Suture manufacturer finds home in SWFL SUTUMED

Sutumed Corpora�on is one of the business leaders in surgical sutures in the worldwide market. Having its corporate headquarters in Fort Myers, Sutumed is sourcing 73 business partners in over 40 countries around the globe with their medical and veterinary products. Sutumed’s product por�olio includes all ranges of surgical sutures, from general surgery to specialty lines for ophthalmic, cardiovascular, orthopedic, dental, microsurgery, and plas�c surgery.

The story behind this successful family-owned company, with more than 35 years in the business, relies on the founder and principal stockholder of the company, Juan Gamboa He has also been a respected member of the Lee County community for almost 20 years. Juan saw an opening opportunity to source customers with an affordable product that maintains its integrity and quality, a combina�on that, at that �me, was challenging to find since renowned brand leaders dominated the global suture market. S�ll, Sutumed was able to compete and create its name in the market, making it today a favorite to many surgeons because of its ease to use and consistent quality.

Sutumed’s current focus remains on growing their veterinary suture market in Florida, especially in the SWFL region, with their product branded Veter. Sut is widely available through specialized veterinary e-commerces and regular distribu�on channels. Addi�onally, the Sutumed brand product line is being used by specialized surgeons at several surgical facili�es in SE Florida, mainly in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Sutumed con�nues to focus on offering its specialty product line to local surgeons in SW Florida, especially in the Fort Myers and Naples area.

For more information, contact us at info@sutumed.us or (239)590-8484.

Charlotte Page 12

Cheney Brothers, a broadline freight distributor, has proven Charlotte County is ideal for servicing markets from Tampa to Naples to all the communities west of Lake Okeechobee. Other distribution companies are taking notice. FedEx is under construction on a 250,000-square-foot distribution facility. Equus Capital Partners, a national industrial developer, purchased 29 acres across from FedEx and broke ground on a 378,000 speculative distribution facility.

Charlotte County has always been limited with space in available buildings so any spec product helps attract new or expanding existing businesses. A development being built in four, 40,000-square-foot increments recently opened their first phase and had such success in leasing that they have started phase two.

How about aviation? Charlotte Technical College’s Aviation Airframe & Powerplant Mechanics school opened last year and received a $3 million state grant to expand. Buzz about this school from the aviation industry is amazing. With available land, a growing airport, and these prized graduates, dozens of aviation businesses have Charlotte County on their radar.

We are confronted with two major issues. Number one, workforce and number two, housing alternatives for that work- force. We launched a campaign to attract qualified, dedicated professionals to our region – we call it PCS to Charlotte County. Partnering with our larger employers, we are contacting military personnel who have given notice to end their military careers and introducing them to the opportunities and quality of life available here in Charlotte County.

As housing affordability continues to price area workers out of our market, our office introduced an affordable living alternative to help businesses attract and retain employees. Think smaller units, fully furnished, and equipped, with utilities included all at a rental rate affordable to our nurses, teachers, sheriff deputies, distribution and manufacturing workers and students. We organize roundtable discussions with several larger employers and qualified developers to meet the needs of the businesses while providing a feasible return on the developer’s investment. The county will maintain its small-town charm but look different while providing employment opportunities and activities for a younger generation.

Dave Gammon has been with the Charlotte County EDO since 2016. He, and his team of four – Kay, Joshua, Amanda and Janet – enjoy the challenges and opportunities associated with Economic Development as they work with new and existing businesses.

My

/ ARCHITECTURAL GLASS

MY Shower Door/D3 Glass opens first Architectural Glass

MY Shower Door / D3 Glass is an award-winning industry leader known for state-of-the-art manufacturing, design, and quality workmanship. Founded in 2003, MY Shower Door, was dependent on glass manufacturers un�l we launched D3 Glass in 2013. This move was a game-changer, allowing us to manufacture our own glass and expand with fabrica�on and tempering over the past nine years. We currently make and install frameless shower doors for nine MY Shower Door loca�ons as well as other glass shops in Florida. Other products include bulletproof glass, decora�ve glass, wine closets, glass staircases, office par��ons and more.

Even in the face of economic setbacks such as the early 2000s recession following the dotcom bubble burst and 9/11, the 2008 recession, and the recent turmoil caused by COVID-19, we con�nue to strive, expanding our services and our footprint. The company has grown from a Naples showroom and 56 employees in 2014, to 180 employees in 2022, as well as the addi�on of D3 Glass and showrooms in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples (2), Sarasota, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando and Boca Raton. The firm also has affiliate stores in Oklahoma City, Okla.; Edmond, Okla.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn., and York, Pa.

Manufacturing our own glass has given us the op- portunity to take things even further with our newest division, MY Architectural Glass. MY Architectural Glass provides custom architectural glass solu�ons designed and installed with an emphasis on brilliance, durability, and func�onality. In May of 2022, MY Architectural Glass opened the first Architectural Glass showroom in Florida giving designers, contractors, and homeowners a place to not only see our products but collaborate on a design with our team. We manufacture, design, install and warranty all of our products.

Understanding each client’s project is the most important aspect of our business. We want to ensure that every detail is covered so our customers have complete confidence that their project is in good hands. With our industry knowledge, we work with each customer to ensure the best glass design solu�on for their project is proposed. We are commi�ed to innova�on and look at each project as an opportunity to con�nually raise the bar in the glass industry and strive for perfec�on in every aspect of our business.

Understanding each client’s project is the most important aspect of our business. We want to ensure that every detail is covered so our customers have complete confidence that their project is in good hands.

Very few companies in the U.S. have completed as many jobs and have such high ra�ngs as we do. The company has received local, regional and na�onal recogni�on for business accomplishments and products, including the 2022 Top 50 Glaziers in the U.S. by Glass Magazine, and as a six-�me honoree of Inc. magazine’s Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing and most successful independent businesses in the country. For more informa�on, visit MYShowerDoor.com.

Bill Daubmann is President and Founder of MY Shower Door, D3 Glass, and MY Architectural Glass, an awardwinning nationally recognized designer, installer and manufacturer of customized residential and commercial glass products. The company is known for its handson approach and collaboration with clients to truly understand and exceed their expectations. For more information, visit MYShowerDoor.com, email info@ myshowerdoor.com, or call (239) 596-3255.

MY Architectural Glass provides high-quality wine closets, glass railing systems, and glass office partitions for the discerning customer who expects nothing but the best. Our unique architectural glass solutions are designed and installed with the same high-quality service experience that made our sister company, MY Shower Door, the standard in the industry.

» Interior/exterior Glass Railings

» Interior Glass Entry Doors

» Exterior Wind-screen Systems

» Elaborate Staircases

» Cabinetry and Shelving

» Wine Closets and Cellars

» Office Partitions

» Backsplashes