July 2017 Southwest Florida Business Today by Southwest Florida Business Today

Celebrating 10 Years

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 10 No. 9 / JULY 2017 www.swﬂoridabusinesstoday.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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

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PROTECTING & PROFITING FROM OUR BAYS

Commercial Real Estate

A special pullout section exploring the Southwest Florida commercial real estate marketplace. Pages 7-14

Focus on Technology

Discover how innovation can improve the way you do business from cyber-security to corporate efficiency.

IN THE NEWS Spirit begins ﬂights from RSW to Hartford, Pittsburgh

New daily nonstop flights from Hartford and Pittsburgh to Fort Myers and Tampa begin Nov. 9. South Florida-based Spirit Airlines announced service to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers and Tampa International Airport (TPA) from Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL) and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) would begin on Nov. 9. The daily seasonal flights will bring ultra-low fare options for customers, airline officials said. SPIRIT See page 4

Women in Business names 2017 APEX nominees

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Women in Business announced the nominees for the 12th Annual APEX Award. The winners will be named at a ceremony on Wednesday, July 12 from 4-6 p.m. at Six Bends Harley-Davidson in Fort Myers. The APEX Awards recognize outstanding individuals in our community who are members of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and excel in the areas of professionalism, philanthropy, leadership and mentoring. APEX See page 19

Ofﬁcials with the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve program held a one-day workshop to discuss the “Health and Wealth of Watercraft Business in Estero Bay.” Above is a ﬂyover photo of Rookery Bay in Collier County.

Local workshop discusses SWFL watercraft business

Officials with the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve program held a oneday workshop to discuss the “Health and Wealth of Watercraft Business in Estero Bay.” The event, held in Estero on May 24, was developed to provide information about the Aquatic Preserve program, the resources and creatures that inhabit Estero Bay and further interesting facts, marketing tips and best practices for nature-based tourism for the benefit of wildlife and the

economy. The program included panel discussions and presentations from event partners including Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Audubon Florida, the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau and Manatee Guides. Topics covered seagrass protection, rookery islands, dolphins and manatees and the regulations protecting these resources.

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Naples MSA ranked most diverse in FL Bucking expectations, the Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island metropolitan statistical area maintained its ranking as the most diverse workforce in the state of Florida, according to a quarterly report issued by Florida Gulf Coast University’s Industry Diversification Project. The report ranks the MSA at the top for the third quarter in a row. “The results were a surprise because they apply to the fourth quarter of 2016,” Project Director Christopher Westley said. “Typically, the index falls from the third to fourth quarters as seasonal trends increase demand for goods and services provided in the sectors that are already concentrated. But in the fourth quarter of 2016, the index for Naples actually increased.” A higher index suggests a more diverse workforce and is computed quarterly around the time of the release of workforce data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since this data is released with a six-month lag, the rankings refer to the state of the workforce for the fourth quarter of 2016, which spans October through December. The other two MSAs in Southwest Florida—Cape Coral-Fort Myers and Punta Gorda—ranked 8th and 20th respectively during the same quarter. There are 22 MSAs in the state. The Southwest Florida workforce region experienced a decrease in industry diversification. Despite this, it maintained its ranking as the 9th most diverse region out of 24 in the state. WORK See page 19

What’s the key to Naples’ economic growth? By Karen Moore SWFBT Publisher

If anyone can get the answer to that question, it appears that President and Chief Executive Officer of the Naples Chamber of Commerce Michael Dalby is planning to be the one. In a recent and very energetic presentation, he shared some facts and figures for both the region and Collier County. From the May Regional Economic Research Institute’s (located at Florida Gulf Coast University) monthly report on the status of the Southwest Florida economy, Dalby shared that tourism was down a bit

in March compared to the prior year; consumer confidence in the economy was 99 percent, just a tad down from the prior year; housing inventory was up and sales down a little compared to prior year. The May Southwest Florida business climate index, as measured by Hodges University, was 65 (versus 77 in 2014-15.) So the numbers are not bad, nor are they exuding overwhelming consumer confidence. Then Dalby honed in on Collier County. The United Way’s Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) project recently revealed the following data regarding Collier County: the average income

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for a family of two adults, one preschool child and one infant is $56,112 or $30/hour. The required income to achieve financial stability in Collier County, however, is $108,768. He pointed out that Naples is the most expensive place to live in Florida (including Palm Beach.) “Rental housing availability,” he noted, “is a huge issue. We certainly need not only more but different types of housing.” So, Dalby asks, can the talent required to grow Collier County’s economy afford to live in Collier County? To accomplish this, he notes, Collier County needs more commercial primary employers ECONOMIC See page 3

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JULY 2017

TECHNOLOGY

Educate clients on industry terminology CPR Tools’ John Bemkert accepts the 2016 Business Ethics Award from Dr. Eric Dent.

Nominations open for ethics award

The Uncommon Friends Foundation has opened nominations for the 2017 Business Ethics Award, which are due no later than Sept. 1. Businesses in any of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Glades Counties who consistently demonstrate a system-wide commitment to high ethical business practices are eligible. Businesses can nominate themselves or be nominated by a third party. The nomination form and detailed submission guidelines are available at www.uncommonfriends.org. Finalists will be honored at a special business ethics luncheon hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert School of Business and the Uncommon Friends Foundation on Nov. 1. The winner of the Business Ethics Award will be revealed at the annual Uncommon Evening on Nov. 2 at the Burroughs Home & Gardens in Fort Myers.

Technology experts have a language and a culture all their own. In my experience, helping small businesses with their tech and marketing needs, I’ve found that many have had unpleasant experiences with tech providers because they couldn’t communicate successfully. This creates a distrust for the tech industry that can be difficult to overcome later. For example, one of my clients had spent $20,000 to design a custom CRM. The software never worked well enough to use, and in the end they walked away without anything to show for their time or money. My client is a transportation company and understanding their sales process and payment processing was critical to building the right system that would help them manage their business more efficiently. For example, they relied on texting, phone calls and abruptly announcing new information in a small office so that all staff could hear and act on it. That system needed to be replicated in the software in order to keep everyone aware of new information. I had to tease out accurate answers from my client in frequent office visits, often repeating the same question on multiple occasions. I asked them what questions they asked their customers. Meanwhile, I emailed the software developer a list of data fields and used indentations

to indicate dependencies. By bridging the language and culture gap between them, I helped re-launch their website with a powerful back end, perfectly tailored to meet their BY NATALIE LEEKE unique data Guest Columnist needs and tied into their payment-processing and contract-signing systems. They were delighted because it boosted their efficiency and allowed them to scale their business. If you’re a tech provider, consider these suggestions when speaking with small-business owners about their technology needs: • Educate your client. It helps to ask questions to find out how much the small-business owner understands about technology. In order to avoid a condescending tone, let them know ahead of time that you will ask if they are familiar with certain terms, so that you don’t waste their time if they already know. Make them aware that your goal is to make sure that you understand their needs and they understand what you are providing.

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• Explain concepts. Developers and other techies love the details of their knowledge that set them apart from “users.” I love them too. However, I’ve found it’s more helpful to explain concepts. Business owners are generally more adept at understanding concepts than remembering acronyms. Don’t avoid the jargon; just explain it! For example, instead of using the term “API” and then defining it as Application Program Interface, explain that it’s the bit of computer code that lets one software program communicate with another. Use the term API later and they’ll not only understand what you mean, but they’ll feel a little smarter. • Make it visual. It’s hard for people to visualize in their minds how software is structured, so consider creating pictures of what a website might look like with all the buttons and tabs they might need. Small business owners will appreciate you showing them a rudimentary mockup of a proposed homepage because it unlocks their imagination and helps them to create a more detailed picture in their own mind.

Natalie Leeke is a website consultant and the owner of GRIP Websites, a Fort Myers-based technology and marketing company. Prior to forming GRIP, Leeke spent 20 years in marketing and four years designing websites.

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JULY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 3

GUEST COMMENTARY

Special session settles budget ﬁght The Florida Legislature convened in a three-day special session to address several policy matters, and the outcome is a big win for Florida. Highlights of our work during the special session included:

Education Funding One of the primary reasons for convening the special session was to re-address education funding. I am pleased to tell you legislation enacted last Friday appropriates $11.7 billion in total state funds of which $154.0 million is nonrecurring. The bill sets the Required Local Effort at $7.6 billion, which is the same as the RLE for Fiscal Year 2016-2017; this will result in an approximately $521 million tax avoidance to Florida property owners. The bill provides $7,296.23 in total funds per student, which is a $100 increase over total funds per student provided in Fiscal Year 2016-2017. The bill establishes a base student allocation of $4,203.95 in the FEFP for Fiscal Year 2017-2018, which is a $43.24 increase over the BSA for Fiscal Year 2016-2017. Additionally, we restored $60 million in capital outlay projects currently underway at several of our state universities, including $12.7 million for the Integrated Watershed and Coastal Studies building at Florida Gulf Coast University. Florida Job Growth Grant Fund Consistent with our efforts during the 2017 Regular Session, we enacted legislation during the special session to end traditional practices of corporate welfare, and establish strong transparency and accountability measures for both Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida. This new model creates an innovative way for government to encourage economic growth—one that ends the practice of business specific incentive payments in favor of broad-based investments in Florida. The new Florida Job Growth Grant Fund: • Limits funding to public infrastructure and workforce training. • Requires that public infrastructure be owned by the public and available for public use or predominately for benefit of the public. • Requires that if public infrastructure is leased or sold, it must be leased or sold at fair market rates or value. • Specifies that job training grants may only be made to state colleges or state technical centers and

ECONOMIC PAGE 1 (i.e. Arthrex,) that sell outside the region but bring back dollars to the local economy (i.e. via their employees.) He also noted while 76 businesses opened their doors in Collier County in 2016, these were primarily national chain store locations, while the development of larger local businesses are the key to future economic growth in Collier County. In closing, he shared that in a March 2017 poll of 300 randomly selected Collier County residents, the following were top concerns: 23 percent, reducing traffic congestion; 20 percent, managing economic growth

that the training must provide participants with transferable, sustainable workforce skills, which may not be confined to the skills required by any single employer. • Ties BY DANE EAGLE investment to Guest Columnist the expansion of targeted industries or the economic recovery of specific regions of the state rather than linking the investments to the performance of specific companies as is done in traditional incentive programs. • Prohibits the use of public funds for the exclusive benefit of any single company, corporation, or business entity. • Allows the Department of Economic Opportunity, at the direction of the Governor, to make critical, rapid investments in public infrastructure and job training that will benefit Florida’s economy and Florida’s workforce but not a specific company or corporation. • Will receive an $85 million non-recurring appropriation for 201718 fiscal year. Visit Florida Under provisions of legislation enacted during the special session, Visit Florida will receive $76 million for fiscal year 2017-2018. The bill also imposes salary caps and travel restrictions on Visit Florida personnel. Moreover, Visit Florida contracts valued at $500,000 must be posed online, and contracts over $750,000 must go before the Joint Legislative Budget Commission and could be voided within 14 days by the Speaker of the House or the President of the Senate. Lake Okeechobee/Herbert Hoover Dike As part of a bill we approved on the last day of the special session, the state will draw $50 million from reserves to speed up repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in charge of repairs to the dike around Lake Okeechobee, but speeding up repairs will expand on our efforts to build reservoirs and reduce polluted discharges into the Caloosahatchee estuary.

Relax Southwest Florida, we can help you balance cost and choice. UnitedHealthcare is here for Southwest Florida businesses. Your employees don’t often get to choose how they enter the health system, but you can at least choose how to help get them covered. Superior service. Competitive rates. Customizable options. No matter what size your business is, we’ve got health plans to fit your needs.

State Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral, is the state House majority whip. and development; 15 percent, controlling housing costs (28 percent of those 18-44 years of age); 14 percent, better paying jobs and 8 percent, environmental preservation. Clearly while no single issue seems to be an overwhelming concern of all generations residing in Collier County, there are a number of notable concerns to address. In closing, he shared that his main focus at this time will be on developing workforce housing in Collier County. He added, “The solution to affordable workforce housing in Collier County is not a ‘single bullet’ and must include workforce development on many levels and in different arenas.”

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JULY 2017

TECHNOLOGY

New laws, regulations often change way business gets done By Craig and Kim Carlson Guest Columnists

All U Need Pest Control is owned and operated by the husband-wife duo, Craig and Kim Carlson. They have been serving the Southwest Florida area for over the 15 years and strive to provide their customers with the best and safest products on the market. They have learned to adapt to changes in local regulations especially with their lawn fertilizer products. After the Urban Turf Fertilizer Rule was passed at the end of 2007, they left the fertilizer business altogether because many customers didn’t understand the new regulations and demand waned. The new rules stated that during the blackout period of June to end of September, fertilizer or weed control could not be put down. It was initially frustrating for both the business and their customers. All U Need Pest Control took time to fully understand the new law, understand fertilizers and their effects on the environment and searched for a solution that would work for both their business and their customers. The new regulations were enacted to slow the damaging effects of “traditional” fertilizer had on the environment. These fertilizers have a high nitrogen and petroleum based content. Eventually, a toxic mix of chemicals can build up in the soil causing a change in the soil pH, destruction of microbial ecosystems, increased pests and the risk of

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All U Need Pest Control has safe products that they can use to help lawns withstand the heat during the summer months. contaminated produce. These chemicals also begin leaching into the waterways and cause severe damage to local ecosystems. After researching various organic options, All U

Need Pest Control discovered an all-natural product that nourished the soil while still delivering the benefits of a traditional fertilizer. N-Ext fertilizers are designed to work in the soil by increasing microbial activity. Sea kelp is added to increase rooting and carbon which is essential in Southwest Florida with its sandy soil. The presence of microbes also helps create a soil environment where nutrients are released and made available to the plant at a steady rate. The products worked so well that they made the change from synthetic fertilizers to N-Ext completely and decided to get back into the fertilizer business. With the growing concern of environmental issues impacting our soils and waterways, it made sense for the business to make this change. These complete formulas ensure that the lawn and landscape get all that is needed thrive throughout the year. Further benefits are improved plant and soil health, stronger and healthier plants, beautiful healthy green lawns and a fertilizer that is childand pet-safe along with being in compliance with the fertilizer ordinance. All U Need Pest Control still must follow the blackout dates, but the company has other safe products that they can use to help lawns withstand the heat during the summer months. Kim and Craig Carlson are the owners of All U Need Pest Control in SWFL. Learn more at alluneedpest.com.

Pulse oﬀers online cyber security training James Ritter, founder and CEO of Pulse Technology Solutions (www. Pulse.Tech) has announced that the firm now offers it a series of online cyber security training courses. The curriculum was developed by a team of certified security professionals who are dedicated to creating public awareness of cyber security threats. The training program is based on Information Security Awareness and focuses on key issues such as ransom-

ware attacks, spear phishing, malicious software and social engineering to name just a few. Activities are placed throughout the courses to test the user’s knowledge and to teach them effective ways to prevent a successful attack. Course content suits a broad and general audience and is meant to create the first line of defense to help prevent attacks against end users and corporate networks. The training is backed by a power-

SPIRIT PAGE 1 “We are excited to bring these two popular destinations to the newest cities in our network,” said Mark Kopczak, Spirit Airlines’ vice president of Network Planning. “Spirit Airlines is committed to bringing more ultra-low fare options to Hartford and Pittsburgh and we look forward to growing our presence in Southwest Florida.

Our service will allow more friends to reconnect and more families to go on vacation, saving money on airfare to spend it at their destination.” Spirit’s new flights are available for purchase now. Customers can check out the fares and vacation packages available to all of Spirit Airlines’ destinations at www.spirit.com and also sign up to receive alerts on Spirit’s email deals and offers.

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ful LMS-based tracking and reporting system that ensures that the user is absorbing the training that is being provided. Pulse Technology Solutions recently established an alliance with SecuSolutions Ltd., one of North America’s leading cyber security solutions for business. For more information on how to register for cyber security training, visit www.pulse.tech or call 239-676-6679.

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TECHNOLOGY

Are you using LinkedIn to connect?

GATES Construction has been selected to construct the new Robb & Stucky Distribution Center in Fort Myers.

GATES to build Robb & Stucky distribution center

GATES Construction has been selected to construct the new Robb & Stucky Distribution Center in Fort Myers. Located on Lee Road, the 125,514-square-foot warehouse and office building will become the new company headquarters for Robb & Stucky. The new warehouse will be used for office space, furniture storage, and assembly and repair of furniture. The project is scheduled for completion in late winter 2017. Architectural

design is being provided by MHK Architecture & Planning. As Florida’s premiere builder, GATES Construction serves its clients from offices in Bonita Springs and Sarasota as a full service general contracting firm providing construction management and design-build services with a diversified project portfolio in all types of commercial, institutional, industrial, healthcare and multi-family construction projects.

Articles: Are you in or out? As a “Birth Of A business owner you are aware of the Writer.” This article is importance of being in the loop on a part of a series social media, right? It is one of the of articles I will fastest ways to connect and put yourbe writing; the self in front of your customers. Rename of the secently, I noticed that I was out of the ries is loop on something, LinkedIn. Yes, I “The Birth had the profile but I was not checkSeries.” I am ing it or being very active. I had been officially in on thinking, how can I tap into the platLinkedIn Arform that I have on this network? ticles! You can I recently published my first book, BY JAMILLA D. check the article called Beautiful You Are! Inspired BROOKS out here: www. Poems. I was adding this accom- Guest Columnist linkedin.com/ plishment to my profile and thinking to myself, let me learn more about pulse/birth-series-writer-jamillaLinkedIn, so I checked out the Help dbrooks-mba So, Articles: Are you in or out? Center and read a few articles and viewed a webinar. Then it dawned Just know when you are in, you on me that I could get in on LinkedIn can showcase your expertise and be viewed as an expert in your field by Articles. On the desktop version of Linke- your customers and future customdIn, you can publish articles on any- ers. You can open yourself up to a thing, so why not write about your whole new group of people that you business and what you have going may have not known was in need of on, your latest trends or what you your services. It’s never too late to have coming up next! There is a built get LinkedIn! in tool that makes your articles look great and it takes you step by step. If Jamilla D. Brooks is a native to beauyou are in need of some tips you can tiful Southwest Florida, an Inspirasearch the LinkedIn Help Center; it is tional Speaker at Desire To Inspire and author of Beautiful You Are! Ina great resource! So I am excited to say that I pub- spired Poems. Find her book on Amalished my first LinkedIn article, zon.

TECHNOLOGY

Leverage technology to scale your business to next level By Ilan Rubin Gust Columnist

It is common knowledge that technology changes can improve our lives in many ways. Shorten distances, reduce the time it takes to achieve results, facilitate education, bring people closer, and so on. But for we entrepreneurs looking for solutions every day to increase our sales, is changing technology truly a good ally? In addition to the technologies that are fundamental to managing with greater speed and accuracy, we have the “technology of relationships” that is transforming the ways of interacting. In the case of marketing, the internet has two sides. On the one hand, it gives us the ability to scale our enterprise and reach people we could probably never reach without help, or at least without a tenfold increase in investment. On the other hand, it has made the process of customer acquisition and consolidation much more complex. Because of this

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complexity, it is necessary to always be aware of the new technologies that appear in the market, and creatively seek in each of them the opportunity to help our company grow. Today, many companies use text and voice messaging tools to get closer to their customers. For example, one tool that is growing in its use, WhatsApp, allows you to create broadcast lists you can use to send messages to different groups of people, making it possible to reach your desired audience with more precision. Consumer companies today that have not utilized Google and Facebook to target their market(s) are losing market share. Meanwhile, other companies that are always seeking to be closer to their customers are strengthening their brands and increasing their numbers of loyal customers via the newest marketing tools. When we see big companies closing their operations today, the main reasons include that they did not embrace and/or understand how to leverage the

changes in technology to connect with their customers. So, dear reader friend, the question I want you to consider is: How have you utilized the potential of the internet and emerging technologies to leverage your company’s growth? There are numerous options that we have in the market today to use, such as Facebook, Skype, Google+, LinkedIn, Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and so on. The list continues to grow every day. It is up to us as business owners to decide which tools to use to our company’s benefit. As the general and philosopher Sun Tzu teaches, “Opportunities multiply as they are grasped.” So grasp every opportunity, use creativity and pursue success. Ilan Rubin has 30 years’ experience managing teams and companies in clothing wholesale, retail and trading. You can reach him at 239-206-2520 or ilan@anagoswfl.com.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Naples travel agent invited to Africa

Preferred Travel of Naples travel advisor Wendy Taylor was recently invited to attend the annual “We Are Africa” travel event in Cape Town. The exclusive, by invitation only event, exposed Taylor and other invited guests to the many luxury travel opportunities on the continent of Africa. The travel expo event brought together travel companies and agencies from around the world and connected them with luxury hotels, camps, destinations specialists and safari companies. The three-day event included seminars by world renowned speakers and meetings with the luxury African hotels and companies. “Not too many agencies like Preferred Travel are approved to attend; the invitations usually go to the mega agencies and top travel experts in the world,” said Wilma Boyd, president of Preferred Travel Naples. “The application process to attend is not easy but we were invited this year, which is a huge deal for our

company.” Approval and vetting is required to attend and includes a rigorous application process based on production, reputation and potential; to be approved Preferred Travel of Naples had to have the endorsement of three luxury Taylor African suppliers and African hoteliers. Taylor was also selected to be one of only eight to attend the Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) hard hat viewing of the new museum to be opened this fall. “We Are Africa” is dedicated to projecting a more modern and dynamic image outwards and bringing a plethora of new business into their continent. In cooperation with Africa’s best travel brands, they are dedicated to telling the many stories of their diverse countries and people.

JULY 2017

Cindrich named to national board

Tami Cindrich, a certified public accountant with Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co., was recently elected to serve as a board member for the National Society of Certified Healthcare Business Consultants. Cindrich will oversee the Membership Committee for the NSCHBC, which assists the national organization in recruiting, retaining and validating members that provide value to the organization and its current membership. Cindrich joined the MNMW team in 1998. She is a certified public accountant, certified healthcare business consultant and an advanced certified QuickBooks Pro advisor. She is an expert in the tax and consulting areas for medical and dental practices.

Process mapping: A simple tool for improving your bottom line Unless you are an analyst or work for someone who appreciates analyses and what they can do for an organization, the first thought you may have when “process mapping” is mentioned can be “What a waste of time”… “make work”… or some other such rejection shortcut. What does process mapping do for you? Process Mapping is the method (automated or manual) by which the work and activities of an organization can be broken down to the lowest level necessary to determine accountability, identify problem areas, define safety risks or security risks. It has been used and refined since the late 1800s. If you are a one-person activity, it can be part of your personal productivity enhancement. It can layout exactly what you do, when it is necessary, and how to do it easier and faster. It enables prioritization of your work. It may even eliminate some time consuming effort by revealing better ways to do things. At the very minimum process mapping of your activities will highlight your activities driven by procrastination. If you are responsible for oversight of people, process mapping allows you to assign workers where they are most effective. It reveals redundancy and highlights events for elimination. It parses activities and allows you to determine the level of resources expended on each. For example, if one of your activities is preparing materials for trade shows it defines the level of resources expended; which enables the calculation of ROI for each trade show. In addition to streamlining; It provides a tool for rational decision making. For large organizations, Process Mapping is often a necessary action to avoid task creep, enable prioritization and scheduling of activities. Process Mapping identifies vulnerabilities for safety, security, equipment failures and employee

assignments. It may provide a base to support risk assessments, mitigation plans and other needed analyses. Process Mapping can be accomplished by several approaches, either in house or by contract. In one in-house approach, employees are asked to map their workload. If this approach is used be sure that they identify input and output points in order to BY PAULINE link the whole effort togethCASON er. Usually this approach Guest Columnist will require some training or focused management direction. This approach may require rework as employees’ understanding of the task may vary. Regular workload often precludes this approach. A second in-house approach is training a team to perform the task for the entire organization. The team approach can reduce preparation effort and time; and results in a more compatible product across the organization. It can be accomplished by choosing a functional expert from each workgroup, and training the team in the process and the expected results. Process Mapping is not rocket science but it is time consuming and labor intensive if performed in house. Employees may bias results to benefit their own perceived turfs. Tools and techniques can be downloaded from the internet. Process mapping can be done manually by smaller organizations who may not wish to invest in automated tools. Another method is to hire a consultant to plan and execute the Process mapping analysis. A consultant will provide objective and educated as-

sessment of the results. The Federal Government has used this approach over the years for outsourcing studies in attempts to consolidate and reduce government workforce numbers. These studies usually included other analyses with the Process mapping as the base. Contracted Process mapping results can include focused accountability, cost savings, increased productivity, lead-time reduction, improved quality, greater customer value and alignment to strategy. Requested recommendations may include: focuses for streamlining; identification of safety and security vulnerabilities with mitigation plans; or documentation of any of the products listed in the sentence above. If you are a manager in a high-risk industry such as medical, manufacturing or defense where failures or breakdowns have high cost and huge consequences; the consultant method is the safest and the most efficient. Consulting companies abound with automated tools and experts. Gardner Research has evaluated them and identified companies with outstanding histories of applications. It is common for large companies and government bodies to use automated systems to map their processes. Trained consultants are more objective in pointing out unnecessary activities and identifying risk and safety points. The technique is valuable for improving the performance of your organization, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations and increasing your bottom line. Pauline Cason, is a seasoned consultant and B2B copywriter. She is transitioning from the Defense industry to working in water reclamation, energy conservation, environmental issues and information technology.

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that SWFBT highlights: • • • •

Breaking Business News B2B Events Calendar Photo Galleries Commercial Real Estate Directory • Professionals who are “Going Places” ... and much more at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

JULY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 7

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

What is the future of retail? By Karen Moore SWFBT Publisher

A few weeks ago, Nikki Traff, Senior Director of Leasing Real Estate Services at Madison Marquette, spoke to a local commercial realtor group about the future of retail malls. This, of course, is completely dependent on who is and will be going to malls now and in the future. Overview of the marketplace Traff shared a detailed analysis of the “make-up” of the largest percentage of current mall shoppers—Generation Z, Milennials and Baby Boomers. With the waning attention span of younger shoppers who prize convenience and speed, combined with the cost- and socially-conscious attitudes of Milennials, this entertainment approach to future mall development (and redevelopment) makes sense. However, regarding preferences on where purchases are made, members of Generation Z align with their Baby Boomer counterparts: the majority of both generations prefers to purchase in a physical location. Not surprisingly, all generations do their shopping online; Milennials are the most comfortable with making online purchases. As Traff shared, other factors that affect the future of mall retailing include 1) overgrowth in the 1980s through the 2000s, 2) the Great Recession and the fact that 3) legacy retailer are boring; if they don’t keep up with the trends, they will close. What’s next? In a nutshell, the retail malls of the future will be much more entertainmentoriented. Madison Marquette has two Southwest Florida malls as clients; Mercato in Naples and The Bell Tower Shops

Kim Donnelly

Maryann Mize, CCIM Senior Vice President Senior Credit Officer

VP, Commercial Lending Collier County

kdonnelly@csbtfl.com

mmize@csbtfl.com

cmadden@csbtfl.com

239-476-0870

941-624-1916

239-672-9626

VP, Commercial Lending Lee County

www.charlottestatebankandtrust.com

in Fort Myers. Traff points out that the malls of the future will be made up of 40 percent food and beverage establishments, while in the past this percentage was only 10 percent. Food and beverage enterprises will “fill in” as the traditional anchor retailers disappear. Perhaps living spaces will become part of the malls of the future as well. Online retailers like Amazon may use some of these “big box” spaces for local warehousing in order to shorten their delivery times Mercato updates Traff pointed out, “Mercato is on the leading forefront for the retail mall entertainment revolution.” According to Traff, retail has not yet come to fruition here while food and beverage has grown tremendously. Traditional restaurants will be replaces with quick-food places and other food locations will be replaced with those attractive to “the hip and young.” Bell Tower Shops reinvented This mall, Traff notes, will be re-oriented to an 18-hour day crowd. It will be much more like Mercato—for instance the archways will disappear. “The food and beverage segment currently accounts for 15 percent of this mall’s business—and this number can climb to 40 percent.” Haven, a night entertainment spot with Miami roots, is slated to open this summer. “Some soft goods stores will be changed to food and beverage,” Traff notes, “And others will be relocated within in the mall.” The currently vacant Saks Fifth Avenue store location will be re-designed from a ‘big box’ to an entertainment-based concept utilizing the entire space. More is in the works for these two mall spaces so more will be soon to come as the future of mall retailing becomes the present in Southwest Florida.

Cristin Madden

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JULY 2017

TECHNOLOGY+CREATIVITY=INNOVATION A new approach to commercial real estate transforming industry standards through

INNOVATIVE client-driven solutions.

CYPRESS PROFESSIONAL CENTER FREESTANDING RETAIL Class a mediCal oFFiCe us 41 Frontage 29,919± sF 15,321± sF $4,750,000 $3,900,000

TAYLOR EXECUTIVE CENTER Professional office 18,185± sf $1,454,800

BRIARCLIFF RD COMMERICAL signalized interseCtion 1.03± aCre Corner $330,000

UNIVERSITY PARK II summerlin road Frontage 8,200± sF $15.75 PsF nnn

COLONIAL BLVD OFFICE Class a Building 8,840± sF $9.00 PsF nnn

COLLEGE PKWY CORRIDOR CommerCial develoPment site 1.18± aCres $279,000

COLONIAL EXECUTIVE PARK Colonal Blvd Frontage 1,480 - 4,175± sF starting at $9.75 PsF nnn

ENN LUTHRINGER, CCIM www.creconsultants.com 12140 Carissa Commerce Court, Suite 102, Fort Myers, FL 33966

Partner 239.481.3800 x235 enn.luthringer@creconsultants.com

JULY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 9

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

GUEST COMMENTARY

North Fort Myers blossoming into every investor’s dream Best Commercial Lot Values in Southwest Florida 25335 Rampart Blvd Port Charlotte 33983

4214 Duncan Road (Hwy. 17) Punta Gorda 33982

Price: $1,195,000 Size: 4.30 AC Description: Medical Office Space. Deep Creek has several ALF communities, private and public. Major Rehabilitation Center 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, environmentals done. Just East of I-75. Zoned Industrial, Retail, Commercial General, No Residential or Mixed Use, 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.

Marion Ave Punta Gorda 33950

For more information contact:

Jeanette Igoe Broker Igoe Realty P.A.

Price: $399,000 Size: 2.70 AC Description: 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.

Jigoe5@aol.com 239-572-3269 www.JeanetteIgoe.com

North Fort Myers is an unincorporated portion of Lee County that is about to blossom. The potential to realize significant profits from investing in North Fort Myers is now the most ripe it has been in 15 years and possibly ever! Lying in between the cities of Fort Myers and Cape Coral, along the north shore of the Caloosahatchee River, makes North Fort Myers the perfect spot for future growth in Lee County. There has been investment over the years that has totally flopped. Today you see some old dilapidated shopping centers and many mobile home parks. But in between the obviously ugly parts of North Fort Myers stand new construction and new housing. The Lee County Commission, led by Commissioner Brian Hamman, has commissioned a study to assess the area, its potential and new ideas to finally revitalize the area. The Horizon Council, a public private association of community leaders, has formed a task force and is actively promoting the area through the Lee County Economic Development Office, led by staff member Rachel Busch. In an effort to bring the area together, the Horizon Council has partnered with the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, The North Fort Myers Civic Association and the Lee County Sherriff’s Office. This partnership is already paying dividends as new economic activity is already taking place. This is a slow process but once critical mass is reached it is hard for the average guy to have the means to invest. It starts with infrastructure. Any recent visitor driving up Cleveland North (U.S. 41) can see the extensive road improvement and sidewalks and beautification being constructed to the county line. The new Racetrac Gas Station at Pine Island Road across from Home Depot and the newest Racetrac near the Shell Factory are significant. Additionally, we have a new O’Reily’s Auto Parts store in front of Home Depot on Pine Island Road. Ross, Dress

for Less is closing a big hole in the north end of Merchant’s Crossing. Go up to Del Prado Boulevard and U.S. 41 and see the substantial home building going on at Entrada and up De BY RANDY KRISE Navarro Boulevard. The popuGuest Columnist lation is growing fast. Commissioner Hamman was able to get the Littleton Road widening and Kismet Boulevard realignment project moved up on the priority list of the Florida Department of Transportation. It will be widened to for lanes from Business 41 to Kismet Blvd. with medians and realigned seamlessly with Kismet Blvd. The DOT is engineering the roadway as we speak. The schedule calls for engineering now in process, right of way acquisition in 2018 with construction in 2019. We have several great feeder projects at Pine Island Road and 24th Avenue. A new Florida Cancer Specialists building at Hancock Creek and Pine Island Rd has just been finished. There are opportunities surrounding the VA Clinic on Diplomat Parkway. Pondella Road and Old U.S. 41 are sitting there waiting for people to see the beauty of refurbishing those old buildings, and they will get redone. Any good quality investment in land or buildings in North Fort Myers today will payoff handsomely within a five year window. If you have 10 years to wait you will really win big league! Randy Krise, CCIM, is the broker/ owner of Krise Commercial Group in Fort Myers. He is also the developer of Kismet Industrial Park in North Fort Myers. Krise can be reached at 239-633-8672 or by email at randy@krisecg.com.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JULY 2017

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

Choose the right commercial professional for you RON WELEBNY, CCIM

THERESA BLAUCH-MITCHELL, CCIM

Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry & DeSoto Counties

Lee, Collier, Charlotte & Sarasota Counties SWFL CCIM past president, Florida CCIM membership chair, CCIM international committee. Hablo Español.

BOBACK COMMERCIAL GROUP

239-265-2628 theresa@bobackcommercialgroup.com www.bobackcommercialgroup.com

• • • •

INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL

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

CRE CONSULTANTS

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

• COMMERCIAL • OFFICE • INVESTMENT

CCIM

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

BARBARA MONAHAN,CCIM Collier, Lee, Charlotte, & Hendry Counties

28 year CCIM with 35 years CRE experience. Past president FL & CT CCIM chapters, 2 years CREW SWFL president, FL Regional Commercial Director National Company.

“GULFCOAST COMMERCIAL SERVICES”

239-370-0229 bam1gcs@gmail.com

• • • • •

INVESTMENT RETAIL INDUSTRIAL OFFICE / MEDICAL LAND

JIM GARINGER, CCIM, SIOR Lee, Charlotte & Collier Counties Jim and his team have successfully been helping clients reach their goals for more than 20 years and want to help you with yours. Give Jim a call today!

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL 239-272-7437 Jim.Garinger@colliers.com www.colliers.com/jim.garinger

• MULTI-TENANT INVESTMENT PROPERTIES • LAND SALES

Qualifying Broker / Managing Partner, President of SWFL Commercial Alliance. Past President of Commercial Investment Professionals of SWFL. Board member of CCIM Institute SWFL District. Member of CoStar Advisory Board.

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.

COMMERCIAL REALTY ASSOCIATES 239-671-6574 Ron@CRA.us

BROKERS ANALYSTS ADVISORS CONSULTANTS

ADVERTISING IN SWFBT’S CCIM PAGES

REALLY WORKS!

Wednesday 12/28/16 - A quiet business �me for commercial real estate. My cell phone rang. It was Barb Monahan, a long-�me CCIM in Naples who just commi�ed to par�cipate in the 2017 CCIM branding program. She said, “Hi Karen. I was wondering when did the newspaper get delivered?” I replied, “Yesterday.” She was very quiet, then said, “Wow! I’m up north celebra�ng the holidays with family, but just got a call oﬀ the ad I placed with you. That was really quick!” - Karen Moore, Publisher, SWFBT

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.

ADAM PALMER, CCIM Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, Tampa & Orlando Principal & Managing Director LandQwest Commercial, Vice President of Finance for the Florida CCIM Chapter, 10-time CoStar Power Broker Award Winner

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.

• • • •

LANDQWEST COMMERCIAL

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

• • • • •

OFFICE INVESTMENT LAND RETAIL INDUSTRIAL

INTEGRITY

MEASUREMENT

Overall, CCIM’s global network enables members to close thousands of transactions annually. representing more than $200 billion in value. But closing transactions is only part of what CCIMs can do. In addition to holding dealmaking 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.

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

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

COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL NRT 941-769-3316 rstruthers@ccim.net www.commercialrealtyfl.com

• • • • •

INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL LEASING

JULY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 11

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

Choose the right commercial professional for you GERALD HENDRY, MAI, CCIM

MARYANN MIZE, CCIM

Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte & Sarasota Counties 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 2017 President for the SWFL CCIM District.

MAXWELL, HENDRY & SIMMONS LLC

• • • • •

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

APPRAISAL CONSULTING COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL TAX APPEALS

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

www.swﬂoridabusinesstoday.com

BRUCE MICCICHE, CCIM Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties

Senior Associate Broker with 30 years of experience. Licensed in Florida and Pennsylvania. Specializing in investment and retail sales and leasing.

LANDQWEST COMMERCIAL

941-999-1188 bmicciche@lqwest.com www.lqwest.com

• • • • •

INVESTMENT RETAIL DEVELOPMENT COMMERCIAL SALES & LEASING

Lee & Charlotte Counties Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer. More than 30 years of commercial lending experience. CCIM Senior Instructor and 2015-2016 SWFL CCIM District Treasurer.

Why use a CCIM?

• FINANCING OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

CHARLOTTE STATE BANK & TRUST

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

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

CREDIBILITY

COMMUNITY

• • 239-649-7755 • dave.wallace@creconsultants.com •

CRE CONSULTANTS

CCIM

INTEGRITY

Did you know ... that SWFBT highlights: • • • •

Breaking Business News B2B Events Calendar Photo Galleries Commercial Real Estate Directory • Professionals who are “Going Places” ... and much more at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

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

CRE CONSULTANTS

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

• LAND • INVESTMENT • GAS STATIONS

MEASUREMENT

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.

OFFICE INDUSTRIAL SALES & LEASES INVESTMENT

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

KRISE COMMERCIAL GROUP 239-633-8672 randy@krisecg.com www.krisecg.com

• • • • •

COMMERCIAL VACANT LAND INVESTMENT RETAIL INDUSTRIAL

JIM BOBACK, CCIM

Serving the State of Florida Owner/Broker with 36+ years of real estate experience. 10-time Power Broker Award Winner.

• • BOBACK COMMERCIAL • GROUP • 239-565-2616 • JB@bobackcommercialgroup.com • www.bobackcommercialgroup.com •

INVESTMENT MULTI-FAMILY MEDICAL RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL VACANT LAND

Page 12

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JULY 2017

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

Choose the right commercial professional for you STEVE GANT, CCIM, MAI

Did you know ...

Charlotte, Sarasota & Desoto Counties

Commercial real estate specialist with 20 years experience in the local market. Chair of the local Commercial Brokers Group of the Association of Realtors.

RIVERSIDE REALTY SERVICES, LLC

• • • • •

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

OFFICE RETAIL INDUSTRIAL LAND LEASING

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

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

MILOFF AUBUCHON REALTY GROUP

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

RETAIL HOSPITALITY OFFICE INDUSTRIAL LAND LEASING

CCIM

WILLIAM H. ROLLINS, JR., CCIM, ALC Lee, Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto & Hendry Counties Senior broker. He is licensed in Florida, Georgia and Alabama and is an Accredited Land Consultant.

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

• AGRICULTURAL • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL

BEV LARSON, CCIM Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties

Larson has over 38 years of diversified experience in the SWFL market. She is a Certified International Property Specialist and is the 2017 Florida CCIM Chapter Southwest District President Elect.

LAHAINA REALTY 239-281-1290 bev1314@aol.com

• • • • • •

COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE LAND-ACREAGE DEVELOPMENT

that SWFBT highlights:

Why use a CCIM?

• • • •

Breaking Business News B2B Events Calendar Photo Galleries Commercial Real Estate Directory • Professionals who are “Going Places” ... and much more at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

MICHAEL J. FRYE, CCIM

Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Recipient of the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award. Serving the SWFL market for over 30 years. We have 6 CCIMs to serve all our client's needs.

CREDIBILITY

RE/MAX REALTY GROUP 239-281-0441 mfrye@ccim.net www.michaeljfrye.com

REALLY WORKS!

INTEGRITY

BOB WHITE, CCIM

CCIM designees are bound to the strictest ethical guidelines and standards of practice in the industry today. In addition, each CCIM has successfully completed a graduate level program comprised of 160 hours of education. If you ask around the industry, you’ll learn that companies and other real estate professionals are more likely to seek out experts who possess the CCIM designation, as they know CCIM stands for trust, knowledge and reliability. When you use a CCIM, you choose experts with integrity. Overall, CCIM’s global network enables members to close thousands of transactions annually. representing more than $200 billion in value. But closing transactions is only part of what CCIMs can do. In addition to holding dealmaking 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.

OFFICE RETAIL INDUSTRIAL LAND

ADVERTISING IN SWFBT’S CCIM PAGES

COMMUNITY

MEASUREMENT

• • • •

Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Active Southwest Florida Commercial broker for over 30 years. Specializing in industrial, office and investment properties. Past president SWFL CCIM and REIS.

MARKET AMERICA COMMERCIAL 239-850-2217

bobwhite@marketamericarealty.com

• • • •

INDUSTRIAL OFFICE LEASE OR SALE INVESTMENT

JULY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 13

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

Your exit strategy should start before your grand opening By Arvey Krise and Samantha Howes Guest Columnists

Have you ever contemplated becoming an entrepreneur but were restrained by fear of failure, procrastinating because of not having the time to do so or just didn’t know where to start to achieve your goal? Well, you are not alone. Fortunately, one day you might take that big step into your “be your own boss” shoes. Do not dream of becoming a millionaire overnight; keep yourself organized and climb the stairway to success by building the value of your business from its inception. We did and we would like to share with you the first common mistakes every entrepreneur, eager to reach his/her goals makes, which might cost you more than you Arvey Krise and Samantha Howes run Leading Labargained for. Before starting a business, it is crucial to do re- dies Commercial Real Estate. search and assess your aptitudes: be realistic. Know to the point that it is counterproductive, and consewho your competitors and customers are and the quently no one even knows you are in business. Be best locations to service them. You need to visualize proud and get out there! Sponsor a hole at a golf the finish line when writing your business plan set tournament. Volunteer to help with beverages or with deadlines. Budget the starting costs and how food on the course. Be a walking billboard; invest much capital you will need to minimally survive the in shirts with your logo. Attend mixers around town. Do not be afraid to ask for business. Getting a no first three months. Avoid Mistake No. 1 of not setting up the right won’t hurt you; someone will eventually give you a entity to operate under and have your accounting in chance and from there it’ll be word of mouth. Build disarray from the get-go. Hiring a knowledgeable your reputation by hiring the right people. Mistake bookkeeper and accountant to get you set up will No. 3. Don’t cave in to friends and family members who will try to run your business for you; they save you time, aggravation and unforeseen taxes. Mistake No. 2? Trying to save on your marketing might do the exact opposite—run it into the ground.

Florida Realtors commend rent tax reduction

“

Florida Realtors applauds Governor Scott and members of the Legislature for making these tax cuts possible for Florida families. – Maria Wells, 2017 President of Florida Realtors

“

Maria Wells, 2017 president of Florida Realtors, issued a statement regarding Governor Rick Scott’s signing a bill reducing Florida’s business rent tax. “Florida Realtors applauds Governor Scott and members of the Legislature for making these tax cuts possible for Florida families,” she said in the statement. “From a Realtor perspective, I am particularly excited about the first-ever cut to the business rent tax that is included in this bill. The business community has been working to advance this tax cut for several years. “The most significant steps are often the first ones we take on an issue and this cut opens the door for future reductions of this burdensome tax. More importantly, it puts $61 million back in the hands of businesses to grow and hire more people, and when businesses grow, communities prosper.” Currently, Florida charges a 6-percent sales tax on business rent, creating a financial burden for any business that leases space. It is the only state that charges this tax on business rent. Once HB 7109 takes effect on Jan. 1, the new state tax rate on commercial leases will

be 5.8 percent. Lowering the business rent tax will provide Florida businesses with more capital to expand, hire more employees, improve benefits and raise salaries. Florida Realtors and other members of the Business Rent Tax Coalition have long advocated for a reduction in the state’s business rent tax. Gov. Scott signed HB 7109, which includes other tax cut provisions, during a morning press conference at 3Cinteractive Corp., a mobile marketing service provider in Boca Raton.

Make sure to hire wisely, even if you need to hire from an employment agency for the first year. Their job is to screen appropriate applicants. Communicate with your staff effectively and make sure they understand your rules from the start. Mistake No. 4. Not routinely assessing your progress in a timely ongoing manner. Often, it’s too late to easily fix a glitch in your plan because you waited too long to evaluate your financial records, customer base and reviews. Building value requires scheduled frequent reviews of financial statements, cash flow and growth (Earnings ratio and Customer base). Too many times, business owners end up working long hours wearing all the hats. Unfortunately, if you are doing this, there’s a strong possibility that you will burn out before you can even contemplate selling your business for a profit. A “Sold” sign looks and feels much better than an “Out of Business” sign, right? Consequently, don’t let your business run you; you created it, you are in charge. Building a solid foundation is the core of all successful business; avoid costly mistakes, offer quality goods or services and assess your progress on a regular basis. Great track records and reputation are your weapons to your business worth. Better they are the more valuable your business will be. So what are you waiting for? Do something! Arvey Krise and Samantha Howes run Leading Ladies Commercial Real Estate, at 2040 Virginia Ave. in Fort Myers. Contact them at 1-866-6-ESTATE.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JULY 2017

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JULY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 15

Intech announces strategic partnership with Coastal Printing

Intech Printing & Direct Mail, a leading provider of commercial print and direct marketing solutions in Southwest Florida, announced its merger with Coastal Printing of Sarasota. Joining services and clients across markets, the two will function as sister companies offering a wider variety of print options and services to an expanded customer base that will result in greater efficiency and added value for both the business and its clients. “We’re very excited and confident

this winning combination will advance our presence in the print industry,” said Rodney Held, chief executive officer of Intech. “In addition to an outstanding variety of products and services that we can now provide more efficiently through an expanded equipment inventory, clients will benefit from staff expertise and a strong reputation of customer service that has shaped both companies for generations.” Intech is a disabled veteran and family-owned print and direct mail

marketing provider that is celebrating 30 years of service to the Southwest Florida business community. Coastal is also family owned and has been serving the Sarasota market since 1971. With a combined 76 years of expertise, both have operated through many economic cycles and remained a steadfast and reliable resource for each customer base. Intech and Coastal are both G7 Certified Master Printers and share complimentary technologies and services that will benefit clients through improved

diversification across markets. Together, they are positioned to optimize customer service for long-term success. “Joining together allows each company to allocate production to the most cost effective equipment while maintaining high quality standards across multiple markets,” explained Held. “We believe this will be a strong and mutually beneficial partnership, taking advantage of the expertise of each company while continuing to keep the client at the center of everything we do.”

TECHNOLOGY

Rapping about how vehicle wraps can increase your business

hicle wrap garners between 30,000 and 70,000 impressions on the streets. Vinyl wraps advertise your business 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Vehicle decals boost your business’s name recognition fifteen times more than any other form of advertising. 29 percent of consumers say some form of outdoor advertising has motivated them to visit a particular retail store.

By Eric Wyatt Guest Columnist

You see them just about everywhere. But what are they actually called? How does it increase your business profit? The Tech Side By applying large sheets of vinyl to your vehicle you can change its color to create a totally new and refreshed look—this is called a vehicle wrap. If any section of the car does become damaged for any reason, the vinyl can be easily repaired or replaced. This means that panels of your car can be individually re-wrapped at any time. “Will wrapping my vehicle really increase my Vehicle wraps can turn any car into a mobile billmarketing reach?” board for business. Of course! Each day, 95 percent of Americans in our car heavy culture are exposed to media target- ads, when you choose to use vinyl wrap advertising ing vehicle users. Plus, due to its low cost per im- to promote your company. pression, vehicle wrap advertising has been found “Do you have statistics about the eﬀectiveness in multiple studies to be especially effective. Every day, your ads will receive thousands more views than of vehicle wraps?” We are glad you asked! On any given day, a vestationary advertisements, like bus stop or billboard

“Does the wrap damage the paint job?” No, the vinyl used these days will come off just fine, even after a couple of years and will actually protect your factory paint job. UV rays will fade your paint but your vinyl wrap will protect your paint from fading. Take caution, however, if you’ve had a custom paint job or a backyard, brother-in-law touch-up because the adhesive that holds the vinyl will tend to grab that paint and pull it off in spots. Factory paint will actually benefit from the wrap vinyl in that your vehicle’s resale value will be higher since your paint will remain bright and sharp. Eric Wyatt is vice president of Wrapster-Vehicle Wraps & More in Fort Myers. To learn more, visit www.wrapster.biz.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JULY 2017

TECHNOLOGY

New “Smart” Business Review app sets the bar for commerce

TechnologiesPro Group recently released “SoHowdWeDo,” a “smart” business review app that enables businesses to “get smarter” daily, building instant and long-term databases for long-term marketing, driving targeted web traffic from the top social sites and enabling business owners to command visibility on the top search engines in the world. Business owners needing to squeeze more ROI out of operations already in place can now use “SoHowdWeDo” to ask a series of customized questions all designed to gain insights into the customer experience, make instant adjustments and implement efficiencies across multiple business lines.

“

It took years to come up with an app that has this much power to and behind it and does so many things.

“

By Tony Italiano Guest Correspondent

– J.D. Coleman, Co-Founder of TechnologiesPro Group

“It took years to come up with an app that has this much power to and behind it, and does so many things,” says co-founder J.D. Coleman. “The team behind this app had a singular goal in mind when we assembled; instantly make businesses smarter every single day.” From building new customer databases that can

be marketed to for years, to learning what is and is not working in day-to-day operations, to publishing reviews of social websites, to boosting every business on its powerful SEO platform, “SoHowdWeDo” is poised to transform the way business owners make more money from what they are already doing—and to show them what is possible. “We spent a great deal of time assembling a team of true experts for this app, including business leaders, technology experts and ROI specialists. What they came up with is stunning!” Coleman added. “We know that, many times, business owners are too close to their own ‘product.’ This app allows for objective and real customer reviews to come through: real reviews in turn drive real sales. That is why this is such a big deal.” For information, visitSoHowdWeDo.com

TECHNOLOGY

Warning! Your computer is about to crash! Call for help now! Or should I say, call now if you want to be ripped off! Unfortunately, as technology becomes more prevalent in everyday life, there are always people lurking in the shadows trying to take advantage. Years ago, there were con artists selling snake oil and powerful remedies along with traveling carnivals. Fortune tellers gazing into a crystal ball knowing your future. Late night prophets showing the path to salvation. However now, unlike the old days, the bad guys have a far greater reach and can remain anonymous. They can hide from the protection of our laws beyond our borders. The Internet has had a global impact, good and bad. I witness computer scams all the time. I get a few calls a week about someone concerned about a phone call they received or worse, they let someone remote control their computer. A stranger may call claiming your computer is about to crash and they want to fix it. They have the ability, using an internet phone, to use an area code from within the U.S. Never let a stranger have access to your computer. Usually, they will show you “proof” of the problems, then attempt to sell you an overpriced service contract. Tell them you don’t own a computer and hang up! Or maybe a page shows up on your screen with an official looking warning message? Sirens beep through your speakers repeatedly. There is no way to exit out of the screen but there is a

phone number to call. If all else fails, press and hold the power button on your PC for seven to 10 seconds to turn it off. You shouldn’t use that method on a regular basis, but sometimes there is no better alternative. Emails known as “phishing” are another popular method the bad guys use. It’s easy to copy and paste logos and official sounding BY BOB SZANTO legal verbiage into a bogus Guest Columnist email. Never click on a link to update your account information or password. While not always easy to verify, if you place your mouse on the link you can usually see the “URL” or address you would be directed to. Examine it closely and you may be able to decipher if it is valid. If any doubt, it’s better to directly contact the real owner of the bank/vendor etc. Recently, the “I Wanna Cry” virus made International news. This kind of virus is also considered Ransomware. Your computer works if you are affected, but your personal information is encrypted (scrambled). The only way to get your information back is to pay them a horrendous amount, or restore your computer to factory set-

tings and retrieve your information from a reliable backup. Bad stuff! How can you protect yourself? • Be skeptical and leery. Knowledge is your best defense! • Make sure you are updating Operating System (Windows Updates) • Have up to date anti-virus protection. Good choices are Norton, McAfee, Avast or AVG. • Install and run a separate anti-malware program such as: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. • Consider a third party Identity Theft Protection Service. • Backup your critical information. Consider a multiple backup strategy (external hard drive and cloud backup). • Have your computer serviced by a trustworthy local professional at least on an annual basis. If you are a victim, don’t beat yourself up either. These people are cunning and take advantage of those who are less technically proficient. Hopefully, you are now better armed to protect yourself so you will never be a victim of cyber crime or identity theft.

“Computer Bob” Szanto is the owner/consultant of TeamWork Systems in Naples. Learn more at www.teamws.com.

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JULY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 17

TECHNOLOGY

Data-driven sustainability focus of local company ecomedes Sustainable or green-product purchasing has quickly become a priority for organizations, particularly for procurement departments within government agencies and large companies. In fact, according to the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council, the global market for high performance products is valued at $10 trillion. With hundreds of organizations offering scorecards, ratings or certifications for evaluating products, how can one possibly source all of this data to make the most costeffective, responsible decision in a timely manner? To simplify product selection and purchasing decisions, Fort Myers-based ecomedes developed a software platform designed to connect buyers and suppliers with high performance products that positively impact operational cost reductions, energy and water savings, certified healthier products, reduced environmental impacts and improved social responsibility. Currently, the process of searching, comparing and purchasing products has been fragmented, frustrating and time-consuming for buyers including those in construction, design, manufacturing and real estate industries. In addition, ecomedes works with government entities, including the General Services Administration. Most recently, ecomedes customized its proprietary platform Fulcrum to ex-

pand the GSA’s highly regarded Sustainable Facilities Tool (SFTool.gov) to include SFTool Product Search with the goal of streamlining sustainable product procurement for Federal agencies, businesses and the general public. Now, instead of spending inordinate amounts of time chasing down data from the far reaches of the internet, anyone can visit SFTool BY PAUL Product Search to find, comSHAHRIARI pare, evaluate, document and Guest Columnist procure sustainable products, a resource particularly useful for procurement and sustainability officers. The Search simplifies and streamlines the specifying and buying process, saving everyone time, money and effort. Appliances, building finishes, furnishing, cleaning products, construction, electronics and lighting are among the more than 250 product categories available, and the platform searches 5,000 brands, 500,000 products and 5 million eco-data points, aggregating product-level data and automates product performance calculations and project analytics. This

TECHNOLOGY

New Collier EDO website promotes growth

Web marketing firm Atilus recently launched a new website for Collier EDO (www.collieredo. org) to assist existing companies and corporate relocations in Collier County. Collier EDO is a collaboration between the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and Collier County Office of Business and Economic Development. Formalized in late 2013, the two entities work together to provide comprehensive economic development services to all Collier County. “We designed CollierEDO.org to be easy for existing companies to ask for a free one-on-one consultation with economic development experts from Collier EDO,” said Zach Katkin, president and CEO of Bonita Springs-based Atilus. Users can click the free-consultation button under the “startup” or “retention & expansion” tabs at CollierEDO.org to obtain confidential project-management assistance. In addition, users get access to in-depth market data, connections

and referrals, workforce recruitment and training, financial resources and site-selection assistance. “The Collier EDO team speaks in person with at least 50 existing local businesses annually to help them with a broad range of services and to help them make connections with other businesses,” said Michael Dalby, president and CEO of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. Existing businesses are key to job growth in Collier County. “About 80 percent of job growth comes from existing businesses in Collier County, so it makes sense to emphasize this important area of economic development,” noted Jace Kentner, director for the Collier County Office of Business and Economic Development. CollierEDO.org offers useful demographic and industry information about Collier County to existing companies and prospective relocations. The data has been updated with assistance from Florida Power & Light and Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development agency.

TECHNOLOGY

App helps pregnant women with medications Physician Approved, doing business as Pregnancy Approved in Fort Myers, has launched a new custom web and mobile application designed to inform pregnant women whether an over-the-counter medication she may need is pregnancy approved for her and the baby. The Pregnancy Approved App allows users to scan the UPC code of a trade name or generic brand of OTC medication to determine whether that product is physician-approved for pregnant women. If the person does not have the UPC available, the user can type in symptoms to search the database of more than 6,000 products typically found in approximately 100,000 stores that have been approved by board-certified prac-

ticing obstetricians. To use the app, download it from the iTunes Store or Google Play, register for an account and purchase a lifetime subscription for $1.99. The application opens to the scan page and immediately starts the barcode scanner using the phone’s camera. When users scan the applicable UPC, the application queries an extensive database of codes and returns one of four results: 1) The item is pregnancy approved, 2) Item is not pregnancy approved, 3) Item is not in the database, or 4) Please consult your physician about this product. If a medicine is not in the database, APP See page 18

allows organizations to track the “watts and water” results of their buying decision and document progress towards sustainable purchasing and building goals including compliance with green building rating systems. Information is searched, displayed and documented in a simple shopping-page type format for environmentally responsible purchasing. While other green product databases exist, none cover the breadth of the industry and federal requirements and offer automatic documentation of products for rating systems like LEED, LBC and WELL. Ecomedes dramatically reduces the costs associated with the procurement workflow for buyers and sellers and its business process has been recognized by the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council as exemplary. With ecomedes, the data is mapped to procurement requirements and green building standards, bringing clarity for decision makers as they select the right products for their projects. Paul Shahriari is founder of ecomedes and an expert on sustainability, green building, and the application of technology in the real estate, design and construction industries. He has founded five environmental and green tech startups with two of the companies being sold. For more information, visit www.ecomedes.com.

JKMilne makes top money manager

The international newspaper of money management, Pensions & Investments, named Fort Myers-based JKMilne Asset Management in Fort Myers to its annual list of the largest 500 money manager firms in the world based on institutional assets managed. The listing published in the publication’s May 29 edition, showing JKMilne in the 460th spot, up from last year’s 462nd position. This is the ninth consecutive year the firm has made the list, which published in P&I’s 44th annual largest money managers issue. P&I targeted more than 1,000 banks, trust companies, insurance companies and independent investment management firms in North America and abroad. P&I staff developed data from the firms’ answers to an online questionnaire and through follow-up e-mails and phone calls. Pensions & Investments is associated with Crain, one of the largest privately owned business media companies with 55 leading business, trade and consumer brands in North America, Europe and Asia.

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Page 18

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JULY 2017

Questions you need to ask when hiring a business broker Part 2 of 2 You have one chance to sell your business. Per BizBuySell, only 20 percent of businesses listed for sale sell. The International Business Brokers Association reports a competent broker adds as much as 20 percent to your selling price. Therefore, it is vital you interview your business broker before hiring them. Below are some crucial questions to ask based on articles published in Entrepreneur and Inc. magazines. What are your marketing techniques? For main street businesses, anyone can post a listing on BizBuySell and BizQuest and wait for phone calls and emails. Ask if your listing will be re-entered periodically to move it back to the top of listings. What other listing websites do they utilize, e.g., BusinessForSale.com, GlobalBX, etc.? Do they have an active buyer email list? How many qualified buyers are on it? How often are they in contact with them? How do they use social media to advertise your listing, especially LinkedIn? Will they conduct targeted marketing campaigns to prospects you believe may be interested in buying your business? Also ask to see a recent Confidential Business Review your broker has prepared. The CBR should answer the basic questions a buyer will ask to determine if the business is a good fit. Sadly, many brokers are lazy and only provide marked up P&Ls or tax returns. Laziness wastes a ton of time for buyers and sellers. Most buyers will simply skip over a business not properly prepared for sale. Others will want a meeting with the seller, only to ask very basic questions that if answered in a CBR, would have led the buyer to realize the business is not a fit. In some instances, it is helpful for the CBR to include industry market, trend and benchmarking

information to better understand your companies position in your industry. This information can be obtained from databases such as BizMiner and IbisWorld. Does your broker have access? For lower-middle-market M&A, ask how your broker plans to market your business. If your business generates more than $2 million in EBITDA, placing it in public BY ERIC J. GALL listing forums, e.g., BizBuyGuest Columnist Sell and BizQuest, or putting a price on the business, is a sure sign of your broker’s incompetence in handling a business your size.

What is your process for ensuring confidentiality and qualifying buyers before sharing information about my business? Keeping the sale of your business confidential is very important. It can be detrimental if customers, employees, competitors or suppliers become aware you are selling. Ask what policies are in place to keep the details of your sale confidential. Every prospect should be required to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA). If your business is priced over $100K, make sure your broker requires a financial statement from each prospect and takes time to learn a little bit about their qualifications to operate your business. The last thing you want is to waste your time with a prospect who does not financially qualify to purchase, or have the right skill set to operate, your business. What is your recent and lifetime sales record? Ask how many and the average transaction size of deals completed in the past year and lifetime. How many deals were near your transaction size?

APP PAGE 17

If your broker has only completed very small transactions and your business is worth over $500,000, chances are they are not working with buyers who can buy your business, and visa-versa. Are you willing to co-broke? Co-broking is helpful as it maximizes your business’s exposure to buyers. Business Brokers of Florida members are required to co-broke with other members in order to put their listings in the BBF MLS system. Your broker’s focus should be on selling your business to the first qualified buyer and not on earning 100 percent of the commission. What are your fees? Expect to pay a success fee of 10 percent at time of sale for a business transacting under $1 million, $10,000 for a business transacting under $100,000 and Double Lehman for transactions over $1 million. Some brokers want to charge 12 percent or 15 percent. If you have a good, solid and profitable business, demand 10 percent. If your business is struggling or the broker believes you may be difficult to work with, 12 percent or 15 percent may be fair. Some brokers charge an up-front fee to list your business for sale, perform specific marketing programs or complete a valuation. Make sure any upfront fee is deducted from the commission upon the sale of your business. A broker asking for significant sums of money up-front, e.g., $5,000 or more to list your business for sale, will likely to be less motivated to sell your business than a broker who earns their fee upon successful sale of your business. Eric J. Gall is the registered Broker and a Managing Partner at Edison Avenue. His has a CBI and CM&AP certificaiton. He won the 2016 and 2014 BBF #1 Top Dollar Producer for SW Florida. You can reach Eric at 239-738-6227 or Eric@EdisonAvenue.com.

a user can type in her symptoms, or the generic or trade name of the pharmaceutical. “Pregnancy Approved is simple to use and a convenient way to know quickly whether a medication is approved to use during pregnancy based on a database that is continually updated,” said Dr. Richard D. Murray, founder of Pregnancy Approved. “Instant answers, unlimited scans and a database of medications that is continually updated. That’s peace of mind at their fingertips 24/7.” Murray contracted with Fort Myers-based Spiro & Associates Marketing, Advertising, Public Re-

lations & Brand Architecture and its digital partner Knox Business Solutions LLC to design and develop the application. The public website is located at https://pregnancyapproved.com/. Murray is a 1993 graduate of the University of Florida College of Medicine, and is residency trained and board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. In 1999, Dr. Murray started his solo independent practice servicing the Fort Myers area. He treats women, ranging from teens to menopause, for a wide variety of gynecological issues, as well as prenatal care and delivery. He also performs gynecologic surgeries and offers many nonsurgical treatments.

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JULY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

TECHNOLOGY

WannaCry Ransomware: Is Your Business at risk? You’d be hard-pressed to miss last month’s biggest headline, the WannaCry cyber-attack sent shockwaves around the globe. Businesses of all sizes and even police departments found themselves crippled without warning. Among the most prominent victims were many NHS hospitals in the UK, affecting up to 70,000 individual devices such as essential MRI scanners and blood-storage refrigerators. But by the time it hit the news, it was too late— either your system was protected or it was infected. Here’s how it all went so wrong. What is WannaCry? The WannaCry cyber-attack was a type of malware (the collective name for computer viruses) called ‘ransomware’. Just like the name suggests, it’s actually a demand for money. Like all ransomware attacks, WannaCry encrypts your files and holds them hostage until you pay. In this case, the price was set at $300, payable with internet currency Bitcoin, and you had three days to pay before it doubled. If you didn’t pay, the ransomware threatened to delete your files permanently. It’s yet unknown how much money the WannaCry hackers have earned with their latest attack, but you can be sure plenty of people have paid the ransom. Even the FBI recommends paying the ransom, especially if the ransomed files are of a sensitive nature or weren’t backed up. How It Spread So Fast It seems WannaCry may be a ‘computer worm’ that self-replicates and spreads, rather than a phishing attack that needs to be activated with a click. So far, no common trigger has been identified, as is normally the case with phishing links. WannaCry moved rapidly from system to system, spreading out through the entire network, including all connected backups and storage devices. At the same time, it spread out to infect other networks, who then spread it further, and so on. Given the nature of the internet, it was everywhere within hours .Why Some Businesses Were Safe WannaCry could only infect systems that have fallen two months behind in their Windows updates. This is because it was created to take advantage of a specific vulnerability in Windows, one which Microsoft patched months ago. Without that patch, the ransomware could waltz right past the firewall, past the anti-virus and directly into the system (the NHS were reportedly running Windows XP—no longer supported). Those running Windows 10 or a fully patched, recent version of Windows were completely unaffected; the virus literally had no way in. It just goes to show the importance of staying up to date. We haven’t seen a second spike in WannaCry attacks yet, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be one. A quick update could protect your business from weeks of downtime and lost revenue, making attacks like this a non-issue. How Much Could A Ransomware Attack Cost You? Have you ever thought about how much your data is worth? Information is possibly the most valuable part of your business—there’s your client database, accounting software and inventory management, and of course, any intellec-

tual property you may own. When the ransomware, WannaCry, tore through the world recently, many businesses were suddenly forced to re-assess the value of their data: was it worth saving, and what would BY MATTHEW be the deeper cost REBSTOCK of the attack? Guest Columnist Most ransomware attacks cost $150-$600 to get your files released, but that’s only if the cyber-criminals honor the payment and actually give you the decryption key. Meanwhile, new client calls are still coming in and you may find yourself unable to operate with your systems down. Paying the ransom or restoring from an unaffected backup seems like a quick fix, but it doesn’t end there. There’s still the downtime involved to restore all your data—possibly days—and that’s a lot of lost productivity. Plus, if word gets out that your data has been compromised, you may find confidence in your business plummets and your existing clients head elsewhere. That $150 ransom may end up costing well over $150,000. Lock down employee computers: Very few staff will require full administrator access to your business network. The higher their level of permissions, the more damage a person can do—either accidentally with a whoopsie click or by inadvertently installing malware. By locking down your employee computers, you have a better chance of containing a malware attack to non-vital systems. Educate your workplace: Most employees believe they’re being cyber-safe but the reality is quite different. Many malicious links and embedded malware have become hard to spot in an instant, which is all it takes to click and regret. Establish procedures around checking links for authenticity before clicking. Enhance awareness around verifying the source of attachments, and the importance of anti-virus scanning. Have a solid backup plan: When ransomware hits, a connected backup equals an infected backup. Unfortunately, synced options such as Dropbox immediately clone the infected files, rendering them useless. The only safe backups will be the ones both physically and electronically disconnected, with systems designed to protect against attacks like this. Be proactive: The best way to avoid the financial cost of a ransomware attack is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Remember, many businesses were able to watch WannaCry from the sidelines, completely unaffected and seizing opportunities while their competitors were down. Matthew Rebstock is the owner and operator of Tech in a Flash a computer repair and IT consulting business located in Cape Coral. He has been working in the IT field since 2005 when he was a computer programmer for the United States Air Force. Contact Matthew at 239-789-2700 or Matthew@techinaflash.net.

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APEX PAGE 1 Nominees this year include: • Tracie Bagans, Florida Power & Light • Susan Bennett, Susan Bennett Marketing and Media • Lydia Black, Alliance for the Arts • Suzanne Boy, Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt • Barbara Dell, Dress for Success SW Florida • Megan DiPiero, Megan DiPiero Photography • Cynthia Duff, CopyLady Inc. • Kelly L. Fayer, Kelly L. Fayer • Vanessa Fernandez, Pushing the Envelope • Kristen Flaharty, Trilogy Laboratories • Meg M. Geltner, PACE Center for Girls Lee County • Michelle Graham, Siesta Pebble • Katie Haas, Boston Red Sox • Carolyn Johnson, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida

WORK PAGE 1 “We’ll see if Naples maintains its ranking after the first quarter of 2017 numbers come out,” Westley said. “For now, it appears its top ranking resulted from employment growth in the health care, social assistance, construction, and administrative service sectors.” Westley runs FGCU’s Regional

• Shannon Lane, Boys and Girls Club of Lee County • Ita Neymotin, Esq., Office of Regional Counsel and Criminal Conflict for the Second District Court of Appeal Region of Florida • Jennifer Pfenninger, Embassy Suites by Hilton Ft. Myers - Estero • Christina Schwinn, Esq., Pavese Law Firm • Kristie A. Scott, Knott Ebelini Hart • Samantha Scott, Pushing the Envelope • Shelley Starner, Miromar Outlets • Judy Williams, Spada Salon & Day Spa The APEX Awards presented by Southwest Florida Distributing, Publishing, Web Advertising will be held September 30at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information on how you can participate in this exciting event, please contact Landen Drake at Landen@fortmyers.org or 239-332-2930 ext. 213. Economic Research Institute. Among Florida workforce regions, the Florida Crown region ranked as the most diverse. This region in comprised of Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrest and Union counties. North Florida, which comprises Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, and Lafayette counties, ranked last.

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DOING IT RIGHT, FROM THE START

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Accounting ﬁrms merge in Ft. Myers

JULY 2017

TECHNOLOGY

Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson & English and McGee-CPA announced a merger of their accounting firms, effective as of June 1. The combined companies will operate under Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson & English and will continue to provide a widerange of professional and personal accounting services. D. Todd McGee of McGee-CPA has provided accounting services to individuals and businesses in Southwest Florida for more than 40 years. Services include business consulting, estate and retirement planning, business entity selection and succession planning, business valuation, financial planning, audits and reviews, bookkeeping, forensic accounting, tax planning and payroll. “We recognize the tremendous value of bringing together two firms that have shared values in our approach to building lasting relationships with our clients,” said Cynthia M. Hawkins, president of Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson & English. “We look forward to combining our expertise and resources to further enhance the very personalized services provided to our clients.” D. Todd McGee, principal of McGee-CPA, and his staff including Brenda Sambrato, Donette Forge’t, Ashley Olsen, Leslie Diplacido and Orpah Travis will now operate from the offices of Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson & English, P.A. in Fort Myers.

Empower your business in a digital world So, you want to go “more paperless”. Easier said than done. We all understand by now the many reasons to go paperless; paper is taxing on our business resources, with document output coming in right behind rent and payroll as leading business expenses (OE Canada, Inc.), 15.3 percent of office space taken up by paper (The Global Community of Information Professionals) and the average manager reporting a loss of an average of four weeks a year looking for or waiting on lost documents (The Paperless Project). These are just the tip of the iceberg. With that said, what’s stopping all of us from going to a fully electronic workflow for our key documents? Namely, (a) even when you stop printing, your clients and vendors will make sure to send you enough paper to make up for what you stop producing, (b) technology intended to manage this “third party paper” is seldom as easy to use as it seems, and (c) the more robust the tech, the higher the price and the more support resources commanded. Sound familiar? It doesn’t have to. We’ve all heard the pitch before: “Buy this ‘document management software’—it will automatically capture all of that tricky invoice information from your paper statements (or patient files, client re-

cords, insert generic document type here).” E x c e p t it actually doesn’t capture your information accurately or completely because, like most busiBY VICKI HELMER nesses, your Guest Columnist documents have logos, handwriting and follow different formats. Besides which, the end user training is lacking. Eventually, you either stop using the software or you hire three more people just to key information into the software. Throw in additional IT support to manage and maintain the server space now taken up by additional software and data storage. The reality is that the paperless document management technologies that have been successful for companies in the enterprise space have never been accessible to the local SMBs, either in terms of cost or support. This is not a sustainable model for most businesses, including our own here at DexImaging. Cue document processing as a service. Utilizing a simple, secure and com-

pliant blend of technology and processing internally, we are able to overhaul our billable process, improve our vendor rating and ramp up our accounting team productivity all while conserving our own resources. Are we paperless? No! Certainly not, but the impact of controlling the flow of third-party paper through our organization with the same technology that our teams already used is literally quantifiable. As in, time savings, money saved and 99.7 percent data capture accuracy. And now our clients are taking notice too, reporting improvements in accuracy, speed of retrieval and quicker turnaround on their approvals processes. If you’re a local business owner who’s concerned about the ballooning costs of paper dependence, a CTO who’s worried about the taxing and ever changing demands of server maintenance and security, or a CFO anxious about ways to reduce expense and maximize profits follow me on LinkedIn for ways to leverage our successful processing model to beat the paperless problem, or reach me directly at the contact information below

Vicki Helmer is senior account manager for Dex imaging. Call her at 239-444-2193 ext. 1714, or email vhelmer@deximaging.com.

A Sweet Spot in Cape Coral

Matt Henderson launched The Adirondack Chocolatier in Cape Coral to blend his culinary experience with his passion. “With the residential and business growth over the last several years, it was a great place to get started,” says Henderson. Henderson networked at the Cape Coral Economic Development Office’s monthly BizChats and consulted the Small Business Development Center. “There are a lot of mentorship and leadership advocates and organizations to reach out to. I got helpful feedback,” says the chocolatier, who’s already expanded into Fort Myers.

Cape Coral Economic Development Office +1 (239) 574-0444 ecodev@capecoral.net www.bizcapecoral.com