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A look at commercial real estate trends & topics in Southwest Florida INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Focus on Manufacturing

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

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Diversity in the workplace views are shared Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Karen P. Moore, Publisher A font of useful information was given by Southwest Florida business professionals who recently participated in a lively and informative local discussion panel moderated by Above Board Chamber Executive Director Jeanne Sweeney. Panelists included Nirupa Netram, founder, Lotus Solutions LLC; Shanthy Bala, Esq, a Harvard-educated tax and business attorney; Theresa Ayers, owner, The

Path of Being; Precious Gunter, Esq., Director of Equity, Ethics, & Compliance & Title IX Coordinator, FGCU’s Lutgert College of Business. When asked “What is diversity in the workplace?,” Nirupa, whose firm helps with diversification efforts in the workplace, shared, “Having a workforce comprised of all races, generations, genders, ethnicities, disabilities, LBGTQ, as well as immigrants and refugees.” Expanding upon the question of how employers can create diversity, Bala responded, “It’s impor-

tant that employers know that diversity and inclusion are two separate things.” She added, “The employer must create an environment where employees feel safe with their differences from other employees.” She notes two important questions employers must ask--is management giving opportunities for inclusion, creating a comfort level for those who feel they have differences from other employees, as well as offering professional growth opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds?” DIVERSITY See page 22

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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

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

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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

Focus on Manufacturing

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

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

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

IN THE NEWS

Fort Myers sixth Business Summit slated for Sept. 20

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

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

SUMMIT See page 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gov. DeSantis announces job growth grants

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

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

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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

SHARK See page

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

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Goodwill offers training on digital literacy, work skills

As Florida continues to manage the impact of COVID-19, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is facilitating new digital skills training to help learners prepare for job transfor-

The Immokalee Foundation students, mentors, tutors and team transitioned to virtual learning.

Schulze Foundation awards tech grant

The Immokalee Foundation received a $25,000 technology grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. Originally awarded as a challenge grant, the modified funds supported the foundation’s technology needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation grant helped us transition our Career Pathways programming to virtual platforms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Noemi Y. Perez, president and CEO of The Immokalee Foundation. “In doing so, we continued current programming and were able to add new programming options. The

transition was swift and effective for our students. “The COVID-19 relief was tremendously helpful in setting up our staff in virtual offices and putting laptops into the hands of students who otherwise would not have been able to stay connected to school and the foundation,” said Perez. “All the additional challenges that our community is facing make our work more important than ever, so we need to do everything it takes to help our students succeed. We are so appreciative of the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation’s generous support of our efforts.” GRANT See page 6

IN THE NEWS mations that are unfolding across every sector and industry. Labor experts believe that even entry level workers will now be expected to use a variety of digital devices and equipment. Here are a few examples of technology use by industry: GOODWILL See page 8

Expanded Bonita Chamber rebrands as SWFL Inc.

The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, a premier business services organization since 1953, has launched a new membership model to better serve businesses in Lee, Collier

and Charlotte Counties, and a new name to reflect its regional reach – SWFL Inc. “We are ecstatic to share our new, more inclusive model with businesses across Southwest Florida,” said Tiffany Esposito, President and CEO of CHAMBER See page 7

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

SEPTEMBER 2020

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

SEPTEMBER 2020

MANUFACTURING

Time for SWFL to recover, restore and reboot Recover. Restore. Reboot. That’s what manufacturers in Southwest Florida are executing in the second half of 2020. Regionally, manufacturers are adapting to the new ‘normal’ business environment and they are not alone. The Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association (SRMA) is here to offer support, recovery assistance and resources not found anywhere else. Some of the valuable resource orga- BY BILL nizations the SRMA collaborates with WELCH to support manufacturers are: (1) The Guest Columnist Small Business Development Center (SBDC) where there are business experts in Supply Chain strategies amongst other business topics. (2) County Economic Development Offices (EDOs) that help to relocate, grow or expand a manufacturer in the Southwest Florida area. (3) Local universities, colleges and tech schools including iTech and Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME) help to train and prepare workers in manufacturing and machining. (4) CareerSource Southwest Florida that offers recruiting assistance and programs that offset training costs. Additionally, there are banking, finance, marketing and insurance experts that are affiliated with the SRMA. To date, there have been many successful collaborations through the networking efforts of the SRMA where local manufacturers outsourced production, helped with supply chains issues as well as other business-related ®

needs. These partnerships formed a win-win attitude without giving away any proprietary processes or products. The SRMA has support systems at the state level as well. FloridaMakes is a statewide, industry-led partnership that strengthens and measurably advances Florida’s manufacturing economy. FloridaMakes provides free operational assessments for manufacturing companies and just recently initiated a new Apprenticeship program for manufacturers. The program costs are less if you are a member of the SRMA and is supported by CareerSource Florida, which offers state grants for reimbursement of certain training costs associated with on the job training for new employees as well as updating the skill levels (or sets) for existing employees. The question is, while your manufacturing or business operation is recovering, restoring and rebooting, are you utilizing the various resources offered through the SRMA? The Members, Associate Members, Board of Directors and support organizations of the SRMA have found out over time that networking can help you come up with the right questions, provide multiple answers, resources and solutions to help manufacturers overcome the obstacles to successfully recover, restore and reboot. Let’s do this together and not alone. Network with the SRMA. For more information, contact the SRMA at www. srma.net, info@srma.net or (239) 258-1385. Bill Welch is an Account Executive with CareerSource Southwest Florida with 30 years of experience in staffing and consulting employment services. Since 2001 he has helped businesses start and grow in SWFL.

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Here’s what is ahead for 2020 for Southwest Florida Business Today®. PUB. DATE (FRIDAY)

After months of quarantine and stay-at-home orders, many are now experiencing a variety of COVID19-related stressors. As we re-enter the public sphere, we are bringing these stressors along with us. Whether it’s anxiety over the pandemic, financial hardships, or just feeling cooped up after months of beBY SCOTT ing in quarantine, FOUTS these feelings can Guest Columnist present in interactions between staff members, customers and staff, or between customers as stores, restaurants and other public spaces re-open. In this next phase the potential for additional conflict in the workplace has climbed sharply. Business owners and operators need to get ahead of potential conflict scenarios that could escalate to aggression or violence with a risk-appropriate combination of physical and administrative controls. Deploy physical and administrative controls when appropriate, based on the following best practices: 1. Assess your space and the risk. 2. Communicate across all platforms and with good signage. 3. Train your staff. 4. Have an emergency action plan in place. Scott Fouts is Vice President of global insurance brokerage Hub International’s Risk Services Division. He has 17 years of experience in occupational safety, health and risk management consulting. Learn more at hubinternational.com.

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Craters & Freighters, an international provider of specialty freight solutions, is marking the 30th anniversary of its founding. Formed on June 26, 1990, in Golden, Colo., the company has grown steadily across three decades and today has more than 60 brick-and-mortar locations nationwide. This past January, Craters & Freighters of SW Florida celebrated their 18th anniversary. Located on Pine Island Road in Cape Coral, this location services Southwest Florida from Palmetto to the north and south to Marco Island. The company specializes in handling large, fragile, expensive, and hard-to-move assets for businesses in a wide range of sectors including telecommunications, IT, aerospace, biotechnology, government, healthcare and industrial. Craters & Freighters also serves residential customers. Craters & Freighters was a pioneer in the specialty crating and shipping industry in the 1990s and continues to be a recognized leader today. Given the ongoing concerns about COVID-19, the company won’t be holding any celebrations this year, but is looking forward to celebrating 30 years of excellence with franchisees in Denver slated for April 2021.

SEPTEMBER 2020

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

MANUFACTURING FloridaMakes awarded National Science Foundation Grant

FloridaMakes received a National Science Foundation grant to organize and execute the Technician Future of Work Issues Caucus for Florida Community Colleges and Manufacturers. The purpose of the event will be to gather key leadership from the advanced manufacturing industry along with its workforce and education stakeholders to foster a conversation around the future talent needs of the smart factory. “To grow a world-class technical workforce and continue to ensure Florida’s manufacturing remains globally competitive, it is important to have reliable information about the knowledge and skills our talent pipeline will need to remain ahead of the curve,” said Kevin Carr, CEO of FloridaMakes. The goal of the Caucus is to identify technologies in Florida’s small- to medium-sized manufacturers that directly contribute to Florida’s technicians’ skills gap. The project will first survey both manufacturers and twoyear college educators in Florida about future technical skills that will be used in manufacturing environments. Stakeholder organizations including Associated Industries of Florida, CareerSource Florida, Veterans Florida, the regional manufacturers associations across the state, the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Career, Technical and Adult Education plus, Florida’s 28 state colleges and 48 technical centers will help distribute the questionnaires. The results will be reviewed by a select group of educators and manufacturers during the Caucus’ events. Outcomes and recommendations from this process will be shared with the public. “The future of work is here. Now is the time to disrupt our education system to ensure for rapid, but highquality training aligned to industry and emerging technologies,” said Henry Mack, Chancellor for Career, Techni-

For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com cal and Adult Education at the Florida Department of Education. “This convening will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to come together to reimagine workforce education in view of greater social and economic mobility for many of Florida’s residents.” Virtual meetings will take place on two dates: Oct. 15 and during the Spring of 2021 on a date to be determined. The program will be led by FloridaMakes and the Florida Advanced Technological Education (FLATE) Center in partnership with the University of South Florida and the College of Central Florida. “Florida’s wide range of manufacturing facility types and sizes presents a challenge for collecting the information needed to grow the talent pipeline demanded by Industry 4.0 technologies,” said Marilyn Barger, director of FLATE. “The Caucus will bring leadership in the education and manufacturing sectors from all over the state together to discuss and determine the needed skills and to develop a unified approach.” Recommendations published as a result of the Caucus will be used to implement changes in the Florida Department of Education’s Standards and Benchmarks for Career and Technical Education. These Standards, with their accompanying Benchmarks, govern what is taught in Florida’s college system, the technical colleges and Florida school district Career and Technical Education programs. For more information about how to participate in the Future of Work Issues Caucus for Florida Community Colleges and Manufacturers please contact Dr. Marilyn Barger, Director, Florida Advanced Technological Education Center by email at marilyn. barger@flate.org or by phone at (407) 450-7206.

Let your virtuous self guide you As we navigate the unprecedented times of COVID-19 there is much talk of following the science or the experts. As a scientist myself, I think that’s a good idea! The problem is that the science isn’t really settled. For example, at one point we were told cigarette smokers had a worse time with the virus, but later studies showed they tolerated it better; an early (later, retracted) report found hydroxychloroquine didn’t work, but later studies showed that it was an effective treatment for some people. Likewise with experts, who predicted anywhere from 100,000 to 3 million American deaths. Sometimes a single expert, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci gave opposite advice over time. He famously said that the danger from COVID-19 is miniscule and that the only people who need to wear masks are those already infected so that they can keep from exposing others. His more recent advice is completely different. So, which expert should you follow? The answer is, your virtuous self. Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman is famous for conducting and reporting many studies of experts

BY ERIC B. DENT Guest Columnist

who performed worse than novices in their areas of expertise. Experts tend to be tremendous processors of information within a certain set of assumptions, but even if as few as one of those assumptions is wrong, their conclusions will be also (remember the pollsters in the

2016 election?). Consequently, your virtuous self should be your guide during these unsettling times. Don’t turn to your selfish self, your panicked self or your fatigued self. Wake up each morning and ask yourself, “what can I do today to be heroic?” Being heroic doesn’t mean flying through the sky and rescuing people like Superman. I define “being heroic” as choosing to do the right thing with all of your decisions, big and small. EXPERT See page 8

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

SEPTEMBER 2020

What are business entity options for partners in Florida? Part 1 of 2

When you have a great idea for a business, it can be tempting to dive right in—strike while the iron is hot. Experienced entrepreneurs, though, know that careful planning is half the battle. If you’re working with a partner, part of that planning process is choosing the right entity structure and getting the precise business relationship between the parties nailed down on paper. There are various pros and cons to different structures to be aware of and the chosen approach can have an impact on your Florida business planning and can even cause estate planning complications in Florida. Thus, it is important to understand the various business entity options for partners in Florida. Florida offers numerous entity models for business owners to choose from. They range from the simple-as-it-gets sole proprietorship to highly complex C corporations. No business model is right for every business, so a lot will depend on your business plan, whether you’re working with partners, and how you expect your business to progress in the future. An experienced Florida business and estate planning attorney can provide more information on the models available for Florida business partners and help you choose the ideal business entity option in Florida. These are various business entity options for partners in Florida: Sole Proprietorships in Florida A sole proprietorship is one person doing business in his or her own name (or under a trade name). By definition, a sole proprietorship has only one owner, so for two or more people planning to enter into a business partnership, a sole proprietorship is not an option. General Partnerships in Florida General partnerships are the oldest form of business association and basically amount to two or more people working together on a common business venture in Florida or elsewhere. It’s the equivalent of a sole proprietorship, but with more than one person involved. The big advantage of general partnerships is that they are simple. A partnership doesn’t pay income taxes on its own— instead, business profits are the responsibility of the owners and are taxed on their individual returns. Management is also straight-for-

GRANT PAGE 1 An original grant of $100,000 was received for The Immokalee Foundation’s Career Pathways and Immokalee Readers initiatives. Beginning in middle school, Career Pathways students participate in intensive six-week rotations to learn more about the indemand careers in Southwest Florida

ward. By default, each partner is assumed to have an equal say in the partnership’s management and to have authority to enter into transactions on behalf of the business. The downside of partnerships is that, like sole proprietorships, they don’t come with any liability protection. In a traditional general partnership, each partner is personally responsible for all debts or BY STEVEN liability incurred by the busiGIBBS ness—or by other partners when Guest Columnist acting on behalf of the business. So if your partner injures someone in an accident while working for the partnership, your personal assets could potentially be at risk to cover the damages. Registering with the State of Florida is effectively optional for general partnerships. Partners can, but don’t necessarily have to, file a Partnership Registration Statement creating a public record of the partnership’s existence. In some cases, partnerships can be presumed by law even if owners didn’t actually plan to enter into a partnership. General partners can also choose to file Statements of Authority, which put the public on notice of areas in which a partner is empowered to act for the business. Statements of Authority can help protect other partners from liability—if liability arises from another partners action in an area in which the other partner did not have authority—but they are not airtight. For anyone entering into a partnership, a partnership agreement should be considered a necessity. Partnership agreements outline the precise business relationship between the partners, each partner’s financial stake in profits and losses, and the details as to how the business venture will be managed. Florida law assumes all partners have equal financial and management interests, so if you want any terms other than those, you need a partnership agreement. General partnerships have a hard time raising money from outside investors because, for an investor to receive a stake in the business, the investor must become a general partner. But, of course, investors are often reluctant to take on the risk of becoming liable for the partnership’s debts and might not want to have anything to do with the business’s management. If you find yourself facing that dilemma, the LLP structure might be what you need.

in the following sectors: Engineering & Construction Management, Education & Human Services, Health Care, and Business Management & Entrepreneurship. Together with their parents, students learn the types of professions available in each pathway, average salaries and whether the career requires professional certifications and credentials or a two- or four-year col-

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP) in Florida Limited liability partnerships (or just “limited partnership” or “LLP”) are similar to general partnerships in Florida but give business owners the option of having two classes of partners. “General partners” are essentially the same as partners in a general partnership. In matters relating to the business, general partners have the power to act for the partnership and are responsible for business debts and liability on the same terms. “Limited partners,” on the other hand, are more hands off. They’re usually not involved in managing the business and don’t have presumed authority to bind the partnership with regard to third parties. And (perhaps most importantly) limited partners do not have any personal liability for business debts or other obligations—unless they voluntarily agree to guaranty a debt or are personally liable for some reason other than their status as a limited partner. Limited partners are sometimes called “silent partners,” and they are often outside investors with no operational role in the business but with a financial stake in its performance. A limited partner has the right to share in an LLP’s profits but doesn’t have to worry about losses or liability beyond the amount he or she actually invested in the business. Because of the different partnership classes, partnership agreements are even more important for LLPs than for general partnerships. LLPs are taxed like ordinary partnerships or sole proprietorships, with profits and losses passing through to general and limited partners’ returns in accordance with their respective stakes. In Florida, LLPs are required to register with the Department of State by filing a Statement of Qualification for Limited Liability Partnership, and they must provide annual reports thereafter. The LLP model can be useful for small businesses that want to keep things simple but still have the option of raising capital from an investor with no management rights. However, LLPs have been declining in popularity in recent years in favor of a relatively newer business model that offers many of the benefits of an LLP, but with enhanced liability protection: the LLC. Steven Gibbs founded the Gibbs Law Office in Fort Myers in November 2008. Contact him at (239) 415-7495.

lege degree. Once students decide their career path, the program team helps them create a plan for their high school years to ensure they obtain the needed education, training, internships and industry-recognized certifications to obtain industryspecific certificates, credentials and jobs. Grant funding has been used in support of SAT and ACT preparation courses that help Career Pathways

students improve their scores on the standardized tests. The grant also supported Immokalee Readers, an early literacy intervention program that serves more than 800 struggling young readers in Immokalee’s six elementary schools. The program’s 100-plus trained tutors are high school students who are paid an hourly wage and are supervised by certified classroom teachers.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

MANUFACTURING

Formulating a friendly fertilizer

I love the outdoors and enjoying the beauty of plants, flowers, trees and turf. We are lucky that science and resources are available to us to help our natural landscapes flourish. However, many years ago, I observed that the bigger companies were trying to out-sell each other by adding more chemicals to their products to provide faster results. Just because the plants and turf’s visual components looked great, did not mean they were healthy and strong. So 35 years ago, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I already knew what was needed to have beautiful AND healthy plants and turf, so I worked with scientists to develop a natural and eco-friendly fertilizer formula that helps the organic life it BY KEN is applied to while not harming the BOYCE environment we live in. Thus K & K Guest Columnist Super Blend was born. As an entrepreneur and U.S. veteran, I also decided that this product should be manufactured 100% in the United States. In fact, K & K Super Blend is created and packaged in Florida and is still very affordable. Not surprisingly, as competitors add more chemicals to their products, it adds to the consumer’s price. I saw that many of the other fertilizers on the market have ingredients that can negatively impact our natural environment and waterways. Even the State of Florida recognizes that in the heavy rain seasons, some of the fertilizers on the market create issues for the waterways and marine life due to the run-off of the ingredients leaching into our marine areas. Therefore, we have a fertilizer black-out period from June 1 to Sept. 30, unless the fertilizer used excludes nitrogen and phosphorus. K & K Super Blend can be used year-round because it is natural and does not contain those banned ingredients. When developing the K & K Super Blend formula, I focused on the growth, strength, color and root structure for the natural plants, flowers, trees, shrubs and turf. These are the basics for healthy plant and turf life. You do not need a complicated formula to tackle these elements; you need only focus on the simple ingredient for each. These elements are potassium, magnesium, iron and humic acid. Potassium is vital for growth, helping any natural plant or turf get started in life. To support the vibrant color mix, it is best to use magnesium nutrients to enhance the photosynthesis process. When adding iron to the mix, it ensures the best chance at an extended survival. And using humic acid helps to orchestrate the consumption of the micro-nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur) available. When mixed and applied correctly, these four elements provide all that plants, flowers, trees and turf need to be healthy. I want to leave a better environment for future generations to enjoy. Therefore, I created K & K Super Blend, a fertilizer product with a PATENT guaranteeing that every bag sold contains the same formula mix. Ken Boyce is the creator of K & K Super Blend. Contact him at (239) 470-2742 or kksuperblend@comcast.net.

MANUFACTURING Hair products inspired by Caribbean heritage Quality ingredients is at the core for beauty and lifestyle brand, Alikay Naturals. Coined a “beauty pioneer” by the media at the age of 26, Rochelle Graham-Campbell created Caribbean-inspired products that are composed of the richest natural and organic ingredients. The brand uses healing properties and natural humectants to nourish and replenish moisture from the inside out. No sulfates, no parabens, no mineral oils, no alcohol and no petroleum. The line, which is currently available at select Target, Walmart, Rite Aid, Kroger, Meijer, HEB stores, Harmon Face Values and CVS stores nationwide has quickly become one of the fastest growing and most influential beauty brands in the world. Much so, that products can be found at over 150 independent retail locations worldwide, including France, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Jamaica and Bermuda. The line is also available on the Alikay Naturals website: alikaynaturals.com. The brand is family-owned, locally produced, and is manufactured at their homebased facility in the U.S. “We have our own manufacturing facility, we are one of four products that are sold in mass retail and we’re self-manufactured,” said CEO and Co-founder, Rochelle Graham-Campbell. “That means we can guarantee quality and ensure consumers are receiving the same products I made in my apartment 10 years ago.” At the start of her natural hair journey, Graham damaged her hair with harsh products and coloring. She had to cut her damaged hair and begin the search for healthy, natural hair products. During her search, she discovered that most of the products on the market contained harsh chemicals. Graham decided to make her

CHAMBER PAGE 1 SWFL Inc. “Membership in SWFL Inc. is a payfor-what-you-need model, which is unlike anything offered in the traditional Chamber world.” “As the way we all conduct business changes, the Southwest Florida business community is fortunate that this Chamber is a nationally recognized industry leader that takes modern and distinctive approaches to serve businesses,” said Richard Mancini, Chairman of the SWFL Esposito Inc. Board of Directors and a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator of Henderson, Franklin. “SWFL Inc. is ranked in the top one percent of Chambers of Commerce nationwide, and the programs and services it offers are tangible benefits that we believe will give businesses an

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Alikay Naturals is family-owned, locally produced, and is manufactured at their homebased facility in the U.S. own products to achieve her healthy hair goals. With only $100 saved for the business, Graham created products that moisturized hair, by using natural ingredients inspired by her Jamaican roots. Initially, she created products for herself, but Graham’s followers noticed that her hair Grahamwas healthy and was growCampbell ing; they too struggled with finding the right products and wanted to try the products she used in her videos. She began by making only a few batches, and the demand grew. Today, Alikay Naturals manufactures over 105 products and growing. Learn more at AlikayNaturals.com. Contact (877) 293-8659 for more information. For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com unmatched return on their investment.” “Especially today, businesses need unique marketing opportunities and the ability to build strong connections with each other to succeed,” Esposito said. “We’ve been developing our new menu of services for more than a year and worked closely with business owners and community partners to make sure our offerings are specific and useful.” SWFL Inc. offers four premium membership packages and a free, basic package. Any business in SWFL can become a Basic Member and add on additional benefits from the SWFL Inc. Menu of Services, including video tours, event sponsorships, advertisements in the SWFL Visitor Guide and more. Businesses can join SWFL Inc. and leverage its network, credibility and access to resources for free at SWFLinc.com, or call (239) 992-2943.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

SEPTEMBER 2020

Local named international ambassador, Get Kids into Survey David Dagostino, CEO of surveying and mapping company Dagostino Geospatial, announced he has entered into a United States ambassador relationship in support of the international Get Kids into Survey (GKiS) project created in 2017 by Elaine Ball Ltd. of the United Kingdom. According to the GKiS website, the project’s main objective is to inspire future geospatial experts by bringing young people into the exciting world of survey through pioneering content and engaging experiences. GKiS project leaders surmise that to secure the future of the industry, the geospatial community must unite to inspire a new generation of surveyors by sharing their enthusiasm with young people. Project leaders endeavor to provide education on everything geospatial, including different areas of surveying, equipment, solutions and jobs. Elaine Ball, CEO of Elaine Ball Ltd., explained, “I consider myself a marketing evangelist for the geospatial industry globally. With deep family roots in land surveying, mapping technology, and all things geospatial, I literally grew up in the industry. From a young age, I understood the world of surveying in a very detailed way, and I loved it! However, over time, I discovered that most children (and many adults) do not understand surveying in general, let alone its opportunity as a promising career path.” Ball explained that GKiS began with the creation of an illustrated poster for children detailing common activities of land surveyors and other geospatial professionals. To her delight, what was initially intended to be a fun resource for the survey community to help children understand what their parents did at work has now blossomed into an international initiative to educate children about the geospatial industry. Dagostino, a Florida-licensed professional surveyor and mapper who earned his Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Mapping degree from the University of Florida, is eager to play an active role in the GKiS

EXPERT PAGE 5 And, adding value to society with your actions, including doing at least your share of what is expected as a human being (and ideally, slightly more). An emphasis on virtues goes all the way back to Aristotle, and is making a comeback in popularity today. Ethics experts have realized that it is too convoluted to try to develop rules or guidelines for how to decide and act. There are too many exceptions and nuances. Instead, as Aristotle recommended nearly 2,400 years ago, develop your virtues each day. The more virtu-

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar initiative. “This industry has needed an injection of enthusiasm as a viable career path for a long time. In my graduating class at UF, there were only four other students graduating with surveying and mapping degrees,” Dagostino said. “During commencement, we had hoped to spell out the word ‘s-u-r-v-e-y’ on our caps as an homage to our future careers. But sadly, we did not have six people.” In 1991 when Dagostino graduated, UF was the only Florida college offering formal education in surveying and mapping. Since then, he is thankful that Florida Atlantic University has added geomatics engineering degree programs, including surveying and mapping as a specialty. However, it is the opinion of Dagostino that the surveying industry and its enduring potential as a career path still lacks exposure among primary schoolaged students. “I hope my involvement with GKiS can make an impact because, frankly, we need more young people in the surveying industry,” Dagostino summarized. “According to statistics reported by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as of March 2020 there were 2,497 active LS (professional surveyor and mapper) licensees in Florida with nearly 50% over the age of sixty and less than 8% under the age of 40.” In his signed agreement as a GKiS ambassador, Dagostino affirmed his commitment to spread the word about GKiS locally, participate in student educational opportunities, and present surveying as a career to young students. Dagostino’s first-ever appearance as a GKiS ambassador demonstrated his interest and expert ability to uphold his commitment. On July 10, Dagostino was a guest presenter at Fran Cohen ous you become, the better the decisions you will make. Your virtuous self knows how you should treat your customers or employees, or whether or not your children are healthy enough to attend school. Aristotle recommended virtues such as courage, temperance, truthfulness, friendliness, modesty, generosity, and even wittiness! So that’s the advice of this expert, but make up your own mind about whether it makes sense. Dr. Eric B. Dent is a professor and the Uncommon Friends Endowed Chair in Ethics at the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University. Contact him at edent@fgcu.edu or (239) 590-7162.

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Youth Center Salvation Army of Naples Day Camp where he successfully engaged an audience of 28 student day campers, ages 8-15, for one hour and thirty minutes in concert with the camp’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) curriculum focus. During his presentation at the day camp, Dagostino distributed a printed version of the GKiS “Offshore U.S.A.” poster which depicts many aspects of both land and bathymetric/hydrographic surveying which are very prevalent in Florida. He then gave each child a handful of Dagostino Geospatial-branded survey washers (a type of survey marking equipment used primarily when marking data points in asphalt) as game pieces so they could play “survey bingo” by marking industry-related items on the poster with the survey washers. The students were captivated when he demonstrated the robotic capabilities of the Trimble S5 Total Station, which “followed” him around the room as he pretended to collect survey data points. Dagostino also involved every student in a pace factor contest where campers estimated a distance with the number of their paces made to cover a distance; he then awarded prizes to the campers who guessed the actual distance most accurately. While making the presentation fun and engaging, Dagostino also spoke about how interesting and rewarding his 22-year-plus year career in surveying and mapping has been, enthusiastically likening aspects of the career choice to a treasure or scavenger hunt. “Encouraging students to appreciate the geospatial sciences needs to begin at a young age,” he told Fran Cohen Youth Center Salvation Army of Naples administrators after his recent presentation. “I hope the students could tell that I was thrilled to be here today. I would love to be known as ‘the guy who teaches about surveying and mapping’ in schools, clubs, and other youth organizations all over Florida.”

GOODWILL PAGE 1 • Restaurant workers complete food safety training utilizing virtual reality goggles. • Home health aides record patient information on tablets. • Retail clerks process returns on smartphone applications. • Manufacturing workers assemble parts with augmented reality. Workers need digital literacy to perform these actions. They will require knowledge of these types of technologies and the cognitive skills to navigate them successfully. Unfortunately, National Skills Coalition data indicates that one-third of American workers currently lack the vital digital skills needed to perform these actions. The digital divide is even more significant in low-income, rural communities of Southwest Florida where families lack access to technology. Mid-August, Goodwill SWFL is rolling out Career Campus, free digital skills training that offers industry recognized certificates upon completion. These certificate programs range from basic computer introduction to QuickBooks, Excel and Adobe Premier. Classes are self-paced and can be done in a virtual format from home, or at one of the Goodwill Career Resource Centers. Prepare yourself to pivot to a new employment environment, connect with your local Goodwill Community Resource Coordinator to get signed up for Career Campus. Visit www.goodwillswfl.org for a list of locations. For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 9

MANUFACTURING

Going from shower doors to pandemic glass In 2012, when the Daubmann family decided to grow their business vertically, the three family members decided that it was time to manufacture their own glass to feed their other company, MY Shower Door. They met together and agreed to name the new entity D3 Glass, in recognition of the their family name. Since that time, they have continually grown both businesses and employ more than 110 Florida residents, mostly Southwest Floridians. In September 2019, MY Shower Door/D3 Glass was named as Lee County’s “Manufacturer of the Year,” an incredible honor seeing that they only started manufacturing in the summer of 2013. Bill Daubmann, along with sons Doug and Keith, have kept the momentum of their business going in the right direction, even after the COVID-19 shutdown in April of 2020. “Although we were categorized as an ‘essential business’ by the State of Florida, we made the decision to halt production and close all of our retail showrooms for the month of April and pay all employees to stay home, safely with their families,” said Keith Daubmann. “We felt that our staff was the ‘essential element’ and we used the opportunity to virtually up-coach some team members while building an amazing culture. When everyone returned in May, the attitudes were phenomenal.” Every one of the staff of 110 kept their jobs and were anxious to return to work and to help the company continue their growth. Manufacturing in Southwest Florida is a rarity as shipping costs and

MY Shower Door/D3 Glass continues to grow vertically and adapt, and now calls a larger headquarters its home. County Tax Assessors Departments as well as private businesses where it is vital to protect both the public and the employees from the spread of the virus. As D3 Glass shifted gears, they also developed glass chair mats which are used as carpet and floor protectors where people that have offices replace their plastic worn out carpet mats that often discolor and crack. These products are sold through the MY Shower Door locations. The MY Architectural Glass division also offers other product lines such as glass office walls (partitions), glass wine closets and glass railing systems. The company is fully insured and carries a State Certified Glass and Glazing License (SCC131151356) which legally allows them to install throughout the whole State of Florida.

logistics play a large part in pricing of materials and transportation. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic only emphasized how important local manufacturing really is to the local and State economy. Supply chains are more easily accessed when domestic suppliers do not have to depend on purchasing their products from oversees. D3 Glass purchases their glass from a domestic float plant and fabricates, polishes and tempers the glass panels for their frameless shower door company. During the COVID-19 hiatus, the Daubmanns developed the MY Health Guards, customized size panels of safety glass to be used as protection from the spread of the Corona virus. MY Shower Door’s off-shoot, MY Architectural Glass, has installed these barriers in such locations as Lee County public buildings and Collier

Lee Commissioners pass LeeCARES grant The Lee Board of County Commissioners authorized the next round of LeeCARES programs to assist individuals, families and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board approved plans to: • Launch Round 2 of LeeCares Assistance for individuals and families providing for broader eligibility and increased award amounts up to $3,000 per household. Grant recipients from earlier rounds of assistance are also eligible for Round 2 funding. Round 1 closed to applications on Aug. 7 and Round 2 opened Aug. 17. • Enhance the Business Rehire program by increasing grant sizes by up to $8,000 awarded to each full-time equivalent rehire according to wages paid. • Double the maximum scholarship amount allowed for each child that qualifies for childcare expenses to $2,500 in order to extend the program through the remainder of calendar year 2020. • Distribute Personal Protective Equipment to county residents in partnership with the municipalities. • Enhance CARES Act funding by $1.8 million for the existing Rapid Re-housing Program currently administered by Lee County’s Department of Human & Veteran Services; this includes adding additional partnering agencies to increase program capacity. The LeeCARES programs are funded through the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). The funding includes: LEECARES See page 10

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SAND DOLLAR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS DEPOT BizDepot@aol.com 6309 Corporate Ct. #205, Fort Myers, FL 33919

Page 10

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

SEPTEMBER 2020

MANUFACTURING

Sanitizing tunnel could mark return of sports, business in U.S. We’re approaching six months since COVID-19 forced our economy, and us, to pause. Although most small businesses and restaurants have reopened, we still aren’t able to enjoy a ballgame, theatrical performance or Hollywood blockbuster in person. Despite social distancing guidelines and growing acceptance of face masks, people still don’t feel comfortable venturing into crowds. A new product is hitting the market, though, that could be the final element needed to bring back fans, worshippers, shoppers and travelers. Disinfect Group USA, a company launched this spring in Fort Myers, has begun manufacturing sanitizing tunnels that can be installed at entrances to schools, sports venues, mass transit stations, churches, airports, shopping centers, hotels, theaters, concert halls, theme parks, conference centers, casinos, office buildings and courthouses. The sanitizing tunnels, which resemble X-ray machines at airports, emit a safe disinfecting mist on individuals and their personal belongings prior to entering a building. The sanitizing process takes about 30 seconds to completely destroy germs and viruses from the skin

as well as items like cell phones, purses and car keys. The dry fog is created from ingredients tested and approved by the EPA and FDA in their liquid forms. It uses electrolyzed water technology to create a nearly invisible BY VINNY mist that is all-natuANTONIO ral, non-toxic, gentle Guest Columnist on the skin and eyes, and does not damage clothing or belongings. Clinical lab results demonstrate it is scientifically proven to kill 99.99% of germs, viruses and bacteria. Additionally, the product scores all zeros on the OSHA-required Safety Data Sheet, indicating ingredients are non-hazardous and non-toxic, as well as bleach and alcohol free. Tunnels can be outfitted with thermal heat sensors that accurately detect an individual’s body temperature, as well as digital capacity counters that track a venue’s occupancy. Disinfect Group USA also offers mobile disinfection units, sanitizing walls, sanitizing stations, thermal cameras and

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The sanitizing tunnels emit a safe disinfecting mist on individuals and their personal belongings prior to entering a building. conveyor belt tunnels that sanitize per- once in Bonita Springs and once in Orlando. It’s exciting to know that a group sonal items and equipment. It’s clear we just aren’t quite there of young entrepreneurs right here in when it comes to a full return to normal- Southwest Florida could play a role in cy. Face mask policies alone don’t do it. the safe reopening of stadiums, arenas, Adding social distancing markers on the concert halls and other venues across the floor won’t do it, either. But if everyone country. who enters a facility goes through the same screening process – temperature Vinny Antonio, of Fort Myers, is presichecks and a sanitization process – we dent of Disinfect Group USA, a company can feel more comfortable being around that provides commercial sanitizing solutions to clients across North America. each other. To date, sanitizing tunnels have been For information, call (239) 234-2822 exhibited just twice in North America, or visit DisinfectGroupUSA.com.

Charlotte CARES grants offered The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Charlotte County business community to confront immense challenges. As a result, on July 14, the Charlotte County Commission approved the Recovery Grant Program to accelerate and assist the reopening efforts of businesses hardest hit by COVID-19. Charlotte County was assigned $32.9 million from the federal CARES Act approved by Congress; 20% of those funds, $6,580,000, will be given to

qualified Charlotte County businesses by electronic application through the Recovery Grant Program. The Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners have dedicated $1,645,000 to be allocated in four separate stages by business group. Qualified applications for the second stage were accepted beginning Aug. 13, on a first-come, first serve basis while the funds last. Visit cleared4takeoff.com/charlotte-cares.

LEECARES PAGE 9

education and messaging, data collection, elections, telework, etc. • $20.5 million for general reserves for COVID-19 costs. A dashboard that shows assistance statistics is available at www.LeeFLcares.com/transparency. Visit www.LeeFLcares.com for additional information about all available programs. Application instructions also are available in Spanish by calling (239) 533-2273 (239-LEE-CARES); applicants without internet access can also call the number. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

• $45 million to Human Services programs including the Individual Assistance • $25 million to Business Relaunch and Rehire programs and PPE. • $23,950,000 for Public Safety and Medial expenses, including contact tracing, EMS transport, quarantine housing, etc. • $20 million for Governmental COVID-19 direct expenses for Lee County and Constitutional Offices, including PPE, facility safety, public

CareerSource Southwest Florida Supports the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Associa�on (SRMA) with its eﬀort to grow manufacturing and diversify Southwest Florida’s economy For more informa�on on programs oﬀered through CareerSource Southwest Florida visit: www.careersourcesouthwes�lorida.com

SEPTEMBER 2020

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 11

BUILT TO LAST

Home to over 1,000 manufacturers employing close to 13,000 workers, manufacturing in Southwest Florida is alive and well. From power boats to cutting-edge medical devices and world-class chocolates, these dynamic businesses create value and jobs within the region. The manufacturing sector continues to attract investments and grow at an accelerated rate. And it shows no sign of slowing down.

AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGES

57,200

MANUFACTURING

49,452

MANUFACTURING IN SWFL

12,442

The number of employees currently working in SWFL’s manufacturing industry as of 2019.

CAREERS & SALARIES

ALL INDUSTRIES

$98,936

Industrial Production Manager 110K

WHAT'S BEING MADE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA? • Medical equipment

• Fluid management solutions

• Printing and Signage

• Medical supplies • Wire products

• Machine tool Manufacturing

• Motorcycles

• Water & Gas filtration systems

• Lubricants

• Hurricane protection

• Distilleries & Breweries

• Furniture

• Landscaping supplies

• Concrete

• Chocolates

• Boat lifts

• Tooling

• Frozen Foods

• Boats

• Private Label cosmetic manufacturing

• Building Supplies windows/doors

• Railroad equipment • Mining equipment

Yearly Salary (USD)

$90,151

• Shipping and Containers

Managers (other)

100K

80K

$85,617

Industrial Engineers 60K

$44,513

Machinists 200

Sources: FL Research and Economic Database Application; FL Dept. of Economic Opportunity Data supplied by: CareerSource SWFL

300

400

500

600

700

800

Number of Employees Graphic and banner art supplied by ConRic PR & Marketing, 2019

SRMA

Ongoing support available for SRMA members in SWFL

The year of 2020 has been quite an odd one. From COVID-19 and social distancing to protes�ng and riots, it’s been difficult to keep up. Throughout all the bad news, it’s also important to acknowledge the good. Regionally, there has been an ongoing effort to redevelop and reinforce the U.S. supply chain and bring manufacturing back home. As a rapid demand for Personal Protec�ve Equipment hit the U.S. market, the faults within our supply chain quickly became apparent. How can you import and provide healthcare workers and the general popula�on with protec�ve equipment when global demand spikes almost instantaneously? Behind the scenes in Southwest Florida, a coali�on formed from local government officials, healthcare firms, private en��es and the Southwest Regional Manufactures Associa�on. The main goal of this coali�on: u�lize the diverse por�olio of regional manufacturing firms and outreach systems to manufacture our own PPE locally, hopefully for the longterm. The Southwest Regional Manufactures Associa�on itself is a local support system and networking pla�orm for manufacturers spanning Charlo�e, Lee, Hendry and Collier coun�es. The associa�on offers monthly roundtable discussions and presenta�ons, social networking events, plant tours and other resources to help manufacturers thrive in Southwest

Florida. With a focus on training and educa�on for manufacturing employees, it helps provide the founda�on for long-term manufacturing growth within the region. More recently, the SRMA has begun integra�on into the FloridaMakes organizaJEFF POIRIER �on, which is a member of the na�onally funded Manufacturing Extension Partnership network. FloridaMakes provides shared resources and networking across diﬀerent Regional Manufacturing Associa�ons in order to promote manufacturing growth throughout the en�re state of Florida. With business leaders and advisors covering the en�re state, FloridaMakes also provides real industry experience and exper�se in supply chain op�miza�on, workforce training, enterprise assessment and more. A stronger network with a more aligned focus means more resources to help your manufacturing business grow. With social distancing and working from home s�ll commonplace, the SRMA has temporarily moved to web-based educa�onal and networking events. Please join us on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 8–9:30 a.m. for our next scheduled Roundtable Discussion �tled “Recover > Restore > Reboot” where we will

THE SRMA offers events where members can meet and network with representa�ves of other local manufacturing companies. discuss OTJ training, diversifica�on of supply chains, and economic incen�ves and funding. The webinar will be hosted via the Zoom virtual pla�orm. Register online today at srma.net/category/events. To join the Southwest Regional Manufactures Associa�on, please sign up on our website at www. SRMA.net/join or email info@SMRA.net for addi�onal informa�on. Stay Strong. Stay Safe. Stay Manufacturing. Jeff Poirier is currently Board President for the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association and Chief Operating Officer of VGM Holdings. Contact him at jpoirier@vgmholdings.com or (239) 332-0855.

Page 12

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

SEPTEMBER 2020

HENDRY COUNTY

Manufacturing rises as Hendry infrastructure grows

Hendry County has more to offer than picturesque landscapes and rural charm. While it may not be a manufacturing powerhouse like its neighbors across Southwest Florida, Hendry County expects to see its growth in manufacturing, logis�cs and distribu�on sectors increasing over the coming years, helping to solidify all of SWFL as a manufacturing des�na�on in Florida. A strong agriculture community, Hendry ranks among the top in agricultural producing coun�es in Florida. In contrast, manufacturing employs less than 500 people; however, those numbers may soon be rising. Manufacturing companies have quietly been moving into the area and taking advantage of all the loca�on has to offer. Centrally located between coasts, Hendry has connec�vity throughout Florida via Highways 27, 29 and 80. Combined with the abundance of large tracts of land, no impact fees, expanding road networks and the future opera�on of an interna�onal cargo hub airport, Hendry is posi�oned as an emerging des�na�on for both commercial and industrial developments. Preparing Hendry County for future opportuni�es has become a collabora�ve effort across the County, focusing on topics such as land use, infrastructure and workforce. Custom Stainless Steel Equipment is one of three new manufacturers to move to Hendry over the last year. The company manufactures products for hotels and pharmaceu�cal companies across the world. Hendry County offered them an opportunity to expand for a frac�on of the cost of the loca�on in which they were originally located. In partnering with the Hendry Adult

Educa�on School, the company has the ability to work with instructors and students ensuring they have a workforce with the skills needed to operate their business throughout their reloca�on and 3-phase expansion plan. An�cipa�ng more expanKEITHA DANIELS sion projects like Custom Stainless Steel Equipment, the City of LaBelle has developed a new community-driven economic development and disaster resiliency plan and designated several zoning districts for commercial and industrial development strategically located along the City’s main corridors and close to centralized u�li�es. One such designated industrial area known as the Employment Village, oﬀers 793 acres of mixed-use capabili�es along Highway 80. Thirty miles to the east, the City of Clewiston is also a�rac�ng companies that are leaving crowded and over-developed urban areas for a more spacious, rural se�ng with opportunity for expansion. The industrial park, located within the City limits, has sold most of its lots to manufacturers who will provide goods and services throughout the State and the 600-acre Clewiston Industrial Business Park, just outside of city limits has had such high demand, the owner is exploring expansion op�ons to meet the growing need and requests. Meanwhile, 10 miles west of Clewiston along U.S.

HENDRY COUNTY

Centrally located between coasts Abundance of large tracts of land No impact fees Expanding road networks The future operation of an international cargo hub airport Opportunity to expand for a fraction of the cost Offering certifications and apprenticeships www.hendryedc.com | 863-675-6007

Highway 27, Hendry County can expect interna�onal commercial cargo planes hauling perishable goods to begin landing at Airglades Airport in the not-too-distant future. Once completed, the airport will be situated on more than 3,000 acres and will include a state-of-the-art perishable cargo complex to send and receive perishable goods to all La�n American cargo hubs. Airglades will further diversify the region’s economy by adding global trade, air commerce and logis�cs to its exis�ng por�olio. This exci�ng project presents the region with significant new economic opportuni�es. Iden�fying and training future work force is vital to the sustainability of a growing manufacturing sector. To meet demand for a changing workforce, the Hendry County Adult School is offering more cer�fica�ons at both of its loca�ons. Appren�ceships have also become available through larger employers, guaranteeing employment a�er training. Southwest Florida offers great poten�al for manufacturing companies desiring growth or exposure to new markets. Hendry County believes that the posi�ve changes being made will help foster an environment that allows success for the companies reloca�ng to the area. Keitha Daniels is the Director for the Hendry County Economic Development Council. She has worked for the Board of County Commissioners over the past six years with a focus in economic development. To contact her, email keitha@hendryedc.com

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

Cheney Brothers has already enjoyed robust expansion in a prime loca�on adjacent to Charlo�e County’s airport, one of the fastest growing in Florida.

Charlo�e County delivers for leading distribu�on opera�on When Cheney Brothers, a top food distribu�on company, sought a cri�cal third point for their Southwest Florida shipping network, Charlo�e County was the obvious choice. Situated between Ocala and Rivera Beach, Charlo�e County delivers fast, cost eﬀec�ve access to key markets— so fast that Cheney Brothers route drivers opera�ng out of Charlo�e County can service customers from Tampa to Naples and s�ll be home for dinner. Charlo�e County also delivers a host of other crucial advantages, including: • Easy access to I-75 and US 17, with two nearby interchanges • High visibility from I-75 • Large available workforce • Minimal highway conges�on • Outstanding quality of life Today, Cheney Brothers services every market in Florida with cost-eﬀec�ve speed. Ranked #31 in Florida’s largest private companies, the company looks

to Charlo�e County to drive even greater success in the future. Since its startup here, the company has already enjoyed robust DAVE GAMMON expansion in a prime loca�on adjacent to Charlo�e County’s airport, one of the fastest growing in Florida. The fact is, there’s really no be�er loca�on for Southwest Florida distribu�on, or for supplying leading distributors like Cheney Brothers. Seeking a faster route to success? We can deliver. Contact us today. Dave Gammon is the director of Charlotte County Economic Development. Contact him at (941) 764-4941. Learn more at Cleared4Takeoﬀ.com.

SEPTEMBER 2020

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

LEE COUNTY

It’s important to strengthen your local supply chain Many lessons have been learned as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In the manufacturing and distribution world, one of the most difficult lessons was the reliance upon a global supply chain. The lower cost options that prevailed over local sources turned into a menagerie of delays and lack of product availability due to reduction of production and disruption of the global distribution network. Local supply chains potentially mean lower transport costs, lower supply chain risk, faster turnaround times and greater sustainability. There is also the joy of helping to strengthen your local economy, create jobs and increase local investment. You may have many good reasons to build local supply chains. One supply chain expert writing in Forbes suggested we’ve entered an age of trade protectionism. Big companies that outsourced production and stretched their supply chains across the globe face pressure to build local supply chains if nations start increasing or adding tariffs on imports. Globalization may not be under immediate threat, but companies have plenty of good reasons to consider building local supply chains regardless. The impacts of COVID-19 upon the global supply chain has produced an all too real awakening about the difficulties of managing a global supply chain. Locally, we’ve witnessed numerous companies “pivot” to produce PPE related products locally to help meet the demand for these products by our businesses and the government alike. The overwhelming recommendation is for companies to look at developing local suppliers, encouraging them to collaborate or even merge in order to meet demands. Other experts say it pays to research the suppliers in your local market, if you don’t work with them already, to learn their capabilities. A local procurement strategy can also significantly affect the regional economy. An economic impact analysis performed by Oxford Economics in 2019 shows that small increases (10% or less) in local sourcing of key commodities can enhance local economic impact, significantly.

Advances in information and communications technology are making evolution of the supDANA BRUNETT ply chain more possible. Technologies such as cloud computing, AI, 3D printing and robotics are all critical to enabling the digital supply network of the future. At the same time, a volatile business environment is making it all the more necessary. From a risk management perspective, the key will be to build a resilient supply chain that not only seeks to reduce risks but also is prepared to quickly adjust and recover from any unanticipated supply chain disruptions that may occur. Strengthening your local supply chain can be a very impactful risk mitigation strategy for you to consider. As your local economic development entity, the Lee County Economic Development office can help meet the needs of our local manufacturers by recruiting those businesses and industries that help strengthen our local supply chain. Understanding these needs is one of the reasons we partner with and sit on the board of the Southwest Florida Regional Manufacturers Association. Take the time to reach out to the SRMA at www.srma.net or email us at info@SMRA.net for additional information about the resources and support available to you as a local manufacturer. Understanding your environment is essential to your business’s success and we can help with that. Stay Strong. Stay Safe. Stay Local.

Dana Brunett possesses over 30 years’ experience in economic development in New York and Florida, managing economic development organizations and small business lending programs. He is currently Business Development Director for the Lee County Economic Development Office. Contact him at (239) 533-6813 or dbrunett@leegov.com.

Page 13

FSBDC

Supply chain disrup�on can be prevented

As COVID con�nues to disrupt and transform our economy, local manufacturers face a myriad of challenges. Our consultants at the Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University have seen several businesses weather the storm and posi�on themselves to succeed moving forward. Our message to local companies is straightforward. Now is the �me for ac�onable change and reassessment of many func�ons within your organiza�on in order to safeguard yourself heading into the coming months and years. One of the primary challenges for manufacturers exists within their supply chain func�onality and flexibility. Unfortunately, many businesses did not have con�ngency plans to deal with supplier or logis�cs issues, and were unable to produce effec�vely during this cri�cal �me. The end result is lost revenues and cash flow interrup�ons that create problems for management and beyond. A comprehensive analysis of your end-to-end supply chain is cri�cal to insure future produc�on levels both short-term and long-term. Here are some ac�on items you can work on now to be�er prepare yourself for future events. Analyze your risk • Iden�fy your weak links to sharpen focus on alterna�ves. Assess all situa�ons and condi�ons that could poten�ally impact your supply routes. Create an emergency plan • Think of all scenarios for the movement of your goods and materials. Consider an emergency budget to meet the needs.

Maintain inventory for a crisis scenario • Create and maintain essen�al supplies for business con�nua�on. Finished goods, raw materials, components. Iden�fy back-up suppliers • See what other suppliers can provide if current supplier can’t get your goods to you. You’ll need to iden�fy suppliers in other geographic loca�ons and build a rela�onship. Broaden supply base • Diversiﬁca�on in suppliers is a good thing. You can ensure that you’ll always be able to get at least some goods amidst any disrup�on.

U�lize logis�cs exper�se • Logis�cs experts can provide real�me advice and direc�on. Consider all KEVIN BRADY transport op�ons for moving your goods and materials including: air, rail, truck and ocean. While the above ini�a�ves can prevent long-term issues, it’s important to know what manufacturers can do now to improve their current situa�on. Once the disrup�on occurs there are some key ac�ons required to manage supply chains including: • Customer Communica�on • Evalua�on of Cri�cal Components • Inventory Audit and Projec�ons • Track Consumer Buying Pa�erns • Find Logis�cs Op�ons • Es�mate Impact on Cash Flow Looking ahead, supply chain disrup�ons will con�nue to occur in various forms. As transporta�on companies restructure their fleets and debts, we’ll see a reduc�on in shipping routes and longer transit �mes. Interna�onal and domes�c providers will experience delays with raw materials and produc�on, further extending deliveries. Payment methods and terms could be amended or renego�ated resul�ng in procurement issues and delays. Diversifica�on will be paramount for manufacturers, with long-term and short-term planning essen�al for business con�nuity. Take ac�on now to ensure your business remains viable and sustainable during a crisis. Kevin Brady is an International Trade Specialist for the Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University covering Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades and Charlotte counties. His focus is on consulting companies currently involved with global import/export and clients looking to expand their business domestically or internationally. He is a NASBITE International, Certified Global Business Professional and a member of the Academy of International Business. Contact him at kbrady@fgcu.edu or (239) 745-3700.

Page 14

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

SEPTEMBER 2020

COLLIER COUNTY

Manufacturing provides key to diversifying economy At the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, we believe a diverse economy is key to a robust economy. While legacy industries such as hospitality are the founda�on of Collier County’s economic stability, there has been a significant focus on the impact of manufacturing opera�ons in Collier County, and throughout the region, in recent years. There are over 320 manufacturing opera�ons in Collier County, ranging from medical device manufacturers and chemical manufacturers to cable and wire manufacturers, collec�vely contribu�ng more than $800 million to the local economy in 2019. Florida ranks among the na�on’s top states for manufacturing due to factors such as pro-business policies, workforce and trade infrastructure. Of the roughly 390,000 manufacturing jobs in Florida, Collier County accounts for over 4,500 manufacturing jobs and is experiencing year-over-year growth. Collier County has seen a 42.6% increase in manufacturing jobs since 2015 and is expected to see another 12.2% increase in manufacturing jobs by 2025. As these companies grow, so does the need for a talented workforce. In order to support this growth and develop talent, the region maintains 13 produc�on-oriented programs and has more in the pipeline. Collier County Public Schools and the Greater Naples Chamber have recognized the importance of a “grow your own” talent strategy and are taking steps to create a talent pipeline for local manufacturers. The school district, with the assistance of the Naples Chamber, received a $3 million grant

from the state of Florida to create the Center for Manufacturing Excellence, which expanded Immokalee Technical College’s manufacturing offerings at a centralized loca�on. The center offers a tradi�onal machining course, specialized, industryMELANIE SCHMEES specific training programs and an appren�ceship program. It is difficult to address any industry sector without addressing the impacts that COVID-19 has had on opera�ons. Collier County, like thousands of other communi�es, was fortunate to have some of its manufacturing opera�ons join the fight against the virus. Arthrex, one of Collier’s largest employers, started to manufacture personal protec�ve equipment, including protec�ve face shields which are cri�cal to healthcare workers and emergency responders. Manufactures who were thriving before the pandemic have reported con�nued product demand, increased hiring and major equipment purchases during the pandemic, demonstra�ng the resiliency and adap�veness of the sector. Ongoing efforts from Collier County government to support industry include the adop�on and con�nued review of Innova�on Zones. These zones promote economic development and diversify the local economy by encouraging the construc�on of manufacturing plants, corporate headquarters and other targeted opera�ons.

Nor-Tech Hi -Performance Boats

LEE COUNTY CELEBRATES MANUFACTURING MONTH IN OCTOBER Join the growing number of manufacturers and businesses who have made their home in Lee County, FL, where opportunity awaits. It's time to learn more about Lee County’s growth, business climate, workforce, and quality of place by visiting LeeCountyBusiness.com. To explore potential investment opportunities, tax benefits and in-depth information on Lee County’s Opportunity Zones, visit LeeCoBiz.com.

Under the Innova�on Zone program, county commissioners create a zone and set a base tax year. Any tax increases collected in that zone are deposited into the zone’s Innova�on Trust Fund. Revenue from increased property values in each zone’s geographic boundaries helps pay for projects in that zone. Fostering growth in the manufacturing industry is cri�cal to a stable economy, and it is something that we work hard every day to address. Now more than ever, by understanding the challenges and opportuni�es manufacturers face, we are on the forefront of advoca�ng for this sector. We have strong partnerships with local and state government, the business community and educa�onal ins�tu�ons to ensure that our manufacturers have the access to the resources that they need to grow and thrive. Contact the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce at (239) 262-6376. Melanie Schmees joined the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce in March 2019. Prior, she served as a compensation analyst at HealthCare Appraisers. She is pursuing her MBA from Florida Gulf Coast University. As Director of Business and Economic Research at the Chamber of Commerce, she conducts business retention and expansion visits, heads economic research and analysis initiatives and coordinates with numerous governmental, utility and not-for-proﬁt organizations critical to economic growth marketing, services or contacts. To contact her, email melanie@napleschamber.org

YOUR #1 RESOURCE FOR EVERYTHING MADE IN SWFL. Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association (SRMA) connects manufacturers with one another and with valuable regional and state resources, including: Employee training

Public relations and marketing Legislation and regulation Ed Education and internships Awards and recognition

2201 Second Street, Suite 500 Fort Myers, FL 33901 800-330-3161 • edo@leegov.com LeeCountyBusiness.com

JOIN TODAY Visit srma.net or call Bill at 239-258-1385

SEPTEMBER 2020

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 15

Conditioned Air moves into Lee/Charlotte center

Conditioned Air Company announced it has moved into its newly constructed operations center in Fort Myers. The 52,710-square-foot facility will enable the air-conditioning contracting and service firm to further expand its employment base and better serve its residential and commercial clients throughout Southwest Florida. The Lee/Charlotte Operations Center is located at the intersection of Jetport Loop and Global Park- Conditioned Air Company’s 52,710-square-foot facility in Fort Myers will enway in the Southwest International able the air-conditioning contracting and service ﬁrm to further expand its Commerce Park just across from the employment base and better serve its residential and commercial clients. Southwest Florida International Airport and provides convenient access training facility with a fully function- Sarasota County with plans to double al lab for hands-on continuous edu- in size in the next five to seven years. to Interstate-75. The building encompasses ap- cation and onboarding of entry level A majority of that growth is projected to be in Lee and Sarasota counties. proximately 10,800 square feet of technicians.” “We continue to be very excited The building was designed by the office space, 31,110 square feet of warehouse space and 10,800 square architectural firm of McHarris Plan- about the outlook for Conditioned feet of mezzanine for storage and ning & Design and was built and Air,” Dupre said. “We anticipate future expansion. It will house the developed by Seagate Development that future growth will be fueled by firm’s Residential Replacements Group. It features a dramatic exterior a combination of organic growth team, Lee County Service and Main- that is similar to Conditioned Air’s through the company and potential tenance teams, Estimating and Lee recently renovated corporate head- acquisitions of other air-conditioning firms in the market.” quarters in Naples. County Production Housing team. Conditioned Air has been helping Conditioned Air had been search“This new facility will serve as the firm’s central hub for the growing ing more than two years for the right make Southwest Florida more comLee and Charlotte County markets location to meet its operational needs fortable since 1962. It is currently the and will provide operational sup- due to continuous growth and strate- region’s largest air-conditioning conport for our Naples headquarters and gic plan of the company. The com- tracting and service firm with a total Sarasota branches,” said Tim Dupre, pany currently has 185 employees of 370 employees serving Collier, President and CEO for Conditioned in Collier County, 124 employees Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee ad August FINAL.pdf 1 7/17/20 3:20 PM in Lee County and 61 employees in counties. Air. “It ai159501361761_11006 also will houseFL Tombstone our main

Lake Michigan Credit Union Commercial Banking announces the following loan:

Area agency on aging plans headquarters Seagate Development Group announced its contract with the Area Agency on Aging to design and build a new corporate headquarters on Winkler Avenue, the facility will include a floor plan that enhances workflow and productivity. The facility offers 15,876 square feet of small and large private offices, meeting rooms and co-working spaces for cubicles. The team at Seagate is overseeing the design and construction management. The facility will boast updated flooring, cabinetry and countertops, acoustical ceiling enhancements, new windows, doors, drywall and paint, updated electrical, plumbing and bathroom fixtures and parking lot additions to assist with handicap accessibility. “We take pride in the value we can bring in the design build process,” said Matt Price, CEO and partner at Seagate. “As we just completed our brand-new headquarters facility in Fort Myers, we understand the importance of having the right space to work in. We look forward to being able to see our future, forwardthinking designs come into play as we partner with the Area Agency on Aging to design a place that helps them better serve those most vulnerable.”

St r e n gt h . St r at e g y. Sta b i l i t y. CLIENT-CENTRIC SOLUTIONS

D E L I V ER ED

Loan Size .................. $4,600,000 Type of Loan............... Office warehouse ................................. for distribution Business .................. Regional Commercial ................................. Real Estate Developer

Learn more, contact: Greg Barr | Senior VP Commercial Lender West Florida Region (239) 437-7038 | Gregory.Barr@LMCU.org

ENN LUTHRINGER, CCIM 239.481.3800 x235 enn.luthringer@creconsultants.com

7920 Summerlin Lakes Dr., Fort Myers, FL 33907 LMCU.org | NMLS ID# 442967

w w w. C R E C O N S U LTA N T S . c o m

Page 16

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

SEPTEMBER 2020

Why landlords love lease renewals

Affordable homes at Manatee Cove by Pulte Homes will showcase one- and two-story ﬂoor plans and blended living and dining areas.

Pulte unveils Manatee Cove Pulte Homes announced the selection of one- and two-story home designs it will offer at Manatee Cove, a 75-acre Naples community of 164 single family homes. With flexible designs starting from the low-$300s and offering 1,400 to 3,000 square feet of living space and up to five bedrooms and four baths, there is a Manatee Cove home design to fit every lifestyle. The two model homes at Manatee Cove will showcase Pulte’s open designs that feature blended living and dining areas enhanced with smart home technology. Homes at Manatee Cove feature upscale curb appeal with a palette of sophisticated grays, elegant

stone exterior accents and tile roofs. The 1,655 square-foot Hallmark model, part of Manatee Cove’s Scenic Series of home designs, offers a deluxe kitchen and an easy, flowthrough layout. Offering more than 2,000 square feet of living space and three bedrooms plus separate flex room, the Mystique model presents an open floor plan that seamlessly blends living, dining and outdoor entertaining space. A gourmet kitchen features sleek Shaker-style cabinets, an oversized island and elegant quartz counters of white with gray and gold accents.

FORT MYERS sale opportunities GATOR LANES and TER-TINI'S

$2,800,000 | 7050 Crystal Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33907

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

PROMINENT COMMERCIAL SITE

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

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

Randy Krise, CCIM

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

Renewals are rich deals for property that even the process owners and present an opportunity they of discussing and exploring relocations work very hard to capitalize on. It’s when can feel disruptive. landlords make the most margin on a tenThe question beant, and it’s the most common opportucomes, “Why take nity for renewal rates to be above market. a shot in the arm Landlords often fight the hardest on lease if you’re not even renewals too, because when lease rates sick?” However, this go down, so does their building’s value. “side-effect” is more However, the typical concessions offered tolerable than a fito tenants in lease renewal scenarios are BY JARED nancial blow to your often a mere fraction of the profits real- VANDERSLUIS profits and is a needized by the Landlord – further highlightGuest Columnist ed step in the process ing why most landlords love renewals. When a tenant vacates, there are to create a true posture that you have other substantial costs a Landlord realizes to viable options. In order to avoid the greater consebackfill the space. The Landlord has to market the space, cover all the operating quence of a significant increase to your expenses while the space is vacant with real estate expenses, remaining comno rent coming in, and then typically in- mitted to the plan your agent puts forth vest in updating the space or fund the next allows you to rattle the landlord’s confitenant’s build out. In most scenarios, this dence that they have complete control. represents a 6-figure loss spread out over Additionally, by negotiating legitimately better economic terms for at least one 12-24 months of vacancy. other location, even if only as a back-up, Let’s review both scenarios. will allow you to hold the building owner Below market value If you are paying below market rent at accountable to the fair market competithe time of your renewal, you can expect tion. These alternative options are only the landlord will try to raise rates at least realistic and believable to your landlord if to a market rate. They may even try to you have the correct lead time and posiraise rent beyond a market rate to make up tion to negotiate. The minute the Landlord for lost time. This could impact your prac- knows you’re staying, the opportunity for tice’s bottom line profits by six to seven receiving any additional or substantial figures over the next ten years, so creating economic concessions is lost. the maximum negotiation leverage is both Peace of mind and your best possible terms paramount and urgent. The goal in a renewal negotiation is Above market value If you are already paying above market to achieve the best possible terms and for your lease, the landlord will still prob- walk away with the peace of mind that ably push to increase your rate. They are you capitalized on the opportunity. The relying on the assumption that you do not best deal often isn’t the cheapest one. By know the market lease rate for your space conducting a competitive procurement and won’t take the time to hire someone process, your healthcare real estate expert to represent and educate you. They are will help you discover your value as a tenalso relying on the fact that it usually takes ant in your market and obtain the context a compelling reason for a healthcare prac- needed for evaluating an offer from your tice to move out of their current space and current landlord versus your other top will assume you aren’t willing to relocate. property options. Time is of the essence. A lease renewal The secret is knowing what’s in a renewal (or a vacancy) for the Landlord and lever- represents one of only a few events in the aging this information to your advantage. life of your practice where profits can be When you are overpaying on your lease, realized or lost by six to seven figures. a landlord will have a much harder time getting a new tenant to pay the same rate Jared Vandersluis is an agent with CARR. as you currently pay. This gives you even Contact him at (417) 693-2303 or jared. vandersluis@carr.us. Visit CARR.US to more leverage to get an improved deal. learn more and ﬁnd an expert agent repTiming is Everything You may not need to move, or even resenting healthcare practices in your have the desire, so it’s understandable area.

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

w w w

.KriseCG.Com

www.swﬂoridabusinesstoday.com

SEPTEMBER 2020

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 17

Supply chain disruption will impact where businesses locate

There has been a major disruption in supply chains as a result of the global pandemic. Many companies based in the United States rely heavily on one preferred vendor for inventory and often that supplier is located outside the country. Suppliers ran out of product almost overnight leaving businesses and consumers in crisis. Manufacturing, distribution and exportation from other countries such as China slowed or came to a complete stop, leaving the United States with a shortage of products such as toilet paper, masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, gowns and more. Existing companies and entrepreneurs in the region and across the country saw the immediate needs of consumers and seized the opportunity to pivot their business models to adapt. Because of shelter in place orders and social distancing, customers have challenged companies to step up their digital capabilities for online buying, creating the need for distribution centers that can move items quickly and efficiently. Manufacturers need space for equipment and technology to make COVID-19 related products like masks, face shields and ventilators. The use of robotics to help eliminate human contact and the space to house the technology is on the rise. The need for cold storage is also growing. Another industry challenge is long transit times from

Burlington to open in Fort Myers

Burlington Stores, a national off-price retailer, announced it will open a new store this fall, at the Gulf Coast Town Center on Gulf Center Drive in Fort Myers. Those interested in employment at the new location, can learn more about joining the team at www.BurlingtonStores.jobs.

distribution points to the customer. Avoiding those time-consuming disruptions with more distribution centers strategically placed to move products more efficiently is a current industry conversation and movement. Thus, the need for new warehouse space, distribution centers and manufacturing facilities will likely be on the rise as local and regional businesses try to stockBY GARY pile products to meet customer deTASMAN mands. Other businesses that purGuest Columnist chased machinery to produce hand sanitizer and masks require more space for new equipment. The global pandemic is creating a wish list of opportunities for commercial space to fit the needs of a constantly changing work environment. There are a multitude of opportunities magnified by the pandemic where suppliers, manufacturers and distributors can move quickly, confidently and productively. The team of experts at Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Property Southwest Florida is equipped with the passion, knowledge, creativity, data and inventory

RE/MAX congratulated Jim McMenamy on an amazing 2019. Throughout the year, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his clients. His dedication, talent and success has made him a Top Producer in Florida. To acknowledge his hard work, the RE/MAX Southeast Region recognized him with the 2019 #8

tor and co-owner of Florida Suncoast Real Estate in Bradenton. “Florida Realtors and CILA share common goals. We look forward to continuing our partnership and building stronger connections that increase our understanding of each other. Like it says at the end of the classic movie Casablanca, ‘I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.’” Members of the Confederación Inmobiliaria Latinoamericana, also take pride in their professionalism and the value they bring to their clients across the globe. President of CILA 2020 Ernesto Figueredo Coronel says he is excited about what the two groups can accomplish in the future as they develop more opportunities for collaboration.

Businesses Sell

SWFBT SellS!

even in difficult times COVID-19 Shutdown? No Problem!

Amy Rouskey Manager The Letter Box Cape Coral

“Our first ad in the first issue of Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY landed us a sale that more than paid for the price of the ad campaign, and is delivered directly to our target market. Thank you, SWFBT!” ®

We’re ALL Business

to help businesses find the commercial properties they need to become better because of the pandemic. Lee County has existing space available that can be converted quickly to meet the needs created by COVID-19. If you own a commercial property, now may be the perfect time to sell, as there are qualified buyers ready to make a move. The pandemic is a unique moment in time, challenging supply chain innovators and operators to survey the landscape and learn from companies, partners and other industries. Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Property Southwest Florida and its team will help companies navigate the paths ahead, mining data and inventory to find workable space solutions. Gary Tasman is the Founder of Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Property Southwest Florida and serves as its CEO/Principal Broker. The firm provides commercial real estate solutions, locally and globally. For more information, your Southwest Florida leading commercial brokerage team, at timetosell@cpswfl.com or (239) 829-5400.

RE/MAX honors McMenamy for 2019

Florida Realtors joins CILA Florida Realtors joined the Confederación Inmobiliaria Latinoamericana (CILA), marking a historic first for the two real estate organizations. Florida Realtors’ membership in CILA means it’s the first state in the U.S. to join the group as a benefactor member. CILA is made up of 19 Latin America countries’ real estate associations, with Brazil and Mexico being the largest. The 19 countries represent 1 million real estate professionals. CILA also has a bilateral agreement with the National Association of Realtors. “As professionals in the real estate industry, we’re proud to share our knowledge and expertise with clients in Florida, Latin America and throughout the world,” said 2020 Florida Realtors President Barry Grooms, a Real-

For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

Individual Commissions Paid Commercial Award. Congratulations and thank you for being such a valued member of the RE/MAX network. Michael J. Frye, CCIM, is the CEO of RE/MAX Realty Group. Maury Dailey is Managing Broker. Contact the ﬁrm at (239) 489-0444.

Best Commercial Lot Values in Southwest Florida 25335 Rampart Blvd Port Charlotte 33983

4214 Duncan Road (Hwy. 17) Punta Gorda 33982

Price: $995,000 Size: 4.30 AC Description: Medical Office Space. Deep Creek has several ALF communities, private and public. Major Rehabilitation Center adjacent to this site. Two major hospitals within 10 minutes of site. East border of the property is a large Housing Complex with future zoning of commercial in front. Plans available for 7 buildings, each 5,000 sq. ft.

Price: $795,000 Size: 6.84 AC Description: 2 lots, 1 - 5.3 Acre Parcel and 1 - 1.5 acre parcel, 6.8 Acres, environmentals done. Just East of I-75. Zoned Industrial, Retail, Commercial General, No Residential or Mixed Use, 6.84 Acres at Washington Loop. Over 150 sq. ft. Road Frontage on Duncan. Phase I reports available, survey also available. Future land use is Commercial Corridor.

Marion Ave Punta Gorda 33950

SELLERS

For more information contact:

BUYERS

Jeanette Igoe

Now is still a good time to sell a business. We can work around decreased income to get you the best value for your business. The CARES Act has provisions that can assist in a business acquisition. Time is limited. Now is the time.

We are here to smoothly transition ownership from one owner to another.

Contact Larry Steinborn,

Lic. Real Estate Broker Sand Dollar Real Estate / Business Depot (239) 433-1343 or bizdepot@aol.com 6309 Corporate Ct. #205 Fort Myers, FL 33919

Selling your Business is our Business!

Broker Igoe Realty P.A.

Price: $399,000 Size: 2.70 AC Description: Zoned Low Intensity Industrial. 2 parcels, one approximately .25 Acres, the other 2.7. Perfect for Warehouse, Storage Facilities, Truck or Auto Terminal Hub, close to Hwy 17 and I-75 exit. Railroad meets rear of property. I-75 Interchange currently projected to cross eastern portion of property, high visibility once completed.

ABR, CIPS, CPRES, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, GREEN, SFR, TRC

jigoe5@aol.com 239-572-3269

www.facebook.com/IgoeRealty/

Page 18

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

CBIA leaders honored by FHBA

The Collier Building Industry Association announced Past President Ryan Benson, Board Member Robyn Bonaquist and former state legislator and CBIA member Mike Davis were recognized by the Florida Home Builders Association during the Southeast Building Conference, held virtually July 29-31. Ryan Benson, CBIA Past President and A Vernon Allen Builder Principal/Owner, was named FHBA’s 2020 Young Building Professional of the Year. “Ryan Benson is that one in a million leader...a change agent...who is full of innovative ideas and has the uncanny ability to engage the most effective experts among our members to build upon these ideas and work together to effectively implement them,” said CBIA Executive Officer Amelia Vasquez Established in 2019, the FHBA Young Building Professional Award recognizes young building industry professionals who propel their careers; advance in local, state and national associations; advocate for the building industry, engage with peers; and embed themselves as exceptional members of their communities. “Our successful advocacy efforts locally and with our state legislative delegation, effective succession plan for staffing, current fiscal stability and focus on innovation are exceptional examples of Ryan’s competency, intelligence and true understanding of what it takes to insure the future stability of our industry,” according to John Williams, CBIA president and

principal at RWA Inc. Bonaquist, B-Squared Advertising Founding Partner and President, received the 2020 Associate of the Year Award. “Robyn is an exemplary role model for women throughout our industry, modeling the most ethical leadership characteristics both in her profession and on behalf of CBIA,” Vasquez said. The Associate of the Year Award encourages expertise in the industry and outstanding leadership qualities. Associates of the Year are selected annually by the FHBA Past Second Vice Presidents’ Council, announced during the Summer Conference/SEBC, and presented during the Fall Leadership Conference “Robyn has served as chair of our Sales and Marketing Council, served on several CBIA task force initiatives and currently serves on our CBIA and SMC boards,” Vasquez said. Davis was inducted posthumously into the FHBA Hall of Fame. According to former CBIA and FHBA president, Al Zichella, Vice President of Development at London Bay who nominated him, shared that Davis was a champion for affordable housing and essential service personnel housing. “As a visionary and consensus builder, his work resulted in effective legislative policies which have enhanced opportunities for the working class to obtain homeownership,” said Zichella of Davis, who died of cancer in 2008.

B R O KE R S ~ A N A L Y S T S ~ A D V I S O R S ~ C O N S U L TA N T S

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Record-breaking streak continues for Ave Maria

New home sales in the master-planned community of Ave Maria reached a record-breaking high. Ave Maria Development reports 52 new homes sales during the month of July, the third straight month of unmatched sales. Despite the pandemic, Ave Maria has seen an increase in new businesses coming to the area. Three new businesses will be opening in the Ave Maria Town Center in the new few months. Teriyaki Madness and Lozano’s Mexican Restaurant will be opening new locations, offering more cuisine variety to the growing town. In addition, Dr. Luisa Del Toro, a season eye care professional, will open Ave Maria Optical for convenient family eye care services. “We always envisioned Ave Maria as a fully sustainable town,” said Blake Gable, CEO of Barron Collier Companies, developer of the town of Ave Maria. “When we first began planning the town back in the mid-2000s, we intended for seamless integration of quality education, local business, and wellbuilt homes. Everything is falling into place as we hoped and we are delighted to see families take root, retirees enjoy the good life, businesses prosper and our children receive outstanding education. It makes us proud.” The active lifestyle and robust amenities program in Ave Maria provide new residents with an instant source of socialization and recreation, whether onsite or virtual. On-site amenities feature open spaces for its homeowners such as water park, soccer and baseball fields, fitness center, amphitheater, dog park, trails, bocce and tennis courts, Town Center with Publix Supermarket, commercial center with Mobil gas station, private schools from preschool through university, and on-site free events throughout the year. The Ave Maria Master Association organizes on-going events for residents including virtual trivia, happy hour, fitness classes and club meetings while also providing access to outdoor recreation with proper social distancing guidelines ensuring everyone can enjoy having fun safely.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES DG Pavement Solutions, Inc Covering all of Southwest Florida

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Michael J. Frye, CCIM

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 19

GUEST COMMENTARY

Remember when you vote, our environment is our economy I believe we must be responsible stewards of our environment and as a candidate for the Lee County Board of Commissioners, bringing new energy and vision, I will fight for policies that preserve and protect the County’s environmental heritage. It makes both quality of life and economic sense. I believe our environment is our economy. And I will briefly tell you why. Both residents and the business community of Lee County can create stable and productive economies without hurting the environment. We and our economies are completely reliant on the environment. Without the resources it provides, and the indirect services it serves through its ecosystems — purifying water, managing flood risks, waste and recycling nutrients — we couldn’t survive. But it’s not just ours. Not only do current living beings rely on it, but future generations will too — so when we’re thinking about how our economies should work, we together have a responsibility to keep them in mind. What can each of us do to make sure our economic choices don’t damage the environment? From individual decisions we make on a day to day basis like driving a car versus taking a bicycle, to larger scale solutions like pushing for our county government to adopt more renewable energy sources, preserving our wetlands, adopting smart growth principles to curbing urban sprawl, there’s a lot we can do as individuals to align our own economic interests with what’s best for Lee County. The question is whether we can have all the benefits of modern life without the environmental harm that currently goes along with it. There are innovative ways that we can do construction, infrastructure investment and agriculture to manufacturing that will have impacts on the quality of life for people across the county. Putting green and innovative technologies at the foundation of our economies will help protect our environment. Decisions about the environment and economy affect everyone. Our economic decisions have the power to protect the environment, shape the future of our health and

wellbeing, work, education, transportation, housing and the sustainability of the economy. Today, many people realize that it’s not about the environment versus the economy. It’s not about picking one or the other. In short, we cannot choose between the environment and the economy. Our economies and the environment work together. For instance, the environmental BY JUAN A. impacts of tourism have gained inGONZALEZ creasing attention in recent years. With the rise in sustainable tourism and increased number of dealing with our water quality, protecting our beaches and coastlines, maintaining our open spaces and parks, to initiatives for being environmentally friendly, tourists and stakeholders recognize the importance of environmental management in our county’s tourism industry. Our economy is based largely on tourism, which impacts everything from hotel rooms to property values and taxes. The quality of the environment, both natural and man-made, is essential to tourism. The health of our waters is important to our local economy because visitors and locals like to fish, dive, visit the beaches and eat the seafood. Poor water quality caused by pollution can limit these activities and hurt our economy. That is why our county government has adopted in 1996 the Lee County’s Conservation 20/20 project. It is an initiative I applaud and truly support. You can find it at www.leegov.com/conservation2020 As our county continues to experience population growth, smart growth is now a top buzzword in both municipal policy and environmental circles. Embracing smart growth principles and concepts is as realistic for protecting the environment, while enriching and expanding our economy. Advocates maintain that smart growth initiatives create a sense of community and

Page 12

Southwest Florida BuSiNESS ToDay

Beautiful Health faces COVID in first year It’s not exactly what Caroline Thonon, owner of Beautiful Health, had envisioned for her new shop when she opened last fall. She spent a lot of time in creating a beautiful space where her mission and concept would be to offer all natural and toxic-free products and services. Then COVID-19 appeared on the scene. Thinking she would have plenty of time to create an online shopping cart, little did she know within a few months’ time, life would change and so would shopping patterns. In her shop where trying products was one of advantages, Thonon had to shift her efforts to create online shopping quickly. She worked tirelessly to get her site up and running. In a shop that offers a wide variety of all-natural products from all-natural

place, giving people transportation, employment and housing choices, and equitably distributing costs and benefits of development while preserving and enhancing natural beauty, cultural resources and public health. Hopefully, my goal in writing this article can help to start a conversation, raise awareness of environmental values and how it can serve as a tool to finance protection of natural areas and increase their economic importance. We’re starting a conversation in which everyone can be a part! Join the conversation by creating change and putting your views in front of decision makers and ask them to outline how they plan to address issues of the environment and our economies. • Learn more about environmental issues affecting you, other communities, and collaboratively devise solutions together with both the public and private sectors. • Contribute by adding your voice to the conversation and listen to each other to find solutions together. • Be heard. As a candidate for Lee County Board of Commissioner, I commit to listen and help make your voices and experiences be heard. Because words and ideas can change the county for the common good and create a quality of life for all! I am aware that there are more questions we each can bring to the conversation. What further role can the county government play? How about the private sector? In other words, some may even ask, how far should property, cost, environment and regulations go to protect us without constraining us? And many other question like it. However in the end, our engagement both as citizens and businesses will depend on us finding a way to make sure the local county environment and economy functions in everybody’s favor. To join or continue the above conversation you are welcomed to email me at pastorjuanvote2020@gmail. com or www.juangonzalezvote2020.com. Juan A. Gonzalez is a candidate for Lee County Board of Commissioners, District 5.

November 2013

Over 50 Years of Quality and Dependability S4J Manufacturing

sunscreens, make up, cleansers, lotions, soaps, cleaning products and more, plus S4J Manufacturing Services, Inc., established in 1965, is a spa services with a wide selection of second generation, family owned company specializing in the production of ultra precision components, reusable Luer Lock massages, facials and skin treatments, connectors, Quick Connects, and miscellaneous adapters. Our Thonon started making appointments customers, over 1,000 companies worldwide, are typically Origwith clients who wanted to shop with inal Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) of medical equipment and Manufacturing no one else in the store. She also began devices for biomedical and laboratory applications. is care at home We are committed to keeping abreast of the ever changing delivering products and packages in demands of the medical industry, and have been leaders in the Lee County. to clients who lived locally; and began design of new products and materials to meet these demands. to network with other like-minded busiWe encourage our customers to communicate their needs and strive to develop solid working relationships. We are always innesses to build a referral source. terested in hearing ideas on how we may improve our products “A large part of the business is spa or our services. treatments but when we were forced to close, we lost momentum within our Mission first six months,” said Thonon. “We are Our mission is to manufacture the highest quality parts at a fair price now open again and take every safety with on-time delivery. In order to achieve your acceptance and to continue our record breaking sales, we promise to strive toward the following goals: precaution; our staff always wear masks • Our adherence to speci�ications is the strictest in the industry. We as we want our clients to feel at ease.” maintain the tightest tolerances using state of the art CNC machinery.

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

Entertainment Metals

Doug Gyure Vice President S4J Manufacturing Services, Inc. Cape Coral

• Our Quality Management System is registered to ISO 9001:2015. • Our knowledgeable, courteous customer service and technical staff is S4J Manufacturing is really making it in Lee County. As a custom To find out more, vist available to ManufacturingInLee.com assist customers with questions about inventory, pricing, manufacturer of biomedical and lab components, they benefit delivery andorproduct speci�ications, including our capabilities to meet call 239.338.3161 from our existing job-ready workforce, training programs in our your unique needs.

HEALTH See page 20

schools and a manufacturing-friendly local government. Our

manufacturers associations and local officials stay well connected with companies to help with everything from permitting to grants and incentives for expansion. Lee County is a research and development and custom manufacturing-friendly market, well positioned to help grow emerging and existing companies like S4J Manufacturing. And your company.

LEE34881 SWFL Bus ad.indd 1

Strategic Vision

Our customers are the innovators in their respective medical equipment markets, as well as other industries. Our job is to be the “go to” source for the components needed to achieve their goals. We strive to provide the highest quality precision-turned products, such as the luer Lee County’s Economic Development Office �itting and the miniature quick connect, by staying current in our manufacturing techniques and equipment, sourcing the optimal tooling, and meeting delivery expectations. As we are often a “sole source supplier” to many companies, we understand our responsibility in helping our customers meet their regulatory requirements in addition to maintaining stable pricing, reliable quality and on-time delivery. 6/18/13 4:00 PM

Our Facility

S4J Manufacturing Services, Inc. operated in New Jersey for 35 years. In September of 1999 we relocated to Cape Coral, Florida. This facility was designed around the product lines we manufacture, complete with the ability to �inish in house our brass components which are electroless nickel plated. The result is a dedicated facility for the manufacture of �ittings from bar stock to completed, ready to ship, components.

www.swﬂoridabusinesstoday.com 239-574-9400

www.S4JMfg.com

Page 20

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

$1,000 grant offered for freelance workers

Under the CARES Act, independent contractors, gig workers and freelancers affected by the COVID-19 crisis are eligible to receive a government grant of $1,000. Businesses do not have to repay this money to the government. Eligible businesses include sole proprietorships with or without employees, independent contractors, freelancers and gig workers. Applicants must have been in business as of Jan. 31, 2020. Business owners must apply using the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Application, which provides for the grant even if the loan is not granted. Grant money is only available until Dec. 31, or until funding runs out, whichever comes first.

HEALTH PAGE 19 Opening a small business is always a risk but no one could have predicted COVID-19 would have such a devastating effect on so many small businesses. Thonon is focusing on referrals and a strong following of devoted clients to see her through. She said it’s important for small businesses to rely on friends, networking and referrals at a times like these. Located on Tamiami Trail North in the Liberty Plaza of Naples, individuals may book spa services online or by calling directly. Appointments may also be made for individual shopping experiences and consultations. For more information, call (239) 241-5111 or visit www.beautifulhealth.biz.

SEPTEMBER 2020

Remote work requires a remote office COVID-19 forced many of us to abandon our workstations at the office and work remotely from home. At first, the thought of strolling out of bed, grabbing a cup of coffee and flipping open the laptop – all while still wearing our pajamas – sounded like a great idea. Then, reality hit. The comfortable recliner in our living room isn’t so comfy for an eight-hour workday, and neither is the kitchen table. We never found a system to organize paperwork. Our workdays lacked structure. Remote work requires a remote office, but professionals often don’t have a home office. Many businesses have the technological capability of directing employees to work from home, but they weren’t prepared for the rapid cultural shift caused by COVID-19. Health experts caution that COVID-19 will continue impacting communities for the foreseeable future. Social distancing, according to the CDC, offers the best opportunity to thwart the virus’ spread. Major corporations like Google, Facebook, Twitter and others have widened work-from-home policies in recent months. Some companies may never return to a traditional office environment. Employees considering a temporary or permanent work-from-home position should consider the following six tips to set up a home office that that will ensure a comfortable, productive workday: • Chair: This is the most important piece of a home office. Find a chair that hits all of the ergonomic targets: adjustable height, padded cushion and ample support for your lower back. Armrests also help keep your shoulders aligned. Purchase a chair mat to avoid scratching the floor. • Desk: Measure your space prior to purchasing a desk. Your desk should be large enough to hold a monitor, keyboard and printer, as well as space for folders and files. Drawers and cabinets are ideal for keeping confidential documents out of plain view. It also should be easy to clean. Many newer desks are made of materials that won’t be damaged by antibacterial sprays. • Electronics: Laptops are great for quick assign-

ments at home, but for a full day, connect your laptop to a large HD monitor adjusted so that the top of the monitor is slightly below eye level. Use a full-size keyboard and mouse positioned just above your thighs, and make sure your home office has a strong WiFi or wired connection. • Video studio: Many staff and client meetings are now held via Zoom or Microsoft teams, so a highBY JOE quality camera and microphone also GAMMONS are essential. That offers another Guest Columnist reason to upgrade your Internet service. Look behind you to make sure the video background is professional – framed artwork, bookshelves or plain walls are best. • Lighting: Rooms in a home typically only have one overhead light. Position the desk to the side of a window to allow natural light into the room and consider a desk lamp to brighten the space. Good lighting is proven to increase performance. • Get up: Professionals often stop by a colleague’s office to collaborate or chat at the water cooler. There is no one to get up and go see at home, but research shows brain functions improve with regular activity. Even just strolling around the house for two minutes or checking the mail will increase blood flow to the brain. Bonus tip: Dress for success. Getting dressed for work, even just slacks and a polo shirt, helps frame your workday. Plus, if you receive an unexpected video call from a client or your boss, you will look polished and professional on camera.

Joe Gammons is president of OFDC Commercial Interiors, Southwest Florida’s premier source for quality office furniture and design concepts. For more information, please visit OFDC-inc.com or call (239) 347-4876.

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MANUFACTURING

Coronavirus changed every aspect of manufacturing For manufacturers of every size in every industry, it’s no exaggeration to say that the coronavirus crisis has changed everything. Demand for products has been upended, relationships with suppliers and customers are being tested and liquidity issues have multiplied. Some manufacturers are pivoting to create essential gear to help combat the pandemic, while others are retooling in advance of future needs, and all are trying to keep their workers safe. Abhijit Bhide, managing director of Bank of America Global Banking and Markets, answers questions about this unprecedented upheaval and how businesses can respond now and in the months ahead. What are the greatest challenges manufacturers face right now? For manufacturers, as for society as a whole, the biggest impact is on the health and well-being of people. Manufacturers are trying to find a balance between keeping factories running and not subjecting employees to unnecessary risks. They’re leaving longer periods between shifts and switching to remote handoffs between shift foremen where possible. Some are setting up temporary health centers and checking the temperatures and conditions of employees as they come in, to help protect everyone’s health. There are a host of challenges for specific areas, from plunging demand in the aerospace, automotive and energy sectors, to a surge in demand for cleaning chemicals as well as medical and protective equipment. In most areas, business is down. Low demand, supply chain breakdowns and sharply reduced production and revenue have made liquidity a major challenge. Even factories working at reduced capacity are building inventory they can’t distribute, using up capital. In addition, many manufacturers’ customers have changed payment terms— paying in 90 days instead of 30, for example. Smaller companies that don’t want to lose business may have to accept those terms, which can strain the working capital cycle.

What key external and internal indicators should companies monitor? Manufacturers can gauge future demand by looking at the PMI (purchasing managers index) from the Institute for Supply Management to get industry by industry insights about inventory levels, new orders and production. Manufacturers that supply the building industry can track housing stocks, BY ABHIJIT building permits and consumer BHIDE confidence. National retail sales Guest Columnist numbers may also be revealing. But the situation for manufacturers is changing so quickly now that the shelf life of these data points has been dramatically reduced. It’s also essential to track orders, inventory and other internal numbers. In some industries, demand could rebound later in the year— products may not be selling now, but they may be needed when the health crisis eases. Those manufacturers might continue to build inventory with the idea that demand could surge later in the year. Treasurers and CFOs are also running sensitivity models and stress tests to project how long their cash will last and when they might reach their loan covenants. They may not need relief immediately, but they are setting markers for themselves—when the cash gets to a certain level, that’s when they’ll call their bank. What steps should business owners consider taking now? Some manufacturers are pivoting to help meet the demand for personal protective equipment— hockey mask companies are making face shields, fashion designers are sewing gowns and masks. That can work well for companies already in related fields, who may be able to retool existing facilities. It may be more of a challenge in cases where gearing up to make new products could take more time and future demand is uncertain.

For the latest news on COVID-19 and its effects on SWFL businesses, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com Perhaps the biggest step manufacturers can take is to think about their employees and about how they want to be positioned when this crisis ends. What’s really great to see is the ways manufacturers are working together to get through this crisis. Many I’ve spoken with are sharing best practices: How frequently do we need to check the health of our employees? How should we manage health on the factory floor? These employee-centric concerns are vital, and working with industry colleagues can be helpful. Other key steps are credit checks to make sure customers are going to be able to pay for orders, and protecting liquidity by asking for advance payment terms—particularly at a time when suppliers are likely asking for the same terms. Companies with liquidity concerns may want to check with banking partners for information about tapping government stimulus resources, or perhaps take loans to get through the next six to nine months. Banking partners can also share best practices in terms of customer credit management, working capital, cash management and other banking services. Perhaps the biggest step manufacturers can take is to think, again, about their employees and about how they want to be positioned when this crisis ends. Many factories have worked hard in a competitive employment market to acquire good talent, and they’re now looking at how to retain these people by freezing or cutting pay rather than laying off employees, for example. That can build loyalty, and as conditions improve, if you have kept your best talent and maintained a good dialogue with your customers and supported them, you can be prepared to take advantage when the crisis passes and demand rebounds. Abhijit Bhide is the Managing Director for Bank of America Global Banking and Markets.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Study ﬁnds national job growth in July exceeded expectations CBRE reported that job growth in July exceeded expectations nationwide. • 1.8 million jobs were added in July vs. an expectation of 1.5 million, following the strong gains that were achieved in May and June. • The unemployment rate fell by 90 bps to 10.2% and the labor participation rate decreased slightly to 61.4%. • The largest job gains were in the leisure & hospitality, government and retail sectors. CBRE expects the real estate recovery—particularly in the office, retail and hotel sectors— will lag the economic recovery to varying degrees. Commercial Real Estate Highlights Office: Office-using sectors gained 191,000 jobs in July. Financial activities increased by 21,000 and professional and business services by 170,000. Though encouraging, current occupancy of office space remains extremely limited, particularly in dense metropolitan areas, due to virus concerns. The office market’s recovery will lag that of the economy until occupiers have a clearer picture of when the virus will be under control and offices can be safely reoccupied. Industrial: Warehousing & storage jobs decreased by 5,700 in July, while manufacturing gained 26,000. Though a somewhat mixed report, the industrial property market has remained quite resilient amid the pandemic. A complete recovery in industrial leasing volume is expected by Q3 2021. Retail: Solid job gains were achieved across retail sectors in July. Food services & drinking places gained 502,000 jobs. The broader retail sector gained more than 258,000. Though job creation is a positive indicator for retail real estate, market fundamentals are expected to significantly lag an overall economic recovery. Retail

DIVERSITY PAGE 1 Steps A Business Can Take To Diversify Its Workforce Ayers suggested a first step a business can take to develop a diverse workforce training program. “When I operated a construction company years ago, I observed that our team was not functioning cohesively as a team.” So she paid to have all team members take a DISC profile. The factors considered in this personality test are Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance. It is usually paid for by the employer and it lets you determine your DISC type and personality profile quickly. Your DISC profile can then be used as a tool to better predict your behavior toward others and the everyday things you do. This knowledge, in turn, can be helpful in the workplace on many levels: 1) to the employee, 2) to the employee’s manager(s) and even 3) to the employee’s teammates. According to Ayers, “I wanted us all to take the DISC profile test so we could better under-

perspective, there are still almost 12.9 million fewer people employed than before the crisis began in February and the unemployment rate remains above its 10% peak following the Global Financial Crisis. Still, more than half of those who are unemployed report their status as temporary, giving reason to believe that with appropriate levels of policy support the jobs recovery will continue. CBRE expects the recovery in commercial real estate fundamentals to lag the economic recovery and the pace of the rebound will vary by property type. Industrial and multifamily fundamentals will be the most resilient over the near term. The office recovery will not begin in earnest until occupiers can confidently assess timelines for reopening offices and establish longer-term flexible work policies. In short, recovery for most commercial real estate sectors—aside from industrial and multifamily—will not fully commence until 2021. Importantly, CBRE’s forecasts anticipate additional policy support and medical breakthroughs to manage the virus. As such, there are notable downside risks to our forecasts. Furthermore, spikes in virus infections may affect local or state dynamics. Nevertheless, we expect the recovery to continue and solidify with strong overall economic growth through 2021.

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar leasing volume is not expected to fully recover until late 2024. Construction: The construction industry gained 20,000 jobs in July, largely in the residential sector. This activity has been supported by ultra-low interest rates and expectations of recovery. Health Care: Employment growth in the health-care sector continued in July, with almost 126,000 jobs added. Hospitals and ambulatory health services saw gains as non-COVID-related medical procedures, such as elective surgery, resumed. Nursing and residential care services lost more than 28,000 jobs. Multifamily: Employment growth bodes well for the multifamily sector. Still, a failure to extend enhanced unemployment benefits could cause some issues for the sector over the short term. Additionally, low interest rates are supporting the single-family housing market. These are areas of concern, but structural changes that have benefitted the sector remain intact. Hotels: The hotel sector remains hard-hit by the cessation of most business travel and lower levels of leisure travel. Accommodation services gained only 2,800 jobs in July. A full recovery in the sector will take longer than all other asset classes, though hotels that cater to drive-to destinations are already recovering. Those that largely cater to business and international travelers will experience a much slower recovery. CBRE expects hotel demand will not fully recover until the end of 2023.

Richard Barkham is global chief economist and head of Americas Research for CBRE Americas and Global Research and can be reached at (617) 912-5215 or richard.barkham@cbre.com. Spencer Levy is chairman and Senior Economic Advisor for CBRE Americas Research and can be reached at (617) 912-5236 or spencer.levy@cbre. com. Darin Mellott is director of research for CBRE Americas Research and can be reached at (801) 869-8014 or darin.mellott@cbre.com.

The Bottom Line The July jobs report continued an employment recovery that began in May. To give some stand the ‘mix’ of our team members, reaping the benefits of sharing and using that knowledge to better understand each other and respect our individual differences.” Ayers added, “The goal was then to be able to work together better, providing the opportunity to better understand how people are likely to view and act in specific situations.” Creating A Diversified Workforce Within Your Company Gunter noted, “When building your diverse workforce, it is important to take in to account the similarities and differences people have, and still have them feel included in the group.” She continued, “You can have diversity, but if employees don’t feel included, you won’t get the information or ideas you’re looking for. And by not being inclusive in your company culture, attitude and behaviors—on all levels—you and your company can miss out on a lot of opportunities. “The system must be equitable: you must look at systems/practices in your company that may unintentionally ‘weed people out’ whom you are not trying to ‘weed out.’“ For example, Gunter

shared, the phrase “What’s a good fit for our company?” can be problematic because when your hiring decisions are guided by that phrase, then you may not end up with diversity. Even hiring tests may have unintentional built-in biases, she notes. Benefits Of Diversity In The Workplace Nirupa stated, “Over two thirds of employees that are looking at working at a company look at diversity as a factor for consideration. Happy employees work harder and share more, resulting in less turnover and higher growth, profits and innovation. Diversity leads to all of these, making employees feel more comfortable that their needs will be respected.” Ayers added, “It’s important to remember that this is an ongoing process that needs to always be top-of-mind: it starts perhaps with a weekend company conference, then a monthly review with all employees, then perhaps quarterly. At some point,” she concludes, “it will simply become a part of the company’s culture, with checks and balances built-in to the very core of the company.”

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