Business Observer's 40 Under 40 2015 by Kat Hughes

OC T O B E R 16 - OC T O B E R 22 , 2015 | TH R E E D O LL A R S

FLOR IDA’S NE WSPAPER FOR T HE C - SUI T E

Quiz | Do our 40 Under 40 winners look like these celebrities? Pages 5 and 15 PASCO • H ILL SBOROUG H • PIN ELL AS • P OLK • M A N ATEE • SA R ASOTA • C H A R LOT TE • LEE • COLLIER

40UNDER40

OLD PLACES/ YOUNG FACES

PAGES 5 THROUGH 27

2015 40 UNDER 40 WINNERS | TAMPA BAY

28 Shrinking vacancies push landlords to up their game. plumbing-today.com

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“The road is cleared,” said Galt. “We are going back to the world.” He raised his hand and over the desolate earth he traced in space the sign of the dollar. Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged 169109

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

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CoffeeTalk Not gone for long

AL CLARIZA and TERRI NOYES property. They owned it for two years, then sold it to another couple. Noyes and Clarizia plan to keep the aesthetic and décor the same as it’s been since 2008. They did make some minor renovations to the inside of the rooms, particularly on linens and carpets. Clarizia says that project goes back to the No. 1 lesson he’s learned in hospitality: the first impression is paramount to long-term success. “When you walk into a building, if it’s dirty then people will think the rest of the building is dirty,” Clarizia tells Coffee Talk. “You have to keep the rooms clean and well maintained.”

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Count hospitality industry veterans Al Clarizia and Terri Noyes as the latest people on the Gulf Coast to not really get the whole retirement thing. The couple ran the Sea Coast Inn Bed & Breakfast on Cape Code for more than 20 years; Noyes took care of front of the house tasks, while Clarizia, a contractor, worked behind the scenes. They recently sold the inn, and began to spend more time in their home on Longboat Key. Enough time where they saw an opportunity to buy a unique property in downtown Sarasota: Hotel Ranola, a 90-year-old building with eight apartments and nine hotel rooms. “It’s a lovely old building,” Noyes says. “We are committed to retaining its original beauty and tradition.” And like that, the couple is back in business. They bought the hotel and the building. Noyes declines to disclose what they spent on the hotel, but they paid $2 million for the building, according to Sarasota County property records. All the apartments, mostly studios and one-bedroom units, are leased. On the corner of Indian Place and Ringling Boulevard, Hotel Ranola has had several owners in the past decade. Area entrepreneurs Robert and Kim Livengood bought the hotel in 2008 and rebuilt into an art-deco style

Most banks are… too little to meet your needs.

Pretty in Pink, Tampa style The Tampa skyline is turning Pink in October, part of a movement to promote breast cancer awareness. At least 40 prominent buildings, including the Moffitt Cancer Center, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa City Center and Westin Tampa Bay are participating in the pink-out. Commercial Real Estate Women, a business-networking group better known as CREW, is leading the program, called City in Pink. It includes displaying the color pink everywhere

from exterior lighting and landscape lights to fountains, flowers, ribbons and banners. “We are combining our connections in commercial real estate with our passion to support breast cancer awareness,” says Katie Gower, a CREW Tampa Bay Board Member who leads the City in Pink initiative, in a statement. A Business Observer 40 under 40

TOO BIG to serve your needs.

See COFFEE TALK page 4

DON’T ASK ABOUT FOOTBALL by the university concluded that football wasn’t feasible. Bradshaw has said in the past that there’s no state money for football, especially for public universities with fewer than 20,000 students. Still, the university is trying to raise $100 million in private contributions to its foundation. As everyone in academia knows, football is a big draw for donors. Bradshaw hasn’t closed the door completely on football, however. “I think football is something this region’s excited about,” he acknowledged in his concluding remarks to chamber members. “It’s a matter of when, not if.” Go Eagles!

...is just the right size

to not only meet & serve your needs, but exceed your expectations.

Member

161308

Wilson Bradshaw wants to talk about the 15,000 students at Florida Gulf Coast University and all the exciting programs at the fast-growing university in Fort Myers. But when he’s speaking to business groups such as the Chamber of Southwest Florida recently, the university president grumbles that all people really want to know is when FGCU is going to field a football team. “Don’t ask me about football,” he quipped at the beginning of a speech to chamber members recently. “I’ve been asked that four times already today.” Bradshaw sought to dispel the issue in 2011 when consultants hired

BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

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CoffeeTalk winner in 2014, Gower is also director of business development at Ed Taylor Construction. “For our first year, we are thrilled to have 40 buildings participating.” Other buildings going pink, ac-

FROM PAGE 3

cording to the statement, include Le Meridian hotel and Fifth Third Center, where people planted pink flowers and landscaping, in addition to changing the exterior lighting. Amelia Arena is also scheduled to go pink for 10 days.

Family business navigates expansion Hiring a top executive for a family-run business — someone outside the family — can be an excruciatingly difficult decision. That’s why Sue Wise took her time when looking for an executive administrator at the home health care firm she founded in 1995, Sarasotabased Take Care Private Duty Home Health Care. Wise FLORENSA has held that title herself since she launched the company with four employees. With a nursing degree and an M.B.A., Wise now holds the title of CEO and owner of the company, with around 600 employees. Other family members in executive roles include two of Wise’s daughters, Courtney Wise Snyder and Erika Wise Borland. The new executive administrator, who will oversee strategy development, operations and support for caregivers, among other tasks, is Marguerite Florensa, a longtime nursing home administrator and executive. Florensa,

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with a health care career that spans more than 40 years, has spent the past decade in regional leadership roles at national nursing home and retirement communities. That means a lot of travel. “I’ve spent a lot of time on the road and in airplanes,” Florensa tells Coffee Talk. “It was time to come in from the road.” Florensa’s tasks include a large project to implement electronic medical records software and a program that updates all the firm’s internal systems, such as scheduling and human resources. Florensa will also work with the company in launching a fourth office, in Port Charlotte, later this year. Take Care currently has offices in Sarasota, Venice and east Manatee County. One final key task for Florensa: Fitting into the family and the culture at Take Care, one of the largest and most established home health care agencies in the region. That part of the job, says Florensa, is one aspect she’s looking forward to, especially after decades in corporate America. Says Florensa: “I want to continue to build on what Sue has already created.”

Y E A R S

Three strongest performing job growth sectors forecasted during 2015 to 2018 21%: selfemployed

44%: 500+ employees

22%: 1 to 49 employees

Professional Construction and business +7.9% services: +4.1% Trade,transportation and utilities: +3.4%

9%: 100 to 499 employees

4%: 50 to 99 employees

A boost for builders Take that, tourism and hospitality. That’s what the construction industry could be boasting, given the data in a new report from SBDC Florida and the University of West Florida’s Center for Research and Economic Opportunity. The report, Small Business and its Impact on Florida, highlights several trends in hiring, demographics and the overall economy. Small businesses, for example, continue to drive the Sunshine State. The report shows the state’s small businesses account for 56% of all employment, and the vast majority of those companies have fewer than 50 employees. There are also 1.7 million self-employed people in Florida. The construction sector shines in job growth projections. It will see employment growth of 7.9%

from 2015-2018, besting business services, trade and transportation and education and health services, the report predicts. Even better for builders, is the construction industry was the worst performer for job growth between 2008 and 2010, the report adds. Leisure and hospitality, a scorcher for job growth in recent years, will cool down, according to the report, which includes data from the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida. That sector will grow only 1.9% from 2015-2018, the study projects. Another industry predicted to lose momentum is manufacturing. That industry, which expanded at a rate of 2.5% in 2014, according to the report, is projected to grow 0.4% from 2015-2018.

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OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

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40UNDER40

BY ROD THOMSON | INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

5 ways

Old Places/Young Faces

he theme of the 2015 edition of the Business Observer’s 40 under 40, old places/young faces, is to mix history with possibility. The possibilities these young faces have in front of them span wide. They are a group, in total, of people who know how to get things done. There’s a bank president on the list, and a caterer who can marshal the troops for some of the region’s most lavish events. There are architects behind glitzy and significant projects, and CEOs of fast-growing multimillion-dollar businesses. There’s an under-30 entrepreneur, who launched two stores in a year, who is the epitome of a woman who can get it done. The movers and shakers on this list are also comfortable taking risks. Some, for example, left successful companies, and steady paychecks, to start their own company. Others on the list take their risks in another direction, such as the seven people who chose skydiving for their most adventurous thing. (Another three

Fun Facts

to ensure an effective

people have skydiving on their bucket list.) This issue — check out more on a website devoted to this issue and past winners at BusinessObserver4040.com — also highlights three places that help define this region’s rich history. These places are seen in the group photos that go along with these stories. There’s one for the Lee/Collier region; one for Sarasota-Manatee; and one for Tampa Bay. The Lee/Collier shoot location, given this issue honors movers, shakers and doers, is especially fitting. That picture was taken at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers — onetime home of business icon and auto pioneer Henry Ford. One of Ford’s most famous quotes defines the optimistic, go-getting style of the class of 2015 40 under 40 winners. Says Ford: “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” — Mark Gordon

benefits renewal

Steve Hall CEBS, CHRP

Market President, Senior Benefits Specialist

A bad benefits renewal period can cause turbulence, employee angst and unnecessary expenses for a company. But such a scenario is preventable by following some basic steps to ensure that a business has an effective benefits renewal process, one that works for both the company and the employees. Steve Hall, Market President of Alltrust Insurance, said there are several steps a company can and should take to ensure a successful renewal cycle. “ T he employer spends a ridiculous amount of money on health insurance,” said Hall, who also is a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist through the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. “Being proactive in getting over hurdles through a lot of good communication is essential to making complicated renewals work well.” He maps out a five-step process for accomplishing this. 1) Plan before and af ter. Schedule a pre-renewal meeting severa l mont hs a head of t he expected renewal. This diminishes time pressure that frequently arises other wise. This should be a constr uctive, thoughtful conversation look ing at what changes are needed and what options are on the market now. And then after renewal has taken place, companies should consider a postrenewal meeting to review how it went and strategize how to move forward between that point and the next renewal date. “This basically becomes an ongoing process of communications,” Hall said. 2) Communicate early and often. Once the company and its insurance team know the direction that the benefits are going, the company or its representatives should begin communications w it h e mploye e s . He a lt hc a r e reform is creating a lot of stress for people worrying about what their benefits will be. More upfront communications with employees alleviates much of that pressure and creates happier and more productive

All photos by Mark Wemple

34.1

20.26

Average age

Average years on the Gulf Coast

Birthplace, by the numbers 7 are from the Midwest

2 are from outside the U.S.

People they’d like to have dinner with:

4 winners said Elon Musk

7 are from the Northeast 4 are from the West

5 are from the South

2 said Jesus

15 winners

9 said their grandma or grandpa

are from Florida

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

The most popular responses – Reese Witherspoon and Leonardo DiCaprio. Who do you think looks most like their chosen actor? Erika Quartermaine

Jamie Mangold

Laura Lay

employees. 3) Organize the employee meeting. Sitting down ahead of time and planning out the renewal meeting that will take place with employees can iron out many kinks that might otherwise arise. Communicate the plan changes to the employees and develop a meeting method that works for the employer and employee. 4) P r e p a r e e n r o l l m e n t meeting answers. During the enrollment meetings, companies or their representatives should have information on hand about what benefits plan each employee is currently enrolled in. This allows on-the-spot comparisons for the employees and primes them to ask questions at that time. The questions can be answered immediately when the benefits experts are on site, which reduces employee worry and increases company efficiencies. Online access to employee benefit plans is particularly helpful. “We can be prepared to answer the questions and the company can be more effective,” Hall said. 5) Keep up the communications. Even after enrollment, it is important for companies to communicate with employees leading up to when the new plans go into effect. There are many cracks things can slip through without ongoing rappor t with employees. “We send out an email that employers can cut and paste into internal communications explaining when to refill prescriptions or set doctors appointments,” Hall said. Firms such as Alltrust can create efficiencies in helping a company’s human resources staff manage the complicated benefits renewal proces s. T h is a l lows t he HR professionals to focus on the daily needs of the company — a sometimes invisible benefit to the process. These steps limit upheava l, allowing a company to focus on its core product or service. “Whether a company has 10 or 1,000 employees, some of these items can be overlooked and it can become a fire drill at renewal time,” Hall said. “That is hard on everyone and can end up costing a company money.”

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Reese Witherspoon

Industry Insights allows brands and businesses to connect directly with the Business Observer’s readership — and participate in the conversation — by creating engaging content on the Business Observer’s digital publishing platform. For more on Industry Insights, look for the Industry Insights tab on BusinessObserverFL.com or email us at industryinsights@BusinessObserverFL.com.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Hudson Worthington Harr

Jackson Haskins

Bart Knellinger

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40UNDER40 / Tampa Bay

Fun Facts

If I had a magic wand, I’d …

“Provide food and clothing to children around the globe, as well as the opportunity of education. And be able to teleport anywhere in the world by just batting my eyelashes. ☺” — Christina Majeed

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

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Old places/ Young faces The Tampa Theatre The Tampa Theatre, where this picture was taken, was built in 1926. Designed by noted theater architect John Eberson, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It’s also a Tampa City Landmark and a member of the League of Historic American Theatres. Tampa Theatre Inc., a nonprofit, operates the facility under an agreement with the city of Tampa.

Back row, left to right, from stairs down: Daniel James Scott, Amy Barrett, Jamie Mangold, Bart Knellinger, Hudson Worthington Harr, Jessica Eckley, Lauren Davenport, Sozon Vatikiotis Second row, standing in front of railing: Rich LeComte, Laura Lay Sitting in chairs: Christina Majeed, Jason Jensen, Noelle Muniz, Cory Petcoff

“Cure cancer.” — Jackie Zumba

“Be Harry Potter and open the public’s eyes to the numerous health benefits of chiropractic care and change the misconceptions about my profession.” — Dr. Leigh Treco

“Scratch my back with it. Magic scares me.” — Sozon Vatikiotis

BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

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Lauren Davenport, 27

I’m always willing to jump off a cliff, but I want to know approximately how far I’d fall.

Lauren Davenport says the most adventurous thing she’s done was jump out of a plane at 14,000 feet. Perhaps the story of how she got there is even more adventurous: picking up her business and moving it to Tampa without knowing a soul. Three days later, she met her future husband by tripping over his dog, Chance, in St. Petersburg. Their first date? Skydiving. Jumping right in is Davenport’s specialty. While attending Middle Tennessee State University, Davenport worked at a bar to help with tuition payments. At the time, only students with a college email address could post on a new social network called Facebook. Davenport persuaded the bar to let her post on its behalf. It quickly became the fastest growing bar, and before she knew it, she had 15 clients in the Nashville area — all before she had a degree. With a $50,000 investment and bookkeeping assistance from her father, Davenport decided to start a company to address businesses’ social media needs. Hoping to break away from her “college kid” reputation in Nashville, Davenport researched to find a city with a high ratio of small businesses and more than 200,000 people. She landed on St. Petersburg.

Survey says Best place to network: LinkedIn. In this day and age, it’s so important that you are always establishing yourself as an expert online. Doing this on LinkedIn recently won our company a contract worth over $500,000.

Four years later, she leads a team of 30 employees with a client portfolio that boasts brands such as Marriott, American Strategic Insurance and Carrier. Her company, Symphoni Media, has grown 400% every year, with all of its clients referral-based. For future growth, Davenport continues to look to rapidly expand the group’s services by taking on strategic risk. “I’m always willing to jump off a cliff, but I want to know approximately how far I’d fall.” — Traci Beach

Cory Petcoff, 37

40UNDER40 / Lakeland

President, Owner, Baron Realty Inc.

The name of the game is finding who will be best served by the property.

It was always Cory Petcoff’s goal to get back to Lakeland, his hometown. But he decided to acquire some marketable skills elsewhere before coming home to work in the family business. Petcoff worked for TriMont Real Estate Advisors in Atlanta for a couple years before returning to Lakeland with his wife to grow his family’s boutique asset management firm. Petcoff realized that Baron Realty had a full-time bookkeeper, office manager and maintenance guy that could be utilized during their downtimes, so he decided to expand the company’s thirdparty management business. It took time to get the word out through cold calls, letting people know that he was offering third-party management, he says. “My strongest source (for leads) is word of mouth because we treat tenants really well.” It helps that he’s focused on a town of 100,000 people within the city limits

and 200,000 in the surrounding community. “We’ve been in the community for a long time,” he adds. In 2007, Petcoff was awarded the Pinnacle Award for No. 1 Top Producer. In 2008, Petcoff was awarded the Top General Brokerage Producer in a sevencounty region by the Florida Gulf Coast Commercial Association of Realtors. Petcoff is not interested in property outside of Lakeland, though he looks to continue to add to the firm’s 640,000 square feet of commercial property. His acquisitions are focused on properties where he feels they can add value, rather than just any property that pops up. Petcoff helped lead the development of Di x iela nd, a 30,000-square-foot property targeted to artists and creative entrepreneurs. “The name of the game is finding who will be best served by the property,” he says. — Traci Beach

Survey says Best place to network: Concord Coffee Who would play you in a movie about your life: Adam Sandler, or anyone with the ability to laugh at himself, which I believe is vital in any leadership role.

Bart Knellinger, 32

Who would play you in a movie about your life: Anne Hathaway, except she already is. “The Intern” is coming out September 25, 2015, and judging by the previews, this is basically the story of my life. ☺

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Trust but verify. I can be a very trusting person, but it is important to harbor some degree of skepticism in most transactions. I still work a lot of handshake deals, but am more careful in those dealings than I might have been earlier in my career.

What you would be doing if you could pick another career: The First American Ninja Warrior!

Founder, CEO, Progressive Dental

40UNDER40 / Dunedin

40UNDER40 / St. Petersburg

Founder and CEO, Symphoni Media

After graduating from Palm Harbor University High School, Bart Knellinger knew he wanted to start a business. So instead of going to college, he moved to Chicago and sold pizza coupons and oil changes door to door. From there, he found a full-time gig at Idearc Media to sell advertising packages to businesses and became the top sales rep in his first year. But it bothered Knellinger that he didn’t have much access to help his clients with business strategy because his company wasn’t tracking ad campaign effectiveness. That’s when he decided to shadow his dad, a Palm Harbor dentist, to learn what his practice was doing for advertising. He quickly learned that, for dentists, running a practice is an afterthought. Knellinger persuaded his dad to start focusing on explaining the value of his more expensive dental services and to run education-based marketing campaigns about things such as gum disease. The practice grew from $800,000 in revenue to $3 million in two years. Knellinger also attended continuing education courses, and convinced a company selling lasers that treats gum disease that he could sell its $100,000 lasers along with a full advertising package. In the first year he sold double that of the other 13 sales reps combined, he says. Other dental practices started to learn about Knellinger’s advertising business, and his revenues grew from $170,000 in 2010 to a projected $15 million this year, earning him a spot on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing companies two years in a row. Now the 35-employee company helps dental practices with everything from writing a business plan to continuing education to setting up a patient financing plan. — Traci Beach

Survey says The most important business lesson I’ve learned: The main reason for not accomplishing everything that you desire is not from a lack of resources but from a lack of resourcefulness. And that the ultimate resource is our natural human resources like creativity, passion, determination and love.

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

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ETON OF

SWEDEN 941.364.5300. 120 University Town Center Drive.

180205

The Mall at University Town Center.

BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

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Jamie Mangold, 37

Amy Barrett, 34 At 34, Amy Barrett has a lready proven her entrepreneurial success a nd accomplished her childhood goal of becoming a real estate agent. In 2008, she started her first two companies by buying a mobile home park and opening a brokerage firm in Mississippi. The next year she expanded her brokerage to Ocala, where she continued to operate independently, hoping to keep 100% of her commissions. But when the market was hit by the recession, she started to look to cities that would recover faster. That’s how she landed in Tampa, joining Colliers to tap into the company’s global resources. “Coming from an independent small shop to the third-largest commercial real estate firm in the country… you increase production times 20 because of the resources you have access to,” she says. “When you surround yourself with the best, you become the best.” Barrett is the 2015 presidentelect of Certified Commercial Investment Members’ (CCIM) West Coast District. Only 6%

of brokers in the world have a CCIM designation, which Barrett compares to earning a graduate degree through completing education and proving yourself through transactions. Barrett is still an owner of the mobile home park and the brokerage firm in Mississippi, which does about $6 million a year in volume. “Sometimes when you go through things like that, you think: ‘This is impossible,’” Barrett says. “Being strategic, disciplined and not doubting yourself” are keys to success, she adds. — Traci Beach

Survey says Coolest business experience: Owning a mobile home park. I have stories for days. The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Follow through on what you say you are going to do and ALWAYS do the right thing. Favorite off-hours activity: CrossFit

Director of finance and insurance, Lazydays

40UNDER40 / FishHawk Ranch/Lithia

40UNDER40 / Clearwater

Senior associate, commercial services, Colliers International Tampa Bay

J a m i e Mangold has only been living in the Gulf Coast area for a few months, but her background proves she’s a person to watch in the recreational vehicle industry. Mangold has worked 12 years in the RV business, starting her career in the finance department of a smaller dealer. “Finance of RVs was my first true passion,” she admits. Mangold worked her way from finance to sales to a general manager at Camping World. She was able to help the dealer grow from selling 30 or 40 RVs a month to selling 50 RVs monthly. That’s what caught RV destination mega-dealer Lazydays’ attention in a small industry. The company recruited Mangold to become the director of finance and insurance starting in July. Mangold says her biggest challenge is that “buyers want to buy the way they want to buy.” With customers doing 90% of their research online, when they get into the dealership, they want to get their purchase on the road quickly. A high-volume dealership selling 350 to 550 RVs a month like La-

Survey says Coolest business experience: The moment I discovered the necessary breakthrough for technology behind www.ReRev. com in my mom’s living room. A close second is holding my company’s first multimillion dollar contract.

40UNDER40 / Lakeland

40UNDER40 / Clearwater

Coolest business experience: So many to choose from…the feeling of accomplishment when goals are exceeded! The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Never compromise integrity to make money One website that makes your job easier: DealerTrack Who would play you in a movie about your life: Reese Witherspoon

CEO, Alltrust

Founder and president, SunSure Living

turning to solar, he knew it would become harder to compete. So he reinvested the profits from the business and redirected his employees’ attention to real estate investments. He’s declined $25 million in work for SunQuest to focus on the local development business instead. Today, SunSure is developing $17 million of real estate in Tampa and St. Petersburg, including townhomes, single family units and condos. Harr is hoping to get back to that feeling in his mom’s living room, when he figured out his invention. “I’m trying to get back to that place, but the idea has to come to you,” he says. — Traci Beach

Survey says

Sozon C. Vatikiotis, 34

Hudson Worthington Harr, 29

Hudson Harr is a quintessential entrepreneur known in the Gulf Coast area for his work with renewable energy. Now he’s reinvesting his profits from solar into land. At 29, Harr has already successfully built two businesses: ReRev, which turns “gyms into power plants,” and SunQuest, a solar power company. In 2006, after borrowing $10,000 from his neighbor for parts and turning his mom’s living room into a lab, Harr discovered a way to harness electricity from fitness equipment. The technology made people working out more aware of how much energy it takes to produce a kilowatt hour, Harr says. His technology is installed in 70 university gyms around the country. In 2008, he cofounded SunQuest Energy, expanding it into a 75-person, multimillion dollar company providing solar planning and design services. Though most of its work was out of state, SunQuest worked on projects at the Dalí Museum and the James A. Haley VA in Tampa. But a couple years ago, as Harr started to see the big firms

zydays needs to stay focused on increasing deliveries and setting up extended warranties and gap insurance as quickly as possible, Mangold says. But ultimately her job is the same as it was previously: finding good people with integrity to truthfully sell the best options to win visitors over as lifetime customers. “It’s all about the experience,” Mangold says, “not just about selling an RV once.” — Traci Beach

S o z o n Va tikiotis’s likes to use the word “humbled.” It’s the word he used when he was appointed CEO of Alltrust. It’s a refreshing word to hear from a CEO of a benefits company that is growing 15% year over year in an industry that typically experiences singledigit growth. Alltrust expects to reach $8 million in revenue this year. He says he learned this humility because he was beat up a lot as a kid. “You’re only as good as you think you are; there’s going to be someone that’s better,” Vatikiotis says. He also knows that he was brought into the CEO role last year with only a few years experience in the insurance industry. Vatikiotis constantly credits his peers, saying that all good

ideas come from them, but that’s not to say he doesn’t play a role in the decision-making process. Vatikiotis admits he can be analytical to a fault, needing to k now potentia l impact before considering an idea. Over the last few months, Vatikiotis has been ramping up two new teams at Alltrust — a worksite division that focuses on consulting clients on voluntary benefits, and a technology division, which consults on HR and payroll systems. The two divisions “have taken off like wildfire,” he says. Vatikiotis believes trust is the best way to build enthusiasm among employees to grow the business. “If they know you would walk into traffic for them, which I would, they feed off it,” he says. — Traci Beach

Survey says Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: John D. Rockefeller – he started from nothing and created an empire, doing it the right way the entire time. John Coffey from The Green Mile – he is the epitome of all that is good. Plus he likes cornbread. I love cornbread.

Who would play you in a movie about your life: I say Brad Pitt, but my colleagues say Danny Devito. If I had a magic wand I’d: Scratch my back with it. Magic scares me.

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

Christina Majeed, 32

Daniel James Scott, 37

Chief product officer, Nextech

Survey says Best place to network: Bern’s Steak House and Dessert Room is great. What’s at the top of your bucket list: Visit Cuba and work on my pilot’s license in 2016.

Executive director, Tampa Bay Technology Forum

Daniel James Scott says his best decision was deciding to live in Tampa Bay. He came to the area to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa. Now, looking at the impact he’s made in the region, he wouldn’t have it any other way. Over the last 14 years, Scott has built a reputation in the Tampa startup community, cofounding the entrepreneurship program at USF and a Tampa seed-stage fund with Gazelle Labs. He has also co-authored five books on entrepreneurship. In January he was hired as the executive director of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum. In this role he’s working to spread the

word about Tampa’s tech com mu n it y — turning tbtf.org into a “massive resource center.” Part of that effort involves transforming the organization’s blog to publish thought leadership pieces. “It’s an empty gallery that we’re filling with the people and the pride of Tampa Bay,” Scott says. Throughout his career, Scott says he’s hit many forks in the road, and sometimes he doesn’t pick the most effective or most efficient. “Some work, some don’t,” he says. “You maximize and optimize” the ones that do. — Traci Beach

Survey says Best place to network: Tech Tuesdays Coolest business experience: Ignite Tampa Bay was a great event to speak at.

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Failure is just part of the process. Never stop. Who would play you in a movie about your life: Probably Mark Wahlberg

What’s at the top of your bucket list: Leave the Gulf Coast better than I found it.

40UNDER40 / St. Petersburg

nit y feedback tool where users can exchange ideas and vote on a produc t w i sh list. Though she remembers when the company was just a few people eating pizza and coding new software, today Nextech has more than $50 million in revenue and nearly 200 employees with offices Tampa, Clearwater and Dayton, Ohio. According to Majeed, her best business decision was finding the top talent from within the organization to build her products department. “You get the best people on the team, push them to be great, and push them to be greater,” she says. — Traci Beach

40UNDER40 / St. Petersburg

At age 24, Christina Majeed didn’t realize how big of a deal it was that she helped develop an electronic medical records product for dermatologists and plastic surgeons that generated millions of dollars in sales. She just thought, “Cool, people are buying this product and I’m getting a raise.” But that’s what helped her eventually achieve her position as lead of strategy and business development at Nextech. Majeed says her father, the founder and former CEO of Nextech, pushed her to develop a strong work ethic by giving her a lot of opportunities at a young age. Majeed d id n’t k now she would end up in the family business. In fact, she was accepted to medical school after graduating from the University of Dayton with a degree in pre-med. But something didn’t feel right about it. So instead of going to school, she decided to take a year off and work for her dad. That’s when she first helped with the electronic medical records product. In 2010, Majeed went back to school to get her master’s in technology management from Columbia University in New York. Since, Majeed has helped the company release a patented iPad application and a customer commu-

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BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

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Rich LeComte, 34

In this industry, you can’t just go to the library. You have to learn by doing and be upfront and honest when you don’t understand.

Rich LeComte has built his business by overcoming the fear of asking questions and asking for favors. When you’re targeting any kind of business, the first steps should be finding the people you need to connect with, and the people you know who can connect you, he says. After working in finance at PwC in California and completing the banking training program at SunTrust Bank in Atlanta, LeComte somewhat fell into specializing in health care banking. He realized that while the economy tanked, there were still health care deals to be made. “I shifted into health care as a reaction, and I became very good at it,” he says. “In this industry, you can’t just go to the library. You have to learn by doing and be upfront and honest when you don’t understand.” LeComte learned quick ly by joining industr y groups and immersing himself in the intricacies of health care reform and how it will impact businesses — especially those involved in long-term care. “I can come up with strategies to position them to help them deal with what’s coming down the pipe,” he says. That’s why LeComte was recruited to join USAmeriBank to start its health care division from his previous post as vice

Survey says Coolest business experience: The white coat mini internship at Tampa General Hospital. I was able to shadow an orthopedic surgeon and go into the OR to observe surgeries.

president of Fifth Third Bank last year. Though he’s only working as a team of one right now, he expects to hire at least one more individual in the next year. “We’ve doubled the size of the portfolio this year, and anticipate 50% growth in the portfolio next year.” It’s growth that the bank has become accustomed to, growing assets from nothing to $3.5 billion since its inception in 2007. LeComte’s success has come through making connections and keeping them. “In the banking world you have to be an advocate for your client,” he says. “The closing is just the beginning of the relationship.” — Traci Beach

Laura Lay, 37

Director of business development/marketing director, Construction Services Inc. of Tampa

40UNDER40 / Tampa

I grew up on a farm, so man activities are easy for me.

Laura Lay got into development because she wanted a dog and couldn’t afford one on her teacher salary. Fast forward 15 years and she’s the director of business development and marketing at Construction Services Inc. (CSI) in Tampa. Lay co-owns the company with her husband, Fred Lay. Lay says it was difficult as a young woman to push her way into circles of 50- to 60-year-old men, who had the “good old boys mentality.” She had to be creative, organizing shooting, golf and sports events. “I grew up on a farm, so man activities are easy for me,” she says. Building relationships is how she’s helped grow the business. “Let’s get to know each other and the business will come,” is a mantra for Lay. One of the most rewarding

jobs Lay completed was helping Tampa-based Doctors Administrative Solutions find a new headquarters after searching for four years. “It took the longest labor of love,” Lay says. Just as impressive is Lay’s resume with local organizations. She sits on the Tampa General Hospital’s Women’s Leadership Council and patient advisory board. She’s also on the development committee for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and Growth Task Force for the Pasco Economic Development Council. Finally, she serves as a board member for Junior Achievement. Philanthropy is a big part of the couple’s business, Lay says. Over the last five years, CSI has donated $1 million back to the community, according to Lay. — Traci Beach

Survey says Best place to network: Networking can happen anywhere you’re willing to turn to the person next to you and start a conversation. The Tampa Club is my favorite place.

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Nothing takes the place of a good old fashion phone call. Emails can miss the human touch and sometimes everyone needs a dose of the good old days.

Jason Jensen, 38

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: The more of yourself you put into something – the more you’ll get out of it.

Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Taylor Swift because she is goofy, confident in all things and a huge philanthropist. Charlie Sheen… because who wouldn’t? Something interesting and crazy is bound to happen.

Principal, Wannemacher Jensen Architects

40UNDER40 / St. Petersburg

40UNDER40 / Tampa

Senior vice president – specialty lending manager, USAmeriBank

Jason Jensen is proof that interns can become owners. According to the principal of Wannemacher Jensen Architects, all it required was “taking ownership before actually taking ownership.” For Jensen, that meant finding a way to make an impact at the business and working to grow the firm from day one. For example, he encouraged the business to submit for design awards and join in public art displays to get its name out — both of which brought notoriety to the firm. “It was the firm’s name, not my name,” Jensen says. It’s part of the reason why he was able to propel his way up the ladder so quickly, becoming a partner only seven years into his career. Jensen wasn’t always in architecture. He started as a professional saxophone player in a jazz band. Knowing that it would be difficult to eventually support a family on music, Jensen looked for a different career with creative impact, landing on architecture. After school, he moved to New York City and worked at Swanke Hayden Connell Architects for a year and a half. But Jensen wanted to come back to Tampa, interested in bringing more creative design to the area. Wannemacher Jensen Architects has most recently been in the news for its two pitches for the St. Petersburg Pier. Its second pitch received the most community support, but was eventually voted down by the jury. “Being involved in that international competition helped us grow,” Jensen says. Now leveraging the relationships they built during previous pitches, the group is pursuing the $20 million uplands portion of the pier. With just 16 professionals, “I’m proud we can compete nationally,” Jensen says. — Traci Beach

Survey says The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Networking should start by helping others without the expectation of a return. Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: I’m also a saxophone player so I’d love to meet John Coltrane. I think Edison would make for fascinating dinner conversation as well.

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

BusinessObserverFL.com

Jessica Eckley, 36

Noelle Muniz, 29

Jessica Eckley says she’s always been business-oriented. While at school at University of Central Florida, Eckley interned as RDB Sports, the parent company for the Orlando Magic. By her junior year, she was working full time for the company. Eckley worked for the Orlando Magic for seven-and-ahalf years until she found a job in her hometown Tampa, with Cox Media Group. From there, she worked as the event marketing manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning for a few years and later as a public relations manager at Triad Retail Media, working with clients that included Wal-Mart, eBay and CVS. After her first year at Triad, she kept getting calls from people asking for marketing and public relations help. “It was just the little push I needed,” she says. An extra push from her mentor, Bill Wickett, the executive vice president of the Lightning, in June 2014 sealed the deal. He encouraged, “You should try it and see what you can do,” Eckley recalls. She thought she would start her consulting business slowly by taking it easy, but it didn’t work out that way. “It progressed very rapidly,” Eckley says. Her clients range from a travel company to law firms

Noelle Muniz had a successful start to her career in entertainment public relations in Los Angeles and later in Tampa at Tucker Hall. But she always had an itch for doing nonprofit work. In May, Muniz heard about an opportunity with Because of Ezra, a local nonprofit that funds research for children battling neuroblastomas and other childhood cancers. Better than Ezra was struggling to find an assistant director to work closely with its board, which is split between Los Angeles and Tampa. “No one else could fill this role,” she says, “It was a no-brainer. I had to take it.” The organization is in its fifth year, the year that really determines how sustainable a nonprofit is. When raising money, a background in communications work like PR, branding and messaging can be valuable, according to Muniz. The biggest challenge is “figuring out how to grow while being extremely responsible with the funds we have.” On Muniz’s first day on the job, she was blown away after meeting Moria, a child directly impacted by the organization’s funds. At a conference, Moria’s father said, “You are funding my child’s life, you are sav-

Founder / CEO, Eckley Media

Assistant Director, Because of Ezra

to a car dealership. “I’m constantly studying their business,” Eckley says, look ing for unique ways to tell their story. Recently she hosted an art show for a local law firm that supported the Make-A-Wish foundation. “It also tied back to their creative concept,” she adds. — Traci Beach

Survey says

Survey says The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Don’t be afraid to admit when you’ve made a mistake, and have empathy when others do the same.

40UNDER40 / Tampa

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Prepare for the curveball. Despite all of my planning, I’ve learned that you can’t control everything. When things go wrong – stay calm and find a solution.

40UNDER40 / Tampa

Coolest business experience: I spent most of my career in sports and entertainment. “Business” has included sold-out shows, press interviews with Bon Jovi, scavenger hunts with Olympians and high-speed hockey playoffs.

ing her life.” Moria says the speech gave her goose bumps. “I want thousands of Morias,” Muniz says. “My goal is to put myself out of a job and find a cure.” She admits that every time she is doing gritty work for the organization that isn’t so exciting, Moria’s picture pops into her mind and it keeps her going. Muniz says the best part of her job is that she’s no longer just helping celebrities or rich people get richer. Now she thinks of the kids as her clients, pushing their interests forward. — Traci Beach

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BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

40UNDER40 / Sarasota-Manatee Old places/ Young faces Libby’s Café + Bar Libby’s Café + Bar is on Osprey Avenue in Sarasota’s Southside Village neighborhood. The Seidensticker family operates Libby’s, in addition to several other restaurants and a catering business. The family opened Libby’s in 2008, in the location that previously housed Fred’s Restaurant. The L Bar, where this photo was taken, is one of the newer renovations inside Libby’s. It was completed with all-vintage decor, found at local antique stores.

Back row: Ben Bakker, Huldah Mathis, Larry McLaren, Jackie Zumba, Ryan Brown, David Connolly, Jenny Townsend Sitting in chairs: Leigh Treco, Jackson Haskins, Patrick Duggan, Erika Quartermaine Bottom row: Lisa Seidensticker, David Fouche

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

BusinessObserverFL.com

Fun Facts Who would play you in a movie about your life? Match the winner with the actor.

1. Adam Palmer

2. Lisa Seidensticker

3. David Fouche

4. Sozon Vatikiotis

A. Tom Hanks

B. Joan Rivers

C. Marisa Tomei

D. “That guy from Napolean Dynamite”

5. Nicole Murphy

E. “I say Brad Pitt, but my colleagues say Danny Devito.”

ANSWERS: 1D, 2B, 3A, 4E, 5C

BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

BusinessObserverFL.com

M.W. ‘Larry’ McLaren IV, 36

President, Englewood Bank & Trust picture view. He goes to trade shows and industry conferences to see what’s happening on a national scale. And he uses technology products from other banks to see what’s good, and what’s not-yet-there. His overall goal is to find the best products out there for Englewood Bank to begin using. A founding member of the Venice Area Young Professionals in 2006, McLaren studied finance at the University of South Florida. He then went into banking, following his mom, who worked for Northern Trust. “I always liked the banking side of finance,” McLaren says. “It appealed to me more.” — Mark Gordon

Survey says Best place to network: 5:30 a.m. at the YMCA when working out and Venice Area Chamber of Commerce events.

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Learning how to tell the story… In business you have to be a good listener and to be able to effectively communicate your clients’ story in order to best serve them.

One website that makes your job easier: the Chive, not for anything productive, but it is great as a five minute destressor.

What new skill would you like to learn: Kitesurfing, I’ve admired people that can kitesurf for years. A few months ago I purchased a kite and rigging, unknowingly right before the winds died down for the season.

Jackson Haskins, 33

40UNDER40 / Sarasota

Business development manager, SouthTech

We were on the cutting edge. Nobody had done what we set out to do.

Jackson Haskins, who grew up in the Pacific Northwest, came down to the Sarasota area to visit an uncle in 2006. A recent graduate of the ITT Technical Institute in Portland, Ore., the young Haskins brought one suitcase of clothes for the trip. He thought he would hang out on the beach, then go back home and find a job. But one week turned two, then one month, then t wo months. And now it’s been nearly 10 years. The beaches are nice, but what got Haskins to stay was working for a startup his uncle, Joe Haskins, helped launch: Manatee County-based Star2Star Communications. Star2Star, co-founded by Sarasota area entrepreneur Norm Worthington, has become one of the fastest-growing businesses in the region. The company developed software and programs for businesses to implement and use Voice over Internet Protocol for phone systems. Haskins has since moved on to another job at another company, still in technology. He now helps oversee business development at SouthTech, one of the leading IT firms in the Sarasota-Bradenton region. The firm uses Star2Star technology for some projects, which gives Haskins an edge when he talks to prospective clients. Another edge Haskins brings

Survey says Coolest business experience: Being part of a team that took a concept in a garage to a product deployed at Fortune 500 companies in a handful of years. The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Listen, don’t hear. Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Elon Musk and Steve Jobs. What’s at the top of your bucket list: Backpack through Europe/See a game at every MLB stadium. What new skill would you like to learn: Piano, or any instrument for that matter. Who would play you in a movie about your life: Leonardo DiCaprio.

to SouthTech is his experience in a lean startup and a company that delivered on high internal expectations. “It was definitely an interesting time,” Haskins says of Star2Star. “We were on the cutting edge. Nobody had done what we set out to do.” — Mark Gordon

Patrick Duggan, 37 40UNDER40 / Lakewood Ranch

40UNDER40 / Venice

I always liked the banking side of finance. It appealed to me more.

While not a card-carrying millennial, being a bank president under 40 puts M.W. “Larry” McLaren in a good spot. He’s at the forefront of a big challenge in his industry: how lenders will adapt to technological savvy customers. That aspect of banking has been a focus area for McLaren in the past year or so, going back to early 2014 when he was named president of Englewood Bank & Trust. The bank, with $227.4 million in assets through June 30, had a record year for profits in 2014, and McLaren says 2015 will be another solid year. On technology, such as mobile banking and remote check capture, McLaren takes a big-

Senior assistant general counsel, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office One of the coolest things Patrick Duggan has experienced in his legal career, he says, is the adrenaline rush from winning a jury trial. The stakes in many trials — he had at least 40 over five years — was high: Duggan was a prosecutor for the State Attorney’s office in the 12th Judicial Circuit, which includes Sarasota and Manatee counties. Convictions included defendants in shooting cases and other violent crimes. After five years as a prosecutor, Duggan, staying in law enforcement, changed jobs in 2009. He joined the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, where he now helps oversee a team of attorneys. Although he’s not putting away bad guys, Duggan relishes his ability to help the people who put away bad guys. The Sheriff’s office has an annual operating budget of nearly $100 million, with 1,000 employees and responsibility for 1,000 jail inmates. Says Duggan: “I like that we have a say in the safety of the community.” Duggan’s work on a day-to-day basis varies. It includes litigating lawsuits, drafting policy and writing training manuals. It’s a no-day-is-the-same kind of job. “We touch every part of the law,” says Duggan, a Boston native who grew up mostly in Sarasota. “It’s very diverse.” — Mark Gordon

Survey says Best place to network: Geckos Grill & Pub on Hillview Street in Sarasota. The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Your word and integrity are what’s most important. Favorite off-hours activity: Reading with my boys. Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Jackie Robinson and Paul McCartney. What you would be doing if you could pick another career: United States Marine Corps. If I had a magic wand I’d: Make everyone take themselves a little less seriously.

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

BusinessObserverFL.com

Ryan Brown, 38 CEO, XByte Technologies

Jackie Zumba, 28 Owner, Jackie Z Style Co.

Coolest business experience: Opening up 6,000 square feet of retail space in the matter of 90 days in two different cities while having a 6-month-old baby. Crazy to say the least. The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Don’t put the cart before the horse. Take a lot of time before expanding, it’s not as easy at looks. And to be careful of all the smoke and mirrors.

What’s at the top of your bucket list: Climb to the top of an Egyptian pyramid, an African safari and a trip to Dubai, etc. If I had a magic wand I’d: Cure cancer.

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: When people don’t believe in the success of the company, they will let hurdles turn into walls. One website that makes your job easier: Summary. com converts business books into quick summaries of the key points. Most business books only have a few good pages of info. I used to dog ear those pages. Summary does that for me and turns it into a 5-page quick reference guide.

In the beginning I was a bull. I just charged ahead. I’ve had to pull back a little bit.

What you would be doing if you could pick another career: Professional poker player. It is the perfect balance of being smart, understanding psychology of people and taking risks. What new skill would you like to learn: Mergers and acquisitions. We are looking at buying or merging with companies. I would like to learn best methods for selecting companies for acquisition and then how to evaluate their worth.

Erika Nikla Quartermaine, 37 Judge, Sarasota County

Erika Quartermaine received the call of a lifetime for an attorney in late 2013, when Florida Gov. Rick Scott was on the other line. Scott told Quartermaine she had been appointed to serve as a judge for a vacant seat in Sarasota County. A Sarasota native, Quartermaine beat out more than 30 applicants. “At first I thought it was a prank call,” Quartermaine told the Sarasota Observer, sister paper of the Business Observer, in November 2013. “After I got off the phone, I asked myself, ‘Did that really happen? Is that for real?’” Now going on two years as a judge, Quartermaine says the position is both fulfilling and challenging. One obstacle is workload. Her cases include misdemeanors and some civil suits, everything from DUIs and domestic violence to land-

lord-tenant disputes. “There is a large volume of cases,” she says. “Getting t hrough everything and getting people their day in court is the biggest challenge.” On a more personal level, a regular lesson Quartermaine learns nearly every day on the job is the level of scrutiny is constantly on high. That goes from how nice, or not nice, the courtroom staff is, to her tone when she hands down a decision. “People’s lives are affected by this,” she says, “so they will look at everything you do.” Not that she’s complaining. Being a judge has long been a career goal, and Quartermaine’s passion comes from helping the community, especially with mental illness and how it’s handled in the judicial system. Says Quartermaine: “I love to solve problems.” — Mark Gordon

People’s live are affected by this, so they will look at everything you do.

Survey says One community group you’re most involved with: Inn of Court – it’s a group of lawyers focusing on improving the practice of law.

Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: My grandmother: she was taken too quickly and I have so many questions for her. Theodore Roosevelt: He lived a life rich with experience and made a positive impact. I hope to do the same.

Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Camping alone in Desolation Canyon, Utah.

What’s at the top of your bucket list: Hike the Appalachian Trail.

40UNDER40 / Sarasota

Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Jessica Alba (inspirational woman entrepreneur) and Coco Chanel (fashion designer)

Survey says

40UNDER40 / Lakewood Ranch

Survey says

40UNDER40 / St. Petersburg

Jackie Zumba started at the top when it comes to fashion: Her mom, JoAnn Zumba, often took her shopping on Fifth Avenue in New York City, where the younger Zumba was born. That love for fashion, both the clothes and a high-end retail customer experience, led Zumba to her career choice. That includes opening two luxury boutiques that specialize in clothes for women and men. Both stores opened last fall, one at The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota and the other at Sundial in downtown St. Petersburg. And both stores, says Zumba, have surpassed her firstyear projections for sales and store traffic. She’s even added space in the Sundial location, for a shoe section. “It’s been crazy,” she says. “I’m shocked. I couldn’t have dreamed it would have gone this well.” Zumba loves the entrepreneurial freedom running her own stores allows, but with success has come unforeseen demands on her, from everyone from clients and employees to suppliers and vendors. “I can’t be everywhere at all times,” Zumba says. “That’s the biggest challenge.” — Mark Gordon

Ryan Brown has had a whirlwind of a year so far in 2015. It started with a major job promotion, when he was named CEO of Bradenton-based xByte, one of the largest resellers of refurbished Dell servers and equipment in the country, with $20 million in sales. Brown was vice president of sales at xByte for five years before that. He lived in Virginia, and relocated with his family to Bradenton for the new position. Brow n, w h i le con f ident in his ability to oversee the company’s operations, systems and most importantly, products and services, is in a tough spot: He replaces xByte founder Tom Santilli in the CEO role. Santilli, who left to spend more time with family and on philanthropic work, built xByte up from the living room of his Gainesville house to an industry leader in a decade. That success is hard to duplicate. Brown says his overall goal is to improve on what Santilli did, not change for change’s sake. The biggest learning curve so far, says Brown, is being sure he takes time to listen to all sides when making decisions. “In the beginning I was a bull. I just charged ahead,” says Brown. “I’ve had to pull back a little bit.” — Mark Gordon

BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

BusinessObserverFL.com

Jenny Alday Townsend, 33

There was nothing in the area that offered something like it. I saw a need and an opportunity.

Jenny Alday Townsend discovered her career aspiration when she was a student at USF in 2009. She didn’t find it in college, per se, but when she was a server at a Lee Roy Selmon’s in Sarasota. It was there that Townsend served a table of people in a rock band, who complained there was no place to practice and jam. They wanted someplace where they could just be — and not spend a lot of money to do it. “There was nothing in the area that offered something like it,” says Townsend. “I saw a need and an opportunity.” It took six years, but that opportunity is on the verge of becoming a reality. It’s called the Music Compound. Townsend envisions a facility in Sarasota for all kinds of music that caters to children ages 5 to 18. Townsend has a building in place for the project, and now she seeks $100,000 in startup capital to push the project through. She’s ta lked w ith potential investors and met with bankers about an SBA loan for $75,000. She hopes to raise the rest through online crowdfunding. One thing Townsend, a Sarasota native, already has is years of research and knowledge. In the last five years, even while she worked in other fields, in-

Survey says The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Think before you speak. Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Mark Cuban and Scott Borchetta. What’s at the top of your bucket list: Take a European River Cruise

cluding business development for a cancer charity and a bioscience firm, Townsend kept poking at the music idea. She visited facilities in other cities, and more recently she’s held focus groups and sessions for area teachers and parents, to get more ideas and strategies. Besides all that, Townsend, a tireless networker, has little fear. This is someone, after all, who once walked on hot coals at a Tony Robbins seminar. “It didn’t hurt, and it didn’t burn,” Townsend says. “It’s mind over matter.” — Mark Gordon

40UNDER40 / Sarasota

Managing partner, Tableseide Restaurant Group

You always have to stay on your feet in this business.

a little bit everywhere in the business, but catering is her specialt y. Her passion, she says, comes in organizing an event that leaves clients “over the moon.” But that same passion can become her biggest challenge, especially when the inevitable hiccup happens. That could be a truck stopping short and trays of food flying. Or that could be a waitress setting up for a party in the wrong house. When issues come up, Seidensticker says she does the best she can to focus and slow things down. Then it’s time to solve the problem. “Catering is all about challenges,” says Seidensticker. “You always have to stay on your feet in this business. You have to be flexible.” — Mark Gordon

Survey says Best place to network: Everywhere! I am constantly talking about what I do to people I meet at school, dog park, Publix, you name it and I am there talking. People love to talk about catering and the funny stories I have.

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Honor your staff, they are essential to your success.

Commercial real estate agent, Michael Saunders & Co.; vice president, HJB Properties

Who would play you in a movie about your life: Sandra Bullock.

Lisa Seidensticker, 35 As an admitted hyper-organized Type-A, Lisa Seidensticker made an interesting career choice in going with catering and special event planning. Some of that comes from family. Her father, Steve Seidensticker, has been in the hospitality and restaurant business for years. And her brothers, former 40 under 40 winners Joe and Patrick Seidensticker, are also in the business. The Seidenstickers, along with another partner, non-family member Jeff Greco — also affectionately called Switzerland during the occasional family scuff le — operate Sarasota-based Tableseide Restaurant Group. Holdings include Louies Modern in downtown Sarasota, Libby’s Café & Bar in the Southside Village and a catering division. Lisa Seidenst icker works

Ben Bakker, 39

Favorite off-hours activity: Spending time with my boys and man! I work and work a lot so every chance I have free I am with them. They are my rocks that keep me centered.

What you would be doing if you could pick another career: I would be working for Doctors without Borders. Who would play you in a movie about your life: Joan Rivers.

40UNDER40 / Bradenton

40UNDER40 / Sarasota

President, Suncoast Connections and Music Compound

The first decade of Ben Bakker’s life after high school was a blast. He was the lead singer and guitarist in a few rock and punk-rock bands. He played gigs nationwide. “I did a lot of shows, and saw a whole lot of cool places,” Bakker says. “There were some great experiences and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. But they aren’t kidding when they say ‘starving artist.’” Ba k ker decided to ma ke a change when he turned 30. He got into sales, and in 2012 he switched to commercial real estate. He managed properties in a family-run real estate company, HJB Properties, and now he’s also an up-and-coming commercial agent at Michael Saunders & Co., one of the leading brokerages on the Gulf Coast. Bakker, a native of Edmonton, Canada, who moved to the Gulf Coast with his family when he was a young boy, was the Sarasota-based firm’s top rookie agent in 2014. His territory is in Manatee County, north of University Parkway. The busy brokerage has been a perfect fit for the high-energy agent. “Working under Michael and Drayton (Saunders) is nothing short of inspirational,” says Bakker. “They are fantastic people.” — Mark Gordon

Survey says The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Don’t be a mile wide and an inch deep. Prioritize. You’re not doing anyone any good if you’re overextended. And that’s a very fine line to mind when you love being involved in your community. Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Johnny Cash and Dave Ramsey. I could sit and listen to either of them for hours. What’s at the top of your bucket list: Visiting New York City and Hawaii. I have an itch to try skydiving at some point too, if I can ever work up the guts to do it. What new skill would you like to learn: Stopping long enough to smell the roses from time to time. I have an extremely hard time sitting still. I hate it.

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

BusinessObserverFL.com

David Fouche, 38

David Connolly, 31

David Fouche planned on a career in engineering after he graduated from the University of Florida. But a job working for Williams Co., a $125 million commercial builder with offices in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, helped Fouche find a different passion: construction. “I love the action of project management,” says Fouche. “I love to make something out of nothing and see the finished product.” In 2006 Fouche joined J2 Solutions, a Venice-based company that Fouche’s good friend from college, Jess Fronckowiak, founded in 2002. The freedom of being in a leadership position in a nimbler, entrepreneurial

David Connolly had a brief encounter with a spunky entrepreneur named Patrick Kennedy in 2007. The owner of a Mister Sparky electrical services franchise in Sarasota, Kennedy came into the electrical supply house Connolly managed. Kennedy was there to open an account. Connolly glumly chatted with Kennedy about the recession, and how most electrical companies were shutting down. Says Connolly: “He looked at me and said ‘I’m not participating in the recession.’” To the then 23-year-old Connolly it was a remarkable show of confidence amid adversity. “It changed my outlook on life,” says Connolly. “It changed everything for me. I started to learn that if I look at things in a positive way and put my focus on things I can impact, nothing is out of reach.” Connolly soon went to work for Kennedy at Mister Sparky, one of three home services franchise brands owned by Sarasota-based Direct Energy Services. Connolly started as a service technician. He worked his way up and last year he bought the business from Kennedy. Now that unit is one of the largest Mister Sparky franchises in North America, says a Direct Energy spokeswoman, with locations in Tampa, Mi-

Vice president, J2 Solutions

President, Mister Sparky Florida

business was a key part of the move for Fouche. “(Jess) was not only creating projects,” says Fouche, “but he was creating a business.” The creativity Fouche craves is a staple at J2 Solutions, with about $7.5 million in annual sales. The firm does commercial and residential work, in addition to a home remodeling division that focuses on garages — what the company calls a “Florida basement.” — Mark Gordon

Survey says

Huldah Mathis, 32

Survey says The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Perspective can change the outcome of a situation. Favorite off-hours activity: Boating on the weekends. Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Steve Jobs, Robin Williams. Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Jumping off bridges when I was younger.

Dr. Leigh Treco, 31

Financial Adviser, Northwestern Mutual

Chiropractor, Venice Village Family Chiropractic

Survey says The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Have a short memory on failures and setbacks. Learn from them but move forward without dwelling on them.

What’s at the top of your bucket list: Traveling to either Spain or New Zealand while we still have friends/family living there and could experience life as a local.

I wanted this to be my career, not a job.

Dr. Leigh Treco is the youngest of six children, so outworking others isn’t a new concept. Treco’s parents, classic entrepreneurs, also worked hard. Businesses they ran include an office furniture chain, a tax preparation franchise unit and a real estate firm. “You name it,” Treco says, “they owned it.” O ne ot her t h i n g Tr e c o learned while growing up is a passion to help people. That upbringing cemented Treco’s desire to pursue a career in health care — where she can help run a business while she helps people. She does that at the Venice Village Family Chiropractic center. Her practice

there specializes in spinal correction, which utilizes adjustments and spinal rehabilitation exercise to realign the vertebrae. A native of Chicago Heights, Ill., Treco says the most important business lesson she’s learned is hard work and perseverance always pay off. In chiropractic care, beyond the medical side, most of that work takes place in marketing. “My job is all about education,” says Treco. “Sometimes people come in with a preconceived notion of what chiropractic is.” — Mark Gordon

Survey says One community group you’re most involved with: Tidewell Hospice

Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Lived in rural China for 3.5 months

Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: B.J. Palmer (founder of Chiropractic) and the chefs from MasterChef.

What’s at the top of your bucket list: Seeing Santorini, Greece (which I am doing next summer!) and then hiking to a waterfall in Costa Rica.

40UNDER40 / Lakewood Ranch

Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Getting married, moving to a new city and starting a business all in the same year (which was 2008!)

40UNDER40 / Bradenton

After three years of working on a private wealth management team at SunTrust Bank, Huldah Mathis felt the call many others do in finance: to go entrepreneurial. Mathis took that call to Northwestern Mutual, where she has built up her own financial management practice under a large corporate umbrella. “I wanted to have something I could grow,” Mathis says. “I want this to be my career, not a job.” Mathis made the switch in 2008 — not the best time to get into a gig advising people on how and where to invest, given the recession that just began. But Mathis has grown her portfolio through word of mouth referrals and a heavy amount of networking. She’s also highly organized and responsive, which she says are two keys to her success. Mathis’ client base is diverse, but are mostly people in the preretirement phase, people who Mathis says who are successful enough to “let someone else help them with their financial decisions.” — Mark Gordon

a m i a nd central Florida, in addition to Sarasota. Connolly, besides running the business, helps train other Mister Sparky electricians. He remains grateful for the encounter with Kennedy, and the career boost it provided him. Being an entrepreneur and business owner, says Connolly, “is really fulfilling.” — Mark Gordon

40UNDER40 / Sarasota

Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: My grandfather who passed away just before I was born. He was a successful businessman and entrepreneur. My family say I take after him in many ways. I would love to seek his business advice. And Andrew Carnegie. Don’t know what I’d ask him, but I love the legacy he left with his wealth.

Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Living out of a backpack for a year traveling Australia. Dove with great white sharks in the southern ocean as well as numerous technical decompression dives on WWII wrecks in the south pacific.

40UNDER40 / Venice

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Be humble and treat your team like family.

BusinessObserverFL.com

BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

40UNDER40 / Lee-Collier

Fun Facts

Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with ...

“Neil Patrick Harris — I want to find out if he’s as awesome as the characters he plays on TV; I think we would definitely have the best time ever, together!” — Kelly L. Davis

“Taylor Swift because she is goofy, confident in all things and a huge philanthropist. Charlie Sheen … because who wouldn’t? Something interesting and crazy is bound to happen.” — Laura Lay

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

BusinessObserverFL.com

Old places/ Young faces The home of Henry Ford at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers Auto pioneer Henry Ford purchased his home on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River in 1916, giving him the opportunity to vacation in Fort Myers with inventor Thomas Edison. This year’s 40-under-40 winners from Lee and Collier counties were photographed inside Ford’s home. Today, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates cover more than 20 acres of botanical gardens and nine historical buildings near downtown Fort Myers.

Standing, left to right: Adam Palmer, Nicole Murphy, Michael Lake, Steven Chappell, Matt Simmons, Sarah Tumm, Matthew Bechtel, Amy Johnson, Jonathan Romine Sitting, left to right: Kelly Davis, Krista Cartee, Daniel Barres, Jennifer Bechtel

“Elon Musk – I was going to go Nikola Tesla here, but then I realized my fascination with Tesla is more about what they plan on doing in the future, not how advanced Mr. Tesla’s ideas were for his time. I’d love to know more about what Tesla is preparing for us in the future regarding power generation and storage.”

“Ira Glass from ‘This American Life’ because he is an excellent interviewer and even he would be able to make my life sound interesting. I imagine I would feel like a million bucks after having dinner with Ira.”

“Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake. Seriously? Can you imagine how entertaining that meal would be!?”

— Michael Lake

— M.W. “Larry” McLaren IV

— Jessica Eckley

BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

BusinessObserverFL.com

Adam Palmer, 39

It seemed like there was a lot of good growth going on here, and it’s a better place to raise a family.

Adam Palmer started his work life as a software engineer for Lucent Technologies. It’s about as far removed from commercial real estate as you can get. In the late 1990s, Palmer was involved in building a cellular digital network in the San Francisco area. “I was the can-you-hear-me-now guy,” Palmer chuckles. “They had more digital cell towers in the bay area than anywhere else in the world.” After moving to Fort Lauderdale to join a software company, Palmer says he was looking for a new career path and some friends persuaded him to try commercial real estate. “As much as I still enjoyed certain aspects of software, it was still kind of monotonous,” says Palmer. In late 2003, Palmer was visiting his snowbird parents in Cape Coral when he decided to move to this side of Florida.

“It seemed like there was a lot of good growth going on here, and it’s a better place to raise a family,” he says. Palmer doesn’t fit the stereotype of the reclusive software engineer. “I grew up in the hospitality business; my folks own a resort in Minnesota,” he says. The hotel business is much like commercial real estate. “I really enjoy working with people,” Palmer says. “You never know what the day is going to bring, and I love that about it.” Plu s, For t Myer s-ba s e d LandQwest is growing. “We’re only beginning to make the dents we intend to in Orlando and Tampa,” Palmer says. Palmer is careful to try to balance family and work life. He belongs to a boat club so he can spend time on the water with his family and he enjoys snowboarding. “I could work 24 hours a day if I wanted to,” he says. — Jean Gruss

Survey says One community group you’re most involved with: Philanthropic efforts with the Minnesota Twins.

What you would be doing if you could pick another career: Anthony Bourdain’s job.

Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Snowboarding in Whistler with zerovisibility.

What new skill would you like to learn: To play classical piano.

Jennifer Bechtel, 34

40UNDER40 / Fort Myers

Vice president, MJRDB Architecture

There’s a lot of faith to jump out there and do it. You have to trust there’s another job for you to get.

Born and raised in Fort Myers, Jennifer Bechtel has a unique per spec t ive on desig n i ng buildings in the area. Bechtel sometimes tells clients: “I can remember when it was cow fields,” she laughs. Starting MJRDB Architecture last year with husband, fellow 40 under 40 winner Matthew Bechtel, was a good move because of the economic recovery (the name of the company is the couple’s initials). “We get t hat prev iew of what’s coming in,” Bechtel says. “That’s a neat thing to see.” A lt hough t he couple has three children, Bechtel says she grew up in a family-owned business. “My parents owned their own company and worked together, so it was very familiar,” she says. Work stays at work. “You make an effort not to talk about work around the dinner table,” Bechtel says. “When we’re hav-

ing family time, we try to focus on the kids and don’t let that sneak into their time.” At the firm, Bechtel handles the finances while her husband handles design and customer relationships. Most of their business comes from referrals. “We don’t do a whole lot of advertising,” she says. “We don’t run ads in magazines.” Still, it felt risky to venture out together on their ow n. “There’s a lot of faith to jump out there and do it,” Bechtel says. “You kind of have to trust that there’s another job for you to get.” Bechtel says she became more confident about the firm late last year when she started seeing repeat customers. “Oh my goodness this could work,” she remember s t h i n k i ng. “Right now it feels like we’re almost overwhelmed with the amount of work that we have.” — Jean Gruss

Survey says Coolest business experience: There is nothing better than working with my husband. We work well together, know each other’s strengths, and can trust the other. There’s no office politics or corporate ladders or competition to hinder our effectiveness on jobs. We build each other up, instead of tearing the other down. It’s freeing to work in that kind of atmosphere.

Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Spent two weeks in India on a mission trip.

What’s at the top of your bucket list: Travel the world in a hot air balloon.

What new skill would you like to learn: I’d love to learn to blow glass.

Matthew Bechtel, 34 President, MJRDB Architecture

40UNDER40 / Fort Myers

40UNDER40 / Estero

Principal, managing director, LandQwest Commercial

When Matthew Bechtel was in second grade in the small town of LaBelle near Fort Myers, the teacher’s husband was an architect who came to speak with the children about his job. “He gave us all some paper and his tools to draw our own house,” says Bechtel. Then, the architect made blueprints of all the children’s drawings. “I was hooked from that day,” Bechtel remembers. “That blueprint hung on my bedroom wall until the sun deteriorated it.” After earning his degree from F lor ida At la nt ic Un iver sit y, Bechtel started working for Sheeley Architects in Fort Myers in 2004 and became an associate in the firm. Ten years later, in 2014, Bechtel started his own firm with his wife, Jennifer Bechtel, another 40 under 40 winner. “I always envisioned that I would have my own business,” he says. But with three children and just two projects to start, Bechtel was nervous about going out on his own. “It was all kind of a gamble,” he says. Still, the economy was recovering and this seemed like as good a time as any to launch his firm. Today, Bechtel has 15 active projects ranging from single-family homes to commercial buildings and apartments. “It’s gone better than I could have imagined,” he says. Bechtel says he’s careful to avoid bringing work home, and Thursday evenings are reserved for playing bass guitar with his church band. “We started to make a conscious effort that work stays at work,” he says. “We’ve been pretty successful at that.” — Jean Gruss

Survey says Years on the Gulf Coast: Raised in LaBelle since age 5, moved to Fort Myers permanently after college in 2005. Alma mater: Florida Atlantic University One community group you’re most involved with: Life Ministries Church, LaBelle. Favorite off-hours activity: Playing bass guitar

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

BusinessObserverFL.com

Amy Johnson, 37

Nicole Murphy, 31

When she was 17, Amy Johnson got a job as a cashier at Hardee’s in Alachua County. But the starting salar y of $4.25 an hour didn’t deter Johnson. Within a year she was the general manager. There was extra motivation, too. “Most 17-year-olds are thinking play money,” Johnson says. “My mom was single and I helped her out.” Johnson’s management skills took her to Tampa, where she quickly became area director for Five Guys, overseeing nine restaurants for the fast-growing hamburger chain. I n D e c e m b e r, Jo h n s o n opened a PDQ restau ra nt in Estero. “Being with Five Guys helped me a lot because I opened stores with them,” Joh n son say s. “I had t he background.” She moved to Estero about a month before the restaurant opened, hiring 45 people to staff it in just a few weeks. “The good thing about PDQ is they always set you up for success,”

Nicole Murphy knows how to adapt to new surroundings. When she was 13, she and her family moved to Naples from New Jersey. It wasn’t an easy move, but Murphy adjusted to life in Southwest Florida. Murphy started her career at specialty retailer Express in Fort Myers, quickly rising through the ranks and opening new stores for the company. “I love people and I love managing people,” she says. While managing the Express store in Naples two years ago, Murphy wanted to try her hand at something new. She had learned to scuba dive and enjoyed the water. Meanwhile, Pure Florida was growing quickly as the Naplesbased company added boats to its fleet and new locations for tourists looking for fun on the water. The company now has 32 employees, Murphy says. “They were looking for an outside salesperson,” says Murphy. “What they really needed was an operations manager.” W hen they realized Murphy’s operational skills she had honed at Express, they seized the opportunity. “They hired me on the spot,” she says. Although the marine environment differs from Express shops, Murphy says she loves

Coolest business experience: Meeting the Tampa Bay Rays (I’m a huge fan).

5-Star Bauer Rating! bauerfinancial.com

Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Bungeed off a 350-foot platform.

the challen ge s of working with a growing company. For example, she’s working to build an online reservation system, a complex system that will ease the workload as the company adds to its f leet of sightseeing and pleasure boats. Married with a son, Murphy says she’s balancing work and life by scuba diving and traveling like she recently did to Pittsburgh. “My husband is a big Steelers fan, but I’ve been accepted in the Steelers circle,” she laughs. “I have my Hines Ward jersey. I’ve got my terrible towel.” — Jean Gruss

Survey says If I had a magic wand I’d: Go back to being 16 years old but with the knowledge I have today. The most important business lesson I’ve learned: It’s not personal.

40UNDER40 / Estero

Survey says

40UNDER40 / Cape Coral

she says. “You have a timeline with a checklist.” Still, she says staffing a restaurant remains the biggest challenge. The key is identifying a top employee and asking them to refer job candidates. “Word of mouth is really good when you find that person who is really solid,” she says. Johnson says rising through the ranks and doing every restaurant job gives her credibility with the staff. “There’s nothing I would ask these guys I wouldn’t do myself,” she says. “It’s not all about point and direct.” Expect Johnson to move up through the ranks at PDQ. “I was just offered a promotion,” she says. “I’m going to f ly to Dallas on Thursday and check out that area.” — Jean Gruss

Operations manager, Pure Florida

164290

Operating director, PDQ

BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

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Michael Lake, 33

Survey says

40UNDER40 / Estero

For all of the winners’ full surveys, past winners and more, visit BusinessObserver4040.com.

ONLINE

Director of sales, Turbine Generator Maintenance When Michael Lake applied to be a server at the La Playa Beach Resort in Naples in 2002, an interviewer suggested he’d be a good fit for the purchasing department. After all, Lake had worked in purchasing for a tractor-supply company in rural Michigan while in high school. The hotel’s operator, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, was impressed with Lake, who was then just 19 years old. “Within six months I was promoted to purchasing director,” he says. “I was the youngest manager that Noble House had in their ranks.” Although he was managing millions of dollars of purchases for the hotel, it was the salespeople who made an impression on the young purchasing director. “They were the guys who are off on the weekends, leave at 4:30 every day, drive nice cars,” Lake chuckles. “I

always wanted to do that.” So when La ke saw an ad for sales at an industrial firm in Naples, he jumped at the chance in 2006. By the time he left six years later, the company’s sales had tripled to $6 million a year and Lake says he was responsible for one third of that sum. Now at Turbine Generator Maintenance, Lake sells the Cape Coral-based company’s services to operators of power plants all over North America and, increasingly, South America. On his to-do list: Learn Spanish. Lake’s typical day starts at 4:30 a.m. when he goes for a five-mile run. He’s training for his first marathon in November in Fort Myers, putting in long runs of 20 miles on the weekends. “I like to do it first thing in the morning,” he says. “You get a lot of time to think.” — Jean Gruss

I was the youngest manager that Noble House had in their ranks.

Best place to network: Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center. They have great networking events with live music, great raffles and excellent hosts. One community group you’re most involved with: Living Waters Church in Estero. I regularly volunteer in the children’s ministry where both my daughters are enrolled. I primarily assist with guest check-in and family registration. The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Always keep the customer’s best interests in mind. This forces me to come up with ideas that develop into a win-win relationship with my customers. I was taught that lesson early on in my career, and the longer I’m around the more that advice has paid off. One website that makes your job easier: LinkedIn. In the power generation industry I’m typically looking for individuals with a very specific title and set of responsibilities, and on numerous occasions LinkedIn has helped me get the names of the decision makers I need to be speaking with.

With coverage from Tampa to Naples, we go beyond the “what” and help you see “how.”

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OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

Steven Chappell, 30

Kelly Davis, 37

Former general manager and Ray Kroc Award recipient, McDonald’s

Attorney, partner, Quarles & Brady

Survey says What you would be doing if you could pick another career: Computer programmer and software engineer

One community group you’re most involved with: CareerSource

The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Don’t cut corners. Have integrity.

What’s at the top of your bucket list: Visit Africa

Crazy hours and moving from one market to a bigger one in sea rch of promotion of ten defines a career in broadcast television. In early 2003, news producer Kelly Davis decided she’d had enough of Southwest Florida television news and decided to enroll in law school. “At the time, it was clear to me that to advance was to continue moving around the country,” she says. “I didn’t want to leave.” Besides, her dad gave her an ultimatum: “He wouldn’t pack up another U-Haul for me,” Davis laughs. Now an attorney with Quarles & Brady in Naples, Davis became a partner in the firm while raising three children. “Many women think you have to make a decision between family and partnership,” Davis says. But you can have both. “Our firm has been at the forefront of diversity,” Davis says. Davis is the Naples chairwoman of the women’s forum committee, a group of Quarles women attorneys who gather regularly to discuss ways to take advantage of family policies and recommend new ones to the firm. It’s also a support group that identifies ways they can help each other out.

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Retention of women attorneys is a challenge throughout the legal profession because many drop out to start families. “We’re not getting from start to finish,” Davis says. A labor and employ ment attorney, Davis can work the hours she wants as long as she serves her clients’ needs. “We all work all kinds of different hours for different reasons,” says Davis, who coaches her son’s soccer team. “There’s not a face-time requirement.” — Jean Gruss

Survey says Best place to network: Sidelines at my sons’ soccer games. One community group you’re most involved with: St. Matthew’s House. What new skill would you like to learn: Kite surfing.

40UNDER40 / Naples

ing plans. W hen local newspapers i n For t Myers reported t hat Chappel l won the award, readers f locked to the restaurant to shake his hand, he says. Restaurant regulars came in with clips of the news to share (Chappell recently left the company.) Born in Kansas City, Chappell has only been on the Gulf Coast three years. He’s eager to travel to Africa and wants to learn Japanese. “I’m fascinated with Japanese culture and technology,” says the video-game aficionado. “I’d love to visit Japan and experience their culture firsthand.” — Jean Gruss

40UNDER40 / Lehigh Acres

Managers are t he heart of McDonald’s. So every year, the fast-food giant fetes the top 1% of its store managers at a huge awards ceremony. Steven Chappell, the former general manager of the McDonald’s store on Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers, flew to Chicago earlier this year to receive the award from McDonalds USA President Mike Andres. It ’s ea s y to u nder st a nd why Chappel l ra n ked t he event as his “coolest business experience.” Named after the company’s founder, the Ray Kroc Award is nearly as tough to claim as a Super Bowl ring. Managers are rated on numerous metrics, from employee turnover to sales performance and market-

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BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

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Daniel Barres, 35

Survey says

40UNDER40 / Fort Myers

CEO, Soaring Sky

It always came down to people and finding the right managers.

Every school has an entrepreneurial kid, the one who sells you candy at a handsome profit. Da n iel Ba r re s w a s t hat student. “I would put reserved place mats on the bleachers and rent them out at games,” Barres laughs. He sold the good seats at basketba l l a nd footba l l games for $2 a pop for a full year until school administrators found out and put an end to his entrepreneurial scheme. So it’s no surprise that Barres has always had a knack for launching new ventures. The latest is Soaring Sky, a company that uses drones to provide aerial services such as cinematography. In addition to being the first drone operator in the area to obtain an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly them, Barres is also working with public schools in the area to train students as operators. “Those kids are

trained video-game players,” he reasons. “We’re building our future workforce.” Barres got into the drone business from ventures in real estate. Property owners are using drones to survey or prepare their properties for sale, Barres says. Barres says he’s been involved in numerous ventures, not all of them successful. For example, an effort to establish a call center in the Philippines was a bust. But those setbacks never deterred Barres, and he learned valuable lessons along the way. A big lesson: “It always came down to people and finding the right managers,” he says. And Barres says he’s careful to balance his personal life today, scheduling date nights with his wife and time with friends. “Otherwise, I would burn out,” he says. “There’s always something to do.” — Jean Gruss

Jonathan Romine, 35

40UNDER40 / Cape Coral

Principal, director of landscape architecture, EnSite

I was always fascinated with Legos and big buildings.

Jonathan Romine k new he wanted to be an architect since he was 6 years old. Romine grew up in rural northeast Indiana, but he traveled to Chicago when he was a little boy and visited the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the country. “I was one day going to design and build one,” he decided then. “I was always fascinated with Legos and big buildings.” Romine still likes tall buildings, but an architecture-school professor persuaded him to consider landscape architecture. In 2004, armed with a degree in landscape architecture, Romine accepted a job at Johnson Engineering in Fort Myers. “I bought a house at the peak of the market and got stuck here,” he chuckles. By 2009, Romine had formed his own firm and joined EnSite, a firm that had started four

years earlier. “It was not a good time to be in our industry,” he acknowledges. But wh i le t he recession proved painfully slow, Romine says that gave him time to volunteer by mentoring at-risk youth. “It was a great time to relaunch the business because it gave us an opportunity to do things differently,” Romine says. “It’s probably the most rewarding thing that I do.” The volunteering has paid off in additional work for EnSite. “It’s amazing how many people want to hire people with a commitment rather than price,” Romine says. Romine counsels entrepreneurs who don’t have big marketing budgets to get involved in charitable work. “The best thing you can do is not spend money, it’s to spend time,” Romine says. “It turns into work.” — Jean Gruss

What’s at the top of your bucket list: Buy a seaplane and go island hopping What you would be doing if you could pick another career: Racing in the Baja 1000 The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Stay connected with your team. As I grew more businesses and became crazy busy, I realized our culture was changing and how out of touch I became with my team, which led to performance issues. If you are going to grow fast, have a plan to maintain the “why” behind your culture. If I had a magic wand I’d: Increase percentage of brain capacity in humans and cure disease

Survey says Coolest business experience: Receiving the Business Partner of the Year and Education Commissioner’s Business Recognition Award in 2012 for our commitment to public education. What new skill would you like to learn: As a self-proclaimed DYIer, I would like to learn finish carpentry skills. Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Traveled to Abu Dhabi for a business trip five weeks after my daughter was born. It was a culture shock. What’s at the top of your bucket list: Fourto-six week family vacation in Europe without an itinerary except a round of golf on the Old Course at St. Andrews

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OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

BusinessObserverFL.com

Sarah Tumm, 32 Founder and CEO, DimTec3D

Matt Simmons, 31 Partner, Maxwell, Hendry & Simmons

What new skill would you like to learn: I’d like to learn to speak Spanish. I think learning a new language changes your perspective and opens you to new things. Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Milton Friedman and Ronald Reagan

I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie.

Survey says What’s at the top of your bucket list: Travel to Japan to see the Cherry Blossom Festival and the lights of downtown Tokyo at night.

Favorite offhours activity: Photography, art, traveling and spending time with loved ones.

Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Indra Nooyi (CEO of PepsiCo) and Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla Motors)

Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Triple tandem back flip from 13,000 feet while skydiving.

Krista Cartee, 35

Director of operations and account services, Priority Marketing Krista Cartee is so organized she set a Gu i n ness World Record. Cartee, the director of operations and account services at Priority Marketing in Fort Myers, organized the largest number of people blowing a duck call at an event featuring the cast of the popular television reality show “Duck Dynasty” last year. And she only had a few weeks to plan the event. Cartee corralled a group of more than 100 volunteers and got 3,028 people to blow a duck call for two minutes at an event at Germain Arena in Fort Myers last year, setting a Guinness record. The event, dubbed “The Call: Faith, Family and Facial Hair,” was a fundraiser for the Salvation Army of Southwest Florida. “It was a major, major production,” says Cartee. Besides the world record, the event included three bands, videos and VIP receptions. But this is nothing new for Cartee. “I’ve been hearing from

my parents that I spread myself too thin,” she laughs. Even at a young age Cartee was an organizational maven. At age 16, she ran an emergency operations center for the Red Cross in her native Orlando when tornadoes hit the area. “I was delegating and managing adults with that situation,” she recalls. Cartee doesn’t dither. “As soon as I see something in front of me I can make a decision right away,” she says. “It’s never been intimidating. I make quick decisions and trust myself.” When she’s not working, Cartee is up at 4:30 a.m. for boot camp and later in the day she’s coaching her daughter’s soccer team. On weekends she competes in running events, including an urban challenge in Miami recently that included jumping over barricades and sliding on the hood of police cruiser. “There’s no shortage of things,” she says. — Jean Gruss

I make quick decisions and trust myself.

Survey says Alma mater: University of South Florida

One community group you’re most involved with: Women’s Foundation of Southwest Florida

What you would be doing if you could pick another career: A doctor or nurse. I have always admired health care professionals and really enjoy helping people in any way I can.

What’s at the top of your bucket list: Art history (and maybe wine) tour through Italy

40UNDER40 / Fort Myers

What you would be doing if you could pick another career: I would be an attorney. I enjoy the legal system and most of my personal practice is litigation related, so at least that scratches the itch.

reproduce an existing building in a three-dimensional model. The 50-pound scanner is portable and operates on a tripod. Architects and engineers then use the model created by the scanner to do their work more precisely. “You can rebuild anything from the data,” she says. The equipment isn’t cheap. One laser scanner costs $75,000. “I currently have one, and I’m working on getting a second one,” Tumm says. “I provide the service as well.” Tumm says the business has taken off as the economic recovery is underway. She rents the scanner for $300 a day. “I wish I’d started a little earlier,” she says. But Tumm knows all about taking risks: She enjoys skydiving, joining friends from the German national team in popular skydiving locations in Zephyrhills and Punta Gorda. “I’m going to get my license so I can do a solo jump,” she says. “I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie.” — Jean Gruss

40UNDER40 / Fort Myers

Survey says

40UNDER40 / Fort Myers

When Matt Simmons was growing up in Fort Myers, the Daniels Parkway corridor was a dirt road and Southwest Florida International Airport didn’t exist yet. In their school years, Simmons and friends were eager to leave the small town behind. Today, they’re in business together in Fort Myers. “There’s so much more opportunity,” says Simmons. “You don’t have to leave to do what you want to do.” Simmons is a partner in appraisal firm Maxwell, Hendry & Simmons and in 2012 at age 28 he was the youngest gubernatorial appointee to the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board. In 2005, Simmons launched the residential real estate appraisal division of the firm. “This year has been fantastic,” says Simmons, who estimates that residential appraisal now makes up 35% of the firm’s business (the rest is commercial appraisal). “We’ve added three residential associates in the past year,” he says. Many of the principals at the firm know each other from childhood because they attended the same church together. Simmons’ father is the minister at Gulf Coast Church of Christ in Fort Myers. Another source of future employees is the 15,000 students at Florida Gulf Coast University, which Simmons says is an untapped resource. “Our latest FGCU intern will graduate in the spring, and we just hired her,” Simmons says. Although Simmons enjoys running and wants to learn Spanish, works keeps him busy. “To be honest, I enjoy working,” Simmons say. “I couldn’t tell you I have a hobby.” — Jean Gruss

You can still detect a slight German accent when Sarah Tumm speaks. That’s because Tumm grew up in Germany and only moved to Cape Coral in 1998 with her parents. “I was 14 at the time,” she says. But the transition was smooth because of Cape Coral’s large population of Germans. There were 28 German students in her high school class, she notes. Tumm finished high school in Cape Coral and later attended the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa, where she learned architecture drafting and design using computers. After a stint in Europe working on architectural rehabilitation and learning to draw by hand, Tumm returned to the U.S. in 2005 and became a U.S. citizen. Tumm has always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and she started DimTec3D a year ago. Her company rents sophisticated laser scanners that can

commercial real estate

BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

BusinessObserverFL.com

SVN agent among top nationwide

K.L. MCQUAID

Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group agent Gail Bowden is solidifying her place in the upper echelon of the nationwide brokerage

firm. Through August, Bowden ranks fifth among all advisers at the commercial brokerage franchisor, which operates in 35 states and has more than 1,200 agents, according to its website. Even more impressive, the four agents who ranked higher through the first eight months of 2015 come from much larger cities: San Francisco, Minneapolis, Dallas and Cincinnati, according to an internal company ranking. Bowden, a senior investment adviser, is no stranger to being among the brokerage’s top agents. In 2014, she was named “Advisor of the Year” and to the company’s prestigious “Partners Circle.” The year before, Bowden was named a “Top Producer” after selling more than $25 million in commercial property. She has specialized in both medical office building and industrial property sales, and in all has closed more than $200 million worth of deals. Bowden, who has been in commercial real estate for more than three decades, has been with Sperry Van Ness since January 2009.

Colliers prez weighs in on GE If General Electric Co. decides to pull up its corporate stakes from Connecticut, it would have nearly a dozen sites to consider in the Tampa Bay area for a new headquarters, says the local president of commercial real estate brokerage Colliers International. Ryan Kratz contends that between downtown Tampa, where Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik is hoping to lure a headquarters to his planned Channelside development; St. Petersburg, where developer Larry Feldman has proposed a 52-story, mixed-use tower containing offices; and multiple developable sites in the city’s Westshore district, GE would have a lot to consider for its roughly 150,000-square-foot office requirement. The company also would likely benefit from a solid local talent pool and its proximity to Tampa International Airport. “I absolutely think it’s plausible that they’d come here,” Kratz says. “The region has done a good job in communicating and refining its message about the benefits of relocating here,” he added. “We’re on a roll.”

COURTESY PHOTOS

Sharon Bragg, a vice president at brokerage firm JLL who leases Tampa Commons (shown left), contends amenities and improvements help lure — and keep — tenants.

Gaining an Edge As office vacancy shrinks regionwide, landlords are undertaking improvements to keep or add tenants.

hen Ideal Image Development Corp. inked a lease to move its regional headquarters to the 13-story Tampa Commons office tower last month, it was motivated, in part, by renovations aimed at improving building functions and aesthetics. Owner IX WR 1 North Dale Mabry Hwy L.P., an affiliate of Greenwich, Conn.-based Starwood Capital Group, installed an on-site café and renovated restrooms and common areas in the 254,808-square-foot building in the aftermath of its $43.24 million purchase three years ago. “Improvements and amenities we’re finding are absolutely key in order to remain competitive,” says Sharon Bragg, a vice president with commercial brokerage firm JLL, which leases the 30-year-old building. “You have to keep the buildings relevant,” she added. “Tampa Commons had a lot of upscale renovations done, and today inside it looks like a brandnew building.” Tampa Commons marks the latest in a series of Gulf Coast office towers that have embarked on renovations amid a tightening market to lure new tenants or retain existing ones. Landlords and leasing representatives like Bragg maintain that even relatively simple improvements like upgrades to common areas, elevator systems and lobbies can make a huge difference — especially at a time when Class A office rents are reaching all-time highs along many areas of the Gulf Coast. Adding amenities like in-building

fitness centers and communal conference space are also popular with tenants, especially in Class A buildings. And while many new amenities cut into landlords’ gross leasable areas, property owners say they are critical at a time in the real estate cycle when new development is on the verge of occurring. Dan Woodward, Tampa vice president for Raleigh, N.C.-based Highwoods Properties, says many of the improvements are geared toward tenants hoping to woo or keep millennial workers. “A lot of it has to do with competing for a changing demographic workforce,” Woodward says. “More collaborative spaces, fitness centers, food options and meeting areas are all being designed with younger workers in mind.” In some cases, the improvements are falling to the bottom line. “We’ve seen owners that have made improvements and been successful in boosting occupancy and, in some cases, rental rates,” Woodward says. “We’ve found it’s worth it to continually improve for the increased deal flow it brings, and the fact that we’re able to bring in many more customers to our buildings.” For its part, Highwoods spent more than $10 million to reconfigure parking, convert an 8,000-square-foot corporate cafeteria to an upscale cafe, upgrade common areas, add a lounging deck to a retention pond, create an employee collaborative area known as “The Verve” and revamp a fitness center in its 1 million-square-foot

Tampa Bay Park. In the wake of its $70 million deal in August for Rivergate Tower, in Tampa, Banyan Street Capital said it would also spend more than $10 million to improve the 31-story, iconic skyscraper. More specifically, Banyan Street intends to renovate common areas, restrooms and lighting at the 400 N. Ashley Drive building to “elevate the project to a new standard for downtown,” a company senior managing director said. In many cases, improvements are undertaken primarily because of the age of a property, or because new development looms. Rivergate, for instance, is 27 years old. Tampa Commons, at 1 N. Dale Mabry Blvd., was completed in 1985, according to Hillsborough County property records. But Woodward and others stress that improvements need to be continual in an ever-tightening and competitive market. “It makes sense from a landlords’ perspective whether new speculative development is on the horizon or not,” he says. For Ideal Image, the presence of a café inside Tampa Commons was highly valued when it committed to occupy 20,800 square feet on the building’s 12th floor. “Different tenants have different needs and desires when it comes to amenities,” Bragg says. “Cafes aren’t in a lot of buildings, especially suburban buildings, so that was very important.” – K.L. McQuaid

More collaborative spaces, fitness centers, food options and meeting areas are all being designed with younger workers in mind. Dan Woodward | Highwoods Properties

OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

transactions |

BusinessObserverFL.com

BY SEAN ROTH | RESEARCH EDITOR

DEEDS/MORTGAGES The following real estate transactions more than $1 million were filed in Charlotte, Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota county courthouses. The information lists the seller, buyer, amount of sale, previous price and date, mortgage and lender, if available, address and book and page of the document.

$909,300, January 1989, 22.21 acres, south of Gonzalez Lake Drive and east of Sheldon Road, 2015380432. F6STFC Ferman LLC sold to HRLP ST Tampa LLC, $2,225,000, Mortgage: $114,282,347.10, Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership, Previous Price: $2,000,000, December 2011, parking lot, 401 E. Washington St. and 102 S. Marion St., Tampa, 2015382427.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY RWA Enterprises LLC sold to Ainger Landing Inc., $1,800,000, Mortgage: $220,000, David Davis as trustee of the Snook Bayou Trust dated January 7, 2014, Previous Price: $1,800,000, September 2005, vacant residential, 18.8 acres, 1157 Casper St., 4015-0137.

Charles Bruck as trustee of the Villages of Bloomingdale Land Trust Dated October 15, 2012 sold to Riverview X LLC, $2,100,000, Previous Price: $310,000, October 2012, vacant acreage, 12.11 acres, east of Interstate 75 and south of Progress Boulevard,

2015380084. New Salem Missionary Baptist Church sold to Gobea Capital Oregon LLC, $1,650,000, Mortgage: $734,500, Sunshine Bank, lot 1, block 4, blocks 9-16, block 1, Fuller’s Subdivision, 2015382470. Riverview Lakes Investment LLC sold to Lennar Homes LLC, $1,600,000, Previous Price: $2,231,000, September 2012, 10201 and 10323 S. 301 Highway, Riverview, 2015382194. Harvey Schonbrun as trustee under several land trusts sold to Trinity Tampa Holdings LLC, $1,300,000, Mortgage: $1,105,000, Regions Bank, a

portion of lot 16 and all of lots 17-22, block 2, Garden Acres, 2015380269. NNP-Southbend II LLC sold to Weekley Homes LLC, $1,074,771.47, various lots of Waterset, 2015379888. LEE COUNTY LF2/Paradise Ventures LP sold to Publix Super Markets Inc., $15,416,667, Previous Price: $2,697,700, August 2011, community shopping center, 17940-17966 N. Tamiami Trail and vacant commercial, 17920 and 17930 N. Tamiami Trail and 4011 and 4019 Del Prado Blvd. N., North Fort Myers, 2015000213291. See TRANSACTIONS page 30

Harper Property Holdings 3 LLC sold to Harper/McNew Development Co. Inc., $1,505,000, Previous Price: $962,500, March 2013, 26.2% interest in grazing land, 160 I-75, 27045, 29005, 29015, 29025, 29095 and 29145 Jones Loop,, 4016-0004. COLLIER COUNTY Taylor Morrison Esplanade Naples LLC sold to SD Esplanade LLC, $4,845,000, lots 1156-1172 Esplanade Golf and Country Club of Naples, blocks D, F and H, 5177243. Naples AW Holdco LLC sold to Ashton Tampa Residential, $2,728,000, various lots, Naples Reserve, phase II, 5177842. Earl and Charlotte Koops sold to Lely Plaza Investments LLC, $2,390,000, Mortgage: $2,390,000, Tri City National Bank, Previous Price: $1,010,000, June 1998, community shopping center, 1.84 acres, 8835 Tamiami Trail E., 5178786. Tamiami 1 LLC sold to Small Brothers LLC, $2,500,000, Mortgage: $2,000,000, The Huntington National Bank, Previous Price: $2,025,000, May 2012, office space, 1.26 acres, 12810 Tamiami Trail, 5178798. Greater Naples Properties LLC sold to Davis Terrace Realty LLC, $1,562,350, Mortgage: $1,100,000, Encore Bank NA, Previous Price: $645,000, January 2014, store, 3053 Davis Blvd. and 3084 Terrace Ave., 5178363. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY F6STFC LLC sold to HRLP ST Tampa LLC, $115,775,000, Mortgage: $114,282,347.10, Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership, Previous Price: $82,500,000, December 2011, multistory office, 401 E. Jackson St., Tampa, 2015382428. SF Harborview Plaza LP sold to JWS Tampa Sub LLC, $49,000,000, Previous Price: $3,450,000, May 1998, multistory office, 3031 N. Rocky Point Drive and vacant commercial, 3002 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, 2015383762. Mainsail Sun Forest LP sold to AMFP III Mainsail LLC, $39,000,000, Previous Price: $2,500,000, April 1998, extended stay hotel, 5108 Eisenhower Blvd., Tampa, 2015382584.

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DPI Inc. sold to Saint Johns Parish Inc., $3,750,000, Mortgage: $3,750,000, The Bank of Tampa, Previous Price: $520,000, May 1999; $269,700 and $71,000, February 2001, restaurant, 205 W. Platt St. and parking lot, 209, 211 and 258 Plant St., Tampa, 2015382544.

LLB Real Estate LLC and RWB Real Estate LLC sold to Taylor Morrison of Florida Inc., $2,500,000, Previous Price:

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Mainsail Conference Center LLLP sold to AMFP III Mainsail Conference LLC, $3,400,000, Previous Price: $2,195,000, December 2006, club, lodge or union hall, 6220 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, 2015382646.

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BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 22, 2015

BusinessObserverFL.com

calendar

transactions From page 29 PDQ FM Ben Hill Propco LLC sold to CMK Fort Myers LLC, $2,608,696, Mortgage: $1,565,000, Pulaski Bank NA, Previous Price: $987,845, August 2014, drive-in restaurant, 17470 Ben Hill Griffin Parkway, Fort Myers, 2015000213753. Van University Plaza LLC sold to FSSR Holding Co. LLC, $2,337,500, tract A-3 University Plaza West, 2015000211475. Brookside Village Ltd. sold to SP BV Apartments LLC, $2,000,000, Mortgage: $3,500,000 (Multifamily Bonds will be assigned to U.S. Bank National Association as trustee), $1,989,000 and $145,300, Florida Housing Finance Corp., Previous Price: $99,900, March 1980, multifamily, 1005-1021 Marsh Ave., Fort Myers, 2015000209900. Peacock Farms LLC sold to AH Bonita Springs III LLC, $1,800,000, Mortgage: $15,380,273, BOKF NA dba Bank of Texas, Previous Price: $4,600,000, May 2005, vacant commercial, 27301 Foster Lane, Bonita Springs, 2015000212385. Harper/McNew Development Co. Inc. sold to Harper Property Holdings 3 LLC, $1,505,000, Previous Price: $28,600, May 2007, warehousing or distribution terminals, 2200 Bruner Lane, Fort Myers, 2015000213479.

AMB Four Corners LLC sold to MDH Orlando Four Corners LLC, $7,873,440, Pervious Price: $9,226,000, July 2007, 52.57 acres, a portion of Home Run Boulevard southeast of Interstate 4, Davenport, 9639-2043. Brian Malk as trustee of the Brian C. Malk Trust sold to 776 Jeffco Corp., $1,150,000, Mortgage: $700,000, Insignia Bank, Previous Price: $2,032,500, June 2013, restaurants or cafeterias, 2.39 acres, 23269 U.S. Highway 27, Lake Wales, 96401396. SARASOTA COUNTY None

events

OCTOBER 20

OCTOBER 22

CYBER NINJA: Doug Logan, the CEO of Cyber Ninjas, will discuss corporate cyber security at a meeting of the Suncoast Technology Forum. The meeting will take place from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Polo Grill, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. Cost is $18 for members and $28 for others. Register at Suncoasttechnologyforum.com.

FOUNDER TALK: Greg Scasny, founder of Cybersecurity Defense Solutions, will speak about his experience as an entrepreneur. The event, hosted by Tamiami Angel Fund II and VenturePitch SWFL, will last from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Paragon Pavilion Theater, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Cost is $15 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information, visit venturepitchswfl.com.

We create amazing spaces for great places

MANATEE COUNTY SMR Northwest Land LLC sold to DiVosta Homes LP, $13,080,000, 179.0067 acres, in SEC 5-35-19E, 02588-7572. Win IV Ltd. sold to B&L Investments LWR LLC, $5,809,000, Mortgage: $3,835,000, Genworth Life Insurance Co., Previous Prices: $1,422,900, December 2000 and $650,000, December 2001, community shopping centers, 8319, 8321, 8323, 8325, 8327, 8331, 8339, 8341 and 8343 Market St. and multiple unit store 11513, 11515, 11517, 11519, 11521, 11523, 11527, 11529 and 11531 Palmbrush Trail, Bradenton, 02588-3569. Manasota Group Inc. sold to 1st Manatee Bank, $2,100,000, lot 1 Oneco Horizon, financial institutions, 900 E. 53rd Ave., Bradenton, 02589-2322. Praetorian Capital LLC sold to 2Lobsters LLC, $1,300,000, Previous Price: $1,260,000, January 2014, light industrial, 7150 E. 15th St., Sarasota, 02588-2843.

PINELLAS COUNTY Midway Manor ALF Inc. sold to Harb Enterprises LLC, $1,450,000, Mortgage: $1,325,000, Celtic Bank Corp., Second Mortgage: $160,000, Midway Manor ALF Inc., Previous Price: $1,761,500, July 2010, assisted-living facility, 1754 Ensley Ave., Largo, 18937-0422. Richard Miner sold to PMPM Inc., $1,200,000, Mortgage: $600,000 and $480,000, First Home Bank, Previous Price: $240,000, November 1999, general warehouse, 1980 Main St., Dunedin, 189190683. Areal Enterprises of Pinellas County Inc. sold to TBC Retail Group Inc., $1,200,000, Previous Price: $525,000, September 1990, auto service center, 10595 Ulmerton Road, Largo, 18931-0791. POLK COUNTY Haines Mall LLC sold to Haines City Mall LLC, $11,965,000, Mortgage: $9,000,000, Silverpeak Real Estate Finance LLC, Previous Price: $$7,615,000, June 2013 and $200,000, February 2004, community shopping center, 9.87 acres, 600 U.S. Highway 17/92 and retail, 0.52 acres, 641 U.S. Highway 17/92, Haines City, 9636-542.

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PASCO COUNTY None

OCTOBER 16 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; OCTOBER 22, 2015 | BUSINESS OBSERVER

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TOP 10 BEST KEPT SECRETS OF A VALUED LEGAL PARTNER

SKILL HARMONY An ideal state of intellectual and technical collaboration among legal partners that requires a continuous commitment to share skills, ideas and resources. Synonyms: collaboration, integration, teamwork, synergy, unification

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BusinessObserverFL.com

BUSINESS OBSERVER | OCTOBER 16 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; OCTOBER 22, 2015

Congratulations!

To The Business Observerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 40 under 40

At Construction Services, we encourage and promote individual growth.

As a result, our people demand excellence from themselves professionally and philanthropically. Our commitment to helping our clients achieve their goals is unwavering.

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Laura Lay, we are proud of your accomplishments and commitment to CSI and the community.