Palm Beach County Business | Summer 2022

QUARTERLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2022

BDB.ORG

BUSINESS PALM BEACH COUNTY

Dr. John Kelly’s Legacy at FAU Relocation

Expansion

Investment

Next-Gen Workers Who Chose PBC

Niagara Bottling: Growth Flows The Future of Hospitality

Entrepreneurs Swim with Sharks

Life Insurance

Health Insurance Employee Benefits

Business and Retirement Planning- Long Term Care

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PBC BUSINESS | SUMMER 2022

Contents PALM BEACH COUNTY BUSINESS D E PA R T M E N T S

F E AT U R E S F E AT U R E S

12 In the Know from the CEO page 2

News & Events page 12

4 8

Palm Beach County: A Young, Futuristic Oasis page 4

Kelly’s Legacy: Retiring President’s Mark on FAU page 8

County Corner page 13

CareerSource Palm Beach County: Business Solutions page 15

6 10

AKA West Palm: Long-Term Play for Long-Term Stays page 6

Niagara Bottling: Growth Keeps Flowing page 10

15

7 11 What’s in the Water: Locals Shine with “Shark Tank” Backers

HotelPlanner.com: The Online Lodging Leader page 7

page 11

SUMMER 2022 | PBC BUSINESS 1

IN THE KNOW

From the CEO Supporting Sustainable Business Success AT THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BOARD, we have—and share—our panoramic view of the changes, challenges and opportunities that touch every corner of Palm Beach County and the organizations that call it home. From target industries to economic drivers to prospects for our future, it’s a unique perspective that’s constantly in motion.

This issue of Palm Beach County Business magazine reveals the lifecycle of a community as dynamic as ours. Profiles of three members of our next-generation workforce—two of whom relocated here from the north and another who became a first responder with the help of CareerSource—show how and why they have chosen Palm Beach County as their place to live, work, play and stay.

That next-gen cohort also includes several entrepreneurs in their 20s and 30s—each of whom presented innovative ideas that lured several investors from the show “Shark Tank.”

Even as other sectors thrive—such as the manufacturing space, where Niagara Bottling has found its flowing and growing niche—hospitality remains a core part of the county’s identity. We talked with the heads of AKA West Palm— the luxury, long-term-stay hotelier making its play in the city—and online lodging leader HotelPlanner.com, who moved here from California and never looked back.

And we bid farewell to someone who truly put the county and region on the global educational map. The planned retirement at year’s end of President John Kelly of Florida Atlantic University closes a remarkable chapter in the school’s history. From academic and athletic achievement to record-setting gifts to the school, Dr. Kelly raised the school’s and South Florida’s prestige.

As one chapter closes, others open. That’s the continuing story of Palm Beach County, where the future never rests.

Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. 310 Evernia Street West Palm Beach, FL 33401 561.835.1008 | bdb.org

Kelly Smallridge President & CEO 561.835.1008 Ext. 4121 ksmallridge@bdb.org Gary Hines Senior Vice President – Administration 561.835.1008 Ext. 4111 ghines@bdb.org Lisa Anderson Vice President – Private Funding 561.835.1008 Ext. 4110 landerson@bdb.org Kristen Boyd Liberman Vice President – Marketing & Media Relations 561.835.1008 Ext. 4106 kliberman@bdb.org Tim Dougher Vice President – Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion 561.835.1008 Ext. 4131 tdougher@bdb.org Shawn Rowan Vice President – Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion 561.835.1008 Ext. 4108 srowan@bdb.org Whitney West Vice President – Strategic Initiatives and Events 561.835.1008 Ext. 4101 wwest@bdb.org

Kelly Smallridge President and CEO ON THE COVER

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA is Home to 39 Cities and Towns, Including: City of Atlantis City of Belle Glade City of Boca Raton City of Boynton Beach Town of Briny Breezes Town of Cloud Lake City of Delray Beach Town of Glen Ridge Village of Golf City of Greenacres Town of Gulf Stream Town of Haverhill Town of Highland Beach

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Town of Hypoluxo Town of Juno Beach Town of Jupiter Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony Town of Lake Clarke Shores Town of Lake Park City of Lake Worth Beach Town of Lantana Town of Loxahatchee Groves Town of Manalapan Town of Mangonia Park Village of North Palm Beach Town of Ocean Ridge

PBC BUSINESS | SUMMER 2022

City of Pahokee Town of Palm Beach City of Palm Beach Gardens Town of Palm Beach Shores Village of Palm Springs City of Riviera Beach Village of Royal Palm Beach City of South Bay Town of South Palm Beach Village of Tequesta Village of Wellington City of Westlake City of West Palm Beach

Dr. John Kelly, President Florida Atlantic University PUBLISHED BY

Passport Publications | passport media group 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 1550 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 561.472.8778 | PassportPublications.com Palm Beach County Business Quarterly is published by Passport Publications & Media Corporation, on behalf of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, and the publisher. © 2022 Passport Publications & Media Corporation

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Palm Beach County:

A Young, Futuristic Oasis NEXT-GEN MIGRATION TO PALM BEACH COUNTY has captured national attention, with publications calling it a “youthquake” that’s home to a spirited “younger groove.”

Whatever you call it, younger professionals are making their mark here. With a historic influx since even before the pandemic that continues to reshape the county’s demographic makeup, highly skilled professionals, executives and entrepreneurs are changing the face of what is now known as "Wall Street South.”

The numbers speak volumes. The county’s $61,040 average salary is the highest in Florida, notes Enterprise Florida. The county’s year-over-year gain for average weekly wage at 15.6 percent was the largest out of the 343 largest counties in America, notes SIA. Those who come are finding jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes the county’s 2.3 percent unemployment rate is lower than the national rate.

Deals keep coming. Of the 21 new companies facilitated by the Business Development Board since October 2021, 14 were from out of state. In all, they brought 1,352 high-salary jobs and nearly $90 million in capital investment. Some $34 billion left New York State, and Palm Beach County was the No. 1 recipient for that wealth migration, notes Uncast. The Business Development Board is currently working on about 50 deals from the Northeast, primarily New York City, Boston and Greenwich, with no sign of inquiries slowing down.

Yadira DeMott was born in Michigan and college-educated in Montana, but now makes her home in Palm Beach County.

THE 23-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS development associate at Straticon, a general contractor for commercial development projects, sought opportunity, excitement and diversity of people – without the “harsh winters” she knew back home.

As a young professional, DeMott’s job provides the freedom to learn and grow without limitations, especially in her role bringing companies together to build remarkable projects. She sees this spirit of opportunity in the faces of those like her around the county, whether at work, at the beach or out on the town.

“There is an ambitious energy among the younger population here that I could feel all the way from Montana. That’s truly what attracted me here,” says DeMott, who uses her membership in the BDB to network at events and learn more about the market. “I wanted to connect with other young professionals that work hard and play hard. Everything is really close by, and you get such a different vibe in such a short distance. And who doesn’t want to live by the ocean?”

After a half-year here, “I know I’m in the perfect place to achieve my goals.”

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PBC BUSINESS | SUMMER 2022

FEATURE

Training & Retaining Top Talent

TRAINING & RETAINING TOP TALENT Young workers in Palm Beach County learn about career possibilities—often long before they take their first full-time job. Programs include: High School: The annual Claim Your Future Showcase pairs eager School District of Palm Beach County students with 50 top employers to highlight available career paths.

College: The Virtual Palm Beach County Internship Expo provides public and private high school and college students a chance at summer internships across in-demand career paths.

Workforce: The BDB Summer Intern Series shows young adults from across the country why they should choose to start a career in Palm Beach County.

Joe Sacht is from New York, but he was born for Palm Beach County.

THE 25-YEAR-OLD CYBERSECURITY engineer relocated to Palm Beach County from New York when his employer, Drawbridge Capital, offered a generous transfer package as part of its own headquarters relocation to Palm Beach Gardens.

The pandemic was the impetus. That was just the beginning.

Everything about the area is attractive to Sacht. He has access to the burgeoning South Florida tech industry that offers countless opportunities for recruitment and advancement. Suburban living is ideal for raising a family. Then there’s the climate, which he called “unbeatable—especially for someone who likes to fish as much as I do,” said Sacht, who lives in the Abacoa enclave and goes fishing off Jupiter inlet almost every morning before work.

“This is the best of both worlds,” he said. “Comfortable suburban living with the diverse culture and amenities of a big city right around the corner.”

SUMMER 2022 | PBC BUSINESS 5

FEATURE

AKA West Palm: Long-Term Play for Long-Term Stays

Patrick Michaels

WHEN EXECUTIVES WITH AKA HOTELS+HOTEL Residences were scouting the location for their next luxury, long-term hotel experience, the headlines told them Palm Beach County was the place to hang their marquee.

They read about record inbound migration and corporate relocations, long-term business and executive travelers, and the highsalary, digital nomads who can work from anywhere—but refuse to sacrifice quality of life. A local investor in the company even told them Palm Beach County would be the ideal market for their fully appointed luxury apartments that deliver the style, sophistication and hospitality of an intimate hotel.

This fall, their 215-room property, formerly the Current Apartments on South Olive Avenue, debuts after undergoing a complete renovation to meet their standards, said Patrick Michaels, managing director of AKA West Palm. As their slogan suggests, “Don’t just visit—live it.”

“Florida has always been on our radar,” he said. The company acquired the Conrad Hotel in Miami last year. “We’re a first-of-our-kind option at this level in this market.”

Founded by Korman Communities—the first player in the furnished apartment concept targeting long-term travelers—AKA sees itself as “co-opetition” with local hoteliers who can’t serve long-term clientele.

In turn, it sends traditional short-term guests to the hotels.

Michaels praised the BDB and President and CEO Kelly Smallridge for “impactful” assistance. Introductions to local businesses and chambers are helping AKA get entrenched in the market. “For us, it’s very important to have that strong partnership.”

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PBC BUSINESS | SUMMER 2022

FEATURE

HotelPlanner:

A Hotel Booking Engine with Global Ambition

Tim Hentschel

John Prince

WHEN HOTELPLANNER co-founders Tim Hentschel and John Prince sought to move their hospitality startup from overtaxed and overregulated California, they looked nationwide.

They quickly set their sights on Florida—and particularly West Palm Beach. They knew lower taxes, fewer regulations and “a very welcoming climate” would be just the right environment for their growing business.

That was 2010. The move to Datura Street in downtown West Palm Beach remains the “perfect” call for the travel technology company, said Chief Communications Officer & Head of Investor Relations Philip Ballard. “As West Palm Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry has grown in the past decade, HotelPlanner has grown in kind, from a company focused on just group travel to now serving all travelers globally.”

Among the city’s attributes, West Palm Beach has access to three international airports for their executives, who regularly travel the world. The company has developed a good rapport with Mayor James and other local elected officials. Importantly, all the signature hotel flags have a presence in town.

While many travel and hospitality businesses

struggled during the pandemic, HotelPlanner pivoted to serve a rapidly changing market.

Together, CEO Hentschel, a third-generation hotelier and graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, and co-founder Prince sharpened their search engine marketing to drive more hotel bookings among the millions who were still traveling, including first responders, nurses, doctors, work crews, salespeople, and even truckers.

In 2020, HotelPlanner also launched its “global gig economy-based” call center platform, the first of its kind for an online travel agency. To date, they have onboarded nearly 7,000 remote agents—including veterans and the disabled—who can work whenever and from wherever they want, Ballard said.

The model is thriving. In 2021, the company achieved a record $53 million in net revenues.

They’re currently experiencing nearly 100-percent year-over-year growth with $100 million in net revenues forecasted for 2022.

“We believe we made a great decision placing our global headquarters here, and we’re very bullish on the long-term vibrancy of West Palm Beach and the growth prospects for HotelPlanner,” Ballard said.

SUMMER 2022 | PBC BUSINESS 7

FEATURE

Dr. Kelly’s Legacy:

Retiring President’s Mark on FAU

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PBC BUSINESS | SUMMER 2022

Florida Atlantic University

SINCE HIS ARRIVAL AS PRESIDENT AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY in 2014, Dr. John Kelly has been an undeniably pivotal leader.

“The Kelly Years” saw millions of dollars in record gift-giving, partnerships that elevated FAU’s stature among the higher education and clinical and scientific research communities, and even greater athletic performance. We thank President Kelly, who received the Sun Sentinel’s 2020 Excalibur Award for Large Business Leader of the Year in Palm Beach County, for his steady and transformative leadership.

A very abbreviated list of FAU’s accomplishments under Dr. Kelly’s leadership includes…

Donations: In 2022, FAU received the largest philanthropic gift in university history—$28 million from Ann and John Wood to provide scholarships for aspiring physicians. In 2021, FAU received a $10 million gift to name FAU’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute at the John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter. In 2020-21, the FAU Foundation received $56.5 million. In 2020, a $20 million gift established the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Institute for Holocaust and Jewish Studies. Previous gifts include a $7 million gift to name the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work; a $16 million gift to build the Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence; and a gift from President and Mrs. Kelly and local philanthropists Aubrey and Sally Strul to create the Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars Program for talented, low-income, first-generation students.

Partnerships: In 2016, FAU’s Brain Institute became home to a Nikon Center of Excellence—one of seven in the U.S. and 17 worldwide. In 2015, FAU renewed its relationship with Scripps Florida and the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, allowing FAU students to work alongside some of the world’s leading scientific researchers.

Academic Achievement: Public policy think tank Third Way ranked FAU No. 63 in the U.S. for economic mobility. FAU was recognized as a 2022-2023 Military Friendly® School for the 11th year in a row and was recognized for the first time as a Military Spouse Friendly® School. In 2020, FAU received the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. The College of Engineering and Computer Science ranked it among the top three fastest progressing engineering colleges in the nation. In 2019, FAU debuted on the U.S. News & World Report list for Top Public Schools. It was nationally ranked for Online Bachelor’s and MBA Programs, Social Mobility and as among the most ethnically diverse universities (and the most diverse public university in Florida). The Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing topranked for Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs in Florida and No. 7 in the nation. FAU ranked No. 2 in Florida and No. 24 nationally by College Consensus for providing a transformative education with low tuition costs.

Athletics: FAU’s baseball, softball, basketball, football, tennis, beach volleyball and women’s soccer teams earned successively greater achievements, winning Conference USA titles, All-Conference awards and national rankings.

PBC BUSINESS | SUMMER 2022

The Kelly Years

SUMMER 2022 | PBC BUSINESS 9

FEATURE

Niagara Bottling: Growth Keeps Flowing Michael Price

NIAGARA WATER IS A STAPLE ON STORE SHELVES across the region. Getting product to market has only grown for the company that first turned on its spigots in Palm Beach County in 2018. In no small measure, it required vision—by the company, and county leaders.

When they first scouted the market, executives sought a destination that had a talented labor pool, available utilities and a robust logistics location and infrastructure. They also wanted a welcoming business, governmental and regulatory community that would allow for greater expansion—even beyond what was initially contemplated, said Todd J. Uhlick, the company’s Vice President Expansion & Real Estate.

With each permit application for growth, the county has been true to its word, embracing each bottling line expansion and supporting Niagara’s needs, he said. Tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure and facility investment later, including dozens of new jobs, the company remains an enthusiastic business resident.

“We have exceeded our expectations with a total of five bottling lines in this facility,” he said of its expansive plant at the Palm Beach Park of Commerce in Jupiter. “We have had the good fortune of adding more bottling lines than we had initially projected, and Palm Beach County has been there to support that growth.”

— Todd J. Uhlick, Working with county leadership, including BDB President and Vice President CEO Kelly Smallridge and Ramsay Bulkeley, Executive Director of Expansion & Real Estate Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning & Building, has revealed “superior” economic developers, transactional support, development liaisons and a “can-do spirit,” Uhlick said.

“Although many communities proclaim they will do certain enumerated things,” he said, “Palm Beach County matches its words with targeted actions.”

“Palm Beach County matches its words with targeted actions.”

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PBC BUSINESS | SUMMER 2022

FEATURE

What’s in the Water: Locals Shine with Shark Tank Backers

Michael and Shirah Benarde, siblings

Patrick Murphy

Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner

PALM BEACH COUNTY AND SOUTH FLORIDA are teeming with swimmers in an ocean of entrepreneurship. Three upstart businesses earned recognition—and investments—from celebrity venture partners from the competitive business reality show “Shark Tank.”

The Benarde siblings—Michael, 25, and Shirah, 20—last year landed a deal with shark Lori Greiner, who invested $60,000 for a 25-percent stake in NightCap. The drink-spike prevention “scrunchie” hair tie features a stretchable nylon fabric cover to protect drinks from date-rape drugs, bugs or other harmful contaminants, which is hidden in the scrunchie.

The night of their airing, they doubled their sales. The month after their airing, they did $250,000 in sales. Since then, including an updated “Shark Tank” appearance this April, they’ve done over $3 million in sales, brought out new lines, sold products to universities nationwide, and inked a deal in the UK. As for their shark, the siblings always thought Greiner would be the perfect fit. “It was less about what we thought she could tangibly do for us and more about being the right person to represent the brand,” Michael said.

Coastal Construction is one of the region’s largest general contractors. Yet Coastal VP Patrick Murphy knew the sector could use some automation. That’s when Murphy, a millennial and former U.S. Congressman, created Togal.AI. The software measures, updates and labels construction blueprints, turning into seconds a process that can take weeks.

Shark Kevin O’Leary voted for Togal.AI in Miami’s eMerge Americas competition, earning the company venture funding and prime-time exposure.

What makes the region a hotspot for innovation? Murphy said it’s the energy “that is unlike any other place. Our startup team is made of many locals, who share the values of hard work, optimism and creativity.”

Former NASA intern Alexiou Gibson created The Transformation Factory. The Wellington-based site offers information, support and a line of healthy sea moss superfood products for people undergoing a “transformational” journey. On this year’s season finale, Gibson received a 20-percent buy for $600,000 from “sharks” O’Leary and Kevin Hart.

SUMMER 2022 | PBC BUSINESS 11

PBC BUSINESS | SUMMER 2022

News + Events Buildings at Research Park at FAU Sold for $37.5 Million

ModMed Head Among Top HealthTech CEOs

Seven multi-tenant buildings at the Research Park at FAU recently were sold for $37.5 million. The buyers were PEBB Enterprises and joint venture partner Banyan Development. The 308,305 square feet of multiuse space currently has tenants in such sectors as aerospace, life sciences and engineering.

Daniel Cane, the co-founder and CEO of Boca Raton-based healthtech firm ModMed, has been named among the nation’s top 50 CEOs by Healthcare Technology Report. ModMed’s intelligent cloud platform delivers electronic health records, practice management systems and revenue cycle management services that are transforming health care for thousands of ambulatory surgical centers and medical specialty practices.

ModMed has been recognized as one of Inc. magazine’s Best Places to Work and a South Florida Business Journal “Business of the Year” four times in the past 10 years.

County Lures Family Office Growth

Sweet Ship Sets Sail

Kelly Smallridge and R. Scott Beach

The migration of family offices and investment firms to Palm Beach County, as well as family governance and intrafamily dynamics, “rising-gen” development and leadership, and investment trends and opportunities in EdTech and digital currency were the topics at law firm Day Pitney’s annual Palm Beach Family Office Forum at the PGA National Resort and Spa. R. Scott Beach, Chair of the firm’s Corporate and Family Office practices, opened the event. BDB President and CEO Kelly Smallridge discussed investment and expansion driving county growth.

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PBC BUSINESS | SUMMER 2022

“Knot Refined,” a 450-foot-long, ocean-going dry-cargo barge, set sail on its maiden voyage in May from the Port of Palm Beach. The first ship of its size built in the U.S. since the early 2000s, the state-of-the-art vessel carried 18,000 tons of Palm Beach County-grown and -milled raw sugar to vessel owner American Sugar Refining Inc.’s Domino® Sugar Refinery in New York. ASR is a subsidiary of Florida Crystals Corporation and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida.

DEPARTMENT

County Corner Say YES to Small Business Success!

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has reshaped the business world in ways that no one could have imagined, affecting businesses from small to large.

What do we do now? Where do we start? What are the lasting effects? We cannot hit rewind, but many businesses learned new ways to adapt and survive in these challenging times.

Many businesses in Palm Beach County and the rest of the United States are facing a critical shortage of employees. Everywhere you go, you see signs in windows displaying “We are hiring.” According to a Pew Research Center survey, this is the result of workers quitting their jobs at record rates for various reasons including low pay, lack of opportunities for advancement, feeling disrespected, having child care issues, lack of flexible work hours, or a lack of benefits including health insurance and paid time off. Older workers left for early retirement. These are just a few reasons that have contributed to the phenomenon called “the great resignation.” Another reason that is seldom mentioned is that many Americans decided to start their own businesses.

Staying home during the pandemic not only provided many Americans with time to reflect on their work-life balance, but also allowed some households to save a little extra money. A few realized they did not like their working environment or no longer wanted to work for someone else. This and other factors appear to have contributed to the submission of 5.4 million applications for business ID numbers in the United States in 2021, an increase of more than 50 percent from pre-pandemic 2019. For now, this has halted and perhaps reversed a decades-long decline in the pace of entrepreneurship.

During the month of February 2021 in Florida alone, 50,972 businesses were founded. Recognizing that starting a business comes with a lot of risks and costs— such as higher health care costs for the self-employed, irregular paychecks and a high risk of failure—one of the many options that the Palm Beach County Department

of Housing and Economic Development (DHED) offers is an assortment of programs to position a new venture for success. DHED supports local entrepreneurs through programs and partnerships.

Recently, the Federal Reserve has increased interest rates, and traditional banking historically has been tough to finance startup businesses. However, here at DHED, we have a product tailored to accommodate the needs of small businesses: the microloan program. This low-interest, fixed-rate program provides up to $25,000 to help new businesses with start-up costs, equipment purchases, or working capital, and requires a minimum creation of one full-time job.

In addition, DHED contracts with business incubators and local organizations that offer hands-on assistance to startup and early stage entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Center for Technology, Enterprise & Development Inc. (The TED Center, https://tedcenter.org) and the Center for Enterprise Opportunity (CEO, www.ceoventures.org) offer business consultation, technical assistance, networking connections, management and computer training, rental space, and access to capital services.

The Black Business Investment Corporation (BBIC, www.pbcbbic.biz) offers financial assistance and training programs to qualified businesses.

Palm Beach County is committed to building upon its healthy business environment, and as such, hosted an Economic Summit this June.

To learn more about DHED’s business programs, visit our webpage at www.pbcgov.org/HED, or call Meri Weymer at 561-233-3600.

By Jonathan B. Brown Director of Housing and Economic Development Palm Beach County

SUMMER 2022 | PBC BUSINESS 13

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DEPARTMENT

Business Solutions Restarting a ‘People Person’s’ Career Success!

Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort and Spa

Toscha Otero

TOSCHA OTERO IS AT HER BEST SERVING CUSTOMERS . She’s worked as an administrative assistant, in front desk positions, and even drove a 14passenger Lincoln Navigator limousine in New York. “You can’t get any more customer service than that,” she said. “People feel comfortable speaking to me. I’m lucky I have that gift.”

So when she lost her last position, this people person was out of place. She went on a few job interviews with area hotels, but hiring managers said she lacked experience.

Then Otero visited CareerSource. The organization helped Otero polish her résumé, post it to different job sites and surf their own online job database. CareerSource staff reviewed her job skills and discussed interview tips. A hospitality recruiter then recommended Otero for a job with the Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort and Spa. Otero interviewed on Tuesday, and by Thursday she had landed a job as an administrative assistant with the Maintenance and Facilities Department.

Otero is the latest in a dozen or so hires the resort has made through CareerSource, said General Manager Roger Amidon. CareerSource knows the type of job candidate best suited to the property’s HR needs—like recommending a candidate who formerly worked with a condo association. “That familiarity with our resort and HR department helps make sure we get just the right candidate.”

SUMMER 2022 | PBC BUSINESS 15

DEPARTMENT

Business Solutions CareerSource Sparks Young Man’s Future

Torrance Oats Jr. Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue

LIKE SO MANY TEENS HIS AGE, TORRANCE OATS JR., was a high-school student with no precise plans for his future. He knew he wanted a fulfilling career but wasn’t sure how to find it.

In his senior year, he enrolled in the City of Riviera Beach Youth Empowerment Program (YEP). The afterschool leadership program assists students ages 11-20 in a host of areas, including career exploration. The career that intrigued Oats was fire rescue. Once he graduated from high school in 2020, Oats performed an initial internship in 2021. He was hooked.

“It really lit a passion for me and made me want to continue,” he said.

YEP counselors connected Oats with CareerSource. Beyond help with his résumé, networking and applying for jobs, his career counselor helped Oats secure financing to attend EMT school and pursue additional career training.

This June, he passed the National Registry of Emergency CareerSource Palm Beach County’s full-service centers are staffed with Medical Technicians. He’s performing a paid internship with fire career coaches and consultants who are dedicated to serving first-time, rescue, then will begin fire school this fall. Once he completes the experienced and professional job seekers. The services include career yearlong program, a spot likely will be available in the city’s fire consulting, computers for job searches, internet access to our department. statewide jobs database Employ Florida, job search and placement “I’m right in there,” he said of his career training, which services, workshops, training opportunities, work assessments and CareerSource helped him pursue. “It was all hands-on with my more. To learn more, go to careersourcepbc.com. learning. That’s what made me really fall in love with it.”

Central Career Center 3400 Belvedere Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406 561.340.1060

West Career Center 1085 S. Main St. Belle Glade, FL 33430 561.829.2040

Connecting business with talent | www.careersourcepbc.com 16

PBC BUSINESS | SUMMER 2022

ELEVATING

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Here are just a few in our portfolio of properties:

Commerce Pointe Silver West Palm Beach

CenterPoint Plaza Lake Worth

501 N A1A 501 North A1A, Jupiter

Northpointe Professional Centre North Palm Beach

The Concourse West Palm Beach

900 East Jupiter

Paco Gil 561.309.2308

Amanda Arquette 561.777.9838

222 Lakeview Ave., PH 5 | West Palm Beach, FL 33401 1926 10th Ave. N., Suite 304 | Lake Worth Beach, FL 33461 561.681.0221 | pacogil@sympaticorealestate.com www.sympaticorealestate.com

Lorena Blanc 772.529.3464