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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 12 No. 4 / FEBRUARY 2019 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples
Financial industry professionals in Southwest Florida share tips to improve company financial operations.
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Achieva merger means new model Special To SWFBT Submitted by Jacob Ogles, Editor
Financial Review
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Achieva Credit Union in October increased its presence in Southwest Florida through a successful merger with Preferred Community Bank. The move added $118 million in assets for the Dunedin-based institution and planted its logo outside three new branches in Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres and Cape Coral. But this isn’t just one bank absorbing another. Credit unions work on a
completely different business model than community banks. So what can account holders—or rather new union members—expect from the change in banners? Jennifer Galley, chief operations officer for Achieva, said the biggest shift comes from the overarching mission. “Fundamentally, credit unions and banks are different,” she said. “Our business model is not-for-profit.” An all-volunteer board of directors leads business decisions, and
it’s based on community need. Part of why expanding in Lee County appeared so attractive to Achieva, Galley said, comes from the fact the region needs financial partners looking out for community interests, not just opportunities for profit and growth. “That area was really hit very hard during the recession,” she said. “We believe it was one of the hardest hit areas in the country. We see a great need to have good financial resources and partners out there.” ACHIEVA See page 4
Commercial Real Estate
A specially focused monthly section exploring the SWFL commercial real estate marketplace.
IN THE NEWS
Capital Bank names Simmering president
Capital Bank, a member of the First Horizon National family of companies, recently named Bryan Simmering SWFL market president.. Simmering will be responsible for leading commercial banking and private client banking, along with the area’s 12 financial centers spanning several cities, including Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples and Venice. BANK See page 2
The Monroe Room awarded $4,000 grant
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), a leading advocate and resource for the selfemployed and micro-business community, recently announced that The Monroe Room, a Port Charlottebased business, has been awarded a $4,000 2018 Growth Grant to expand business operations. Last year, NASE awarded $48,000 in grants to small businesses across the country. The Monroe Room is owned by NASE member Andrew McVicker and specializes is hair coloring services but also provides hairstyling services for men and women as well as waxing services. GRANT See page 11
Photos by Bob Szanto CREW Naples/Fort Myers is devoted to the advancement of business and professional opportunities for women in the field of commercial real estate.
CREW visits Naples Business Accelerator
CREW’s local chapter toured the Naples Business Accelerator to learn about the burgeoning innovation economy in Collier County. The 10,000-square-foot business incubator provides offices, conference rooms, networking, mentoring and training to grow startups and small businesses. It works closely with the Florida Culinary Accelerator in Immokalee, a membership-based commercial kitchen for rent, fully stocked with equipment needed to support a food (Left to right) Nikki Kreuzer, Ahmed El and Ruth Fehr of the Florida Culinary Accelerator, give the group insight business. into their organization.
NCEF Pediatric Dental Center now run by UFCD Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida and the University of Florida College of Dentistry announced a change in their administrative management at the NCEF Pediatric Dental Center. Since opening in December 2008, the center’s operations have been coordinated through a collaboration between Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida and the University of Florida College of Dentistry (UFCD). Healthcare Network handled operational and clinical
For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
administration of the dental center, and UFCD faculty directed the educational and clinical program that provides comprehensive care for children in Collier County. The dental center will remain on the Collier Campus of Florida SouthWestern State College where it has been since its inception. Beginning Jan. 1, Healthcare Network will transition the admin-
istration of the dental center over to UFCD, as Healthcare Network focuses on the Nichols Community Health Center, a new project that will enhance medical and dental health services offered to the community. UFCD will continue to provide the same comprehensive oral health care services and educational programs, and will take over the operational aspects of the center as well. “Since 2008, working together with UF, the pediatric dental center
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Page 2
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
FEBRUARY 2019
AIA Florida Southwest holds awards celebration
BANK PAGE 1
The American Institute of Architects Florida Southwest Chapter hosted its Annual Design Conference and Awards Celebration in December at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Downtown Fort Myers. The well-attended Design Awards Celebration honored this year’s distinguished architectural achievements by AIA Florida Southwest members and advocates. Design awards were juried by Miami-based firm Alan Schulman + Associates. The awards were presented as follows:
“At Capital Bank we look for the best and brightest in the industry to join our team and Bryan’s attributes are a perfect example of this,” said Jeff Jackson, Florida market president. “As a native of southwest Florida, Bryan has been entrenched in the communities he will be serving. We trust that unSimmering der his leadership, we will continue to provide the best experiences for our customers, team and the community.” Simmering has an 18 year career in the banking industry. He previously served as an area executive vice president, where he oversaw the entire banking operations for the Gulf Coast of Florida.
New Commercial Honor: Concession Stand; Architecture Joyce Owens Merit: Fire Station #4; Castellanos + Tramonte Architects Renovations Honor: Train Station; Parker/Mudgett/Smith Architects Merit: Community Center; Corban Architecture Residential Honor: Private Estate; Architecture Joyce Owens Merit: Townhouses; Hlevel Architecture
Unbuilt Honor: Trellis Canopy; PK Studios Merit: Office building; Corban Architecture Special Mention: Church courtyard; Victor J. Latavish, AIA Architect Test of Time: Wilson Professional Center - Naples, Florida; BSSW Architects
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Interior Architecture Honor: Holocaust Museum & Education Center; Corban Architecture Merit: Commercial Loft Renovation; HLevel Architecture
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The Design Awards Celebration honored this year’s distinguished architectural achievements by AIA Florida Southwest members and advocates.
AIA Honor Awards were evaluated by AIA Florida Southwest. The awards were presented
President’s Award Dr. Tyler F. Patak, AIA NCARB MBA CPD LEED AP BD+C ; Parker/Mudgett/Smith Architects 2018 President Art Castellanos, AIA NCARB; Castellanos + Tramonte Architects Individual Honor Don Cahill, AIA - Architect/Builder Allied Member Eric Monroe; Rockford Construction Builder PBS Contractors
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Business updates
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The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ed at 50 percent. When attending an on Dec. 22, 2017 was passed by event with clients Congress and signed by President that serves food or Trump. beverage, costs for This created some of the largest the event must be changes to tax law that we have seen separate from the since the Reagan tax cuts of 1986. food and beverage This article will highlight some of for the 50 percent the changes that could impact you or deductible to be your business as you plan and preconsidered on the pare your tax documentation. BY JULIO meal portion. BARINA Business Vehicles Guest Columnist Properties and If you purchased a vehicle for business use in the previous year, 179 deduction Under the new law, the following the new law provides a greater tax benefit for these assets. The depre- properties are now eligible for secciation cap was raised for vehicles tion 179 deduction: • Qualified improvement propfrom $3,160 with $8,000 in bonus deprecation in 2017 to $10,000 with erty - nonresidential • Roofs - nonresidential $8,000 in bonus depreciation in • Heating, ventilation, and air2018. That is an increase of $6,840 conditioning - nonresidential in depreciation deductions. • Fire protection and alarm systems - nonresidential Meals and Entertainment • Security systems – nonresidenIn previous years, businesses were able to deduct meals and en- tial • Tangible property used in furtertainment for employees and clients. Under the new law, entertain- nishing lodging (rental properties) Keep in mind that there are many ment is no longer considered a tax deduction (examples of this include changes in the new law, these are season tickets to games, box seats at just a few examples of the major events, theater tickets, fishing, golf, points to consider. Make sure to discuss the impacts it could have to you etc.). However, meals can still be de- or your business with your Certified ducted in some circumstances. If Public Accountant. meals are provided to staff for the convenience of the employer, 50 Julio Barina, CPA, is tax manager for percent can be deducted. If business- Markham Norton Mosteller Wright es take clients out and purchase food & Co. P.A. She can be reached at or beverage that can also be deduct- jbarina@markham-norton.com
FEBRUARY 2019
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 3
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Beyond conventional commercial loans Naples Airport Authority unveils new name, website Naples Airport Authority introduced new branding that includes a new family of logos and website to complement the Naples Municipal Airport’s name change to Naples Airport. “We are excited to introduce a new, refreshed brand that captures the essence of Southwest Florida,” said Chris Rozansky, Naples Airport Authority executive director. “Our new logos are the result of an extensive process that engaged a variety of stakeholders. After using the former logo for more than 20 years, we saw an opportunity to update our branding to provide a more modern reflection of the community we serve that goes along with changes being made as part of our strategic plan and ongoing master plan. In addition to the new airport name, NAA has renamed its fixed base operator from Naples Airport Authority to Naples Aviation. The FBO now has a dedicated section of the website that includes FBO pricing on the FBO homepage. The FBO provides fuel, hangar space, parking and other services to private and corporate aircraft and other general aviation operators at the airport. The new brand identity links together the entire NAA family of entities and programs, which include the Authority, airport, FBO and “Fly Safe Fly Quiet” campaign. “This brand is representative of the quality of service provided to both the customers and our community,” said Donna M. Messer, Naples Airport Authority Board of Commissioners chair. “It’s modern and distinctly Naples.” In addition to its new logos, NAA launched a new website with enhanced design and navigation. The redesigned website features improved functionality and enriched content for visitors to learn more about the NAA, airport and FBO, as well as access pertinent and timely information, such as airport noise abatement information and meeting agendas.
If you or your client is looking to purchase an owner occupied commercial real estate property (or make a large equipment purchase) in 2019, a 504 loan provides benefits way beyond what a conventional commercial loan can offer. The first and probably most important benefit is a reduced down payment as compared to a conventional commercial loan. If you own an existing business and are pur- BY TOM chasing a multi-use property, the MAIALE down payment (including most clos- Guest Columnist ing costs) is 10 percent! If you are a new business (under 3 years old) or purchasing a business, the SBA requires we add 5 percent to the down payment. Also, if the property is considered a single use property (bowling alley, golf course, car was, etc.) the SBA also requires we add 5 percent to the down payment. So the 504 loan program offers a 10-20 percent down payment as opposed to a conventional commercial loan that usually requires 15-30 percent down depending on the situation. The second benefit the 504 loan provides for is a 25-year (10 years for equipment) fully amortizing loan. This means once your loan is closed, you never have to worry about the bank calling your note as there are no covenants that allow for this. Also there are no balloon payments allowed. Most conventional commercial loans balloon after 3, 5, 7 or 10 years putting your business at risk. The 504 loan consists of two loans. If you put 10
For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com percent down, the bank you choose funds 50 percent of the project using their conventional loan parameters (without a balloon or call feature as discussed above) and a loan guaranteed by the SBA for the other 40 percent. This SBA piece is managed by a local Certified Development Company (such as IDS Corp in Fort Myers) and is funded thru a bond sale, which provides for a 25-year fixed rate (10 years for equipment). The rate is determined every month at the time of the bond sale. January 2019 bond sale resulted in a rate right around 5 percent. And that would be fixed for 25 years! The bank portion is negotiable. The only caveat to using a 504 loan is it should be used for a long term hold for the property. The reason is, the bond sale requires a hefty 10-year prepayment penalty which tapers down each year. So, in a nut shell, if you are looking to minimize your cash out of pocket, minimize interest rate risk, and eliminate the risk of renewal of your owner occupied commercial real estate purchase, give me a call and we can sit down and talk about your specific needs in more detail. Tom Maiale, First Federal Bank SBA Lending Vice President and Business Development Officer, is a 17year SBA Lending veteran with SBA Training from The National Association of Government Guaranteed Lending and The U.S. Small Business Administration. Contact him at tmaiale@cbcnationalbank.com or at (239) 288-9966.
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Page 4
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
FEBRUARY 2019
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Insurance strategies for business owners and employees While there isn’t a detailed formula to completely mitigate risk when it comes to owning your own business, there are a few types of insurance policies that can help. We break down two major components: Employee protection and business protection. The first of those vital components is to always consider the importance of employee benefits and their contribution to the business’ success.
The policy also offers employees a rare benefit that permits them to take the policy with them if they ever decide to leave the company. This means they’re covered for life without ever having to qualify for a policy on their own.
Invest in your employees with Group Life Insurance Group Life Insurance is an inexpensive way for business owners to show employees that their contributions to the company are appreciated, and that they are valued as individuals. Mike Sullivan from Sullivan State Farm Agencies recommends establishing a plan for employee groups of five or more that provides basic life insurance coverage for all staff members regardless of age or health. This affordable policy offers many advantages to the business owner: it includes federal income-tax deductible premiums, it’s a desirable fringe benefit to offer new employees, it will result in reduced turnover rates, contributes to employee security, and offers valuable life insurance protection. The Internal Revenue Service does not require business owners to include the life insurance policy on the employee’s check, making it a perk provided solely by the company with no employee contributions or tax liability. Companies of 65 employees or fewer can insure their entire office for around $200 per month.
Invest in your business with Return of Premium Term Life BY MIKE Insurance Policy SULLIVAN The Return of Premium Term Guest Columnist Life Insurance Policy is an insurance option that looks out for the best interest of local business owners. It’s ideal for business owners and their families and business partners. The Return of Premium Term Life Insurance Policy is a new take on traditional life insurance policies. You may not have heard about it because it has only been around for a short time. The unique thing about this policy is that premiums paid over the term ensure the death benefit will be paid to the beneficiary 100-percent tax free, but if the policyholder outlives the term, all of the premiums paid are returned at the end of the term 100-percent tax free and can go right back into the business. So what does this mean for business owners? There are all sorts of liabilities that have to be managed when owning a business. This life insurance policy is the only type of protection out there that exists to minimize liability without having to pay
For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com gains when benefits are paid. If a business owner has partners or family members that rely on them to run the business, the death benefit can be split between other owners, family members, employees, or whomever they choose. A guarantee like that makes it easier to give business partners and loved ones the peace of mind and financial protection they need. Return of Premium policies also build cash value, essentially becoming a business asset, which the policyholder can borrow against during the level premium period. At the end of the term, either 20 or 30 years, many business owners also choose to take the returned premiums and buy a fully-paid whole life insurance policy to continue protecting their loved ones for years to come. Another option is to continue coverage beyond the level payment period on an annually renewable basis to age 95. The Group Life Insurance and the Return of Premium Term Life Insurance Policy allow business owners to invest in their own liability. It’s a small investment that can make a large difference. For more information, call Sullivan State Farm Agencies at (239) 541-3276. Mike Sullivan, State Farm agent, opened his Cape Coral agency in 2007. He can be reached at (239) 541-3276.
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ACHIEVA PAGE 1 Galley hopes members will welcome that shift in philosophy, but acknowledges many Preferred Community Bank clients don’t know at first what to make of becoming members of a credit union. Achieva hears concerns as varied as individuals not wanting to join labor unions—a completely different type of organization—to those who fear they don’t have the credit to qualify as members. “Credit union membership is easier than a lot of people understand,” she said. But in other senses, Achieva will operate similarly to a bank. Business owners seeking loans will find a full line-up of available services. Plus, Achieva prides itself on building strong relationships with its members, conducting business visits and hosting networking events. Achieva also offers a history that dates back to 1937; Preferred Community Bank in contrast opened in 2007. The credit union has grown its footprint organically and through the acquisition of other unions and banks, and now boasts 26 branches and $1.7 billion in assets. Accounts at Achieva won’t be FDICinsured. Rather, credit unions get insured through the National Credit Union Administration, a similar government entity. Galley said as far as loans, it’s wrong to think the institution will be overly riskaverse. “We are always guided by decisions to be good stewards of our members’ money,” she said. “We like to take calculated risks.” Indeed, in particularly underserved communities, Galley said unions often offer fresh and out-of-thebox thinking to help financially empower new ventures. “Other times we may be more conservative too,” she said. “We look at everything one by one.” The switch for clients, Galley said, will be smooth for most, and she hopes many enjoy the difference working through a credit union. “In a lot of ways, it should be seamless and transparent,” she said. “But better.”
FEBRUARY 2019
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 5
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Lee County evolves to meet the needs of expanding companies Special To SWFBT Submitted by Karen Moore, Publisher Local business and community professionals recently gathered at the Horizon Council Annual Meeting to hear Joe Lacy, managing director of Biggins, Lacy, Shapiro & Company. Lacy has been with BLS since 1998, serving as a project manager for large-scale and nationally based corporate clients. He specializes in structuring and implementing corporate incentive packages and financing arrangements. BLS is a national corporate site selection firm that has worked with many companies across the country, including here in Southwest Florida with Gartner for two expansions to date. The third expansion project with Gartner here is for the company’s new campus at Skyplex, which is projected to create 600-1,200 new local jobs. Lacy, who became familiar with Southwest Florida through his work with Gartner that began 15 years ago, notes Gartner’s Fort Myers facility has become the training hub for the company. “My introduction to Southwest Florida happened at a time when companies like Gartner were realizing that they didn’t have to locate all of their offices in New York. So they began looking at places like Florida.”
At its core, he points out, the site selection process is still a process of elimination. But the process itself has changed immensely in the past 15 years. “It has moved from, ‘Let’s have a Lacy location here because the CEO has a home here,’ to 1) analyses that can withstand public scrutiny and 2) tighter decision windows as demanded by company management and provided by technology.” Because of these factors, the number of locations considered by companies has increased considerably in the past 20 years. So now, Lacy indicated, many smaller markets are now in the running. “Local incentives provided by the community to the company seeking a new site for their business,” said Lacy, “usually makes the difference in the ultimate site selection because it shows that the community is willing to ‘put some skin in the game.’ ” Incentives, he notes, tells the company seeking a new site that “The community really wants us here.” Each Gartner expansion in Southwest Florida considered and addressed a different set of priorities and factors,
Sarah Newcomb and Tiffany Grint attended the Horizon Council Annual Meeting. He added, “But Fort Myers and Lee according to Lacy. “This latest expansion here for Gartner was a hard deci- County have evolved since then, so this sion to make because it required such a area can now accommodate a developlarge investment in the company—and ment of this size.” The Horizon Council is a publicthe community—by Gartner.” Ultimately however, Lacy said, “Site private advisory board established to selection has a lot to do with the num- advise the Lee Board of Commissioners bers, but it so often comes down to rela- on economic development issues. The tionships, like with so many other things Council’s mission is to improve Lee County’s business environment, retain in business and life.” “I can tell you,” he noted, “that this and encourage expansion of existing latest project would not have happened businesses, and attract new and diversified employers. in Southwest Florida 15 years ago.”
ABB reports 146 SWFL business sales in 2018 Southwest Florida Business Owners. American Business Brokers reports 12 businesses were sold in Southwest Florida in December. The highest price was $749,000 (included real estate) and the lowest price was $75,000. Total sold businesses for 2018 will be around the 146. This is in line with the previous two years. For the start of 2019, ABB anticipates that the sold numbers might be slightly lower than previous years as the SBA lending program remains affected by the government shut down. There is no funding until the government opens, which causes delays in closing. However, with more people moving to Florida, ABB maintains a positive outlook for the business economy in Southwest Florida.
DECEMBER 2018 BUSINESSES SOLD IN SW FLORIDA Category Detail
Adjusted Net Sold Price Sold Assets
Sales
Auto General Repair $385,149
$87,249
$110,000
$85,000
Carpet Cleaning
$1,032,563 $222,528
$575,000
$449,000
Cleaning Air Ducts
$196,659
$125,042
$160,000
$20,100
Contractor A /C &
$254,600
$141,751
$75,000
$0
Secure Your Future With Your Own Business Businesses Available Roo�ing Company $595,000 Internet Marketing $325,000 Graphic Design $125,000 Retail Seafood $49,000 Hair Salon $7,500 Restaurants from $50,000
Heating Medical Clinic
$1,146,982 $358,970
$599,000
$276,000
Medical Spa
$195,579
$78,282
$117,000
$117,000
Industrial Building
$0
$0
$430,000
$430,000
Self Storage
$38,534
$37,424
$135,000
$125,000
Breakfast Lunch
$525,425
$134,685
$105,000
$105,000
Italian Restaurant
$442,648
$89,990
$130,000
$43,000
Italian Restaurant
$1,282,778 $248,543 $144,547 $833,913
$550,000 $749,000
$290,000 $570,000
Restaurant Bakery
Contact Larry Steinborn,
Lic. Real Estate Broker Sand Dollar Real Estate / Business Depot (239) 433-1343 or bizdepot@aol.com 6309 Corporate Ct. #205 Fort Myers, FL 33919
It’s Your Future. Own It.Selling your Business is our Business!
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
It’s Your Future. Own It. Tom Maiale Vice President / SBA & USDA Lender
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For more informa�on, call Karen at (239) 770-7527
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Page 6
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
FEBRUARY 2019
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Morris-Depew completes work on Fort Myers Broadcast Center Morris-Depew and Associates, Southwest Florida’s premier civil engineering and land use planning firm has completed work on the Fort Myers Broadcast Center. Located in downtown Fort Myers, the site called for a modern landscape and hardscape refresh that would complement the building’s exterior, which was constructed more than 50 years apart. Experts from all four disciplines of the firm– civil engineering, land planning, landscape architecture, and surveying and mapping, worked together to create a uniformed, cohesive plaza design. The building’s elevated and underscored entry received a full makeover to remove the existing steps and accessible ramp that were added after the abutting roadway was widened and
Morris-Depew and Associates has completed work on the Fort Myers Broadcast Center. elevated causing circulation issues. To façade. enhance connection to the broadcast The project also called for a recenter, the site design team focused freshing of the site’s existing emon clean lines and selected colors that ployee parking lot, guest parking and harmonize with the existing building drainage facilities.
Creating a cohesive design inside and out, Morris-Depew and Associates incorporated the same shapes, materials, and finishes that were used in the building’s interior design into the exterior finishes of the plaza. To transform the space into a welcoming, well-defined plaza that now guides guests to the entry, Morris-Depew Associates added accent lighting, pedestrian bollards, plank style pavers, vegetated greenscreens, and decorative concrete walls. The most notable difference between the before and after condition of the site is a visibly cohesive look. Celebrating nearly 30 years of serving Southwest Florida, Morris-Depew Associates is a multiservice consulting REMODEL See page 7
Beach bar opens in Bonita
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Bonita Beach Road is home to a new restaurant – Bonita Beach Balloon Bar & Grill. The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner every day of the week. It is located at 9070 Bonita Beach Road in Sunshine Plaza. The “Cheers-style” bar and grill is owned by Jim and Linda Werkheiser, a married couple who recently moved to the area to retire. The Werkheisers saw the opportunity to open a bar and grill for locals to call home, and purchased an existing pub to renovate.
19th Annual COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
OUTLOOK
CONFERENCE Economic and technology shifts are impacting the demand for commercial real estate. Real estate industry experts will discuss how the changing economic landscape is impacting Southwest Florida. This dynamic conference benefits brokers, investors, buyers, sellers, banking professionals, insurance agencies, lawyers, and title insurance companies.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Dr. Lawrence Yun, Ph.D. Chief Economist National Association of Realtors
Dr. Yun will discuss the current state of the USA, Florida and local economies and make a forecast for the year ahead.
KC Conway, MAI, CRE
CCIM Institute Chief Economist and Director of Research and Corp. Engagement Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE)
“Adapt and Thrive or Don’t and Die” FEBRUARY
11, 2019 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM
EVENT DETAILS HYATT REGENCY COCONUT POINT 5001 Coconut Road Bonita Springs, Florida
Discounted Room Reservations: www.hyattcoconutpoint.com/naprn?corp_id=G-SWCC
EVENT RATES
District Members: $70 Non-Members: $80 At The Door: $90
Mr. Conway will discuss the changing retail market.
BREAKFAST BUFFET INCLUDED Danny Rice
Managing Director & Market Leader Central Forida Colliers International Mr. Rice will discuss the State of the National Brokerage Community, TECHNOLOGY, and what all business owners need to know to thrive in today’s changing envirnonment.
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• 3 Keynote Speakers • Economic Development Panel on Growth and Forecasts • Networking Opportunities SPONSORS � Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association � Southwest Florida Commercial Alliance � CRE Consultants � Lee County Economic Development � City of North Port � Lake Michigan Credit Union of Florida � First Federal Bank � Southwest Florida Business Today � CoStar Group � Suite Life Magazine � City of Cape Coral � University Park � Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT � CFS Roofing Services LLC � Naples Board of Realtors � Photography by David Michael � Catylist � Maxwell Hendray & Simmons � Midland Self-Directed IRAs & 1031s � Farr Law Firm � Business Observer � ROETZEL � GATES Construction � Comcast � RE/MAX Commercial/Realty Group � Gulfshore Business � LandQwest Commercial � Target Roofing and Sheet Metal � SVN | KOVA � Environmental Risk Management, Inc. (ERMI) � CREW Naples | Fort Myers � Chapman Insurance Group � Lee and Associates � eTitle � Iberia Bank
FEBRUARY 2019
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 7
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Meridian remodels Sky Zone Fort Myers to reach new heights Sky Zone Fort Myers’ recent remodel by Meridian Construction & Development brings a new fitness alternative to Southwest Florida. Sky Zone, on South Tamiami Trail in Fort Myers, is revamped every two years to keep up with the latest trends in trampoline fitness. Nine new attractions have been added to the trampoline park which focus on combining fitness and fun for all ages. Wipe Out is an eight-player action game that challenges guests stamina and agility as they jump to avoid a giant sweeper arm. Parkour Blox includes a path of foam vault blox for guests to hurdle, builds speed, power and strength. The aerial silks build upper body, core strength and focus as guests climb, spin and maneuver super aerial stunts over a foam pit. The zip line, trapeze and swing build upper body strength as guests soar through the trampoline park and land into a foam pit. The free climb puts guests’ strength and stamina to the test as they navigate a bouldering wall with no harness. The Ninja Warrior course is an area best suited for athletes looking to push themselves by taking on a variety of obstacles that test speed, strength and agility. The drop zone is an arena for guests to try new tricks. Finally, the toddler zone is an area exclusively open to children ages seven and under to discover the joy of jumping. “At Sky Zone Fort Myers, we are all about creating new and innovative experiences for jumpers of all ages to enjoy,” said Jay Highley, Owner of Sky Zone Fort Myers. “Meridian did an unbelievable job with this renovation and we continue to call on them for projects because of their ability to be innovative and always come in on time and on budget.” This is the fifth project Meridian has taken on
The zip line, trapeze and swing build upper body strength as guests soar through the trampoline park and land into a foam pit. for this franchisee as well as additional Sky Zone projects around the state of Florida. Sky Zone Fort Myers’ partnership with Meridian Construction & Development allows the trampoline park to offer a spacious, clean and family oriented environment for guests to be able to exercise, unwind and have fun. “At Meridian, we pride ourselves in every project we take on and are grateful for our partnership with Sky Zone,” said Lynn Robert Murtagh, CEO of Meridian Construction & Development. “It’s great to be a part of something that brings joy to the Southwest Florida community.”
Wipe Out is an eight-player action game where guests jump to avoid a giant sweeper arm.
7X
Millennium expands offices, services Millennium Physician Group added a walk-in clinic, three doctors’ offices and a dentist’s office to its building in the Colonnade Medical Park on Bonita Beach Road. The remodel was celebrated recently with a ribbon cutting. The remodel of the 15,000 squarefoot office building took one and a half years. The renovated Walk-In Center
has imaging and lab capabilities and is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. “We are very happy to expand our services in Bonita Springs to better serve our patients,” said Millennium Physician Group Chief Administrative Officer Bob Bray. “Our focus is on our patients. It’s very important for us to make healthcare accessible.”
REMODEL PAGE 6
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
FEBRUARY 2019
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
duPont Builders announces Vehicle Fortress expansion
CRE SPOTLIGHT: GENESIS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES
Company founder and owner Mona Hilton shared, “My team and I love our new offices at 9681 Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers and are looking forward to growing our business here! Since we are a technology business and we have more room than we can currently use, we also setting up virtual offices within our space for other businesses to use. Enn Luthringer of CRE Consultants has been professional, helpful and accessible throughout our transition.”
Fort Myers-based duPont Builders announced it is building a major expansion of Vehicle Fortress, Southwest Florida’s upscale storage condos for RVs and all types of vehicles. “Vehicle Fortress’ location off Treeline Avenue in Fort Myers is ideal for people who need to store RVs, luxury vehicles and boats in a secure airconditioned space with easy access to the airport and Interstate-75,” said Victor duPont, president of duPont Builders. Fort Myers-based duPont Builders will double the size of the Vehicle Fortress development with three new buildings totaling 36,000 square feet on Tarmac Court in Fort Myers, near Southwest Florida International Airport. Once those are sold, the company will build another three buildings. There’s room for another nine buildings on an adjacent 7.5-acre parcel. Each climate-controlled condo is 50 feet deep and 18-to-22 feet wide, with 14-foot-high doors. That’s enough room for RVs, boats and large personal luxury items. The 65-foot aisles make it easy to maneuver large motorhomes and trailers and the gated site is secured with security cameras and a perimeter fence. “The airport is the gateway to the Gulf Coast of Florida,” said Richard Kohn, the owner and developer of Vehicle Fortress. He notes Vehicle Fortress is located just 600 yards from the end of the runway at Southwest Florida International Airport.
Wright Construction Group completes Cape Coral fire station Wright Construction Group completed construction of the City of Cape Coral Fire Station No. 11. Located on Burnt Store Road, the new station will provide faster emergency response time to residents throughout Northwest Cape Coral. The 9,000-plus square foot struc-
ture required over six feet of fill material to raise it above flood elevation. The $3.6 million, Class E building features two apparatus bays, stretching over 77 feet in length, seven bunk rooms that serve as sleeping quarters for on duty crews, quality and durable finishes throughout, multiple lay-
ers of weather protection, a complete well and septic system, a 32,000-gallon storage tank to supplement the fire protection system, and a full backup power generator. The project was completed approximately 30 days ahead of schedule. “The addition of the fire station
fills a big gap in safety and provides Cape Coral residents with a much needed service,” said Fred Edman, President of Wright Construction Group. “We are grateful to be a part of such an important project and to see the positive impact it has on the community.”
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FEBRUARY 2019
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 9
FINANCIAL REVIEW
What if the bank turns down your loan? What is the small business owner to do when the bank says yes, but their terms and conditions are onerous? If you are looking to buy the property you presently rent, purchase a new property either as an investor or owner occupied, there is plenty of alternative non-bank financing available at competitive rates (slightly higher than bank rates but not hard money rates either). Now is a great time to lock in fixed rates, take advantage of opportunities to buy or refinance their properties, get asset-based receivable and working capital loans. There is a solution. We bridge the gap between traditional bank loans and private money. Now is a perfect time to lock in your deals. Even though there is economic fear in the market, banks are getting more and more conservative. There are plenty of lenders that are looking to fill the void left by the banks and lend. Many of the lending institutions can and do close within 3-4 weeks of complete loan submission. They work to close deals, not to say no! The transition lenders who have taken the place of the banks in the market place are Hedge Funds and Private Family office investors, and they are financing these projects when the bank says no. Let’s face it and be real; some deals can never be done. But for the majority of the bank turndowns, there is a lender who will do the deal. I can help you find them. Some examples, financing for a client who is a Truck Distributor leasing his property. While being a tenant he made improvements to the tune of $800,000. He had an option to buy the property at $2.4 million. Every bank he went to turned the deal down because they would only lend 70 percent of the $2.4 million. The lender closed the deal, lending him $2.8 million; the lender gave the borrower credit for the $800,000 in improvements, the appraisal justified the loan amount. Buyer/borrower happy, bank happy, seller not so happy—he was hoping to take the property back with benefit of tenant improvements he did not have to pay for. Another deal was a combination gas station, convenience store and car
wash. Not bankable. Deal closed. A recent closing was for a Fix-andFlip investor who bought two houses, tore them down and rebuilt them into an estate. Originally, we arranged $2.25 million as construcBY JOHN tion rehab loan for SVIRSKY 18 months. He has Guest Columnist now converted into $3.3 million loan giving him time to market the property. Five-year fixed rate. No rental income on the property! Property types include: • Hotels • Car washes • Auto repair (must be environmentally clean) • Warehouse • Light industrial • Industrial • Self storage • Multi-family • Mixed-use • Mobile home parks • Fix-and-Flip investor Loan Parameters: • LTVs up to 80 percent (75 percent is norm) • Term 1-5 years fixed or floating up to 30-year amortization • Loans from $400,000 to $20,000,000 • No Income Check or Income Check • Cash Outs • Owner Occupied or Investor This is a business of relationships, so treat the client with respect and developing long-term relationships with lenders. I have worked with some of my clients and now their children for over 30 years. We arrange loans nationwide. Please call or email a loan scenario that we can review. John Svirsky, of John D. Svirsky, LLC, has been a commercial mortgage broker since 1979. Contact him at (239) 631-0033 or John@svirsky.com.
The Nichols Community Health Center is a new project that will enhance medical and dental health services offered to the community.
DENTAL PAGE 1 has completed over 135,000 patient visits for children from Collier County and surrounding areas, most of whom may not otherwise have access to oral health care,” said Mike Ellis, president and chief executive officer of Healthcare Network. “This has been a very successful relationship initiated and supported by the Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, after identifying a need for dental care for children in Collier County. We are proud to have played a role in the first decade of service from the NCEF Pediatric Dental Center and are committed to continuing to work with UFCD and community partners to improve access to care in this community.” Dr. A. Isabel Garcia, dean of the UF College of Dentistry, said the excellence and continuity of patient care will not be affected by the administrative change. “UFCD provides dental care to patients from every county in Florida, generally handling all educational and administrative operations,” she said. “This change brings the NCEF Pediatric Dental Center in alignment with our standard practice. We plan to work closely with the Healthcare Network to ensure a
seamless transition, uninterrupted care to patients, and offer jobs to Healthcare Network staff who now work in the center. We remain fully invested in continuing top-rate care for which the center is known and to working with the community, which has so greatly benefitted from our collaboration with the Healthcare Network and the generosity of the Naples Children & Education Foundation.” Garcia says she is also grateful for the relationship the dental center enjoys with Florida SouthWestern State College, which has been continuously supportive of UFCD’s educational and clinical care programs. Patients’ families will receive official notification with information for making appointments with the NCEF Pediatric Dental Center and transferring their dental records. The center is also home to an accredited UF pediatric dental residency program, and operates community oral health outreach services including Women, Infants and Children Oral Health, oral health surveillance and screening programs in 32 Collier County schools, a school-based dental sealant program, and a promotora de salud/community health worker. All these oral health services and educational programs at the center will continue.
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Page 10
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
FEBRUARY 2019
How to protect your business against social media blunders By Mona Hilton Guest Columnist
For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
You can run, but you can’t hide. Social media is everywhere and it’s invaded the workplace. While we could argue the merits of social media at work all day long, at the end of the day, people are going to use social media at work. And for many companies, social media is a critical part of their marketing strategy. Today, people are liking, tweeting, linking and connecting—on company assets, bandwidth and time. For your corporate IT security team, this presents a challenge. While there are extravagant ways to block access, many organizations choose rather to limit access and make sure people use social media appropriately and securely. Here are seven tips to secure your businesses’ social media. Be careful of what you post. Some things are common sense. Don’t post derogatory comments about your company or your boss. Don’t post material that is inappropriate or unprofessional or reflects poorly on your character. Keep in mind, these posts are “forever” and future employers and clients will be searching them! Remember also that even if you are careful with what you post, you can’t control what others will do with the information, images and links that you post. Document and communicate a social media policy. Most large companies and government organizations have a social media policy. You can refer to some examples of social media policies for different industries and organizations. Your company should include your social media policy in your company handbook and require all your new employees read and sign it. If you’re a public or high profile organization, you might want to consider monthly or quar-
terly training to make sure policies are updated and understood by everyone. A PR embarrassment can be expensive and damaging. Enforce the use of strong passwords. This may be the most obvious line of defense. Strong passwords are complex. Here are the characteristics of a strong password: At least 7 characters long, does not contain your user name, real name or company name, does not contain a complete dictionary word, is different from previous passwords, contains an upper and lower case letter, and a symbol or number. Remind your employees their social media password should NOT be the same as their corporate or network or work login! If you use only one password and it falls into the wrong hands, the “bad guy” can do serious damage across multiple areas. That could be catastrophic to your business. Take advantage of corporate security measures like application control and encryption. There are a number of network security products that offer application control of Facebook and Twitter. These controls can range from allowing users to have “read-only” access to apps like Facebook posts and tweets to having full access that would allow posting, uploading video and images. Although this type of control is good, it doesn’t work well when Facebook and Twitter use SSL by default. If your organization doesn’t have a way to decrypt Facebook and Twitter, you won’t be able to use the application control feature. It’s important to find a network security solution, such as a next-generation firewall or a dedicated SSL appliance that has the ability to decrypt SSL traffic and scale based on your organization’s network performance requirements.
Tech seminar teaches customer success The Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership on Jan. 10 presented “Experience & Engagement Throughout the Customer Lifecycle” featuring Alex Allen, founder of Two39 Work. Allen has spent his entire professional career focused on providing a world class customer experience through product design and execution and building amazing customer focused teams. The audience learned about the challenges that customer facing roles must address in a growing business and best practices for ensuring that the customer experience remains top of mind throughout their relationship with a company. The theme of the seminar centered around switching from a customer service model that is reactive to a customer success mod-
el that is proactive. Allen shared cultural and tactical tips covering the hand over from sales to the customer relationship management teams, how to improve the post-sale service companies provide to increase revenue and identifying opportunities to reduce friction in the customer experience through journey mapping and customer profiles. In addition, Allen stressed the importance of engaging all departments in the customer journey, important KPIs to measure success and how to appropriately survey customers for optimal results. Allen is the founder of Two39 Work, a technology and entrepreneur focused co-working space in Bonita Springs that provides additional services such as mentorship to the community members.
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Choose web browsers with high malware block rates. Web browsers are most often the first line of defense for protection against malware. There are large differences among the leading browsers in their ability to block it. In 2013 NSS Labs Web browser tests, Internet Explorer 10 had the highest malware block rate at 99.96 percent, followed by Google Chrome at 83.16 percent. Apple Safari 5, Mozilla Firefox 19, and Opera 12 all lagged behind with block rates around 10 percent or less. Turn off “location tracking” on social media. Warn employees about “checking into” customer or vendor sites on apps such as Facebook or Foursquare, which can reveal competitive location information or even merger and acquisition plans. Be careful of what your employees post on LinkedIn. Refrain from posts that include sensitive information about their job duties, bonuses, etc. since the posts could shed light on sensitive topics or project details they are working on. Additionally, if the company is involved in big changes such as a merger or acquisition, executives shouldn’t accept LinkedIn requests from the company and direct peers they are negotiating with. Common sense tips? I hope so. But they’re important to remember and to remind others because they are sometimes forgotten and often overlooked. Spell out your social media policies and best practices. It may just save your company or organization from embarrassment or damage. Empower your employees by training them to be aware and secure, and in how to avoid becoming a statistic. Safe surfing! Mona Hilton is the founder and CEO of Genesis Global Technologies. Contact her at (239) 337-2667 or monah@genesisgt.com.
Florida Skin Center wins national award The Best and Brightest in Wellness named Florida Skin Center a 2018 National Winner for the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For Program. It’s one of 512 honored organizations, including Panasonic, Prudential, Sony, T-Mobile, Ace Hardware and LaSalle Network, out of 2,400 nominations. Florida Skin Center will be exclusively celebrated during the Inaugural Best and Brightest National Summit 2019 in Chicago in September. A competition launched by an initiative commemorating quality in health awareness and employee wellness, the Best and Brightest assessed Florida Skin Center based on communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition and retention. This followed the dermatological staff’s blind responses to the program’s survey and a company survey completed by an operations contact person. To maintain program integrity, a thirdparty partner/independent research
firm scrutinized, analyzed and scored Florida Skin Center’s application and company data relative to other nationally recognized winners. Florida Skin Center’s participation qualifications include being a for-profit business with at least 10 employees for a minimum of one year. The practice will receive an overall assessment report with feedback and benchmark scoring data, which will give founder Dr. Anais Aurora Badia and her team the opportunity to determine how the facility functions, how employees engage and how to reduce concerns. “Employees of Florida Skin Center are some of the best out there, and we treat them as such,” Badia said, “with levels of engagement and perks that allow our employees to enjoy their position so much that their performance reflects that enjoyment and more. The results of our Best and Brightest nomination are another way of saying, ‘mission accomplished.’”
FEBRUARY 2019
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
FSW Training Center opens in Bonita Springs Florida SouthWestern State College recently opened the doors to its fifth location, the FSW Corporate Training Center in Bonita Springs. The FSW Corporate Training Center provides a centralized location for FSW’s corporate training initiatives, the Florida Flex Quick Response Training (QRT) and the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grants. It will also be the focal point for FSW’s customized business training programs. Established through a partnership with CareerSource Florida and administered by FSW, the QRT grant lasts for 12 months and is targeted on the highly customized training programs that companies need to improve the skill base of new hires in high-wage full-time jobs. FSW is the largest facilitator of the Florida Flex program and has provided training funds to local businesses in excess of $11 million for over 6,000 new employees. “Employee and workforce training are the foundation and essence of economic development and provides a significant positive impact for our region and the state,” said Dr. Robert R. Jones, vice president for Economic Development and External Affairs. “This funding not only directly benefits the companies receiving training funds, but results in a local economic benefit as well.” Presently, FSW’s partnerships span the region with nearby Hertz and HERC, Arthrex to the south, and Cheney Brothers in the north. “With a majority of businesses the grant serves located within 20-30 miles of Bonita Springs, the new location will provide easy access to meeting space in a corporate setting,” Dr. Jones said. “We are thrilled to welcome FSW to the Bonita Springs community,” said Tiffany Esposito, president, Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. “While we have benefited from a regional partnership with FSW for many years, this new, central location gives the business community access to unique education and training opportunities. The corporate training center
Page 11
GRANT PAGE 1 “The Monroe Room was chosen for this Growth Grant award because of its demonstration of a welldefined plan for growth ranging from executing new marketing initiatives, purchasing new equipment or other creative ways to grow and expand,” said John Hearrell, NASE vice president of Membership and Affiliate Programs. “America’s small business and self-employed community is the lifeblood of our economy, helping fuel growth along Main Street in small and large communities throughout the country.” NASE’s Growth Grant program is intended for businesses planning to take the next step in their venture. It provides available capital for small businesses and sole proprietors to be able to hire and train additional employees, market their business or invest in new equipment or software. Applications for the 2019 Growth Grant program will be accepted until Dec. 31.
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Page 12
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
FEBRUARY 2019