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Commercial rent tax could drop Florida is the only state charging this tax Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Jacob Ogles, Editor

Salute to Small Business

Local entrepreneurs tell their stories in our annual celebration of commerce in Southwest Florida.

Florida remains the only state to charge a commercial rent tax, but that levy could soon be slashed in half. The Florida Legislature in April sent a bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis that would cut this tax on businesses. The move will be tied to a requirement on online retailers to start charging a sales tax. If the legislation be-

comes law, e-commerce sellers will start collecting sales tax and sending it to the state starting July 1. The revenue raised through those collections will immediately be used to replenish Florida’s unemployment trust to prepandemic levels. But once the trust exceeds $4.07 billion, the tax rate on commercial real property rentals will go down. The business tax now sits at 5.5% but will drop to 2% under the legisla-

tion. That’s roughly the equivalent of a $1 billion tax cut for businesses renting property across the state. Notably, this state legislation will only affect the state tax, and most counties charge an additional amount. Lee County charges an extra 0.5% and Charlotte and Collier counties charge an extra 1% tax, and those rates will remain unchanged. State Sen. Joe Gruters, who represents Charlotte County, has pushed for collection of online taxes for TAX See page 13

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Commercial Real Estate

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Startups, solo of the economy visionaries fuel Southwest Florida.

Brady Photos by Christine trade to the Southof international offices. about the importance Buqueras talks Lee County Economic Development Director Carlos the first-ever stop at Port Manatee Executive during the Port’s west Florida market

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IN THE NEWS

to Dave Gammon elevated Charlotte EDO director

in the wake of Charlotte County, joinLucienne Pears former director Partners at Babcock ing Kitson and former Business Ranch, elevated and interim Recruitment Supervisor to executive director Dave Gammon Economic Developdirector of the ment Office. face in reGammon is a familiar he development as gional economic three years with his has proven in EDO. County Charlotte continue leading He is excited to like developments several existing page 19

Florida to communities in second one of four host as part of the Lee County was from seven countries welcome companiesTrade Summit. Manatee, annual International International Trade Hub at Port Fort Lauseries visited Organized by The one day Business opportunity ota and Tampa for the 2019 Global Bradenton/Saras derdale, Fort Myers,to 29. 26 Office, Southwest each from Aug. ReEconomic Development and the Southwest The Lee County Chamber of Commerce the event, which Florida Hispanic Association co-hosted gional Manufacturers Gulf Railway. Chile, Colombia, was sponsored Seminole from Argentina, other locales International companies Spain, Peru and Mexico, goods, artisanal apparel, El Salvador, Guatemala, food, coffee, fruits, cooking systems featured wine, snack and state-of-the-art to merchandise companies Lee County industryof founded as part summit showcases during the summit. Trade Hub at Port Manatee, and An expo-style from seven nations markets in Florida and business leaders visiting Summit. The International International Trade advice as a vital link between provides expert See page 6 the second annual in 2014, serves world. The hub TRADE throughout the

ENEURS h SALUTE TO ENTREPR poised for growt and Business Intermediary Proess Advisors experi- a CertifiedMergers & Acquisitions transaction Edison Busin the IBBA ap- Certified designations from ence totaling partner and

GAMMON See

Privacy & Cyber Security d Forum announce

& Cyber SeA special Privacy held on Friwill be at curity Forum 9 a.m. to noon day, Nov. 8, fromNews Community the Naples Daily room. Companies will William C. Huff and insponsor the informational for the community. teractive forum forum is for atThe goal of the clearer undera tendees to gain keep their famito standing of how businesses private. lies, wealth and FORUM See page

in fi$170 fessional a Eric Gall, managing with a concentration proximately for Edison Avenue, won and an MBAthe University of Michigan. broker of record brokerage and lower million. Gall transactions and nance from leading business Gall in business the 2018, 2016 and acquisitions Niehaus, Bro- Assisting middle market mergers Pfeffer, Steven 2014 Business significant changes No. 1 are Michael and Phillip Reda. firm, is announcing kers of Florida Edward Valaitis Business Adto operations. Top Dollar Producer to rebrand itself Pfeffer joins Edison of business The firm has decided over 20 years Award for Southwest Advisors” to better out visors with experience, including 12 as “Edison Business service offerings, Florida, beating busi- transactionbusiness brokerage franchise communicate addedbusiness appraisals, Gall a over 90 other He is years as Southwest Florida. Pfeffer is a including certified appraisals and certiness brokers. owner in Certified certified equipment Business Brokers Board Certified Intermediary, International an and also page 6 strategies. See fied exit EDISON Chairman’s Circle mergers and acquisiBrokerage and led by Association Award winner. Eric holds continue to be tions efforts will 20 years of business Deal Maker Gall. He has over OPENING

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Hoffmann Family buys Hertz Arena, Everblades

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The Hoffmann Family of Companies has entered into an agreement to purchase the Florida Everblades and the Hertz Arena. Plans are underway for a complete renovation of the 8,284-seat, multipurpose arena. The improvements will include enhanced skyboxes, food services and installation of a state-ofthe-art scoreboard. Hertz Arena, which opened in 1998 as Everblades Arena, hosts a variety of events including concerts, Cirque du Soleil, Disney on Ice, boxing and trade shows. The venue offers

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Area companies are building a better future — one made right here in Southwest Florida.

25 suites, two additional ice rinks, a private club and a pub, Breakaway Sports Pub. The arena is also home to the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles club hockey team of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. “We are optimistic that all of the 330 employees will remain with the Hoffmann Family of Companies,” said Craig Brush, Florida Everblades President and General Manager, who signed a five-year contract and has a commitment from all his senior staff to remain in place. “We are thrilled to be acquired by

A specially focused monthly section exploring the SWFL commercial real estate marketplace.

IN THE NEWS

Fort Myers sixth Business Summit slated for Sept. 20

Holly Bell addresses citrus growers about the 25,000-plus uses for industrial hemp, which can now be grown legally in Florida

Cannabis chief promises rich stash for hemp growers Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Jacob Ogles, Editor

SUMMIT See page 7

When other states started authorizing farmers to grow hemp, it didn’t take long to realize there was no place to sell it. Because no structures had been put in place for processing and manufacturing plants, state officials found themselves rushing a regulatory structure through so farmers could offload their first harvests. Holly Bell, Florida’s first Director of Cannabis, plans to learn from that mistake. She said the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will make sure all parts of the burgeoning hemp industry can move forward as soon as new rules unroll later this fall. “When our farmers are ready for a cash flow, we want to encourage them to get going,” she said.

Applications being accepted for the 25th Blue Chip Award The 25th Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award application deadline is fast approaching. The Blue Chip Community Business Award recognizes successful, small businesses in Lee, Collier or Charlotte County that have overcome adversity to achieve success. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 4. The independent judges select the honoree after all the applications AWARD See page 19

Bell spoke in August at the Citrus Expo and Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo, where growers from around the region gathered to hear her discuss this new and just recently legal product to diversify their inventory. Just a few years ago, there were no legal reasons to grow cannabis in Florida. Now, medical marijuana dispensaries pop up in more shopping centers each week. Soon, farmers will grow non-narcotic hemp crops. With the 2018 federal farm bill allowing hemp to grow, a budding industry will soon emerge in Florida. The Legislature this year authorized a pilot program for growing hemp in the Sunshine State, and state officials are nearly done weeding through a stack of public suggestions.

GrowFL announced this year’s 50 Florida Companies to Watch honorees, including three from Southwest Florida. Companies to Watch is a statewide competition that identifies companies expected to see significant growth over the next several years. The GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards program—now in its ninth year—honors 50 select second-stage companies from throughout Florida for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout Florida. Chosen from 500 growing second-stage nominations from throughout, Florida, the 50 companies named as the 2019 Florida Companies to Watch honorees generated nearly $1 billion in revenue and added over 900 jobs between 2015 and 2018. Together, the honorees project a 35 percent increase in revenue and 37 percent increase in job growth in 2019 compared to 2018. “These stand-out companies are all led by entrepreneurs, and have demonstrated their capacity and intent to grow,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, GrowFL executive director. “They also all have critical intellectual property or a niche position that gives them a competitive edge in their markets,” he said. Local honorees include: Cottrell Title & Escrow, Collier County; Mettauer Environmental, Lee County; and VeraData, Lee County . “This list recognizes second-stage Florida companies with passionate leaders who are making a difference in growing and diversifying our economy,” said Jennifer Barrows, GrowFL Chairman of the GrowFL Advisory Board and Business Development Executive with WithumSmith+Brown, PC. Second-stage companies are those

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The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has announced an exciting line-up for its 2019 Business Summit, set for Sept. 20. The summit, now in its sixth year, will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers. This year’s keynote address is “Communicate Your Way to Success,” by entrepreneur, business coach and international speaker Jason Evers. Evers has traveled to more than 20 countries on five continents

such a prestigious company. Our partnership with the Hertz Corporation and now this new ownership ensures that Hertz Arena will maintain our strong community presence and continue to be the number one choice for entertainment in Southwest Florida.” The team and the arena were previously owned by Peter Karmanos, founder of Compuware Corporation and prior majority owner of the Carolina Hurricanes in the National Hockey League. “Simply put, without the support of

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IN THE NEWS Collier names Pelican as ‘Business of the Wire Month’

During the July ty Commission 9 Collier CounWire was named meeting, Pelican ty ‘Business of the Collier Counthe Month’ and recognized by was the a manufacturing Board for being County for over leader in Collier 40 years. Pelican Wire President Ted Bill, who received the are truly honored award, said “We Collier County to be named the Month’ for July.‘Business of the Since moving AWARD See page

Gov. DeSantis announces job growth grants

Gov. Ron DeSantis the Florida Departmentannounced of Economic Opportunity Florida are acceptingand Enterprise economic development project proposals for the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. $40 million is available to fund training and public job projects that support infrastructure growth and employment in Florida. “We know

the frastructure projects importance inand workforce training has on economic development,” said DeSantis. “The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will help Florida communities ensure they GRANTS See page

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Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Noemi

Southwest Florida tion’s business-theme students in The Immokalee Foundad summer camp entrepreneurial recently shared ideas their Tank event modeled and garnered awards during a Shark The four-week after the popular TV show. was a partnership Business Management Pathway Coast University’sbetween the foundation and Floridacamp Gulf developed businessInstitute for Entrepreneursh ip. among them: finding plans that solved problems Students common clothes on a budget; centric finances; handling ñera; and findinggetting better sleep; planning studenta quincearestaurants suitable stricted diets. for people with reStudent teams gave presentations about ences, startup costs, their target audiprojected profits, marketing other aspects of entrepreneurial plans and Dr. Sandra Kauanui, enterprises at iTECH mokalee. Judges FGCU Director spoke during the for of Entrepreneurs Smart Companies the presentations were: Brian in Imevent. hip, Rist, The Smart Companies executive chairman; Sofia Blanno, gram allows shoppers to arrange tor of corporate intern; and Matthew Turner, Hertz The through social an app, then physically to buy, sell or swap items direcFirst place awards responsibility. central location exchange those in Immokalee. items at a Shop team of Neika of $500 each went to the MentorUs, Daisy Montanez Exulus, Jessica Sales, Alondra Swap & smart financial an app that encourages students and Ailynee Ramirez. Estrada, decisions, earned interested in dressing Aimed at students for team members second place of to make fashionably on $250 each Alex Soriano, a budget, the pro- ie Etienne, Azael Simon-Quirino Je’an Espinoza, Myrlandand Simson Devesaint.

Fort Myers Mayor

Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Karen P. Moore,

launches Divers ity Committee

SHARK See page

more inclusive city. Publisher Student Hailey Countryman asked her employer, Sanibel Captiva “It is never too the Mayor if he munity Bank, Comlate to give up had to FGCU’s College on diversity whom a team of advisors Education. your prejudices.” of Henry David Thoreau for guidance. Since he could rely on said, “We In a recent interview she can’t really say question was no, the answer to that ing to be representative we are tryat that moment Fort Myers Mayor derson felt Henof our city’s derson has known Randy Hen- a team. inspired to create just such residents and community if we don’t have diversity Ndiang’ui wanted Florida Gulf Coast University on the to make She sure the Mayor explained the council itself.” was prepared ter Ndiang’ui for professor Dr. Pe- road ahead committee drew about 10 years and asked him, for the its 18 members was a guest speaker and from the commu“Are in his class, “In- really able to handle the truth?” you nity, representing troduction to Diversity,” diversity project moved The ethnicity, forward. in Novemgender and sexualin race, ber. Henderson Beth Countryman, asked students Hailey’s moth- tity. “We can’t be a committee idenhe could do to what er, became make Fort Myers up of old white made involved with men and think the project, going a which led to we are a $25,000 donation to be in charge of diversity.” from DIVERSITY See page 11 Payment Plans Available • Discounted Merchandise Parking Options Discount • Presale • Private Parties & Exclusive Gifts on Hertz Arena Concerts & Family Shows Buy Any 19/20 & Get A $20 Membership Pack FORD’S GIFT & ‘BLADES TOTE CARD BAG Valid on any NEW

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Florida DEO announces 11 straight months of job growth

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced Florida experienced 11 consecutive months of job growth, gaining 32,900 private sector jobs in the month of March

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Virtual tour showcases 39 SWFL homes The Collier Building Industry Association presented 18 Overall Excellence in Construction, Design and Merit Awards at its Multi-Site Parade of Homes awards presentation held virtually on March 17. The 2021 Parade of Homes offers 39 fully decorated model homes constructed by 12 of Southwest Florida’s premier home builders located within 24 different communities. “Southwest Florida features some of America’s finest home builders, and the awards given in each category are welldeserved,” said CBIA Executive Officer Amelia Vasquez. “We are pleased to kick off the season by showcasing outstand-

ing models by these fine builders. These models are located in some of our most prominent communities and offer quality craftsmanship, architectural design, and interior and outdoor creative living trends.” Individual judging sheets sanctioned five sections: exterior, interior, livability/ workmanship, floor plan and outstanding feature. Each section included key features to consider such as overall architectural design, outdoor planning (landscaping, decks, pool, lighting) and notable special design features. HOMES See page 13

IN THE NEWS 2021. From April 2020 to March 2021, Hendry County reports Florida gained a total of 777,600 primassive growth in 2020 vate sector jobs. Florida’s unemployment rate for March 2021 maintained at 4.7%, still remaining below the national average of 6%. Florida’s unemployment rate remains below the

GROWTH See page 11

The Hendry County Property Appraiser’s Office released its 2020 Annual Report and showed enormous growth in county home and commercial growth. There was a 35.8%

• $800,001 - $900,000 - GL Homes, Pearl/504, Valencia Trails • $1,000,001 - $1,500,000 Stock Luxury Homes, Madison II, WildBlue • $1,500,001 - $2,000,000 - Stock Luxury Homes, Cocoplum, Isles of Collier Preserve • $2,000,001 - $2,500,000 – Stock Luxury Homes, Clairborne II model, WildBlue (2021 Parade of Homes Featured Model) • $3,500,001 - $4,000,000 Seagate Development Group, Monterey, Talis Park • $5,000,000+ - McGarvey Custom Homes, St. Lucia, Pine Ridge Estates

increase in new construction in 2020 over 2019. There were 301 residential homes built in 2020, a 35.6% increase over 2019. The Commercial Market value was up 9.2% over 2019. That helped build on an existing HENDRY See page 4

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SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS Florida SBDC Network hosts small business resiliency conference Florida’s small businesses are invited to register for the Virtual Small Business Resiliency Conference: Sustain the Pivot, a no-cost event hosted by the Florida Small Business Development Center Network and the Office of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. The event will take place May 18-19. This multi-day virtual conference will equip small businesses with the strategies and resources needed to navigate the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and connect them with resource providers who can aid in their long-term recovery. The event will feature presentations from Florida SBDC Network business consultants on topics including marketing, cybersecurity, capital access and human resources. Consultants will share business insights and discuss how attendees can leverage the network’s service offering of no-cost consulting, training and resources. Each half-day session will conclude with a post-event presentation in Spanish.

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual event on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar “We are thrilled to partner with the Office of Senator Marco Rubio on this important event,” said Dr. Cheryl Kirby, interim CEO of the Florida SBDC Network. “Small businesses need help now more than ever. The event will offer a dynamic line-up of speakers and resources to help business owners navigate the long-term challenges of COVID-19 and jumpstart their recovery.” Rubio will deliver a welcome address emphasizing the importance of small businesses. There will be keynote presentations by Emily Ley, CEO of Simplified, and John Gilmore, former tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and president and CEO of Brandthumb. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small

Carter, Roepstorff elected to Horizon board Ryan Carter of Scotlynn USA and attorney Matthew Roepstorff of GrayRobinson were elected to two-year terms as members at large for the board of the Horizon Foundation. Carter and Roepstorff will serve to grow the Foundation’s Carter stable of investors and build a stronger foundation for Lee County businesses and citizens. “We were fortunate to have several outstanding nominees for our two open board seats and are excited to welcome Ryan and Matthew to the board,” said Horizon Foundation Board president Dan Eveloff. The Horizon Foundation is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization established to provide a funding vehicle for businesses and individuals to invest in the long-term economic development and vitality of Lee County. The foundation is the sister organization to the Horizon Council, the only public-private partnership of Lee County Government and business leaders, whose mission is to improve Lee County’s business environment, retain and encourage expansion of existing businesses, and attract new and diversified employers. Carter is executive vice president and co-founder of Scotlynn USA Division, a logistics and transportation company that specializes in hauling refrigerated produce. Scotlynn won Lee County’s Large Business of the Year Industry Appreciation Award and is expanding its operations, building a new 60,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Fort Myers. Carter graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in economics. He was named 2020 Small Business Per-

son of the Year in Florida by the U.S. Small Business Administration and 2019 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year for Southwest Florida by the Small Business Development Council at Florida Gulf Coast University. “I am honored to be Roepstorff elected to the board of the Horizon Foundation,” said Carter. “While this past year brought challenges and uncertainty, many have found ways to adapt, thrive and invest in a better future for Lee County.” Roepstorff serves as counsel and liaison between community development and redevelopment entities and local government to foster and facilitate economic growth. His work involves forming and advising closely-held corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, as well as representing private individuals, owners and investors for business planning, development, growth, sale and overall risk management in operations. He also assists the boards of nonprofit organizations to assess risk management and overall corporate governance. Roepstorff focuses his practice in the areas of corporate law, litigation and government law. He has handled a variety of matters that include business formation and development, merger and acquisition transactions, asset sale and purchases, large commercial leases, corporate governance and commercial litigation. “My hope is to foster more investments that flow into the community in order to better our infrastructures such as roads, parks, and schools, which translate into a higher quality of life for all,” Roepstorff said.

Business and Entrepreneurship, Rubio has made it his priority to ensure America’s 30 million small businesses have access to the resources and capital they need to help them compete in the 21st-century global economy. “This past year has been incredibly hard for all of us, and small businesses were no exception,” Rubio said. “They form the backbone of our communities, drive innovation, and create good jobs, but many were uniquely vulnerable to the economic fallout from the pandemic and public health lockdowns. The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to help both small business owners and their employees survive this crisis. Now, as we look toward fully reopening our economy, we must pivot to ensuring these small businesses have access to the tools they need to thrive.” Register by May 13 at sustainthepivot.eventbrite.com. For questions, contact Allison Romer at Allison.Romer@FloridaSBDC.org.

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

SWFL businesses you need to know At SWFL Inc., we are proud to work with 1,300 members of the Lee, Collier and Charlotte County business community and see firsthand the creative ways they’re adapting to change and thriving in Southwest Florida. Here are a few that come to mind when I think “Salute to Small Business.” Red Cape Revolution in Bonita Springs is run by powerhouse Darcy Eikenberg, a business and leadership coach, author, podcast host, member of the Forbes Coaches Council and part of our SWFL Inc. Board of Directors. She’s always working on a new project to help business owners work through changes and improve their company culture, and she has a blog chock-full of great advice for professionals that you should check out as soon as you finish this article at redcaperevolution.com. We all know how powerful a good review is. I’m sure you can easily remember the last time you skimmed reviews on Amazon before making a purchase or looked up a restaurant online before deciding to try it out. Testimonial Tree is a small business that helps organizations collect and promote their best reviews to improve SEO and get more traffic to their website. Learn more at get.testimonialtree.com. Looking for a unique place to take clients or friends? CRU Wine Club celebrated its grand opening in Bonita Springs just last month. Its intimate and beautifully designed tast-

ing room serves wines from the Cassata Sonoma Family Vineyard in California. “Cru” refers to the finest grapes and best region of the vineyard. For information, visit CRUWineClub. BY TIFFANY com. ESPOSITO There are Guest Columnist many small businesses doing exciting things right now. Follow SWFL Inc. on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to see more stories like these. If you have a friend who can use a hand getting connected in Southwest Florida, send them our way! We offer a free, Basic Membership at SWFL Inc. that’s perfect for businesses just getting started, and any business can build a custom membership from our Menu of Services at SWFLinc.com. Tiffany Esposito is the President and CEO of SWFL Inc., the regional chamber of commerce for Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties. SWFL Inc. is ranked in the top 1 percent of chambers nationwide by the U.S. Chamber and offers a free membership for area businesses. Contact Tiffany@BonitaSpringsChamber. com and (239) 992-2943.

FPRA SWFL to host annual PR University 2021 The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association is set to host the annual 2021 PR University focusing on the evolution and future of the PR industry. The upcoming in-person event, “Tackling the challenges of our changing world,” will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 21 at Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers in building AA, room 177. PR University will focus on the ex-

ploration of new approaches within the profession, all while staying true to the guiding principles of the PR industry. Attendees will gain insight on ways to adapt, evolve and educate themselves on emerging strategies and technologies. Registration for PR University is $55 for students, $75 for members and $99 for future members, and includes breakfast and lunch. For information or to register, visit fpraswfl.org and slick on the Events tab.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

MAY 2021

Inventor grows one-man show into multi-million venture From engineering and manufacturing specialized LED Lighting that saves energy and costs to a patent pending air filtration system that keeps people safe from COVID-19, Energy Harness Corporation president Michael Fischer is an innovative industry leader, inventor and entrepreneur that has gone from a oneman show to a large multi-million dollar venture. Fischer is a serial entrepreneur and an inventor, both of which came in handy when he needed to reinvent his career during the Great Recession. In the early 2000s, Fischer owned a successful software development company servicing the telecommunications industry, but by 2007 the recession had taken away many of his clients. Within a matter of months, his company went from a hundred clients and multiple employees down to a one-person operation with one customer. As a design engineer and product inventor, Fischer used this downturn in the economy to change course and pursue other interest in software controls, wireless controls, solar power, wind power and hydrogen power generation. Through these product inventions and related technologies, he was introduced to the early stages of energy-efficient LED lighting. By 2010, he assembled enough product technology to open a new venture in Cape Coral, Energy Harness Corporation, which today still researches, develops, manufactures, and distributes alternative energy products, in particular LED lighting. The first few years were lean-- he

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The Active Airﬂow UV-C Fixture, a ceiling-mounted device that circulates air, cleansing it of pathogens using ultraviolet light, allowing for active air sanitization in occupied indoor spaces didn’t even pay himself a salary until 2013. But business grew as organizations looked to reduce expenses while recovering from the economic downturn. Because LED lighting uses less energy, requires less maintenance and lasts longer than traditional incandescent lighting, budget-conscious businesses, hospitals, school districts and municipalities turned to Energy Harness for lighting needs. The Energy Harness catalog has grown to include hundreds of LED lighting products and accessories. Some of their largest local clients include the City of Cape Coral, Lee County Port Authority and Southwest Florida International Airport, Lee Health and LCEC. The real growth

HENDRY PAGE 1 tax base in agriculture and other industry. “In 2020, Tangible Personal Property was responsible for approximately 32.2% of the total taxable value for Hendry County. Big businesses, such as US Sugar Corporation and Florida ®

Power and Light, help to make up a business presence that is continually growing in Hendry County,” the report reads. The total market value for Hendry County properties rose to $6.45 billion in 2020, up from $6.07 billion the prior year. That was after $52.7 million worth of new construction in the county.

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happened across the Midwest, with hundreds of grocery stores, over 65 school systems and more than 20 hospital systems. Energy Harness now boasts two offices, with R&D headquarters in Cape Coral and sales and installation services in Indiana, operating with over 40 employees between the two locations. When the coronavirus pandemic was shutting down businesses across the country, Fischer donned his inventor cap to determine how Energy Harness could support efforts to quell the spread of COVID-19 and safely reopen businesses, schools and other facilities. The result was the Active Airflow UV-C Fixture, a ceiling-mounted device that circulates air, cleansing it of pathogens using ultraviolet light, allowing for active air sanitization in occupied indoor spaces. The product hit the market in September, and today more than 1,200 units have been deployed. In just one decade, Fischer and the Energy Harness team have grown the corporation from a one-man show to a multi-million-dollar venture on the cutting edge of lighting technology. It will be exciting to see how Energy Harness will continue to excel in the future. Contact Energy Harness at (239) 215-8497.

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Millennial Brewing launches CBD drink

Millennial Brewing Company coowner Amber Cebull launched a nonalcoholic beverage company, Gather Beverage Co., specializing in herbal, CBD and therapeutic beverages. The debut CBD beverage, called Chill Out, seeks to elevate the standards for CBD beverages by offering a higher quality product with better ingredients that maximizes the bioavailability of the CBD. “The ingredients in the drink supplement the most active ingredients in the CBD, fostering a comprehensive calming experience,” Cebull said. “The drink has already garnered a huge following and the anecdotal reports of the therapeutic benefits are flooding in.” The idea for the drink was brought about amidst pandemic shutdowns. The microbrewery was unable to sell alcohol, so it got a CBD license and began selling CBD beverages. “What we experienced during the Pandemic was an emerging market of people that are looking for healthy, non-alcoholic and therapeutic beverages and it really snowballed from there,” Cebull said. The beverage replaces standard CBD seltzer waters with organic juices. The CBD product is both broad spectrum and nano-amplified, which increases the absorption, bioavailability and effects through the multiple cannabinoids in the beverage. Direct to consumer subscription deliveries are now available and multiple wholesale partners have begun to carry the product. It is expected to be available in many locations throughout the state by mid-April. “This is the definition of turning adversity on its head,“ said Cebull. “Who knew the biggest challenge our brewery has faced since inception would turn into a catalyst for creating a therapeutic non-alcoholic beverage that will literally change lives. It’s a movement and we’re happy to be part of it.” Visit www.GatherBeverages.com or email info@gatherbeverages.com.

MAY 2021

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Storm Smart announces sale to Rotunda Capital

After 25 years as the largest hurricane, storm and home protection company in the state of Florida, Storm Smart Executive Chairman and Founder Brian Rist, announced the sale of a controlling interest in the company to Rotunda Capital Partners, a lower middle market private equity firm. Rist will retain a significant equity interest and continue to serve on the Board of Directors. In addition, John Boland will remain as CEO of Storm Smart. Rist founded Storm Smart on Aug. 5, 1996 after experiencing the damaging effects of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. His passion for protecting his Southwest Florida community from life threatening weather systems drove him to create the highest quality storm protection technology. Storm Smart now manufactures and installs innova-

tive code-approved hurricane protection products such as storm catcher screens, impact-resistant windows, aluminum shutters and storm panels to more customers across Southwest Florida. Storm Smart currently employs over 250 people and all employees will remain with the company after the sale is final. “This investment positions Storm Smart to capitalize on our potential and unleash our employees who have been the real success stories of our company,” Rist said. Storm Smart will now start looking to expand into other markets and continue to hire quality individuals as they grow. Rist will remain as a board member of Storm Smart. Rist will be focusing a great deal of his efforts on the Rist Family Foundation.

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Preferred Travel is ready for travelers

When many agencies, locally and nationally, were closing during the pandemic, Preferred Travel continued to accommodate their clients’ needs from home offices. Whether it was a rescheduled trip or a travel plan for next year, the travel advisors kept themselves current on travel mandates, restrictions, protocols and travel options through continuing education and partner updates. “We know people are ready to get out of their houses and see the world again,” said Olga Placeres, president of Preferred Travel. “Our travel advisors are ready and waiting, they’ve been devoted to our team and their clients throughout this pandemic.” Many staff have been traveling this past year with close-to-home hotel stays, skiing in Colorado, beaching in Mexico, and even on safari in Kenya. With cruising starting in June and July from the Bahamas, St. Maarten and Bermuda, everyone is excited. Placeres is among the first to reserve a stateroom on Crystal Cruises first sailing in July. As other agencies are gearing back up and reopening and hiring

staff back, Preferred Travel is up to date on all travel options and ready to go, added Placeres. At the start of the pandemic, Preferred Travel relocated their offices to two separate locations to better serve their clients’ needs, one in Pelican Bay area (next door to their old office building) of Naples and the other to Bonita Springs. The two offices gave staff adequate social distancing space, and accommodated clients with a safe and comfortable environment when meeting with their travel advisors. Preferred Travel offices are located on Pelican Bay Boulevard in Naples, and on Via Del Rey in the Vanderbilt Office Park in Bonita Springs. Clients are welcome by appointment and walk-in. Masks are required. Founded in 1984, Preferred Travel of Naples, Inc. presents a team of knowledgeable and experienced travel advisors who provide worldwide travel services to clients. For information call (239) 261-1177, toll free (800) 523-3716 or visit www.preferrednaples.com.

Page 5

Treat religious speech like any other oﬃce discussion A popular etiquette book published in 1875 said “never discuss politics or religion in polite company; it will only cause ill-will and indigestion.” Americans followed this guidance for at least 100 years, particularly while at work. Today, of course, political talk has imbued everything. You can’t watch a sporting event without being told who is or isn’t kneeling for the flag, or who does or doesn’t endorse Black Lives Matter. Likewise, corporations now frequently make political endorsements on their websites and even where they sell their products. But, what of religion? Is it permissible to discuss religion at work or can employers impose any restrictions? There are differences in this answer whether the employer is a government entity or private, but in general, the employer is allowed to restrict non-work-related communication and expression. If, though, the employer allows any non-work-related communication and expression (and every employer I know does), they cannot single out religious communication and expression. Non-work-related communication consists of conversations that might occur around a coffee pot, before a meeting starts, on a break, etc. If the employer allows such conversation to include topics such as how sports teams did, what people did over the weekend, or how someone’s family is doing, they cannot restrict employees from discussing religion. Likewise, if employees are allowed any non-work-related customization of their office — photo of a family, pin for a sports team, poster of an art festival attended — then they cannot prevent employees from having a religious poster or other expression in their offices. For government employees, most grey areas were made clear in 1993 when President Bill Clinton signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that stated Government must demonstrate a “compelling state interest” to justify any means restricting religious practice. The Senate passed this bill on a 97-3 vote. In 1997, President Clinton issued Guidelines on Religious Exercise and Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace, which includes the statement, “Executive agencies shall permit personal religious expression by Federal employees to the

greatest extent possible.” Most state and municipal government organizations follow the federal policy. Employees may keep a copy of the Koran or Bible on their desks, and can even proselytize. Proselytizing is speBY ERIC cifically called out DENT as protected speech Guest Columnist in the federal workplace. You can’t however, harass someone. Trying to convert someone to Buddhism a single time is never harassment. That reminds me. I have some colleagues at work who keep harassing me about how their sports team is better than mine, even when I’ve asked them to stop. When I have moved into a new community, I’ve been struck by how heavily people proselytized me. They exhorted me on what neighborhood to live, what school to send my children, what restaurants I needed to try and so many other topics. In America, we very much want to share our great experiences with each other. I have also had people tell me I should go on the South Beach diet or the Atkins diet or eat like a cave man. I published a tongue-in-cheek article about all of the proselytizing that I received and concluded it with the following statement: “Are we really so thin-skinned, fragile and impressionable in one realm of life that we can’t hear about someone’s religious beliefs, but we can hear about their beliefs about sports, shopping, restaurants and child-rearing? I’m not afraid. Tell me your religious beliefs. But, please, don’t tell me how much weight I will lose if I follow your diet.” In summary, if an employer allows any non-work-related communication and expression, they cannot impose restrictions, such as on religion as a topic. Dr. Eric B. Dent is a professor and the Uncommon Friends Endowed Chair in Ethics at the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University. Contact him at edent@fgcu.edu or (239) 590-7162.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

MAY 2021

SWFL public relations professionals win Image Awards

The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association presented 15 awards for excellence in public relations programming and projects at the 2021 Local Image Awards celebration, held April 15 at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium. Four chapter members were also honored for their outstanding contributions to the PR profession and the organization. FPRA hosted the ceremony outdoors this year and encouraged attendees to dress in their best “glamping” attire. The Local Image Awards competition is conducted annually by FPRA to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Florida and to encourage and promote the development of public relations.

Division A – Public Relations Programs ● Award of Distinction, Public Service — Lee County Solid Waste for “Tackling Contamination.” ● Award of Distinction and Judges Award, Promotional and Marketing — Pushing the Envelope, Inc. and Tiffany Hernandez for “Give the Gift of Angelina’s.” ● Award of Distinction and Judges Award, Integrated Marketing — Priority Marketing for “Clips for Cancer.” ● Award of Distinction, Reputation Management — Pushing the Envelope, Inc. for “The Dock IMO.” ● Award of Distinction, Virtual Special Event — CONRIC pr + marketing for “Saving Estero Bay.” ● Award of Distinction, Other — Priority Marketing and Fort Myers Brewing Company for “Adyn Strong.” Division B – Collateral of Public Relations ● Grand Image Award and Image Award, Annual

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual event on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar Report — Priority Marketing and Guadalupe Center for “Guadalupe Center Annual Impact Report.” ● Award of Distinction, News Release/Pitch — Jennifer J. Edwards and Trish Robertson, APR, CPRC for “Vote-by-Mail Editorial Campaign.” ● Image Award, Other — Priority Marketing and Guadalupe Center for “Guadalupe Center Circtacular Invitation.” Division C – Digital Tools of Public Relations: ● Image Award, Online Audience Engagement — CONRIC pr + marketing for “#SWFLStrong.” ● Grand Image Award and Image Award, Video - Public Service — Priority Marketing and Kids’ Minds Matter for “Kids’ Minds Matter Secret Garden Gala Video.” Chapter Awards Each year, the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA also presents awards to recognize outstanding members of its chapter. ● Susan Bennett, president of Susan Bennett Marketing and Media, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is reserved for public relations professionals who have dedicated their career to the profession and the advancement of it. ● Trish Robertson, public relations officer for Collier County Supervisor of Elections, received the 2021 PR Professional of the Year Award, which honors a member who exemplifies the high stan-

dards of the public relations profession in Southwest Florida. ● Samantha Scott, president of Pushing the Envelope, is the second recipient of the Friends of Janet Philanthropy Award. This award was established in memory of Janet Wilson, a true leader during her decade as a chapter member. She passed away unexpectedly in December 2019. Wilson never met a stranger and often joked about her worldwide network of “Friends of Janet.” ● Nina Barbero, marketing and communications manager at SWFL, Inc., received the 2021 Rising Star Award, presented to an up-and-coming leader in the chapter who shows enthusiasm and passion for the PR profession. ● Mike Jackson, spokesperson and public relations professional, and Josh Milton, vice president of Media Relations at CONRIC pr + marketing, both received the 2021 Unsung Hero Award, which recognize the contributions of chapter members for their hard work and dedication to the chapter and the profession behind the scenes. ● Kaylee Zuidema, FPRA FGCU student chapter member, received the Pam Nulman Soaring Eagle PR Award that recognizes student leaders in public relations. Three FPRA Annual Conference scholarship winners were selected by a committee. The 2021 recipients are: ● Jennifer Benton, APR, CPRC, Marketing Communications Specialist, TeleSpecialists. ● Ashley Loubier, Assistant Multimedia Producer and Project Manager, M&M Multimedia. ● Kelly Apfel, Marketing and Development Manager, Midwest Food Bank Florida.

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

Inventor targets hunger with patented growing system Donald Avery, a Bonita Springs resident, veteran and inventor who was a principal in the development of the Pringles potato chips can, has created a system that will help solve hunger and malnutrition. “As much as 20% of the world’s population is starving and experiencing poverty because of the lack of resources,” Avery said. “What’s more, the availability of clean arable land is shrinking and supplies of certain foods are diminishing because of industrial single-crop farms.” Through his company, Grow Plants Everywhere, Avery has patented the Vertical Growth Apparatus to allow individuals and communities to grow fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs and other plants more effectively and organically than modern farming methods for a fraction of the cost.

For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com “Plants that grow in our system don’t need the complex equipment, high energy consumption and maintenance that modern greenhouses, tunnels and plant factories require,” said Avery, a veteran of the food-packaging industry who holds two U.S. patents on the Vertical Growth Apparatus. “Using minimal soil, water and nutrients, the Vertical Growth Apparatus can be assembled easily because it’s portable and doesn’t require any electric power,” Avery said. People who are concerned about food safety can eliminate chemicals and other contaminants by growing fruits and vegetables themselves. Because

of the efficiency of the system’s vertical structure, farmers can produce sufficient quantities to eat fresh or to dry, can or ferment for later consumption. “As we have witnessed with the recent pandemic, supplies of fresh fruits and vegetables can be disrupted when governments close borders and trade routes in times of international calamities,” says Avery. “Our system provides peace of mind that comes with the ability to grow your own food.” The Vertical Growth Apparatus is customdesigned for virtually any space such as a home, school, community garden or small farm. It can be as high and as wide as required and be productive in any environment, from mountains to tropical wetlands and in rural or urban areas. To learn more, visit growplantseverywhere.com or call (239) 821-3902.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 7

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida

Understanding today’s housing market dynamics Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Karen P. Moore, Publisher

For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

So many factors are currently in play in the Southwest Florida housing market, it is important to to 3.4% in Naples and 4.1% in Fort Myers. analyze what is affecting this segment on a national While the rebound is nearly complete in level, and then looking at how these factors impact some markets, there is still a ways to go in Southwest the local market. Kristine Smale, Senior Vice Presi- Florida. dent at the national data analytics firm, Zonda, reCurrent status of the housing market on a national cently shared the most recent data to a local audience level is showing 1) building is pushing to the outskirts of business owners and professionals. of urban markets; 2) builders are limiting lot releases Most importantly, Smale noted, the economy is and delaying inventory pricing as 3) construction coming back to life. On a national level, and rising prices are increasingly becoming & a Aconsumer look at costs commercial real estate trends spending is increasing, most notably and not surpris- concern; 4) teams are stretched really thin as some ingly in the retail (+17.9%) and grocery (+14.6%) builders don’t want to hire for today’s demand and categories. Other categories are still lagging, how- 5) there is uncertainty as to consumer reaction to the ever, including: health care (-4.5%); restaurants and higher prices and interest rates predicted for 2022. hotels (-14.4%); transportation (-38.5%) and enterAbout 98% percent of builders raised base prices tainment (-54.6%). in mid-March 2021 compared to February. “Lumber Unemployment rates continue to go down as is the greatest factor affecting pricing, so builders well, she noted, indicating that locally it has dropped are slowing sales when possible to better manage

construction in this frenzied market,” Smale pointed out. According to builders surveyed, four factors are affecting build cycles. Of those builders surveyed, 58% indicated that government services (i.e. permitting) are impacting the cycle; 85% indicated supply chain disruptions; 44% indicated labor shortages and 40% indicated land disruptions. This is all good for Florida, however, Smale indicates. Now people can work from wherever they choose to live, so why not live where you vacation? The 55+ home buyer is important to Florida and this category continues to be strong. Home purchases made in this actually shot up dramatically topics in category Southwest Florida beginning in the third quarter of 2020, and continues to be high as we move through the first half of 2021. Locally, new home sales in Naples increased 86% year over year; Fort Myers increased by nearly 30%. Of course, Smale stated, “These huge increases in sales rates means we’re running out of inventory, however.”

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET

One year later. How does our market look? New numbers released March 15th showed Florida’s economy has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels but is making strides. The Department of Economic Opportunity said Florida unemployment dropped 0.3 percentage points from December to January, landing at 4.8%. That figure is better than the national average of 6.3% and a big fall from the state’s peak of 14.2% in May 2020. Sounds like good news. We are clearly outpacing most states and clearly way ahead of states like Michigan, New York, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Just look around you the next time you are stopped at an intersection for two signal changes. As a business consultant and coach to almost a dozen business owners myself at any given time, I get to see the real struggles that my clients are having, over the course of months and even years since my average “engagement” is well over a year. What I have been observing is interesting, at least to a geek like me, who loves the work I do. Bear in mind, I am one consultant in one practice with a small sample of business owners across varied industries. Going back to March 2020, the number of past or current clients expecting to close shop or have closed shop permanently, to this point, is only about 15%. Here’s where it starts to get interesting. Since June 2020, all of my clients have been experiencing very similar circumstances and situations. There has been little or no 2020 “Off” season. Business picked up, stayed steady through what is normally a “slower” time of year for us historically, didn’t let up much during the holidays right into what is considered our 2021 season. The majority have had record breaking months on several occasions. Yes, of course, they are getting advice and guidance from the likes of a professional coach but clearly the market is there, even if one still has to execute to the market. With Easter early this year, things slowed a bit in March but we feel it was due more to indecision on the part of visitors rather than the lack of them. As of this writing, most of my clients are experiencing an April that is stronger than March. Clearly the main reason is that people are escap-

ing the political and COVID-induced circuses of the upper Midwest and Northeast and visiting here, staying longer and even deciding to stay as real estate sales have been off the charts and still suffering from a lack of inventory. My guess is, this trend will continue through Spring and into summer, probably to the end of the year as governments continue to strike fear into the hearts of BY SERGIO all. Even if all goes back to norDECESARE mal tomorrow, a lot of AmeriGuest Columnist cans have had enough and will still decide to move to the South to get away from the political nonsense, “social unrest” happening and taxation headed their way in many places. Yes, business is chuggin’ along. Yes, demand is there. Yes, gross revenues are up. If you haven’t noticed, prices are up too. Despite that, some are not really experiencing a corresponding jump in profits. Gross revenues do not necessarily translate to net profits. Fuel prices are higher and finding skilled talent is always a challenge, but finding unskilled or strictly labor, has become increasingly difficult, as well. Employers are not finding people willing to get interviewed or commit to available positions. Right now, there is a convergence of tax return refunds, increased unemployment benefits and “stimulus relief” checks. The motivation to work has been significantly curtailed by these artificially generated factors. Despite this, Floridian business owners remain tenacious and industrious, making Florida, particularly Southwest Florida, the place to be. Sergio DeCesare is a Certiﬁed Business Exit Strategist and “Turn Around” consultant, licensed Florida business broker and No. 1 Amazon Best Selling author for Business Ethics & Leadership 2015. Call him at (239) 580-7408 or email him at Sergio@ smallbizadvising.com.

HOUSING See page 9

Lee & Associates names Derek Bornhorst president Derek Bornhorst has been named president of Lee & Associates in Southwest Florida as the commercial real estate firm grows its presence in the region. Bornhorst, a perennial top producer at Lee, has represented numerous blue-chip companies expanding in Southwest Florida since he joined Lee & Associates in 2011 as principal of the industrial division. “Derek’s experience with Southwest Florida’s economic cycles helps give clients perspective on their com- Bornhorst mercial real estate investment in our market,” said Bob Johnston, principal of Lee & Associates, Naples-Ft. Myers. “Derek has consistently shown creativity, passion and skill in helping our clients make sound commercial real estate decisions to grow their businesses in Southwest Florida,” said Jerry Messonnier, principal of Lee & Associates. “He is the person who will take our company to the next level as the growth in our region demands sophisticated real-time information to make well-informed judgments.” Prior to Lee & Associates, Bornhorst was vice president of industrial services with Grubb & Ellis from 2008 to 2011 and industrial specialist with CB Richard Ellis from 2005 to 2008. Bornhorst has been a CoStar Power Broker for industrial lease transactions for 12 years in a row.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

MAY 2021

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

Small business in the U.S. oﬀers opportunity to succeed

Seagate Development Group has completed interior renovations of 38,300-square-foot Alorica on Corporate Lakes Drive in Fort Myers.

Renovation of Alorica completed

Seagate Development Group has completed interior renovations of 38,300-square-foot Alorica on Corporate Lakes Drive in Fort Myers. SW Management & Realty, a Seagate affiliate, negotiated a long-term lease renewal for the property. In less than two months, crews replaced carpet, tile and light fixtures as well as plumbing throughout the customer service center. This included all main areas, such as offices, training rooms, labs, hallways, a breakroom/lounge and restrooms. Upgrades ranged from LED lighting to luxury carpet tile, while staying

in line with Alorica’s color scheme for a professional tone and manner. “Alorica hosts two billion customer interactions per year, with Fort Myers being the only location in Southwest Florida. So, it’s incredibly important that this growing company have a maximized space that enhances employee productivity for the sake of many regional customers,” said Matt Price, CEO & Partner at Seagate Development Group. “We’re proud to have made this happen.” For information on this and other commercial projects by Seagate, visit SeagateDevelopmentGroup.com.

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It has been said that small businesses are the backbone of the United States economy. Almost everyone I know works for a small business. Very few Real Estate firms in the entire country could be classified as a large business. Most engineering firms as well as construction firms are small business. This newspaper I am writing this story for is a small business. We look at a good size construction firm in this area and they are generally a management firm that hires many small business as sub-contractors. The subcontractors are people who work all the trades and subsequently work for a small business. The people I interact with everyday work for small business. Even the delivery driver for Amazon or Fed Ex are subcontractors employed by a small businessperson who has a contract to deliver packages under the corporate banner and are not owned by Amazon or Fed Ex corporation. So why do we start a small business? I started my very first viable and lasting small business in 1978. It was a little night babysitting business in 1000 square feet of a strip shopping center. I had an entrepreneur spirit all my life and now 43 years later I have never worked for someone else as my “boss.” Almost all large business start with a little idea from an inventor or an innovator. Did you know that Henry Ford became the richest man in the world but was 40 years old when he built his first car in his garage? Hewlett Packard, the huge defense contractor, was started in a garage. Amazon was a little website to sell books. Boeing started in a very small warehouse with five employees. I could name thousands of these business. Cornelius Vanderbilt had a small ferry boat that morphed into a worldwide shipping

empire. Dell computers and Facebook started in college dorm rooms. The dream is always there. That is why we do the sacrifice to “be our own boss.” I can tell you from experience, to succeed with a small startup that BY RANDY has little funding KRISE the business must Guest Columnist be made successful by working countless hours. If you are willing to do what few people are willing to do, you will be successful. After I had a small chain of daycare centers people acted like it had been given to me. They would say, “you are so lucky.” I would tell them that luck had nothing to do with it. You have no idea how many diapers I have changed or toilets I have unplugged, and nights spent on a floor because the parents fell asleep and were two or three hours late past the 2 a.m. closing time. Then after successfully transitioning to Florida 20 years ago I started a successful real estate small business. My advice is to get started. Take your security into your own hands. Do not be afraid to fail. All failures make us more knowledgeable and prove that, “You can do this”! Then you take what you have leaned and start over. I have never been afraid to take risk. Life is risk. Live your life not their life. Randy Krise, CCIM is the broker owner of Krise Commercial Group, located in Fort Myers, and can be reached at (239) 633-8672 or randy@krisecg.com.

Alico Trade Center in development stage

Established bowling alley and event center business has been owned and operated by current owner for 41 years. This is a very profitable business. Owner may consider a sale/lease-back for 3 years maximum if buyer would consider redevelopment of the 2.25± acre parcel.

PROMINENT COMMERCIAL SITE

$2,187,000 | Six Mile Cypress Pkwy. & Plantation Dr., Fort Myers, FL

2± acres at the hard corner of Six Mile Cypress Pkwy. and Plantation Dr. near the Minnesota Twins Spring Training stadium. It is adjacent to the new Hope Preserve, a 46-acre commercial developdevelopment with an assisted living center that is open and operational. Ingress will be from both roads.

Randy Krise, CCIM

Seagate Development Group announced Alico Trade Center as the name for a 40-acre business park coming to Alico Road and I-75 in Fort Myers. Seagate owns and will develop this commercial land. Lee & Associates is handling design-build leasing and sales of the pad sites.

“We look forward to not only creating an efficient, zero-hassle, multitenant environment for region-based businesses, but in a central location that will change the landscape of Southwest Florida and demonstrate second-to-none design-build TRADE See page 9

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

Commercial Real Estate Broker Cell: 239.633.8672 Email: Randy@KriseCG.com www.KriseCG.com

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MAY 2021

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 9

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

Health & Wealth opens in Naples

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

Health & Wealth Co., a first-of-its-kind-business proactive planning for their financial and physical offering physical and financial health solutions health.” opened its doors in Naples. From IV Vitamin TherHealth & Wealth Co. offers complimentary apy, Vitamin Shots, Supplements, Massage and physical and financial consultations. With an inAcupuncture to Wealth Management, Financial, In- house audiologist, nutritionist and certified finansurance, Estate, Educational and Generational Plan- cial planner, the team can provide custom recomning, Health & Wealth Co., provides a variety of mendations on all products and services based on physical and financial health services in a tranquil, the customers’ needs. IV Vitamin Therapy and Viboutique environment. This new business is located tamin Injections are conducted under the direction in downtown on 5th Avenue South. of a Registered Nurse. Health & Wealth Co., offers “We are excited to open such a unique business Wellness and Membership plans with a 5% monthly look at subscription commercial in Naples,” said Dr. Ann Rasmussen, anA audiologist discount.real estate trends & and the co-owner. “No other company in Southwest In addition to the services provided, Health & Florida combines physical health with financial Wealth Co. offers a variety of products for healthy health; and we wanted to provide a one-stop shop living such as pharmaceutical-grade supplements, to service both needs.” vitamins, essential oils, Palo Santo sticks and in“So many people spend their health gaining cense, sun protection, and items such as hemp and wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to re- muscle gel to relieve pain and anxiety. Vitamins and gain their health,” said co-owner Eric M. Marvin, supplements can be purchased at the store or online. a financial planner with M&M Wealth ManageFor information and to schedule a consultation, ment. “Ideally, we want the community to embrace call (239) 287-6992 or visit www.hwconaples.com.

Iron Ridge Insurance Services announces move to larger oﬃce

Iron Ridge Insurance Services, a boutique independent property and casualty insurance agency, announced that as of March 3, it has moved to a larger office in South Lee County. The more spacious new location will accommodate the agency’s recent expansion. “Iron Ridge’s business increased about 30% last year, and our team has also grown significantly,” said Norman Lutz, Iron Ridge CEO. “Our new office will allow for even more extopics pansioninsoSouthwest we can continue Florida providing our clients a high level of customer service.” The new Iron Ridge headquarters is located in Alico Lakes Commons on South Tamiami Trail in Fort Myers. Iron Ridge insurance prides itself on its commitment to providing knowledgeable, innovative and ethical insurance coverage to its clients. It primarily serves commercial clients, with particular focus on risk management solutions for physicians, medical practices, architects, engineers, contractors, legal practices and community associations. Its team of insurance professionals hold a wealth of commercial and personal insurance experience. Iron Ridge Insurance Services is a 2021 finalist for the Industry Appreciation Awards Small Business of the Year honor. For an evaluation of your commercial or personal insurance coverage, contact Iron Ridge Insurance Services at (800) 775-8526 or info@IronRidgeInsurance.com.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET

Lee County to transition to fully electronic submittal process

The Lee County Department of Community Development is transitioning to a fully electronic submittal process beginning April 19 for building permit, zoning, planning and development order applications. Contractors, design professionals and agents will be required to submit applications and supporting documents through the DCD Public Portal, which is called eConnect. Any paper submittals received before April 19 will remain a paper process through

TRADE PAGE 8 processes,” said Matt Price, CEO and partner at Seagate Development Group The naming comes as Seagate

HOUSING PAGE 7 Of course, COVID-19 fed into creating the current housing demand situation—and there are other trends created by COVID-19 that are here to stay. According to Zonda’s research, Smale noted, “Suburban life will continue to grow, people will continue to work from home part-time and continue migrating south, single family home rentals will continue to increase due to unsolvable affordability problems, and online shopping as well as food and grocery delivery will continue.” Again,

issuance and/or approval. As DCD transitions to a fully electronic process on April 19, paper drop-offs will no longer be accepted unless the customer qualifies for an exception. To ease the transition, DCD offers free eConnect training. The training covers the eConnect Public Portal and how to register for an account, apply for and track permits and petitions, and how to upload documents to resolve conditions. To learn about the online process, visit www.leegov.com/dcd/eServ.

breaks ground on Rice Insulation & Glass’ 35,000-square-foot facility. Seagate and Lee & Associates are working with other to-be-announced businesses to lease or purchase singletenant, flex or industrial buildings. Smale pointed out, these trends all bode well for Florida’s rebound from COVID-19 as well as future growth. In conclusion, she indicated that for the first half of 2021, Zonda is bullish on home sales, people continuing to work from home and mortgage interest rates remaining low as more homes hit the market. Sometime later in the year, the data indicates, more people return to the office, mortgage interest rates begin creeping up and people begin spending more money outside of the home as the vaccination continues to be distributed and people feel safer being outside the home.

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2 Commercial parcels, 6.8 acres with Highway 17 road frontage and corner of Washington Loop. Future Land Use is Commercial Town Center. Just a few minutes from Desoto County and Walmart Distribution Center. Originally approved for and plans available on 5 acre tract for storage facility. Lot is partially cleared, with water and electric. Commercial Zoned. Just East of I-75, 3.5 Miles

Contact Jeanette Igoe / Broker - Igoe Realty P.A. Jigoe5@aol.com / 239-572-3269

ENN LUTHRINGER, CCIM 239.481.3800 x235 enn.luthringer@creconsultants.com w w w. C R E C O N S U LTA N T S . c o m

Page 10

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

MAY 2021

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida

Know your local commercial real estate professionals If you are not familiar with the ins and outs of commercial real estate, it is important to understand the professionals involved in the field. If you are interested in purchasing, leasing, or being involved in commercial real estate in any capacity, chances are you will interact with one or more of the individuals or entities listed below. This is not a comprehensive list, but a general guideline of the parties involved. 1. Broker - A commercial real estate broker is the entity that is licensed to engage in real estate transactions including selling and leasing properties. 2. Tenant Representative - In commercial real estate, a tenant representative is a real estate broker/agent who represents the tenant in a transaction. For example, if you are a business, you may have a tenant representative who is hired to find you a space for your company’s needs. You may hear the term “tenant rep,” which is another reference to a tenant representative. In most cases, the tenant representative is paid by the landlord of the property that the business is looking to purchase or lease. Typically, tenants do not pay for the tenant representative. 3. Listing Broker - The listing broker is the broker that represents the seller or landlord in a real estate transaction. They market the property and handle the real estate process from start to finish for a sale or leasing transaction. 4. Real Estate Agent - A real estate agent is a licensed individual who hangs their license with a broker in order to engage in the selling and leasing of properties. Typically, an agent specializes in residential or commercial real estate, but in some cases, they can engage in both. Real estate agents can represent the seller or buyer of a property, or the lessor or lessee. 5. Investor - In commercial real estate, an investor is an individual who purchases commercial property as an investment. Investors are interested in profiting from their asset purchases and will be interested in the capitalization rate (CAP rate), vacancy rate at a facility, as well as the risks and benefits of a particular property before investing in each property. 6. Landlord - The landlord is the owner of a property that other individuals or businesses can lease from. It is the investor or investor/s who bought the property.

They determine what uses are allowed at the property and which lease types will be utilized at the property. 7. Tenants - The tenants are the individuals or businesses who lease a space from the landlord and pay to occupy the space for a determined agreed upon amount of time. 8. Commercial Property Management Company - In some cases, an owner of commercial BY STEPHANIE property/properties will pay a comMARTINEZ pany to oversee the management Guest Columnist of their portfolio. Commercial property management companies can provide a variety of services including marketing and leasing spaces, determining rental rates, and collecting rent, ensuring bills are paid on time, performing evictions, capital improvement oversight, and facilities maintenance. The property management company can also ensure the quick and efficient transition of handing over a space of a vacated tenant to a new tenant, including making sure the space is “rent-ready” and in great condition for the next business or individual. Commercial property management companies are a great option especially if the investor/landlord does not live near the properties. The company provides updates and informs the owner of the condition of the property and any issues or suggestions for the assets. 9. Property Managers - Property managers are individuals who engage in facilities maintenance, collecting rent, and are hands-on with the activities at a property. They handle tenant inquiries and ensure a smooth transition for each tenant at each unit. They monitor the status of a property and ensure its upkeep. Property managers work with vendors to maintain a property. They also handle any emergencies that arise at a property. 10. Leasing Administrator - The leasing administrator is the individual who prepares the lease. If a broker or agent is not writing the contract for the space, a leasing administrator helps prepare the lease for both parties to sign (the landlord and the tenant). Commercial property management companies usually have a

For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com leasing administrator. 11. Lawyers/Legal Team - When involved in commercial real estate, it is always suggested to have a legal team review any contracts. They can clarify any questions you may have about jargon, terms, or inquiries about contracts or any obligations and expectations required of both parties involved in a transaction and/or legal documents. 12. Insurance Agency - Tenants and landlords are both expected to have insurance. Tenants usually have insurance for the property (improvement, fixtures, equipment and/or personal property) in the premises. They also have insurance for loss of rents to pay their rent in case of loss, as well as liability (property damage/personal injury). If a tenant sells alcohol, liquor liability or dram shop coverage may be necessary. Landlords generally have insurance for the property (such as the building, common area, etc.) and liability (property damage/personal injury). Owners also maintain insurance for loss of rents (in case a loss results in a tenant unable to pay the rent, such as a fire). It is important to discuss the terms, conditions, and requirements with the insurance agency to determine and understand your coverage. 13. Vendors - The vendors are the companies chosen by the landlord, commercial property management companies, or property managers to conduct services on the property. This can include but is not limited to the following services: cleaning, landscaping, general contracting, electric companies and internet providers. Generally, the vendors will have to submit bids for projects. The individual overseeing the property will choose the best vendor for the job. Stephanie Martinez is the marketing coordinator for Sunizo Superior Realty Management. The company manages commercial properties in Florida and Georgia ranging from industrial warehouses to retail spaces. Contact her at (239) 694-6878 or stephanie@sunizo.com.

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MAY 2021

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Don’t outmarch your supply lines

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

Bailey’s General Store adds solar panels to store Anyone that has been to Sanibel Island knows it is a slice of paradise. An icon of the island, Bailey’s General Store, continues to help the preservation of the island by reducing its carbon footprint with the addition of solar panels to help power the store. After two installation phases, a total of 480 solar panels now power half of Bailey’s General Store. When Richard Johnson, owner of Bailey’s General Store, joined the family business in 2004, he saw opportunities to reduce the store’s high demand for energy and increase the efficiency of the store. “Our electric bill averaged $24,000 per month,” said Johnson. “As a business owner that was a lot to take in not just because of the high cost but also knowing the impact this has on the environment. As a result, we put the business on a kilowatt diet and began digging deeper into what changes we could make to the store to not only reduce energy costs but also aid in the preservation of Sanibel Island.” Before installing the solar panels, the store made changes to equipment and the store’s building structure to increase energy efficiency. Older refrigeration equipment, hot water heaters, and air conditioning units were replaced with newer, energy-efficient appliances. When the roof was leaking and needed to be fixed, a new membrane roofing system was installed with extra insulation to keep the Florida heat out and the cool air in. A big change came when the fluorescent and candescent lights were updated to LED lights, significantly reducing energy consumption and materials for replacements. With the older lights, on average 25 to 30 lights were replaced every month. Since the LED lights were installed in 2010, only one light has needed replacement. “By making these changes our electric bill has dropped $7,000 per month showing that this is a great example of how a four-generation family-owned business can evolve to meet the needs of the community. Mother nature is very resilient but we need to step more lightly upon her.”

GROWTH PAGE 1 national rate for eight consecutive months and decreased by 0.2 percentage point over the year. “Through Governor DeSantis’ strong leadership, Florida’s resiliency throughout the COVID-19 pandemic continues to excel at a higher pace than the nation.” said Dane Eagle, executive director of the Florida Department of

Until recently, the term “supply chain” was not a commonly heard business term. However, as the world has become more competitive, the importance of reliable, cost effective suppliers has become recognized as a critical success factor for many businesses. Unfortunately, many suppliers are still neglected as part of the business management process, often derisively referred to as “vendors.” This is a big mistake. Suppliers are a key part of your business (or your home management) and deserve the same attention, respect and active participation from you as the other aspects of the business. When choosing suppliers, there are a few simple steps which will help make the relationship more successful for both parties. First, describe the supplier’s responsibilities in detail. Try to keep subjectivity out of your description. Words like “large,” “often” and “high quality” are subject to interpretation and can lead to misunderstanding and conflict. Be as specific as possible. Review these requirements with the potential suppliers and make sure you both understand what is being requested. Be sure to include other important details like schedule, delivery requirements and payment terms. Next, decide what you will use for the selection criteria and share it with the suppliers. What is most important to you — cost, quality or delivery? Sometimes it’s a combination of these things, so be clear. This helps you to confirm your own needs and helps the supplier to develop an appropriate proposal for you. After you have reviewed proposals and chosen a supplier, contact the other participants, thank them and describe constructively why they weren’t chosen. You never know when you might need them. Once the supplier begins the work, stay in touch. Monitor the supplier’s performance and provide constructive feedback. In many companies, suppliers are rated on a standard “scorecard.” These results can often influence whether the supplier will be awarded a follow-on contract or win new business. Surprisingly, some companies neglect to share this information with the suppliers, so the suppliers have no idea that they might need to change their approach until it’s too late. In sharing your assessment with the suppliers, you get the opportunity to see if there are any mistakes in your data (it happens!), and the suppliers have the opportunity to change and improve their performance. Everybody wins. Treat key suppliers as part of your team. Meet

Economic Opportunity. “Florida businesses have remained open and our economy continues to provide opportunities for Floridians to return to work and provide for their families.” The unemployment rate in the Fort Myers area was 4.6% in March, down from 15.1% reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. The Fort Myers area private sector employment decreased by 7,700 jobs, a decline of 3.2% over the year. The industries

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Page 11

with them regularly. Get to know them. Share appropriate parts of your business forecasts, future needs and strategy so they can adapt their offerings to meet your needs. If you can, give them a tour of your operation and show them where their product or service is used and what role it plays. This can be very motivating for the supplier. BY GREG In one of my businesses, we STEINER manufactured critical elements Guest Columnist of a military aircraft wing. We invited a group of the aircraft’s pilots to the factory to explain their mission and how the aircraft is used. They showed short films of the aircraft in action and explained how crucial our parts were. Then they handed out simple giveaways to the factory workers to remind them of the aircraft. The workers were talking about that visit for years. Another suggestion. Listen to your supplier’s feedback – when a supplier understands your business and their role in it, they can often suggest significant improvements. You will never get that advantage by holding suppliers at arm’s length as “vendors.” As your relationship evolves through the course of business, you expect your suppliers to perform and treat you well. Do the same. I was always amazed and disappointed with how many customers of mine would hold onto a scheduled payment beyond the contractual deadline in order to make their cash flow forecast for the quarter or the year. They never asked, they just did it. If you need some help from a good supplier, ask. And offer something in return. This will motivate them to stay engaged and help you. If you think about it, these principals are applicable to suppliers to your business as well as your home. Almost every business, regardless of their position in the supply chain, has both customers and suppliers. If you treat them both with respect and commit to a collaborative working relationship, your business (or home) will be much better off. Greg Steiner is the founder of Sea Breeze Associates and senior partner and co-founder of Atlantic Partners International. Contact him at (203) 5052605 or glsteiner57@gmail.com.

gaining the most jobs over the year include construction, increasing by 1,700 jobs; education and health services, increasing by 300 jobs; and professional and business services, increasing by 200 jobs. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 7,500 jobs. The unemployment rate in the Naples area was 4% in March, down from 14.3% reported in April 2020, the highest rate during the pandemic. The

Naples area private sector employment decreased by 2,900 jobs, a decline of 2% over the year. The industries gaining the most amount of jobs over the year include professional and business services, increasing by 1,800 jobs; construction, increasing by 700 jobs; and education and health services, increasing by 200 jobs. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, decreasing by 2,800 jobs.

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Page 12

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

MAY 2021

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

The coronavirus pandemic wasn’t all bad for business When the pandemic was announced and shutdowns began, I was worried about the impact on my custom home building business, as were most business owners. As an industry, homebuilding was finally getting back to growth after recovering from the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008. This business is always challenging with hurricanes, material shortages and government regulations. Within a few weeks of the shutdown, Homeland Security declared home building essential, and we got back to business. As our community and businesses come back from the pandemic, I am pleased homebuilding will be at the forefront of that rebound. Ali Wolf, chief economist at Meyers Research said, “the housing market continues to be the standout sector of the entire economy.” Redfin predicts more homes will be built in 2021 than in any year since 2006. National Association of Home Builders predicts that 2021 will be the first year since the Great Recession that builders will produce more than one million single-family homes. Randy Thibault, land sales development and new home residential expert for LSI Companies, noted significant increases in 2020 for single and multifamily permits at Market Trend in March. Permits grew 15% in Lee County and 12% in Collier

County. In 2020, 23,000 more driver’s licenses were issued in Southwest Florida than in 2019, he said. While that’s good news for my custom homebuilding business, it is also good news for all area businesses. Now our buyers are coming from the north and buying to live here, not just for investment. COVID played a big part BY FRANK in that by helping people realize JENKINS they want to enjoy lives by eiGuest Columnist ther retiring early or moving to a place where they can enjoy the outdoors all year. What better place than here? Our clientele that own businesses up north are moving here to get away from high taxes. The pandemic forced people to stay home, leading them the re-evaluate where home could be. With the ability to work from home, many found they were able and willing to move where they might have felt tied to an area before the pandemic. A survey by Career Cloud ranked Florida ninth as a great place to work remotely based on projected job growth and broadband access. The state ranked No. 5 for projected job growth. Certainly, some delays and cost increases caused

For the latest news on COVID-19 and its effects on SWFL businesses, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/ covid-19-tips-for-business/ by supply chain issues for materials and appliances have impacted homebuilding. With our custom homes, we can leverage our well-established relationships with manufacturers. We have changed our processes when needed by ordering earlier. We are realistic with our buyers about the timeline. Staying consistent in how we do business through the years has helped us navigate potential labor shortages that is impacting our subcontractors. My business and the homebuilding industry have been on the side of low demand in the past, and that creates tough challenges. What we are facing now are good challenges because of the demand we have. The post-pandemic population in Southwest Florida seems likely to continue the shift to businesspeople, families and younger retirees, anxious to enjoy the Florida lifestyle all year. That should be great for all of us. Frank Jenkins has been building custom homes in Southwest Florida for more than 25 years and has been a president of Lee Building Industry Association ﬁve times. Visit frankjenkinscustomhomes.com.

Make sure to make backup copy of your computer ﬁles If you do not have a backup copy of your computer files and pictures, you are at risk of losing them all. Too many computer users lose their personal files because they do not have a backup copy. It is heartbreaking! Why back up? Your files are stored on your computer’s hard drive. Hard drives have a lifespan of 3-7 years before they crash. When they crash, computers often do not start up. Sometimes your files and pictures can be retrieved from a crashed hard drive, but there is no guarantee. When you have a backed-up copy of your files and pictures, they can be copied to a new computer and you are back in business. Backup fundamentals – the 3-2-1 Rule The 3-2-1 Rule is a way to secure your personal files from loss. • 3 – keep 3 copies • 2 – keep in 2 locations (in case the hard drive crashes)

• 1 – keep 1 copy offsite (in case of fire or flood)

BY LINDA LINDQUIST Guest Columnist

Where to back up Copy 1 – these are the files on your hard drive. A copy can be synced to the Microsoft OneDrive. Copy 2 – could be manually copied to an external hard drive periodically. Any files and pictures added or modified since the last backup may be lost because they are not on the backup. Put a manual backup in your schedule

once a month! Copy 3 – could be automatically copied to a backup service, such as Carbonite. All added and modified files and pictures are in the backup. The cost of backing up. • An external hard drive can cost between $20 and

$100 depending on how much storage space it has. • A backup service like Carbonite costs about $7 a month • Extra Microsoft OneDrive space can be purchased for $2 a month The cost of not backing up. The cost of not backing up is the potential loss of all your personal files and pictures. Discuss your backup strategy and implementation. You will have a lot more peace of mind knowing that your personal files and pictures are secure from loss. Linda Lindquist is the Owner of Computer and Internet Help in North Fort Myers, in business since 2007. She has been in the computer industry since 1969, is only one of two Certiﬁed Malware Removal Specialists in Southwest Florida, and local author and speaker about “Keeping Your Computer Healthy.” Contact pccoach@computerandinternethelp.com or 239-567-0104.

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MAY 2021

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 13

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

Tansect looks to skies as it joins Naples Accelerator

Tansect has been accepted to The Naples Accelerator as it works to bring its flights, products, jobs and a primary office to Southwest Florida. Tansect has developed plans to bring the only nonstop flights from Southwest Florida International Airport to Green Bay, Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as offering FBO to FBO flights from Naples Airport to the Chicago suburbs. The Naples flights will allow locals that go to Chicago to bypass O’Hare and Midway and be in their car 10 minutes after landing. Naples flights will be offered on regional jets limited to a smaller passenger count, and Tansect will not be flying larger jets into Naples. The company is very sympathetic to the local concern regarding change. The company will not be an airline, but operate under the U.S. Department of Tranpsortation’s Part 380 program. In addition to these amazing services planned for

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar Southwest Florida, Tansect is a launching revolutionary scalable web-based Travel Tech, which means higher paying tech jobs at the planned SW Florida office. The first technology platform is scheduled to launch in June. Combined, all of these mean great things for Naples, Fort Myers and the surrounding areas, and the company has plans to offer approximately 120 higher paying jobs within SWFL over the next five years. Tansect has committed to focus this initial office and future growth within the area, if funded locally. Funding from sources outside of Southwest Florida will likely require Tansect to base these jobs in other cities, and potentially scale back its South-

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS Restaurant that opened hours before COVID-19 shutdown celebrates its one-year anniversary Seaside Bar & Grill recently is celebrating its one-year anniversary with the week of grand opening festivities it never had the chance to host in 2020. Just eight hours after opening to the public on March 17, 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak led to a mandatory shutdown of restaurants. Seaside, owned by Marc Devisse and now operated with a staff of approximately 20 employees, responded to the pandemic with community outreach. That included food deliveries to first responders, allowing individuals to order groceries through their vendors, hosting a virtual fundraiser to help feed restaurant workers, and creating a family meal menu – which is still available as a takeout option – for families to pick up dinner items to eat at home during quarantine. Marketing Director Yadelyn Gonzalez said setting up for this week’s celebrations felt “odd” at first, because she remembers setting up and having to shut down similar celebrations last year. “Then you see everyone having fun, enjoying themselves and everyone is just so happy,” Gonzalez said, “and you can’t help to feel grateful for the team, friends, neighbors, and the whole community who supported us to keep us alive. We love this town so much and are ready to celebrate with everyone.” The restaurant aims to maintain a laid-back, beach-like environment with daily entertainment,

TAX PAGE 1

west Florida operations. Tansect hopes the Accelerator will help it cater its funding/growth message, help network the company to local parties, prepare the company for its SWFL growth and ultimately help the company prepare for business pitches. Prior to implementing these new operations, the company must obtain funding through a $1 million convertible note that will be used to fund this expansion and startup. Tansect hopes to find 1 to 10 Naples/Fort Myers/Southwest Florida investors to fund this note, which will be followed by subsequent stock offerings. Local funding will help secure the new office and jobs for SW Florida, bring nonstop flights from Naples and Fort Myers to exciting new destinations and bring significant revenue to the local market. Additional information can be found at www.tansect.com.

HOMES PAGE 1 CBIA’s annual Parade of Homes recognizes homebuilding excellence within communities located from Marco Island to Estero. These neighborhoods showcase fully decorated models nestled within their communities, each providing uniquely designed amenities for the homebuyer. The communities featured in the 2021 Parade offer an array of selections, whether guests are searching for a new home or simply enjoying the day touring some of Southwest Florida’s most luxurious residences.

2021 MERIT AWARD WINNERS: Seaside Bar & Grill recently celebrated its oneyear anniversary

• $400,001 - $500,000 - Mattamy Homes, Carmel, Arboretum

For the latest news on COVID-19 and its effects on SWFL businesses, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/ covid-19-tips-for-business/

• $500,001 - $600,000 - D.R. Horton, Shelby, Royal Palm Golf - TIE

food and drink specials, a large outdoor patio and a loft. Gonzalez said the restaurant is environmentally conscious, and offers customers $1 bamboo straws, with a portion of those sales going toward local beach-cleaning efforts. Visit Seaside Bar & Grill from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every Sunday. Learn more at TheSeasideBar.com.

• $600,001 - $700,000 - Toll Brothers, Massiano Island Coastal, Azure at Hacienda Lakes

• $500,001 - $600,000 - D.R. Horton, Delray, Seasons at Bonita - TIE

• $700,001 - $800,000 - GL Homes, Pelican/485, Valencia Trails • $1,000,001 - $1,500,000 - GL Homes, Marina/603, Valencia Trails - TIE • $1,000,001 - $1,500,000 - Stock Luxury Homes, Covington III, WildBlue - TIE

For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

three years but the measure only got traction this year. While his bill passed in the Senate without the commercial rent tax reduction, he supported the amendment added in the House. “This basically makes the bill revenue neutral forever,” Gruters said. The move ended up costing the legislation some Democratic votes from senators who supported the online tax with no strings attached. But Gruters said when he first introduced legislation three years ago, it came with a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the rent tax. “This puts Florida businesses in position to succeed without overbur-

dening them.” Gruters said. “This will go a long way toward making Florida a business destination.” This would be the biggest decline in years in the rent tax. In 2020, it dropped from 5.7% to 5.5%. It remains to be seen, as of press time, if Gov. Ron DeSantis will get onboard. He expressed skepticism about the online sales tax, which critics label a de facto tax hike on consumers. Supporters of the legislation say the reduction in rent tax make this an effective permanent tax cut on businesses, and replenishing the unemployment trust will also avert an increase in employment taxes on employers.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

MAY 2021

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

Three tricks to building a successful remote marketing team Marketing happens everywhere all the time. So, why should a team of marketers be forced to sit at a desk in an office? Opinion based on experience: They shouldn’t. Remote work is not for everyone, and that’s okay. Some people need the structure of an 8 to 5, Monday to Friday office schedule in an environment that puts them outside of their comfort zone. However, many are finding that they can be just as productive, if not more, without the commute to and from the office. If you’re transitioning a team to remote work, it will become evident very quickly which team members are and are not productive working remotely. If you’re hiring for remote work, bring questions about remote work into the interview process. Here are my tips from managing a highly-efficient and successful marketing team remotely: 1. All team members should set designated workspace and respect it. Even if it’s just a spot at the kitchen table, designate a space that removes you from the distractions of your household. We recommend that the space position you so your back is to everything around you. This way, you’re not staring at that basket of unfolded laundry or dishes in the sink and letting the

distraction of house chores interrupt your focus. 2. Get your communications systems in place right away. When CONRIC pr + marketing shifted from office to remote work before the pandemic, overcommunication was key. Our team retained the weekly huddle meetings we’d always had in the conference room, but met over Google Hangouts instead. Today, we’re as connected as ever. We BY CONNIE RAMOS-WILLIAMS use chats to replace the “driveby” meetings or office visits in Guest Columnist the mornings, hangouts to collaborate on projects and a shared calendar to stay accountable and transparent. We work together on shared documents as if we were sitting together at a conference table. 3. Take the time to engage on a human level. Just because we’re far apart doesn’t mean we’re strangers. Keep personal communication part of regular interaction to avoid isolation and maintain a sense of connection and community. At CONRIC,

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

Pet Paradise awaits dogs, cats in Bonita Pet Paradise Bonita Springs recently celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting by SWFL Inc. This will be the third Pet Paradise in Southwest Florida, and it is located on Commerce Drive in Bonita Springs. Pet Paradise features an on-site veterinarian, boarding, day camp, and grooming services for dogs and

cats. Headquartered in Jacksonville, the organization has more than 50 locations in nine states. The Bonita Springs location offers an indoor swimming pool, weekend veterinary care, play groups for pets by age, size and temperament and private “cat condos.” Learn more at PetParadise.com/ Bonita-Springs.htm.

BOOST YOUR SALES

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual event on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar we still sing off-key for every birthday, talk about (and show) our pets and children, discuss weekend plans during down times and give recommendations on new restaurants that have opened nearby our homes. We take the time to appreciate and enjoy those we work with, and it makes a big difference in our ability to work well together when we’re miles apart. In addition to marketing and public relations recommendations, CONRIC pr + marketing provides business consultations. Want to chat about remote work and transitioning your team? Give us a call. Connie Ramos-Williams is the president and chief marketing officer at CONRIC pr + marketing, a leading creative agency with offices in Fort Myers and Naples that specializes in branding, digital marketing, public relations, graphic design and website development. Visit conricpr.com, email info@ conricpr.com or call (239) 690-9840.

Gov. DeSantis signs civil liability for damages relating to COVID-19

Governor Ron DeSantis signed in fear of frivoSB 72 – Civil Liability for Damlous lawsuits with ages Relating to COVID-19. The no merit threatenbill provides crucial liability proing their livelitection to individuals, businesses, hoods,” said Deeducational institutions, religious Santis. “Thanks organizations, and health care proto the hard work of President viders for liability claims related Simpson, Speakto COVID-19. SB 72 provides imer Sprowls, and munity from COVID-19 related DeSantis quick passage by claims for individuals, businesses, schools, and houses of worship if a the House and Senate, that fear good faith effort was made to com- ends today with my signing of SB ply with health standards and guid- 72, which provides much-needance related to COVID-19. The ed liability protections against bill also creates strong affirmative COVID-19 related litigation. As defenses for health care providers we move forward in our state’s that substantially complied with economic recovery, this good piece of legislation will provide Floridand relied upon health standards. DeSantis was joined at the bill ians with greater peace of mind as signing by Chief Financial Officer they go to work, go to school, and Jimmy Patronis, Senate President go about their daily lives.” “Businesses across Florida have Wilton Simpson, House Speaker Chris Sprowls and various law- done all they can to safely reopen makers. Also in attendance at the and keep people employed during event was Highway 85, a Talla- a period of extreme uncertainty. hassee-based band whose presence Additionally, our hardworking was to highlight an industry that and dedicated health care providhas been curtailed due to liability ers have been on the front lines of this pandemic from day one, putconcerns from COVID-19. “Our state’s businesses, health ting their own health in jeopardy to care providers and other organiza- help others,” said Simpson. tions have been forced to operate LIABILITY See page 15

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MAY 2021

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

Businesses help each other during pandemic

Weeks before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, Sunshine Ace Hardware had already activated its response plan. Our leadership team anticipated a global disruption in the supply chain, so our buyers began sourcing supplies and building inventory levels. We utilized our long-standing personal relationships and partnerships built over decades to secure supplies even as big box retail stores were picked dry of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, paper towels, wipes and cleaning solutions. Our business to business (B2B) division made our small, locally-owned businesses – the lifeblood of our community – a priority and ensured they had access to the supplies they needed to operate. Sunshine Ace was quickly able to fulfill the needs of area nursing homes, municipalities, hospitals and local businesses with the required PPE to get us all through the pandemic together safely. The strain on the global supply chain was a painful reminder of how one missing part can bring a plumber, electrician or contractor to a halt with a critical repair or project. It was many small businesses like Sunshine Ace that were flexible and nimble enough to get creative with their sourcing to ensure their customers’ needs were met. When those companies have access to supplies, they can continue to operate, and the individuals they employ can continue to earn a living. Those employees then spend their paychecks at other local businesses, ensuring that our economy continues to thrive. Sourcing high-demand items is always a challenge, but the challenge with the pandemic was making sure that the global supply chain disruption didn’t become a local supply chain disruption. Sunshine Ace Hardware certainly wasn’t the only local B2B company that stepped up during the pandemic. Across the region, small businesses collectively emerged as each other’s biggest advocates. Every business benefits from partnerships with B2B companies that are just like them – locally-owned, responsive and dedicated to the community they serve. During the pandemic, small businesses en-

LIABILITY PAGE 14 “Starting now, businesses and health care providers who are doing the right thing won’t have to work and live in fear that a frivolous COVID lawsuit could jeopardize their livelihood,” Sprowls said. “This is a huge win for Florida and a major step to get Florida’s economy back on its feet and ensure our state fully recovers from this pandemic,” Patronis said. “I was proud

Yesterday.

joyed these perks as Sunshine Ace’s B2B partners: • B2B team: Account executives make “house calls” to local businesses, while inside sales specialists help commercial customers in store. Stores carry more than 65,000 items in stock, but the B2B team also can access an additional 90,000 items readily available at a regional warehouse. BY MICHAEL • Discounts: Prices are WYNN already competitive, but Guest Columnist commercial customers receive discounts based on volume, rewarding high-volume customers with even better highvalue price breaks. • Commercial checkout desk: Time is money, and commercial customers have a dedicated cashier to quickly make purchases and get back on the job. • Quick turnaround: Commercial customers receive free delivery and a promise of a 24-hour turnaround time on their orders for in-stock items. • Financial flexibility: In partnership with Capital One Trade Credit, commercial customers have access to larger credit lines to help grow their businesses, as well as flexible payment options. • Email: Commercial customers have a dedicated email address, B2B@SunshineAce.com, that is monitored throughout the workday, as well as a dedicated hotline at (800) 378-0113. The phrase “we’re all in this together” has been widely used during the pandemic, but it’s never been more true than it is today. Southwest Florida’s economy is thriving because of our region’s strong network of local businesses. It is critical that these local businesses continue to support each other to promote continued prosperity and economic sustainability for our region. Michael Wynn is president of Sunshine Ace Hardware, a locally owned company with nine locations in Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Pinellas counties, as well as two Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware stores in Manatee County. For the latest news on COVID-19 and its effects on SWFL businesses, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/ covid-19-tips-for-business/ to travel the state fighting for these critical protections. No doubt, this is the single most important piece of legislation that unifies families in our state and a huge milestone for businesses and health care workers who no longer have to live in fear of frivolous COVID-19 litigation.”

Today.

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SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS

Developing social media strategy for a small business

Social media can be an extremely effective tool to help you increase your visibility, develop brand recognition, and stimulate business if it is used properly. Some may view platforms such as Facebook as an app where people post random pictures or argue about politics, but there is a business aspect that involves a strategic plan and creative thinking. To develop this strategy, you need to think about three key areas. Value: Before you post, ask yourself, what value am I providing to the viewer on the other end? Place yourself in their shoes and think if you were the viewer, would you find this post to be worthy of a share and a follow? The whole point of posting on social media is to stimulate engagement from potential customers. You want them to like, comment, and share with a friend, which ultimately could lead to a sale. Value can be something as simple as making someone smile or laugh so keep in mind that you are posting for the viewer, not you. An example BY ROBERT of providing value could be a restaurant WETZEL posting quality pictures of their food and Guest Columnist enticing someone’s hunger, you can also throw out a special offer to really get them motivated to place that to-go order. Another example could be if you own a medical practice, you can post tips about flu season, allergies or any other tips that could be helpful for the viewer. Creativity: The most popular pages on social media all have something in common, they are creative and constantly thinking of new boundaries to push to get the attention of viewers. They don’t just follow trends, they create them. This is your opportunity to have fun and show your business in a different light. Take a page on TikTok for example called @lawbymike, a lawyer who posts all about what to do in certain legal situations, new laws and just interesting legal information, and people are loving it because he currently has nearly 5 million followers. Something that traditionally may not be fun and exciting was made into shareable and valuable content because he is having fun with it and being creative. Consistency: It is extremely important to remain consistent. Because of platform algorithms and the importance of page engagement, it is imperative that you come up with a posting schedule and post consistently. Consistent posting will encourage people to follow your page, keep them engaged, and encourage top-of-mind awareness. There is such a thing called “spamming,” which is posting too often, so you have to find the right balance. Social media is a tool that all businesses should be using, and TLC would welcome the opportunity to help you develop a strategy that works for your business. Are you interested in learning more about social media, or other opportunities to help your business get seen? Give TLC Marketing and Creative Services a call at (239) 405-8115 or feel free to send an email to robert@trishleonard.com to schedule your no-cost consultation. Robert Wetzel is director of Marketing and Communications for TLC Marketing and Creative Services, a woman-owned full-service marketing, public relations, and event planning agency dedicated to helping businesses achieve their goals. Visit tlcmarketing-events.com and social media pages @tlcmarketingswfl. Contact Wetzel at (239) 405-8115 or Robert@trishleonard.com.

ALWAYS.

For 50 years public media has been an essential part of our community through news, entertainment and education. Be a part of a long-standing tradition, and become a supporter of public media through your company today. Contact Rachel Peacock at rpeacock@wgcu.org or 239-590-2338.

Page 16

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

MAY 2021

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