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IN THE NEWS PGD surpasses one million passengers in 2018
In the first seven months of 2018, Punta Gorda Airport has already surpassed the 1 million-passenger threshold. 2018’s one-millionth passenger, as well as the six-millionth passenger since commercial service commenced in 2007, travelled through PGD in July. “This is another milestone for PGD, and it demonstrates the success of our low-cost airport model, said PGD’s CEO James W. Parish. “As an airport we strive for continued improvements in customer service, logistics and efficiencies — all while keeping costs low so Allegiant can pass savings down to their customers.” PGD is Allegiant’s fourth biggest operation with six to nine Airbus A320s stationed on site, varying seasonally. PGD officials predict the 2018 passenger count will total nearly 1.5 million by the end of December. TRAVEL See page 10
Fort Myers engineering firm AXI International this week announced a new effort to curb blue-green algae blooms using sonic buoys to prevent the toxic organisms from ever entering the Caloosahatchee or St. Lucie rivers. The Project Blue initiative, as proposed, would use ultrasonic technology to stop algae cells from cycling toward the water surface, stopping
sunlight from reaching the algae. An informational video explains that the toxic blooms happen now because algae gets into the rivers following discharges from Lake Okeechobee during period of high rain fall, then the algae ultimately hits estuary waters and interacts with saltwater. That leads to the explosive blooms on the river, and eventually to the release of nutrients that feed red tide in saltwater. But the algae cycle in the river depends on cells rising in the water
PALM CITY BREWING COMPANY HOSTS SRMA
Photos by Christine Brady More than 40 Southwest Florida manufacturers and local business professionals gathered to mix and mingle as well as to support yet another local manufacturer—The Palm City Brewing Company, a neighborhood beer manufacturer with its facilities located in Fort Myers.
Blue Chip Award application deadline approaching
The 24th 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 counties that overcome adversity to achieve success. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 4. Businesses can nominate themselves or be nominated by a third party. The award ceremony will take place on Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa. To submit an application, contact Stacey Mercado at (239) 433-7189 or SMercado@mcgriffinsurance.com.
After a tour of the brewery (above), SRMA Executive Director Neil Kagan (right top) shared updates and upcoming events for the Southwest Regional Manufacturing Association, with the assemblage as Palm City Brewing Company products (i.e. refreshments) were sampled, shared and enjoyed by attendees (right). Discount on Parking Private Parties Exclusive Gifts Merchandise Discount Presale on other Events
table to get sunlight and lowering to feed off nutrients. Engineers with AXI International propose using buoys to stop that water column movement. By disabling the organisms from navigating the water column, cells would be trapped at a depth to prevent photosynthesis, but also would make sure the algae was not feeding off nutrients from the deepest part of the river. Without food or sunlight, the algae will starve, AXI International officials say. ALGAE See page 10
SWFEDA names interim leader The board of directors of the Southwest Florida Economic Development Alliance has named Susan Pareigis as interim president and CEO of the regional organization. Most recently, Pareigis served 10 years as president and CEO of the Florida Council of 100 following four years as Gov. Jeb Bush’s appointed secretary of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. PaPareigis reigis previously was president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Collier County and served in international business development at the Lee County Office of Economic Development. Pareigis has served on the board of directors for Enterprise Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “Susan’s executive-level experience, coupled with her extensive knowledge of Southwest Florida, makes her the perfect choice to lead the Southwest Florida Economic Development Alliance,” said Al Reynolds, chairman of the board. “We are confident the Alliance will continue to flourish under Susan’s leadership.” Pareigis said: “I am eager to work with the five-county region to further diversify the Southwest Florida economy through additional high-wage jobs and targeted industries.” The Southwest Florida Economic Development Alliance serves as a nonparochial economic development coordinator to site selectors, real estate consultants and targeted companies, working in collaboration with local economic development organizations.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
SEPTEMBER 2018
MANUFACTURING
Expertise in shipping, logistics ensures goods made here reach buyers
By Gary McKinley Guest Columnist
Celebrating 28 years in business as the nation’s leading specialty crating and shipping company, Gary McKinley has owned Craters & Freighters of Southwest Florida since January 2007. Having spent 35 years in sales, management and consulting, McKinley already had specific knowledge of on-time shipping and the freight industry before moving from Oregon to Florida. Craters & Freighters has six brick-and-mortar locations in Florida. We are proud to be part of the C&F network of 65 locations across the United States. Our Cape Coral location serves the pickup, crating, ship-
ping and delivery needs of businesses and residential clients from Marco Island to Bradenton. With “Expertise that Delivers,” we ship just about anything to just about anywhere nationwide and worldwide, serving consumers and businesses in all sectors including telecommunications, electronics, medical equipment, heavy machinery, household goods, heirlooms, museum pieces, antiques and fine art. Businesses and residential clients rely on Craters & Freighters of SW Florida’s expert packaging, crating and shipping services. Our staff is very detail-oriented and can provide quotes that include pickup, insurance coverage, packaging, crating, shipping and delivery domestically and internationally with one simple call. By land, air and sea, we are your single source responsibil-
ity from your place shipped door-to-door, door-to-port or port-to port almost anywhere in the world. We recognize that each shipment can be unique or repetitious and each order is handled with extreme care to meet your expectations and needs. With an on staff corporate engineer, you can be sure your unique shipment will be expertly handled, packed, crated, braced with whatever method is required. We don’t just guess—we know! There is no job too big or too small—we can handle it all! Around the city or around the world, we are the company that offers “Expertise that Delivers.” Gary McKinley is the owner of Craters & Freighters of Southwest Florida. Contact him at (239) 772-3100 or gary.m@cratersandfreighters.com.
Businesses impacted by algae may get bridge loans from state Florida businesses that have been impacted by Lake Okeechobee Discharge/Algae Blooms and Red Tide may now apply for short-term, interestfree loans through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. Activated by Gov. Rick Scott, the bridge loan program helps bridge the gap for small businesses between the time impact occurs until other resources are available, including insurance claims. Currently, there is no federal assistance designated for this occurrence. The deadline to apply is Sept. 7. Under the program, small businesses in the following counties may apply: Designated Disaster Areas: Lake Okeechobee Discharge/Algae Blooms: Lee, Glades, Hendry, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
MANUFACTURING
Creating anti-aging products that work
How many half-empty bottles of skincare products do you have in your bathroom cupboard right now? If you’re anything like most people, there are probably quite a few! It’s a common story: someone buys a skincare cream that promises incredible “rejuvenating effects” or “magical skin transformation,” only to be disappointed when BY KRISTEN it doesn’t deliver FLAHARTY the results promGuest Columnist ised. That’s completely understandable. The marketing strength that’s put into flashy skincare products is impressive. The problem is that most of the time, the marketing is better than the products themselves. This was certainly the case when my husband, Dr. Patrick Flaharty, started out in cosmetic surgery 20 years ago. The market was littered with skincare products of varying quality and effectiveness. For him, the truth was that none of them were great. As he gained more and more experience as a facial cosmetic surgeon, he realized that good skin care in the pre-procedure and post-procedure time frames was an important part of the results and patient satisfaction. Most products on the market fell short. So, Dr. Patrick Flaharty started on a quest to find skincare products for his Azul Medical Spa that did exactly what was needed, providing rejuvenating and anti-aging effects while also being gentle enough to use after facial surgery. Thankfully, he had a remarkable ally on this journey: his wife Dr. Kristen Flaharty (me!). As a seasoned pharmaceutical product development professional, I had been in the industry for many years developing prescription drug products for national and international companies. In the skin care arena, there were endless products being sold that promised results simply not backed by science. The solution to our problem? Develop and produce our own skincare products! In late 2014, we did an asset purchase of a small cosmetic manufacturing company and named it Trilogy Laboratories (for our three daughters). The purchase included two product brands, manufacturing equipment, formulas and some inventory. Over the next two years, we built-out a new 2,500-square-foot, FDA-registered manufacturing facility in Fort Myers, reformulated products and expanded product offerings. Today, Trilogy Laboratories produces all of the Azul Medical Spa premium skincare products, ranging from anti-aging creams and post treatment products to mineral makeup. These are now available online and fulfilled by Trilogy Labs. In addition, Trilogy Laboratories partners with the Florida Academy of Skin Care to provide our professional product line, Integraderm, to students and other local and regional skin care providers. Another arm to the business is private label, where Trilogy Laboratories manufacturers stock and custom products for physicians, SKIN See page 9
Page 3
Gov. Bush returns for Babcock school opening Former Gov. Jeb Bush joined Syd Kitson, elected officials and community and education leaders to celebrate the grand opening of the new Babcock Neighborhood School in Babcock Ranch. The school, completed two years ahead of schedule to meet growing demand after BNS’s initial year of operation, features a project-based learning curriculum that earned the school an A grade last year from the state of Florida. Following a brief ceremony, nearly 100 guests joined school administrators, teachers and student ambassadors in BNS classrooms to experience the school’s approach to project-based learning. Bush presided over the creation of the 73,000-acre Babcock Ranch Preserve during his second term as Governor. When developer Kitson began planning the new town that was approved as part of the historic preservation transaction, he put together an advisory board that could help transform his vision for an innovative, sustainable new town into reality. Bush joined that board seven years ago. “As we looked toward the future of this new town of Babcock Ranch, we were extremely fortunate to have the guidance of Governor Bush, a national leader in education reform,” Kitson said. “Building a school before you have a single home is a
Gov. Jeb Bush (left) and Syd Kitson join student ambassadors and teacher Rachel Crawford in a classroom demonstration of project-based learning at the Aug. 7 grand opening of the new Babcock Neighborhood School in Babcock Ranch. pretty big commitment. I am so glad Jeb pushed us to take the leap and to introduce the project-based learning curriculum.” “Technological advancement will dramatically change the work world over the coming years, and we have to create new paths for each child to have the ability to reach their God-given potential,” Bush said. “Project-based learning arms each child with the problem-solving skills and the power of knowledge they need to succeed in a rapidly chang-
ing world.” The environmentally focused “greenSTEAM” curriculum at BNS integrates science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics into projects that allow students to learn by doing. After opening at full capacity with 156 students in a smaller facility for the 2017-18 school year, the larger BNS building was fast-tracked to be ready in time to welcome students for 2018-19. BABCOCK See page 11
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
SEPTEMBER 2018
GUEST COMMENTARY
China impressions applicable to Southwest Florida?
My wife and I were in China in April for more than two weeks. We had been before in 1998 and had an eager interest what China will tell us today. This trip included two huge cities we had not visited before. Our memories tell us China and the Chinese came across as friendly and helpful, though few spoke or speak English. We never forgot the Chinese using the bicycle as their major transport means in Beijing in 1998. Hordes of bicyclists filled the streets. Hardly any scooters or cars were to be seen. Last time, we only visited Beijing and Xian as major cultural, historical and business centers. This time we added Shanghai and Chongqing. We had heard about Shanghai as being the most modern and progressive metropolis in China. We were amazed and can confirm the talk and reporting. The city is vibrant, modern and at night has a tremendous light show. Before China we also visited Thailand, Lao, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Chinese upper middle class is buying real estate in these countries and the middle class is travelling there too. Western tourists are now a small part of the Asian tourism industry. We were made aware of the Chinese Belt and Road initiative. The Chinese are building speed train tracks, bridges and tunnels for fast connection intercity and neighboring countries. We were amazed. Being with the Chinese people on the river cruise, at the riverfront in Shanghai at the Bund, at the cultural centers in Xian and in Beijing, on the Great Wall and in the city parks, we never had any feeling of limited freedom for them. We hardly saw police anywhere. The young Chinese are modern, fashionably dressed and on their electronic devices. Everybody seems to have a modern and late model cell phone. WeChat by Tencent is their communications app; I downloaded the English version. The road and subway system in these large cities is overwhelming today. Many roads have four lanes in each direction and are packed with cars. All scooters are electric. No noise, no fumes! Our three days in Beijing and at the Great Wall were with blue sky. Chinese efforts against air pollution seem to be working. Enough of what we saw. We were also struck by the private business opportunities everybody seems to have. Retail shops and restaurants are everywhere. Malls and large department stores are modern and impressive in design and access. Some subway stations are under these malls. Private
business is alive and doing well. Business thinking is encouraged in modern China, as our 31-year-old guide told us. What can we learn and apply here? We need to think globally and larger than just Southwest Florida. There is a world out there trying to achieve the American standard of living for most of their subjects fast. BY MICHAEL China leap-frogged Western moSCHNEIDERdernity in these last 20 years, from CHRISTIANS bicycles to Chinese-made and foreign Guest Columnist cars. In the big cities many expensive foreign cars are driven, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Maserati and Rolls Royce. Slow flowing traffic on all major roads. To obtain a driver license in Beijing, you have to enter a lottery. Only 3,000 licenses per month are issued. Some people wait years. China is way ahead of the countries south of its border, where non-electric scooters are the major personal transportation medium. Here in Florida we are lucky that we get new roads and road widenings, as our state grows fast in the nation. The young Chinese learn and use English. They are on social media and are connected. Facebook and Instagram and the open internet do not exist. The one-party communist government controls those ways to connect to the world, but there are ways around these limitations and they are used. The business mindset here in Southwest Florida needs to be an over the “border,” larger book of influence. We need to be educated about the world out there and what those countries’ goals are. We need to educate ourselves constantly about different business models, different ways to communicate and listen to the younger generation. All the ways and means are out there and often for free. We have to be selective, but YouTube videos can train us quickly and often in a fun way to improve our thinking, knowledge and applications in our daily business life. Beijing has 30 million inhabitants; Chongqing County has 35 million. When we arrived in this metropolis by boat the tops of the new Raffles City under construction were in the rain clouds. We were awestruck. The Raffles City Chongqing marketing video is online. Check it out. The Chinese love their parks and their waterfront, acces-
sible to all most of the time. We could not remember how many trees are still in Beijing. Or they did a major effort to make the cities greener for better air quality in the last 20 years. We need to take care of our environment all the time. Green spaces are lungs for any city. The bicycles of today are all over the cities available to all. Alibaba has an army of bicycles in the cities and your app with money on an account opens the lock and you just go where you need and want to go. Many business people use these bikes to get from the subway station to the office. Applicable here in Southwest Florida? Maybe. The Chinese GDP growth for the last 10 years has been between 6 and 8 percent every year. We are far from a comparable growth rate here. China will catch up fast and likely be the number one economy and trading “partner” before 2030. We are all proud to live here in the US. The Chinese are proud of their country, history and accomplishments as well. Most of the tourist at the historical places, the Xian terracotta army, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and at the Mao Mausoleum, are Chinese! The waiting line to see Mao in his mausoleum at the Tiananmen Square is two-and-a-half hours long. Be in a constant growth mode; think and act outside your present market, be modern, go with the times, keep educated about business ideas, human resources and human connections via social media, email and texting. Hire well-trained and computer, internet and social media-educated and -versed individuals. Be educated about the populations of the world and the major countries. Numbers talk and China with over 1.4 billion citizens, is four times larger than the USA. Their middle class is about 300 million people. Over 40 percent of the world population lives in the Far East, including India with 1.35 billion with a middle class of 300 million. Doing what we all have done in the past is the comfortable way but may result in the stay put way. We all need to improve in all business fields progressively, by applying latest technology and leadership guidance. Michael Schneider-Christians has been a Realtor at Century 21 Sunbelt Realty since 1986. Contact him at (239) 851-3975 or michael@schneider-christians.com.
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 5
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
SWFL commercial real estate segment updates presented
Local appraiser discusses different aspects of market
RETAIL While retail vacancy is in the 4- to 5-percent range in all three counties, the variance in rental rates once again reflects the demographics of the three counties. Charlotte County rental rates currently average $13.06 psf; Lee County averages $14.70 psf; Collier County averages $22.68 psf. Hendry noted that moving forward, Southwest Florida, like the rest of the country, will be trending towards the development of more “retailtainment” centers as the market moves away from traditional retail.
Special to SWFBT Karen Moore, Publisher The Commercial Investment Professionals of Southwest Florida met in August to hear the latest news and trends regarding and affecting the local commercial real estate market. Gerald Hendry, a principal with local appraisal firm, Maxwell, Hendry and Simmons, is a fifth generation Floridian and a native of Fort Myers. He spoke to the group about market conditions. INDUSTRIAL Hendry used a visual analogy including a bridge, a truck and a sports car to tie all the pieces of the local commercial real estate market together and the effect on his audience was impactful. First he took a look at industrial. There is no vacancy in this segment in Collier, Lee or Charlotte counties while prices are climbing, with a low average price of $80 per square foot (psf) in Charlotte County to a high of $146 psf in Collier County. No new inventory is being added in any county except Lee. The new inventory is anticipated to be leased in smaller units rather than larger ones. Moreover, while 783,000 square feet of industrial space is going up in Lee County, and is anticipated to be at market in 3-5 months with 304,000 square feet pre-leased, Hendry indi-
Graphic supplied by Maxwell, Hendry and Simmons cated the remaining unleased 479,000 square feet is not as large a number as it first appears. This is because the buildings are going up one at a time, being leased out, and then the next building is going up—just the opposite of what happened in 2004-05 when all buildings from a particular developer were constructed all at once and then sat until they were leased out. He pointed out an interesting factoid reflective of the diametrics of the Southwest Florida market: the average Collier County warehouse space psf lease prices are greater than Lee County’s average office space psf lease prices. “Moreover,” he added, “$90-$110 psf rents for office space are Lee County’s ‘bread-and-butter.” OFFICE SPACE Hendry shared: “Rental rates have been flat overall in Southwest Florida
since 2013-14. Not surprisingly, this situation developed with the dawn of the mobile office.” Also not surprisingly, lease rates have dropped considerably. He noted while there is 217,000 square feet of office space under construction in Lee County—on the face of it pretty amazing—143,000 of that square footage belongs to Gartner. The only exception with office space in the region occurs with medical office space, which, due to Southwest Florida demographics, is not surprising. Here’s an example of the disparity of lease rates in the region. While the Galleria in Collier County garners $220 psf, Eastlinks in Lee County is getting $143 psf but medical office in Lee County gets as high as $670 psf. Hendry noted: “Very few developers will be successful at building office space for the foreseeable future.”
APARTMENTS While all three counties see real increases in terms of unit construction, the issue of affordability remains. Hendry pointed out while there are currently 2,656 units under construction in Lee County, there is only an absorption rate of perhaps 500. The rents are too high, he said. With an average rent of $1,180 per month, Hendry states, a renter’s annual income needs to be at least $47,040: therefore, in this market only, for example, a nurse can afford to pay that kind of rent. Commenting to Hendry’s point, CIP Immediate Past President Jeff Forsythe left the meeting attendees with this observation, “The cost of land and construction continues to discourage the building of affordable housing. So while there is a large amount of apartment space coming to market, how much will the market actually be able to absorb, and what does that mean to Southwest Florida?”
McDonald’s investing in modernizing area’s restaurants
McDonald’s announced the company and its franchisees are investing approximately $186 million in Florida throughout 2018 and 2019 on the construction and modernization of 240 McDonald’s restaurants, transforming the customer experience inside and outside the restaurant. In total, McDonald’s and franchisees are investing $6 billion to modernize most U.S. restaurants by 2020, including most restaurants in Florida. With this significant construction investment, the transformed restaurants will feature: • Modernized dining rooms with globally and locally inspired décor, new furniture and refreshed exterior designs.
• Enhanced customer experience with digital self-order kiosks that make ordering and paying for a meal easier. Kiosks empower guests to browse the menu, find options and tailor their meal just the way they want. • Remodeled counters allow for new table service that offers guests the opportunity to relax while their food is being made. • Bright and easy to read digital menu boards inside and at the drive through. • New designated parking spots for curbside pickMcDonald’s and franchisees are investing $6 bilup through mobile order and pay • Expanded McCafé counters and larger lion to modernize most U.S. restaurants by 2020, including most restaurants in Florida. display cases
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
SEPTEMBER 2018
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Tilt-up concrete wave of future for Florida construction By Robert Brown Guest Columnist Sometimes it seems as if commercial buildings spring up overnight. What was a patch of vacant land yesterday suddenly holds the shell of a structure one day later. It’s not that you’ve been too busy and failed to notice. New construction techniques allow for walls to be erected within a matter of hours. Tilt-up concrete construction is soaring in popularity across Florida as commercial businesses opt for durable, custom-built facilities that often are completed at lower costs than traditional masonry block construction and pre-engineered metal buildings. Although our company uses all three types of construction—tilt-up, concrete masonry and preengineered metal—GCM Contracting Solutions is known as an industry leader in tilt-up construction. Large buildings like warehouses, office complexes, boat storage facilities and airport hangars can be erected on site in less time with fewer skilled craftsmen, potentially saving clients tens of thousands of dollars in labor costs and transportation of materials. The cost sav-
The Algenol Biofuels building in Fort Myers and the Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club in Naples are tilt-wall buildings built by GCM Contracting Solutions. ings for tilt-up construction can extend to insurance premiums, energy bills and even pest control. Buildings also can be completed weeks, or even months, ahead of a traditional construction schedule. Each tilt-up project is custom-designed, allowing a client to determine a building’s size, overall shape and
exact location of doors and windows. Architectural details can be added so the exterior doesn’t just appear as a flat, nondescript wall. How does tilt-up construction work? First, we create the framework for walls directly on a construction site, embed the rebar and pour concrete into the frame.
Once the concrete has solidified, we remove the frame and use a crane to lift the wall into place, hence the term ‘tilt-up.’ We use massive 7- to 12-inch thick concrete panels, some weighing in excess of 300,000 pounds. Those panels are securely locked onto the foundation and adjoining panels with temporary braces. This unique construction design offers supreme sturdiness, fire safety protection and hurricane resistance, as well as protection against intrusion from pests and outside noise. The roof is installed using traditional construction techniques, and once the interior is completed and furnished, our client has a brand-new, stateof-the-art facility from which to operate. Some of GCM’s more recognizable tilt-wall buildings in Southwest Florida include Miromar Design Center in Estero, Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers, Landmark Hospital and Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club in Naples and Rose Marina in Marco Island. Robert Brown is owner and president of GCM Contracting Solutions, founded in 1988 and based in Fort Myers. Contact him at rbrown@gcmcontracting.com or (239) 334-8800.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 7
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Giardino Gourmet Salads expands with Naples restaurant Giardino Gourmet Salads, a Florida-based fast casual concept focused on garden-to-bowl nutrition, is expanding its statewide footprint once again with the grand opening of its newest location in Naples. The Naples restaurant opened on Pine Ridge Road in the Marquesa Plaza shopping center. The Naples Giardino Gourmet Salads is the first restaurant for the brand in Southwest Florida and the 16th overall in the state. The new Naples restaurant is owned and operated by Cape Coral entrepreneur Daniel Collar, who has nearly five years of restaurant operations experience. Giardino Gourmet Salads menu includes globally inspired salads, wraps, grain bowls, soups and sandwiches. What sets Giardino Gourmet Salads apart from the competition is its approach to the guest experience and its focus on “Nutritional Empowerment.” Every guest has the ability to customize a wide variety of salads, wraps and grain bowls from more than 60 fresh ingredients including an extensive variety of freshly chopped leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, proteins, dozens of different dressings, homemade deli salads, sauces and daily baked homemade croutons. “There is a genuine need in Naples for real, simple food that is hand-
Giardino Gourmet Salads is expanding its statewide footprint with the grand opening of its newest location in Naples. crafted for people that are focused on nutrient-rich ingredients,“ said Collar. “We’re thrilled about providing the neighborhood with an alternative to traditional fast food while becoming a place for friends and family to gather and enjoy actual garden-to-bowl food with the freshest ingredients at a great value.” Giardino Gourmet Salads began in 2004, founded by Ody and Kenny Lugo, a former Miami-Dade County schoolteacher and Miami-Dade County firefighter respectively. Today, the
fast casual salad, wrap and bowl concept sees room for an additional 10-15 units across Southwest Florida over the next few years. “Giardino Gourmet Salads continued growth across Florida has propelled the brand forward as we strive to provide unmatched quality, value and an unparalleled guest experience,” said Ody Lugo, Giardino Gourmet Salads co-founder and board member. “We are extremely fortunate to have found a dedicated Naples-entrepreneur in Daniel Collar to open and
operate this new restaurant. Daniel is incredibly passionate about our mission of nutritional empowerment and he will provide the world-class service and food our brand is known for to the surrounding community.” As part of Giardino Gourmet Salads strategic development plan, the brand is focused on building restaurants in vibrant markets with a diverse customer base where there is a need for fast casual restaurant alternatives. With 16 restaurants open across Florida and many more in the development pipeline, Giardino Gourmet Salads intends to continue to grow across the Southwest region of the state with a laser focus on finding the right franchisees and real estate that sets the brand up for success while creating memorable experiences that drive guests to come back for more. “We take development very seriously and that is reflected in the quality of our owners and the locations in which we operate restaurants,” said Kenny Lugo, Giardino Gourmet Salads co-founder and board member. “Our mission is to be a part of the community for a very long time and we’re doing that through smart and deliberate growth. That’s why we’re so excited about what Daniel is going to bring to the Naples market.”
Fort Myers studio creates app for customizing condo space Welcome, Kimberly Lang
Prima Luce is launching an interactive application that allows potential owners to explore and customize many of the finishes, fixtures and flooring in their future homes. “This app is one of the first of its kind in Southwest Florida,” said Anthony DeBono, principal at d3 Creative Studio, the Fort Myers-based 3-D studio that created the interactive reality app for Prima Luce. “We call it the ‘sales center of the future,’ because this type of technology is revolutionizing the real estate industry and changing the way agents interact and engage with potential buyers.” With the help of Prima Luce Design Director Richard Miner, who provided details and building specs, and interior designer Dwayne Bergmann, who provided floor-to-ceiling styling, furniture and customization options for the floors, kitchens and bathrooms, d3 interpreted thousands of precise two-dimensional lines and many material samples into one visually stunning, smooth-running, interactive application. Because Prima Luce is still in the presale phase of development, MacFarlane and his team commissioned an app that could provide prospective buyers with a glimpse inside the two upcoming luxury towers, as well as the ability to customize the color and style of the floors, kitchens and bathrooms of each residence. In the app, prospective buyers can select and interact with seven floor plans, each of which feature stunning views of the Caloosahatchee captured
in accurate, unedited drone footage. Users can hop around the floor plan via hot spots, such as “Kitchen” or “Master Bedroom,” or navigate freely throughout the entire space. One of the features of the app is the ability to hand-select and sample various custom-curated combinations of finishes, flooring and materials. Users can select and preview up to five kitchen countertop, cabinetry and backsplash combinations; three bathroom countertop, cabinetry and tile combinations; and five flooring types. The application is powered by the latest Apple iPad Pro (or at least an iPhone 8), making it easy to share in the sales center and putting exploration and customization directly into the hands of the interested buyer, while also allowing sales representatives to introduce Prima Luce via screen-sharing applications, such as GoToMeeting. “Interactive reality apps are a way of reinventing the multifamily-living sales process, and we’re so proud to be setting the tone for the local marketplace,” said Rebekah MacFarlane Barney, chief operating officer of Prima Luce and MacFarlane Barney Development. “It’s a powerful supplemental sales tool. Instead of asking potential home buyers to purchase a home based solely on brochures and their imagination, this unique app gives people the opportunity to experience and customize what their lives might look like at Prima Luce—life in a whole new light!”
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Page 8
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
SEPTEMBER 2018
COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida
Renting vs. owning commercial real estate for your small business Many business owners are approaching lease renewal deadlines on the leases they signed 10 years ago during the real estate crisis in Southwest Florida. I’ve been speaking to many local commercial real estate agents and the consensus is lease rates are on the rise due to low vacancy in most areas, particularly mixed use and light industrial properties. Leases signed 10 years ago were heavily weighted in the tenant’s favor because vacancy rates were so high. So what is one to do? The decision to own versus lease is a big one. You must consider several factors. First of all, is your currently leased space available for purchase? This is the easiest decision as it involves no moving costs and no down time. Second, is the space you are currently leasing able to keep up with the growth of your business? In other words, does the space have the capacity to facilitate growth? Third, do you plan to own your business long term or are you planning to sell your business in the near future? One would think if you are looking to sell in the next five years, leasing is best. But in reality, it is often easier to sell a business with a hard asset, like real estate, included in the sale. This benefit is magnified if you find a good deal on a property
Berkadia completed $44M sale of student complex
Berkadia announced the $44 million sale of Coastal Village, a student housing community in Fort Myers. Senior Managing Director Kevin Larimer and Director Greg Gonzalez of Berkadia’s Student Housing team completed the sale, with support from Senior Managing Director Cole Whitaker, Managing Director Rick Vidrio, Senior Director Jason Stanton and Senior Director Rick Brace. The buyer was Coastal Ridge Real Estate with H. Katz Capital. The deal closed on June 28. “Florida Gulf Coast University boasts one of the highest prelease rates for universities under 15,000 students, which is a clear indicator of the strength of the market,” said Larimer. “The seller had started a strategic unit upgrade concept, which when finished will provide a great value-add opportunity for Coastal Ridge Real Estate.” “The Southeast has been a strong market for student housing investment because of the consistent growth of enrollment across the region,” said Gonzalez. Coastal Villages is located on Skidmore Way in Fort Myers, less than a mile from the Florida Gulf Coast University campus. Berkadia Student Housing has sold and/or financed more than $2.95 billion over the past three years representing over 134 transactions and more than 60,900 beds.
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that has real potential to appreciate in value. Look for distressed or bank-owned properties to maximize value. Fourth, do you want to be a landlord? Often times it makes sense to purchase a multi-unit property to operate your business from and have tenants occupying the remaining space. This can greatly offset your occupancy BY TOM costs and also create value in the MAIALE property you own. Guest Columnist Finally, do you have the necessary down payment to purchase a property? While these are not the only considerations, these are the most important. The Small Business Administration has the ability to assist you in buying a property, cover the costs of build-out, help you expand your business, and even cover the costs of moving and down time. In many circumstances, the SBA can provide 90 percent financing for your purchase project and amortize the loan in such a way that the monthly payment is the same or even lower then what you were paying in rent.
Talk to any CPA or financial adviser and they will also show you the benefits of owning your own building. In short, the loan payment you make to your SBA lender is creating equity on your balance sheet each month, rather than making your landlord wealthier each month. It also gives you a potential asset to sell or derive income from should your business experience the need to downsize or close down. This is a very sensitive topic but it provides you with a hedge against the threat of any economic downturn like we experienced 10 years ago. If any of these questions or concerns have entered your mind or you are up for lease renewal, consult your local SBA lender and commercial real estate broker, or give me a call and I will help you assemble a team of professionals to help you make this critical decision in your businesses life cycle. Tom Maiale, First Federal Bank SBA Lending Vice President and Business Development Officer, is a 17-year SBA Lending veteran with SBA Training from The National Association of Government Guaranteed Lending and The U.S. Small Business Administration. Contact him at (239) 288-9966 or tmaiale@cbcnationalbank.com.
Florida Realtors announce CEO succession Florida Realtors CEO Bill Martin announced his retirement from the organization. On Jan. 1, 2019, Florida Realtors will have a new chief executive officer when Margy Grant, current chief operations officer and general counsel, takes the helm. Martin joined Florida Realtors in March 2015 after serving as CEO for Michigan Realtors for 14 years. Working with Florida Realtors’ leadership team, management staff and Realtors over the past years has been exciting, fulfilling and rewarding, he said. He’s proud to have helped build the state association to where it stands, with a culture of service, teamwork and cooperation that stays focused on the membership’s needs. The growth of Florida Realtors Form Simplicity and Tech Helpline, with an increased reach serving more Realtors around the country, is just one of many milestones achieved during Martin’s tenure as CEO. “It’s been a high honor and privilege to be associated with such a high-level organization – one with a rich history and even richer future,” Martin said. “When I look at the next five years, I know that Florida Realtors has a great leadership team now and into its future. There’s not a better leadership lineup anywhere. The future is very bright and exciting. I feel I’m leaving on a high note and with the association in the right hands. Margy Grant has been a terrific COO and general counsel, and is an extremely good fit for Florida Realtors CEO.” 2018 Florida Realtors President Christine Hansen said: “Bill Martin has been an outstanding CEO. During his time here, we’ve seen Florida Realtors grow, strengthening our partnership with local boards and associations across the state, as well as expanding opportunities and programs for our Realtor members. While we’ll miss him greatly, we know that he’s looking forward to the future and excited about what’s to come. And that’s
exactly how we feel about Margy Grant becoming Florida Realtors new CEO.” Grant, 43, is a certified association executive. She is also a member of the American Society of Association Executives. She earned her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, at the Suffolk Martin University School of Law in Boston and her bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Grant is a member of the Florida Bar, Massachusetts Bar and the California Bar. She joined Florida Realtors in 2005. Grant will remain as Florida Realtors COO and general counsel until January 2019. Over the next few months, Martin will help support the CEO transition. Looking to the future is key, he said. “There’s a reason why windshields are bigger than rearview mirrors,” he said. Grant added: “I cannot understate how privileged I am to work with Bill Martin. He is an amazing leader and I know I speak for all the staff when I say he will be missed, and we cannot thank him enough for all his contributions during his tenure at Florida Realtors. As far as the succession goes, I embrace the opportunity to participate in a seamless transition. I appreciate Bill’s willingness to facilitate my ascension into the CEO position.” Looking to the future, she added, “I’m humbled and excited to be named Florida Realtors next CEO. Florida Realtors prides itself on our history of innovation and advocacy. I’m excited to work with leadership, Realtor members and staff on many of the initiatives we currently have in place and new ones to come. And I truly appreciate that Florida Realtors has always had its focus on members’ needs to have products, tools and services to help them succeed in business.”
Contact Larry Steinborn,
Lic. Real Estate Broker Sand Dollar Real Estate / Business Depot (239) 433-1343 or bizdepot@aol.com 6309 Corporate Ct. #205 Fort Myers, FL 33919
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Page 9
MANUFACTURING
Quality keeps Golden Boat Lifts above the rest Golden Boat Lifts has been a major manufacturer of boat lifts for over 30 years. Bill Golden, a long-time veteran in the boat lift industry, saw a need for a company to put design, craftsmanship, quality, safety and service before price. The company is committed to supplying Boat Lifts that are safe, good looking, easy to operate and dependable by using modern methods, technology and skilled technicians. The lifts are welded because company leadership believes the extra expense of skilled welders and the best welding materials is worth it. Backed by 30 years of manufacturing Boat Lifts, their knowledge of boats and lifts allows them to bring the finest Boat Lift possible anywhere in the world. Golden Boat Lifts grew steadily through the recession and the subsequent years that proved so challenging for the marine industry. The company has enjoyed consistent year-over-year growth performance, lending reserves to continually improve systems and energize its R&D. The company has continually maintained a customer satisfaction and on-time delivery ratings of over 90 percent, keeping both installers and end-users very satisfied. In 2015, Golden launched Golden Marine Systems, a separate company that designs, engineers and manufactures state-of-the-art custom floating aluminum docks and gangways. Later that same year, Golden Boat Lifts entered the inland market with the introduction of its first freestanding hydraulic boat lift, the Tornado. To support this strategic diversification, Golden purchased additional land
and expanded its ISO 9001-certified manufacturing space. Additional tooling, personnel and 60 extra parking spaces support the growth. Earlier this year, Golden once again passed its ISO annual audit. The company recertified to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. Since 2013, it had held 9001:2008 credentials. “We’re pleased to earn this newest certification to ISO 9001:2015 standards,” said Bill Golden, president and CEO. “It’s a demanding process that demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement, the active involvement of both management and employees in a process-based approach and total customer satisfaction.” Golden Boat Lifts is the only aluminum frame boat lift manufacturer to hold ISO 9001:2015 accreditation. For the company’s commitment to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction, Golden Boat Lifts has taken advantage of local services such as getting a grant to help pay for training costs. Golden has implemented Lean Manufacturing techniques and is always looking to improve on their processes. Golden employs over 70 people and keeps the schedules of countless marine contractors full. Bill Golden is also active in numerous local and national marine trade associations. For more information on Golden Boat Lifts, contact Ken Felty, sales manager, at (239) 337-4141, or at sales@goldenboatlifts.com.
SKIN PAGE 3 medical spas and salons wishing to create their own brands as well as small to medium sized national brands. During the four years, Trilogy Laboratories has increased product sales more than 500 percent from the baseline asset purchase volume and has grown the corporate client base from 14 to more than 50. The company participates in Manufacturing Day, the Lee County STEM at Work program and has hosted several student interns in efforts to expose students to careers in Manufacturing. Trilogy Laboratories has been the recipient of several manufacturing awards including the SRMA Small Manufacturer of the Year (2016), Manufacturers Association of Florida Manufacturer of the Year (Finalist, 2016), and the prestigious Governor’s Sterling Manufacturing Award for Excellence in Business (Finalist, 2018). Dr. Kristen Flaharty held many research positions in academia as well as in the pharmaceutical industry before she and her husband founded Trilogy Laboratories. Contact her at (239) 939-5454 or kristenflaharty@gmail.com.
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Page 10
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
SEPTEMBER 2018
GUEST COMMENTARY
Demand elected officials find short-, long-term solutions to algae crisis
By Patrick Quinlan Guest Commentary
As many of you know, my family and I have enjoyed living in paradise for over 22 years. We especially love the great access we have to all the beautiful beaches and waterways in our area. However, we are in the midst of a crisis with the quality of water all along the southwest coast of Florida. Concerns about the blue-green algae invading our beautiful waters has dominated the news in recent weeks, locally as well as nation-
ally. Our son, who currently lives in South Bend, Ind., heard about it on the national news and through many posts on Facebook. Many of our clients who live out of state contacted us to get more information. Although the damage seems greater than ever this year, this devastating problem has been decades in the making. The Everglades Foundation provides some background on how the situation has developed over time. The maps on their website are also extremely informative in understanding the history of this crisis. I encourage you to check them out.
State Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral, recently posted some important information about the efforts to restore the Everglades. He outlines the immediate, short and long term efforts to ultimately cure this devastating problem. So what can we, as citizens, do to make a difference? According to Rep. Eagle, the funding for the $1.9 billion needed to build the southern reservoir has been approved by the state, but requires full federal approval; it has been passed by the House, but still needs Senate action.
So, whether you are a current resident, an investor, or a visitor to our beautiful paradise, we know you are all equally dismayed and concerned about the current water crisis. Please contact our senators today: You can send a message to our U.S. Senators by texting WATER to 52886 (facilitated by Everglades Foundation).
ALGAE PAGE 1
of the algae,” according to President Jeff Poirier. Additionally, AXI International wants to install deepwater culverts at discharge structures at Moore Haven and Port Mayaca. The culverts would mean that discharges would draw water from the cleanest part of the water column. Poirier added, “We just want to do our part to help create a solution to the problem; not just help to treat the symptoms.”
The dead cells would sink into the bottom of the river beds, and critically before reaching estuaries and interacting with saltwater. “After the algae have starved, they sink and decompose through their natural degradation cycle without releasing the toxic gasses we see during salt water caused death
TRAVEL PAGE 1 In July, there were 73,721 departing passengers and 71,705 arriving passengers, totaling 145,426. This is a 24.51-percent increase in passenger traffic for July 2018 compared with July 2017, when there were 116,799 passengers. PGD officials are encouraged by the consistent commercial airline traffic, as
well as the continued growth of the general aviation community, flight schools and business development on site. “Our mission is to serve the community and business through aviation, and I’m proud that we’re doing just that,” said CCAA Board of Commissioners Chair James W. Herston. “Beyond commercial air service, we’re home to 400 general aviation aircraft, flight schools and dozens of aviation and non-aviation businesses.”
50 Years of Quality and Dependability S4J Manufacturing
Mission
S4J Manufacturing Services, Inc., established in 1965, is a second generation, family owned company specializing in the production of ultra precision components, reusable Luer Lock connectors, Quick Connects, and miscellaneous adapters. Our customers, over 1,000 companies worldwide, are typically Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) of medical equipment and devices for biomedical and laboratory applications. We are committed to keeping abreast of the ever changing demands of the medical industry, and have been leaders in the design of new products and materials to meet these demands. We encourage our customers to communicate their needs and strive to develop solid working relationships. We are always interested in hearing ideas on how we may improve our products or our services.
Our mission is to manufacture the highest quality parts at a fair price 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: • Our adherence to speci�ications is the strictest in the industry. We maintain the tightest tolerances using state of the art CNC machinery. • Our Quality Management System is registered to ISO 9001:2015. • Our knowledgeable, courteous customer service and technical staff is available to assist customers with questions about inventory, pricing, delivery and product speci�ications, including our capabilities to meet your unique needs.
Strategic Vision
Our Facility
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 �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.
S4J Manufacturing Services, Inc. operated in New Jersey for 35 years. In September of 1999 we relocated to Cape Coral, Florida. Our new 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.
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LOAN PAGE 2 Red Tide: Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. To be eligible for the program, a business must have been in business prior to July 9, 2018, for Lake Okeechobee Discharge/Algae Blooms and Aug. 13, 2018, for Red Tide and suffered physical damage and/or economic injury as a result of the designated disaster. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) administers the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. The Emergency Bridge Loan Program is not designed to be the primary source of assistance to affected small businesses, which is why eligibility is linked to pursuit of other sources. Loans made under this program are short-term debt loans, not grants, made by the state of Florida using public funds. Emergency bridge loans require repayment by the approved applicant from business receipts, insurance proceeds received, or longer-term disaster recovery assistance.
Patrick Quinlan is a co-founder and real estate agent at Harbour Shores Realty and Property Management. Contact him at Patrick@HarbourShoresRealty.com or (239) 565-1556.
The State of Florida is assessing the damage. Small businesses that have incurred losses due to Lake Okeechobee Discharge/Algae Blooms and Red Tide are asked to complete a Business Damage Assessment Survey. The survey will help the State Emergency Response Team determine the needs and level of assistance for impacted businesses. As part of its service offering, the Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University has professionally certified consultants and disaster specialists are available to provide confidential, no-cost consulting to help affected businesses prepare disaster loan applications and with other post-disaster challenges. “Our goal is to ensure that small business owners impacted by manmade and natural disasters can stay strong and stay open,” said Lois Knox, regional director for the Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University. “Small business owners have a valuable resource in their Florida SBDC, our consultants are here and ready to help guide you through the business continuation process.”
What is the Southwest Regional Manufacturing Association?
The SRMA is the conduit that brings manufacturers and the needed resources in Southwest Florida together to help them to thrive in the areas of economic development, state of the art technology, and maintaining a highly skilled workforce.
What are the SRMA membership benefits? Want to improve your manufacturing business? Consider how the following SRMA programs would help your business: • Leadership Training • Employee Training Grants • Marketing Assistance • Recruiting and Hiring • Tax Incentives • Import / Export Training • Process Improvement • Roundtable Discussions • Network of Resources • Cost Reduction and Efficiency
For more information, contact Neil Kagan, SRMA Executive Director neil@srma.net (239) 560-0052
SEPTEMBER 2018
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
MANUFACTURING SRMA offers strength in numbers
The story of why I moved my comsales tax was elimipany, S4J Manufacturing Services, from nated in 2016. KnowNew Jersey to Southwest Florida begins ing that I played even like many business owners who have done a small role in that, the same. I was tired of how unfriendly the along with my felclimate was in New Jersey, in both weathlow manufacturers, er and business aspects, and was ready to by sharing our expemove on to literal and figurative greener riences and concerns pastures. Florida was the obvious choice with lawmakers reinfor this major decision. With no state inforced my belief that come tax, a much lower property tax than being involved in the in New Jersey and plenty of development BY DOUGLAS SRMA was a good opportunities that would make my goal for GYURE decision for my busia new, much larger facility specialized for Guest Columnist ness. precision manufacturing a reality, it made The SRMA has also made it possible perfect sense. Choosing Southwest Florida for me to participate in the programming specifically was an even easier choice, be- throughout the area that promotes closing cause as the second generation operator of the skills gap, particularly in the manufaca family company, I wanted to be closer turing field. We have a partnership with to the first generation who had recently re- The Foundation for Lee County Public tired to the area. Schools and their STEM @ Work iniUpon S4J’s and my arrival in SWFL in tiative. With this program I have hosted 1999, I was invited to join the Southwest several field trips for high school students Regional Manufacturing Association. In with interests in STEM fields, and I even New Jersey, the statewide manufactur- hired some hard-working employees from ers association was a well-oiled lobbying the program who gained valuable expemachine, and involvement was limited rience at S4J before heading to college. for smaller manufacturers. With this lo- We’ve all heard about the skills gap issues cal group, I was able to clearly see that plaguing our industry. Having the ability there could be benefits of manufacturers to join forces with other business people organizing to improve the business envi- and educators in our area to try to improve ronment so I joined and became very in- that situation has been very worthwhile, volved in a short amount of time. and is something I think all manufacturThose benefits quickly became ap- ers should get behind. The path that the parent when I realized I had moved my SRMA provides for involvement has company to the only state in the union made it much simpler. that had a state sales tax on manufacturWhile I may be a bit biased, I absoluteing machinery and equipment purchases. ly suggest joining the SRMA or whatever In Lee County, we were dealing with a your local manufacturing association may 6-percent sales tax, and while there was be. Being able to easily connect with felan option for an exemption it was difficult low manufacturers in the area means you to obtain. In order to meet the qualifica- have more resources and opportunities for tions for an exemption you had to be an advice should ever an unfamiliar situation “expanding business” and were required arise. We have a wide variety of manufacto have a “10 percent increase in produc- turing businesses represented in our associtive output” verified, on top of an exami- ation, which can open up the conversation nation of a company’s MME purchases. for best practices across many different This was a hindrance to small manufac- forms of the industry. Most importantly, turers with a diverse product line and who manufacturing associations can provide a didn’t have a crystal ball to predict what support system for our community that is would be ordered. I was glad to know that often told that we’re “on the way out.” We other SRMA members also felt frustrated know we’re not, and by coming together by this tax, and was even happier when to improve our industry, we can show that the Manufacturers Association of Florida there is strength in our numbers. formed in 2006 and made the elimination of the MME sales tax a top priority. The Douglas Gyure is vice president and MAF was able to unite the regional manu- CEO of Cape Coral-based S4J Manufacturing organizations around Florida by facturing Services, which specializes in providing us with opportunities to let our the manufacturing of medical compovoices be heard by the state government. nents and precision-turned products. He Because of my involvement in the SRMA, was interviewed for this article by Elaina I had the opportunity to play lobbyist, Gyure, Marketing Coordinator at S4J which must have been hilarious to watch Manufacturing Services. Contact him at and ultimately it paid off when the MME (239) 574-9400 or doug@s4jmfg.com.
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BABCOCK PAGE 3 On Aug. 10, 338 students in grades K-7 began classes in the state-of-the-art school building designed with project-based learning in mind. “What I have always believed education should look like is coming to fruition here at Babcock Neighborhood School,” said BNS Principal Shannon Treece. “It should be fun, engaging, rigorous and collaborative. This new school building, custom-designed to support project-based learning, provides the space our teachers need to make that dream come true each and every day in the classroom.”
While public charter schools like BNS have more flexibility to innovate, they are held to the same accountability standards as every other public school. In addition to earning an A grade in the annual Florida Standards Assessment ratings, BNS third graders topped all Charlotte County Schools in the Florida Standards Assessment-English Language Arts test. “Sometimes at the beginning of a new endeavor, you don’t realize it is the start of something special, and this is one of those moments,” said Richard Lewis, chair of the BNS Governing Board. “I think five years from now, you’ll see people coming here from all over to see what we are doing and to learn from it.”
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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY
Naples Visitors Bureau wins social media honor
The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau has been awarded the 2018 Destiny Award for Best Social Media Campaign by the U.S. Travel Association. The CVB produced and executed a highly effective organic Facebook media campaign to show potential visitors the conditions in the destination in the days and weeks following Hurricane Irma. The campaign utilized realtime photos of beaches, hotels and attractions and Facebook live broadcasts to show that most of the destinations were open and ready to welcome visitors. “Despite the situation our destination was faced with, our team worked quickly and effectively, leveraging social media, to speak directly to our visitors and residents,” said Jack Wert, executive director of Bureau. “It was crucial we had an honest conversation with fans of the destination and that we were able to consistently push out factual information about the status of our area.” Through one-on-one engagement on Facebook, the destination’s communications team was able to answer thousands of individual questions and concerns about the area.
MANUFACTURING
Florida making more every year There is no doubt about it. Now is an exciting time to be a manufacturer in the state of Florida. At the recent Make More Manufacturing Summit in July of this year, the presenters gave the latest manufacturing figures. At last count, there are over 20,600 manufacturers in Florida and the number is growing with revenue in the billions. FL Makes, the statewide organization for manufacturing growth, estimates that in the last two years, 3,500 jobs were created and retained with increased sales of $295 million. When manufacturing is doing well, the entire state benefits. It is also a great time to be in manufacturing in Southwest Florida. From what I’ve seen, we are on an upswing. Many of the local companies are hiring at a fast pace. The increase in production demands fuels the local economy. Many manufacturers are even working with the local schools to find the next generation of manufacturing labor. Of course, with growth can come growing pains. Manufacturers are always thinking about meeting production demands and lead-times while not compromising any product or service quality. For local companies, there are many organizations that are helping with many issues such as staffing, tax help, training and grants just to name a few benefits. Organizations such as CareerSource, Florida Gulf Coast University, Horizon Council and others are here to help. Specifically for the manufacturers is the Southwest Regional Manufacturing Association. Formed in 1994,
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the mission of the association is to link manufacturers with one another and with valuable regional and state resources that can help to educate, train, advocate and legislate. Simply, the SRMA is a resource for all manufacturers. The SRMA has a board of directors that are truly committed to seeing all size manufacturers prosper. When I took over as the executive BY NEIL director in 2018, I was enthused by KAGAN their passion. The board is made of Guest Columnist representatives of manufacturers from Lee and Collier County as well as support organizations such as the ones listed above. We believe that “if you’re looking for something we’ll help you find it.” Like many of our association members, I’ve been in manufacturing my entire career (over 30 years). As a board, we understand the needs of manufacturing. Sometimes a company is concerned with cash flow and profit (what business isn’t?) and other times there may be a quality issue on the floor. The SRMA has so many services to offer including monthly “roundtable” meetings with a different topic each month. We have plant tours and even some socials. Please see our website (www.SRMA.net) and you’ll see that we’re booked into March of 2019. There is a lot going on and we’re going to be right in the middle of the manufacturing activity. Join us. The more we do together, the more we all win. Please contact me with any questions joining the SRMA or whatever your local industry association may be. My goal is for the SRMA to connect with as many local manufacturers as we can. Neil Kagan is the executive director of the Southwest Regional Manufacturing Association. Contact him at (239) 560-0052 or Neil@SRMA.net.
German Metal Fabricator Finds Niche in Cape Coral
After several holiday trips from Germany to Cape Coral, Emilian and Angela Schwerin got serious about finding a permanent U.S. home for themselves and their 30-year sheet metal operation. The couple sought, found and bought KC Sheet Metal, and moved their entire operation to Cape Coral. “We visited New York and Miami, but in Cape Coral, we feel like we are home,” says Emilian. “We are happy and proud to be here. The city has been helpful to work with.” Since taking ownership in January, the Schwerins have seen an increase in local, regional and national business, serving more than 1,000 global customers. Cape Coral’s strong national rankings and beautiful environment attract companies worldwide. Join our growing business community today.
(239) 574-0444 • (833) CAPEEDO ecodev@capecoral.net bizcapecoral.com