SPECIAL AWARDS SUPPLEMENT :: SRQ MAGAZINE :: MARCH 2020
LOCALPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2020
PUR POSE PASSI ON C OR POR ATE AC UM EN I NNOVATI ON PHI LANTHROPY C OM M UNI TY I M PAC T LEADER SHI P
JUDGES LOCALPRENEUR OF THE YEAR | 2020
2020 HONOREES
ANDREW FOLEY, New York City Jonathan Rose Companies, Development Manager Andrew lives in New York City and works for Jonathan Rose Companies, a socially responsible real estate developer committed to building affordable and environmentally sustainable projects that strengthen communities. A Sarasota native, Andrew previously owned Sarasota News & Books, an independent bookstore and cafe in Downtown Sarasota, and was a founding board member of the Downtown Improvement District.
Acurata
Key Sailing
Alyssa Gay Consulting
Michael's On East
Ceramic Pro Sarasota
Music Compound
Children's World Uniform Supply
Pineapple Yoga Studio
TREVOR KUNK, New York City
Cornerstone and Co
The Little Beet, Director of Culinary Innovation
Discover Sarasota Tours
Trevor began his career as a dishwasher at First Watch followed by the Summerhouse Restaurant where he worked under Paul Mattison. In early 2001, Trevor moved to New York to attend the Culinary Institute of America. After finishing school, he stopped first at Aureole followed by 10 years at Blue Hill in Manhattan’s West Village. The long winters led Trevor & family to the Napa Valley where he served as Executive Chef & Culinary Director at Press Restaurant and Oakville Grocery. Trevor and family returned to Brooklyn and stopped first at the Breslin located in the Ace Hotel. Trevor is now the Director of Culinary Innovation at the Little Beet. The Little Beet promotes healthier eating & overall wellness through a vegetable driven, gluten free menu.
Discover Sarasota Tours Evolve Business Consulting Dollar Donations Euro-Wall Systems, LLC Fly Dance Fitness
Pixie Dust ROBRADY design Second and Seed Teach Me West Coast Swing The Sleepy Tot TTJ Investments, LLC Waddle's Adult Swim Academy
Grapevine Communications
LOCALPRENEUR OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2020 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE WINNERS ROBERT BRADY ROBRADY DESIGN
ALLISON IMRE GRAPEVINE COMMUNICATIONS
MICHAEL KLAUBER PHIL MANCINI MICHAEL'S ON EAST
JORDAN LETSCHERT TTJ INVESTMENTS
MICHAEL ZURBRIGEN
EURO-WALL SYSTEMS, LLC
The SRQ Magazine Localpreneur of the Year program recognizes entrepreneurs who are running locally-owned businesses with purpose and passion, and who have earned the respect of their peers in the following areas: corporate acumen, innovation, philanthropy, leadership and community impact. Judges were selected based on their expertise and leadership in their fields, experience as entrepreneurs and connectivity to the Sarasota | Bradenton region. We would like to thank the readers of SRQ magazine for nominating this year's honorees, our judges for setting aside the time to engage with this year's 100+ pages of applications and all of our locally owned businesses that cultivate and engineer the success of our local economy and community each and every day. We look forward to engaging this year's Leadership Circle in future entrepreneur programming. PRODUCED BY SRQ MEDIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
2020 HONOREE
ALAN MCKEE ACURATA, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO
“All of us at Acurata have had family and friends who have benefitted from hospice care. We know first-hand how important that care is, and everything we do is driven by the desire to ensure that every patient experiences the best care possible. That’s why we do what we do.”
ACURATA.US HELLO@ACURATA.US 941-500-5131
The hospice industry plays a crucial role in helping patients and their families deal with end of life issues in a dignified and compassionate manner. In the midst of this, hospice organizations must balance the need to provide the best possible care with the harsh realities of rising costs As a software company serving the hospice industry, Acurata’s goal is simple - take common, everyday business obstacles and create a software platform that automates those processes, allowing clinicians to do their jobs more efficiently. But for the Acurata staff, it goes way beyond that. It’s about helping hospice organizations free up the time and resources needed to provide the best possible experience to patients and their families during this most difficult time. Alan is a two-time Localpreneur of the Year honoree, having been named a finalist in 2018 as the Founder of Netwurx Technology Group, an IT and telecom company that has been serving Sarasota businesses since 2004. He and his co-workers are involved with and support several events and organizations in Sarasota, including Tidewell Hospice, Sarasota Film Festival, Sarasota County Schools Science Fair, Sarasota County Adult Education, Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center, and the Sarasota Citizens Academy.
SPECIAL LOCALPRENEUR OF THE YEAR HONOREE SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE :: MARCH 2020
2020 HONOREE
FOUNDER, DISCOVER SARASOTA TOURS
JOSEPH STERN CERAMIC PRO SARASOTA, PRESIDENT
"The growth and success of Ceramic Pro Sarasota is an alignment of my core values of transparent, honest communication, with mutual respect between business owner, team members and clients, listening promotes creation."
CERAMICPROSARASOTA.COM CERAMICPROSRQ@GMAIL.COM 6029 DEACON PLACE, SARASOTA
Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, Joseph Sterns' drive and love for hard work and business start-ups led him to start or operate over 15 ventures, he also received countless accolades as an executive with target distribution. Joseph relocated to Florida and accepted the challenge to create what he was told “would never work”: a business that fit clients’ needs and timeframes while maintaining a personalized customer experience. Joseph’s leadership and drive for perfection has led his bootstrapped business, from $20 car washes at local golf courses, to national recognition for his skill set and business acumen. Joseph credits his supportive family, his talented team and tremendous support, advice and loyalty from his clients & friends. His notoriety through social media shows his relentless passion to succeed and believes “Living a few years like most won’t, so that you live the rest of your life like most can’t” is a sacrifice worth making. Celebrating its fifth year, Joseph’s earned an impeccable reputation, growing from a 2,000 sq. ft. facility, to a 15,000 sq. ft. facility, employing 12 team members and dozens of local vendors, servicing luxury, exotic and classic automobiles, yachts and planes with services including Mobile Detailing, Paint Corrections, Ceramic Coatings, Paint Protection Film, Window Tint, an Inhouse Auto Body, performance customizations, custom wheels & more. Ceramic Pro Sarasota's highly experienced technicians work at an elite level, utilizing his team you will experience cutting edge technology, products, outstanding quality and concierge customer service.
SPECIAL LOCALPRENEUR OF THE YEAR HONOREE SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE :: MARCH 2020
2020 HONOREE
MICHAEL ZURBRIGEN EURO-WALL SYSTEMS, LLC, PRINCIPAL
Left to right: Community Outreach Team - Juan Cruz, Ashley Mckinney, Rodney Williams, Rosbeth Enriquez, Jordan Meeks, Lisa Johns, Corey Stanley (Outreach Coordinator), Mike Zurbrigen, Lori Langfang, Sean Alleyne, Ashley Knight, Levi Sare, Jason Hamm.
“We believe our continued success is due to the fact that our number one purpose is to grow people. People are at the very core of everything we do. ”
Euro-Wall Systems LLC, a privately held $12M revenue company employing 90 people, specializes in designing and manufacturing architectural impact doors for large openings to meet the specific needs of the Florida and Caribbean impact markets. Euro-Wall continually pushes the envelope when it comes to size and design pressure for folding, sliding, stacking and pivot doors for upscale residential and commercial applications. You can find Euro-Wall products being used locally here at Libby’s or across the country at Ripley's Believe It or Not! in San Francisco and in all points in between. We believe our continued success is due to the fact that our number one purpose is to grow people. People are at the very core of everything we do. We are here to serve the needs of our customers, vendors, employees and community. We believe if we focus on growing people, success will follow. Volunteering to work with those in need helps grow both sides of the partnership. We are active with providing food and job opportunities for the homeless, paid internships for high school and college students, and providing job opportunities for ex felons and those recovering from chemical dependency. We focus on service in all of
its definitions. We are now developing a partnership with South Sarasota Habitat for Humanity for a home build project in North Port. Euro-Wall also pays for and serves food to the homeless twice a month through the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition. Additionally, EuroWall volunteers to bring awareness to the prevention of childhood drowning by donating money for swimming lessons and helping childhood drowning victim families financially with funeral and medical bills through the Live Like Jake Foundation.
MANUFACTURING ADDRESS 2200 MURPHY COURT. NORTH PORT, FL 34289 SHOWROOM ADDRESS 1211 STIRLING ROAD, UNIT 102, DANIA BEACH, FL 33004
SPECIAL LOCALPRENEUR OF THE YEAR HONOREE SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE :: MARCH 2020
5201 PAYLOR LANE, SARASOTA 941-351-0024 | GRAPEINC.COM
“Use your ears twice as much as your mouth. If you listen, you learn, and you’ll find the brightest and boldest ideas come from the most inconspicuous places.” ”
2020 HONOREE
ALLISON IMRE PRESIDENT/OWNER, GRAPEVINE COMMUNICATIONS
It takes an imaginative, active, solution-focused mind to work at an ad agency. According to Allison Imre, the president and owner of local powerhouse Grapevine Communications, it helps to be enthusiastic, conscientious and bold – with a little bit of crazy – to run one. Imre leads the charge of the agency’s 17 smart-thinking, big-dreaming in-house professionals. They listen to the needs of their clients and put their heads together to develop strategies, campaigns and materials that are designed to make customers click, call and connect. The process is collaborative and ensures that writers, graphic artists, brand strategists and account executives sift through ideas and possibilities as a team, coming up with the best possible solution for each client. And business is booming. This past year, the agency hired three more creatively minded go-getters to its crew and experienced a 43 percent growth over 2018 – a feat Imre attributes to the referrals of existing clients who are wowed by Grapevine’s work. For Grapevine, Creative. Strategic. Accountable. isn’t just a catchy tagline, it’s a promise. From print to pixels and everything in between, clients love the fact that Grapevine delivers its entire suite of cross-platform, award-winning marketing, advertising, public relations and social media services directly from its Lakewood Ranch location. They’re convenient, they’re clever and they’re crazy enough to get clients results.
SPECIAL LOCALPRENEUR OF THE YEAR HONOREE SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE :: MARCH 2020
"We are elated with the support our community has shown to us. We immediately fell in love with Sarasota and are honored to give back to charitable organizations."
2020 HONOREES
SAMUEL RAY JEFFREY KARASAWA CO-OWNERS, TSUNAMI SUSHI & HIBACHI As a Millennial from Texas, Samuel Ray is often asked about how he came to own an award-winning Japanese restaurant in Sarasota. After high school, Samuel left for college in pursuit of an architecture degree. It didn’t take long to determine architecture wasn’t the right path. Samuel felt there were two options: move back to his parent’s ranch in Texas or seek his next adventure on his own. The choice was easy, and so, the journey began. During Samuel’s 21st birthday dinner at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse in Austin, he left a large tip to the best server he had ever known, Jeffrey Karasawa. The two struck up a conversation and Jeffrey offered Samuel a job as a server, which he gratefully accepted. Samuel strived to quickly learn everything about the business. As the Owner of Kobe, Jeffrey’s Uncle took notice of Samuel’s work ethic and attitude, and promoted him to Manager. Within two months, sales doubled. During this time, Samuel and Jeffrey’s friendship grew and so did their interest for larger opportunities.When Samuel heard about a struggling Sarasota restaurant that needed a “spark” and the right management, he flew to SRQ to explore the opportunity for himself. Six months later, the two budding restauranteurs decided to become partners and purchase the restaurant. The re-invented Tsunami was born, with a dedication to providing patrons with the best Asian dining experience in Sarasota.
100 CENTRAL AVENUE, SUITE 1022 DOWNTOWN SARASOTA, FL 34236 941-366-1033 | TSUNAMI-SARASOTA.COM
SPECIAL LOCALPRENEUR OF THE YEAR HONOREE SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE :: MARCH 2020
2020 HONOREE
“As the saying goes: success is 5% inspiration, 95% perspiration. At ROBRADY, that perspiration is seen in rigorous testing, research and planning THAT makes sure when clients catch lightning in a bottle it’s more than a flash in the pan.”
2020 HONOREE
“Metaphysical simply means 'the unseen. That includes god. My entire life has been spent looking toward a higher power through the many fascinating forms of belief.”
JOHNNA WHITE
ROBERT BRADY CEO/DESIGN DIRECTOR, ROBRADY DESIGN
For 25 years, ROBRADY design has proved itself as a multidisciplined product design and development studio, garnering many awards for its progressive design, production and capital solutions in robotics, medical, marine, military, industrial and powersports markets. CEO and Design Director, Robert Brady, does more than just design innovative products, he leads the studio fueled by the belief that successful product design requires the ability to humanize user experiences that breathe life into engaging concepts. This belief, accompanied by an innovative team of world-class designers, engineers, fabricators, and creatives dedicated to staying at the forefront of the ever-evolving field of design, is what gives start-ups to fortune 100 companies the “ROBRADY advantage”. ROBRADY makes its mark in all aspects of design, production and capital with their proven research to reality process that begins with investing time and resources into understanding not just the product, but the client and their marketplace as well. In this way, the studio can see beyond the product-picture to the big-picture and measure success, not just by short-term profitability, but long-term sustainability and client relationships. Capabilities include industrial design, mechanical / electrical / software engineering, rapid prototyping, graphics / packaging / brand / User Interface / web and eCommerce design combined with overall program management and business strategy.
ROBRADY.COM STUDIO@ROBRADY.COM 941-359-6656
OWNER, PIXIE DUST METAPHYSICAL BOUTIQUE
Johnna White grew up in Kansas, where her father was a farmer. He called himself “a water witch”, a term for dowsers who can find water using copper rods or tree branches. Johnna grew up fascinated by her father's ability to find water for wells and stories of her grandmother's clairvoyance. Her curiosity about these flowered into serious study of the metaphysical. Johnna holds triple bachelor degrees with graduate work in English Literature. But her real passion has always been the study of metaphysics and comparative religions. She is a certified hypnotist, Reiki Master, certified Angel Card reader, Munay Ki Earthkeeper, and holds numerous other certifications. Her concept was to create a retail shopping environment that offered a place of acceptance for all ideologies, reflecting all the world's major religions in one peaceful place. On Pixie Dust's shelves, Christian crosses and angel statues sit next to statues of the Buddha, Hindu deities, Greek and Roman pantheon and Celtic statues. Touches of fun and whimsy include fairies, gnomes and mermaids along with standard New Age items such as crystals and incense. The space behind the retail area of the store houses intuitive readers, massage therapy, meditation and energy treatments.
PIXIE DUST METAPHYSICAL BOUTIQUE 1476 MAIN STREET, SARASOTA, FL PIXIEDUSTSARASOTA.COM
SPECIAL LOCALPRENEUR OF THE YEAR HONOREE SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE :: MARCH 2020