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Look Ahead, Look Back

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Entrepreneurs and business leaders reﬂect on 2017 and consider what 2018 has in store.

Commercial Real Estate

A specially focused monthly section exploring the SWFL commercial real estate marketplace.

Gov. Rick Scott unveils his plans for tax holidays in 2018 during a visit to Alufab USA.

Governor Scott unveils tax cuts at Alufab visit

IN THE NEWS Pushing the Envelope wins 2017 Business Ethics Award

Pushing the Envelope received the 2017 Business Ethics Award from the Uncommon Friends Foundation at its annual Uncommon Evening event held Nov. 2 at the Burroughs Home & Gardens. Other finalists in attendance were B & I Contractors headquartered in Fort Myers, represented by president Gary Griffin, and PBS Contractors of Naples, represented by Kim Ortegon and Gary Eskin. AWARD See page 3

Disaster Strike Team nabs ﬂy-by-night contractor

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced the arrest of Oscar M. Palma made by the Department of Financial Services’ Disaster Fraud Action Strike Team. Palma, a Fort Myers contractor, was reported to authorities after allegedly making subpar roof repairs to an area apartment complex following Hurricane Irma. Upon launching an investigation, fraud detectives quickly learned that while Palma advertised himself as a licensed and insured contractor, he in fact held no workers’ compensation coverage and was not licensed as a contractor. FRAUD See page 8

Photos by Jacob Ogles

By Jacob Ogles Print Editor, SWFBT

Alufab USA President and CEO Hugo Mir introduces Gov. Rick Scott, praising Florida’s business-friendly climate for the company’s success.

Gov. Rick Scott stopped by Fort Myers manufacturer Alufab USA on Nov. 6 to unveil a state budget proposal with $180 million in tax cuts. “What we’ve seen in this state is as we’ve cut taxes our revenues grow,” Scott said. His budget includes sales tax holidays, include a 10-day back-to-school shopping tax holiday and three sales tax holidays for hurricane season preparation, which constitute $88 million in reduced sales tax revenues. Another $87 million in cuts come from slashing

driver’s license renewal fees from $48 to $20. Fort Myers served as the first stop on a tour for the governor as he promotes his budget. He spoke at Alufab, a local firm making hurricane shutters and other storm preparation products. Hugo Mir, president and CEO of AluFab, said the company was founded in 2009 with six employees and has since grown to 47 employees while doing $10 million in business each year. He credited Scott’s efforts for deregulation and job creation with the company’s growth. “We have to thank the way the state runs for our success,” he said.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Cape Coral bruised but not broken in 2017 By Dana Brunett Guest Columnist

For Cape Coral, 2017 was a year of weather extremes that tested its first responders, administration and citizens. By all accounts, Cape Coral weathered the storms. The Cape went from the extremes of a severe drought to a 100-year rain event and was capped off by Hurricane Irma. It has become evident that Cape Coral is a resilient city full of hard working residents who will band together at a moment’s notice to overcome the obstacles placed before them.

Consider that Cape Coral is still one on the fastest growing cities in the country with an expanding business base yet is still a desirable location for retirees. A city that is looking to embrace the inﬂux and growth of the millennial population and is trending to a younger average age. This past year saw many milestones in Cape Coral’s growth including the development of a new conference center set to open in December and the addition of three new car dealerships already announced. Nor-Tech Hi Performance

Boats is moving its headquarters to the Cape, constructing a new 45,000 square foot building and adding 150 new jobs. And many new and eclectic restaurants are calling Cape Coral home, especially in South Cape, which is poised for more growth as the new 47th Terrace Streetscape Project gets underway and while newer large-scale projects such as Bimini Basin await on the horizon. The City also adopted new Parks and Economic Development Master Plans to help guide Cape Coral’s future growth. CAPE CORAL See page 4 TEDDY BEAR TOSS

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

DECEMBER 2017

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD EDC boosts Bonita economy By Tiffany Esposito Guest Columnist The Bonita Springs Estero Economic Development Council made great progress growing our local economy in the 2016-17 fiscal year. Through our April Community Involvement Fair encouraging employee retention, a $5,000 grant to help promote the Launch My Career Florida tool for students and active support of community projects such as the Bonita Springs High School, your EDC Board has had many accomplishments to celebrate this year. Thank you to our outgoing Chairman of the Board,

Thomas Goettel, for his work. Looking ahead to 2018, I’d like to welcome our next Chairman of the Board, Don Thomson of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes and Holt, P.A. I would also like to welcome three new board members: Walter Crawford of Heatherwood Construction Company, Phil Dutcher of NCH Healthcare System, and Marti Van Veen of Physicians Regional Healthcare System. This is going to be a great year for the BSEEDC! Tiffany Esposito is the executive director of the Bonita Springs Estero Economic Development Council.

The Florida Everblades have competed at Germain Arena for two decades.

Everblades celebrate 20th season The Florida Everblades and Germain Arena celebrate their 20th Anniversary season in 2017-18. The Everblades compete in the East Coast Hockey League, which is the premier AA professional hockey league. Over 600 players have started their career in the ECHL and have gone on to play in the National Hockey League. The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. In October, the Everblades celebrated their 800th win in team history. Since their inception in 1998, the Florida Everblades have hosted more than 4 million fans in nearly 700 regular season games, with an average attendance of 6,361 per game. The team has finished in the top 5 in league attendance in 14 of their 19 seasons, leading the league five times. The organization strives to provide affordable and fun family entertainment. On the ice, the Everblades are one of the most competitive teams in the league, and have earned a post-season berth in 18 of 19 seasons of their existence in

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the ECHL. On May 23, 2012, the team won its first ECHL Championship with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Las Vegas Wranglers in Game 5 of the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals in front of a standing room only crowd at Germain Arena. Germain Arena is Southwest Florida’s premier entertainment venue offering a variety of different events and shows. In addition to hockey, the arena has hosted over 2,000 events with over 6,000,000 guests attending such shows as Elton John, Brad Paisley, Tom Petty, Zac Brown Band, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Cirque du Soleil, WWE, as well as family events like Disney on Ice, Harlem Globetrotters and Sesame Street Live. The arena’s recreation building features two additional ice rinks which offers youth and adult hockey leagues, figure skating, skating lessons and public skating sessions. For more information about Everblades Hockey or Germain Arena events, call (239) 948-7825.

Economic development is not just for large companies; it’s for every business... big or small. The Lee County Economic Development Office provides assistance to retain existing businesses, encourage entrepreneurship and attract new business so Lee County has a strong economy, thriving communities and a broadly shared prosperity. No matter the size of your business we are here to help YOU thrive, grow and prosper.

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DECEMBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 3

Siesta Pebble wins Blue Chip Award AWARD PAGE 1 Siesta Pebble won the 23rd annual Blue Chip Community Business Award after being chosen from 14 applicants, then five finalists, by a panel of judges. Owner Michelle Graham has overcome personal and professional challenges to foster a successful pool resurfacing company that has and continues to show incredible growth. Servicing Marco Island to the greater Bradenton area, Siesta Pebble was the only woman-owned company among the 65 licensed and certified Pebble Tec installers throughout the country. Graham became responsible for the entire enterprise when her mom passed away suddenly in 2012. Her mother had been listed as the only officer of the corporation, requiring Graham to open a new one. Since their humble beginnings in 2012, Siesta Pebble has now doubled its workforce, grown its fleet from 6 to 15 trucks, added a prep crew and two pebble crews while doubling its renovation business. The company has seen unprecedented growth under Graham’s leadership. Sponsored by BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company, the annual Blue Chip Community Business Award is given to a for-profit business in Southwest Florida that has overcome adversity to achieve success. The finalists are determined through an application process that includes a review given by an impartial panel of judges. The other four finalists for the prestigious regional award this year

included the following: Adventures in Paradise is a Sanibel-based excursion company that hopes to bring out the love of the seas through their cruises for fishing, shelling, sea life encounters, dolphin watches and a historical tour of Sanibel Island. Davidson Irrigation is the only veteran/woman owned and operated irrigation contractor in both Lee and Collier counties, specializing in sprinkler systems, landscape lighting and water treatment. Established in Fort Myers more than 15 years ago, Misty’s Sunshine Cleaning is an office cleaning company backed by faith and a positive outlook on life. Sunshine Workforce is a staffing and payroll company designed to get people jobs and then into the workplace, whether it is for daily, temporary or long-term placement. “While it was a tough decision for the judges to make, and all the finalists have triumphed when the odds were stacked against them,” according to Scott Gregory, BB&TOswald Trippe and Company vice president, “Siesta Pebble’s story truly exemplifies the ability to overcome adversity and achieve success.” He added, “Owner Michelle Graham showed strength and perseverance as she took over the company. She was able to grow the company while the economy recovered and still found time to spend with her family and give back to the community.“

Brian Rist, president and CEO of sponsor Smart Companies, presented the award to Samantha Scott, president of Pushing the Envelope, before an audience of about 250 business, education and community leaders and student scholarship winners. Pushing the Envelope is a marketing communications firm that serves small to medium-sized businesses and nonprofits. Yvonne Caldwell was named the 2017 Character Education Champion Teacher. Caldwell teaches fifth grade ELA/Social Studies at James Stephens International Academy, where she integrates the perseverance, fortitude and example of the Uncommon Friends to

promote a growth mindset to help students live with integrity and make good decisions. She was also instrumental in helping revise, update and align the UFF character education curriculum with state standards. Uncommon Evening is an annual fundraiser hosted by Uncommon Friends Foundation in collaboration with its Endowed Chair of Ethics at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert School of Business. All proceeds go to support the Uncommon Friends Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to lifelong character building among today’s youth and business leaders. Its mission is to promote character education in schools, business ethics in the workplace and historic preservation of the Burroughs Home and James Newton Archives.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

DECEMBER 2017

Claiming tax credit for making payroll during Irma

Year-end tax planning for 2017 for many in Southwest Florida will undoubtedly focus upon the recently enacted “Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2017, Pub. L. No. 115-63.” This new law contains various tax relief measures aimed at assisting businesses and individuals in areas devastated by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Most relevant to the business community, the legislation contains a provision known as the Employee Retention Credit, which provides for a tax credit to businesses that continued to pay their employees when their place of business was inoperable due to the effects of these disruptive storms. The credit is available to affected Florida employers of all sizes, located in designated disaster zones, which includes Lee and Collier counties, during the time period from Sept. 4 until their businesses “resumed significant operations” but not after Jan. 1. Employers can claim a credit equal to 40 percent of up to $6,000 of qualified wages paid or incurred in respect to each “eligible employee” during the relevant time period. If for example, an employer closed his business location within an eligible “disaster zone” for 10 days, and paid their eight employees for each day the business closed, for total wages paid to all eligible employees of $15,000, then the employer could claim a 40 percent credit of total wages paid, or $6,000 as a tax credit on their 2017 federal income tax return. For pass-through entities, such as partnerships or S-corporations, this tax credit would inure to the owners of the respective entities and be indicated on their Form K-1s. The term “eligible employee” are employees whose principal place of

CAPE CORAL PAGE 1 The Cape was certainly bruised in 2017 but it wasn’t down. The commercial growth continues and 2018 looks to be just as bright, hopefully with less weather extremes. Cape Coral has a new mayor and three new council members

employment was located in a disaster zone where business became inoperable as a result of Hurricane Irma. Wages can be for an employee who performed no services, services at a different location than the inoperable site, or services at impacted sites before significant operations resumed. Some of the statutory language of this enactment, such as a business being “inoperable… as a result of damage” caused by the hurricane, and “ resumed significant operations” presents some ambiguities, which might prevent a simple, clearcut application of the statute. As of Nov. 6, the Internal Revenue Service has not issued official guidance, a proposed tax form which would outline the relevant data to claim the credit, or any other announcement to clarify the statute’s application. Some observers note the Employee Retention Credit’s statutory framework borrows considerably from similar relief legislation passed after Hurricane Katrina (Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005, P.L. 109-73). Employers interested in claiming the credit should assess whether they had a location in the disaster zone and how the storm effected its operations to determine their eligibility for the credit. This provision and others in the new legislation present tax planning issues for business tax filers looking to take advantage of unique onetime tax relief opportunities. Such a task should be undertaken in consultation with an experienced tax practitioner. Tax Savers of America, a tax ﬁling and tax resolution CPA ﬁrm, was founded by an IRS agent is located in Bonita Springs. For more information, call (239) 947-1284.

on board looking to help the City navigate towards a promising future with continued growth, new jobs and additional workforce housing to support that growth. There’s a great deal to be proud of in Cape Coral as Southwest Florida’s largest city, but now is not the time to sit back and watch. The push forward will

continue as the Cape adds more utilities, more population, additional businesses and continues establishing a welcoming environment for future investment by individuals and businesses alike. Dana Brunett is economic development director for Cape Coral. Contact him at dbrunett@capecoral.net.

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Business planning leads to success

By Gary Eskin Guest Columnist

If you’re like many entrepreneurs, you dream of success and profit. You may even dream of longevity so you can hand the business down to your children decades down the line. But how do you plan to get there? It doesn’t happen by accident. I’ve been in your shoes and know the tried and true method to help you reach your goal. Growing up, I was fortunate to be surrounded by an entrepreneurial spirit. My first glimpse into self-employment was working at my grandfather’s plant. Later, after my father retired at a young age, we partnered to launch a new business venture. Our company eventually expanded to four stores with about 65 associates at our peak. We saw increasing revenue from sales and had talented teams, but our rapid growth revealed that I was illequipped to manage the business effectively. I later found that we weren’t the only ones struggling to grow a strong, sustainable business. You aren’t alone, either. I eventually sold portions of the business and went into consulting, training and development. I realized businesses (like my own, and maybe like yours) are in desperate need of sustainable people systems and enhanced performance management systems. The solution? Developing a high performing culture. High performing cultures, driven by specific, transformative fundamentals, reshape individuals and organizations. They are proven to aid in revenue growth, retention rates, performance management, and customer ratings by: • influencing employee behavior • increasing employee retention • attracting qualified talent • enhancing interpersonal communication among the team and customers • increasing human resource compliance For those seeking such development, two things are required: time and repetition. Culture building is a timeconsuming undertaking, one which begins with examining the business’ fundamentals and sees no end. Programs range based on goals, but will involve every member of the team and require ample time to test, measure and reflect. Repetition is what makes culture sustainable. Companies often “invest” in team training and development, but rarely implement what they’ve learned over the long term. If the cultural development is not sustainable, it cannot transform your business. While a time-consuming task, those with an eye on the future and a desire for healthy expansion will be well served by taking on the challenge of building an enduring culture. By investing time and resources in your team, the culture you curate can propel your people, vendors and customers into the future. This culture is what my past business was missing, and what rising companies in Southwest Florida should aspire to attain as they reach for the acclaimed 25-, 50- and 75-year anniversary milestones. Gary Eskin has 40 years of entrepreneurial experience and now helps businesses increase profitability with triedand-true cultural development, training and consulting techniques. Learn more at EskinSolutions.net.

DECEMBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 5

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

Local commercial activity outpaces U.S. in some segments Submitted by Karen P. Moore Publisher SWFBT

According to a recent presentation given by Brian Alford, market economist for the CoStar Group to local business, investment and commercial real estate professionals, the Southwest Florida commercial real estate market continues to boom in several areas. CoStar Group is an American commercial real estate information and marketing provider with headquarters in Washington, D.C. Job growth Alford proclaimed, “Nowhere in the country is growing faster than Southwest Florida.” He pointed out, however, that while total job growth is far above the national average, the market is now approaching full employment. The construction fields are showing exceptional growth in both Naples and Fort Myers. Population trends While Naples is growing, it is, not surprisingly, very much a “silver market,” Alford stated. It is getting younger, however. The same goes for Fort Myers, but here the millennial population segment

growth is booming. Alford shared, Punta Gorda is the “oldest” of the three markets where the millennial population segment has been exploding since 2007, but he warns, this market is losing GenXers (those who are 35-49 years old.) Multi-family Fort Myers has just experienced its biggest growth ever in this segment, adding 15 percent to the supply, and the vacancy rate is still not too high, Alford pointed out. The rent growth is falling, but in 2015, Fort Myers showed some of the highest rent growth in the nation. Investment activity has also picked up, according to Alford, and 2017 is on pace to beat 2016, and might even surpass 2015, which he found odd because Fort Myers is now in the bottom 20 rent growth markets in the country. Office Space Naples outpaced the country throughout the recession and is not dropping off quickly in this arena. Even throughout the recession, office space demand outpaced pre-recession levels. On the other hand, Alford shared, “Rent growth in Naples has also been phenomenal but has now tanked.” For Naples, 2015

was the best investment year ever in this segment, but is now down 13 percent. Logistics This is the hottest commercial real estate sector with 5.5 percent rent growth in Naples. Fort Myers mirrors Naples here and boasts 10 percent more jobs in this sector than pre-recession—far above the national average. Demand is strong in Fort Myers for office space and the market is completely full. Rent growth is also strong. Investment activity is currently low here because the spaces are too small: 2016 was the strongest investment year ever, however, mainly due to FedEx ground facility expansion. Retail Punta Gorda is the largest Southwest Florida market in this segment. Demand has been increasing here over the past three years and there is no new vacancy: Punta Gorda even did well in this segment during the recession. Rent growth in this category here is looking good with steady investment activity, matching national levels. As with the rest of the country, however, the retail segment is in need of total re-invention to keep up with technology changes that are impacting retail shopping habits.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Celebrating 10 years of vision for Southwest Florida and beyond By Dan Creighton Guest Columnist

When I drive down some of the area’s major arteries, I’m proud to see the work of Creighton Commercial Development and Construction at the forefront of the commercial development landscape. In 2007, I founded Creighton Commercial Development and Construction alongside our chief operating officer, Brent Evans. Starting off with a team of four, we began with our first two development projects, the Bonefish Plaza on Pine Island Road and the Creighton Plaza along Del Prado Boulevard South in Cape Coral. Fast forward 10 years and we have grown to a team of more than 40 employees, constructing our own development projects as well as hundreds of projects for our clients throughout Florida, Colorado and Texas. As a resident of Southwest Florida for more than 13 years, I have seen our market during its highs and lows. Our familiarity within the region was key to surviving and excelling during the economic downturn, providing us the opportunity to take on projects that could endure through, and even enhance, a struggling market, while

developing a vision for a variety of properties and projects throughout Southwest Florida with potential for success. We believe that a good property will stand the test of time. It takes a good eye to see a property’s true potential, confidence to take calculated risks and perseverance to bring a vision into fruition. Over the years, we have completed many wellknown projects throughout the region, including the College Parkway Plaza on the corner of U.S. 41 and College Parkway in Fort Myers, home to Ada’s Natural Market, several dozen 7-Eleven convenience stores and gas stations throughout the country and a variety of restaurants, retail locations, offices and medical buildings. This year alone, we have completed 47 projects, including a Moe’s Southwest Grill, Starbucks and McAlister’s Deli at The Forum in Fort Myers, the recently opened Shoot Center in Cape Coral, and multiple Culver’s and 7-Eleven locations, with 12 new projects currently under construction and over 150 in the pipeline. Crucial to our success are the professionals that represent Creighton’s reputation for competence, reliability and efficiency within the industry. Coming from

Fortune 500 companies and top 10 building companies, members of our team are devoted to carrying out our company’s mission to excel in all areas of commercial development, construction and real estate brokerage. Also, a key component of Creighton’s business philosophy is giving back to the communities we call home. Our team actively supports a number of organizations locally, including the Boys & Girls Club of Lee County, Rotary Club of Fort Myers South, SWFL Children’s Charities and Wounded Warriors of South Florida.

We are honored to serve Southwest Florida and beyond for the past decade, and look forward to many more years of fulfilling the needs of our clients and bringing exciting new developments to support the growth of our community. Dan Creighton, CEO of Creighton Commercial Development and Construction, has over 25 years of experience in the marketing, development and construction of residential and commercial real estate services. To learn more, visit www.creightondev.com.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

DECEMBER 2017

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

Wrap policies could mean signiﬁcant development savings By Jacob Ogles Print Editor, SWFBT

Any reduction in costs on a major development can produce a significant savings, including bundling insurance. David Gurley, a Gulf Coast attorney speaking at the 6th annual Florida Construction Law Seminar in Miami in October, said new polices that cover everyone from the lead construction company to sub-subcontractors can reduce the total costs of a project by 2 to 3 percent. Gurley, an attorney at Gurley Vitale in Sarasota, says such “wrap” policies make the most sense with developments costing $50 million and up, thanks to the intense level of customization required for a deal. Savings come in part by eliminating redundancy of services that comes with every company involved in a project working under their own individual policies. But there’s other benefits besides price. “It prevents duplicative coverages and infighting,” Gurley says.

In his presentation, Gurley noted that under a typical situation where every contractor has their own policy, when something goes wrong, insurance companies start looking to where the ultimate responsibility must fall. He used the example of a leaky window that can lead to problems in the conGurley struction of a condominium building. With major developments, there can be different companies handling wall construction, window installation and calking, and insurance representatives will look to pass the costs to other parties than their own client. And such hiccups become more likely the larger a project team grows. “You have five or six parties all pointing to each other saying it’s you, not me,” Gurley said. “Even when you have insurance involved, carriers want to minimize loss and look to other carriers for re-

sponsibility. When you have one policy, that doesn’t come up. It’s just how do we fix it and how do we move on.” So what are the downsides? Most notably, by tailoring an umbrella policy to a project rather than allowing every contractor to use their own policy, it typically means the only problems that get covered are those on the job site. That means if a contractor normally likes to build products off-site and then shuttle it in for installation, work done in a shop may not be covered by a wrap insurance policy. It could mean a change in how workers conduct business, bringing more duties to the final site. And often, if workman’s comp cases need to be handled, everything must be done by consultants working specifically on the project, rather than sending the work to an insurance company and having it outsourced. But while the insurance may require more planning and administration than “offthe-shelf” policies for each contractor, the savings can offset such burdens substantially.

Krise elected to CCIM board of directors

Stevens Construction started construction of a 57,000-square-foot, post-acute care skilled nursing unit for Lee Health, announced Mark Stevens, company president.

Stevens Construction breaks ground on nursing unit Stevens Construction started construction of a 57,000-square-foot, post-acute care skilled nursing unit for Lee Health, announced Mark Stevens, company president. Developed by Aquila Healthcare Development, Lee Health is leasing the three-story, 75-bed medical facility, which will provide post-acute services for patients needing short-term medical recovery and rehabilitation after their hospital stays. With architectural services provided by Studio+, Gulf Coast Medical Center Skilled Nursing Unit is designed with a homelike approach with three separate units, each housing an open-concept living room, kitchen, nurse station and 25 private patient beds with

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convenient access to the occupational and physical therapy rooms. “The addition of the 75 beds in the new skilled nursing unit near Gulf Coast Medical Center is an existing and welcome addition to the continuum of care in Southwest Florida,” said Dr. Larry Antonucci, Lee Health president and CEO. “We are very appreciative to Stevens Construction for the quick commencement of construction and the quality of their work. We look forward to having these additional beds and the quality, skilled care available for our community next season.” Located on Plantation Road, Gulf Coast Medical Center Skilled Nursing Unit is slated for completion in 2019.

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Fort Myers resident Randy Krise, broker/owner of Krise Commercial Group, was elected to serve as a member of CCIM Institute’s board of directors during the organization’s global conference in Toronto, Oct. 14–18. The board of directors serves as the governing body for the Institute and convenes at the organization’s spring and fall annual governance meetings. Krise has held various offices within the CCIM organization including the CCIM SW FL district president, CCIM Florida Chapter President and Region 8 Vice President and Member of the Board of Directors. Krise also serves on the Lee County Port Authority Airport Management Committee, the Lee County Development Code Advisory Committee and the Metropolitan Planning Organization Citizens Advisory Committee and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinating Committee. he resides in Fort Myers with his wife, Arvey. CCIM Institute’s 2018 executive leadership team includes: President David P. Wilson, executive vice president at Lockard Cos. in Cedar Falls, Iowa; President-Elect Barbara M. Crane, president at Barbara M. Crane in San Antonio, Texas; First Vice President Eddie Blanton, principal and senior advisor with Tradd Commercial Real Estate in Charlotte, N.C.; Treasurer Les Callahan III, president of First Colony Financial Corporation in Atlanta, Ga.; and Treasurer-Elect Chuck C. Connely, president of C.C. Connely & Associates in Kansas City, Mo. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, CCIM Institute is a global community of 13,000 members, more than 50 chapters, and 30 countries that educates and connects the world’s leading experts in investment strategy, financial analysis, and market analysis. The organization’s leadership teams convene at the CCIM Institute’s spring and fall governance meetings.

DECEMBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 7

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

Post oﬃce set to close after 40 years H2 Organization’s Chief Investment Officer Matt Hurley released the following statement regarding the company’s attempts to work a deal with the US Postal Partners, who have occupied space at 8695 College Parkway for nearly 40 years. “We have received dozens of phone calls, emails and texts regarding the future of the Atrium Post Office. Today, I regret to announce that the postal partnership and coin shop that has been occupying space at the Atrium for nearly 40 years will be closing its doors. Our office has spent countless hours attempting to work a deal with the current tenants. Unfortunately, Steve Schafer and his family have made clear their lack of interest in being a part of the development’s future. We are disappointed in their unwillingness to negotiate; however, at this time we will focus our team’s energy on finding the correct company to provide postal and pack and ship services to the hundreds of future Innovation Center tenants as well as those who call College Parkway home.” The H2 Organization announced plans to renovate the once popular Atrium building into the largest single structure innovation hub in the United States. Construction is scheduled to start by the end of the year.

The Riverview Corporate Center was part of a strategic ofﬁce portfolio recently sold to Brookwood Financial.

CRE Consultants complete sale of oﬃce portfolio Randal Mercer and Brandon Stoneburner of CRE Consultants represented the seller in the sale of an office portfolio containing three well-known office campuses in Bonita Springs and South Fort Myers, which were purchased by Brookwood Financial for $43.15 million. The strategic portfolio sale was the first Southwest Florida office acquisition for Brookwood Financial, a Massachusetts private equity real estate investment firm. This 421,324-square-foot, Class A office portfolio includes 15 individual buildings in three locations. The sale was a triple net investment deal with the bulk of the square footage located in two projects in Bonita Springs known as Riverview Corporate Center and Bonita Executive Center. The third asset in the portfolio was Renaissance Center located near Daniels and Interstate-75 in South Fort Myers. The portfolio represented a rare, strategic opportunity for Brookwood Financial to acquire three “landmark office assets” within the Southwest Florida market with a long history of strong tenancy. Brookwood has the ability to build a long-term relationship with the tenants within these assets and to continue to add value to the portfolio through capital improvements, operational

The Renaissance Center, above, and the Bonita Executive Center, left, were purchased by Brookwood Financial. cost-savings and the strong fundamentals of the portfolio and the future of the office sector in Southwest Florida. The CRE Consultants’ team of Randal Mercer and Brandon Stoneburner will continue an ongoing partnership with Brookwood Financial, in the leasing effort for the remainder of the portfolio’s vacant space.

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Page 8

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

DECEMBER 2017

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

Smart building makes effective asset strategy By Bob Munro Guest Columnist

We learned all too well from Hurricane Irma that Southwest Florida has a unique set of circumstances that require careful consideration in order to identify and mitigate potential risks to respective real estate assets. Storm-related events like Irma pose a challenge to managers who are responsible for maintaining buildings and grounds for commercial properties and community associations. New Asset Management trends can help organizations build resiliency into their maintenance programs to minimize business interruption and maximize the longevity of building systems. Managing assets and Asset Management are not the same thing. Those responsible for multiple, multi-purpose assets each with their own respective challenges and risks, especially in volatile markets and environmental uncertainty, need to consider the most effective way to optimize utilization, attract and retain tenants and residents, protect the value and security of their assets and operate at the lowest cost and risk. Asset Management is the best solution to achieving measurable results in the shortest time possible. Asset Management is a proven process driven approach and methodology that became ISO 55000, a globally certified process, in 2014. Private and public entities are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits that Asset Management provides organizations that manage multiple assets with complex and variable attributes. In the real estate market, the complexity of managing assets requires a 21st-century approach to remain competitive. Commercial office space demand is decreasing due to teleworkers and outsourcing. Residential demand is increasing as Baby Boomers downsize from traditional single unit housing to condominium living with minimal travel and optimum amenities.

Lee home permits rise in October

Change in use and space optimization requires a strategy and roadmap that will achieve key objectives such as: increased revenue per square foot; enhanced user experience to attract new tenants willing to pay more; and adoption of predictive maintenance practices to lower unexpected repair costs. One key trend that is the way of the future is “Smart Buildings.” Wirelessly connected through the Internet of Things, property owners using predictive analytics and big data can now monitor property utilization, people traffic patterns, when and how the building is used and potential risks (man-made or environmental) in order to predict and optimize building performance. Asset Management provides a foundation from which to develop Smart Buildings and a roadmap to get there. Understanding what you own, where it is and what condition it is in allows owners to understand and plan for capital and operational funding requirements to remediate and sustain properties in a reliable state throughout their remaining life. Risks such as building rate of deterioration, environmental impacts, changing market demand and even cyber terrorism can all be considered and contingencies developed in a holistic and balanced approach that considers people, processes and systems. Many large global real estate companies are recognizing the importance of actively adapting to a fast-paced technologically driven operating environment. The future is already here. In order to remain competitive real estate companies of all types and sizes, irrespective of geographical location should investigate and consider their options in this ever-changing world.

During the month of October, contractors pulled 172 permits to build single-family houses collectively valued at about $29.2 million in unincorporated Lee County. That compares to 86 permits issued amid Hurricane Irma disruptions in September 2017 and 95 issued in October 2016, according to the Lee County Department of Community Development. Also during October, 304 multi-family units valued at about $29.3 million were permitted, compared to four units in September 2017 and no units in October 2016. General commercial activity was valued at about $7.4 million for 36 permits, compared to about $9.9 million in September 2017 and about $17.7 million in October 2016. Lee County Community Development issued 5,297 permits of all kinds in October. Lee County Community Development oversees planning, zoning, development and building services, environmental review, building inspection and code enforcement for the unincorporated areas of Lee County.

Bob Munro, based in Fort Myers, is the North American Private Sector Asset Management Leader for GHD. To learn more, visit www.ghd.com or call (239) 215-3910.

Construction Management Design Build General Contracting CGC1519835

FRAUD PAGE 1 When accidents occur on job sites, workers’ compensation coverage protects the property owner and hired employees from being held responsible for paying medical and lost wage costs tied to potential on-the-job injuries. Therefore, Palma put his entire staff as well as his customers at risk by failing to carry proper insurance coverage. Patronis said: “When contractors fail to secure workers’ compensation coverage, a myriad of risks are presented, and we are sending a message that taking short cuts will not be tolerated. If any of Palma’s workers were to get injured, the property owners, who are already going through high-stress and costly times dealing with Hurricane Irma damages, or the employee them-

selves are forced to pay out-of-pocket for medical expenses. Our efforts are focused on ensuring our residents, consumers and employees don’t fall victim to Irma twice.” The Department’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Compliance received a tip Oct. 12 alleging unlicensed, uninsured and careless roof work was being performed by Palma’s company. Investigators visited one of Palma’s current work sites and issued a stop work order upon confirming Palma failed to secure workers’ compensation insurance and Palma’s confession to having no professional license. He was arrested Oct. 13 and transported to Lee County Jail. If convicted, Palma could face up to five years in prison. To report suspected fraud, call the Department’s toll-free Fraud Tip Hotline at (800) 378-0445.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 9

ANNIVERSARY

30 years of hard work brings sweet rewards to Zotter Chocolates When Josef Zotter worked as a chef, he travelled around the world from Europe to the U.S., met his wife Ulrike and decided to start his own business. In 1987, the first Zotter confectionery shop in Graz, Austria opened, marking the beginning of the family business. That same year, Josef and Ulrike’s daughter Julia was born, one year later their son Michael and several years after that, their daughter Valerie. As a pastry chef, he created unusual no-icing cakes composed of up to 10 different ﬂavors. In 1992, he invented—by accident—his now signature Handscooped Chocolates. He had been working on an order that proved too big for his three casting molds, so practically overnight, he created the hand-scooping method and brushed the fillings onto long tables bordered with curtain rails he bought at a hardware store. The idea of making differently ﬂavored chocolates with delicious centers without using molds turned out to be a minor miracle. But being young and successful isn’t always the best combination. In 1996, Zotter had to file for bankruptcy. He had nothing left except his vision and an iron will. Josef and Ulrike packed up the remaining chocolate-making equipment and moved into an abandoned stable at his parents’ house. “Uli, my wife, thought I should make a decision and either focus on cakes or on chocolates. And so in 1999, we opened the first chocolate manufactory in Bergl.”

Bergl is a village lacking in footpaths, but there was the occasional visitor to the house to buy chocolate. “We sold the first chocolate bars directly out of our ground ﬂoor window. And then my mother came up with the idea of a shop. She put on her apron, grabbed a table and a cash register, set herself up in the hallway and started selling chocolate.” More people knocked on the door, and Meinl am Graben, the famous Vienna gourmet food store, started calling. “In 2002, we were able to invest more money and expand the manufactory, buy modern equipment and even build our Running Chocolate station for visitors, which is like running sushi but instead serving chocolate bites.” Josef Zotter started getting interested in cocoa production. In 2011, he began travelling to cocoagrowing regions. “Flavor starts with the cocoa farmer, he is the most important person in the chocolate business,” explains Josef Zotter. Since 2004, Josef Zotter has been a licensed part-

ner of Fairtrade and acquires all of his cocoa, sugar, coffee and spices on the fair trade market. “You can’t taste fair trade, but as a producer and just as a human being, I have a responsibility towards the farmers’ working conditions. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. I believe trade is only possible on an even playing field.” In 2007, Zotter liquidated his assets and invested in bean to bar production. This meant the entire production chain was now under one roof. The ﬂavor and product range exploded, many new products followed, like Labooko, single origin chocolates, colorful fruit bars, Mitzi Blue and couvertures. In 2007, Zotter built the popular Chocolate Theatre, a completely transparent bean-to-bar production house so visitors could follow the entire chocolate making process step by step. In 2011, Zotter fulfilled a lifelong dream and his vision of an ideal farm, the Edible Zoo: everything is organic, the animals are kept free range, non-hybrid, pure products are grown and sown, energy self-sufficiency is achieved and amidst all of this, there’s an organic restaurant where you can eat everything that grows all around you, a veritable farm to table principle. In 2015, Zotter Chocolates U.S. was founded in Cape Coral at 1020 NE Pine Island Road, #302. Reach owners Barbara and Andreas Dolleschal at (239) 214-7883 or info@zotterusa.com.

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Page 10

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

DECEMBER 2017

BUSINESS GIANTS OF A DIFFERENT KIND, PAST AND PRESENT — A TRIBUTE Sun Coast Press leader leaves legacy of publications Osterhout Johnson Ten years is a long time, especially when it inPress has printed Southwest Florida cludes the worst economic downturn this country has Business Today since its inception, gave back to SWFL seen since the Great Depression. And 10 years ago Richard, especially as “an old newsis when I began publishing Southwest Florida Busipaper guy,” played an important role ness Today, “blissfully unaware” of the economic and in its—and my--development. technological tumult just ahead, but just out of sight When he fell ill earlier this year, to us, the general populous, at the time. I sent him an email. In closing, I When you start a business, you do best—and surwrote, “So — THANK YOU, my vive best—with lots of mentors to give you guidance, friend. And I really mean the ‘friend’ Hackney solace, support and the occasional kick-in-the-pants. part because you have been and will Richard Hackney, as president of Sun Coast Press, continue to be ‘my friend.’ Souththe commercial printing division of Sun Coast Me- west Florida Business Today is now in its 10th year of dia Group (which publishes the Charlotte Sun and publication and we made it—and I made it—in part the Venice Gondolier, among others), was just such a because of YOUR support, patience, understanding— mentor for me. And he was “an old newspaper guy,” and the trust, faith, confidence (whatever you want to which is a phrase that is only really understood by call it) that you KEPT having in me. You have no idea those who have been in the newspaper industry a how much that has meant to me; how much strength LONG time. Let me simply say this: “an old news- and ‘grounding’ I found during our darkest hours bepaper guy” is someone truly special on so many lev- cause of the support I received from not just people els it cannot even be put into words. Since Sun Coast like you—from YOU.”

Family of 400 Realtors proof of Wood’s inspiring work Nearly 60 years after founder John R. Wood opened the doors of his first real estate office, the firm now has more than 150 agents across 13 offices in Southwest Florida. At the 2017 company awards event earlier this year, the now 87-year-old Wood made his way to the stage to address the current John R. Wood team that began with him all those years ago. Ever the Southern gentleman and family man, Wood began his speech with humbled gratitude at the success and growth of his company over the years. He reminisced about the opening of his first office in 1958 when there was only one Realtor employed. He then gave a touching tribute to his late wife and the many contributions she made to the company over the years. To close, he offered singular appreciation to each person in the room for their contribution to the enduring entity that now comprises John R. Wood Properties.

“The success of this company is because of every single one of you in this room,” said Wood. “Every single one of you. And I thank God for each of you.” Everyone in the room was on their feet applauding the company founder. The palpable emotion in the room was a testament not only to the unique company dynamic this Wood man created, but also the ultimate reverence felt for the man himself, who remains a living legend in the real estate community--especially to his family of over 500 Realtors at John R. Wood Properties. Excerpts reprinted from Jodee Bennett on the John R. Wood website

Trippe’s contributions make him a ‘pillar of the community’

Working from his kitchen table, Gary Trippe started Oswald Trippe and Company in 1982. At the time of its sale to BB&T in 2009, it was the largest independent insurance agency in Southwest Florida. Trippe, now 73, is retired from the day-to-day work routine at the insurance agency he founded, but shows no signs of slowing down. Over the past 30 years he has developed an impressive record of service and contributions to Lee County’s business community. He grew his insurance company one relationship at a time because of his profound understanding that the insurance business IS a relationship business. When Trippe was recognized for his community contributions by the Lee County Horizon Council in 2016, the News-Press noted comments from key Southwest Florida business community leaders. Denis Noah, president of the Horizon Foundation at the time, called him “a pillar of the community,” while Edison National Bank President Robbie Roepstorff said, “He

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makes a positive impact in the community in everything he touches.” Trippe’s work during his retirement continues with the nonprofit Disabled Veterans Insurance Careers, which the Vietnam veteran cofounded and chairs. Throughout his career, Trippe has contributed to charitable events throughout Southwest Florida, a reTrippe gion that stretches from Naples to Fort Myers and Punta Gorda. Most notably, 23 years ago Oswald Trippe and Company began hosting the Blue Chip Award luncheon each year, a complimentary luncheon for hundreds of customers, clients and executives that features a national speaker who personifies overcoming adversity. At this event, the firm recognizes independently selected companies that have faced adversity to achieve success.

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When I read, “Florida wedding crasher bride” in the media reports on Shelly’s passing, I flinched in response. When you look BEHIND the headlines, and really HEAR what people said and wrote about her, even a person who didn’t know her sees so much more. And it was truly a senseless loss—and those are the toughest. I KNEW her—not well, we were not close friends. But we were true business colleagues as our business mettle was tested during the depths of the Recession. She and I “made the rounds” at the same networking events. She and I truly looked for Osterhout ways to support each other’s Johnson businesses during the worst of the recession. She was both an advertiser and regular guest columnist for Southwest Florida Business Today when she owned CSA. Yes--as one local newspaper reported, “Osterhout, the former owner of Computer Solutions of America, an adjunct professor at Florida Southwest State College and a prominent member of the Fort Myers community, married Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Johnson on October 10, 2015, with the happy couple opening their reception at Bell Tower Shops to a massive crowd of well-wishers” that received national media coverage—is factually correct. But does that really say it all? By the time Shelly re-married she had successfully re-invented herself since I’d first met her. Surviving the Recession was all about “successful re-invention” and Shelly had mastered that. When she moved out of the business milieu and into the world of academia, she and I lost touch, however. But somehow, I do not think she would want her legacy, the legacy she leaves her children, to be “Florida wedding crasher bride” because she was clearly so much more to so many people. “She was a community leader,” her son Jacob said in one news report. “She was very active in the community. She was a professor, involved with a ton of networking organizations, and lots of churches. She was constantly encouraging people to empower themselves to make the changes you want to see done in your community.” Now THAT’S a legacy to be proud of, right, Shelly? This annual feature is submitted by Karen P. Moore, Publisher, SWFBT

DECEMBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 11

ANNIVERSARY

Local Roots Farmers Market celebrates 10th anniversary in SWFL Local Roots Farmers Market, the largest organizer and producer of farmers markets in Lee County, announced its 2017-2018 schedule of markets while celebrating its 10th anniversary bringing the widest and best variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and foods. The 2017-2018 schedule is: Sanibel Island Farmers Market: Sundays through May 27, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Sanibel City Hall. Lakes Park Farmers Market: Wednesdays through April 25, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Lakes Regional Park, Fort Myers. Coconut Point Farmers Market: Thursdays through April 26, 9 a.m.-1

p.m., Panera parking lot, Fashion Drive, Estero. Bonita Springs Farmers Market: Saturdays through April 28, 8 a.m.noon, The Promenade at Bonita Bay, Bonita Springs. Fort Myers Beach Farm & Art Market: Tuesdays through April 24, 8 a.m.-noon, Nervous Nellies’s Parking lot, Fort Myers Beach. Captiva Island Farmers Market: Tuesdays, Dec. 19-April 3, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., South Seas Island Resort Entrance, Captiva Island. Boca Grande Farm & Fish Market: Fridays, Dec. 22-April 27, 9 a.m.-1

Brand your company in LinkedIn Since its inception in 2003, LinkedIn has served as a place for likeminded individuals to share their knowledge, openly discuss variety of issues, connect as well as increase companies’ brand. LinkedIn has been instrumental in sharing my experience about workforce development with others and increase our brand across the platform. Just like any other social media network, LinkedIn has been changing to provide a user-friendly atmosphere along with new features to make it easier than ever to connect. But let’s talk about your business on LinkedIn. First, let’s share the big news. Earlier this year, Microsoft bought LinkedIn for $26.2 Billion. This huge move is supposed to increase LinkedIn’s growth along with Microsoft Office 365 and Dynamics. This is positive for your business, as LinkedIn grows so will your opportunities to grow your follower base. Second, your business may benefit from LinkedIn 500 million users, of which 252 million active users as of April 2017 come from over 200 countries as it is also considered the world’s top professional network. Perhaps that’s not enough for you to consider LinkedIn but it is interesting to know that on average 100,000 articles are published on LinkedIn weekly. Your business can be one of the companies creating articles about your products, services or just sharing your expertise. Wouldn’t you want your business to be exposed to 252 million active users worldwide? Let’s talk connections. On average, LinkedIn has 400 connections per user. The web of professional connections can impact your brand. If you create a page and publish two or three posts a week along with short videos, we are talking exponential exposure that could impact your bottom

line. Consider the features. Your employees can help you broaden your brand by publishing articles from your page (with admin rights), when a potential client looks up your page they will see how BY JANETH many followers RAMIREZ you have along Guest Columnist with how many employees are connected to your page. You now have a feature called “Life,” an area where you can share the culture within your company. If you have more than one location, you can add them in the “locations” area; this way your clients know where to visit you. You also have analytics that will help you achieve your goals. And don’t forget to stay on top of your notifications, where you will see who followed your page, shares posts, likes your posts and comments. If you don’t have a company LinkedIn account you are missing out. If you decide to create one, keep in mind it may take a while to build your brand and followers since it doesn’t happen overnight. But if you have the budget, LinkedIn can also help with marketing ads to increase your follower base. Based on these numbers, having a strong branding on LinkedIn is a must for your business. LinkedIn may not be as big as Facebook but it is unique in its approach to connect professionals. Janeth Ramirez is the social media coordinator for CareerSource Southwest Florida.

p.m., Boca Grande Ball Field. Fenway South Farm & Flea Market: Mondays, Jan. 8 – Mar. 26, 9 a.m.1 p.m., Jet Blue Park, Fort Myers. River District Farmers Market: Thursdays, All year, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Closed Thanksgiving (open Wednesday before), Centennial Park, Fort Myers. Local Roots Farmers Markets was founded and is operated by Lee County residents Jean Baer and Betsy Ventura, and the organization will be expanding to a record nine markets this season. “As we launch a new Farmers Market this year and bring our highest quality vendors to more of Southwest

Florida, we’re excited to share the best produce, seafoods, meats, food items, art and more with our communities,” Jean Baer said. “From humble beginnings, we’re honored to have seen our concept of bringing the best vendors of fresh fruits, vegetables, foods and more to our area met with such enthusiasm,” Ventura said. “The Markets have become more than a health and wellness shopping experience, they’re almost a community event where friends gather each week.” To find market locations, times and dates; and other information, visit www.BuyLocalLee.com.

ANNIVERSARY Citrus fund marks 40th anniversary The Florida Citrus, Business & Industries Fund has provided long-term support for small businesses. FCBI is celebrating its 40th anniversary and strong track record of protecting Florida’s workers, especially workers along the southern west coast. FCBI was founded when Florida’s citrus industry was thriving, but the market for workers’ compensation insurance was struggling. Many insurers were leaving the market, including the Florida Farm Bureau, a major provider of workers’ compensation coverage for the agricultural industry. To fill the void, the Florida Citrus Packers Association started a self-insurance fund that operates like a co-

operative or mutual insurance company owned by member policyholders. FCBI has built a strong reputation for helping small businesses and their employees who get injured on the job. It began in 1977 as a small, group self-insurance fund providing workers’ compensation coverage to Florida’s citrus industry. Today, the fund offers insurance to a wide variety of businesses. It has about 6,500 member policyholders and more than $102 million in assets. As FCBI looks to the future, it is implementing some changes to emphasize its core financial strength and stability, and further enhance its service to policyholder members.

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Page 12

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

ANNIVERSARY

DECEMBER 2017

ANNIVERSARY

Helping patients see clearly for 25 years This season strive to be grateful on purpose It was 1992 when I founded the first Elmquist Eye Elmquist Eye Group has consisGroup office in Fort Myers, establishing the practice tently delivered excellent care, with one single promise—to provide patients within the treating not only their eye health local community with the highest quality eye care. After as a priority but also their well25 years, and caring for thousands of patients, this focus being. It’s no coincidence that remains our primary goal. this caring approach has also Over the years, the practice has expanded with the resulted in steady growth. Since needs of the community to a team of highly skilled 2006, Elmquist Eye Group has associates led by four doctors, with Dr. Kate Wagner served residents at the Arbor joining in 2006, Dr. Nina Burt in 2009 and Dr. Sarah Medical Clinic, inside the Shell Eccles-Brown in 2016. Today, our team continues to Retirement Community. In 2009, provide patients with a range of medical and surgical eye we opened our second office in care services, including cataract evaluations, refractive Cape Coral within the Shops at BY DR. E. TREVOR cataract surgery, comprehensive eye exams, glaucoma ELMQUIST Surfside. Each of our locations treatment, diabetic eye exams, dry eye treatment, eyelid offers state-of-the-art facilities, Guest Columnist treatments and surgeries, macular degeneration evaluahighly specialized equipment tion, contact lens fittings, LASIK, emergency care and and an Electronic Medical Record System that enables optical boutiques in Fort Myers and Cape Coral. Elmquist Eye Group to provide patients with the accuIn addition to providing the Southwest Florida racy and high-quality care they deserve. community with quality eye care, Dr. Wagner, EcclesIt has given us all great pleasure to help the SouthBrown and I have also served the country as past mili- west Florida community to see clearly for the last 25 tary service members, and that is what makes Elmquist years and we look forward to doing so for many years Eye Group different. It is because of our unique paths in to come. life and broad experience that we are best able to work as a team with the common goal of providing thousands of Dr. E. Trevor Elmquist is the founder of Elmquist patients with the highest level of quality eye care. Eye Group, providing quality eye care to the SouthThrough the years, I have had the opportunity to west Florida community. For more information, visit lead our group with steadfast passion. As a result, the www.Elmquist.com or call (239) 936-2020.

It’s that time of year again where we focus on Gratitude. I am grateful because six years ago, I decided to step out on purpose with a whole lot of faith, fueled by my “Desire To Inspire.” On this journey of entrepreneurship, I have been the teacher and the student. It is very important that we never stop learning. If we stop learning we stop growing. I am grateful for growth. I am grateful for the opportunities and resources Southwest Florida provides entrepreneurs. On Sept. 26, Desire To Inspire celebrated turning six; it was a huge anniversary because on this day it was officially announced that I had been selected as a part of the 2017 Naples Herald 40 under BY JAMILLA D. 40. I am grateful to be a part of a BROOKS class of young professionals makGuest Columnist ing a difference in our community. Desire To Inspire was founded with the purpose of making a difference so to get recognized by the community for making a difference is such an honor and I am just grateful on purpose. Let’s keep growing together, just as wine we keep getting better with age. Cheers to Southwest Florida Business Today for all that has been done over the years. Looking forward to what is next. Happy Anniversary. Let’s celebrate and give thanks. Jamilla D. Brooks was a nominee for the 2017 SWFL Distinguished Entrepreneur. She is native to beautiful Southwest Florida. An Inspirational Speaker at Desire To Inspire, author of Beautiful You Are! Inspired Poems, ﬁnd her book on Amazon.