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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S BUSINESS VOICE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 9 No. 3 / JANUARY 2016 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples
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Real estate outlook conference on Jan. 21 The Southwest Florida CCIM District puts “Focus on the Future” and proudly presents its 16th Annual Commercial Real Estate Outlook Conference. The event will be held on from 7L30 a.m. to noon Jan. 21 at Harborside Event Center, at 1375 Monroe St., Fort Myers. Early bird registration fees are $40 for members and $50 for nonmembers. Admission is $60 at the door on the day of the event. To register, visit Outlook2016.org. For event and sponsorship information, contact Bev Larson at (239) 281-1290 or email bev1314@ aol.com.
Bayfront Hospital honors Maryann Mize for service Maryann Mize was recognized recently for 17 years of service on the board of directors of Bayfront Medical Center in Port Charlotte. She has chaired the board for 10 years. “I’ve never met anyone more dedicated and committed to any board of directors,” said Richard H. Satcher, chief executive officer of the Bayfront hospitals in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda. He is also board secretary of Bayfront Port Charlotte and a board member of Bayfront Punta Gorda. “Maryann brought a tremendous amount of financial experience, but also a knowledge of the community, that was very helpful for our strategic plans,” Satcher said. MIZE See page 16
ACOPIA Home Loans opens Fort Myers branch
The Bonita Springs Estero Economic Development Council (BSEEDC) hosted the SWFL Tech Professionals Meet & Greet at FineMark National Bank & Trust in Bonita Springs. Pictured are: Anthony DeMoss, Josh Artuso, Jake Young, and Bryon McCartney
Bonita-Estero EDC hosts technology meet & greet
Last month, the Bonita Springs Estero Economic Development Council (BSEEDC) hosted the SWFL Tech Professionals Meet & Greet at FineMark National Bank & Trust in Bonita Springs. The goal was to build bridges between Southwest Florida’s technology entrepreneurs, professionals, organizations and community members that
support the growing industry hub. The evening also featured presentations by Sara Owen of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation and FutureMakers, Dr. Ron Toll of Florida Gulf Coast University, and Jason Dolle and Bill Schiller of the Sunset Coast Technology Consortium. See more pictures from the event on page 12
Harry Casimir and Dr. Ron Toll at SWFL Tech Professionals Meet & Greet
Bayliner renews Pearl Brands’ contract
ACOPIA Home Loans has opened a new branch in in the Parker Commons Office Park, Fort Myers. “We believe the most effective way to compete in the home mortgage market is to provide outstanding customer service combined with effective communication and an ontime closing guarantee,” said Branch Manager Fran Bliss, a resident of Fort Myers. All of the loan officers affiliated with the Fort Myers branch have more than 15 years of experience in the industry. Bliss, originally from New York, worked for one of the big banks for more than 15 years. Due to her passion for the mortgage industry, she said, she joined ACOPIA because of the Lender’s culture in which they “always do the right thing” for the customer.
Bayliner Boats, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of recreational boats, has renewed its international advertising and brand management contract with Pearl Brands of Fort Myers for three years. Bayliner currently has more than 400 dealers in nearly 80 countries around the world. The company operates as part of the Brunswick Boat Group, a division of the Brunswick Corp. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Bayliner is a recognized global leader in the fiberglass recreational boating industry. Bayliner currently offers 20 different boat models in a wide variety of configurations. “We’re very proud that our creative work to date for Bayliner has earned its long-term trust and continued business,” said Scott Qurollo, president and creative director of Pearl Brands. “It’s a privilege to further elevate one of the most recognized names in the marine products industry.”
ACOPIA See page 3
BAYLINER See page 5
During the past nine months, Pearl Brands has produced international campaigns for Bayliner, using recognizable backdrops across Southwest Florida including the Sanibel Causeway, Pine Island Sound and more.
FOCUS ON: COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JANUARY 2016
INNOVATION
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Enn Luthringer, CCIM Partner 239.481.3800 x235 enn.luthringer@creconsultants.com 12140 Carissa Commerce Ct., Suite 102 Fort Myers, FL 33966
www.creconsultants.com
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
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Suffolk concludes Trades Partnership Series Suffolk Construction recently completed its first Trades Partnership Series in Miami. The program provided a week-long training program to 15 trade partner firms. The classes, which covered everything from lean construction principles to risk management, were taught by Suffolk executives and local community leaders. The program concluded with a graduation ceremony attended by all of the instructors and trade partner firms. “As we conclude our first Trades Partnership Series in Miami, Suffolk Construction is thrilled about the support from its partners, such as The Beacon Council and Miami-Dade County Small Business Development Division,” said Suffolk Construction’s
ACOPIA PAGE 1 “We believe Fort Myers will be a very successful location for us,” Bliss added. “We are involved in the Women’s Council of Realtors, Fort Myers Board of Realtors and the Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce along with our charitable contributions to the community. The depth of our products, which includes programs for First Time Homebuyers on one end of the mortgage spectrum, niche products to fill the need for unconventional lending to the jumbo market, combined with our dedication to our industry, will set us apart from other lenders in the area.”
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Suffolk Construction recently completed its first Trades Partnership Series. Director of Diversity Brian McPherson. “Our common goal was to inform
and empower our local trade partners, and this series undoubtedly supported
this mission.” The Trades Partnership Series assists small, local, disadvantaged, minority and women-owned trade partner firms in fostering long-term relationships with Suffolk. As a result of a successful program in Boston, Suffolk rolled out the series in Miami for the first time in November. Since opening its Florida office in 1994, Suffolk Construction has become one of the largest construction management firms in the state. Suffolk provides preconstruction, construction management, design-build, and general contracting services to clients in the healthcare, transportation, science and technology, education, federal government and commercial sectors.
Eisner co-founds Sposen Homes Neil Eisner, a prominent homebuilder in Florida, has co-founded Cape Coral’s Sposen Signature Homes. Eisner has more than 28 years of high-level homebuilding, development and operations experience. As the current president of Sposen, he will help to position the homebuilding company at the forefront of the building industry. Eisner was a two-term president of Florida’s Gold Coast Builders Association (GCBA) and has been recognized as the GCBA’s builder of the year. He is an active member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and has been a frequent guest speaker at NAHB events and the Builder 100 Conference. Eisner is also involved with numerous charitable organizations and has built and donated multiple homes for charity. In addition to his professional experience, Eisner brings his distinctive culture of efficiency, communication and camaraderie to Sposen, allowing the company to deliver high-quality homes and an unrivaled experience to homebuyers.
EHC Inc., a construction company that provides pre-construction, earthwork and infrastructure services, is being awarded a nearly 16-mile I-75 project spanning Charlotte and Sarasota Counties.
EHC awarded another I-75 expansion project EHC Inc., a construction company that provides pre-construction, earthwork and infrastructure services, is being awarded a nearly 16-mile I-75 project spanning Charlotte and Sarasota Counties. New client The Astaldi Group, one of Italy’s leading general contractors, and among Europe’s top 25 firms in the construction industry, selected EHC for the vast project. Once completed, EHC will have provided earthwork and infrastructure services for 33 miles of I-75 since 2011. EHC is providing excavation,
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embankment, finish grading, stabilized subgrade, and base as well as temporary detours and access roads, and extensive berm and swale work. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reports that the improvements in this project consist of adding lanes and reconstruction, including bridge rehabilitation, milling and resurfacing, widening, base work, shoulder treatment, drainage improvements, curb and gutters, sidewalks, signing and pavement marking, signalization, intelligent transportation system components and lighting on State Road 93 (I75) from south of Harborview Road northeasterly to Sumter Boulevard in Charlotte and Sarasota counties. For more than four years and counting, EHC has been awarded six projects for the improvement of I-75 across four counties in Florida. The projects have included expansions and improvements to the major Interstate Highway including bridges and exit ramps in Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Sarasota counties. Founded in March of 1990 by native Southwest Floridians, EHC has grown from two employees working out of an on-site trailer to over 70 employees, a corporate office, a fleet of equipment and a network of partners. The site construction company started with one project for one client in Naples. Over the 25 years, EHC has completed hundreds of projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars for a vast number of municipalities, developers, builders, owners and general contractors.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JANUARY 2016
NABOR CEO retires after 30 years of service It’s the end of an era for the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR) as its CEO of 30 years retires. In November, 100 people – the who’s who in Realtor leadership – came together at the Naples Hilton to honor the legacy of Mike Richardson. There were 22 NABOR past presidents in attendance, along with two Florida state representatives and numerous National Association of Realtors and Florida Realtors Association past and present officers to celebrate Richardson’s accomplishments. The esteemed CEO of more than 30 years spent the evening saying his goodbyes and accepting well-wishes as he approached his last day at the helm on Dec. 31. The 1961 Naples High School graduate is the longest-serving CEO of NABOR. He began his work for the organization in January 1986. After moving to jobs in North Carolina, Memphis and Orlando, the Naples native decided he needed to return to what his family refers to as his “heart’s home.” “Everyone has a place where they’ve lived and feel it’s sort of where their heart is,” said Lisa Richardson, Mike’s wife, commenting on the inspi-
Mike Richardson (center) is surrounded by NABOR staff members. ration behind her husband’s devotion and love for the Naples area. “When he came to Naples he told Phil Wood, then president of NABOR in 1986, and several other people that, ‘This is my home. This is where I want to be. I’m going to grow the board and I’m going to grow with it.’ And that’s exactly what he did.”
With a personal motto, “Members first,” firmly set in stone, Richardson quickly grew to become an irreplaceable member of the NABOR team. Within the past 15 years, the organization has grown into the region’s largest industry association and a premier Realtor association with more than 5,900 members. However, while many
in attendance at the dinner vouched that the success of the board is thanks to Richardson himself, the man of honor decided it was best to act as “the man behind the curtain.” He stayed on the sidelines and stuck to his motto. “The success of the organization is the product of all the members; together, as a whole, and not just one person,” he said. “I have heard him say so many times, ‘It’s all about what’s best for the members,’ “ said Jo Carter, owner of Jo Carter & Associates, and 2006 president of NABOR. “I witnessed firsthand what Mike’s leadership has meant to our professional association. For example, in an effort to create better relations, Mike encouraged us to share market data with our neighboring Realtor associations. His wisdom was essential to the accomplishments and success, not only to NABOR, but to all concerned.” The staff and leadership team at NABOR were pleased to join in honoring Mike with an elegant dinner that highlighted his long and successful career and acknowledge his contributions. Richardson leaves NABOR a sound organization well-positioned for continued success.
Lee County Human Services seeking general contractors Lee County Department of Human Services is looking for licensed and insured general contractors and subcontractors to complete federal grant-funded repairs of owner-occupied residential properties. The Housing Services Program includes repair or re-
placement of roofing, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, septic, well and some interior deficiencies for current housing rehabilitation programs. All trades are welcome. All bid opportunities are posted on the DHS website. Section 3, Disadvantaged/Minority/Women-owned
businesses are encouraged to complete a vendor application and bid on jobs. For more information, contact Jeannie Sutton at (239) 533-7926 or email jsutton@leegov.com, or visit leegov.com/dhs/housing/contractors.
Harborside Event Center 1375 Monroe Street Fort Myers, Florida Florida CCIM Chapter www.flccim.com/districts/southwest/
JANUARY 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
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Business climate report shows improvement in Lee The results from the Fourth Quarter 2015 Horizon Council FGCU Lee County Executive Business Climate Survey have been released. This survey is completed each quarter and provides insight into the Lee County economy and expected economic trends as perceived by its business community. The online survey was sent to 564 business executives in Lee County and the results are based on responses from 92 executives, resulting in a 16.3 percent response rate. This survey provides a key economic indicator for Lee County, the Executive Business Climate Index. This index value is computed each quarter and released to the public as a way to provide an established economic indicator on the state of the local economy. The index is computed using the two questions concerning the current and future economic conditions, and a third question concerning the expected industry economic conditions. The index is an average of the responses with substantially better equal to 100, moderately better equal to 75, same equal to 50, moderately worse equal to 25, and substantially worse equal to zero. The index value can range from 0 to 100. This quarter’s index rose to 71 from the previous quarter’s measure of 70 and remains within a five point band that has persisted since 2013. The fourth quarter survey also included questions that were used in a USA Today/Wells Fargo survey from earlier this year that gauged Americans’ impression about the state of the economy, and found that Lee County’s business executives are remarkably more optimistic about the state of the local and national economy than respondents were when polled nationally. Some of these findings, as well as others from the third quarter survey, are: • 77 percent of executives stated that the current economic conditions have improved over last year, while 22 percent stated that they were the same; • 80 percent of the executives expect
the economy to improve over the next year; • 69 percent of the executives stated that the current economic conditions for their industry have improved over last year, but 26 percent stated that economic conditions remained approximately the same, and 4 percent say they are moderately worse; • 66 percent of executives expect economic conditions for their industry to improve over the next year; • 66 percent of companies expect to increase investment next year while 3 percent expect to reduce investment levels; • 55 percent of executives expect to increase employment at their companies during the next year and only 3 percent of executives expect to reduce employment; • While 81 percent of executives believe the local economy provides a healthy business environment, 53 percent believe the national economy provides a healthy business environment; • While 77 percent of executives indicated that Lee County has a growing job market, 67 percent believe the national economy had a growing job market; • While 42 percent of respondents believe Lee County’s education system prepares skilled workers, 36 percent believe this applies to the rest of the country; • While 63 percent of executives believe that Lee County has a strong middle class, 49 percent believe the nation has a strong middle class; • While 31 percent of executives believe that few people live in poverty in Lee County, 21 percent believe few people live in poverty in the rest of the country; • Finally, while 78 percent believe that economic conditions are good in Lee County, 60 percent believe this applies in the rest of the country. To access the third quarter Lee County Business Climate Survey, visit fgcu. edu/cob/reri/reports.html#reports_top.
BOATS PAGE 1 Pearl Brands is an award-winning, strategically focused creative agency that provides creative services, digital production, brand planning and other marketing communications services for a wide range of clients. In addition to Bayliner Boats, Pearl Brand’s current client list features notable companies including IGY Marinas, Southwest Florida Marine Industries Association, USF Federal Credit Union, the University of Florida, Salt Island Seaplanes and more. Pearl Brands first secured the account in early 2015, following nearly a year of consulting and project execution for the boat brand coupled with the agency’s depth of past category expertise. “Scott and his team understand our business and aren’t afraid to break new ground on our behalf,” said Keith Yunger, president of Bayliner Boats. “Our business is extremely competitive, and keeping relevant, intriguing messages in front of our target customer that helps us grow the boating market is key. Pearl Brands is that kind of partner.” During the past nine months, Pearl
Bayliner Boats, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of recreational boats, has renewed its international advertising and brand management contract with Pearl Brands of Fort Myers for three years. Brands has produced international campaigns for Bayliner, using recognizable backdrops across Southwest Florida including the Sanibel Causeway, Pine Island Sound and more. “Photographing an international advertising campaign for Bayliner Boats against the backdrop of Southwest Florida’s stunning locations is another great way to entice consumers to visit The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel,” said Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. “Thanks to Pearl Brands for its support of our local tourism industry.”
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
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The net leased investment craze in Southwest Florida Cell phones, texting, Twitter, Instagram – we have become a society of convenience and instant gratification, whether we want to admitted it or not. We are all trying to gain information quickly and want to do so without much thought. Not good for real estate, you say? This month we will look at the net leased real estate investments in Southwest Florida which are taking advantage of these trends. There are several retail or restaurant components that have always reaped the benefits of convenience, such as drug store chains (CVS, Walgreens) and gas/convenient stores (7-11, Wawa). However, this article will focus on multi-tenant retail centers leased to national tenants on a long term basis. We have analyzed five net leased investments in 2015 which are of interest. Why? Does a sale price range of $567.90 to $833.33 per square foot catch your attention? Okay, how about capitalization rates from 4.91 percent to 6.23 percent? Sounds pretty nice if you are on the selling end but why buy on these terms? Since the Great Recession, investors have flocked to predictable cash flows and low risk, quality investments. Investors are looking for a stable, longterm return while limiting the vacancy/ collection issues with investment grade companies. In Lee County, these sales are all occurring on prime corners or in front of significant development such as the Gulf Coast Town Center. The list of tenants will tell you who they are catering to: Starbucks, Dunkin
Donuts, Bank United, Jimmy Johns, Mattress stores, Tijuana Flats, South Beach Tan and T-Mobile. All of these properties have long term tenants – fiveplus years with options to renew their leases and BY GERALD are convenienceHENDRY oriented. BuyGuest Columnist ing a mattress has always been thought of as destination-oriented purchase but these companies have hastefully joined the convenience trend. In addition to these leases, ground lease sales to national, credit tenants are also skyrocketing as evidenced by three land lease sales at Gulf Coast Town Center with Pollo Tropical, Panera Bread and Chilis as the national tenants. The following is a summary of recent ground lease sales in Southwest Florida: Land at 9980 University Plaza Drive was sold for Chilis on Jan. 15 for $2,645,900 at $34.25 per square foot Land at 9970 University Plaza Drive was sold for Panera Bread on Sept. 15 for $2,337,500 at $43.31 per square foot Land at 12701 S. Cleveland Ave. was sold for Wawa on Dec. 14 for $4,500,000 at $52.96 per square foot Land at 9975 Triangle Blvd. was
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sold for Outback on June 15 for $2,090,000 at $46.17 per square foot. These deals, along with nine other sales over the past few years, indicated capitalization rates of 4.06 percent to 6.78 percent with a mean of 5.42 percent in the net, ground lease sector. Once again, long-term stability is projected by investors with these investments. Look for these net leased investment sales to continue. However, as the fear of rising interest rates loom, don’t expect any further compression on capitalization rates for these investment types. Locally, we are seeing all cash transactions, which in theory would not be as sensitive to rising interest rates. However, as interest rates rise, the availability of alternative, safe investments will put upward pressure on
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www.ppcswfl.com (239) 275-5522 Independent Medical Group serving Lee County since 1996
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Gerald Hendry, MAI, CCIM is a managing partner with Maxwell, Hendry & Simmons LLC, a commercial and residential appraisal/consulting firm in Fort Myers. He specializes in litigation support/expert testimony as well as complex, income producing property valuation, and is 2016 president elect of the Southwest Florida CCIM District.
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capitalization rates and in turn a lower value on the asset. These investments have always maintained a spread between the capitalization rates and the 10-year treasury rate which will continue. Outside the numbers, do we really need another mattress store? These have been very popular in the net leased investment arena. Only time will tell if these stores can compete.
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JANUARY 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
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Lee Courthouse dedicates centennial time capsule
In 1915, the citizens of Lee County sealed a time capsule in the wall of their brand new courthouse. Last month, Lee County Clerk of Court Linda Doggett help celebrate the 100th anniversary of that very building by dedicating a new time capsule containing 25 local items during a ceremony marking the event at the Old Lee County Courthouse. The Old Courthouse opened in December 1915, serving as the seat of local government. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in April 1989. The new centennial time capsule was scheduled to be sealed in the clerk’s vault in the building’s basement later in December. It joins a millennium time capsule installed in November 2000, in addition to a 1989 time capsule that was sealed in the cornerstone of the building following extensive renovations. Contents of the 1915 time capsule discovered during the 1989 renovations are on display on the second floor of the Old Courthouse. “I am proud to be part of a long continuum of dedicated public servants who have served Lee County since it was founded in 1887,” Doggett said, “and am thankful to Clerk Time Capsule Committee – Joanne Miller, Sharon Smith and Carrie Feltman – for their efforts in assembling the time capsule items to share with our residents a century from now.” A list of the items placed in the time capsule can be found on the clerk’s website at LeeClerk.org.
Lee County Clerk of Court Linda Doggett helped celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Lee County Courthouse by dedicating a time capsule containing 25 local items during a ceremony at the Old Lee County Courthouse. Pictured: County Commissioners Brian Hamman, Larry Kiker, Frank Mann, John Manning and Cecil Pendergrass.
Coyle Financial Counsel expands into Florida Coyle Financial Counsel, an independent registered investment advisory firm headquartered in Glenview IL, recently announced a major step in its plan to provide completely integrated wealth management services by merging with Wheaton Wealth Partners, located in Wheaton IL. The deal brings Coyle’s current assets under advisement to $860 million, adds to its Chicago-area footprint, and extends its geographic presence to Florida with the opening of a Naples office. Coyle Financial Counsel, founded in 1972 by Edward Coyle, will continue to be the business name for the combined companies. “Coyle Financial Counsel’s merger with Wheaton Wealth Partners strengthens our ability to deliver targeted, comprehensive, integrated and collaborative services to multi-generational families,” said Gary Klaben, Coyle CEO. “As we continue to pursue our business growth strategy, we look for firms that align with our client-centric service philosophy. Wheaton is an excellent fit – nationally, structurally and culturally.” Robert K. O’Dell, Wheaton’s co-founder, is a planning-centric, fee-only financial planner, which is unique to the Naples market. He and his team are a 100 percent paperless office, and interface with clients on large HD monitors utilizing proprietary financial planning techniques such as the Insight Map. They have become known as the “Visual Financial Planning Firm.” “Before launching Wheaton five years ago, I met
Gary Klaben, CEO of Coyle, who introduced me to ‘mind map’ diagrams,” said O’Dell. “This tool allows me to visually organize client information, which helps everyone by aiding memory, visual thinking and problem solving. Since Coyle uses mind maps also, we believe this plays a key role in helping clients make informed decisions.” In the combined company, Klaben and Kevin Coyle serve as managing directors, and Klaben continues as CEO. O’Dell and Wheaton co-founder Heather Coulter are charged with expanding the Southwest Florida client base. “Coyle Financial Counsel brings decades of successful experience to the table in terms of delivering wealth management services,” Coyle noted. “That said – this merger is not about getting bigger; it’s about getting even better.” O’Dell added, “In Naples, Florida, where many
families are moving for weather and tax reasons, the city is now America’s sixth-fastest-growing area, and first by per capita wealth. So we see a wonderful opportunity to serve residents of Southwest Florida in a truly innovative and needed fashion.” “Life is always dynamic, never static,” stated Coyle. “Our mission is to mentor families, help them solve complex issues, and keep moving ahead. Within Coyle, that means keeping our skills sharp, nurturing new talent, and empowering new leaders by following my father’s business credo: ‘If one does the right things, good things happen.’” Coyle’s new Naples FL office is located at 3033 Riviera Drive, Suite 202. Contact Rob O’Dell, Coyle’s Florida representative, at (239) 443-5444. For more information, go to www.coylefinancial. com.
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JANUARY 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
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Before deciding to buy or not to buy, get educated first A day in the life of John Q. Broker, 2015: The phone persistently rings. A digital mountain of emails grows, nearly faster than one could climb. Some property inventory is receiving offers before you can even finish your marketing materials. Another closing completed and in the books. Money’s turned hard on another. It’s okay if it falls apart. There’s a backup offer in place. Yes, the market is very active once again and a lot of transactions are closing. How sustainable is it? Everybody has their own opinion. Mine is: It varies. While the activity today isn’t as clamorous as the boom from 10 years ago, there are certainly some similarities. Don’t worry, this isn’t a call-for-action to press the panic button. Familiar times don’t always justify familiar fears. Many analysts are predicting that a correction should be looming, but the term “correction” shouldn’t be used in the same context as it was the last time we experienced one. I think it’s fair to say that our last correction should have been more appropriately labeled as a collapse – and a historical one at that. Corrections, on the other hand, can be healthy. A strong stock chart bounces up, then down. Up, then down. Real estate investing should be the same and wise spending by all can assist with this. In 2010, you could have put some opportunities in front of a pecking rooster at the state fair and Roddy
the Rooster could have picked you some fine winners. Today, amazing opportunities may no longer be galore, but there are still many favorable deals to be had. So, who should be buying still? • Businesses paying high rents: A plethora of inventory priced below replacement cost still exists. A qualified broker (CCIM) will be able to perform BY ADAM PALMER a detailed lease-vs.-own analysis for you. If you’re trying to Guest Columnist create liquidity to expand your business, a sale-leaseback can also be an advantageous option as the investor community remains bullish. • (Speaking of) Investors: Investment inventory is flying off the shelf and investment money from across the globe is finding itself parked here in Southwest Florida. Medical, food service, retail properties – all selling very quickly if it is priced in-line with the returns that the market is looking for. This segues to other areas of opportunity, and not just for buyers, either. Prospective sellers of investment real estate should be closely monitoring the interest rates. The spread between the interest rates
and the rate that determines the investors return (cap rate), is very thin. When the cap rates rise, the purchase price drops significantly. It is a great time to sell your investment properties. Some of the best margins for buyers to be found can be manufactured deals (buying something less appealing and turning it into something more desirable). A lot of businesses refuse to be owners and want to remain as tenants. Take advantage of this. If you have a good tenant in hand and can locate a suitable vacant building for them to lease, there is no better time to sell that property than at the beginning of a long lease term. Ultimately, make sure you make sound decisions and refrain from making impulse reactions. If you find yourself on the fence, to-buy or not-to-buy, I suggest you get more educated first. The urge to spend all you make is called consumer mentality. Try to get investment mentality instead. You’ll be much happier with the results. Adam Palmer is the managing director of the Office & Investment Division at LandQwest Commercial and is a past president of the Southwest Florida CCIM District and current VP of Operations for the Florida Chapter. Contact him at (239) 275-4922 or visit lqwest.com.
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You’re never too old to get out and start a business Q: I recently retired, am not a very good golfer, and not sure where to volunteer my time. The thought occurs to me that perhaps I should start a small business. Am I asking for trouble or should I follow my instincts?
A: You have reached another milestone in life. Retirement is a major lifestyle change. You no longer have to punch a time clock and no one is coming to you for advice and counsel. You have nothing but time on your hands and no idea how to spend it. At this juncture I can’t resist the impulse to put in a plug for SCORE, a national organization of volunteer business counselors. If you want to help young entrepreneurs and share the knowledge you have attained over your long career, consider becoming a SCORE volunteer. As far as your starting a business, you are never too old. Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary
Kay Cosmetics, was in her mid-40s. Regardless of age, you start the process by developing a written business plan. Pick something you have both background and passion about. Ideally it will fill an underserved niche that has little competition. A major consideration is finance. You are at a point BY GRAY POEHLER in life where you no longer generate a paycheck. HopeGuest Columnist fully you have saved your money, contributed to an IRA or employer-sponsored 401k plan, and with Social Security have enough to take care of you in your twilight years. In addition to business startup costs, you will
Opportunities to improve workforce What are you doing to attract and develop your extra pair of hands – with no future workforce? The baby boomers are retiring direct financial cost to the busiin record numbers and we need to be preparing the ness. CareerSource Southwest next generation to meet your workforce needs. CaFlorida will pay the wages of reerSource Southwest Florida has developed a new these young people for a maxiprogram to assist young people between 16 and 24 mum of 320 hours. years of age and businesses who are interested in Imagine “test-driving” a developing this talent pool. full-time employee for eight What are the risk factors for dropping out of weeks before hiring them. Your school or failing to obtain a high school diploma? business will also benefit with Children are born into a family with a cycle of povour ongoing mentoring of your erty, unemployment and violence. Through no fault future workforce to help ensure of their own, they grew up watching their parent(s) BY PEG ELMORE you would like to hire them facing unemployment and/or incarceration, conafter completing the agreed Guest Columnist stantly moving from place to place and living in upon work experience opporpoverty made life a day-to-day challenge. Falling tunity. You may be asking, are behind in school and not being able to see a future we mandated to keep them after the training period? any different they just give up. That is the reality for Although we would hope you will want to consider some of our young people. hiring them after the training program has ended, Destination Career$ is about second chances. there is no obligation to do so. Working with mentors that will guide a young perUnemployment of our young adults carries a son into positive developmental outcomes such as huge cost. The burden to our social services, the loss completion of their GED, strengthening soft and of taxable income, increase in crime and so much foundation skills, and deciding on career paths. more are part of the price tag. You can be part of the They begin to see a new future. Our program will solution. assist in a brighter future for our youth and a new talent pool for businesses. Peg Elmore is the business services director for As a business, you can make an investment in CareerSource Southwest Florida and works with loour community and your workforce by training to- cal businesses to connect employers with qualified morrow’s workers today through a work experience applicants. Contact her at (239) 931.8282 ext. 1801 strategy. This program will allow a young person to or email pelmore@careersourcesouthwestflorida. gain experience with a business that may need an com.
also require enough working capital to pay the monthly bills until you reach break-even (income vs. outgo), usually six to nine months. The value of a business plan is that it enables you assess your strengths and weaknesses. It causes you to focus on all the elements of running a business. You will find you must wear many hats, some of which you are ill-suited. Do you muddle through or perhaps consider a partner that contributes in those areas you are least competent? Do yourself a favor before you spend the first dime, develop a business plan. Gray Poehler is a volunteer with the Naples Chapter of SCORE. To learn more about management issues facing your small business, contact SCORE Naples. Counseling is provided FREE of charge to all U.S. citizens and legal aliens. To register call (239) 430-0081, or visit our website naples.score.org/mentors.
Bonita-Estero EDC invites public to board meeting The Bonita Springs Estero Economic Development Council (BSEEDC) will host their quarterly open board meeting on from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, 25071 Chamber of Commerce Drive, Bonita Springs. According to its website, the BSEEDC is committed to building a prosperous, sustainable and economically diverse community. It exists to help local companies succeed and grow, to help relocating companies and get their business up and running as quickly as possible, as well as to attract new businesses to the region. “As the momentum in Bonita Springs and Estero continues to build, we want to invite interested business owners to become engaged,” said Christine Ross, executive director of the BSEEDC. “Join us at our quarterly open meeting to hear about our projects and find out how to be a strong partner in our economic development success story.” In the past three years, the BSEEDC has served as a complementary business concierge to more than 100 clients. The BSEEDC executes a program of work based on industry best practices from streamlined permitting and joint permit review to collaborative public-private economic development systems which have garnered statewide recognition.
IN BUSINESS SINCE 2005
1981
The Letter Box, Inc. It Pays To Advertise!
We appreciate your business SWFL
1986
Burkett
Law Office
ROBERT E. BURKETT Attorney At Law
BUSINESS LITIGATION • ARBITRATION • COLLECTIONS
1937
(239) 574-2028
www.LetterBoxInc.com
5237 Summerlin Commons Blvd,. Suite 217 • Fort Myers, FL 33907 Office: (239) 275-2145 Email: bobburkettlaw@gmail.com • Web: bobburkettlaw.com
1985
2012
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JANUARY 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 11
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Choosing the right commercial realtor for your business is crucial BEV LARSON, CCIM
GERALD HENDRY, MAI, CCIM
2015 CCIM Florida Chapter Southwest District President. Over 38 years experience in the Southwest Florida market. Certified International Property Specialist.
The firm specializes in litigation/ expert testimony, as well as, commercial and residential appraisal services. Hendry is a Managing Partner of the firm and the 2016 President-Elect for the SWFL CCIM District.
Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte & Sarasota Counties
Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties
• • • • • •
LAHAINA REALTY 239-281-1290 bev1314@aol.com
COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE LAND-ACREAGE DEVELOPMENT
WILLIAM H. ROLLINS, JR., ALC, CCIM Lee, Collier, Charlotte & Polk Counties Senior broker. He is licensed in Florida, Georgia and Alabama and is an Accredited Land Consultant.
LAND SOLUTIONS, INC.
239-633-1963 williamrollins@ccim.net@CCIM.NET www.landsolutions.net
• AGRICULTURAL • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL
ROBERT (BOB) B. WHITE, CCIM Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Active Southwest Commercial broker for over 30 years. Specializing in industrial, office and investment properties. Past president SWFL CCIM and REIS.
LEE & ASSOCIATES
• • • •
239-850-2217 bwhite@lee-associates.com
INDUSTRIAL OFFICE LEASE OR SALE INVESTMENT
DAVE WALLACE, CCIM Collier & Lee Counties An office, industrial and investment property specialist with more than 30 years of commercial real estate experience He can assist clients with acquisitions, dispositions and leasing.
CRE CONSULTANTS
239-649-7755 dave.wallace@creconsultants.com
• • • •
OFFICE INDUSTRIAL SALES & LEASES INVESTMENT
DEREK BORNHORST, CCIM Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Derek brings 10+ years of experience in the SWFL market working with local and national clients to establish specific real estate objectives, including acquisition, disposition and leasing.
LEE & ASSOCIATES | NAPLES — FORT MYERS 239-898-7987 dbornhorst@lee-associates.com www.lee-fl.com
• INVESTMENT • INDUSTRIAL
Why use a CCIM?
There are countless benefits to working with a CCIM. Commercial real estate investment requires the counsel of a qualified professional. A Certified Commercial Investment Member provides clients with the assurance that every decision will be made in the best interest of their investment objectives. When assembling a commercial real estate investment team, start with a CCIM.
MAXWELL, HENDRY & SIMMONS LLC 239-337-0555 geraldh@mhsappraisal.com www.mhsappraisal.com
RANDY KRISE, CCIM Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Broker/owner of Krise Commercial Group and 2015 Florida CCIM Chapter President.
CREDIBILITY
CCIM is the most prestigious designation commercial real estate professionals can achieve within the industry. Graduate-level education, coupled with industry-leading technology tools, practical proven experience, and indepth knowledge of their local markets, gives CCIMs the ability and the credibility to conduct business confidently and successfully. By partnering with a CCIM, you effectively utilize the top-level, most reliable performers in the industry: with an average of 19 years of experience, 70% of CCIM members hold executive-level positions and 90% of members refer clients to other business services. When you use a CCIM, you choose the most credible professional in the business.
KRISE COMMERCIAL GROUP
MEASUREMENT
Overall, CCIM’s global network enables members to close thousands of transactions annually. representing more than $200 billion in value. But closing transactions is only part of what CCIMs can do. In addition to holding deal making occupations in every property sector, CCIMs are also found in’ leasing, asset management, development, lending, financing, property management, site selection and corporate real estate positions. So, whatever assistance your real estate project requires, a CCIM can help you achieve a better result. In fact, only 6 percent of all commercial real estate practitioners hold the elite CCIM designation, which reflects not only the caliber of the program, but why it is one of the most respected designations in the industry. When you use a CCIM, you choose a professional who produces measurable results.
The CCIM designation is conferred by the Chicagobased CCIM Institute, a commercial real estate affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS. Learn more about the value of working with a CCIM.
COMMERCIAL VACANT LAND INVESTMENT RETAIL INDUSTRIAL
RON STRUTHERS, CCIM Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, North Port & Venice
Specializes in all facets of commercial brokerage and leasing in Charlotte County area. 2016 CCIM SWFL chapter president.
COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL NRT
• • • • •
941-769-3316 rstruthers@ccim.net www.commercialrealtyfl.com
INTEGRITY
CCIM designees are bound to the strictest ethical guidelines and standards of practice in the industry today. In addition, each CCIM has successfully completed a graduate level program comprised of 160 hours of education. If you ask around the industry, you’ll learn that companies and other real estate professionals are more likely to seek out experts who possess the CCIM designation, as they know CCIM stands for trust, knowledge and reliability. When you use a CCIM, you choose experts with integrity.
• • • • •
239-633-8672 randy@krisecg.com www.krisecg.com
COMMUNITY
Today there are CCIMs in every state, across Canada and Mexico, and in more than 30 countries around the world. Domestically, the network encompasses more than 1,000 markets, from large metropolitan areas to small cities and towns. A truly global network, CCIMs are a powerful force in markets large and small. When you use a CCIM, you choose a trusted community of real estate professionals that are consistently sought for their dependability, intelligence, success and confidence.
• APPRAISAL • CONSULTING • COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL • TAX APPEALS
INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL LEASING
RON WELEBNY, CCIM Lee County Managing director and qualifying broker of firm. Holds Florida Real Estate Broker’s license and is licensed real estate instructor. President of Commercial Investment Professionals of SWFL, and president-elect of SWFL Commercial Alliance.
ROSSMAN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, LLC 239-671-6574 Ron@RossComm.pro www.RossComm.pro
• COMMERCIAL • SALES • LEASES
THERESA BLAUCH-MITCHELL, CCIM
Lee, Collier, Charlotte & Sarasota Counties Commercial agent for 10+ years. SWFL CCIM past president, Florida CCIM membership chair CCIM international committee. Hablo Español.
iCORE GLOBAL
239-265-2628 theresa@bobackcommericalgroup.com www.bobackcommercialgroup.com
• • • •
INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL
Page 12
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JANUARY 2016
Ita Neymotin presents on professionalism in courts
Former Senator and current Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett and legal professionalism expert Jason Hunter Korn recently joined Regional Counsel Ita Neymotin in Sarasota to present a day of continuing legal education training for her staff attorneys. In addition to leading the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel (OCCCRC) for Florida’s Second District Court of Appeals Region, Neymotin is Chair of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Panel and a sought-after speaker on professionalism. Neymotin was granted four Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit units from The Florida Bar for her presentation “Professionalism in Florida Courts.” The comprehensive CLE workshop covers the history of professionalism committees in Florida from 1993 through the present, provides an overview of standards established by various governing bodies and puts forth general principles and expectations that apply to all attorneys, whether in public or private practice. It also enumerates guidelines for specific circumstances that attorneys may encounter while serving papers, requesting continuances, communicating with adversaries, deposing parties, submitting affidavits, comporting one’s self in the courtroom and many other facets of their role. Jason Hunter Korn’s CLE, titled “Professionalism Expectations for the Florida Lawyer,” provided a comprehensive overview of professionalism standards peppered with cultural references demonstrating dos and don’ts
Ita Neymotin (center) presented a continuing legal education program on Professionalism in the Florida Courts. Former Senator Mike Bennett (left) was a special guest speaker. Legal professionalism expert Jason Hunter Korn presented on Professionalism Expectations for the Florida Lawyer. from sources ranging from “The Rainmaker” to Atticus Finch to “My Cousin Vinny” to “Seinfeld.” A Director of Cohen & Grigsby, Korn is a member of The Florida Bar Committee on Unlicensed Practice of Law, arbitrator for The Florida Bar Grievance & Fee Arbitration Program, and a member of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Committee since 2012. In his talk, guest speaker Mike Ben-
nett emphasized the wisdom of repealing mandatory minimum sentences for juveniles and those charged with non-violent drug possession crimes, bolstered the argument for restoration of civil rights upon release from prison and called for support of drug court and other diversionary programs. He offered a personal story of having been diverted into the military by a judge for reparation for a minor criminal offense,
where he served four terms of Vietnam. Under mandatory minimums, Bennett argued, judges don’t enjoy such discretion. Neymotin has been delivering talks across Florida highlighting the importance of Professionalism in the courts. This summer she was invited to represent the Twentieth Judicial Circuit at the Florida Bar Annual Convention, Supreme Court Committee meeting on Professionalism, chaired by the Honorable Supreme Court Justice R. Fred Lewis. She recently presented on representing parents with mental health diagnoses at the Department of Children and Families’ annual Child Protection Summit. She also visited officials in Ukraine upon that government’s invitation for an in-depth consultation to improve its track record of justice and human rights. Neymotin is the youngest attorney, and the first woman, appointed as Regional Counsel in the State of Florida. In that position she is responsible for the 14 counties that make up the Second District Court of Appeal, managing 140 attorneys and support staff with an annual budget that exceeds $9 million. The Regional Counsel defends parties when the Public Defender’s office has a conflict in a case. The office also represents indigent clients in juvenile dependency as well as certain types of civil cases. Neymotin is responsible for the counties including Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte, Glades, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Polk, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota.
SWFL TECH PROFESSIONALS MEET & GREET The Bonita Springs Estero Economic Development Council (BSEEDC) hosted the SWFL Tech Professionals Meet & Greet at FineMark National Bank & Trust in Bonita Springs. Right: Bob Rosier and Jason Dolle. Far right: Tyler Smith, Alicia Rosier and Tom Goettel
Best Commercial Lot Values in Southwest Florida Estero Parkway and Three Oaks Estero 33928
25335 Rampart Blvd Port Charlotte 33983
4214 Duncan Road (Hwy. 17) Punta Gorda 33982
Marion Ave Punta Gorda 33950
Price: $2,500,000 Size: 230,868 SF Description: 5.3 Acre Lot, partially cleared. Surrounded by 1,500 student housing units. Corner lot at Three Oaks and Estero Parkways, surrounded by future housing. 46,200 Sq. Ft. retail space approved. Additional zoning suggestions: Gas Station, Medical Office, Bank, Restaurant, Storage Facilities, Strip Center. Centered between two Major Shopping Malls and near FGCU, Germain Arena and many High End housing developments.
Price: $1,195,000 Size: 4.30 AC Description: Partially cleared, no wetlands or endangered species on lot. Medical Office Space. Deep Creek has several ALF communities, private and public, including one Certified Nursing Community, adjacent to this site. Two major hospitals within 10 minutes of site. East border of the property is a large Housing Complex with future zoning of commercial in front. Plans available for 7 buildings, each 5,000 sq. ft.
Price: $995,000 Size: 6.84 AC Description: 2 lots, 1 - 5.3 Acre Parcel and 1 - 1.5 acre parcel, 6.8 Acres, partially cleared, environmentals done. This corner is a future Town Center. Just East of I-75. Many usage possibilities, 6.84 Acres at Washington Loop. Over 150 sq. ft. Road Frontage on Duncan. Phase I reports available, survey also available. Future land use is Commercial Corridor.
Price: $399,000 Size: 2.70 AC Description: Dense pepper hedge, no endangered species or plants, ready to clear. MAKE AN OFFER!!! Zoned Low Intensity Industrial. 2 parcels, one approximately .25 Acres, the other 2.7. Perfect for Warehouse, Storage Facilities, Truck or Auto Terminal Hub, close to Hwy 17 and I-75 exit. Railroad meets rear of property. I-75 Interchange currently projected to cross eastern portion of property, high visibility once completed.
Contact Jeanette Igoe / Broker - Igoe Realty P.A. / Jigoe5@aol.com / www.JeanetteIgoe.com or 239-572-3269
JANUARY 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 13
It’s Your Future. Own It.
Visit CCIM REOC Panel Speaker and SBA Commercial Real Estate Expert, Tom Maiale At the CBC Booth and Receive His Top 10 Ways to Speed Up SBA CRE Loan Closings. Mention “Top Ten” and Receive a Free Gift.
ABOUT US What you do every day requires commitment, compassion, and attention to detail. CBC National Bank understands that and is committed to partnering with you to develop your vision or ideas and bring them to life. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand, CBC is your trusted financial partner. Our SBA lending experts can provide up to 90% financing on owner occupied commercial real estate purchases. We’ll make the loan process more pleasurable and convenient than you ever imagined it could be.
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Page 14
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JANUARY 2016
Bonita Chamber endorses Enterprise Florida reforms
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank relocates its operations
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has relocated its operations center to 7500 College Parkway, a third of a mile west of U.S. 41. More than two dozen employees are based in the office, providing accounting, compliance, loan and deposit operations and other support services for the bank’s four branches. The center also offers customers a new ATM option. “This location offers convenience
and visibility, as well room for expansion as we serve our growing customer base,” said bank President and CEO Craig Albert. Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has two locations in Fort Myers, one in the Myerlee community and the second on McGregor Boulevard near Kelly Road. It is the only bank chartered on Sanibel Island, where it has two locations.
“
These reforms will continue to diversify our local economy, empower our small businesses, and create even more great jobs.
“
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has relocated its operations center to 7500 College Parkway
The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce announced their support for Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed reforms for Enterprise Florida, including the creation of the Florida Enterprise Fund. “We’re proud to fully support the proposal to create the Florida Enterprise Fund and improve the economic development process at Enterprise Florida,” said Christine Ross, president and CEO of the Chamber. “Enterprise Florida has been integral to creating jobs in our community, such as Hertz’s recent relocation of their global headquarters to Estero. These reforms will continue to diversify our local economy, empower our small businesses, and create even more great jobs.” Our proposed economic reforms which have been endorsed by the Enterprise Florida Executive Board include: • Creating a new $250 million competitive fund called the “Florida Enterprise Fund.” • Making the Florida Enterprise Fund a state trust fund to replace the existing escrow account to allow the state’s investment to accrue more interest.
– Christine Ross, Bonita Chamber of Commerce
• Increasing the legislature’s role in competing for job creation projects by requiring that any deal over $1 million have the approval of the speaker of the house and the senate president, as well as the governor. • Reforming the return on investment requirements by eliminating the use of waivers and requiring a 10 percent annualized return on top of the original amount invested in a company. • Streamline the state’s approval process while continuing to ensure that no tax dollars leave the state trust fund until a company meets specific job creation goals spelled out in their contract. Visit enterpriseflorida.com/contactyourlegislator today to voice your support.
Are you playing hard to get with your business? You wake up and see a puddle of water on the floor in your kitchen. What do you do? You’re out running errands and you need to find the nearest place to drop off your drying cleaning, you broke your favorite bracelet and need to get it repaired, you’ve just moved and need to find a good nail salon, doctor, veterinarian, financial planner, or any myriad of common life challenges – what do we do? Of course, we Google it! Google knows where you are and turns up relevant results near you. And, of course, you pick one of those, or at least start there. With the investment we make in our smartphone – upwards of $100 a month and more – smart consumers are using it for everything. As a business owner, how many customers are you missing by not being visible on the web? One of your most important marketing strategies is to maintain your internet relevance. Your first step is to think about your relevant keywords. These are words that potential customers would type into a browser to find you.
You want to be sure that these words are in your website’s content. Take advantage of all listings such as Google, Bing, Yahoo. The more “registered” you are, the higher your ranking will be on the page. Every detail is important, as is consistency. Use your keywords. If you do not have time or fully understand how to do BY SHERRI this, let someone take care WEIDMAN of this who knows what he Guest Columnist or she is doing. Consistency is important to computer bots and will be a good investment. Start generating customer reviews by asking satisfied customers to share their experience on sites such as Yelp, for example. There are many ways to develop a campaign to help customers
remember to do this for you. Most importantly, provide outstanding customer service and then a direct link to a review site, your Facebook page or testimonial on your website. These reviews will improve your ranking in the eyes of bots. Do you have a business Facebook page, Twitter feed with a following, and other social media? Not only are these are great sources of reviews, but also are very powerful at engaging with your customers, running ads direct to your target market, keeping you top of mind and, of course, improving your search ranking. A blog on your website is a good idea to consistently generate content that you can feed out over your social media sites. Use those keywords! Think about your customer’s relevant problems, challenges and concerns – and generate consistent content that they look forward to every week and can, ideally, share with friends. You want to create good, relevant content that WEBSITE See page 18
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JANUARY 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 15
Amazing Lash Studio opening in North Naples
Eyelash extensions are more convenient and affordable than ever, now that Amazing Lash Studio is opening a new studio in North Naples at the Shoppes at Vanderbilt. The new studio features eleven private lash application suites and is located at 2349 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Ste. 506, Naples, FL 34109. The Amazing Lash Studio in North Naples will open on Dec. 18, 2015. They have a special introductory offer of $79.99 for a full set of eyelash extensions, a savings of more than 50 percent when compared to most salons. The studio will host a Grand Open-
ing reception on Jan. 7, 2016. There will be a ribbon cutting at 5 pm. Guests will be able to meet the lash stylists, tour the studio and enter to win a year of free lashes and many other prizes. Amazing Lash Studio provides semi-permanent eyelash extensions at a contemporary and comfortable studio that offers convenient weekend and evening appointments. Amazing Lash Studio has a patented application process that enables their highly trained staff of licensed estheticians to complete the service in a fraction of the time required at traditional outlets.
“We are so excited to bring Amazing Lash Studio to Southwest Florida,” said Gordon Kaufman, Amazing Lash Studio Southwest Florida franchisee. “Our guests will love the look of their eyelashes and our extended hours make it convenient for every schedule.” The studio is open Mon. – Fri. 9 – 7, Sat. 9 – 6, and Sun. 10 - 6. Call 239325-LASH (5274) to schedule an appointment or get more information. Amazing Lash Studio has become the largest and fastest growing eyelash extension franchise in the nation with more than 168 franchises and 523 re-
gional developer licenses awarded in 26 states in just two years. Amazing Lash Studio was founded in Houston by Edward and Jessica Le, with the vision to raise the bar on the eyelash extension industry. In June 2014, John Leonesio became the CEO to franchise the concept nationally and internationally. Leonesio is the founder and former CEO of Massage Envy and most recently he served as the CEO for The Joint…the chiropractic place, a chiropractic franchise. For additional information, go to www.amazinglashstudio.com
What to do in active shooter situation
Today, we hear more and more about “active shooters.” An “active shooter” is an individual who is engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. For the most part, these active shooters use weapons and generally they have no pattern in the selection of their victims. Active shooter” are a random event that is unpredictable and happens very quickly. The FBI has been analyzing this situation. These events have more than doubled over the past seven years. More than twothirds of these incidents happen at businesses or schools. BY LINDA Knowing what you can do Suffolk Construction, which is overseeing construction of Altaira – WCI’s new luxury tower of 76 Sky HANWACKER can save lives. Most of these Homes in The Colony Golf & Bay Club in Bonita Springs Guest Columnist incidents are over in 5 minutes and usually no longer than 10 to 15 minutes. The event can be over before law enforcement arrives. Be aware of your environment and any possible dangers. Take note of the two Suffolk Construction, which is overseeing connearest exits in any facility you visit. If you are in struction of Altaira – WCI’s new luxury tower of 76 an office, stay there and secure the door. If you are Sky Homes in The Colony Golf & Bay Club in Boin a hallway, get into a room and secure the door. We wanted to celebrate our progress to date and nita Springs – recently held an appreciation lunch All schools and businesses should have an Emerfor more than 75 trade partners who have successcompliment our trade partners for the value they bring gency Action Plan (EAP), and conduct training exfully executed the work thus far. to the project. ercises to effectively respond and help minimize “We wanted to celebrate our progress to date loss of life. An effective EAP includes the details and compliment our trade partners for the value – Pete Tuffo, for reporting emergencies, evacuation procedures, they bring to the project,” said Pete Tuffo, COO for Suffolk Construction emergency escape procedures, floor plans, safe arthe southeast region of Suffolk Construction. “Over eas, contact information, emergency notification the last nine weeks, we have gone from a cleared system and other vital information. As an individsite to forming our first deck. All of our trade partual, you must prepare both mentally and physically ners have gone above and beyond the call of duty on how to deal with the situation. to execute work.” You have four options when faced with an acEach Sky Home, which starts from $1 million, planned to feature hurricane-rated, solar-tinted extive shooter – run, hide, play dead or fight. If you features approximately 3,300 to 3,500 square feet panses of exterior vision glass and floor-to-ceiling choose to run: 1. Have an escape route and plan in of living space, depending on the floor plan. The sliding glass doors that open to the terraces, as well mind. 2. Leave your belongings behind. 3. Evacuate tower features 19 residential floors, each with only as up to approximately 529 square feet of open-air regardless of whether others agree to follow. 4. Prefour residences per floor. Altaira residences are and screened-in terraces in select residences. vent others from entering an area where the active shooter may be. 5. Keep your hands visible to avoid being mistaken as the shooter. rime ffice Pace If you choose to hide: 1. Hide in an area out of uited O Our eedS uited O Our eedS the shooter’s view. 2. Lock door or block entry to 1601 Lee S treet, river diStrict, fOrt mYerS your hiding place. 3. Silence your cell phone (inFeatured Property Newly renovated office building cluding vibrate mode) and remain quiet. in the heart of the River District If you choose to play dead: 1. Lie underneath of Downtown Fort Myers, Florida. someone who is shot Modern art deco design. Adjacent and let the blood pool on you. Stay perfectly still. 3. Make sure your phone is off. to new library2. and community Power Lunch Specials If you choose to fight: 1. Fight as a last resort and plaza. Over 8100 square feet total, available in three units of 2348 to is in imminent danger and you only when your life Meatloaf Monday 2988 square feet. Call now 1601 Lee Street, River District, ForttoMyers have build-outcannot done toflee. meet 2. your Attempt to incapacitate the shooter. With mashed potatoes and roasted corn..........................7.95 needs. Professional space in downtown Rent and teRms aRe negotiable. 3. Act with as much physical aggression as posFort Myers, ready to build to your needs. Turkey Tuesday sible. 3.Improvise 5,887 square feet, can be divided. $12 per foot. Served open faced with mashed potatoes, roasted corn 6309 cOrPOrate cOurt, SOuth fOrt mYerS weapons or throw items at the Other Available Properties active shooter. and cranberry sauce...........................................................8.95
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JANUARY 2016
Bob Graham speaks about Paris, 9/11 at luncheon Bob Graham, former U.S. senator and governor of Florida, will be the featured speaker at The Speakers Assembly of Southwest Florida’s Jan. 15 luncheon, held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Report and Spa, 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34134. The event begins with member networking at 11 a.m., with the program and luncheon commencing at 11:45 a.m., followed by a 30-minute question-andanswer session with the speaker. During his appearance in Southwest Florida, Graham will speak on the recent terrorist events in Paris and 9/11. Graham, a two-term governor of Florida and three-term senator, retired from Capitol Hill in January 2005. He then spent the 2005-2006 academic year as senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School
of Government. In 2007, Graham, who earned his Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida, created The Bob Graham Center for Public Service at UF to train future political leaders. Graham was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as coBob Graham chair of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling in May 2010. In 2011, Graham published his first novel, the thriller “The Keys to the Kingdom.” Graham has written three non-fiction books: “Workdays: Finding Florida on the Job,” “Intelligence Matters” and “America: The
Owner’s Manual.” Graham currently serves as the chair of the Board of Overseers of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University Florida, and is a member of the CIA External Advisory Board. To attend this luncheon and hear the presentation by Bob Graham, followed by the opportunity to ask questions, visit SpeakersAssembly.com or call (239) 948-7909. Members of The Speakers Assembly of Southwest Florida attend seven seasonal luncheon events to be enlightened, educated and entertained by the world-class speakers. The Speakers Assembly will also host its 20th Anniversary Evening Celebration in February 2016. New members are always welcome to join.
Get behind these three tactics for rockstar business growth Have you set your sights on accomplishing major business growth in 2016 – but are beginning to feel like you may have bitten off more than you can chew? Let’s face it, most of us want to have a more successful business. However, we can start to feel overwhelmed with accomplishing the tasks we need to complete in order to cross the finish line. We start to only see the end result instead of focusing on the next step in front of us. Staying on track for “rockstar” business growth can be easily achieved by following these three tactics: 1. Break-up with perfectionism. Perfection is disguised as stalling! Getting “married” to a specific end result can work against you. Twelve months ago, could you predict where your life would be today? I didn’t think so. Instead: Set benchmark goals to accomplish within short stints of time, ask for feedback from your loyal clients to insure you are on the right track, and be flexible with your expectations. 2. Stop listening to those who have no experience in the arena you are in. I run into it more often than not. Business owners are crippled by the feedback they get from their mom, their best friend, their neighbor, or a complete stranger. Of course, their opinion is valid – for them. Instead, reach out to trusted advisors (leaders, mentors, or a certified coach) who have already walked through a battlefield you are about to enter and have come out alive. 3. Get on board with collaboration. Aligning yourself with your “perceived
competition” can rock your world and boost your capabilities. This can help you take a break from the “hats” you would rather not wear, give you the freedom to define (and redefine) your niche to position you BY ERICA better in the marCASTNER ketplace, and add Guest Columnist some fresh perspective. Some of my biggest business breakthroughs have come from working with people I once thought were my enemies. Remember, building a sustainable business is a process. As a business owner, you are the captain of your “ship” – but you don’t have to maintain it by yourself. There are plenty of resources to help you along your journey. Here’s to you connecting with awesome resources to grow and develop your business in 2016.
Maryann Mize is honored by Bayfront Medical Center CEO Richard H. Satcher for 17 years of service on the hospital’s board of directors
MIZE PAGE 1 “It has been an honor to serve a medical facility that has been a vital part of the Charlotte County community for nearly 70 years,” Mize said. Mize, who serves as senior vice president and senior credit officer at Charlotte State Bank & Trust, has more than 30 years of banking experience. A two-time Board of Realtors’ Business Partner of the Year, Mize makes presentations on Charlotte County real estate statistics to business and civic groups on a regular basis. She is a for-
As a certified business coach, Erica Castner is the founder of Queen of Results Business Coaching & Consulting, a company dedicated to helping working moms become unstoppable in all areas of their business and life. Erica is also the host of the podcast series, Proclamation of Persistence: The Busy Professionals Guide to Triumph & Success. For more information, visit thequeenofresults.com.
mer president of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce and member of the Leadership Charlotte Hall of Fame. She holds the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and is a certified instructor for the prestigious CCIM Institute. Peace River Regional Medical Center in Port Charlotte and Charlotte Regional Medical Center in Punta Gorda joined the Bayfront network in 2013. Bayfront Port Charlotte’s original hospital opened in 1962. The Punta Gorda hospital traces its roots back to 1947 with the opening of Charlotte Hospital.
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JANUARY 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 17
SWFL CCIM organization welcome new designees The CCIM Florida Chapter Southwest District congratulates chapter associates who recently earned the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation, making them members of the commercial real estate association. The three are Clifford “Chip” Olson, CEO/ CLO/broker with RE1 Advisor in Naples; Wendy Nelson, AVP-team leader-senior asset manager, asset resolution team at PNC Bank in Bonita Springs; and Bruce Miccichi, a broker associate with LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers.
To earn the prestigious CCIM designation, commercial real estate professionals must complete more than 160 hours of case study-driven education covering topics such as Interest-based negotiation, financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, investment analysis and ethics for commercial investment real estate. Candidates must also compile a portfolio demonstrating the depth of their commercial real estate experience and pass a comprehensive examination.
“Each designee has worked very hard and has put forth ample effort into achieving the CCIM designation, which will pay off throughout their entire commercial real estate career,” said Bev Larson, Florida Southwest District 2015 president. “I am pleased to welcome this new group of designees into our esteemed network of CCIM real estate professionals that are consistently sought out in the industry for their competence, work ethic and analysis expertise.”
IRS increases small asset expensing safe harbor limit Andy Biebl & Chris Hesse Guest Column
The IRS has increased the lower tier safe harbor amount from $500 to $2,500 for immediate deductibility of small assets, effective for years beginning on or after Jan. 1. The change affects any business that does not maintain an Applicable Financial Statement (an SEC statement, a certified audit, or a governmentally mandated financial statement) and applies to amounts spent to acquire, produce, or improve tangible property that would normally be capitalized and depreciated. Deduction versus depreciation. The new $2,500 threshold applies per invoice or (per item substantiated on an invoice), and must be applied consistently for both financial reporting and tax purposes. As a result, small
businesses will be able to immediately deduct many expenditures that would otherwise need to be spread over a period of years through annual depreciation deductions. The IRS Notice says that upon examination, it will not challenge a safe harbor expensing amount of up to $2,500 for pre-2016 years, if the taxpayer has accounting procedures at the beginning of the year that treats these amounts as an expense in its non-tax books and records. This audit protection provision for pre-2016 years protects businesses that did not elect the $500 safe harbor amount previously because their practice had been to expense small assets under a greater limit, such as $1,000 or $2,000. Businesses with an Applicable Financial Statement may have a written accounting policy, applied consis-
tently for financial reporting and tax purposes, which allows asset acquisitions up to $5,000 per invoice, or $5,000 per item on the invoice, as a current deduction. To use either of these de minimis safe harbors, the taxpayer must make an election by attaching a statement to a timely filed federal tax return. This election is an annual decision. Example using the new safe harbor. Acme Construction acquires 20 new computer tablets for its field managers and estimators. The invoice reads: “20 Panasonic 8GB Toughpads at $2,200 each = $44,000.” Assuming Acme has accounting procedures in place at the beginning of the year to deduct items under $2,500, the company may expense this $44,000 invoice for tax purposes without consuming any of its Section 179 first-year expensing limita-
tion. Acme’s tax return will require a written statement indicating that it has made an election to utilize the de minimis safe harbor for the current year. The company’s books must also reflect consistent expensing of items under $2,500. The de minimis safe harbor does not limit a taxpayer’s ability to deduct what is otherwise an allowable repair that exceeds the safe harbor amount (e.g., a new rubber membrane replacement on a flat roof of a commercial building). The de minimis safe harbor merely establishes a minimum threshold below which all qualifying amounts are considered deductible. How we can help. Contact your tax advisor if you have questions about adopting an increased safe harbor de minimis expensing amount for 2016 and beyond.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JANUARY 2016
Slack: Replacement for your office chat software Small and medium-sized businesses struggle to collaborate at times. With project management tools, emails, notes and text messages flying around, it’s a wonder that anything can be accomplished. We’ve implemented some great options for businesses and clients, but our latest favorite is Slack. Originally discovered by our strategy manager while surfing tech blogs, this chat software blends everything great about social media and project management and email tools all into one, making it simple for teams to collaborate. Here are a few things that you must know about it and why it might be a great replacement for your current office chat software.
No fluff, just function
There are endless options for office collaboration and chat. Some of them are a little too robust with tons of functionality and unused features, while others leave something to be desired from an integration perspective. When you’re analyzing applications to collaborate among your co-workers, it’s important to explore exactly what you’re looking for. Slack is structured with channels and uses hash tags to manage the conversation in a way similar to Twitter. You can use a single hash tag to discuss different aspects of projects, clients or subjects that apply to certain departments and the “random” channel by default
broadcasts to the entire group that you’ve invited. Some powerful integrations. While I love simple, businesses still need any new software they adopt to integrate with everyday applications that they use on a regular basis. A simple look at their integrations page yields integrations with PM software Asana, Twitter, Mail Chimp, DropBox, BY KYLE Google Drive, GoToMeetCEBULL ing and tons of other popular Guest Columnist applications. Their open API means that new integrations are being introduced all the time, as you’ll find if you explore deeper into the community for developers. You can take Slack as it comes or add these integrations if you want a more robust and integrated experience. In today’s world, we need applications that play nice so that they can adapt to different business processes and workflows easily.
Cross-platform accessibility
Let’s face it: Most of us struggle to make our
technology get along – particularly if you’re using iPads and iPhones with Microsoft products. While Microsoft is working to change this, there are still a lot of issues with some of the available chat applications (such as Lync) when you cross platforms onto an iOS device. Slack, however, is completely cross-platform, so everything just works. You can leave your desk and continue a conversation on your phone, or even your Apple Watch since the platform just launched its Apple Watch app. Continuity and mobility are crucial for organizations that have embraced the cloud, so it’s important that we give our employees tools to help them succeed on the go. If you’re looking for a way to manage office communication and are sick of the back and forth of email, Slack offers a really nice, fully integrated and crossplatform option to help you keep in touch and keep project details together in a central location. While some might write it off as the latest over-valued app, we think this one is going to do big things for how employees communicate within organizations. Kyle Cebull is CMO at Entech Computers. His 13 years of IT expertise ranges from managing data centers at the Marine Corps base in Quantico to strategic consulting for SME organizations. Contact him at (239)244-1959 or kyle@entechUS.com.
William Rollins, Jr receives Realtor award William H. Rollins, Jr., ALC, CCIM, senior broker at Land Solutions, Inc in Ft. Myers, FL. has been presented with the Florida Land Realtor® of the Year 2015 award by the REALTORS® Land Institute Florida (RLI), an affiliate organization of the National Association of REALTORS®. Members of RLI earn the prestigious Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation for the land real estate profession. Annually, the RLI Florida Chapter recognizes one member statewide, whose work furthers the interest of fellow Institute members, the land real estate profession, and the community. Rollins was chosen because of his professionalism in conducting land sales in Southwest Florida and his strong support for the RLI. Evidence of this support was his attendance at this year’s National Land Conference and his firm sponsoring recent Land University courses in Southwest Florida.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JANUARY 2016 Page 9
Fort Myers Downtown is burning hot
A
ment includs a Fort Myers downtown ing a soon to business, I am keenly interbe opened ested in business in the downevent hall. town area. As a longtime observer I Blu, the sushi have seen dramatic changes during restaurant, is my time walking the streets. opening on Ten years in the life of a city can be First Street a real indication of the fabric of that soon. The city and its people. The measure of a River District vibrant city generally is the quality of Alliance and the businesses and the amount of use BY RANDY KRISE Downtown by the citizens. This past decade is a Guest Columnist Property microcosm of the general progress Fort Myers has experienced during Owners Association are keeping things Location everything. Like stocks, property hopping and people informed. the 2000s.is important but timing is nearly value ebbs the andleaders flows. of Fort Myers The abandoned buildings that litIn 2000 were in the process of spending a lot tered downtown are all renovated of money to create a plan for down- and full. The hotel Indigo is on solid town. Downtown, as the jewel of footing. The Goodwill Boutique on the city, our leaders felt as though an First Street is complimented by the investment in a complete study and new Downtown Library. The Library a subsequent approved plan could is spectacular and Reubenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Smokeguide the area to renovation and re- house Restaurant will be opening Reubenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Huckleberry CafĂŠ inside newal. HowDuany do youPlan, maximize real the new downtown library (time value frontingof The as it isyour known, estate profit? When do you sell? What money)? I had integrates streetscape, parks, park- First Street and the West sideIfPatio are the real factors for success? had the use ing, building design and height which in January. The old Bank of Americaof thinks can make that $1,000,000 with the areEveryone some of the facetsthey of planning the Building has been remodeled money in real estate. The reason they ODZ ÂżUP RI +DKQ /R]LHU DQG WKH ROG for the prior plan covers. When the study began think that is because so many people 10 years and the downtown was basically a gov- EDQNLQJ Ă&#x20AC;RRU LV DOPRVW UHDG\ IRU D have done just that! But if that is true, known what I ernment center with little draw for or- new tenant. There is an old fashioned how can I cite example after example know now, I dinary people to come there. At night General Store on the east side where where different people owned the excould have done they could have closed the roads with the gym used to be located. act same property with one making a two or three The Sidney and Berne Davis Center a gate and would have noticed. killing and no theone other going bust? deals during the Former and timing current LocationCouncilman is important but is has under gone extensive timerenovations that I was and will have a rooftop event Mayor Randy Henderson and former nearly everything. Like stocks, prop- BY RANDY KRISE sitting on area the soon. But, the real news is the River Mayor Jim Humphrey and Councilerty value ebbs and flows. property and did Guest Columnist man Michael Flandersmarket were instruIf one understands forces %DVLQ WKDW ZDV ÂżQLVKHG notLQ cash in. ZLOO was mental in the development ofto theadjust plan now serve its real purpose in a macro sense, it is easier I which have made to allow major development by havand have had the courage over the timing. more money for people since 2009 to put water within years to insist by and that large the ing Do you knowthat or believe every thana Iplace did the prior 10 runoff years because the city. Sheraton Hotels hopes to plan is followed. Many people comdownturn in the U.S. economy over the cash price for distressed properties break ground on their new 225 room plained and criticized. People with the last 60 years has started in a year was unbelievably low as we came out parkingof garage in are June. little vision do that lot. Our leaders ending in eight, anda recovery started hotel of the and depression 2008. We still The hotel will incorporate Harborsoldiered on! in a year that ended in a two or three? flipping buildings. I purchased a propEvent3Center as half theirof convention Does that mean 2018 will begin an- side erty Nov. for about what I had meeting space. other downturn? a bona fide cash offer to purchase in David Fry,offer the was ex CEO Christopher Lee believes it will. 2006. This fromofa WCI, clienthas that purchase a small First Street lot paid. and The data he presented at the CCIM was nearly double what I just to build owner a seven story building Leadership Trainingis meetings in of Chi- plans The property wanted $3.9 milSo, how exciting it to be part containing a rooftop penthouse. It sits cagodowntown in Augustnow? was impressive and aplion then. The offer was for $3.7 milThe crowds are in front of Senator Lizbeth Benacpeared to be credible, as I have lived lion. Nine years later it sold for $1.9 here day and night. The River District million and the income is greater now. through the economy for the last 63 TXLVWRÂśV QHZ RIÂżFH Trolley brings the Edison Ford Estate So, how you exciting to be partOK. of years. Maybe can is sayit inflation, visitors downtown for lunch and dinner downtown now? The crowds are here If you wish to capture the maximum But in terms of raw dollars, it is either and night. The River District return during thisbusinesses cycle, youseem should a winner or loser depending onTroltimat no cost. Retail to day the Edison Ford Estate visiprobably sellmoney. beforeThe June of 2018. ing.brings I believe I will sell it before 2018 be making night clubs are ley downtown for $3.4 lunchmillion. and dinner If you in 2006 or 2007 and tors for between $3 and Anyfull. Everybought time you turn around there no want cost. some Retailofbusinesses seem to have not reached the point where you at body that action? If you is ansell event on you in downtown; can at agoing profit, may wantCarto be would likemoney. to trackThe thisnight saleclubs fromare the making Shows, Shows, Art Walk, Music think in Boat terms of some return and full. beginning the sale happens, just Every until time you turn around there Walk, festivals, fun runs and more. move on. letanme know. It isonainpremier corner is event going downtown; Carin Otherwise you could be looking at Shows, Fort Myers. by the it isMusic an inBoatOh, Shows, Artway, Walk, â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Randy Krise, 2022 or beyond. come-producing property with around Walk, festivals, fun runs and more. Owner, CKriseisCommercial My problem the amountGroup of time $100,000.00 net cashfrom flowthe after debt The enhancements Duany left before I just leave it to the kids. Plan service at my purchase price. have made downtown so beauti(They would love that!) 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Pam Wittenauer Commercial Realtor, Commercial Leasing Specialist
Celeste Hug Broker Associate, KCG Residential Team
NOT PICTURED: Gary Crouse / Commercial Specialist
2040 Virginia Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901
(Just off McGregor Boulevard, fronting First Street Village)
239-690-4100 www.krisecommercialgroup.com
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