October 2015

We’re All Business

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S BUSINESS VOICE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 8 No. 12 / OCTOBER 2015 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples

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IN THE NEWS

Aerospace manufacturer plans for Lee expansion Advanced Components International LLC has announced it will expand manufacturing operations in Lee County, creating 42 additional jobs.

ACI is a subsidiary of Techspace Aero S.A, a Safran group company, an aerospace industry leader based in Belgium. Locally, ACI produces oil reservoirs used in commercial aircraft. The company proposes to invest $11.6 million to retrofit an existing facility and purchase machinery and equipment.

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners in May approved a tax incentive of $42,000 for the expansion project, then indentified as Project Rafale. The local incentives are a 20 percent match of total tax inEXPAND See page 8

Jubb receives award for citizen engagement Last month the Governing Institute honored four recipients with its 2015 Citizen Engagement Awards at the 2015 Accela Engage conference in Los Angeles. Nominations were received from across the United States.

Claire Jubb, Charlotte County’s interim community development director and business services manager, was recognized along with the city of Seattle; city of Avondale, Ariz.; Gwinnett County, Ga; for the most innovative and impactful citizen engagement projects and leadership in the country.

The Citizen Engagement Awards program was created by the Governing Institute and is underwritten by Accela, the leader in cloud-based citizen engagement solutions. The Governing Institute works to identify best practices in state and local government, and the awards recognize the jurisdictions and champion who are JUBB See page 10

Last call for Bonita film festival entries The deadline is Oct. 4 for all filmmakers who plan to take part in the second annual Bonita Springs Film Festival featuring the Imperial River.

“Last year, 20 filmmakers entered the competition, consisting of all ages and skill levels from novice to professional,” said festival director Antonio Correia. “This year the Imperial River has been selected, due to its 9.3 miles of beauty and scenic views.”

FILM See page 8

Lee County Electric Cooperative was honored at the Lee County Workplace Wellness Summit’s 2015 Horizon Council Healthy Business Awards for the large business category.

Horizon Council Healthy Business winners named

In recognition of their outstanding commitment to employee wellness, three local businesses received the 2015 Horizon Council Healthy Business Awards at the Lee County Workplace Wellness Summit.

Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands was honored with the Small Business Award for the company’s long-term, comprehensive commitment to workplace wellness. The company has provided a variety of activities and initiatives for its employees since 2007 through its A Better Way to

Wellness Program that provides monetary incentives and reimbursements for its employees to encourage healthy lifestyles. Currently 40 employees participate in the program, for a 95 percent involvement rate.

The Mid-sized Business Award went to the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers. The organization formed its Working on Wellness (WOW) employee wellness program in 2013 to provide a workplace environment that supports any employee’s

The Small Business Award was presented to Edison National Bank/ Bank of the Islands at the recent Lee County Workplace Wellness Summit’s 2015 Horizon Council Healthy WINNERS See page 8 Business Awards.

Identity Fraud Institute hosts inaugural luncheon

By Karen P. Moore SWFBT Publisher

Right here in Southwest Florida, efforts spearheaded by local resident and identity fraud expert Carrie Kerskie resulted in the first law of its kind to be enacted in the state of Florida to protect businesses from identity theft, effective October 1, 2015.

Moreover, Southwest Florida’s Hodges University is the first academic institution in the state to create an Identity Fraud Institute, with Kerskie serving as its director.

According to U.S. Senator Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida’s 25th District, “This institute will serve as a hub for identity fraud education.”

At the recent inaugural luncheon for the institute, attendees heard from several local professionals, including Dr. Aysegul Timur, Dean of the Johnson School of Business at Hodges Univer-

sity, District 106 State Representative Kathleen Passidomo and Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, all of whom lauded the efforts of the many local businesses, academicians, professionals and residents who both supported and aided in these accomplishments.

Rambosk explained, “The Collier County Identity Theft Task Force was created last year by Michael Reagen and myself to share awareness, prevention and investigative ideas regarding both residential and business identity theft and the related issues.” He added that the resulting efforts came from many organizations and people, including several local, state and federal partners.

As stated in a recent national study, according to Timur, Florida had the highest reported identity theft complaints in the country. Of the twelve cities in the nation that reported the most identity theft complaints, half of

the cities were in Florida, including Naples at number five and Cape Coral/ Fort Myers coming in at number eleven.

Kerskie shared some of her goals for the institute: “We want to stop identity theft at the business end so it doesn’t get to the individual. We want to create warning systems for organizations.” She indicated that the institute will accomplish these ends by sponsoring a variety of outreach programs and workshops at the newly-founded institute.

As Hodges University President Dr. David Borofsky pointed out, “Identity theft is one of the fastest growing and most difficult to solve crimes not only in the area but nationally and globally.”

He somberly added, “We are here today because it is clearly becoming a growing concern for our country. It’s not a matter of if—but when—it’s going to affect you or someone you know.”

SALUTE TO ENTREPRENEURS

Page 2

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2015

Ingraham to headline Tiger Bay Club’s gala New York Times best-selling author Laura Ingraham will make a featured appearance to share her special brand of political analysis when Tiger Bay Club of Southwest Florida presents its annual gala in partnership with Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers & The Beach.

The event is scheduled for Oct. 29 at the Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe St., Fort Myers. Registration and networking begin at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and program at 7 p.m. It is open to the public, and will be moderated by NBC-2’s Kellie Burns.

Ingraham is nationally recognized as a political consultant, regular Fox Laura Ingraham News contributor, and is the mostlistened-to woman in political talk radio in the United States. Since its launch in 2001, “The Laura Ingraham Show” has expanded to hundreds of stations nationwide. Ingraham can also be seen as the principal substitute host on The O’Reilly Factor and has published five No. 1 New York Times best-sellers. Her latest venture includes the recent launch of political website LifeZette.

One of the most widely recognized conservative voices, Ingraham will provide insight into the 2016 elections and address many concerns Americans face today about the impacts of popular culture on political conversation and the great divide between the two parties.

Early registration for club members and the general public is $125 till Oct. 9, and includes dinner. Sponsorships are also available by contacting Alexis Crespo at alexisc@waldropengineering.com.

Visit SWFlTigerBay.org for more information and to register for the event.

Tiger Bay Club of Southwest Florida is a nonpartisan organization that provides current information about civic, governmental and political issues important to Southwest Florida at the local, state and federal levels.

Malena Martinelli, Alexis Schneider and Hanna Stroemer

Ryan Garrison, Zach Maciosek, Kim Schiller, Kelsey Balmer, Monique Carlone, Stephanie Davis, Emily Frost and Kayla Carney

Bonita Young Professionals host ‘In Your Future’ summit

On Sept. 11, more than 210 area young professionals came together at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs for the inaugural “In Your Future” Summit hosted by Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals. The program featured speakers and panel discussions with a focus on personal and professional leadership development and improving the future of our local community. The event culminated with Schmoozapalooza, a networking event sponsored by Rosier Insurance.

The Bonita Springs Area Young Professionals is operated by the five-star nationally accredited Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce and made possible with support from the Florida Gulf Coast University Alumni Association. The mission of the group is to develop the region’s future leaders by creating a foun- Nicole Dutcher, Kevin Deardoff dation for networking, education, employment, and philanthropy. and Monique Carlone

Edison Avenue: An entrepreneur’s story When I was a small child I drove my parents crazy always trying to find a better way to do things. My fascination with searching for more efficient and effective processes, methods and tools led to my first degree in industrial and operations engineering, and a career in redesigning business processes.

In January this year, my business partner, Ed Valaitis, and I announced the opening of Edison Avenue – a fullservice business brokerage and lower mid-market merger and acquisition (M&A) firm focused on taking lessons learned from our involvement in over $150 million of main street and lower mid-market business transactions to create the most efficient and effective business sales process possible.

Our mission is to provide main street and lower mid-market business owners and buyers with the most effective and efficient sales process possible.

Our name was derived from our mission. “Edison” defines our creativity and flexibility. “Avenue” defines our appreciation for following a defined pathway or process. Our commitment is to openly seek creative solutions for business owners while following a proven pathway designed to meet our clients’ specific objectives – specifically, to buy or sell a business.

Buying or selling a business is unlike any other item you have bought or sold in your lifetime. Business owners do not want the public to know

Logan Wallick, Kelsey Bressler and Jessica Curry

they are selling, as knowledge of a sale may result in key employees l e a v i n g , competitors using the knowledge to steal customers, or suppliers demanding cash on delivery

BY ERIC J. GALL of your raw Guest Columnist materials.

Business buyers readily admit they don’t know what they want to buy, but they will recognize it when they see it. Sellers don’t want to sell for too little, buyers don’t want to pay too much – and neither buyer, seller nor their advisors really know how to value a business.

Simply, our challenge is “without letting anyone know the business is for sale, sell it at the best possible price, to a person who doesn’t know they want to buy it, and do it quickly.”

Edison Avenue has differentiated itself from our competition in two ways.

The first differentiator is the implementation of a disciplined, proprietary process for selling businesses. We call our approach the “5P’s.” The 5 P’s are prepare, position, EDISON See page 8

OCTOBER 2015

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Advice to an entrepreneur who owns a business Find a need and fill it, look for trends, do your research and find your niche market for your product and service by these following steps: First, clearly define and pinpoint the customer you what and then know what their wants and needs are for each sub-culture within.

Second, know your primary and secondary competition like a customer would, so that you understand their customers that you want to shift over, and the barrier of entry in a marketplace.

Third, find what makes you different from your competition and market to those differences when you focus on your niche marketing campaign and remember the “hook.”

Fourth, diversify your product/ service lines for multiple new subgroups for co-branding and joint venture marketing cross promotions.

Fifth, value sell by packaging/ repackaging with other nonintrusive product/service lines.

Sixth, due to the recession hangover still in place, work on a referrals from same product/service line businesses, but not competition.

Seventh, market where others are not to that database. (Example, if you own a pet grooming business, go to local vets and ask for placement within

www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com PUBLISHER Karen P. Moore PRINT EDITOR Bob Massey PRODUCTION & DESIGN Jennifer Ogles SOCIAL MEDIA DAX Enterprises, Angelica Torres WEB DESIGNER & EDITOR Michelle Hudson

P.O. Box 152299 Cape Coral, FL 33915-2299 News: 239-573-9731 All other: 239-573-9732 News email: editor@swfbiztoday.com All other information requests: publisher@ swfloridabusinesstoday.com The contents of Southwest Florida Business Today are copyright 2013 by Southwest Florida Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced without the express written consent of Southwest Florida Newspapers, Inc. The publication of any advertisement or article does not necessarily reflect the view of the publisher of Southwest Florida Business Today. For more information about any article or column appearing in Southwest Florida Business Today, for advertising rates or subscription information please call 239-573-9732 or email: publisher@ swfloridabusinesstoday.com

OUR MISSION

Southwest Florida Business Today is to provide the best business-to-business marketplace where business executives operating in Southwest Florida buy and sell goods and services via the exchange of news, advertising and information.

Page 3

Uncommon Friends Foundation names sponsors of annual event The Uncommon Friends Foundation has announced that its Jim & Ellie Newton Presenting Sponsor for this year’s Uncommon Evening on Oct. 27 will be BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Co. “This year’s event highlights not only the Uncommon Friends Foundation but also the historic property that is the Burroughs Home on the Caloosahatchee River,” said Gray Davis, president of the foundation board. “The foundation board is extremely proud to unveil the new pavilion as well as the renovations and upgrades made to the buildings on the Burroughs property by the city of Fort Myers. It’s a true private/public endeavor that helps to make Fort Myers great.”

Other key sponsors this year are Henderson Franklin Starnes & Holt, P.A.; AFCO Premium Insurance Finance; Mrs. Berne Davis; Florida Gulf Coast University; CFS Roofing Services; Comcast; Conditioned Air; Chris-Tel Construction; Florida Weekly; and Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson & English, P.A. All proceeds will benefit the Uncommon Friends Foundation and its work to promote business ethics and character education in the community.

For the first time this year, the annual event will be held on the water-

their facilities.)

E i g h t h , perform lead generation t h r o u g h Tw e e t B e e p s . com, social marketing in Web 2.0 and beyond (such as LinkedIn, AXopen, B of A

BY TOM Small Business, MARQUARDT Facebook, etc.).

Guest Columnist And lastly, install Google Reader and Alerts to bring RSS feeds and items of interest off the web to you, to target clients that have a want and/or need for your product line – then contact them and introduce them to you and your business, and also install your business profile on Google Maps.

Nationally renowned small business consultant Tom Marquardt is a master at helping small business owners rejuvenate their businesses and drive profits. Known as “The Profit Repairman,” he authored the widelyacclaimed book “My Little Black Book to Success.” For more info, visit TheProfitRepairman.com.

front of the new Gale McBride Pavilion at the historic Burroughs Home & Gardens, 2505 First St., Fort Myers.

Guests will step back in time to experience yesteryear’s high society of old Fort Myers. Following food and entertainment, the Character Education Champion Teacher Award will be presented and student scholarship winners will be announced, followed by the Business Ethics Award presentation to an area business that best exemplifies the highest standards of ethical behavior in its dealings with others.

Reservations and sponsorships starting at $100 are available until Sept. 30, and at $125 thereafter by contacting Executive Director Angela Melvin at (239) 337-9503 or by email to angela@uncommonfriends.org.

Visit UncommonFriends.org for full sponsorship details by clicking “Support UFF.” The Uncommon Friends Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1993, is dedicated to lifelong character building among today’s youth and business leaders. Its mission is to promote character education in schools, business ethics in the workplace and historic preservation of the Burroughs Home and James Newton Archives.

Hospitality awards honor customer service

To increase public awareness of extraordinary customer service provided by hospitality employees throughout Lee County, workers were recently recognized with the Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards at the 15th annual ceremony in Bonita Springs.

Visitors from around the world submitted a record 636 nominations, giving high praise to those local employees who provided outstanding customer service. Produced by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) and The News-Press Media Group, the “E Awards” is a collaboration with various local businesses to encourage and support service excellence provided by Lee County hospitality professionals.

Nomination criteria included service

satisfaction, leadership, work ethic, job knowledge and performance skills, familiarity with the destination and assistance during an emergency.

Selected for their distinctive service and dedication: • Nicole Logan, Holiday Inn Express & Suites at the Forum; • Bill Hammond, Endless Summer Charters; • David Rashty, Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina; • Jason Barrett, Lee County Port Authority; • Nicole King, Keiser University; • Skip Laney and Brian Holaway, Captiva Cruises; • Best tourism boss: Eric Ashton, Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village;

Anticipating what’s next...

Anticipating what’s next...

...is what keeps you and your business keeps you and your ahead of ...is thewhat game. business ahead of the game.

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(239) 770-7527 Estero. Please call for details.

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Here’s what is ahead for 2015 for Southwest Florida Business

Here’s what is ahead for 2015 for Southwest Florida Business Today.

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• Honor of Distinction Winner: Kathy and Al Durrett, Fish Tale Marina.

The Honor of Distinction award, sponsored by Geraci Travel, for best overall representative of outstanding service for the year was given to Kathy and Al Durrett, Fish Tale Marina.

Although there are many nominees who exemplify the best in customer service and let their love of the job and destination show in their work, the Honor of Distinction winners are unique to an even greater degree.

A nominator describes Kathy and Al Durrett of Fish Tale Marina as her “angels.”

She and her kids were victims of a Craigslist scam. The contract for the condo they thought they had reserved was fraudulent. The police got involved and tried to help, but accommodations on Fort Myers Beach were booked or out of their price range. After filling out a police report, the helpful deputy took her along with her three children to Fish Tale Marina, where the kids were put on a dolphin and manatee trip while Al reviewed the contract to see what he could do.

Realizing the family had been “taken” for a lot of money, Al and Kathy had them stay in their beautiful guest home that usually rents for $2,500 a week. Al gave the kids sodas and Kathy provided steaks, and told them to go to the beach and relax.

Over the next few days, the family was moved into Al and Kathy’s home because the guest house was rented. The son was taken on a fishing trip. They cooked fish for dinner, went to see “Cinderella” at the Beach Theater, were provided with t-shirts and baseball caps, and the daughter was offered a job if she attends FGCU following her college research trip.

“We could not have been made to feel more special,” said the nominator. “They saved us.”

Page 4

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2015

Founder Talk feeds entrepreneurs hungry for lessons learned A sold-out crowd listened to Angelo Biasi, founder and CEO of MassiveU, share his entrepreneurial experiences recently at the inaugural SWFL Founder Talk in Naples.

More than 120 people gathered as Biasi shared his startup journey of MassiveU, a Naples-based education technology company.

Biasi highlighted seven critical steps common to every startup experience. A critical step that has contributed to MassiveU’s success is a carefully chosen executive team that rounds out the skill sets of the company.

“One person cannot do it all,” Biasi said, dispelling a common misconception of entrepreneurs.

He credited his co-founder, John Gamba, as the right partner at the

right time. The partners struggled with a critical decision in the early days: whether MassiveU should pivot from a consumer-facing (B2C) company to business-facing Angelo Biasi company (B2B). The business partners decided to target educational publishers, the suppliers of textbooks and learning management platforms that support 21st century learning outcomes.

Through this channel, MassiveU aims to fundamentally change how students learn in classrooms. Biasi recognized Kamela Patton, superintendent of Collier County Public Schools, and

Sandra K. Kauanui, department chair of management and director of The Institute for Entrepreneurship at Florida Gulf Coast University, who both have entrepreneurship courses integrated into their respective cirriculums and were in attendance.

Biasi encouraged entrepreneurs to share their ideas with others. It was the encouragement that he received, first from his wife and later from Timothy Cartwright, chairman of Tamiami Angel Funds, that pushed him into entrepreneurship and launching MassiveU. “The ability to sit and talk with a local angel group committed to investing in Southwest Florida startups was critical for me and is essential to build out Southwest Florida’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Biasi said.

Amazing Lash Studio next in long line of successful enterprises

Gordon Kaufman is at it again, recently purchasing the Southwest Florida territory for Amazing Lash Studio, what he believes will be the next successful venture in a growing list of business enterprises.

It all started a little over 10 years ago, when Kaufman, the owner and founder of Massage Envy Spa – SWFL was convalescing from two heart attacks and decided he needed to alter his career path.

At that time, co-owner of Schneider Electric Co. in St. Louis, Kaufman realized that the commercial construction industry was too stressful for his health. He had come upon a story in the St. Louis Business Journal about a Massage Envy regional developer who was opening 20 Massage Envy clinics in the St. Louis area, and thought this could be a great opportunity to pursue in sunny Southwest Florida, where he hoped to retire one day.

Kaufman has always been a quick decision maker, and in a matter of months, he had sold his interest in Schneider Electric, moved to Florida, and purchased four franchise licenses for Massage Envy. Although he thought he escaped the construction industry, he was immediately thrown back in with the build-out of the first store in North Naples. After finally convincing landlords of Massage Envy’s appeal – and battling through the difficult permitting process – the first store was opened in May 2006 with 10 therapy rooms and a staff of 20.

With the doors open for business, the next great challenge came in educating the public: first, about all of the health benefits massage therapy offers, and second, that Massage Envy could offer all of those things at a considerably reduced price to what many had become accustomed to paying at five-star resorts

and spas. Almost 10 years later, the secret is out.

The benefits of regular massage therapy are now widely accepted among many people and the demand has helped Kaufman expand to four stores spanning

BY MARYANNE from Naples to PRESTON Cape Coral to Guest Columnist support their local member base of nearly 8,000 people.

In 2011, he heard about another franchise concept, European Wax Centers.

He purchased the SWFL region and opened two European Wax Centers in Southwest Florida, in close proximity to his Massage Envy stores in Naples and Coconut Point. He also sold three more stores in the Tampa area to other franchisees. Although the concept was similar, the corporate franchisor management team was young and inexperienced, and it became very difficult to work with them. So Gordon sold the region back to the franchisor. Lesson learned? Know who you are working with.

The next business he bought was two regions for RedLine Athletics. RedLine Athletics is a sports-specific training facility for all sports, where highly accomplished athletes, former professionals and specially certified trainers do whatever they can to help youth athletes, ages 8 to 18, reach their goals. With that, he encountered the problem of demographics; the population of Southwest Florida is not dense enough to support that business, so he changed direction and is currently planning to open several RedLine

facilities in Tampa and Miami.

Kaufman’s latest endeavor, Amazing Lash Studio, brings him back to the “women’s beauty business.” Again, it is a franchise concept based on the membership model that made Massage Envy successful. Amazing Lash Studio uses a patent-pending lash technique to apply semi-permanent lashes made from synthetic fibers designed to replicate the curve and size of natural lashes via a recognized, polished and specialized business model. Other beauty salons provide lash extensions as a “side offering” at $250 or more per application. Amazing Lash Studio specializes in eyelash extensions for just $79.99 for the initial application, and then $59.99 for the monthly membership that enables members to maintain their lashes with refills. Members can choose from four styles and several colors of lashes in a contemporary and stylish environment with private lash application suites.

The company already has more than 31 locations open across the country.

The first Southwest Florida Amazing Lash Studio will open in The Shoppes of Vanderbilt in Naples this December.

Email us today at AmazingLashNorthNaples@gmail.com, and we’ll call you when we open and give you your first set of lashes for free! For more information about Amazing Lash Southwest Florida, e-mail Maryanne.Preston@AmazingLashStudio.com, or visit the website at AmazingLashStudio.com.

Maryanne Preston is Director of Marketing for Amazing Lash Studio – Southwest Florida and Massage Envy Spa – Southwest Florida, and also the owner of Hiring Solutions. Contact her at (239) 851-6906 or email Maryanne.

Preston@AmazingLashStudio.com.

Tamiami Angel Funds, an advocate for a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Southwest Florida, will hold the next Founder Talk from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at Paragon Pavilion Theater, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. For event and RSVP details, visit VenturePitchSWFL.com.

Tamiami Angel Fund I & II LLC are member-managed funds designed to enable private accredited investors to actively participate in a disciplined investment process.

The funds invest in promising early-stage through expansion-stage commercial ventures located in the U.S., with a preference to those in the state of Florida. The funds are members of the Angel Capital Association and Florida Venture Forum.

FPRA president set to speak at PR University The Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) Southwest Florida Chapter is pleased to announce that 2015-16 FPRA State President Roger Pynn, APR, CPRC, will join the distinguished panel of speakers at this year’s Public Relations University (PRU) from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oct. 8 at Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers.

Pynn is president of Curley & Pynn Public Relations & Marketing Communications, a Maitland-based agency with 29 years of staying power. He will address principles of good planning. “Planning” represents the “P” in the acronym RPIE – research, planning, implementation and evaluation – which guides PR professionals’ work. Pynn is a past president of both the Public Relations Society of America and FPRA chapters in Orlando.

The theme of the 2015 PRU is “Thirty Years of Slicing the PRRPIE.” Attendees will have the opportunity to brush up on their RPIE basics, as experts share real-world case studies of how they have used the model to roll out efficient and successful campaigns.

PRU is an annual full-day professional seminar that brings speakers from across the state, and even from across the nation, to examine trends in the changing market and the fusion of new media with traditional communication elements.

For more information visit fpraswfl.org or contact McKenzie Cassidy at McKenzie.Cassidy@ fsw.edu. If you’re interested in sponsoring PRU, contact Sarah Nadal at sarahnadal@shellpoint. org.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 5

EHC Inc. celebrates its 25th anniversary EHC Inc., a Southwest Florida-based construction company that provides preconstruction, earthwork and infrastructure services, is proud to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary in 2015.

Founded in March 1990 by native Southwest Floridians, EHC has grown from two employees working out of an on-site trailer to more than 70 employees, a corporate office, a fleet of equipment and a network of partners.

The site construction company started with one project for one client in Naples.

Over the 25 years, EHC has completed hundreds of projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars for a vast number of municipalities, developers, builders, owners and general contractors from Pinellas County to Collier County, as well as inland counties such as Hendry, Polk and others.

Through the years, the company has experienced significant growth, survived harsh economic times and is currently

appreciating steady growth.

2014 marked the second consecutive year EHC doubled its resources both in terms of revenue and staff.

The construction company continues to expand its clients, projects

BY JEFF HUNT and resources Guest Columnist while staying true to its mission.

Its mission statement is “To provide our clients the highest level of construction services, delivered with the utmost effort, effect and efficiency, to the best of our abilities, while maintaining EHC’s fundamental business cornerstones of Honesty, Integrity, Quality and Competency at all times.

According to EHC CEO and Owner Jeff Hunt, the company has had four momentous events with a fifth in the works.

1. Finding a home at its current corporate office in 1996.

2. Brothers and partners Jeff and Greg Hunt restructuring operations for growth in 2003.

3. Bringing eventual and current Vice President Tony Hamilton on board in 2005.

4. Adding Tony Hamilton and General Superintendent Shane Graves as coowners in 2014.

The company attributes its success to continually finding efficiencies, ability to make quick changes, adapting to change and, above all, its people. EHC also gives back to the community and is involved in numerous charitable, nonprofit and professional organizations such as the Building Industry Association.

EHC has 12 active projects from Charlotte County to Collier County

spanning the real estate and government industries. Many of the projects are multi-million, multi-phased projects and include Tuscany Pointe in Naples, Orange Blossom Ranch in Naples, Oak Hammock in Punta Gorda, The Coves at Estero Bay in Fort Myers, Kalea Bay in Naples, the Hertz Worldwide Headquarters Campus in Estero, Naples Square in Naples, U.S. 41 and C.R. 951 intersection in Naples, Caloosahatchee Bridge at I-75 in Fort Myers, 1-75 improvements in Charlotte County, Eastport Water Reclamation Facility in Punta Gorda, Lindsford in Fort Myers, and Twin Eagles in Naples.

Jeff Hunt is president of EHC, and has been involved in the construction industry in his native Southwest Florida since 1978, has extensive architectural study and a degree in building construction. For more information, visit EHCconstruction.com or call (239) 592-0828.

Business Building symposium offers presentations, networking

“I love attending these types of events and sharing my story with you. More importantly, I love hearing your stories, the stories of the small business owners who are such a vital and large part of the Southwest Florida business community.” ­— Bob Simpson, CEO of LeeSar/Cooperative Services of Florida, and workshop leader The second annual Business Building Symposium was a full day of informative presentations addressing business growth along with dynamic networking opportunities. The day began with an insightful panel discussion: “Three Things You Wish

You Would Have Known 10 Years Ago,” with John Gamba, MassiveU Inc.; Steve Colgate, Offshore Sailing School; and Kena Yoke, Kena Yoke Consulting. Bob Koenig of Chris-Tel Construction Inc. served as moderator. David Essel, master life coach and nationally syndicated radio talk show host, served as keynote speaker at the luncheon, shared his experiences and provided his insight on how leadership, focus, and risk- taking help create a more profitable and successful business.

After the morning panel, participants attended three of the nine breakout sessions focused on busi-

ness growth, customer relations and marketing/social media. Presenters and panelists included local business and community leaders such as Norman Love, Lydia Black and Carol Conway.

When asked why she attended this business event, Anastasia Burke, banquet manager for Pelican Preserve in Fort Myers, responded, “I attended today because I wanted to hear from the people who were going to be on the panel and I wanted to expose myself to new ideas and people.” She added, “I always like to attend these types of events because I’m always looking for ways to better myself.”

刀攀愀挀栀 吀栀漀甀猀愀渀搀猀 漀昀 倀漀琀攀渀琀椀愀氀 一攀眀 䌀甀猀琀漀洀攀爀猀 眀椀琀栀⸀⸀⸀

The Diversity Festival brings together various cultures and ethnic groups located in Southwest Florida for a day of celebration, inclusion, music, art, dance and other entertainment.

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琀 攀 䜀 吀漀搀愀礀℀

Hodges holds diversity festival Hodges University has announced its Eighth Annual Diversity Festival – which has attracted approximately 3,000 attendees in past years – will be hosted for the first time on the Naples campus, 2655 Northbrooke Drive, Naples. The event will run from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 3.

The Diversity Festival brings together various cultures and ethnic groups located in Southwest Florida for a day of celebration, inclusion, music, art, dance and other entertainment to promote understanding, education and inclusion throughout our culturally diverse community. The festival will kick off with the Parade of Nations, visually representing several countries historically and culturally. Local restaurants and food vendors will be on-site offering attendees the opportunity to expand their palettes.

From noon to approximately 4 p.m., the event will be family-focused, offering children’s activities including demonstrations by the Collier County Sheriff’s Department, fire trucks, a bounce

house and rock climbing wall, arts and crafts, a Home Depot workshop, face painting and more. Free services including hearing and vision screenings will also be available. The last two hours of the event are expected to draw adults and professionals for special performances that include featured jazz artist Galen Abdur Razzaq & Company.

The event is open to the public and admission is free to children age 5 and younger, $10 for individuals, or $30 for a group of five. All festival attendees are encouraged to bring two non-perishable items to donate to the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida. The goal is to fill the food bank truck that will be on-site. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Hodges.edu/DiversityFestival.

This year’s event sponsors include: Home Depot, Media Vista Group, and Lee Pitts of Lee Pitts Live. To become a sponsor, volunteer or vendor, email Gail Williams at gwilliams@hodges.edu.

Page 6

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2015

Alta Resources continues employment recruitment in Fort Myers Alta Resources hired 115 new employees during its Sept. 12 job fair – and aims to hire nearly 500 more during the next month. The Wisconsinbased customer-management businessprocess outsourcing company is filling seasonal full- and part-time positions at its Fort Myers office in Gateway to serve health-insurance clients during the Affordable Care Act’s annual enrollment period.

Positions are available in customer care and inbound sales, and employees with bilingual English/Spanish skills are particularly needed. Job seekers are encouraged to complete applications online at JoinAlta.com.

“Alta Resources offers competitive salaries, paid training, a fun, casual

environment and a dynamic, teambased company culture,” said Fort Myers Managing Director Paul Makurat.

“Our positions offer schedule flexibility, a bonus for busy parents, active students and retirees. Ideal candidates have customer-focused personalities, strong communication skills, basic computer knowledge and the drive to deliver consistently excellent service.”

For those interested in inbound sales for health insurance, Alta Resources provides qualified candidates with training and licensing reimbursement, valid for the state(s) he/she will be servicing.

Alta Resources expanded into Fort Myers in 2013 with an office at 12600 Gateway Blvd. This summer, the com-

pany leased a second building, across the street and a few doors down from its main office. Increased business from health insurance clients and success in employee recruitment created the need for additional space.

“Fort Myers has proved to be a great location for us,” Makurat said.

“The workforce is qualified, diverse and strong, and we’ve have the opportunity to become involved with United Way and support other charitable efforts. Community involvement is key to our culture and made possible by the great people we are hiring.”

Formed in 1995, privately held Alta Resources is a leading provider of customer-management business-process outsourcing for many of the world’s

best-known brands in a variety of industries, including consumer-packaged goods, health care and insurance, and entertainment. With its comprehensive service lines – care, sales, e-commerce, back office and fulfillment – working in tandem, clients can seamlessly integrate their core processes through a single partner. In turn, Alta Resources helps clients improve and better manage their customer experiences across every touch point, online and offline, ultimately delivering results that provide sales growth and/or cost savings.

In addition to its Fort Myers site, Alta Resources has its headquarters and fulfillment center in Neenah, Wis., and additional locations in California and the Philippines.

Employee or independent contractor?

Editor’s note: Part 2 of 2 (continued from September issue)

The balance of this column will discuss the economic realities test in general terms. This article is intended to be an overview only of the Administrator’s Interpretation No. 2015-01. The first two points were discussed in the September issue.

• The extent of the relative investments of the employer and the worker.

When analyzing this factor it is not enough to conclude that the employee has made an investment of the worker’s own. Rather, the relative weight of the investments made by each party needs to be evaluated. For example, if the employee invested in a truck that cost him $30,000 to perform services for a business that has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment, the investments are not close to being equal. As such, the DOL would likely give very little weight to this factor when the relative investments are substantially unequal.

• Whether the work performed requires special skills and initiative.

When analyzing this factor, it is important to understand that the issue is not whether the worker has technical skills. Rather, the issue is whether the specialized skills that the worker has will lead to economic independence from the business. For example, a highly skilled construction worker who provides his own tools to perform work for a construction firm would not be considered an independent contractor. However, if this same highly skilled construction worker provided services to multiple construction firms, it is more likely that the individual would be considered an independent contractor.

• Is the relationship between the worker and the employer permanent or indefinite?

This factor takes into account the seasonality of certain businesses. If a worker is retained to perform services for a business on a temporary basis because it is seasonal work, that does not mean the person is an independent contractor simply because the season may be of a duration of three to four months. Rather, the goal is to determine whether the lack of permanence or in-

definiteness is the result of the worker’s own decision or initiative.

• What is the nature and degree of the employer’s control?

The control analysis has changed over the years as businesses have outsourced and allowed employees (telecommuters) to work from home. While the employer may not exercise day-to-day control over an

BY CHRISTINA HARRIS SCHWINN employee who is working from home, it is important to Guest Columnist understand that that is not the test. In order for a worker to be an independent contractor and not an employee, the worker must have meaningful control over the work that the worker performs for the business owner. A telecommuter does not have meaningful control over the work that the telecommuter performs. While the telecommuter may determine the hours that the telecommuter works, the telecommuter is not in a position to determine what work he or she will perform. Of the six factors, the control factor is generally given the least weight when analyzing whether a worker should be classified as an

our at e l u d e Sch meeting next SHookers ss S –The Bo

employee or as an independent contractor.

• Summary Make no mistake about the fact that the DOL believes that most workers are employees and not independent contractors. The DOL continues to push its misclassification initiative because workers who are misclassified as independent contractors are deprived of certain benefits, including workers’ compensation coverage in the event of an injury, unemployment compensation, the employer’s contribution for Social Security, Medicare, employee benefits to include health insurance and paid time-off benefits.

While it may be financially attractive to treat a worker as an independent contractor, be aware that the savings may be short-lived and that the penalties can far exceed any short term savings.

A note to the reader: This article is intended to provide general information and is not intended to be a substitute for competent legal advice. Competent legal counsel should be consulted if you have questions regarding compliance with the law.

Christina Harris Schwinn is a partner and an experienced employment and real estate attorney with the Pavese Law Firm in Fort Myers. She regularly presents seminars on this topic to various trade associations and groups. Contact her at (239) 336-6228 or email christinaschwinn@paveselaw.com.

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OCTOBER 2015

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 7

Fort Myers Mayor’s event addresses walkable communities The very timely Mayor’s Symposium “Making Dollars & Sense of Walkable Urban Communities” on Oct. 15 will introduce attendees to three of the country’s leading experts on this very subject – how to create successful walkable urban developments.

In addition to the national speakers, the symposium will host a panel of professionals from across Florida – individuals who are engaged in and can speak to all aspects of successful walkable, urban form, mixed-use, multimodal development – infill, redevelopment or new.

The Walkable Urban Communities Symposium, hosted by Mayor Randy Henderson and the city of Fort Myers, will start promptly at 8 a.m., with doors opening at 7:30 a.m., and end at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Harborside event Center, 1375 Monroe St., Fort Myers.

The recent “Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities” by the U.S. Surgeon General highlighted the need to develop successfully integrated residential living within walkable proximity to jobs, entertainment, and recreational, shopping, medical and

civic facilities. Millennials and retirees alike are telling us they want more diversity and choice in housing and transport.

Simply put, they want to live where they can easily walk, cycle or take transit to earn, learn and play – and the business of supplying this new style development is booming.

Property values near Indianapolis’s Cultural Trail have soared 148 percent over neighboring sites. Demand is outstripping supply for homes near Atlanta’s not-yet-built, multimodal Beltline and “Bike-Friendly Business Districts” are

seeing 40 to 70 percent increases in retail sales. Having just 100 people go by shop on a bicycle or by foot has been far better for business that 1,000 speeding by in their cars.

There is clearly huge pent-up demand for walkable neighborhoods and highquality facilities that anyone can use – this is just good business.

Symposium and lunch are $55 plus a small online fee. To learn more and register for the entire day’s activities, visit cityftmyers.com/885/ConferencesMeetings.

Developing a digital marketing strategy key to growth Developing an effective marketing strategy involves incorporating many different components. It must include a target audience or audiences, a consistent strong message and an effective way of reaching those potential customers.

An often-overlooked part of a written strategy or plan is digital marketing, and, more specifically, mobile marketing.

The number of mobile users has already overtaken the number of desktop users, so the time to jump headfirst into mobile is here if you haven’t done so already.

Actually, if you don’t have a mobile marketing strategy, you are likely behind your competitors and behind in your industry.

It’s not too late to capture this growing audience – but how do you do it?

First, you need a mobile site. Not just a responsive website, but one that is truly optimized for how a smartphone works. Eighty percent of Internet users own a smartphone. When a customer comes to your website from their smartphone, do they have an easy time finding what they want? Does all the content function properly?

Customers don’t want sites that are merely responsive and resize the content to fit whatever the screen size. If they have to keep zooming in on content, customers are not going to have a good experience, so they are going to look elsewhere. Eighty percent of customers abandon a mobile site with poor user experience – and 40 percent will go to a competitor’s site, according to comScore.

If you have too much content on a mobile site, it might take a long time to load, discouraging customers as well.

You’ll want all the necessary SEO for your mobile site as well as your desktop site. You will likely also want one-click to contact you by phone or through email and directions to be provided when they want to find you.

Once you have your mobile site in place, you can start expanding on your mobile marketing. Some things

to consider: • Social media. Do a little research or hire a professional to determine what social media channels you should be using, how often you should be updating, what you should be sharing and what time of day you should be posting.

• Local search. If one of your objectives is to get customers or clients through the doors, you can’t do that if the information in online direcBY MICHELLE L. tories is incorrect. There are HUDSON some self-serve platforms, Guest Columnist such as the one from ActiveData Mobile Marketing in Naples that are very cost-effective. Their product allows you to update hundreds of directories in one place.

• Reputation monitoring. Since most consumers research products and services before they make a purchase, and most also rely on social channels for input, you need to know what people are saying about your business. ActiveData also provides a self-serve platform for this as well at a very low cost. In one place, you can find out what is being said across the Internet in reviews, blogs, social media and other sites. From one dashboard, you can then respond to those comments.

• Apps. Does your business need an app? Would it make it easier for clients/customers? Nearly 90 percent of mobile device usage is on apps, according to data from Nielsen.

• Digital coupons. You can offer coupons on your app and mobile site. You can also add your offers to the Southwest Florida best-offers app called MoSoLo (Mobile Social Local). It features the best local deals for $39 a month. It is available online (mymosolo.com) and in the app stores.

• Digital/website advertising. There are a variety

of ways you can promote your business online. You should consider buying keywords for search (Google AdWords) and advertising on specific websites that fit your target market. You can get very targeted in digital advertising for a cost-effective way to reach potential customers.

• Text messaging. You are going to be driving new business through your doors. How to you keep touch with them and make them repeat customers? One way is a text-marketing program. Text is the only real-time communication channel with 95 percent open rate within 4 minutes. Ask yourself how many unread texts you have on your phone.

Your overall marketing strategy should take all these things into consideration. In future columns, we’ll explore some of these topics more in-depth.

Michelle L. Hudson has more than 25 years of experience in the print and digital media business, which includes helping companies determine the best marketing strategy for their budget, with emphasis on mobile and digital footprints. Contact her at michelle@mlh-cc. com or call (239) 234-2420.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

WINNERS PAGE 1 desire to make healthy lifestyle choices. The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers provides employees with a variety of offsite fitness options, including boot camps, outdoor fitness groups and gym memberships. Since its creation, the WOW program has attained more than 60 percent employee participation and resulted in a variety of benefits for employees, including a healthier working environment, imHousing Authority of the City of Fort Myers received the 2015 Horizon Council proved employee morale and more acHealthy Business Award in the mid-sized business category at the Lee County tive employees.

Workplace Wellness Summit on Aug. 26.

The Large Business Award was given to Lee County Electric Coopera- Southwest Florida, SHRM of SWFL held by medical carriers, highlighting tive (LCEC). Two hundred forty-one and Healthy Lee, the Workplace Well- wellness programs and incentives. employees participate in the not-for- ness Summit featured presentations Also announced at this event was profit company’s wellness program. from Dr. Marc Braman MD, MPH, the launch of the upcoming wellness Formed in 2008, it became one of the founding member of the American campaign called the Healthy Lee Milorganization’s corporate objectives in College of Lifestyle Medicine and lion Mile Movement, which chal2012. LCEC dedicates $295,700 an- owner of Northwest Lifestyle Medi- lenges the Lee County community to nually to fund reimbursements and cine, Inc. and Mike Smith, chief in- get more active by moving 1,000,000 incentives, the wellness center and an- formation officer for Lee Memorial miles in 90 days. Beginning Oct. 1, nual health exams.

Health System and member of Health 2015, participants log their daily exHosted in partnership with the Information Systems Executive As- ercise on the Healthy Lee Website Horizon Foundation, the Chamber of sociation. A panel discussion was also where every “step” counts, through

EXPAND PAGE 1 centives of $210,000, with the remainder paid by the State of Florida.

ACI has major production commitments on next generation commercial aircraft, resulting in year-over-year growth through 2020 and continuing for the life of the aircraft program. ACI will employ skilled workers for manufacturing, engineering, management and support roles. Incentives will be paid as jobs are created.

“The manufacturing sector is thriving in Lee County,” said Glen Salyer, acting director of Lee County’s Economic Development Office (EDO). “When one of our manufacturers decides to expand as ACI is doing, it highlights a little known industry in Southwest Florida and signals to other companies that Lee County is a place where they can be successful. We applaud ACI’s decision to invest millions of dollars in a facility and create new jobs locally.”

EDISON PAGE 2 plan, purge and persist: 1. We properly prepare your business for sale.

2. We properly position it in the marketplace.

3. We plan an effective active marketing strategy.

4. We purge unqualified buyers.

5. We persist at making a deal when others would not.

Our disciplined approach has resulting in the sale of over 75 percent of our listings (where the seller accepts our valuation opinion) in an industry where historically only 20-25 percent of businesses listed actually sell (BizBuySell). The 5P approach effectively brought Wall Street methodology to main street and lower mid-market business sales and made it affordable as most listings require no money up front from the seller.

ACI has been in Lee County since 2010 and now employs 36 people here. Additionally, Safran affiliates employ more than 300 in the state of Florida. The company is now located off Jetport Loop near Southwest Florida International Airport and will expand into an existing facility near Gateway.

“As ACI acquired more engine orders, we realized that we would quickly outgrow our current facility,” said Brad Cline, general manager of ACI. “We evaluated several potential locations throughout Florida and even out of state, but ultimately chose to stay in Lee County in order to retain our current talent and skilled workforce, utilizing local resources to bring in new employees as well.”

The EDO was created to help expand and diversify Lee County’s economy. In addition to providing site selection assistance, customized research, financial incentives and many other resources, it works closely with a regional network of economic development partners to make companies and site selection professionals more successful in Southwest Florida’s dynamic business environment.

The second differentiator is scope.

Our focus is in selling businesses in the $500,000 to $25 million annual revenue range. Business brokers tend to focus on very small businesses.

Most are quite comfortable in dealing with businesses generating under $1 million in annual revenue.

Dealing with larger businesses becomes difficult as they often lack the disciplined approach required to work with sophisticated buyers such as private equity and high net worth investors. Most mid-market M&A firms won’t work with a business owner generating under $25 million in annual revenue. Their team-based structure and overhead demands large up-front retainers and sizable commissions upon sale. Edison Avenue is strategically placed to handle businesses at the upper end of the business brokerage industry and below middle-market M&A firms.

Thomas Edison once said, “There is a way to do it better – find it.” At

Edison Avenue, we believe we have found a better way and we continually strive to improve our business process daily.

Eric J. Gall is a certified merger & acquisition professional and managing partner of Edison Avenue. Contact him at Eric@EdisonAvenue.com or call (239) 738-6227, or visit the websites BuySellFlBiz.com or EdisonAvenue. com.

OCTOBER 2015

December 29, 2015. The Million Mile Movement is a community wellness challenge where people sign up for free. They register and log miles for running, walking, biking, swimming and other exercise options.

This wellness campaign is presented by Healthy Lee, which is a coalition comprised of more than 50 Lee County businesses and organizations whose goal is to promote the integration of healthy lifestyle choices into the daily routines of the Lee County community.

The Healthy Lee movement was created to empower and inspire the people of Lee County regarding healthy lifestyle choices through education and action. The initiative reflects Lee County’s comprehensive sustainability strategy, promoting the integration of healthy lifestyle choices into the daily routines and the built environment, and supports the message of transformation based on free choice.

For more information on the Lee Million Mile Movement, visit http:// healthylee.com/million-mile-movement/.

FILM PAGE 1 All films must be “G”-rated and are restricted to a maximum of 15 minutes in length. Also, portions are to be shot anywhere along the Imperial River.

The best overall film will be awarded a $1,000 cash award and shown on screen the night of the Red Carpet Gala on Nov. 5 at Prado 12 Theatre in Bonita Springs. Several other winning entries will also be shown.

In addition to the overall winner, there will be two additional awards of $250 each, for best young filmmakers and best depiction of the Imperial River. New this year is Spotlight Magazines People’s Choice Award.

Sponsors to date include Bonita TV, city of Bonita Springs, iPartnerMedia, Prado 12 Spotlight Magazine, TLC Marketing & Creative Services Inc., and Friends of Bonita Film Fest.

Information can be downloaded at BonitaSpringsFilmFest.com or by sending an email to Correia at antonio@bonitavideo.com.

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OCTOBER 2015

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 9

Staying ahead of the digital advisory firm

The growth of technology in the financial services industry has led to the rise of “robo-advisors,” otherwise known as digital investment advisors. A robo-advisor is essentially a software program that records your personal financial information, processes it and creates your investment portfolio. Just as technology can impact how we shop, how we plan for a vacation, and who we date, it can now impact how we invest. Firms that are unable to create a strong online presence will be at risk to Internet-based firms when their older client base declines and the millennial investors swell in numbers.

Investment firms in Southwest Florida are booming with activity due to the demographic makeup of the region, but once that changes, it’s very possible that there will be a transition to online firms. It’s important to note that while technology appears more efficient and less expensive, it should not be considered as a substitute for an in-person advisory firm, nor the single source of financial advice. A combination of high-touch and hightech interface is much more powerful.

Boutique advisory firms with a human-based advisory staff face two challenges: (1) how to stand out in the online world, and (2) how to convince the public that their firm offers more value than an impersonal robot that only understands numbers and algorithms.

What are the benefits to using a digital based advisory firm such as Acorns or Blooom? It’s cost effective for clients with modest-sized portfolios, there’s little hassle involved, and you ultimately make your own investment decisions – with a little help from your robo-advisor. And, for those clients who travel back and forth between Florida and a home up north, their “advisor” is always with them.

Here is what you should not expect if you decide to use a digital-based advisory firm vs. an advisory firm staffed by humans with a fiduciary responsibility.

Don’t expect the robo-advisor to work in your best interest. Don’t expect to spend two hours discussing your portfolio options with it at your behest. Don’t expect to be able to call it at 10 p.m. because you are in

BY NOELLE a panic and need to make MATTHEWS a transfer to your bank acGuest Columnist count the next day.

When investors trade comfort for convenience, they’re giving up a lot more than that 10-minute drive to meet with their advisor.

Robo-advisors aren’t 100 percent accurate either.

Many financial software programs assume that the future is similar to the past, which could mean a vital mistake or decline in a client’s investment portfolio if the trend isn’t similar. Furthermore, digital advisors tend not to select individual equity and bond holdings, thus missing out on unique opportunities. Therefore, it is apparent that intangibles such as human qualities and a fiduciary duty provide more value to investors who want to know they can talk to a real person who understand their concerns and who has their best interests at heart.

So how impactful has the robo-advisor been on the

Entrepreneurs should look to cloud

Editor’s note: Part 1 of 2

If an entrepreneur’s greatest asset is a combination of hard work and ingenuity, I’d argue software is a close second. When I first started Atilus alongside my friend and business partner, Harry Casimir, the web and software landscape was VERY different then it is today. Back then, “high speed” Internet was a basic cable connection or DSL (at 1MB down!). Now fiber, gigabit, and 20 times that on a mobile device is common.

My cell phone is literally 10 times more powerful than the computer I had when we started.

And just as Internet speed and the tech landscape has rapidly progressed, so too has business software – notably inexpensive, cloud-based solutions that can help you build your business, organize your team, and handle the day-to-day monotony of running your company.

In the second part of this column (to appear in the November issue), I’ll list the top five tools I feel every entrepreneur should be looking at to assist their business. But first I’d like to quickly talk about cloud software, also known as “software as a service” or SAAS. When you’re considering a tool for your business, it’s important to know whether or not it stores any data “in the cloud” or is a SAAS tool.

Both basically mean that some (or all) data is stored somewhere else – not on your computer – but on a number of computers on the web. There are pros and cons, and they’re important to understand these before you make a decision. For the purposes of this column, all of the software I’ll be mentioning is SAAS or cloud-based.

Pros: • Generally can be used from anywhere.

• Backups are (usually) inherent in the tools’ use.

• Updates are automatic.

• Lower upfront costs.

• Easier to setup on a new machine if your, or your employee’s, computer goes down.

BY ZACH KATKIN Cons: Guest Columnist • May not be available if you don’t have an Internet connection.

• The lifetime cost may be more than a comparable non-cloud/downloaded and installed solution.

• Updates are automatic (you’re at the mercy of the development company’s direction and desires).

• Your data may not be encrypted (people can look at your data on insecure connections, or if the software is hacked, they may be able to see your company’s private information).

Zach Katkin is the co-founder & CEO of the Bonita Springs-based web development and Internet marketing firm Atilus. He is a certified Google professional, author and lover of technology. He helps Atilus stay out ahead of online marketing trends and loves driving results for its clients.

industry and our firm in particular? Our firm strives to stay current with the ever-evolving state of technology and has had positive results. Our associates are all accessible by email at any time of the day or night. Our website is regularly updated with presentations and information about the industry. Our firm provides educational resources, such as presentations and checklists for new Florida residents and industry articles available on our LinkedIn page. Between our technology and the combined experience of our team, we can manage clients of all financial classes and make each of them a personal priority. Our firm also understands the field of behavioral finance, and works with clients to try to help them avoid making an irrational financial decision, such as selling stocks at the bottom of a bear market.

The important thing in any industry is to evolve with technology. We can’t become lazy and let technology live our lives for us. We believe firmly in keeping up with our fellow competitors, but we will never lose the personal touch that makes our investment firm so unique.

As long as investment companies keep up with industry standards and use technology as a tool, not a crutch, then we will not be made obsolete by a software program that remembers your finances – but not your family.

Noelle Matthews joined Andrew Hill Investment Advisors in May 2015 as investment associate. She is responsible for supporting the firm’s client relations, marketing and event management, and is currently working on obtaining her series 65 license.

SBA, NAGGL launch toolkit for underserved communities

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) recently announced the release of the Business Smart Toolkit, a ready-to-use workshop toolkit that helps new and aspiring entrepreneurs launch and build businesses that are credit ready.

“We can’t wait for aspiring entrepreneurs to come to us; we need to reach out to them where they are,” said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. “The Business Smart Toolkit allows us to work more effectively alongside local partners in underserved communities to ensure that all Americans have access to the government and private resources available to support their entrepreneurial dreams. Minority firms are a fast growing segment of the U.S. economy, generating $1 trillion in economic output, yet they typically encounter higher borrowing costs, receive smaller loans and face more rejections.

I applaud NAGGL for joining the SBA to focus on expanding lending to underserved communities to ensure that all key drivers of the U.S. economy are able to contribute at their full potential.”

The toolkit is designed to “train the trainer,” such as trusted community leaders who have the ability and the desire to educate new and potential business owners through a series of workshops in collaboration with the SBA’s field offices and NAGGL members. The toolkit is intended to educate and enable small business owners – from those looking to open their first small business to established business owners hoping to expand and grow. It contains a variety of small business and financial literacy topics that include business start-up basics, the essentials of becoming credit-ready, and resources for small business education and support.

Download the toolkit at sba.gov/offices/headquarters/oed/ resources/1475961.

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Page 10

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2015

Choosing the Bonita-Estero EDC hosts annual meeting perfect caterer

Throughout the year there are numerous occasions where you may be faced with the task of choosing a caterer. Whether it is an anniversary, wedding, holiday party, company event or a family get-together, finding the perfect caterer is of the utmost importance in making your event go off without a hitch. At times this may feel like a daunting and overwhelming task. Yet, somewhere in the slew of caterers, there is the perfect one for you! Here are a few tips designed to aid you in your choice of a caterer and making your occasion a memorable one.

In event planning, choosing a caterer is one of the key components to make your event successful. Your guests may not remember what the invitation or the centerpieces looked like.

However, the guest will remember the quality and presentation of the meal they were served.

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find

BY JENNIFER a caterer. What better PHILBRICK way to get honest opinGuest Columnist ions than from family or friends who have already had experiences with certain caterers. As we all know, the internet is such an intricate part of our lives that a quick web search is bound to present a plethora of options and opinions. Many websites provide catering menus as well as reviews that provide a good starting point when narrowing down choices. Also, never overlook your favorite restaurant where they make your favorite dish or where you meet your family every Sunday for breakfast. You already love the food and know exactly what you are getting. These tips are very useful to consider in the early stages of planning your event.

Once you have done your research, narrow it down to the top three caterers that best suit your needs. You should have the following prepared before you contact them regarding your event. Is this a social or professional event? Are you looking for a sit-down service or a buffet style? How many guests do you plan on inviting/ attending? What is the budget you feel comfortable with? (When setting your budget, remember to build in a little leeway, because as with so many things, the unplanned for always comes up—but you want and need to stick to your budget). What type of meal do you want to provide?

Are you looking to display a touch of elegance with a plated salmon served with a vegetable medley or does a comfort food, like turkey and dressing with mashed potatoes and gravy, do the trick? When deciding your food selections, always keep your guests in mind. Consider any guests who may have dietary restrictions. Also, don’t be afraid to ask to try samples of the foods to aid in decision making. Remember, it’s about quality--not quantity. Budget, food selection, and the type of event all play an important role in determining the caterer to best suit your needs.

When making your final decision, remember to select the caterer that listens to your needs, and understands your vision to create the ideal event. Together, you and your caterer will create a lasting memory.

Next issue, we will focus on planning the perfect office party.

Jennifer Philbrick is Southwest Florida Regional Sales Manager for Bob Evans Catering.

She has over 25 years experience in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Contact her for any of your catering needs at (941) 456-9036 or Jennifer_philbrick@bobevans.com.

The Bonita Springs Estero Economic Development Council (BSEEDC) will host its annual meeting will include a comprehensive presentation of the year’s accomplishments, an update on business retention and attraction success stories, and a look at the overall economic impact made by major BSEEDC clients.

The event will be from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Oct. 6 at Global Tech LED, 8901 Quality Road, Bonita Springs. The event is free to attend and the public is invited and requested to RSVP by calling (239) 992-2943 or visiting BonitaSpringsChamber.com and clicking on the “Chamber Events” page. Light refreshments will be served.

The BSEEDC encourages regional business

development by nurturing area entrepreneurs, and by assisting local companies with their individual growth initiatives. In addition, the council works to attract new businesses to the region in order to diversify the economic base, and create year-round jobs.

“Our organization is committed to building a prosperous, sustainable, and economically diverse community,” said Christine Ross, executive director of the organization. “We take pride in serving the community and look forward to celebrating the past year’s accomplishments and regional growth.”

To register for the BSEEDC Annual Meeting, call (239) 992-2943. For more information on the Bonita Springs Estero Economic Development Council, visit BonitaSpringsEsteroEDC.com.

Charlotte County Lunch meeting to discuss N. Fort Myers revitalization unveils mobile app The Charlotte County mobile app is now available to download and use to report issues, ask questions and get information. To enhance customer service and provide new options to residents, the app makes it easy to use a smartphone to report an issue such as a damaged street sign, illegal dumping or just ask a question. When submitting a request, the app helps include the GPS location, a photo, and a description. App users will received updates of their requests and can also track the status of their requests and follow others.

The app can be used to connect with other county services, such as checking the status of lightning alerts at county pools, watch CC-TV live, find trail guides for environmental parks, and access fun things to do through the Charlotte County Visitor and Convention Bureau.

The free app is now available in the app stores for most mobile devices. Search the device’s app store for Charlotte County or visit CharlotteCountyFL.gov and “Get the App” from the Hot Topics list on the left.

JUBB PAGE 1 creating more accessible, transparent, and citizencentric state and local governments.

“At Accela, we believe engagement makes all the difference, and we recognize those government agencies whose innovative contributions and accomplishments are helping provide better citizen access through engagement,” said Maury Blackman, president and CEO of Accela. “The winners of this year’s Citizen Engagement Awards have empowered their constituents by implementing online and mobile civic services, greater transparency and visibility into public data, and a more connected and accessible government. We extend our congratulations for their commitment to better communities.”

The Citizen Engagement Innovator of the Year Award was presented to Jubb, who was nominated

Undiscovered Opportunities will be the theme for a business luncheon sponsored by The Shell Factory & Nature Park at 11.30 a.m. Oct. 9. Residents and business owners are invited to participate in the luncheon devoted to a renaissance plan for the revitalization of North Fort Myers, presented by the North Fort Myers Civic Association. Keynote speakers will be Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman and Greg Stuart, a noted urban planner. Additionally, Mike Land, president of the North Fort Myers Civic Association, will lay out a future vision for the economic development of North Fort Myers.

The Shell Factory & Nature Park is a shining example of what can be accomplished when business owners and the community work together.

“Both revenue and attendance are at all-time highs,” said CFO/ Marketing Director Rick Tupper.

“Pam and Tom Cronin are committed to the community and the expansion of a healthy business environment for all North Fort Myers businesses.”

The Shell Factory continues to be the No. 1 family entertainment destination in Southwest Florida, and looks forward to additional growth as part of a thriving North Fort Myers business community.

based on her outstanding customer service and for two projects in particular. First, she is leading the effort to digitize and make accessible over 40,000 flood elevation certificates, allowing property owners and real estate interests to have any-time access to the necessary certificates. With Charlotte County’s 830 miles of coastline, rivers and aquatic preserves, this information is invaluable to anyone seeking development permits. Jubb is also working diligently to provide open data solutions and create accountability metrics in graphic form for the county website.

“Citizen engagement is of utmost importance to Charlotte County,” Jubb said. “Being a smaller county with a diverse and seasonal population, accessible information in multiple different platforms is critical to our transparency and service levels. I am honored that the Governing Institute has chosen me as Innovator of the Year, and consider this a tribute to my entire team at the county.”

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OCTOBER 2015

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 11

Banking regulations impacting Florida’s growth potential Alex Sanchez, president and CEO of the Florida Bankers Association (FBA), will be in Fort Myers Oct. 13 to address the Real Estate Investment Society (REIS). Sanchez will present an overview of the condition of Florida’s banking industry, financing, and capital markets, with particular regard to the impacts of federal regulations on real estate investment and development.

REIS has invited Alex Sanchez to

Southwest Florida to provide a statewide perspective on the dynamics of the banking industry and national credit markets. He is also expected to provide a five-year review of DoddFrank Act regulations and offer insight on congressional proposals to improve the act. Following the presentation, Sanchez will respond to questions of specific interest to the real estate investment and development industry.

The FBA is the leading voice for

Wire fraud scams getting harder to spot

Anyone who operates a business – or owns a computer, for that matter – is surely familiar with the near constant barrage of emails from people seeking money. A growing number of such emails are fraudulent, attempts by unscrupulous individuals to con you or your business. Some of these fake emails are easy to spot – anything from Nigeria, for example – but many of them are not so obvious, as the scammers are becominge more and more sophisticated.

Federal regulatory and law enforcement agencies are reporting an increase in wire transfer fraud against U.S. businesses through a scam referred to as “Business E-mail Compromise” (BEC). The criminals compromise legitimate business e-mail accounts for the purpose of sending fraudulent wire transfer instructions.

The funds are primarily being sent to Asia, but have also been sent to other countries all over the world.

BY MARGO LEITER What makes these emails difficult Guest Columnist to spot is that they come with all the trappings of one of your businesses’ routine emails: For example, the company name and address, logo, and proper-looking email signature of the president, CEO or other officer requesting the wire transfer. Remember, in this case the bad guys have compromised your business email account(s), so the email will appear to be from within your organization.

To avoid getting scammed, instruct your employees to watch for certain “red flags” in emails or faxes: 1) indication that the email is “urgent”; 2) misspellings and 3) wire request over $2500.

With or without such red flags, however, the first line of defense should be a company-wide policy such as: No wire is to be created or initiated from an email unless the person taking the action follows up with the individual that sent the email via phone or in person to verify that that the email authorization is valid.

This rule should be enforced no matter who the wire request “appears” to come from, even if it’s the owner or president of the company.

Leiter manages the information security program at the four banks of the Crews Banking Corporation. Her duties include risk assessment, vendor management, incident response and employee awareness. She has been involved in the banking industry for 34 years.

Florida’s banking industry, representing and advocating for Florida’s banking industry before all legislative and regulatory bodies in Tallahassee and in Washington. Sanchez began his career as an attorney specializing in business law. He has also served on the board of IMSG, a subsidiary of Bankers Insurance Group of St. Petersburg, and as a presidential appointee to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.

The meeting is sponsored by Mor-

ris-Depew & Associates and will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m. in the Osprey Room at Pelican Preserve’s Clubhouse, on Treeline Avenue at Colonial Boulevard, one mile east of I-75 exit 136 in Fort Myers. Admission is $30 for members and $40 for guests, which includes lunch. Reservations are required by Oct. 7 and may be made at the REIS web site atreis-swfl.org. For further program information, contact Amanda Brock at (239) 344-1269.

Fire & Rice signs franchise deals Founder and owner Chef Paul Schmidgall recently announced that his company, Fire & Rice, is growing nationally. The company signed their first two franchise deals, covering three territories, at the National Events Marketing Franchise Show in Atlanta.

Fire & Rice is a fun alternative to the typical catered affair and features freshly prepared paella, the national dish of Spain. Due to Fire & Rice’s success, Schmidgall wishes to share his expertise, experience and even his gourmet recipes to help others start their own businesses.

Schmidgall founded Fire & Rice in 2011 and experienced great response to his unique business model. He received his inspiration for the specialized catering company nearly two decades after he was introduced to paella in Majorca, Spain. While traveling through Spain, Schmidgall was out for dinner one Sunday night when he met an elderly woman who prepared the delicious dish.

“She was so passionate about the ingredients and how she created the paella – it was absolutely captivating,” Schmidgall said. “I wanted to duplicate her passion and her delicious dish and share it with everyone, but it took me a few years to turn that idea into a business!”

Just as chefs have done for many generations before him, after Schmidgall took an interest in the dish, he trained with the elderly Spanish lady to perfect his skills with her recipe. After she shared her secrets with him, Schmidgall eventually went on to study at Johnson and Wales in Providence, R.I., where he obtained a degree in culinary arts and marketing. He later furthered his education by receiving a Master’s degree in international business.

Fire & Rice of Naples has been honored several times: it was awarded the 2012 Peoples’ Choice Award at the Naples Craft Beer Fest and was also named co-champion in food pairing by the brewers who participated in the event. Fire & Rice is receiving a National Achievement award from the “Paella for the World” organization later this month.

“I’m excited to have agreements for our first two first franchises,” said Schmidgall. “We made each of them official with the check presentation, signing of the agreements and franchise photos in September at a recent trade show in Atlanta.” He added, “We are already attracting others and gener-

Fire & Rice’s founder and owner Chef Paul Schmidgall announced his company has signed its first two franchise deals, covering three territories, at the National Events Marketing Franchise Show in Atlanta. ated even more business at the show.”

The first franchise to sign is the Fire & Rice of West Tennessee for one territory, and the second is Fire & Rice of Fort Myers. The Fort Myers franchisee is also contracting the option to purchase Fire & Rice of Port Huron, Mich.

“Fire & Rice has created an exceptional and duplicable catering strategy,” said the company’s first employee and newest franchisee, Alan Sloan.

“Paul showed me how to cater events and parties and I just fell in love with it, so much so that we have now signed the official franchise paperwork to open Fire & Rice of Fort Myers.”

A Fire & Rice franchise allows owners to create their own unique catering successes with Fire & Rice’s tried and tested accomplishments, business model and marketing plan. Franchises can be part of farmers markets, festivals, and even private parties for any special occasions.

For more information, contact Schmidgall at (239) 269-8857, Paul@FireandRice.us, or you can visit FireandRice.us.

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Page 12

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Break free from overcommitting Do you have a tendency to say “yes” to doing something when you want to say “no”? Ever get so excited to start a new project but then, you begin to lose interest or lose sight of why you started doing it to begin with?

Trust me, I used to be there. I get where you might be coming from.

See, often times, we commit to something and then, life gets in the way, doesn’t it? Perhaps we have the best intentions but then we start saying, “I don’t have anymore time for this” or “I wish I didn’t HAVE to do___!”

If you are reading this, chances are, you say “yes” to everything, but you always feel like you never get anything done. True? And, if you are always starting projects but never finishing them, how does that make you feel? Disappointing your friends and family is one thing, but more importantly, this “go then stop” mentality can start to make you feel defeated.

You begin to doubt you can achieve your greatness, your purpose, your path. Before you know it, you start trying a little too hard to prove your worthiness by making excuses for why things didn’t work out.

Isn’t time to break this cycle of over-committing and then never seeing the commitment through? Are you tired of letting yourself and other people down? Even as early as two years ago, I was constantly struggling with the “go then stop” mindset. I would get super-excited about taking on a new project to improve my quality

of life or business and then, “something” always seemed to check me out of the game. I felt I was working way too hard to be the master of everything while at

BY ERICA CASTNER the same time I felt like I was Guest Columnist not succeeding at anything!

It was not until I started working with a personal development coach that I started to break the cycle. He helped me come to my own conclusions about why I was constantly sabotaging my own success.

Our process of how we do anything is based our beliefs. These beliefs are “learned” over time. Unfortunately, these beliefs do not always serve us well. They can create an unruly cycle of fear and doubt and stop us dead in our tracks.

To be continued next issue.

From climbing the corporate ladder to entrepreneurship, Castner is no stranger to the professional development world. She is founder of Queen of Results Business Coaching & Consulting, dedicated to helping working moms and other business professionals. She also hosts a podcast series. Reach her at www. thequeenofresults.com.

OCTOBER 2015

CareerSource Award winners named

The Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board CareerSource Southwest Florida awarded Marine Concepts (JRL Ventures), Lee County Electric Cooperative and Around the Clock Fitness its 2015 Champions Award. Above: Greg Allen and Dennie Hamilton of LCEC. Below: Jillian and Derick Fay of Around the Clock Fitness.

Mac Spencer, Mike Spencer and Matt Chambers of Marine Concepts.

Zotter Chocolates opens in Cape Coral More than 200 people sampled the exotic chocolates that are the mainstay of Zotter Chocolates at the store’s recent celebration. While the storefront may be new to the Cape, Zotter Chocolates have a rich history that dates back 28 years to when Austrian Josef Zotter founded his own confectionary and invented hand-scooped chocolates.

The company uses organic and free-

trade products to design unique and beautiful chocolate creations ranging from filled, hand-scooped bars to nutty nougats, pure chocolate and drinking chocolates.

For more information, go to www. zotterusa.com Reprinted with the permission of the City of Cape Coral