BDB pages 2015 by Business Development Board of Martin County

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

First Roundtable encourages medical tourism

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FERREIRA CONSTRUCTION

Infrastructure through innovation, sustainability

The first Roundtable featured a tour of Elliott Museum, given by Jennifer Esler, museum president & CEO. STUART — On Jan. 15, the Business De-

velopment Board of Martin County hosted an event promoting local medical tourism that was geared toward medical professional service providers and manufacturers. The event was held at the Elliott Museum and included a private tour for the 20 attendees given by Jennifer Esler, president & CEO of the museum. Speakers included: ■■Rusty Sedlack, Vice President, Armstrong Nautical Products and Export Chairman ■■Charlie Rodriguez, Strategy & Engagement Leader, Medical Tourism Association ■■Leandro Solorzano, International

Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce ■■John Diep, Regional Manager/International Trade Development, Enterprise Florida ■■Susan Revello, Publisher, Forward Florida ■■Nerissa Okiye, Tourism & Marketing Manager, Martin County This first-time event was such a success that future roundtables are in the works. To attend or participate in the next Roundtable, contact Jill Marasa at the Business Development Board at 772221-1380 or jill@bdbmc.org.

■ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS Business Accelerator Program to help enhance business skills STUART — The Business Develop-

ment Board of Martin County (BDBMC) is pleased to announce its partnership with Indian River State College (IRSC) on a new Business Accelerator Program (BAP). The purpose of the program is to encourage location and or expansion of small businesses in Martin County. The BAP is a two phase program that begins with a 12-week classroom curriculum administered by IRSC. Upon completion and graduation of the program, the student/entrepreneur may apply for a small business grant administered by the BDBMC. The training will include course work that will enhance the business operator’s skill set in the

most needed and useful areas of business finance, marketing, sales and customer service. Upon acceptance to the program, there is a one-time $25 processing fee for the applicant; with all other costs provided free of charge through the program. Phase two of the program consists of a small business grant opportunity to those students completing the course work. The maximum grant amount is $5,000 and may be used for equipment purchases, inventory, vehicle or leased space down payment and other needs as approved by the Program Administer. IRSC Incubator Staff and the BDBMC will perform basic due diligence with a final grant approval by the BAP Committee.

STS Aviation is again named one of fastest-growing companies in US STUART — STS Aviation Group was

recognized, for the fourth year in a row, as one of the fastest growing, privately held companies in the United States. Other 2014 accomplishment: ■■ STS Engineering Solutions increased its headcount of active field engineers by 63 percent and nearly doubled the size of its corporate recruiting department. ■■ STS Component Solutions made a major entry into the B787 marketplace after forming a strategic partnership with Korry Electronics, a division of Esterline

Technologies. (OfficialPR) ■■STS Line Maintenance was awarded a multi-year, WiFi installation project. ■■STS started its Ground Power Turbine Component business and established a new officein Sunrise, Florida. ■■Several, very large RFP opportunities were awarded to STS AeroStaff Services, STSEngineering Solutions and STS Technical Services. ■■STS acquired Air-Pro Hose, a subsidiary of AMG, an Air France/KLM company located in Medley, Florida.

UCT Coatings welcomes president STUART— Charbel Louis Karam has joined UCT Coatings as president. His role will be to drive execution of UCT’s corporate strategy and develop executive level relationships with its customers. “Charbel’s vast experience within the coatings industry will be invaluable to UCT, as well as to our customers,” said Don Weeks, CEO of the UCT consolidated group. “With Charbel Louis Karam

our new world class plant and proprietary coating, we are embarking on an exciting time at UCT. Charbel will be the leader of our strategic initiatives and we are pleased to have him leading the company.” UCT Coatings, Inc. has been selected as one of 50 leading companies from more than 500 nominations statewide, as this year’s Florida Companies to Watch winners.

To submit information to this column, email gina@bdbmc.org

STUART — Ferreira Construction is a largescale, full-service heavy construction company specializing in constructing transportation infrastructures, utilities, marine work, interior renovations, commercial buildings, solar installation and construction management. The company is dedicated to constructing quality infrastructure through innovation and sustainability and the foundation of its

The company specializes in constructing transportation infrastructures, utilities, marine work, interior renovations, commercial buildings, solar installation and construction management.

Looking Forward Share your best practices Best Places to Work is an annual program providing a confidential forum for local employers to participate in an eva luation of workplace best practices. Participating companies receive a complimentary benchmarking report summarizing the survey responses. This valuable tool provides a blueprint on workplace initiatives and best practices in the area. CareerSource Research Coast assists businesses in building better workplaces. As an extension of that work, there is no cost for companies to participate in the Best Places to Work Program. The companies identified as Best Places to Work will be honored at a prestigious awards luncheon in May. CareerSource Research Coast presents the program with support from the Business Development Board of Martin County, Stuart/Martin Chamber of Commerce, Indiantown Chamber of Commerce, and the Palm City Chamber of Commerce.

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■ PSE & G ■ Lockheed Martin ■ Florida DOT ■ Martin County, Florida ■ Florida DEP ■ New Jersey Turnpike Authority ■ Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

WEBSITE ferreiraconstruction.com

BDBMC at the Boat Show

STUART — In partnership with the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast, the BDBMC spoke with local residents and business owners at the Stuart Boat Show on the importance of economic development to our area.

■ NOW HIRING Ferreira Construction – Stuart Send resumes to info@ bdbmc.org ■■Project Manager ■■Project Cost Engineer ■■Superintendents ■■Foremen ■■Class A drivers ■■Equipment Operators ■■Truck Mechanic ■■ Fleet Manager

McDonald’s – Indiantown

Indiantown taxpayers provide Martin County with a substantial amount of revenue through Ad Valorem taxes. Industrial, commercial and residential activity is on the rise and with the proper in- The day offered a site tour of the area followed frastructure in by a town hall meeting open to the public. place, western Martin County will continue to thrive. The BDBMC partnered with the Board of County Commissioners on a “visioning day” that hosted officials from the USDA and local stakeholders to continue the dialogue regarding “where Indiantown is today” and “what it looks like in the future.”

■■Crew members, 18 years or older ■■On-site interviews will be held each Monday at 2 p.m. ■■Apply online for your interview ■■w w w . m c s t a t e . com/34604

Email submissions to this column to gina@bdbmc.org.

■ PROPERTY

SPOTLIGHT

■ PARTNER CORNER ■■ Indiantown Chamber of Commerce Town Hall: Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m., Indiantown Civic Center ■■ Stuart Chamber of Commerce Home & Garden Show: Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 9 a.m.-4 p.m, Martin County Fairgrounds ■■ 14th Annual Hobe Sound Festival of the Arts: Jan. 31 and Feb 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

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This is an excellent example of local contractors who not only contribute to our local economy but are working for our environment through these types of reef projects and shoreline restoration projects. Ferreira also completed the Martin County Bird Island project.

Visioning Day in Indiantown

Business Development Board of Martin County The Business Development Board of Martin County (BDBMC) is a public-private partnership working to promote balanced and orderly economic growth in Martin County. As the official economic development organization for Martin County, the BDBMC is charged with the responsibility of supporting exist-

success for more than two decades has been never compromising its integrity. CBS News 12 just highlighted an innovative local reef project being worked on by Ferreira. When the old State Road A1A fishing bridge over the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter was recently torn down, Ferreira converted the discarded concrete pieces into a reef in the Lake Worth Lagoon in Riviera Beach.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County, Florida Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know? …that when you step onto most commercial airplanes, the wing flaps and doors were made right here in Stuart? Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Division is located at Witham Field and currently employs 400 people.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

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Custom Agronomics awarded target sector trade grant through Enterprise Florida PALM CITY — The Custom Agronomics,” said About Custom Business Development Tim Dougher, Executive Agronomics, Inc. Board of Martin County Director-BDBMC. “This is (BDBMC) is pleased to the perfect opportunity for Custom Agronomics, announce that Custom Ag- a local company to expand Inc. is a Palm City-based formulator of ronomics has been awarded a $3,100 “Thank you to the Business liquid nutrients, specialty chemtarget sector trade istries and high grant through En- Development Board and terprise Florida, Inc. Enterprise Florida for their performance wetting agents and The grant was utisurfactants. lized by the company assistance and continued products are to exhibit at BIGGA support of our business in The specialized for Turf Management professional turf Exhibition (BTME). Martin County.” management, BTME is Europe’s agriculture and leading showcase Mike Williams, president lawn/gardens, for turf professionCustom Agronomics, Inc. using the highest als and buyers, and quality materials also provides an opportunity for continued into international markets.” to formulate technologies “The trade grant helped that are truly unique. education through a series of programs offered at the offset the cost of exhibit- Specialty soil health proding at the show,” said Mike uct line and proven foliar show. One of the goals of the Williams, president of- technologies provides BDBMC is to market the Custom Agronomics, Inc. increased nutrient availresources available at both “Thank you to the Busi- ability, stress resistance, the local and state level that ness Development Board advantageous root deassist companies relocate and Enterprise Florida for velopment and increased their assistance and contin- yields. Visit www.customand expand. “The BDBMC helped to ued support of our business agronomics.com for more information. facilitate the application for in Martin County.”

Custom Agronomics, Inc. is a Palm City-based formulator of liquid nutrients, specialty chemistries and high performance wetting agents and surfactants that are specialized for professional turf management, agriculture, and lawn and gardens for increased nutrient availability, stress resistance, advantageous root development and increased yields.

Business briefs

Coaxial Components releases next generation of terminations

STUART — Coaxial Components Corp, also known as Coaxicom, released its newest product this week..

The new Termination 2.92mm was developed for use in satellite systems for the aerospace industry. The 1-watt 022900M-

9 terminations minimize reflected power that often impedes transmission quality. Used across a spectrum of multi-port microwave devices including directional couplers, isolators and high-power transmitter applications, terminations absorb

energy and prevent RF signals from reflecting back from open-ended or unused circuit ports. Coaxicom, headquartered in Stuart, makes military-grade connectors, adapters and cable assemblies. Products are all manufactured in the United States and serve the aerospace, defense, communications and medical industries, with applications for communication systems, airport radar and defense missile firing systems. www.coaxicom.com

Innovative marine product now on market PALM CITY — Sea Signal, LLC, a marine lighting company located in Palm City, offers beautiful and unique, lowprofile, back-lighted customized boat lettering. Primarily geared towards smaller, recreational boats, Sea Signal offers a range of sizes from 6-inch to 10-inch letters using

the latest illumination applications of LED lighting. With very reasonable pricing, any boat owner can enhance their vessel to display color and art on the waterways with the name of their boat. For more information, please visit www. seasignal.com or call (772) 285-7977.

Martin County Parks & Rec to host job fair

■ NOW HIRING ■ iVox Solutions, Palm City Immediate openings for Inbound sales representatives

With the fourth season of Sailfish Splash Waterpark fast approaching and the initiative to enhance the Martin County Golf Course, the Martin County Department of Parks & Recreation needs to fill dozens of seasonal, and part-time jobs, plus a number of full-time positions. Explore openings at a job fair Friday, Feb. 6, noon to 4:30 p.m. at Indian RiverSide Park’s Dockside Pavilion, 1707 NE Indian River Dr., Jensen Beach. Get an application on site or visit www.martin.fl.us. Mouse over “I Want To” on the navigation bar, and click “Apply for a Job.”

To learn more about the Stuart-based company’s role in quality jet engine manufacturing, visit www.level3inspection.com

Unprecedented demand for jet parts fuels Level 3 Inspection’s rapid growth STUART — “These are exciting times for us, with our rapid revenue growth, which contributed to our Florida 2014 Company to Watch Award, and our tremendous technology and throughput capacity advances,” beamed Bill Greene, CEO, Level 3 Inspection. “And our clientele are very pleased with the value proposition we’re providing for them, especially the exceptionally fast inspection project turnaround times, which they need to keep their customers happy.” The company is leveraging its vast experience from having performed nearly 4,000 complex layout inspections of the most complex precision

STUART — S.P.A.M. Robotics, a high school robotics team of students from Jensen Beach High School, Martin County High School, South Fork High School, and Clark Advanced Learning Center, kicked off its 6-week competition season with a breakfast. The first competition is set for Feb. 26. Think Speed, Power AND Maneuverability — members are Student Programmers, Animators and Machinists. They are future engineers, teachers, designers and programmers being led by current engineers, teachers, designers and programmers. S.P.A.M. competes in robotics competitions organized by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Founded in 1989, FIRST is supported by a network of Fortune 500 corporations, educational and professional institutions, foundations and individuals. Each year, FIRST develops a game for which teams from across the world must design, build, and program robots in six weeks to compete in athletic-style competitions. In 1998, S.P.A.M. organized as FIRST Robotics Team 180 and has competed ever since. To learn more about the team and the robotics program, please visit www.spamrobotics.com or contact the Business Development Board of Martin County.

Review BDBMC Annual Report The BDBMC Fiscal Year 2013 – 2014 Annual Report has been completed and is ready for review. The report is a compilation of activities accomplished by the BDBMC throughout the year. To access the report online, visit www.bdbmc.org.

■ PROPERTY

SPOTLIGHT

■ PARTNER CORNER ■ Indiantown Chamber Land & Sea Show: March 28, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Timer Powers Park, Indiantown.Activities include freestyle motocross show, Carla Holbrook Band, The Nouveaux Honkies. For more information, contact the Indiantown Chamber of Commerce, 772-597-2184. ■ Stuart/Martin County Chamber Home & Garden Show: Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Martin County Fairgrounds

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

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jet engine parts to meet the airline industry demands. These jet engines require 10 percent to 15 percent better fuel efficiency to meet industry commitments, requiring better quality and tighter tolerances for critical dimensions, which L3I is perfectly prepared to help their customers achieve, better and faster than any other resource. Level 3 Inspection will continue expanding its operations through 2015 with revenues generated from ever growing jet engine parts Computer Aided Inspection (CAI) services work, and expanding automated CAI systems sales into the medical device and other precision manufacturing industries.

S.P.A.M. Robotics kicks off 2015 competition season

parts ever made, including jet engine parts and orthoplem-solving where challenging precision parts requirements are difficult to manufacture quickly with traditional measurement methods. With its ISO-17025 accreditation recently renewed to a proven proficiency test and dimensional accuracy of 2 microns, the specialized professional services company is leading the manufacturing industry into a substantial growth curve facing ever-tighter part tolerances and ever-faster production requirements. Level 3 Inspection is right in the middle of an unprecedented demand for higher production of

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know? …Seinfeld favorite Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the great greatgranddaughter of Leopold Louis-Dreyfus, founder of Louis Dreyfus Commodities in Indiantown.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

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ITS Fiber hosts event for National Telecom Providers

‘How It’s Made’ visits Waterblasting Technologies

INDIANTOWN — ITS Fiber is the first host company for the “2015 Beyond Fiber Tour” created and produced by Viodi, a California-based video producer who specialize in assisting communications companies to promote their broadband networks. The Beyond Fiber tour is Feb. 10 and 11 here on the Treasure Coast, combining a tour of ITS Fiber’s facility in Indiantown and a full-day seminar at the Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort in Stuart. The event focuses on the best practices that independent telecommunications companies and fiber network providers or associated data centers can implement to elevate their regional communities to compete in the worldwide Internet marketplace. ITS Fiber, the business affiliate of ITS Telecommunications Systems, Inc. (ITS Telecom), is a premier provider of enterprise level fiber-optic communications services including broadband, data, voice, and managed IT services. ITS Telecom (one of the 13 original phone companies in Florida) formed ITS Fiber,

www.itsfiber.com

LLC to expand its services to businesses in a multi-county area on its 100 percent underground, redundant fiberoptic network. The 2013 opening of the ITS Fiber Data Center, a SOC 2/Type 2 colocation facility, furthered its expansion. ITS has matured from being a local service provider to a forward-thinking communications and technology company. ITS Fiber was chosen to host this event because of its innovative approach in helping local businesses stay competitive with its robust,

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100 percent underground, reliable, state-of-the-art communications network and data center infrastructure. The Beyond Fiber tour is part of Viodi’s effort to help foster the sharing of knowledge between the hundreds of locally owned telecommunications and data companies in the United States. ITS Fiber is named one of the top Smart Rural Communities and a Gigabit Community with exceptional broadband capacity. For more information, visit the website: www.itsfiber.com.

Health Update

Martin Health System’s Sanguily uses new surgery to salvage patients’ limbs STUART — Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) who face amputation of a foot or leg can have their limb saved by new minimally invasive surgery. Among patients tested and treated in a limb salvage program, amputation rates dropped nearly 80 percent, said Dr. Julio Sanguily, a vascular surgeon with Martin Health System, who led the study. According to Sanguily, 8 to 12 million Americans have PAD, a condition in which plaque builds up in blood vessels in the legs, decreasing blood flow. He

noted that 185,000 Americans have leg or foot amputations every year, mostly due to poor circulation caused by PAD. Because amputation has such a negative impact on quality of life, half of those people who have the procedure die within 18 months, he noted. “If you have an amputation above or below the knee, you have a 40 to 50

STUART — It was “Lights, Camera, Action!” as the Discovery Channel’s award-winning television show, “How It’s Made,” visited the world headquarters of Waterblasting Technologies, Inc. to film an upcoming episode about the Stripe Hog Waterblasting System. The crew spent most of the day filming the manufacturing process, documenting how the Stripe Hog Waterblasting System goes from drawing board to completion here in this South Florida facility, while showing the high degree of skill of Waterblasting Technologies’ machinists, designers and engineers. “How It’s Made” debuted

STUART— Florida RF Labs is a manufacturer of high reliability coaxial cables that are designed and manufactured for commercial, testing, space and aerospace applications in both the commercial and military markets. With more than 40 miles of cable assemblies in space and product on more than

percent chance of dying in 18 months,” he said. When the Martin Health System began its limb salvage program, amputations fell by 79 percent over five years. “The study proves,” Dr. Vicken Pamoukian, director of surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said, “that with proper education of patients and physicians, and treatment at a specialized advanced care center prepared to take on the challenge with a team approach, the patient with PAD can have outcomes superior to what is commonly seen today.”

PAC gets patent for energy absorbing device undergoes deformation when the seat is occupied and the occupant is using the seat belt. PAC is the only custom manufacturer in the world focused on private and business jet seating products. Visit www.pac-fl.com for more information.

Kinane Printing celebrates 25 years in business

STUART — Built by the Kinane family, this company is now co-owned by mother/daughter team Sue and Erica Kinane as a Certified Women-Owned business. The Kinanes pride themselves on excellent customer service and one-stop shopping. The company continues to branch out in new ways with great mar-

on Jan. 6, 2001. Now entering its 15th season, the popular show airs in 45 languages and 222 countries. Waterblasting Technologies, Inc. manufactures the Stripe Hog® Waterblasting System and Smart Vac® Vacuum Systems, which

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are used to remove rubber deposits from touchdown zones on runways and all types of traffic markings from asphalt and concrete runways and roadways. For more information, visit www. waterblastingtechnologies.com.

Florida RF Labs launches two products for military and space applications

Business briefs

PALM CITY — PAC Seating Systems has been awarded a new U.S. patent related to its aircraft seat product line. The patent is for a device that absorbs energy when the belted occupant and seat frame are subject to lateral forces. The energy absorbing device is fixed to the back member of the frame and only

The Stripe Hog waterblasting system.

keting ideas and printing services . Kinane Printing remains a strong advocate of Martin County businesses. The family actively gives back to our local community by serving as board members of House of Hope, Molly’s House, Samaritan House and others. For more information, visit kinaneprinting.com

150 satellite applications, Florida RF Labs is a world leader in the space market. The new products, Next Generation Lab-Flex® Q and Lab-Flex® AF cable assemblies, are featured for use at Florida RF Labs. The LabFlex® AF cables are specifically designed for commercial and military aircraft. They are of a rug-

ged design and can be found on commercial aircraft as well as fighter jets. The LabFlex® Q cables are designed for space applications. RF Labs cables have been on many satellite applications for more than 25 years and will be launched in a satellite in 2015. For more information, visit emc.-rflabs.com

All Martin County School District high schools receive As STUART — The Florida Department of Education has released high school grades for the 2013-14 school year and each of the four high schools in the Martin County School District earned an “A” grade, which is the state’s top grade. It marks the third consecutive year of straight As for all of the District’s high schools. School grades communicate how well a school is performing relative to state standards and this year the requirements were increased causing the number of Florida high schools earning an A to fall by 25 percent. “I am very proud of our students, teachers, administrators, and staff for their hard work,” said Superintendent Laurie Gaylord. The Martin County School District is one of only three of the 67 districts in Florida to achieve all “A” rankings for its high schools. The Martin County School District’s graduation rate is 88.8 percent, the third highest in the state.

■ PARTNER CORNER INDIANTOWN CHAMBER LAND & SEA SHOW: Timer Powers Park, Indiantown; March 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities include freestyle motocross show, Carla Holbrook Band, The Nouveaux Honkies. For more information, contact the Indiantown Chamber of Commerce, 772597-2184.

■ PROPERTY

SPOTLIGHT

STUART/MARTIN COUNTY CHAMBER HOME & GARDEN SHOW: Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Martin County Fairgrounds.

To submit an item for this column, email gina@bdbmc.org.

Business Development Board of Martin County Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business The Business Development Board of Martin County (BDBMC) is a public-private partnership working to promote balanced and orderly economic growth in Martin County. As the official economic development organization for Martin County, the BDBMC is charged with the responsibility of supporting exist-

www.bdbmc.org

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know? ... that Whiticar Boat Works in Martin County dates back nearly 100 years when the family moved to the area in 1917?

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

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U.S.D.A. to provide $30 million to fight against citrus greening ORLANDO — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced funding for 22 research projects totaling $30 million to finance the fight against the bacterial disease attacking citrus groves. More than 17,000 acres in Martin County alone are affected by citrus greening, second only to St. Lucie County in the state. Most of the money will go toward research targeting four priorities: ■■Treatments for mature, greening-infected

trees in the groves, including anti-bacterial compounds and heat therapies. ■■Developing a method to culture the greening bacteria in the lab. The inability to do this since greening was detected in 2005 in Florida has been a major roadblock in developing new therapies. ■■Breeding new citrus trees that better tolerate or resist infection. ■■Better early detection of the disease. A citrus tree’s initial infection can

occur a year or more before symptoms appear. The first three priorities on the list will be the most help for Florida growers, who have been battling the disease for a decade and have seen it spread to almost every one of the state’s 515,147 commercial grove acres. The research will be conducted at the University of Florida; the University of California, Davis; the University of California, Riverside; and Kansas State University.

All About Achieving Learning Center is growing STUART — All About Achieving Learning Center is growing. Opened in 2008 with the intention of providing private tutoring services to area students, AAALC has morphed into an education company that serves students and families ages pre-K to college through camps, classes, tutoring, parent trainings and a variety of other programs. All About Achieving Learning Center is owned and operated by awardwinning educators. Teachers have proven

effectiveness in the classroom. Instructors are current certified teachers who understand recent standards, research and methodology that allow them to tailor their instruction to meet a child’s individual needs. It is their goal to reach students in ways that focus on their strengths. Learning is fostered through a variety of tactile, auditory and visual activities while using high interest material, which provides an engaging atmosphere that breeds success. “We have been devel-

Employers: United Way can help your employees

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More than 17,000 acres in Martin County alone are affected by citrus greening.

Business briefs

information on services provided by the Martin County Library System, including new complimentary one-on-one training sessions for individual subject matters. SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. Its presentation provided a strong overview on mar-

keting plans and focus, and the importance of identifying your target market and tailoring your message to reach your audience. In a special peer presentation, TCPalm offered interesting tips on how to engage with social media audiences on Facebook and Twitter for small businesses. For information about other trainings for the local business community, email at info@bdbmc.org.

STUART — Did you know that 45 percent of Martin County households are struggling to afford the basic necessities of housing, food, child care, health care and transportation? This was one of the surprising findings of a landmark research study, the ALICE Report, of the financial challenges facing many Floridians. The report, commissioned by Florida United Ways and conducted by Rutgers University, recommends improving economic opportunities through medium and high-skilled jobs to enable more individuals and families to afford basic necessities, build savings and increase financial independence. For a copy of the report, visit the United Way of Martin County website at www. liveunitedmc.org. Local employers interested in learning more about community services available to assist your employees may contact gina@bdbmc.org.

Good exposure

Stuart-based company H2Ocean is featured in the 57th Annual Grammy’s Program Guide.

Monarch Realty Group serves military clients PALM CITY — Victoria Yatsko is broker/owner of Monarch Realty Group as of Oct. 1. In addition to adding three agents to its office, she has earned the Military Relocation Specialist and Senior Real Estate Specialist designations through the National Association of Realtors. The Military Relocation Specialist designation educates real estate profes-

sionals about working with current and former military service members to find housing solutions that best suit their needs and take advantage of military benefits and support. Yatsko can provide real estate services at any stage in the service member’s military career. “I am currently working with a retired disabled Army veteran. My father was a Marine

and my father-in-law was in the Navy. I work closely with the Indiantown Veterans Association,” she said. The Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation helps real estate professionals develop the business building skills and resources for specialization in the 50+ real estate market. Visit www.monarchrealtygroupllc.com.

Place of Hope opens office in Hobe Sound HOBE SOUND — Place of Hope, ranked by Charity Navigator as the No. 1 charity in Youth Development, Shelter and Crisis Services in 2014, has opened a new office. Place of Hope is a faithbased, state-licensed child welfare organization. Services include family-style foster care, family outreach/intervention, mater-

nity care, safety for victims of domestic minor sex trafficking, transitional housing and support services, adoption and foster care recruitment and support, and hope and healing opportunities for children traumatized by abuse and neglect. Place of Hope campuses are already located in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, and Boca Ra-

ton. Martin County will soon benefit from Place of Hope’s programs for providing stable, loving, and nurturing environments and support for foster children while in state custody, following family reunification, pre-adoptive placement, and post-emancipation from care. For more information, visit www.placeofhope.com.

www.h2ocean.com ■ PARTNER

CORNER

INDIANTOWN CHAMBER LAND & SEA SHOW: Timer Powers Park, Indiantown; March 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities include freestyle motocross show, Carla Holbrook Band, The Nouveaux Honkies. For more information, contact the Indiantown Chamber of Commerce, 772-597-2184. STUART/MARTIN COUNTY CHAMBER HOME & GARDEN SHOW: Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Martin County Fairgrounds.

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

www.bdbmc.org

Helping to promote small business in Martin County STUART — The Business Development Board has voted to sign a Strategic Alliance Memorandum Agreement with the Small Business Administration of South Florida. The agreement formalizes their longstanding relationship and common mission to help start, maintain and expand small businesses. This comes on the heels of the SBA announcement that it is getting into the online loan business. Small Business Administration chief Maria Contreras-Sweet said the new online marketplace will match potential SBA loan candidates with bank lenders in all 50 states starting

“Small business lending is the newest frontier for matchmaking service technology. We will bring SBA lenders and entrepreneurs together.”

Maria Contreras-Sweet

Small Business Administration

oping our program offerings,” Becky McArdle, Regional Coordinator, said, “and are partnering with numerous area organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs, Martin County Library System, Martin County Parks and Recreation, Bridges Montesorri, The Pine School and others. We are excited about our growth and services to Martin County and we’re discussing expansion into the surrounding counties.” For more information, visit www.allaboutachieving.com.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

immediately. “Small business lending is the newest frontier for matchmaking service technology,” Contreras-Sweet said. “We are implementing these services to bring SBA lenders and entrepreneurs together.” The SBA provides billions of dollars’ worth of loans each year to entrepreneurs through its 7(a) and 504 programs, and guaranteed $19.2 billion worth of loans in 2014. To pursue lending opportunities, visit www.sba. gov/tools/linc.

Did you know? The sports agent representing Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, lives in Martin County.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

First Roundtable encourages medical tourism

Profile

FERREIRA CONSTRUCTION

Infrastructure through innovation, sustainability

The first Roundtable featured a tour of Elliott Museum, given by Jennifer Esler, museum president & CEO. STUART — On Jan. 15, the Business De-

■ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS Business Accelerator Program to help enhance business skills STUART — The Business Develop-

STS Aviation is again named one of fastest-growing companies in US STUART — STS Aviation Group was

To submit information to this column, email gina@bdbmc.org

The company specializes in constructing transportation infrastructures, utilities, marine work, interior renovations, commercial buildings, solar installation and construction management.

CLIENTS

■ PSE & G ■ Lockheed Martin ■ Florida DOT ■ Martin County, Florida ■ Florida DEP ■ New Jersey Turnpike Authority ■ Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

WEBSITE ferreiraconstruction.com

BDBMC at the Boat Show

McDonald’s – Indiantown

■■Crew members, 18 years or older ■■On-site interviews will be held each Monday at 2 p.m. ■■Apply online for your interview ■■w w w . m c s t a t e . com/34604

Email submissions to this column to gina@bdbmc.org.

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Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

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Visioning Day in Indiantown

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Know about this tax break Palm City Company offers for your small business? new metal parts technology

Seacoast Bank wants to remind businesses in our community that if you purchased new equipment for your business last year, you may be able to take advantage of a huge deduction when filing your 2014 tax return. First-Year Expensing (Section 179) allows business owners to get their entire depreciation deduction in one year, rather than taking it a little at a time over the term of an asset’s useful life. Visit the Seacoast Bank blog at https://apps.seacoastnational.com/

blog/ to read more information on this topic in the Section 179: Business Depreciation Deduction blog post dated Feb. 11, 2015.

Business briefs

B4C Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Palm City, manufactures nontoxic chemicals to help clients extend the life of metal parts in the harshest corrosive conditions and services customers throughout the United States. Every industry has its own unique wear issues and B4C Technologies works closely with engineering teams from a wide variety of leading edge companies to find solutions to specific challenges in developing the next generation of machinery and parts. Their experienced team, constantly searching for new

applications, has developed a proprietary die-treatment process called Generation 2 Thermal Boron Diffusion. This new technology is allowing Marine Exhaust Systems Inc. of Riviera Beach to form stainless steel tube and pipe sections with about one-third

less pressure than before, saving money by reducing the amount of wasted parts. Richard Hall, metal fabrication coordinator at Marine Exhaust, reports “less pressure means less risk of damage to our personnel, the machine and the die.” If you have metal parts that are subject to high wear or exposed to corrosive agents such as acids or want to improve the lifespan of your machinery and decrease downtime for maintenance and repairs, contact B4C Technologies or visit www.b4ctechnologies.com

■ LOOKING FORWARD

Discover global markets, market opportunities at international business conference in Miami Join the U.S. Commercial Service on May 12 – 14 at the Hilton Miami Downtown for this premier international business conference. Come explore new market opportunities and learn effective strategies from senior U.S. Diplomats and business leaders in the region. This event is the only opportunity in 2015 to learn the latest business intelligence from across

The Fur Seasons caters to pampered pets ■ PARTNER The Fur Seasons, a luxury boarding and doggie day care facility in Stuart houses a state-of-the-art, 8,100-square-foot resort set amidst dog-friendly yards and is the perfect pet resort for your dog or cat. Not a traditional dog kennel, The Fur Seasons’ innovative hotel concept in boarding and doggie day care revolves around a philosophy focused on positive reinforcement, structured activities, group play for the social guests, a lot of exercise, and plenty of human contact. Owners Peter Einhorn and Drue Pollack have been caring for dogs since 1993. “At The Fur Seasons, we created a resort where we would want to have our dogs stay, and where our grooming clients want their pets to stay – homelike, gracious, loving, and comfortable,” said Drue Pollack. If your pet has not had an opportunity

CORNER

INDIANTOWN CHAMBER LAND & SEA SHOW: Timer Powers Park, Indiantown; March 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities include freestyle motocross show, Carla Holbrook Band, The Nouveaux Honkies. For more information, contact the Indiantown Chamber of Commerce, 772-597-2184. to visit The Fur Seasons, come visit during the 7th Annual Mutt Derby on Saturday, March 29, where you and your dog can enjoy races, clinics and shopping. For more information about the Fur Seasons, visit www.thefurseasonsresort.com

Retired law enforcement start home watch service All Secure Home Watch Service provides absentee homeowners in Martin County and nearby communities with reliable, reasonable, and trusted protection of your residential property. The company’s mission is to look after the interests of homeowners by con-

ducting exterior and interior checks of properties on a regular basis. Roger Myers and Mike Driscoll have over 65 years of combined loyal and dedicated law enforcement service to our country for both the Federal Government and the State of Florida. Roger is a retired FBI

Special Agent and Mike is a retired Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. You can rely on that same level of integrity and dedication from them to watch your home. For more information, visit www.allsecurehomewatch.com

Local business celebrates 25 years of growth Advantage Property Management, located in Stuart, has had steady growth throughout its 25 years and manages more than 90 associations consisting of more than 17,000 units. C.F. Shawver, the founding partner and Barbara Shea, the managing partner, are most proud of the fact that Advantage Property Management has more than 40

associations that they have managed between 10 to 25 years and 13 associations for 25 years consecutively. The company is pleased to announce the promotion of Richard Shawver to general manager, after working 16 years on North Hutchinson Island as area manager. For more information, please visit: www. advantage-propertymanagement.com

STUART/MARTIN COUNTY CHAMBER HOME & GARDEN SHOW: Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Martin County Fairgrounds. MARTIN COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM: Wednesday, March 4, 5 p.m. Grand opening of the new idea lab at the Robert Morgade Library. Test drive the new flight simulator; get handson time with tablets, iMacs and digital cameras; or strike a pose in the green screen photo booth. For details, call 463-3245.

the Americas all in one location. This event will provide participants with up-todate market intelligence and help develop practical strategies for exporting your goods and services into new markets and will feature high-ranking U.S. government officials, visiting U.S. commercial diplomats, international business leaders, U.S. trade officials, industry experts

and other U.S. exporters. Experts in the region will cover topics ranging from infrastructure opportunities to intellectual property rights and will highlight recent and future developments in the region that will affect where – and how – to develop new business opportunities in the Americas. For more information, please visit www.export. gov

USDA to present agricultural roundtable in Indiantown

Join us on March 25, from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. as the University of Florida IFAS Extension Martin County, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Business Development Board of Martin County, will host a roundtable for local agricultural producers at the Elisabeth Lahti Library, located at 15200 SW Adams Ave., Indiantown. The roundtable offers an opportunity for local agribusinesses to network with one another and connect with resources. The event will focus on various funding opportunities for farmers and energy related initiatives. It is presented by USDA Rural Development Area Specialist, Christine Goddard and Yvette Goodiel with the UF/IFAS Extension Martin County Sustainability & Commercial Horticulture Agency. Don’t miss this great opportunity! The event is free, but pre-registration is requested. Please RSVP via email to jill@bdbmc.org or contact the BDBMC at 772-221-1380 for more information.

■ PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT

■ LEARN AT LUNCH Social Media Employee Recruiting workshop, March 12, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at The Stuart News office, 1939 SE Federal Highway, Stuart. The workshop will provide easy, proven advice and solutions on recruiting using social media. RSVP to susan. scoton@tcpalmcom or lane. farmer@tcpalm.com.

www.bdbmc.org

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know? ... Cal-Maine Foods in Indiantown sold over 1 billion eggs last year, the first company in the world to reach that milestone.

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FAU, Scripps Florida, Max Planck blend programs to draw nation’s best students and researchers Collaboration to accelerate innovation, drug discovery, technology development JUPITER — In a groundbreaking announcement on March 2, Florida Atlantic University, Max Planck Society and The Scripps Research Institute unveiled plans to create one-of-akind education programs that will blend their vast intellectual capacity with cutting-edge technology to attract the nation’s best students and researchers to FAU’s John D. MacArthur campus in Jupiter. The multi-pronged collaboration is an outgrowth of their existing relationships and the neuroscience and life sciences initiatives to the region Jupiter. Promoting economic development, this initiative will train future scientists and entrepreneurs, create jobs and find solutions for serious diseases and health-related problems that also attribute to soaring healthcare costs. As part of the initiative, FAU, Scripps Florida and Max Planck will develop STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math—programs folding in FAU’s expertise in the liberal arts to inspire the creative process for future scientists and entrepreneurs. The unique collaboration will provide an important platform for students and faculty to take their ideas from concept to commercialization.

Hooks Construction awarded Starbucks build in Palm City Serving clients with character, professionalism

PROVIDED PHOTO

From left, FAU President John Kelly; State Representative MaryLynn Magar; David Fitzpatrick, CEO and Scientific Director at Max Planck; and James Paulson, Acting President and CEO of The Scripps Research Institute.

“This initiative comes from the core of economic development. FAU, Max Planck and Scripps will solve real-world problems and take strides to improve human health.” John Kelly, FAU President Students will work and study alongside some of the world’s leading scientists as part of their degree programs, while undergraduate research projects will be mentored by these same scientists. The col-

laboration will help propel FAU’s Jupiter campus to new heights, transforming the campus and this region into one of the world’s most advanced locations for scientific research and education.

Business briefs

Make nominations for Retailer of the Year TALLAHASSEE — Florida Retail Federation is seeking nominations for Retailer of the Year. This award recognizes a retailer’s commitment to its employees, customers and community and the winner will be honored June 11 at the Retail Smarter Symposium in Orlando. “With the retail industry representing more than 75 percent of Florida’s economy, we know the importance of retailers in the success of our state and are eager to recognize their efforts,” said Rick McAllister, Florida Retail Federation’s president and chief executive. “We encourage consumers statewide to think of those local retail businesses they enjoy and nominate them

for this award.” Businesses eligible for the award are those generating $5 million or less in annual sales and which have a physical presence in the operation and/or management of the retail business, according to the retail group. Businesses can nominate themselves and don’t have to be a federation member to apply. Nominations can be submitted online at frf.org, via email to frfawards@frf.org or mailed to 227 S. Adams St., Tallahassee, FL, 32301. The last day to nominate a retailer is March 27.

U.S. Paverscape announces new product lines U.S. Paverscape, headquartered in Stuart, offers a new line of unique outdoor kitchens and fireplace systems. U.S. Backyard Living, a subsidiary of U.S. Paverscape Inc., now offers prefabricated structural units, modular designs, several color options and professional and commercial grade kitchen components. In 2010, the company acquired Nature’s Point Stone, producing one of the finest, most realistic manufactured stones in the industry. The product does not require foundation or support and can be installed to any

prepared surface, reducing overall installation costs for interior or exterior needs. U.S. Paverscape, which produced its first brick paver in 2000, is a well-respected niche producer of quality custom concrete products. This independent, American-owned and operated company is dedicated to providing the highest grade decorative concrete products through superior customer service. Visit U.S. Paverscape and U.S. Backyard Living at 1735 S.E. Federal Highway in Stuart or visit www.uspaverscape.com.

PALM CITY — Hooks Construction Co. has been awarded the building and site renovations for the newest Starbucks location in Palm City’s Martin Downs Village Center. The project’s reconfiguration of the existing site will accommodate a drive-thru , as well as create an architectural end cap to the shopping plaza to house the new Starbucks coffee shop. Founded by Palm City resident Steve Hooks in 2008, Hooks Construction is a full service commercial general contracting firm specializing in retail, professional office, medical, governmental, educational, recreational and faith-based construction projects across South Florida. “We thrive on a con-

STUART — The Indian River State College Regional Training Center, in partnership with Paradigm Precision and the Business Development Board of Martin County, will host an information session Thursday, March 12, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The new community-based facility, located at Paradigm Precision headquarters in Stuart, is open to area manufacturers and assemblers in all industry sectors. Learn more about the technical trade programs offered to assist you in finding local talent for your employee needs. Training program topics include blueprint, calibration and measurement, quality assurance, production, maintenance and safety. Short term training is available in welding, machining, sheet metal fabrication and specialty classes. For jobseekers or those seeking skills enhancement, this open house is an opportunity for you to learn about available training and participating program partners. For more information, contact the BDBMC at 772 221-1380.

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

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struction process that is marked with excellent communication, proactive problem solving, and efficient management, which allows for an effortless and swift building process,” said Steve Hooks. Hooks is committed to exceeding client’s expectations at all times and believes that treating his clients and subcontracting teams fairly is more important than his own personal gain. Hooks Construction Co. completed the Chasewood Plaza on Indiantown Road

in Jupiter, where the company worked on a collective 40,000 square feet of retail space for businesses including PetSmart, Hurricane Wings, Hand and Stone Massage, Dunkin Donuts, Chipotle and AT&T. In addition to Martin County, Hooks Construction is currently working throughout South Florida in areas such as Boca Raton, Cocoa Beach and Palm Beach. For information about additional projects and services, visit www.hooksconstruction.net.

Manufacturing job info session for employers and jobseekers

A reconfiguration of the existing site will accommodate a drive-thru, as well as create an architectural end cap to the shopping plaza to house the new coffee shop.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Electric race cars were charged with power generated from the Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center.

FPL official solar energy provider for Formula E Race INDIANTOWN — Famed driver Michael Andretti visited FPL’s Martin Next Generation Solar Center and announced a partnership with FPL as the official solar energy provider to power the country’s first-ever electric car race. During the announcement, electric race cars were charged with power generated from the Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center. The Formula E Prix is a new FIA championship and the world’s first fully-electric racing series. The event will be held Saturday, March 14, in Biscayne Bay, Miami. As part of its partnership, FPL has sponsored 10 student teams throughout FPL’s service area who are involved in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. The teams have been assembling 10 electric kit cars to compete in the Formula E School Series on the same track as the Miami E Prix. The teams will vie for a grand prize of $5,000, a second place prize of $2,500 and a third place prize of $1,500. All prizes will go to further the STEM robotics initiatives of the winning school teams. “We want to see STEM programs thrive in our state and we see this as a great opportunity for students to learn about harnessing the sun’s energy and powering electric vehicles,” said Pam Rauch, vice president of development and external affairs. For more information, visit http://miami. fiaformulae.com/

Did you know? … The Okeechobee Waterway, the only true cross-Florida canal and river system, is 154 miles long and extends from the Gulf of Mexico at Fort Myers to the Atlantic Ocean at Stuart.

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Hustons Commercial Interiors offer Green Office Solutions

March is Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month had its origins as “Women’s History Week” in 1981. Since 1987 it has expanded into a month long national celebration by Congressional resolution with Presidential authorization.

Today, women are starting businesses at a higher rate than ever before. With resources dedicated to the success of women entrepreneurship and small business ownership, women launched 600 businesses per day on average between 1997 and 2014.

• Women own close to 30% of small business ownership • Women owned businesses generate $1.2 trillion in revenues • Women owned businesses employ 7.6 million workers • Women owned businesses are one of the fastestgrowing segments of small business ownership • The number of women in the labor force is equal to the number of men • 161 million: Number of women in the US compared to 156.1 million males • 75.1 million: number of females 16 and older in the workforce; equates to 47.4% of the labor force • 63%: percentage of women who work in Social Science and STEM related fields • 1.6 million: number of women veterans

tion to one-on-one mentoring, SCORE provides an array of complimentary training programs in the region to assist women entrepreneurs.

The Small Business Administration Women’s Business Center at Florida Institute of Technology offers the Ignite360 mentoring program. The program is designed to accelerate business growth for women entrepreneurs with start-ups and second stage companies.

GrowFL, Florida’s Economic Gardening Institute, provides women entrepreneurs in second stage growth with resources to help them attain next level growth. The CEO level programming consists of strategic research, peer learning and leadership development in all industry sectors.

Treasure Coast SCORE provides mentorship and business services by volunteer retired executives from all industry sectors. In addi-

The BDBMC, in partnership with the Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College, is now accepting ap-

plications for their Business ACCELERATOR Program. This program will provide women entrepreneurs with a curriculum to enhance skill sets in all facets of business ownership and the opportunity to attain a small business grant to grow and expand business operations. For more information on these resources or for any additional women owned business assistance, please contact the BDBMC at 772221-1380. If you are a women owned business in Martin County and want to share your business success, please email info@bdbmc.org.

Business briefs

Sprockets Adventures Bicycle Shop expands Sprockets Adventures has been proudly serving the Treasure Coast area since 2002 from their store in Port St. Lucie. Their new store in Stuart is now open, located at 1500 NW Federal Highway just north of the Roosevelt Bridge. With over 200 bicycles on display and a large array of parts and accessories, Sprockets is also a repair shop that services all brands of bicycles. Their mechanics are experts in road bikes, mountain bikes, full suspension and BMX and even wheelchair repair. The entire staff has worked hard to make this move happen and is looking forward to serving Martin County. Whether a

Serving Florida’s commercial interior needs for over 50 years, Hustons Commercial Interiors offers complete turnkey operations, from sales, design, space planning, procurement, warehousing and installation including “green” solutions. Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to a process that is environmentally responsible and resourceefficient, expanding and complimenting classical

Martin County employers interested in participating should email the BDBMC at jill@bdbmc.org. For jobseeker pre-registration, please visit our website at to www. bdbmc.org, click on “events” and then click on “Regional Job Fair” to register. This job fair and career day is sponsored in part by the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041, CareerSource Research Coast and the Business Development Board of Martin County.

Michael Dadko named Financial Planner of the Year Michael Dadko of UBS Wealth Management has been named the UBS Florida East Coast Complex’s 2014 Financial Planner of the Year. Dadko is First Vice President of UBS Financial Services in the Wealth Management division, Senior Partner of the Sailfish Wealth Management Group, and a Certified Financial Planner®. Dadko utilizes a five step consultative process which provides not only

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FOR SALE FOR SALE

STUART, FLORIDA beginner cyclist or expert, Sprockets professional staff can help you select STUART, FLORIDA FLORIDA the correct bicycle and accessoriesSTUART, for Turn-key facility your needs. For more information at 15,900 sq. ft. warehouse www.sprocketsbicyclespsl.com. Turn-key facility 3,968 sq. ft. office space 15,900 sq. ft. 10 warehouse roll down doors 10 rollsq. down Fully fenced 3,968 ft. doors office space yard 3 phase electric Fully fenced yard 3 phase electric Full sprinklers 10 roll downFull doors sprinklers

Fully fenced yard 3 phase electric communications, event marketing, cusFor more information tomer relationship Full management and sprinklers

Contact the BDBMC 772-221-1380 jill@bdbmc.org SCORE provides no-cost, confiden-

the UPS product portfolio.

For more tial business counseling withinformation expertise Contact BDBMC in a plethora of business andthe businessrelated areas. To make an appointment 772-221-1380 for face-to-face counseling or to regisjill@bdbmc.org ter for any of their workshops, call 772489-0548 or visit www.treasurecoast. score.org.

Contact 772-221-1380

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business The Business Development Board of Martin County (BDBMC) is a public-private partnership working to promote balanced and orderly economic growth in Martin County. As the official economic development organization for Martin County, the BDBMC is charged with the responsibility of supporting exist-

Locally owned and operated, Hustons is also a full-service office supply company and provides services for education, government, health care, financial institutions, car dealerships and professional office suites. For more information call, 877-894-2444.

Planned for Wednesday, April 22 at the Frances Langford Pavilion, Indian Riverside Park, Jensen Beach. Jobseekers with veteran status are offered early registration at 8:30 a.m.; event will be opened to pre-registered jobseeker at 9:00 a.m. with general registration beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Business Development Board of Martin County

www.bdbmc.org

Offering LEED Certified Interior Designs, Hustons can provide healthier work and living environments, which contributes to higher productivity and improved employee health and comfort. LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design) consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods.

Regional Job Fair and Career Day in partnership with the Florida Manufacturing Career Fair

Treasure Coast SCORE adds New Counselor SCORE, a nonprofit association, has been helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship for over fifty years. The local chapter of SCORE is pleased to announce the addition of Gary Mastro to its growing staff of volunteer business counselors. Mastro has 38 years of business experience all with United Parcel Service (UPS) starting as a part time loader in Camden NJ. He ultimately became Corporate Vice President of Brand and Product Marketing, responsible for marketing

building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

investment counseling, but also Advanced Planning, that incorporates wealth enhancement, wealth transfer, wealth preservation, and charitable giving.

“I base my wealth management process on providing every client with a customized financial plan,” said Dadko. “This financial plan is the foundation for helping every client achieve their most important financial goals.”

■ PARTNER CORNER INDIANTOWN CHAMBER LAND & SEA SHOW Date: March 28 Place: Timer Powers Park, Indiantown Time: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Activities include a freestyle motocross show, the Carla Holbrook Band and the Nouveaux Honkies. For more information contact the Indiantown Chamber of Commerce 772-597-2184. USDA AGRICULTURAL ROUNDTABLE Date: March 25, 2015 Time: 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Place: Elisabeth Lahti Library, 5200 SW Adams Avenue, Indiantown The University of Florida IFAS Extension Martin County, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Business Development Board of Martin County, will be hosting a roundtable for local agribusinesses to network with one another and connect with resources. The event will focus on various funding opportunities for farmers and energy related initiatives. The event is free, but pre-registration is requested. For more information contact the BDBMC at 772-221-1380 or email jill@ bdbmc.org for pre-registration.

Did you know? The Indiantown Airport with FAA identifier code X58, has the longest grass runway in the U.S. at 6,300 feet.

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FPL puts Florida’s sunshine in Seatorque Control Systems action at schools Seatorque Control Systems, headquartered in Stuart, is a specialized manufacturer of propulsion systems for the marine industry in their state-ofthe-art facility. Exporting to a truly global market, Seatorque is the only manufacturer in the world of the patented and multiaward winning Seatorque Enclosed Shaft System.

As part of FPL’s commitment to helping schools and communities better understand and use solar energy, FPL is installing solar panels with real-time energy monitoring at educational facilities. More than 100 schools and other education centers, like museums and zoos, will experience clean, solar energy in action. Martin County sites include: Hidden Oaks Middle School, Hobe Sound Elementary, J.D. Parker Elementary, Jensen Beach High School and Pinewood Elementary School. FPL will also be providing training and resources for hundreds of science and technology teachers across the state.

(Pictured: J.D. Parker Elementary School)

Business briefs

Innovations in Life Jacket Design Competition Top Prize $10,000 Second $3,000 Third Prize $2,000 BoatU.S. has partnered with the Personal Flotation Manufacturers Association (PFDMA) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) to present this competition which seeks alternatives to the traditional life jacket. Contestants are welcome to design a personal flotation device intended for the general community. Unconventional designs are encouraged and participants should submit either a theoretical design or a working prototype. The 2014 winner is currently manufacturing and selling

the life jacket design they submitted. “The interest in new, more comfortable designs are always important to waterway users,” said BoatU.S. Foundation President, Chris Edmonston. Deadline for entries is April 15, 2015 and winners will be announced at the 2015 IBEX Exhibition & Conference in Louisville, Kentucky in September.

Lenco Marine awarded IBBI Supplier of Year Lenco Marine, headquartered in Stuart, received the IBBI (Independent Boat Builders Incorporated) Supplier of the Year recognition award for the third consecutive year. Founded in 1986, Lenco Marine manufactures trim tabs, electric actuators, hatch lifts, switches and the all new Auto Glide Boat Leveling System. “This award is not one to be taken lightly.” Richard DeVito, President of Lenco Marine, goes on to say, ”The fact

that the top boat builders in the country voted on such things as product quality, delivery, customer service, warranty/ returns, accurate invoicing and technical service means this is an all-encompassing award. The IBBI is the #1 buying group in the county and we are among a group of extraordinary peer suppliers which makes this a much esteemed honor. I’m beyond proud of our team for consistently meeting and exceeding the expectations of our customers.” Learn more at www.lencomarine.com.

Is your company a ‘Best Place to Work’? Best Places to Work is an annual program providing a confidential forum for local employers to participate in an evaluation of workplace best practices. Participating companies receive a complimentary benchmarking report summarizing the survey responses. This valuable tool provides a blueprint on workplace initiatives and other best practices in the area. CareerSource Research Coast presents the 2015 Martin County Best Places to Work program with support from the Business Development Board of Martin County, Stuart/Martin Chamber of Commerce, Indiantown Chamber of Commerce and the Palm City Chamber of Com-

The company’s existing client base is comprised of an impressive list of well-respected boat, yacht and superyacht builders and manufacturers from around the world. These companies employ Seatorque equipment in a variety of applications, ranging from recreational to military and commercial vessels. Some of the most advanced and unique boats to be launched in the marine industry contain Seatorque equipment. Seatorque has become propulsion part-

Seatorque has achieved USA and International patent protection for the enclosed shaft system and other design innovations of the product line. The company has received multiple awards for Design Excellence and Innovation and Export Excellence, including the coveted Governor’s Business Award. Seatorque has increased sales and export revenues every year since 2005, with international divisions that include Seatorque Europe and Seatorque Asia for sales and service, all while the manufacturing operations remain in the United States.

In an industry focused on green propulsion alternatives from hybrid to electric power cell, and increasing operating efficiency by lowering fuel and maintenance costs, Seatorque has answered the call. The company recently launched BIOMAR, a high performance, fully biodegradable gear oil and marine lubricant, made up of 80% renewable resources. For more information on Seatorque, please visit their website at www. seatorque.com.

Treasure Coast Career Fair Date: Wednesday, April 22 Place: Frances Langford Pavilion at Indian Riverside Park Time: 8:30 a.m. early registration for jobseekers with veteran status 9:00 a.m. pre-registered jobseekers 9:30 a.m. general registration Martin County employers interested in participating should email the BDBMC at jill@bdbmc.org to reserve a space. Jobseekers pre-register at www.bdbmc.org, click on “Events” and then click on “Regional Job Fair”. This job fair and career day is sponsored in part by Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041, CareerSource Research Coast and the Business Development Board of Martin County.

Vote for your favorite fishing spot Take Me Fishing launched their 2015 sweepstakes – America’s Top Family Fishing and Boating Spots – on March 9. The promotion aims to generate awareness of fishing and boating opportunities and help get more families to visit these spots. The contest runs through April 12 with weekly prizes, plus a grand prize trip to Walt Disney World. Earlier this year, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) identified family-friendly fishing and boating spots and from those recommendations, amassed a list of 276 of the best parks across the country, including 7 spots in Florida. Now, they need the boating and angling community’s help in narrowing down the list to the top 100.

Enter the sweepstakes by voting for your favorite spot at www.takemefishing.org. Prize winners and newly selected Top 100 Places to Fish and Boat will be announced during National Fishing and Boating Week, June 6 to June 14.

■ PARTNER CORNER

merce. For more information, please visit www.careersourcerc.com, click on “Employers,” click on “Best Places to Work Martin County.”

FOR SALE ■ PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT Stuart, Florida

5,000 square feet FOR SALE STUART,Metal FLORIDA Industrial Building

5,000 square feet Metal Industrial Building located in heart of Stuart located in heart of Stuart

Located on 1 1/2 acres; includes income producing cell tower onsite - income 10K per year; light industrial zoning; water and sewer For more info contact the BDBMC 772-221-1380 Located on at 1 1/2 acres; includes

PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT SPACE AVAILABLE Get more exposure for your commercial real estate with this local advertising solution. Ads will run in the Business Update section every Wednesday.

USDA AGRICULTURAL ROUNDTABLE Date: March 25, 2015 Time: 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Place: Elisabeth Lahti Library, 5200 SW Adams Avenue, Indiantown The University of Florida IFAS Extension Martin County, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Business Development Board of Martin County, will be hosting a roundtable for local agribusinesses to network with each another and connect with resources. The event will focus on various funding opportunities for farmers and energy related initiatives. The event is free, but pre-registration is requested. For more information or to register contact the BDBMC at jill@ bdbmc.org. INDIANTOWN CHAMBER LAND & SEA SHOW Date: March 28 Place: Timer Powers Park, Indiantown Time: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Activities include a freestyle motocross

income producing cell tower onsite income $10k per year; light industrial zoning; water and sewer.

Business Development Board of Martin County For more information contact Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business the BDBMC at 772-221-1380

The Business Development Board of Martin County (BDBMC) is a public-private partnership working to promote balanced and orderly economic growth in Martin County. As the official economic development organization for Martin County, the BDBMC is charged with the responsibility of supporting exist-

www.bdbmc.org

ners with the world’s top builders, designers and engineers.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

show, the Carla Holbrook Band and the Nouveaux Honkies. For more information contact the Indiantown Chamber of Commerce 772-597-2184. STUART CHAMBER: BILL DRURY SEMINAR “KEEPING CUSTOMERS IN 2015” Date: Thurs. April 23 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Place: IRSC Wolf Technology Center 2400 S. E. Salerno Rd., Stuart Contact Lisa Teetor at 772-287-1088 x111 or lisat@stuartmartinchamber.org PALM CITY CHAMBER’S 21ST ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT DATE: FRI. MAY 1 Time: 11:30 am luncheon/1:00 pm Shotgun Place: Piper’s Landing Yacht and Country Club, Palm City Contact Carolyn at the Palm City Chamber of Commerce for more information: 772-286-8121 or carolyn@ palmcitychamber.com.

Did you know? The loan approval rate for small businesses reached 21.5% in February . . . the highest point since the end of the great recession.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Profile

COOL tool helps military transition to civilian jobs

Guerilla Technologies, a woman-owned small business

COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line) helps Army, Navy and Marine Corps active and reserve servicemen and women find information on certifications and licenses related to their Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs). COOL explains how servicemen and women can meet civilian certification and license requirements and provides links to numerous resources to help get them started. Potential employers benefit from this program as exceptionally qualified and well trained veterans enter a 21st century workforce.

Established in 2002, Guerilla Technologies of Palm City offers eleven products for people with low vision or blindness. Guerilla Technologies believes that the best technology for the vision impaired community should be available to everyone. Formed by 3 seasoned professionals from the blindness and medical industry they utilize 100 plus years of experience to design and develop world-class next generation text to speech solutions.

As recently as March 11, Army Secretary John McHugh signed a directive calling for all the services to streamline and improve their credentialing and career skills programs. “Our Army is committed to preparing soldiers for

the transition off of active duty [and] back into the civilian society from w h i c h t hey a ll came,” said Col. Walter Herd Ret., director of the Army transition division. “We take that preparation seriously, and while the ultimate success is the soldier’s responsibility, it’s the Army’s responsibility to get them prepared to succeed.” For more information visit the following sites: www.cool.army.mil, www.cool.navy.mil, www.cool.navy. mil/usmc

Business briefs

SEPCO introduces innovative lighting SEPCO, headquartered in Stuart, manufactures commercial solar lighting and remote solar power systems. Their latest innovation, SolarSlide is a high-powered LED contemporary/transitional design solar lighting system for outdoor areas that has multiple LED lamp options and interchangeable shades, domes and poles.

SolarSlide LED is 100% continually solar powered, 100% off the grid, self-storing and self-recharging and custom colors are available. Founded in 1994, SEPCO is an entrepreneurial family-owned business looking for “green alternatives” to traditional lighting and power where access to a power grid is either unobtainable or cost prohibitive

Their primary focus has been OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for home, work and travel environments. From sta-

tionary to portable reading machines, no other company has produced devices with as many types of media recognition or auxiliary functions. This has accounted for the meteoric rise of the company in just a few short years of operation. Guerilla Technologies recently introduced the RAVE 2nd genera-

Creating opportunities for a successful community The Business Development Board has been serving the business community of Martin County for over 20 years offering programs and services to meet the diverse needs of local businesses. The Business Development Board of Martin County assists businesses of all shapes and sizes, recognizing that no two businesses are the same. Local businesses that may have outgrown their space, are searching for a new location, need employee training, looking for new talent, need marketing assistance, or anything in between should contact the BDBMC. For more information about programs and services and business resources, visit our website at www.bdbmc.org or call 772-221-1380.

For more information visit www. sepco-solarlighting.com.

Ecosphere receives 10th U.S. Patent

Treasure Coast Career Fair  Wednesday, April 22 F rances Langford Pavilion at Indian Riverside Park 8 :30 a.m. early registration for jobseekers with veteran status 9:00 a.m. pre-registered jobseekers 9:30 a.m. general registration Martin County employers interested in participating should email the BDBMC at jill@bdbmc.org to reserve a space. Jobseekers pre-register at www. bdbmc.org, click on “Events” and then click on “Regional Job Fair”.

Ecosphere Technologies, Inc., announced that another Ozonix® patent has been approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office bringing Ecosphere’s Ozonix® intellectual property portfolio to 10 approved U.S. patents with an additional 11 plus patents pending. This latest patented invention relates to an improved, cost efficient, environmentally friendly treatment apparatus for destroying aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in fluids used in oil and gas re-

covery and conditioning for reuse. Dennis McGuire, Chairman and CEO of Ecosphere Technologies stated, “The receipt of our latest Ozonix® patent continues to validate our leadership position in the development of mobile advanced oxidation technologies for use in treating and recycling various sources of contaminated water used during hydraulic fracturing operations.” For more information visit www. ecospheretech.com.

Kaelus wins Swedish transportation contract administration, Trafikverket. Kaelus is a supplier of state-of-the-art mitigation filters for communication between train and railway regulation control centers.

Kaelus, a sister company to EMC Technology and Florida RF Labs in Stuart, has been awarded a three-year contract by Sweden’s transportation

“Kaelus is excited about this partnership,” said Brian DuPell, President of Kaelus, “Trafikverket is committed to the customer experience and safety of Sweden’s rail passengers, and we are pleased that Kaelus will be a part of that commitment.” As a family of brands Smiths Group employs more than 23,500 people in over 50 countries. For additional information visit www.smithsinterconnect.com.

The Treasure Coast Career Fair is

■ NOW HIRING

■ FERREIRA CONSTRUCTION Stuart based full-service construction company has immediate positions available: Fleet Mechanics and Fleet Mechanic Supervisors

PALM CITY CHAMBER’S 21ST ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT DATE: FRI. MAY 1 Time: 11:30 am luncheon/1:00 pm Shotgun Place: Piper’s Landing Yacht and Country Club, Palm City Contact Carolyn at the Palm City Chamber of Commerce for more information: 772-286-8121 or carolyn@palmcitychamber.com.

FOR SALE ■ PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT Stuart, Florida

5,000 square feet FOR SALE STUART,Metal FLORIDA Industrial Building

5,000 square feet Metal Industrial Building located in heart of Stuart located in heart of Stuart Located on 1 1/2 acres; includes income producing cell tower onsite - income 10K per year; light industrial zoning; water and sewer

Email cover letter and resume to: jill@bdbmc. org

PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT SPACE AVAILABLE Get more exposure for your commercial real estate listing with this local advertising solution. Ads will run in the Business Update section every Wednesday.

For more info contact the BDBMC 772-221-1380 Located onat 1 1/2 acres; includes

sponsored in part by Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041, CareerSource Research Coast and the Business Development Board of Martin County.

■ PARTNER CORNER

Business Development Board of Martin County

www.bdbmc.org

tion camera and software for personal computers. Features include a self-voicing camera and software that is used to read print in TTS (textto-speech) mode, an enhanced font mode and magnification mode and also can be used with a screen reader or magnification software. For more information visit www. guerillatechnologies.com.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

income producing cell tower onsite income $10k per year; light industrial zoning; water and sewer.

Did you know?

For more information contact the BDBMC at 772-221-1380

Martin County ranks as the third healthiest county in Florida by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2015 County Health Rankings.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

LEADERship Martin County

New state loan program to help small business

BDBMC & partners host Economics Day

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced a Microfinance Guarantee Program to help small businesses and entrepreneurs gain access to capital. The Microfinance Guarantee Program provides credit enhancement on loans offered by a bank for between $50,000 and $250,000. Upon meeting certain qualifications, the State of Florida will guarantee each loan up to 50 percent with the help of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the administrator of the guarantee program. Eligibility for these programs is limited to small businesses and entrepreneurs with 25 or fewer employees and average gross annual revenues of $1.5 million or less.

For the past 25 years the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce has run the prestigious LEADERship Martin County program, offering an exceptional experience for local leaders to learn about the cultural, social, economic, educational, and governmental entities that make up Martin County. On April 2, the Business Development Board partnered with Huston’s Commercial Interiors, Harbor Community Bank and Sound Insights to host Economics Day for LEADERship Class 25 to showcase Martin County’s targeted industry sectors.

“The program will provide entrepreneurs and small businesses with capital to help their businesses thrive in Florida. Programs like these support the small businesses that are the backbone of the state’s opportunity economy and job growth,” said DEO Executive Director, Jesse Panuccio. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity combines the state’s economic, workforce, and community development efforts. Contact the BDBMC at 772-221-1380 for more information on this program or visit floridajobs. org to learn more about the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Business briefs

Acquisition Experts celebrates 10 year anniversary Acquisition Experts, a business brokerage firm, celebrated a 10 year anniversary this month. The company specializes in the confidential sales of all types of businesses including manufacturing, distribution, service, professional practices, retail, restaurants and investment properties. “This anniversary is especially meaningful as we transition to a healthier Florida economy. We are thankful for our past successes and look forward to the next 10 years of service to our business community” said Dale Armor. Stuart/Martin Chamber of Commerce Board Member and Martin County Commissioner Doug Smith also commented, “Many times the first phone call to a business brokerage firm is that first introduction to your community and that introduction is one that leads to opening the doors to our community and all

the opportunities that exist. The team at Acquisition Experts is exactly just that.” Located in Stuart, Acquisition Experts LLC., is one of Florida’s leading business brokerage firms, with a professional team of experienced brokers. Visit acquisitionexperts.net for more information about their services.

“We’re excited to welcome Ms. Blanco to the Hobe Sound Golf Club during this exciting time as we are expanding our social activities and introducing a new summer program,” said Galland. A native South Floridian, Blanco served in various marketing

L to R: Ken Elkin, Broker-Owner of Acquisition Experts; Joe Catrambone, President and CEO of the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce; Dale Armor, Broker-Owner of Acquisition Experts, and Joe Brogan, Broker-Owner of Acquisition Experts.

capacities for over 21 years at Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami. Established in 1988, the Hobe Sound Golf Club is a member-owned Joe Lee signature course designed around preserved wetlands and massive oak hammocks. The magnificent 6,664-yard course is one of the lowest density private golf clubs in South Florida. Visit www.hobesoundgolfclub.com for more information or call (772) 546-4600.

Kadey-Krogen Yachts announces extended bridge for ‘16 models For the 2016 model year, Kadey-Krogen Yachts is introducing the Krogen 58’ EB (Extended Bridge). Recognizing that many boaters enjoy an open-air experience while underway or at anchor, the new extended fly bridge is available in multiple configurations and marks an exciting new chapter for this model. The first Krogen 58’ EB is under construction and set to debut early next

year. The updates built into the new model have been carefully designed to increase the “livability” of the vessel. Founded by Art Kadey and Jim Krogen, Kadey-Krogen Yachts is headquartered in Stuart, with additional sales offices in Annapolis, Maryland, Newport, Rhode Island, and Seattle, Washington. Today’s generation of Kadey-Krogen trawler yachts results from a 38-year heritage of innovation and more than 600 yachts built. Visit kadeykrogen.com for more company news and ‘like’ their Facebook page.

SBA alliance with BDB Vince LoPresti, Senior Area Manager for the South Florida District of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with the Business Development Board of Martin County (BDBMC) on April 8, 2015. Signing on behalf of the BDBMC, Executive Director Tim Dougher said, “This milestone is significant because it formalizes a great

working relationship between the local SBA and the BDBMC for the benefit of the local business community.” The SAM signifies a joint effort by these organizations to promote small business through education, community outreach and collaboration, allowing both entities to work closer together to ensure small business interests are adequately addressed in the area.

Martin County employers interested in participating should email the BDBMC at jill@bdbmc.org to reserve a space. Jobseekers pre-register at www. bdbmc.org, click on “Events” and then click on “Regional Job Fair”. The Treasure Coast Career Fair is sponsored in part by Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041, CareerSource Research Coast and the Business Development Board of Martin County.

■ PARTNER CORNER

■ PROPERTY

INDIANTOWN CHAMBER BREAKFAST Date: Thurs. April 23 Time: 8:00 a.m. Place: The Seminole Inn, Indiantown

FOR SALE

STUART CHAMBER: BILL DRURY SEMINAR “KEEPING CUSTOMERS IN 2015” Date: Thurs. April 23 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Place: IRSC Wolf Technology Center 2400 S. E. Salerno Rd., Stuart Contact Lisa Teetor at 772-287-1088 x111 or lisat@ stuartmartinchamber.org DUNKIN DONUTS/SEACOAST ATM GROUND BREAKING Date: Fri. April 24 Time: 4:00 p.m. Place: 15935 SW Warfield Blvd, Indiantown PALM CITY CHAMBER’S 21ST ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Date: Fri. May 1 Time: 11:30 am luncheon/1:00 pm Shotgun Place: Piper’s Landing Yacht and Country Club, Palm City Contact Carolyn at the Palm City Chamber of Commerce for more information: 772-286-8121 or carolyn@palmcitychamber.com.

■ NOW HIRING ■ FERREIRA CONSTRUCTION Stuart based full-service construction company has immediate positions available: Fleet Mechanics and Fleet Mechanic Supervisors

SPOTLIGHT

STUART, FLORIDA

5,000 square feet Metal Industrial Building located in heart of Stuart

FOR SALE

Located on 1Florida 1/2 acres; Stuart, includes income producing cell 5,000 towersquare onsite feet - income 10K per year; light industriMetal Industrial Building al zoning; water and sewer located in heart of Stuart

Located on 1 1/2 acres; includes For more info contact the income producing cell tower onsite BDBMC at 772-221-1380 income $10k per year; light industrial zoning; water and sewer.

PROPERTY

ForSPOTLIGHT more information contact SPACE the BDBMC at 772-221-1380 AVAILABLE

Get more exposure for your commercial real estate listing with this local advertising solution. Ads will run in the Business Update section every Wednesday.

Email cover letter and resume to: jill@bdbmc.org

Business Development Board of Martin County

www.bdbmc.org

these major industries. A scavenger hunt homework assignment allowed participants to familiarize themselves with key economic drivers in Indiantown, a major tax base for Martin County. The Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting applications for LEADERship Class 26. Visit stuartmartinchamber.org/ leadership.asp for more information or contact Cindy LaConte at 772-2871088 x106.

Treasure Coast Career Fair

Hobe Sound Golf Club names new membership, sales, and marketing director Hobe Sound Golf Club General Manager John Galland announced that Michele Blanco has been named Director of Membership, Sales, and Marketing.

The day started with a tour of Witham Field given by classmate and Airport Manager, George Stokus, and included tours of Triumph, Southeastern Printing and American Custom Yachts showcasing local aviation, manufacturing and marine industries. Participants enjoyed a panel presentation from local business executives including Jeff Leslie from

ITS Fiber, Bill Greene from Level 3 Inspection, Jamil Mikati from American Stair Products and Mitch Hutchcraft from Consolidated Citrus. The panel leaders introduced their industry sectors including technology and fiber, green technologies and professional services, export and manufacturing and agriculture. The class engaged in a question and answer session to learn more about the economic impacts on the community from

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know? Martin County’s unemployment rate at 5.5% is the lowest since 2008.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Profile

Encore for senior entrepreneurs Keiser University expands presence in region

The Small Business Administration and AARP entered into a strategic alliance in May 2012 to provide Americans over the age of 50 with real-world, actionable information to start and grow small businesses. Currently there are over 76 million people over the age of 50 in the country and research shows that one in four Americans from ages 44 to 70 are interested in starting their own business or nonprofit venture in the next five to ten years. For many 50+ individuals, entrepreneurship

training is the toolkit that empowers them to use their experience, knowledge, and skills to become job creators. In addition, entrepreneurship training focuses on helping experienced professionals leverage their career knowledge for a new business. Our encore entrepreneur events are an opportunity for SBA and its partners to expose interested members to the resources available to help them starting and grow a business. Visit sba.gov/content/50-entrepreneurs for information and training modules.

Business briefs

Bay State Milling Company enters seed development business Bay State Milling, a plant-based ingredients company with a satellite facility in Indiantown, recently added seed development to its portfolio through the creation of 5th Generation Seed, LLC. Born from the acquisition of various wheat varietals, seed germ plasm and other related intellectual property, the new company is focused on the development of novel varieties of grains such as wheat, barley and spelt with beneficial customer and consumer-centric output traits like baking performance, nutrition, color and flavor for differentiated grain-based foods. Bay State Milling Company is a family owned company which celebrated its 115th anniversary in 2014, as well as the entrance of the fifth generation of family members into the company’s ranks. “The formation of 5th Generation Seed will enable Bay State Milling to better meet the next generation of customer and consumer needs through the availability of new plant varieties

derived from conventional breeding techniques,” said Peter Levangie, President and COO. 5th Generation Seed will have access to all of Bay State Milling’s resources, including the GrainEssentials Center and Product Applications team to ensure that delicious, commercially viable prototypes are available to demonstrate the performance of new varieties to customers. The company has a strong health and wellness focus and a commitment to be a leading supplier of plant-based solutions for grain-based foods through investments in employees, specialty flour milling and custom blending capabilities. Visit www.baystatemilling.com for more information.

Florida agriculture growing profits and jobs Exports to Canada represented 22.1% of all Florida agricultural exports in 2014. Our fastest growing export commodities were bird eggs and breeding cattle. Florida’s agricultural exports support more than 109,000 jobs and has an economic impact exceeding $13 billion. The Florida Department of Agriculture recently announced record total agricultural exports of $4.2 billion 2014. This marks the third year in a row Florida has exceeded $4 billion in exports. Florida exports have grown at a 7.8% annual rate since 2004, and have increased every year since then, except for the financial crisis year of 2009. Florida agriculture products were exported to 159 countries with Canada as the leading destination for Florida products since 2000.

In western Martin County, Indiantown remains a major provider of an array of agricultural products and diverse agribusiness interests, with over 77,000 acres of classified agricultural land. The economic impact includes: 19,816 jobs, $1 billion in revenues and 15.6% contribution to gross regional product. It is estimated that for every $1 invested in agricultural research and extension, there is a return of $10 to the community according to a 2007 USDA study.

Council on Aging of Martin County appoints new president & CEO The Council on Aging of Martin County, Inc., a leader in senior services on the Treasure Coast for over four decades, is now under new leadership. The private, nonprofit organization recently named Karen Ripper, RN, as President & CEO, succeeding Barbara A. Kauffman, who retired in March. Prior to joining the Council on Aging, Ripper had a 35-year career with Martin Health System, rising through the ranks from Medical Surgical Nurse to Senior Vice President, Patient Services/Chief Nursing Officer. She will oversee the Council’s continued expansion into a comprehensive senior service

system designed to serve ALL seniors, from the active to the frail, through an array of programs, services and support for elders and their loved ones. Based at the Kane Center in Stuart, the Council on Aging’s mission is to help seniors live young at any age by remaining independent, healthy and living in their own homes. Services offered at the Kane Center include Meals on Wheels, Kane Cuisine, an adult day program, senior-focused primary medical care at the Kane Clinic, care management, and caregiver support. A wide slate of social, wellness, educational and cultural programming for active seniors is also offered yearround. The Council is the longest standing organization in the county dedicated to serving our senior population. Visit www.kanecenter.org for more information call 772-223-7800.

Keiser University and Northwood University proudly announced an agreement in which Keiser University will pursue its long term goal of establishing a residential campus. Northwood University’s campus in West Palm Beach will become Keiser University’s first residential campus in Florida. Keiser University is a private, not-for-profit University serving nearly 20,000 students offering 100 degrees from the doctoral to the associate level on 17 Florida campuses. Sixty-two percent of Keiser University students graduate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and healthcare fields, providing the talented workforce necessary for Florida to compete globally.

 Wednesday, April 22  Frances Langford Pavilion at Indian Riverside Park 8:30 a.m. early registration for jobseekers with veteran status 9:00 a.m. pre-registered jobseekers 9:30 a.m. general registration The Treasure Coast Career Fair is sponsored in part by Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041, CareerSource Research Coast and the Business Development Board of Martin County.

■ PARTNER CORNER INDIANTOWN CHAMBER BREAKFAST Date: Thurs. April 23 Time: 8:00 a.m. Place: The Seminole Inn, Indiantown Contact Hilary McKeich, Executive Director at 772-597-2185 or email itowncc@itspeed.net STUART CHAMBER: BILL DRURY SEMINAR “KEEPING CUSTOMERS IN 2015” Date: Thurs. April 23 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Place: IRSC Wolf Technology Center 2400 S. E. Salerno Rd., Stuart Contact Lisa Teetor at 772-287-1088 x111 or lisat@stuartmartinchamber.org

DUNKIN DONUTS/SEACOAST ATM GROUND BREAKING Date: Fri. April 24 Time: 4:00 p.m. Place: 15935 SW Warfield Blvd, Indiantown Contact Hilary McKeich, Executive Director at 772-597-2185 or email itowncc@itspeed.net PALM CITY CHAMBER’S 21ST ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Date: Fri. May 1 Time: 11:30 am luncheon/1:00 pm Shotgun Place: Piper’s Landing Yacht and Country Club, Palm City Contact Carolyn at the Palm City Chamber of Commerce for more information: 772-286-8121 or carolyn@ palmcitychamber.com.

FOR SALE ■ PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT Stuart, Florida

5,000 square feet FOR SALE STUART,Metal FLORIDA Industrial Building

5,000 square feet Metal Industrial Building located in heart of Stuart located in heart of Stuart Located on 1 ½ acres; includes income producing cell tower onsite - income 10K per year; light industrial zoning; water and sewer For more info contact the BDBMC 772-221-1380 Located on at 1 1/2 acres; includes

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

www.bdbmc.org

tion.” Belinda Keiser, Vice Chancellor of Keiser University, announced that this new center is intended to prepare graduates to start their own businesses and reach greater heights in their chosen professions as many Keiser University and Northwood University alumni already have. As more high school graduates seek a traditional college experience, Keiser University will maintain the existing extracurricular programs currently offered by Northwood University. The campus will maintain its housing, athletic programs and activities. “We are going to have that full complement of college life”, she said. Visit www.keiseruniversity.edu for additional information.

Treasure Coast Career Fair

Dr. Arthur Keiser, Chancellor and CEO, Keiser University stated, “We are committed to continuing to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, understanding, and talent needed to compete globally and achieve their dreams. At our new location, Keiser University will offer educational programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Keiser University has always pursued a ‘students first’ philosophy as it helps prepare students for rewarding and meaningful careers, and we look forward to doing the same on our newest campus”. “Another exciting development being proposed is the new Center for Entrepreneurship and Innova-

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT SPACE AVAILABLE Get more exposure for your commercial real estate listing with this local advertising solution. Ads will run in the Business Update section every Wednesday.

income producing cell tower onsite income $10k per year; light industrial zoning; water and sewer.

Did you know?

For more information contact the BDBMC at 772-221-1380

Martin County was awarded Best Tasting Drinking Water for East/ Central Florida for 2014 by the American Water Works Association.

BDBMC 2nd Quarter Update for Fiscal Year 2014 – 2015

■ PROGRAMS & SERVICES

BDBMC Programs & Services

The Business Development Board knows that Martin County’s existing businesses are the lifeblood of our community. We help our businesses grow by offering ongoing programs and services to meet their diverse needs. For information on any of our programs or suggestions for future programs, email Jill Marasa at jill@ bdbmc.org

4 Business ACCLERATOR Program 4 Treasure Coast Career Fair 4 Best Places To Work 4B uilding, Relocation & Site Selection Assistance 4 Training & Workforce Assistance 4E xport & International Trade Assistance 4 Data and Market Intelligence 4 General Business Assistance

BDB Activities

Talking agriculture The BDBMC, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), held our first Agriculture/Agribusiness roundtable with over 20 area farmers and agricultural business owners at the Elisabeth Lahti Library in Indiantown. Guests were treated to a local farmers buffet including freshly picked cherry tomatoes, basil, corn and fresh collards from Indiantown and Pahokee prepared by the Seminole Inn.

available through IFAS to assist in the

The roundtable focused on programs and services provided by the host organizations. Presentations included various loan and grant programs offered by the USDA and SARE programs and services

development, growth and expansion for our local farming community and energy related product investments. For more information on these programs, contact the BDBMC at 772-221-1380.

• Rusty Sedlack, Vice President, Armstrong Nautical Products and Export Chairman • Charlie Rodriguez, Strategy & Engagement Leader, Medical Tourism Association • Leandro Solorzano, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce • John Diep, Regional Manager/International Trade Development, Enterprise Florida • Susan Revello, Publisher, Forward Florida • Nerissa Okiye, Tourism & Marketing Manager, Martin County This first-time event was very well received and future roundtables are already in the works. If you have any interest in attending or participating in the next roundtable, please contact Gina Montana at the BDB at 772-221-1380 or gina@bdbmc.org.

Marketing workshop helps small businesses The Business Development Board, in partnership with the Martin County Library, SCORE and TC Palm, hosted a Marketing & Social Media Bootcamp with over 20 participants in February. The workshop was devoted to improving both traditional and social media marketing with a focus on the impact of social media in today’s market. Participants received information on the services provided by the Martin County Library System, including their new complimentary one-on-one training sessions for individual subject matters. SCORE provided a strong overview on

The Business Development Board of Martin County (BDBMC) has been very busy in the second quarter of the 2014 2015 fiscal year. We are happy to have introduced the new “Weekly Business Update” published every week in The Stuart News and electronically on TCPalm. All content for this new community outreach medium is gathered by and approved internally by the BDBMC. If you’ve been following along for the past several months, you’ll see that some wonderful things are happening in Martin County that directly affects our local economy.

The BDBMC is utilizing this week’s “Weekly Business Update” as a means to provide the readers a first look at our activities.

and expanding businesses in Martin County is very encouraging and 2015 looks to be a prosperous one for our local economy.

The BDBMC remains busy working with local expanding companies and several relocation projects. Martin County’s unemployment rate continues to fall and is currently the lowest it has been since 2008. We are receiving ongoing inquiries from local companies interested in hiring additional employees and new businesses looking to relocate to our area. The increased requests for information regarding new

Please continue to remain informed of local business accomplishments and activities through the BDBMC’s “Weekly Business Update” and feel free to submit noteworthy information that may be included on the page to Gina Montana at gina@bdbmc. org. Tim Dougher |Executive Director Business Development Board of Martin County

Florida companies to watch The Florida Companies to Watch 2015 program is presented by GrowFL and the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation. The Florida Companies to Watch program celebrates growing second stage companies headquartered in Florida and is a unique way to recognize and honor the companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace with innovative strategies and processes.

Medical tourism roundtable

On January 15, 2015, the Business Development Board of Martin County hosted a successful event promoting local medical tourism that was geared towards medical professional service providers and manufacturers. Held at the Elliott Museum it included a private tour for the 20 attendees given by Jennifer Esler, President & CEO of the Museum. We were excited to welcome the following speakers:

From the Executive Director

marketing plans and focus, and the importance of identifying a target market and tailoring a message to reach an audience. The event included a special peer presentation by TC Palm, discussing proven results from social media marketing, powerful branding and advertising, and identifying tools that meet business needs. The BDBMC will continue to partner and host trainings of interest to the local business community. Let us know of training needs for your business or employees via email at jill@bdbmc.org.

• Florida headquartered companies may be considered for selection if they meet the following guidelines for the year ending 2014: • Past the startup stage; facing issues of growth, not survival • Private, commercial enterprise (non-profits are ineligible) • Demonstrate intent and capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, sustainable competitive advantages, exceptional entrepreneurial leadership or other factors that showcase the company’s success • Employ 6 to 150 full-time employees • Have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue Previous Martin County companies who have been award recipients of this program include: PAC Seating Systems, Lenco Marine, UCT Coatings, Level 3 Inspection, H2 Ocean, ATGI, Custom Agronomics and Seatorque Control Systems. Interested companies may visit www.growfl.com/flctw/nominate to learn more and to submit a self-nomination. Contact the BDBMC at 772-2211380 with any questions regarding this program.

Enterprise Zones, a hot topic One of the hot topics in this year’s legislative session is the state’s Enterprise Zone program, scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2015. The Martin County Enterprise Zone consists of 9.7 square miles in Indiantown, designated by the Florida legislature in 2011 to spur business development, private investment and job creation in western Martin County. The program includes sales tax refunds and corporate tax credits for expanding and new businesses located within the Enterprise Zone boundary that purchase machinery and equipment and/or create new jobs in the community. The program assists existing small businesses with growth and expansion and attracts new businesses to the community. The Treasure Coast legislative delegation went to Tallahassee last month to show support for maintaining the Enterprise Zone program. Indiantown has been gaining a lot of attention since the designation of the Enterprise Zone which helped attract Mc-

Donalds and Dollar General. These projects created over 100 jobs for residents in the community. Coming soon to Indiantown will be the first Dunkin Donuts, located on Warfield Boulevard in the center of town will be a complementary addition to the downtown business district. The new coffee house will sit adjacent to Village Square II, a new retail center with over 10,000 square feet of space.

On the industrial front, the “Ready, Redundant and Sustainable” Florida Commerce Park, a 100acre industrial park consisting of up to 1.3 million buildable square feet is now offering available “permit-ready” parcels from 1.4+ acres. The park is strategically situated along FDOT’s critical intermodal roadway system and CSX’s main rail, offering easy access to the east and west coasts, exceptional broadband capacity from ITS Fiber who was named one of the Top Smart Rural Communities and a Gigabit community, diverse talent pool, and ideal transport logistics via rail, water, air and highway access.

Current BDB Project Pipeline (by industry sector)

Youth LEADERship Day The BDBMC participated in Martin Youth LEADERship and HR Martin’s Career Day on April 2 to introduce our organization to students at a mock job fair at The Pine School in Hobe Sound. The Martin Youth LEADERship students learned about economic development and the local business environment and engaged in

dialogue relating to their core areas of academic interest and future career goals. The students learned valuable information about the local business environment and picked up real world tools they can apply regarding future internships, career paths and local companies in related industries and sectors of interest.

www.bdbmc.org

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

■ PARTNER CORNER JENSEN BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AFTER HOURS MIX & MINGLE Tue. April 14 @ 5:30-7:00 p.m., $5 Jan’s Place, 1900 NE Jensen Beach Blvd. STUART CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BILL DRURY SEMINAR “KEEPING CUSTOMERS IN 2015” Thurs. April 23 @ 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. IRSC Wolf Technology Center, 2400 S. E. Salerno Rd., Stuart Contact Lisa Teetor at 772-287-1088 x111 or lisat@stuartmartinchamber.org.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Florida’s trade relations impact the nation

As the seventh largest exporter of state-origin products, Florida-origin exports total more than $58.6 billion and supported 275,221 U.S. jobs in 2013.

International business and foreign direct investment account for approximately 17 percent of Florida’s economic activity, and directly support more than 1 million Florida jobs. From the Americas and beyond, Florida is quickly becoming the hub for global trade, especially in emerging markets such as Africa, Latin America and the Middle East where growth projections remain higher than in developed markets and where purchasing power continues to increase.

More than one-third of Florida exports go to countries that have trade agree-

ments with the United States. When oil exports are excluded, Florida is the number one exporter to Central and South America, with Florida exporting more than $30 billion in goods to that region in 2014. The US Commercial Service is now offering a complimentary download of their 2015 Basic Guide to Exporting. This free guide addresses virtually every issue a company looking to export might face. The guide includes numerous sections, charts, lists and definitions. The guide includes 19 chapters of in-depth information and solid advice about the key activities and issues relevant to any prospective exporter, including getting things rolling, delivering your product, financial issues, overseas activities and legal issues. To receive a link to download the complimentary guide, please email the BDBMC at info@bdbmc.org.

Business briefs

Praxair named in 100 Best Corporate Citizens list Praxair, Inc., a Fortune 250 company located in Stuart, has more than $12 billion in sales for 2014 and is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America and one of the largest worldwide. As a recognized global leader in sustainable development, Praxair has again been named to Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens list. Praxair placed among the top 20 companies in the list for its leadership and achievements in climate and environmental responsibility, employee engagement, diversity, and strong governance policies and practices. “We are proud to once again be recognized by CR Magazine as one of the best corporate citizens in the U.S.,” said Anne Roby, senior vice president. “Praxair has a culture that values and encourages community support, environmental stewardship, employee engagement and strong governance. Each day our employees around the world are making decisions based on these values and in doing so are supporting our com-

pany, our customers and the communities where we live and work. This award is a direct result of their efforts.” Praxair supplies atmospheric, process and specialty gases, high-performance coatings, and related services and technologies to a wide variety of customers. With 26,000 employees and operations in more than 30 countries, Praxair focuses on helping customers become more profitable, efficient and environmentally friendly serving a wide range of industries: aerospace, chemicals, electronics, energy, food and beverages, healthcare, manufacturing, metals, and others.

STS escalates in the marketplace In August 2008, STS Aviation Group launched a new division that consisted of eleven employees focused on providing distribution and supply chain solutions for the commercial aircraft and engine markets. This business is known as STS Component Solutions, located in Palm City, and today employs more than 78 people worldwide! STS Aviation Group of Jensen Beach is a recognized global leader in the purchasing, sales and distribution of commercial aircraft and engine components. With established partnerships and a wide range of original equipment manufacturers providing support and service for

Prior winners include the City of Tallahassee’s “Get There Green” 18 square mile holistic transportation program, and Universal Studio’s “Green is Universal” campaign which focused on water, energy, waste, horticulture and fuel conservation. A blue ribbon panel will evaluate the nominees based on outcomes achieved, the ability to duplicate the effort and overall success of the initiative. Nominees will be recognized at a formal awards program, featured in social media, print publications, and will also be honored by the Governor. Sustainable Florida functions as an independent, non-profit and non-partisan alliance that serves as the primary statewide collaborator on sustainability issues. Its mission is to advance the vision of sustainability by identifying, supporting and communicating best management practices—those which protect and preserve Florida’s environment for the future while building markets for Florida’s businesses by enhancing their competitive advantages today.

STS has grown their business organically by broadening their distribution portfolio and acquiring more engine and aircraft assets.

In December 2014, STS acquired a globally renowned distribution and production organization that manufactures hoses for aircraft, engine and industrial markets. This acquisition, STS Air-Pro, has brought many new synergies to STS and represents a new opportunity for continued growth and expansion. “We have been very fortunate to accomplish what we have done over the past five years, which is no doubt a direct result of being based in Martin County. The local community, talent pool and BDBMC have all been vital elements contributing to our growth and success” Covella continued, “STS looks forward to continued growth and expansion in Martin County as we look to build upon the foundation that we have established over the years”.

dent of Personnel Dynamics, will present the survey results from program participation. For over 20 years, Hoeffner has focused on the human side of business, understanding that motivating employees is the key to customer service, sales and client loyalty. His exciting, powerful and passionate presentation will make for a fun-filled and rewarding luncheon. Stay tuned to next week’s edition of Martin County Business for the recipients of the Best Places to Work, Martin County 2015.

Is the next Mark ■ NOW HIRING AVAILABLE AT HOUSE Zuckerberg coming to ■OFPOSITIONS HOPE: • Project Hope Program Assistant, Palm City part time or full time • Project Hope Case Manager 1, part time or full time • House of Hope Floating Branch Assistant

Complete job descriptions are available by contacting Jill Marasa at the BDBMC: jill@bdbmc.org

FOR■LEASE PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT

STUART,FOR FLORIDA SALE STUART, FLORIDA

Arian Gilliam, 17, graduated from UCF last week at an age before most students even start attending college. Having started homeschooling at the age of 4 through Florida Virtual School, the Orlando native started classes at UCF at 13. As one of the university’s youngest graduates, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. (The university’s youngest graduate was a 16-year-old in 1998.)

• Light industrial • 16,000 sq. ft. • 2,000 sq. ft. office space • Office/partial warehouse air conditioned • 2 dock high loading areas truck well • Turpike visibility • Full sprinklers • 3 phase electric

Light Industrial 16,000 sq. ft. warehouse 2,000 sq. ft. office space

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“I never was really trying to be the youngest graduate,” Gilliam said. “But being such a young graduate is something I’m proud of. I’m just a normal alumni.” He took all honors and AP courses, plus two years of Chinese language, receiving As in all FLVS classes. Gilliam is fluent in Mandarin and finished the course work needed for early college admission in August 2011, the same month he started UCF. With that background, he wasn’t intimidated by information attendingFor whatmore has become the second largest university in the nation.

Contact the BDBMC Thanks772-221-1380 to an internship at Optima Healthcare Solutions in Palm City, Gilliam will jill@bdbmc.org start work there fulltime as a software developer in June.

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

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In 2010, the company saw revenue skyrocket from $16M to $29M and over the next five years revenue continued to increase by 368%. According to Tom Covella, Group President of STS Component Solutions, “the Business Development Board of Martin County was instrumental in supporting this growth by providing grant assistance to develop our employees and resources from CareerSource Research Coast to find local talent.”

CareerSource Research Coast, in partnership with the Chambers of Commerce, will be celebrating the Best Places to Work 2015 on May 14 with a prestigious award luncheon honoring Martin County businesses. The Best Places to Work program provides a confidential forum for businesses to evaluate best practices in the workplace. Participating companies receive a complimentary benchmarking report summarizing survey responses, a valuable tool providing a blueprint on workplace initiatives and best practices. Gerry Hoeffner, Presi-

their products to commercial airlines worldwide, STS also purchases commercial aircraft and engines for disassembly, recertification and resale.

Who will be Martin County’s Best Places to Work?

In 2013, Praxair purchased NuCO2, headquartered in Stuart, the largest provider of fountain beverage carbonation in the United States for $1.1 billion. NuCO2 with more than 172,000 customers in over 150 service locations is the primary beverage gas supplier to the top 100 national restaurant chains and carbonates over 43 million drinks per day.

Awarding businesses with best practices

Sustainable Florida is looking for businesses, community and government groups that have demonstrated outstanding achievements and attained excellence in general sustainability practices. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 Sustainable Florida Best Practice Awards at www. sustainableflorida.org through May 14. This Best Practice Award recognizes organizations and individuals for their dynamic work in helping to create a more sustainable Florida. Since 1990, Sustainable Florida has exhibited a strong commitment to improve Florida’s environment and economy, while building a safer, healthier, higher quality of life for all of Florida’s citizens.

Profile

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

For more info contact the BDBMC at  Office/partial 772-221-1380

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Did you know? Florida has the 4th largest economy in the U.S. and the 19th largest economy in the world.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

House of Hope honored as Organization of the Year • House of Hope touches the lives of more than 5,000 monthly including: low-wage workers, fixed-income senior citizens, veterans, victims of domestic abuse, and people who are unemployed, disabled and the homeless. One-third of those beneficiaries are children.

House of Hope took home the trophy as Martin County’s Organization of the Year -- an honor received at the second annual Jewels of the Treasure Coast awards ceremony. This celebration of non-profit organizations on the Treasure Coast took place on May 7 by 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast. 211 HelpLine provides information, referral and crisis intervention 24 hours a day. The selection of Organization of the Year in each county -- Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee – was based on the nominee’s proven track record of providing a positive impact in the community, outstanding performance and financial sustainability. Because of the many services that provide basic human needs to people in crisis, House of Hope has consistently ranked among the top referral agencies from the 211 HelpLine in Martin County.

Each month, about one-quarter of the 211 HelpLine referrals in Martin County go to House of Hope, and House of Hope was the leading referral agency during the 2013-14 service year.

• House of Hope has four services centers in the county: Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown and Jensen Beach. Services include: Client Choice food pantries, the Clothes Closet program for clothing, housewares and furniture; financial assistance for rent, mortgage, utilities, critical medical expenses and prescriptions; information & referral; and basic life skills training and long-term planning through case management. • Numerous partnerships with local agencies reflect the trust and dependability that defines House of Hope. Collaborations include: the VNA mobile clinic, the Council on Aging, the Martin County Veterans Services Office, The Salvation Army, Martin Health System, Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, Treasure Coast Food Bank, Project LIFT and many faithbased organizations. • House of Hope is supported by 180 volunteers each month (500 volunteers on an annual basis). Volunteers contribute nearly 40,000 manpower hours yearly and are a key factor in keeping the organization’s administrative costs low, ensuring that 89 cents of every dollar goes directly to client services. Visit www.hohmartin.org for more information about House of Hope.

Business briefs

Brightway Insurance agent wins “Million Dollar Award”

Best Places to Work

And the winners are… On May 14, Personnel Dynamics and CareerSource Research Coast announced the winners of Best Places to Work for 2015. Gerry Hoeffner, President and Founder, gave a thorough presentation on best practices for companies to make the most of their human resources. With an unemployment rate of 5.3% in Martin County, Hoeffner offered tips on how to increase employee retention. All six employers were found to excel in areas of employment attraction and retention. What makes these companies Martin County’s 2015 Best Places to Work? Over 50 Employees Optima Healthcare Solutions: Recreation room with ping pong table, pool table, TVs and computers, 4 PTO bonus days to use with Christmas or New Year’s week, 100% company paid benefits including health, dental, vision, life and Optima 3% 401k contribution, 18% promotion rate, 6.2% turnover rate and $2,937 average per employee

spending on training and development Sailfish Point: Educational scholarship for employees and family members, “Sailfish Bucks” reward program for doing great things which can be redeemed for gift cards and movie tickets, 4.5% turnover rate, 94% of employees attended training programs, averaging 59 hours of training per employee

Tykes & Teens: 89.6% of employees attending training programs in 2014, 9.1% growth rate, Executive Director is evaluated by all employees each year, employees required to participate as liaisons to bring STS Aviation Group: forth sensitive issues Family picnics, sports leagues, charter fishing RV Johnson Insurance: trips, self-defense classes, Flex time and shorter work Walk for Life, holiday par- week at 37.5 hours, 100% pay ties, office team lunches, toward professional devel53% growth rate, $1,219 av- opment, 52% of employees erage per employee spend- participate in bonus plan ing on training and devel- and 76% participate in volopment, 100% employee untary retirement plan participation in profit sharing plan/bonus plan, and a CareerSource Research Rolex watch for 10 years of Coast presented the 2015 service Martin County Best Places to Work program with Under 50 Employees support from the Business Children’s Services Development Board of MarCouncil: 0% turnover rate, tin County, Stuart/Martin staff retreat and communi- Chamber of Commerce, Incation workshops, 36 paid diantown Chamber of Comdays off after one year, merce and the Palm City 100% participation in fully Chamber of Commerce.

May is Military Appreciation Month While the brave men and women who serve our country deserve praise each and every day, this month offers a unique opportunity to recognize the commitment and sacrifices made by current and former military service members. ∂ Florida is home to more than 61,000 active service members and 12,000 National Guard members. ∂ More than 1.5 million veterans have chosen to call Florida home, which accounts for the third largest veteran population in the country. Because Florida keeps taxes low and has created the conditions for economic success, veterans are choosing to build businesses that contribute to our growing economy across Florida. ∂ According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, veterans are 45 percent more likely than their civilian counterparts to become successful entrepreneurs. ∂ Florida ranks third in the nation for the highest number of veteran-owned businesses, which generate $62 billion in revenue annually and employ more than 310,000 Floridians. ∂ One in every 11 businesses in Florida is owned by a veteran, which means more than likely you’ve shopped at a veteran-owned business in your community.

Vincent Zanfini, an agent at Brightway - Barletta Agency in Stuart, received the “Million Dollar Award” for Top Producer in Brightway Insurance at the annual conference held in Jacksonville, Florida. With over 540 agents selling Brightway Insurance, the accolade is a grand achievement.

sales staff of young business professionals that he personally mentors, helping them become the next leaders in the area.

Tony Barletta opened Brightway Insurance Agency in 2010, after owning 3 national, well-known insurance agencies on the Treasure Coast over the past 22 years. Barletta coordinates a top-notch

Personnel Dynamics has a new online tool for managers and companies to acVisit www.brightwayinsurancestuart- curately determine how much it costs to south.com or call 772-872-8700 for more lose an employee. Employee turnover can information on Brightway Insurance. negatively affect an organization’s bottom line, however, few managers know how expensive those costs can be and the affect turnover may have on an organization. While some turnover is healthy for an orequipment, machinery or additional needs ganization, too much turnover drains an to enhance business operations. organization of time, money, momentum and morale. The program is offered to all businesses located in Martin County. Business ownGerry Hoeffner, President and Founder, ers may select a company representative to created TheTurnoverCalculator.com as a participate on behalf of the business. The learning tool and educational opportunity program is offered at no cost to participants, for management teams for large and small  other than a one-time $25 application fee. companies. Answer some simple questions This fee includes yearly participation at the for each position and the website calculator Small Business Incubator at Indian River will track the answers and determine the State College in Stuart, providing compli- costs associated with turnover. Hoeffner mentary support and technical services to encourages companies to include supervimembers. sors in this process, “People do not argue with their data.information If your supervisors Forown more To meet the demand for this exciting pro- participate in answering the questions, gram, registration is now open for the sec- they are more likely to believe the costs ond session which will begin in September associated with losing their employees.” 2015. For more information on the program and application process, visit www.bdbmc. Visit theturnovercalculator.com and org and click on “Small Business Resources” use code BDB2015 for a free 3-day trial then “Small Business Assistance.” until July 31.

Zanfini, Barletta and the remainder of the Brightway staff, market themselves by volunteering their time, giving back to the community and networking. Barletta, a well-known business leader, is a two-time Chairman of the Stuart/ Martin County Chamber of Commerce, also serves on the Board of Directors of the Visionary School of Arts and is past Chairperson of the Cattle Baron’s Ball for the American Cancer Society.

These numbers show that from the frontlines to storefronts, Florida’s veterans are continuing to serve. Visit the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Facebook and Twitter pages to read their inspiring stories. Take time this month to say thank you to the men and women in your lives who have served or continue to serve valiantly to enable all of Florida and the United States to thrive in freedom and liberty.

FOR LEASE

How much is attrition ■ PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT STUART,FOR FLORIDA SALE STUART, FLORIDA costing you?

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Contact the BDBMC 772-221-1380 jill@bdbmc.org

www.bdbmc.org

Light Industrial 16,000 sq. ft. warehouse 2,000 sq. ft. office space

Growing small businesses, one class at a time The Business Development Board of Martin County (BDBMC), in partnership with Indian River State College is pleased to announce the successful start of the Business Accelerator Program. This program was developed to enhance entrepreneurial skills and activities, create jobs and assist in the growth and expansion of our existing business community. BAP is a two phase program, beginning with a 13-week classroom curriculum to enhance the participant’s skill set in key business fundamentals including finance, marketing, social media, sales and customer service. Upon completion of the program, the business may apply for a maximum grant up to $5,000. This grant, administered by the BDBMC, is offered to businesses who successfully complete the program and are seeking funding for

funded retirement program and organizational health/ dental insurance program

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

For info contact the BDBMC at  more Office/partial 772-221-1380

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Did you know? Florida is the 7th largest exporter of state-origin products in the U.S.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Private Funding Initiative

Are you a “Company to Watch”? Invest in Martin County’s future

GrowFL, Florida’s leading support organization for second-stage growth companies, is accepting applications for its annual Companies to Watch awards program. This event, now in its fifth year, honors 50 second-stage companies for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities and creating new industries throughout Florida. GrowFL was created by the Florida legislature as an economic development program to help second-stage growth companies prosper. By providing strategies, resources and support to second-stage companies for next level growth through strategic research and peer-to-peer CEO mentoring, GrowFL helps companies overcome obstacles to growth and leads them towards prosperity. This program is offered in partnership with the Edward Lowe Foundation, founded in 1985 by Ed and Darlene Lowe, to actively embrace and encourage entrepreneurship. The foundation’s mission is to “champion the entrepreneurial spirit” as a cornerstone of the free enterprise system. The foundation helps second-stage business owners take their companies to the next level through peer

learning and teaching a wider understanding of the vital role second-stage companies play in the U.S. economy. For consideration as a Florida Companies to Watch, the company must meet the following criteria for the year ending 2014: Must be privately held, commercial enterprise headquartered in Florida (non-profits are not eligible to apply); moved past the startup stage; facing issues of growth, not survival; employ 6 to 150 full-time employees; earn between $750,000 and $100 million in annual revenue or working capital; and demonstrate the intent and capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, entrepreneurial leadership, competitive advantage and/or other notable factors showcasing the company’s success. Over the past five years, the Business Development Board of Martin County has nominated companies throughout the community to receive this prestigious award recognition including Optima Healthcare Solutions, ATGI, H2Ocean, Custom Agronomics, Seatorque Control Systems, PAC Seating Systems, UCT Coatings and Level 3 Inspection. Are you a Florida Company to Watch? Contact Jill Marasa at 772-221-1380 to learn more about the program and the nomination/application process.

Business briefs

Florida repeats as #1 state for aerospace manufacturing attractiveness Florida ranked first in the United States for aviation manufacturing attractiveness for the second year in a row according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers U.S. 2015 Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness Rankings. The 2015 PwC report ranked states on tax rates, industry size, operating cost and education, and Florida again had an overall ranking of first in the nation. Governor Scott said, “We are proud that Florida has been ranked number one for aviation manufacturing attractiveness for the second year in a row. We are working every day to help Florida out-compete the world as the best place to do business, and I look forward to more aerospace and aviation companies growing in Florida.” Florida is home to more than 2,000 aerospace and aviation companies that employ more than 82,000 Floridians and create an annual payroll impact of more than $5 billion in the state. In addition to our two community airports, Witham Field in Stuart and the X58 Indiantown Airport in In-

diantown, two fixed based operators Atlantic Aviation and Stuart Jet Center, Martin County is also home to Triumph Aerostructures – Vought Aircraft Division, Paradigm Precision, PAC Seating Systems, STS Aviation Group, Advanced Technologies Group, EB Airfoils, ETS Power Group, Florida RF Labs/EMC Technology, Level 3 Inspection and Kreiger Machine Company. Florida has long been the world’s premier gateway to space, a major hub for flight training and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), and home to leading manufacturers of all types of aircraft and aircraft components. Bill Johnson, Enterprise Florida president and CEO said, “Florida is a leader in the aviation and aerospace industry thanks to Governor Scott’s leadership, our strong base of industry leading companies, and the support of our statewide partners. Those assets, along with Florida’s perfect business climate and highlyskilled aerospace workforce, make our state the ideal location for the businesses that call Florida home.”

HMY Yachts hires marine industry veterans HMY Yachts, is excited to announce the hiring of three new team members with longstanding roots in the marine industry. Steve Moynihan, President and Owner of HMY Yachts, said of the hiring, “We are excited about the experience that Rich Lazzara, Louis Dvorak, and Rob Bowman bring to HMY. Rich and Louis have proven track records in yachts sales and their integrity aligns with our company’s values. Rob Bowman brings a background in digital marketing that will keep HMY at the forefront of the latest trends and technology.” Lazzara, most recently owner of Lazzara-Lenton Yacht Sales in Ft. Lauderdale, is a third generation yacht builder and has spent over 20 years in the marine industry. Dvorak spent over 30 years in the marine industry, including 20 years at Oviatt Marine in Ft. Lauderdale, where he quickly became Oviatt’s number one salesperson. Bowman won the 2013 Sales MVP

The Business Development Board of Martin County has launched a campaign encouraging private investment for economic development in the county. The BDBMC has been in existence for over 20 years offering services to expanding and new businesses. The primary funding source for the organization, the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, has recently reduced its funding to the BDBMC. In order to maintain its quality of programs and services the BDBMC will require additional funding sources and assistance

■ SynapticAP, Stuart • Management Associate - Bachelor’s degree in Business required ■ HealthSouth, Stuart • Full time RNs – 12 hour day & night shifts, 3 shifts per week • Full time CNAs 12 hour day & night shifts, 3 shifts per week • Occupational Therapist – full time • Physical Therapist – full time Email cover letter and resume to: jill@bdbmc.org

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FOR LEASE

Riviera Yachts, the largest luxury boat building company in Australia, has expanded to Stuart, Florida with a new office in Sailfish Marina. The office, designed and built by Bayview Construction, will serve as Riviera’s dealer network support center and their international base in the U.S. Construction on the new facility was completed in October 2014. “The new office at Sailfish Marina offers a sleek, modern design and an impressive front for our American headquarters in Stuart, Florida,” said International Sales Director, Chris McCafferty. “Stuart’s ease of access to the Atlantic Ocean makes this the perfect place for our recent expansion.”

Riviera offers a range of boats from 36 to 77 feet in length. Riviera also owns the Australian-designed luxury marque, Belize Motoryachts – a bespoke motoryacht line. Their new office is located at 3587 SE Saint Lucie Boulevard in Stuart. Bayview Construction is one of the leading general contractors and a national award winning company in construction and safety. Bayview has been creating relationships and providing quality construction services to clients throughout Florida, from the east to the west coast for 36 years, since 1978.

Visit www.riviera.com.au for more information on Riviera Yachts or www.bayviewconstruction.com for Bayview Construction

conditioned

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

www.bdbmc.org

While the BDBMC’s work benefits the community as a whole, investor commitment is important to the success of the local economy. From networking opportunities with prominent business and government leaders, to extensive marketing programs and access to vital research, the BDBMC offers a variety of investor benefits. Visit www. bdbmc.org for a complete outline of the Private Investment Program or contact the BDBMC directly at 772.221.1380.

■ NOW HIRING Riviera expands to Stuart

 2 dock high loading Business Development Board of Martin County areas truck well

As a public-private partnership with the mission of assisting with the creation and retention of jobs and increasing tax revenue in Martin County, every level of investment is vital to the organization’s ability to achieve its goals. A private commitment to the BDBMC is a mutually beneficial investment that will strengthen your business and Martin County’s economy. The BOCC will continue to fund a portion of the operations in a dollar for dollar match (up to $100,000) for any private

Ferreira Construction, with Southeast headquarters in Stuart, was selected as a “Best Places to Work” in New Jersey for the 2nd consecutive year. “Best Places to Work” awards recognize and honor top employers who show a dedication to their employees’ professional growth and quality of life. A separate division, Nelson Ferreira, was also recognized as “Constructor of the Year” by the New Jersey Professional Engineers in Construction. Ferreira is a full-service construction company specializing in transportation infrastructures, utilities, marine work, buildings, interior renovations, solar installation and construction management si nce 1988. With satellite offices in New York City, Florida and California, Ferreira is currently working at the Brooklyn Bridge, Roosevelt Island and WTC Site in New York City and the Jupiter Observation Pier and Port Everglades in Florida.

FOR SALE

Contact the BDBMC 772-221-1380 jill@bdbmc.org

investment, thus making any pledge twofold.

Local contractor recognized in New Jersey

SPOTLIGHT award for top sales STUART, FLORIDA revenue • Light industrial at Dominion STUART,• 16,000 FLORIDAsq. ft. • 2,000 sq. ft. office space Marine Media and served as Vice President of • Office/partial warehouse Light Industrial air conditioned Sales and Marketing for the Aquila Power high loading areas Catamaran brand carried by MarineMax. 16,000 sq.• 2ft.dock warehouse truck well 2,000 officevisibility space Turpike HMY Yachts is one of the world’s larg-sq.•ft. est yacht dealers and brokerage firms • 3 phase electric with 9 locations in Florida, one based in Stuart, as well as a location in Charles Turnpike Visibility ton, South Carolina. HMY has been an  Full sprinklers industry leader in yacht sales since 1979 and is the sponsor of several major yacht 3 phase electric ing lifestyle, fishing, and showcase events throughout the year. Visit HMY online at www.HMY.com or socially at www. For info contact the  more Office/partial Facebook.com/HMYYachtSales. BDBMC at 772-221-1380 warehouse air For more information

from the local business community.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know? The City of Stuart was originally called Potsdam, chosen by Otto Stypmann, a local landowner originally from Potsdam, Germany.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Happy Small Business Week, Martin County!

The small businesses landscape has experienced many changes over the past few decades. More than half of Americans own or work for a small business and create approximately two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. In Martin County, over

99% of businesses employ under 500 full time employees, of which over 97% employ under 50 employees. In celebration of this week, please patronize the local small businesses in our community.

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The BDBMC is working for you and Martin County’s bottom line Economic Impact Analysis Return on Investment 2010 - 2014

Small business trends in 2014: • small businesses generated more than 65% of the new jobs created in the U.S. since 1996 • more than 540,000 new businesses were started each month •m ore than 16 million people worked from home in the United States • this number is projected to increase by 64% over the next 4 years

Business briefs

“Jobs! Jobs!” Jobs!” A note from Governor Scott

April 2, 2015 PREPARED BY:

Prepared by:

Go to www.bdbmc.org for the complete ROI analysis The research and analysis division of NCDS Inc.

3155 Roswell Rd. NE., Suite 250, Atlanta, GA 30305 517 449.0900 * www.ncdsinc.net

The Business Development Board of Martin County contracted with the National Community Development Services Research and Analysis Division to provide a 5 year return on investment analysis. It includes impacts from grants secured for area businesses, jobs created by the Small Business Development Center, jobs created by the Enterprise Zone in Indiantown and jobs created by marketing and business attraction. Economic impacts were computed by an Input/Output, I/O model created for Martin County. The model is based on the latest data available

from IMPLAN, the most widely used system to compute impacts, and the industry standard. Economic impacts are measured by: jobs, income, value added, and output. Income includes both wage and salary income from direct and indirect jobs, and proprietor income to those owners and self-employed persons affected by indirect and induced spending.

The BDBMC is doing very well. As of 2015, 5 years of steady job growth has returned $19.84 to the community in average corporate profits for every $1.00 invested in economic development, and this will now continue

each year. The public sector has also had solid returns. New annual sales taxes are $12,765,217 and new property taxes are $9,458,119. Dividing these tax returns by government investment in the BDBMC equals a return on investment, ROI. For sales and property taxes combined the ROI is $7.66 returned in taxes for every $1.00 invested, and when just property taxes are used, the ROI is $3.26 to $1.00. Page 1

The BDBMC has had steady and good success over the past 5 years with 36 investments that created 2,287 jobs, and over $118.7 million of new investment.

What if 100 businesses gave $100? Join the Live United movement, be part of the challenge and get recognized in print and social media. The United Way is looking to raise $10,000 with the 100 x 100 campaign to end hunger, improve education, ensure safety, support employment and healthy living and strengthen families. Together, the collective impact of these charitable donations will help the United Way create lasting change right here in our community. Organic Laboratories of Stuart will be featured in an episode of Designing Spaces titled “Enjoying Your Outdoor Living Spaces, Getting the Garden of Your Dreams Naturally” airing on May 7, 2015 at 7:00 a.m. The televised segment will present the benefits of organic gardening and explain why gardeners desiring effective and organic means of controlling insects choose Organocide 3-in-1 Garden Spray. The use of food-grade sesame oil as its active ingredient makes Organocide safe

to use around children and pets. Organic Laboratories is one of the country’s leading developers, producers and marketers of earth-friendly pesticides and fertilizers. One of the few industry providers with an in-house agronomist, their team is constantly researching and developing new products for a variety of users and industries. Visit yourplantdoctor.com for more information.

Seaward moving ahead with new sailboat model Seaward Sailboats of Stuart, a division of Hake Yachts, announced that it has entered into an agreement with Traditional Watercraft, Inc, to build a line of retracting keel sailboats (the RK Series). “I am excited to enter into this relationship with TWI. Bob Johnson’s reputation for building quality sailboats is unmatched in the industry,” Hake Yacht’s owner, Ted Gelov stated. Traditional Watercraft is considered one of the world’s premiere boat builders. In addition, Hake Yacht’s will move from a factory-direct sales, distribution, and support model to a global dealer network. Nick Hake, a resident of Martin County and founder and designer of the Seaward range, will continue in his role designing the next models. “We are delighted with the new partnership with Hake Yachts and their range of raising

Contact Wendie Berardi at wberardi@unitedwaymartincounty.org

ext.

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PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT ■ PARTNER CORNERFOR■LEASE

STUART,FOR FLORIDA SALE STUART, FLORIDA

32ND ANNUAL HOBE SOUND CHAMBER GOLF TOURNAMENT Date: Friday, May 8 Time: 1:00 p.m. Place: Hobe Sound Golf Club, presented by Metz Construction Company Cost: $150 per player includes golf on a premier private course, a BBQ dinner and awards ceremony with prizes Contact: 772-546-4724 or www. hobesound.org

Light Industrial 16,000 sq. ft. warehouse 2,000 sq. ft. office space

The first 12 teams registered will be entered into a raffle to win a pair of PeakVision sunglasses. for each player in the foursome.

 Turnpike Visibility  Full sprinklers LEARN AT LUNCH  Recruiting 3 phase electric Healthcare Lunch and Learn keel sailboats,” said Bill Bolin, long time VP of TWI continued, “these unique vessels have a loyal fan base and are well respected for their exceptional performance, shallow water capabilities and fine build qualities.” Seaward and TWI will be setting up a new dealership network to expand the presence of Seaward models throughout the U.S. and North America before turning their sights on the international market. Visit seawardyachts.com for more information.

Date: May 12 Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Place: The Stuart News office, 1939 SE Federal Hwy RSVP: susan.scoton@tcpalmcom or lane.farmer@tcpalm.com.

For more information

Contact the BDBMC 772-221-1380 jill@bdbmc.org

This complimentary workshop will provide easy, proven advice and solutions on recruiting in the healthcare industry using social media. Special guest presenter Amanda Padilla from Monster.

www.bdbmc.org

772-283-4800,

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

For more info contact the BDBMC at  Office/partial 772-221-1380

warehouse air

Did you know? From 4th quarter 2014 to 1st quarter 2015, there has been a 79% increase in people looking to buy a business in Florida.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Check out IRSC for quick job training

Indian River State College is ranked third among Florida colleges by the Florida College System for the number of graduates earning certifications. The college offers convenient, affordable, and hands-on training programs to meet our local workforce needs. Through the college’s Quick Job Training Trade

and Technical Certification programs, students quickly gain needed skills and experience to become well prepared for jobs with good wages. Many programs offer completion and certification within one year. Courses are offered in a variety of areas including: over 16 Health Science programs, Industrial trade (Auto, HVAC, Manufacturing), Computer Science and Public Service. For more information on available programs please contact Indian River State College at 1-866-792-4772 or visit www.irsc.edu.

Business briefs

Assessing your small business’ readiness to export

Between 2009 and 2011, U.S. exports grew by 40 percent. Making the decision to export, however, is significant. The SBA’s Export Business Planner is an invaluable, hands-on guide that provides a roadmap for creating an export business plan, discovering foreign markets, developing a marketing plan, exploring financing, costing your product and more. The guide includes the following steps: 1. Determining the benefits and trade-offs of international market expansion 2. Performing a business/company analysis

3. Conducting an industry analysis for your business 4. Identifying your products with export potential 5. Marketability: Matching your product/service with a global trend or need 6. Defining Which Markets to Pursue The SBA’s Export Planning guide is available online at www.sba.gov with tips and worksheets to help you plan, finance and execute your small business export strategy. Need one-on-one export assistance? Contact the Business Development Board of Martin County who can assist you in further detail.

Waste Management introduces idea of “Circular Economy” Six years ago, Waste Management began distinguishing operations that extract value from waste — “green services” — from those that isolate waste in safe disposal sites (the traditional model). Green services include all forms of recycling, as well as waste-toenergy and landfill-gas-to-energy projects and revenue from collections that feed these projects. The green category also includes consulting work helping other enterprises reduce and recycle waste as well as produce green energy. With decades of experience identifying safe, end-of-life solutions for waste, Waste Management is increasingly turning their attention to giving waste new life — contributing to a

circular economy where more waste has a chance to be reclaimed. This circular economy is devised of waste reentering the supply chain as recycled material, electricity or fuel. With customers as partners, Waste Management is working hard to expand and improve recycling, transform organic materials into useful products and energy and extract energy from residual waste including working with customers to redesign their products and services to generate less waste in the first place. To learn more about “Think Green” initiatives for your business, visit www. wm.com/thinkgreen.

Life science pitch event at BioFlorida BioFlorida, a statewide trade association for the life sciences industry, is accepting applications from seed and earlystage life science companies interested in presenting during BioPitch at the annual conference taking place October 11 – 13 in Orlando. For the first time, accepted companies will compete during closed door sessions on the morning of October 12, and selected finalists will present dur-

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INPHI personnel reach certification milestone and field exams, as well as completion of work experience prerequisites. BPI-certified quality control inspectors meet the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building Construction compliance requirements, according to Carman. INPHI’s certified employees also meet the global benchmark for quality personnel certifications The home energy pro- across all industries – the Infessionals at Indiantown ternational Organization for Non-Profit Housing, Inc. Standardization 17024 Stannow hold a record number dard – as accredited by the of industry certifications for American National Stanthe Treasure Coast region. dards Institute, said Car“All nine of our inspector- man. “They are equipped level employees now hold and ready to serve our local advanced Home Energy new home builders with all Professional Quality Con- their energy code complitrol certifications from the ance requirements.” Building Performance Institute,” said INPHI ExecuIn addition to the Quality tive Director Donna Car- Control Inspector certificaman. “Our highly trained tions, INPHI professionals employees are available to are also certified as energy help local contractors meet auditors, retrofit installers Florida’s energy code com- and crew leaders. Quality pliance regulations for new control inspectors verify home construction.” BPI’s that construction or retHome Energy Professional rofit work meets standard, certifications demonstrate they conduct audits and advanced competency inspections, and develop through rigorous written reports that specify correc-

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, in conjunction with the Small Business Development Center and other partners, is offering two new innovative financing programs. The Microfinance Loan Program consists of short-term, fixed-rate microloans in conjunction with business training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Microfinance Guarantee Program is designed to provide targeted guarantees for loans to entrepreneurs and small Businesses via Enterprise Florida, Inc. Both programs are available to Florida companies with 25 or fewer employees and gross annual revenues of up to $1.5 million. Proceeds can be used for startup costs, working capital, and to purchase materials, supplies, furniture, fixtures and equipment.

FOR LEASE

STUART, FLORIDA

For more information on these financing programs, contact the Business Development Board at 772-221-1380.

Industrial PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT ■ PARTNER CORNER Light ■ 2nd Annual Indiantown 16,000 5K Bridge sq. ft. warehouse FOR LEASE STUART, FL Run/Walk/Bike Date: Sat, June 20 • Light industrial • 16,000 sq. ft. 2,000 sq. ft. office space Time: 7:00 a.m. start time • 2,000 sq. ft. office space • Office/parPlace: Timer Powers Park, 14100 SW Citrus Blvd Cost: $35/adult, $20/student, $10/child Register at indiantownchamber.com or call 772-597-2184

tial warehouse air conditioned • 2 dock high loading areas truck well • Turpike visibility • Full sprinklers • 3 phase electric

 Turnpike Visibility  Full sprinklers 3 phase electric

Indiantown Non Profit Housing & Indiantown Chamber of Commerce Taste of the West Picnic in the Park Date:June 25 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Place: Timer Powers Park, 14100 SW Citrus Blvd RSVP by June 16 to 772-597-3667

For more information

Contact the BDBMC 772-221-1380 jill@bdbmc.org

As Martin County stands at its lowest unemployment rate since 2008, employers are hiring:

Business Development Board of Martin County Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

www.bdbmc.org

INPHI professionals are available for work with local contractors and can be reached at 772-597-3667 or toll-free at 877-212-0309. Visit www.inphi.org for more information.

Alternative financing for small business

ing the general session in the afternoon. The winner will be announced at the closing session later that day. Compa- • Communications and Marketing nies developing products in any area of Coordinator: Responsible for effective the life sciences that meet certain criteria internal and external communications outline on the website are encouraged to and promotion of programs, projects apply and will be reviewed by the Bioand initiatives designed to encourage Florida BioPitch selection committee. volunteerism and community impact Investors will be in attendance at the • Automotive Electrician: Install, BioPitch and Investor Participation pormaintain and repair electrical wiring, tions of the conference. The deadline to equipment and fixtures in heavy truck apply is Friday, August 28. Visit www. equipment; ability to read and follow bioflorida.com for more information. blueprints and schematics

tive actions to achieve optimal whole house energy performance. Certified energy auditors evaluate the efficiency, health and safety of a home, using diagnostic equipment to identify areas for energy savings. They produce audit reports and develop a prioritized scope of work for improved energy efficiency. Crew leaders supervise installation and performance of weatherization measures, ensuring quality workmanship. Retrofit installers ensure proper installation of products and services related to existing home energy efficiency such as residential envelope air sealing, HV/ AC duct sealing, insulation, windows and doors, mechanical ventilation and roofing upgrades in single family homes and small multi-family housing.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

For more info contact the BDBMC at 772-221-1380



Office/partial warehouse • Operations Analyst: air Provide monthly cost and performance conditionedleadership to op-

erations; establish productivity methodologies; manage accounting process for center; provide cost analysis operations 2 dock high loading support and inventory management • CNA’s/Nursing Technicians: areas truck well Full time/3 shifts per week (day and night available) • RN’s: 12 hour shifts/3 shifts per week (day and night available) • Hydroblaster: Performs setup, inspects, operates, maintains & repairs high pressure water blasting equipment and industrial vacuuming equipment to perform proper removal, containment, transporting, and disposal of both hazardous and nonhazardous materials Email jill@bdbmc.org with your cover letter and resume.

Did you know? While names like “Inlet” and “Golden Gate” were first considered, Martin County was named after the 24th Governor of Florida, John Wellborn Martin.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

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Martin Health System wins Caulkins water farm pilot award for fifth time a discharge solution

Martin Health executive leaders and associates from various departments gathered to celebrate receipt of the 2015 Employer of Choice award. Pictured here from left to right are: Cha Butler, Andrew McDonough, Ryann Delahunty, Mark Robitaille, Rob Lord, Angie Metcalf, Kathlyn McGlynn and Jamie Saunders. Martin Health has been recognized by Employer of Choice International, Inc. for the fifth time in the past six years. The Employer of Choice designation is awarded to public, private or nonprofit employers that demonstrate effective implementation of best practices in attracting, developing and retaining outstanding people. Award recipients must complete a rigorous evaluation process that considers the leadership, culture and best practices used to attract, optimize and retain top talent. Martin Health is in an elite group of 37 businesses and organizations from across the country that has been recog-

nized as an Employer of Choice. Martin Health has received the designation five times - in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015. “Achieving our mission of providing exceptional health care in Martin and St. Lucie Counties depends on our ability to attract individuals who are committed to excellence in their work and dedicated to the health and well-being of our patients,” said Mark Robitaille, president and chief executive officer. “This recognition is a reflection of Martin Health’s commitment to creating a satisfying work environment that encourages and supports the education and growth of our associates.”

Business briefs

New technology treat contaminated lakes and rivers around the world and deploy at a moment’s notice in large bodies of water.

Ecosphere Technologies, Inc., a technology development and intellectual property licensing company in Stuart, introduced the Ozonix Sentinel -- the world’s first line of water treatment vessels for cleaning up endangered rivers and lakes of the world. Designed around Ecosphere’s multi-patented Ozonix water treatment technology, the Sentinel is the first water treatment vessel of its kind to be able to treat high-volumes of water in rivers, lakes, lagoons and estuaries that have been contaminated as a result of depleted oxygen levels and industrial pollutants. In September 2013, Ecosphere demonstrated the effectiveness of its multi-patented Ozonix water treatment technology to increase and maintain the Oxygen Reduction Potential of water being discharged from Lake Okeechobee to Florida’s Indian River Lagoon. Ecosphere has received patents on a solution that is mobile, highvolume, environmentally safe and costeffective in its ability to treat water in-situ

Dennis McGuire, Chairman and CEO of Ecosphere Technologies, stated, “Not only can the Sentinel be used to revitalize already-contaminated water sources, but it can also be used to prevent toxic algae and cyanobacteria outbreaks by maintaining a body of waters ORP within desirable ranges. We look forward to working with local, state and government officials in addition to large environmental engineering firms and strategic licensees that wish to bring this patented water treatment solution to some of the world’s most endangered bodies of water.” Jean-Michel Cousteau, world-renowned Environmentalist and Ecosphere Director Emeritus, stated, “The Sentinel is another example of Ecosphere’s proven ability and this innovation will enable state and government agencies around the world to now save and protect endangered rivers, lakes and marine sanctuaries for future generations.” Visit www.ecospheretech.com for more information and to view Ecosphere’s Lake Okeechobee demonstration.

Florida company gains buzz with beefriendly insecticide One important facet of organic gardening is product safety toward beneficial insects, like honeybees. As pollinators of many of the world’s plants, accounting for as much as 30% of the production of food crops, the protection of honeybees is vital. The issue of bee safety is important because the native bee population is declining worldwide due in part to harmful pesticide use. The European Union has banned a certain class of pesticides—neonicontinoids—and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a moratorium on new applications for their use. Organic Laboratories recently engaged i2L Research, a respected laboratory in the United Kingdom, to evaluate the effects of Organocide 3-in-1 Garden

Spray on honeybees. They concluded that that no adverse effect of the test items to honey bees was found. Organocide 3-in-1 Garden Spray destroys aphids, whiteflies, spider mites and other soft-bodied insects along with certain fungal diseases. Derived from natural oils, the spray is also safe to use around homes, children and pets. “Creating products that are effective and safe has always been a priority,” said Organic Laboratories’ Operations Manager, Rick Barr. Organic Laboratories offers a complete line of plant growth and control products for home gardeners, indoor gardeners and agricultural professionals. Visit www.yourplantdoctor.com for more information.

Ecosphere Technologies, Inc., a technology development and intellectual property licensing company in Stuart, introduced Ozonix Sentinel -- the world’s first line of water treatment vessels for cleaning up endangered rivers and lakes around world. Designed around Ecosphere’s multipatented Ozonix water treatment technology, the Sentinel is the first water treatment vessel of its kind to be able to treat high-volumes of water in rivers, lakes, lagoons and estuaries that have been contaminated as a result of depleted oxygen levels and industrial pollutants. In September 2013, Ecosphere demonstrated the effectiveness of its multipatented Ozonix water treatment technology to increase and maintain the oxygen reduction potential of water being discharged from Lake Okeechobee to the Indian River Lagoon. Ecosphere has received patents on a solution that is mobile, high-volume, environmentally safe and cost-effective in its ability to treat

Jean-Michel Cousteau, world-renowned environmentalist and Ecosphere Director Emeritus, stated, “The Sentinel is another example of Ecosphere’s proven ability and this innovation will enable state and government agencies around the world to now save and protect endangered rivers, lakes and marine sanctuaries for future generations.” Visit www.ecosphere tech.com for more information and to view Ecosphere’s Lake Okeechobee demonstration.

While it’s well-known that small businesses drive the economy, rarely do they stand in the national spotlight. Small Business, Big Game is one way Intuit QuickBooks can give small businesses a bigger voice. This eightmonth program, culminates with a real small business getting the opportunity of a lifetime: a 30-second commercial televised during the Super Bowl on February 7, 2016. Every year, some of the world’s biggest companies pay top dollar to feature their brands during the Super Bowl with its 121 million plus viewers. Due to the high demand and high cost, the commercials you see are usually for national corporations, but this year, a local small business could be among them. The winner will receive a 30-second TV commercial promoting their business that will run during the Big Game. Intuit QuickBooks will cover the cost of developing and producing the commercial as well as the cost of purchasing 30 seconds’ worth of advertising time during the Big Game. To enter, visit www.smallbusinessbiggame.com then click “Enter Now.” First, create a profile within OWN IT: A Small Business Network, hosted by Intuit QuickBooks. Once your profile is set up, you can enter your business into the program. To be eligible, small businesses must: • B e located in and primarily operate in the U.S. • Have 50 or fewer full-time employees • Have all necessary licenses and registrations and not be violating any state, local or federal laws. • B e the owner or an employee who is submitting with permission from the owner who is at least the age of majority in his/her state of residence may submit entry materials.

■ PARTNER CORNER 2nd Annual Indiantown 5K Bridge Run/Walk/Bike Followed by a benefit BBQ for the family of Cris Harrison Date: Sat, June 20 Time: 7:00 a.m. start time Place: Timer Powers Park, 14100 SW Citrus Blvd Cost: $35/adult, $20/student, $10/child Register at indiantownchamber.com or call 772-597-2184

Martin County companies currently hiring for the following positions:

Indiantown Non Profit Housing & Indiantown Chamber of Commerce Taste of the West Picnic in the Park Date: June 25 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Place: Timer Powers Park, 14100 SW Citrus Blvd RSVP by June 16 to 772-597-3667

Shop Helper – forklift experience, inventory and tool cart prep experience

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

www.bdbmc.org

ment solution to some of the world’s most endangered bodies of water.”

Small business, big game contest

water in-situ and deploy at a moment’s notice in large bodies of water.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Heavy Truck Mechanic - own tools, excellent experience, people leader with emphasis in customer service CNC Program - HSMWorks Programming experience, MAZAK, Milling, CNC operations

Email jill@bdbmc.org with your cover letter and resume.

Did you know? In just the last few months, 380 jobs were added to manufacture luxury boats in Florida.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

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Technology donations for non profits Water farming - Caulkins Indiantown pilot

TechSoup offers nonprofits access to donated and discounted software from more than 60 donor partners, including Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, Intuit, and Symantec. TechSoup has a clear focus in connecting nonprofits, charities, and public libraries with technology products, software and services, plus free e-learning resources to help organizations operate at their fullest potential with the latest technology.

Since 1987, over 180,000 organizations have received hardware and software donations from TechSoup’s donor partners. As a nonprofit themselves, TechSoup relies on institutional investment from grantors to provide necessary funding to pilot new programs and services. As of September, 2014 TechSoup had a global impact in pro-

viding over $4.6 billion in retail value of distributed technology donations in over 121 countries.

To get access to donated technology from TechSoup’s donor partners, nonprofits must register with TechSoup and meet each donor partner’s eligibility requirements to receive technology products. TechSoup charges a nominal administrative fee for each donation request which directly supports the organizations programs, services, and education. Once nonprofits are registered and qualified with TechSoup, members also get access to community forums, blogs, webinars, and forums led by expert hosts. Visit techsoup.org for more information and registration.

Caulkins Citrus Company of Indiantown has been in the citrus industry for over 50 years. When citrus greening began to raze groves beginning in the mid 2000’s, the company sought ways to transition the land into a viable resource for other agriculture opportunities and environmental concerns. The Water Farming Pilot Project, known as “Caulkins,” began in August 2013 as a public/private partnership between Caulkins Citrus Company and the South Florida Water Management District.

the Okeechobee locks and above the S-80 discharge facility.

tific monitoring, that they can harvest approximately 70-80,000 acre feet of water from the C-44 canal Caulkins constructed which can then be treated a berm on the perimeter and captured within their of 413 acres of the former additional 3,000 acres grove for this pilot study available for expansion where water is pumped of the pilot project. Acfrom the C-44 canal into cording to the St. Lucie the former citrus grove. River Watershed ProtecSince becoming operation Plan, the company estional in February 2014, timates that 200,000 acre this project has stored feet of storage is needed 20,000 acre-feet (one acre within the basin to reduce foot is 327,000 gallons), or discharge events annually 6.5 billion total gallons of by 90%. The expansion water taken from the ca- of the Caulkins program nal. The water crosses its represents a unique op413 acre footprint, remov- portunity by utilizing a

Water farming is an alternative water storage facility that supplements other water retention, storage and diversion projects that are designed to reduce destructive discharges from Lake Okeechobee and local drainage. The Caulkins property is uniquely located adjacent to the C-44 canal just below

ing the flow and its pollutants, nitrogen and phosphorus, from the basin and reducing discharges to the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. The success of this program has Caulkins seeking to expand its existing 413 acre water farming pilot project. The company estimates, based on scien-

Business briefs

FGBC Passes 10K home certifications!

It’s an amazing story and impressive number. From a small meeting of eight people in February 2000, grew an organization that leads the state in green building certified projects. The Florida Green Building Coalition certified its 10,000th residential project on June 1, and went on to reach a total of 10,130 certified homes that day. The Hamptons at Palm Beach Gardens, a luxury apartment complex by Current Builders of Pompano, FL, claimed the prestigious distinction of being the 10,000th residential project certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition. FGBC Certifying Agent Kyle Abney of Abney & Abney Green Solutions in Palm

City coordinated the certification process and helped the project team identify green strategies to improve building performance and occupant well-being in a cost-effective approach. FGBC certification programs are the only standards developed with climate specific criteria to address issues caused by Florida’s hot and humid environment and potential natural disasters. The Florida Green Building Coalition’s certification reach is growing significantly across the state. Its residential program is the most popular green building certification designation in Florida. In addition to the 10,130 residential certifications, 18 million square feet of commercial and high-rise projects are participating in the FGBC certification process, along with 77 local governments and 61 land development projects. Visit www.floridagreenbuilding.org for more information.

France Mason named VP of successful futures Helping People Succeed recently named its Community Relations Director, France Mason, to Vice President of Successful Futures, including Employment Options and Community Connections. She received the recognition for her work with adults with disabilities seeking employment positions and social skills.

system in Potomac, Maryland and as a program manager of Horizon Goodwill in Hagerstown, Maryland and similar positions since 1992.

Mason, who became a U.S. citizen in 2012, was hired by Helping People Succeed to work with adults with disabilities, a position she has handled as a vocational coordinator in the school

Helping People Succeed is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization serving more than 4,500 families in Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties. Visit www. hpsfl.org for more information.

Pa radigm Precision of Stuart has entered into a long-term agreement with Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp., to supply complex fabricated assemblies for Pratt & Whitney and Pratt & Whitney Canada’s next generation product family, including the PurePower engine family, and legacy programs. This agreement also includes United Technologies’ “One Company” master terms, which will facilitate other business between the two companies going forward. “I am very happy we have concluded this agreement with Pratt & Whitney,

which allows us to build on this longsta nding relationship,” said Greg Bennett, president and CEO of Paradigm Precision. “Our success in completing a new Master Terms Agreement, which aligns to UTC’s One Company approach, will facilitate our ability to respond rapidly to UTC’s needs. This forms the contractual basis for potential future business not only between Pratt & Whitney and Paradigm Manchester, but for all Paradigm companies and UTC’s aerospace affiliates. This is a firm foundation for our continued mutually beneficial collaboration with UTC.”

Electro-Mechanical Assemblers: Medical instrumentation assembly CNC Programmer: HSMWorks programming experience, MAZAK, Milling, CNC Operations

FOR LEASE

Email jill@bdbmc.org with your cover letter and resume.

STUART, FLORIDA

■ PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT Light Industrial Indiantown Non Profit Housing & FOR LEASE STUART, FL Indiantown Chamber of 16,000 Commercesq. ft. warehouse • Light industrial • 16,000 sq. ft. Taste of the West Picnic in the Park • 2,000 sq. ft. office space • Office/par2,000 sq. ft. office air space tial warehouse conditioned • 2 dock Date: June 25 ■ PARTNER CORNER

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Place: Timer Powers Park, 14100 SW Citrus Blvd RSVP by June 16 to 772-597-3667

high loading areas truck well • Turpike visibility • Full sprinklers • 3 phase electric

 Turnpike Visibility PROPERTY SPACE  FullSPOTLIGHT sprinklers AVAILABLE  3 phase electric Are you interested in showcasing your property in the weekly property spotlight? Contact the BDBMC for this unique marketing opportunity. Ads run each Wednesday.

For more information

For more info contact the BDBMC at  Office/partial 772-221-1380

Contact the BDBMC Business Development Board of Martin County Did

772-221-1380 Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business The Business Development Board of Martin County (BDBMC) is a public-private partnership working to promote balanced and orderly economic growth in Martin County. As the official economic development organization for Martin County, the BDBMC is charged with the responsibility of supporting exist-

www.bdbmc.org

Caulkins Citrus Company provides tours of the water farming project. Contact Melissa Corbett at 223-8850 for more information.

Group Controller: Become part of one of Martin County’s Best Places to Work. Join the accounting team responsible for financial operations of assigned entities. Reports to Vice President of Finance.

Mason has a degree in special education from University of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada and a certificate of Behavior Modification and Prevention, such as Positive Behavior Support, Body Mass Index and The Mandt System, a comprehensive, integrated approach to behavior.

Paradigm Precision signs $220m agreement

public/private partnership for the reduction of damaging discharges into the St Lucie River and satisfying almost 50% of the storage need.

jill@bdbmc.org

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC



warehouse air conditioned

you know? 2 dock high loading

areas truck well Chief Executive Magazine recently ranked Florida the second best state for business.

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Mechanic training promotes Stuart Audi earns highest honor local employees ciates. This four week extensive program includes training such as hole drilling, fastener installation, blueprint reading, the use of many different types of power tools and much more. The course requires participants to successfully complete several projects to determine their proficiency. This month, a dozen employees successfully completed the course and were assigned to the production floor.

Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Division’s heritage evolves from a world-class family tree including Grumman and Northrop and dates back to the 1950’s in Stuart. With over 400,000 square feet of facility space at Witham Field, Triumph is a major employer in Martin County with over 350 employees and maintains a strong commitment to training excellence. The Stuart location has assembly operations for a variety of aircraft structures including wing and fuselage sections, flight controls, and passenger and cargo doors.

The company just completed an Aircraft Structural Fundamentals training course for Sheet Metal Mechanic Asso-

In an effort to assist local companies with employee training, the company worked with CareerSource Research Coast and utilized the Employed Worker Training Grant Program (EWT) to cover some of the costs associated with the training. Programs, such as the EWT program, as well as additional state grant programs including the Quick Response Training (QRT) Program and the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Program, assist companies with grant dollars to help offset the high expenses associated with new and existing employee training. For more information on available training grants, contact the Business Development Board of Martin County at 772.221.1380.

Business briefs

Manufacturing training program to benefit local veterans and 2015 graduating seniors When one thinks of business in Florida, most think of tourism or Florida’s worldfamous citrus agriculture. Perhaps Florida’s best kept secret is its surge in the manufacturing sector. The Treasure Coast area manufacturing employment increased 25% from 2010 to 2015, the second largest increase of the four southeast metro areas. In an effort to provide high quality, high wage employment in Martin County, the Business Development Board of Martin County in partnership with Martin County Board of County Commissioners and the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041, are offering two scholarship programs for manufacturing training at the new Indian River State College Training Facility at Paradigm Precision. This seven week program is led by Indian River State College and will be held at the Chastain Campus and Regional Training Center locations in Stuart. This program offers participants the opportunity to gain targeted skills for employment in the manufacturing sector and to earn an industry certification after completion of course work and an opportunity to interview with regional manufacturing employers. Veterans Manufacturing Training Grant Program In partnership with Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041, twenty (20) scholarships are available for eligible veterans. Eligible veterans must: • Be a resident of Martin County or a returning veteran from service who re-

sided in Martin County for at least one year prior to service • Have served an aggregate of 36 months of activity duty service, or have been discharged for a service-connected disability after 30 days of continuous service • Must have honorable discharge • Be 18 years of age or older CAPE Student Training Program In partnership with Martin County Board of County Commissioners and the Martin County School District, 10 scholarships are available for eligible 2015 graduating seniors. Eligible students must: • Have been enrolled in a Career Academy program during the 2015 school year at one of the three high schools in Martin County • Be a resident of Martin County • Be a graduated senior in 2015 • Be 18 years of age or older by August 1st, 2015 For 2015 graduating seniors who did not participate in a career academy, additional opportunities exist for participation in this program. Contact Jill Marasa at 772-2211380 or jill@bdbmc.org for more information on the program and registration information.

are offered at prospective customers’ homes, offices or over a weekend. Customers needing a car wash can pop in for a free one at any time.

Audi Stuart was recently honored with Audi’s Elite Magna Society award, the highest honor bestowed upon Audi dealerships. Audi’s Magna Society program rates dealerships on their performance against goals for sales, customer service, facilities and fixed operations. Ninetyone Audi dealerships won the brand’s Magna Society award last year. Only the top 12 received the Elite designation and Audi Stuart was one point shy of the highest possible score. Owner Mario Murgado, CEO of Miami-based Brickell Motors, tried for years to expand the Audi brand into Stuart and finally got his wish in the summer of 2011, when Audi’s dealer network was growing. He planned to turn Stuart, about 100 miles north of Brickell’s primary deal-

ership cluster in Miami, into the group’s luxury auto outpost by purchasing 12 acres of land and opening flagship stores for Audi and Infiniti in 2013. Murgado invested $14.5 million in his Audi Stuart dealership, a 31,000-square-foot store based on the brand’s Terminal design standard. Customer service scores are important in Audi’s performance metrics and General Manager Devin Carlson says he wanted to create an experience that was more luxury than just luxury auto. “We wanted people to come into the door and feel like they were at another high end retail business,” Murgado said. The dealership offers a concierge service that provides loaners and picks up and delivers vehicles for servicing up to 20 miles away. Test drives

Mission Main Street Grants, sponsored by Ch a se Business B a n king, is awarding $100,000 each to 20 small businesses. Eligible businesses that receive at least 250 votes will be reviewed by a panel of judges who select the 20 recipients based on their growth potential, management team, community impact, and how they planned to use the grant funds. “The Mission Main Street Grants program is a way for Chase to say ‘thank you’ to companies that mean so much to their customers and communities,” said Jennifer Piepszak, CEO of Chase Business Banking. Eligible businesses must meet the following criteria: have less than 100 employees, have been in business for at least 2 consecutive years, and the owner is a U.S. resident 18 years of age or older. Step 1: Complete your registration Step 2: Complete your business profile so you can start eliciting votes Step 3: Fill out and submit a questionnaire Step 4: Get 250 unique votes Make sure the business profile is complete so the local community and others can vote for your business using Facebook. At least 250 votes are needed to be considered for a grant. The voting period is May 4 to June 19. Visit www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/how-it-works for more information.

Dreammaker Bath & Kitchen of Stuart receives national sales recognition placed you among an exclusive group of all Showplace dealers nationwide. Thank you for making Showplace your brand of choice. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. On behalf of all Showplace employee-owners, I would like to recognize you as a Ruby level 2014 “President’s Club Award” winner. We look forward to another busy year!”

In a letter to DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, Showplace President Paul Sova said, “The hard work and dedication to Showplace you’ve shown in 2014 has

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen is located at 6118 SE Federal Highway in Stuart. Visit www.DreamMaker-Stuart.com or call 772-288-6255 for more information.

As Martin County stands at its lowest unemployment rate since 2008, employers are hiring: • Communications and Marketing Coordinator: Responsible for effective internal and external communications and promotion of programs, projects and initiatives designed to encourage volunteerism and community impact • Automotive Electrician: Install, maintain and repair electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures in heavy truck equipment; ability to read and follow blueprints and schematics

www.bdbmc.org

Visit audistuart.com for more information.

Give your small business a big boost

The seven week program is scheduled to begin on June 15th.

Recently named a “President’s Club Award” winner for exceptional cabinetry sales by Showplace Wood Products, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen celebrates this hard-earned achievement, which places them among the top Showplace dealers nationwide. This is the fourth year they have been recognized for this honor.

“A lot of the dealers that were there never treated the place with the respect that I thought it deserved and never built a top-class facility,” Murgado said about taking the risk of bringing the luxury dealership to the Treasure Coast as Stuart residents often bought BMWs from Braman dealerships in Palm Beach. Radio and TV marketing, social media, and events such as hosting the annual leadership dinner of the Martin County Economic Council, a local business leadership group, in the showroom have been key to the early success. Murgado hopes his performance with Audi will translate into additional luxury stores in Stuart, “It was important to demonstrate to other manufacturers in the future that we can go anywhere we want and that with the right systems and processes in place, you can be successful.” Stuart Audi sold 525 new Audis last year.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

• Operations Analyst: Provide monthly cost and performance leadership to operations; establish productivity methodologies; manage accounting process for operations center; provide cost analysis support and inventory management • CNA’s/Nursing Technicians: Full time/3 shifts per week (day and night available) • RN’s: 12 hour shifts/3 shifts per week (day and night available) • Hydroblaster: Performs setup, inspects, operates, maintains & repairs high pressure water blasting equipment and industrial vacuuming equipment to perform proper removal, containment, transporting, and disposal of both hazardous and nonhazardous materials Email jill@bdbmc.org with your cover letter and resume.

Did you know? Manufacturing accounts for 93% of Florida’s exports.

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Profile Veterans Edition

Veteran-owned and veteran Online tool helps military to preference employers civilian transitions

There’s a new initiative in Martin County focused on reducing the number of unemployed veterans. The Martin Veterans program is working with Martin County’s Veteran Services and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1041 to develop a database of all businesses in Martin County to match employer needs with veteran job seekers. This directory will be available in the coming months throughout the county and accessible on-

line at www.martinveterans.org. If you are a veteran owned business and/or offer veterans preference, please contact Lauren Mustelier, Martin Volunteers at 772-220-4472 ext. 228 or email LMustelier@martinvolunteers.org for inclusion in this directory. Join these Martin County veteran owned companies and be a part of this local veteran resource! Custom Agronomics, SPS Industrial, SEPCO, Team Parks, Joy Communications, Revolution Prototype & Machine, Graphics West, Tatum Web, and Air Burners

Business briefs

Training grant helps veterans The Business Development Board of Martin County is presenting an important fast track manufacturing training program for local veterans. Offered by Indian River State College at the Paradigm Precision Regional Training Center, this grant program offers participants the opportunity to gain targeted skills for employment in the manufacturing sector and an opportunity to earn industry certification after completion of course work. The program is open to eligible veterans who reside in Martin County. The Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041 will provide 50% of program costs per veteran as

a match to the BDBMC funding. “This program provides entry level knowledge for veterans that can be built on to further enhance their skills and marketability. This program also fills a void in Martin County’s growing and vibrant manufacturing base,” said Frank Tidikis, Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041. Approved by the Board of County Commissioners in May, the first program launched last week and we are accepting candidate applications for upcoming day and evening programs. Call the Business Development Board at 772-221-1380 for more information.

Local ROTC trains high schoolers to be citizen leaders The Martin County High School Air Force JROTC program has been active for over 20 years with enrollment of over 200 cadets. Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Rick Mosby and Command Chief Master Sergeant Rod Hartsook, who have over 50 years active duty experience, build better citizens, instill responsibility, and enhance character. Through “curriculum in action” cadets are challenged in numerous ways which enhance and build the aforementioned objective areas. However, most of the development comes in the classroom, on the drill pad, or while engaged in various school and community activities. During the 20142015 school year, cadets volunteered over 3000 total hours in the community. In addition, the MCHS program has a very active Color Guard team that performed at over 50 events this year. The program also offers a running club, remote control drone/aircraft club, drill team, and an academic team. The MCHS program received the Air Force designation of “Distinguished Unit” for the past two years in a row. Established in 1993, the South Fork High School Army JROTC is the only

Army program in the county. Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel James Daly has been with SFHS since 1997. Joined by Army Instructor Command Sergeant Major Efrem Evans, at SFHS since 2012, they work to motivate young people to be better citizens and to develop leadership and citizenship skills. With enrollment of over 281 cadets, the program offers varsity level after Color Guard, Drill Team, Rifle Marksmanship Team and Raider Team (physical fitness). All teams are competitive and compete all across the state. JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge is offered as a 5 day summer camp with high adventure training. Jensen Beach Air Force JROTC plans to build on last year’s successes and show why they were selected as a Distinguished Unit and reached the highest cadet enrollment of 164 in their history. Their Headquarters AFJROTC inspection in 2013 resulted in a rating of “Exceeds Standards” and became the new standard for the program. That was followed up with a Distinguished Unit with Merit which put JBHS in the TOP 25% of over 880 AFJROTC units around the world.

Upcoming Martin County Career Fair for Veterans On October 30, 2015 the Business Development Board of Martin County in partnership with Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041, Indian River State College and Martin Veterans will be hosting a Career Fair with veterans preference.

site to meet with jobseekers interested in attaining a full scholarship to attend the 7-week manufacturing training program sponsored by the Business Development Board and Vietnam Veterans Chapter. Additionally, Martin County Veteran Services and Martin Veterans will be available to meet one-on-one to discuss available programs and services for veterans.

Over 40 Martin County employers will be on-site at Indian River State College in Stuart. As in past events, positions will be available in manufacturing, logistics, technology, professional and much more. Company recruiters will be on-site to meet with candidates and discuss available employment opportunities.

Veteran Preference employers who have attended our previous career fairs include FPL, Triumph Aerostructures—Vought Aircraft Division, Treasure Coast Newspapers, Waterblasting Technologies, iVox Solutions, Martin Health System, Sears, Franco Construction and Home Depot. Are you a Veteran Preference employer?

Representatives from the Florida Trade Grant Manufacturing Program will be on

COOL (Credentialing Opportunities OnLine) helps Army, Navy and Marine Corps active and reserve servicemen and women find information on certifications and licenses related to their Military Occupational Specialties. COOL explains how servicemen and women can meet civilian certification and license requirements and provides links to numerous resources to help get them started. Potential employers benefit from this program as exceptionally qualified and well trained veterans enter a 21st century workforce. Army Secretary John McHugh signed a directive this year calling for all the services to be streamlined and to

10 Best Jobs for Veterans

CareerCast Veterans Network has highlighted the 10 best jobs for veterans transitioning from active duty to the civilian workforce. Veterans return home with diverse skill sets that can easily be applied to civilian workforce, whether in a managerial position, engineering role or growing industry like logistics and transportation. Looking at growing sectors, CareerCast has identified the top 10 sectors seeking those who served in the Armed Forces that match the skill sets that veterans have acquired during their years of service. Administrative Services Manager The team-building and oversight skills required for the job should make for an easy transition. Construction Program Manager The construction industry has been recruiting from sources such as the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and the Final Rules that went into effect last year provides disabled veterans more opportunities with federal contractors. Emergency Medical Technician Many active duty servicemen and women gain experience as emergency medical technicians, and Florida offers the Military Skills Waiver test for certification. Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver The BLS estimates that the trucking industry is expanding extensively since 2010, and legislation passed by Congress in late 2012 eases restrictions on licensing for veterans. Industrial Engineering Technician The nation’s top energy companies have expressed great interest in hiring returning veterans, due to their efficiency, exposure to heavy equipment, and for some who have training as engineers. Industrial Production Manager Some of the top American manufacturing companies created the Get Skills to Work as a way to recruit veterans for jobs in industrial production. Paralegal and Legal Assistants A career path for veterans due to their ability to learn on the job and continuing growth in the field. Software Engineer Servicemen and women who worked in information technology acquired skills that can easily be transferred to the corporate environment. Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer Military technicians who have worked with their branch’s highly sophisticated telecommunications equipment rank among the most qualified for this civilian job. Training and Development Manager The Armed Forces emphasize problem solving techniques and crisis management that can make veterans invaluable developers of talent at a company. Approximately 17,000 Veterans live in Martin County of which 50% are retired or have left the workplace. Martin County is home to over 500 unemployed veterans…help us put our Veterans back to work!

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

www.bdbmc.org

Herd Ret., director of the Army transition division. “We take that preparation seriously, and while the ultimate success is the soldier’s responsibility, it’s the Army’s responsibility to get them prepared to succeed.”

Skills learned during active duty can translate to the office

improve their credentialing and career skills programs. “Our Army is committed to preparing soldiers for the transition off of active duty [and] back into the civilian society from which they all came,” said Col. Walter

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

ONline veteran resources Go to: www.bdbmc.org >click on Resource Center

Did you know? Martin County Commissioner John Haddox is a Vietnam Era Veteran who served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years?

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Indiantown site development Local chocolatier wins contract awarded to minority international awards women-owned firm

Skyfarm Strategic Capital, a Miamibased diversified development and acquisition company, today announced that it has awarded PRP Construction a multi-million dollar contract for the site development of Florida Commerce Park, a 100-acre industrial park in Martin County.

PRP Construction is a South Florida minority women-owned business involved in road building, excavation and site-work. Florida Commerce Park, located in Indiantown, is one of the largest industrial developments ever undertaken in Martin County. The park is fast-tracked with “permit-ready parcels” so businesses can begin vertical development immediately following initial infrastructure work. PRP Construction will begin site development immediately, working alongside Mancil’s Complete Sitework, a premier regional earthwork contracting firm.

“PRP Construction and Mancil’s are well qualified to deliver on our aggres-

sive site-timelines, which will help enable businesses to be up and operating at Florida Commerce Park in less than a year,” said Jeremy Shapiro, Director of Corporate Real Estate Development for Skyfarm Strategic Capital. Florida Commerce Park is situated at a crossroads of commerce in South Florida. The industrial park is located in a secure, inland location, adjacent to CSX’s main rail line and critical intermodal roadway systems, and the park is within close driving distance to ports in Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Furthermore, the park is situated in a strong path of regional growth, providing easy access for companies operating within Florida. The park also features exceptional broadband capacity and uninterrupted and redundant clean energy sources. Peggy Sheltra, President of PRP Construction, stated, “Indiantown is like a diamond in the rough that has not been fully developed, and this industrial park is the right asset that will bring the area to polished prominence.”

Business briefs

Martin County employment rate outpaces the state Martin County’s unemployment rate for May 2015 was 5.5 percent. The county’s unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the state’s 5.6 percent unemployment rate and 0.6 percentage points lower than this same month last year. “It’s exciting to see Martin County companies continue to hire,” said Tim Dough-

MAY 2014

er, Executive Director of the Business Development Board of Martin County. Dougher continued, “the current unemployment rate reflects a recovering local economy and represents a positive future outlook.”

MAY 2015

BDBMC programs & services The Business Development Board knows that Martin County’s existing businesses are the lifeblood of our community. They help our local businesses grow by offering ongoing programs and services to meet their diverse needs. For information on any of our programs or suggestions for future programs, email Jill Marasa at jill@bdbmc.org

 Business ACCLERATOR Program  Treasure Coast Career Fair  Best Places To Work B uilding, Relocation & Site Selection Assistance T raining & Workforce Assistance E xport & International Trade Assistance  Data and Market Intelligence  General Business Assistance

New private investors boosts BDB’s efforts The Business Development Board of Martin County thanks these latest private investor partners: • Martin Health System • Martin County Industrial Development Authority • The Pharus Group • Triumph Aerostructures – Vought Aircraft Division These companies are part of a campaign encouraging private investment for economic development in the county. The primary funding source for the organization, the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, has recently reduced its funding to the BDBMC.

In order to maintain its quality of programs and services the BDBMC will require additional funding sources and assistance from the local business community. As a public-private partnership with the mission of assisting with the creation and retention of jobs and increasing tax revenue in Martin County, the BDBMC is a vital resource to the local economy. In addition to their funding, the BOCC will match dollar for dollar (up to $100,000) for any private investment. Visit www.bdbmc.org for a complete outline of the Private Investment Program or contact the BDBMC directly at 772.221.1380.

Castronovo Chocolate won gold and silver in the Americas Semifinals of the International Chocolate Awards. Castronovo’s Rare Cacao Collection Colombia Sierra Nevada Dark Milk Chocolate 63% won gold, while its Dominican Republic Dark Milk Chocolate 50% won silver. Both chocolates were winners in the “micro-batch, plain, single-origin category.” Castronovo also won the overall Chocolate

Located in Stuart, Castronovo Chocolate is one of a growing number of producers who specialize in craft chocolate. As its name suggests, craft chocolate is significantly different from the commercial confections that dominate the U.S. market. Chocolate maker Denise Castronovo explains, “as a craft chocolate maker we carefully source the finest and rarest cocoa beans in the world from an ethical

shrinking quantities. In 2013, Castronovo built the country’s smallest chocolate manufacturing facility and began importing single-source cacao beans from the Dominican Republic and South America. In the February 2015 Academy of Chocolate competition in London, Castronovo’s chocolates won both silver and bronze awards. Additionally, Culture Trip listed Castronovo Chocolate as

Maker award in the same category, which included chocolate bars made without added flavor or coloring in less than 100-pound batches with cacao beans harvested from a single farm or cooperative. The Americas Semifinals included more than 2,000 entries. Castronovo’s winning chocolate will now be judged at the 2015 World Final, which will be held in London in October.

supply chain that ensures farmers are paid a fair wage. In our week-long chocolate making process we take the time and care needed to release the full potential of flavor from each batch of chocolate.”

one of the 12 best chocolatiers and chocolate shops in the U.S. Castronovo Chocolate has a factory and retail space located at 555 Colorado Avenue in Stuart. Castronovo Chocolate is sold at retail outlets in south Florida, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Montreal, Vancouver, Portland, Seattle, and Pittsburgh. Visit www. castronovochocolate.com for more information.

“Shark Tank” meets Martin County The Business Development Board of Martin County, in partnership with Indian River State College is happy to announce the successful completion of the first Business Accelerator Program class. Eligible students participated in a “shark tank” style presentation event on Tuesday, July 8 at the college. This program was developed to enhance entrepreneurial skills and activities, create jobs and assist in the growth and expansion of our existing business community. BAP is a two phase program, that began with a 13-week classroom curriculum to enhance participants’ skill set in key business fundamentals including finance, marketing, social media, sales and customer service. Having met all course requirements, the following presenters’ businesses are now eligible for a maximum grant up to $5,000:    

Chris Annase . . . Orghunter.com Dr. Natalie Boyland . . . Coast Spine Center Jim Castronovo . . . Castronovo Chocolates Sunday Piccoli . . . Sunday’s Holidays

The grant, administered by the BDBMC, is offered to businesses that successfully complete the program and are seeking funding for equipment, machinery or additional needs to enhance business operations. Awards will be announced in the coming weeks. To meet the demand for this exciting program, registration is now open for the second session which will begin in September 2015. For more information on the program and application process, visit www.bdbmc.org and click on Chris Annase, Jim Castronovo, Dr. Natalie Boy“Small Business Resources” then land, Sunday Piccoli, and Emily Mass, Program “Small Business Assistance.” Director at IRSC

www.bdbmc.org

It began out of Denise Castronovo’s academic career researching threats to the Latin American rainforests, where heirloom cocoa exists in ever-

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know? The elimination of sales taxes on machinery and equipment should save Florida’s manufacturers over $140 million annually.

AGRICULTURE Profile EDITION ■ TAKING CARE OF AGRICULTURE

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Martin County offers an array of horticulture programs and services. The extension office is part of a nationwide network providing non-biased, research based information to citizens and serves as a bridge between the research labs of the university and the local community by providing educational opportunities for adults and youth.

Staffed by Master Gardener Volunteers it also administers the Martin County Master Gardener program which includes training and continuous education for horticulture volunteers. The goals of the Master Gardener program are to increase the availability of horticultural information for the community at large and to improve the quality of life for the residents through horticultural volunteer activities.

These volunteers operate two help desks located in Stuart and Indiantown. The volunteers are available to assist residents and business owners with finding new Florida-friendly plantings, starting a garden, planting trees, identifying plants and pests, and managing

their landscapes in a sustainable manner. Master Gardeners provide one-on-one consultations and can analyze plant, soil and insect samples. This assistance is also provided to local landscapers and growers in partnership with extension agents from UF/IFAS. The Florida Yard and Neighborhoods Program offers information on horticulture, regional plant life and yard maintenance. This program consists of an installed vegetable garden area, including hyrdroponics, hydro-Stackers, aeroponics, floating gardens and several other unique sustainable gardening techniques. Led by Fred Burkey, a Martin County native and second generation flower grower and horticulturist, the FYN program provides onsite demonstrations at the Stuart facility beginning in late September through April, in addition to year-round individual growing assistance, lectures and presentations. If you are interested in learning to establish a small farming program in your home, yard or as a forprofit business, contact Fred Burkey at the extension office for more information. Visit martin.ifas.ufl.edu for more information or call 772-288-5654.

Business briefs

Fresh From Florida products in record number of stores worldwide Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam, recently announced that the “Fresh From Florida” retail program, which markets Florida agricultural products, has reached a new record of 12,357 retail stores in 26 countries carrying Fresh From Florida products. More than 4,000 of the participating retailers are outside of the United States. In 2014, Florida agricultural exports totaled $4.2 billion. “Florida’s hardworking farmers, growers, ranchers and fishermen produce some of the highest quality products in the world,” Commissioner Putnam said. “Today those products are being promoted through the ‘Fresh From Florida’ brand in 12,357 retail locations in 26 countries around the world.”

Top international partners by store count: Canada – 1,824 stores Scandinavia – 724 stores South Korea – 507 stores United Kingdom – 320 Stores Japan – 276 stores The retail locations promote more than 40 different types of fresh fruits, vegetables, citrus and other products. From blueberries in Japan to grapefruit in Denmark and dozens of commodities in Canada and the U.S., the program strives to help Florida’s more than 47,000 farmers sell their products. Over the lifetime of the sixteen year program, this is the highest number of store outlets. Visit www.fresh fromflorida.com for more information.

Footprint of agriculture in Martin County The agricultural industry has a long history in Martin County. Since the early 1930’s, farming, citrus and cattle have been economic drivers in the community. The first citrus processing plant was built in Indiantown in the 1960’s. At that time, Indiantown was home to the

largest lemon grove in the world providing the first major lemon planting in the Eastern United States. Today, Indiantown and Western Martin County remain major providers of a wide array of agricultural products and diverse

agribusiness interests with over 77,000 acres of classified agricultural land.

AGRICULTURE ACREAGE AT A GLANCE Company

Product

Acres

Agri-Gators

Potatoes

1,913

Bay State Milling

Flour

Cabbage Inc.

Cabbage, Spinach, Spring Lettuce Mix

1,400

Cal-Maine Foods

Eggs

Consolidated Citrus/King Ranch

Citrus, Sweet Corn, Sugar Cane, Sod

20,000 +/-

Fresh Shrimp USA

Shrimp, Mangroves

Kai Kai Farms

Niche Vegetables/Strawberries

Louis Dreyfus Commodities

Juice Processing Plant

Maran Groves

Citrus

1,239

Pero Family Farms

Peppers, Melon, Cucumbers, Squash, 2,285 Green Beans

PureGrown Aquaculture

Clams, Shrimp, Mangroves

St. Lucie River Company, LLC

Cane, Sod

5,824

Star Farms

Sugar Cane, Sod, Corn

7,745

Sydnee Farms

Basil

Economic impact of agricultural and related industries in Martin County

• 25,536 jobs (20.1% total) • $1.10 billion in revenues • 16.5% contribution to gross regional product It is estimated that for every $1 invested in agricultural research and extension, there is a return of $20 to the community. Source: UF/IFAS

■ GROWN IN MARTIN COUNTY Martin County is home to some of the finest agricultural companies in the world, producing farm fresh fruit and vegetables with a focus on environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. Cal-Maine Foods: eggs Formerly Tampa Farms, the largest producer and marketer of shell eggs in the United States. The company’s locations span over 16 states with over 100 facilities, including breeding, hatching, processing and packing sites, shell egg production, feed mills and distribution centers. Pure-Grown Aquaculture: clams, shrimp and mangroves PureGrown Aquaculture is the premier provider of Sunray Venus Clams, offering the most sophisticated clam purge system developed for commercial use. The “farm” also produces gulf white shrimp using a recirculating system of both traditional and proprietary technologies. Sydnee Farms: basil, culinary herbs This family owned and operated farm is one of the county’s newer farming operations. The farm currently produces basil and a small array of other culinary herbs. Bay State Milling: flour One of the largest milling companies in

the U.S., the company produces an array of products, including BakingEssentials for conventional baking, BakingEssentials Gluten Free, GrainEssential, OrganicEssentials and EthnicEssentials for grain based food products for ethnic markets. The Indiantown plant manufactures a full line of hard spring and hard winter flours, serving Central and South Florida and the Caribbean. Cabbage Inc.: cabbage, spinach and spring mix Founded in 1984, Cabbage Inc. processes and markets fresh cabbage to wholesale customers in the U.S. and produces an array of products, including spinach, spring mix, red, green and savoy cabbage and squash. The Indiantown location is home to a 30,000 square foot cooling facility to effectively establish and maintain the cold chain and avoid reduction of product quality and shelf life. Louis Dreyfus Commodities: orange juice Louis Dreyfus Commodities is a world leader in the processing of agricultural products and merchandising of a diverse range of commodities. In 2001, Louis Dreyfus Commodities purchased the former Caulkins Citrus Plant in Indiantown, which is home to the company’s orange and grapefruit processing plant for customers in the U.S. and abroad.

Kai-Kai Farms: niche vegetables, strawberries This family owned and operated company produces a variety of over 50 vegetables. Kai-Kai’s array of niche crops include beans, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, lettuce, peas, radishes, squash and turnips. The owners are proud to provide their products for farm-to-table dining at fine establishments including The Breakers, Cafe Chardonnay, District Table & Bar and Ian’s Tropical Grill. Fresh Shrimp USA: shrimp In early 2014, Fresh Shrimp USA selected Indiantown as its home for their shrimp production. The company has a unique water aquaculture system that will be housed within enclosed facilities to maintain perfect growing conditions year round. The company anticipates its first shrimp harvest this summer. Star Farms: sugar cane, sod and corn Star Farms expanded operations in early 2014 with the acquisition of approximately 3,000 acres of agricultural land for sugar cane production. The company has a history in Florida with over 12,000 acres of farming producing citrus, sugar cane, sod, vegetables and cattle ranching. Consolidated Citrus: citrus, sweet

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ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

corn, sugar cane and sod The largest citrus grower in the U.S., Consolidated Citrus operates more than a dozen separate grove locations throughout South Florida. The groves include approximately forty thousand tree planted acres, half of which are in Indiantown. King Ranch, principal owner of Consolidated Citrus, has a diversified portfolio of agribusinesses including cattle ranching, feed lot operations and farming. The company’s commitment to sustainable practices includes a recent substantial investment of conversion to linear water supply for water quality and irrigation. Pero Farms: peppers, green beans, cucumber, squash Pero Family Farms has been an agricultural producer since the early 1900’s. The company produces mini sweet peppers, green beans, cucumber, squash, and stoplight peppers in organic and conventional varieties. Agri-Gators: potatoes and sweet corn Agri-Gators was formed in the 1990’s and boasts approximately 800 acres of potatoes and 500 acres of sweet corn in Palm City. The company’s products are shipped throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Did you know? South Fork High School is one of only 3 high schools in the country with an oncampus golf course utilized in their horticulture program.

HEADQUARTERS EDITION ■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Funding to train employees

Florida Flex, a 21-year old grant program, offering comprehensive training solutions for businesses has recently undergone a significant program update and overall rebranding. The program now includes the Quick Response Training Program and the Incumbent Worker Training Program, offering training solutions for employers to upgrade the skill sets of new and existing employees with flexibility to meet the training objectives and needs of each business. Florida Flex programs provide reimbursement for eligible expenditures including instructor/trainer costs, curriculum development and textbooks/manuals. Training programs may be conducted on-site or off-site based on the employer/employee needs.

QRT offers reimbursable expenditures for employee training and equipment when offering proprietary and/or cus-

tomizable training. New, existing, or expanding for-profit businesses are eligible to apply who are creating ten or more new, high wage jobs in targeted industry sectors. IWT provides eligible reimbursement costs associated with an array of trainings which include industry and business specific skills, technical and computer skills, and soft skills such as leadership, teamwork and management skills. All for-profit businesses that have been in operation one year or more and have at least one full-time employee are eligible to apply. The Business Development Board of Martin County has assisted many local companies in attaining over $500,000 for new and existing employee training over the past five years. To learn more about available training programs, contact Jill Marasa at 772-221-1380.

Giving Back Our local companies understand that nonprofits are out there fighting to make the world a better place, so they institute corporate giving programs that provide more funds, in more ways, to more organizations. Below are five headquarters that enrich our community through corporate philanthropy and the charities they benefit. Martin Health System Martin Health is committed to reaching beyond the walls of its hospitals and medical practices to help improve the health of our communities. During the past year, Martin Health touched 32,670 lives and invested $5,316,500 in community benefit programs and services, and provided $16.7 million in charity care.

Seacoast Bank Since 1926, Seacoast has been living, working, and investing in the communities that they serve. As neighbors, they focus on lending a helping hand to hundreds of local charities and non-profit organizations; from children’s services to the arts to everything in between. Liberator Medical Supply Employees elect a charity of the month and do a “dress code donation” to wear casual clothes on Fridays. 100% of the moneys collected from the employees and donated from recyclables within the organization are provided to the selected charities, including ARC of Martin County, United Way, and the Samaritan Home for Boys. STS Aviation Group Proudly supports a variety of organizations

Major headquarter employers Martin Health System....................3120 Paradigm Precision...........................369 Triumph Aerostructures - Vought Aircraft Div..324 Liberator Medical Supply.................316

Seacoast Bank...................................302 Armellini Logistics.............................231 Awareness Technology Inc............. 160 STS Aviation Group............................159

Southeastern Printing...................... 134 Waterblasting Technologies...........125 Optima Healthcare Solutions..........125 American Custom Yachts...............100

throughout the region including Autism Speaks, The Hope Center for Autism and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. In addition, STS contributed more than 700 lbs. of food to the Treasure Coast Food Bank during the 2014 holiday season. The company also has an on-ground presence at specific U.S. military out-processing stations; a program that has been designed to help those ending their active service careers find gainful employment shortly after being discharged.

Triumph Aerostructures Helping others through the Wings program, employees use their time and talent volunteering to help uplift the human condition through the completion of specific community projects including Hibiscus Children’s Center.

Data: Over 55 employees; December 2014

Continental Shelf Associates.........100 PAC Seating Systems..........................95 International Wholesale Tile.............. 81 Construction Journal...........................74

■ TOP 10 EMPLOYERS HEADQUARTERED IN MARTIN 1. Martin Health System – Founded in 1939 and comprised of three separate hospitals, a MediCenter, and numerous outpatient centers, this not-for-profit community-based health care organization offers preventive, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer and heart care, and rehabilitation services. Expanding its research capabilities into fields other than cancer, ranging from rheumatology to cardiology and infectious diseases, Martin Health System has been recognized as a Most Wired Hospital by Hospitals and Health Networks for the fourth year in a row. This industrystandard benchmark study measures the level of IT adoption in U.S. hospitals and health systems. 2. Paradigm Precision - A leading manufacturer of complex machined and fabricated components for the aerospace, land-based power generation and marine markets. Core capabilities include laser services, airflow measurement, thermal coatings, electrical discharge machining, and precision machining. Established in 2011, it is a privately owned enterprise formed by the acquisition of Turbo Combustor Technology, Paradigm Precision Holdings, and Unison Engine Components. Combined, the companies have a total of 11 locations, spanning six countries, with more than 1,900 employees. 3. Triumph Aerostructures – Vought Aircraft Division Stuart opened in 1950 utilizing state-of-the-art technologies, including CATIA, CADAM, SurfCam, and numerous robotic automatic drill cells. A global leader in manufacturing and overhauling aerospace structures, systems and components; Triumph designs, engineers, manufactures, and repairs a broad portfolio of aircraft components, accessories, and systems. Adjacent to Witham Field, their facility is in excess of 485,000 square feet. 4. Liberator Medical Supply - One of America’s fastest growing, leading national providers of direct to consumer medical supplies, Liberator specializes in servicing patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance. Liberator has been awarded Provider Accreditation by the Joint Commission Team, a national accreditation organi-

zation authorized by the federal government’s centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, certifying the strictest standards of operation throughout the company. Founded in 2000, Liberator has tripled their employment since 2009. 5. Seacoast Bank - Chartered in 1926 and operating 42 offices, 59 ATMs and 5 commercial banking centers and with approximately $3.2 billion in assets, Seacoast ranks among the largest publicly traded community banks based in Florida. One of Seacoast’s new distribution channels is Accelerate, an innovative small business platform which integrates business, internet and mobile banking services. Seacoast recently announced they will absorb the three existing Palm Beach Lakes-based Grand Bank & Trust of Florida branches which will add $207.8 million in assets. 6. Armellini Logistics - Founded in 1945 by Jules “Toots” Armellini and his wife Sarah, the company relocated their headquarters from New Jersey to Palm City in 1963 with the expansion of a fleet of trucks to haul fresh cut flowers out of Florida. Always at the forefront of new technology, Mr. Armellini was instrumental in the design of the first

“flower specific” refrigeration units for trailers, and the utilization of satellite to pinpoint the position of his trucks. Today, Armellini encompasses many businesses which include Armellini Express Lines, J.A. Flower Service, Fresco Services, Armellini Freight Brokerage, Armellini Air Express, and Armellini On Site Storage. With a commitment to customer service and a reputation for prompt, quality service, the family’s second and third generations continue this tradition and in keeping the company on the cutting edge of the floral industry. David Armellini,

President and CEO, was named the 2014 SAF Paul Ecke, Jr. Award honoree, representing exemplary devotion to profession, industry and community. 7. Awareness Technology - Company founders relocated their headquarters in 1984 from Miami to Palm City, where they have grown the company into a worldwide leader in clinical laboratory instrumentation, reagents and assays for small-to-medium-sized labs. In 2011, the company expanded operations and currently occupies over 85,000 square feet of space, exporting over 75% of product to over 100 countries. For over 30 years, the company continues to excel in the marketplace where their service mark has been “Cost-Effective by Design with no compromises in performance or reliability.” Awareness Technologies has won numerous awards for export excellence and product development. 8. STS Aviation Group - Headquartered in Jensen Beach, STS was founded

in 1985 as a premier staffing service to aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities, providing a niche service not offered anywhere else in the world at that time. With changes in the aviation industry in the early 2000’s, STS diversified service offerings for their customers to include engineering, line maintenance and direct hire, recruiting the best and the brightest of aviation talent across the globe. In 2008, the company acquired a very successful components business now known as STS Components located in Palm City. Today, STS Aviation Group is the parent company to STS AeroStaff Services, STS Engineering Solutions, STS Line Maintenance, STS Workforce Solutions, STS Direct Hire and STS Components, with a significant domestic and international presence in the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey and Brazil. P.J. Anson, CEO, was recently recognized as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Service Category.

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ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

9. Southeastern Printing - Established in 1924, Southeastern Printing is privately owned and operated, and is one of the most respected printing establishments in the southeastern U.S. The company is now in their ninth decade of serving clients with multifaceted print, packaging, production, and imaging services. With facilities in Stuart and Palm City, Illinois and Pennsylvania, the company is nationally recognized for consistently producing innovative, award-winning work. As long-time environmental stewards, Southeastern promotes Green Ink, the company’s federally registered branded name for sustainable processes. And with over 150 employees and several Fortune 500 companies on their roster, the company has emerged as one of the largest and fastest-growing communications firms in the southeast. Southeastern Printing has received an array of awards, including seven Benny awards and the South Florida Manufacturer of the Year.

10. Waterblasting Technologies Founded in 1988 by its’ current President & CEO, James P. Crocker, it began as a small pressure cleaning company named Pressure Cleaning Services Inc. servicing primarily the residential community. After becoming a thriving residential and commercial painting company in 1995, high pressure water jet pumps became a valued part of the business in removing paint and various coatings including road markings. The

Stripe Hog runway cleaning and paint removal system is the most economical solution in the industry and has been featured on Discovery’s Channel’s “How It’s Made.”

Did you know? According to Enterprise Florida, Florida now ranks among the top 10 states in the country for manufacturing, with more than 18,000 manufacturers employing more than 317,000 employees.

M A R INE EDITION ■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Profile

Marine manufacturer Whiticar Boat Works a leader selected as Florida in service and the environment Companies to Watch finalist

The Business Development Board of Martin County is proud to announce marine manufacturer, Armstrong Nautical Products, has been selected as a finalist for the 2015 Florida Companies to Watch award. In its fifth year of celebrating entrepreneurship, the annual Florida Companies to Watch awards program is presented by GrowFL. Chosen from a pool of more than 200 second-stage growth companies, the finalists represent nearly $900 million in annual revenue and employ more than 3,000 full-time equivalent employees. Florida Companies to Watch is a distinctive awards program that is specifically designed to seek out businesses from a wide range of industries representing all areas of the state, not just those in major metropolitan areas. In addition to an evaluation on past growth and projected success, applicant companies are judged according to their special strengths and impact in their markets, communities and within the state. As a partner organization of GrowFL, the BDBMC is proud to support this program and nominate companies from Martin County.

“It’s always exciting to see local existing companies recognized for their achievements” said Tim Dougher, Executive Director, BDBMC. Armstrong Nautical Products is a leading manufacturer of boat accessories. The company’s innovative products, known around the globe, include RIB, telescopic, marine and swing ladders, deckplates, brackets and propulsion systems. Headquartered in Stuart, the company purchases almost all of its supplies from Florida based companies. The Florida Companies to Watch program consists of two rounds of selections. Armstrong Nautical Products has advanced to final judging, where they will be further evaluated based on their performance in the marketplace, innovative products, services or processes, philanthropy and empowered employees. The winners will be announced in late August and the 2015 honorees will be celebrated at an awards ceremony in Orlando on November 5. Visit www.armstrongnautical. com for more company information.

Business briefs

Custom building on land and at sea In the world of professional sportfishing there’s a strong desire to be different, as seen with some recent truck modifications that have been showing up in Stuart. It started with Dominick LaCombe, president of American Custom Yachts, and Dave LaCombe, ACY Yard Manager, lifting and customizing their personal 4×4 trucks. ACY does some of the best custom work on the water and

now they are showing it off back on land. It didn’t take long before ACY customers noticed these hard to miss trucks and started making requests for their own custom offroad trucks, Jeeps and buggies. ACY teamed up with the experts at CTM Customs of Stuart to produce customized vehicles for their clients. Learn more about American Custom Yachts at americancustomyachts. com for more information.

Marine innovation won’t wait The International Boat Builders’ Exhibition and Conference is the largest technical marine event in the world. Registration is now open for marine professionals to gather in Kentucky this September for the 3 day event featuring products, technology, and training that will advance the marine industry. IBEX 2015 exhibitors are encouraged to enter their new products in the IBEX Innovation Awards competition. Rewarding ingenuity and honoring excellence, the IBEX Innovation Awards acknowledge the importance of technological advancement. One of the marine industry’s most prestigious honors, winners will be announced during the Industry

Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, September 15. Entrants enjoy special recognition, heightened promotions, and press at IBEX as products entered in the Innovation Awards program are displayed all three days of the show inside the exhibit hall. The deadline to enter is August 12, 2015. Seatorque Control Systems of Stuart is a prior IBEX Innovation winner in the Inboard Engine and Propulsion category. Visit ibexshow.com to learn more about the IBEX Innovation Awards.

Lenco receives recognition for third consecutive year Lenco Marine of Stuart received the Independent Boat Builders Incorporated Supplier of the Year award for the third consecutive year at the Independent Boat Builders Inc. meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. Richard DeVito, President of Lenco Marine, Inc. stated “This award is not one to be taken lightly. The fact that the top boat builders in the country voted on such things as: product quality, delivery, customer service, warranty/ returns, accurate invoicing and technical service means this is an all-encompassing award. “We are among a group of extraordinary peer suppliers which makes this a much esteemed honor.

I’m beyond proud of our Lenco team for consistently meeting and exceeding the expectations of our customers.” IBBI is celebrating 25 years of business this year, and was originally founded by a group of independent, recreational boat builders to negotiate with suppliers on their behalf. Today, IBBI has more than 20 members in multiple locations. Founded in 1986, Lenco Marine, Inc. manufactures trim tabs, electric actuators, hatch lifts, switches and the all new Auto Glide Boat Leveling System. Visit lencomarine.com for more information.

With more than 1,350 miles of coastline, 50,000 miles of inland and coastal rivers and streams, Floridians depend on water more than any other natural resource. The continued success of the state’s $56 billion tourism industry, its $14 billion marine industry and $6.6 billion fishing industry also rely on Florida’s waterways and coastlines to be clean. Since 2000, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has encouraged clean boating through the development of several designation programs which recognize facilities engaging in environmentally friendly practices, beyond regulatory requirements, in and around Florida’s waterways.

The Florida Clean Boatyard Program is a voluntary designation program that encourages boatyards to implement environmentally conscious practices. Best management practices such as using dustless sanders, oil and solvent recycling and re-circulating pressure wash systems to recycle wastewater help to preserve the state’s natural resources for future gen-

Whiticar has been in continuous operation for over 60 years with ownership of the company passing between fathers and sons, and so too has the dedication to superior workmanship, outstanding customer service and in-depth knowledge of the boating lifestyle. Jim Dragseth and John Whiticar are at the helm leadAbout Whiticar Boat ing the company into the Works modern era. Their expansions have included the esG. Curtis “Curt” Whiti- tablishment of Shearwater car, founder of Whiticar Marine in 1996, Whiticar Boat Works, first came Custom Boats in 2000, to the Stuart area in 1917. Whiticar Marine North in Curt built his first boat at 2003, and Whiticar Yacht age 14, and by the age of Sales in 2004. ABBRA 23 had designed and built president John Fitzgerald a 33-foot single screw boat said, “Whiticar employs a called the “Shearwater” wonderful array of talentwhich is the backbone to ed professionals and the the design of the modern company relies on the old Whiticar sport fisherman fashioned pride they take of today. In 1947, Curt in a job well done.” Visit moved the Mess Hall from www.whiticar.com for Camp Murphy, at what is more information.

The marine industry is a targeted sector in Martin County and a major contributor to the regional economy. Maritime related businesses and activities include: • Boat building and manufacturing • Boat sales through dealers and brokers • Marinas which provide slips and storage, maintenance and servicing • Marine services companies that provide maintenance and repairs, parts and specialized labor for maritime activities and facilities such as underwater welding and salvage • Recreational boating activities and the related goods and services including boat and auto fuels, groceries and supplies, parts and servicing, and marine accessories • Recreational fishing such as charters and guide services for recreational anglers • Commercial fishing companies that provide fresh catch for wholesale and retail markets The maritime industry in Florida employs over 200,000 people creating $18 billion dollars of annual economic impact. On the Treasure Coast,the maritime industry contributes $250 million in direct and indirect expenditures and represents more than 3,000 jobs.

Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

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now Jonathan Dickinson State Park, and reassembled the wood slab at its present location in Port Salerno. The first boat built at this new facility was the 38 foot “Hobo” in 1954, which was followed by a 70 and 90 foot. In 1949, Curt’s brother-inlaw, John Dragseth, joined the company and together they built Whiticar Boat Works to become a known destination for the East Coast recreational boater.

Martin targets marine

erations. Whiticar Boat Works locations in Stuart and Fort Pierce have both earned the Clean Boatyard designation. Also, the 2015 Boatyard of the Year honor was presented to Whiticar Boat Works at the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association Boatyard Business Conference awards dinner held in Fort Lauderdale. Given to a service or repair facility that demonstrates excellence in all facets of their company through commitment to customer service, quality management, stewardship in environmental and safety issues, and positive vendor and employee relations, this award is one of ABBRA’s most prestigious Awards of Excellence. Jim Dragseth, President of Whiticar Boat Works, accepted the award.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know? Florida boasts more than 2,700 miles of rail lines, 12,000 miles of highway and a whopping 15 deep-water seaports.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES EDITION ■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Small business incubator revitalized at IRSC Chastain campus

The Indian River State College Business and Technology Incubator in Martin County assists entrepreneurs and business start-ups in launching and building successful companies and turning innovation into commercialization through an array of business support resources and services. In a professional working environment, the Incubator provides early-stage entrepreneurs with a wide variety of support services, including the development of a business plan, guidance in obtaining financing, affordable facilities, and a support network of resources.

According to national statistics, 87 percent of start-ups that develop and launch their enterprise through an incubator program are still in business five years later. “The IRSC Business and Technology Incubator provide a critical mass of business resources and assistance for those who are serious about creating and developing a new business,” said Tom Kindred Jr., Incubator Coordinator. “Business incubation has proven to be

an important and successful economic development tool that we are fortunate to have available on the Research Coast.” The Incubator is housed at the Wolf High Technology Center on the IRSC Chastain Campus. Clients have access to building amenities, which include co-working space, meeting and conference rooms, think-tank facilities, highspeed Internet access, WiFi, computers, copier, scanners and phones. To take advantage of these business development services or for more information, contact Tom Kindred at 772-462-7087 or tkindred@irsc.edu.

Business briefs

Welcoming young professionals In January 2007, Young Professionals of Martin County began as a collaboration of the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce and the Martin County Young Professionals. After four years of tremendous growth and success, the Young Professionals of Martin County became incorporated in 2012 with the mission “to provide a common meeting ground to promote professional and personal gain for goal-oriented and socially active people in their 20s and 30s, in order to positively contribute to

the future of Martin County.”

YPMC is an organization devoted to helping future leaders develop their business skills, become more involved in their community and expand their social circles. A catalyst for bringing young professionals together, the organization fosters an environment of networking, learning and community involvement including after-hours events, educational luncheons, professional and personal development seminars and community service projects.

Visit info@ypmc.org for more information.

Working hard for property owners Established in 1926, the Realtor Association of Martin County was founded by a group of forward-looking business people who saw the advantages of belonging to the National Association of Realtors. With a current membership of over 1000, the RAMC’s purpose is to provide opportunities to its member base so they may conduct their business ethically, and to

preserve the right to own, transfer, and use real property ensuring success.

The RAMC offers continuing education and free monthly programs to increase realtor knowledge, improve professional skills and fulfill license and association requirements.

For residents and visitors, the RAMC serves as a one-stop resource for all realestate related needs including housing information and demographic and community profiles.

Visit ramcfl.org for more information.

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Home to a vibrant professional services industry

Specialized professional services make up one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Martin County economy. Architectural, engineering and legal firms have all found success here, as have marketing consultants, communication firms, and a wide array of life science and technology-based service companies. With a growing regional customer base, a population of over 1 million within a 40-mile radius, a highlyskilled and well-educated workforce, and an appealing quality of life, Martin County offers a robust environment for its professional services businesses. These professional service providers have made Martin County their home for over 10 years:

Financial: Seacoast Bank Since 1926, Seacoast Bank has made their home in Stuart and currently operates 42 offices and 59 ATMs in 15 counties. With approximately $3.2 billion in assets, Seacoast ranks among the largest publicly traded community banks based in the state

of Florida. Seacoast Bank is the leader in bank deposit market share in a three county area, and closely rivals the market penetration of its mega bank competitors in its other principal markets. One of its new distribution channels, Accelerate, is an innovative small business, solution-based platform with offices located in growing metro markets. Accounting: Proctor, Crook, Crowder & Fogal Together, with a longstanding presence in the region, Proctor, Crook and Fogal & Associates merged in 2009 to form Proctor, Crook, Crowder & Fogal, one of the largest full service accounting firms on the Treasure Coast. Making their home in Stuart, PCCF provides services to manufacturing, real estate, construction firms, medical practices and homeowner associations, as well as specializing in foreign taxation, trust and estate planning and auditing for non-profits for for-profits. Business broker: Acquisition Experts Since 2005, Acquisition Experts has specialized in the sale of all types of businesses including manufacturing, distribution, service, professional practices, retail, restaurants and investment properties. Specializing in professional intermediary services to business buyers and sellers on the Treasure Coast and South Florida, the company uti-

lizes an array of resources to garner exposure in the sale of a business including extensive marketing campaigns, networking abilities and long-term relationships. Land Planning: Lucido & Associates Founded in 1988, Lucido & Associates offers comprehensive land planning and landscape architectural services to both the private and public sectors. The firm’s vast knowledge of the newest technologies combined with local, state, and federal regulation experience assures cutting edge design and compliance with the latest policies. With an underlying vision to always be leading stewards of the land, Lucido & Associates approaches projects with a goal to strike the ideal balance between man and nature, while preserving the environment and enhancing the quality of life in our towns and neighborhoods. Engineering: CAPTEC Engineering Founded in 1996, CAPTEC provides superior quality civil engineering services to

both public and private clients throughout the Treasure Coast area and the state. The firm’s staff encompasses an extensive amount of experience in the design of state, municipal and private projects. With state-of-theart computer hardware and software, CAPTEC continually investigates emerging innovative technologies to provide efficient solutions for projects including traffic signal and roadway design, land development, grant/funding acquisition, storm water quality monitoring and CEI/construction administration.

Legal: McCarthy, Summers, Bobko, Wood, Norman, Bass & Melby, P.A. The attorneys of McCarthy, Summers, Bobko, Wood, Norman, Bass & Melby, P.A. have been serving clients on the Treasure Coast for more than 40 yea rs. With a commitment to i n t e g r i t y, dedication a nd solutions, the firm is AV Preeminent Peer Review R ated by Martindale-

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ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Hubbell, its highest rating. Several of the firms attorneys are board certified by the Florida Bar, which recognizes an attorney’s special knowledge, skill and proficiency in a particular area of law as well as professionalism and ethics in practice. The firm’s attorneys have a strong commitment to community involvement, and serve on various Boards of Directors of local organizations serving all aspects of the community. Telecom: ITS Telecommunications Systems In the telephone industry for over 60 years and based in Indiantown, ITS Telecommunications Systems, Inc. offers premium business communication products through the cutting-edge technology of a 100% fiber-optic network, the largest underground, facilities based and privately held network on the Treasure Coast. The company offers Gigabit internet service with a variety of metro (broadband) connections, network, data center, voice, and cloud services for small to large organiza-

tions. ITS Fiber’s fiber infrastructure includes a copperless network for greater performance and quality of service; redundant, underground fiber network is protected from weather elements with redundant “ring” architecture for continual service and direct to premise connections to your business.

Archictects: N2 Architecture & Design Serving the Treasure Coast area for over 15 years, N2 Architecture & Design is solution focused, providing green initiatives to fundamentally sound and creative design projects. The N2 team comes from various coast-to-coast architectural disciplines offering services on projects spanning from residential to commercial, single-family homes to large commercial buildouts and country clubs.. Principal Niki L. Norton, R.A. is licensed in seven different states and carries additional green certifications. Local projects include: Bubbles Car Wash, U.S. Sailing Center, Stuart Lodge and Importico’s Bakery.

Did you know? Did you know ITS Telecom/ITS Fiber of Indiantown was one of the 13 original Ma & Pa Bell companies in Florida.

G R E E N T E C H E DI T I ON ■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

USDA announces funding for green projects ranchers and small businesses conduct energy audits and operate renewable energy projects.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that rural agricultural producers and small business owners can apply for resources to purchase and install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. These resources, made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill, help farmers, ranchers and other small business owners save money on energy bills, reduce dependence on foreign oil, support America’s clean energy economy, and cut carbon pollution.

The REAP program was created in the 2002 Farm Bill, building on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since 2009, USDA has awarded $545 million for more than 8,800 REAP projects nationwide. This includes $361 million in REAP grants and loans for more than 2,900 renewable energy systems. When fully operational, these systems are expected to generate more than 6 billion kilowatt hours annually – enough to power more than 5.5 million homes for a year. Visit usda.gov for more information.

“Developing renewable energy presents an enormous economic opportunity for rural America,” Vilsack said. USDA is making more than $280 million available to eligible applicants through the Rural Energy for America Program, offering grants for up to 25 percent of total project costs and loan guarantees for up to 75 percent of total project costs for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. USDA is offering a second type of grant to support organizations that help farmers,

Green Veterans initiatives empowers veterans

Local green veteran’s group programs are diverse and productive including discussions on the realities of post-traumatic stress disorder and the role of therapeutic gardens and building design on stress reduction and PTSD treatment. Local nonprofits donate furniture, teams are pulled together to repair veteran’s homes, and key partners have refurbished a local VFW post. Regular social gatherings also grow our ranks and provide a forum for discussing the mission.

As with all USGBC initiatives, the lifeblood of the Green Veterans is sponsorships and volunteers. In collaboration with Palm Beach State College and the Institute for Energy & Environmental Sustainability, the Green Veterans Sustainability Training Program provides its graduates with education geared toward securing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Associate accreditation and Building Performance Institute certification. The LEED credential identifies a leader in the ﬁeld and an active participant in the most current green-building principles and practices. A BPI Energy Auditor’s expertise, tied to the various components of building science, combustion safety, energy analysis, and homeperformance assessments, provides homeowners and businesses with information to reduce energy usage and costs. Successful graduates of the Green Veterans

Local companies keep the county green Seatorque Control Systems Seatorque Control Systems, a Stuart manufacturer of propulsive and fluid dynamic systems for the marine industry, boasts the much acclaimed Seatorque enclosed shaft system, power steering systems and a variety of unique hydraulic cylinders and actuators. With nearly 25 years of expertise ranging from patented fluid dynamics technologies to participating in the America’s Cup Races, SCS also manufactures Bio-Mar, a high performance fully biodegradable, gear oil and marine lubricant. Deriving 80% of its raw materials from renewable resources and offering high levels of protection to heavily loaded bearings, Bio-Mar is the foremost in advanced high performance, environmentally friendly lubrication. Custom Agronomics, Inc. Custom Agronomics of Palm City is a formulator of liquid nutrients, specialty chemistries and high performance wetting agents and surfactants. With specialized products for professional turf management and agriculture, highest quality materials are used to formulate technologies to provide increased nutrient availability, increased stress resistance, advantageous root development and increased yields.

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The Green Veterans program is dedicated to helping our nation’s heroes learn about sustainable building and green living, while at the same time helping ease the hardship of military-tocivilian transition. By empowering Veterans to be volunteer leaders in their communities, the program’s goals are to nurture opportunities for continuing education, networking, employment, corporate engagement and green entrepreneurship.

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Sustainability Training Program are provided an opportunity to begin utilizing their new education by working with programs such as Rebuild Together and Habitat for Humanity to improve skill sets. Additionally, graduates are given the opportunity to intern with the Solar Energy Loan Fund as approved contractors participating in SELF’s Veterans Helping Veterans program. This hands-on program provides an avenue for Veterans who are seeking green-job skills to retrofit homes for fellow veterans who are living in poor conditions and struggling with utility bills. Visit www.usgbcsf.org/ greenvets for more information.

Ken’s Closet at Mary’s Thrift Store provides veterans with new, professional business attire at no cost. Veterans can select apparel to enhance their professional wardrobe. Visit Mary’s Thrift Store at 410 Colorado Avenue or contact Kathy at 772.220.7888. Veteran ID will be required.

SEPCO

With over 30 years of experience, SEPCO of Stuart, is the leading manufacturer of commercial solar lighting and remote solar power systems. Since 1994 they have been exclusively manufacturing commercial solar lighting and off-grid solar power systems under the SEPCO name offering solutions where the power grid is either unobtainable or cost prohibitive. Projects include lighting for streets, parking lots, security, billboards, flagpoles, and signs. Solar energy protects the planet against harmful CO2 emissions by storing energy from the sun during the day to power lights from those reserves at night. Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center Florida Power and Light Company’s Next Generation Solar Energy Center is the first hybrid solar plus combined-cycle natural gas power plant to be developed in the United States. FPL expects the solar plant to reduce the plant’s natural gas consumption by 1.3 billion cubic feet per year. Over the 30-year life of the project, this is expected to save $178 million in fuel cost and reduce carbon emissions by 2.75 million tons.

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ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

This state-of-the-art facility provides safe, reliable, clean energy for South Florida and is the cleanest of its kind in Florida and one of the cleanest of its kind in the nation.

R3 Recycling Originally formed as a heavy equipment company, R3 Recycling evolved into an environmental company through its focus on providing material handling and recycling services to municipalities. Now in three counties, R3 Recycling operates the construction and demolition recycling facility at Martin County’s Palm City Transfer Station facility, which handles approximately 35,000 tons of construction and demolition debris annually. R3 also takes in, separates, grinds, and disposes for beneficial reuse, approximately 60,000 tons of vegetative waste that is transported to the facility each year.

Martin County’s Solid Waste Division was honored last year by Keep Martin Beautiful as the winner in the Government Agency category for achieving the highest recycling rate of the 67 counties in the state of Florida, which can be attributed in part to their collaboration with R3 Recycling. Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. Ecosphere Technologies, a technology development and intellectual property licensing company in Stuart, intro-

duced the Ozonix Sentinel, the world’s first line of water treatment vessels for cleaning up endangered rivers and lakes around world. Designed around Ecosphere’s multi-patented Ozonix water treatment technology, the Sentinel is the first water treatment vessel of its kind to be able to treat high-volumes of water in rivers, lakes, lagoons and estuaries that have been contaminated as a result of depleted oxygen levels and industrial pollutants. Ecosphere used its water treatment technology to increase and maintain the oxygen reduction potential of water being discharged from Lake Okeechobee to the Indian River Lagoon. Ecosphere has received patents on this system that is mobile, high-volume, environmentally safe and cost-effective in its ability to treat water in-situ and deploy at a moment’s notice in large bodies of water.

Giliberti Giliberti, located in Indiantown, is a research, development, and manufacturing company for vehicles in the airline, golf, tennis, and emergency medical services industries. Giliberti’s mission to develop, design and manufacture

efficient, affordable, and reliable electrically powered utility vehicles keeps them on the cutting edge by finding new opportunities to design and develop products to meet niche market needs. EPA guidelines mandate the introduction of alternative fuel vehicles -- primarily electric -- with immediate implementation required in some areas of the country. Giliberti years of experience in building electric-utility vehicles places the company at the forefront of the industry.

Did you know? Florida produces enough citrus trees to fill Lexington, Kentucky 3 times.

LIFE SCIENCES EDITION ■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Clinical training for future nurses

Clinical training internships are an integral part of the quality health care education at the Indian River State College Health Science Division. One of the newest programs is the Registered Nurse program lead by Dr. Andrea Perini, at the Chastain Campus in Stuart. As the clinical instructor for the RN program, she leads a cohort of 10 students. The first cohort graduated in 2014 with a second group that started fall 2014 and another starting all 2016. Over 200 IRSC students are placed in Martin County health care agencies every year in clinical internships including nursing, dental assisting, health information technology, pharmacy technician, physical therapy, respiratory care, surgical technician and more. “With this training, students start with classroom and simulation lab experiences to build

their knowledge and skill base,” shares Jane Cebelak, Dean of the Heath Science Division at IRSC. “Our clinical internships vary from 40 hours for the nursing assistant program to close to 2,000 hours for the Associate Degree programs.” During clinical internships, students work alongside healthcare professionals in hospitals, doctor’s offices and other healthcare settings applying classroom and lab knowledge as they learn the role and responsibilities of their chosen profession. Those interested can attend information meetings held every month for each of the Health Science programs. Program deadlines and opportunities for enrollment occur throughout the year, offering many opportunities to get started anytime. For more information visit irsc. edu, email mcuba@irsc.edu.or call the Health Science Division at 772-462-7549.

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Established in 1997, BioFlorida is the statewide trade association for the life sciences industry and represents nearly 5,500 research organizations in the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical device/diagnostics and bioagriculture sectors that collectively employ nearly 80,000 Floridians. Member-driven initiatives provide a strong business climate for developing quality, life-improving technologies that provide economic benefits to the state. Members range from emerging and established life sciences companies, academic and research institutions, economic development agencies, and incubators. BioFlorida repre-

sents and supports scientists, executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and lawmakers and provides companies with the necessary resources to succeed, and a strong marketing presence both locally and internationally. Through state and federal advocacy, BioFlorida supports legislation that ensures a favorable business climate for members and the industry. Member benefits also include regional and statewide events; job boards and career information; and discount programs for lab equipment, office supplies, and insurance. Visit www.bioflorida.com for more information.

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Momentum for medical device makers The medical device manufacturing industry represents what Florida does best: create and innovate technology that revolutionizes how effective health care is delivered to the world. Florida ranks second in the U.S. for FDA registered medical device manufacturing facilities and is home to more than 620 medical device manufacturers and a skilled workforce of 684,000. Strong research and academics also support the development of medical devices. Florida universities are active in the creation of vascular and cardiac devices, lasers and nanotechnology. Martin County, in particular, has established itself as the new location for life sciences innovations and industry growth: Keller Medical Inc. Founded by Board Certified plastic surgeon Kevin Keller, M.D. and Howard Preissman, a medical device executive and biomedical engineer, Keller Medical has introduced the Keller Funnel, a

universal silicone gel delivery device. The clear, conical-shaped device empowers surgeons with an exceptionally gentle and quick delivery of an array of prefilled implants with ease, while employing a no-touch technique. Keller Medical’s Partners In Education program is available to academic institutions affiliated with university medical schools that provide residency and fellowship programs, as well as

continuing education courses where residents are able to gain handson experience using the funnel. The Partners In Education program helps surgeons of tomorrow stay ahead of the innovation curve. Visit kellerfunnel. com for more information. AwarenessTechnology,Inc. Offering versatile, eco-

nomical alternatives to more expensive laboratory instruments, reagents and assays, Awareness Technology began in 1982 with a vision to become the first name in small instrumentation design. Maintaining a high level of quality and reliability needed for long-term peace of mind, in a wide range of clinical applications, Awareness Technology is known worldwide as a leader in clinical laboratory instrumentation, reagents and assays for small- to medium-sized labs. Cost control is achieved by employing an extensive body of existing technology, adaptable hardware and software tools, high durability and minimal training. Awareness products will be presented at upcoming trade shows in Atlanta, Paris and Dusseldorf, Germany. Envision Product Development Group, Inc.

Opening its doors in November 2009 with a

world-class team of multidisciplined engineers and commercialization experts, decades of experience are transforming ideas into products, and taking those products to market. Envision is dedicated to providing its’ clients a streamlined, affordable path to product development which includes; market research, conceptual design, engineering documentation, rapid in house prototype development and patent application. Envision specializes in industrial, commercial, aerospace and medical product development. Innovations in the medical field include a shoulder orthopedic device, a beam analyzer for measuring radiation treatment, a dental tissue retractor and developing the world’s most unique cardiac simulator. Guerilla Technologies, Inc.

Registered as a woman-owned small business and founded in 2002, Guerilla Technologies is the leading designer and manufacturer of reading machines, low vision magnifiers, and software for the print impaired community. Three seasoned professionals from the blindness and medical industry with over 100 years of combined experience form professional partnerships, design and develop world-class products in the next generation of text to speech solutions. With 11 products within two product families for persons with low vision or blindness, Guerilla Technologies’ primary focus has been optical character recognition applied to home, work and travel environments.

Clinical research is more than just trials

Creating a great place to work is a passion for Optima Healthcare Solutions, a Palm City company founded in 1992. Hitting the mark, Optima earned the “Millennials Best Places to Work” award for 2015. Over 1,000 companies were considered for this award, the first of its kind to identify organizations that excel at recruiting, developing and retaining top millennial performers. Winners were determined based on employer benefits, company policies and an employee engagement and satisfaction survey. In a generationally inclusive work-

place, millennials at Optima crave an environment of like-minded innovators allowing for a mix of perspectives and ideas that produces true collaboration, ensuring that problems are evaluated from all angles to implement the best approach. With customers who depend on solutions to care for patients, this type of collaboration is invaluable. As the millennial generation continues to evolve as part of the workforce at large, Team Optima recognizes the value of each member to have an impact on its brand and products. Visit www.optimahcs.com for more information.

The Martin Health System Center for Clinical Research is a hospital-based research department that provides services in both an inpatient and outpatient setting, including Phase II-IV trials ranging from infectious disease, oncology, cardiology, pain management and neurology. For more than 10 years, the Center for Clinical Research has successfully collaborated with industry sponsors, biotech companies and local life science organizations to promote research activities. Utilizing a comprehensive clinical research infrastructure, the center supports sponsors and investigators in the initiation, conduct, and reporting of clinical research that can help understand human conditions and aid in the development of new therapies. Staff is comprised of certified research coordinators who are skilled in various medical technology and the pharmacy department provides comprehensive management of various investigational products. Martin Health’s research staff, working together with physicians from sites in Stuart and Port St. Lucie, is able to promote trials to a variety of providers.

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ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know?

Martin Health is one of 28 top heart hospitals in Florida achieving Blue Distinction status for Excellence in Cardiac Care. Blue Distinction, created by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is based on rigorous, clinically meaningful measures to identify medical centers that have demonstrated reliability in cardiac care and better overall outcomes.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Customers come first with new investment

Multicolor Printing Inc., one of South Florida’s oldest and most recognized commercial printing companies, announced the completion of their production facility’s front-end upgrade. The $85,000 investment includes installation of a Heidelberg, chemicalfree, Suprasetter Gen 3 Plate Recorder, two Dell workstations, various new software, and new contract proofers. Additionally, the company’s Heidelberg offset presses and proofers were profiled and matched to the graphic art industry’s color-matching standard for high quality, offset printing. “These technology upgrades are further evidence of Multicolor Printing’s continuous commitment to the region and our broadening base of loyal customers,” said Steve Schmoyer, president and CEO. “We’ve

seen significant increases in sales activity during the past few years and remain bullish on the future of offset, digital and letterpress printing in South Florida. Since day one, our objective has been to establish long-term relationships by delivering top-tier products and superior value for our customers.”

Founded in 1967, Multicolor Printing has been recognized repeatedly by the Printing Association of Florida and Printing Industries of America for printing excellence. Its fully-integrated production facility in Stuart houses a comprehensive array of state-of-the-art equipment for in-house offset, digital and letterpress printing, foil stamping, embossing and die-cutting at factorydirect prices.

Business briefs

New company offers home security Founded by Jason Hackbarth, Argos Homewatch of Palm City offers concierge and keyholder services to HOAs, seasonal residents, realtors, and homeowners, serving Martin County and the surrounding area. Co-owner, Dennis Hanner, has 25 years of experience in law enforcement, 23 of them with the local sheriff’s office. His excellent reputation and history provide “peace of mind” when it comes to home security. His wife and 3rd co-owner, Elizabeth Hanner, was born and raised in Martin County and has worked as

a personal assistant and bookkeeper for the same family and their business for 30 years.

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Local company adds jobs while giving back to community Fiorella Insura nce Agency, Inc. of Stuart is expanding operations in Martin County. The company has recently leased an additional 6,000 square feet and plans to hire 40 new employees. As a steward to the area and local community partners, the company has committed to a $1 donation for every policy sold this year, with a goal of $12,000, to be donated to local non-profits. With several months left, already the company has raised more than $7,000. “Fiorella Insurance Company is not only a leader in the industry but an asset to the local community” said Tim Dougher, E xec ut ive Di rector, BDBMC. “We look forward to our continued

relationship with the company” Dougher said. Nick and Sharon Fiorella moved to Florida in the early 80’s, with little more than an entrepreneurial spirit and a growing family to feed. They opened a small “mom and pop” agency, and saw growth year after year by pouring in

hard work and treating clients fairly. The family run agency is now overseen by their son, Nick Fiorella, Jr., and his childhood friend, Cory Lloyd. Today, Fiorella Insurance is one of the fastest growing agencies in the country. Visit fiorellainsurance.com for the company’s complete product line.

View Martin County’s new video

The team keeps clients up to date through cutting edge electronic reporting software that verifies the thorough attention provided at each visit. Argos is also connected with contractors and active community members to find rapid solutions for all client needs. Email info@argoshomewatch.com to schedule an appointment or visit argoshomewatch.com for more information.

Invest in Martin County’s future The Business Development Board of Martin County has launched a campaign encouraging private investment for economic development in the county. The BDBMC has been in existence for over 20 years offering services to expanding and new businesses. The primary funding source for the organization, the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, has recently reduced its funding to the BDBMC. In order to maintain its quality of programs and services the BDBMC will require additional funding sources and assistance from the local business community. As a public-private partnership with the mission of assisting with the creation and retention of jobs and increasing tax revenue in Martin County, every level of investment is vital to the organization’s ability to achieve its goals. A private commitment to the BDBMC is a mutually beneficial investment that will strengthen your business and Martin County’s economy. The BOCC will continue to fund a portion of the operations in a dol-

View the new Martin County video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/eBfp0iGDce0 or on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/BDBMC.

CALLING ALL EMPLOYERS Only 25 tables left for the Martin County Career and Job Fair lar for dollar match (up to $100,000) for any private investment, thus making any pledge twofold. While the BDBMC’s work benefits the community as a whole, investor commitment is important to the success of the local economy. From networking opportunities with prominent business and government leaders, to extensive marketing programs and access to vital research, the BDBMC offers a variety of investor benefits. Visit www.bdbmc. org for a complete outline of the Private Investment Program or contact the BDBMC directly at 772.221.1380.

 Friday, Oct. 30  9 a.m. – 2 p.m.  IRSC Chastain Campus  Must be a Martin County based employer  No fee for table reservations  Email jill@bdbmc.org to reserve your employer table  Hosted by The Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041 and the Business Development Board, in partnership with United Way, Martin County Veteran Services, martin Volunteers, City of Stuart, Indian River State College, Treasure Coast Newspapers, and CareerSource Research Coast

Keynote Speaker

Commissioner Adam H. Putnam For event registration and sponsorship information, please visit WWW.BDBMC.ORG/events

www.bdbmc.org

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know? Despite significant tax cuts in the last four years, Florida’s budget continues to grow and Florida plans to continue bolstering its infrastructure.

AV I AT ION E DI T I ON ■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

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Largest community event on Aviation & aerospace Treasure of Coast companies in Martin County

Hosted at the Martin County AirportWitham Field for the past 25 years, the Stuart Air Show returns for its 26th year from October 30 to November 1. Led by a voluntary Board of Directors and an Executive Director, the event focuses on honoring the past and inspiring the future while consistently infusing the local economy. • According to the International Council of Air Shows, the Air Show has a $2.5 million annual impact on the local economy • Since 2010, Stuart Air Show, Inc. has contributed more than $500,000 on local hotels, rental cars, fuel, sheriff deputies, firefighters, pilots, performers, and support teams that come to Martin County • Also since 2010, more than $100,000 has been raised/distributed for local clubs, charities, and nonprofits including the Road to Victory Military Museum, the Martin County Community Foundation, Special Olympics, ARC of Martin County, Civil Air Patrol, Boy Scouts of America, local ROTC groups and others. • 67% of online ticket sales from 2014 were purchased outside of Martin County

Previously organized by well-known nonprofits including the Visiting Nurse Association, the Stuart Air Show, Inc. be-

came an independent 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization in 2010. With a new focus on year-round community outreach, Stuart Air Show, Inc. has expanded its support to the area by partnering with Southeast Florida Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to fly WWII Veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the WWII Memorial. Together, the two organizations hosted Honor Run on the Runway, a 5K held on the runways of Martin County Airport-Witham Field followed by a 1940s themed after party. The event, which they plan to host again next year, raised awareness and funds for Southeast Florida Honor Flight. Spectators can catch a glimpse of history with a WWII weapons demonstration and battle reenactment, enjoy dozens of static aircraft on display representing aviation through the decades and be thrilled by spectacular and more modern aerobatic performances featuring the US Navy F-18, the US Air Force F-16, and the US Army Golden Knights. Visit stuartairshow.com for ticket information and follow them on Facebook for the very latest news and information on the show.

Business briefs

The sky’s the limit for local grade-schoolers The students at J.D. Parker School of Science, Math and Technology have been working on projects such as engineering helicopters and rockets, the impact of aviation on wildlife, and engaging in simulated business ventures to create a commuter airline of the future. As part of “JDP Blast Off – Full STEAM Ahead,” a school-wide problem-based learning unit, students focus on all elements of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. The unit has been enhanced by a collaborative hands-on experience with Stuart Airport and Stuart Jet Center, funded through a grant by the Education Foundation of Martin County. Airport manager George Stokus worked with JDP educa-

tors to plan an exciting learning event at the local airport. Dan Capen, president of Stuart Jet Center, was also an active partner in planning and coordinating the project. Students learned about all phases of aviation, including aircraft maintenance and fueling, force and motion, and air traffic control. Students also learned from biologists about efforts to protect wildlife on the airfield and from a meteorologist regarding the impact of weather on air travel. Junior pilots donned a Go-Pro camera and put their own piloting skills to the test on a miniature aircraft. This special project prepares students to become competitive as future innovators in a global market.

Airport of the Year Martin County Airport/Witham Field has been named General Aviation Airport of the Year by the Florida Department of Transportation. General aviation airports from around the state are considered for this prestigious award based on the categories of safety, aesthetics and airport management. The winners were announced last month at the Florida Airports Council awards ceremony. “Everything from the condition of the runways to the professiona lism of airport staff is taken into account,” Airport Manager George Stokus said. “We are proud to have earned this award and to be recognized statewide as providing outstanding aviation transportation services.” A patriotic history As with many rural airports in the 1930s, Martin County Airport was just a grass landing strip and was originally known as MacArthur Field. With a pending war overseas in the 1940s, a group

of visionary, private landowners offered their property to the county as way to serve their county. The airport was later named Witham Field in honor of Homer Witham who was the first Stuart aviator to die in World War II. During the 1950’s and 1960’s Northrop Grumman leased the property, conducted flight-testing and manufacturing various aircraft for the US Navy. In 1994, Northrop Grumman downsized t hei r Wit ha m Field operation and much of the property was returned to Martin County, including the responsibility for the airport’s air traffic control tower. Although there is no commercial service, the airport is home to more than 200 private and business aircraft and serves most of the general aviation needs for Martin County and surrounding areas. The airport is also home to two fixed based operators, Atlantic Aviation and Stuart Jet Center, which act as local terminals for its users and those visiting Martin County.

Triumph Aerostructures – Vought Aircraft Division, adjacent to Witham Field, is a global leader in manufacturing and overhauling aerospace structures. Triumph designs, engineers, manufactures, and repairs a broad portfolio of aircraft components, accessories, and systems. With a facility in excess of 485,000 square feet, Triumph announced earlier this year the completion of an agreement with Spirit AeroSystems to assume production of Gulfstream G650 and G280 wing programs. Paradigm Precision

of Stuart is a leading manufacturer of complex machined and fabricated components for the aerospace, land-based power generation, and marine markets. Core capabilities include laser services, airflow measurement, thermal coatings, electrical discharge machining, and precision machining. Established in 2011, it is a privately owned enterprise formed by the acquisition of Turbo Combustor Technology, Paradigm Precision Holdings, and Unison Engine Components. Combined, the companies have a total of 11 locations, spanning six countries, with more than 1,900 employees. PAC Seating Systems, located in Palm City, was founded in 2002 by an accomplished core of aircraft seating professionals with over 150 years of combined experience in the industry. Bringing together new ideas and processes to create aircraft seating solutions of the future, PAC is the only custom manufacturer in the world focused on private and business jet seating products. PAC was recently awarded a U.S. patent for a device that absorbs energy when the belted occupant and seat frame are subject to lateral forces.

www.bdbmc.org

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

STS Aviation Group

of Jensen Beach is a recognized global leader in the sales and distribution of commercial aircraft and engine components. The company also purchases commercial aircraft and engines for disassembly, recertification and resale. STS Component Solutions in Palm City, launched in 2008, saw revenue skyrocket from $16M to $29M within two years. Growing organically by broadening their distribution portfolio, STS acquired a globally renowned distribution and production organization that manufactures hoses for aircraft, engine and industrial markets. The acquisition of STS Air-Pro has brought many new synergies to STS and represents a new opportunity for continued growth and expansion. ATGI, an independent,

privately held engineering research and development firm, was formed in 1995 to meet the needs of government and private-sector clients with technological challenges. Located in Stuart, their modern facilities meet all federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. In addition to research and development facilities, ATGI works closely with specialized high-technology manufacturing firms which allows for economically and efficiently produced test-ready prototypes of its concepts and low volume production quantities. With accomplishments that have won several awards, ATGI has gained a reputation for simple yet novel solutions to complex problems. EB Airfoils and Electron Beam Development Corporation operate facilities in Palm City with state of the art systems developing fan blade restora-

tion repairs and designing repair programs to significantly reduce ownership costs for their clients. A highly skilled and professional team has made them the only company in the world to receive FAA DER approval for chord restoration on a first stage fan blade. In 1966, CEO, James S. Bickel, pioneered fan blade leading edge and tip replacement which became the blueprint repair on many engine models. These innovations have allowed the company to develop an international clientele of major air carriers, engine overhaul facilities and aftermarket suppliers.

ETS Power Group, an independent gas turbine parts and service provider for 15 years, is an original equipment manufacturer for Siemens, GE, and other companies. Located in Stuart, ETS Power Group was founded by experienced gas turbine executives with strict engineering and quality policies. ETS engineers join their clients’ teams to develop optimal parts rotation schedules to get the most use of parts through prudent repairs and additional upgraded parts when needed. The company has also been busy behind the scenes developing private label parts for some of the biggest names in the turbine industry, and on some of the newest technology engines.

Krieger Machine Co, Inc., in Stuart for more than 29 years, provides contract manufacturing and machining services to the aerospace, electronics, and medical industries as well as the Department of Defense. KMC specializes in precision CNC turning and milling of close tolerance products made from various materials and provides finished products, utilizing qualified partners for these and many other special processes or finishes. In addition, KMC offers minor mechanical assembly support supplying for complete, ready to install sub-assemblies. The February 2005 issue of Modern Machine Shop featured a highly specialized assembly, of which KMC has manufactured in excess of 3000 units.

Did you know?

Florida RF Labs of Stuart has over 40 miles of cable assemblies in space.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF MARTIN COUNTY

BUSINESS APPRECIATION LUNCHEON Keynote Speaker

Commissioner

Adam H. Putnam FLORIDA COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE

SAVE THE DATE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7TH at 11:30 am Willoughby Golf Club, 3001 SE Doubleton Drive, Stuart

For event registration and sponsorship information, please visit WWW.BDBMC.ORG/events

Business briefs

MARTIN COUNTY CAREER AND JOB FAIR • Friday, Oct. 30 • 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. • IRSC Chastain Campus • Jobseekers: Register at www.bdbmc.org, click on events • Martin County based employers: email jill@ bdbmc.org to reserve your free table • Hosted by The Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041 and the Business Development Board, in partnership with United Way, Martin County Veteran Services, martin Volunteers, City of Stuart, Indian River State College, Treasure Coast Newspapers, and CareerSource Research Coast

International partnership announced for local company Coaxial Components Corp has entered into a strategic agreement with Ultram Technologies Ltd., making them Coaxicom’s exclusive representative for the country of Israel. This partnership in Israel will provide better service for RF and coaxial component customers within the country by offering an expanded line of products and local stock for quicker deliveries. Ultram Technologies specializes in marketing and sales of components, systems, SatCom, test and measurement equipment, general electronic instruments for RF, microwave and

MM waves as well as the production of communication cables and engineering support services. Coaxicom specializes in the manufacture of RF connectors , at tenu ators , terminations, adapters, torque wrenches, phase adjusters and cable assemblies. Products are available through a growing network of international representatives and authorized distributors in the U.S. and abroad. Visit coaxicom.com for more information.

Martin County unemployment rate continues to fall Martin County’s unemployment rate for August 2015 was 5.7 percent, down from 5.9% the previous month. The county’s unemployment rate was 1.1 percentage points lower than this same month last year.

% August 2015 5.7

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ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

“This downward trend is an excellent sign for the local economy” said Tim Dougher, Executive Director, Business Development Board of Martin County. Dougher continued, “As we move into season, the unemployment rate should continue to fall”

% July 2015 5.9

% August 2014 6.8

Did you know?

Martin County is the 5th largest county in the state by land area.

■ TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

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Dearborn company acquires HealthSouth expansion offers Core Label increased services

Fort Dearborn Company, headquartered in Illinois, has acquired Core Label, LLC of Palm City. Fort Dearborn Company is a leading supplier of high-impact decorative labels for the beverage, food, household products, paint and coatings, personal care, private label/retail and spirits markets. The company has 12 operating divisions in North America, employing approximately 1,400 associates and will now have two additional facilities in Tyrone, PA and Palm City.

Effective with this announcement, Don Mader, CEO of Southeastern Printing in Stuart, will become President of the Core Label division. “Core Label

has built a strong reputation in the marketplace for quality and service, making it an excellent fit for Fort Dearborn”, said Don Mader, President & CEO of Core Label. “Identifying the right strategic acquisition opportunities is a key part of Fort Dearborn Company’s future growth. As a platform company, we will continue to pursue acquisitions that broaden our product and service offerings and deliver unparalleled value to our customers,” stated Fort Dearborn President & CEO Jeff Brezek. “I am thrilled to have Don and his team join our organization and look forward to continuing to build upon the outstanding reputation that Core Label has developed over the years”, added Brezek.

Business briefs

IRSC ranks 3rd in state for trade certification Over 600 Treasure Coast residents earned trade, technical or health care certifications from Indian River State College this school year propelling IRSC to the third top spot in the state in the Florida College System for the number of graduates earning certification. Certifications are nationally recognized credentials such as Automotive Service Excellence or Cisco computer certification that attest to an individual’s knowledge and skills. The automotive certificate program gave Mario Abascal the knowledge and skills to launch his own business,

Gearhead Fabrication in Stuart. The young entrepreneur works on super chargers and race cars. Programs include industrial training in air conditioning, welding, automotive and manufacturing, computer science, public service and over 20 health care programs. One of the newest programs is the Fast Track to Manufacturing, delivering customized training for manufacturing companies and seven-week boot camps for people seeking employment. Visit www.irsc.edu for more information.

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital at Martin Health, a joint venture between Martin Health System and HealthSouth, began serving patients in its new hospital expansion in August. Ten additional private patient rooms, a dialysis suite and a new day room allows the hospital to serve more patients needing rehabilitation services. “Since day one of our hospital’s opening, we’ve experienced how much our services are needed in this area,” said Ivette Miranda, HealthSouth at

The latest Business Florida edition of Florida Trend highlights three Martin County companies in the annual Business Florida 2016 Florida Opportunity Guide: PAC Seating Systems, Ocean Master Marine, and Fresh Shrimp USA. This annual edition showcases the state’s competitive assets including business climate, market opportunities, workforce, infrastructure, global access and quality of life.

also recognized as the 2014 Manufacturer of the Year by the South Florida Manufacturers Association.

Ocean Master Marine, premier boat builder of off-shore center console fishing boats since 1975, is spotlighted as a southeast manufacturer with a new headquarters location in Stuart. This new facility encompasses over 15,000 square feet and the company will be seeking to hire over two dozen employees.

Fresh Shrimp USA shines as a new aquaculture facility in Indiantown. The company, slated to be fully operational in 2016, will produce an estimated 100,000 pounds of organic shrimp and employ 60. The company had their first shrimp harvest this past summer.

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- Friday, Oct. 30 - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - IRSC Chastain Campus - Jobseekers: Register at www. bdbmc.org, click on events - Employers: Email jill@bdbmc.org to reserve your free table - Hosted by The Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041 and the Business Development Board, in partnership with United Way, Martin County Veteran Services, martin Volunteers, City of Stuart, Indian River State College, Treasure Coast Newspapers, and CareerSource Research Coast

Oct 1 LEADERSHIP ALUMNI AFTER HOURS • 5:30 pm. – 7:30 p.m. • Stuart Jet Center • www.leadershipmcalumni.com

Oct 16-17 INDIANTOWN RODEO • 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. • Timer Powers Park • www.indiantownrodeo.com

Oct 9 LIVE 2 LEAD CONFERENCE • 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. • Town of Jupiter Island, Hobe Sound • Register at www.hobesound.org

Oct. 24 PALM FALL FEST • 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. • Lance Corporal Justin Wilson Memorial Park • www.palmcitychamber.com

Ecosphere signs agreement with Brasil Clean Energy for RIO Olympics Approves BCE to Begin Discussions with International Olympic Committee for RIO 2016 Summer Olympic Games Ecosphere Technologies, Inc., a technology development and intellectual property licensing company headquartered in Stuart, announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Brasil Clean Energy, its OZONIXA Licensing partner in Brasil, to begin discussions with municipal and government agencies of Rio de Janeiro to use Ecosphere’s recently patented OZONIX SENTINELa”c technology to restore the oxygen levels in the bays and lagoons that will be the

Business Development Board of Martin County Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

www.bdbmc.org

HealthSouth at Martin Health opened in June 2013 as a partnership project facilitated by the Business Development Board of Martin County. Consisting of 50,000 square foot and originally 34 inpatient beds, the direct capital investment consisted of $14,725,990 in real property and $2,003,911 in tangible personal property equipment. The new rehabilitation hospital created over 90 jobs with an average annual wage of $55,000 since opening its doors in the spring of 2013.

Martin County companies highlighted in Business Florida

PAC Seating Systems is recognized as an aviation and aerospace Palm City manufacturer of private and business jet seating products. The company was recently selected by GDC Technics in San Antonio to provide custom seating products for two Boeing 787 VIP planes and one Boeing business jet. The company is

Martin County Career and Job Fair

Martin chief executive officer. “This expansion will allow us to serve more patients needing our rehabilitation services. And with the addition of the suite, we can now service more dialysis patients.” The hospital provides a higher level of rehabilitative care to patients who are recovering from conditions such as stroke and other neurological disorders, cardiac and pulmonary conditions, brain and spinal cord injuries, complex orthopedic conditions, and amputations.

ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

site of the RIO 2016 Summer Olympic water events.

Additionally, Ecosphere has expanded the geographic area for BCE’s representation of the Company’s patented technologies and products in Brasil to include all of Central and South America. The new agreement calls for Ecosphere and BCE to form a Joint Venture to manufacture Ecosphere’s patented technologies in Brasil, as well as other South American countries.

Ecosphere’s patented OZONIXA technology and latest patent provides customers with a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly process for treating high-volumes of contaminated water in lakes, rivers, lagoons and estuaries that have been contaminated as a result of manmade and natural events.

Did you know? The Lyric Theater, built in 1926, is one of 13 sites in Martin County on the National Register of Historic Places.

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BDBMC seeks new programs and services

The Business Development Board of Martin County is pursuing two important fast track manufacturing training programs for veterans and high school seniors. Offered by Indian River State College at the Paradigm Precision Regional Training Center, this grant program offers participants the opportunity to gain targeted skills for employment in the manufacturing sector and an opportunity to earn industry certification after completion of course work.

funding. The C.A.P.E. program students will receive full scholarships for participation in the program. “This program provides entry level knowledge for veterans that can be built on to further enhance their skills and marketability. This program also fills a void in Martin County’s growing and vibrant manufacturing base,” said Frank Tidikis, Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041. The program was unanimously approved by the BDBMC’s Board of Directors during the April meeting.

The program is open to eligible veterans who reside in Martin County as well as high school seniors enrolled in auto service, building construction, drafting or engineering C.A.P.E. programs. The Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041 will provide 50% of program costs per veteran as a match to the BDBMC

This agenda item will be presented to the Martin County Board of County Commissioners on May 5, 11:30 a.m. Pending approval from the Commission, this program will help both employers and employees with much needed technical training to enhance productivity and wages.

Business briefs

Ecosphere of Stuart receives patent for treating Lake Okeechobee waters

Profile

Indiantown’s Enterprise Zone welcomes new jobs and capital investment

After two years of planning, Atway & Sehayik Development Group held a groundbreaking ceremony in collaboration with the Indiantown Chamber of Commerce last week to announce the Village Square Two commercial development in the downtown business district. The groundbreaking included the announcement of a new Dunkin Donuts and Seacoast Bank ATM which is scheduled for completion by August 2015. Daniel Sehayik, legal and commercial real

Seacoast Bank will have an ATM machine on-site. Chuck Shaffer, Retail Banking Executive, expressed t h at “ Se acoast Bank is delighted to have a presence in the community as many customers reside in the area.” The Village estate representative for Square Two commercial the project stated, “this development includes an project was proof of how additional 3,167 square the private and public feet of retail and office sectors can work together space available for lease. to achieve great things.” “This project is great for Dunkin Donuts will oc- the business community cupy 1,785 square feet in a and residents of Indianstand-alone location with town, providing new jobs a drive-thru and outdoor and capital investment to seating and will create ap- our growing downtown proximately 30 new jobs business district,” stated in the community. Duke Hilary McKeich, IndianProctor, Dunkin Donuts town Chamber of Comfranchisee, stated “the merce Executive Director. franchise had been lookContact Daniel Seing at Indiantown for hayik at (561) 685-0022 eight years” and is look- for information on lease ing forward to this new space available in Village location. Square Two.

Career fair focuses on manufacturing

Ecosphere Technologies, Inc., a technology development and intellectual property licensing company, announced that another Ozonix® patent has been approved by the U.S. Patent Office. This latest invention relates to a water treatment apparatus for destroying aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, the C44 Canal and the Indian River Lagoon based on the principle of

degradation/disinfection using a combination of technologies. Dennis McGuire, Chairman and CEO of Ecosphere Technologies, states “Ecosphere looks forward to making our OZONIX® technology and comprehensive solution available for not only the State of Florida, but also for some of the most endangered bodies of water in the world.” Visit www.ecospheretech. com for more information.

‘Fresh from Florida’ logo incentive program The Florida Department of Agriculture understands that small farmers may not have the resources to individually conduct promotiona l and advertising campaigns. The hallmark of their promotional program is the familiar “Fresh From Florida” logo, which is displayed on product packaging and signage and in a variety of print and electronic media. The purpose of this logo incentive program is to provide participating agricultural entities

with the opportunity to offset a portion of their consumer packaging and carton printing costs while also promoting the “Fresh From Florida” message. Incentive dollars will be awarded upon receipt until May 31, 2015 and consumer packaging is eligible for half of actual printing cost up to $1,500. Visit www.freshfromflorida.com for program rules and guidelines.

Calling all veteran owned businesses Martin Volunteers’ Retired & Senior Volunteer Program has several focus areas, one of which is veteran employment. In an effort to help veterans, Martin Volunteers is compiling a directory of veteran owned businesses which will be available throughout the county. The direc-

tory will also be accessible online at www.martinveterans.org. To be included in the directory, visit www.martinveterans.org and click on the “Veteran Owned Business Survey” link at the top of the page or call Lauren Mustelier at 772-2204472 ext. 228.

On April 22, the Business Development Board of Martin County, in partnership with Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1041, CareerSource Research Coast and Martin Volunteers hosted a well-attended and successful career fair. Manufacturing career fairs were held across the entire state as part of the Florida TRADE Consortium’s statewide “Drive to 1,000” campaign, an effort to place 1,000 Florida TRADE students and others into advanced manufacturing jobs by April 1, 2016. “I appreciated being set up alongside other manufacturers. We were better able to communicate and direct candidates to each other based on each business’ needs,” stated Jill Murphy, HR Coordinator, PAC Seating Systems. Over 40 employers registered for the event held at Frances Langford Pavilion at Indian Riverside Park and had the opportunity to meet and interview over 400 jobseekers. Consistent with two prior jobs fairs, approximately 13% of jobseekers held veteran status and approximately half of the employers offered preference to veterans. The job fair team added a digital element to the event for employers who were unable to attend on-site. The Virtual Career Fair offered additional employment opportunities online for 48 hours following the event.

PALM CITY CHAMBER’S 21ST ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Date: Fri. May 1 Time: 11:30 am luncheon/1:00 pm Shotgun Place: Piper’s Landing Yacht and Country Club, Palm City Contact Carolyn at the Palm City Chamber of Commerce for more information: 772-286-8121 or carolyn@palmcitychamber.com. HOBE SOUND STROLL Date: Sat. May 7 Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Place: Taste Restaurant, 11750 SE Dixie Highway, Hobe Sound Contact: Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce 772545-3411

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Promoting economic prosperity by supporting business

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SPOTLIGHT

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ing companies in their expansion and growth needs and attracting new companies to the community. BDBMC is the official partner of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), the state’s official economic development organization. The BDBMC is funded in part by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BDBMC

Did you know? If you’re selling a business, South Florida is the place to do it. You’re likely to get 25% more for your business than anywhere else in the state.