demonstrates an open, multipurpose space. The third rendering is the social room, which can be reserved for a vast array of events, meetings and card games. With a high-end, full commercial kitchen, warming drawers and a pass-through to the lanai/ covered veranda, the social room will be in the East Tower of Prima Luce, along with the library and other social stretches. That library, displayed in the final rendering, is a private, enclosed space with circular tables for silent reading or hosting a game night.

The library is a private, enclosed space with tables for silent reading or hosting a game night. An additional feature, not shown, is the business center, which will be in the West Tower, along with other health and wellness amenities. The business center will include a conference room with individual Wi-Fi stations and other technological resources. “At Prima Luce, as with all our area properties, we incorporate elements of interest that make it impossible not to play on natural light, vacation-like scenery and never-ending views,” said Rebekah

MacFarlane-Barney, chief operating officer of MacFarlane Grand Properties. “We fully expect that people from every corner of the country will see Prima Luce and be hard-pressed not to call it home.” Every aforementioned amenity-filled room will be included on a virtual concierge database in the common areas of both Prima Luce towers. Residents can utilize this database to reserve various rooms throughout the community, as well as plan a daily itinerary for themselves and their guests. For example, they may reserve the business center for a meeting, the social room for a family reunion and the yoga studio for an afternoon of meditation with friends. The database can also accommodate other events, such as lunch in Downtown Fort Myers after yoga and dinner with your significant other after a meeting, as well as include recommended activities that residents may enjoy. The 220-unit Prima Luce will feature contemporary-transitional architecture that takes full advantage of Southwest Florida’s natural beauty and has people from all regions in mind. Prices range from the $200s to over $1 million.

Amavida opens its new welcome center

Specialized Veterinary Services increased its footprint from 5,000 square feet to over 18,500 square feet.

Specialized Veterinary Services expansion complete The expansion of Specialized Veterinary Services, a Fort Myers-based 24-hour animal emergency and specialty hospital, is complete. SVS increased its footprint from 5,000 square feet to over 18,500 square feet to better serve the increasing demand for animal emergency and specialty services in the Southwest Florida market. The expansion includes additional patient exam rooms, two high-tech surgical suites, MRI and CT on site, additional

neurological services, expanded animal rehabilitation facilities, ultra-sound and x-ray capabilities and a classroom to provide seminars and veterinary-related CE courses. SVS held a grand opening celebration on March 10. The expansion of SVS continues to bring new and state-of-the-art veterinary technology to the Southwest Florida area. The specialty services include surgery, internal medicine, neurology and canine rehabilitation combined with the 24-hour emergency services.

We Care About SWFL Commercial Realtors With dedicated space for informa�on: • On our website with a Commercial Real Estate sec�on & directory • In our quarterly Commercial RE Market pullout in both the print & digital versions of SWFBT • With zoned and full-run inserts • With guest column opportuni�es • With digital marke�ng op�ons For more informa�on, call Karen at (239) 770-7527

Quadrum Global announced that Amavida, a resort-style living community, has opened its welcome center and is now accepting deposits. The welcome center is located on Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers. The 32-acre development will provide alternatives through every phase of life, and will offer independent living, assisted living and memory care. The 488,265-square foot campus will provide direct access to Lakes Park and will feature 460 rental homes, including cottages, residences, apartments and suites. Setting itself apart from the status quo in senior living, the community will offer a variety of services and amenities, including concierge and valet services, on-site wellness center, fitness center, art studio, cafe’, outdoor courtyards, swimming pools, spa and salon, a variety of restaurants, library and private theater, as well as tennis and pickleball courts. “We are very excited to introduce this new brand to Fort Myers and invite them to visit our new welcome center,” said Colin Marshall, president of Quadrum Senior Living.

priMe oFFice Space Suited to your needS Featured property

6309 corporate court, South Fort MyerS Locate your office with other professionals in this quiet setting in the middle of the College - Summerlin financial area. Office space from 936 to 2,500 sq. ft. available. Build-out allowance!

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Additional Properties • 1601 Lee Street, River District, Fort Myers Office, 5,800 sq. ft. $14 per sq. foot + CAM. • 16200 San Carlos Blvd. - Retail Store 1,000 sq. ft. $1,300 per mo.: 3,000 sq. ft. $3,750 per mo. • 16200 San Carlos Blvd. - Hair Salon 1,000 sq. ft. $1,350 per mo.

Sand dollar real eState / BuSineSS depot larry SteinBorn, lic. real eState Broker We Listen, We Care!

www.swﬂoridabusinesstoday.com

6309 Corporate Ct #205 Fort Myers, FL 33919

Phone: 239-433-1343 Email: bizdepot@aol.com

Page 12 Page 14

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

APRIL 2018

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JULY 2017

NO JOB IS TOO DIFFICULT.

I’ll DO THE HEAVY LIFTING

in your next commercial real estate transaction.

BUY • SELL • LEASE • INVEST SERVING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SINCE 1984

Randy Krise, CCIM

Commercial Real Estate Broker Cell: 239.633.8672 Office: 239.690.4100 Fax: 239.690.4105 Email: Randy@KriseCG.com

www

.KriseCG.Com

APRIL 2018

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

FUTURE PAGE 1 in the Lee County Comprehensive Plan. The MUO is a designation of areas appropriate for more dense and intense development where both commercial and residential activities can occur. These designated areas are also located near public transit routes, education facilities, recreation opportunities and existing residential, shopping and employment centers. Hamman said for redevelopment to be successful, it is essential the regulatory environment be supportive of development opportunities. In the MUO, urban design standards have recently been adopted into the land development code that allow for a more dense, intense and mixed-use form of development. Incentive program objectives and benefits The primary objective of the program is to encourage private sector investment in sites and buildings encouraging business retention, attraction and expansion, Hamman stated. When designing this program, numerous meetings were and continue to be held to determine what the private sector finds useful in the realm of redevelopment economics. These meetings have been held with the Commercial Corridor Task Force, real estate brokers and lenders, developers, land owners and businesses active in the North Fort Myers area or that would naturally be engaged in future redevelopment initiatives. According to Hamman, redevelopment incentives typically are intended to primarily address job creation through the revitalization of industrial, office and commercial areas. However, residential uses may be a part of eligible mixed-use projects. Lee County has many existing initiatives that are focused on quality, affordably priced housing and residential area revitalization with which this program is intended to work in concert. This $2-million program presents a series of financial incentives designed to reduce and eliminate decline and deterioration, stimulate new investment, stabilize the tax base and maintain the viability of the existing business community. Some benefits of developing in the MUO include: 1) 40-60 percent reduced parking requirement, 2) 50 percent less open space requirement, 3)

Page 13

no setbacks or lot size requirements, 4) increased height potential and 5) flexibility through conventional zoning. Objectives of the incentive program include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) to encourage investment by the private sector by eliminating impediments to development and redevelopment; 2) to promote the conservation, rehabilitation and redevelopment in accordance with the Lee Plan and local codes and ordinances; 3) to achieve a higher quality environment that embraces appropriate architectural, landscape, urban design and land use principles; and 4) to encourage new development and leverage existing infrastructure. Hamman explained: “We can’t bulldoze, but we can give you financial assistance to do that. We can help you meet today’s flood code: we can help you improve the look of a building.” He also noted this is a reimbursement-based incentive program to be paid after a qualified project is completed. The vision According to Hamman, “It took downtown Fort Myers 15 years for re-development to fully unfold so it will probably be about the same length of time for North Fort Myers.” He concluded: “We want to connect it all with the water by making North Fort Myers a riverfront community. We want to show everyone that North Fort Myers is open for business, open to new ideas, open to grow again.” For more information on the Mixed Use Overlay, go to www.muo.developlee.com. For more information on the incentives, go to leecountybusiness.com/north-fort-myers-incentiveprogram or call (239) 338-3161.

VIRTUAL OFFICE SOLUTIONS

ID THEFT PAGE 1 Speakers include CenturyLink chief security officer Re. David Mahon, CyberScout founder Adam K. Levin, Identity Theft Resource Center CEO Eva Velasquez and Element Technologies vice president of consulting Jeff Alluri. Kerskie says a variety of topics will get attention, such as finding ways to reduce internal human error; she notes some infamous breaches like the Equifax breach could be attributed to failure to install software security patches or employees falling prey to phishing scams. But she also expects the summit to delve into ways companies can mistakenly expose consumer data while trying to provide convenience. “You can do more harm than good if you offer tools to protect consumers but they are not adopting them,” she says. For example, many banks offer online services whether customers sign up for them or not, but with a little personal data, identity thieves can use a bank website to sign in to an individual’s account, set up their own password and security protocols and have full run of a victim’s finances. A consumer who never used online services may never be alerted to suspect activity in the account until it’s too late. With droves of personal information available at low prices on the Dark Web, malfeasance becomes easier all the time, Kerskie says. While consumers may seek out information on safeguarding their personal finances, companies should be aware how they can reduce clients’ exposure. The summit will be geared toward C-suite-level executives, managers, and professionals involved in compliance.

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KATHY SORTORE 239.898.2176

IN BUSINESS SINCE 1997

1990

2006 Michael D. Pfeffer, MBA Certiﬁed Business Appraiser

Board Certiﬁed Intermediary Certiﬁed Exit Planning Advisor

We make banking about YOU!

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Standing Strong with Money to Lend

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Oldest locally-owned community bank in Lee County

www.EdisonNationalBank.com 239.466.1800

Email: mpfeffer@murphybusiness.com www.murphybusiness.com/bonitasprings

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239.939.5303 • 239.481.4114 www.SolomonHoover.com

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

VenturePitch SWFL announces semi-finalists for second quarter Organizers of VenturePitch SWFL announced the 10 semi-finalists for its 2018 second quarter VenturePitch SWFL. From this pool, four entrepreneurs will be selected to compete for up to $50,000 in equity investments at a shark tank-style event on April 12 from 5-8 p.m. at Babcock Ranch. The following semi-finalist companies span multiple industries. • Accugentix (Naples) created an automated device for the ingestion of CBD oil, which is used as a natural medicine and can be purchased from anywhere in the United States. • Envision Solutions (Bonita Springs) Envision is a home computerbased therapy training program that can help stroke victim patients regain some of their lost vision. • HarpersLove (Naples) provides consumers customizable jewelry, which can be designed online using proprietary custom software solution. • REvest Exchange (Naples) provides an online secondary market-trading platform for shares of privately held real estate equity and debt investments. • Stabilized Steps (Naples) is focused on improving the lives of people with mobility issues, giving the freedom to move forward through the use of patented Stabilizers that attach to the bottom of medical walkers, allowing users to be stable on various terrains such as sand, gravel, mud, snow and indoors, increasing steadiness in everyday use.

• The Nickel Ride (Fort Myers) is green transportation that connects the local community with local commerce by elevating local brands and market awareness through providing a free transportation experience to visitors and residents alike. • YES Home Network (Fort Myers) is a subscription-based internet platform designed to support referral marketing among groups of home service providers; and to enable homeowners to locate reliable service providers. • 1950 (Venice) manufactures WarpWrapz goggles, a bold sport goggle that provides ultimate protection and vision abilities for almost any sport requiring eye protection. • AmbuTrak, (Sebring) makes distance-measuring devices that attach directly to the user’s rolling walker so healthcare professionals such as physical therapists have the ability to better track the distance walker-dependent patients are walking. • Jejo’s Market (Sarasota) functions as a B2C e-commerce marketplace focused on “good-for-you” food, beverage and personal care products. The VenturePitch SWFL series is part of a Tamiami Angel Funds’ and Adrenaline Venture Fund’s joint initiative. Presenting companies must be in pre-revenue stage or within the first few months of producing revenues; must be in business less than two years; have a scalable business model; and have not already raised more than $1 million.

The growing world of “mobile” demands that you be wherever your customers, clients, members and prospects expect you to be.

APRIL 2018

LEGAL REVIEW

SBA borrowing experience: How to go from daunting to delightful

Often times, the SBA loan process has a bad rap of being a confusing, time-consuming and frustrating experience. This article will discuss the top 7 ways you as the borrower can properly prepare for the process. With the right preparation, You can utilize all of the benefits in last month’s article, without your head exploding. TIP 1 – Choose the right bank. Ask the following questions. Are you a preferred lender, which means the bank makes decisions on behalf of the SBA using the SBA rules`? How many SBA loans do you do a year as a bank and individually? Give me an example of your quickest and longest turnaround times and why? Are you a specialist or a generalist? Tell me about your entire team and processes, etc. Interview the lender and assign roles and responsibilities up front. TIP 2 – Go and get life insurance. For at least the amount of the loan you are requesting. This is the No. 1 reason why SBA loan closings get delayed. And it is required on most SBA loans. TIP 3 – File your taxes or have a CPA prepare year end financials. It can be very risky for a bank to rely on 15-month old tax returns and internal numbers, and you all know how much us bankers like risk. If you want to borrow money, file your taxes as quickly as possible. This is the No. 1 reason loan approvals get delayed— poor quality financials. TIP 4 – Set side time to focus 100 percent on the loan process. Even if it is 15 minutes a day or two hours per week. Close your door, turn off your cell phone and focus on the matter at hand. TIP 5 – Pull your credit report before the bank does so you can fix any errors that may be on there or

be ready to explain any issues you have had in your past. A short sale, loan modification, late payment or even bankruptcy is not an automatic decline. It depends on the circumBY TOM MAIALE stances at hand. TIP 6 - MenGuest Columnist tally prepare for hiccups. A great SBA lender, like myself (shameless plug), will anticipate most hiccups before they occur, but there are almost always issues that pop up that are out of your and the lender’s control, normally due to third-party reports like appraisals, title, lien (UCC) searches and environmental reports. If you are feeling daring, go to the Florida UCC registry and county records to see what liens are filed against you so you can be prepared to explain any issues. TIP 7 – Don’t try to negotiate the approval and closing requirements or process. It will be a waste of time as banks are mostly following the SBA guidelines that all banks must follow. If they layer in their own credit requirements that aren’t to your liking, find another financial institution that fits your needs.

FDEP PAGE 1

To make the program’s incentives available to a community, a local government must designate a brownfields area by resolution. Utilizing economic and regulatory incentives, the program encourages the use of private revenue to restore and redevelop sites, create new jobs and boost the local economy.

The program facilitates redevelopment and job creation by empowering communities, local governments and other stakeholders to work together to assess, clean up and reuse properties previously impacted by pollutants, according to DEP officials.

Tom Maiale, CBC National Bank SBA Lending vice president and business development officer, is a 17-year SBA Lending veteran with training from The National Association of Government Guaranteed Lending and The U.S. Small Business Administration. Contact him at (239) 288-9966 or tmaiale@cbcnationalbank.com.

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APRIL 2018

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

LEGAL REVIEW

Get ready for cold winter of net neutrality

One definition of “neutrality” simply states the quality or state of being neutral, especially refusal to take part in a war between opposing powers. No one will be able to remain neutral or simply be able to refuse to take part in the cyber war called net neutrally, which is on the horizon. Side One: • Internet service providers such as AT&T, Comcast and Version see no reason why under a free market concept they should not be able to speed up, slow down or block content, applications or websites on a fee-for-service basis, which would also vastly improve their branding and customer loyalty capability. • The elimination of net neutrality would create additional revenue not only needed to improve current infrastructure but, more importantly, develop new data delivery systems in a matter we have not even though of. • It should be no secret by now the amount of harmful information disseminated through a fee internet has something to do with the social, moral and intellectual decline of our society as a whole. • Government-regulated internet even under a freedom of speech umbrella is still larger government and deeper government encroachment into the lives of businesses and individuals. Side Two: • Freedom of speech is a basic constitutional guarantee and not just for individuals or businesses

that can afford a higher level of internet delivery. • Net Neutrality creates a level playing field so small start-ups can compete with larger companies and innovation is not limited to the size of your bank account. • The internet, like other public utilities such as water and sewer, maintains our quality of life and therefore should be provided to everyone (as long as they are BY JANETH current with their bill) at the RAMIREZ same level of service no matGuest Columnist ter their income level. As in the popular series Game of Thrones, the cold winter is coming and the war between free and fee internet is upon us. None of us can remain neutral. We must plan and take action. From this writer’s advantage point, it boils down to more providers of internet services, the illumination of license protected service areas and a true free market where more competition leads to lowering of prices.

HAPPY PAGE 2

No. 2 across all five elements of well-being. Greater Naples is actively engaged in the Blue Zones Project wellness initiative, with many area businesses, restaurants, and schools achieving Blue Zones Project Approved status for maintaining healthy workplace initiatives and restaurant menus.

Not only is Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island the first community to rank No. 1 three years in a row, but it also is the first community to rank No. 1 or

Janeth Ramirez is the social media coordinator for CareerSource Southwest Florida. She can be reached at jramirez@careersourcesouthwestflorida.com or at (239) 225-2500, ext. 5239.

Page 15

PATENT PAGE 4 But, do certainly make every attempt to monetize before going this route as one company’s mistake could very well be your good fortune. “While we’ve found it highly prudent to work with infringing organization as strategic partners and settle patent disputes through lump sum or monthly payments in order to reduce ongoing legal costs for both parties, there are some instances where it’s necessary to use legal means to make patent infringements work in your favor,” Murphy says. “In my own experience, my company has settled suits by having the infringing party purchase our patent license, allowing them to continue to operate their business using our three perfected patents that cover 59 claims.”

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

APRIL 2018

0 preventive care

0 copays

savings

Southwest Florida small businesses save with our Neighborhood Health Partnership plans. The Neighborhood Health Partnership (NHP) options can save employers 15 percent compared to some competitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; plans.1 And, with $0 preventive care2 and $0 copays,3 employees save money too. Start saving with NHP - a local solution backed by a national company. Visit uhc.com/swfl or call 1-866-462-9299 to take a deeper look.

Savings based on February 2018 UnitedHealthcare analysis comparing Southwest Florida rates for similar competitor small group plans.

Or first dollar coverage for primary care physician visits.

For primary care physician, specialist and urgent care visits.

Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or its affiliates. Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates. Health Plan coverage provided by or through Neighborhood Health Partnership, Inc. MT-1165544.0 2/18 ÂŠ2018 United HealthCare Services, Inc. 18-6877