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IN THE NEWS
Naples Chamber honors Woolley, Munro at meeting
The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce held its 2018 Annual Meeting, “Celebrating 70,” on May 17 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. The evening included recognitions, executive summaries and entertainment with more than 400 members of the Southwest Florida business community in attendance. The Chamber announced outgoing and incoming members of the Board of Directors and honored the recipients of several awards. The recipient of the Chairman’s Award was Cyndee Woolley, owner of C2 Communications, who is strongly involved with the Chamber and the Leadership Collier Foundation. The recipient of the Outstanding Collier County Citizen of the Year Award was Dick Munro, the former chairman and CEO of Time Inc.
Business Building Symposium details announced
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce announced its Business Building Symposium V. This year’s theme is “Unleash the Spirit of your Organization.” The program plans to include a series of informative, interactive workshops led by local business leaders, including sessions covering social media and talent management, and a keynote address by Next Level Church Founder Matt Keller. The symposium, now in its fifth year, runs from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott in Fort Myers. BUILDING See page 3
Abby David of Naples competes in the Minto US Open Picklesball Championship.
Photo by Bob Szanto
U.S. Open boosts Naples sports industry Special to SWFBT Jacob Ogles, Editor The pound of solid rackets and the whizzing rush of perforated plastic balls sounded through East Naples Community Park in April as the Minto US Open Pickleball Championship took over the venue. In less than three years, the event has grown from a promising gathering of enthusiasts to the largest competition in the nation for America’s fastest growing sport. “Somebody said this week it feels like a Pickleball Woodstock,” said event co-founder Chris Evon. She launched the US Open event two years ago with Terri Graham, drawing some 800 into the Naples area to play at
a still-young sports complex. This year, some 2,000 athletes signed up to play, flying in from 48 states and 20 countries. “We opened registration on Jan. 10,” Evon said, “and it closed within three hours.” That’s affirmation to Jim Ludwig, dubbed locally as “Mayor of Pickleball.” Ludwig worked with Collier County and local hospitality leaders for years to turn the East Naples park into a premiere attraction. The venue today sports 48 designated pickleball courts and six tennis courts that can be converted for pickleball play during major events. That’s the largest concentration of courts anywhere in the world. “You’ll find in The Villages, they have 180 pickleball courts but they are spread over 120 square miles,” he said. PICKLEBALL See page 13
SWFL economy rebounds post-Irma Special to SWFBT Karen Moore, Publisher
It was the first time Southwest Florida economic development leaders were in the same place at the same time since Hurricane Irma. Guests came to the Chamber of Southwest Florida’s “State of Southwest Florida” panel discussion to hear about the region’s economic status eight months after the storm’s catastrophic impact on the region. Panelists included Lee County Manager Roger Desjarlais, Fort Myers City Manager Saeed Kazemi, Collier County Manager Leo E. Ochs, Jr., Bonita Springs City Manager Carl Schwing and Cape Coral
City Manager John Szerlag. The rest of the country considers Hurricane Irma “over” and Florida “back to normal.” Schwing pointed out this is far from the reality. “While Bonita Springs is the smallest jurisdiction represented on this panel,” he said, “it is also the local jurisdiction most affected by Hurricane Irma.” He added, “It will take Bonita 15 years to recover due to Irma’s impact on the city’s people, water system and infrastructure.” Ochs shared: “In Collier County, we are also still dealing with displacement and unemployment issues in the wake of Hurricane Irma.” He indicated the reimbursement process has been challenging,
resulting in the use of county contingency funds, which defers moving ahead with capital projects. He pointed out Collier’s economic health is supported by the “threelegged stool” of tourism, agriculture and health care. “These are all very susceptible to factors outside of our local control,” he said. He continues to work with economic development agencies to retain and attract business to diversify the economy with advanced manufacturing, technology and health care businesses. Desjarlais stated: “Lee County’s future challenges include: 1) securing additional road funding; 2) building another incinerator site for the Solid PANEL See page 5
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JUNE 2018
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS
Leading through the storm As a business owner, your actions set the tone for the company and its employees. When faced with a season of change, I have learned that success is reliant on the example that is set by the company’s leadership. Will you inspire your team to embrace these changes and thrive? Several years ago, Naples Soap Company started with just a small staff and a 300-square-foot storefront at Tin City in Naples and quickly grew to retail locations throughout Florida, including stores in Naples, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, Punta Gorda, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Key West, Destin and Estero. I was proud of the growth, increasing the team to nearly 60 members, with plans for continued expansion. Yet, during our time of prosperity, Mother Nature had a plan of her own. When Hurricane Irma hit Florida in late 2017, all of our stores were impacted. As a business owner, the experience quickly emphasized the importance of leading by example, particularly when faced with challenging times. We lost our Key West location due to storm damage, yet we still needed to pick up the pieces for our remaining stores, all while determining our next steps. Although we had taken a heartbreaking hit as a company, I found comfort in uplifting our staff, strategically planning our next initiatives, and most
importantly, stay targeted on our future. It was also extraordinary to be inspired by the positive spirit of the Naples Soap Company team to move through the process of coming back togethBY DEANNA er. This perseverWALLIN ance paid off in Guest Columnist the long run, as we recently celebrated the opening of our second location in Naples on 5th Avenue, a store in St. Petersburg and a newly updated website. These events were truly a cause for celebration, as we had weathered the storm, together. During seasons of difficulty, business owners are faced with the pivotal decision to fall back or to push forward as a company. I strongly believe that these are the times when you hold your head high and lead your company to success through continued encouragement and determination. Deanna Wallin, founder of Naples Soap Company, was determined to find a natural solution to her skin care concerns. Learn more at www.NaplesSoap.com. To learn more about Naples Soap Company, call (239) 226-9005.
Photos by Bob Szanto CenturyLink Innovention Award winner, Testimonial Tree founder & CEO Jason Dolle (left), shares the spotlight with his team.
Partnership honors tech leaders Awards recipients were honored at the 10th anniversary of SWFL Regional Technology Partnership event. At this annual gathering, local companies and individuals are recognized for their contributions to both the technology sector of the local economy as well to the technology field. The 2018 recipient of the CenturyLink Innovention Award, which honors the company that has invented or demonstrated an innovative and creative technology solution, is Testimonial Tree. The 2018 recipient of the Transformation Award, which is given to a business that has achieved success through implementation of IT to overcome a challenge, is Redicare Nursing Services. The 2018 recipient of the Women in Technology Award, which recognizes contributions made by women in technology through professional expertise
Peg Elmore received the Partnership Award. and leadership, is Sloane DeLong. The 2018 recipient of the Partnership Award, which honors a person who has made a significant contribution to the Regional Technology Partnership, is Peg Elmore.
JUNE 2018
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 3
FSBDC Distinguished Entrepreneur of SWFL awardees announced
Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University announced the winners of the 2018 Distinguished Entrepreneur of Southwest Florida Awards at the annual awards dinner on May 3. This year’s awardees include: Distinguished Entrepreneur of SW Florida, Scott Fischer of Scott Fischer Enterprises; Innovator of the Year, Jeff Poirier of AXI International; and Advocate of the Year, Amanda Jaron of A.JARON Fine Jewelry. An additional award presentation included the William O. Webb award, which was presented to Melody Augustin of The Makeup Mansion. “We celebrate the business owners that took an idea, grew that idea into a business, and created a positive impact on the economy in the Southwest Florida community,” said Lois Knox, FSBDC regional director. Fischer is the owner of Scott Fischer Enterprises has worked in the motorsports industry since he was 15 and purchased his first motorcycle store in 1988 building it into Scott Fischer Enterprises. Fischer owns and operates Top Rocker Events and Top Rocker Field, an 18-acre event site. He is active in the community, sitting on the boards for Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, Blessings in a Backpack, Cypress Lake Country Club and Tamiami Angel Fund. As a visionary-philanthropist, Fischer supports
FPRA chapter names Image Award winners
The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association announced the winners of its Local Image Awards on April 19 at the iMAG History and Science Center in Fort Myers. The competition is conducted annually to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Southwest Florida during the last year, and to encourage and promote the development of public relations professionalism. Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design. A Grand Image Award and an Image Award went to Priority Marketing for the Guadalupe Center 2017 Impact Report. Other awards presented, were as follows: Image Award: Jennifer J. Edwards, Heather Doane and Trish Robertson, APR for the 2017 High School Voter Registration Challenge; Kara Hado for GoEP2: Edgewater Drive Phase II Improvements; Albert Arguelles and Randy Mitchelson, APR for iPartnerMedia Digital Marketing Workshop for Kinetico Water Systems; Lee Health Strategic Communications and Public Relations Department for Take 5 Leadership Newsletter. Award of Distinction: CONRIC PR & Marketing for Cape Coral Community Foundation ENPYs; Rob Moher for Wildlife Injury Prevention Campaign; Pushing the Envelope, Inc. for DOCK5 versus Hurricane Irma; Lee County Port Authority Communications and Marketing Team for FPRA In The Spotlight - Southwest Florida Chapter’s 2017 Local Image. Judges’ Award: Jennifer J. Edwards, Heather Doane and Trish Robertson, APR for the 2017 High School Voter Registration Challenge.
Correction A guest column in the May issue from Equities Funding Group owner Stephen Kolton mentions a program which is 100-percent tax deductible. The percentage was not printed correctly because of a typographical error.
Photo by Bob Szanto Dr. Aurora Badia of Florida Skin Center stands with Scott Fischer of Scott Fischer Enterprises at the FSBDC Distinguished Entrepreneur of Southwest Florida Awards. and mentors startups, incubators and accelerators with strategic, operational and business planning. Poirier, chief operating officer of Fort Myersbased global company AXI International, has developed a myriad of new products and systems to facilitate Intelligent Fuel Management solutions. A graduate of the University of Maine with a mas-
BUILDING PAGE 1 Keller, lead pastor for Next Level Church, is an author, speaker and leadership coach who offers valuable insight for businesses, nonprofit organizations and churches. Keller’s talks
ter’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Poirier also holds an MBA from Davenport University. Poirier specializes in the following engineering topics: optimization techniques, numerical methods, fluid flow control, finite element method, 3D CAD Development and robotic controls. From new green technology to complete fuel management solutions, Poirier has led his team to many significant advancements in the fuel industry. Jaron, founder of A. JARON Fine Jewelry, is a fashion/jewelry designer, businesswoman and philanthropist who has won numerous awards for her designs and charitable contributions. As the CEO and designer of A. JARON Fine Jewelry, Jaron is best known for her signature “Bling-Over” fine jewelry make-overs that take old/outdated designer jewels and repurpose them over into shiny new pieces that can wear every day. Jaron’s charitable collection, A JARON Cares, has sold thousands of $99 rings to support SWFL children in need for the past 10 years. Dr. Aurora Badia, owner and chief medical officer of Florida Skin Center, was also honored as the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Person of the Year, South Florida District Winner. SBA Interim District Director Lynn Douthett presented Badia with the award. Badia previously was named as the 2017 FSBDC Distinguished Entrepreneur of SW Florida.
have covered organizational leadership and growth, communications, marketing and personal leadership. Next Level Church, which has locations in Fort Myers, Gateway and Bonita Springs, has been recognized as one of the nation’s fastest-growing churches.
Participants will have the opportunity to choose three hour-long workshops offered at the symposium. Workshop subjects include employee retention, social media, driving sales, disaster management, human resources, talent management, work/ life balance and more.
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JUNE 2018
Manufacturing thrives in fast-growing Cape Coral By Dana Brunett Guest Columnist
Cape Coral boasts a thriving manufacturing environment rich with a diverse spectrum of niche products: biotech; medical and optical; electronics; ecological and solar technologies; culinary; marine; and construction-related. The Cape Coral metro area ranks as the fastestgrowing in the nation—for both population and job expansion. There are several reasons why business owners choose to locate their operations in our waterfront city: large workforce, low cost of doing of business, subtropical lifestyle that helps lure national recruits and a strategic location. Cape Coral is the largest city in Southwest Florida, with a manufacturing environment as varied as the city’s 180,000 residents. Cape Coral-based S4J Manufacturing Services got its start in precision machining in 1965 and has become one of the nation’s top manufacturers of Luer lock connectors, mini quick connects and adapters for the biomedical field. The company has grown steadily since relocating to Cape Coral in 1999, with more
than 1,000 customers worldwide. “The beautiful thing about being a manufacturer in Cape Coral is that there’s a huge pool of potential employees who live in the Cape,” says S4J Manufacturing CEO Doug Gyure. Canada-based Keltour Controls Inc. — a global control panel manufacturer and system integrator— opened its U.S. manufacturing operations in Cape Coral in February 2017 and has already relocated to a larger space, expanding its operations and adding more jobs. The 50-year-old company mass produces and creates custom components for a wide range of businesses that use automation, from water treatment plants to the automotive, movie and audio industries. Keltour US Inc. owners David and Cristine Jakob and their son, Gary, made a strategic decision when they chose Cape Coral. “There’s a high demand for control panels in this area of Florida,” says David Jakob. “We did some analysis of the electrical businesses and markets and it showed some good growth opportunities.” John Parttridg, manager of the Cape Coral operation opined, “Since we opened in Cape Coral in 2017 we have attracted a substantial number of new customers, which
has influenced us to open a new, larger facility.” Ecological Laboratories is on the forefront of national trends in sustainability: cleaning up environmental damage, improving water and soil quality, and increasing traditional and hydroponic agricultural yields—without chemical toxins. Responding to growing demands, Ecological Labs recently undertook the sixth expansion of its Cape Coral research, manufacturing and distribution facility. Ecological Laboratories has 60 employees—50 in the Cape, making it the company’s largest location. “We live where people vacation. That makes it easy to sell people on coming here,” says CEO Michael Richter. Lastly, Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats is moving its world headquarters to Cape Coral, constructing a new 50,000-square-foot building and adding 100 new jobs. It joins Action Craft, the maker of custom fishing boats since 1980, and Marine Concepts, which is presently the largest manufacturer by employment in the Cape. Dana Brunett is the Economic Development manager for the City of Cape Coral. Contact him at (239) 574-0444 or dbrunett@capecoral.net.
DISASTER SERVICES
Lee schools share lessons learned from hurricane prep When Hurricane Irma took aim at Southwest Florida, the School District of Lee County was there to answer the community’s call. Eleven of our schools opened up to 24,000 students, their families and the general public as emergency shelters. The heroic efforts of our principals at those schools to house, feed and meet the need of these evacuees was unprecedented and recognized by The News-Press when the principals were named the “People of the Year” for 2017. When the storm cleared and the evacuees returned home, we got back to the business of educating our children. We also graded our performance, and no matter how ready we thought we were, we learned we could always be more prepared. The result is that the School District of Lee County goes into the 2018 storm season with an entirely revamped Hurricane plan. We started by identifying the command structure. Who needs to be involved, what they need to be doing, when we need to start doing it and where people need to be. A key part of the plan is and how we will communicate to our employees, our students and their families. Each department added their input so they know what’s expected. It’s as detailed a plan as the District has had in years. Next, we took a close look at our facilities. Schools that serve as shelters were assigned sister schools for additional volunteer, food and logistic support. We identified space that could be used to house emergency responders. So many people evacuated with their pets during Irma we designated more appropriate rooms and facilities for families with pets. We also assessed the generators located in schools to ensure they worked properly and identified the particular areas they powered. If needed again, the shelters should run much smoother than before.
A third step we took was just as critical. We evaluated our partnerships. We have updated a memorandum of understanding with Lee County that strengthens our collaboration and formalizes our expectations. We are working closely with the county and other agencies on shared resources. One idea is a fuel truck, which can deliver gas where it’s needed to power generators, vehicles, and equipment during an emergency. We are working closely BY MARC with the Emergency Operations Center MORA to be better prepared to announce school Guest Columnist closings, shelter openings and when classes will resume after a storm. Irma brought us together in new and unexpected ways. Locking the door and leaving to see what you’ll come back to after a storm is not a viable plan. Hurricane Irma reminded us all we can’t take these storms for granted. Your business needs to know what it’s going to do and who is going to do it. You need to prepare your fleet and your facilities and you need to leverage your relationships for good times and bad. We can hope the School District never needs to implement this new plan, but this is Florida and another storm will arrive eventually. Take the time now to plan ahead. Marc Mora is executive director of Operational Planning and Project Management for the School District of Lee County, and previously served as Director of Planning and Chief of Staff. Contact him at MarcBM@leeschools.net.
DISASTER SERVICES Panel to discuss storm experiences
Three local business professionals will share their real-life experiences and lessons learned from Hurricane Irma. This month’s WIB event will focus on hurricane preparedness while providing open networking for local professionals. The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee will host its June networking meeting from 4-6 p.m. on June 6 at Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings in Fort Myers. Organizers say this won’t be a typical hurricane preparedness speech filled with technical jargon. This panel will give valuable insight on what kinds of things you either should or shouldn’t do, in business sand home life, when preparing for the worst-case scenario. The panel members include Karen Ryan, PR Manager for LCEC, Keith Ruebeling, President/Owner of Larue Pest Management, and Will Prather, Executive Producer/ Owner of Prather Productions.
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Three secrets to staying pain-free, healthy and mobile for business By Dr. Scott Gray Guest Columnist
As a business professional, you need to be on your “A” game all the time. You can’t afford to let an injury slow you down or prevent you from living a healthy lifestyle. As a professional you’re prone to potential injury, pain or stiffness because you’re either traveling frequently or you have to sit at your desk. Below you will find three secrets and tips that you can do right away to help reduce pain or stiffness and keep your mobility. 1. Stretch your hip flexors Hip flexors are a group of muscles around the top of your thighs that are important in the movement of your lower body. Tight hip flexors can cause stiffness and discomfort when you sit for long hours in the office. However, stretching your hip flexors can help ease
back pain, knee pain or even symptoms of plantar fasciitis. You can stretch your hip flexors by following the steps below: • Stand on one foot. • Pull your right leg behind you with your left hand. • Pull your heel to your butt. • Hold for several seconds. • Stand up and repeat, switching legs. 2. Extend Your Back Most people lean forward for long periods when sitting in an office chair and affects the back and spinal column. This can be corrected by taking breaks to stretch and reverse the sitting position. This mean extending your spine rather than flexing it. Practice the following steps: • Sit on the edge of your chair. • Look up at the ceiling. • Bend your back over your chair and
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS
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PANEL PAGE 1 Waste division; and 3) improving the county’s emergency management system, which was found inadequate during Irma.” Kazemi focused on the need for public/private partnerships to ensure future growth of the Fort Myers business community. Regarding the renovation of the Harborside Convention Center, he pointed out, “the county is helping us with this project that includes a full-service 225-room hotel, a parking
start focusing on parts of the ceiling behind you. • Hold for 5-8 seconds. • Repeat this process 5-8 times. 3. Stretch your chest muscles Your chest muscles, also known as pectoral muscles, are responsible for pulling your shoulders in and across your body. Tight pectoral muscles are can cause an array of symptoms such as chronic neck pain, headaches or even shoulder pain. You can stretch your chest muscles a few different ways. For example, you can stretch your pectoral muscles in a door way. The steps are: • Stand midway between a doorway and place one foot in front of the other. • Push your shoulder against the door frame, at the same time bending one arm at 90 degrees. • Push your chest gently forward, making sure you lean forward on the side
Dr. Scott Gray is the owner and founder of his clinic in Fort Myers called Back In Motion Sport & Spine Physical Therapy. Learn more at www.backinmotionsspt.com.
DISASTER SERVICES
Recovering from unexpected hardship By Dave Bennett Guest Columnist Depending on the specifics of the questions and the polling organization, somewhere between 50 and 75 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and would be significantly inconvenienced by an unexpected bill of $500 or more. The best way to overcome a problem like this is through preparation. Realizing that life happens, and with it expenses, and building a savings plan into your routine so that you have an emergency fund is the easy, arm-chair quarterback way to say you should handle an emergency. In fact, if you’re not already doing so, you should do just that. But let’s say for argument’s sake that you weren’t prepared and now are trying to recover from an unexpected expense. Covering the deductible on an insurance policy for a medical, auto, or homeowner’s policy comes to mind. What now? The first thing to do is: don’t panic. Panic, physiologically-speaking, is when the limbic system takes over and your higher brain functions shut down. Effective for fighting or running for your life, not so for dealing with a longterm problem. Second, you need to make sure that the cost of the paying for the emergency is not too excessive. What does that mean? Did you pay for it with a credit card? Depending on your rate, that could cost you somewhere in the 10- to
garage and three restaurants.” Szerlag said Cape Coral continues to grow. “Forbes just named Cape Coral the ninth fastestgrowing city in the U.S.” Cape Coral is also one of the top cities where millennials want to live, but jobs are low-pay. Affordable housing continues to be a stumbling block to economic growth because the region can neither change the three-legged stool nor add high-paying jobs to diversify the workforce unless it offers housing that supports new industry. Workforce additions motivate industries and workers to move here.
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you are stretching and turn your head in the opposite direction of the stretch. • Hold the stretch for 30 seconds. • Repeat the stretch on the other side of your body. Bonus Tip: Strength Train To Stay Healthy Strength training is proven to help strengthen your muscles, fascia and increase your functional mobility. It is designed to improve muscular fitness and make your tissue more resilient to injury. For a healthy lifestyle, include strength training in your weekly routine and you will see the reduction of back pain, neck pain or knee pain because your body’s tissues are stronger.
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20-percent range annually. Secured debt (backed by collateral that can be seized for non-payment) is generally significantly cheaper than unsecured debt. If you cashed in investments, your cost is the lack of their growth, probably in the 3- to 8-percent range. However, you paid for it immediately (probably credit card), make sure that going forward your cost is something of your choosing, and not that made in the heat of the moment. Next, you must revisit your budget. If you’re currently living without a budget, conducting a budgeting exercise to see where your money is going every week will prove invaluable in helping you get out of this mess and show you where you can trim expenses. You need to develop an aggressive savings plan to pay for this as soon as possible, to minimize the impact of the costs that you chose previously. Finally, the best way to recover from a hardship is to learn from it. Set a plan in place to build an emergency fund so that your “cost” the next time around is simply pulling it from the bank and losing out on that interest. A home equity line of credit is an alternate costefficient tool that homeowners have access to which, unfortunately, cannot be set up during an emergency. Dave Bennett of Practical Financial Education and Advisory is a former Marine captain. Contact him at (516) 847-2230 or at DHBennett@PracticalFinancialEd.com.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JUNE 2018
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COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Love Funding secures $40.6 million for Fort Myers project Love Funding, one of the nation’s leading providers of FHA multifamily, affordable and healthcare financing, announced the closing of a $40.6 million loan to Tampa-based Aileron Investment Management for the construction and permanent financing of Grand Central Apartments, an upscale market-rate multifamily community in Fort Myers. Grand Central Apartments will consist of two four-story elevator buildings and two three-story walkup buildings, comprised of 280 oneand two-bedroom luxury-appointed units and high-end community amenities. The property is located within the Cleveland Avenue Redevelopment Area, which the city has targeted for commercial and mixeduse development. The development will also benefit from tax-increment financing, which was approved by the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as storm water nutrient bank credits, which is a new economic development tool being used by the city to incentivize private investment and redevelopment. Municipalities use tax increment financing to promote economic development projects or public improvement projects by utilizing
Grand Central Apartments will consist of two four-story elevator buildings and two three-story walk-up buildings, comprised of 280 one- and two-bedroom luxury-appointed units and high-end community amenities. the incremental increase in property taxes to subsidize development costs. The financing was secured by Love Funding Senior Director Tammy Tate through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s loan insurance program. The mortgage insurance allows
EHC breaks ground in Naples community EHC, a construction company that provides pre-construction, earthwork and infrastructure services, broke ground on Springs at Hammock Cove in Naples with Kaufman Lynn. The new apartment community is the second multifamily project with Kaufman Lynn and fourth active apartment community development in Southwest Florida for EHC. Located at the corner of Thomasson Drive and Tamiami Trail, Springs at Hammock Cove is over 34 acres and plans to feature 14 twostory buildings with a total of 340 apartments. The community will offer an amenity center, pool, two pet playgrounds and a lake. Springs at
Cape Coral, FL
Hammock Cove will also have 725 parking spaces in four parking garages and two parking lots plus bike racks to accommodate renters and invited guests. EHC is providing lake excavation, erosion control, clearing, parking lots, subgrade base, asphalt, striping, traffic signs, concrete curbs and sidewalks, underground storm drainage, sanitary sewer, water and fire and final grade for the multimillion-dollar project. In addition to breaking ground on Springs at Hammock Cove, EHC recently completed The Reef II in Fort Myers, BizPark Storage Facilities in Naples, and Springs at Gulf Coast in Estero.
Lake Placid, FL
Love Funding to provide low-rate, non-recourse financing for the construction and for a subsequent 40year term. Upon completion, the project aims to earn Bronze Level Green/ Energy Efficient mortgage insurance premium through the National Green Building Standard Program.
The project design received a Statement of Energy Design Intent score of 97 out of 100, and the development team will work to satisfy NGBS requirements, in part by employing Energy Star appliances and energy-efficient HVAC equipment, lighting and water fixtures. The modern design is the work of MHK Architecture and Planning, a well-known architectural firm in Southwest Florida. Brooks & Freund, an industry leader in Southwest Florida, is the general contractor leading the development. ZRS Management, a property management firm specializing in upscale communities, will manage the finished site. Love Funding is a leading HUD lender serving clients across the country from its headquarters in Washington D.C. and offices nationwide. The company offers acquisition, refinance, construction, rehabilitation and bridge financing programs for market-rate multifamily and affordable housing, healthcare facilities and hospitals. Love Funding is a subsidiary of Midland States Bank, a $4.3 billion community banking organization headquartered in Effingham, Illinois.
Best Commercial Lot Values in Southwest Florida 25335 Rampart Blvd Port Charlotte 33983
4214 Duncan Road (Hwy. 17) Punta Gorda 33982
Price: $1,195,000 Size: 4.30 AC Description: Medical Office Space. Deep Creek has several ALF communities, private and public. Major Rehabilitation Center adjacent to this site. Two major hospitals within 10 minutes of site. East border of the property is a large Housing Complex with future zoning of commercial in front. Plans available for 7 buildings, each 5,000 sq. ft.
Price: $995,000 Size: 6.84 AC Description: 2 lots, 1 - 5.3 Acre Parcel and 1 - 1.5 acre parcel, 6.8 Acres, environmentals done. Just East of I-75. Zoned Industrial, Retail, Commercial General, No Residential or Mixed Use, 6.84 Acres at Washington Loop. Over 150 sq. ft. Road Frontage on Duncan. Phase I reports available, survey also available. Future land use is Commercial Corridor.
Marion Ave Punta Gorda 33950
COURT ORDERED ONLINE REAL ESTATE AUCTION
For more information contact:
Cape Coral & Lake Placid, FL Bidding Opens Tues., June 12th at 10 AM ET
Jeanette Igoe
Residential Development Land
Broker Igoe Realty P.A.
Three (3) Residential Development Parcels in Cape Coral, FL • Parcel 1 – 10± Acre • Parcel 2 – 9.35± Acre • Parcel 3 – 22.06± Acre
12.57± Acre Development Site with .48± Acre Waterfront Lot in Lake Placid, FL Prime location on Lake Clay with multiple development opportunities Acre Oceanfront Development Site in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina Also at Auction: -- 1.5± 2.52± Acre Commercial Development Site in Biloxi, Mississippi
Contact Francis Santos 754.220.4116 or francis@fisherauction.com
800.331.6620 | www.fisherauction.com FL LIC# AB106, AU93 | 2% Broker Participation | AUCTION SUBJECT TO TERMS OF SALE
Price: $399,000 Size: 2.70 AC Description: Zoned Low Intensity Industrial. 2 parcels, one approximately .25 Acres, the other 2.7. Perfect for Warehouse, Storage Facilities, Truck or Auto Terminal Hub, close to Hwy 17 and I-75 exit. Railroad meets rear of property. I-75 Interchange currently projected to cross eastern portion of property, high visibility once completed.
Jigoe5@aol.com 239-572-3269 www.JeanetteIgoe.com
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JUNE 2018
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Operate a business in rural community? An intro to USDA loans
Most would assume that the US Department of Agriculture lends money primarily to farmers. Actually, only a small division of the USDA called the Farm Services Association lends money to farmers. The USDA lends money to the rural business community, from Restaurants to Medical Practices and everything in between thru their Business and Industry loan program. USDA Rural Development provides rural business loans, in partnership with qualified banks, to bolster the overall economic conditions of rural communities primarily to save or create jobs. These loans are similar to the more popular SBA 7a loans, however, USDA B&I loans are focused solely on rural communities encompassing populations of less than 50,000, and have a much higher lending limit than SBA. So how do you qualify for a USDA B&I loan? First, the funds must be used for commercial real estate purchases/improvements, machinery/equipment, working capital and debt refinances, which is pretty much everything a business needs. Loans can be made to legal entities to include both for-profit and not-for profit businesses. Individual borrowers must be US citizens or permanent residents while corporations must be at least 51 percent owned by US citi-
Faces of 5th premieres on 5th Avenue website The 5th Avenue South Business Improvement District, which has a mission to brand promote and create awareness of 5th Avenue South, premiered Faces of 5th, a digital campaign to showcase the businesses and personalities on 5th Avenue South. “Faces of 5th will allow you to step into the unique world of business managers, restaurateurs and boutique owners that operate on one of the nation’s most prestigious Avenues. It’s a modern take on getting to know your neighbor,” said Bruce Barone, Jr., 5th Avenue South BID executive director. Faces of 5th will be featured on the 5th Avenue South BID website at www.FifthAvenueSouth.com. The first installment will highlight Vergina Restaurant’s Eric Tancredi and Augusto Marenco. Upcoming episodes will feature Joseph Wendt Custom Clothiers and Vincenzo Betulia of Osteria Tulia, Bar Tulia and The French.
THINKING OF BUYING A BUSINESS? Businesses Available Lawn & Landscaping $475,000 Internet Marketing $325,000 Graphic Design $125,000 Retail Seafood $80,000 Hair Salon $7,500 Restaurants from $50,000
zens or permanent residents. Most businesses that operate for profit are eligible, including non-owner occupied/investment real estate. So, how are these loans structured? The structure of the loan is negotiated between the bank and the borrower as long as it is within USDA guidelines. Interest rates can be fixed, variable or a comBY TOM bination of the two as long as the MAIALE rate does not vary more often than Guest Columnist quarterly. Origination fees and prepayment penalties are permitted, however the program does not allow for balloon payments as all loans are fully amortized. Loan terms for the program are 30 years for real estate, 15 years (or the documented useful life) for machinery/equipment, and seven years for working capital. Most soft costs, closing costs and other fees can be included in the financing. Sounds pretty good huh? Well, there are a few requirements that can be somewhat challenging. The USDA requires an existing business to meet a minimum of 10-percent Tangible Balance Equity
while start-up businesses are required to meet 20-percent TBE. Well what the heck does that mean? I’m limited to 500 words in this article so call your lender to determine if the business meets these requirements or if additional equity is needed. Also, Collateral must be sound and sufficient to protect the interests of the bank and USDA. Collateral is normally required to be discounted (based on USDA guidelines) and provide at least a 1-to-1 discounted coverage based on the total requested loan amount. In summation, the USDA, along with partner Banks, are using this program to ensure that Rural America and Rural businesses have access to the capital needed to sustain economic growth and create or save rural jobs. Please visit the USDA Rural Development web page to gain more information…. OR just give me a call. Tom Maiale, CBC National Bank SBA Lending vice president and business development officer, is a 17year SBA Lending veteran with training from The National Association of Government Guaranteed Lending and The U.S. Small Business Administration. Contact him at (239) 288-9966 or tmaiale@cbcnationalbank.com.
DISASTER SERVICES
A source of sunshine throughout the storm With hurricane season fast approaching, it’s safe tance of effective preparation. Although we were prepared to say that most of us are still reflecting on lessons and very fortunate, Hurricane learned from Irma, including the impact on our Irma did not leave us unscathed. businesses, our homes and the greater community. Unfortunately, our Marco Island Throughout our 60 years in business, Sunshine store was part of a community Ace Hardware has weathered its fair share of hurrithat experienced severe damage, cane seasons. We are truly proud to serve the Southand we were required to close west Florida community during all stages of hurfor a brief period for renovations ricane season; a resource before, during and after and necessary cleanup. Sunshine the storm. With eight locations and more than 300 Ace Hardware continued working employees, our preparations have ensured that our BY MICHAEL alongside fellow residents and stores are ready for the impending storm, while also WYNN businesses in order to rebuild. giving our associates adequate time to prepare their Guest Columnist Seeing the devastation homes and families as well. Every year, before hurricane season begins, we throughout our community and the impact on our increase necessary supplies to ensure that we are associates, we created the Wynn Family Hurricane able to assist the community. Additionally, we have Irma Disaster Relief Fund in partnership with the a communication plan in place for employee out- Community Foundation of Collier County. In the reach, so we can check on everyone’s well-being, weeks following Irma, our employees really shined, and rally the necessary team members to help us inspiring us with their commitment and passion to reopen. Last year, this advance preparation was key. serve our customer, even as they faced expensive Less than 24 hours after the eye hit, we were for- repairs to their own homes. Hurricanes are unpredictable, and with season tunate to reopen most of our stores and our employees went back to work, providing assistance through upon us, my advice to Florida business leaders is to seven of our locations in Collier, Lee, Charlotte revisit your hurricane preparedness plan to ensure and Pinellas counties. Exemplifying Sunshine Ace that your business and employees are as prepared Hardware’s commitment to our communities, our as possible. In good times and bad, Sunshine Ace has strived dedicated associates were key to helping Sunshine Ace Hardware be a resource for the community. to be a constant ray of sunshine within our commuBecause of our associates and advance preparation, nities throughout our 60 years in business. We have we were able to provide many necessities including had the privilege to serve as a trusted resource to bottled water, batteries, generators and other sup- Southwest Florida residents and businesses, and we plies that were quickly becoming hot commodities look forward to equipping our fellow neighbors for throughout the region. Our advance preparation en- life’s unexpected storms for many years to come. abled us to fulfill immediate needs in the storm’s aftermath, and we worked to quickly bring in ad- Michael Wynn is the president of Sunshine Ace ditional supplies to meet the widespread demand. Hardware. Visit www.SunshineAce.com or contact This period of time truly demonstrated the impor- him at mwynn@sunshineace.com.
Contact Larry Steinborn,
Lic. Real Estate Broker Sand Dollar Real Estate / Business Depot (239) 433-1343 or bizdepot@aol.com 6309 Corporate Ct. #205 Fort Myers, FL 33919
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JUNE 2018
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
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COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Prima Luce contributes $140,000 to McCollum Hall renovation
Prima Luce, MacFarlane Barney Development’s newest condominium community, plans to contribute $140,000 to the continued restoration of Fort Myers’ historic McCollum Hall. McCollum Hall, located on the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Cranford Avenue, near the iMAG History and Science Center, has a rich and storied past. Constructed in the late 1930s by African-American businessman Clifford “Buck” McCollum as a commercial and recreational center for the Dunbar community, McCollum Hall was used as a U.S.O. center for black servicemen during World War II, but is perhaps most famous for the many legendary AfricanAmerican entertainers that graced the stage of McCollum Hall’s second-floor dancehall, including internationally acclaimed jazz and blues musicians like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and B.B. King. In the era of segregation, on the eve of the Civil Rights Movement, McCollum Hall brought black and white music lovers together under one roof. McCollum Hall fell into disrepair in the 1980s, and in 2008, the CRA purchased the vacant, deteriorating property, with the hopes of ultimately transforming it back into a bustling retail and entertainment hub. The CRA has since invested $1.8 million in McCollum Hall’s stabilization and redevelopment. In 2016, a $500,000 grant from the Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources helped to complete a historically accurate renovation of its iconic art deco exterior. However, this treasured local landmark will require further investment from
Rendering courtesy City of Fort Myers McCollum Hall was constructed in the late 1930s by African-American businessman Clifford “Buck” McCollum. Prima Luce developers plan to contribute to the continued restoration of the historic structure in Fort Myers. community developers, like MacFar- Development is comprised of father- of the Caloosahatchee River, half a lane Barney Development, to restore it daughter team Robert MacFarlane and mile northeast of the Edison Bridge. It Rebekah MacFarlane Barney. Since will offer amenities, including a heated to its full glory. “This building is a precious piece 2001, MacFarlane and MacFarlane three-tier swimming pool, state-of-theof local history,” said Rebekah Mac- Barney have transformed the down- art fitness center and yoga studio, inFarlane Barney of MacFarlane Barney town Fort Myers skyline with three door and outdoor social spaces, virtual Development, chief operating officer of luxury high-rise condominium commu- concierge service, private piers, and nities—Beau Rivage, St. Tropez and 325 feet of direct river frontage. Prima Luce. “These two new Prima Luce tow“We are honored to have even a Riviera—and most recently, the newly small part in building an exciting new completed luxury rental community for ers will certainly be a unique addition future for McCollum Hall and the seniors, age 55 and older, Campo Felice to the Historic River District of Downtown Fort Myers,” said Robert MacFarIndependent Living. downtown Fort Myers community.” Prima Luce, MacFarlane Barney lane. “But it’s places like McCollum With nearly seven decades of combined experience in development and Development’s current project, is a Hall – and the preservation of places redevelopment of commercial and resi- luxury two-tower, 22-story, waterfront like McCollum Hall – that make this dential real estate, MacFarlane Barney condominium community on the banks community truly special.”
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JUNE 2018
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Atrium at Liberty Park breaks ground in Cape Coral Developer Aileron Capital Management announced it has begun construction of Atrium at Liberty Park, a senior living community on 24th Ave. in Cape Coral. The property will feature 130 supervised independent living, assisted living and memory care apartment homes, all within a state-of-the-art 110,000 square foot building. Residents will enjoy a wide variety of amenities, including fine dining, bistro, club room, theater, salon and barber shop, arts and crafts studio and library.
Atrium at Liberty Park is part of a 32-acre mixeduse project that will also include 320 Class A apartment units, as well as retail and commercial space. Managed by Meridian Senior Living, Atrium at Liberty Park will create more than 80 new jobs in the city, as well as bring much-needed care to residents. While this community marks Meridian’s entry into the Southwest Florida market, Meridian manages 10 additional senior living communities throughout Florida, with several additional development properties coming online over the next several years.
DISASTER SERVICES
When disaster strikes, it’s time to rally While we’d like to think the worst could never happen to us, Hurricane Irma served as an eye-opener for many families and businesses here in Southwest Florida. With the upcoming hurricane season around the corner, now is the time to look ahead to the potential impact on our region. A natural disaster is a scary time for any resident or business owner. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, we saw an immediate need for supplies—generators, gas cans, chainsaws—as Southwest Florida began to recover from the damage caused by the storm. To support our neighbors in their efforts to rebuild their lives and homes, our Raymond Building Supply team partnered with PGT Industries to provide much-needed supplies to first responders and members of the community. Over a two-day period, we handed out free food, 1,000 cases of water, 47,000 pounds of ice, 20 generators and 40 chainsaws, as well as an array of supplies including extension cords, gas cans, flashlights, air beds with pumps, camper stoves, tarps, duct tape, bleach, paper towels, trash bags, batteries and Gatorade to first responders and community members in need. First responders, including the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, received supplies, and in turn, many stayed to help us continue handing out hurricane supplies to other community members in need. Once first responders and residents received
their fill of ice, the remaining ice supply was delivered to the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District Station 21 and the Collier County Emergency Operations Center. By partnering BY JAMES with PGT IndusMARTIN tries to provide Guest Columnist these supplies, we were able to help lighten the load a bit for those who are working hard to overcome a challenging time. This experience served as a great example of the importance of community support and leveraging relationships and resources in order to respond quickly in a time of need. As the hurricane season quickly approaches, prepare your families, homes and businesses for the unexpected. Have you been meaning to repair that leaky roof or update your home’s shutter products for better storm protection? Have you cut down the large tree that’s hanging over your home or tested your generator to ensure it’s running smoothly? Now is the time to take necessary precautions that sets a tone of preparedness for the season ahead. James Martin is the vice president of operations for Raymond Building Supply. Learn more at www.rbsc.net or call (239) 731-8300.
It’s Your Future. Own It. Tom Maiale
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“This is truly an exciting time for us, as we look forward to becoming a vital part of the Cape Coral community,” said Dan Castleberry, chief investment officer at Meridian Senior Living. “Using our team’s collective expertise, innovative approach and passion for seniors, Atrium at Liberty Park will allow us the opportunity to provide a much-needed service to the Cape, enhancing each individual residents’ experiences and making life better for all whom we encounter.”
NABOR holds annual awards night Naples Area Board of REALTORS held its annual Night of Honors celebration on April 7 at Naples Sailing and Yacht Club. Chartered in 1949, the 6,000+ professional member organization of Realtors in Collier County recognized the accomplishments of many of its members who volunteered their time and talents to better the organization, industry and community in 2017. The highest honor, Realtor of the Year, was awarded to Rick Fioretti, who is the current Florida Realtor District 5 Vice President. Fioretti has served on more committees at the local and state level than can be counted, and is currently campaigning to be the 2019 Florida Realtor Secretary. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was immediate past NABOR President Dominic Pallini, who kicked off the evening with a warm welcome followed by past President Jo Carter, who read an invocation and led guests in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pallini’s first order of business was to recognize 29 members into the NABOR Honor Society, many of which were also added to the Florida Realtors Honor Society. Honor Society members provide participation at the local, state and national levels to include activity in NAR’s institutes, societies and councils, designations earned, educational activities and political involvement. The prestigious Ad Miller Award was presented to NABOR member and District 5 Collier County Commissioner William L. McDaniel, Jr.
AWARD WINNERS
The Annual Night of Honors also recognized these NABOR members with awards: • Affiliate/Allied Committee Contribution Award: Larry Utterback • Affiliate/Allied Member of the Year: BJ Cottrell • Affiliate/Allied Rising Star Award: Stephanie Whiffen • Citizen of the Year: Paula Angelopoulos Urbinati • Educator of the Year: Christina Davidow • Humanitarian Award: Gwen-Davis Gideon • Leadership Academy Alumni Award: Adam Vellano • Realtor Committee Contribution Award: Perry DeSiato • Realtor Rising Star Award: James Hinson • Task Force Contribution Award: Tim Guerrette • Commercial Achievement Award: Chip Olson
This NABOR award recognizes an individual who works to enhance and/or preserve private property rights, ownership and transferability and the preservation of the free enterprise system. McDaniel has been a NABOR member since 1985 and opened his first real estate company in 1987. Pallini then presented the 2018 Hall of Fame Award to NABOR member Wes Kunkle. The Hall of Fame award recognizes members who have exhibited extraordinary dedication and service over 20 years of membership in NABOR. In addition to being the NABOR President in 2013, Kunkle is a past Realtor of the Year and Commercial Achievement award recipient.
We Care About SWFL Commercial Realtors With dedicated space for informa�on: • On our website with a Commercial Real Estate sec�on & directory • In our quarterly Commercial RE Market pullout in both the print & digital versions of SWFBT • With zoned and full-run inserts • With guest column opportuni�es • With digital marke�ng op�ons For more informa�on, call Karen at (239) 770-7527
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JUNE 2018
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 11
DISASTER SERVICES
Fort Myers wellness center attacks opioid crisis Since October 2017, the nation has been in a state of emergency regarding the overuse and abuse of opiate pharmaceuticals. While the official declaration “ran out” on Jan. 23, nothing drastic has been done to tackle this national crisis. According to the CDC Annual Reports, 33,091 people died in 2015 from overdoses involving opioids, and of that, 29,382 of those people died from unintentional overdoses. Can you believe just last year, the opioid-related deaths in Florida alone rose by 35 percent? Although that number seems higher and higher, Dr. B. Timothy Harcourt at Coast Chiropractic Centers has come up with a plan to put that percentage on a downward trend. The study of Chiropractic began in 1895 when Daniel David “D.D.” Palmer had successful application of treatment to his initial patients after his years of independent research and study. Although it hasn’t been an easy road, and still isn’t in some areas, chiropractic has shown the world that sometimes all your body needs is a nudge
in the right direction and proper maintenance and you can be happy and healthy to 100. Harcourt moved to Fort Myers in 2011 from York, Pennsylvania and has been practicing for over 30 years focusing his practice on auto injury and sports injury condition care. After attending the National College of Chiropractic, Harcourt chose to carry on the family tradition by working with his father and brothers at the Harcourt Chiropractic Offices. He utilizes the SONOMA method of chiropractic evaluation and care, which he researched and developed with Penn State University, to help people get back to 100-percent functional capacity in the most efficient way possible. The team at Coast Chiropractic Centers would like to refocus their patients towards preventative wellness care so that they don’t have to turn to injections or drugs to get back their daily life function. Harcourt’s passion for the wellbeing of our Southwest Florida patients stems from his third-generation can-do attitude to help people
get better naturally. With their non-surgical treatment options including manual adjustments, Graston Technique, therapeutic laser ultrasound, electrical muscle therapy, exercise programs and more, you’ll want to bring your whole family in. Harcourt wants to open our doors to all those who haven’t found help in countless doctor visits, in multiple offices, in a pill bottle or in the point of a needle. He wants to attack the opioid crisis head on with new wellness memberships that keep your pain down and your healing up. For the next four weeks, Coast Chiropractic Centers will be running “Spinal Screenings for Natural Healings” to help jump start people getting exactly the care that they need, no more and no less. The doctor and staff at Coast Chiropractic Centers want you, your family, friends and employees to be given an opportunity of to live your best life. For a free screening, call (239) 278-3344 or email hannah@coastchirocenter.com.
DISASTER SERVICES
Bonita Springs Utilities makes preparations for start of hurricane season In preparation for the upcoming hurricane season, Bonita Springs Utilities purchased additional towbehind generators to enhance the utility’s hurricane preparedness capabilities and assist with operations during emergency situations that may result in extended power outages. “BSU weathered Hurricane Irma extremely well last year,” said BSU Board President Bob Bachman. “However, as forecasts call for another busy hurricane season, the board of directors and staff are taking steps to enhance our emergency response capabilities.” BSU’s pre-hurricane planning, action and infrastructure resulted in successful and sustained operations through Hurricane Irma. Water service was maintained throughout the Bonita Springs and Estero service area, with one exception. Due to its Evacuation Zone A location and the catastrophic storm surge forecast, BSU made the decision to temporarily cut service to the Bo-
nita Beach area to protect the integrity of the system, private property on the islands, and water supply for the area as a whole. Service was quickly restored, with a standard two-day boil water notice afterward. BSU’s preparedness plan also included switching all plants to generator power before the storm hit in anticipation of losing electricity. All water wells and 332 lift stations throughout the service area lost power. Prior to the storm, permanent generators were installed at a number of these facilities. Afterward, staff worked 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day, to fuel and pump down the lift stations with a fleet of portable generators until power was fully restored. “Our focus during hurricanes and similar emergencies is on meeting the needs of our community,” said John R. Jenkins, BSU executive director. “Drinking water availability is critical during hurricane recovery activities. Imagine the impact of loss of water and wastewater
service, on top of flooding, storm damage, and power outages. We plan year-round in an effort to minimize storm impacts and maximize recovery efforts.” During assessments after Hurricane Irma, BSU identified a need to dedicate more generators to water well and lift station operations during and after a hurricane or other emergency. �ree new generators will be available for identified master lift stations and a fourth generator will assist in providing backup power to wells in order to maintain potable water service to members. BSU continues to pursue ways to harden its facilities and improve its storm preparation. Efforts include expansion of communication capabilities with remote water tanks, wells and lift stations, use of CNG as an alternative fuel supply for fleet vehicles and equipment, sewer system interconnects to afford adequate response time and a robust sewer system maintenance and replacement program.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JUNE 2018
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Cape Coral
41
DIRECTIONS FROM I-75 Take Exit 143 for FL-78 E Head East on FL-78 E/Bayshore Rd. 3.3 miles Turn left onto Babcock Ranch Rd. 4.5 miles Turn right onto Lake Babcock Dr. 1.0 miles Turn left onto Crescent Loop
Broker participation is welcome. Prices, plans, specifications and community design are subject to change. Oral representations cannot be relied upon as correctly stating the representations of the developer. For correct information regarding Babcock Ranch, interested parties should refer to written materials provided by the developer, legislative acts related to Babcock Ranch and the covenants and restrictions of the Babcock Ranch Residential Association, Inc. The information provided above is not intended to be an offering and should be considered as informational only.
JUNE 2018
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS Local pharmacy goes extra mile I began working with Cypress Pharmacy under the leadership of Bo Shipley after earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and a doctorate in pharmacy from Nova Southeastern University. In 2008, after several years of serving the Fort Myers community under Shipley’s leadership, I purchased Cypress Pharmacy, ensuring this full-service independent pharmacy was able to continue delivering an unparalleled pharmacy experience for the next generation. As a full-service independent pharmacy, the unique, custom-made services we provide include personalized coaching and patient supplement plans, medication packaging and disposal, medication therapy management, custom medication compounding for patients and pets, free monthly vitamins for children and adults aged 50 and older, free local delivery and free in-store flu and strep testing. One of the greatest benefits of working with an independent pharmacy is establishing strong patientpharmacist relationships. Using the same pharmacy each month is especially important for patients with more than one physician prescribing medication. That’s because a central pharmacist helps prevent unnecessary drug interactions, duplicated therapies and adherence issues.
PICKLEBALL PAGE 1 A host of companies like Gearbox set up vendor booths at the international event, and Florida-based upstarts like Engage capitalized on the growing sport. Athletes raved about the Naples event. Corporate sponsors like Margaritaville, Minto and Zing Zing had majpr presence at the Open. Engage sponsored a family of athletes including triplets Matthew, Ellen and Jessica Kawamoto, who flew in from Canada to compete in the Open. Matthew said the growth opportunities excite him in the sport. He and mother Linda now have coaching certifications. Evon and Graham will keep the Open here until at least 2021, when a contract with Collier County runs out.
Patients are often surprised to learn that independent pharmacies possess the same capabilities as large chains. Cypress Pharmacy patients, for example, can refill and view BY T.J. prescriptions on DEPAOLA our website, use Guest Columnist our mobile app, sign-up for text and email alerts or join our rewards program to receive special savings. Our online store accepts purchases of professional-grade supplements and we deliver prescriptions directly to local patients’ doorsteps. Behind the counter, we utilize a multi-step filling process incorporating barcode tracking and verification and a state-of-theart Eyecon counting machine to ensure accuracy. When partnering with Cypress Pharmacy, patients and the local community benefit from our devotion to building strong relationships and providing personalized experiences that best meet patients’ needs. T.J. DePaola is the owner and operator of full-service, independent Cypress Pharmacy in Fort Myers. To learn more, go to www.cypresspharmacy.com. The event founders conceived of the tournament while both worked at Wilson Sporting Goods. Graham headed up indoor racquet sports development, and saw growth in Pickleball. The women vacationed in Marco Island, so they sought Florida venues and found the best place in east Collier. They worked with the Naples, Marco Island and Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau to prep the venue. Mary Shea, president of the Collier County Sports Council, says the event activates the park and generates business for area hotels, 14 of which booked guests during the Open. Pickleball attracts active seniors and youth participants alike. “The oldest player here is 91,” Shea said. Youth sports in America is a $9-billion industry, and tournaments like this can help the Naples area get a good piece of that.
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SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS Keep getting same advice? Take it!
Follow your dreams. Our goal is to bring slow-food— That same piece of advice kept hitthe highest-quality ting me from all directions. Family food you can buy— members said it. Friends said it. Coto a quick-service workers said it. Neighbors said it. environment, we Finally, after my 12 years of worklike to call it “fasting in distinguished restaurants across fine,” meaning you two states, and my wife’s years of event order at the counter, planning and catering, it was time to grab a drink and refollow our dream. lax while your meal In December 2017, my wife Healy BY TIM is prepared and deand I opened Artisan Eatery in south YOA livered to you with Fort Myers. Anyone who’s ever started Guest Columnist a smile. a business knows the risk—your liveliWe are proud of the response from hood, reputation and relationships are the local community so far and look all at stake. The Daniels Parkway corridor isn’t forward to becoming a favorite comexactly lacking restaurant options. munity spot, whether you’re grabbing From our parking lot, patrons can liter- your daily cup of coffee on your way ally see restaurants serving Japanese, to work or enjoying a date-night over a Southern, Italian and American cuisine. freshly cooked dinner. Our advice to others? The key to Around the corner are fast food joints, sports bars, breakfast spots and more. any small business’ success is findPlenty of restaurants around town tout ing and retaining good employees. We high-quality, fresh ingredients and are a small team of 12, but a mighty one, and our employees have been the chefs who are culinary masters. We had to offer something different. driving force behind our early success. The best way to describe Artisan With team members with us since the Eatery is a thriving craft sandwich and restaurant’s earliest stages, they see pastry shop. Everything is made from the impact of their hard work firstscratch not in some off-site location, but hand, which has created a team that goes above and beyond to help the resright here in our kitchen, by our team. On our menu, the word “local” ap- taurant thrive. That’s easy when you’re living the pears 16 times. That’s not an oversight. We take great pride in locally sourced dream. products, from eggs and meats to honey and fruits. The word “fresh” appears Tim Yoa is co-owner and chef of Artisan eight times on the menu. That’s no ac- Eatery. For more information about Arcident, either. The quicker food makes tisan Eatery, visit artisaneatery.com or call (239) 887-4844. it to your table, the better it tastes.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JUNE 2018
Designing urban spaces for people, place and profit in future
Special to SWFBT By Karen M. Miller
Streets Alive Southwest Florida and the Florida CCIM Chapter Southwest District were the organizers and presenters of an information-packed symposium on April 19 titled “Creating the Future Today; Designing for People, Place & Profit.” Held at the Lee Campus of Florida SouthWestern State College, the event inspired lively discussions about the urban form of Lee County around topics such as walkable communities, housing strategies and the role that urban and transportation planning plays in the economic future of our County. DeWayne Carver from the Florida Department of Transportation updated the audience on the departments’ Complete Streets program. He can Photo by Karen M. Miller provide support to local governments Attendees gather at Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers for as they plan roadway projects to en- a symposium on walkability and urban planning. sure that streets are accessible and safe for all travelers including pedes- to rethink the way we plan our com- sionals and low-income families. trians and bicyclists who share the munities to encourage healthy living Jerry Champa of GHD tackled the road with vehicles more frequently by getting our citizens out of cars and important topic of intersection safethan ever. into walkable urban centers. ty. “About half of all severe crashes Returning to Southwest Florida Smart growth principle discussed occur at access points and intersecto continue the conversation started included promoting mixed land uses tions,” said Champa. “This is truly at a similar event in 2017 were Bil- serviced by a variety of transportation a public health issue and traffic enly Hattaway, transportation director modes, fostering distinctive neigh- gineers are at the forefront of findfor the City of Orlando; Ian Lock- borhoods with a strong sense of place, ing solutions.” He also addressed wood of Toole Design Group; Victor directing redevelopment towards ex- pedestrian safety noting that reducing Dover of Dover Kohl and Partners; isting communities and promoting speeds in populated areas is one key and Dan Burden with Blue Zones. regional collaboration. A topic that to reducing death and injury. He said This inspirational group of popular resonated with the audience, involved an often-overlooked strategy to inspeakers urged the audience of over strategies for urban planning to pro- crease pedestrian safety is improved 170 planners, engineers, government vide a range of housing opportunities lighting, as many pedestrians are inrepresentatives and real estate agents that are attainable for young profes- jured or killed after dark.
The audience learned a lot of new terminology for concepts that will be incorporated into Southwest Florida roadway projects, including: • Road Diet (yes now even our roads are dieting) reduces lanes to reduce speeds and accommodate alternative modes of transportation. • ICE (not the frozen kind) is Intersection Control Evaluation, a way to determine intersection safety. • RBT is short for roundabout. We have many of them coming to Southwest Florida and they are designed to keep traffic flowing, reduce speeds, and have been proven to be a very safe alternative for intersections. • ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) include smart directional signage, lane control systems, and real time speed warning systems designed to be controlled remotely so they can change with traffic conditions. One of the most interesting talks was given by URBAN3’s Joe Minicozzi, who challenged the audience to rethink land use codes and density to promote development. He showed examples of how tax revenues per square footage are actually higher in small footprint buildings with high density as opposed to big box stores and shopping centers. In all, Designing for People, Place and Profit, was an informationpacked day. If you missed it, be sure to keep tabs on the Streets Alive website (www.streetsaliveswfl.org) as future events will be organized to continue this lively, informative, and sometimes controversial subject.
DISASTER SERVICES
Data backups make businesses less vulnerable to catastrophe By Bob Szanto Guest Columnist
Who would have thought back in the mainframe days that with today’s technology, most people walk around with a smartphone more powerful then those old computers? I work with technology on a daily basis and still get amazed at what we can do. I have a device slightly larger then a hockey puck, that you can purchase for under $50 on sale, that responds to voice commands. I can talk to “her” (Alexa), and have her turn on my TV, stream music to my surround sound system or tell me a joke. Today, we rely on technology more and more. Can you imagine running your business without computers? It’s hard to imagine how we got business done without them. As we have become more dependent upon them, that also means we are more
vulnerable when they fail. It’s more important then ever to think about business continuity. Disasters happen. Cybercrime is becoming more prolific. I sometimes feel like a broken record. I have a few pet peeves and often repeat my same thoughts to multiple clients. When it comes to backups, I always say “Backup, backup, backup. You can never have enough backups.” I have come up with a pretty good plan, based upon over 30 years of experience working in IT and consulting for the small office / home office environment. My preference is to backup data to an external hard drive, a separate backup for each business day of the week when possible. Supplement that with an offsite cloud backup for extra security. I recently started adding weekly image backups as well. However, I have worried that even this plan is vulnerable. The cyber criminals are getting more sophisticated and even a backup
drive can get infected. But what if there was a better way? I’m old school, and my methods work. But technology is always advancing and changes rapidly. That’s one of the things I love about my field. It never gets old, and I’m challenged to stay current with the latest trends. I recently returned a phone call from a message I received from a solicitor. I know, most of you don’t even answer the call if you don’t recognize the number. But I had heard of the company that called. The young man on the other end of the phone appeared to be surprised that someone actually called back. My next interaction was probably with someone more knowledgeable. Maybe six months of experience instead of fresh out of school? But I saw something in what they have to offer, and I was sold! Thirty minTECH See page 15
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JUNE 2018
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 15
Increase your local SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS SEO rankings Del Lago Law provides trusted solutions clients need Part 2 of 2
What should you do to improve your ranking? Here are our top strategies to implement to successfully locally rank in search engines: Have a website If you don’t have a website to appear in searches, people won’t be able to find you. In the highly digital world, it is imperative to have a website that showcases your business for consumers to seek out. Feature your products and services with clear language Your website should provide descriptions of what you offer and include relevant phrasing that includes BY ZACH location indicaKATKIN tors. Put yourGuest Columnist self in the shoes of your target consumer and think about the things they might search if they we’re looking for you. If you sell coffee in Naples, “coffee Naples” should be included in your website copy so you’ll come up in search. List your address Make sure your address is listed on your website including the city, state and zip code you are trying to rank in. Now only does this help in SEO, but it makes it easier for customers to find your location when they end up on your website. Google My Business Utilize Google’s business platform and make sure you set up a profile, verify your address and have all relevant information listed. This information will come up in searches and will help people quickly be able to access what they need to know about your business. Update all listings In addition to listing your address on your website and Google my business, make sure your business information is correctly listed in any other online directories such as internet yellow pages or local chamber website. The three most important elements of these directory listings are your NAP – name, address, and phone number – and these should be consistent across all platforms. Social Media Set up social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter for your business. They should have your businesses name, address, and phone number listed, and post relevant content to gain engaged followers around your targeted ranking area. Links Google’s search algorithm favors relevant content, and a great way to prove relevance is through links. Make sure your website is linked on any other social media platforms you have and try to find other ways to connect online to get others to link to your content. Additionally, post out links on your site to any other relevant local businesses and resources you can cross promote. Zach Katkin is president of Atilus. He can be reached at (239) 362-1271 or zach@atilus.com.
By Mike Dal Lago Guest Columnist
At Dal Lago Law, we understand that our clients need more than just a legal service provider; they need trusted advisors and counselors with forward thinking and creative solutions. This is precisely what Dal Lago Law can offer you and your company. Dal Lago Law has a dynamic, sophisticated corporate practice that represents businesses in all stages of development, from entrepreneurs, start-ups, or growthstage companies to well-established businesses. In doing so, we focus on forming close working relationships with our clients. This allows Dal Lago Law to work with you and your company in an efficient and cost-effective manner, so that you can grow your business into a successful enterprise. In today’s business world, legal advice must be provided swiftly and accurately. At Dal Lago Law, we pride ourselves on our level of client responsiveness and on our ability to provide prudent, commercially minded advice at each phase of a business’ development. Examples of the work we do include: • Advising and assisting in legal formation, including choice of entity, founder arrangements, qualifications to
do business, and other start-up checklist items. • Reviewing business plans to help position companies for financing. • Advising with regard to fiduciary duties, corporate governance and compliance issues. • Negotiating debt financings such as working capital lines of credit, term loans and equipment lease financings. • Structuring and developing employment agreements, offer letters and confidentiality, non-compete agreements. • Developing employee handbooks, policies and compliance with employment laws. • Developing and negotiating licensing agreements, software development agreements, distribution agreements and other commercial agreements. • Assisting in structuring and developing joint venture and strategic partnering agreements. • Reviewing and negotiating real property leases. • Employee termination, severance and litigation matters. • Attending board meetings and advising on corporate governance matters. • Serving as outside general counsel and advisor to management and boards of directors. • Guidance on structuring efficient
sales, supply or licensing agreements, consulting or similar business arrangements and other essential contracts and relationships so that your business interests are protected. • Counseling on the fiduciary duties of officers and directors, including the proper powers of board members, their interaction with management and their responsibilities to shareholders. • Collaboration with privately owned and family owned businesses and their management to develop appropriate entity structures, financial strategies and succession plans. For those companies that are in a state of financial distress, Dal Lago Law has a wealth of experience in saving companies either through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing or an out-of-court restructuring. Should you or your company have any corporate legal needs that need attention, we welcome you to contact at your earliest convenience. Mike Dal Lago of Dal Lago Law is an active member of the Southwest Florida community and has served on the boards of multiple nonprofit organizations. He can be reached at (239) 571-6877 or mike@dallagolaw.com. To learn more, visit www.DallagoLaw.com.
TECH PAGE 14 utes into the presentation, I said, “sign me up.” I knew I wanted to partner with this company and I’m glad I have. The company is Datto. Check them out at Datto.com. They work only with IT providers like myself and specialize in Business Continuity and Business Disaster Recovery. Their technology is different from anything I’ve experienced before. Instead of a traditional backup, like I just described, they take image backups or snapshots of a computer, or every computer on a network, throughout the day. That information is then backed up over the cloud. In the event of an emergency, their partners, like me, can recover— or “spin up” as they say—a machine in a virtual environment in seconds remotely. And in the event of a real disaster, like flood, fire or theft, we can “spin up” a virtual copy of one or more computers, in the cloud! And yes, all without having to be on site. That’s only one of their many products. Everything they build is designed to be accessed and managed remotely. I have heard of companies here in SWFL complaining that their IT support was based out of Tampa or the East Coast and a technician had to be dispatched from two hours away. Yes, it happens. And here in sleepy SWFL we are probably lower priority to some of those larger shops. Now the technology exists, even for smaller IT shops, to support local companies with exceptional service in rapid time. Yes, the times are a changing. I have seen the light. I have opened my mind and discovered new possibilities. And I really like what I see. “Computer Bob” Szanto is the owner of TeamWork Systems in Naples. He is also a part-time freelance photographer for Southwest Florida Business Today. Contact TeamWork Systems at (239) 348-1500 or online at www.teamws.com.
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Page 16
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
JUNE 2018
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