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DeSantis grants $5.8 million to iTECH
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Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Jacob Ogles, Editor
their lives.” The state grant, to be spent over five years, will cover startup costs for the campus and the launch of 12 career-training programs. Those will be in a variety of high-demand fields including HVAC, diesel systems, accounting, nursing, welding and health care. Classes will be available to students from Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee and Collier counties. The Collier County School District will continue to oversee the technical college, and this will be the first instruction the county school system provides
outside its own boundaries, according to Collier County Superintendent of Schools Kamela Patton. She said it’s a smart investment by the school district to improve workforce opportunities in the region. Department of Economic Opportunity Secretary Dane Eagle said the technical college could create opportunities for as many as 1,300 families in the area. “The creation of these 12 workforce training programs supports Governor DeSantis’ vision in growing workforce education across Florida,”
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET More workforce training will soon arrive in Glades County. Gov. Ron DeSantis in October announced upwards of $5.8 million will be awarded from the Florida Job Growth Grant Funds to fund the iTECH Glades Technical College in Moore Haven, a new campus for Immokalee Technical College. “This will really be focusing on things that make a difference,” DeSantis said. “We want our young people to have opportunities to do what’s best in
A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida
Anniversaries
Southwest Florida area businesses share their milestones, challenges and achievements.
Goodwill SWFL
ITECH See page 18
NAPLES COMPANY AMONG GROWFL’S TOP HONOREES
Look at everything Goodwill SWFL does for the region and our business community. INSIDE Special to SWFBT
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A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida
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Brady Photos by Christine trade to the Southof international offices. about the importance Buqueras talks Lee County Economic Development Director Carlos the first-ever stop at Port Manatee Executive during the Port’s west Florida market
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IN THE NEWS
to Dave Gammon elevated Charlotte EDO director
in the wake of Charlotte County, joinLucienne Pears former director Partners at Babcock ing Kitson and former Business Ranch, elevated and interim Recruitment Supervisor to executive director Dave Gammon Economic Developdirector of the ment Office. face in reGammon is a familiar he development as gional economic three years with his has proven in EDO. County Charlotte continue leading He is excited to like developments several existing page 19
Florida to communities in second one of four host as part of the Lee County was from seven countries welcome companiesTrade Summit. Manatee, annual International International Trade Hub at Port Fort Lauseries visited Organized by The one day Business opportunity ota and Tampa for the 2019 Global Bradenton/Saras derdale, Fort Myers,to 29. 26 Office, Southwest each from Aug. ReEconomic Development and the Southwest The Lee County Chamber of Commerce the event, which Florida Hispanic Association co-hosted gional Manufacturers Gulf Railway. Chile, Colombia, was sponsored Seminole from Argentina, other locales International companies Spain, Peru and Mexico, goods, artisanal apparel, El Salvador, Guatemala, food, coffee, fruits, cooking systems featured wine, snack and state-of-the-art to merchandise companies Lee County industryof founded as part summit showcases during the summit. Trade Hub at Port Manatee, and An expo-style from seven nations markets in Florida and business leaders visiting Summit. The International International Trade advice as a vital link between provides expert See page 6 the second annual in 2014, serves world. The hub TRADE throughout the
ENEURS h SALUTE TO ENTREPR poised for growt and Business Intermediary Proess Advisors experi- a CertifiedMergers & Acquisitions transaction Edison Busin the IBBA ap- Certified designations from ence totaling partner and
GAMMON See
Privacy & Cyber Security d Forum announce
& Cyber SeA special Privacy held on Friwill be at curity Forum 9 a.m. to noon day, Nov. 8, fromNews Community the Naples Daily room. Companies will William C. Huff and insponsor the informational for the community. teractive forum forum is for atThe goal of the clearer undera tendees to gain keep their famito standing of how businesses private. lies, wealth and FORUM See page
18
in fi$170 fessional a Eric Gall, managing with a concentration proximately for Edison Avenue, won and an MBAthe University of Michigan. broker of record brokerage and lower million. Gall transactions and nance from leading business Gall in business the 2018, 2016 and acquisitions Niehaus, Bro- Assisting middle market mergers Pfeffer, Steven 2014 Business significant changes No. 1 are Michael and Phillip Reda. firm, is announcing kers of Florida Edward Valaitis Business Adto operations. Top Dollar Producer to rebrand itself Pfeffer joins Edison of business The firm has decided over 20 years Award for Southwest Advisors” to better out visors with experience, including 12 as “Edison Business service offerings, Florida, beating busi- transactionbusiness brokerage franchise communicate addedbusiness appraisals, Gall a over 90 other He is years as Southwest Florida. Pfeffer is a including certified appraisals and certiness brokers. owner in Certified certified equipment Business Brokers Board Certified Intermediary, International an and also page 6 strategies. See fied exit EDISON Chairman’s Circle mergers and acquisiBrokerage and led by Association Award winner. Eric holds continue to be tions efforts will 20 years of business Deal Maker Gall. He has over OPENING
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Hoffmann Family buys Hertz Arena, Everblades
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The Hoffmann Family of Companies has entered into an agreement to purchase the Florida Everblades and the Hertz Arena. Plans are underway for a complete renovation of the 8,284-seat, multipurpose arena. The improvements will include enhanced skyboxes, food services and installation of a state-ofthe-art scoreboard. Hertz Arena, which opened in 1998 as Everblades Arena, hosts a variety of events including concerts, Cirque du Soleil, Disney on Ice, boxing and trade shows. The venue offers
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25 suites, two additional ice rinks, a private club and a pub, Breakaway Sports Pub. The arena is also home to the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles club hockey team of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. “We are optimistic that all of the 330 employees will remain with the Hoffmann Family of Companies,” said Craig Brush, Florida Everblades President and General Manager, who signed a five-year contract and has a commitment from all his senior staff to remain in place. “We are thrilled to be acquired by
A specially focused monthly section exploring the SWFL commercial real estate marketplace.
IN THE NEWS
Fort Myers sixth Business Summit slated for Sept. 20
Holly Bell addresses citrus growers about the 25,000-plus uses for industrial hemp, which can now be grown legally in Florida
Cannabis chief promises rich stash for hemp growers Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Jacob Ogles, Editor
SUMMIT See page 7
When other states started authorizing farmers to grow hemp, it didn’t take long to realize there was no place to sell it. Because no structures had been put in place for processing and manufacturing plants, state officials found themselves rushing a regulatory structure through so farmers could offload their first harvests. Holly Bell, Florida’s first Director of Cannabis, plans to learn from that mistake. She said the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will make sure all parts of the burgeoning hemp industry can move forward as soon as new rules unroll later this fall. “When our farmers are ready for a cash flow, we want to encourage them to get going,” she said.
Applications being accepted for the 25th Blue Chip Award The 25th Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award application deadline is fast approaching. The Blue Chip Community Business Award recognizes successful, small businesses in Lee, Collier or Charlotte County that have overcome adversity to achieve success. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 4. The independent judges select the honoree after all the applications AWARD See page 19
Bell spoke in August at the Citrus Expo and Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo, where growers from around the region gathered to hear her discuss this new and just recently legal product to diversify their inventory. Just a few years ago, there were no legal reasons to grow cannabis in Florida. Now, medical marijuana dispensaries pop up in more shopping centers each week. Soon, farmers will grow non-narcotic hemp crops. With the 2018 federal farm bill allowing hemp to grow, a budding industry will soon emerge in Florida. The Legislature this year authorized a pilot program for growing hemp in the Sunshine State, and state officials are nearly done weeding through a stack of public suggestions.
GrowFL announced this year’s 50 Florida Companies to Watch honorees, including three from Southwest Florida. Companies to Watch is a statewide competition that identifies companies expected to see significant growth over the next several years. The GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards program—now in its ninth year—honors 50 select second-stage companies from throughout Florida for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout Florida. Chosen from 500 growing second-stage nominations from throughout, Florida, the 50 companies named as the 2019 Florida Companies to Watch honorees generated nearly $1 billion in revenue and added over 900 jobs between 2015 and 2018. Together, the honorees project a 35 percent increase in revenue and 37 percent increase in job growth in 2019 compared to 2018. “These stand-out companies are all led by entrepreneurs, and have demonstrated their capacity and intent to grow,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, GrowFL executive director. “They also all have critical intellectual property or a niche position that gives them a competitive edge in their markets,” he said. Local honorees include: Cottrell Title & Escrow, Collier County; Mettauer Environmental, Lee County; and VeraData, Lee County . “This list recognizes second-stage Florida companies with passionate leaders who are making a difference in growing and diversifying our economy,” said Jennifer Barrows, GrowFL Chairman of the GrowFL Advisory Board and Business Development Executive with WithumSmith+Brown, PC. Second-stage companies are those
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The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has announced an exciting line-up for its 2019 Business Summit, set for Sept. 20. The summit, now in its sixth year, will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers. This year’s keynote address is “Communicate Your Way to Success,” by entrepreneur, business coach and international speaker Jason Evers. Evers has traveled to more than 20 countries on five continents
such a prestigious company. Our partnership with the Hertz Corporation and now this new ownership ensures that Hertz Arena will maintain our strong community presence and continue to be the number one choice for entertainment in Southwest Florida.” The team and the arena were previously owned by Peter Karmanos, founder of Compuware Corporation and prior majority owner of the Carolina Hurricanes in the National Hockey League. “Simply put, without the support of
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IN THE NEWS Collier names Pelican as ‘Business of the Wire Month’
During the July ty Commission 9 Collier CounWire was named meeting, Pelican ty ‘Business of the Collier Counthe Month’ and recognized by was the a manufacturing Board for being County for over leader in Collier 40 years. Pelican Wire President Ted Bill, who received the are truly honored award, said “We Collier County to be named the Month’ for July.‘Business of the Since moving AWARD See page
Gov. DeSantis announces job growth grants
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
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Dr. Sandra Kauanui (left) and Noemi Ailynee Ramirez, Y. Perez (right) Jessica Sales, with - TIF Shark Daisy Montanez, Tank winners
Alondra Estrada Swap & Shop teamNeika Exulus, Young entrep reneurs share ideas, earn award s
Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Noemi Y. Perez Southwest Florida tion’s business-theme students in The Immokalee Foundad summer camp entrepreneurial recently shared ideas their Tank event modeled and garnered awards during a Shark The four-week after the popular TV show. was a partnership Business Management Pathway Coast University’sbetween the foundation and Floridacamp Gulf developed businessInstitute for Entrepreneursh ip. among them: finding plans that solved problems Students common clothes on a budget; centric finances; handling ñera; and findinggetting better sleep; planning studenta quincearestaurants suitable stricted diets. for people with reStudent teams gave presentations about ences, startup costs, their target audiprojected profits, marketing other aspects of entrepreneurial plans and Dr. Sandra Kauanui, enterprises at iTECH mokalee. Judges FGCU Director spoke during the for of Entrepreneurs Smart Companies the presentations were: Brian in Imevent. hip, Rist, The Smart Companies executive chairman; Sofia Blanno, gram allows shoppers to arrange tor of corporate intern; and Matthew Turner, Hertz The through social an app, then physically to buy, sell or swap items direcFirst place awards responsibility. central location exchange those in Immokalee. items at a Shop team of Neika of $500 each went to the MentorUs, Daisy Montanez Exulus, Jessica Sales, Alondra Swap & smart financial an app that encourages students and Ailynee Ramirez. Estrada, decisions, earned interested in dressing Aimed at students for team members second place of to make fashionably on $250 each Alex Soriano, a budget, the pro- ie Etienne, Azael Simon-Quirino Je’an Espinoza, Myrlandand Simson Devesaint.
Fort Myers Mayor
Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Karen P. Moore,
launches Divers ity Committee
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more inclusive city. Publisher Student Hailey Countryman asked her employer, Sanibel Captiva “It is never too the Mayor if he munity Bank, Comlate to give up had to FGCU’s College on diversity whom a team of advisors Education. your prejudices.” of Henry David Thoreau for guidance. Since he could rely on said, “We In a recent interview she can’t really say question was no, the answer to that ing to be representative we are tryat that moment Fort Myers Mayor derson felt Henof our city’s derson has known Randy Hen- a team. inspired to create just such residents and community if we don’t have diversity Ndiang’ui wanted Florida Gulf Coast University on the to make She sure the Mayor explained the council itself.” was prepared ter Ndiang’ui for professor Dr. Pe- road ahead committee drew about 10 years and asked him, for the its 18 members was a guest speaker and from the commu“Are in his class, “In- really able to handle the truth?” you nity, representing troduction to Diversity,” diversity project moved The ethnicity, forward. in Novemgender and sexualin race, ber. Henderson Beth Countryman, asked students Hailey’s moth- tity. “We can’t be a committee idenhe could do to what er, became make Fort Myers up of old white made involved with men and think the project, going a which led to we are a $25,000 donation to be in charge of diversity.” from DIVERSITY See page 11 Payment Plans Available • Discounted Merchandise Parking Options Discount • Presale • Private Parties & Exclusive Gifts on Hertz Arena Concerts & Family Shows Buy Any 19/20 & Get A $20 Membership Pack FORD’S GIFT & ‘BLADES TOTE CARD BAG Valid on any NEW
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SBA begins processing applications for EIDL loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration began processing applications for additional loans of up to $2 million per property through its Economic Injury Disaster Loan program on Oct. 8.
Elite Jets, a Naples-based company founded in 2016, is among 50 fast-growing businesses being honored by GrowFL.
Elite Jets named 2021 ‘Company to Watch’ GrowFL has named Elite Jets as a 2021 Company to Watch as the charter air service continues to experience unprecedented growth fueled by post-pandemic business and leisure travel. Elite Jets, a Naples-based company founded in 2016, is among 50 fast-growing businesses being honored by GrowFL, which announced 2021 honorees on Oct. 5 and will formally recognize winners during a Feb. 17 awards celebration. “There are tens of thousands of successful, Florida-based businesses across the state, so it’s an exceptional honor to be declared a ‘Company to Watch,’” said Stephen Myers, executive vice president at Elite Jets. “Over the past five years, we have focused on safety while creating a premier travel experience. Naples and Southwest Florida have proven to be an ideal home for Elite Jets, and we’re excited about what the future holds for our company.”
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The Edward Lowe Foundation developed GrowFL’s Companies to Watch program to honor second-stage businesses across Florida that are developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities and broadening new industries. GrowFL defines secondstage companies as those having six to 150 full-time employees and annual revenues of $750,000 to $100 million. In addition to evaluating past growth and projected success, judges also evaluated companies’ special strengths and impact in their markets, communities and within the state, thus deeming them worth watching. JETS See page 18
IN THE NEWS AHLA recently held a webinar with SBA to discuss the process and eligibility. Those who are interested can apply online. To help alleviate potential issues with additional funds requests, SBA LOANS See page 18
Aloia Roland expands footprint to Hendry-Glades County
Aloia, Roland, Lubell & Morgan has broadened its reach to better serve Southwest Florida’s fivecounty region, with the addition of two Hendry-Glades based attorneys.
As part of the Aloia Roland trial attorney team, Steve Ramunni will focus his attention on probate litigation and estate planning, business law, agricultural law, land use and zoning, and civil litigation. Maritrini Soto Garcia joins the law firm’s team as an ALOIA See page 18
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Working from home or living at work?
Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Karen P. Moore, Publisher
The Lee County Horizon Council presented a panel discussion regarding the effectiveness of remote working. The panel moderator was Kristy Rigot of Lee Health. Panel participants included Kristy Knupp, Senior Director of Recruiting, Chico’s FAS; Helen Edenfield, global director of Neogenomics Laboratories, and Scott Atwood of Henderson, of Franklin, Starnes & Holt attorneys. Currently, Knupp shared, the sales associates are mainly a hybrid role, and may each be home a couple of days each week. “How the model is set up,” she noted, “is driven at the team and individual level.” She noted that some employee groups don’t ever need to be onsite; this has been decided on a case-bycase basis. “The changes have been leadership-led and functionally driven.” Contrast that scenario with the situation at Neogenomics. Edenfield shared, “When COVID-19 hit, we had 1,900 employees; we moved 1,400 offsite in two weeks. This was mainly because we could not sustain the social distancing requirements at our facilities.” She continued, “We were fortunate because our work groups operate with Key Performance Indicators so we could still track and measure results.” She added, “Some positions simply work more effectively in the office; so we taught them how to manage remote workers. With hybrid teams, our tech and IT departments have lead the way for us.“ Atwood noted, “What employers should have done is to tell everyone this was temporary, but most
“Some positions simply work more effectively in the office; so we taught them how to manage remote workers.”
— Helen Edenfield, Global Director of Neogenomics Laboratories employers didn’t do this. This then opened the door for employees to be able to say, as protected by the EEOC, “I’ve got to work from home because of my situation.” He continued, “So the question now is, are we going to now have to accommodate everyone who wants to work from home, for instance, due to anxiety and depression?” Edenfield responded, “We’re lucky because our lab staff members understand that they cannot work remotely. We also offer onsite employees the opportunity to participate in events only for them. So far, so good. We’re just trying to make sure everyone feels included.” She continued, “We’re in the midst of building a new facility here locally: now everyone wants to come back. So I guess that’s the trick,” she quipped, “just build a new facility and everyone will want to come back.” Knupp added, “I think it comes down to your company culture, as well as your company’s ability to safely accommodate the situation, when determining who can and cannot safely and comfortably return to work. And certain jobs certainly must be performed in-person.” She continued, “Luckily, we do have a model for digital selling—and the work was
done pre-COVID-19, so that really helped us during this transition period.” But, Atwood noted, “Most companies here don’t have the support layers that Chico’s and Neogenomics have in place. And many of them are using remote access for the first time. These employers had to answer some tough questions,” he continued, “like: How do we do this? How do we manage employees’ productivity when they are not physically here? What do the employees really do and what’s really important for them to do? We don’t want overtime for hourly employees so how do we ‘watch’ them remotely to ensure they are truly working 8 hours?” Atwood concluded, “COVID-19 and its workplace implications have turned the traditional workplace model inside out. We’ve faced many challenges, including how to address: 1) talent retention/ employee engagement; 2) work/life balance issues for our employees; 3) office spatial planning; 4) talent attraction; 5) productivity measurement and 6) legal implications. Future considerations include: 1) what is a sustainable model for OUR company; 2) what is the impact of any changes on the company culture; 3) how do we address work/life balance for our employees moving forward; 4) how can we provide effective new employee onboarding virtually and 5) what are the legal (i.e. ADA) implications? As the panel indicated, there are many facets to managing a hybrid workplace, more than there was time to address at this event. Moreover, each work situation is more than likely, different from the next, as we continue to work through this fluid situation, and all should remain both adaptable and vigilant.
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Dragon Horse builds on a career in finance, technology Before launching Dragon Horse Agency in 2015, Patrick Blake Renda, founder, chief strategy officer and managing partner, spent the better part of two decades in various industries. The story behind his entrepreneurial journey demonstrates the importance of determination, purposeful action, a startup mentality and leveraging available resources. After a short stint with NBC right out of college, Renda made a career change and went into law. As a senior paralegal, he then joined a national law firm. In 1995, Renda met the vice president of a Wall Street firm called J&W Seligman & Company. Renda interned with the firm for the next six months from 4 till 8 a.m. every day, then went to his day job. In 1996, he left his paralegal job, a decision that changed his life forever. Renda shared, “I accepted a base position with J&W Seligman & Company for $30,000 a year, substantially less than what I was making at the law firm, starting at the bottom. Everyone thought I was crazy to leave my paralegal job, but I was pumped, and I was with the best technology fund in the country.” Within three years, Renda was ranked as a Best of the Buy Side Top Money Manager by Institutional Investor Magazine. Six years later, he moved to American Express Asset Management. There he served as head technology specialist/sector portfolio manager of a team managing $38 billion and Renda’s responsibilities included direct oversight of $16 billion invested in technology, media and telecom. Renda left in late 2006 to launch a boutique investment firm—unfortunately just as the housing market began to collapse, as did the global financial system and markets. In 2007, Renda relocated full-time to Florida, winding ®
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down his prior venture and consulting until 2011, when he met the founder of a small skincare company. Over the next few months, Renda began advising the founder, tapping into his investment and business background. In July 2011, Renda was asked to join the company full time, and he spent the next four plus years as chief operating officer and executive vice president of Business Development. “When you are part of a startup, whether you are a founder or employee, everyone wears many hats, and it is a team effort,” Renda shared. The small team transformed from a local brick-and-mortar to a rapidly growing business, and a recognized brand winning numerous awards along the way. In 2015, Renda parted ways and began to focus on two entrepreneurial opportunities he envisioned. “While investing in public and private companies and working as an entrepreneur myself, I had extensive experience working with marketing agencies and found those experiences to be pretty frustrating,” he said. These experiences lit the spark leading to his next endeavor. Renda continued, “From the beginning, the focus – and the main differentiator for Dragon Horse – was to create a firm that offered comprehensive business strategy consulting and marketing services under one roof, providing a ‘one-stop shop’ for clients.” Early on, Renda brought Julie Koester onboard as cofounder and managing partner. With a doctorate in Public Health, Koester’s vast experience included serving as the founding chairwoman of the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples and experience as a retail business owner/ operator. Renda noted, “Our partnership started by us taking out some notebook paper and drawing up our business plans.” Renda shared some of the early challenges he and
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Placeres elected chair for Signature Travel Network
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Koester worked through, including a lack of space (they worked out of Koester’s kitchen for nearly a year and a half), having to self-fund the business and not taking compensation from the company for almost two years. “Dragon Horse is not your everyday marketing agency. We vet our clients to ensure a good fit on both sides, and business strategy — and how that incorporates with the client’s overall marketing strategy — is front and center.” “For Dragon Horse Agency, I am passionate about helping clients build, grow, manage, and promote their businesses,” he said. “I’ve been an investor and entrepreneur in businesses of all sizes; thus, I bring a unique perspective, skillset, and level of expertise. Strategizing with our clients and then implementing actionable objectives is not only enjoyable but truly exciting for me.” Dragon Horse has won several awards, including recently, “Best Ad Agency.” Simultaneously during the creation of Dragon Horse, Renda and Koester actively discussed Koester’s existing lifestyle company Life with Moxie and her academic background, thus began the development of yet another entrepreneurial vision, creating a plant-based skincare line called Moxie Creed. Renda added, “For Moxie Creed, I share my co-founder’s passion for healthy, active living, and that starts and ends daily with what we put in our bodies and our skin.” What advice does Renda have for aspiring entrepreneurs? “Be brutally honest with yourself and, most importantly, know your industry and business inside and out. Live in the details of your business.”
Mike Pfeffer, MBA, CBA, BCI, CM&AP Mike@EdisonBA.com 239.877.9911
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Preferred Travel is excited that Signature Travel Network announced the election of its new board of directors at the annual Owners’ Meeting which is comprised of owners of member agencies. The Board of Directors is elected by shareholders annually. Preferred Travel President Olga Placeres was elected as board chair. “I am honored to have been elected as the new Chair. It is Placeres a privilege to serve the Network that has continually supported all of us in the travel business, and to work alongside an incredibly dedicated board and committed Signature staff will be a privilege,” says Olga Placeres, President of Preferred Travel. “I have big shoes to fill but trust that together we will thrive as our travel industry recovers.” Signature Travel Network is a member-owned travel cooperative, headquartered in El Segundo, California, with a regional office in New York City. The network was established in 1956, and today includes 210 member agencies in the U.S. and 71 international agencies. Collectively, Signature members generate more than $11 billion in annual travel sales. Signature’s objective is to serve the needs of its members: boutique specialists, internet-based marketers, and multilocation agencies. “The commitment of the Signature Board in sharing both their time and expertise during this most challenging time has been critical to me, our members and our team. Their leadership has left us all in a strong position to reap the benefits of the emerging travel recovery. For that and their always positive guidance I am grateful,” said Alex Sharpe, president and CEO of Signature Travel Network.
NOVEMBER 2021
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Tamiami Angels invest in medical device company Angel investors from Southwest Florida invested additional equity in Catalyst OrthoScience, a Naplesbased medical device company that has developed an innovative approach to shoulder-replacement surgery. The members of Tamiami Angel Fund IV invested $669,791 in Catalyst OrthoScience’s fourth “Series D” preferred stock offering. Together with prior investments from members of Tamiami Angel Funds II and III, the Naples angels have invested a total of $2.38 million in the fast-growing firm, now the largest investment of any Tamiami portfolio company. “When we launched the Tamiami Angel Funds over a decade ago, our goal was to identify and invest in promising Florida companies, and we are proud to say our largest investment to date is in our hometown,” said Timothy Cartwright, partner of Fifth Avenue Family Office and Chairman of Tamiami Angel Funds. “This innovative technology and groundbreaking solution created by Naples orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Steven Goldberg, represents the spirit of entrepreneurship that we seek to encourage as an overarching strategy to diversify Southwest Florida’s economy,” Cartwright added. Shoulder replacement is one of the fastest-growing segments in all of orthopedics, representing the majority of the upper extremities market. Catalyst OrthoScience is disrupting the standard market approach to shoulder replacement surgery on many fronts. In March 2021, the company received clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to market its reverse shoulder system, allowing the
company to reach over 60% of the shoulder arthroplasty market. The Archer CSR Total Shoulder System is unique because it offers precision and accuracy in shoulder restoration while preserving the patient’s bone and soft tissue compared to other systems. With stemless anatomic and reverse TSA market coverage, Catalyst OrthoScience has emerged as one of the fastestgrowing players in the total shoulder arthroplasty market. “This funding round comes at a pivotal time for the Catalyst OrthoScience team,” said Brian Hutchison, chair and CEO of Catalyst OrthoScience. “We are experiencing a significant period of growth, and this funding allows us to enhance our innovative product portfolio with further technological advancements in the shoulder arthroplasty space and expand our team across all areas.” Angel investors help entrepreneurs before they seek venture capital, but after they’ve exhausted money from friends and family. Such investors typically are wealthy individuals or families who have the means to risk their capital and give freely of their time to mentor entrepreneurs in the startup phase of a business. Headquartered in Naples, Tamiami Angel Funds consists of four member-managed 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 for those in the state of Florida. Fifth Avenue Family Office is the administrator of the angel funds and caters to high-net-worth entrepreneurs and their families.
NOVEMBER 2021
ANNIVERSARIES
E. Sue Huff and Associates celebrates 25th anniversary
E. Sue Huff & Associates is now celebrating 25 years in business. Sue Huff, owner of E. Sue Huff & Associates, created her marketing and management consulting firm in 1996. Located in Naples, the firm provides strategic marketing and management consulting as well as public relations services to owners and managers of small to mid-size businesses and charitable organizations in Southwest Florida. Huff Huff has worked with hundreds of businesses over the past 25 years. Projects have ranged from aviation, construction, medical and retail to events and charitable organizations. Before relocating to Naples in 1994, Huff managed the Department of Printing for the City of Cincinnati and prior to that, she was the co-owner and manager of a chain of print shops. She began her career in the newspaper industry and filled several positions from sales to ad layout. Her background in graphic arts and her leadership skills made the consulting transition an easy one. E. Sue Huff & Associates is a marketing and management consulting firm that fills the gaps for clients in Southwest Florida. Visit www.esuehuff.com, call (239) 596-7990 or e-mail sue@esuehuff.com.
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NOVEMBER 2021
ANNIVERSARIES
Wonders never cease at Bonita Springs park
The Wonder Gardens has been a little bit like a flamingo. Sometimes throughout its 85-year history, the attraction seemed to be standing on one leg, sometimes on two. With new partnerships, exhibits and plans, The Wonder Gardens is ready to flourish and fly again. In 1936, the Piper family established a roadside animal attraction in Bonita Springs. When the Pipers were ready to sell the property BY DAVID in 2014, a group of RAHAHE:TIH residents formed a WEBB nonprofit to save the Guest Columnist prime downtown 3-acre property from potential commercial development. Recognizing the importance of the cultural icon to the community, the City of Bonita Springs eventually purchased the property and a public-private partnership was established to manage the operations of the zoological park and gardens. Since I arrived in September 2020, we have focused on beautification of the 85-year-old site, while improving the guest experience, operations and animal care. The gardens were closed during the pandemic for six months before reopening in October 2020, yet we welcomed 80,000 guests in 2020, exceeding all records, even though many exhibits and facilities were aged and outdated. Since then, we have added new exhibits, enhanced and updated existing exhibits and facilities. In preparation for professional accreditation, which will ensure quality, provide access to funding and species survival programs, such as American flamingo breeding program, we have updated business and accounting procedures, safety protocols, staff and volunteer training, and professionalized animal husbandry, feeding and food storage, among other improvements. As an employer in Bonita Springs, we are improving staff professionalization and professional development and creating a supportive work environment with fair wages. Educational programs are at the forefront of improvements, with the goal that every guest leave with a positive conservation ethic for our local and global environment. To do so, we have sought partnerships with Florida Gulf Coast University by offering unique courses and growing an internship program for students to receive college credit and service-learning hours. We are active members of the Bonita Springs Downtown Business Alliance and our local chambers of commerce, and with the visitors we bring to Bonita Springs, we are vital to an estimated $14 million annual economic impact. While our primary goal is the care of more than 300 rescued, rehabilitated and non-releasable animals, we are committed to establishing partnerships with businesses to benefit our community for the next 85 years. David Rahahe:tih Webb, president and CEO of Wonder Gardens, is a native Floridian and a citizen of the Tuscarora and Meherrin Indian Tribes. He is passionate about Southwest Florida’s environment and education and previously worked at the Naples Botanical Garden and Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Visit WonderGardens.org.
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CBIA recognizes excellence at Annual Sand Dollar Gala The Collier Building Industry Association 2021 Sand Dollar Awards Gala “The Wind Beneath Our Wings,” celebrating 31 years of excellence in the construction industry and presented by CBIA’s Sales and Marketing Council (SMC), was held Sept. 25 at The RitzCarlton, Naples. Sixty-two companies were recognized with 2021 Sand Dollar Awards, including: All About Closets, Barron Collier Companies, Big Island Builders, Boutique Interiors, B-Squared Advertising, BUILD LLC, C. R. Smith, Calusa Bay Design, CGU Homes, Clive Daniel Home, Collins DuPont Design Group, Connor & Gaskins Unlimited, Curran Young Construction, D.R. Horton, Diana Hall Design, Discovery Senior Living, Dwayne Bergmann Interiors, EnviroStruct, Floridian Carpentry, G2 Studios, GATES Construction, Harwick Homes, Illuminated Design, Imperial Homes of Naples, J. Lynn Design Group, Kalea Bay, Kellam Group Interiors, Kevin Williams Construction, KGT Remodeling, KnaufKoenig Group, Koastal Design Group, LCDesigns, Lemonade Hype, London
Back row: Amy Wilson, Kim Schiller, Jo Carter, Shelly McCormick. Front row: Wilfredo Emanuel, Lisa Lovetto, Lynne Stambouly, Blanca Vasquez, Cheryl Jost, Erin Otterbeck. Bay Homes, London Bay Renovation, Group, Stevens Construction, Stock Lotus Construction, Mattamy Homes, Custom Homes, Stock Development, McGarvey Custom Homes, Miromar Stock Luxury Homes, Stofft Cooney Development Corp., Norris Furniture Architects, Surety Construction Com& Interiors, PBS Contractors, Peacock pany, Taylor Morrison, The Lutgert and Lewis Architects, Premier Sothe- Companies, The Lykos Group, The by’s International Realty, PulteGroup, Ronto Group, Theory Design, Vogue Renée Gaddis Interiors, Romanza In- Interiors, W Design, Wilfredo Emanuel terior Design, Seagate Development Designs and Wilson Creative Group.
ANNIVERSARIES Freedom Waters Foundation celebrates 15 years In 2021, Freedom Waters Foundation proudly celebrates 15 years of enhancing lives through boating and marine-related activities for people with disabilities, life-threatening illnesses, youth at risk, others with special needs and veterans. Picture a child with cancer smiling for the first time since diagnosis or a
ANNIVERSARIES
Children’s Advocacy Center marks 40 years
The Children’s Advocacy Center of SWFL will celebrate 40 years of providing services to children and families on Dec. 4 at the Burroughs Home. “We are looking forward to celebrating the work of our CAC in December and are so grateful for the support of our sponsors to ensure that this celebration is a joyful evening that brings in additional funding for the agency,” said Cole Peacock, CAC Board President. “This agency is critical for our community to assist children who have been victims of abuse and neglect providing a child friendly environment where they can be heard and begin to heal.” The featured keynote speaker is Sasha Neulinger, director of the acclaimed documentary, “Rewind,” his personal story of surviving multi-generational child sex abuse. Additionally, Sheriff Carmine Marceno and Sheriff Mike Scott will serve as the Honorary Event Chairs. Since 1981, The Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida, a United Way partner agency, has worked to improve the lives of children and their families through a coordinated response to child abuse and neglect, offering them a safe and friendly environment in which to heal. All services are provided free of charge. Call (239) 939-2808 or visit www.cac-swfl.org.
veteran with PTSD relaxing and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow veterans and loving civilians. They leave their worries on the dock as they head out on local waters for a few hours of relaxation and sunshine. That’s what happens during Freedom Waters Foundation’s free programs and the kind of experiences the organization
has been providing for 15 years. Freedom Waters Foundation provides more than 3,200 on-the-water experiences annually. As the organization works toward building a national presence, the goal is for even more people to have the opportunity to benefit from boating experiences for many more years to come.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
NOVEMBER 2021
SALUTE TO ENTREPRENEURS
Unusual course leads to distinct restaurant opening I am excited to announce the opening of Pink Sugar Black Salt Kitchen, a licensed no-seat restaurant offering incredibly delicious baked goods, lunch delivery and more. My story doesn’t begin like most chefs because I didn’t take the traditional route to restaurant ownership. In fact, some people may think that going from a corporate business manager and business coach to owning a restaurant is quite a leap. However, it really has been a move into something I absolutely love. I was blessed to grow up in a household with some amazing cooks (My lunch box was the envy of all my classmates…LOL) but seriously, it was my time working at my grandmother’s restaurant that I was introduced to the creative world of food with all the trimmings. She had music, beautiful art on the walls, and the most incredible menu of food. Whether I was washing dishes, serving customers or learning how to
properly prepare meals, I was in my happy place. After high school, I attended university, earned a master’s degree in business, and worked for both nonprofit and for-profit corporations yet my passion for cooking remained. I enjoyed making my aunt’s recipe for almond meltaway cookies for company Christmas parties, my mother’s traditional gumbo for company potlucks and hearty flatbreads, BY ANGELA MARIE pizzas and salads whenever requested. For decades, I settled in, Guest Columnist became a wife and mother and believed my cooking would be just for family and small gatherings.
ANNIVERSARIES HR By Karen celebrating first anniversary
After a decade in the Human Resources industry, businesses’ needs while serving as Karen Shepherd realized it was time to make “care” as an organization’s partner and an emthe focus of her leadership style. Compassion, empathy ployee’s advocate. Whether it is onand heart are the foundations for a happy, engaged and site, remote or interim HR services, high-performing workplace. Having to participate in specialized programs, corporate her mom’s funeral via Zoom during the pandemic, culgifting, recruitment or employment minated in Shepherd’s decision to begin making a difhandbooks, HR by Karen will save ference. In July 2020, HR by Karen went from a dream businesses money, as well as ensure to a reality and on Sept. 15, 2020, her website went live. compliance with state and federal apShepherd’s approach to HR is to actually keep in Shepherd plicable laws and regulations. mind that the word “human” is first and foremost and Shepherd is also the president of being the “resource” for her clients, community and HR Collier, which meets monthly. Visit HR Collier’s friends follows closely behind. Shepherd listens, lives website for upcoming events and annual membership and leads her life with compassion, empathy and heart, at www.hrcollier.org. helping businesses create a culture of collaboration and Shepherd shared, “You can’t spell HeaRt without communication. She shares with businesses how their HR.” employees are more than a name on another spreadsheet and provides tools for engagement, such as her “6 To schedule a HR consultation or to learn Steps to Turn Obstacles into Opportunities” and Lead- more about Shepherd’s presentations or services, ership Bootcamps. contact (239) 776-5919 or Karen@HRbyKaren.com. HR by Karen provides HR solutions to fit your Visit hrbykaren.com.
But what a difference 2020 made. Like many others, COVID-19 brought about many changes including unemployment. After a month of “what am I going to do now,” I decided to: shake off the fear, lean into my passion, and bounce forward into the amazing world of food. As a chef, I am inspired by my family’s traditions, along with fashion, theater and art. I create delicious foods and culinary experiences, such as cooking classes and food and wine tastings right here in Southwest Florida. I am doing work I love. Entrepreneur Lesson: Take the terrified leap because the soar is worth it. Chef Angela Marie is the founder of opening of Pink Sugar Black Salt Kitchen. Find out more at www.pinksugarblaksalt.com. Contact (800) 341-0529 or pinksugarblacksalt@gmail.com.
ANNIVERSARIES
Passarella & Associates: 25 years in the making
Passarella & Associates celebrated 25 years of service as an ecological and GIS consulting firm. Since 1966, the company has been a lead provider of ecological consulting services and GIS mapping to assist clients achieve a balance between the environment and development. Passarella & Associates has consulting firms in Fort Myers and Sarasota, as well as a location in Charleston, South Carolina. To celebrate its milestone, Passarella & Associates hosted a luncheon with local food trucks and a special visit from Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass. Visit passarella.net to learn more about the company and its mission to achieve a sustainable relationship between developments and environmental resources
ANNIVERSARIES
IMAG celebrating 25 years of bringing inspiration to life Bringing inspiration to life, the IMAG History & Science Center is marking its 25th anniversary of serving the Southwest Florida community this year with “An Evening of Celebration and Inspiration.” The IMAG board of directors and staff is inviting the public to its 25th Anniversary Benefit on Nov. 13 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the IMAG History & Science Center located on Cranford Avenue in Fort Myers. The IMAG is looking forward to celebrating with a black-tie optional gala cocktail reception, hands-on activities, live science and animal shows and other entertainments, presentations, displays and silent auctions. “It’s an exciting time for us hosting our
twenty-fifth anniversary,” said Matt Johnson, executive director of the IMAG. “We would like to thank our members, guests, families, friends and community for their support of the museum and its mission. Making science and history accessible and relevant as well as engaging and exciting is at the forefront of our efforts,” Johnson added, “and it would not have been possible without all who have supported the IMAG, Imaginarium and SWFL Museum of History over the last 25 years.” The IMAG 25th Anniversary Benefit was originally planned for September but rescheduled due to concerns for COVID-19 safety.
The 25th anniversary celebration for the IMAG History & Science Center will be held Nov. 13.
NOVEMBER 2021
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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida
Publix Super Market opens at Crescent B Commons
Babcock Ranch residents and neighbors now have a new place for shopping at the newly completed Publix Super Market in the Crescent B Commons shopping center. Kitson & Partners, developers of Babcock Ranch, celebrated the grand opening alongside Publix Super Market’s store management team at a ribbon cutting celebration before welcoming its first customers. Offering a drive-thru pharmacy, a lighted mezzanine for dining, and a liquor store, Publix is the first business serving customers in the 83,487-squarefoot Crescent B Commons shopping center located at a new entrance to Babcock Ranch. “Today marks a special day for ourABabcock look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida Ranch residents,” said Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, at the grand opening. “With the addition of Publix and its superior customer service and grocery selection, we have taken a big step forward in our vision as a sustainable and growing community.” Several other retailers, including restaurants, hair and beauty salons, financial services, a coffee shop, and healthcare providers will gradually begin to open throughout the remainder of 2021. A few of the businesses already lined up are Pi Local Pizza, Kitson & Partners, developers of Babcock Ranch, celebrated the grand opening alongside Publix Super The Vet at Babcock, M’xuma Tacos, Burger Fi, Market’s store management team at a ribbon cutting celebration before welcoming its first customers. U. Yee Sushi, Stellar Vision, Encore Nails, Postal plete and features an expansive bridge entry and a functional school bell tower. “After much anticipation, we are excited to ofPack & Ship, and Royal Paw Grooming and Day enhanced landscaping. Just east of the new bridge, Care. Additional outparcel tenants will join Cres- additional north-south connectivity within Bab- fer area residents the quality and convenience of a cent B Commons in the spring of 2022. Katz & As- cock Ranch is provided by a newly opened section nearby Publix, along with additional services and sociates is overseeing retail space leasing for the of Curry Preserve Drive. A new traffic signal at shopping just steps from their front door,” said Tom Babcock Ranch Road/State Road 31 has also been Hoban, president and CIO of Kitson & Partners. new shopping center. “The new plaza will align with Babcock Ranch’s To provide direct, convenient access to the installed. Future improvements to the Cypress Parkway distinctive style, with outdoor spaces offering opshopping center, a new entrance to Babcock Ranch has been established through the Cypress Parkway extension will include roundabouts that will each portunities for shoppers to sit and enjoy the natural extension. The new four-lane road is now com- feature themed elements, including a windmill and beauty of our area.”
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET
Mayor John Gunter discusses Cape Coral’s continuing rise
Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Karen P. Moore, Publisher
Mayor John Gunter has been in office for 10 months, after being appointed in January 2021 upon the unexpected passing of Mayor Joe Coviello. He will fulfil the remainder of Coviello’s term, which ends November 2022. Gunter has served on the City Council since 2017; he is owner and president of Gulf Coast Premier Homes and has Gunter been a Cape Coral resident since 2007. Recently, Gunter shared his thoughts on Cape Coral and its future. “With the kind of growth our city has seen and will continue to see for the foreseeable future, our focus at the City has been on strategic visioning. The plan in place today is obsolete; we are now developing a new 20-year vision.” He continued, “There are two things we need to have in place: 1) a viable strategic vision and 2) a plan for how we’re going to get there.” To create these two items, Gunter stated the City has partnered with the Florida Institute of Government. He has met with members of the Institute on a few occasions thus far. “We need to develop this plan as a community,” he said. “Most of the things the community wants, we also want. Together we need to develop a roadmap on how to grow moving forward.”
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Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/ calendar To that end, the City has also partnered with the Urban Land Institute. Gunter noted, “We are waiting to get their recommendation after members of the Institute can visit the city, and COVID-19 and the variant have slowed that part of the process down a bit.” But to ensure the city is getting input, officials conducted and completed surveys of the public, city management, city employees and the City Council. Of Gunter’s four priorities, the top one is public safety. “We recently added more members to both our team of firefighters as well as our police force. It is important to not just think about what we need right now but where do we want to be in five years?” Not surprisingly, his second and third priorities respectively are development of the City’s park system and water quality. Residents approved a $60-million Go Bond last year to help with parks development and the City is involved in several projects to address water quality. Among them, Gunter noted, are expanding the utility system as well as the septic and sewer systems, which should also help with leaching issues. He added, “Expanding the City’s infrastructure can also assist us with GUNTER See page 14
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
NOVEMBER 2021
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida
Krise Commercial Development reports progress on Aldea Commercial Real Estate Developer Randy Krise, owner/broker of Krise Commercial Group, reports progress to develop a multi-family, innovative lifestyle development as part of the anticipated Midtown Fort Myers project near the downtown River District. Called Aldea, Italian for town or village, the 5.7acre development with an urban-like design, is expected to transform the landscape of the surrounding area and will be breaking ground December 2022. This project moved forward with the unanimous approval by City of Fort Myers Planning and Zoning to grant all necessary zoning changes and the vacation of Royal Palm Avenue. Inspired by the Midtown
Fort Myers Integrated Redevelopment Plan vision, Aldea will occupy the city block bordering Fowler Street, Market Street and Central Avenue with two separate residential buildings that look inward to multi-functional courtyard spaces. The 305-unit multifamily smart and connected community features a mix of studio, one- and twobedroom designs, several offering dens that provide support for home office or remote workspace. Amenities include a courtyard pool with fire pits and projection screen, social community room, fitness area and a business lounge to offer multiple locations to expand your remote office experience. The project will also have 30,000 square feet of commercial/re-
tail space and a 540-space parking garage. Aldea, estimated to cost approximately $65 million, is expecting occupancy for Fall of 2024. The team working with Krise includes: Dean Martin with TDM Engineering; Ron Reitz with Studio 4 Architecture; Deangelis Diamond as the general contractor; and Maxwell, Hendry & Simmons, already completed appraisals, market studies and the projects pro-forma. “We assembled a team of highly regarded professionals to make this project a success, including working in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council achieving an environmental Green strategic approach to the project,” Krise said.
ANNIVERSARIES
Hole Montes brings color, character to SWFL
BY BOB MULHERE Guest Columnist
In 1966, Southwest Florida looked exactly like images depicted on historical black-andwhite postcards – dusty roads, plain buildings, pockets of barren land. Fast forward to today, and Naples, Fort Myers and surrounding communities are full of color, character and culture. In 2021, Hole Montes is celebrating its 55th anniversary. Although Stanley Hole and Sergio Montes are no longer leading the company, their high standards of excellence remain in place. To this day, customer satisfaction is still a priority. Hole Montes expanded its extensive suite
of professional services to include civil, environmental, transportation and aviation engineering. Additional services include stormwater design, planning and entitlement, landscape architecture, 3D graphics and digital design, and surveying and mapping. As one of the region’s most-established firms, Hole Montes’ footprint is evident across Southwest Florida. The firm’s signature projects include large master planned communities such as Gateway, Fiddler’s Creek, Pelican Sound, Miromar Lakes, West Bay Club and Hacienda Lakes. Its team members laid the groundwork for corporate buildings for
HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP
Neogenomics, Chico’s, Hertz and Gartner, as well as large commercial centers like Miromar Outlets and Coconut Point Town Center. Hole Montes’ portfolio also features dozens of assisted living facilities, hospitals, schools, parks, airports and other public buildings. Even after 55 years, trust, reputation, technical expertise and quality still matter. Bob Mulhere is president of Hole Montes, a growing company of engineers, landscape architects, planners and surveyors. Visit HoleMontes.com or call (239) 254-2000 (Naples) or (239) 985-1200 (Fort Myers).
“Strategic commercial growth starts with having the infrastructure in place to meet economic development objectives.” — John Gunter, Mayor of Cape Coral
GUNTER PAGE 13
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
economic development.” Within the next 30 days, a utility expansion plan will be submitted, he stated. His fourth priority, he noted, is commercial development. “The Rosen brothers’ vision was to create a bedroom community. Like it or not, we’ve passed that point so we have to embrace smart growth, strategic growth.” He continued, “The Cape has a 92%-
8% ratio between the commercial and residential tax bases, and for years we’ve been saying we need to address this. “Having strategic commercial growth starts with having the infrastructure in place to meet economic development objectives.” As for creating the City’s plan for the future, he noted, “The last step in the process is getting the ULI visit completed, so we can then begin the plan development process in earnest.”
for our clients.
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2 Story Office Building 31 Barkley Circle Fort Myers, FL 33907
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NOVEMBER 2021
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Page 15
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida
Heatherwood Construction launches a new project in the Florida Panhandle
Kolter Homes engaged Heath- Construction has developed a speerwood Construction to build its cialty in building amenity centers new clubhouse called NatureWalk for communities and continues to at WaterSound in Walton County. grow its reach by creating satisfied With this new project, Heatherwood customers. Past projects include the Construction continues to expand its WildBlue Sports Center and Guardterritory of work beyond Southwest house, The Lakewood National Fitness Center, and Villages of MonFlorida. The clubhouse, which is central terey Clubhouse, to name a few. For the NatureWalk at Waterto the community, will feature a fitness center, a pool and sport courts. Sound project, Bob Hermance is the project manager and Mario Andre is The project began in late July. superintendent. Florida Over the years, & Heatherwood estate trends topics intheSouthwest
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET A look at commercial real
Suffolk is getting ready to begin vertical construction on Vi at Bentley Village’s latest multi-million dollar makeover to their resort-style senior living community in North Naples
Suffolk prepares for Vi at Bentley Village Redevelopment Project Suffolk is getting ready to begin vertical construction on Vi at Bentley Village’s latest multi-million dollar makeover to their resort-style senior living community in North Naples The redevelopment project will update and expand the community’s Skilled Nursing Facility (Bentley Care Center) and Assisted Living Residences, while enhancing their care services with a new Center for Living Well. The project will increase the number of private one-bedroom apartments to 84 in assisted living. The renovated building will also retain 15 memory support apartments for residents who require an extra level of care. The Center for Living Well will house support services, such as physical therapy, wellness and home health, and is designed for the needs of all residents. The new center will encompass 5,700 square feet, offering stateof-the-art occupational and physical therapy equipment. It will include a large courtyard for therapy outdoors, with different surfaces to walk, climb and stretch on. At the Bentley Care Center, resident rooms will get a makeover to enhance privacy. The new design will
Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/ calendar feature a total of 84 private rooms, all with private bathrooms. This is a continuation of Suffolk’s involvement in the redevelopment of Vi at Bentley Village. Previous work has included the demolition of older independent living buildings and the construction of a new 51-unit independent living building and golf studio. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Vi at Bentley Village through this latest project that will give residents everything they could hope for and more, thanks to the ownership’s vision, planning, and drive,” said Ben Wilson, Suffolk chief operating officer of the Gulf Coast. “The construction will create a seamless transition between the property’s independent, assisted living, and skilled nursing.” Suffolk is servicing the project from their local Estero office, which employs more than 150 professionals.
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
Lee & Associates recently completed the following transaction: TT of Naples, Inc. purchased a 25,635-square-foot retail building on 1.72 acres known as the Trail Shopping Center on 9th Street in North Naples from M & T Enterprises, Inc. for $8,500,000. TT of Naples purchased the center for investment purposes. Bill Young, Biagio Bernardo and Brock Rasmussen of Lee & Associates negotiated the transaction. Lee & Associates offers an ar-
ray of real estate services tailored to meet the needs of the company’s clients, including commercial real estate brokerage, integrated services and construction services. Established in 1979, Lee & Associates is now an international firm with offices throughout the United States and Canada. The professionals regularly collaborate to make sure they are providing their clients with the most advanced, up-to-date market technology and information.
Introducing ALDEA
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.
For more informa�on, call Karen at (239) 770-7527
Randy Krise, CCIM ®
www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
Lee & Associates announces $8.5 million retail sale in North Naples
Commercial Real Estate Broker Cell: 239.633.8672 Email: Randy@KriseCG.com www.KriseCG.com
w w w
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r i s e
CG.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
NOVEMBER 2021
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida
Property as an investment can still be smart business
We use the words “Land Speculation” and most people get a negative vibe. The term itself implies risk. I have been trying to make money from land speculation since 1979. I have owned multiple properties and have never lost money on a purchase. Is that “Speculation”? Of course it is. There is never a guarantee. Some land purchases make a greater return than others and then there are those purchases that don’t perform. Some pieces I had to hold longer than I wanted or should have. As an example, I bought a 6-acre property on an arterial roadway for $435,000. Four years later, I could have sold it for $1,500,000, but I held it 10 more years and still sold it for $1,500,000. They don’t always continue to appreciate as markets can change on a dime. Had I sold early, I could have used the $1,000,000 profit over those 10 years for larger investments instead of carrying that property and expenses of ownership. That was during my, “I love owning that property” period of my life. What could my 14 years return really have been without emotion being involved? Location, zoning, future land use or growth are the ingredients of a good purchase. I bought a property for $23,000 that was on a road that seemed like it was directly in the path of growth. As it turned out, it was, but one road over was where the boom occurred, as big boxes, large neighborhoods buzzing
with ancillary services popped up everywhere. I still sold it for $890,000 but other properties in that area outperformed mine by four to five times. There is no secret. The formula is your gut feeling + knowledge + understanding the dynamics of your county + the ability to invest. My parents were depression babies, terrified of risk and would never invest. They had multiple BY RANDY opportunities but couldn’t pull KRISE the trigger. I watched many othGuest Columnist ers profit over the years on those opportunities they lost. Remember, every property listed isn’t necessarily a good investment. If you want to develop the property for your own use, there are different considerations. I have been a licensed Real Estate Broker for 40 years. As much as I love and respect my peers, most agents want to make a sale. Just like any niche, few agents are competent to advise you on good land investments. The fact is that like any profession, most agents are desperately seeking their next paycheck. There are things you can do to add value to a property. Paying a civil engineer will create value and the return is usually well worth the cost. You can
For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com also make a simple drawing showing the surveyed dimensions and possible placement of structures. You can show maximum building size with setbacks and green areas. If you want to really enhance the value, you can rezone the property to a useful commercial zoning category. Additionally, for larger properties, you could perform a market study, a traffic study and make a proforma showing potential income to the buyer from dirt to fully occupied property. Your civil engineer can show ingress/egress and water retention areas while calculating mandatory parking spaces that will have to be accounted for prior to construction. Your investment would probably be in the neighborhood of $50,000 to $100,000 to make these improvements, but the return on your investment could be increasing the value of a property ten-fold and a much faster sale. Land can be a great investment if you know what you are doing and are working with a qualified land specialist. Randy Krise, CCIM, is the owner/broker of Krise Commercial Group and can be reached at Randy@ krisecg.com or (239) 633-8672.
Vertical construction on White Cap begins Seagate Development Group has completed the shell of White Cap Construction Supply’s steel fabrication building and begun vertical construction on the national building materials supplier’s warehouse. This is part of a 10-acre, 45,000-square-foot facility on Oriole Road — off Alico Road — in Fort Myers. The steel fabrication building includes an 18,000-square-foot steel structure, an overhead crane and steel-bending ma-
chines. Meanwhile, the 32,990-squarefoot warehouse is coupled with an openarea conference room, a break room, a showroom and office spaces. Crews are building these components as they conduct site utility work, which includes a lift station; water, sewer and fire lines; and drainage, as well as start on asphalt in the parking lot. PDS Architecture is the architect on White Cap, while Quattrone & Associates is the civil engineer.
Seagate Development Group has completed the shell of White Cap Construction Supply’s steel fabrication building.
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NOVEMBER 2021
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Page 17
ANNIVERSARIES
Cabinet makers provide 30 years of quality craftsmanship In 1991, Thomas Riley assembled a small team of master cabinet makers and fine finishers with a clear mission: “to provide nothing less than monumental quality craftsmanship and white glove customer service.” Now, 30 years later, Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild is relied upon by the most discerning homeowners, builders, architects and interior designers to create
Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar unparalleled interiors for some of the finest residences in the world. The team of passionate artisans and support staff has grown to more than 70 individuals,
Prepare the perfect media pitch Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, hosting an event or simply want to tell the world you’ve invented the best thing since sliced bread, blindly forwarding information to the media en masse will likely get your message tossed in the recycle bin. Targeting appropriate media members directly with an effective and well thought out approach can make all the difference in the world and really grab their attention. First things first – be prepared! Without clear, concise talking points and a designated spokesperson, you may lose a great opportunity if the media reaches out for an interview and you seem unprofessional or unreliable. The point of pitching the media is to get an interview. The more preparation you do now, the easier the entire process will be later. Reporters love to work with sources they come to know as reliable and easy to work with. Great sources understand what the reporter is looking for in a story and what value the information brings to the intended audience. Find the story for them. Media outlets, reporters and influencers receive outrageous numbers of emails every day. They won’t take the time to dig through tons of information to decipher what your story is about and if it would benefit their subscribers or viewers. Don’t treat this as a sales pitch. Be helpful in your approach and try to have a unique angle. Know what you’re trying to achieve by getting coverage and focus on how to package it in a way that provides value to the news outlet’s audience. Knowing the audience is imperative. Only by understanding exactly who you are trying to reach can you determine appropriate reporters, publications, TV stations, influencers or other media that would be a match for those target demographics. Understanding your audience also helps you craft an appropriate and impactful message that truly speaks to them. Be sure to develop a few key messages. Simply answering questions during an interview will get the reporter what they need, but you want these two or three key points to explain what makes the story newsworthy while also achieving your personal or business objective for getting the coverage. Make it actionoriented and state what you want them to do. Be conversational. Don’t use industry jargon or technical terms; speak to your audience in
a way they will understand. Keep it short and sweet. Remember, the media loves soundbites — memorable bits of information summed up in concise, catchy phrases. Use national stories and statistics that support your pitch. This lets reporters and editors know up front that the story is newsworthy, timely and BY CONNIE relevant. Be sure to state RAMOS-WILLIAMS the direct correlation beGuest Columnist tween national stories and your objective — and how it all relates to the audience you are both trying to reach. Add statistics, interesting facts and a relatable human touch that really drives the story home. When possible, use links rather than attachments. Snappy subject lines are important. Inboxes are jammed with emails competing for attention, so it’s critical yours stands out. Know your story well enough to sum it up in a catchy subject line (think in soundbites) and it’s more likely to get opened. Include a few compelling details, a teaser, a great stat, or offer an exclusive if you can honestly do so. Reporters and influencers love to be the first to offer a great story. Finally, consider utilizing professionals like CONRIC pr + marketing to get your message out. Our experience and connections can work for you. We welcome the opportunity to provide professional public relations and marketing services to elevate your brand to achieve your company’s goals. Let us serve as your virtual back-office public relations, marketing and event team to provide you with creative writers, media specialists and brand strategists who can help to tell your story in a compelling way and position you for success as a market leader in your industry.
SALUTE TO ENTREPRENEURS
Health Insurance MD launches in Florida
Health Insurance MD is an independent insurance agency that provides assistance with policies, claims and consulting. Led by Mark Decherd, an insurance agent with years of experience in the industry, the firm works with clients to find affordable coverage without conflicts of interest. It works solely for its clients and is compensated by them or their employers in employer-based groups. Previously trained as a navigator for the Affordable Care Act under President Barack Obama’s administration, Decherd now offers his services directly to clients without being affiliated with any insurance carrier or government entity. He has found that this allows him to serve their best interest while simultaneously obtaining cost-effective insurance coverage. He has developed a novel 5-step system for assisting employers and individuals to obtain affordable health insurance. According to Decherd, businesses and individuals throughout Florida struggle to find affordable coverage. While a multitude of insurance agents are availDecherd able to help, it can be confusing to understand the myriad of options available. “Despite the promises of healthcare reform, obtaining affordable — and adequate — insurance coverage remains one of life’s most frustrating and elusive problems,” Decherd said. “I am driven to help people get affordable health care coverage that meets both their health care and budgetary needs.” Decherd is happy to answer any questions about obtaining health insurance in Florida. He knows that when someone has a question, it’s important to get it answered right away. Contact Mark Decherd at Health Insurance MD at (239)271-7785 or mark.decherd@gmail.com .
Connie Ramos-Williams is the president and chief marketing officer at CONRIC pr + marketing, a leading creative agency with offices in Fort Myers and Naples that specializes in branding, digital marketing, public relations, graphic design and website development. For more information, visit conricpr.com, email info@conricpr.com or call (239) 690-9840.
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all driven by a constant desire to continue the tradition of monumental quality and white-glove service. After 30 years, and now under the second-generation leadership of Matt and Ben Riley, the company continues to pursue excellence to exceed client expectations. One thing remains steadfast: a commitment to providing “nothing less than monumental” in every endeavor for every client.
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 Rachel Peacock at rpeacock@wgcu.org for current rate plans
Page 18
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
ANNIVERSARIES
After 13 years, Pro-Tec comes of age
In 2008, Master Plumber Rick Hume, Jr. estabequipment, supplies and technilished Pro-Tec Plumbing & Drains with just one cians there,” said Vice President employee— himself. The company was technically and Co-Owner Brandon Hume, headquartered in Naples, although in reality, it was Rick’s brother. the back of Hume’s pickup truck. Pro-Tec’s service area now Now a 13-year-old company, Pro-Tec is like all stretches from Marco Island and teenagers; the company has matured and is growing Naples through Bonita Springs, Esby leaps and bounds. tero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral and On Oct. 6, Pro-Tec announced it was adding Lehigh Acres. R. Hume HVAC services and changing its name to Pro-Tec The company’s plumbing diPlumbing & Air. vision installs and repairs toilets, “Over the past 13 years, our team has worked plumbing fixtures, water heaters, garbage disposdiligently to gain the trust of customers by provid- als and water filtration systems. Additional plumbing quality plumbing and superior service with hon- ing services include leak detection, re-piping, drain est pricing,” Hume said. “That’s why we’re not sur- cleaning and sewer inspections. Pro-Tec’s HVAC diprised when customers ask us for referrals of other vision offers diagnostics and system repairs, as well reliable, licensed contractors in Southwest Florida, as complete installations of condensers, air handling especially in the area of HVAC. They trust us and our units, thermostats and ductwork. team’s recommendations.” Pro-Tec, known for its Pro-Tec Promise of quality One week later, on Oct. 13, Pro-Tec announced it work, superior service and honest pricing, has grown had opened an additional location in Fort Myers to to employ more than 60 full-time staff and is actively better serve residential and commercial customers in recruiting new plumbers and HVAC technicians. Lee County while still maintaining its Naples warehouse to serve Collier County customers. Pro-Tec Plumbing & Air is a premier plumbing and “One of our points of pride is a quick response HVAC company serving residential and commertime, and it’s certainly more efficient to reach cus- cial customers in Collier and Lee counties. Visit tomers in Lee County if we already have trucks, PTPnaples.com or call (239) 261-1000.
ALOIA PAGE 1 associate attorney. Both Ramunni and Soto Garcia will be based in the Hendry-Glades office of LaBelle. “Even though we have litigated numerous cases across the state, the addition of legal veteran Steve Ramunni and community-builder Maritrini Soto Garcia to our firm dramatically improves our ability to serve a diverse Southwest Florida region. Their deep roots within Hendry-Glades County allows us to build stronger relationships in those communities and further our impact,” said Jack Morgan, senior partner. Well-respected in the courtroom, Ramunni brings a wealth of knowledge and a powerful skill set in nearly all practice areas of Aloia Roland and is a vital part of the firm’s probate litigation practice. At Aloia Roland, Maritrini Soto Garcia’s primary legal practice is business litigation and community association law. Early in her career, Soto Garcia
LOANS PAGE 1 shared the following tips based on different loan scenarios. • Application was processed in DCMS 2.0: If a borrower’s application number began with 2000 and did not have Rapid portal access for the original loan, it was processed in DCMS 2.0 and the increase will be as well. If the borrower has not already received their maximum eligible loan amount, they should submit their increase request
Aloia Roland’s senior partners gather in front of new office space, located in LaBelle and serving the Hendry-Glades market. gained experience in community association covenant enforcement. She excels in contract disputes, interpreting governing documents, enforcing compliance and drafting and amending rules for governing documents.
to CovidEIDLIncreaseRequests@sba. gov. • Borrower has received maximum eligible loan amount: The “request more funds” button will not appear in the EIDL portal for those who have already borrowed the maximum amount for which they are eligible. Borrowers who believe they are eligible for additional funds should review the “How Much Can I Borrow?” question in SBA’s FAQ and may submit an increase request to CovidEIDLIncreaseRequests@sba.gov.
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ITECH PAGE 1 Eagle said. “This award is crucial to the economic development of these counties and will bring new job training opportunities for the surrounding areas.” DeSantis said the spending from the job growth fund contributes to a goal of making Florida the leading state for workforce education in the country. Economic leaders in the region said it’s another available service to keep local employees advancing professionally. “CareerSource Florida is grateful to Governor Ron DeSantis and our partners in education and workforce development for prioritizing expanded workforce training opportunities for people throughout the state,” said CareerSource Florida President and CEO Michelle Dennard. “Programs like these will support Florida’s employers by providing a pipeline of trained, skilled talent that is ready to work.”
JETS PAGE 1 “This group of honorees represents 20 counties, 20 different industries and almost 50% of them are women, veteran or minority-owned,” said Lisa McIntosh, chair of the Companies to Watch program and founder of C-E-Optimal Advisors. “They have demonstrated notable growth and have the courage and tenacity it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Despite the challenges thrown their way and pivoting through a pandemic, these companies embody the unshakeable resiliency of Florida’s entrepreneurs.” Despite the pandemic, the 50 honorees project continued growth in 2021, with a 62% revenue increase and 49% growth in employees compared to 2020. If their projections hold, these 50 companies will have generated $1.7 billion in revenue and added more than 1,500 employees over the last five years – a 263% increase in revenue and a 206% increase in jobs since 2017. Elite Jets operates from a private terminal at Naples Airport. The company’s fleet includes four Embraer Phenom 300 jets, one Embraer Legacy 500 jet and a Bell 407 helicopter, and it also provides management services for a Hawker 850XP jet. Elite Jets serves affluent business and leisure passengers traveling to destinations across North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean.
• The borrower’s previous increase request was declined: The “request more funds” button will not appear in the EIDL portal if the most recent increase request was declined. Borrowers who believe they were declined in error or were declined because they failed to submit information or documents requested by a loan officer should review the FAQ and apply for reconsideration by emailing PDC.Reconsideration@sba.gov. • The borrower has a loan application or increase request in process: If
a borrower currently has a loan application or increase request in process, including in reconsideration, the “request more funds” button will not appear in their EIDL portal. Borrowers should not submit a new request before their current application or increase has been processed. For additional questions, please contact SBA at (800) 659-2955 (TTY: (800) 877-8339) or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Did you know ...
that SWFBT highlights:
• • • • •
Daily Updates Breaking Business News B2B Events Calendar Commercial Real Estate Directory Professionals who are “Going Places” ... and much more at
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NOVEMBER 2021
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Page 19
FGCU global management program building bridges with SWFL community A motor coach turns off Alico Road and into the parking lot of My Shower Door/D3 Glass. Inside are 24 students of Management 4602 Global Business Strategy & Organization course, excited to embark upon a guided factory tour and deliver custom internationalization presentations to MSD/D3 company executives. Florid Gulf Coast University professors Dr. Daniel Rottig and Kevin Brady exchange wide grins as the students catch their first glimpse of the factory floor. This is year three of an ambitious program to provide FGCU Global Management students with applied learning opportunities, which benefit both students and Southwest Florida businesses. Rottig, a full professor and 12-year FGCU educator, has taken a lead role in developing the FGCU Global Management Program, which has seen incremental growth and development. “Through our International Business Concentration in the Bachelor of Science in Management program, our students have an exceptional opportunity to interact with and influence local business executives regarding international business expansion and so apply the learned knowledge to real-life international business opportunities,” Rottig noted. Since its inception in the fall of 2019 semester, the program has featured a number of internationalization projects for local companies including AHT- Advanced Hurricane Technology, a manufacturer of custom storm shutters based in Fort Myers. CEO and FGCU grad Jaime Zabala, who has worked for NASA for 10 years after graduating from FGCU and before taking over AHT, was able to gain additional market share in the Caribbean, utilizing the student internationalization plan and their Puerto Rico distribution facility. The additional markets enabled AHT to increase their efficiency with production and operations, while expanding their global footprint. This relationship between academia and commerce is bridged by Brady, FGCU‘s Small Business Development Center Advisor and International Trade Specialist. Brady is an 8-year employee and alumnus of FGCU, having received his master’s degree in 2018. He has spent the past 25-plus years working in global trade and logistics and is now an adjunct professor teaching Management 3600 International Business. “We’re just scratching the surface of what this program can become,” Brady said. “This is an excellent
Students from Florida Gulf Coast University’s Management 4602 Global Business Strategy & Organization course visit the factory floor for My Shower Door/D3 Glass. opportunity for our students, the university and business community to embrace and advance global commerce opportunities.” The program has already produced a number of local internships and has led to some full-time employment. One student went on to become an International Business Development specialist with local manufacturer AXI International and spearheads multi-million dollar projects globally. “Our program offers students with the invaluable opportunity to build critical thinking and business communication skills as well as gain the knowledge and experience needed to be work-ready for prospective employers that are either considering or already are engaged in global business activities, through applied international learning projects, advanced instruction within and outside the classroom and potential certification as global business professionals,” Rottig said. The Global Management Program extends into other areas including the International Business Association, a campus-wide student organization dedicated to international business knowledge and advancement. Furthermore, the program features a unique and globe-spanning X-Culture International Student Col-
laboration project, which provides students with the opportunity to work in global virtual teams with international peers at universities in over 100 countries on six continents. FGCU students who have successfully completed the X-Culture project have consistently been ranked among the highest performing and highest rated students around the globe. Several students have been invited to participate in international business conferences, won international project awards and were hired for internships and permanent job positions by multinational corporations. Lastly, the Global Management program systematically integrates a pathway to success agenda to prepare students to obtain the Certified Global Business Professional designation through NASBITE International. The nationally and internationally recognized CGBP certification, which is similar to the SHRM certification in the field of Human Resource Management or CPA designation in the field of Accounting, confirms to prospective employees that students are “proficient in global business and capable of working with the level of expertise and professionalism that is required in today’s competitive environment.”
IN BUSINESS SINCE 2011
2011
2009
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
1975
Gianni M. Vitiello, CIC Risk Advisor Direct: 239.444.1645 Mobile: 239.595.5511 gvitiello@rosierinsurance.com
www.RosierInsurance.com
2003
You can’t spell “HEART” without “HR” State Certified Electrical Contractor •Commercial •Residential •Service •Marine
Family Owned Since 1975 www.acraelectricinc.com (239) 542-1624
EC0000346
2015
2018
TAKE A BREAK
Results Based Business Consulting
Breakfast - Lunch Espresso Bar - Pastry
• Employment Handbooks • Recruitment • Corporate Event Planning & Gifting
Karen Shepherd, MSHR, SHRM-CP (239) 776-5919 hrbykaren@gmail.com www.hrbykaren.com
2016 MERGER
Greg Steiner glsteiner57@gmail.com (203) 505-2605
Monday-Saturday 8:00-2:00 / Sunday 9:00-1:00
Tax Preparation • Estate Planning For Individuals & Businesses
(239) 542-6080 perkandbrew@gmail.com perknbrew
1021 Cape Coral Pkwy. E., #A Cape Coral, FL 33904
Consulting Services ... from the Heart
Sea Breeze Associates, LLC
239.939.5303 • 239.481.4114 www.SolomonHoover.com 1342 Colonial Blvd., Ste. B-11 • Fort Myers, FL 33907
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
NOVEMBER 2021
WE MAKE BANKING ABOUT YOU!
“BANKING ISN’T JUST ABOUT ” NUMBERS,
It’s about people.
— Geoff Roepstorff, CEO and Robbie Roepstorff, President
Like Thomas Edison,
we believe there is always “a better way.” We embrace a solutions-oriented approach to serving your needs. One that analyzes the big picture, not just the numbers. It’s an approach to serve people better. Experience the benefits of joining Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands.
Edison National Bank/ Bank of the Islands customers enjoy:
• free online and mobile banking • no-fee access®to their account funds at any Publix
Presto! ATM
• free bill pay services for personal account holders
• courier and cash management services for business clients
• streamlined processing for all loans
including commercial and residential mortgage loans
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.