Gulfshore Business July 2022

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CURATING GROWTH

LIFE OF LUXURY

GETTING SMART AT WORK

Collier manager cultivating future of arts and culture

High-end apartment living in Southwest Florida

How technology is changing the office environment

SOUTHWEST F LO R I DA’ S BEST VIEW OF BUSINESS

THE MORE, THE MERRIER? Taking stock of a seemingly endless season __P. 30

INN OF AN ERA Regional hotels changing hands, building up __P. 46

Left to Right:

JULIO RAMIREZ, TODD SONDRINI, JOHN SLAVIK, ESTHER MARSHALL, LAURA ENTWISTLE, RICH LUNG, JIM WEISS (REGIONAL PRESIDENT), JENNIFER AURAY, MARK RYCZEK, CRAIG WATSON

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Contents.

F E AT U R E S

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THE MORE,

THE INN OF AN ERA

THE MERRIER?

Hotelier Phil

Taking stock of a seemingly endless

McCabe’s exit means

season

SWFL scene

changes for the

Congrrruuuuions o our 2022 Super LLLLers.

Michael Lehnert (Rising Star), Christopher Shields, Steve Hartsell, Charles Mann, Charles Capps, Neale Montgomery, Christina Harris Schwinn, Chené Thompson

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Contents.

D E PA R T M E N T S

TakeNote Mood Board P. 10 Spaces P. 12 Makers P. 16 Creatives P. 20 Bookmark P. 24 Trendline P. 26 Economic Commentary P. 28

B2B P 76

GOVERNMENT Legislature starts regulatory framework for cryptocurrency in Florida P 80

REAL ESTATE The elements of highend apartment living in Southwest Florida P 82

ARCHITECTURE How technology is changing the office environment P 86

ENTREPRENEURSHIP Naples business owner Stuart Sheppard has been a lifelong entrepreneur P 90

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Top sales in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties P 92

NEW & EXPANDING BUSINESSES Top leases in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties

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gulfshorebusiness.com

AFTER HOURS P 96

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HORSEPOWER Power, presence combine in the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing P 98

WELLNESS The utility, convenience of pedometers and other fitness monitors P 100

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Drink the water anywhere with the Sawyer filtration bottle P 102

WEEKEND GETAWAY The state capital is rich in history, politics, culture P 112

UNWIND Giving nature a relaxation boost on Sanibel Island

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G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 5

READER SERVICES

EDI T OR IN CHIEF

Heidi Rambo Centrella Office Address 26101 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134 Call or text 239.498.8500 gulfshorebusiness.com info@gulfshorebusiness.com

Managing Editor T im At en Senior Editor Dav id Dor se y Digit al Editor A dam Regan A ssociate Editor K ai t lin Gr eenock le Copy Editor S t e v e Gill

CON T RIBU T ORS John Guer r a , A r t is Hender son , Jus t in P apr ock i , Jame s Raia , A isling S w i f t , Bill Wasinger

ART Cr eative Dir ec tor s Sco t t Glick , Jer r y P omale s

Pho to Editor Dennis Wr igh t

ADVERTISING A ssociate Publisher C hr is Rens t r om

M A RK E T ING

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Volume 27/Number 7, July, Gulfshore Business (ISSN 1935-8199), is published 12 times a year by Gulfshore Life Media, 26101 Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134. Subscriptions are free to qualified individuals residing in the United States. For customer service inquiries or to change your address by providing both the old and new addresses, contact: Gulfshore Business, 26101 Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134. Telephone (239) 498-8501 or email subscriptions@gulfshorebusiness.com. Periodicals postage paid at Naples, FL, and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2021 by Gulfshore Life Media. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts without return postage will not be returned. DISCLAIMER: Advertisements in the publication do not constitute an offer for sale in states where prohibited or restricted by law.

P O S T M A S T E R : S e n d a d d r e s s c h a n g e s t o G u l f s h o r e B u s i n e s s , 2 6 1 0 1 Ta m i a m i Tr a i l , B o n i t a S p r i n g s , F L 3 4 1 3 4 .

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from the editor.

J U LY 2 0 2 2

Reinventing ‘Routine’

busiest we’ve seen by a long shot. By far, not even a question,” when asked about this season’s business. And fewer restaurants are closing post-season.

There has been much in the local news lately re-

Occupancy rates in hotels also show

garding upheaval in the realms of restaurants and

HEIDI RAMBO CENTRELLA

that tourism is alive and well, which is

hotels, traffic and housing; some seasonal, some

EDITOR IN CHIEF

an economic boom considering the bed

pointing toward a more permanent shift in the

tax revenue that surged year over year.

region. One could make the argument that be-

Tourist tax revenue hit a high in March

fore-COVID life has gone into the history books,

over any other month on record, even

and there’s no such thing yet as a “new normal,”

when compared to pre-pandemic num-

because to have normalcy would require some

bers. Hotels have been faring so well

level of consistency. After all, normal means usu-

that we’re seeing more and more invest-

al, typical or routine … and we’re having basically

ment in these homes away from home.

none of that.

Long-time hotelier Phil McCabe sheds

Rather, we’ve been watching real estate deals

light on the sale of his iconic Inn on

explode for larger-than-imagined returns on in-

Fifth, as well as other major local prop-

vestments; continued, yet unusual, growth in the

erties that have changed hands—Inn

hospitality industry with record-setting numbers;

of Naples, Naples Grande and Naples

and housing issues that range from the surge in

Beach Club, to name a few.

apartment sales to the elusive problem of afford-

Several franchises are under construc-

able housing.

tion; other properties, such as Hotel

Traffic at RSW in April hit a record with 1.2

Indigo, renamed Banyan Hotel, in Fort

million passengers, and the first four months of

Myers and The Ritz-Carlton in Naples,

2022 saw passenger traffic increase by 34% from

are undergoing major renovations. Read

last year, with March breaking a record for most monthly passengers.

An eye-opening look back on this past season (pg. 30) depicts just how much has changed, and may even give a glimpse into what we can expect in the future.

p.30 SEASON IN REVIEW Taking stock of a seemingly endless season.

more about the state and direction of this industry on page 46.

From an economic standpoint, on a hyper-local level, it would appear this has been and continues to be a great year for Southwest Florida—gas prices, sup-

Restaurants have seen an enormous increase

ply-chain issues and inflation notwith-

in business. As one restaurateur put it, “It was the

standing. Just don’t plan on using that term “normal” anytime soon.

8 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

p_10 CARRYING COMPANIONS Functionally fantastic tote bags

TakeNote MOOD BOARD | SPACES | MAKERS | CREATIVES | BOOKMARK TRENDLINE | ECONOMIC COMMENTARY

Brian Tietz

Cultivating Cultural Growth FUTURE OF LOCAL ARTS p_20

By Aisling Swift

TakeNote

J U LY 2 0 2 2

MOOD BOARD

James Raia

Carrying Companions STYLISH, FUNCTIONALLY FANTASTIC TOTE BAGS Like blue blazers, white shirts and loafers, tote bags exemplify style versatility. Dress up and pack personal items in high-end, brightly colored designer offerings featuring bamboo handles. Dress down and carry your laptop or farmer’s market finds in a canvas satchel

Belstaff Touring Tote Bag

or leather pouch.

A perfect tote for a safari and any other

Men and women in many ancient cultures carried satchels to tote food, belongings and children. In current society, tote bags, often referred to with further brevity as totes, can be the ultimate genderneutral accessory for work or play, for airplane travel or family picnics. Strictly defined, totes are large and often unfastened bags with parallel handles.

All things change. Sometimes, the names given to men’s tote bag styles evoke as much silliness as style—Bro Bag to Daddy Sack,

outdoor use. The London-based company thrives on traditional heritage designs, geared toward men. Available in olive, black, beige and tan, the tote features one main snap-close compartment, two small side pockets with press closures, two adjustable double strap fastenings and an adjustable and removable shoulder strap.

The Belstaff Phoenix embossed plaque

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logo is ruggedly classy, as is the brand

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name on the 75% polyester, 25% leather

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and actresses Emma Stone and Rachel McAdams are partial to the Madewell Transport tote. Michael Strahan, the former New York Giants defensive end and current TV personality, carries a large black crossbody messenger bag. Actor Hugh Jackman also carries a smaller, front-worn leather bag. Snoop Dogg, the rapper-turned-entrepreneur, carries a Louis

totes.

Available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Louis Vuitton in Naples.

belstaff.com $395

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Fortunately, celebrity status isn’t required for tote ownership.

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Stylish Totes The ultimate gender-neutral accessory, tote bags were once used in many ancient cultures by men and women to tote food, belongings and children. In today’s society, totes are just as versatile and can be dressed up with high-end fashion or dressed down with everyday attire.

Gucci Diana small tote bag Introduced in 1991, the bamboo-handled tote is now a long-standing signature with modern innovation. Bands used

Tory Burch/Ella Tote Bag

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Dimensions: 11 inches wide, 9.5 inches high, 4.3 inches deep, 1.6 pounds.

Available at the two Gucci store locations in Naples, as well as boutique stores Francesca’s and Audrey’s, both also in Naples.

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The Transport tote has wide,

Available at Saks Fifth Avenue in Naples.

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The open interior has a laptop

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G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2022 1 1

TakeNote S PA C E S

J U LY 2 0 2 2

By Aisling Swift

A New View INSIDE THE RECENT RENOVATIONS AT NAPLES AIRPORT A recent renovation at the Naples Airport improves the experience for pilots, travelers and staff while giving visitors a coastal-contemporary first impression that draws from Naples’ attractions.

The $8 million General Aviation Terminal renovation, designed

by Orlando-based SchenkelShultz Architecture and constructed by Owen-Ames-Kimball Co.’s Fort Myers team, began in May 2021 and was completed this May after pandemic-related supply delays.

“The feedback from passengers and pilots has been very positive,” says Naples Airport Authority Community Outreach and Communications Manager Zachary Burch, noting that most customers are frequent flyer residents, and it hadn’t been redesigned since 1991. “It’s something people can be proud of.”

NAA revenues—fuel sales, land rentals and hangar fees—paid for the renovation, which features an upgraded lobby, expanded passenger lounge, a marketplace offering food and drinks, BOS Tampa furniture, new exterior canopies, upgraded office space and pilots’ lounges.

The tired yellow exterior was replaced with crisp white, highlighted by sea-blue Bahama shutters and wave-like white canopies that provide shade at entryways and over an outdoor, contemporary whiteand-teal seating area.

“It’s reflective of the ocean and the coast,” Burch says of the cooling canopies. “The main one is in the style of the Naples Pier. It’s reflective of the style and quality of this community. This is the first impression people see as they come in.”

A terrazzo floor with a tropical palm pattern pays homage to a maAnna Nguyen

jestic palm that once stood in the lobby, he explained, while white walls provide an airy feeling and highlight a dark wood shiplap ceiling.

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

IMPROVED EXPERIENCE The $8 million General Aviation Terminal renovation at Naples Airport improves the experience for pilots, travelers and staff.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 1 3

TakeNote S PA C E S

Behind a marble reception desk, two living walls created

by Cincinnati-based Urban Blooms naturally filter air and provide a burst of color. They flank a shimmering glass water feature that’s highlighted by six delicate laser-cut wood pendant lamps above.

“Once we get these walls tuned in, they can live for decades,” says Urban Blooms President Tyler Wolf. “They wanted something impactful that was going to wow customers and be bold. The plants will become very dramatic as they grow and have a waterfall effect.”

The walls, including a third in an outdoor lounge, were custom-built onsite in phases and took about 10 days after initial planning, Wolf said, noting that he can incorporate signage, TVs or create artistic murals “painted” with plants. For the outdoor living wall, he chose plants native to Florida, including bromeliads and orchids.

Artwork that decorates the terminal and administration area was bid out, a competition won by Alexis Martinez Puleio, a Naples artist known for her acrylic and epoxy resin aerial-seascape paintings. Her large seascape, a focus of the lobby, provides a bird’s-eye view of azure water lapping at white sands.

“We wanted something that reflected the coastal style of this community,” Burch says.

In one lounge, rows of hard chairs were replaced by inviting, cream-colored couches and denim-blue contemporary chairs, where travelers can watch a large-screen TV. A rug with sea green, pale green and white evokes ocean waves. Behind the couch, a high-top counter and Scandinavian-style chairs allow travelers to work or watch planes.

Nature photos are sprinkled throughout the terminal.

On the marketplace walls and ceiling, gray and white shiplap panels provide a coastal feel. Instead of two vending machines, travelers can now purchase snacks, sandwiches and beverages through an honor system, charge Anna Nguyen

their electronics and sit in contemporary seating areas featuring blues and driftwood gray.

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 

REFLECTIVE STYLE The renovation has incorporated the style and quality of this coastal community into its design.

Behind the scenes, employee and

pilots to charge tablets containing

all over. Now, it’s more work collabo-

pilot areas were redesigned. A row of

flight plans. A flight-planning room

rative and efficient.”

refrigerators allows caterers to de-

provides computers and monitors so

About 25% of traffic was moved

liver food for flights, and a large bar-

pilots can check flight information,

to the North Road Terminal, freeing

height counter facing a panoramic

weather and even emails. If they’re

up space for staff and travelers and

window lets employees monitor the

thirsty, flavored seltzer water, coffee,

making it safer on the tarmac be-

tarmac. “Staff is now facing out and

hot chocolate, espresso and hot water

cause staff doesn’t have to tow planes

can see outside and react,” Director

for tea are provided.

there anymore.

of Development Kerry Keith explains.

“There were significant changes

Despite the changes, one tradition

The pilot area and lounge features

to the back to make it a better, more

remains untouched: York Pepper-

massage chairs they can nap on in two

logical work environment for staff,”

mint Patties. As Burch says, “People

quiet rooms. Charging stations allow

says Burch. “There was wasted space

who fly here expect them.”

Andrew Reiss

Thomas Rinaldi

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G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 1 5

TakeNote MAKERS

J U LY 2 0 2 2

By Justin Paprocki

The Spice of Connection THE DREAM OF BRANDI WOOLINGTON’S PEPPER STREET STUDIO Naples business Pepper Street Studio sells organic candles, soaps, diffusers and the like. But for owner Brandi Woolington, it also has a greater purpose. When her daughter was 5 years old, she was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a neurological disorder that affects speech and motor skills.

“That shook my world,” Woolington says. In part, that diagnosis helped motivate her to start a business.

She has an interior design background but had long been interested in making candles. The business gave her a chance to indulge in a passion, and to raise money for a plan to create a second home of sorts for people with special needs. In the future, she envisions a Pepper Street location next door to what she would call Sofi’s Home.

Named after her daughter, it would serve as a place for people with disabilities and their families to gather, and Anna Nguyen

would also provide employment opportunities through Pepper Street Studio.

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G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 1 7

TakeNote

1 8 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Gutter

Anna Nguyen

MAKERS

gulfshorebusiness.com

It’s an ambitious plan, but she’s already come a long way.

Woolington started her business in October 2019, and was traveling frequently across the state to sell her wares at markets and events when the pandemic hit. She shifted to doing more digital sales and building the business one person at a time; reaching out to existing customers and at times literally meeting them in parking lots to drop off soap or candles.

But it worked, and she was growing her business by word of mouth.

She opened a studio in North Naples in November 2020 and started hosting candle-making classes.

She’s found that the one-on-one contact at the classes and at local farmers markets has really helped the businesses thrive. 

“We had to build a loyal follow-

A GREATER PURPOSE

ing,” Woolington says. “It’s fun to

Not only has Brandi Woolington started her own business selling organic

grow a business, because if you

candles, soaps and diffusers, but she hopes profits can finance her dream

have a great product people will

of opening a second home of sorts for people with special needs.

keep coming back.”

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 1 9

TakeNote

J U LY 2 0 2 2

C R E AT I V E S

By Aisling Swift

Cultivating Cultural Growth JOHN MELLEKY HAS EYES ON THE FUTURE OF LOCAL ARTS John Melleky is working with a blank can-

seums; and working closely with artists, arts

vas. As the Arts and Culture Manager for

groups, the Naples Arts District, Bayshore

Collier County’s Tourism Division, a newly

Arts District and Naples Design District.

created post, Melleky’s job is to enhance

“We need to look at the different neigh-

arts programming and services. He hit the

borhoods as these arts districts grow and

ground running in February by reaching

really help them to see what they need as-

out to groups that were part of the county’s

sistance with, because those are some of the

Arts & Culture Strategic Plan, a blueprint

next areas of growth, especially for artists,”

developed from the local arts, culture and

Melleky says, adding that affordable hous-

creative sectors, patrons and residents.

ing and whether artists can afford to live and work here is a concern.

nizations, providing outreach, working on

He’s looking at areas where the county is

the [Tourist Development Council] grant

growing, such as East Naples and Immoka-

program and implementing the plan,”

lee, and how to bring more arts education

Melleky says of meeting with organiza-

to children and adults, as well as augment-

tions, including the United Arts Council.

ing what schools offer. And he’s visiting

“The strategic plan is excellent and really

Everglades City, the former county seat,

has a wide breadth of opportunities.”

knowing the county’s 100th anniversary is

His priority will be to strengthen, adapt

approaching on May 8, 2023.

and diversify programs to address the

He’s also met with artists and groups to

community’s changing needs, while en-

discuss how Zoom and other virtual plat-

couraging a rich arts and cultural environ-

forms played a part in sustaining creativity

ment that will strengthen the community

during the pandemic and how virtual plat-

and boost tourism.

forms can continue being part of their out-

Among ideas Melleky is working on are

reach efforts.

arts and cultural festivals; public art, such

Melleky, who lives in Bonita Springs, was

as murals and sculptures; educational arts

the senior development officer at the John

workshops; promoting the county’s five mu-

and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, The

2 0 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Brian Tietz

“My role is working with the arts orga-

gulfshorebusiness.com



ENHANCING THE ARTS “My role is working with the arts organizations, providing outreach, working on the TDC grant program and implementing the plan. The strategic plan is excellent and really has a wide breadth of opportunities,” John Melleky says.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 2 1

TakeNote C R E AT I V E S

State Art Museum of Florida, in Sarasota, and the principal at FiG Solutions in Bonita Springs, where he directed fundraising and partnership efforts for the Edison Festival of Lights. His 20 years of cultural and arts experience ranges from development, fundraising and strategic planning to organizing events and festivals.

When he was chief executive officer for the Fiesta San Antonio Commission, one of the nation’s largest cultural festivals at over 3.6 million attendees, he grew it from 90 to 110 groups. In Collier County, he’s working on a Latin and Hispanic arts and culture festival.

“Arts and culture organizations want to feel they’re a part of the messaging, and that’s important because it’s such a rich and diverse arts culture,” he says. “There’s a lot people can choose from, and they need to get involved, so I’m helping tell the story for locals and tourists so more tourists will come.”

He’s also working on the Tourism Development Council grant program. This year, it grew to $900,000 after ranging from $600,000-$800,000 in past years. The increase came from reserves, he says, noting that the TDC wanted to help support organizations that were trying to do more and grow, especially after the pandemic. He hopes to boost that amount more in the future, alMelleky will create a public art plan and is working with a public art committee that will consider sculptures, murals and other art on public lands. “I used to live in Richmond, Virginia, and they had a great mural program, so



GRANT INCREASE This year’s Tourism Development Council grant grew to $900,000, after ranging from $600,000 to $800,000 in past years. Melleky hopes that grant continues to grow, but it heavily depends on tourism tax revenues.

I’m looking at what they do,” he says.

2 2 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

Clockwise; Reagan Rule; Anna Nguyen; Provided; Caronchi Photography.

though that depends on tourism tax revenues.

other arts organizations on upcoming events.

“Together, we can promote cultural-arts tourism in Collier County, so that people will not only trade in He’s also researching best prac-

Paula Brody, who operates Inspi-

white snow for white sandy beaches,

tices in other communities, such as

rations Artists and Design Gallery

but the opportunity to enhance the

Sarasota, which has a strong arts-

and is president of the Naples Art

awareness of the arts,” Brody says,

grant program, and Miami-Dade and

District, a neighborhood of 95 art-

echoing a Paradise Coast TV com-

Broward counties, which are known

ists north of Pine Ridge Road, said

mercial. “And tourists can meet the

for their arts websites, outreach and

she is looking forward to applying for

95 artists who work to create their

promotions.

grants and working with Melleky and

art in this neighborhood.”

ai165333110411_11863 Gulfshore Business Bailey's.pdf

1

5/23/22

2:38 PM

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G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 2 3

TakeNote

J U LY 2 0 2 2

BOOKMARK

RALPH READS

Connection and Change an avid reader and owner/CEO of Johnsonville

This month’s selections may seem unrelated at first, but there is an important lesson for all of

Sausage, leads a

us that will be evident to those who read both

book club in Naples

books. I recommend you read them in the order

with about a dozen

presented in this column, beginning with From

other high-power

Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happi-

friends. The group

ness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of

He starts by showing that our brains

only reads non-fic-

Life by Arthur C. Brooks. Brooks starts the book

change over time. They work much faster and

tion as a way to

with an incident that changed his life. He was

more creatively in specific areas when we are

seated in the dark on an airplane when he heard

young. Young people are able to multi-task, as

a man behind him tell his wife he wished he was

is apparent in the scientific community where

dead. Brooks assumed the man had been an ab-

almost all breakthroughs are accomplished

ject failure in life. When the lights came on, he

before the mid-thirties. This is the same for

recognized the man, who was well-known and

everyone, and the decline comes much faster

revered for the things he had accomplished when

than we want to believe; most people are in

he had been a young man. His questions, “Why is

the decline by their mid-forties. But this isn’t

this successful person so despondent and what

a tragedy. While our fast response and specific

are the implications for me?” are what Brooks

focus skills are declining, our broader concep-

answers in this book.

tualizing skills are growing. We become able

keep learning and sharpening the mind. Every month, Stayer shares the latest page-turners earning a permanent spot on his ever-expanding bookshelves.

2 4 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

Brian Tietz; Provided(2)

RALPH STAYER,

READING FOR PERSPECTIVE ON ADAPTABILITY AND HAPPINESS

in a sweat shop to salesman to getting into the oil business. Wilzig had an uncanny knack to see through details to get to the important information that would create success in a business.

This was apparent in his story of survival in Auschwitz, when he was confronted with many situations in which the wrong decision would have meant his death. He chose correctly every time. He used this skill to become the CEO of a NYSE publicly traded oil company. This is a man with an eighthgrade education who became CEO of a to draw on our experiences and make

Siggi Wilzig is a Holocaust survivor

company in an industry rife with an-

deep connections that are not obvious

who was shipped to Auschwitz in the

tisemitism. He then took over a small

to young people.

spring of 1943 along with his mother,

bank in New Jersey and built it to $4 billion in assets.

Some people refuse to accept the

father and sister. He saw each of them

decline and don’t make the transition

die in the camp, but he survived. He

This is another of a long list of “Only

to wisdom. Those who do are in posi-

also survived several death marches

in America” stories—but this one

tion to reap the rewards—those who

during early 1945. The book Unstop-

doesn’t have a happy ending. This is

don’t will end up like the man in the

pable by Joshua M. Greene details

where we make the connection be-

story. This book resonated with me be-

the conditions in the camp and what

tween the first and second books.

cause it described my journey from a

Wilzig did to survive. The inhumane

Wilzig was never able to make the

self-centered, “all about me” business-

horrors of the camp are gut-wrenching

transition from doer to mentor. He

man to someone who takes great joy

to read, but it is important background

was an incredibly gifted person, but

in helping others succeed. I went from

to what Wilzig accomplished after be-

the self-reliance lessons he learned in

being miserable while I was becoming

ing liberated. He worked his way to

the camps traumatized him to the ex-

more and more financially successful

America after the war, and began his

tent that he could never trust anyone.

to feeling joy and fulfillment every day

business career by shoveling snow.

He eventually drove his entire family

of my life. Try it. You’ll like it.

He had no more than a grade-school

away from him. As Wilzig said, he left

education when he arrived in America,

Auschwitz, but Auschwitz never left

The second book is a story about the

but he could speak English. The book

him. The lesson is obvious … and that is

indomitable will of the human spirit.

describes Wilzig’s rise from a laborer

why these two books are paired.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 2 5

TakeNote

J U LY 2 0 2 2

TRENDLINE

By Justin Paprocki

So Long, City Life CENSUS DATA SHOWS SWING AWAY FROM MAJOR METROS U.S. Census Bureau: Americans are moving away from large metros into smaller cities.

Southwest Florida: Tell us something we don’t know.

The bureau confirmed what we’ve felt for the last two years—people are migrating from big cities into places such as Naples and Fort Myers during the pandemic.

Perhaps we didn’t know just how big that swing was.

Lee County was among the top 10 counties in the country in population growth from April 2020 to July 2021. Estimates put that more than 27,000 people arrived during that time. Polk County just east of Tampa saw similar growth. Overall, all but 10 Florida counties grew during the pandemic. Miami-Dade saw the greatest representing a 1.4% decline.

Getty

losses by far: Close to 39,000 people left,

2 6 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

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Polk County Lee County Pasco County St Johns County Hillsborough County Osceola County St Lucie County Sarasota County Manatee County Lake County Volusia County Collier County Brevard County Marion County Charlotte County

TOTAL POPULATION ( JULY 2021 )

INCREASE FROM APRIL 2020

PERCENT INCREASE

753,520 787,976 584,067 292,466 1,478,194 403,282 343,579 447,057 412,703 395,804 564,412 385,980 616,628 385,915 194,843

28,474 27,154 22,176 19,041 18,432 14,626 14,353 13,051 12,993 11,848 10,869 10,228 10,016 10,007 7,996

3.9 3.6 3.9 7 1.3 3.8 4.4 3 3.3 3.1 2 2.7 1.7 2.7 4.3

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 2 7

TakeNote E C O N O M I C C O M M E N TA R Y

J U LY 2 0 2 2 B y To m S m y t h e

Pain at the Pump ARE OIL COMPANIES PROFITEERING ON THE BACKS OF AMERICANS? Over the last several months, a steady chorus of critics has suggested oil companies are profiting excessively. Some have even thrown around the “G” word— gouging. For there to be gouging in Florida, officially speaking, there must be a declared state of emergency. Beyond that, prices must have risen by a “substantial” amount above the 30-day average before the emergency. Because there is no state of emergency, technically there is no gouging. However, one might use the term in a nonlegal sense to mean companies are generating excessive profits at the expense of consumers. Let me be abundantly clear: This is not happening.

Washington politicians have blasted this idea from the Capitol steps, even hinting at an investigation by the Department of Justice, while another politician has called for oil companies to pay a 95% “windfall profits” tax. Of course, the politician fails to mention that doing so will drive up prices further. All of this is political posturing and does nothing to help Americans understand the problem, nor help them at the pump.

For oil companies to earn excessive profits, there would have to be extensive collusion. Oil companies are already under a microscope. Their every move is watched by consumers, regulators and activists. For them to collude in a way that harms consumers is highly unlikely.

While the collusion necessary to justify profiteering is almost impossible, the data also does not support the claim. In fact, my current research on this topic leaves me convinced oil companies have been restrained in their price increases since the beginning of the year. This is especially true since the Ukraine crisis began.

I have been more than a casual observer of the relationship between pump prices and gasoline futures prices for 15 years. Futures are financial contracts that allow market participants to “estimate” the price of a commodity—gasoline in this case—at some point in the future. This estimate is based on what is happening in the markets now and what expectations the participants have for the future. My colleagues and I noticed the premium of pump prices to futures prices

2 8 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Getty

rose dramatically during the pandemic. This prompted us to examine whether gulfshorebusiness.com

this was an anomaly. Our research, and that conducted by others in our field, shows there is a strong relationship between crude oil prices and pump prices.

Moreover, our research also demonstrates the relationship between pump prices and futures prices is even stronger.

Since 2005, including the pandemic period, the pump-to-futures premium averaged 42%. If we exclude the pandemic period, the premium is 39%.

While we only have limited data points in 2022, the average has been 32% as of April. But since the war between Russia and Ukraine began, the pump-to-futures average premium is only 27%. That’s 30% lower than the average in relative terms. If oil companies were profiting excessively, we would expect the average pump-to-futures premium to be higher.

Without getting into statistics, this is a very large difference. When looking at the total increase in pump prices and futures prices over the same period, we draw similar conclusions. Futures prices have risen 56% since the beginning of the year, but pump prices have only risen 30%. The comparable figures for the period since Ukraine was invaded are 29% (futures) and 20% (pump).

So, oil companies are not unduly profiting from economic and world events—quite the opposite.

Rising prices are not necessarily a sign of inappropriate behavior but may simply reflect current market conditions. Yet, politicians are beating the 

BE INFORMED While Washington politicians have blasted the idea that oil

drum that oil companies are the enemy. Don’t buy the hype; be informed.

Tom Smythe, Ph.D. is a professor in the Department

companies are generating excessive profits at the expense of

of Finance & Economics in the Lutgert College of Busi-

consumers, the collusion necessary to do so is almost impossible.

ness at Florida Gulf Coast University.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 2 9

Provided

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THE MORE, T H E M E R R I E R? TAKING STOCK OF A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS SEASON

By David Dorsey

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 3 1

_THE MORE, THE MERRIER?

Alan Adler likes vacationing on Fort Myers Beach so much that he practically lives there. The retired dentist from Michigan spends months at a time staying at the Bay Inn at the Lani Kai. When he wants a change of scenery, he packs up his stuff, loads it into his travel van and departs—venturing all of 500 feet west to the Silver Sands Villas.

Adler is approaching his 69th birthday and his seventh year of living this kind of vagabond lifestyle. As the weather grows warmer and wetter, he’ll make his way north again, migrating little by little back to his native Michigan. And as the calendar gets closer to turning, he’ll get closer to turning the van around and driving back to the beach.

Adler, as much as the numbers and statistics gathered for this year’s look back at the 2022 peak season, bears witness to the bullish market of tourism in Southwest Florida.

“I hit the road in a travel van six years ago,” he says. “I did two laps around the country. A lot of places, 

rolled around, I’d get into South Flor-

TRAFFIC RECORD

ida. I didn’t want to keep moving any-

Southwest Florida International Airport surpassed 1 million passengers

more. Every year, I added more and

in each of the first four months of 2022.

Provided

I’d stay one day. Whenever December

more time on Fort Myers Beach.”

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Adler’s far from alone. Not just Fort Myers Beach, but tourism across all parts of Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties has been surging. It has been on the upswing since the hotels, bars and restaurants reopened a few weeks after the threat of COVID-19 shut their doors March 17, 2020.

But the 2022 peak tourist season of January through March tells the tale of a full rebound.

Southwest Florida International Airport eclipsed 1 million passengers in January, February, March and April, a milestone it typically only reached during the month of March.

With 1.5 million passengers passing through in March, the airport broke a record for most monthly passengers. Although the omicron variant knocked back travel in mild fashion in January, the airport still drew a million passengers, the third-best January on record. Over the first three months of this year, RSW drew a combined 3,708,480 passengers, a record for January-March that was 1.6% betG U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 3 3

_THE MORE, THE MERRIER?

ter than the prior mark of 3,649,741 passengers set during pre-pandemic 2019.

In April, 1.2 million passengers passed through RSW, the biggest April on record.

The first four months saw passenger traffic increase by 34% from last year.

The influx of visitors has translated to booming metrics that measure tourism all around the region. Occupancy rates and average daily rates help tell the tale of tourism: In Collier County, hotels achieved occupancy rates of 67%, 78% and 78% in January, February and March, respectively. That was up 1.6% in January, up 13% in February and down 3.7% in March. The average daily rate grew by 39%, 43% and 28% during those three months when compared to 2021. The daily rates stood at $493 by the end of March, County’s Paradise Coast visitor and convention bureau.

Provided

according to statistics gathered by Collier

3 4 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

“Going into 2019, we were setting all new benchmarks,” says Paul Beirnes, executive director of Collier County’s tourism. “Everyone was celebrating numbers they’ve never seen historically. Occupancy. Average daily rate.

Length of stay. All of the above. In 2020, everybody in the whole world took a bit of a hit. We started getting our foothold, very strong, in the middle of 2020 by tapping into Florida residents. The state was open by about July. Florida residents started exploring in their own backyards.”

The new Florida visitors combined with the rest of the country and the world beginning to travel again entering 2021. This set the stage for a rejuvenated tourist season in 2022, the metrics and anecdotal evidence show.

In Charlotte County, January hotel occupancy increased by 24% from 

2021 to 73% this year. The average

FULL HOUSE

daily rate climbed by 48% to $132.65

Local restaurants saw more diners than ever before during

per night. February hotel occupancy

season this year. Naples venues enjoying the boost included The

increased by 29% to 85% this year. The

Bevy (top left), Ocean Prime (above) and Turtle Club (left).

average daily rate grew even more, by 56%, to $187.70 per night.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 3 5

_SEASON FEAST OR FAMINE FOR SWFL RESTAURATEURS This year’s season was

and the best month-by-

exceeded its initial bud-

record-breaking for local

month since we opened [in

get. “That project is about

restaurants, but supply

early 2018]. All the evening

two and a half times what

chain issues thwart-

services were amazing.

was originally budgeted,”

ed restaurateurs who

Brunch on Sunday was

Pavicevic says. “It would be

attempted to launch new

booked eight to nine weeks

about five times higher if we

locations in 2022. Depend-

in advance, and holidays—

started now.”

ing on where the dining

Mother’s Day, Easter and

spot was in the pipeline, it

cess with Two Fillets, a new

Christmas—were booked

the local craftsmanship

was feast or famine.

dining concept launched

about three months in

after gutting the former

in early March in Deep

advance.”

Agave restaurant for

“It was the busiest we’ve seen by a long shot. By far, not even a question,” says Grant Phelan, CEO

Lagoon’s former spot in

On the flip side, the Sails

Unhappy with some of

Butcher, the team ripped

Naples Park, and Fish-Tale

crew had planned to open a

out work multiple times

Waterfront Dining, which

new luxury steakhouse con-

in the 9,900-square-foot

of Bonita Springs-based

the company purchased in

cept, Butcher Restaurant in

freestanding building. Cost

Phelan Family Brands,

April at Fort Myers Beach.

North Naples, last Novem-

overruns stemmed from

Two Fillets was one of

ber—but now is targeting a

construction do-overs, as

which operates a half-dozen local restaurant brands,

those local restaurants

launch this fall because of

well as top-notch natural

including Pinchers and at

that caught a piece of

supply chain bottlenecks,

manufacturing products

least 15 restaurants in Lee

season but had hoped to

inflationary costs and their

imported from Europe. Italian

start doing business much

demand for quality products

leather from nearly 270

and Collier counties.

earlier. “We were supposed

and craftsmanship. “We

cows for chairs and booths

ties, Phelan’s restaurants

Averaging all proper-

to open in December, but it

did break the timeline due

went up four times; the

were up 30% in same-

got delayed all the way to

to many factors," Pavicevic

white French oak for parquet

store sales, Phelan said,

March because of a refrig-

says. “But the biggest factor

flooring, wall panels, the

noting that tickets at Deep

eration unit, tables, chairs

is that everything in the

ceiling and cabinetry went up

Lagoon Seafood increased

and general items caught

building is custom-made.

about six times; marble from

60% after it relocated to

in the supply chain,” Phelan

We are very particular in

Greece for the restaurant’s

says.

everything we do.”

bar, kitchen and restrooms

new digs a short distance away in North Naples.

Phelan also found suc-

Veljko Pavicevic and Corrine Ryan, co-owners of

Butcher’s costs, estimated to be in the millions, far

also would have been six times more, if it had not been

Sails Restaurant on Fifth Avenue South in Naples, also saw both sides of the coin this season. “We Pavicevic says. "This has been the best season

3 6 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Robert Exelbierd

are breaking all records,”

_THE MORE, THE MERRIER? Charlotte County bed tax revenue grew by 51% from January

Boulevard and Immokalee

2021 to $962,615 in 2022. It grew

Road, faced construction

by 55% from February 2021 to

delays traced to supply

$983,015 in 2022. It grew by 38%

chain shortages. Even

from March 2021 to $1.3 million

veteran restaurateurs were

in 2022.

not immune. The deliv-

In Lee County, hotels achieved

ery delay of ceiling tiles

occupancy rates of 76% in Janu-

prevented Skillets founder purchased ahead of the curve, Pavicevic said. “The white French oak went up 70% from when we agreed on the job,” he says.

Although about 40 restaurants launched in the first quarter of 2022, many others missed opportunities in Collier and Lee counties. While restaurants such as Nosh on Naples Bay and The Bohemian Restaurant in Bonita Springs opened in the early part of the year— albeit much later than originally anticipated— others such as MareTerra Ristorante in Bonita and Food & Thought 2 in North Naples had planned late 2021 launches but didn't open until June.

Eight restaurants originally planned to launch last fall in The Pointe at Founders Square, a new mixed-use development on the corner of Collier

Ross Edlund from opening

to eat away at restaurants’

ary and 88% in February. That in-

his 12th restaurant on

profits and the world

creased by 38% in January and 29%

time there. A missing

returns to some normal-

walk-in refrigerator/freezer

cy after the pandemic

in February from one year prior.

unit caused co-owners

panic, Phelan predicts

Jon and On Augsondthung

challenging times ahead

to open their second Fuji

for restaurants—which

Sushi Bar & Asian Bistro

he says see inflation first,

months later than they had

because they watch the

planned.

rising cost of eggs and

While post-season

flour and other food items

May is the month of the

cut into their already slim

year when the most local

profit margins.

The average daily rate grew by 37% in January to $199 and increased by 45% in February, up to $277 that month. Bed tax revenues responded by surging in Lee County. They increased by 47% to $7.79 million in January and by 44% to $8.1 million in February, as compared to a year earlier. In March, Lee County

“Although it was a

set more tourist records. The tour-

close after last-ditch

phenomenal season, I’d

ist tax revenue jumped from $8.7

efforts for seasonal busi-

put a little asterisk next to

million in March 2021 to $10.9 mil-

ness, this year atypically

it, because the next seven

lion this year, a record high for any

saw more restaurants

months will be a different

open than close. At least

story,” he said in May. “We

month on record. It was even high-

10 restaurants opened in

are heading back the way it

May, missing the boost

was before, in my opinion.

that season provides.

For two years, we hadn’t

restaurants historically

As inflation continues

had an end of season because people were locked down up north and didn’t leave here. Folks are heading back this summer.”

— Tim Aten

er than the $9.1 million collected in each of March 2018 and 2019.

Since February of 2021, each month has set a new revenue record for that month. In Lee County, those tourist tax revenues go toward paying for sports facilities used by the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins, renourishing the beaches and funding the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau’s 33-member staff.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 3 7



CELEBRATING SUCCESS

Park in East Naples.

3 8 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Provided

The busy season was remarkable this year for Southwest Florida venues, including Celebration

_THE MORE, THE MERRIER? G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 3 9

_THE MORE, THE MERRIER? NEW LOOK IN LEE Lee County also spent $200,000 from

end, said Melissa Schneider, the ho-

that budget on rebranding its tourism

tel’s marketing director.

slogan. The signage and logo shifted

In January, the Lani Kai’s 100

this year from “The Beaches of Fort

rooms have gone from 94% occupied

Myers and Sanibel” to “Fort Myers Is-

in pre-pandemic 2018 to 96% this

lands Beaches & Neighborhoods.”

year. In February, the Lani Kai surged

Tamara Pigott, executive director of

from 96% in 2018 to 100% occupancy

the Lee County Visitor & Convention

this year. In March, more of the same:

Bureau, declined an interview request

100% this year. In April, the hotel ex-

through Lee County communications

perienced 100% occupancy in 2021

director Betsy Clayton. She suggested

and again this year.

instead talking to Lee County Com-

That’s a substantial change from

missioner Cecil Pendergrass, the chair

the peak pandemic lockdowns of

of the Tourist Development Council.

April 2020, when closures resulted

“People keep coming here for the

in 5% occupancy.

three W’s,” Pendergrass says, “the

“The town allowed everybody to

warmth, the weather, the water. The

open again May 15,” Schneider says

way of life is more casual here than on

of 2020. “That’s when you had people

the east coast. And we have such a di-

who weren’t locked down who were

verse area here to vacation.”

coming. There was a time where peo-

It’s more than about the beaches

ple just got tired of being locked down,

and the baseball these days, Pender-

and they were booking. It’s been in-

grass said. There’s ecotourism inland

teresting seeing the different waves

and activities like horseback riding

of people visiting, whether they were

in Alva. “Some people come here for

locked down or tired of people being

shopping or golf or pickleball,” he says.

locked down. And then people were

As for the rebranding, that made

getting the vaccine, and they felt more

sense, too, he said. They wanted to get

comfortable traveling.”

away from marketing “Lee County” to

The months of August and Septem-

avoid confusion with the nation’s six other Lee counties.

“Fort Myers is the hub of the county,” Pendergrass says.



WATER ATTRACTION Fort Myers Beach has been packed with

BEACH HOTELS FULL

tourists this year.

Adler, the vagabond tourist, has plenty of company at the Lani Kai, where tourist season seems to never 4 0 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

ber used to be quiet at hotels, even on the beach, with families shutting down their summer vacations and returning to work and school. That late-summer slowness has stopped. In August and September 2018, the Lani Kai was at 65% and 60% occupancy, respectively; in 2019, 75% and 75%; in 2020, 80% and 75%; in 2021, 95% and 95%.

“When Easter comes along, a lot of people used to usually go back north,” Schneider says. “But with the last couple of years, that’s just changed. We’ve been in season since we opened in May 2020.

It’s been one long season. Septembers used to be pretty quiet. This September, we had 95% occupancy.”

INLAND HOTELS ALSO THRIVING Inland hotels keep filling almost all of their peak season rooms on a regular basis, said Jim Larkin, general manager of the Crowne Plaza at Bell Tower.

“It was the second-best March we’ve ever had,” Larkin says. “For the month of February, we were 98.9% occupied.

For March, it was pretty much the same thing; we had 99.3%. The only time we were better than that was 2018.

“I think it was pent-up demand from

Provided

folks in the Midwest and Northeast who hadn’t fully come out of COVID restrictions. And quite honestly, the weather G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 4 1

_THE MORE, THE MERRIER?



PLAY BALL! Southwest Florida's spring training teams, including the Minnesota Twins, were affected by a shortened season because of Major League negotiations.

was pretty ugly up there. There was just a pent-up demand for people who hadn’t traveled in two years.”

to hit baseball on this sunny day instead.

“It’s wonderful, and the weather has been wonderful,” says Beth McCarthy,

Provided Robert Exelbierd

who is from Wakefield, Massachusetts. “I THE SPRING TRAINING FACTOR

love Vanderbilt Beach, and Lowdermilk

Rylan McKnight holds the baseball. The

Beach is wonderful. We love them both.”

13-year-old, with his sister Kadlyn, 11,

But on this day, they arrive to feel the

nearby, hopes to land an autograph on

buzz of the crowd. During the pandemic,

it from any one of the Boston Red Sox

they spent lockdown playing 300 games

players walking just below him, to and

of Scrabble and 250 games of cribbage.

from the playing field at the Fenway South complex.

As Rylan hopes for the best, his father says they’re just overjoyed to be vacationing in Southwest Florida from the cold, windy city of Chicago.

“This,” says Mac McCarthy, again displaying that beer, “is like going to heaven.

Baseball, drinking beer—it doesn’t get any better than this.”

Not even a half-canceled spring training because of Major League Baseball

“We’re down here for spring training,”

labor negotiations could throw too big a

Bryan McKnight says. “We’ve been trying

wrench into the seasonal tourism eco-

to go to all of the stadiums. We did not go

nomic engine. But it did affect Southwest

to any games at all for the last couple of

Florida’s three spring training teams.

years; up until COVID, we were trying to

The Boston Red Sox played 10 instead of

go to two or three stadiums a year. This is

18 scheduled games at JetBlue Park. They

the first game we’ve been to since 2019.”

ranked fourth among all 30 big-league

But COVID-19 reared its ugly head

teams by drawing 73,303 fans and averag-

again during the trip; the McKnights were

ing 7,330 per game, according to an analy-

slated to stay with their uncle, who at the

sis by Ballpark Digest. But their per-game

last minute caught the coronavirus. The

attendance average dropped by 16% com-

McKnights changed their plans and found

pared to 2020, another shortened season

an Airbnb in Naples instead.

because of COVID-19 cancellations.

“It’s great to be out without a mask on and enjoying it,” McKnight says.

“Our approach didn’t change,” says Red Sox vice president and chief operating of-

A few minutes later, on the concourse

ficer Jonathan Gilula. “We had the same

behind him, Beth and Mac McCarthy

plan. The only question was, when were

emerge from a beer kiosk with triumph

we going to start?”

on their faces and Miller Lite cans, drip-

Normally, the players would have re-

ping with ice-cold water, in their hands.

ported mid-February and played their

The two often hit the beaches, but decide

first games Feb. 27. This year, they reG U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 4 3

_THE MORE, THE MERRIER? ported March 13 and played their

park Digest analysis showed. Overall,

first games March 17, with the updat-

spring training attendance dropped

ed schedule pulled together practi-

8% this year when compared to 2020

cally overnight.

and 31% compared to 2019, the last normal spring training.

the players reporting, we pressed play

The Red Sox, Twins and Rays won’t

for our plan,” Gilula says. “The unique

divulge how much revenue they

challenge was ticketing for the games.

missed by losing almost two handfuls

And a new schedule came out. We’ve

of games, but it wasn’t a pittance.

been pleased with the attendance,

“It will have an impact,” St. Peter

given the circumstances. The change

says of the bottom line. “Spring train-

in the schedule, it aligned with some

ing is certainly a bigger business than

of the New England school vacations

it used to be. But we can overcome it.”

for spring break. We’ve seen good en-

On the other hand, that lack of

ergy in the ballpark and enthusiasm

games did not have as big a domino ef-

among our fans.”

fect on the rest of the region, according

The Minnesota Twins played nine

to hotel and restaurant owners.

instead of 18 games at Hammond

“That hurt us early in March a lit-

Stadium. They ranked 14th among all

tle bit,” Larkin says of the shortened

teams in attendance, drawing 45,505

spring training. “But you wouldn’t

fans, an average of 5,006 per game.

know it, because our numbers are so

That average fell by 36% from 2020.

strong. The only dates that were soft

“I would say it was a mixed bag,”

for us were the first week of March.

Twins president Dave St. Peter says.

After that, we just made up for it with

“Clearly, we were ecstatic with a labor

the pace.”

agreement that allowed us to proceed

Michael DeNunzio, owner of Fine

with 162 games in the regular season.

Folk Pizza, shifted his business mod-

“We were in the upper half of Ma-

el to doing more takeout than dine-in

jor League Baseball for attendance.

when the pandemic began, and he is

But it hasn’t been the same as a

maintaining that shift in philosophy.

typical spring. We’re not selling out

He believes that shift helped him

every game. When you’re drawing

overcome the lack of spring training

4,500 or 5,000 fans, it’s different

from mid-February through mid-

than 7,000 or 8,000.”

March when traffic to the pizzeria

The Rays in Port Charlotte ranked

picked up again.

28th, drawing 28,306 fans in 10 games.

“We built fine Fine Folk Pizza next

The average of 2,831 fans per game

to that stadium because we knew on

dropped 24% from 2020, the Ball-

game day it would be good exposure

4 4 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Provided

“Once we got the green light with



NUMBERS DOWN The Boston Red Sox averaged 7,330 in attendance per game for its 10 spring training games this year at JetBlue Park in Lee County.

for us,” DeNunzio says. “We count on a busier March, for sure. It’s important that we maximize our opportunities. We definitely saw some stragglers coming over from the stadium. I think the ballpark being back to being open helped our business in a positive way. I definitely noticed there were people in baseball gear out there.”

With the pandemic introducing more Floridians to Southwest Florida as a daytrip or short vacation destination, the idea that tourist season ends at Easter is starting to fade. After all, Adler’s still living/vacationing at Fort Myers Beach after Easter these days.

“Everything’s really alive here,” says Adler, who spent 20 consecutive months living there after the pandemic began, before resuming his vagabond ways. “The beach was only closed for a couple of weeks. So every weekend, from Friday through Sunday and the holidays, everybody from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, the Keys, everywhere else was shut down. So the beaches here looked like spring break.

The bars and restaurants were having record revenues from June, July and August. And it never ended. It just kept going.

“It was just me. It’s fun to see the beach happy again.”

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 4 5

Brian Tietz

THE INN

OF AN ERA HOTELIER MEANS

CHANGES

BY TIM ATEN

PHIL FOR

MCCABE’S THE

SWFL

EXIT SCENE

_T H E I N N O F A N E R A

Significant sales and changes for hotels in Southwest Florida had historic magnitude during the first quarter of 2022, and continue to affect the rest of the year. Naples entrepreneur Phil McCabe was in the center of it, his personal story tied to many of the local properties making headlines, including the sale of three hotels in Naples.

Inn on Fifth The days immediately before and after the real estate transaction closed for the sale of his longtime hotel on Fifth Avenue South, McCabe fell into a deep funk. He had built and owned the iconic Inn on Fifth for more than 25 years, so his decision to sell wasn't easy and weighed heavily on him. The normally upbeat and in-command McCabe was depressed and seemed broken.

As of 10 a.m. May 11, he was no longer the owner of the Inn on Fifth. “Seventy-two hours before the closing,” McCabe says, “it started sinking in. ‘What have I done? What am I going to do?’

“I’m obviously at the end of my game,” says McCabe, who turned 75 on May 1 and estimates that the Inn on Fifth represented 50% or 60% of his professional life.

“Suddenly, it’s gone.”

McCabe purchased the 699 Fifth Ave. S. property, a former bank office, in August 1996 for $2.65 million and redeveloped commercial property across the street in 2010 to create the Club Level Suites at Inn on Fifth.

Not only has the hotel been a major part of McCabe’s life, it was a centerpiece for change on Fifth Avenue South for decades. “It turned Fifth Avenue around,” McCabe says.

“There isn’t anyone in our community that has had more of an impact on shaping Fifth Avenue South than Phil McCabe,” says Bruce Barone Jr., executive director of the Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District. “His vision, dedication and stewardship of the Inn Robert Exelbierd

on Fifth is unparalleled. His work over the last 20 years has put us in the position we enjoy daily with guests from all over the world.”

4 8 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com



NAPLES LANDMARK The iconic Inn on Fifth has been a centerpiece for change on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples for more than 25 years.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 4 9

Robert Exelbierd, Brian Tietz



TIME FOR CHANGE Entrepreneur Phil McCabe (right) sold his longtime Inn on Fifth (above) in downtown Naples to Pebblebrook Hotel Trust this spring for $156 million.

5 0 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

_T H E I N N O F A N E R A

for meticulously by the current owner,” Bortz said.

It took a few days after the hotel’s sale before McCabe was ready to talk about the transition. “The closing process was incredibly complicated,” he says, mentioning that he had Washington, D.C., law-

The Inn on Fifth was a place where McCabe had been at 2 in the morning, 4 in the morning, whatev-

yers to handle the heavy lifting. “We had amazing professionals working through the process.”

er the reason necessary, to handle anything the job

Still, the sale took a personal toll on McCabe, at

demanded. “When you own a hotel, you’re in it full-

least temporarily. “I’m past it now. It was difficult, so

time. It’s open 24/7. You're responsible for that,"

difficult,” he says. One of the hardest parts was no-

McCabe says. “When you own an asset like I owned,

tifying his 99 employees, some of whom worked for

you’ve got to make sure it’s running correctly.”

him more than 20 years. “It was like family,” he says.

But McCabe knew this hands-on period of his

The good news, McCabe told his staff, is that he

career had culminated. “For sure, my operating

was going to still be working in their Inn on Fifth of-

days are over,” he says. “I've built four hotels and

fice for another four months, through the summer,

six restaurants in my career. That chapter of my

so he wasn’t going anywhere immediately. This al-

life is closed.”

lowed him to move into the next phase of his life,

His decision to sell the hotel initially shocked his sons, Philip and Joseph. “They thought their dad was content for the rest of his life to operate the hotel,” McCabe says. “But they were 100%

what he refers to as starting a new book, affording more time to tend to his personal portfolio.

“I spend a lot of time on my other assets," he says.

“I got very excited about this other stuff.”

behind it. They didn’t want to operate the hotel.

That stuff won’t include golf, which McCabe said

They each have their own careers, their own pas-

is the perfect preoccupation for many retirees, but

sions and interests.”

it’s personally not for him. Besides, he’s not exactly

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, a publicly traded real

retiring anyway.

estate investment trust, acquired the 119-room hotel for $156 million. The boutique accommodations,

Inn of Naples

which recently underwent a $5 million renovation,

Denver-based Mission Hill Hospitality acquired

include two fine-dining restaurants, Truluck’s and

the 99-room Inn of Naples from Dallas-based MCR

Ocean Prime.

for more than $15.3 million in mid-March. The ho-

Pebblebrook tapped Noble House Hotels & Resorts to manage the four-star, four-diamond landmark hotel, which will be part of the Curator Hotel & Resort Collection. Pebblebrook also owns LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, while Noble House manages that North Naples property, too.

In making the announcement in late April of the then-pending sale, Jon E. Bortz, chairman, president and CEO of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, lauded the hotel and McCabe. “The Inn on Fifth exemplifies South Florida’s effortless blend of upscale, laidback luxury and was developed flawlessly and cared

tel at 4055 Tamiami Trail is undergoing a brand

_T H E I N N O F A N E R A

The upscale resort opened as The Registry Resort in the late ’80s and has changed hands a few times over the years. It was renamed Naples Grande Beach Resort before being rebranded as Waldorf Astoria Naples for a brief time. Its name reverted back to Naples Grande Beach Resort in late 2014.

changeover to the Tapestry Collection by Hilton,

Before the Naples Grande’s previous sale, Mc-

so all guest rooms and suites, the lobby, public and

Cabe tried to buy the resort years ago. “I think they

meeting spaces and its restaurant are being com-

wanted $195 million at that time, but I just couldn’t

pletely renovated.

make the numbers work. I made an offer close to

The Inn of Naples was McCabe’s first Naples ho-

asking on it. They declined my offer and sold it for

tel, launching more than 35 years ago. "My Inn of

asking,” he says. “I had a plan and a vision for that. I

Naples was under construction when they opened

was going to drastically change it.”

the Ritz-Carlton [Beach Resort]," he says. The Reg-

McCabe wanted to convert it into a boutique

istry Resort, now the Naples Grande, opened a few

hotel with some residential residences. He was

months before McCabe opened Inn of Naples. The

going to turn its tennis cabanas into condos, gate

overflow from the Ritz and Registry resorts made

the property and change the look, color and every-

the Inn of Naples an instant success with guests,

thing. “I’m kind of glad they didn’t accept my of-

McCabe said. “They were lined up out the door.”

fer," he says.

Naples Grande

Naples Beach Club

The Naples Grande Beach Resort also changed

Demolition of the former Naples Beach Hotel &

hands this spring. London-based Henderson Park

Golf Club commenced this spring on the Gulf shore

bought the hotel at the end of March from Den-

and is expected to be completed this summer to

ver-based Northwood Hospitality for $218.4 mil-

make way for redevelopment of the Naples Beach

lion, plus $24.8 million for its 18-hole golf course

Club, a mixed-use resort that will bring a 216-room

and $4.8 million for the 15-court tennis center, ac-

Four Seasons hotel to Naples. After operating the

cording to Collier County property deeds.

historic resort for 75 years, the Watkins family sold

The resort at 475 Seagate Drive in Naples has 395

the 125-acre property to The Athens Group and Mi-

standard rooms and 29 tower suites with 50 villas.

chael Dell’s MSD Partners last year for more than

It includes seven restaurants/bars, 12 spa rooms

$362 million.

and three pools spread across 23 acres.

“The Four Seasons will have a profound impact on the city of Naples,” says McCabe, noting that the high-profile project denotes the start of major redevelopment, not the density development that preceded it. “Older buildings being torn down and architecture coming in at a higher cost. That's what you're going to see here because of the Four Seathe Ritz-Carlton was a game-changer.”

Because of the Four Seasons, McCabe said Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is here today with the Ronto

5 2 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

Robert Exelbierd

sons. The Four Seasons is a game-changer just as



GRANDE SALE The Naples Grande Beach Resort sold in March for more than $218 million, plus another nearly $30 million for its golf course and tennis center.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 5 3

NAPLES ICON EXPANDS: PUTTING MORE ON THE RITZ The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

ironically made his for-

refers to its addition of a

tune with the Waffle House

14-story tower and other

restaurant chain, bought

luxury amenities this year

the first hotel and the

as “the evolution of an

Ritz-Carlton name in Bos-

icon.” The beachfront re-

ton before building addi-

sort’s most notable make-

tional locations in Atlanta;

over in nearly a decade

Buckhead, Georgia; and

truly earns a place in its

Laguna Niguel, California.

storied history.

The Naples hotel was the

says. “Then, they anchored the southern

fifth for the Ritz-Carlton,

end [of Pelican Bay] with the Registry

the Ritz-Carlton beach

which sets the standard for

Resort (now Naples Grande Beach Resort)

resort in December 1985

hotel luxury.

with a group out of Texas.”

The Naples opening of

was monumental by all ac-

Westinghouse wanted

counts. “It really launched

the Ritz-Carlton to anchor

ly development. “I bought pre-construction

Naples, that Ritz-Carlton. It

the Pelican Bay waterfront

in the Remington high-rise in Bay Colony.

laid the foundation for the

community that the com-

I was actually living in the first high-rise

wealthy coming to Naples,”

pany created just north of

at Bay Colony at the time,” he says. “I had

says Naples entrepreneur

the city of Naples on more

the opportunity to buy the land where the

and longtime hotelier Phil

than 2,300 acres it pur-

Remington sits from WCI for a hotel next

McCabe. “The Ritz-Carlton

chased from Barron Collier.

to the Ritz. I’m pretty sure it was $5 mil-

laid the groundwork.

Coral Ridge Properties, a

lion.” The transaction didn’t transpire, but

division of Westinghouse

the rest is history, as they say.

“The Ritz-Carlton came

McCabe had a front row seat for the ear-

here because of W.B. John-

that became WCI, offered a

son, who had a home here

piece of beachfront prop-

way in the evolving hospitality market in

and had a relationship with

erty on the northern end of

Naples. Its new tower rising on the local

Westinghouse, which was

Pelican Bay to Johnson for

horizon is part of a $50 million renovation

developing Pelican Bay.”

the hotel about 40 years

project targeted for completion in Decem-

ago. “They wanted the

ber. The addition on the southwest side of

Ritz-Carlton there,” McCabe

the beachfront hotel is being built in place

Atlanta businessman William B. Johnson, who

The Ritz-Carlton continues to lead the

of a former swimming pool.

“We’re really taking the leadership role," says Mark Ferland, area general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples.

“This iconic resort has always been really one of the crown jewels of the Ritz-Carlalready an iconic and revered property but we’re really transforming it into an even greater experience. We’re creating a new legacy for many years to come.”

5 4 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

Provided; Robert Exelbierd

ton brand for almost four decades. It was

_T H E I N N O F A N E R A

The Ritz-Carlton embrac-

legacy is preserved and

is, basically, a bi-level

the guests staying on

es the historic opportunity

that the Ritz-Carlton

suite,” Ferland says. “So,

the Club level.”

to take its iconic property

Naples continues to be

you’ll enter in the parlor

One level below

in Naples and redefine it

a global leader in the

area then you’ll go down

the Club will be the

from a luxury perspective,

luxury space.”

the stairs and you’ll be

resort’s new restau-

Ferland said. The resort’s

The Ritz actual-

into your secluded bed-

rant, Sofra, which

new 101,334-square-foot

ly paves the way for

room experience. We're

will also launch in

tower addition rises more

another luxury resort

already getting a lot of

December. “Sofra

than 157 feet. A lobby with

brand such as Four

interest in those suites.”

is going to be our

a mezzanine on the second

Seasons to desire to be

More than half of the

eastern Mediter-

level will welcome guests

in Naples. “Naples is

new three-bedroom

ranean-style new

to the five-star, five-dia-

such a desirable leisure

ocean view royal suites

restaurant featuring

mond resort’s 474 rooms

location. Whether it's

that the resort recent-

a very vegetable-for-

and suites, including its

arts or shopping or fine

ly launched in its new

ward menu, very

dozen new 1,478-square-

dining, it’s just become

south tower are already

inspired by a little

foot three-bay suites.

such a luxury destina-

booked for the week

more healthier eating

tion," Ferland says. “It’s

starting Dec. 26, he

again," Ferland says.

mation project in the histo-

really perfect to have

said. When the transfor-

“In the evening, it

ry of the Ritz-Carlton brand

more luxury hotels.”

mation is unveiled at the

will have beautiful

end of the year, the Ritz

fresh fish, a very

“It’s the largest transfor-

certainly outside of a new

The Ritz-Carlton's

build or a new hotel being

latest addition includes

will have 92 new suites

Mediterranean-style

constructed. So, we really

a dramatic transforma-

and a Ritz-Carlton Club

menu.”

stand ready to transform

tion of its guest suites,

Lounge.

this distinguished resort,"

which Ferland describes

Ferland says. “Really, each

The resort is trans-

“The Club is really

forming its outdoor

as a personal sanctu-

unique in that it will be

amenities, as well.

purposeful step has been

ary. "We have a unique

unlike any in the brand,

“We’re building not

undertaken to assure our

suite product which

because it’s going to be

only an adult pool

close to 4,000 square

but a lap pool that’s

feet with really dramatic

connected right onto

floor-to-ceiling views

it with spectacular

of the Gulf of Mexico,"

bungalows and pri-

Ferland says. “It will

vate cabanas—really

be off the lobby on the

unlike anything in the

first floor. It will have

marketplace today,”

seven to eight of its

Ferland says. “The

own terraces so a family

bungalows will have

can have breakfast out

private bathrooms,

there and just enjoy the

showers and air

Gulf of Mexico and the

conditioning—really

views. It’s going to be

a very, very special,

very highly personalized

unique experience.”

with an individual bar, so we’ll have a craft cocktail program just for

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 5 5

_T H E I N N O F A N E R A

Group’s proposal to redevelop the Mansion House cooperative next to Lowdermilk Park for luxury condominiums. “Those are the fundamental changes you’re going to see here,” he says.

More accommodations Other hotel properties also are making news this year in Southwest Florida, including the addition of a 14-story tower and more at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples. Also notable and highly visible are massive construction projects on the Gulfshore for the sprawling 254-room Margaritaville Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach and Allegiant’s massive 785-room Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor. After experiencing extended delays, vertical construction is underway for both projects, which are expected to be completed in 2023.

A four-story, 118-room Hampton Inn is under construction on the corner of Cleveland Avenue and McGregor Boulevard in downtown Fort Myers and expected to be completed this fall. The Ellington, a mixed-use project with a 10-story, 125room hotel, broke ground this year at the intersection of U.S. 41 East and Davis Boulevard in East Naples.

The eight-story Hotel Indigo, which has been renamed Banyan Hotel and rebranded as a Tapestry Collection by Hilton, has been undergoing a floor-by-floor renovation of its 67 rooms on Broadway Avenue in downtown Fort Myers.

The newly renovated Wiggins Pass Chalet boutique hotel in North Naples relaunched its 14 suites this spring after being shuttered for more than five years. Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach is set to undergo a $7 million renovation project starting in August to upgrade its 195 guest rooms.

Other area hotel projects are in the works, including a new six-story Hampton Inn & Suites planned for Bell Tower Robert Exelbierd

near U.S. 41 and Daniels Parkway in south Fort Myers, and a three-story AC Marriott abutting Naples Square on the corner of U.S. 41 East and Goodlette-Frank Road in Naples.

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

GOING UP Construction continues on Allegiant's 785-room Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor. The resort is targeted for completion in 2023.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 5 7



CHECKING OUT Naples entreprenuer Phil McCabe will work through the summer from his

5 8 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Brian Tietz

office at the Inn on Fifth before he moves to a new office at Naples Airport.

gulfshorebusiness.com

_T H E I N N O F A N E R A

Phil’s future McCabe doesn’t plan to reinvest his fortune from selling the Inn on Fifth. At his age, he said, he is focused on preservation of wealth, structuring it in such a way that it's going to have a multigenerational impact.

“All of my future has changed with my perspective,” he says.

“I'm never going to leverage or step out there into the development world, risking all of my wealth. I still own great assets and land.”

The product of a blue-collar community in Boston, McCabe at age 27 invested his life savings of $25,000 to buy a bankrupt hotel in Maine, creating a multimillion-dollar business.

Today, he’s the largest property owner in Kennebunkport, Maine, where he owns a home and 62 acres. “I've owned it for years and years, some for 40 or 50 years,” he says. “I'm immediate neighbors to the Bushes.”

McCabe still has property in Naples, too. He has the groundfloor retail spaces below the Residences at 5th & 5th and nearly the entire block behind the parking garage on Fourth Avenue South. He doesn't have plans there for the moment after recently completely renovating an 11-unit apartment complex there. He also is building a hangar at Naples Airport tied to a large office building he will have there. When he says his final farewell at the hotel, that’s where he will move his office for Gulf Coast Commercial, the company he has owned for 30 years. “That’s the company I used to develop a lot of what we did over the years,” he says.

McCabe also co-owns 250 acres on the northern tip of Anguilla, a Caribbean island that’s a British overseas territory. He and co-owner Kevin Stoneburner, the developer of Bayfront Naples, are in the process of getting land-use entitlements now with the government of Anguilla. The Ritz-Carlton is interested in their planned development, which is subdivided into lots, condos and single-family residences. "The Ritz-Carlton has agreed they would like to be there in one of the subdivisions on 26 acres with two 18-story buildings—condos and a hotel,” McCabe says. He notes that Four Seasons has a hotel on the other side of the island.

“The point is, I’m not going to go off and play golf or go fishing," he says. “If I want to do something, I have plenty.”

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 5 9

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Belong to a True Legacy

P

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A GULFSHORE BUSINESS SPECIAL REPORT & GUIDE

G U I DE TO BUS I N ESS & COMMERCIAL BANKING 6 6 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

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Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s foundation is built on people and relationships. Our success stems from the importance we place on relationships with our customers, team members and the community. This approach enables us in delivering smart, thoughtful banking and lending solutions with unmatched, superior customer service. Rather than a “one size fits all” philosophy, we focus on each person’s and business’ circumstances to find the right solution.

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A GULFSHORE BUSINESS SPECIAL REPORT & GUIDE

ME E T I NG & EVENT PLANNER

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S JULY 2022 69

MEETING & EVENT PLANNER

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Contact Stephanie Scholes to book your meeting at (239) 659-3176 or visit ShulasNaples.com 7 4 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

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p_80 The elements of high-end apartment living in Southwest Florida

2

B. BUSINESS 2 BUSINESS

GOVERNMENT R E S I D E N T I A L R E A L E STAT E ARCHITECTURE COMMERCIAL PROJECTS NEW & EXPANDING

 ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Adapt to Thrive

JULY 2022

NAPLES BUSINESS OWNER HAS BEEN A LIFELONG ENTREPRENEUR p_86 Brian Tietz

By Artis Henderson

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S JULY 2022 75

Business 2 Business

J U LY 2 0 2 2

GOVERNMENT

By John Guerra

Codifying Crypto LEGISLATURE STARTS REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR CRYPTOCURRENCY IN FLORIDA A detective in Miami Beach didn’t know he was about to make history in 2013 when he posed as a criminal when buying Bitcoin on the street. Michell Espinoza, 30, took the detective’s cash and in turn sent some Bitcoin, the digital currency, to the undercover officer’s online Bitcoin account.

Because the undercover agent said he’d buy stolen credit cards with the Bitcoin, they arrested Espinoza and charged him with money laundering and engaging in the business of a money transmitter without a license.

It’s the lack of a trading license that led a Miami-area legislator to sponsor House Bill 273, which says, simply: Individuals don’t need a license to trade or transmit such cryptocurrencies as Bitcoin, Tether, Binance and Ethereum. SWFL financial advisors call the law—which passed the Legislature in May—the foundation of Bitcoin regulation in Florida, an important step to the use of cryptocurrency in the state.

And it is new. An appeal court wrote of the Espinoza case: “At all times relevant, there was no mention of virtual currency nor of Bitcoin anywhere within the Florida Statutes.”

As more consumers use cryptocurrency to purchase SWFL, the question of whether one can use Bitcoin to buy a used car or other item in a private transaction becomes important.



HOUSE BILL 273 SWFL financial advisers refer to the law as the foundation of Bitcoin regulation in Florida. The law does not require a license in order to trade or transmit cryptocurrency.

7 6 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

Getty

groceries, art, clothing and other goods and services in

Florida isn’t the only state addressing

estimates 600 worldwide) are central to

cryptocurrency; Georgia and Wyoming

the availability and transmission of cryp-

have adjusted their money transmitter stat-

tocurrency among individuals. Would-be

utes to allow private cryptocurrency trans-

Bitcoin investors can buy as little as $25

actions. Other states are following suit.

worth through an online exchange such

Jeff Janson, a wealth adviser and plan-

as Coinbase. Of course, $25 represents a

ner with Summit Wealth Partners LLC

tiny fraction of a single Bitcoin, which was

in Fort Myers, attended Bitcoin 2022

worth $40,140 on April 12. Only a finite

in Miami Beach in April. He saw gov-

number of each cryptocurrency will be

ernment and business leaders crowing

created, which creates urgency as the last

about the future of cryptocurrency in

of them are generated. For instance, Bit-

that region. The new law should make

coin has a “hard limit” of 21 million coins,

trading and transmitting cryptocurren-

which will be reached in 2041, according

cy easier, he said.

to Business Insider.

“The requirement for licensure should have been applied to businesses only and

THE DARK SIDE

should never have been applied to a trans-

House Bill 273 is the beginning of a

fer of crypto between consumers, either

much-needed regulatory framework to

in a pure exchange of fiat for crypto, or in

protect consumers, but it also allows un-

using crypto to purchase a good or a ser-

regulated cryptocurrency among indi-

vice,” says Janson. SWFL will follow suit,

viduals, said Professor Thomas Smythe,

he believes.

who teaches money and capital markets at

“Southeast Florida is smoothing the

Florida Gulf Coast University.

way for further adoption and use of digi-

“What I would be concerned about,

tal currencies,” he says. “For now, they are

especially with Bitcoin, is that it’s flying

a bit more progressive when it comes to

under the radar,” Smythe says. “Crypto-

cryptocurrency than SWFL.”

currency is ripe for consumer fraud. I’ll be stunned if we don’t see criminal activity.”

“S OUT HEA ST FL OR I DA IS SMO OT HING T H E WAY FOR FURT HER AD OPT I ON AND US E OF DI GI TA L CUR R E NCIES.” —Jeff Janson

In a Federal Trade Commission con-

NUTS AND BITS Calling cryptocurrency “Bitcoin” is like

sumer fraud newsletter article titled,

saying “Scotch Tape” to describe all the

“Cryptocurrency buzz drives record in-

brands of clear adhesive tape. Bitcoin is

vestment scam losses,” the FTC says cryp-

one of nearly 30 “brands” of cryptocurren-

tocurrency scammers stole more than $80

cy. Each fraction of every coin can be iden-

million from 7,000 investors between Oc-

tified, assigned ownership and tracked by

tober 2020 through March 31, 2021, and

the unique string of code attached to it. It

that number has increased since then.

is distributed using blockchain architec-

Here’s one common scam, according

ture that maintains a secure and decen-

to the FTC: A scammer, possibly through

tralized record of transactions anywhere

an online cryptocurrency trade club,

in the world.

convinces another trader to reveal key

Cryptocurrency

exchanges

(Forbes

account information. The trusting target G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 7 7

Business 2 Business GOVERNMENT

also might agree to send money or cryptocurrency for an investment opportunity.

About 20% of the money lost in romance scams was cryptocurrency, the FTC says.

That’s why Smythe believes there are good reasons to require individuals to have a license to trade cryptocurrency—or at least to add digital currency into anti-fraud and money laundering laws.

“There are specific statements you

With Bitcoin, volatility is the nature of the beast The cryptocurrency market

“I don’t think Bitcoin is

took a major drubbing in May,

dead,” says Smythe. “I do

but financial advisers remain

think people are starting

confident in cryptocurrency’s

to see why it could never

future. Such price fluctua-

be used as a true curren-

tions have happened before.

cy—there is nothing backing

From May 4 to May 18—two weeks—in round numbers,

it like the Fed or the taxing authority of government.”

have to say until the transaction clears,”

Bitcoin fell from $40,000 to

Smythe says. “Who is going to monitor

just below $30,000. That rep-

cryptocurrency rates are not

resents a loss of one-fourth

tied to any nation’s econom-

of its value. Bitcoin, however,

ic performance; its price

has recovered from worse.

floats free of grain sales, or

According to Fast Company ,

the price of oil, for instance.

in 2018, when it was newer,

When it launched in 2009, it

Bitcoin fell from $20,000

was worth zero.

that? If it’s truly without a license, how do you know who’s doing it? If you’re shafted, who do you go to?”

Corey Vertich, a partner with Uhler and Vertich Financial Planners of Fort Myers, provides planning services, financial investment and estate planning for highnet worth clients. His world, of securities, stocks and other traditional investments,

per coin to $3,000. It then

Bitcoin owners like that

“I think the other issue is one

shot to $68,000 in November

that Bitcoin supporters have

2021, its highest level ever.

actually promoted as good

According to CNBC’s online

and that is there is no national

is highly regulated for a reason. He sees

“Cryptoworld,” cryptocur-

boundary to Bitcoin,” Smythe

volatility in unregulated cryptocurrency.

rency prices fell with stocks

says. “That means its value can

in May after the Bureau of

swing based on what is going

try, the Bitcoin market requires anti-mon-

Labor Statistics reported

on anywhere in the world.”

ey laundering and fraud regulations,”

an 8.3% hike in April con-

“If you buy something in another coun-

Vertich says. “In the securities world, we develop a very great number of investor protections to prevent schemes such as pump and dump. There’s ample evidence that there is a tremendous manipulation of the cryptocurrency price.”

PART OF THE FUTURE? Some people trade Ethereum, Tether,

sumer prices. That spooked investors, which led them to abandon riskier investments, including crypto. That means investors consider Bitcoin and other virtual currencies bona fide investments some of the time. Nervous investors will return and new ones will take a chance.

Bitcoin and other such cryptocurrency

7 8 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Getty

in such online trading clubs as “Bitcoingulfshorebusiness.com



CRYPTOCURRENCY MARKET Cryptocurrency rates are not tied to any nation’s economic performance. For instance, they float free of grain sales and the price of oil.

ers of SWFL.’’ That group has some 850 members, says Bill D’Antuono, who owns a fishing charter business. “Peer-to-peer

What if a national govern-

transactions are instantaneous and will

ment created a digital currency

inevitably be the catalyst for many new

tied to its national banking

start-up business and entrepreneurs of

system? It would possess the convenience of cryptocurrency

our time,” the club’s online mission state-

but be much more stable. Chi-

ment says.

na, the European Central Bank

SWFL businesses have been accepting

and the Bahamas are creating

digital currency for various goods and

digital currencies tied to their

services, especially high-dollar items

banking systems. The Baha-

such as jet aircraft, real estate and art,

mas, by the way, call theirs the

Smythe said. Marlissa Gardner, owner of

“Sand Dollar.”

Emillions Art Gallery in Naples, got me-

The United States Federal

dia attention when she made history sell-

Reserve is expected to intro-

ing an original Picasso to a customer who

duce a central bank digital

paid with cryptocurrency.

currency, or CBDC, in the next several years, Smythe said.

“As for a central bank digital currency, it’s coming,” he says.

“The Fed seems to be taking a bit of a wait-and-see attitude, but it’s coming. The difference between this and Bitcoin is that the Fed would still back it and it is tied to a country, meaning it is still tied to inflation and economic output.”

An American CBDC would theoretically be more stable and attract more currency traders and investors, but until then, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continue to work for millions of people.

“I F YOU BU Y S O M ET H I NG IN ANOT H ER C OUN T RY, TH E BI T C O I N M AR K ET REQU I R ES A N T I-M O NEY L AUND ER I NG A ND F R AU D REG U LAT I O NS.” —Corey Vertich

State lawmakers hope House Bill 273 and subsequent legislation will convince the public that cryptocurrency is safe enough to use in everyday transactions.

One SWFL small business owner says she accepts cryptocurrency from her customers when they order online. They simply click on crypto as a payment option and go from there.

“We have people who buy chicken, beef, bacon, eggs and other farm-fresh items with crypto,” says Nicole Cruz, who, along with her husband Manny, owns Circle C Farm Store in Bonita Springs. “There is a positive energy around crypto and its utilization. I don’t think crypto is going anywhere, it will continue to be a presence for a very long time, like Apple Pay and PayPal. It has now solidified, with emotional safety surrounding its use.”

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 7 9

Business 2 Business

J U LY 2 0 2 2

R E A L E S TAT E

By Tim Aten

Life of Luxury THE ELEMENTS OF HIGH-END APARTMENT LIVING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Luxury apartments—multi-family communities on the

Naples-based Barron Collier Companies (BCC) has

flip side of affordable housing—are rising in popularity in

participated in joint venture development partnerships

Southwest Florida to meet high-end demand. But what

that include multifamily luxury projects such as Mura-

exactly does luxury mean today when it comes to apart-

no at Three Oaks in Fort Myers. BCC partnered with CC

ment life?

Residential to build Addison Place, a multi-family devel-

“To me, when you look at what defines something as lux-

opment on the northwest corner of Immokalee Road and

ury, it’s a variety of things,” says Keith Gelder, president

Collier Boulevard in North Naples. On the southeast cor-

of Naples-based Stock Development’s Luxury Apartment

ner of that same intersection, The Pearl Founders Square

Living division. “The most recognizable things are the club-

apartments are under construction as part of BCC’s

house and amenities, the finishes on the units, high-visibili-

Founders Square development.

For instance, Stock is upgrading all of its kitchens with quartz countertops and high-end, stainless steel appliance

Branding apartments as luxury housing is a way for developers to step up in a competitive market, said Barron Collier Companies CEO Blake Gable.

packages. “We stand out in amenities pretty significantly,”

“From an apartment standpoint, you have a lot of peo-

Gelder says. “We’ve built some of the larger pools. We try to

ple trying to stand out,” Gable says. “It’s one of those

stay on the cutting edge as far as amenities.”

things where you are trying to let the market know the

Stock’s Allura luxury apartment community under construction on Livingston Road at Veterans Memorial Bou-

amenities are going to be great and the apartments are well-appointed.”

levard in North Naples will have a bowling alley and a golf

Of course, upscale amenities usually translate to upscale

simulator. Stock properties also accentuate outdoor living

rents. The Pearl’s rental prices range from $2,474 per month

with amenities such as putting greens, grilling stations and

for a one-bedroom 684-square-foot studio apartment to

outdoor bar areas, Gelder said.

$4,244 per month for a three-bedroom/two-bathroom

“We are introducing dog spas (with a pet wash and

1,535-square-foot apartment.

groomers), which is something you see in the new proj-

The Pearl’s floor plans offer high-end features and sleek

ects,” he says. “We try to embrace pets with dog parks on

finishes, such as 10-foot ceilings, wood-finish flooring, large

all the properties.”

walk-in closets and gourmet kitchens with stainless steel

Luxury is part of Stock’s branding and image, Gelder said.

appliances, quartz countertops and custom Shaker-style

“It’s part of our brand identity. It’s part of our tagline. That’s

cabinetry with wine racks. The community of 400 apart-

why we use it.”

ments also features two resort-style pools with cabanas, a

8 0 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

Provided

ty, high-touch kind of items.”



LUXURY LIVING A variety of elements make a living space considered luxury, such as the clubhouses, amenities, finishes on units, high-visibility and high-touch kind of items.

two-story state-of-the-art fitness center, golf simulator lounge, gourmet coffee bar, cinema room and cyber lounge.

Proximity to restaurants and retailers makes a difference, too, and is considered an amenity. Some apartments are built in conjunction with an adjacent retail project, such as Stock Development’s Corsa at Estero Crossing and Citria at Fruitville Commons. “It really makes a difference,” says Claudine Leger-Wetzel, vice president of sales and marketing for Stock Development.

“I think when we say luxury, it’s a lot about the social component of living in a rental apartment,” says Leger-Wetzel, noting that Stock was the first to offer outdoor tiki bars. “We created this outdoor living component where people can meet, eat and socialize.”

At Corsa, under construction off Corkscrew Road in Estero, the two-story clubhouse is nearly 17,000 square feet under air, Leger-Wetzel said. Amenities include full-size bowling lanes, a golf simulator/movie theater with a sports lounge, a recreation deck with a covered veranda, green space with walking trails, an indoor pet spa, electric car charging stations and a nearly 88,000-gallon resort-style pool with an expansive sun deck.

“As a business model for Stock, it makes a lot of sense for us.

We have three projects in the works and we are anticipating more,” she says.

Since homebuilder Stock jumped into the luxury apartments market in 2014 with the development of Spectra in south Fort Myers, the company has completed more than 1,200 units in Southwest Florida. All have a high occupancy rate, Gelder said.

“We are seeing more apartment construction than we ever have,” he says. “The demand is there. All the developers are catering toward high-end products, trying to capture that same market. We have another 2,000 units in the pipeline to deliver over the next couple of years.”

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 8 1

Business 2 Business

J U LY 2 0 2 2

ARCHITECTURE

By Bill Wasinger

Getting Smart at Work HOW TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING THE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT At Venture X, a co-working space in Naples, members can enter any part of the facility touch-free, any time of the day or night. Inside, the space features an array of flexible workspaces and fiber internet access, and members can even set up their own VPN for online privacy. Plus, the LEED Gold-certified facility offers motion-sensitive LED lighting and an HVAC system with UV air filtration that provides a fresh air exchange every 20 minutes.

“We have a lot of different companies that work here. [As a smart office], we have just about what anybody is looking for,” says Kathryn Parker, director of sales for Venture X. “And because of everything that has happened over the past two years, having the touchless access points … is something a lot of people appreciate.”

While smart office features are part of the flexible office space design that Venture X offers, comparable elements of automation, sustainability and efficiency also are rapidly being written into local building codes. However, many workplaces are utilizing smart office technology to not only enhance the comfort and convenience of their employees and their customers, but to attract them, as well.

“Employers want the state-of-the-art, but they also want better workspaces. It’s all about employee experiences. And it’s

Home. “This is geared toward growth of the company. If you’re

8 2 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Provided

dent of the hospitality division for Naples-based Clive Daniel

Provided

about guest experiences,” says Nancy Woodhouse, vice presi-

gulfshorebusiness.com

In Conference

a company wanting to attract a cer-

When the pandemic forced

camera, so it’s captur-

businesses to go virtual,

ing the entirety of the

Zoom became a hugely

room. But it’s listening in

important conferenc-

the room to try to deter-

technologies. The same is true if you

ing tool. Today, as some

mine who’s speaking. At

want to attract a certain employee to

employees have returned

that point, it focuses on

your company.”

to the office and others

them (to) create a look

still work from home,

like there’s a camera per

workplaces turned to smart office

the challenge for many

person.”

technology and flexible workspaces to

companies is to create a

For other businesses,

smart conference room

the goal is to simply make

that accommodates both

a smarter, more flexible

a hybrid workforce and

conference room.

their clientele.

“The biggest piece we

“The conference room, to me, that’s a flexible

tain clientele or guest, you need to showcase

these

state-of-the-art

In the wake of the pandemic, many

provide the same comforts and conveniences that their employees may have grown accustomed to while working from home. However, more employees in open, hybrid workspaces created more challenges, too.

saw post-COVID-19 was

workspace. For some

improving conference

companies, they ended

room technology. One

up being for meetings

thing we’ve been doing

with their own clientele,”

effectively, that creates some difficul-

there is something called

Woodhouse says. “Some

ty holding conversations with mul-

‘Meeting Owl,’” Konert

have the living room

tiple people in the same room. A lot

says. “It’s a camera that

approach. So, even cli-

of sound masking systems we’re in-

goes in the middle of the

ent-facing, they’re using

stalling (are) helping block out sound

table in the conference

that space as more re-

room, and it’s got some

laxed, not-so-structured,

and give privacy,” says Bradd Konert,

AI built into it. It’s a 360°

space.”

“As real estate gets more expensive and we’re trying to use a space more

president of Gamma Tech Services, a full-service technology company in Naples. “When you get into medical



FLEXIBLE WORKSPACES

and HIPAA situations, we’re doing a lot there just for privacy reasons.

Many workspaces turned to smart office technology

Financial offices, insurance offices,

and flexible workspaces during the pandemic to

attorney’s offices—any place where

provide comfort and convenience to employees and

they want to be able to have those

their customers.

conversations and be confident that no one else is hearing them.”

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 8 3

Business 2 Business ARCHITECTURE

As the pandemic continues to ebb, some workers simply don’t want to return to the office, regardless of the amenities. In those cases, the touchless, automated security system that’s popular at Venture X can also be very useful for other businesses.

“Employee turnover is incredibly expensive from an HR perspective. It’s also incredibly expensive as far as maintaining access to the building and how you handle that turnover,” Konert says. “How are you controlling access to the office? How do you handle it when an employee leaves? With an access control system, if you have turnover, you just remove their code and remove their access to the building. You never have to change locks.”

Ultimately, as technology continues to evolve, it’s expected that more businesses will integrate smart technology into their workplaces for sustainability, efficiency and convenience.

But whether it’s a programmable thermostat, motion-activated lights or fully functional, hightech conference rooms, Woodhouse cautions that function should still take priority over form.

“We should always be improving our spaces, work areas or guest areas. That said, people need to hire the right people to look at [smart office technology] and understand it. They need someone to come in and assess their workflow. Watch how they work. Listen to how they work,” she technology—but if it’s not appropriate for your work area, you just wasted money.”

8 4 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Provided

says. “You can have the best-of-the-best smart



EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY As technology continues to evolve, it’s expected that more businesses will integrate smart technology into their workspaces.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 8 5

Business 2 Business

J U LY 2 0 2 2

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

By Artis Henderson

Adapt to Thrive NAPLES BUSINESS OWNER STUART SHEPPARD HAS BEEN A LIFELONG ENTREPRENEUR Entrepreneurialism came early to Stuart Sheppard, founder and president of GWT Outdoors in Naples. In high school in Westchester County, New York, he and his buddies ran a house painting company. By college, they were renting out VCRs and VHS tapes. “We were always trying to do our own thing and find our own niche,” Sheppard says.

After he graduated from college, Sheppard gave working for other people a shot, and spent 15 years in the financial industry employed by big-name firms such as Lehman Brothers. Eventually he admitted that working for other people wasn’t for him. “It started to wear thin,” he says, “so I fired myself out of that position.”

Back in business for himself, Sheppard launched a blinds-cleaning company where he “quickly became an all-star.” Soon he noticed a pattern: His clients would bring him worn-out shades asking him to work miracles, and he’d have to suggest they skip the cleaning and buy new shades instead. It didn’t take long for him to see the business opportunity. Soon he launched a Hunter Douglas window treatment business and sold off the blind

“If you can adapt to changes quicker than your compet-

8 6 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

Erik Kellar

favorite pieces of entrepreneurial advice: Adapt or die.

Brian Tietz

cleaning company. The change sparked one of Sheppard’s

gulfshorebusiness.com



FINDING HIS NICHE Stuart Sheppard began searching for business opportunities in high school. He tried a few different ventures, and even gave working for other people a try before realizing that wasn't for him and decided to go into business for himself.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 8 7

Business 2 Business ENTREPRENEURSHIP

8 8 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com



ADAPT OR DIE "If you can adapt to changes quicker than your competitor, you're going to do really well in life," says Stuart Sheppard.

itor, you’re going to do really well in life. But if you ignore circumstances that are changing, you’re going to go the way of the dinosaur.”

That same adapt-or-die mentality got him into the outdoor pergola business, where he’s happily thriving today. GWT Outdoors specializes in custom adjustable pergola systems.

Over the course of his career, through a variety of different businesses, Sheppard has been guided by the same entrepreneurial spirit that had him painting houses in high school. “I like being in control of my own destiny,” he says. “I like to know that every hour, every day, every year that I work I can control both the effort and the outcome. That keeps me motivated.”

Hot Tip: Keep it to yourself Sheppard has serious advice for new entrepreneurs: Stop shopping around your ideas. “If you have a great idea, just go do it,” he says. “Don’t talk about it too much with your friends. Almost everybody you talk to will try to talk you out of what you want to do.”

When Sheppard launched his Hunter Douglas business, his father told him he was crazy.

“There are too many Hunter Douglas dealers in the world,” his father said. But Sheppard quickly took his company to No. 1 in the region, and it’s still a successful business today.

“It’s remarkable how many people will tell Brian Tietz

you not to do something,” Sheppard says. “Until you’re an entrepreneur, you don’t realize how many people will try to discourage you.”

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 8 9

Business 2 Business

J U LY 2 0 2 2

COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

By Adam Regan

LEE COUNTY Seagate Mine LLC purchased a 503-acre mining property at 21260 State Road 82 in Fort Myers from MCIN Bell LLC for $15.2 million. Justin Thibaut, CCIM, of LSI Companies Inc. represented the buyer and seller.

Reynwood LLC purchased 37,344 square feet of office space at 14850 Global Parkway in Fort Myers from Panther Center FIP LLC for  HB Family Limited Partnership Ltd. purchased a 10,522-square-foot space at 13525 Bell Tower Drive in Fort Myers from First-Citizens Bank & Trust Co. for $2.75 million. Michael J. Frye, CCIM, with RE/MAX Realty Group Commercial Division represented the buyer, and Tony Mangione and Ty Hensley with Trinity Community Group represented the seller.

$6,625,000. David J. Stevens, CCIM of Investment Properties Corp. represented the buyer and seller.

Walco Leasing LLC purchased 9.16

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

acres at 2200 SW Pine Island Road in Cape Coral from Manfred Lueck Bryan Belk, John Tennant, Chris

cant land, Parcel #00447240009

for $2.2 million. The acquisition was

Estate Investors purchased a

Adams and Sam Roe of Franklin

at Tamiami Trail East and Habitat

in conjunction with Walco Leasing’s

91,498-square-foot, single-

Street Commercial Real Estate

Drive, in East Naples from Utopia

purchase of the adjoining 5.96

tenant retail property within

represented the seller.

East Trail LLC for $2.2 million.

acres at 2120 SW Pine Island

David J. Stevens of Investment

Road from DELODDER MARY P TR

Properties Corp. represented the

for $1.25 million. Michael Price,

seller, and William V. Gonnering

ALC, of LandQwest Commercial

Port Charlotte Town Center, 1441 Tamiami Trail, in Port

COLLIER COUNTY

Charlotte from an affiliate of RCG Ventures for $8.8 million.

Rodney B Hansen 2012 Family

of Investment Properties Corp.

represented the buyer in both

The space is leased to Bealls.

Trust purchased 2.75 Acres of va-

represented the buyer.

transactions.

9 0 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

Provided

Texas-based Ford & Sons Real

RR Copperhead LLC purchased

Majestic Palm Holdings LLC

Jason Lomano, Jack Lomano

321 Ave T Realty Corp. purchased

a 176-acre golf course property

purchased a 3.47-acre multifamily

and Andrew Lomano purchased

a 10,000-square-foot office/flex

at 20910 Copperhead Drive in

site at 4018 Princeton St. in

a 4,550-square-foot building

building at 1749 NE 10th Terrace

Lehigh Acres from A Fortune

Fort Myers from Island Coast

at 17707/711 San Carlos Blvd.

in Cape Coral from Heartland LLC

Teller’s Dream #2 LLC for

Developers Inc. for $1.8 million.

near Fort Myers Beach from

for $1,175,000. Philip Josberger

$2.1 million. Randy Thibaut,

Fred Kermani, CCIM, AIA, of

International Capital Investment

with KOVA Commercial Group

ALC, Hunter Ward, CCIM, and

CRE Consultants represented

Co. III for $1,595,000. Michael

represented the buyer, and Phil

William Rollins, CCIM, ALC, of LSI

the seller, and Ken Mulligan of

J. Frye, CCIM, of RE/MAX Realty

Deems with Phil Deems Real

Companies Inc. represented the

Downing Frye Realty represented

Group represented the buyer

Estate represented the seller.

buyer and seller.

the buyer.

and seller.

11230 Bonita Beach RE LLC purchased 2.11 acres at 11230

 208 Palm River Boulevard LLC purchased a 12-unit apartment complex at 208 Palm River Blvd. in North Naples from E & B Home Group Inc. for $5.25 million. David J. Stevens, CCIM, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the buyer and seller.

and 11290 Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs from J.M. Beals Enterprises Inc. for $1.1 million.

Matt Stepan, CCIM, and Jeffrey Clapper of Premier Commercial Inc. Represented the seller, and Richard Corley of Enterprise Real Estate Advisors Inc. represented the buyer.

Jonathan Martinescu purchased 1.83 acres at 4613 Chiquita Blvd.

S. in Cape Coral from NEWCOM Real Properties for $850,000. Hal Arkin with Frye Commercial Group and Michael J. Frye, CCIM, with RE/MAX Realty Group Commercial Division represented the seller, and Phil Deems with Phil Deems Realty represented the buyer.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 9 1

Business 2 Business

J U LY 2 0 2 2

N E W & E X PA N D I N G

By Adam Regan

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

COLLIER COUNTY

My Salon Suite leased 10,560

Basilica Gifts Inc. dba Global

Alliant Property Management,

DeAngelis Custom Buildings

square feet of retail space in

Gallery leased 4,680 square feet

LLC leased 2,588 square feet of

Inc. leased 1,542 square feet of

Peachland Promenade, 24123

of retail space at 350 Fifth Ave. S.,

office space at 4501 Tamiami

office space at 3435 10th St. N.,

Peachland Blvd., Unit 160, in Pun-

Suite 100, in Naples from Reinco,

Trail N., Suite 224, in Naples from

Suite 303, in Naples from HPPC

ta Gorda from IVT Port Charlotte

Inc. Tara L. Stokes of Investment

FLP 4501 LLC. Rob Carroll, CCIM,

Investments Properties LLC. William

Peachland LLC. Bruce Micciche,

Properties Corp. represented the

MAI, of Investment Properties

V. Gonnering, CCIM, SIOR, and

CCIM, of LandQwest Commercial

lessor and lessee.

Corp. represented the lessor, and

Christine McManus, CCIM, SIOR, of

Hamish Williams of AJS Realty

Investment Properties Corp. repre-

Group represented the lessee.

sented the lessor and lessee.

represented the lessor.

J & D Enterprises of Naples Boba Tea leased 1,476 square feet

leased a 3,812-square-foot space

of retail space in Port Charlotte

in the Tanglewood Marketplace,

Cantor Fitzgerald L.P. leased

Becker Restaurant Ventures LLC

Town Center, 1100 El Jobean

4910 Tamiami Trail N., Suite

2,295 square feet of office space

leased a 1,325-square-foot space

Road, Suite 122, in Port Charlotte

300A, in Naples from Tanglewood

at 3001 Tamiami Trail N., Suite

in the Meridian Marketplace, 3375

from Calprop LLC. Mike Concilla

Naples LLC. Bill Young and Biagio

200, in Naples from Collier Place

Pine Ridge Road, Building 400, Unit

and Laura Cari of LandQwest

Bernardo of Lee & Associates

Holdings LLC. Sara Masterson of

106, in North Naples from Pine

Commercial represented the

Naples-Fort Myers represented

Investment Properties Corp. rep-

Ridge Livingston LLC. Bill Young and

lessor and lessee.

the lessor and lessee.

resented the lessor and lessee.

Biagio Bernardo of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the lessor and lessee.

 Sportsman’s Warehouse Inc. leased 29,413 square feet of retail space at 6329 Naples Blvd. in North Naples from 6329 Family Limited Partnership. Patrick Fraley, CCIM, and David J. Stevens, CCIM, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor, and Tom Godino with Atlantic Retail Florida LLC represented the lessee.

NAMI Collier County leased a 1,218-square-foot office space in Collier Park of Commerce, 3050 Horseshoe Drive N., Suite 168, in Naples from Helios Colliers LLC. Dave Wallace, CCIM, SIOR, and David Wallace of CRE Consultants represented the lessor and lessee.

Jump Hair LLC leased a 975-square-foot space in Pelican Plaza, 713 Bald Eagle Drive, Unit 707, on Marco Island from 102

Prtovided

Development Company LLC. Bill

9 2 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

Club Champion leased 2,500 square feet of retail space in Shops at Village Walk, 7977 Dani Drive, in Fort Myers from 13555 TTN, LLC. Tom Strauss and Jessica McEvoy of LandQwest Commercial represented the lessee.

AAPA LLP leased a 1,929-squarefoot space at 9400 Bonita Beach Road, Suite 204, in Bonita Springs to Essco Naples LLC. Matt Stepan, CCIM, and Jeffrey Clapper of Premier Commercial Inc. represented  Worthington Realty Inc. leased 1,350 square feet of office space at 8880 Gladiolus Drive, Unit 110, in Fort Myers from Avalon Office Park Developers LLC. Gary Tasman and John Albion of Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Property Southwest Florida represented the lessor and lessee.

the lessor, and Jay Crandall of Crandall Commercial represented the lessee.

H&R Block Eastern Enterprises Young and Biagio Bernardo of

Derek Bornhorst, SIOR, CCIM, Bob

Trail in Estero from Estero Ridge

Inc. leased 1,065 square feet

Lee & Associates Naples-Fort

Johnston, SIOR, Jerry Messonnier,

LLC. Philip Josberger and Chad

of retail space at 2378 Surfside

Myers represented the lessor

SIOR, and Meaghan Schmitt of

Commers with Kova Commercial

Blvd., Unit 123, in Cape Coral from

and lessee.

Lee & Associates Naples-Fort

Group represented the lessor, and

J McGraw LLC. Gretchen Smith of

Myers represented the lessor and

Jennifer Castriotta and Rachel

Cushman & Wakefield Commer-

lessee.

Guertin with RE/MAX Commercial

cial Property Southwest Florida

represented the lessee.

represented the lessor.

Cak’d LLC leased 900 square feet of retail space at 304 Ninth St. N. in Naples from My Naples Sun-

Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-

shine LLC, Queeny Bee LLC and

ney Financing LLC leased a

Avalon Risk Management

Bednarz Tovar Series LLC leased

Killer Cooke LLC. Tara L. Stokes of

10,414-square-foot office space

Insurance Agency leased 2,610

a 985-square-foot retail space

Investment Properties Corp. rep-

at 7811 University Pointe Drive in

square feet of office space in Alico

in Beach Plaza, 4836 Bonita

Fort Myers from CDW 7811 Uni-

Center, 10070 Daniels Interstate

Beach Road, Unit 6, in Bonita

versity Pointe Drive LLC. Randal

Court, Suite 100A, in Fort Myers

Springs from 27702 Simmons

Mercer of CRE Consultants repre-

from Sunset & Whitney Holdings

LLC. Bill Young and Biagio

sented the lessor, and Brad Knop

LLC. Adam Palmer, CCIM, SIOR,

Bernardo of Lee & Associates

of JLL represented the lessee.

and Steve Wood of LandQwest

Naples-Fort Myers represented

Commercial represented the

the lessor and lessee.

resented the lessor and lessee.

LEE COUNTY Vivid EV LLC leased 46,053 square feet of space in Meridian Center South at 10411 Meridian Center

Floral Artistry of the Island Inc.

lessor, and Eric Edwards and Eli

Parkway, suites 11-14, in Fort

leased 6,100 square feet of

Lauber of LandQwest represented

Myers from Meridian South LLC.

retail space at 20041 S. Tamiami

the lessee.

G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 9 3

WOMEN IN

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE INAUGURAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS

Touchstone Wealth Partners

p_96

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Power and presence combine

Drinking water anywhere

AfterHours

U N W I N D | H O R S E P O W E R | F I T N E S S | N E W & N O T E W O R T H Y | W E E K E N D G E TAWAY

Step by step Provided

THE UTILITY AND CONVENIENCE OF PEDOMETERS p_98

By James Raia

AfterHours HORSEPOWER

Outrageous and Fun POWER AND PRESENCE COMBINE IN THE 2022 CADILLAC CT5-V BLACKWING New American luxury sedans are rare. Rarer still are land cruisers with manual transmissions. The 2022 Cadillac CT5 V-Series Blackwing arrived this year, and qualifies for both niche categories with a monster presence and a masterful ride.

It also represents a farewell. When the high-performance machine was unveiled in early 2021 as a 2022 model, Cadillac announced it would be joined by its junior, the CT4-V Blackwing, as the final gasoline-powered V cars made by the manufacturer.

As a last hurrah, congratulations to Cadillac. The CT5-V Blackwing is simultaneously outrageous and fun. The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine is mated with a six-speed manual transmission—a 10-speed automatic transmission is optional. The carmaker touts the sedan as having a top speed of 209 miles per hour and as the most powerful production vehicle in its 120-year history.

Cadillacs haven’t resembled their ancient beast-like relatives for years. Expansive styling is gone, replaced by a modern look—a sharp-angled, condensed assembly with a spoiler, meshed grilles, etc. It’s more futuristic than flamboyant. The luxury sedan still carries the Cadillac logo, once the symbol of the gargantuan brand’s beauty. It now represents, especially in the Blackwing persona, a still-prestigious sedan renowned for its power.

Driving a performance-oriented sedan with a six-speed manual transmission begins as simultaneously awkward and joyous. A short, smooth-shifting, 4,123-pound cruiser with a celebratory exhaust growl? Who knew such a vehicle existed?

J U LY 2 0 2 2

By James Raia

FACTS & FIGURES Acceleration: 0-60 mph, 3.4 seconds Airbags: 8 Fuel economy: 13 mpg city, 21 mpg hwy Horsepower: 668 Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $83,995 Manufacturer’s website: cadillac.com Price As Tested: $113,445 Warranty: Bumper to bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles; Powertrain, 6 years/70,000 miles; Corrosion, 4 years/50,000 miles; Roadside Assistance, 6 years/70,000 miles

During long freeway treks, the manual transmission configuration can be forgotten.

If a slowdown occurs, beware. A quick downshift is required in the highway cruiser. But why not have more fun?

Likewise, the Blackwing’s quiet, powerful engine can provide trickery; gliding along at speeds far surpassing speed limits is likely and sometimes alarmingly easy. Not much acceleration muster is required.

Provided

Even drivers without performance-oriented desires can marvel. What often would be a maneuvering challenge is no longer a challenge. Power at will is a beautiful thing, 9 6 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

even for those who don’t thrive on tes-

cruise control, automatic high beams

plush as competitors. Trunk space is

tosterone. Freeway ramp acceleration

and lane-keep assist.

adequate, but not the cavernous car-

difficulties? Nope, not in this vehicle.

On the downside, heavy cars with

go container offerings of Cadillacs of

The top-line CT5-V includes stan-

superior performance are gas guzzlers.

dard features from the three addition-

The super sedan is constantly thirsty

What’s a first-year ride like this, al-

al less powerful trims. There’s Super

and has a $2,100 gas-guzzler tax. Its

ready an icon and the last of a kind

Cruise and a hands-free semi-auton-

fuel costs an estimated $8,250 more

 from a 120-year-old American auto-

omous driving system. The top-level

during the first five years of ownership

TITLE GOESIt’s likely an mobile company, worth?

navigation system is superior, and

than the average new vehicle.

yesteryear.

AND HERE easy choice forHERE Cadillac enthusiasts.

Other info goes here

the Bose premium audio package is

The driving quarters are comfort-

But it’s a not-so-wise selection for pru-

a music enthusiast’s treat. Multiple

able and spacious, with the exception

additional packages add more driver

of a lower back-seat roofline. Materi-

dent buyers unimpressed by speed, exhere.

assistance features such as adaptive

al quality is above average, but not as

and here and here and

cess and unbridled fun.

GGUULLFFSSHHOORREE BBUUSSI INNEESSSS JM UAY LY 2 0 2 2 9 7

AfterHours

J U LY 2 0 2 2

FITNESS

By James Raia

Step by Step THE UTILITY AND CONVENIENCE OF PEDOMETERS AND OTHER FITNESS MONITORS About 15 years after the chisel-faced crime fighter began

search website reports: “The rapid increase in demand

capturing criminals, Dick Tracy did something remark-

for multimedia devices and smartphones, coupled with

able for the first time. In his namesake comic strip, the

the surge in the adoption of fitness trackers and health-

detective talked into the watch fastened on his left wrist

based wearables, is anticipated to propel the market for

for two-way communication with his co-workers. It was

wearable technology.”

for fictional law enforcement officers.

Increased consumer awareness of the benefits of fitness activities makes monitoring progress and analyz-

But like freeze-dried food, driverless cars and robotic

ing the physiological data gathered more popular. From

surgery, the once-futuristic technology of a cartoon char-

about $100 to more than $500, a smartwatch can record

acter is now a reality for myriad uses. Wrist-worn mobile

and dissect nearly any physical activity as needed.

devices track users’ vitals, provide internet access, notify emergency contacts and count our steps.

“It’s the responsiveness of how you are doing,” says Dante Johnson of Fleet Feet in Fort Myers, which offers Garmin

Carrying a laptop on a wrist isn’t convenient or pru-

products exclusively. “It’s how quickly it updates the pace

dent. Wearing a fitness watch simplifies wearers’ life-

you’re running, as well as the different modes like its flash-

styles. It’s an exercise partner, always loyal as long as

light, training programs—and you can even race yourself,

it’s charged and on its owner’s wrist, hooked to attire or

lap to lap.”

stored in a pocket.

Modern-day fitness trackers arrived in 1965 with Man-

Where it all started is debatable. Swiss horologist Abra-

po-kei, which translates into “10,000 steps meter.” It was

ham-Louis Perrelet, inventor of the automatic watch, may

invented by Dr. Yoshiro Hatano, a professor at Kyushu

have created the first pedometer, a step counter, in 1777.

University in Fukuoka, Japan, who was researching how to

Thomas Jefferson, the country’s third president, brought

combat obesity. He believed 10,000 daily steps provided the

a crude pedometer back from a trip to France, in 1788. He

proper balance of caloric intake and activity-based calorie

made the contraption more viable and mechanical.

expenditure to maintain a healthy body. While the con-

Additional studies cite French craftsman Jean Fernel as maybe having invented the first pedometer in 1525. Or

cept has been questioned as not adequately beneficial, the “10,000-step” goal is still a benchmark in fitness trackers.

maybe it was Robert Hooke, an English scientist and ar-

Much has happened since Hatano’s studies. Polar watch-

chitect, in 1674. English watchmaker John Harwood was

es were introduced in 1982 to monitor heart rates. The idea

awarded the first pedometer patent in 1924.

was cultivated by the company five years earlier to record

Nearly 100 years later, the global wearables market is

the heart rates of cross-country skiers in Finland. Later,

predicted to reach $118 billion a year by 2028, accord-

mobile phones incorporated 3D accelerometers that mea-

ing to researchandmarkets.com. The global market re-

sure movement and vibration in a three-dimensional space.

9 8 G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2

gulfshorebusiness.com

Provided

1946, and catching bad people changed forever—at least



WEARABLES MARKET In 1924, the first patent for a pedometer was awarded.

Nearly 100 years later, the global wearables market is predicted to reach $118 billion a year by 2028.

Garmin introduced its first smartwatches, the G101, 201 and 301 in 2003. Nokia’s 5500 Sports handset, which debuted in 2006, is credited as the first phone able to accurately track the SAMSUNG GALAXY ACTIVE WATCH

user’s physical activity.

Fitness monitors in more recent years are categorized with the umbrella term “wearables.” Industry stalwarts include fitness trackers, smartwatches, fitness rings, cameras and virtual reality headsets. The Apple Watch phenomenon began in 2015 and has skyrocketed. Apple led the industry with a 36% market share in 2020, with buyers primarily interested in heart-tracking capabilities and older buyers seeking fall protection.

Apple Watches have limitations and are only compatible with iPhones; smartwatches made by Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit and others are also compatible with Android and iOS, but require installing an app.

The wearable industry also has critics. A report on Barclay’s

GARMIN 220 SPORT WATCH

Digital Wings, the international bank’s online platform, details potential security breaches, limited battery technology and expense as pitfalls in the wearables industry.

Further, it reported consumers can become obsessed with fitness data. Decreased work productivity and eating disorders can be perpetuated by obsessive wearable monitoring. Someone not used to always having a phone on them could require acclimation to a constant companion.

Researchers in the wearable industry at Duke University in North Carolina determined in 2015 that activity tracking can decrease enjoyment of whatever pastime someone is trying to

FITBIT CHARGE 5

quantify. Two years later, a study published in the journal Eating Behaviors also found associations between calorie-counting and/or fitness-tracking devices and eating disorder symptoms among college students. Some younger wearable users call their devices “the enemy.” It’s resulted in feelings of watch-wearing, fitness-related guilt.

“Don’t be obsessed with your times or so much worry about your pace,” says Johnson. “It’s better to realize the route you may be running on (or in other fitness activities) may require you to drop your pace at a certain point. On a treadmill, you may be able to consistently hold it.”

APPLE WATCH G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S J U LY 2 0 2 2 9 9

AfterHours NEW & NOTEWORTHY

J U LY 2 0 2 2

By James Raia

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Provided

Removing cholera, cryptosporidium, E. coli, giardia and salmonella from the water you’re about to drink could mean the difference between experiencing safe hydration or suffering. The filtration system in the Sawyer water bottle gets as close to guaranteeing the former as possible.

The simple-to-use system includes a 24-ounce BPA-free Tritan bottle, a cap that fits standard wide-mouth bottles, the dual threaded Mini Filter and a backwashing syringe. Altogether, it’s 9.5 inches tall and 3 inches wide, and weighs 7.5 ounces.

The bottle features a 0.1-micron absolute hollow fiber membrane filter. It removes 99.9% of all bacteria and protozoa and bacteria and 100% of microplastics—so you can fill the bottle and drink instantly from freshwater lakes, streams or rivers during domestic and international travel.

It’s an ideal companion while backpacking, camping, hiking and walking and for emergency preparedness. It filters as much as 100,000 gallons of water and is easily cleanable and reusable.

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W E E K E N D G E TA W AY

By Artis Henderson

Tallahassee on Top THE STATE CAPITAL IS RICH IN HISTORY, POLITICS, CULTURE Tallahassee was established as the Florida state capital in 1821, but the area surrounding the city has been on European maps since the 1500s.

Long occupied by the agrarian Apalachee people, the area slowly gave over to Spanish and other European settlers beginning in the 1600s. Today Tallahassee sits firmly at the center of Florida history, politics and culture—even if, to those of us in Southwest Florida, it still feels like a remote outpost. For those willing to make the trek, Tallahassee makes for an illuminating weekend away.

The Capitol Building Tallahassee has some of the best museums and historic sites in the state. Start with the Florida Historic Capitol Museum (400 S. Monroe St., High points include the restored governor’s pri-

Getty

Tallahassee; 850.487.1902; flhistoriccapitol.gov).

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RICH IN HISTORY Home to some of the best museums and historic sites in Florida, Tallahassee was established as the state capital in 1821 and originally occupied by the agrarian Apalachee people.

AfterHours W E E K E N D G E TA W AY

vate office from the early 1900s, the Civil Rights exhibit from the 1960s and a pair of boots from Lawton Chiles’ 1970 U.S. Senate campaign. Chiles walked 1,033 miles from the panhandle to the Florida Keys and earned the nickname “Walkin’ Lawton.”

Florida State University A visit to the university begins at the James D. Westcott Memorial Building (222 S. Copeland St., Tallahassee; fsu. edu), the architectural centerpiece of the campus and an iconic symbol of FSU. Originally built in 1910, the building was reconstructed after a fire in 1969. Today it stands as the administrative hub of the university. From there, visit the adjacent historic Eppes Hall, the nearby iron arch that serves as the entrance to the university and the Westcott Fountain that has been flowing for over 70 years.

Maclay Gardens The ornamental gardens of the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park (3540 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee; 850.487.4556;

floridastateparks.org)

were first planted in the early 1920s as part of a family winter estate. Today, the state park is spread over more than 1,000 acres and includes a secret garden, a reflecting pool, a walled garden and hundreds of camellias and azaleas.

Getty; Provided

The gardens have nature trails, as well as a lake where visitors can swim, fish, canoe and kayak.

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ORNAMENTAL GARDENS The gardens at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park were first planted as part of a family winter estate in the 1920s. Now the park is spread over more than 1,000 acres.

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MODERN TWIST A WWII-era industrial park has been transformed into boutiques, galleries and eateries in the Railroad Square Art District.

2022 GIVING GUIDE: BUSINESS GIVES BACK Don’t miss out on the

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For more information visit: gulfshorebusiness.com/givingguide GIVING GUIDE:

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Building Business.

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Railroad Square Art District After the historic sites and museums,

Busey’s experienced wealth management team, Charles Idelson | Executive Vice President, Regional President; Susan Chicone | Senior Vice President, Private Client Manager; and Brent Crawford | Executive Vice President, Executive Managing Director are right beside you.

step into something more thoroughly modern: the Railroad Square Art District (Railroad Square, Tallahassee; 850.224.1308; artdistrict.com). The

Business | Wealth Management | Personal

WWII-era industrial park has been transformed into boutiques, galleries and eateries. Try the Crum Box Gastgarden (653 Railroad Square, Tallahassee; 850.599.0633; facebook.com/ thecrumbox) for house-made sausages, regional craft brews and live local music. Just look for the red caboose.

Hotel Duval from the Marriott Autograph Collection The Autograph Collection’s Hotel Duval (415 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee; 850.224.6000; marriott.com) is at the epicenter of Tallahassee, close to the university, museums and the capitol building. The historic structure was originally built in 1951, and the modern-day boutique hotel has signature amenities that fans of the Autograph Collection have come to appreciate, like expansive bathrooms and fine de-

Provided

tailing. Round out a stay in the state’s capital with a cocktail at Hotel Duval’s chic rooftop bar.

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GuestList

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RECOGNITION

Women in Business Awards Hosted at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa

by Gulfshore Business

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Photography by Reagan Rule

CAPTION INSET 1. Mike Duvall, Kimmi McGonnel, Rob Whyte, Jen Whyte, Monica Dixon 2. Stefanie Edwards, Rebekah Barney, Rachel Pierce 3. Karen Mosteller, Gail Markham 4. Krista Anderson, Mayor Kevin Anderson, Sarah Newcomb 5. Jill Palmer, Marie Grasmeier, Jamie Andersen 6. Marcella Sousa, Erica Brace, Janeen Jones 7. Anna Hansen-Price, Teri Hansen, Julia Babair

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G U L F S H O R E B U S I N E S S JULY 2022 109

GuestList RECOGNITION

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CAPTION INSET 1. Pamela Beckman, Gerri Moll, Adria Starkey 2. Lois Thome, Tracy Connelly, Katie Crabtree 3. Scott Burgess, Nancy Dauphinais 4. Amy Frith, Chanel McGregor, Nina Gasparrini 5. Trista Meister, Jennifer Gebeau, Anne Frazier, 6. Kathleen Passidomo, Ingrid Aielli, Julie Schmelzle 7. Robbie Roepstorff, Geoff Roepstorff 8. Josh Milton, Chelsea Castoria, Connie Ramos-Williams, April Bordeaux, Rick Williams

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UNWIND

By Justin Paprocki

Walk the Mindfulness Trail GIVING NATURE A RELAXATION BOOST ON SANIBEL ISLAND Typically, a nature walk is a relaxing experience—at least, in theory. But how often instead of relaxing do you get distracted thinking about all the things on your to-do list? A new experience at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island can help ease your mind a little bit more.

The refuge earlier this year unveiled its Mindfulness Trail, a third-of-a-mile path along a marsh in the Bailey Tract. Along the path are five signs, each with a QR code (so be sure to bring along your smartphone and ear buds). Each QR code is a link to a different short recording on basic mindfulness techniques. The purpose of mindfulness is being able to live in the moment, so each recording will encourage participants to stay grounded and engage their senses. For example, the first recording is from retired orthopedic surgeon Dr. Joe Blanda, who describes the health benefits of nature. Studies have shown that

then began using the recordings. In February, they held the in-

just being in nature can lower blood pressure, boost

augural Wellness Week full of activities such as yoga classes and

the immune system and reduce stress, among other

wellness seminars.

Even if mindfulness isn’t your thing (or taking your iPhone

The idea for the trail grew out of brainstorming

along on your walks), the trail is still a peaceful way to discon-

sessions at the refuge during the early days of the

nect, said supervisory refuge ranger Toni Westland. “There’s no

pandemic. The refuge was attempting to find safe

better place than the Bailey Tract to feel like you’re alone in the

and relaxing ways to draw people back out of their

wilderness,” she says. For more information, visit dingdarling-

homes. Staff started with guided mindfulness walks,

society.org.

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health benefits.

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After you have completed all the above bonus qualifications, we will deposit the bonus payment into your new account within 30 calendar days after the Qualification Period. 4. Online Banking Services. Mobile banking is offered as a service to Wintrust online banking customers. Use of online banking is required for access to mobile/remote banking. Remote deposit requires an established business checking account with the bank. Online banking processing cutoffs remain the same in mobile. Mobile/internet connectivity is required. Third party message, data, and/or internet fees may apply. A listing of WTFC locations can be found here: wintrust.com/locations.

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(239) 591-2803 4513 Executive Drive, Naples, FL 34119 (1/2 mile East of I-75 off Immokalee Road by Quail Creek/Longshore Lakes) Accepting Medicare and most commercial insurance plans

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661 Goodlette Frank Road, Suite 103 Naples, FL 34102

• D.O. New York College of Osteopathic Medicine/NYIT, 1983

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Physicians Regional Medical Center 8340 Collier Blvd., Suite 205 Naples, FL 34114

• University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, 2006

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ZDENKO KORUNDA, MD 4513 Executive Drive Naples, FL 34119

• M.D. University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia, 1996

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