® Celebrating 15 Years
Health Insurance Health Insurance MD
___________________________________________
Policies - Claims - Consultant
239-271-7785
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 15, No. 7 / MAY 2022 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples
TAKE ONE
Solar, water, local regulations tackled
Special to SWFBT Submitted by Jacob Ogles
Salute to Small Business
Local entrepreneurs tell their stories in our annual celebration of commerce in Southwest Florida.
FOLLOW SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BUSINESS TODAY® ON:
While social issues dominated headlines during Florida’s regular legislative session, numerous bills important to business owners passed involving water management in South Florida, the ability of businesses to take governments to court over ordinances, and solar power use. Sen. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, passed a water management bill after a tense session regarding the issue. The legislation provides a framework for the management of Lake Okeechobee’s water supply, a priority for the Southwest Florida lawmaker this Session. “My main concern through this entire process is the water
quantity piece,” Albritton said. “I agree water quality matters, but when it comes to the rights of Florida to provide water quantity for the region, that’s worth protecting at nearly any cost.” Albritton, a long-time citrus farmer operating in the Florida Heartland, said protecting water quality and preserving agriculture will both be accomplished by the bill. At points, Gov. Ron DeSantis voiced concerns the water bill would result in less water flow to the Everglades. Once the Senate ensured the bill will not take funding from a planned reservoir south of the Everglades, it won support from groups like the Everglades Foundation and passed in the Legislature. The Florida Chamber of Commerce also supported passage of the bill.
GOODWILL-SWFL “GOES FOR THE GOLD”
Commercial Real Estate
A specially focused monthly section exploring the SWFL commercial real estate marketplace. CLEANING TO LEAVE THE services
® Celebrating
ST FLORIDA’S
(239) 368-1219 cepride.com billstaggs@offi
ACE • 239-573-97
B2B MARKETPL
/ OCTOBER 2019 Vol. 12 No. 12 sinesstoday.com www.swfloridabu
LEE COUNTY HOSTED
ISSUE INSIDE THIS
FLORIDA ON: FOLLOW SOUTHWEST BUSINESS TODAY®
TAKE ONE
Coral, Fort Myers, Cape Distributed in Springs and Naples Estero, Bonita
US!
janitorial • Provides quality hard work honesty, integrity, • Committed to month free get your 4th Sign with us,
11 Years
32
SOUTHWE
IONAL TRADE SUMMIT
2019 INTERNAT
s Salute to Entrepreneur solo practitioners
and Startups, of the economy visionaries fuel Southwest Florida.
Brady Photos by Christine trade to the Southof international about the importance Development offices. Buqueras talks Economic Director Carlos the Lee County first-ever stop at Port Manatee Executive during the Port’s west Florida market
visit Fort an businesses South Americ
Estate Commercial Real 8-page pullout
A comprehensive a quarterly Southsection that is Real Eswest Florida Commercial
IN THE NEWS
Dave Gammon elevated Charlotte EDO director
Myers
Special to SWFBT
tate market overview.
to
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. Charlotte County continue leading He is excited to like developments several existing See 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 Business opportunity a and Tampa for one day the 2019 Global Bradenton/Sarasot 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, Peru and other locales International companies Spain, Mexico, goods, apparel, artisanal 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 Port Manatee, at during the summit. Hub and An expo-style from seven nations Trade 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
GAMMON
Privacy & Cyber Security Forum announced
& 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 page 18 FORUM See
NEURS
SALUTE TO ENTREPRE for growthand Intermediary ss Advisors poised Proa Certified Business Mergers & Acquisitions transaction experiEdison Busine the IBBA ap- Certified designations from ence totaling partner and
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. Adfirm, is announcing kers of Florida Edward Valaitis Business to 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. in Brokers owner Certified Intermediary, Certified certified equipment International Business 6 and Board fied exit strategies. mergers and acquisi- also an EDISON See page Chairman’s Circle Brokerage 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
Discount • Merchandise Gifts Ticket Packages Parties & Exclusive Full & Flexible Options • Private & Shows Discounted Parking Arena Concerts Presale on Hertz & get a Membership TOTE BAG Buy any 19/20 ‘BLADES purchase. GIFT CARD & $20 FORD’Sfull, voucher or select membership
19/20 SEASON
• FloridaEverblad
NIGHT
NIGHT
10/26 7:00
10/19 7:00
VS VS
NEW Valid on any
239.948.PUCK
es.com
®
LEAVE THE CLEANING TO US! • Provides quality janitorial services • Committed to honesty, integrity, hard work
Celebrating 11 Years
Sign with us, get your 4th month free (239) 368-1219
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 12 No. 11 / SEPTEMBER 2019 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples
TAKE ONE
billstaggs@officepride.com FOLLOW SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BUSINESS TODAY® ON:
Hoffmann Family buys Hertz Arena, Everblades
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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
Focus on Manufacturing
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
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
HEMP See page 5
GROWFL See page 10
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
Full & Flexible Ticket Packages • Payment Plans Available Discounted Parking Options • Private Parties & Exclusive Gifts Merchandise Discount • Presale on Hertz Arena Concerts & Shows
19/20 SEASON
EVERBLADES See page 6
GrowFL announces statewide honorees
HOT CROP Commercial Real Estate
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
Buy any 19/20 Membership & get a
SAT 7:00
10/19
$20 FORD’S GIFT CARD & ‘BLADES TOTE BAG
OPENING NIGHT VS
NIGHT
Valid on any NEW full, voucher or select membership purchase.
239.948.PUCK • FloridaEverblades.com
Celebrating
SOUTHWE
ST FLORIDA’S
Vol. 12 No. 10 / AUGUST 2019 www.swfloridabu sinesstoday.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Focus on Business
LEAVE THE CLEANING TO US! • Provides
®
11 Years
quality janitorial services • Committed to honesty, integrity, hard work Sign with us, get your 4th month free
B2B MARKETPL
ACE • 239-573-97
32
Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples
TAKE ONE
IMMOKALEE FOUNDATI
(239) 368-1219 billstaggs@offi cepride.com
ON HOSTS SHARK
FOLLOW SOUTHWEST BUSINESS
FLORIDA TODAY® ON:
TANK COMPETIT
ION
Services
Our Trade Show in Print provides information to make your business more successful.
Commercial Real
Estate A specially section exploringfocused monthly mercial real estate the SWFL commarketplace. IN THE NEWS Collier names Pelican as ‘Business of the Wire Month’
During the July 9 Collier County Commission Wire 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
4
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
12
SEASON, SELECT
& VOUCHER
MEMBER SHIPS
Dr. Sandra Kauanui (left) and Noemi Ailynee Ramirez, Y. Perez (right) Jessica Sales, with - TIF Shark Daisy Montanez, Tank winners Swap
Alondra Estrada Young entrepr eneurs share
& Shop team- Neika
Exulus,
ideas, earn awards
Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Noemi Y. Perez Southwest Florida tion’s business-themedstudents in The Immokalee Foundasummer 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 Entrepreneurship . among them: finding plans that solved problems Students common clothes on a budget; centric finances; handling studentñera; and findinggetting better sleep; planning a quincearestaurants suitable stricted diets. for people with reStudent teams gave presentations about ences, startup costs, their target audiprojected profits, other aspects of marketing entrepreneurial plans and Dr. Sandra Kauanui, enterprises at iTECH mokalee. Judges FGCU Director for of Entrepreneurshi in Im- spoke during the event. Smart Companies the presentations were: Brian p, Rist, The Smart Companies executive chairman; Sofia Blanno, gram allows shoppers to arrange tor of corporate intern; and Matthew Turner, Hertz The through social responsibility. an app, then physically to buy, sell or swap items direcFirst place awards central location exchange those of $500 each went in Immokalee. items at a Shop team of Neika to the Swap & MentorUs, an Exulus, Jessica app that encourages Daisy Montanez Sales, Alondra students to make and Ailynee Ramirez. Estrada, smart financial decisions, interested in dressing earned second place Aimed at students for team members of $250 each fashionably on 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 Diversi ty 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 the answer to that question was no, we are trying to be at that moment Fort Myers Mayor derson felt inspired Hen- residents representative of our city’s Randy Henand community derson has known a team. Ndiang’ui to create just such have diversity if we Florida Gulf wanted to make Coast University on the council don’t sure the Mayor itself.” She explained was prepared for ter Ndiang’ui for professor Dr. Pe- road ahead the its 18 membersthe committee drew about 10 years and asked him, 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 full, voucher or select membership
purchase.
5
Get Southwest Florida’s business news and information mailed straight to your mailbox each month. Start your subscription to Southwest Florida Business Today.®
Call (239) 573-9732.
Photos by Jesi Cason Photography City of Fort Myers Councilman Liston Bochette, a former Olympian, speaks at the Goodwill-Southwest Florida “Breakthrough Awards” about what it takes to be an Olympian in life and work.
Breakthrough Award winners recognized Special to SWFBT Submitted by Karen P. Moore, Publisher Attending the Goodwill-Southwest Florida “Breakthrough Awards” each year is always inspiring. This year it “felt even better” because as a people we are slowly returning to some level of post-COVID “normal.” We are once again gathering publicly, once again together—in this case, to honor those in our local community who persevere to overcome challenges, and those “living” the Goodwill mission, “Building lives that work.” GOODWILL See page 15
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Southwest Florida’s labor force increased by 19,612 over the year. The Fort Myers area labor force in March 2022 grew 13,110 over the year, a 3.7% increase, and the Naples area labor force increased by 6,502 over the year, a 3.6% increase.
Immokalee’s Leaders 4 Life scholar named
Immokalee Foundation student Joel Guerrero has been named a Leaders 4 Life Fellow by Take Stock in Children. The Leaders 4 Life Fellowship comes with a $40,000 scholarship that pays for college expenses not covered by any other award or financial aid, including leadership training and development, housing, food, textbooks, supplies, transportation and other college-related expenses. “The Leaders 4 Life Fellowship is meant to reward hard-working students like Joel,” said Mark Asofsky, managing director of Asofsky Family Foundation. “Joel is one of only about 80 fellows to receive this award since Guerrero its founding in 2010. In addition to the funds that help cover educational and personal growth expenses, Joel is also receiving a tight knit community of scholars who will help support and encourage him throughout his educational journey.” The statewide mentoring, college success and college scholarship organization, Take Stock in Children partners with the Asofsky Family Foundation each year for the Leaders 4 Life program. The mission of the fellowship program is to enable highly motivated TSIC scholars from around the state who have demonstrated SCHOLAR See page 13
IMPORTANT BUSINESS NOTES
IN THE NEWS Southwest Florida labor force in March up almost 20,000
Carolyn Johnson, Vice President of Communications & Development at Goodwill-SWFL, with Barbara Zirilli-Lonergan, who received the William J. Barrett Breakthrough Graduate award.
SESSION See page 11
The Fort Myers area private sector employment grew by 12,800 jobs over the year, an increase of 5.4%. The industry gaining the most jobs over the year was professional and business services, increasing by 3,800 jobs. The unemployment rate in the Fort Myers area was 2.5% in March 2022, down from 4.7% reported in March 2021. LABOR See page 4
Paycheck Protection Program Loan Taxation To receive loan forgiveness so you will not be taxed on the loan, you must complete the simple application and receive approval. Contact your PPP lender ASAP for more info. Economic Injury Disaster Loan The Small Business Administration is still accepting applications for
COVID-19 EIDL loan increases only (not new applications), only if you qualify. Call the SBA at (833) 853-5638. SWFBT Mail Deliveries SWFBT newspaper mail deliveries recently experienced some disruption. Email publisher@swfloridabusinesstoday.com if this has been your experience and you would like to continue receiving the newspaper in the mail.
Commercial Cleaning Services You Can Trust FREE IMPACT CLEAN WITH DISINFECTION with a new 12-month service agreement Offer expires 5/31/22
It’s not a matter of IF, it’s a matter of WHEN! Are You Ready?
CONTACT US TODAY Nikko Conn Nikko@imageoneusa.com Anthony Conn Anthony@imageoneusa.com
(239) 789-2267
Page 2
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
MAY 2022
Rajmohan Gandhi deliver’s FGCU’s annual lecture in ethics
Rajmohan Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s grandchild who perhaps has most continued his grandfather’s legacy, delivered Florida Gulf Coast University’s 6th Annual Distinguished Lecture in Ethics on March 15 at the Cohen Center ballroom at FGCU. Gandhi delivered a wide-ranging lecture, including his ethical work with Jim and Ellie Newton, Southwest Florida stalwarts of the 20th century. His lecture also wove together the work of Moral ReArmament, where he and the Newtons worked for decades, the current political climate of India, and the invasion of Ukraine. Gandhi noted he had an insightful realization in preparation of these remarks. He said it is likely not a new thought, but one he found profound. Friendship is at the heart of ethics. That point is made in
Jim Newton’s book about his friendships in Fort Myers from 1924 on, “Uncommon Friends: Life with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel and Charles Lindbergh.” At the end of his remarks he returned to this point, asking how it is possible Russia could invade its friend, Ukraine. Several other ethical principles were drawn from the work of MRA: if you want to change the world, change yourself first; look for what is right, not who is right; listen in the morning to the voice of God, or if you’d rather, think of it in terms of the voice of conscience or the still, small voice. Follow the four absolutes that seem to be a crazy dream but are actually a fantastic one: absolute honesty, absolute unselfishness, absolute purity and absolute love. Gan-
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS
Cape Coral small business class starts May 23
Individuals who are thinking about starting their own business but need some mentoring are invited to apply to the Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute, scheduled for May 23 through June 30. Business is growing in Cape Coral with more than 316 Business Tax Receipts already issued for the first quarter of the 2022 Fiscal Year. The MicroEnterprise Institute is a six-week training program to help emerging entrepreneurs start new ventures and grow small businesses. Graduates complete a comprehensive training course and prepare a solid plan to guide their start-up. They work with mentors who are successful businesspeople, and hear from subject matter experts in areas of accounting, legal, marketing, insurance and funding. An easy-to-use workbook, used by organizations across America, assist in transforming vision into a plan for a successful business. Classes are scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Thursday evenings at The Public Works Building on Nicholas Parkway East in Cape Coral. Attendance is limited, sign up now. A recent program graduate said, “This course helped me to organize and plan out the steps for creating my business. Coming in, I had no idea how to start a business that would lead to success, and now I have that.” To apply, visit www.goodwillswfl.org/microenterprise, or call (239) 995-2106 ext. 215. The session is $80; Volunteer hours can be substituted for the fee if income requirements are met. For more information, email Annette Watkins at annettewatkins@goodwillswfl.org. The Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute is administrated by the nonprofit Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, and is part of Goodwill’s mission of providing life-changing opportunities toward independence for those with disabilities and disadvantages. For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, visit www.goodwillswfl.org.
Photos by Frank Cipolla Dozens of young budding entrepreneurs showed off their inventions and ideas to local businesspeople and judges at the New Hope Center in Naples.
Biz Kidz Expo showcases young entrepreneurs Special to SWFBT Submitted by Frank Cipolla
The recent Biz Kidz Expo was not only a first for Naples but hopefully the start of many more. In April, dozens of young budding entrepreneurs showed off their inventions and ideas to local businesspeople and judges at the New Hope Center in Naples. The “Shark Tank”-like event featured kids ages 7 to 17 who showed off their ideas to a panel of judges representing some of Collier County’s leading companies and service organizations. Every participant also received a one-on-one coaching session with a business mentor. The winners received cash prizes. The hope is that their ideas will be purchased or sold to a company. “Encouraging young people to be inventors and entrepreneurs is something that will serve them well no matter what direction their lives take them. I have seen some of these inventions and they are impressive,” said organizer and pres-
You’re in good company with WGCU Public Media Add value and credibility to your business by sponsoring the quality programming of public media.
dhi noted empirically that “sharing works, a daily quiet time of listening works, friendship works” in living individual ethical lives and improving society. Gandhi spoke of his grandfather and used examples from his life to illustrate points. Rajmohan Gandhi authored the definitive biography of his grandfather, Gandhi: The Man, His People, and the Empire. A more recent and briefer book he authored is Why Gandhi Still Matters: An Appraisal of the Mahatma’s Legacy. FGCU Lutgert College of Business Dean, Dr. Christopher Westley commented, “Rajmohan Gandhi’s visit to FGCU, his public speech and many interactions with students and faculty, are highlights in the history of the Lutgert College of Business.”
The recent Biz Kidz Expo was not only a first for Naples but hopefully the start of many more. ident of Top Notch Connections JD Ribali. “Our goal is to expose kids to entrepreneurial opportunities and resources available to them,” Ribali said. “If your child has a business idea or has entrepreneurial dreams, this kind of event provides an excellent starting point.” As for the Biz Kids Expo, the goal, according to Ribali, is to take this event to cities big and small throughout the state and eventually nationwide. Visit BizKidzExpo.com, call (239) 675-1235, or email jd@topnotchhomepros.com.
71
%
... of public radio listeners hold a more positive opinion of companies that support the informative programs of NPR.
68
%
... of PBS viewers agree that its sponsors are committed to quality and excellence.
Contact us at wgcusales@wgcu.org or 239.590.2300 for current rate plans
MAY 2022
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Page 3
When does sex become a professional problem?
With today’s technology, organizations can closely monitor their employees’ behavior. If the latter use a computer, they can track every key stroke if they like. They can have cameras watch employees work. All of this is legal. But what about the behavior of an employee that is not work-related, and may even take place outside of work hours? The quick answer is that it depends. Some behavior outside of work can carry over into the workplace. For example, what if a manager or executive is having sex with someone who directly or indirectly reports to her or him? It depends on the organization’s policy, but typically this relationship is prohibited. CNN’s President Jeff Zucker was recently fired for this reason. In his case, contractually, he was required to report any such intimate relationship with a subordinate. I’m not aware of the details of CNN’s policy, but if this relationship is disclosed when it begins, typically the employer will change the reporting relationship so that the sexual partner is no longer under that manager or executive and the relationship can continue. When Zucker was fired, some CNN employees reacted, “What’s the big deal? These are adults in a consenting relationship?” The “big deal” is that in the workplace, ethically, no employee should be in position where she or he has a conflict of interest. Zucker, even unintentionally, could have favored his sexual partner, even by giving her the benefit of the doubt more than other employees. Certainly, he could have influenced, or decided, her assignments, raises and even promotions. In the State of Florida, we have the policies and laws to ensure no employees of the State of Florida
(such as Florida Gulf Coast University or Florida SouthWestern College) can engage in any conflict of interest. Most sizeable employers will have similar policies, although Florida is known for having one of the most stringent. The law prohibits a person from being in an intimate reporting relationship, including any family member. So, I could not hire my wife, half-sister, stepBY ERIC son, niece, father-in-law, or any DENT other relative specified in the law, Guest Columnist to work for me. This leads to the situation that got reporter Chris Cuomo fired from CNN. Journalistic standards typically extend workplace ethics to all relationships a journalist has. This is why newspapers separate their opinion section from their news sections. For the latter, readers are ensured that no bias entered the reporting. As Joe Friday famously said on the 1950s police drama “Dragnet,” he was interested in “the facts, just the facts ma’am.” We don’t want reporters reporting about how great a company is if she or he just bought that company’s stock. We also don’t want reporters investigating stories that involve their family members, which CNN initially allowed for Cuomo. The reason why such a policy exists and should never be excepted soon became clear. Cuomo was blinded by the affection for his older brother and never reported on the tremendous COVID death rates of New Yorkers in nursing homes.
ructuring / Bankruptcy | Business Law | Commercial Litigation
For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com Moreover, when sexual allegations were made against then Governor Andrew Cuomo, we ultimately learned that not only had reporter Cuomo not investigated them, he had actively provided inside information and counseled Governor Cuomo and his advisors. He worked to discredit the women who made allegations and to spin the news in Governor Cuomo’s favor. In the 1970s, “Watergate” popularized the phrase, “the cover-up is worse than the crime.” Americans tend to be a forgiving people. If someone says, “I screwed up. I accept the consequences of my action and will atone for them, and I promise not to do it again,” she or he is often readily forgiven. Likewise, at work, “fess up.” If you enter into a sexual relationship that creates a conflict of interest, report it immediately and arrangements will likely be made to accommodate it. If a supplier offers you a gift (such as Super Bowl tickets), report it immediately. Who knows? Depending on your company’s policy, you might still be able to go. There’s a good chance, though, that if you accept the gift without reporting it, you will ultimately be found out and fired. Dr. Eric B. Dent is the Uncommon Friends Endowed Chair Professor of Ethics at Florida Gulf Coast University. He is also a consultant to organizations and a speaker to national audiences. Contact (239) 5907162 or edent@fgcu.edu.
Mike Dal Lago, Esq.
www.dallagolaw.com
999 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. Suite 200 Naples, FL 34108
239-571-6877 KNOWLEDGE. g: Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Tampa & Orlando INTEGRITY. RESULTS. Mike Dal Lago, Esq. Christian Haman, Esq. Jennifer Duffy, Esq. Serving Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota & Tampa
BUSINESS LAW BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING BUSINESS BANKRUPTCY
Accolades include:
• Business Formation • Corporate Governance • Fiduciary Duties
999 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. Suite 200 Naples, FL 34108
• Insolvency Matters
4972 Royal Gulf Circle Fort Myers, FL 33966
• Chapter 7, Chapter 11 And Subchapter V Bankruptcy Cases
• Out-Of-Court Restructuring • Bankruptcy Reorganization
Naples Illustrated
(239) 571-6877
www.dallagolaw.com
• General Corporate Counseling
TICKET PACKAGES
on sale now
Full, Partial, Flexible Voucher & Group Options FLORIDAEVERBLADES.COM/TICKETS
a e m o Becrtner witahy! pa us tod CALL / TEXT
239.948.PUCK
Page 4
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
MAY 2022
Partnership increases businesses’ access to credit
Accion Opportunity Fund,, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization providing small businesses with access to responsible capital, networks and coaching, announced a referral partnership with Alignable, the online social network of more than 7 million entrepreneurs in the U.S. Accion Opportunity Fund is now a vetted lender on Alignable’s newly launched Financing Solutions marketplace. Small businesses are facing historic inflation for the costs of goods, supply chain bottlenecks that constrain cash flow, and a tight labor market. To keep the nation’s 30 million small businesses open, Main Street entrepreneurs need access to capital, along with expert advice and networks. This partnership leverages the strength of both organizations to help connect underinvested small business owners with affordable capital as they rebound from the pandemic. “In any crisis, there is an opportunity to dig deep and reimagine a better way forward. This pandemic laid bare how fractured our small business credit markets are in this country,” said Adriana Eiriz, vice president of sales and partnerships for Accion Opportunity Fund. “Community Development Financial Institutions across the country stepped in as financial first responders for small business owners when COVID hit. We’re looking to lift up those who have been overlooked and underfunded for far too long. Partnering with Alignable is one way we’re working to accelerate progress towards an inclusive small business economy.” “With small businesses working hard to bring back customers lost due to COVID, supply chain challenges impacting revenue generation, and inflation a rising concern, we are thrilled to bring Accion Opportunity Fund onto Alignable’s Financing Solutions Marketplace,” said Eric Groves, Alignable co-founder and CEO. “We’re excited to give businesses suffering the most the unique funding solutions and vast expertise that this highly rec®
www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
SELL YOUR BUSINESS
PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Ogles
Trust the
MOST AWARDED
PHOTO REVIEWER Scott Toner
WEBSITE ASSISTANT Angelica Torres
P.O. Box 152299 Cape Coral, FL 33915-2299 News: 239-573-9731 All other: 239-573-9732 News email: editor@swfloridabusinesstoday.com All other information requests: publisher@ swfloridabusinesstoday.com The contents of Southwest Florida Business Today® are copyright 2022 by Southwest Florida Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced without the express written consent of Southwest Florida Newspapers, Inc. The publication of any advertisement or article does not necessarily reflect the view of the publisher of Southwest Florida Business Today®. For more information about any article or column appearing in Southwest Florida Business Today®, for advertising rates or subscription information please call 239-573-9732 or email: publisher@ swfloridabusinesstoday.com
OUR MISSION
Southwest Florida Business Today® is to provide the best business-to-business marketplace where business executives operating in Southwest Florida buy and sell goods and services via the exchange of news, advertising and information.
Rising Tide Explorers is Southwest Florida’s only ecotour company led by 100% local biologists and science professionals. “Our guides have spent their lives studying the ecology and wildlife of Southwest Florida, and love nothing more than sharing their knowledge and passion for the incredible wild areas of the Western Everglades,” said Ryan Young, founder of Rising Tide Explorers. “Our mission is to connect people to the landscape and help them see it through the eyes of a local scientist.” This season saw record bookings for Friends of Rookery Bay ecotours with Rising Tide Explorers. “Residents and visitors to Collier County have been seeking nature-based ways to relax, enjoy fresh air and sunshine, and explore the outdoors like we have never seen,” said Athan Barkoukis, Friends of Rookery Bay executive director. “Visitation at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center has also reached peaks.” The award-winning kayak tours go through mangrove tunnels, into remote backwaters of Rookery Bay, and by mudflats and oyster reefs teeming with birds. Dolphins, manatees, giant marine snails, and seastars are often sighted. Boat and kayak ecotours as well as kayak rentals can be booked at risingtidefl.com and rookerybay.org. Rising Tide Explorers, a local ecotour company and the exclusive ecotour provider for Friends of Rookery Bay, is competing to win Best Kayaking Tour in USA Today Readers’ Choice awards for the third year in a row. Rising Tide Explorers won in 2021 and 2020. Voting continues through May 9 at www.10best. com/awards/travel/best-kayaking-tour/ rising-tide-explorers-naples-fla/
SELL YOUR BUSINESS
PRINT EDITOR & ASSOCIATE WEB EDITOR Jacob Ogles
DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGNER & EDITOR Michelle L. Hudson
Rising Tide Explorers lets scientists navigate
o uHH NEE O Op Y oYu aavvee OON p ppoorrttuunni ti yt yt ot o
PUBLISHER Karen P. Moore
PRINT AD DESIGNER Jennifer Ogles
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS
ognized, non-profit lender can provide. We’re sure many of our 7 million members will benefit greatly from this partnership.” Accion Opportunity Fund provides small businesses across the U.S. with access to capital, networks, and coaching. For over two decades, loans issued by the nonprofit have played a role in improving financial health for small businesses, with nearly 90% of its clients being people of color, immigrants and/or women. In 2020, the mission-driven organization committed to accelerating its initiatives to serve more small business entrepreneurs, especially Black-owned businesses. During the past two years, Accion Opportunity Fund awarded $1.5 million in grants, over $5 million in loan payment relief, and deferred or forgave loan payments for over 4,000 entrepreneurs. AOF’s business coaches offered personalized one-on-one sessions to support almost 450 entrepreneurs, most of whom are women of color. To keep momentum going to support a strong and inclusive Main Street recovery, Accion Opportunity Fund will continue to add partners, like Alignable, in order to connect more small businesses with the affordable, transparent funding and expert advice they need to thrive. Especially in communities that are poorly served by the financial mainstream, building trust, including through partnerships, is key to expanding financial access more equitably and thoroughly across the U.S. Alignable joins a growing group of small business support-advocate organizations working with Accion Opportunity Fund to increase financial health for overlooked, underinvested entrepreneurs, including: American Express, DoorDash, Gusto, LendingClub, Rosy Salon and UPS. Loans offered through Accion Opportunity Fund Community Development, the lending arm of Accion Opportunity Fund, range from $5,000 to $100,000 with transparent terms up to 60 months, and interest rates ranging from 5.99% to 14.99% with no prepayment penalties.
&
HIGHEST CREDENTIALED Business Brokerage Firm in SW Florida Since 2014
Keep up with the latest business news, events and more! www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com ®
H I G H E S T wC w R Ew D E. E N TdI iAsLo En D B & AM.OcSoT m AWARDED
866.205.2310 Info@EdisonBA.com www.EdisonBA.com
Anticipating what’s next... ...is what keeps you and your business ahead of the game. Due to recent expansion, we are now hiring for part-time newspaper delivery drivers in Bonita Springs and Naples. Please call (239) 770-7527 for details.
Here’s what is ahead for 2022 for Southwest Florida Business Today®. MONTH
EDITORIAL FOCUS
PUB. DATE (FRIDAY)
DEADLINE (WED., 5 pm)
JUNE
• Disaster Services • Edison Awards Review
May 20
May 11
JULY
• Technology • CRE Quarterly Review
June 24
June 15
Call to reserve your advertising spot today: (239) 770-7527
LABOR PAGE 1 The Naples area private sector employment increased by 6,700 jobs over the year, an increase of 4.7%. The industry gaining the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality, increasing by 2,800 jobs. The unemployment rate in the Naples area was 2.2% in March 2022, down from 4.1% reported in March 2021. Florida’s statewide unemployment rate dropped to 3.2% in March 2022, marking the 16th consecutive month the state’s unemployment rate has been lower than the national rate, which is currently 3.6%. Florida’s labor force is experiencing steady growth, growing by 325,000, or 3.2%, over the year, faster than the national labor force growth rate of 2.4%. As of March 2022, Florida employers added jobs for the 23rd consecutive month, and Florida outpaced the nation in private sector job growth for the 12th consecutive month. Data in the month of March continues to indicate there are many job opportunities available for Floridians throughout the state, with nearly 510,000 jobs posted online. Floridians in search of work and new job opportunities are encouraged to turn to the CareerSource Florida network for help. Floridians can find guidance on how to register with Employ Florida and search listings of available local job openings.
MAY 2022
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Local Bank. Lending. Decisions.
Choose a local lender you can bank on.
$1B+ in closed home loans since 2003
W
ith Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as your lender, whether you’re looking for a commercial or residential loan, you get a local partner and advocate to guide you through the process. We have loan officers in every branch ready to work with you – from start to finish, every step of the way. As a locally owned and operated community bank, all our loan decisions are made right here in Southwest Florida. Recognizing and valuing relationships with our customers allows us to find solutions where other traditional banks fail.
10 loan officers located throughout SWFL
Quick, local decision-making
Direct access to in-house commercial and residential lending experts
Ready to Get Started? Contact Kyle or David to get connected to the right loan officer for you.
Kyle DeCicco
President and Senior Loan Officer 239-274-6225 kdecicco@sancapbank.com NMLS #1096738
David Wright
Senior Vice President of Residential Mortgage Lending 239-210-2279 dwright@sancapbank.com NMLS #412536
8 convenient SWFL locations 239-274-6100 | www.SanCapBank.com NMLS #411904
Page 5
Page 6
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
MAY 2022
GUEST COMMENTARY Problems with our financial system and the solutions
Part 1 of 2 At the end of the first world war, the United States became economically weak. The country needed help recovering from all the damage, which led to foreign interests, particularly bankers, bailing out the hardship but meanwhile plating roots in D.C. to take control of our economy and financial institutions. What we are seeing happening in the world is the takedown of a cabal and all the institutions they have infiltrated.
Existing Banking System There are three world banks: Intermediary Monetary Fund; Private Western Central Bank (we work off this world bank); and SWIFT Bank. Where you are in the Globe dictates what financial system you’re working from. The world banks are the exchange networks where local and large banks such as Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase Bank or TD Bank work off. This is a centralized banking system. Centralized currencies and financial system networks mean there is an administrator at the top managing and hopefully staying ethical and moral to its oath to serving our economic system. To date, this has not been a success. This is the stepping stone to breeding endless corruption, money laundering, embezzlement and reckless spending. Our monetary tool is called Fiat currency, aka the U.S. dollar. Since 1971, when Richard Nixon finished off the gold standard, there have been trillions spent and misappropriated for corrupted gains. The cause for removing the gold standard is a result of bankers not being able to print more than the fixed value of gold. Now, there is no barrier to printing endless amounts of money. This is a currency we don’t own. The U.S. Federal Government borrows the currency from the world bankers and extends this currency to us, we the people and corporations. Attached to this Fiat currency is compounded interest and principle, like a credit card but on a massive scale. The Central bankers get $0.10 for every U.S. dollar in circulation. Imagine $31.4 trillion, the current debt ceiling, toppled by 10 cents for every dollar. This is how the world bankers not only corrupt sovereign nations and institutions but also keep them in ever-lasting debt, a prelude for foreign interests to gain control in respective governments. In the last 24 months, we have seen trillions spent, which means citizens of today and future generations ahead will be in nothing but debt. Additionally, we have seen D.C. spend
money as they wish, giving themselves raises while leaving our country in extreme vulnerability. Another problem is something called a Fractional Reserve. If you deposit $100 (or any amount), institutions will turn around and loan out 98% of your deposit for 10% interest. This means if you went to go withdraw all your money, they would not have it to give you. With no gold standard, anytime you go to get a mortgage, vehicle loan or line of credit, the money comes out of nowhere. This is because the Fiat BY BRETT dollar isn’t backed by anything that PALLADINO Guest Commentary gives it intrinsic value. There is good news though. The new System is here.
Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Blockchain is a network of servers across, below and above earth. These nodes are run and minted by Miners. They mint cryptocurrency in order for it to exist and for it to move on the blockchain. Because the blockchain does not follow the traditional centralized server systems, there is no way to stop the blockchain network. For example, a website typically sits on a common web server company such as GoDaddy, HostGator or Microsoft. These are centralized server entities, meaning all contents, files and programs are held in a single location. If this zone is attacked or affected by a blackout, these servers go down. Since the Blockchain is made up of hundreds of servers throughout earth, there is no way to shut them down. As long as a country has power and internet, the blockchain will always be up and running. For instance, when Kavastan’s internet was shutdown, the cryptocurrencies never stopped. The nodes jumped networks. The blockchain changed over to nodes located in Brazil, Ukraine, United States, etc.— anywhere the next network is available. This is by design. The blockchain is made to never be able to crash or be taken offline. Brett Palladino serves as founder for FieldForce Systems, Jobrox and NFTMinds. His vision for optimizing the Crypto, NFT, and Defi space is causing disruption in the digital currency world. Contact bpalladino@fieldforcesys.com
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS “El Nido” coming soon to Coconut Point
Local residents looking for a unique Latin dining experience can satisfy their cravings at El Nido, a Modern Mexican eatery set to open at Coconut Point Shopping Center in early May. Owned and operated by local restaurateurs Joe and Donna Sofia, El Nido fills the gap neatly with an eclectic menu that blends the best of Latin American cuisine, classic Mexican fare, top-shelf tequila, and single-origin Latin American coffees. “In the 16 years we’ve lived and done business here, we always felt the one thing Coconut Point needed was a great Mexican restaurant,” said co-owner Donna Sofia. “We had a vision to offer not only amazing food and drinks, but a fun, interactive atmosphere that makes people want to come back again and again.” As a complement to vibrant décor and the warm hospitality of its owners, El Nido serves a range of palates. The menu is carefully curated by Executive Chef Pedro Diaz, whose resumé includes decades of culinary experience across North and South America, appearances on Food Network’s Chopped, and a titlewinning stint on Cutthroat Kitchen. El Nido is set to open Monday, May 9, and will operate 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to close, serving lunch, dinner, an early bird menu, and weekend brunch. The 5,000-square-foot space includes an indoor/outdoor bar, seating for 220 guests, and a private room for special events. For information, follow @ElNidoEats on Facebook and @elnido_eats on Instagram.
IN BUSINESS SINCE 2015
2020
TAKE A BREAK
You can’t spell “HEART” without “HR”
2007
Consulting Services ... from the Heart
Breakfast - Lunch Espresso Bar - Pastry
Refresh your brand. Schedule your free consultation today.
conricpr.com | 239-690-9840
Do you offer benefits for your employees? Let us help you, help your employees
Lenny Cannova 3046 Del Prado Blvd. Cape Coral, FL 33904
(239) 848-7390
• IRA’s • Roth’s • SEP Plans • 401 k’s • Mutual Funds • Executive Bonus Plans • Key Man Insurance • Life Insurance • Business Planning • Exit Planning
• Employment Handbooks • Recruitment • HR Consulting
Monday-Saturday 8:00-2:00 / Sunday 9:00-1:00
(239) 542-6080 perkandbrew@gmail.com perknbrew
1021 Cape Coral Pkwy. E., #A Cape Coral, FL 33904
Karen Shepherd, MSHR, SHRM-CP (239) 776-5919 Karen@HRbyKaren.com www.HRbyKaren.com
2018
1981
Take your business to the next level
The Letter Box, Inc.
Greg Steiner glsteiner57@gmail.com (239) 579-0843
Services include: • Business Strategy • Mergers & Acquisitions • Industrial Project Management
Sea Breeze Associates, LLC
It Pays To Advertise!
We appreciate your business SWFL
(239) 574-2028
www.TheLetterBoxInc.com
1993
1994
2010
Build your business as an asset not a job!
Sergio DeCesare can help Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association Member Benefits Employee Training Grants • Import / Export Training Cost Reduction and Efficiency • Marketing Assistance Process Improvement • Recruiting and Hiring • Roundtable Discussions Leadership Training • Tax Incentives • Network of Resources
Visit srma.net or call Bill at (239) 258-1385.
Condo & HOA Law | Real Estate | Litigation Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Corporate & Business Organization Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice | Family Law
gadclaw.com
Naples: 239. 331 . 5100 Fort Myers: 239. 333. 2992
• Certified Business Profit & Growth Expert • Certified Business Value Builder ™ • Certified Business Exit Strategist
(239) 580-7408
sergio@maxbusinessprofits.com
www.MaxBusinessProfits.com
MAY 2022
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Page 7
Where is SWFL real estate headed? The chase is on... Special to SWFBT Submitted by Karen P. Moore, Publisher
“The chase is on in Southwest Florida—for the next development, key assets, ROI, certainty.” — Justin Thibaut, CEO, LSI Companies For the first time in a few years, hundreds of local business owners, business and real estate professionals, investors and others recently gathered in person to review Southwest Florida commercial real estate trends and topics. NEW RESIDENTIAL Randy Thibaut, president of Lee County-based LSI Companies, opened the Market Trends event in March with, “It’s good to be really BACK, isn’t it?” He continued, “As I stated last year at this event, ‘COVID lit the fuse to our overall real estate market growth.” He added, “We’re not in a boom, we’re in a HEALTHY market because there is no oversupply of homes, as occurred with the Great Recession.” Interestingly, he noted, multi- and single-family home permitting in 2021 was up 65% in Collier County and 100% in Charlotte County, but down 20% in Lee County. He continued, “I have always said in the past that the key to home sales is location. Well, it’s just
been demonstrated to me that it is NOT location that is driving current home sales, it is the availability of land to build on—as we’re seeing in Babcock Ranch, Ave Maria and northwest Cape Coral.” There’s a new category as well, he shared. “It’s build-to-rent homes; not multi-family. This category is doubling this year nationwide. The big (builders) are all getting into it.” Add to that, he noted, the manufactured/modular home sector is growing again. And land deals? Thibaut exclaimed, “There’s a ton of them!” He added, “For example, there’s a bunch of housing land deal opportunities on Burnt Store Road in North Cape.”
EXISTING RESIDENTIAL As the LSI research team noted on its website, “The resale market is still characterized by limited inventory pushing up median pricing of existing homes in the area to all-time highs with a new emphasis on affordability concerns. New apartments constructed over the last two years are quickly being absorbed by people priced out of homes and capitalizing on selling in a hot market. Apartment development will be back with a vengeance in 2022 after a light 2021. Look for land pricing records across developable land throughout the area in 2022.” Denny Grimes, longtime Southwest Florida residential Realtor, stated, “Years in the future, it
will be said that for residential sales ‘2021 was The Greatest Housing Market That Ever Was.’” He noted the median home sales price in Charlotte County broke $300,000; in Lee County, $400,000; in Collier County, $700,000—unsustainable pricing, he stated, in Lee and Collier Counties. “On average, Southwest Florida housing prices increased 26% over 2020; a record year for our region.” But, he also indicated, “Say goodbye to the starter home; young people today will not be building equity because they are renting instead of buying. This is gonna catch up to us.” He concluded, “The number of those who want to be here (in Southwest Florida) may be increasing, while the number of those who can afford to be here is decreasing—but those numbers are still enough to sustain us.” COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Justin Thibaut, CEO of LSI Companies, asked, “So what’s driving the Southwest Florida commercial real estate market? Retail sales is holding strong at 55%; office is 25% and industrial is 20%.” He added, “While industrial is the smallest volume of this segment, it is also the most desired segment. Moreover, all trends are up—rents, occupancy and construction are all up. “Moreover, right now, industrial can sell for TRENDS See page 9
Real estate, entrepreneur events return in person and in force
Special to SWFBT Submitted by Marilyn Santiago
Hi all, as I write and gather this month’s selfies for our Sunshine’s Selfie Station, I sense a great feeling of progress and evolution. Past the pandemic and all its travesties, I as a business owner, for sure, was super skeptical and concerned about the future, starting at our backyard. The events that I covered not only gave me hope for a better future, but also filled me with a fantastic sense of pride. Just like we were expecting, Market Trends 2022 predicted for us a robust real estate market. Close to 1,000 professionals, mostly from the real estate, construction and finance industries, networked and gathered valuable information about the promising future of our area. A great indicator is the number of construction permits for residential and commercial and they went up considerably. The demand is growing, so we’ll see a lot of construction to supply for all those needs. We feel the growth happening. I’m loving it! In the spirit of entrepreneurship, the Small Business Development Center is celebrating in person this year The Distinguished Entrepreneur Awards. Last year was virtual, of course, but this annual event celebrates entrepreneurial excellence. Over
At Market Trends 2022 with Rebekah Barney, Ivette and Amber Galarza, Giselle Moreira Rattis, Karina Borgia La Croix, Diana Giraldo and Becky Sanders Lucas.
At Distinguished Entrepreneur with Bill Daubmann, Norman Lutz, Joseph S. De Sena, Christopher Rozum, Rafael J. Feliciano, Giselle Moreira Rattis, Karina Borgia-Lacroix, Leny Fralicker, Kristen Flaharty and Lorena Vargas Schultz.
100 Southwest Florida Small Business entrepreneurs applied and 31 who have attained notable achievements and success were selected as finalists. Bill Daubmann, president of MY Shower Door/ D3 Glass and winner of the 2021 Distinguished Entrepreneur Award, hosted a fantastic event for all 31 finalists. Did I tell you that I am one of the finalists? Yay! To me, I’m a winner just by being a finalist. I know there are incredibly important professionals competing, so I’m just happy with being nominated.
But I can’t wait to see who will win this year! Marilyn Santiago is president of Sunshine Integrated Solutions, a lifestyle marketing/PR consultancy firm providing creative solutions, media strategies, talent and production services in English and Spanish for advertising agencies, local and corporate clients. She is also co-owner of CARP, which creates architectural elements from strong polyresin for the construction industry. Contact her at (239) 939-0034 or Sunshineatyourservice@gmail.com.
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 local business news and a calendar of local business events, please visit our website www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
For more informa�on, call Karen at (239) 770-7527 ®
www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
Follow us on:
Page 8
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
MAY 2022
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida
Pay attention to details in lease
The Panther Center is a five-unit warehouse, flex and office space for businesses including Lamar Advertising.
Seagate finishes renovation of Panther Center Seagate Development Group has completed the exterior renovation of 35,600-plus-square-foot Panther Center. Located on Global Parkway in Fort Myers, Panther Center is a fiveunit warehouse, flex and office space for businesses including Lamar Advertising. As the property and asset manager of Panther Center, Seagate painted the building’s exterior, re-sealed and re-striped the parking lot, as well as revamped the landscape – all to pro-
vide a better overall experience to everyone who works there and appeal to passersby. “Dozens of people work in Panther Center and thousands of people see it every day, so we owe it to our client to make this building everything that it can be and more,” said Matt Price, CEO and partner of Seagate Development Group. “Panther Center looks like new, and as a company that is changing the landscape of Southwest Florida, we are proud to have taken on this project.” HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP
CRE
Healthcare
MEDICAL SITE SELECTION
Services Group provides a full
VALUATIONS
TENANT REPRESENTATION
and transaction services, asset and property management,
SALE/LEASEBACK
as well as development and financial consulting services
DUE DILIGENCE
TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT
urgent care facilities. Through a comprehensive, strategic
INVESTMENT SALES AND FINANCING
approach, the team is dedicated to identifying opportunities
PROPERTY/FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
SUMMERLIN RD FRONTAGE
OFFICE/MEDICAL BUILDING
CONSULTANTS
range of real estate services
including acquisition and disposition strategies, advisory
for acute care hospitals, medical clinics, radiology, medical groups, ambulatory surgery centers, assisted living and
and implementing real estate solutions that optimize value for our clients.
BUILT-OUT MEDICAL OFFICE
If we follow the wisdom of Confucius, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” As they say though, “the Devil is in the details.” This means, if we don’t pay attention to the little things, we may be in for trouble. Conversely, I prefer the expression, “God is in the detail,” which means if we pay attention to the small things, events should go well. So, what details do we need to think about? Following are some areas to consider: Term of the lease stated in the contract: ASC 842 introduces the concept of legal enforceability for leasing arrangements. Prior to this there was more latitude to consider the economic substance of arrangements. Economic substance relates to the underlying economic or commercial purpose of a business transaction verses its legal form. Legally enforceable terms and conditions are expected to be determined by the terms included in a written contract. This change in concept results in additional complexity regarding verbal contracts and written contracts with the potential for cancelation. Renewal options and termination clauses: ASC 842 requires that entities include renewal or termination clauses that are reasonably certain to be exercised in determination of the lease term. The entity should consider their history of renewing or terminating lease terms. This requires professional judgment. Month-to-month leases: Entities with month-to-month leases with no formal renewal options should report payments for rent and leasehold improvements as expenses when incurred. The phrase “formal renewal option” can be subject to judgment especially when considering related-party leases. Some suggest that a month-tomonth lease automatically renews every month, which could indicate that the lease term is longer. This fact when considered with the history of renewal may indicate a longer lease term. To complicate matters further, one could conclude that due to the history of renewal and intentions of related parties, the lease may need to be considered
a finance lease (formerly capital lease). In certain cases, professional judgment is required. Unwritten leases: Without a written agreement, it would be difficult to determine legal enforceabilBY MICHAEL A. ity. Entities should WESTERVELT consider drafting Guest Columnist a formal written agreement to support the substance of the transaction. Alternatively, payments for rent should be expensed as incurred. Leasehold improvements: Prior to the adoption of ASC 842, under ASC 840, an operating entity would account for the operating lease by charging the lease payments to rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leasehold improvements would have been amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the lease term including renewal periods that are reasonably assured. In many cases, related-party businesses would amortize the leasehold improvements over a period greater than the lease term concluding that the economic substance supports renewal of the lease because it is in the control of the common owner which is reasonably assured. Under ASC 842, this changes, as the lease is reported based on the legal enforceability of the lease term and the leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of this lease term or the economic useful life of the asset. This may result in amortizing leasehold improvements over a shorter period for some entities. Structuring a lease: Entities should structure leases based on the economic substance of the use of the assets to document a clear understanding of the terms, conditions, and expectations of each party. These considerations are by no means all inclusive, so take time to consider the details of your contracts. Michael A. “Mike” Westervelt is a principal with CLA with over 25 years of experience and a past Chair of the AICPA’s PCPS Technical Issues Committee. Contact him at (704) 998-5288.
Did you know ...
that SWFBT highlights:
FOR LEASE: 4,175± SF FORT MYERS
FOR SALE: 3.29± ACRES FORT MYERS
CONTACT ENN LUTHRINGER, CCIM Partner 239.481.3800 x235
FOR LEASE: 8,840± SF FORT MYERS
ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE OF YOUR ASSET.
enn.luthringer@creconsultants.com
w w w. C R E c o n s u l t a n t s . c o m
• • • • •
Daily Updates Breaking Business News B2B Events Calendar Commercial Real Estate Directory Professionals who are “Going Places” ... and much more at
www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
MAY 2022
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
Paint Nail Bar opens on Fifth Avenue South
The Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District announced that PAINT Nail Bar, a provider of complete luxury nail care in a clean, non-toxic environment, has opened a location on Fifth Avenue South, adding to the roster of high-end service providers who are locating operations along Naples’ historic main street. Located on Fifth Avenue South, PAINT Nail Bar provides professional nail care services that are designed for comfort and relaxation. Services include manicures and pedicures for all ages, featuring nail maintenance, hydrating cuticle care, an aromatic, exfoliating sugar commercial real estate trends & topics scrub up to the wrist or ankle, massageA andlook polish at application. PAINT Nail Bar uses the cleanest and healthiest products, thereby reducing clients’ exposure to toxins. Headquartered in Sarasota, PAINT Nail Bar currently has locations in 14 states throughout the United States. The Naples location is owned and operated by Pearl and David Baker, who started as customers years ago before becoming the franchise owners. “PAINT Nail Bar offers a different kind of nail salon experience. The atmosphere is always fume-free and relaxed, with positive energy flowing freely from both our clients and staff,” Pearl Baker said. “We also enjoy hosting our clients’ special events, whether they be PAINT Nail Bar, a provider of complete luxury nail care in community fundraisers, birthday parties, bridal show- a clean, non-toxic environment, has opened a location ers, baby sprinkles or just a great time together, making on Fifth Avenue South. sure clients and their guests have a delightful experi“We are pleased to add PAINT Nail Bar to the growence.” ing list of top-quality service providers who are choosPAINT Nail Bar also sells a variety of trendy ap- ing to open along Fifth Avenue South,” said Bruce Barparel; vegan, non-toxic skin products (PRIMERS); and one, Jr., executive director for the Fifth Avenue South PAINT Purpose jewelry. The store is open Monday BID. “This new store gives our residents and visitors through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday even more choices and helps make the Avenue a onefrom 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. stop shop destination.”
Lee Commissioners award contract for Cape bridge
As part of continued efforts to prepare for a Lee County population of 1 million, the Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to award a contract for the design of the replacement of the westbound span of the Cape Coral Bridge and widening of the eastbound span. The contract with Kisinger Campo & Associates, selected through the competitive negotiation request for proposal process, also includes a Project Development and Environin mental Southwest Florida Study. The replacement of the Cape Coral Bridge westbound span and widening of the eastbound span is a top-tier transportation project for commissioners. The Board has discussed the project at workshops, planning sessions and board meetings. The westbound span of the Cape Coral Bridge opened to traffic in 1964, when it served traffic in both directions as the only bridge to Cape Coral. In 1989, the eastbound span was added just south of the original bridge, creating a four-lane roadway. Motorists made nearly 50,000 annual average daily trips over the bridge in 2021. Construction on the span is planned to begin in 2026. Total project costs are estimated at $185 million.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET
TRENDS PAGE 7 more than retail—which is unheard of.” Regarding the retail segment, while some may find it hard to believe, not only is this sector holding strong as our largest commercial segment, Justin noted, rents, occupancy and construction are all up in this segment. “What is being built in this segment?” he asked. “Car washes!” In today’s retail world, he observed, “It’s out with JC Penney and in with Hobby Lobby.” In other words, the traditional definition of “retail” has changed—oil change places, car washes are the “new” retail, which is also driving the revitalization of traditional retail spaces: it’s a whole new world in retail. Office, he warned, continues to be
“Right now, industrial can sell for more than retail— which is unheard of.”
Introducing ALDEA
— Justin Thibaut, CEO, LSI Companies
an uncertain segment as companies and employees “work out” who can and cannot work from home effectively, trying to determine the “correct” hybrid balance. Health care continues to feed this sector in this market, however, and office build-outs will continue to be part of the future in this category. So there continues to be a lot to watch as the region, state, country and world continue to evolve as the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to do the same. One thing all can agree on, however, is that nothing will ever be the same as it was pre-COVID-19.
®
Don’t forget to post your virtual and in-person B2B events to swfloridabusinesstoday.com/ calendar SWFL’s most comprehensive B2B event calendar
Groundbreaking: Fall 2022 Occupancy: Spring 2024 MIDTOWN FORT MYERS’ INTIMATE URBAN LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE Studio, One and Two Bedroom Apartments Located between Central Avenue, Market Street and Fowler Street, ALDEA is one of the first planned communities for Midtown and is expected to transform the landscape of the surrounding area. 300+ units housed within two residential buildings looking inward to multi-functional courtyard spaces.
A fitness center enables an active lifestyle and a parking garage provides a desired convenience.
A mix of studios, one and two bedrooms, several of which offer additional dens.
Randy Krise, CCIM
Commercial Real Estate Broker Cell: 239.633.8672 Email: Randy@KriseCG.com www.KriseCG.com
w w w
.KriseCG.Com
Page 10
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
MAY 2022
Are commercial tenants in for a surprise?
In early January, we learned that the inflation rate reached a staggering 7%, the highest rate since 1982. Analysts blamed many things for this increase. COVID-19 and supply chain issues are cited as two of the leading causes. I don’t suppose it matters much to the average person why everything costs so much. We all just know prices keep going up. I didn’t give it much thought until last week when one of my shopping center clients sent me a letter of intent for a new tenant that included a CPI rent adjustment provision. While it certainly isn’t unusual for commercial landlords to ask for rent increases to be the greater of x% or year over year increase in CPI, I was actually floored that a new tenant would agree to this provision given the recent inflation announcement. Why
agree to the greater of 3% or CPI when we know that CPI today is 7%? For the last 40 years, CPI has been well below the 3% so it has been easy for tenants to agree to a CPI clause. But today, a new tenant is agreeing to BY DAVID increase rent next BLATTNER year by 7%. This Guest Columnist tenant must have real faith that the president and Congress are going to actually talk and institute policies to get inflation under control by the time of the first rent increase next year.
Multi-family development in works for Cape Coral
That got me to thinking about all of the leases out there with CPI clauses and rent increases coming due right now. Tenants that have been used to routine 2% to 3% increase per year are going to be in for a big surprise when the bill comes due with a 7% increase over the coming months. What’s worse, if the situation does stabilize, the base is set. Rent will not revert back to the pre-inflation spike rate. Tenants, plan accordingly and landlords, check your leases. If you have CPI escalation rights, calculate accordingly.
In its continuing growth in the real estate investment space, New Jersey-based Reynolds Asset Management acquired an 84-acre property in Cape Coral, which will be home to Embers Lakes, a multi-family community breaking ground in the spring of 2022. The development will boast 1,337 luxury rental apartments. “This project will be transformative to not only those who will call it home but the rapidly growing Cape Coral community as a whole,”said Lou Reynolds, CEO of Reynolds Asset Management. The project is anticipated to be completed in December 2023.
David Blattner is a shareholder at Becker. He has over 25 years of experience in complex real estate transactions. Contact him at (954) 987-7550 or dblattner@beckerlawyers.com.
Some rent expenses may be tax-deductible for small businesses If you’re a small business owner who is just starting out, you may not realize that some rent expenses may be deductible on your tax return. Here are some things small business owners should keep in mind when it comes to deducting rental expenses: How Rent is Defined Rent is any amount paid for the use of property that a small business doesn’t own. Typically, rent can be deducted as a business expense when the rent is for property the taxpayer uses for the business. Lease or Purchase • Sometimes a business must determine whether its payments are for rent or for the purchase of the property, because different tax rules may apply. • Businesses must first determine whether an agreement is a lease or a conditional sales contract.
• Payments made under a conditional sales contract aren’t deductible as rent expense.
Unreasonable Rent Businesses can’t take a rental deduction for unreasonable rents paid. Rent is unBY W. BRADLEY reasonable for deduction when it is higher COOPER than market value Guest Columnist or a professional appraisal. • Usually, unreasonable rent becomes a problem when business owners and the lessors are related. • Rent paid to a related person is reasonable if it’s the same amount a business owner would pay to a stranger for use of
the same property. The definition of a related person is not limited to family members. Please call for more information.
Office in the Home A business owner’s workplace can be in their home if they have a home office that qualifies as their principal place of business. • Business owners who rent their home and have a home office as their principal place of business may also qualify for a deduction. • IRS Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home, Including Use by Daycare Providers, has more details about this deduction. Rent Paid in Advance Rent paid for a business is usually deductible in the year it is paid. • If a business pays rent in advance, it can deduct only the amount that applies to
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES
the use of the rented property during the tax year. The business can deduct the rest of the payment over the period to which it applies. • Business owners can review Publication 535, Business Expenses, for detailed examples on rent paid in advance. Canceling a Lease A business can usually deduct the costs paid to cancel a business lease. Questions? If you have any questions about whether rental expenses are tax deductible for your small business, please contact the office. W. Bradley Cooper Jr., CPA PA, is the founder of an accounting and bookkeeping firm currently servicing hundreds of small to medium-sized businesses throughout Southwest Florida. Contact (239) 2754511.
Commercial Real Estate Services Leasing | Sales | Management
Michael J. Frye, CCIM CEO, Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement
Industrial/Flex Retail
Realty Group
Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING & DESIGN
7910 Summerlin Lakes Drive, Ft. Myers, FL 33907 Office 239-489-0444 • Cell 239-281-0441 Fax 239-790-4800 • Toll Free 800-330-7653 mfrye@ccim.net • www.MichaelJFrye.com www.ftmyersCommercial.com • www.soldsign.com
We take your ideas from concept to completion.
Office
1228 Lafayette St. #1 Cape Coral, FL 33904 239.549.0997 CastellanosTramonte.com AA# 26003303
Rich Hering CRX, CSM, CPM (239)694-6878
Flexible mortgage solu�ons
Covering all of Southwest Florida
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL
Purchase, REFI/Cash-out, Bridge Loans, Construc�on/Perm
239-653-7803
www.KapitalUnited.com NMLS 338677 - FLMBR 380
Kapital United PROPERTY & BUSINESS FINANCE
www.sunizo.com
DG Pavement Solutions, Inc
Commercial & Residen�al Real Estate
Warehouse, 1-4 Residen�al & Mul�family 5+, Mixed Use, Retail Hotels/Motels, Automo�ve, Convenience Stores, Gas Sta�ons
Land
LICENSED AND INSURED
Ken Dusseau
Business Development/Project Manager • Seal Coa�ng
• Asphalt Repairs
Cell: 941-441-6919 Office: 239-267-1711
• Striping
kendusseau@gmail.com www.fortmyerssealcoat.com
® Proudly Serving Southwest Florida for Over 20 Years Community Design & Development | Land Use | Water Resources Utilities | Transportation | Facilities | Surveying
Patrick Vanasse, AICP
pvanasse@consult-rwa.com Cell: (239) 398-2016 Office: (239) 597-0575 ext. 2599
The Land Lady 20+ years SW Florida
Commercial-Residential Investment
Development
Jessica Russo
Licensed Sales Professional 239.849.0012 jessica@developmentrealty.org DevelopmentRealty.org
MAY 2022
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Page 11
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS
Questions owners should ask when hiring a PEO
Many small to midsize business owners recognize the value of a reputable professional employer organization (PEO) in providing efficient, cost-effective solutions for payroll and tax administration, human resources and more. Here’s how it works. When a business signs on the dotted line, a PEO like Integrity Employee Leasing assumes legal responsibility for acting as the “employer of record” for the company’s employees. This means the PEO can shoulder the burden of employment-related tasks on your behalf, carrying out administrative duties and managing the risk associated with those tasks. • Human Resources Services • Payroll Administration • Risk Management • Online Payroll Processing • Insurance Products Not only does this decrease overall cost and reduce risk, but it also increases the business owner’s productivity. It’s perfect for owners whose daily workload is overwhelmed by time-consuming HR or payroll tasks. When it comes to running a company, who wouldn’t want to save time and spend their energy where it matters most – growing the business? Not all PEOs are the same Once you’ve decided to partner with a PEO, you will need to identify the best organization to fit your unique business needs. This means understanding whose services, value and expertise are the right match. However, not all PEOs are alike. Asking a few key questions during the selection process will help you narrow down the options while ensuring you are acting as a well-informed buyer. What services do you offer? What don’t you offer? It seems like a basic question, but most PEOs offer a different combination of services – some more thorough than others. For example, Integrity Employee Leasing has the capability and expertise to offer unem-
SESSION PAGE 1 A number of other measures also passed impacting business in the region. The Legislature voted to fund VISIT FLORIDA, the lead marketing agency for Florida tourism, and to program a five-year extension on that spending. The Legislature also approved a change in solar power regulation that will end net metering, eliminating the requirement for power companies to buy back excess energy from consumers using rooftop solar. The Florida Chamber said the change “ensures that all energy customers pay their fair share for the maintenance of Florida’s reliable, efficient, and resilient energy grid.” But vendors in the solar panel industry warn the shift could impact use of rooftop solar, a benefit to major
ployment reporting and workers compensation. Although it’s a critical human resources function, not all companies have the resources and credentials to do so. It’s a great example of why you should compare PEO services before making a final decision.
May I see an unbundled fee schedule? Another great question for a poBY ROBERT tential business partner, this should HENSLEY yield an itemized list of all services Guest Columnist offered. Some PEOs charge based on a percentage of payroll, and some charge a flat rate per employee. Asking for an unbundled fee schedule provides a comparison point to use across both types of PEOs, showing exactly how much you will pay for each service. With real numbers and rates, you can better determine your annual out-ofpocket cost and benefits. At Integrity Employee Leasing, the only type of pricing offered is unbundled. Why? Many PEOs who bundle their core services also charge additional fees for training, employee terminations, compliance, human resources issue-resolution and more. These hidden costs of PEO services add up fast, causing an unexpected drain on your budget for necessary services you thought were included in your contract. Don’t let it happen to you. Work with a company like Integrity, who is committed to transparency and will be honest with you about cost. If the PEO you are researching won’t provide an unbundled fee schedule, Integrity recommends you consider that red flag accordingly. Avoid surprises when it’s your business and budget on the line. Do you carry employment practices liability insurance?
providers like FPL but a potential hit for independent power production. Another measure supported by business groups but opposed by local government, the Legislature passed a bill that would give a cause of action for companies to sue cities and counties if local regulations cause a loss of revenue. Sponsored by Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Ocala, the bill would give a power similar to what landowners enjoy under the Bert Harris Act/ That lets owners argue negative landuse decisions can be ruled takings by the government. If businesses can prove to a court that new ordinances result in a 15% loss of revenue, they can demand damages. Groups like the Florida AFL-CIO, which represents a number of public employees, argued this will generate frivolous lawsuits that impact taxpayer-funded agencies and entities.
No matter how large or small a business may be, there’s always the potential for employment-related lawsuits. This includes wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, wage violations and more. Your PEO should offer Employment Practices Liability Insurance to cover your business from these types of risk, as well as compliance issues related to regulatory changes. One of the leading professional employer organizations in the nation, Integrity Employee Leasing provides every client with EPLI to protect their interests. To further support our clients, we also offer employee assistance programs and errors-and-omissions insurance. Is there a penalty for terminating the PEO contract? A reputable PEO should allow you to terminate your contract with them at any time, without penalty. That’s why Integrity Employee Leasing never charges a fee for terminating a contract. Unlike many, a simple 30-day notice is requested. We understand business owners have to make hard decisions and we believe a PEO should always put people and relationships first. Functioning as a trusted partner and extension of your business, the ideal PEO will embrace your vision and mission, taking action to help you achieve your goals. To gauge this, ask for references – especially those from clients who have been with the PEO for more than five years. At Integrity Employee Leasing, the average tenure of our clients begins at 4.6 years. In fact, we serve multiple clients who have been with us since the day Integrity Employee Leasing first opened in 2004. Our retention rate is 90% and more than 11% of our existing clients have been partnering with Integrity for over 10 years. Robert Hensley is president and CEO of Integrity Employee Leasing. Contact (941) 625-0623 or visit integrityel.com.
Page 12
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
MAY 2022
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS Grad student empowering artisans from family’s homeland Special to SWFBT Submitted by Jay MacDonald, FGCU
We spend much of our lives sourcing and enjoying the clothes we wear and the foods we love, yet we rarely know or involve ourselves in the life circumstances of the artisans who create our favorite things. That’s where 20-year-old Florida Gulf Coast University entrepreneurship wunderkind Myra Jaimes stands apart from the crowd, both for the apparel and culinary delights she markets and sells on her eye-popping debut website Mexituras.com (its name a mashup of Mexico and Cultura) and the financial stability she hopes to provide for the Mexican artisans in her family’s homeland. Jaimes recently completed her undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship just one year after graduating from Immokalee High School and is now enrolled in the master’s program. She launched Mexituras while participating in the fall 2020 FGCU Runway Program Startup Incubator, for which she was awarded $3,000 from the Runway Program in 2020 and $2,000 from the Frank and Ellen Daveler Entrepreneurship Program at the University of South Florida in 2021. Her hardworking family’s history, which included Mexican migration and seasonal harvesting, resulted in Jaimes speaking nothing but Spanish once her parents settled in migrant-rich Immokalee, one of the poorest communities in Florida. Since her family couldn’t afford to send her to college, she devised her own strategy (and taught herself English). “I started going to college at FGCU when I was a sophomore in high school, so I was definitely an early bird,” she said. “Ever since I was little, I was marked as a gifted student. When I was in elementary school, I was basically taking middle school classes. In middle school, they had me taking advanced and high school classes. When I got to high school, I noticed that juniors and seniors were taking college classes, and I thought, I can do that.” She finally convinced her skeptical guidance counselors to let the 15-year-old high school freshman try college. Just one problem: she was too young to drive. The solution: online courses offered by Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers. “Then, in my junior year, I was accepted into the
Photo by James Greco Florida Gulf Coast University graduate Myra Jaimes markets and sells apparel and culinary delights on her debut website Mexituras.com. Accelerated Collegiate Experience at FGCU, where basically the public schools would pay for your college education if you were accepted, and they would only accept 100 students every year. So I was one of them,” she said. In her spare time, Jaimes quenched her entrepreneurial thirst by joining a group of high school students, backed by the local 1By1 Leadership Foundation, to create a salsa company that they named Taste of Immokalee. “I was co-president when I was in high school and we got Taste into Oakes Farms and Publix markets,” she said. “We got a grant from State Farm to start the business to give back to the community, and it has now expanded to Naples. They’re in Lely High School now and they’re able to go to a Miami Dolphins game in the front row. It’s just amazing the opportunities we had.” Thinking ahead, Jaimes pondered ways to create a win-win enterprise of her own that would improve the lives of buyers and sellers alike. “I had a whole bunch of ideas,” she said. “One of them was to help women learn about their vehicles, because my dad is a mechanic. One of them was to help people find employees, because I knew it was hard. And one of them that I got a little bit of funding for in high school was called EMOBE, which stood for Entrepreneurs Making Ordinary Bags Eco-friendly. That one was inspired by people in Japan who tried to eliminate non-ecofriendly plastic grocery bags by creating paper bags seeded with local wildflowers that custom-
ers could plant instead of toss.” Two years ago, following a spontaneous sit-down with Entrepreneur in Residence Mark Bole of the Rist Family Foundation Institute for Entrepreneurship at FGCU as well as a monthlong visit with her grandfather to his Mexican homeland, Jaimes stepped centerstage and launched Mexituras. “When I sat down with Professor Bole and started talking about all the craziest ideas I had, he ran through all those ideas with me and he was like, ‘Myra, why don’t you turn that into a business? If you see that people make these things and they just don’t know how to get the customers they need, why don’t you help them?’” she said. “Then, when I went and visited with my family there (in Mexico), I started realizing how talented they were. All of the kids would just follow me around everywhere, and I started realizing things that I just had to help them with.” The eye-catching handmade sombreros, textile skirts, huipil pants, camisa shirts, serape jackets, handbags, phone accessories and jaw-dropping huarache footwear currently featured on Mexituras.com are only the beginning for Jaimes, who will soon introduce must-try custom food items to her menu. To help Mexituras survive and thrive, she has also signed on as a teaching assistant for FGCU multi-million-dollar donor-turned-adjunct professor Brian Rist, creator of Fort Myers-based Storm Smart hurricane windows and shutters. “I’m forever grateful to be his teaching assistant because I help him teach a class about growth and development for his undergraduates and none of them know my age,” she said. “I always kind of not tell them because they’ll be like, ‘Are you serious? I’m older than you and you’re teaching this class!’” Mark Bole, entrepreneur in residence for the Institute for Entrepreneurship at FGCU, said youth has proven to be a powerful incentive for this master’s student. “Over the last four years, I’ve seen Myra grow from a young dual-enrolled student who cares deeply about her community into an entrepreneur focusing on changing people’s lives,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of her growth as a person and as an entrepreneur. She has tremendous potential and I look forward to following her on her journey.”
Elite Life Management to merge with HBKS Wealth Advisors
HBKS Wealth Advisors announced it is expanding its presence in Southwest Florida through a merger with Sarasota-based Elite Life Management. Elite, which recently completed its first year of operation, will join one of the nation’s largest and most recognized registered investment advisories. “As HBKS continues to grow, we are always looking for talented individuals to add to our team,” said Scott Cross, HBKS principal and chief operat-
ing officer. “This transaction is about adding Jeremy Shelby and his team to our roster. Sarasota is an attractive market, and adding talented people in strong markets is one way to ensure our continued growth.” Jeremy Shelby established Elite Life Management in 2020. “We created Elite Life to better serve our clients and community by providing resources, strategies, and solutions that stretch far beyond the portfolio,”
he said. “We were looking for authenticity and scalability. To have an opportunity to work with an established firm like HBKS allows us to scale up as we remain true to our culture. We wanted to ensure we grow with quality as opposed to quantity and getting to know Scott and the HBKS team convinced us we knew we were making the right move.” Shelby is an ex-professional athlete, having MERGER See page 13
IN BUSINESS SINCE 2009
2011
2008
Affordable Employee Care Solutions.
Let us
Need more help? Not sure how to grow?
Bring You Full
CIRCLE
EMPLOYEE CARE CAN HELP!
Marketing I Public Relations I Social Media Management Graphics I Event Management
Contact MAIKEL DELGADO at (239) 945-9988 or email mdelgado@employeecare.us
www.employeecare.us
IN BUSINESS SINCE 2010
PAYROLL-EMPLOYEE LEASING
Licensed and Insured
2003
Risk Advisor Direct: 239.444.1645 Mobile: 239.595.5511 gvitiello@rosierinsurance.com
www.RosierInsurance.com
Gianni M. Vitiello, CIC
2009
2007
Business Smarts Begins with SWFL Business Today. ®
Start Your Subscription Today! 239.573.9732
www.mandmmultimedia.com
(239) 234-1734
MAY 2022
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Marketing strategies for small businesses Summer business in Southwest Florida was once a misnomer. That’s because there wasn’t much summer business. In fact, some small businesses would close for weeks or operate at reduced hours. There simply weren’t enough customers – and revenue – to keep doors open year-round. Times have changed. Today, the region’s full-time population exceeds 1.4 million. Meanwhile, tourists flock to Southwest Florida 12 months of the year. That means businesses can generate revenue year-round. Businesses large and small should develop strategic marketing plans to connect with their target audience. During the summer, Southwest Florida businesses must recognize three groups that keep the economy going: year-round residents, family visitors and international travelers. The next step for businesses is formulating a strategy to reach those audiences through a combination of paid, earned and owned media. Year-Round Residents More than 1.4 million residents lived in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties as of July, according to the U.S. Census. That represents a 23.3% increase from 2010. These are people who work, go to school and retired here. They spend their income at local restaurants, attractions and shopping venues as well as purchase services, visit doctors and support charitable causes. Businesses can reach year-round residents through a variety of platforms, including these seven media sources: newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, digital marketing, billboards and social media. Families Southwest Florida International Airport reported 2.3 million passengers in June, July and August. That was a 63.4% increase over five years, despite the pan-
MERGER PAGE 12 signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2010. And while Elite serves a broad range of clients in the Sarasota area, he and his team also offer a platform designed for the “non-recessionary industry of professional sports,” he noted. “Many athletes desire not only wealth but life management, and we are here to help them on and off the field. With a platform that customizes our services to meet their needs, including relocation, career mapping, real estate, and a program we call LABs (Life After Ball), we are here to help them successfully transition from
demic. For July, August and September, 60% of all travelers came as a family and 26% came as a couple, according to The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel’s Q3 Visitor Tracking Survey. Sports tourism plays a significant BY TERI role in summer HANSEN visits. Lee County Guest Columnist Sports Development notes 139 sports tourism events were held in 2021, with summer baseball driving visitation numbers. Four ways businesses can reach family visitors include: rack cards and informational brochures; tourist magazines; tourist coupon books; and billboards. International Travelers Southwest Florida International Airport has regularly scheduled flights from Frankfurt, Germany, and three cities in Canada – Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. International travelers will stay for long periods, oftentimes visiting Orlando or Miami in addition to Fort Myers, Sanibel and Naples. Because international trips are longer and more expensive, international travelers typically plan their itineraries well in advance. Businesses can reach them through: digital marketing (online advertising and emails), social media and tourism boards. Teri Hansen, APR, is president and senior creative director at Priority Marketing and a PRNEWS “Top Women in PR” honoree. For more information, please visit PriorityMarketing.com, call 239-267-2638 or email Teri@PriorityMarketing.com.
a professional athlete to their next pursuit of happiness. We love our sports, but we are not limited to athletes. We serve high performers with elite careers: athletes, doctors, executives and business owners alike all have similar needs and we can customize our services to meet them where they are.” As an African American, Shelby has also designed his platform to connect with other minorities. “We can provide services in an authentic way from a cultural perspective,” he said. “We can build those relationships in an open and comfortable environment and overcome what is sometimes hard for clients dealing with unique barriers.”
Page 13
SCHOLAR PAGE 1 strong leadership skills, moral character and academic success to excel in a university environment by providing them with the tools and resources necessary to empower them to develop to their fullest potential. Guerrero, a senior at Immokalee High School, will attend Florida Gulf Coast University in the fall and plans to pursue a graduate degree to become a dentist. “This award is a huge honor. I plan to use the funds from the Leaders 4 Life Fellowship to pay for mission trips to South and Central America to give back and explore my interest in dentistry more,” he said. “My mom is a dental hygienist and growing up, she would bring me to the office, and I fell in love with dentistry. Ever since I was a child, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I plan on getting my degree and coming back to Immokalee to serve my hometown and the community that has given and taught me so much.” The goal of the program is to eliminate the financial burdens associated with a university education and to allow the fellows to devote all of their attention to their studies. “Our programs at The Immokalee Foundation help unlock each child’s potential, and transforms them into the leaders of tomorrow,” said Noemi Y. Perez, president and CEO of The Immokalee Foundation. “We are so proud of the hard work and dedication shown by Joel and are grateful to Take Stock in Children for our partnership and our ability to provide our students access to incredible opportunities like the Leaders 4 Life Fellowship.” Jerry Belle, chairman of the Board
Jerry Belle has been Joel Guerrero’s mentor since 7th grade. for The Immokalee Foundation, has been Guerrero’s mentor since he was in 7th grade. “Watching Joel grow and mature over the past six years has been an honor,” Belle said. “I’ve watched him grow into a confident young man and a diligent student. Not only is Joel a model student, he is a leader in the youth group of his church where he applies the leadership skills that he has learned at home, in high school and through The Immokalee Foundation. Joel is so deserving of this honor and I couldn’t be more proud of him.” Each year, more than 100 of Take Stock in Children’s top students from across Florida apply for the Leaders 4 Life fellowship program. Following a highly competitive selection process, only six are selected as Leaders 4 Life Fellows. Guerrero is the second student in the history of The Immokalee Foundation to receive this award, the first being Giselle Nava in 2020. “Joel has what it takes to be a Take Stock in Children Leaders 4 Life Fellow,” said Yeimi Espinoza, Take Stock in Children program manager at The Immokalee Foundation. “He truly exhibits everything that this award represents: strong leadership skills, unique moral character, and high-achieving academic success.”
BOOST YOUR SALES
DIGITAL MARKETING OPTIMIZATION • Get found online
“It Pays to Advertise!” ✔ Direct Mail Advertising ✔ All Types of Mailing Lists ✔ Postage as Low as 14.2 cents ✔ Fast, Friendly Service Mention this ad and receive
20% OFF labor charges on your first mailing.
239-574-2028 Call today for a quote!
The Letter Box, Inc.
936 Country Club Blvd. Cape Coral, FL 33990 www.TheLetterboxInc.com
FREE
• Drive more leads
Custom Digital Presence Report
• Increase retention • Dominate the market • Get an optimized website
Find out how you compare to your competition.
239.465.0310 ActiveDataDigital.com
Do it right from the start and the possibilities are infinite.
Page 14
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
MAY 2022
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS Tamiami Angels-backed SafeKeeping helps check on moms
Southwest Florida angel investors backed SafeKeeping, the company that created the How’s Mom app to connect thousands of families with their loved one’s caregivers and important medical records. The members of Tamiami Angel Fund IV invested $400,000 in SafeKeeping, the fifth company in its growing investment portfolio. “SafeKeeping’s innovative technology has proven to meaningfully help families and caregivers, providing a critical link that can break through isolation that affects so many older people and help elder-care facilities deliver services more efficiently,” said Timothy Cartwright, partner of Fifth Avenue Family Office and chairman of Tamiami Angel Funds. Indiana-based SafeKeeping’s innovative software uses a dashboard hub that lets caregivers in elder-care facilities share medical information with families linked via the How’s Mom app. It works seamlessly
with electronic medical records so it requires no additional work, software or changes to internal processes. Family access to their loved ones’ real-time medical data helps caregivers deliver care more efficiently even as their ranks have been stretched thin by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing homes and other elder-care facilities benefit by saving hundreds of hours of valuable staff time they would have otherwise spent responding to family requests, thereby increasing operational efficiencies and improving care coordination. SafeKeeping has been an especially valuable tool to address the challenges of COVID-19 when families couldn’t visit their loved ones. “We’re driving hundreds of hours of savings to our provider customers because they don’t have to waste time on non-critical requests,” said Doug Wilcox, SafeKeeping CEO. What’s more, federal legislation called the 21st
Century Cures Act now requires senior-care facilities to provide patients with easy and secure access to their health data so they can better manage their care. Already, nearly 300 facilities in 32 states use SafeKeeping’s subscription software service. Thanks to investments from Tamiami Angel Fund IV and others, Wilcox said SafeKeeping now has the resources to create additional functions, boost marketing and build a sales team. “We feel like we’re very well positioned,” Wilcox said. Naples-based Tamiami Angel Funds are membermanaged funds that allow high-net-worth individuals and families to invest in promising early stage and expansion-stage companies located in the U.S., with a preference to those in the state of Florida. For more information about Tamiami Angel Funds, visit www.tamiamiangels.com. For more information about SafeKeeping, visit www.safekeepingapp.com.
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS Pushing The Envelope a resource for business Pushing the Envelope since 2006 has been a resource for many local businesses, many of which are small and looking to improve their marketing strategies and communications. PTE is a certified woman-owned small business led and owned by Samantha Scott, APR. With a unique business model, Pushing the Envelope provides the highest quality service and results without the massive overhead or costs to clients. Instead of working with a big in-house team, multiple layers of overhead deep, a core team executes the work via a carefully developed network of highly trained associates, extensions of PTE’s team. This enables PTE to provide the best possible service and outcomes for their clients, expand their bandwidth and specialized knowledge, and create more return on investment for clients. With a heart for fellow small business owners and a different approach to business, PTE developed Kickstart after COVID-19 left so many businesses in need, especially small businesses. Designed to help small businesses
get the marketing support they need without huge budgets, Kickstart takes the highest-ROI generating services and packages them into affordable monthly services to help businesses get back on their feet. While PTE’s clients and work quality are paramount, it also strongly upholds its company culture, values and beliefs. PTE embraces a collaborative and supportive environment for its team members and clients while upholding accountability and ethical practices. As a small business in Southwest Florida, PTE and its team believes it has a responsibility to be civically active and give back to its community and industry. PTE has and will continue to help local and national businesses improve its marketing communication strategies while also supporting and ensuring the well-being of its clients, team members, and community. Pushing the Envelope is a strategic marketing communication firm. Based in Fort Myers, the firm services clients both regionally and nationally. Contact (239) 2212858 or Info@GetPushing.com. Visit GetPushing.com.
Construction to begin on public safety complex Wright Construction Group anticipates the start of construction on the Glades 911 Public Safety Complex, expected to begin in just a few weeks. The nearly $2 million-dollar project is estimated to be complete in the fall of 2022. In partnership with Studio AD Architects, Wright Construction Group, will provide design-build services to design and construct the 4,500 square feet facility, complete with three apparatus bays, a conditioned storage area, a dispatch room, and a gear extractor to clean fire gear. The living area will be equipped with six bunk rooms, two full bathrooms, a kitchen and day room, as well as a screened in lanai.
IN BUSINESS SINCE 2011
2004
Y our Exclusive Source for
Luxurious Bamboo Mattresses, Bedding, Apparel & Bath Goods.
FREE Shipping | info@CarilohaNaples.com Phone and Email Orders Always Welcome
Payroll Administration Bookkeeping Human Resources Workers’ Compensation and Much More!
Explore Our Expert Solutions
Cariloha Naples @ Mercato
239.325.9157
9100 Strada Pl. Suite 2112
2016 MERGER
1999
INVEST IN RELIABLE PEO SERVICES TODAY!
(941) 531-1513 | IntegrityEL.com
2016
Commercial Property Liability • Work Comp Auto • Contractors HOA / COA
Helping you protect your Business or Association.
Tax Preparation • Estate Planning For Individuals & Businesses
Call us today to discuss your coverages and options. Celebrating 29 years in business / Family Owned
www.LciQuotes.com • 239-656-5551
390 Pondella Rd #1, N Ft Myers, FL 33903
239.939.5303 • 239.481.4114 www.SolomonHoover.com 1342 Colonial Blvd., Ste. B-11 • Fort Myers, FL 33907
1990 Fort Myers - North
2011
2007
for every purpose • Collegiate • Military • State
• Pennants • Custom 239.791.8810
Signarama-FortMyersNorth.com
®
MAY 2022
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Page 15
Seacoast Bank expands into Naples market
Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida one of the largest Floridabased community banks, continues its strategic growth and expansion into key markets across Florida. Seacoast hosted a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony at its new branch in Naples. “I am thrilled at how Seacoast Bank continues to grow and expand
throughout Florida’s most vibrant markets,” said Chuck Shaffer, chairman and CEO of Seacoast Bank. “We look forward to providing exceptional service to customers and businesses in Naples and Southwest Florida.” Jason Brewer leads the Seacoast Bank expansion in Southwest Florida as Naples market president. Brewer brings over two decades of experi-
ence in the banking and financial services industry, with extensive relationships in the Naples business community. Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida is one of the largest community banks headquartered in Florida with approximately $9.7 billion in assets and $8.1 billion in deposits as of Dec. 31.
Seacoast Bank hosted a grand opening ceremony at its new branch in Naples.
“Overcoming challenges: that’s what defines an Olympian. There is no shortcut or a ‘backway in.’ You cannot get to the Olympics, let alone medal, without sacrifice.”
GOODWILL PAGE 1 “There are four parts to Goodwill-SWFL services, including 1) community education, 2) employee services, 3) housing options and 4) training opportunities,” explained Carolyn Johnson, senior vice president of Mission Services and Development for Goodwill-SWFL. Goodwill-SWFL President John Nadeau shared, “Goodwill-SWFL serves almost 25,000 individuals in our local community each year— and almost all of these services are free.” These programs range from the MicroEnterprise Institute that helps aspiring low-to-moderate income entrepreneurs learn the skills necessary to build a business; to offering workforce training in alliance with Hodges University, bringing new workforce training opportunities to communities with fewer options; to its full-day training program for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, Pathways to Opportunity, enabling them to secure employment while promoting their independence. The 2021 honorees include: • Chet Perry Breakthrough Achiever, Wilson Waldrop • Breakthrough Business, PNC Bank • Breakthrough Philanthropist, Pelican Marsh Golf Club • Breakthrough Volunteer, Soy Williams • Breakthrough Employer, Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity
— Liston Bochette, City of Fort Myers Councilman and 1982 Olympic Gold Medalist, Decathlon, Puerto Rico • Breakthrough Goodwill Employee Award, Walter Barb • William J. Barrett Breakthrough Graduate, Barbara Zirilli-Lonergan •Chet Perry Breakthrough Achiever Waldrop started his journey with Goodwill as a high school student. Upon graduation, he volunteered at the Goodwill store in Port Charlotte, developing job skills with his coach and Goodwill “Pathways To Work” Employment Consultant, Maryjane Nickerson. Shanie Thames, assistant manager at that location at the time, watched Waldrop’s progress. When she was promoted to manager at another store, she recalled, “He comes in and gets right to work. He doesn’t sit. He doesn’t take breaks. He just works. “So when the right position came open at my store, he got the job. It gave him an opportunity and he took it.” William J. Barrett Breakthrough Graduate award recipient Zirilli-Lonergan stated “I can’t even begin to tell you how important the MicroEnterprise Program was. Even though I was already in the trenches, and I had to make this work. The class gave me the knowledge and resources I needed to really look at my business seriously and get a good start.” Breakthrough Employer Charlotte County Habi-
tat for Humanity CEO Mike Mansfield noted, “Working with Goodwill-SWFL is something I would like to see continue for a very long time. We’re two likeminded organizations working together for the good of the community.” Breakthrough Goodwill Employee Award Winner Walter Barb landed his first couple of jobs through the Pathways program— and he also gained selfconfidence. When he needed to improve his income to remain independent, he went on his own to Goodwill Employment Services to get a full-time position—with Goodwill. He shared, “I am happy right now with what I am doing, and I want to learn how to do more things for Goodwill.” As Fort Myers Councilman Liston Bochette, a 1982 Olympic Gold medalist shared, “Becoming an Olympian, going for the gold, is a process—and this process is what delivers us through life. “So what is an Olympian? A doctor, teacher, mechanic, a Mom or a Dad—anyone who strives to be really good at what they do, to make a difference. Anyone who strives to be higher, swifter, stronger— in whatever they do.” This certainly Includes the 2021 Breakthrough award winners, and the almost 25,000 local residents benefiting from—and improving their lives with—Goodwill-SWFL services.
flow ing with Possibilities
Population of Almost 200,000 Work-Life Balance at its Best
Ideally situated on the southwest coast of Florida, Cape Coral ranks as the best place to live, and start or relocate a business.
Safe and Affordable Low Cost of Living
Cape Coral ranked as one of the safest cities in Florida, with no state income tax and low sales tax.
75 F Average Annual Temperature
266 Days of Sunshine a Year Cape Coral offers more than 400 miles of canals and year-round outdoor activities like biking, fishing, and boating.
Business Friendly
Economic Incentives for Businesses
City-owned properties and financial incentives are available, with vacancy rates for office and light industrial less than 1%.
Cape Coral Economic and Business Development 239.574.0443 | www.CapeCoral.gov/EDO
Page 16
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
MAY 2022
Banking Community
We Make About
As the co-founders and leaders of the oldest community bank in Lee County, Robbie and Geoff Roepstorff have a special place in their hearts for Southwest Florida. As a result, the entire team at Edison National Bank/Bank /Bank of the Islands works diligently to serve as the trusted and responsive banking partner that customers need, building strong relationships and giving back to our local community. 5th anniversary, this Now celebrating the bank’s 25th dynamic duo leads their highly experienced and professional team from strategically located offices in Lee County, delivering a personal approach to remarkable banking services every day, in every way.
Robbie Roepstorff, President and Geoff Roepstorff, CEO
To learn more about our customer services and convenient locations, please visit EdisonNationalBank.com or call 239.466.1800.
An Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC | Bank of the Islands is an office of Edison National Bank.
Robbie Roepstorff, President