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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S BUSINESS VOICE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 9 No. 5 / MARCH 2016 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
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IN THE NEWS
Service King opens 2nd Fort Myers repair center
Richardson, Texas-based Service King Collision Repair Centers, in the continuation of its long-term strategic national growth initiative, has announced continued expansion in the Fort Myers market with the opening of its second facility in the area. One of the fastest growing and most trusted providers of premium automotive repair services in the United States, Service King officially opened the repair center January at 5631 8th St., Lehigh Acres.. “The Service King family of repair centers is thrilled to continue our steady growth in the Fort Myers market,” said Scott Ward, Service King’s regional VP. “The opening of our Lehigh Acres location enables Service King to extend its reach and greatly enhance our promise to provide the community superior collision repair service and a greater overall experience.”
Photography by Jim Jett
Governor Rick Scott welcomes Hertz employees and other attendees to the Hertz building unveiling.
Hertz has arrived
REPAIR See page 3
Seabreeze Behavioral part of Bayfront group Along with the New Year comes a new name and practice location for Seabreeze Behavioral Medicine. The practice is now known as Bayfront Health Medical Group and has relocated to 713 E. Marion Ave., Suite 121, Punta Gorda. The new office is conveniently located in the Medical Office Plaza on the campus of Bayfront Health Punta Gorda. Dr. Mizyl Damayo and her staff of professionals are available to help with addictions, eating disorders, mental health concerns, depression and more. Patients as young as 5 years of age are welcome to experience the benefits of therapeutic services, medication management and in-house counseling. Damayo obtained her medical degree from Mathias H.M. Aznar College of Medicine (Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines). BAYFRONT See page 3
Dunbar High tech students earn honors Denise C. Spence, IT programs manager and lead technology teacher at Dunbar High School, has announced that Team Dunbar – Marck Molina and Alex Mulvey – achieved second place in their category of the Data Analytics Challenge (Freestyle Analytics) at the Second Annual Hertz Hackathon at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. Their prize was an Apple Watch for each of them. Several alumni from Dunbar High School also achieved honorable mention in the Hackathon.
Submitted by Karen P. Moore Publisher
Above: Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman and Jim Boesch. Below: The crowd gathered at the unveiling of the new Hertz headquarters.
It was a rainy Southwest-Floridachilly and miserable Friday morning at the end of January, not fun to drive in at all, almost an hour’s drive from the office. It was the only place I felt I needed to be that day—I already had a photographer there; I could’ve hired a freelance reporter who would’ve gladly taken the assignment. But there was no way I was going to miss this event, this unveiling—not only of a sparkling new state-of-the-art global headquarters of an international brand--but of a sparkling new beginning for the Southwest Florida region, its future growth, its economy. This was a media-only tour of the facilities, followed by a few words from
Hertz executives, and oh, yes, the Governor. Considering the regional importance of such an event, it was really a pretty intimate gathering with little fanfare. The entire campus is 19.75 acres: the new headquarters encompasses 248,600 square feet. The two-story lobby is indeed impressive—with a display ramp for automobiles that are part of the company’s nearly 100-year history. Intended to accommodate up to 850 employees (there are currently approximately 625 working there), the building itself speaks volumes—a clean sophisticated design with a buzzing business feel to it, not one that is austere and unwelcoming. The atmosphere is visitor-friendly, employee-friendly, even baby-friendly. It provides an energizing open-office
HERTZ See page 7
SWFL businesses pitch their venture
The Tamiami Angel Family of Funds recently presented 1Q VenturePitch SWFL at the Nature Conservancy of SWFL in Naples. Four local early stage entrepreneurs competed for the title “Most Investible” in a “shark-tank”-style event by pitching their business plans to a panel of investment judges. The audience also participated by voting one company as the best presentation. The Pitch series is part of the Tamiami Angel Funds’ e.co initiative, Relax and Order presenters include(l-r)co-founder James Ayers; Corporate a Southwest Florida community based Market Development Manager Michael McClain and co-founder Dennis effort to build a strong entrepreneurial Hampton. ecosystem from Sarasota to Naples. This round included the following members of the patient centered care nesses collect, curate and syndicate team to proactively communicate customer testimonials; companies: Relax and Order, a web-based app Nervanix, applying breakthrough throughout the delivery of care, while advances in the field of neuroscience maintaining the continuation of com- connecting local vendors with customto improve learning models and cogni- pliance, strategic planning and quality ers who desire a resort-style experience in the comfort of their home. assurance; tive skills development; VENTURE See page 5 Testimonial Tree, helping busiKoala Home Care, allowing all
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Entrepreneur class starting March 7
The Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute (SWMI) is seeking entrepreneurs for its upcoming class starting March 7 at Keiser University, 9100 Forum Corporate Parkway, Fort Myers. The institute is a training program to help emerging entrepreneurs start new ventures and grow small businesses. Graduates complete a business and management training course and work with mentors who are successful businesspersons. “MicroEnterprise is just another program that Goodwill offers to assist people in becoming independent,” says Madison Mitchell, a spokesperson for the nonprofit. “Last year, we were able to assist 42,000 individuals in Southwest Florida, some of whom are now running their own businesses.” The classes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday and Thursday evenings, and will cover everything from accounting to marketing, insurance to funding. After the completion of the course, eligible participants may apply for a microloan collateral guarantee from Goodwill. This session of MicroEnterprise is funded, in part, by the Richard M. Schulz Foundation. The session is $80; applicants that meet certain income guidelines are eligible to attend the course without cost. To apply or for information, visit GoodwillSWFL.org/microenterprise or call (239) 995-2106 ext. 2219.
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
MARCH 2016
Babcock Ranch site prepares for construction Kitson & Partners has set Earth Day 2016 as the official birth date for the new town of Babcock Ranch in Southwest Florida. While the detailed plans for first phase of construction will be formally unveiled at a kickoff event on April 22, the Palm Beach Gardensbased real estate development company recently announced that the site preparation work began in November, and the level of activity will be steadily increasing over the next few months. Planning for the Babcock community has been underway since 2006, when Kitson & Partners closed on the purchase of the 91,000-acre ranch from the Babcock family and immediately sold the vast majority of the property to the state as part of the largest single land preservation agreement in Florida history. The agreement preserved 73,000 acres and allowed for the creation of a new town on the 18,000 acres retained by Kitson & Partners. While the plummet in the housing market altered the original timelines for construction, the vision remains unchanged. “The time is finally right, and we are
Detailed plans for the first phase of construction will be unveiled at the April 22 kickoff event. excited to get to work on a new town that can meet the diverse needs of families, employers, neighbors, businesses, surrounding communities and the natural environment for generations to come,” said Syd Kitson, the company’s chairman and CEO. “Our focus on the environment, sustainability, technology, transportation, education and health and wellness will provide a whole new way of living – one that is conscientious, engaging and connected.”
A partnership with Florida Power and Light Company (FPL), one of the cleanest electric utilities in the country, for expansive solar energy production at Babcock Ranch captured international attention when it was first announced in 2009. The 400-acre on-site solar photovoltaic power plant now under construction keeps Babcock Ranch on track to become the world’s first new town powered primarily by the sun. BABCOCK See page 8
MARCH 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 3
Health, quality of life theme 2nd SWFL Sustainability Summit The 2nd Annual SWFL Sustainability Summit is Thursday April 28 at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 a.m.The Sustainable Art Gallery is back again and there will also be an Electric & Hybrid Car Show, along with a celebrity game show hosted by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham. Innovative vendors are also featured, giving attendees the opportunity to explore a variety of innovative opportunities to create a better tomorrow!
Over 300 elected officials, public sector leaders, community advocates, and private sector business executives are expected to attend the second summit. The event brings together experts in healthcare, business, government, and city planning to talk about redefining the trajectory of Southwest Florida’s future. Former Vice President of Public Affairs & Corporate Communications for Dow Corning Corporation Mary Benecke serves as keynote
speaker. She will talk about her experience at Dow Corning and her key role in the revitalization of downtown Bay City, Michigan. The event is presented by SWFL Sustainability, LLC in partnership with The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. The cost to attend is $65 and includes breakfast and lunch. For more information go to www.swflsustainability.com.
COMPANIES TO WATCH
Jasper Contractors is growing, hiring Jasper Contractors is a Southwest Florida company to watch because this roofing contractor has endless growth opportunities. The company experienced a 50 percent revenue growth in 2015 v. 2014 alone and installed more than 10 million square feet of roofing last year. Jasper has continued to expand its Florida branches which are located in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa. The company has been in business since 2004, offering stability, which is rare in the industry. The Jasper team is disciplined with its processes from beginning to end, offering homeowners
www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com PUBLISHER Karen P. Moore PRINT EDITOR Bob Massey SOCIAL MEDIA Angelica Torres WEB DESIGNER & EDITOR Michelle L. Hudson
a sense of relief when replacing their roofs. The company does a lot of things differently within the industry, such as making sure there is customer support when needed, providing online submission forms for service or questions and building strong business relationships. Needless to say, Jasper is always looking for ways to improve the taeam and its procedures. Year after year, CEO Brian Wedding and President Carl McNair set lofty goals because they know the team’s ability to become the No. 1 roofing contractor in America. Jasper is already one of the top high-volume
roofing contractors throughout the United States, but they aim to be the top. Jasper Contractors is an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, BBB accredited and is licensed in the state of Florida. The company is actively seeking top performers who understand its growth potential, which has opened a hiring wave that will continue throughout 2016. With competitive salaries and excellent benefits – including fully paid healthcare for employees and their families – Jasper is definitely a company to watch. To view current job opportunities and career fairs, visit JasperCareers.com.
REPAIR PAGE 1
Service King is one of the largest multi-location operators of comprehensive high-quality automotive collision repair facilities in the nation. It opened its first location in the Fort Myers area in January 2015 after merging with Jack’s Collision. The national leader in auto repair provides all customers with comprehensive repair service, works with directly with all major U.S. insurance carriers to simplify the repair process and backs all work with a written lifetime warranty.
The opening of Service King’s Lehigh Acres repair center signals the organization’s first new construction project of 2016 as part of its continued organic growth effort. The announcement comes just weeks after Service King continued its merger and acquisition growth plan through partnering with Detroit’s Autometric Collision and its nine high-quality repair centers.
P.O. Box 152299 Cape Coral, FL 33915-2299
BAYFRONT PAGE 1
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She completed an internship in Internal Medicine/ Psychiatry and a residency in Psychiatry at West Virginia University, Charleston Division (Charleston, W.Va.). She is Board Certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology,
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Anticipating what’s next... Anticipating what’s next...
...is what keeps you and your business keeps you and your ahead of ...is thewhat game. business ahead of the game.
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Best Home Services expands facility Family-owned and operated Best Home Services, has doubled its staff in 2015, tripled its office space and added a brand new training facility to its Naples location. Chadd and Keegan Hodges, co-owners of the company, which was founded in 1980, are growing their team to better serve the community. The move includes a brand new 20,000 square foot office space with all new interior elements and a state-of-the-art 2,500 square foot training facility. The Southwest Florida home service company now has 65 service trucks in its fleet and employs more than 90 administrative, customer service and technical professionals. Best Home Services is a HVAC, electrical, and plumbing company servicing Fort Myers, Naples, Bonita Springs, Marco Island, Estero, Cape Coral and Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties, providing 24/7 service and repairs.
Dermatology center extends service area Riverchase Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery is pleased to announce the expansion of its service area to Parrish, Sun City Center and Zephyrhills. The three new office locations, formerly the Skin Cancer Centers, will offer the same quality dermatology services patients have come to know and trust from Riverchase Dermatology. As part of the expansion into new territory, Riverchase welcomes Drs. Michael G. Caruso and Brett Blake, and certified physician assistant Leslee Baute to its team of providers. Riverchase Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, founded in Naples in 2000, is Southwest Florida’s largest and most comprehensive skin center. As part of its dedication to providing quality patient care to the South Florida area, Riverchase continues to expand its service area in order to reach a greater number of those in need of dermatology services in a convenient location. With the addition of the new office locations, Riverchase offers a total of 20 convenient dermatology and cosmetic surgery locations throughout the region.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
MARCH 2016
CEO concerns over global economy deepens
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organizations/suppliers have led to serious repercussions for the firms they supply. For example, Honda was recently forced to recall almost 25 million cars CEOs may become so risk averse that they’re not only due to issues with faulty airbags. The BSI research missing out on opportunities, but potentially undermining reveals the consequence of such activities and shows that the majority of firms, both large and small, worthe long-term resilience of their organizations. ry about compromising standards. Just a quarter (24 percent) of CEOs at firms with revenues below $500 – Howard Kerr, million per annum are totally satisfied with their orChief executive of BSI ganization’s quality control processes, while this rises to only a third (31 percent) at larger firms. Worldwide, more than half of CEOs (52 percent) attributed failures in organizational resilience to a ity of their products and services through organiza- lack of skills among their workforce. In a signal as to tional resilience, something that is most commonly the importance of the issue, more than half (57 perheld back by short-term financial thinking, a lack of cent) of CEOs take personal responsibility for drivskills and a failure to focus on the management of ing organizational resilience across their business. Just a quarter (25 percent) entrusted responsibility to resilience. “CEOs may become so risk averse that they’re colleagues below C-level in their seniority. “Change must be led from the top,” Kerr connot only missing out on opportunities, but potentially undermining the long-term resilience of their organi- cluded. “Organizations can be surprisingly naive, zations,” said Howard Kerr, chief executive of BSI. ignoring advice and best practice until they experi“Leaders need to have confidence in the ability of ence a setback themselves. CEO resignations aren’t their team to remain agile and adaptive, while main- just token sacrifices; they are a symptom of a wider taining robust processes in the face of uncertainty. malaise. Adapting and coping with change is a team Ultimately, today’s challenging conditions offer an effort, based on a culture of excellence across people, opportunity to forge stronger team dynamics and de- products and processes. True leaders recognize that Organizational Resilience is a strategic imperative livery.” Product quality control scandals at more specialist across the whole business.”
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Three-fifths of global CEOs believe continuing economic uncertainty will lead to compromises in the ability of their organization to maintain high standards, threatening trust in their business and the companies they supply. Independent research commissioned by British Standards Institution (BSI), the business standards company, explores the top threats to organizational resilience (“the ability of an organization to anticipate, prepare for, respond and adapt to incremental change and sudden disruptions in order to survive and thrive”) with macroeconomic uncertainty ranked top, ahead of disruptive competition and information security. The 120 CEOs polled from around the globe reveal how fragile modern operations with global supply chains are. Two-thirds (64 percent) of bosses admit that the concept of organizational resilience is inconsistently understood across their business, despite 70 percent believing it to be vital to the longterm viability of their operation. Encouragingly, 28 percent of CEOs are confident they secure an advantage in the market from organizational resilience, almost half (49 percent) claiming it enhances their company’s reputation and 39 percent suggesting it has improved their organization’s competitiveness through quicker and better targeted responses to opportunities. The research also found that North American firms are more than twice as likely as European firms to have boosted the qual-
COMPANIES TO WATCH Company offers eco-friendly shipping
Craters & Freighters of SW Florida opened in 1995. Initially, the facility specialized in arts and antiques shipping. Over the years, the business has migrated to industrial crating and exporting internationally. The company serves consumers and businesses in all sectors including telecommunications, electronics, medical equipment, aerospace, biotechnology, and heavy machinery. With expertise that delivers, the company dominates the specialty freight industry. Craters & Freighters of SW Florida is certified in International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM15), which requires that all solid wood packing material for international shipments be heat-treated and stamped with an official mark. The Southwest Florida location is proud to be an ecologically friendly business, said owner Gary McKinley. For each crate they build, a tree is planted. Corrugated scrap material is given to Goodwill Industries to be bailed and sold for recycling. The small pieces of Styrofoam that are used in packing are bagged and returned to the manufacturer
Coming in the April issue of Southwest Florida Business Today:
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when new sheets are delivered. “We generate many small pieces of plywood and other dimensional lumber,” McKinley said. “We deliver pallets of scrap wood to Habitat for Humanity regularly. During the first quarter of 2016, SW Florida Craters & Freighters will introduce a new style knockdown crate that is reusable for consumers and manufactures. The crates will be delivered to the customer for loading on site and then picked up by the Craters & Freighters trucks for shipping. Once received at final destination, the client may use the crate for additional shipping or return it for re-use. This is just another way Craters & Freighters works toward being environmentally friendly.” Craters & Freighters, headquartered in Golden, Colo., was founded in June 1990 to meet the needs of businesses and consumers for specialty freight handling, including pickup, crating, shipping, packaging, tracking, insuring, and delivery of shipments that are too heavy, oversized, valuable, awkward and timesensitive for other shipping agencies. Craters & Freighters is led by CEO and founder Diane Gibson..
FSBDC accepting nominations for Distinguished Entrepreneur Award The Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is currently accepting nominations for the 2016 Distinguished Entrepreneur of SW Florida Awards. This year’s celebration will feature two new awards in addition to the Distinguished Entrepreneur of SW Florida. The new awards include Distinguished Business Advocate of the Year and Distinguished Business Innovator of the Year. Nominations are open from Feb.1 through March 31. The application is processed online; details, qualifications and instructions, including tickets, are available at fsbdcswfl.org/de2016. The awards ceremony is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 18 at Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe St., Fort Myers. Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co. is the title sponsor for the event. Former TV news anchor Stacey Adams will be the evening’s master of ceremo-
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nies. Individual tickets are $75. Judges for this year’s awards include: Phil Borchmann, editor of Gulfshore Business Magazine; Dorothy Browning, program manager of Community Education with Goodwill Industries of SWFL; Timothy J. Cartwright, managing director of Compass Advisory Group; Colleen DePasquale, executive director of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce; and Gary K. Mart, 2015 Distinguished Entrepreneur of SW Florida recipient and CEO of Global Tech LED. All nominees will be invited to a VIP reception, scheduled for April 7 at FGCU Lutgert College of Business to celebrate their nominations and business successes. The FSBDC at FGCU offers one-on-one, confidential, no-cost consulting and low-cost workshops for businesses throughout Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. It is designated by the state as Florida’s principal provider of business assistance.
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MARCH 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 5
The economics, operations and cost-to-benefit ratio of PEOs Part 2 of 3
So let’s get down to the nuts and bolts. The economics of a professional employer organizations (PEO) are simple- aggregation is the answer. Aggregation is defined in the dictionary as “The collecting of units or parts into a mass or whole.” Because the PEO becomes an employer of record for its client’s workers, it can leverage administrative management across a greater number of workers. More importantly, it can aggregate workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance across a wide range of job classifications and a significantly greater population compared to that of each individual client. This aggregation of risk gives the PEO superior purchasing power with the insurance companies, and diversifies individual loss risks in a way that reduces overall insurance rates, so that they can pass along some of these cost savings to their clients in the form of modification rates, deposit premiums and annual audits. According to the SBA, U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the current non-productive administrative cost of a business owner to comply with all economic, environmental,
tax compliance, OSHA and Homeland Security for firms of fewer than 20 employees is $ 10,585.00 dollar a year, per employee. This number equates to an overall Administrative Cost of 6-8 percent of your payroll dollars. With a PEO, your administrative costs are 5 percent or under, depending on your company’s size. There are several benefits BY TOM for the business owner: MARQUARDT • Controls costs and helps Guest Columnist free up more cash flow through a human resources (HR) expense model reduction and pay-as-you-go workers compensation plan. • Saves time and paperwork hassles (displaces non-revenue HR operations and administrative tasks, so you can focus on running the businesses top and bottom lines). • Liability shifts for some of the HR functions from the client onto the PEO structure. • Reduces turnover and attracts better employees.
• Provides quality, affordable, employee benefit packages. • Provides professional HR services (employee handbooks, forms, policies, procedures, etc.). • Provides professional safety and risk management services. • Reduces accounting costs. • Provides payroll administration. • Provides professional compliance with local, state, federal and governmental regulations and laws. • Tracks work-related injuries and provides claims management for workers’ compensation and unemployment. As for insurance, it enhances the business profile for potential asset liquidation In my final installment, I’ll discuss how matching wants and needs enhances the PEO alignment for the business owner. Tom Marquardt is co-owner of Platinum PEO Resources in Fort Myers, as well as a nationally renowned small business consultant who authored the widely-acclaimed book “My Little Black Book to Success.” Contact him at (888) 777-6647, or email tomm@paygoworkerscomp.com.
COMPANIES TO WATCH
Naples business specializes in fitness
Addicted To Fitness, 337 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples, opened four years ago and continues to grow every day. They specialize in fitness for “baby boomers and beyond.” “We care about our clients, know everyone by name and make sure that everyone is in a safe environment to reach fitness goals,” said owner Jon Bates. Membership age ranges from 30 to 92, with the average age being 64. “Everyone here just wants to live healthier with a better quality of life,” Bates added. “It is about walking longer on the golf course, ditching canes and walkers and living a better life style longer.” Addicted To Fitness offers memberships, personal training, a diabetic specialist, balance training, post rehabilitation, TRX training and Migun massage bed services. They keep membership very simple with no annual contracts, no annual membership fee or cancelation fee. They plan on capping membership at 250 and are 75 percent of the way there. Membership is
$29 a month. Bates has been training in Naples for more than 30 years. He has always had this vision of operating his own facility and allowing trainers to come in and make a living helping others. Currently there are five accomplished professional trainers at the facility with each specializing in specific needs for clients. Addicted To Fitness touts itself on being a small gym with a big experience. In December, they launched their second annual “Gift of Fitness” contest, asking for submissions of compelling stories about why you or a friend should receive a free membership for 2016. Four winners were chosen to have a free year to make a lifestyle change for the better. Addicted To Fitness has managed to dominate social media as well. They have held free Facebook 101 sessions for small business owners to share their success on using Facebook for business. They consistently support other small business and have recently added a meal plan delivery for their clients.
You’ll Get Hooked on...
Seafood, Southern & Cajun Cookin’ To Learn More Visit: SSHookers.com Lunch & Dinner Daily. Breakfast Saturday & Sunday Only.
Located before the Sanibel Bridge in Fort Myers.
Jason Dolle, the founder and owner of Testimonial Tree, won both the judges and audience awards.
VENTURE PAGE 1
The panel of judges included entrepreneur, investor and Tamiami Angel Fund II member Bud Stoddard; international media partner, investor and Tamiami Angel Fund II member Liza Wong; and founder and managing partner of Gulfshore Capital, Richard Molloy. The program also featured a keynote discussion led by Felix Lluberes, executive vice president of KORE Telemetrics and former CEO and founder of Position Logic. He helped Position Logic earn INC 500’s recognition two years in a row as one of America’s Fastest Growing Companies. For more information about VenturePitch go to www.Tamiami-e.com
The quality and breadth of services you need. The close personal attention you want. 8010 Summerlin Lakes Drive | Fort Myers, Florida 33907 HBKS (239) 433-7533 | HBK (239) 482-5522 3838 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 200 | Naples, Florida 34103 HBKS (239) 263-1960 | HBK (239) 263-2111 Insurance products are offered through HBK Sorce Insurance LLC. Investment advisory services are offered through HBK Sorce Advisory LLC, doing business as HBKS Wealth Advisors. NOT FDIC INSURED - NOT BANK GUARANTEED - MAY LOSE VALUE, INCLUDING LOSS OF PRINCIPAL - NOT INSURED BY ANY STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
MARCH 2016
CCCIA honors Cape Coral’s top homebuilders
Cape Coral Construction Industry Association (CCCIA) honored a number of homebuilders for their excellence during the nonprofit’s sold-out Builders’ Showcase Awards Dinner on Jan. 14, announced CCCIA Executive Director Bill Johnson Jr. More than 200 guests attended the event at Palmetto-Pine Country Club in Cape Coral, emceed by 2016 CCCIA President Keith Moyer. Sixteen homes categorized by base price were celebrated for outstanding success in residential design, including a custom home by Castle Harbour Homes in Cape Harbour that took the 2016 Showcase Top Honors Award. The overall winners by category (Note: Categories 9 and 10 had no entries): Category 1 (Under $250,000) – The Calusa by Gulf Living Homes Category 2 ($251,000 - $300,000) – The Osprey Grand by Coral Isle Builders Category 3 ($301,000 - $350,000) – The Jasper by Harden Custom Homes Category 4 ($351,000 - $400,000) – The Sailfish
by Pinnacle Building Solutions Category 5 ($401,000 - $450,000) – The Cabana Key by Palmer Homes Category 6 ($451,000 - $500,000) - The Key Largo Grande by Premier Cape Construction Category 7 ($501,000 - $550,000) – The Mandolin by Aubuchon Homes Category 8 ($551,000 - $600,000) – The Sorrento by Gulflife Homes Category 11 (Over $750,000) – A Custom Showcase Home by Castle Harbour Homes Specialty awards were presented to: - Custom Pools by Design for “Best Overall Pool” at The Windjammer home by Windward Construction. - GulfLife Homes for “Best Overall Interior Design” at its Sorrento residence. - Coral Isle Builders earned the “Best Overall Livability” Award for The Osprey Grand home. Other builders honored for their success in individual areas of model homes were: Arnold Roberts Signature Homes, Paul Homes, Ravenwood Homes,
Common misconceptions of business insurance Part 2 of 2
Over the years, we have found that many clients have common misconceptions of how business insurance protects their company. Business owners should realize that business insurance is an asset just like business equipment. To utilize insurance policies to their full potential, business owners must learn to avoid these common misconceptions by consulting with a professional insurance agent. Here are the most common misconceptions that we see in the business insurance world: • It isn’t necessary to see a vendor’s or subcontractor’s certificate of insurance. You should ALWAYS obtain a certificate of insurance for vendors or subcontractors. At a minimum, they should each have general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. If you fail to get a copy of insurance certifications before your work starts, you could end up paying more for your insurance after you are audited, even if no claims were filed. If a claim is filed with your workers’ compensation insurance and the subcontractor is uninsured, your experience modification factor will increase, which will in turn increase your premiums for several years of upcoming policy renewals. If your subcontractor has less insurance than what your company has for general liability insurance and a claim occurs, then you will find that a claim will be sent to your carrier for payment – thus raising your rates for the upcoming policy periods. • I can save money if I keep my building and business personal property limits as low as possible. Insurance can only protect assets if they are correctly valued on your policy. As you add inventory or equipment, you should update your policy to reflect those changes. It is always best to discuss and review your policy and business assets with your agent on a semiannual basis to make sure you have adequate coverage. • I can insure my corporately leased vehicles under my personal automobile policy. Vehicles leased in the corporate name cannot be insured under your personal auto insurance policy.
You don’t have legal title to the vehicle – your company does – so it cannot be insured under your personal auto insurance. • I don’t need to let my insurance agent know of changes in our comBY JIM MELLO pany. The time Guest Columnist to tell your insurance agent that you are changing your organizational structure, adding a new product line or leasing a vehicle is before you actually make this change. Your agent can determine if the anticipated move will be costly in terms of the additional insurance you will need to cover new risks. Furthermore, they may be able to suggest an alternate course of action. • Home-based business owners don’t need to consider business insurance. As the owner of a small business, you need the guidance of a business insurance agent who can discuss with you the specialized coverages you need. The cost of home-based business coverages are usually very minimal, but will give you the adequate protection you need. In closing, your professional insurance agent is a business asset that you should be taking full advantage of. Unfortunately, too many business owners purchase a policy and never think of their agent until they have a claim or when they receive their renewal policy. Your agent has a wealth of knowledge, both from years of indepth postgraduate education in risk management and from years of dayto-day, hands-on experience. Your agent wants to be able to help protect your business and would like to see it flourish. Jim Mello has been an insurance agent for 27 years, is a client advisor with Iron Ridge Insurance Services LLC in Fort Myers, and has several advanced professional designations from the insurance industry. You can reach him at (239) 288-6823.
SC Custom Homes, Sinclair Custom Homes, Southern Premiere Homes, Sposen Signature Homes and Windward Construction. “Each year, the showcase shines the spotlight on the best builders in Cape Coral to illustrate the highest levels of quality in the design and construction demonstrated by every participant,” said Johnson. “Collectively they all contribute to the growth of Cape Coral year in and year out.” Established in 1971, the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association was formed to address the unique demands of building in an equally unique city with approximately 400 miles of canals and to provide advocacy and education for its members. Today, the CCCIA represents hundreds of construction industry professionals and their various industry affiliates (subcontractors, suppliers, bankers, lawyers, etc.) all of whom have come together with a common goal: to benefit those engaged in construction related industries and the consumers they work for throughout Cape Coral. For information, visit cccia.org.
Charlotte Chamber holds Women’s networking event on March 3 The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce is inviting women to enjoy a special evening of networking, socializing, wine and hors d’oeuvres with fellow business women members at its 7th Annual Women’s Networking Event. There will be goodie bags filled with health and wellness information and other things to help participants look and feel their best. The event runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 3 at the Chamber’s Punta Gor-
da office inside the Freeman House, 311 W. Retta Esplanade. The cost is $15.00 per person. Business sponsorships are available at the $300, $200 and $100 levels, each providing a number of benefits to the sponsoring company or organization. For more information, email Beverly Parkinson at bparkinson@charlottecountychamber.org or call (941) 627-2222.
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MARCH 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 7
Hoping to grow your business? Juicelation is success
BY MICHELLE HOOVER Guest Columnist
Depending on the size and financial health of your company and the nature of your growth plans, you may be able to qualify for: • Term loans, • Commercial mortgages, • Construc-
tion loans, • Equipment leases, and • Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. Banks require borrowers to provide detailed financial information and pledge collateral, possibly including your home and other personal assets. They may also hold you to covenants that, for example, prevent you from borrowing additional money until their loan is repaid. Your financial adviser can help you weigh the advantages and drawbacks of the financing options available to your business. They can also help you evaluate your growth assumptions to ensure that your profit expectations are reasonable. Michele M. Hoover is a CPA with Alexander & Hoover, P.A., Certified Public Accountants, which specializes in providing a wide range of diversified accounting, tax, finance, and consulting services to individuals and businesses. Contact her at (239) 481-4114 or visit AlexanderHoover.com.
story for MicroEnterprise Alexandra Di Cicco and Sebastian Mancera knew that starting their own business would be a monumental task. Thanks to small business training from Goodwill and a lot of hard work, the duo is now the power behind Juicelation, a cold- pressed organic juice business. Di Cicco’s and Mancera’s early business efforts were a struggle. The two were dedicated and even gave up their jobs to focus slowly on the business. They started off selling juice at flea markets but were barely breaking even. After being referred by a friend. Di Cicco and Mancera enrolled in Goodwill’s MicroEnterprise program, a sixweek small-business training course that provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the training they need to write a business plan and start their own business. Microenterprises are the backbone of our economy. A microenterprise is any type of small business that has fewer than five employees and requires $35,000 or less to start up – generally much less. • Microenterprises represent 87 percent of all businesses in the United States. • There are more than 24 million microenterprises in the nation. • One out of every six private sector employees in the nation works for a microenterprise. To date, the Goodwill SWFL MicroEnterprise Institute has helped to start or sustain 161 small businesses in Southwest Florida. “They were all in from the beginning,” said Dorothy Browning, community education manager at Goodwill. “They were really dedicated and committed.” While in the class, the couple engaged in some friendly competition. “At every class, participants are asked
HERTZ PAGE 1
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environment meant to encourage collaboration and communication, according to our building guide, with a bright and inviting employee lounge area/ coffee bar on each of three floors. There is a lot of glass and a lovely courtyard where employees can enjoy the Southwest Florida weather while taking their lunches. There is a full restaurant kitchen onsite, with two chefs to custom-make each dish served—as well as for catering larger affairs--and an onsite daycare center and state-of-the art health club facility. The campus includes bike racks, electric car-charging stations and outdoor walking/jogging trails. It is also environmentally-friendly. The corporate headquarters were designed to be LEED Goldcertified: the building uses energy-efficient lighting and equipment, recycled materials (such as rainwater) and finishes and is using 2300 solar panels on the roof of its covered employee parking structure. Hertz Corporation operates its car rental business through the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty brands
“
They are in the right market, at the right time.
– Dorothy Browning, Community education manager at Goodwill
“
Let’s say you’ve drafted a strategic growth plan that discusses in detail the new products and markets that you expect to power your company’s future growth. You’ve performed extensive market research and are confident your offerings will appeal to customers and you know how to reach them. Unfortunately, if your plan covers only such topics as product development, manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing, it probably won’t succeed. To avoid potential cash-flow issues and other financial crises, your strategic plan should specify precisely how you’ll fund your growth initiatives. If your company is sitting on a pile of cash just waiting to be invested, you’re lucky. Most businesses must finance growth with equity or debt. Using your own equity in the business to raise capital can be a good solution. However, selling ownership to outside investors, such as private equity firms and venture capitalists, isn’t always as easy as it sounds. For starters, you’ll need a professional appraisal of your company and you’ll have to find investors who believe in your growth strategy – and the ability to execute it. Equity financing doesn’t need to be repaid. However, depending on how much equity you sell and how successful your company is in reaching its goals, equity can end up being expensive in the long run. For example, you may need to give up some control to investors, which can lead to disputes over major decisions. Debt financing, on the other hand, does have to be repaid and will cost you interest.
to get up and give their elevator speech, and Sebastian was always really good at it,” Browning said. “At the final class, I guess Alexandra was feeling extra competitive, and she stood up and completely nailed it. When it was Sebastian’s turn he was totally thrown by how perfect hers was. It was great to see them play off one another and truly enjoy learning about their business together.” Di Cicco and Mancera completed the Cape Coral class in September 2014 and started renting a commercial kitchen in Bonita Springs, selling their juice at farmers markets. The couple realized, during the course, that their initial price was too low and the model they were using was not sustainable. They revisited their price structure and found the recipe for success. Now, less than a year-and-a-half later, the couple has acquired their own shop in Naples where they have gone on to hire other employees. At a time when organic foods and healthy Jiving are trendy, Juicelation seems to have found its niche. “They are in the right market, at the right time,” Browning said. “The Naples area is the perfect setting for their business for both economic and lifestyle reasons. I think their future in business looks bright.”
from approximately 10,460 corporate, licensee and franchisee locations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand. Hertz is the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand, operating from approximately 8,960 corporate and licensee locations in approximately 150 countries. Local native Nick Cid, Hertz Contribution Strategist, says he’s in the job he wants and the town where he wants to live. The Naples native graduated from Barron Collier High School and FGCU before landing the Hertz job two years ago. “I have great pride in the area, and I went to the local university,” he said. “It’s a good feeling to know I can fuel my passion at work, and all the hard work I put in is directly benefiting the local economy where I’m from.” Hertz President and Chief Executive Officer John Tague shared, “We appreciate the real assistance we have received from the state and local government entities.” He added, “We at Hertz are enthusiastic about the future and the citizens who will feed the growth of the local economy and the successful years ahead.”
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
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When should you buy insurance on your key employees? By W. Bradley Cooper Guest Columnist
A key person can be either an owner or an employee. What distinguishes someone as a key person is that his or her loss would severely impact a business until a replacement could be found and trained. For example, a key person could be a top sales person or sales trainer; an engineer, scientist, or programmer who is responsible for the development of new products; a person who has many industry contacts that help bring in business; or an individual whose financial expertise is the key to the business’s ability to borrow money. Any of these individuals could be difficult to replace. Many businesses, especially those that are small or medium sized, depend on the skills and talents of one or more key individuals for their growth and continued success. In fact, some companies could not survive if a key employee suddenly died. When the financial future of a business is dependent on the specialized skills, knowledge or influence of a person or persons, the business should seriously consider acquiring insurance to help cover its potential loss at the death of such an employee. Such insurance coverage is usually referred to as key person life insurance. Under most circumstances, the business should be
The new retail strip, expected to open in March of 2016, will house Florida’s first full-service Nathan’s Famous restaurant, and boasts a hangar-style architecture.
Retail center set to open on Colonial-to-College corridor
Treasured childhood memories and a solid background in urban planning have given wings to developer and general contractor Ray Masciana’s vision for Page Field Center. The new retail strip, expected to open in March of 2016, will house Florida’s first full-service Nathan’s Famous restaurant, and boasts a hangar-style architecture that pays homage to the rich aviation history represented by its namesake Page Field Air Park, located directly across U.S. 41. Heavy traffic in the area that passes the center daily is bound to draw plenty of loyalty, especially with an innovative video drive-thru fast food experience that offers an unprecedented emphasis on customer service. Inside, as part of the décor, hanging from the roof joist, will be a one-of-akind Nathan’s Famous-themed Yankee Clipper with a 30-foot wing span. RETAIL See page 10
the owner, premium payer and beneficiary of the policy purchased on a key employee. The goal is to have an influx of cash at the death of a key person in order to help stabilize the business until a new employee can be found, hired and trained. Not only does key person coverage ensure that there will be cash available to help hire a replacement or to pay down loans, it also helps to instill confidence in employees and creditors that the business will continue. Employees will be less likely to leave and lenders will be less likely to call in a loan. The following are examples of common situations where a business should consider purchasing insurance on its key employees: The business needs to secure a loan. Many banks and venture capital groups insist on key person insurance for one or more members of the management team when lending to a new business or venture. The lender may ask that it be named beneficiary on the life insurance policy. However, a better approach may be to have the business be the beneficiary with a collateral assignment of the death benefit to the lender. That way, as the loan principal is reduced, the lender will get that portion of the death benefit equal to the debt with the balance going to the business. If the lender is named beneficiary of the entire amount, it may receive a death benefit larger than the current amount of debt. The business is carrying a large debt load. Even if
the lender does not require life insurance on key executives in order for a business to obtain a loan, it may be wise for the business to consider insuring those key executives. That way, if one of the key executives dies, all or a portion of the loan can be paid off at the death of the executive. An individual brings in more than his or her share of sales or clients to a business. Sales organizations often have one or two key sales people who generate a large share of a company’s sales. If one of these sales people were to die, it could seriously affect the profitability of the business. A well-known attorney who attracts major corporate clients or major cases to a law firm is another example of a key person contributing more than his or her fair share to a successful business. The bottom line is, any employee whose death could negatively affect the viability and/or profitability of a business is a candidate for key person insurance. Once a key employee is identified, the next step is to assess the impact his or her death would have on the business in order to determine the face amount of insurance coverage needed to help protect the business. Learn more about us at www.wbcoopercpa.com or call (239)275-4511.
BABCOCK PAGE 2
a healthier, active lifestyle, sports training and medical wellness choices. • 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. • Unparalleled opportunities to connect with nature in a community that devotes half of its total 18,000 acre footprint to greenways, parks and lakes. Progress updates between now and the grand reveal event will be available via the newly updated website at BabcockRanchFlorida.com.
Designed to accommodate 19,500 residences, an engaging downtown, numerous green spaces, lakes, and nature trails, Babcock Ranch will ultimately be home to approximately 50,000 residents. “Babcock Ranch is a place that reflects a decidedly different approach to Town Making,” Kitson said. “Our new town is all about connection – a connection with the land, the great outdoors, our neighbors, and with a lifestyle that values conservation, the environment, personal well-being, learning, innovation, and shared experiences. These connections are the key to creating a real community, where residents share a basic hometown pride and desire to participate and belong.” Bordered by the 73,000-acre Babcock Ranch Preserve and the 75,000-acre Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area, Babcock Ranch is at the epicenter of Southwest Florida’s newest growth corridor, just 20 minutes east of downtown Fort Myers. According to Kitson, the unique opportunity to create a new town from the ground up means every element of the town is a result of careful stewardship and choice, not chance. Features of the new town include: • State-of-the-art infrastructure that leverages technology to deliver superior services while lowering household costs. • Soon to be one of the largest solar power plants in the eastern United States, 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. • A full range of on-site education choices from early learning to college degree programs with multi-modal digital and distance learning opportunities. • An innovative health and fitness center at the heart of the community that will support lifelong pursuits of
Watch for Part 2 in the next issue of SWFBT.
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MARCH 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 9
FutureMakers partnership fast-tracks CNA careers Jennifer Welling’s children were listening when she advocated the importance of a post-secondary education. One is attending college; the second, a high schooler, is also on a similar track. At 44, it’s now Welling’s turn. Her children insisted she attend an information and qualification session at CareerSource in Fort Myers to learn more about becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA), and available tuition and scholarship assistance. Welling, who works in the restaurant industry, was one of nearly 60 men and women participating in the recruitment program, a collaboration between Lee Memorial Health System, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, CareerSource Southwest Florida, and Fort Myers and Cape Coral technical colleges, all partners in the FutureMakers Coalition. The groups are offering tuition assistance, scholarship opportunities and are pushing for applicants at the schools. Lee Memorial hopes to hire as many CNAs as possible, and the schools hope to get students trained and working in their field at Lee Memorial or other medical facilities in Lee County.
The CNA certification programs are designed to get students from the classroom to work in as early as six weeks. In addition to the hospital’s benefits package, CNAs at Lee Memorial have the opportunity to transfer after six months and receive tuition assistance toward Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as well as specialized certification training. “A CNA is a stepping stone to becoming a registered nurse and having a career in health care,” Michelle Zech, Lee Memorial’s human resources business partner, told the group. “It gets your foot in the door.” By attending the event, participants, ages 18 to older than 50, became “FutureMakers,” taking the first step toward post-secondary education and the Coalition’s goal of increasing the number of Southwest Florida residents with college degrees or industry certifications. Lee Memorial, CareerSource and the two technical colleges are partners in the FutureMakers Coalition, a fivecounty regional collaboration involving education, government, business, nonprofit and citizen stakeholders, and advocates.
“Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect,” Zech said afterward. “I thought maybe five or 10 people might show up. It was a phenomenal turnout, and we’re pleased with the candidates.” The group included stay-at-home mothers, restaurant employees, a school bus driver, an Army veteran and CareerSource clients. Human resource employees from Lee Memorial conducted brief interviews with applicants to determine their ambition, qualifications and eligibility for tuition and scholarship assistance. Zech said the majority of attendees would be considered. The event was a prime example of groups working together to overcome challenges and reach shared goals, according to Tessa LeSage, director of social innovation and sustainability for the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, the backbone organization for the FutureMakers Coalition. “This collaborative effort let us reach out to the unemployed and underemployed and provide them with information and financial assistance toward a better-paying job,” she said. “By bringing these organizations to-
gether in one program, we were able to eliminate any duplication of services, maximize resources and fill classroom vacancies that will lead to more certifications. Ultimately, it helps meet workforce needs of local employers and expands employment opportunities to Southwest Florida residents through education.” Formed in 2015 around existing regional collaborations, the FutureMakers Coalition’s goal is to transform the workforce by increasing the number of college degrees and post-secondary certifications from 27 percent to 40 percent by 2025 throughout Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. The Coalition is committed to creating a cradle-to-career pathway to ensure success for traditional students and adult learners. “As much as I’ve pushed my children to get an education, I’ve put it off for me,” she said. “Now my kids are pushing it back on me. It’s my time.” For more information on how to get the tuition assistance to become a CNA, contact CareerSource at (239) 931-8200 or email afurlow@careersourcesouthwestflorida.com.
COMPANIES TO WATCH
Maxwell, Hendry & Simmons grows in contracting industry Maxwell, Hendry & Simmons LLC (MHS) has been a critical part of the Southwest Florida real estate community for more than 30 years. As a full service, commercial and residential appraisal and consulting firm, it has experienced significant change along with the corresponding growth of Southwest Florida over the past few decades. MHS’s principals include Gerald Hendry, Mike Maxwell and Matt Simmons. Hendry is active in the community having served as president of the Real Estate Investment Society (REIS), Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Appraisal Institute (FGCAI) and is currently serving as president-elect of the SW Florida CCIM District. Maxwell has also served has president of REIS and is a certified county media-
tor. Simmons is the former chairman of the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board (FREAB) which is the governing body for appraisers in the state of Florida. Simmons continues to serve on this board along with being the past president of REIS and a member of the board for the SWFL Museum of History and Imaginarium. Every recession leads to “fingerpointing,” whether it is aimed at the lending community, real estate brokerage community or the appraisal community. As a result, the industry, like the lending community, has been constrained by an egregious regulatory environment stemming from the Great Recession. This has led many – including MHS – to consider scaling back and reevaluating its businesses.
Although it has been challenged, with every obstacle there is an opportunity. Most appraisers have reverted to working in a home office as a sole proprietor with no employees. While that works great for some, MHS’s business model calls for a growing business with heavy interaction among the analyst to in turn stay informed with the vast trends and complexities of dissecting the mass of data available to real estate professionals. Rather than succumb to the pressure of shrinking the business, MHS has actively pursued other opportunities with an expanded geographic presence to new lines of business beyond the standard appraisal including litigation support services, tax appeal, insurable value estimates and more problem-solving with con-
sulting work. Over the past 12 months, the firm has increased its staff by four, including three real estate professionals. Not staggering increases – unless you are in the appraisal industry, which is in a contraction mode. MHS’s presence has also increased in the legal community with seven of its appraisers qualified as expert witnesses in the 20th Judicial Circuit. In addition, MHS has experts that have testified in arenas including other state jurisdictions, federal court, Lee County Hearing Examiner, Lee County Board of County Commissioners and others. Its growth has been attributed to breaking the traditional appraisal cycle and working not only with the financial community but expanding our real estate problem solving role (consulting).
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MARCH 2016
Estero Village Council approves city’s first rezoning The future “Estero Village” will soon feature a continued care facility on its 21.36-acre Corkscrew Road project. The recently approved project at the corner of Sandy Lane is expected to include a maximum of 340 beds and 15,000 square feet of complimentary medical office. The Village’s City Council unanimously approved the rezoning in a re-
cent, two-day long hearing. What was previously entitled to be 200,000-square-foot of office and retail space can now be developed into a project that offers a reduction in intensity and traffic, all without sacrificing highest and best use. “This was a very important accomplishment for the city” said Adam
Palmer, managing director of office and investment services for LandQwest Commercial, a commercial real estate brokerage firm. “Many inside and out of the industry have been pessimistic about getting new entitlements for development in Estero. This rezoning will prove that if the project makes sense, the city is not going to stand in the way.”
The buyer for the property, Volunteers of America, a longstanding, faithbased organization, aims at reducing homelessness, hospitalization and institutionalization through various programs across 41 Florida counties and in Puerto Rico. Volunteers of America hope to break ground on the project in 2017.
COMPANIES TO WATCH
CONRIC PR & Marketing LSH Group helps protect expands to larger office businesses from disasters
CONRIC PR & Marketing, 6216 Whiskey Creek Drive, Suite B, Fort Myers, has been in business in Southwest Florida for nine years. The agency has grown from a small firm in 2007 to one of the area’s leading full-service, award-winning public relations, marketing, advertising and publishing companies. The company has gained international attention and recently has been named as the public relations and digital marketing agency for an educational software and technology company and a pet shampoo and skin care company. CONRIC services include branding and marketing strategy; multimedia advertising campaigns and media buys; digital marketing, including enewsletters, blog administration and content creation, SEO, website development and management, and social media; copywriting; graphic design; and magazine publishing. To accommodate the company’s continued growth and creative thinking, CONRIC recently moved to a new, larger location, now making its home in the Oak Hammock Office Park at Whiskey Creek in Fort Myers. The company employs eight staff members, and is a popular choice for students seeking practical experience and mentoring as paid interns. Over the past couple of years a concerted effort has been made at CONRIC to expand service offerings and aggressively focus on digital market-
In today’s environment, planning for disruptions, disasters and emergencies is critical. Businesses and organizations need to have a plan. Businesses and organizations are faced with severe weather events, such as those recently caused by El Niño, that pose a constant threat to organizations and employees. Loss of facilities can be a concern. A building may seem solid today but can be flooded, damaged by heavy winds and debris, or another type of incident. Additionally, technology threats, sabotage, regulations and other risks can pose severe threats that impact resources and the bottom line. The LSH Group LLC – a Fort Myers-based independent provider of both IT and business continuity/disaster recovery professional planning and consulting services – established its base in Fort Myers a decade ago. The firm provides the best economic value and highest quality professional consulting services that utilizes industry best practices for IT and all aspects of disaster recovery and continuity planning. The best course of action is to enact a continuity program to prevent your business or organization from being derailed or shut down. Planning can be as simple as addressing employees or can be more involved, such as addressing physical assets to create a functional continuity of operations plan. Every business must first assess its risk factors. It must understand there are many threats both internal and external to
ing, video and website development for clients. The agency has developed websites for companies and organizations such as United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties; Rotary District 6960; Encore Bank; Lee County Bar Association; Marketplace Title; The Law Office of Joseph Cerino; and many others. As CONRIC has grown and helped clients succeed in their businesses, the agency has been rewarded both on a state and regional level for its outstanding work. In 2014, CONRIC was honored with two Golden Image Awards, which are awarded annually by the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) to recognize outstanding public relations programs. In 2015, CONRIC again took home two Golden Image Awards. The Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA also awarded 11 Image Awards to CONRIC. CONRIC Publishing has received its own honors, including two Charlie Awards from the Florida Magazine Association – one for best overall writing for the monthly member magazine for the Lee County Bar Association, and one for best design for Bishop Verot Catholic High School’s alumni magazine. CONRIC continues to innovate and create individualized marketing approaches to help its clients achieve their goals and successes. As CONRIC moves through 2016 and beyond, it will continue to be a company to watch.
business or organizational survivability. The LSH Group is here to assist. The LSH group has a large portfolio of services that is uniquely positioned to address these planning needs. Their services include business impact analysis, risk assessment, network security, IT assessments, business continuity plans, IT disaster recovery plans, backup/recovery strategies, continuity of operations, plan testing/training/exercises, independent vendor evaluation, emergency management and preparedness, data center recovery, business cases, compliance and benchmarking. Linda Hanwacker, CEO and founder of The LSH Group, is recognized nationally as an industry leader, speaking at conferences as a subject matter expert and author. The firm’s team members are recognized in the industry for outstanding performance. Team members wrote the recovery plans and assisted in IT recovery efforts of 9/11. The LSH Group is government certified, holding both a Florida State Term Contract for IT Services and Disaster Recovery Services, and is Florida certified as a Minority Business Enterprise. The LSH Group’s revenue continues to grow at a rate of 20 to 30 percent annually as demand for these services continues to grow. Whether you require a certified BC/DR consultant or a full range of IT, BC/DR planning services, you can see why in today’s environment, The LSH Group is a company to watch.
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g k &
1985
Duplication Services
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239-482-5333 www.emediamt.com
1986
Burkett
Law Office
ROBERT E. BURKETT Attorney At Law
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1981
The Letter Box, Inc. It Pays To Advertise!
We appreciate your business SWFL
2008 Specializing in
COMMERCIAL REAL brokerage ESTATE SPECIALTIES
Investment Hospitality Site Selection & Urban Multi-use Tenant Representation Multifamily Jeff Forsythe Realtor®
BUSINESS LITIGATION • ARBITRATION • COLLECTIONS 5237 Summerlin Commons Blvd,. Suite 217 • Fort Myers, FL 33907 Office: (239) 275-2145 Email: bobburkettlaw@gmail.com • Web: bobburkettlaw.com
2009
(239) 574-2028
www.LetterBoxInc.com
Commercial Advisor - Leasing & Sales office 239.210.7611 | cell 239.233-5212 jforsythe@lee-associates.com
6300 Techster Boulevard, Suite 1, Ft. Myers, Fl 33966
MARCH 2016
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 11
COMPANIES TO WATCH
Achieva Credit Union making mark in SWFL Over the last three years, Achieva Credit Union has taken the Southwest Florida market by storm. Before this, the business was mostly unheard of in Southwest Florida, but this 1.5 billion dollar company has maintained a very strong presence in the mid-Central Florida area for more than 75 years. With a full suite of financial services and a high focus on community involvement, Achieva has become one of the top players in Southwest Florida region. Last year, Achieva was the third ranked SBA lender in Lee County for dollar amount. Achieva recently made history by acquiring Calusa Bank, marking the transaction as the first-ever bank acquisition by a credit union. With the attention focused on Achieva after this merger, many people were curious about the difference between a bank and a credit union. The first major difference is that credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives that are owned and oper-
Jim Kerr, Bob Graham and John Spear at the Speakers Assembly event.
Speakers Assembly hosts Bob Graham at meeting More than 150 Speakers Assembly members and six students from South Fort Myers High School gathered for a luncheon hosted at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, where they listened to Former Senator and Florida Governor, Bob Graham, speak on terrorism from the 9/11 attacks to the recent Paris attack. The Speakers Assembly of Southwest Florida is a 501(c)6 non-profit, non-partisan organization. It strives to
fulfill its purpose to foster an informed membership by presenting the world’s best thinkers, leaders with distinguished accomplishments, and speakers with proven ability to enlighten, educate and entertain listeners. The Speakers Assembly of Southwest Florida offers eight events, between November and April, in Southwest Florida. For more information, call (239) 948-7908 or visit www. SpeakersAssembly.com
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As a general contractor, he went on to build and sell more than 100 two-family homes around JFK Airport, representing over $25 million in sales and the genesis of a lifelong love for all things aviation. Masciana graduated with honors from Syracuse University with a degree in urban planning. His experience as a planner prepared him for the strenuous credentialing procedures associated with a build-out located directly across from a working airport and on top of land previously occupied by a gas station. No fewer than 10 aviation studies had to be performed by the FAA, in addition to the environmental study that came about as a result of the site’s previous use.
Masciana grew up down the block from the second Nathan’s Famous restaurant, opened in 1955 in Oceanside, NY and Page Field Center will be that storied company’s first standalone location in Florida. With an average daily traffic of 60,000 cars, the U.S. 41 location between Colonial Blvd. and College Parkway is expected to attract up to five retailers, and signals a major revitalization of that central Fort Myers corridor. Masciana served as the Chief Planner for the City of Rome, NY, under the direction of that city’s mayor from 1974 to 1981.
ated by their members. Credit unions exist to serve the financial needs of their members and communities rather than to maximize corporate profits. Like banks, credit unions take deposits and offer loans (business and personal) to members. Unlike banks, they return surplus income to their members in the form of dividends. Credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Association (NCUA), which is the equivalent of the FDIC for banks. Achieva Credit Union has open membership, meaning that if you either live, work or have property in the counties Achieva serves, you are eligible for membership. Achieva offers many convenient services, such as online and mobile banking, surcharge-free ATMs and more. Loans have favorable terms and competitive rates, with limits as high as $15,000,000 for business, $300,000 for personal and vehicle, and $3,000,000 for conventional mortgages.
COMPANIES TO WATCH
R+L opens Fort Myers facility R+L Global Logistics & R+L Truckload Services, a global logistics and supply chain solutions provider, recently announced the opening of a newly renovated, state-of-the art logistics facility. R+L provides fully integrated supply chain solutions in the United States and throughout the world. The new 27,000 square foot facility is located in the Island Park Plaza, 16520 Tamiami Trail, South Fort Myers. This facility is another step in R+L Global Logistics & R+L Truckload Service’s commitment to strengthening its suite of shipping services. “We have growth opportunities for individuals who have a passion for learning and prior industry experience is not required” said Recruiting Manager Heather Boon. R+L recently launched a Logistics
Training Academy last November for candidates who were interested in pursuing a career as a logistics account executive. Trainees were introduced to the logistics industry through eight weeks of customized training. President Robert Bowman recalled that when he started in the industry, “I just wanted someone to show me the way and I haven’t forgotten it to this day,” he said. “We invest in our people through training and mentorship.” R+L Truckload was formed in Fort Myers in 2009 and has experienced phenomenal growth. R+L’s mission is to make shipping freight easy by offering a “one-stop shop” solution for all of its clients. It has expanded to 15 locations across the country since its inception, and is planning more expansion in the future.
IN BUSINESS SINCE 2009
1937
1999
Enn Luthringer, CCIM Partner | Investment Specialist Six Mile Cypress Corporate Park 12140 Carissa Commerce Court Suite 102 Fort Myers, FL 33966 T 239.481.3800 x235 F 239.481.9950 C 239.994.3703 enn.luthringer@creconsultants.com www.creconsultants.com/go/ennluthringer
1986
Selling your business is our business
Buyers are looking for profitable businesses to purchase
Call now for a private discussion about the marketability of your business and how we can help.
(239) 433-1343
LARRY STEINBORN, Broker SAND DOLLAR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS DEPOT BizDepot@aol.com 6309 Corporate Ct. #205, Fort Myers, FL 33919
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2012
2007
Promotional Products | Marketing Material | Ideas that Work
Visit our updated website!
l.y.b
www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
printing solutions llc www.lybprinting.com Betty Lasky Hulseman “your southwest florida team” Bob Hulseman (312) 618-5535 (847) 602-0079 betty@lybprinting.com bob@lybprinting.com Tel: (239) 800-9550
MANAGING YOUR PRINT & PROMOTIONAL NEEDS
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Lee County hosts annual Horizon Council meeting More than 300 local business and community leaders, dignitaries and elected officials attended the Horizon Council’s recent annual meeting. The event celebrated the Horizon Council’s 25th anniversary, with a look back at a quarter-century of progress. The luncheon program also featured keynote speaker and New York Times bestselling author Diana Kander. A successful entrepreneur, having founded and sold a number of ventures, Kander is a senior fellow at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the largest nonprofit in the world dedicated to entrepreneurship and education. She is also the author of “All in Startup,” a New York Times bestselling novel outlining lessons for launching successful products.
Above: Therese Everly, Brian Hamman, Lizbeth Benacquisto and Laura Holquist Bottom: Dennis Noah presents Dennie Hamilton with a plaque for his service as 2015 President of the Horizon Foundation.
COMPANIES TO WATCH
LandQwest manages properties across state LandQwest Commercial Property Management is a full service management company across Central, West Central and Southwest Florida. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, LandQwest Commercial has grown its management portfolio from 150,000 to over 1,300,000-square-feet of retail, office, medical and industrial space. Today, LandQwest represents owners of single-tenant retail properties, lifestyle centers, mid-rise buildings and more. LandQwest Commercial Property Management is a part of the LandQwest Group of Companies, collectively identified as LandQwest Commercial, LandQwest Commercial Property Management and LandQwest Asset Recovery. LandQwest’s Property Management professionals ensure your asset’s competitive edge through skilled recovery and preservation programs, capital improvement and construction plans, strong tenant relations, cost-control modules, financial reporting and timely administration. Our experienced team invests in leadership, training, development, community relations and technology. LandQwest’s Certified Property Managers utilize Yardi
Voyager to track critical dates, pending leases, work orders and tenant receivables, just to name a few. This software is the most sophisticated in its category and enables our tenured professionals to access real-time data, both on-and-off site. LandQwest understands that its continued success is directly related to its valued longstanding relationships. This client-centric approach has resulted in a solid reputation for continuously adding value across Florida’s major markets. Every LandQwest team member has extensive experience, relationships and a unique perspective in their field. These leaders contribute innovative strategies to ideally position your real estate portfolio while cultivating relationships for continued success. LandQwest Commercial Property Management utilizes its close industry and brokerage networks to surpass client expectations across expanding portfolios and evolving markets. Mary Gentile, CRX, CSM is the Sr. Property Manager and Partner for LandQwest Property Management and is an active member with ICSC, REIS, BOMA, IREM, and ULI.
“It Pays to Advertise!” ✔ Direct Mail Advertising ✔ All Types of Mailing Lists ✔ Postage as Low as 14.2 cents ✔ Fast, Friendly Service Mention this ad and receive
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239-574-2028
Call today for a quote! The Letter Box, Inc. 936 Country Club Blvd. Cape Coral, FL 33990
MARCH 2016