Cape Coral Business Magazine September/October 2017

September/October 2017

Local Knowledge, Tools & Tips to Inspire and Grow Your Business

Business is Bloomin’!

CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Cape Coral: Where successful businesses excel in the art of expansion

Seven years of continual growth spurred AAE Glass to relocate to a 20,000-squarefoot studio, warehouse and retail shop on Pine Island Road, with plans for a November grand opening.

AAE Glass has worked closely with the Cape Coral Economic Development Office (EDO) since its beginning. “The team has helped us with everything that goes with expanding a business,” says Mark Veit, vice president. “Knowing that the EDO has our back is reassuring.”

Cape Coral Economic Development Office +1 (239) 574-0444 ecodev@capecoral.net bizcapecoral.com

Cape Coral is ranked the No. 1 fastest-growing metro area in the nation. New and existing businesses are taking advantage of this great opportunity. Contact the Cape Coral EDO today to learn how we can help you with a startup or expansion.

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Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

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6

Entrepreneur 101 The Level III Relationship

Management Top-Ten Employee Traits

10

Finance Want To Start a Business?

Six ways entrepreneurs can mitigate personal financial risk

11

16

Insurance Commercial General Liability Coverage

17

SBDC I’m from the Government And I’m here to help you!

18

Process Are Your Processes Missing any Key Elements?

Relationships The Spotlight is on YOU!

12

19

Technology Backups! Restores?

Legal Who needs a Lawyer?

14

22

Technology Consult an IT Professional Before Starting a Business or Opening a Branch Office.

15

Exit Strategy What’s in a Value?

Surprising Elements of Business Pricing

CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

What’s Inside

8

Marketing Sizzle This Summer

Now is the Time to Sizzle and Fine-Tune for next Season

4 A Word From Economic Development

20 Chamber of Commerce 21 Cape Business News

23 Cape Connection - Dana Brunett

24 Non-Profit Sector

26 Networking Events

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

3

A Word from Economic Development

By Dana Brunett

When I first arrived in Cape Coral in the

facility, ESA Tubing, a manufacturer

fall of 2011, Cape Coral was in the throes of a major economic downturn. evidence

was

everywhere,

The

from

boarded-up houses to empty storefronts,

related jobs. There are two new to the mix. From an economic development

even bus tours featuring foreclosed homes.

recruitment standpoint, we attacked retail

report on the worst news they could find and

faster, especially in a vastly populated city

We had national news crews looking to

headlines proclaimed Cape Coral “ground zero for the foreclosure crises.”

Our EDO

team clearly had our work cut out for us.

Six months after I started, John Szerlag came

on board as my third City Manager. At that

first because that sector usually rebounds like Cape Coral.

The plan worked in our favor as we successfully

recruited

numerous

retail-

related businesses. It was slow at first, but we created serious momentum that resulted

time, our revenues were down 43% due to

in new restaurants, retail entities and

was reduced by about 25% and there had

Cape. The most recent announcements were

lost property tax revenues, our city workforce

entertainment related businesses to the

been no regular capital expenditures since

for The Fresh Market in the Coralwood Mall

measures

many, businesses for which residents have

2010.

Mr.

to

Szerlag

ensure

instituted our

several

short-term

sustainability. In order to be successful in

our attempts to bring in new businesses, it

was essential to create an environment that people wanted to invest in.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe we’ve

recovered to the point we’re at now, so fast.

We had to try and ensure that we kept the businesses we had while also working to add

4

from Germany and numerous medical

and Aldi’s on Pine Island Road. Two, of the been asking in Cape Coral.

More recently, our focus has changed to

target those businesses that are a good fit

for Cape Coral and create better paying jobs

for our residents. We have been successful in that endeavor as well.

We’ve added

Caldwell and Kerr Advertising, Natural Health Products, the new Florida Cancer Specialists

Assisted Living Facilities, Palmview,

which just opened as a part of the Gulf Coast

Village campus, and Atrium at Liberty Park,

which is now under construction near the VA

Clinic.

The other great impact happening today is

the fact that we’re working with several existing businesses that are looking to

expand and add jobs--a great sign for Cape Coral. As Cape Coral continues to expand its

utility system, it will open many new, larger

parcels for future development in north Cape Coral. We also look forward to developments

at Bimini Basin, Seven Islands, Village

Square, Rubicon Plaza and Academic Village,

all large-scale development projects that will bring in new jobs and amenities to our

residents.

South Cape, Cape Coral’s downtown area

(and the location of our CRA) is seeing some

amazing

growth,

adding

many

new

restaurants and entertainment venues. Local

business owners have created the South

Cape

Hospitality

and

Entertainment

Dana Brunett is the Economic Development Manager, City of Cape Coral FL. The Cape Coral Economic Development Office can be reached at 239574-0444 or ecodev@capecoral.net

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

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Association (SCHEA.) This group meets regularly to coordinate concerts,

trolley events and other entertainment-related activities in the Entertainment District within South Cape. SCHEA partners with the City on events such as

Bike Night, held four times a year.

Presently, we’re seeing new housing starts at much higher levels than in years

past. And our commercial tax base has increased by more than 50% over the

past two years. We’re also adding new residents at a rate of over 4,000 per

year. A few years ago, when I was driving around town and looking at the

effects of the downturn, never did I imagine that we would come so far, so

quickly. Not that we’re all the way back, but we’ve definitely put ourselves in

line to get there.

Cape Coral continues to generate positive press through our ranking on Top

10 lists from the likes of Forbes, CNN Money and Bloomberg. We are part of

an MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) that’s one of the best in the country

for job creation; we are still a desirable location for retirees; and, with 400

miles of canals, a large inventory of rental housing, access to other eco-

tourism and waterfront amenities and a new conference center underway at

the Westin Resort, we remain an important player in the tourism arena.

From ground zero during the foreclosure crisis to a growing hot spot in just a

few short years, Cape Coral has had an interesting ride and, from our perspective, it’s just beginning.

From the Publishers

A few months back we had a conversation with Russ Winstead from the SBDC. He brought up the idea of doing a magazine just for local businesses

in Cape Coral. After all, we have a few here. Originally the idea was to

produce something that supplemented the 4th Wednesday BizChat hosted

by Karen Ramos with the Cape Coral Economic Development Office and Russ.

We took the idea and decided to expand the reach to as many businesses

as possible on the Cape. We wanted to provide a magazine that is more of

a “toolkit” with relevant articles that business owners can use. We also

wanted those articles to be relevant and written by some of the best

people in their respective categories. This is our first issue of Cape Business

Magazine and we hope you enjoy it, learn something and perhaps become

a contributor in futures issues. This is a work-in-progress and we welcome any ideas for topics or anything else you think will make Cape Business

Magazine one of the premier publications of its kind in the country.

Along with the magazine we have launched CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM. This

is designed to complement the mission of the print magazine with

expanded articles, new content and the most comprehensive business calendar in the area. Like us on Facebook @capecoralbusiness.

Thanks

Kevin & Susan

CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

5

Entrepreneur 101

By Jim Griffiths

Level III

The Relationship As a kid working at the boat rentals in Key Largo, I remember wanting

to own a company so I could be my own boss. I hear this same sentiment regularly from people who fantasize about quitting their

job. It’s the American Dream. It’s independence and why most people

come to this country.

your business.

A business needs the same attention and respect of any relationship if you want it to be able to withstand the inevitable challenges to

come. The business that develops and grows, the one that can

A small percentage of new businesses survive their first few months,

withstand a recession, ongoing obstacles and the winds of change,

field for years and figure with that kind of experience they can do it

business.

and I credit most of the failures to the same thing. People work in a

independently. They soon realize that owning and running a company do not involve the same tasks as working in one.

For the few new businesses that survive, the owner reaches a point of realizing that they don’t own the company, it owns them. This is level two; few reach level three. Level two is where the owner

operates the business for years and eventually claims at the footer

of their e-mail “25 years experience”. That’s not quite accurate. At

level two, what they have is one year of experience that has been

6

repeated 25 times. Level three is when you build a relationship with

are the ones where the owner has developed a relationship with their

I host monthly public talks on entrepreneurism, but business is never the topic. It’s about what goes on in an entrepreneur’s mind. My goals are to get this concept into the school system. Entrepreneur classes

are about business plans, and a business plan alone will not be able

to offer much to your business. Companies have a high failure rate

not because people can’t work spreadsheets or buy the right office

supplies, but because people do not understand how to “Think like an entrepreneur™”.

Jim Griffiths Publisher, Nautical Mile Creator, The Third Draft www.TheThirdDraft.org

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

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When what we refer to as “the recession� occurred about a decade

I had built a relationship with my company. That came from Walt,

exciting time because I had just started to see a noticeable proďŹ t

furniture to save mine, and it would do the same for me. Our

ago, one of my companies was only a couple years old. It was an against a lot of heavy competition. It was a company I started with

no experience and still had a lot to learn about. My ďŹ rst thought

was doom. How could I possibly deal with what I’m up against? That wasn’t negative thinking, it was reality and fear. Companies were

going bankrupt and people were losing their homes.

I decided to rise to the challenge, and this company is now the most successful business of its kind in the state. I credit Walt Disney the

most. I studied him well, and one thing he was known for was doing

the opposite of most. He ďŹ gured that most people are wrong most

of the time, so make a habit of doing the opposite most of the time,

and you’ll have made the right decision more often than not.

(Especially when it doesn’t make sense to do so.)

Competitors cut corners; I added corners. They cut quality; I added

quality. Whatever they did, I did the opposite. I had no experience

with what I was up against, and there was no rule book to follow.

Not knowing exactly what to do, how could I argue with Walt

too; he loved his company and would do anything for it. I sold relationship is as strong today as it was when we met 15 years ago.

We need each other and we trust each other. When I want to go on

vacation, the business says “Go, I’ve got it covered,� because it

knows I wouldn’t go if it needed me here. We have each other’s

back and we share a solid foundation. I trust my company, and it knows it can trust me in return.

When businesses fail, blame seems to take center stage. It’s

because of the government, the mayor, the competition, the

employees, etc. It’s always someone else’s fault. No, it isn’t. It’s

because the owner never learned how to think like an entrepreneur

and a proper relationship was not formed.

I know many business owners who have nice wheels on their truck

and a new kitchen, yet old parts and supplies at work. Your business

needs you. Beware, if you’re not there for your business, it’s not going to be there for you.

Disney? It worked, but hindsight tells me that it all worked because

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Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

7

Management

By Mike “Q” Quaintance

Top-Ten Employee Traits In a recent survey conducted at Keiser University’s Fort Myers campus, local employers shared their top-ten employee traits. This

is a list of traits that employers deemed most important for new hire success in their businesses. This list also provides some suggestions

to job candidates regarding topics which they should be prepared to

discuss during the interview.

1. Responsible

2. Team player

3. Integrity/Ethical

4. Good Communicator

5. Punctual

6. Problem Focused

7. Life-long Learner

8. Loyal

9. Accountable

10. Passion

Responsibility is the ability to differentiate between right and wrong while acting the right way. This is important today as society seeks

eliminates bias and listens with the intent to learn what the sender

is communicating. This is extremely important for customer service,

communicating direction and sharing ideas.

Punctuality is important as managers attempt to create an effective

organizations that behave ethically to engage in commerce with.

and efficient workforce. The rule of thumb in many workplaces is to

then customers will migrate to new business relationships. Research

Problem focused suggests that the employee be open to visualizing,

Customers expect relationships founded in trust; if trust is lacking,

has consistently shown that ethical behavior leads to higher levels of organizational citizenship in a company, thus encouraging greater

be prepared to work five minutes prior to your scheduled time.

sharing and solving problems that occur in their daily work activities.

This helps improve customer service and with employee job

productivity.

satisfaction as they contribute in the success of the company.

A team player is someone who cares about putting team success

In today’s dynamic business environment, and due to globalization,

before their own. It implies that, by taking care of the needs of the team, an individual’s needs will be realized. Research shows that

team players are often more successful because of the law of

reciprocity, where behavior garners reciprocal behaviors from peers and managers.

Integrity refers to normatively appropriate behaviors of a team,

the political environment and technology, the world is in a constant

state of change. This requires consistent efforts to remain current

on knowledge in every industry. Life-long learners realize this and

the importance of remaining relevant in order to create value.

Loyalty refers to a state of being faithful to a cause, idea, custom,

product or institution. This behavior has a similar influence as being

group, or society which expects a firm adherence to an acceptable

a team player where organizational loyalty is often rewarded with

find themselves rising through the ranks of corporate leadership.

employees who support the organization.

moral or ethical code. Workers with high levels of integrity often

8

A good communicator refers to an employee who speaks with clarity,

promotions and extra compensation.

Most organizations value

Mike “Q” Quaintance, MBA, is Business Department Chair at Keiser University-Ft. Myers. He welcomes any feedback at mquaintance@keiseruniversity.edu or by calling (239) 277-1336 ext. 34128.

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

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Accountability refers to an employee’s willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own actions.

Most employers use

A More Tailored Approach for Women

employee mistakes as teaching moments and embrace the

opportunity to show them how to avoid them in the future.

Employers often consider employees who reject accountability as un-trustworthy and are unlikely to be promoted.

Employee passion is often portrayed as an intense and driving feeling or conviction to the organization, leader or product.

However, some would argue that it runs deeper. Some suggest that passion for one’s job is reflected by the enthusiasm with

which he or she awakes in the morning. If you spring out of

bed looking forward to the day, then you probably have a great

deal of passion for your job.

While this is certainly not an exhaustive list, it does represent a

Women often look at investment decisions differently than men and with good reason.

• Because of salary discrepancies, many women start the investment process with fewer investable assets than their male counterparts.

• Thanks to longer life spans, women often must find ways to make their assets last longer.

We recognize that women face unique challenges and bring a more tailored perspective to the financial planning and wealth management process.

Contact us today, and let us help you plan successfully for your financial future.

consensus of thought regarding the traits that employers seem

Rebecca A. Ross Vice President

interview, it would be appropriate to ponder possible discussion

The Ross Group Private Wealth Management 239-541-9090 therossgroup-rwbaird.com

to cherish in our local marketplace. When preparing for a job

points to these topics as you research the company and industry for which you are applying. Personally, I believe you can never

over-prepare for the job interview and your expressed

rwbaird.com

knowledge may improve your salary and benefit negotiations.

©2016 Robert W. Baird & Co. Member SIPC. MC-48535.

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

9

Finance

by Rebecca Ross

WANT TO START A BUSINESS?

SIX WAYS ENTREPRENEURS CAN MITIGATE PERSONAL FINANCIAL RISK The TV show "Shark Tank" is popular because it speaks to a desire

shared by many Americans: to achieve financial independence by starting their own business. This is particularly strong among

millennials. A recent survey by Bentley University found 66% of

millennials respondents wanted to start their own business, 37%

would like to work for themselves and 25% would like to own their own company.

"Shark Tank" makes this seem easy, but many new businesses don't

pan out. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), only

half of business start-ups survive more than five years. Fortunately,

it's possible to reduce the personal financial risks of starting a business by making smart choices:

1. SEPARATE BUSINESS AND PERSONAL ASSETS

Establishing a limited liability company (LLC) and a separate bank

account can help reduce our personal liability and make tax

compliance simpler.

2. LEAVE YOURSELF A CUSHION

According to the SBA, the number one source of financing for new

businesses is personal assets/savings. Set parameters around how much of your personal savings you're willing to risk.

3. BE CAREFUL ABOUT USING RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

Some qualified retirement plans like 401(k)s allow participants to

borrow from the account. But if you fail to repay the loan within

the established time frame, it is treated as a distribution and taxed.

You may also face a penalty for early withdrawal.

4. DON'T TAKE ON TOO MUCH PERSONAL DEBT

Generally speaking, total monthly debt service payments (including housing and personal debt) shouldn't exceed 36% of your monthly

gross income. And keep in mind that if you take out personal loans for your business and it fails, you may have to declare personal

bankruptcy.

5. DON'T RELY ON COMPANY CREDIT CARDS

It can be tempting to charge expenses to your business credit card,

but most commercial cards charge high interest rates. Also, many lenders require a personal guarantee when someone applies for a

business credit card. So even if you've kept your business and

personal accounts separate, you may be personally responsible for the business credit card debt.

6. HAVE A FALLBACK

If you are a licensed professional, be sure to maintain that license – even if it's not relevant to your venture. And give careful

consideration to continuing to work at least part-time while your

business does become a full-time pursuit. It's a good idea to keep

up your skills in case you ever wish to return to your old line of

work.

10

Article provided, Vice President and Financial Advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co., member SIPC. She has 32 years of financial services industry experience, and can be reached at 239-541-9090 or rross@rwbaird.com.

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Process

Elizabeth McQueen, PMP®, CSM

ur o e Yesses ny r A oc A Pr sing y s ?

Mi Ke ents m e l E To provide a quality product, system or service to your customers,

and to have an efficient organization, your processes need to be

defined appropriately and followed consistently. There are two types

of processes, Production and Operational.

Production processes relate to creating the product or service you are selling. Even if you are not a major manufacturer (creating cars, for

example), if you produce a product, then you need a process that

defines your particular “5 Ms”:

• Materials: what are the raw materials, parts, system components, etc., that are needed to produce your product?

• Machinery: what equipment (robotic or human-operated) is needed to execute your manufacturing method?

• Manpower: what are the skills or training your people need to produce your product?

• Method: what are the steps by which the raw materials are fabricated and assembled to create your product?

• Measurement: what is your system to measure each aspect of the process, from the raw materials’ quality and quantity to the acceptability of the final product?

Operational processes relate to the “people work” that supports your

business and the servicing of your customers. They are just as critical as your production processes, and they should be documented,

addressing these key elements:

• Entrance / Start Criteria: when or under what circumstances do you perform the process (e.g., how do you know it’s time to order supplies?)

• Inputs / Outputs: what do your employees need to perform the process, and what should they have to show for it once they have done so? (e.g.: do they need a requisition form? Bids from three

suppliers for big-ticket items? What makes the process “finished”: a completed, approved order form?)

• Roles: who are the “players” involved in performing the process? (e.g., the Office Assistant? The Manager? The Owner?)

• Steps: from among the roles, who does what, and in what order, to perform the process? (Does the Manager only get involved when it comes time to approve the order? Under what circumstances is the Manager more involved?)

• Metrics: what will you measure to determine that the process is “working?” (How long it takes to perform the process? The percentage of times the process got the right results?)

Both kinds of processes need to have the proper environment. For

production processes, this may include for example a specific

temperature range for the equipment to operate at peak efficiency.

(Come to think of it, this may be the case for the operational,

“people” processes, too!)

A systematic review of both kinds of processes can usually yield

greater business success, more efficiency, and less waste. If you are

having quality or efficiency problems, or if you are doing well but

want to get even better, look first to these elements to find ways to

improve, or to find the root cause of your problem. If you haven’t

yet documented your processes, you will find that doing so can help

you improve in areas where you didn’t even realize it was needed.

Finally, note that training on your processes is also critical. If the processes are not followed consistently, then you don’t know how to

find the source of any problems. The more solid your processes are,

the more successful your company will be!

Elizabeth McQueen, PMP®, CSM has over 20 years of experience in corporate quality management, project management, and management / leadership training. She is the owner of McQueen Improvement Solutions (MQIS) in Cape Coral (www.mqis-us.com).

CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

11

Technology

Submitted by Rick Ciglar

E

veryone says they have it…others rave about it…BUT, do

you truly have a good backup of your Data? Yeah, sure…

you spent the money for the backup software license, you

bought a new RDX drive with a few TB cartridges or a shiny new

It’s a great question to ask. It really works in having the person

think about what it is backups are really for – RESTORING DATA!!

Anyone can “setup” a backup system. It’s easy to buy

software/hardware, come up with a bullet-proof strategy…yada,

NAS. You then spent a few hours setting up your backup jobs and

yada, yada. BUT – can you restore the Data?? Since most folks

log entry which tells you that your backup jobs worked. You can

definitely cannot RAVE about it either.

SUCCESS right?! When the jobs finish, you get to see an email or

check the cartridges or hard-drives and see that hey, there is a bunch of data there! Nice work Sparky…

Oh wait! Hold on just a sec while you pat your own back there…

have you tried to RESTORE the Data? Have you tested the limits of

never try, then you can’t REALLY say that you have it. And you

According to a 2014 Gartner study, a full 49% of small businesses

queried explained that they had problems during disaster recovery

exercises. Of those, about half had either “significant problems” or

complete failures. Only 35% of the study participants were able to

your backup software and performed any test restore jobs to ensure

meet their needs with the remaining 16% unsure, which in my book

successfully restore your CEO’s mailbox back to Exchange? Find

Broken State of Backup)

that it actually grabbed the data you specified? Can you that spreadsheet from accounting that has your bonus info?

isn’t a good thing. (Gartner Report: Best Practices for Repairing the

Hmmm. Good question, right?

Many companies today still struggle with assembling the skills,

Just about everyone I’ve ever spoken to about backups (both tech

preparedness. It is never important until it is needed, which is

time or money to adequately plan and test their backup/DR

pro’s and clients) usually answer that question with a cold, blank

usually way too late.

their server, at 4am, after a failure, and NOT being able to restore

My suggestion of course, put your backup system through its

stare…almost as if they are imagining themselves sitting next to

data, wondering OHHHH SNAP! (Not exactly the word SNAP, but you get the idea…)

paces. Perform a few mock data restores of different types of data

and ensure that you are the Superhero your boss thinks you are.

Otherwise, you’ll find yourself at 4am, next to your server, after a

failure, wondering…WHY ME?!

Backups!

Restores?

12

Rick Ciglar is VP/Operations for Zypha Corporation. He can be reached at 941-629-9742 or rciglar@zypha.com

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

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'HO 3UDGR %OYG 6 &DSH &RUDO )O ::: 3&%%$1. 1(7 Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

13

Technology

Submitted by Dusty Shelton

Consulting an IT professional before starting a business or opening a branch office When we take the leap to start a new business, we contact an

accountant or CPA, our banker, commercial realtor and even our

friends and family. Many business owners seem to forget to contact their trusted IT professional.

So, you ask yourself, why do I need to contact the "computer guy"

when I start my business?

When first speaking with your IT consultant, you will want to discuss

the type of business you are opening, the security expected and your

business plan for the next 5 years and 10 years. This is to ensure

that, when you are looking at computers and network equipment, it will be something that can grow with you, and support you and your business.

The next thing would be location, location, location. While working

with a commercial realtor, have your IT consultant look at the areas

you are looking to purchase or rent. You need to know if the correct

Internet wire has been placed to support your business and

computers. You also need to be sure there is the correct placement

for your equipment. This is to ensure that all municipal services and

equipment (i.e. network switches, security appliances, patch panels) go into a safe place in the office that can be locked for safety and

14

Another reason to speak with your IT consultant is to make sure you

get adequate Internet and phone service. Cape Coral offers multiple

options for Internet and phone services; in some cases, it is important

to have both. In most professions, it can be detrimental to the

business to lose service for any length of time. The option of having

redundant services secures the business for any loss of customers,

profit and future business.

And finally, one of the most important discussions you need to have

with your IT consultant is security. A beach in security can not only

cause fiscal devastation, but can also have customer consequences.

The 2014 US State of Cybercrime survey conveyed that 60% of all

breaches could compromise systems and organizations within

minutes. Depending on your business and the compliances that our

federal governments requires, your IT professional can guide you to

help protect and monitor your computers and networks from any of these breaches taking place.

When starting a new business, or even moving to a new location,

contacting your IT consultant will save you time and money, allowing you to move forward and grow your business with confidence and security.

security.

For additional questions or more information, please contact It’s IT at 239-935-9891 or check out their website at www.ITsITLLC.com

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Exit Strategy

Submitted by Michael Monnot

What’s in a Value?

Surprising Elements of Business Pricing If you have been thinking about what your business is worth, or have

and workload more appealing by hiring a proper staff and delegating

been thinking about selling or putting an exit strategy in place for

some of what you do. In most cases, delegating some of your

of business value first - like cash flow, the inventory and what

more business, transfers knowledge which allows your employees

years down the road, you should consider the most common metrics

comparable businesses have actually sold for. There are, however,

some lesser-known elements that can affect the value of your

business to a buyer.

workload can have many other benefits. It allows time for you to gain more latitude, gives your employees the capability to step in when

someone leaves - and so much more.

● You can be the face of you company, but yours shouldn’t be the

● The condition of your assets. If you own a limo business and your

only face. In order for a business to sell, it needs to be able to

how much you can charge per ride and therefore your bottom line. If

your customers ever have, it will be very difficult for a new owner to

limos are 20 years old, it’s likely that their condition has an effect on

function without you at the helm. If you are the only contact that

your aging fleet of cars needs to be replaced by the next owner, then

take over and maintain the trust of those customers. If you don't

the top. What should you do if you have assets that need to be

massive problems - especially during a transition to new ownership.

you can expect prospective buyers to take that replacement cost off

replaced? Have a conversation with your business broker about

whether it makes sense to replace those assets or leave that responsibility to the new owner.

● The amount of work you, as an owner, currently do. Say there are

two very similar pizza shops generating about the same amount of

teach your staff how to do all of the things you do, it can cause These are issues that might cause a buyer to choose another business over yours, so delegate and cross train now.

Buyers care about common business pricing metrics like cash flow -

but they also care about replacing assets, the hours they’ll need to

work and whether or not the business will survive without the

revenue and are listed for the same price. In one shop, the owner

original owner. Paying attention to the elements of your business

buyer, which one would you pick? People who are buying a business

to sell successfully.

works 80 hours a week. The other, 20 hours a week. If you were a are essentially buying themselves a job, so the more appealing the hours and workload, the greater the value to a buyer. If your business has you working an insane number of hours, you can make the hours

that are important to buyers will always put you in a better position

If you have more questions about how businesses are priced or are

curious about what businesses like yours have recently sold for,

please get in touch with us today.

Michael Monnot is the owner of Infinity Business Brokers. He can be reached at 941-518-7138 or mike@infinitybusinessbrokers.com CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

15

Insurance

Submitted by Frank V Bonsignore

Commercial General Liability Coverage All businesses use many techniques or some format to reduce liability exposure. No matter how hard you try, however, you can never fully

account for the actions of others. On any given day, your business

could be found on the wrong end of a lawsuit for injuries or damages

caused to a third party as a result of your operations. Commercial

General Liability insurance is your first line of defense in these

situations.

In spite of your best efforts at removing all the potential hazards

from your business, you might still find yourself being sued.

Commercial General Liability insurance is your best defense against claims that could destroy your business. Commercial General Liability insurance is designed to protect business owners from a variety of

exposures. It can cover liability arising from accidents on or off

premises, to products sold by the insured that result in injury to the user, to contractual liability, leaving an owner free to concentrate on

managing their business.

Just as important, CGL coverage protects owners even if their

company isn't legally liable for a claim. Legal defense costs are

continually rising; and the expense to defend oneself against a claim

whether justified or not can be financially devastating to a business.

A CGL insurance policy will usually cover the costs of your legal

defense and will pay on your behalf all damages if you are found

liable—up to the limits of your policy. CGL coverage is one of the

most important insurance products, due to the negative impact that

16

a lawsuit can have on a business and because such liability suits

happen so frequently.

Finally, the liability policy will also fund the premium for any bond

the court requires, ensuring that the judgment will be paid if the

business owner is found legally liable for an injury or property

damage.

Commercial Auto

As a business owner, you need the same kinds of insurance coverages

for the car you use in your business as you do for a car used for

personal travel -- liability, collision and comprehensive, medical payments (known as personal injury protection in some states) and

coverage for uninsured motorists. In fact, many business people use

the same vehicle for both business and pleasure. If the vehicle is

owned by the business, make sure the name of the business appears

on the policy as the "principal insured" rather than your name. This

will avoid possible confusion in the event that you need to file a claim or a claim is filed against you.

Whether you need to buy a business auto insurance policy will

depend on the kind of driving you do. A good insurance agent will

ask you many details about how you use vehicles in your business,

who will be driving them and whether employees, if you have them,

are likely to be driving their own cars for your business.

While the major coverages are the same, a business auto policy

differs from a personal auto policy in many technical respects.

Frank V Bonsignore is the Agency Owner & Your Agent at FLB Insurance Agency 1716 Cape Coral Pkwy East 239-205-1500

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

SBDC

Submitted by Russ Winstead

“I’m from the Government and I’m here to help you!”

“I’m from the Government and I’m here to help you!” Many have

What does that mean to you as a business owner? It means that there

many do not believe it. I understand that if your friendly IRS agent

are available to help you with the common, and not so common,

definition of help.

at no cost to you!

However, I do have a surprise for you! Some programs out there from

Some of the consultative business services offered include, but are

heard this statement in the past, mostly as a punchline, and well,

knocks at your door with this statement, you might question the

the government really do offer excellent services. Actually, there are many, but I want to introduce you to just one.

The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at Florida Gulf Coast University.

The SBDC is a business client-driven organization of business

professionals (consultants) dedicated to helping small businesses

succeed by providing creative business solutions with a goal of

exceeding our client’s expectations. The Florida SBDC Network is

is a local professional network of Certified Business Consultants that

issues related to running your business. These services are provided

not limited to, Market Development Plans, Business Planning,

Strategic Planning, Marketing, Sales, Social Media, International

Business and Exporting, Doing Business with the Government,

Business Loan Assistance and much more!

In addition, for those of us in Cape Coral, the SBDC has a branch

office right here for our convenience. We collaborate with many

business support organizations throughout Southwest Florida,

including the City of Cape Coral’s Economic Development Office.

designated as Florida's Principal Provider of Business Assistance [§ 288.001, Fla. Stat.]

The FSBDC at FGCU is a member of the Florida SBDC Network; a

statewide service network that is funded in part through cooperative

agreements with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA),

Defense Logistics Agency, the State of Florida, the City of Cape Coral

and other private and public partners and is a part of Florida Gulf Coast University.

If you would like to find out more information on how the SBDC may be able to help build your business, contact us at 239-745-3700 (Main office, FGCU) or at our Cape Coral Branch Office at 239-573-2737. You can also search our website at www.FSBDCSWFL.org CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

17

Relationships

Submitted by Robin Griffiths

The spotlight is on you….

Whether you are a big corporation or a small

one-person company, the world is watching

best fit.

the only perception a person will have of

the group on board, an incentive with big

you. You may not realize it but this could be

your company. What are you telling them?

Are you branding your company as helpful,

timely, resourceful and trustworthy? I was

surprised how much time and effort is put into advertising, social media and website

construction, but little to no effort in good

manners, timely returned calls, and good

listening skills.

Now, change can be hard to

assimilate and resistance is great. To bring

bonuses

and

a

chance

for

national

recognition was given to push them a little faster to this new philosophy.

A new model of consulting with clients was

introduced and it started with a visit to a

business decision maker after researching

the company to learn more about the

organization. Open-ended questions were

I was fortunate many years ago to work for a

asked and, in most cases, this uncovered

“order takers.” They were seen as inflexible

meeting was set up with the intention to

company that was traditionally known to be

important information. The purpose of the

and they were losing business. By taking

uncover information to be able to see where

big adjustment in their business model and

future.

stock of what was happening, they made a

it started with their sales force. This

department was known to be the least

accommodating. The department’s typical

answer was "we can't" to clients.

They

would decide what a client needed based on

18

the budget with no thought to if it was the

they may be able to help each other in the The assignment was to explore the company

took place, a plan to offer solutions was scheduled and presented.

The end result to this type of process would

create new and better business relationships.

Many times this increased business, but aside from financial reward, the overall result included

more

understanding,

respect,

trustworthiness and knowledge. As a result,

better, stronger communication skills were obtained.

Recently I have been taking notes on my personal interactions with business people in

the community. I encourage you to do the same.

Think about how your clients are

looking at your organization from the first phone call or contact with your company.

Look to see if you are seeking solutions for

your clients and not just acting as a service provider. Building these strong relationships

and find ways to solve their issues and

will take you further and give you more

and services. After these initial meetings

business cycles.

problems within the scope of their products

strength in the long run of economic

Robin Griffiths Engaging Communication and Leadership, She is a Trainer, Speaker & Consultant. Robin can be reached at Robinannegriffiths.com

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Legal

Submitted by Bruce H. Vanderlaan, Attorney at Law, P.A.

WHO NEEDS A LAWYER? Lawyers are expensive. Even lawyers know that. What isn’t well

known is that lawyers like me are far less expensive than lawyers like

my partner. My practice involves setting up companies, putting together contracts and employee agreements, transactional work,

and working with clients to advise them on compliance, both in

business and regarding health care, which increasingly touches all our lives. I even try to work with my clients on a “concierge” basis,

where I’m already a part of their team on a flat rate basis. In fact, I’m their least expensive “employee.”

My partner, however, charges $350 per hour to fight cases out in

a “savings” of a few thousand dollars in attorney fees to properly

structure the business and set up dispute resolution terms and buy-

out provisions, each side spent tens of thousands and the business

was destroyed.

Another client went to sell her business to a former employee. The

two of them spent a great deal of money and time putting together

the Purchase Agreement and negotiating over price, non-competes,

payment terms, guarantees and other material terms. Then the buyer

told my client she didn’t need an attorney to close it, the attorneys

were taking too long and they could just do it themselves. If you’re

Court. 4 hours to draft one complaint (not unusual) will cost $1,400,

trying to work out an agreement with someone and they tell you that

We have recently had a run on clients who have come in with

The sale of that business was to be for $250,000 over a 3-year

and you’re just getting started.

businesses that they feel are being “stolen” out from under them, or

that weren’t properly formed in the first place. Now we have to try

to solve the problems and, as you can imagine, it’s a very emotional

and tense situation. Everyone believes that they are in the right, and everyone believes that the other side should have to pay.

Let me give you some examples. I have a client who formed a

company with a partner, where they were both supposed to invest

the same amount of money to start. It was a significant amount of

money, over $100,000. The other partner got married, and now my client was in a partnership with the husband and wife, which he never intended, of course. They ended up in a dispute and the husband and

wife team would not provide corporate records, as required by law.

The company ended up in receivership and had its assets frozen. For

you do not need an attorney, run, don’t walk.

period. Each side spent over $120,000 in attorney fees to try to do

what would have been done for at most a couple of thousand dollars

if they had just used their attorneys.

Another client agreed to do their partner a favor. Their partner had

some personal liabilities and a bankruptcy. The client agreed (prior

to my even meeting them) to take all the ownership of the company.

The actions of the partner turned out to be fraudulent and the client

got hit with an IRS tax liability, a State of Florida Department of

Revenue Unemployment Tax liability, and the threat of criminal prosecution if he didn’t pay tens of thousands of dollars in taxes and

penalties he did not owe.

Those are the problems. Next time, we will look at the solutions.

Bruce H. Vanderlaan, Attorney at Law, P.A Specializes in Small Business and Healthcare Practice Law. He can be reached at 239-220-3326 or bruce@brucevanderlaan.com CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

19

Chamber of Commerce

Submitted by Donna Schuman Germain

Get In & Get Busy As a business owner, determining where to

Awards. Through those popular events, our

include our Business Card Exchange, General

sense of community, which speaks not only

host four regular networking events that

receive the best return on your investment,

Membership Lunch, Networking at Noon and

most important decisions you can make. To

you must consider all your options.

While some may not look at a Chamber of

Commerce

as

a

traditional

marketing

medium, if used properly, it could be one of

the best investments you ever make to build your business.

our

Business

After

Hours,

giving

our

members the opportunity to meet literally hundreds of prospects each month.

We support the symbiotic relationship

between business and community as both

are equally dependent on each other for their

The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral not

success. Through our two welcome centers,

local and state government, but provides

and maintain a website for the community

only serves as an advocate for business with support,

networking

communication, and

business

opportunities to its members.

exposure,

training

“Get In & Get Busy” is not just a tag line, but

we greet more than 35,000 visitors each year

that receives more than 2.5 million referrals

per year through our online membership directory.

Community involvement speaks volumes to

a way of life to our Chamber. We encourage

consumers when building your business. We

to see the best results for your investment.

special events like the Cape Coral Farmers

all our members to embrace that philosophy Face to face networking is invaluable in

building your business. As a chamber, we work hard to provide as many opportunities

20

as possible to our members. Each month we

invest your marketing dollars is one of the

bring the community together through our

strongly but well of those members.

We facilitate one of the finest Leadership

programs in the State of Florida that includes Jr.

Leadership,

Leadership

Cape

Coral,

Advanced Leadership and the Community Trustee Program.

We do all this through the generosity of our

members and the business community.

At the core of the Chamber is a team of

dedicated staff members and volunteers. At

its foundation is a Board of Directors that

includes some of the most successful

businesspeople, entrepreneurs, marketing

experts and community leaders in the state.

As a Cape Chamber member, you have all these resources at work for you every day.

Market, Surfside Sunset Market, Holiday

For more information about joining the

Cape and the Excellence in Education

contact us at (239) 549-6900.

Festival of Lights, Freedom 5K, Taste of The

Donna Schuman Germain is President/CEO, Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

members can participate in and foster that

Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, please

CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

National Recognition for Zypha Corporation Zypha Corporation has just been recognized as one of the top 20 most promising Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) solutions providers in North America.

This recognition has been awarded by CIO Investment Review magazine, where their selection panel evaluated hundreds of BYOD solution providers based on their ability to assist CIOs and enterprise holders overcome the challenges in the sector and to help companies choose the perfect BYOD solution.

CIO Review magazine reaches out to 77,000 qualified subscribers across the U.S. About 75% of readers are senior-level IT leaders such as CIO, CTO, EVP - IT, SVP - IT, VP IS/ IT, Director IS/ IT. The remaining 25% are senior corporate management leaders such as CEO, CFO, VP - Finance, CMO. About 80% of the readers are directly involved in IT purchases for their organizations. In addition, the BYOD edition is sent out to 27,000 subscribers who have exclusively opted for the 2017 issue.

Cape & Local Business News

Hallway Stories: Personal Struggles Lead to Online Support Community

Cape Coral resident Carey Ralston is

that shift in my life," says Ralston, "and

Stories to bring people together so they can

Stories. We're a place to come and connect

launching an online forum called Hallway share their struggles and successes with

that's what we're doing with Hallway to someone you may not know, but they

weight loss and body image, cancer and

have been there and know what you're

Ralston got the idea after moving to Cape

Studies show that loneliness is a serious but

mental and behavioral health challenges.

experiencing."

Coral a couple of years ago, when she was

overlooked

dilemmas. In addition to the changes she

doctor visits.

overwhelmed

by

a

slew

of

personal

faced, she struggled to lose weight.

problem

that

manifests

physically, leading to pain and fatigue, and

Hallway Stories is a private, member-based

"I looked in the mirror and I felt horrible. It

community. Members can sign up to the

heavy every single day," recalls Ralston,

"giveback model" through which group

was emotional, mental and physical. I felt adding, "I realized I wasn't the only one who felt alone."

Then she met Christin Collins, System Health

&

Wellness

Strategic

Business

Partner for Lee Health. Their short meeting

evolved into a deep conversation. Collins

referred a weight-loss book to Ralston, who

secure site for free. The platform includes a

members can contribute to a nonprofit.

Ralston, who has a background in branding

and marketing, says she moved to Cape Coral to launch a startup tech company, though she had not ever visited. She was

inspired by the development of Cape Coral

by the Rosen brothers not so long ago. "To

went on to lose 35 pounds. Ralston felt

start a town, that's a big feat. I was inspired

connect with someone, with her, to have

she says.

inspired by Collins' support. "I had to

by that entrepreneurial spirit and vision,"

Make Lasting impressions Today Since 1985, Direct Impressions has been producing Southwest Florida’s highest quality commercial prin ng, digital prin ng, and e ec ve direct mail campaigns.

Call us today to see how we can help grow your business!

HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT ONE SHEET AT A TIME From furniture to facial ssue, we all use forest products every day in our lives. The condi on of forests in the US and around the world is in decline. Because forests provide the air we breathe, clean water to drink and resources we need to live, it’s important to do what we can to preserve this vital legacy.

At Direct Impressions we believe that we all share a personal responsibility to pass down healthy forests to our children and grandchildren. By using and promo ng forest-friendly paper products, the Forest Stewardship Council helps ensure healthy forests will thrive. By buying Forest Stewardship Council cer ed goods, we can all do our part to protect the world’s forests.

DIRECT IMPRESSIONS USES PAPER FROM RESPONSIBLE SOURCES 1335 MIRAMAR STREET • CAPE CORAL, FL 33904 • 239.549.4484 • WWW.DIRECTIMPRESSIONS.COM CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

21

Marketing

Sizzle This Summer

Submitted by MerriBeth Farnham

Now is the time to review and fine-tune for next season

Different Is Better Than Better

should be the result of a deep dive into

summer is the slow season. Sure, it’s a great

what you want customers to associate with

Coral for more than a year, you know that

opportunity to unwind from the sometimes

hectic winter season. But it’s also the best

time to reflect on how the season went.

Where did you succeed? Where were the weak spots? This is the ideal time for you to

review your benchmarks and consider ways to make your company run more efficiently.

1. Take stock of your company brand and

mission • Are your customers crystal clear on the products and/or services you offer?

•Are you communicating your company’s personality?

When seasonal residents and visitors are in town, many of us are so busy taking care of

asking yourself and your employees exactly your business.

If you don’t have one, develop a mission

statement that lays out your intent and

values as a business owner. Make sure that

your employees read and discuss it with you

so that there is no confusion: everyone is on

board with your values and goals. From here, your brand should come into sharp focus.

2. Check out your competition

Set up Google alerts for your top competitors

to see what type of buzz they are creating in the

media

website(s).

and

online.

Review

their

Follow your top competitor’s social media

customers that we don't have time to focus

accounts and pay close attention to:

culture are being perceived by others.

•Which posts are getting the most engagement and how are they are responding to feedback, negative or positive

on how our products, services and company

Branding is a term that can be a turn-off if you aren’t in the marketing world.

22

simply put, your public brand—or face—

If you’ve worked or owned a business in Cape

But,

•The type of content they are posting

In each issue of Cape Coral Business Magazine, the HD PR Group team will offer our take on three areas of business and offer suggestions to give your company a creative business boost.

Analyze your social media metrics each month. Stay on top of online reviews.

3. Create a customer rewards program

It costs businesses more to find new

customers

than

to

existing

customers—and studies show that existing

customers tend to spend more than new

ones.

This is a solid reason to look at creating an

easy-to-use customer rewards program.

This program will vary, based on what

services or products you supply. Who doesn’t

like cash back, a thank-you discount or free

gift from a company or business that you

have regularly supported. This can be tallied

through number of visits (haircuts or oil

changes, for instance) or through points or

amount of dollars spent, which is a popular

option for restaurants that take online

orders.

What can

you

do

infrastructure and resources?

MerriBeth Farnham brings 26-plus years of public relations and marketing expertise through HD PR Group, based in Cape Coral.

MerriBeth can be reached at 239-464-3345

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

serve

given

your

CAPEBUSINESSMAG.COM

Cape Connections

Mr. Brunett is a graduate of State University of New York at Fredonia

with a BS in Economics. Originally from Upstate New York, he has

been involved in economic development for over 28 years.

His

experience includes stints in the public, private and non-profit

sectors. A little over five years ago, he took on the challenge of

helping to turn around the Cape Coral economy after the foreclosure

Dana Brunett Economic Development Manager, City of Cape Coral FL

crisis made the city one of the hardest hit communities in the nation.

Sabermetrics is also an area of interest to Mr. Brunett. Being an

goes home to his wife of 31 years, Sharon. They have two boys,

always been a passion. When the two come together in Sabermetrics,

Given that challenge, what happens after the work day is over? Dana

Taylor and Dylan. Taylor lives and works in Cape Coral and Dylan

just graduated from Syracuse University and will be pursuing work in

New York City. The empty nesters are adjusting just fine to the

Florida lifestyle. They enjoy leisurely weekends by the pool and

exploring all that Cape Coral offers to its residents.

In his downtime at home, Mr. Brunett can be found enjoying one of

several pastimes he enjoys. The most typical is model building. The

economist, he has always worked with statistics and baseball has

it creates a world that makes a ton of sense to Dana and he reads a

great deal about the craft, as well as dabbling in some of his own data analysis using baseball statistics.

The one overarching passion of Mr. Brunett’s is music. Music in the

car, music at his hobby space, music in his office and very loud music when his wife is not home. His musical interests are wide reaching,

including the standards like Sinatra, classic rock, a little bit of

shelves in his home are packed with various types of completed

country, classical and smooth jazz, but his favorite by far is classic

Brunett said “when I’m working on a model, it tends to shut out

Canada near Niagara Falls, he was influenced by the Toronto music

Dana also has a large stash of unbuilt kits in his garage awaiting their

eventually grunge.

models, ranging from airplanes to tanks, ships, cars and trucks. Mr.

everything else and allows me to relax.” Much to his wife’s dismay, turn on the hobby bench.

The next is writing. Over the years, Mr. Brunett has found enjoyment

in writing. He has been a reader since he graduated college and has

alternative music from the 1980’s. Growing up on the border of

scene which, at the time was very heavily into alternative, punk and

Go to his house and you’ll hear the likes of

Depeche Mode, New Order, Bauhaus and the like. Said Mr. Brunett,

“Toronto was our playground, we went there for concerts, to hit the

clubs and to just have fun in general.”

since turned to writing as an outlet. In his home office, you can find

Because of that association with Toronto, Mr. Brunett is a lifelong

says, “there’s no best sellers yet, but you never know what’s going

Florida. Unfortunately, his remaining allegiance lies with Buffalo in

a plethora of books related to the craft of writing. As Mr. Brunett to come out of your head next.” He refers to the story of JK Rowling,

a poor, single mother who created a billion-dollar career by putting

her thoughts to paper.

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Toronto Blue Jays fan and still tries to see them play down here in

both the Bills and the Sabres. He laments, “the playoff drought is

much longer than the drought we’re experiencing in Florida this year.

We know it’s going to eventually rain here, but the next playoff run

in Buffalo is a mystery indeed.”

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

23

Non-Profit Sector

Submitted by Michael Chatman

Companies That Give Have Lower Employee Turnover and Higher Sales Growth

It is well known that there are companies in Cape Coral that help the needy and care for

more information on developing and running

often create company “benevolent” and

employee engagement program, contact the

their employees. These good companies

“employee engagement” funds to help them

give back to the community. You are most

likely to see this kind of business giving in

companies where there is lower employee turnover and more sales growth. That’s more than an interesting correlation; there’s a

powerful cause-and-effect situation at play.

External Business Benevolence

Some companies open their benevolence

funds to charitable organizations, while

others

conduct

programs.

their

own

charitable

Because you may not know those who are coming to your company for help, it is

important to provide some accountability.

Forms are necessary, but this may be handled through an interview process. A second visit may include meeting with a

a successful company benevolence and Cape Coral Community Foundation and ask

for free information on starting a company giving program.

Internal Business Benevolence

A business may be great in giving back to the

community, but does its own employees feel

empowered to ask it for help? Often, when the help is available, it is given to meet one-

time needs only – the payment of a bill or a

voucher for food or clothing for instance. At

the Cape Coral Community Foundation, we

believe it is vital to meet the needs within the company before reaching out to others,

and that many of these needs will be ongoing. An example is committing to pay a single mom’s heating bill during hard times

or providing a scholarship for her child to

attend day care while she is working.

There should be a specific fund to help

community relationship-building process.

host an annual fundraiser to raise funds for

Companies that give back provide a great opportunity to reach out to those in need

company employees.

Companies should

their company benevolent fund, or give a

portion of sales to benefit the fund. Cape

Coral

Community

Foundation

resources and support to help companies

create benevolent funds and employee engagement programs.

Benevolent funds should be available when

any employee has a need. Decisions to

dispense money from the fund should be done by committee, based on need and

grants committee. The idea is not just to give

funds to the needy, but to start an ongoing

24

and make a real difference in their lives. For

provides

amount of the request.

Companies that give back to their employees

and community generate more sales and retain their employees. Where there’s a cause, companies are uniquely suited to

magnifying effect. It only gets better when the effect magnifies the bottom line.

The Cape Coral Community Foundation, the

global center of generosity, based in one of

Florida's largest cities, is committed to

working with organizations to cultivate a

network of generous donors, endowment

building

and

leadership

development.

Through its affiliate foundation program,

CCCF partners with organizations to create foundations. CCCF provides the platform and

technical assistance, board recruitment,

fundraising strategies, corporate employee

engagement programs and development of grant program management.

Michael Chatman is president & CEO of the Cape Coral Community Foundation, the global center for generosity, and can be reached at michael@capecoralcf.org, on Twitter @michaelchatman. The foundation is located at 1405 SE 47 Terrace, Unit 2, Cape Coral. For information, call 239-542-5594 or go to www.capecoralcf.org

Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

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Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

25

Networking Events September 7th Food

for

Thought

Luncheon

Seminar:

October Selling

Government, presented by Chamber of Commerce.

to

the

3rd

Biz Card Exchange, presented by Chamber of Commerce.

WHERE: location TBA.

WHERE: Cape Coral Technical College, 360 Santa Barbara Blvd N.

WHEN: 7:30 – 8:30 am

12th

WHERE: Big Blue Brewing, 4721 SE 10th Pl.

WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Lunch & Learn with Cape Coral Business Alliance.

Lunch & Learn with Cape Coral Business Alliance.

WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

11th

WHERE: Palmetto Pine Country Club, 1940 SW 9th Ct.

13th

General Membership Luncheon of Chamber of Commerce.

WHERE: Cape Cabaret, 4725 Vincennes Blvd.

WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Annual

Principals

Luncheon

&

Luncheon of Chamber of Commerce.

General

Membership

WHERE: Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Parkway WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

16th (Note New Date)

15th

CapeStyle Networking, NOTE: WE ARE BACK TO THE 3rd

WHERE: The bus leaves promptly at 6:00 pm for the casino and

fun!

Seminole Casino Immokalee Trip with Chamber of Commerce.

will return around 12:30 am. We will be meeting at the Big

MONDAY OF THE MONTH. Free appetizers, door prizes and

WHERE: Fathoms Restaurant & Bar, 5785 Cape Harbour Dr.

Johns Plaza.

WHEN: 5:30 – 8 pm

26th

17th

WHERE: Crown Plaza Bell Tower, 13051 Bell Tower Dr, Fort

WHERE: Point 57 Restaurant, 3522 Del Prado Blvd,

LCBW Annual Anniversary luncheon.

Myers.

WHEN: 11 am – 1 pm

21st

(Note New Date)

CapeStyle Networking, Free appetizers, door prizes and fun!

WHERE: Fathoms Restaurant & Bar, 5785 Cape Harbour Dr. WHEN: 5:30 – 8 pm

27th

LCBW Monthly luncheon.

WHEN: 11:30 am – 1 pm

25th

4th Wednesday Biz Chat, hosted by Economic Development

Office and SBDC.

WHERE: City of Cape Coral Public Works Building (Nicholas Annex) 815 Nicholas Parkway.

WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

4th Wednesday Biz Chat, hosted by Economic Development

Office and SBDC.

WHERE: City of Cape Coral Public Works Building (Nicholas

Annex) 815 Nicholas Parkway.

WHEN: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

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Cape Coral Business | September/October 2017

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