June 2016 Southwest Florida Business Today

We’re All Business

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S BUSINESS VOICE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 9 No. 8 / JUNE 2016 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

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

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IN THE NEWS

Learn redevelopment benefits of brownfields

Four agencies are fostering brownfield redevelopment, which can revitalize communities and boost economic development in a two-day seminar this month.

“By providing financial and regulatory incentives, the opportunities to clean and redevelop blighted property to achieve the community vision are greatly enhanced,” said Jon Iglehart, director of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s South District.

The DEP is partnering with the city of Sarasota, the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council and Visit Sarasota County for the June 8 and 9 symposium.

They will share information about Florida’s Brownfields Redevelopment Program, which empowers communities, local governments and other stakeholders to work together to assess, clean up and re-use sites previously impacted by pollutants.

REDEVELOP See page 8

Naples airport begins improvement projects

Naples Municipal Airport has started several improvement projects at the south end of the airport along North Road between Tower Drive and the observation deck. The airport will remove the berm along the sidewalk, relandscape the area and build public restrooms at the observation deck.

To improve water drainage and prepare the area for potential development, the berm is being replaced with attractive and substantial landscaping that will serve as a visual barrier. In addition to the berm removal, the adjacent sidewalk will be raised to increase drainage and usability.

AIRPORT See page 7

Bonita Professional Park enjoys reopening

After months of planning, renovations and marketing, the Bonita Professional Park made its debut within the Bonita Springs community. Over 100 guests were invited to tour the property.

Part of the ceremonies included a brief commentary by Bonita Springs Mayor Peter Simmons; Randy Krise, the property listing broker; Jennifer Castriotta, resident listing agent and Robert Johnston, responsible for all operations as the property’s general manager.

Robert presented his vision for the property and tenants to help them thrive through exceptional customer service and access to a common market of upscale customers.

Guests also were invited to view an informative video about PARK See page 9

Photography by Jim Jett Temperatures at the CBI Distribution Center range from 5 degrees in some areas to 55 degrees in others, requiring an elaborate temperature control system.

Cheney Brothers opens for business

By Karen P. Moore SWFBT Publisher

It’s been a long road since the Charlotte County Commissioners approved the deal that brought the Cheney Brothers Distribution Center project to fruition—in fact, it’s been almost five years.

Lifelong Charlotte County resident, Bruce Laishley, was instrumental in bringing Cheney Brothers, Inc. (CBI), a food service distribution company, headquartered in Riviera Beach, Florida to Charlotte County.

This “model of recruitment success” came from Laishley’s initial attempts to get a Cheney Brothers expansion to SW Florida to better serve his restaurants. The company didn’t have enough business in SW Florida to justify an expansion, so Laishley took it upon himself to garner more business for Cheney.

Within a year, this effort generated millions of dollars of new business for CBI, thus justifying their need to establish

Five years after the move was approved, CBI unveils its Southwest Florida distribution center. a facility to distribute in the SW region of Florida.

The County Commissioners approved a 35 acre land deal, valued at $2.5 million, that is located in the Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park (ECAP). CBI has now completed construction of its 450,000 square foot distribution center in Charlotte County.

CHENEY See page 9

Summit showcases employment opportunities Recent press coverage highlighted a local shortage of qualified workers in industries like construction. Other important economic driver sectors also continue to recover following the economic crisis that began a decade ago. Still more are increasingly setting up shop in Southwest Florida, leading to competition for skilled, reliable help.

In Southwest Florida’s growing economy, employers need to get creative to attract top talent and may even consider looking further afield to find the employees they need. At the Southwest Florida Workforce Summit, recently presented by Above Board Chamber of Florida and the Southwest Florida International Airport, potential employers learned the strategies of major local employers, discovered a ready workforce in the Caribbean and learned the status of the employment market here at home.

The event featured a panel discus-

Photography by Jim Jett The Med Tourism Expo Table at the Southwest Florida Workforce Summit. sion that included top recruiters from a variety of industries and public officials, all representing the concerns of business here and in Puerto Rico.

During the same hours, employers and jobseekers explored mutually ben-

eficial opportunities at the Southwest Florida Workforce Summit Job Fair.

For more information about the Above Board Chamber, contact Jeanne Sweeney at (239) 910-7426 or Jeanne@aboveboardchamber.com.

Page 2

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JUNE 2016

DISASTER SERVICES 411

Spokesperson training tips responding to terrorist attack Photography by Jim Jett Attendees of the initial RocketLounge ‘pitch night’ listen intently to the presenters.

RocketLounge launches in downtown Fort Myers Local business professionals from all over Southwest Florida recently gathered for the lift-off of the RocketLounge in downtown Fort Myers.

The RocketLounge is being touted as Southwest Florida’s incubator and accelerator for technology startups and international technology companies.

Lee County Economic Development Director John Patrick Boland was among the attendees of the afternoon event. “This is really an important type of place for the future of the local economy and the region. I wish the owners much success.”

The RocketLounge is a co-working space geared towards technology professionals. The 24/7 work space also serves as a hub for entrepreneurial educational events and provides a place for inventors, innovators and investors to meet and collaborate.

Founders Dieter Kondek, Peter Ocsody and Joerg Sahlmann strategically brought their vision to Fort Myers for its healthy economy, low cost of living and business-friendly environment. The RocketLounge offers large offices and more than 100 small work spaces with high-speed internet.

Paul Shahriari, co-owner of Ecomedes, a software developer, who is also the RocketLounge’s first tenant and who was a presenter at the business center’s inaugural “pitch night,” is caught up in the excitement. He shares, “We are really psyched about being the first tenant at a place where there is so much potential to help and grow high-tech companies in Southwest Florida!”

For more information about The RocketLounge, visit their website at www.therocketlounge.com or call (239) 410-6733.

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San Bernadino massacre. Paris terrorist attacks. Workplace violence.

Mass shootings. Suicide bombings.

All are a harsh reality. Chances are you or someone you know will be thrust into the role of being a spokesperson because of an unanticipated act of terror or crisis. You must be ready to know how to respond.

For years, we have called this type of training by many different and sometimes related names. The most common terms used are crisis communication training, emergency preparedness training, spokesperson training, and news media training. In the past, this training was typically reserved for the upper echelon of government, industry and big business.

Who Needs Spokesperson Training?

Truly, this type public speaking is never a favorite of my clients. Yet, they embrace the importance of role they will be playing in the dissemination of information. And, they take their crisis communication spokesperson training seriously.

In today’s age of terrorism, people who never anticipated they would be thrown into the role of spokesperson are all too often suddenly finding themselves in front of the media.

If you have read this far into this article, you are wisely preparing yourself. You must be armed with the right words and demeanor when serving as a spokesperson in response to a terrorist attack.

Top crisis management tips Accept that you are now a spokesperson. Everything you do and say may be recorded in some fashion. From social media to traditional media, your words and actions will often become a part of the story. Your preparation is key as a part of your spokesperson training.

Prepare a written statement if time permits.

Show empathy toward the victims of the terrorist attacks.

Do not give the names of any of the victims until the next of kin (their family) has been notified.

Give good set-up to what you will say. Introduce yourself. State your name. Spell your name. Give you title and affiliation. After doing so, it is most

appropriate to let those present know the format of what you’ll be saying … such as … “I will give a brief statement. I will then take questions. I will then let you know when the next update is schedBY LINDA uled.”

BLACKMAN Speak from Guest Columnist what you know.

State the facts. Do not speculate.

Use the best possible wording and descriptive language describing your knowledge of the situation. Stating that the situation is “fluid” advises those hearing your message that there is much to be determined. Stating there is “an on-going investigation” is good to use in crisis communication situations.

Use as many visuals as possible to help describe what has happened and what is currently happening. Consider using maps, graphics and video.

Be aware of when you are being recorded. A good rule of thumb is to act like you are always being recorded when cameras and any members of the media or public are present. You don’t want an off-the-cuff comment or something you didn’t want to be publicly shared or picked up by a live microphone. Likewise, a camera shot of you laughing, smiling, smoking or eating can come across as non-caring or selfabsorbed.

Remain calm and repeat questions that are asked of you before you answer the question.

Who should be a spokesperson?

Who is most likely to be flung into the so-called spotlight and need media appearance training in the age of terrorism? Could it be you?

If you own a business, run a restaurant, hold events ranging from concerts to sports venues, are a part of a nonprofit organization, work for the government, belong to law enforcement, are an executive, work as a manager, do everything you can to be ready to be a good spokesperson if you must respond TERROR See page 3

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JUNE 2016

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 3

DISASTER SERVICES 411

Recovery plan important for every business In an emergency or natural disaster, do you have a disaster recovery plan to ensure that your business and customers are taken care of?

Every business should have one, but far too often businesses put off developing a plan until the worst happens. At that point, it’s too late.

Data loss can happen due to hardware failure, natural disaster, human error, and theft, among other causes. The important thing is to have your disaster recovery plan in place so you can protect your company’s data, as well as your customer’s data.

Follow these key steps to ensure you’re prepared when the unthinkable occurs: Know what you have. Make sure multiple people know exactly what data you have, where it is located, and how it ranks by importance.

Back it up. Look into a variety of data backup options; pick which is best for your business, and then implement it.

Have accountability in place. Select a person or persons to either handle backups internally, or work with a managed service provider to make sure your data is backed up regularly.

Test your plan. Do a test run of your

disaster recovery plan. Make sure your plan works before you need it to.

Regular checkups.

Check your data on a periodic basis to make sure it’s being backed up properly.

BY TONY TAVARES

Share the plan. Design a data recovery plan and make sure multiple people at your company know the plan well. They should be able put that plan into action even if you are not there.

Communication is crucial. A natural disaster or emergency could cut off all your regular avenues of communication, so adding a communications element to your disaster recovery plan is important.

What if your office is inaccessible and the only way your employees and customers have to reach you is through your office phone number or email?

Pick a backup method such as perGuest Columnist

sonal smartphone numbers, personal email addresses, instant messaging, or Skype.

Create a company emergency contact list and host it on the cloud so that it is accessible anywhere and always available to you.

Disasters do happen, and your company’s data is one of its most important assets. When a disaster happens, you need to know you can get your data back quickly and efficiently, so you can get your business up and running again. If you need help designing and implementing a disaster recovery plan for you company, contact Loop USA Inc. Our team of experts can develop a plan to keep your company running smoothly, even after a disaster.

Serving Southwest Florida since 2005, Loop USA Inc. was founded in 1995 in response to the IT industry demand for a single-point strategic service provider who understands business workflow.

Loop’s team of professionals, focus on implementing hardware and software solutions that increase productivity and minimize downtime and cover all technologies. Contact Tony at (239)3007878 or tavares@loopusainc.com.

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BeneCard PBF, a pharmacy benefit manager, has opened a Bonita Springs office that brings 65 jobs.

The Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania-based company focuses on controlling costs through effective clinical initiatives. The employees will work in executive management, call center staffing, operations and similar positions.

“The cost-effective, businessfriendly environment of Bonita Springs will translate into benefits for our clients,” said President Michael Perry. “We have a strong focus on our employees’ well-being, which, in turn, helps us deliver superior service to our clients and members.”

The office is at 28000 Spanish Wells Drive, Bonita Springs, Florida.

For information about the company, visit www.benecardpbf.com.

Bruno Air president finalist for award

Louis Bruno, president of Bruno Air Conditioning, is a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

The award, celebrating its 30th year, recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Louis Bruno “We pride ourselves in giving the best customer service possible and seeking for continual improvement; this recognition reinforces our core values and ongoing efforts,” Bruno said.

The business has branches in Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Naples, Kissimmee and Gibsonton.

Bruno was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced June 9 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.

Bruno Air Conditioning began in 2013 and has grown from three employees to more than 150 with revenues of $25 million. Bruno Air Conditioning offers services in HVAC, plumbing and electrical for residential and commercial.

For information, contact 239-5927866 or visit www.brunoair.com.

To view a list of Florida finalists, visit www.ey.com/US/en/About-us/ Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneur-Of-TheYear/2016_EOY_FL_Finalist

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to a crisis situation.

Reading the Crisis Communication Tips in the Age of Terrorism is good place to get acquainted with emergency response training. Taking part in spokesperson training is the best way to prepare yourself.

Be vigilant. Be safe.

Linda Blackman, a Certified Speaking Professional, is a former TV news anchor, reporter and talk show host.

She provides consulting and training for public speaking, handling the media, crisis communications, selling more effectively. You may contact her at 239–777-1776; linda@lindablackman.com; www.LindaBlackman.com

Page 4

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JUNE 2016

Babcock Ranch touted as SWFL’s first solar-powered town Calling it a new era of smart growth, Kitson & Partners have unveiled what it bills at the most sustainable, most innovative and health-focused town in the nation.

Babcock Ranch, in rural Punta Gorda, also will be the first town primarily powered by the sun.

“Babcock Ranch will exemplify what it means to be a town of the future,” said Kitson & Partners Chairman and CEO Syd Kitson.

Bordering the 73,000-acre Babcock Ranch Preserve and the 75,000-acre Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area, Babcock Ranch comprises nearly 18,000 acres.

“While providing all aspects of a well-rounded life, from education to healthy living, Babcock Ranch abuts one of Florida’s largest preservation purchases, which will ensure that this entire area remains a treasure for generations,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

The first phase, set for completion in 2017, includes 1,100 residences.

The initial downtown district buildings will feature a wellness center, market café, lakeside restaurant, educational facilities, and an outdoor outfitters.

“Less than a year from today, the first residents

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Babcock Ranch will have state-of-the-art infrastructure that leverages technology to deliver superior services while lowering household costs: Power: The 75-megawatt FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center is expected to be completed and connected to FPL’s smart grid by the end of 2016 Education: On-site choices include early learning to college degree programs with multi-modal digital and distance learning opportunities Fitness: An innovative health and fitness center at the heart of town will support lifelong pursuits of a healthier, active lifestyle, sports training and medical wellness choices will be settling into a whole new way of life – one that is conscientious, engaging and connected,” Kitson said.

When the town is completed, it will have 19,500 homes with 50,000 residents, with more than half of the total land for green spaces, lakes and nature trails.

The Florida Power and Light Babcock Ranch

Is the customer really always right?

Q: I own a small restaurant and seem to get mixed reviews from my customers. I want to respond to their suggestions in a positive way, but with some people you just can’t please them. Any suggestions?

A: It’s a given that for every compliment you will receive a dozen suggestions for improvement. So, take the high road and assume that you have room for improvement. Ask your customers about their experiences and what you can do to make the experience better.

Everyone likes to think their opinions are valid and, to the extent you solicit them, makes the customer feel appreciated. You may be surprised that if you take this approach you will receive as many compliments as you do suggestions for improvement.

Your mission is to provide a dining experience that anticipates your customers every need. The goal is to secure a repeat customer and one who will bring their friends. While you need to treat all customers well, not all will have the same issues and concerns.

Be a good listener. It is important that your demeanor indicates that the speaker is being heard. Acknowledge the complaint with an affirmative head nod and thank them for bringing the issue to your attention.

In the restaurant business the customer expects good food, served hot, with excellent service, at fair price. When you hear the same complaint from three or more customers, you have a problem that need to

be fixed.

Most problems are caused by staff that have not been properly trained. Wait staff need to be alert to the customers every need. If a water glass is half full, it needs to be replenished.

When the appetizer has been consumed, the entrée should follow shortly thereafter.

The food should be presented exactly as requested

BY GRAY POEHLER which requires the waiter comGuest Columnist municate special requests to the chef. This is especially important when the customer has allergy issues.

Recognize that you cannot please everyone. When you receive a complaint do not become defensive.

Think of it as an opportunity to learn and improve. If the complaint is valid reward the customer with a gift card he or she can use on a future visit.

While these comments refer to a restaurant operation, they are equally applicable to any retail business that desires to build customer loyalty. A satisfied customer will always be your very best advertisement.

Gray Poehler is a volunteer with SCORE Naples. For more information, call 239-430-0081 or go to naples. score.org/mentors.

Public transit: An advanced public and private transportation system of shared, driverless vehicles that is expected to be the eventual backbone for moving people and goods about in Babcock Ranch Green living: Half of Babcock Ranch’s total footprint is dedicated to greenways parks & lakes, with an active trail system of more than 50 miles of preserved and restored ecosystems.

Technology: Modern “smart grid” digital electric distribution technologies embedded in the infrastructure that will optimize energy efficiency and lower utility costs for both residents and businesses.

Find out more at www.babcockranchflorida.com.

Solar Energy Center will supply the community and the broader region with 74.5-megawatts of clean, renewable power generated by the Florida sunshine “We’ve been working hard to cost-effectively bring more emissions-free universal-scale solar to Florida for more than 10 years,” said Eric Silagy, FPL president and CEO.

DISASTER SERVICES 411

Digital checklist adds level of cyber security Better Business Bureau and the National Cyber Security Alliance are encouraging consumers to put cybersecurity top of mind by urging them to make digital devices an additional target of their spring cleaning activities.

The alliance and the bureau encourage making a thorough “digital spring cleaning” an annual ritual.

Internet users can get a fresh start with their online life by keeping all machines clean, purging their online files, enhancing security features and ensuring that their online reputation shines.

“Seasonal changes always have an impact on our lives ‒ whether it’s the biannual changing of our clocks or swapping our skis for a baseball glove.

It has also become the time to declutter and start anew,” said Michael Kaiser, the alliance executive director.

Cleaning up your digital footprint can make you more secure online, protect valuable, personal information and avoid identity theft.

“By following our handy checklist, investing a little time each week and performing a series of simple chores, you can dramatically strengthen CHECKLIST See page 8

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PR association announces chapter award winners

The Florida Public Relations Association Southwest Florida Chapter announced the winners of its five chapter awards during an April 19 ceremony at Six Bends Harley-Davidson, in Fort Myers.

The annual ceremony recognizes outstanding service to the public relations profession and the chapter in five categories: Rising Star, Unsung Hero, Chapter Member of the Year, PR Professional of the Year and Lifetime Achievement.

Mckenzie Cassidy and Kate Walter, MA, APR, received the Rising Star Award. The honor recognizes up-and-coming leaders in the chapter. They have shown enthusiasm and passion for the profession and are making a positive difference through their service to chapter events, career pursuits and other arenas.

The chapter presented Tiffany Whitaker, APR, with the Unsung Hero Award. The award recognizes the contributions of an individual member for her hard work and dedication to the chapter ‘behind the scenes’.

Mike Jackson, APR, received the chapter Member of the Year. The award is given to the person who goes above and beyond in their commitment of time and energy to ensure the success of the chapter. The recipient embraces creative thinking and opportunities for participation in chapter programs and projects, and serves as an ambassador to the community.

The chapter honored Connie Ramos-Williams as PR Professional of the Year. The award is given to a chapter member who exemplifies the high stan-

dards of the public relations profession. The recipient consistently displays a professional attitude and exercises professional conduct, is cooperative and supportive of fellow public relations professionals, and is interested in raising the professional standing of the association in the community.

The chapter’s most prestigious and honorable Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Carolyn Rogers, APR, CPRC. The award is reserved for public relations professionals who have dedicated their careers to the profession and its advancement.

The Florida Public Relations Association develops public relations practitioners who enhance the public relations profession in Florida. For information on the Southwest Florida chapter, visit fpraswfl.org.

Hayes discusses digital of deceased Hackers can strike anytime, plan accordingly assets Naples lawyer M. Travis Hayes urges estate planDISASTER SERVICES 411

Hacking, security breaches and data theft are not laughing matters. However, people in the IT security industry often joke there are two types of computer systems — those that have been breached and those that will be breached.

As hackers get more sophisticated and data theft becomes more lucrative, more systems are breached every day. It very likely is a case of not if, but when a data breach will occur.

Types of breaches The first type of breach is the unauthorized intrusion by a third-party into your own computer systems resulting in the loss or theft of data. This might include actual, physical access to your systems, hacking from the outside or even theft from the inside, such as an employee copying files onto a memory stick and taking them home.

The second involves unauthorized access into the systems of a third-party wherein your data stored with that third party was compromised.

This might include the situation where your credit card payment processor gets hacked and the hackers obtain information about your customers’ credit cards and other personal information.

Stop the bleeding In either case, the first action is to identify the point of breach and close off access. This might mean hiring technical consultants to analyze your systems to locate and quarantine malware.

If the breach is on some other system, such as a credit card processor, then you will want assurances from that provider that the breach has been secured and to take whatever steps might be necessary to prevent any additional data leaking. This might include changing passwords or other basic defensive moves.

What data was compromised?

It is imperative to understand what kind of data may have been lost or compromised, since that will dictate what steps you might have to take next.

Any data is vulnerable and thieves have different targets and motives. For some businesses, the most important information to a thief might be vender sourcing documents or component price sheets. To others, the most important data is data identifying your customers and their personal information. If you store customer data or other such information, then the question to ask is whether the compromised data included any “personal information” defined in the Florida Information Privacy Act. Under this Act, “personal information” includes an individual’s first name or initial and

last name in combination with any of the following: • Social Security number • Driver’s license, identification card, passport or similar government identification number • Financial account number or credit or debit card number (and CVN Security code) • Information about

BY MARK NIEDS an individual’s medical hisGuest Columnist tory, treatment or diagnosis • Health insurance policy number or subscriber identification numbers • Username or email address in combination with password or security question and answer that would permit access to an online account.

If the data includes any of this information, then the notice provisions are triggered.

Notice of Breach If the data breach includes this information, any affected individual must be notified via email or letter not more than 30 days after the breach was discovered. The notice should include as much information as is available to inform the individual about what may have been compromised and when.

If the breach is large scale and impacts 500 or more Floridians, then notice must also be provided to Florida’s Attorney General within 30 days.

Failure to make the requisite notice within the time periods above could expose you to penalties so care must be taken to act swiftly.

Plan The easiest way to deal with a data breach is to have a solid response plan in hand before anything happens.

Just like fire drills and hurricane preparedness, potential data breaches are something for which all prudent businesses should plan.

Mark Nieds concentrates his practice on intellectual property and internet matters with specific emphasis on trademark selection, registration, enforcement and litigation, copyright, and trade secret protection. He can be reached at 239-3441153 or via email at mark.nieds@henlaw.com.

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ners to understand how the new digital assets act affects their clients.

Hayes, a wills, trusts and estates attorney and a partner of Lile & Hayes, recently presented a talk on the Florida Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act at the Collier County Bar Association’s annual Estate Planning Symposium.

“This law helps individuals designate who should have ownership M. Travis Hayes of emails, photos, posts and other content shared online,” he said.

The Legislature approved the act during the 2016 session and deals with a fiduciary’s legal authority to access digital assets.

Users may choose – via an online tool or through their estate planning documents – whether internet providers such as Google, Facebook and Apple should disclose digital assets upon the user’s death or disability.

“Using an online tool to choose whether or not to disclose these assets actually overrides any direction provided in estate documents, so it’s important for estate planners to understand how the legislation impacts our clients,” Hayes said.

Hayes is a member of the executive council for the Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Society Section and serves as vice chairman of the Probate Law and Procedure Committee and the Digital Assets and Information Study Committee. He is the incoming vice chairman of the Section’s Legislative Committee.

He also is the incoming co-chairman of The Florida Bar Probate Rules Committee. Hayes serves on the board of directors of the Collier County Bar Association.

Lile & Hayes offers legal counsel on estate- and trust-related matters, including estate planning, estate and trust administration, probate-related litigation and tax matters. The firm’s office is at 3033 Riviera Drive, Suite 104, in Naples. For information, call 239-6497778 or visit www.Lile-Hayes.com.

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Page 6

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JUNE 2016

DISASTER SERVICES 411

Businesses must make disaster plan in advance “Disasters happen” ....and when they do, they are potentially enormous risks to structures and their contents. Many of the losses inflicted on physical structures and their contents can be avoided. Formulating a disaster plan and taking the necessary preventative measures may mitigate the destructive effects in the event of a catastrophe. Given the inevitability of natural disasters, prevention goes a long way toward protecting lives, saving buildings and redeeming the billions of dollars spent on repairs. There is no doubt that planning ahead can save both lives and property.

There are two common denominators that apply to the philosophy of disaster planning: 1) No one thought it could or would happen to them, 2) Those that planned were repaid countless times over. How? By saving lives, property and in many cases, their business.

The goals of a business continuity plan or contingency plan include, but are not limited to the following: • Minimize interruptions to the business operations • Limit the severity of the disruption • Establish alternative means of operation • Resume critical operations within a specified time after a disaster • Expedite the restoration of services by pre-selecting a restoration company • Assure customers that their interests are protected • Maintain a positive image of the organization • Minimize financial loss • Train personnel and familiarize them with emergency operations • Establish better awareness for all employees The fifth bullet point is oftentimes

overlooked due to the fact most businesses do not know what a restoration company does.

In the next section this question and facts about using a restoration service will be discussed.

BY PORTIA WRIGHT

Choosing a Restoration Service Unless one is a professional in the insurance claims business or involved with risk management, chances are they are not familiar with an autonomous industry: restoration. As applied to the context of this article, restoration refers to returning property damaged by catastrophic events such as fire, water and smoke to pre-damaged condition. Restoration is the chosen vemacular because the term “cleaning” does not accurately reflect steps required to accomplish the objective - pre-loss condition.

Guest Columnist

How to Choose There are two primary methods of identifying a restoration vendor. First, and most common, is to seek their services in the aftermath of a disaster. This method is used most often because, as alluded to earlier, the customer is not aware that such services exist. Therefore, they give it no forethought. Thus, disaster victims find themselves facing a myriad of decisions when hours count and delays can have a greater effect. As the property owner, the disaster victim is

ultimately responsible for choosing the restoration vendor.

If no research has gone into proactively identifying a vendor, the disaster victim typically relies on the advice of the insurance company’s claims representative. In doing so, several vendors may be contacted and asked to submit bids (so know their scopes of service).

From these bids, decisions are usually made based on economic criteria. The reader should be advised to compare the submitted estimates closely.

As a rule of thumb, if the scopes submitted are the same, the cost should be very similar as well. A distorted range of prices usually is an indicator that either the vendors differ in their opinion of the degree of damage or one of the estimators has made a calculation error. The second method of securing a restoration vendor is “pre-selection.”

Having a member of your organization proactively seek out a restoration vendor is highly recommended in disaster planning. Historically, this step is commonly overlooked when the planning personnel develop a business recovery plan. Proactively selecting a restoration vendor prior to a loss can have a dramatic effect on the recovery time because restoration services can begin immediately.

Watch for Part 2 of this Guest Column in the next issue of SWFBT Portia Wright works with her husband Bob, who began in the restoration business in 1978. In 2000 they began acquiring Service Master Clean franchises in Southwest Florida and continue growing their business today. For more information go to www.servicemasterrestorations.com or call (239)277-0330.

Catch up on hurricane recovery tips at webinar Agility Recovery and the U.S. Small Business Administration are helping business owners prepare with a webinar focused on a quick recovery after hurricanes bring high winds, heavy rainfall and flooding.

Although the webinar originally aired in mid-May as part of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, it remains available for all who are interested in protecting lives, property and the local economy.

The topics include preparing employees; practical

steps to organize and prepare your business; and simple tools and takeaways to use today.

Visit www.preparemybusiness.org to access this and other webinars.

The Small Business Administration provides disaster recovery assistance in the form of low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, private nonprofits and businesses of all sizes. To learn more, visit www.sba. gov/disaster.

Remember to take insurance documents

By Sanjay Kurian Guest Columnist Long- time Floridians may be able to recite some of the following actions to take in the event of a hurricane: know the evacuation route, bring your plants and furniture in, gas up your cars, get the shutters up.

To assure as smooth a recovery as possible, all business owners should evaluate their insurance policies, in conjunction with their insurance agents, so that insurance is adequate and will address the specific issues that may be impact business. Evaluate all contracts to determine what happens if a hurricane renders performance of the contract impossible.

Three areas that could impact any business owner this hurricane season: Understand the items for which you have insurance coverage and for which items you may be at risk. One of the biggest risks any property owner faces is what is known as law and ordinance coverage. This coverage is of great importance the older the building is. Law and ordinance coverage protects the insured by ensuring that there is insurance to bring property up to code in the event of a casualty. In the absence of this coverage, which in many cases must be specifically purchased and covered by a separate endorsement of the policy, the property owner runs the risk of not having funds to bring the building up to new code but only having enough money to bring the building up to the original construction standards. That is a potentially huge risk which should be managed.

Whether to obtain business loss or business interruption insurance. This insurance protects the business owner in the event of a casualty event which may stop the business from operating for a period of time. However, these policies often have a “deductible” which is a set number of days the business must not be operational before coverage kicks in. Can your business survive without any revenue for 30 days? If not a plan PLANNING See page 9

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 7

Christopher T. Spiro named Distinguished Entrepreneur

Christopher T. Spiro, owner and CEO of Spiro and Associates, was presented with the fifth annual Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). The award recognizes a small-to-mid-sized Southwest Florida business for its overall success.

For the first time, two other awards were also given. Criteria for the three awards are as follows:

Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year A business owner who has demonstrated: Innovative and Cutting Edge Approach to Corporate Culture, Employee Programs, and Integration of New Technologies; offers goods or services across a broad area (local, regional, national, international), multi award recipient (industry, civic, other organizations), highly active in the community to advocate both small businesses as well as non-profits, has overcome significant obstacles during the life of the company.

Small Business Advocate of the Year A business owner who actively volunteers throughout the SW Florida Community to inspire, encourage, and mentor other small business owners

in helping them improve or grow their business(s).

This advocacy could be from involvement in a combination of chambers, economic development offices, and other non-profit or membership organizations where the advocate is actively involved. The 2016 honoree for this award is Judy Williams, owner and founder of Spada Salon & Spa.

Distinguished Innovator of the Year A business owner who has within the past 3 years adopted or created their own new technologies and/ or cutting edge approaches to create accelerated business growth and profit. Innovation can be internal including employee programs or external relating to excellence in customer service. This year’s recipient is John Benkert, owner of CPR Tools Inc. Judges for this year’s awards included: Phil Borchmann, Editor of Gulfshore Business Magazine; Dorothy Browning, Program Manager of Community Education with Goodwill Industries of SWFL; Timothy J. Cartwright, Chairman of Tamiami Angel Fund; Colleen DePasquale, Executive Director of Photography by Christine Brady the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce; and Distinguished Entrepreneur Christopher T. Spiro talks Gary K. Mart, 2015 Distinguished Entrepreneur of with FSBDC at FGCU Regional Director Lois Knox.

SWFL Recipient and CEO of Global Tech LED.

AIRPORT PAGE 1 Single-occupancy restrooms, one male and one female, will be built immediately east of the observation deck for public use, open from dawn to dusk daily.

“The observation deck has become a popular amenity since it opened in 2011,” said Airport Authority Executive Director Chris Rozansky. “We added speakers so people can listen to conversations between air traffic control tower and pilots, and Eagle Scouts provided picnic tables, exercise stations, and a bicycle rack. Constructing restrooms adds convenience for those using the deck and the Gordon River Greenway.”

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. is leading the construction efforts and the landscaping work. The projects will take approximately 12 weeks to complete. During construction, the affected sidewalk areas will be closed. The observation deck will remain open for public use during most of the construction.

Naples Municipal Airport welcomed the return of scheduled airline service on Feb. 27 when Elite Airways began flights to Newark, New Jersey, and Portland, Maine. The airport is home to flight schools, air charter operators, car rental agencies and corporate aviation and nonaviation businesses, as well as fire/rescue services, mosquito control, the Collier County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit and other community services. During the 2014-15 fiscal year, the airport accommodated 99,569 takeoffs and landings.

All funds used for the airport’s operation, maintenance and improvements are generated from activities at the airport or from federal and state grants; the airport receives no property tax dollars. The Florida Department of Transportation values the airport’s annual economic impact to the community at $283.5 million.

For more information or to subscribe for email updates about the airport, visit www.FlyNaples.com.

DISASTER SERVICES 411

Multiple backups key to disaster recovery

By Tom Kehoe Guest Columnist

Have you prepared your business for a disaster? Have you created a disaster recovery plan?

Have you looked for ways to minimize disasters? What would constitute a disaster for your business? These are some of the basic questions you should be asking yourself.

We have to begin by examining what constitutes a disaster. Does it have to be something drastic like a fire or weather-related event that strikes? Could it be something like losing a data circuit for a prolonged period? How about a disk or machine failure? How long can your business sustain an outage?

The utmost thing for a rapid recovery is backup. We have all heard this, but do you have a well thought out recovery plan? I said recovery and not backup because the recovery plan dictates the backup strategy.

Backup comes in many forms.

The form most of us are familiar with is data backup, and this is very important. The other recovery strategies include data circuits and equipment. For now, we will discuss data backups.

Data is most important to the basic running of the business. Do you have a database? If so, you may want to consider restoration a priority.

A well-defined recovery strategy will eliminate backing up non-essential data to reduce costs and time in the backup process.

Let’s examine the backup methods, local or cloud. Both methods should be incorporated into your strategy. Relying on just one might be disastrous. If you rely on just a local backup, where do you store the backup media? If you are storing it onsite and there is a fire at the location, the media may be damaged. It may sustain smoke or water damage, or both. You’ll incur a BACKUPS See page 8

Page 8

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JUNE 2016

Three long-term employees buy out accounting firm

“

Our clients have been with us for a long time, so from their perspective the change is in name only, because we continue to provide the same high level of service that we have always provided.

“

Three employees at Kevin M. Burns & Associates recently bought the 20-year-old Cape Coralbased accounting business.

Anthony M. Constantino, a Certified Public Accountant and one of the partners of the newly named Constantino, Nelson & Werline, made the announcement. The other partners and new owners are Dee Nelson and Yvonne Werline.

The independent accounting firm provides services ranging from basic tax management and accounting to more in-depth services such as financial statement preparation and tax planning for corporations and individuals. The renamed firm continues to service clients at the same downtown location where it has been for 16 years: 4507 SE 16th Place, Cape Coral.

– Yvonne Werline, Partner at Constantino, Nelson & Werline

The buyout was part of former owner Kevin Burns’ business succession plan. Burns began his career in public accounting in 1981, and launched

Windows 10: Hero or headache?

By Mona Hilton Guest Columnist

Microsoft is offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 – at least temporarily. Released more than 6 months ago, Microsoft has time to release fixes to stabilize the software.

Here are four things you should know about Windows 10—and their pros and cons—to help you avoid the pain of a failed upgrade to Windows 10.

Users have until July 28 Pros: You still have time to wait for Microsoft to work out any big bugs in the OS before enjoying a free upgrade.

Cons: Waiting to install Windows 10 could be more of a hassle as it gets closer to the deadline— and if you miss the deadline it won’t be free.

Windows 10 gives you 30 days to love it or leave it Pros: If your system can’t handle the new OS or you dislike Windows 10, you have the option to uninstall the software and revert to your previous OS. Cons: 30 days may not be

CHECKLIST PAGE 4 your security posture,” Kaiser said. “In addition, your digital life will be more manageable and you will have peace of mind that you are helping protect your family.”

Mary E. Power, president and CEO

enough time for you to decide if Windows 10 is for you, but it may be worth the risk since you can roll back to Windows 7 or 8.1.

Custom software hasn’t caught up Pros: Depending on your software and the vendor, whatever tweaks are made could help your overall experience run more smoothly.

Cons: Until your vendor provides all the necessary compatibility fixes and support for Windows 10, adopting the new OS is all but out of the question (unless you want to switch out all of your software, too).

Windows 10 is an improvement Pros: Windows 10 has made remarkable improvements to the way your system operates when compared to Windows 7.

Cons: While the above is true, older systems may lose key functionality when you make the switch.

For information, contact Mona Hilton, owner of Genesis Global Technologies at 239-337-2667 or info@GenesisGT.com. of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, noted that the bureau offers shredding events to help consumers safely dispose of paper files.

“In recent years, many events have added electronic shredding to the mix to help consumers deal with old hard drives and other electronic data storage,” she said. “We are urging more

disaster on top of a disaster. You could also have a similar issue with water pipes bursting.

Backups on the cloud have associated risks as well. Some of the backup cloud solutions do not keep multiple file versions online.

What that means is that any file changes will be backed up and overwritten with the current version on your source system. This can be a problem with some ransomware, which is prevalent.

Imagine you’re infected by ransomware, and by its nature your files are encrypted. The backup will backup these encrypted files, rendering them useless. So ensure there are multiple

REDEVELOP PAGE 1

versions stored online.

Another consideration for the online backup solution is the time to recover. This will depend on your download speeds. You must be aware of this as well when implementing your recovery strategy. Unless your Internet Service Provider provides the same upload and download speeds, the recovery times may not satisfy your expected recovery time.

Clear Resource Solutions – Brings a combined 30+ plus years’ technology experience to our clients. We have experienced many challenges and learned to valuable lessons that we share to minimize risks. Contact Tim at (941)759-3117 or tkehoe@clearresourcesolutions.com .

“By providing financial and regulatory incentives, the opportunities to clean and redevelop blighted property to achieve the community vision are greatly enhanced,” Iglehart said.

The agenda includes presentations from keynote speakers on June 8: Mayor Willie Shaw, city of Sarasota; Ed Johnson, manager, East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area; and Joseph Ullo, director, DEP Division of Waste Management.

On June 9, the program will include

case study discussions from Sarasota, South Bay and Fort Myers; a mayorsfocused round table on the vision of sites in their communities led by Shaw; and breakout panel sessions featuring local government and private sector subjectmatter experts discussing brownfield redevelopment.

The program focuses on the cleanup of contaminated sites and economic redevelopment of those sites. To make incentives available to a community, a local government must designate a brownfield area by resolution.

To learn more, go to www.dep.state. fl.us

businesses, employers and institutions to join with us in hosting shred events for employees and customers to safely scrap documents and files that could be used for identity theft.”

Power and Kaiser recommend creating an action plan that assigns maintenance tasks to appropriate family members. The Alliance’s downloadable

Digital Spring Cleaning Checklist is user-friendly and will help keep everyone organized. It includes a four-week list of tasks grouped together by category.

View the checklist online: bbb.org/ digital-spring-cleaning Download a PDF: staysafeonline. org/stay-safe-online/resources/digitalspring-cleaning-checklist.

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the firm in 1996.

Constantino, who has extensive experience in accounting, taxation and litigation support, joined the business in 1996. Werline brought more than 15 years of bookkeeping and accounting experience in the private sector when she joined the team in 1998.

Nelson, with extensive experience in accounting and taxation for large and small businesses as well as individuals, came aboard in 2000.

“Our clients have been with us for a long time, so from their perspective the change is in name only, because we continue to provide the same high level of service that we have always provided,” Werline said.

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JUNE 2016

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 9

Law360 names Naples firm best for female lawyers The national law firm of Quarles & Brady, with offices in Naples, has been named the “Best BigLaw Firm For Female Attorneys” by Law360, underscoring its ongoing commitment to gender equality in the legal profession and workplace.

As of Dec. 31, 38 percent of the firm’s 483 attorneys are women; 31 percent of partners are women, while 49 percent of non-partners are women;

21 percent of equity partners and 43 percent of the non-equity partners are women.

“I’m incredibly proud of the firm’s leadership in promoting women and providing opportunities for women,” said company Chairwoman, Kimberly Leach Johnson. “This recognition affirms our effort to develop and retain the top female legal talent in an incredibly competitive marketplace.”

Additionally, the firm has received awards from Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women, Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms, and Women in Law Enforcement Forum.

The firm also has offices in Chicago, Indianapolis, Madison; Milwaukee; Naples, Florida; Phoenix; Scottsdale; Tampa; Tucson; and Washington, D.C.

PARK PAGE 1

is owned by Bob and Debi Johnston of Pershing Bonita, LLC. The newly renovated office space has 52,000 square-feet available for lease, divided into 11 spaces in three buildings.

The complex offers no impact fees, ample parking, a centrally located elevator, code-compliant sprinklers and an on-site team to ensure tenant satisfaction. The park has executive suites, medical offices, gyms and office spac-

es ready for lease and customization.

The Johnstons’ goal is to create a community of supportive tenants.

Having been in the supermarket and real estate businesses for many years, the Johnstons put customer service at the forefront of their business.

For more information, visit www. bonitaprofessionalpark.net or call (877) 226-3312.

the property produced by Diane Dowling, a former producer, director, writer and television editor for major networks, including HBO and Showtime. Guided property tours were also provided.

Located at 28410 Bonita Crossing Blvd., Bonita Professional Park

CHENEY PAGE 1 Cheney Brothers was established in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1925

by Joe Cheney. CBI started in the food distribution business by selling milk and eggs to local hotels and restaurants. Over the years the company has grown into a billion dollar business and remains privately owned and managed by the same Cheney Family.

In addition to the 325,000 square foot headquarters in Riviera Beach, CBI operates a 480,000 square foot distribution center in Ocala, and Bari Beef International’s 66,000 square foot facility in Orlando. Their service area includes Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and exports worldwide.

The hundreds of jobs that will be

Photography by Jim Jett

CBI recently hosted a tour of its new facility. created over the next few years will have an average wage and benefit package of $45,000. CBI invested between 25 and 30 million dollars to

PLANNING PAGE 6 should be put in place which may include appropriate lines of credit or other funding mechanisms to enable you to handle the deductible.

What if you or another party can’t perform services or otherwise meet your contract. Who bears the risk of that potential loss? In southwest Florida the hurricane season is also our “off season” and is the time when many people undertake construction or reme-

build this distribution center and spent millions more of capital dollars to stock the distribution center with merchandise and equipment.

diation projects. Do these contracts have appropriate force majeure clauses? How are insurance proceeds to be disbursed? If the contractor demobilizes due to an impending storm, who bears the related costs? These are questions that need to be addressed at the time of contracting.

Finally, it is important for all business owners to keep certain documents safe and accessible. These include all insurance policies, contact information for insurance carriers, all documentation that may support your claims for lost revenues in making a busi-

Show your server room nightmare; win cleanup A campaign to help businesses secure their overlooked computer networks is offering a $2,000 prize.

Entech, a Florida-based managed service & IT consulting firm, launched an initiative to increase awareness of server room security and best practices. Using the hashtag #ServerRoomNightmares organizations may enter a photograph of their messy server rooms to be eligible to win a server cleanup.

“So many companies don’t realize the importance of a clean, well-secured server room,” Entech President Jake Spanberger said. “Their server is the heart of their network, yet so many are perfectly happy to stuff their server in the closet improperly secured, and neglect it.”

He said the campaign allows Entech to educate businesses, help them better secure their networks “and clean up something that they may not even realize could be a huge eyesore to their clients.”

Businesses can join the campaign by going to Entech’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/entechus/) or visiting: www.entechus.com/serverroom-nightmares More resources about server room security and best practices are available on the company’s blog: www.entechus.com/blog Entech has offices in Fort Myers and Bradenton.

ness loss claim and drawings or specifications for buildings in case of damage.

A little bit of planning can minimize post-Hurricane risks and help you prevent one disaster from turning into a second disaster.

Sanjay Kurian, Esq., is a shareholder with Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. He is a specialist in construction law and handles construction matters for clients throughout Florida and is a member of the Firm’s disaster recovery team. Contact him skurian@bplegal.com or 433-7707.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

JUNE 2016

Sustainability summit honors Goss, showcases green living

“

As Sanibel’s first mayor, Porter Goss put into place environmental protection legislation that endured the test of more than four decades of assault. Through today, Mayor Goss’s leadership, vision and foresight are imprinted on every square inch of Sanibel.

“

The SWFL Sustainability Summit honored former CIA agent and hosted a competition by a Buccaneer in April.

More than 275 business and community leaders attended the annual summit, where former Congressman and CIA Director Porter Goss received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane nominated Goss.

“Porter Goss forged a community committed to a unique focus on protecting the environment as the community’s top priority,” Ruane said in his nomination. “As Sanibel’s first Mayor, Porter Goss put into place environmental protection legislation that has endured the test of more than

– Kevin Ruane, mayor of Sanibel

four decades of assault. Through today, Mayor Goss’s leadership, vision and foresight are imprinted on every square inch of Sanibel.”

Gulf Elementary fifth-graders competed in an inaugural “SWFL FifthGraders Sustainability Competition”

Bonita YP plan ‘In Your Future’ summit The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals will be shaping futures at their second annual “In Your Future” Summit on June 22.

“This event is about bringing together future leaders of Southwest Florida to discuss the challenges and obstacles they face today, while offering them a roadmap to better themselves, their companies, and the community in which they live.” said Joe Nugent, Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Steering Committee Chair.

It features keynote speakers, networking breaks and breakout sessions with a focus on personal and professional leadership development.

Organizers expect more than 250 attendees who will talk about becoming a better leader, manager, community builder and collaborator.

Breakout sessions will allow participants to tackle their professional development hands-on and bring tangible skills back to work with them.

The event will unwind with two hours of networking, from 5 to 7 p.m. ‘Schmoozapalooza’ is a time for the Young Professionals to build their professional networks with fellow career-oriented individuals and continue the conversations started during the program.

The program begins at 12:30 p.m. at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Cohen Center Ballroom, 11090 FGCU Blvd., Fort Myers.

Tickets cost $55.

For information, visit www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com or call 239-992-2943.

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hosted by former Tampa Bay Buccaneer running back Earnest Graham.

WeVets and SWFL Sustainability announced the “Major General James L. Dozier” Award for Veteran Support.

It will recognize one outstanding nonprofit and one for-profit business

who have proven their commitment to veterans ranging from support programs, scholarships, to employment.

Dozier, a local hero, will lead the review committee of community and business leaders.

Two Newts Gallery, of Fort Myers, won the People’s Choice “Best in Show” in the sustainable art show. The Summit featured an electric car show with a Tesla Model S inside the gallery, accompanied by an electric vehicle from Florida Power & Light.

The 2016 Summit was organized

by SWFL Sustainability, a subsidiary of Visaggio & Co., in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida.

DISASTER SERVICES 411

Alliance creates stronger information security

NetDiligence, a cyber risk assessment and data breach services company, has formed a strategic alliance with Information Shield, a provider of information security policy and compliance solutions.

NetDiligence has integrated Information Shield’s newest solution, ComplianceShield, into the NetDiligence eRiskHub platform as an optional feature, providing insurers that license the portal with a streamlined way to help their policyholders build and maintain strong information security programs, reducing risk.

ComplianceShield is a cloud-based solution that

helps small and medium-sized businesses automate the development and management of a customized information security program. It includes security policies, security awareness training, program automation and a wizard-driven interface.

Insurers can choose a trial version of ComplianceShield, available to their registered eRiskHub clients at no cost. Within minutes, covered clients have a set of “essential” information security policies and security awareness training for up to 10 employees.

For information, go to eriskhub.com .

Three steps to keep communication during disaster

By Patrick Carey Guest Columnist Take these three easy steps that can be implemented now to save time and headaches in the future in the event of a telecommunications or power outage.

Bring in telecommunication services from two providers. Should the main service provider drop out, your phone lines can be set up to start ringing in on the second provider so you won’t not to miss important calls.

Update batteries The average UPS or battery

backup normally will last four to six years. Be sure to update these units in a timely manor.

Reroute calls Set programming with your telecommunications provider to have your calls rerouted to another site or the owner’s cell phone or home during an emergency.

Commercial Telephone Systems of Fort Myers installs telephone line and power protection units plus an uninterruptible power supply on most all system sold. They are installed for protection against lightning and voltage strikes, and add life to the system. Contact Pat at cvoicedata@aol.com or (239) 939-0059.

GUEST COMMENTARY

Get ahead of storm with financial toolkit

More than 10 years have passed since Florida faced a major hurricane, but as the 2016 hurricane season arrives, I encourage all Floridians to dust off their family’s hurricane plans and prepare for the possibility that a storm could hit Florida’s shores.

With hurricane season beginning this month, there’s no better time than now to make sure your family -- and your property -- are ready. While bottled water and batteries may be the first preparatory items you think of, I urge you to add to your list and include a few more items that can make getting back to normal after a storm easier.

Managing home repairs while evacuated or without power is never easy, but taking a few steps ahead of the storm can make a world of difference.

That’s why I encourage all Floridians to put together an insurance and financial packet that you keep in a safe place and can easily take with you should you need to leave your home in a hurry.

The packet should include documentation associated with property and health insurance policies as well as financial account information and contact information for banks and insurance companies. Having these documents put together ahead of time allows you to have ready access to all of the information necessary to file an insurance claim, whatever your situation may be.

If you have questions, or simply don’t know

where to begin, we’ve created a simple, easy-to-use financial preparedness toolkit.

The toolkit provides a single place to jot down and track your insurance information.

In the event that a storm directly affects you and your family, this toolkit can help you keep a list of adjuster contacts, as well as a log of any calls you’ve made to inBY JEFF ATWATER surance companies or agents about claims you may have Guest Columnist to file.

In the aftermath of a hurricane or other emergency, you shouldn’t have to worry about searching for account information or trying to remember the details of all your possessions. Luckily, emergency financial documents are among the easiest things to prepare, ensuring you have everything you need readily available.

To download a copy of the toolkit and learn about other resources available to help you become disaster ready, visit www.myfloridacfo. com/division/Consumers/Storm/.

Jeff Atwater is the Chief Financial Officer for the State of Florida

JUNE 2016

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 11

Startups get a boost with free Gravity software

Gravity Software is allowing startup organizations to use Gravity 2016 for free.

Its CRM accounting software is built in the cloud on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM platform and startups can benefit by having their financials and CRM fully integrated on one platform.

“Startups are challenged daily to do more with less. They need a technology solution to help reduce time spent on administration without all the startup costs associated with other accounting applications,”

said John Silvani, president and CEO of the Southfield, Michigan-based company. “The technology just works.”

Gravity provides businesses the tools and processes to help startups grow. In one screen, for example, users may easily navigate through Gravity’s back office financial business solution to front office sales, service, and marketing.

Gravity’s features are designed for companies that have outgrown their existing accounting solution.

Naples-based law firm adds Boca Raton office The law firm of Goede, Adamczyk, DeBoest a& Cross is expanding its reach, opening an office in Boca Raton.

“We believe that GADC’s new office location presents a tremendous opportunity for the firm to grow its community association, real estate and business litigation practices in the Palm Beach County market,” said Steven R. Braten, managing partner at the new site.

His partners are Ronald E. D’Anna and Gordon A. Dieterle, formerly of McClosky, D’Anna & Dieterle, LLP. Brian Cross, managing partner of the Firm, will oversee the operation.

“Goede, Adamczyk, DeBoest & Cross are extremely excited to be expanding our footprint into the Boca Raton area,” Cross said.

The office is at Sanctuary Cen-

tre, 4800 N. Federal Highway, Suite 307D, Boca Raton, and joins offices in Naples, Coral Gables and Fort Myers.

With 20 years’ experience, Braten provides comprehensive legal counsel to owner-controlled community associations.

D’Anna, with more than 30 years’ experience, represents clients in both Federal and state courts.

His representation covers general civil litigation, business and commercial litigation, foreclosure litigation, contract disputes and family law.

Dieterle has focused on civil litigation with emphasis on commercial, business, real estate, and bankruptcy for more than 25 years. He is a certified court mediator.

For more information, visit www.gadclaw.com.

DISASTER SERVICES 411

NextLabs expands security suite to combat cyber threats

Vets in FGCU entrepreneur study can nab $15K for startup

Florida Gulf Coast University Institute for Entrepreneurship recently announced that the FAR-MAR Fund, a fund of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, has committed up to $15,000 for the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program at FGCU. The contribution awards startup funding for the best entrepreneurial idea by program graduates.

Graduates have the opportunity to present their best ideas in a “Letter of Idea” format, and the top candidates step into the Frank Stern Fellowship Compassionate Shark Tank for Veterans.

As part of the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program, participants receive face-to-face instruction from business experts and refine their business plans and concepts. The result is a thorough business plan in which each veteran entrepreneur

“

– Keng Lim, CEO and founder of NextLabs

critical information internally, in the cloud and throughout the extended enterprise, with the proper level of security controls.

NextLabs EDRM offers protection to content produced in Microsoft Office applications as well other file formats, including 2D and 3D CAD, PDF, HTML, image files, archives, source code, rich media and more.

Files can be classified and rights protected by the user or automatically based on rules or events.

“NextLabs Data-Centric Security suite for SAP software is designed to simplify information security to allow users to focus on innovation and what they do best,” Lim said. “We have designed our products to be natively integrated with SAP solutions to offer the best user experience. Security should be transparent to the end user.”

For more information, visit www.nextlabs.com.

will have ongoing mentorship and follow-up support.

Announced this year, the Veteran Entrepreneurship Program is an entrepreneurial training initiative for veterans in the state seeking to start their own businesses. Some 300 veterans are in the inaugural class.

Anyone categorized as active duty or who has been honorably discharged with an interest in starting a new business is an ideal candidate.

Veterans do not need to be enrolled at FGCU to participate, and the threephase program includes support from Florida Small Business Development consultants and other successful mentors to help the new businesses start up and run successfully.

For more information about the program, contact program coordinator Amy Ridgway at 239-590-7324 or aridgway@fgcu.edu.

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We strive to protect data regardless of where the data is stored, used, comes from or goes to.

“

NextLabs expands security suite to combat cyber threats NextLabs, a leading provider of data-centric security software for large enterprises, announced the release of its Data-Centric Security suite for SAP software, which consists of the Integrated Enterprise Digital Rights Management for SAP software and the Entitlement Manager for SAP software.

SAP resells NextLabs Entitlement Manager for SAP as the SAP Dynamic Authorization Management application by NextLabs.

“We strive to protect data regardless of where the data is stored, used, comes from or goes to,” said Keng Lim, CEO and founder of NextLabs.

NextLabs Data-Centric Security suite for SAP software provides enterprises with a centralized policydriven solution to secure SAP applications and protect data across the enterprise and in the cloud. Entitlement Manager for SAP secures SAP ERP and SAP Business Suite applications, protects application data and strengthens user authorization to combat cyber threats. EDRM for SAP software protects critical documents and content stored inside and outside of SAP applications.

NextLabs Enterprise Digital Rights Management applies digital rights protection that follows content no matter where it goes.

Organizations can share their

Startup benefits include better collaboration, complete access at an time, regular updates, zero downtown and multiple users.

Gravity’s special pricing for Startups is offered in two bundles on free and one costing $150. The free package is available for those startups with a Microsoft CRM platform already in place. The $150 package includes a Microsoft CRM platform hosted by Gravity.

Go to go-gravity.com/startup-promo for information and qualifications.

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