August 2018 Southwest Florida Business Today

FOCUS ON: BUSINESS SERVICES

Celebrating 10 Years

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 11 No. 10 / AUGUST 2018 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples

TAKE ONE

Florida’s GDP hits $1 trillion

Chamber Foundation economist predicts FL milestone

Commercial Real Estate

A specially focused monthly section exploring the SWFL commercial real estate marketplace.

IN THE NEWS

Nominations open for Collier industry awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 Excellence in Industry Awards, which recognize corporate and individual excellence in Collier County. The awards will be presented on Nov. 14 at Silverspot Cinemas.

Awards will be given in six categories: Business Expansion, Company to Watch, Young Professional of the Year, Heart of the Community, Pillar Award and Chairman’s Award. The Chairman’s Award is selected by the chair of the Opportunity Naples Board of Directors. Any company doing business in Collier County is eligible to apply.

All nominations must be received by Sept. 1.

To submit a nomination visit www.collieredo.org/excellence-inindustry.

The winners are selected by a panel of judges representing past winners and Opportunity Naples board members.

Bonita Chamber to honor community members

Community tickets are available now for the Bonita Chamber’s 2018 Awards Celebration Luncheon, which will feature a national keynote speaker, a celebration of the Chamber’s Five-Star Accreditation and the presentations of the prestigious Small Business of the Year and Bonita Springs Citizen of the Year awards.

Cheryl Oldham, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Center for Workforce and Education, will provide the keynote speech for the event.

Oldham’s work impacts small businesses and the workforce. Her experiences include eight years of service in the President George W. Bush administration and time in LUNCHEON See page 2

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Florida’s economy hit a new milestone when the state’s Gross Domestic Product topped $1 trillion, the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Chief Economist announced. Putting it into perspective, if Florida was an independent country, Florida’s $1 trillion economy now ranks us as the 17th largest economy in the world— ahead of Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Argentina.

Earlier this year, Dr. Jerry Parrish, Florida Chamber Foundation chief economist, forecasted Florida would reach the new $1 trillion economy in

2018. The milestone was achieved in July. According to Parrish, Florida is adding $2.74 billion each day to the state’s GDP. “Becoming a $1 trillion economy means Florida is continuing to grow and create jobs, keeping unemployment lower than the national average, and creating economic opportunity,” said Parrish. “Thanks to the focus of Florida’s business community and strong leadership from the Governor, Cabinet and legislature, Florida continues to move in the right direction.”

“This is an historic moment for

GDP See page 10

VictoriaLand Beauty launches in Naples

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Susan Bennett, Kelly L. Fayer, Teri Hansen, Christina Harris Schwinn and Judy Williams are finalists for the 13th Annual Apex Awards.

APEX Award finalists announced The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce announced the five finalists for the 13th Annual Apex Awards. The announcement came July 11 during the Women in Business meeting at Hodges University.

Finalists include: Susan Bennett of Susan Bennett Marketing and Media LC; Kelly L. Fayer of Kelly L. Fayer, P.A; Teri Hansen, APR of Priority Marketing; Christina Harris Schwinn of Pavese Law Firm; and Judy Williams of SPADA Salon and Day Spa. The 2018 APEX Award recipient will be announced at the APEX Award Gala on Aug. 25 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa. The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and its Women In Business Committee hold the Apex

Florida reaching a record $1 trillion in GDP,” said Gov. Rick Scott.

“By working every day to create private-sector jobs, we’ve been able to increase Florida’s GDP by more than $270 billion — 37 percent — since 2010.

“Within seven and a half years, private-sector businesses have created more than 1.5 million jobs and Florida’s unemployment is at a low 3.8 percent. Florida’s growing economy is producing real results for families across our state and we now have the 17th largest economy in the world.”

Samira Beckwith, Dr. John Meyer and Sandy Stilwell Youngquist.

Awards to honor the inspirational and hard working professionals of Lee County. This black tie optional celebration is a tribute to individuals for their professional excellence, community service and support of helping others attain their goals.

Check out our website for the 2018-19 Regular Season schedule.

239.948.PUCK • FloridaEverblades.com

Prestige skin-care brand VictoriaLand Beauty, a Naples-based maker of organic, all-natural, skin-loving treatments, announced its debut with the launch of VictoriaLandBeauty.com.

Founder and CEO Victoria Watts’ personal struggles and milestones as a single mother of four served as the impetus behind VictoriaLand Beauty’s products, which she developed in her own kitchen using essential oils from plants, fruit and nut oils, and active botanical extracts. The company also launched a charitable program, a donation-based partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital to bring awareness to visual impairments.

“I created VictoriaLand Beauty to solve my skin care ailments and introduce a line of products that left my skin looking and feeling good enough to go naked,” said Watts. “I took my knowledge of oils, skin care healers and natural age defiers and started blending.

Once I knew I had something, I started sharing it with an eager consumer base of friends, family and what I now call a community of VictoriaLand BFFs. The response has been tremendous.”

Watts began VictoriaLand Beauty in 2017 from her home in Naples after a search for products to treat her hyperpigmentation, oily skin and signs of advanced aging proved unsatisfactory.

Her skin conditions, exacerbated by a stressful divorce, threatened to derail Watts’ dedication to a healthy, joyful lifestyle, she said. She launched her allnatural beauty line and branded it with the moniker her closest friends had dubbed her welcoming and fun-filled home—VictoriaLand.

“When my family was dealt another difficult blow, my then 18-month-old BEAUTY See page 10

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Page 2

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

AUGUST 2018

Express Bridge Loan program offered

LUNCHEON PAGE 1 the U.S. Department of Education.

The Bonita Chamber will also celebrate its Five-Star Accreditation, which it achieved for the fourth consecutive time in 2017.

This designation, the highest possible from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, ranks the Bonita Chamber among the top 1 percent of Chambers in the nation. It is the only Chamber of Commerce in the region with any level of Accreditation.

The Aug. 30 program will feature the unveiling of the 42nd Bonita Springs Citizen of the Year and the 18th Small Business of the Year awards, along with additional Chamber member accolades.

The luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa.

The U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) Loan Program is offering the Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program. This Pilot Program was authorized on October 16, 2017 and is available through September 30, 2020.

With hurricane season here, administration officials say they want to make sure SBA Lenders and small businesses are aware this Pilot Program is available for SBA Express Lenders to provide immediate loans up to $25,000 with a 50-percent SBA guaranty for small businesses located in the counties affected by a Presidentially-declared disaster.

An important part of recovery is the availability of immediate cash to assist the small business with rebuilding and continuing or restarting its operations while awaiting long-term disaster financing.

The EBL Pilot Program permits a streamlined

delivery available through existing SBA Express Lenders. Small business owners are not required to apply for an SBA disaster loan in order to qualify for an EBL loan and are advised to contact their bank as soon as possible to determine eligibility.

Lenders must be authorized as SBA Express Lenders at the time of the Presidential disaster declaration in order to offer this assistance. SBA 7(a) Lenders that do not already participate in the SBA Express program are encouraged to contact their local SBA District Office to find out how to participate in order to best assist their local small business owners in the unfortunate circumstance of a disaster.

A Program Guide outlining the full procedures applicable to the Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program is available on the SBA’s website.

GUEST COMMENTARY

International visitors targeted by Naples tourism board June was been a busy month for your Convention and Visitor’s Bureau staff. Much of our time has been in planning for our destination marketing efforts in 2019. We have been meeting with sales and marketing partners and with our PR and ad agencies to develop new and improved ways to get our message to the traveling public.

We enjoyed seeing many of you at our annual Marketing Summit on June 27 at Rookery Bay and for the input we received from our tourism industry partners.

We had the opportunity in June to participate in a roundtable discussion with Visit Florida on the future look of Florida Huddle. This annual show is Florida’s largest International travel trade show and our suggestions will help that show, grow and prosper in the future. International visitors stay longer and spend more than the typical domestic visitor and they visit in the slower spring and summer when everyone needs more business.

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BY JACK WERT Guest Columnist

New and expanded air service is a top priority for your CVB staff.

We have just finished planning a regional push scheduled for this summer with Allegiant Airlines to sell more seats into Punta Gorda/ Fort Myers. We are also working directly with Eurowings to finalize our Fort Myers/Naples promotion of the new flights from Germany to Southwest Florida International Airport. We continue to actively work on bringing direct air service from the UK and from the U.S. West Coast.

Jack Wert is executive director of the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Contact him at (239) 252-2402 or Jack.Wert@colliercountyfl.gov.

BUSINESS SERVICES

What does SCORE mean?

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Call us for a free digital presence report for your business.

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DOING IT RIGHT, FROM THE START

Q: I know that SCORE is an organization that provides counseling to small businesses, but why the name SCORE? A: We get this question a lot from our many clients, so allow me to clarify. Originally SCORE was an acronym for the “Service Corps of Retired Executives.”

Founded in 1964, SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free and confidential business mentoring services to prospective and established small business owners in the United States. Now more than 13,000 active and retired business professionals volunteer their time and expertise.

SCORE’s core service offering is its small business mentoring program.

Mentors work with their clients to address issues and learn best practices related to starting and growing a business, including writing business plans, developing products, conceiving marketing strategies and hiring staff. Clients access their mentors via free, ongoing face-to-face mentoring sessions or through email or video mentoring services.

In addition to mentoring, SCORE also offers free and low-cost educational workshops each year, both online and in-person. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Association. It operates out of 300 chapters across the U.S., with national headquarters in Herndon, Virginia.

The Naples SCORE chapter is one of the most active in the U.S. We provide a full range of counseling services as well as putting on workshops covering a wide range of topics. SCORE

Naples actively recruits volunteers with a wide range of business experience. We especially welcome applications from women, African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and members of other minority

BY GRAY groups.

POEHLER With more than Guest Columnist 65 members, both retired and working, SCORE Naples volunteers are real-world professionals with time-tested knowledge who donate thousands of hours to help small businesses succeed.

Our mentors have significant experience in the ownership, operation and/or management of both small and large businesses as well as non-profits, with expertise in accounting, finance, marketing, management, international, manufacturing and business plan preparation, just to name a few.

There is no need for anyone to go it alone when organizations like SCORE exist to guide you through the complexities of organizing, operating and growing a small business. Contact us to learn more about our services. We look forward to serving you.

Gray Poehler is a volunteer with SCORE Naples. Business counseling on this and other business matters is available, without charge, from the Naples Chapter of SCORE. Visit https://naples.score.org/mentors or call (239) 430-0081.

AUGUST 2018

BUSINESS SERVICES

Wynn offers solution to business needs

The Southwest Florida business community is ever-evolving, and as a locally owned company and longtime supporter of local business, I truly see the value of strategic business-to-business partnerships.

For 60 years, Sunshine Ace Hardware has been a resource for homeowners, DIYers and businesses, offering a oneof-a-kind shopping experience with knowledgeable associates, top brands

BY MICHAEL and high-quality WYNN customer service.

Guest Columnist As the business community continues to grow and evolve, we want to offer local companies greater support, utilizing our reputable customer service to create a concierge service specially designed for the business community.

For business owners, providing the necessary supplies for daily business needs can quickly turn into a complicated task, one that requires coordinating with several vendors and often a lengthy billing process. In order to offer support to businesses within our region, last year we proudly launched our Sunshine Ace Commercial program, a service dedicated to providing local companies with a bright solution to their ongoing business needs.

Our Sunshine Ace Commercial program offers the business community a convenient resource for ordering supplies needed for daily operations. By leveraging the global buying power of Ace Corporate, we are able to supply businesses with solutions including housekeeping and maintenance supplies, office supplies, hardware, power equipment, paint and much more. Our associates work closely with new and established local companies to understand the unique needs of their business and connect them with trusted brands, in the right quantities and the right price. This business solution has helped many companies solve realtime inventory supply problems and ongoing purchasing needs with ease.

Running a business keeps you on your toes, and there is always a new task at hand. Over the years, I have learned the importance of making strategic business-to-business partnerships to assist you where needed so you can focus on top priorities and opportunities for your company. When we developed this program, that is certainly what we had in mind—a service that streamlines supply purchases, delivery and billing, all in one quick and easy process.

We are truly dedicated to seeing our community thrive. From guiding homeowners to the most helpful home repair products, to assisting DIYers with their newest project, to offering a convenient solution for local business owners ongoing needs, Sunshine Ace Hardware is here to provide the necessary tools, products and information that help homes, projects and businesses shine.

Michael Wynn is the president of Sunshine Ace Hardware. Learn more at www.SunshineAce.com. Contact him at mwynn@sunshineace.com or by calling (239) 992-0454.

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 3

TECHNOLOGY

Custom software keeps companies competitive Software that is not fast enough or does not provide meaningful analytics at a moment’s notice is responsible for many headaches at work. Maybe even some migraines.

At Stickboy Creative, our team uses artificial intelligence, big data and machine learning to not only solve company issues but also help clients be more successful (and hopefully the feeling of throwing your computer out the window goes away!).

If your company is not up to speed on business process automation, it is really losing out. It’s definitely not as efficient as it can be. BPA is just a term that means tasks are being automated by technology.

Southwest Florida companies are behind the curve in using state-of-theart technologies; therefore, the team at Stickboy has designed what we have dubbed a “$7,000 Solution.”

While this Solution is not a fix-all and doesn’t always apply to certain issues companies face, it does give some businesses a taste of what our software can do for them.

With this Solution, we want to take away some of the stigmas that go along with custom software. It makes custom software available and affordable. A small investment will yield a significant return on investment by solving one software issue at your company.

And can you even imagine it can be developed and ready to go in just a couple of months? At Stickboy, that’s the case.

Why custom software?

Offthe-shelf software

BY REEMA sounds good but BHATIA does not really Guest Columnist help your company be a game changer. It’s not meant for your specific company. It does not address the intricacies unique to your business. It can make productivity worse, clog your system and become outdated pretty quickly.

We have refined and consolidated our enterprise-class platform that uses cutting-edge technologies to form the core library these solutions are built on. This allows us to reduce the cost considerably while still keeping the latest technologies. This has many benefits: • Our technology is scalable, so you won’t run into traditional hiccups such as, “Oh, I have too many users” or “Oh, that’s too many files to upload.”

• Our technology is easy to maintain and deploy, so clients see a rapid turn around on patches and little to no downtime.

• We use cutting-edge technologies, so while all technology eventually needs to be replaced, ours will have a longer shelf life than most.

• Existing processes can be updated with custom software.

• Our team at Stickboy makes the software you are using. We know everything about it and are at-the-ready to answer any questions or concerns.

Our client relationships are at the core of our business.

Not everything can be solved with our Solution; however, fixing one headache goes a long way. If any of these solutions would help your challenges, BPA and custom software should be a serious consideration: • Faster, more accurate inventory • Meaningful statistics at your fingertips are needed to make decisions • Compile sales data and gain insights that are easy to decipher • The requirement to access your business on the road • An online widget to add convenience to both your company and the consumer Can’t you already breathe easier?

Small automation adds up in a big way.

Reema Bhatia, a member of the Forbes Technology Council, is the cofounder of Stickboy Creative. Contact her at reema@stickboycreative.com or (239) 206-1193.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

AUGUST 2018

PANIRA recognized as Collier County Business of Month The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and Collier County Commission selected PANIRA Healthcare Clinic as the Business of the Month for July 2018.

Each month, the award is presented to an organization that has enhanced the community through financial, volunteer and active involvement in organizations and programs that assist in creating a better quality of life for all citizens in Collier County.

Collier County Commissioners and Bethany Sawyer, membership engagement specialist for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, presented Owner and Founder Lawrence Egger and Development and Marketing Director Rachel Henderson with a commemorative plaque at the July 10 County Commission meeting.

PANIRA Healthcare Clinic, located in East Naples, is working on closing the access gap and promoting

health equality amongst all including our most needy. Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Lawrence and Geneve Egger, the clinic’s mission is to provide quality healthcare and equal access to anyone in the community, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, income, education, geographic location, disability or sexual orientation in a manner that is comprehensive, current, and culturally appropriate.

PANIRA provides primary care, express care, medical screenings, wellness exams and walk-in services to all ages. The organization makes a special effort to help patients from all cultural backgrounds feel accepted, welcomed, respected, and valued in the clinic. From its inception, PANIRA began promoting affordable healthcare through a self-pay, sliding fee scale for uninsured working and unemployed individuals.

TECHNOLOGY

Technology, business partnership provides one-stop shop Keeping up with the pace of technology is a big concern among business owners. At one time there were just a few choices for hardware and software designed for a particular industry, or you used word processor and spreadsheet applications. Now with vast choices of hardware, peripheral devices and applications, it is becoming more essential to align with an IT and digital expert.

The transition from paper to digital documents is another way technology has transformed the way we work. I remember having walls lined with five-foottall filing cabinets and reams of paper. Now digital document management solutions make filing, sharing and collaborating simple and clutter-free.

Another major shift technology created is the way businesses market themselves. You used to call the Yellow Pages or local newspaper, or produce a radio or TV spot to advertise your company. Although traditional advertising methods can still be effective, if you are not spending your marketing resources on digital media and social channels you are letting your competition pass you by.

These are among the reasons for any business to form their own alliance of technology advisors and service providers. Southwest Florida’s Preferred Commercial Alliance brings innovative companies like DEX Imaging, M&M Multimedia and Tech In A Flash (among dozens of other industries) together to provide a forum and single-source solution for solving these complex business issues.

Pace of the IT World Have you ever arrived to work only to be greeted with technical issues that keep you from being productive? In some cases your only hope is to ask that one colleague that got labeled the “IT Guru” because they happen to have the latest smartphone and got it to work with their bluetooth earbuds. Next thing you know, it’s apparent that the only way the “IT Guru’s” newly released smartphone is going to help is if it can make a call to a real IT provider.

Aligning your company with a local IT Managed Service Provider like Tech In A Flash will keep your business running smoothly, with minimal downtime. Let experts research, install and maintain your

computer systems, network and devices.

Taking Your Documents Digital Go green! Reduce cost! Save space! Collaborate! Share in the Cloud! These are all great reasons for your business to move away from paper and leverage the advantages of a digital docBY MIKE HALEY ument management solution.

Guest Columnist Paper is here to stay, it is just a matter of implementing a system that can reduce the amount of paper down to the essential documents you need.

At our production studio, we used to print pages of voice-over scripts for talent to read, but now we place an iPad in the recording booth to display scripts digitally.

Paper can be cumbersome to work with, easy to lose, and a pain when working on collaborative documents. Not to mention it is not environmentally friendly. With digital document management solutions provided by DEX Imaging, you can implement a system to help scan, read, file, retrieve and sort documents in a fraction of the time, reducing cost and your carbon footprint. Imagine not having to fumble through piles of papers or shuffle through hundred of file folders. Simply let scanning software read the documents and pull important information.

Changing the Way We Advertise As the owner of M&M Multimedia, I am well aware how technology completely revolutionized the media and marketing world. From the way we develop, produce and distribute content, to the way we can target, track and analyze marketing campaigns, the advertising industry has been flipped on its head. That is not to say all business are making this transition smoothly.

I received a call the other day from a company inquiring about the cost of a new website. When I asked to view their current site, they told me they

did not have one. My first thought was, “It’s 2018, how is this company still in business?” They didn’t think they needed one until now because lately their phone stopped ringing with new sales.

One of the other statements I get when I ask business owners about developing a new website is “we don’t get anything from our website.” I`ll follow that up with “who built it for you and what did you do after it was launched” to get people to come to it? The answer is usually one of the following: (a) one of their family members made it, (b) a legacy ad agency more versed in Yellow Page Ads than digital created it, or (c ) a web design company that charged too much for a Wordpress Site and no longer offers the level of support they did during the sales process. The answer to the second part of my question is more alarming. Business owners tell me they launch a new site and do nothing more than put it on their business cards and email signatures. It is not that the business doesn’t want to get leads from their new site, it is just that they do not know how do it themselves, or are getting marketing proposals for SEO, AdWords and Social Media that are not in line with their budget.

If you can relate, it is worth the time and effort to reach out to a company like M&M Multimedia. I always like to emphasize that we embrace the “multi” in our M&M Multimedia name. We strive to be a one-source provider of affordable web development, video production, photography, graphic design and digital marketing services. We encourage our business neighbors to stop by our video and photography studio, located in South Fort Myers, for a quick tour and allow us to learn more about your business.

Businesses expect to move at the speed of light while maintaining a healthy profit margin. Business owners are more aware of the importance of keeping up with technology.

If not, they are sure to lag behind.

Mike Haley is the president of M&M Multimedia. Call him at (239) 234-1734, or email mhaley@mandmmultimedia.com. Learn more about PCA at www.preferredcommercialalliance.com.

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AUGUST 2018

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 5

COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida

Fifth Third Bank opening five centers

Iowa-based firm Hawkeye Hotels in a joint venture with Georgia-based HOS Management announced the completed acquisition of Hotel Indigo in downtown Fort Myers for an undisclosed sum.

Hotel Indigo under new ownership Iowa-based firm Hawkeye Hotels in a joint venture with Georgia-based HOS Management announced the completed acquisition of Hotel Indigo in downtown Fort Myers for an undisclosed sum.

HOS will manage the property, which is the first Florida asset in Hawkeye Hotels’ portfolio. The seven-story hotel has oversized guest rooms and seven suites with hardwood floors. Guests have access to a rooftop pool and bar, in addition to a large retail space connected to the hotel. Neither Hawkeye Hotels nor HOS purchased the retail space, but it will continue to operate for guests’ convenience.

“We look forward to joining and collaborating with the community of Fort Myers,” said Ravi Patel, Hawkeye Hotels president. “Hotel Indigo’s location makes it a highly valuable asset, due to not only the long history of Fort Myers and the River District but also the area’s increasing popularity as both a great vacation destination and great place to call home.”

Fort Myers and two other cities in Lee County ranked in the top 15 fastest growing cities in the country last fall.

“We look forward to helping Hotel Indigo thrive, which will give downtown Fort Myers business a boost,” said Kris Patel, chief financial officer of HOS Management. “The hotel’s location in a strong business and leisure market make this a smart addition to our portfolio.”

Hotel Indigo is located near Burroughs Home and Gardens, Centennial Park, Edison & Ford Winter Estates

and IMAG History and Science Center. The Caloosahatchee River waterfront, Harborside Event Center, historic Lee County Courthouse and Space 39 Art Bar are within walking distance.

A series of renovations across the city’s waterfront have laid the foundation for new restaurants, nightclubs and cultural venues. Special events draw thousands to visit downtown annually. Additionally, regional Southwest Florida government agencies and law firms often operate out of the River District.

The River District has the most preserved historical buildings of any town in Southwest Florida. Throughout any possible renovations, HOS will work closely with local officials to preserve the region’s rich history.

Hawkeye Hotels has become one of the fastest-growing family-owned hospitality companies in the United States and owns and operates over 50 hotels across the country. Hawkeye Hotels employs more than 1,500 staff across its portfolio of hotels and corporate offices. The firm maintains lasting affiliations with leading brands, including Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental and Starwood.

HOS Management is a second-generation company with over 30 years of trusted hospitality experience.

Founded by brothers, Anil Patel and Kirit Patel, the family-run business manages an award-winning, diverse collection of hotels and retail developments in the Southeast region.

We Care About SWFL Commercial Realtors With dedicated space for informa�on: • On our website with a Commercial Real Estate sec�on & directory • In our quarterly Commercial RE Market pullout in both the print & digital versions of SWFBT • With zoned and full-run inserts • With guest column opportuni�es • With digital marke�ng op�ons For more informa�on, call Karen at (239) 770-7527

www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

Fifth Third Bank opened five new financial centers last month in high-growth areas in Florida.

“We are pleased to add these new locations to our existing financial center networks in Florida, ,” Phil McHugh, head of Fifth Third’s Consumer Bank, said. “Our consultative approach allows our staff to identify the needs of our customers and then propose solutions to those needs. These centers will offer a full range of banking, home-ownership and retirement-planning services.”

The new financial centers, along with new centers in Illinois and Michigan, represent a key part of Fifth Third’s growth strategy, even as its digital transactions are growing, officials said. Financial centers offer consultations and expertise from financial experts.

“Our financial centers are an important part of delivering the best experience to our customers,” said Mike Butera, head of Fifth Third’s retail banking business. “We want to give our customers the right balance between digital and personal.

Think about wanting to check your account balance on your app, deposit a check through your phone, get cash from the ATM and stop at a financial center to talk about a home equity line.”

The full list of new centers includes: Bonita Grande Financial Center on Bonita Beach Road in Springs; The Landings Financial Center and Bee Ridge Financial Center in Sarasota; Kernan Financial Center in Jacksonville; Dr. Phillips Financial Center in Orlando; Bridgeview Financial Center in Bridgeview, Ill.; and Van Dyke & 25 Financial Center in Shelby Township, Mich..

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Contact Larry Steinborn,

Lic. Real Estate Broker Sand Dollar Real Estate / Business Depot (239) 433-1343 or bizdepot@aol.com 6309 Corporate Ct. #205 Fort Myers, FL 33919

Selling your Business is our Business!

Page 6

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

AUGUST 2018

COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida

Flightdocs opens technology center in Bonita Springs Flightdocs, the leading provider of cloud-based aircraft maintenance tracking, compliance and inventory management services, has expanded its Bonita Springs presence with a new technology center. The 6,200-squarefoot facility houses nearly 40 developers and technology experts.

“We are committed to investing in the modernization of aviation services and through those efforts, creating opportunities for members of the community,” said Rick Heine, Flightdocs CEO. “Flightdocs’ new technology center provides a rapid-response environment that enables our team to develop secure, custom solutions for clients worldwide and sets us apart from competitors—all from right here in Bonita Springs.”

Since relocating from New York to Southwest Florida in 2009, Flightdocs has experienced exponential growth and expansion. The company doubled in employee size to 65 and revenue is expected to triple over the next two years. Flightdocs anticipates adding 35 employees over the next year. Their current location in Bonita Springs provides for plenty of room to expand as the company continues to grow.

The technology center’s Southwest Florida location is adjacent to abun-

Flightdocs has expanded its Bonita Springs presence with a new technology center. The 6,200-square-foot facility houses nearly 40 developers and technology experts. dant technology resources and talent, providing Flightdocs with a unique advantage in an area less known for software and IT companies. As a growing company, Flightdocs provides an opportunity for both local college students and graduates to get immediate on-the-job experience.

The company currently employs 17 local college graduates and actively recruits from local institutions for its intern-development program, including Florida Gulf Coast University and

Florida SouthWestern State College.

“The local universities have substantial information technology and engineering programs that align with the skill sets we seek in our team,” said Heine. “We can cultivate our own talent by having interns grow their skills under the direction of our software engineers. The resulting team of innovative thinkers and problem-solvers continually allows Flightdocs to advance its technological mission.”

Flightdocs provides cloud-based aircraft maintenance tracking, compliance and inventory management services.

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AUGUST 2018

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 7

COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida

Help your business soar through seasonal slump Editor’s Note: A version of this article published in the July edition but a portion did not run.

By now, the snow birds have completed their annual migration north, albeit a little late this year as the frozen tundra of the North East and Midwest has finally thawed out. Roads are clear, school buses are gone, two-hour waits at restaurants have subsided and you can actually get an appointment with your doctor.

Awesome, right? Not for everyone.

For the next seven months, Southwest Florida small businesses in many cases experience a 60-percent decline in revenues simply due to the population’s talons ripping through their top line revenue as the northern flock goes back to the roost.

For a business, this can cause some major scrambling as rent, interest expenses and utilities stay flat and in some cases, variable costs increase due to the Southwest Florida heat. So what can you do to prepare this year and future years to come to generate your own working capital without borrowing more money and keep your ducks in a row? This question is best answered with a real life example.

I will protect the names of the innocent and tell you how we hatched a plan to fly away from this risk. A prospect in the medical testing lab industry went to a Bank to request a refinance of their existing loans and leases. This business utilized expensive and short-term loans and leases to startup their business four years ago. They had 10 different lease contracts, two hard money working capital loans and a private loan made to them from a family friend for leasehold improvements. Their total debt was north of $2 million. It was not only expensive, but it drove their CFO cuckoo every month sending and verifying 13 different financing

payments, on top of trying to keep the cash flow of the business positive during the summer/fall slump. He almost flew the coop. SBA swooped in and saved the day!

All of the 13 loans/leases were on what the SBA classifies as unreasonable terms. The leases were shortterm, under five years, on equipment that had a useful life of 10-plus years.

The working capital loans were deBY TOM signed to take a weekly payment out MAIALE of their checking account based on Guest Columnist that week’s deposits, and the family friend loan had a balloon payment coming due with no chance of a renewal as that friendship became hard boiled. Their total annual loan payments amounted to $925,000! Long story short, the Bank, with the help of a 75-percent SBA guarantee, was able to swoop in and refinance all 13 loans/leases by providing a 10-year loan. They reduced their annual loan payment down to $221,000, instantly laying a $700,000 working capital egg.

The eagle has landed! If you are interested in learning more about this, please give me a call and I will show you how we can hatch a plan to keep plenty of working capital in your nest during the slow season. I am just minutes away—as the crow flies!

Tom Maiale, CBC National Bank SBA Lending vice president and business development officer, is a 17-year SBA Lending veteran with training from The National Association of Government Guaranteed Lending and The U.S. Small Business Administration. Contact him at (239) 288-9966 or tmaiale@cbcnationalbank.com.

BCB Homes launches new company

BCB Homes announced the launch of Innovative Construction Solutions. The new company specializes in diagnosing and implementing corrective actions to eliminate building failures caused by faulty construction.

Utilizing the same quality, expertise and scientific approach used by BCB Homes, Innovative Construction Solutions develops and implements systems that correct deficiencies and that identify and solve problems to prevent reoccurrence.

The new company provides a range of construction and remediation services, including: waterproofing; window and door installation and replacement; roofing repairs and replacement; systems testing and building envelope analysis; and diagnosing and repairing exterior wall finishes, water infiltration areas, HVAC systems and ductwork failures The company came to fruition due to repeated requests from homeowners needing their homes properly repaired or updated, BCB officials said.

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Bagel shop opens in Bonita Springs Family-owned Hole in 1 Bagels & Deli held its grand opening with the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce to “share a little of Brooklyn with Southwest Florida.”

The new shop is located on South Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs.

Owner Tracie Bonilla hopes the restaurant can become the “little Brooklyn of Bonita Springs.”

“We wanted to share our family recipes and our favorite things to eat,” Bonilla said.

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Page 8

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

AUGUST 2018

COMMERCIAL RE MARKET A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in Southwest Florida

Bonita Bay Club introduces sports center

Bonita Bay Club celebrated the end of season and start of summer with the opening of a 15,000-square-foot Sports Center that includes a new racquet complex, a redesigned pool area, and an all-new dining venue.

After years of planning and just under 12 months of construction, the Club unveiled an expansive racquet complex to serve its tennis program, which has more than 25 league teams under the direction of United States Professional Tennis Association Master Professional Paula Scheb.

“Our players are raving about the new facility,” said Scheb. “We’re looking forward to hosting some exciting events in the Sports Center this upcoming season, as well as the 38th annual NaplesFort Myers Challenge.”

A covered patio overlooks the state-of-the-art championship court and provides a prime location for viewing matches; court assignment monitors are positioned throughout the facility. The racquet complex offers 18 Har-Tru courts with a subsurface irrigation system to maintain optimal playing conditions and 13 lighted courts for evening play. Responding to member interest, the Club also added five new cushioned Laykold gel pickleball courts with LED lighting. The fully stocked tennis pro shop offers a professional staff, racquet services, a retail shop and locker rooms.

The Club’s original swimming pool was transformed into a geo-thermal, zero-entry saltwater

Bonita Bay Club recently opened a 15,000-squarefoot Sports Center that includes a new racquet complex, a redesigned pool area and an all-new dining venue. pool with four 75-foot lap lanes, a waveless gutter design, and ample space for lounging in the sun.

The pool also features five water bowls that transition to fire in the evening for extra poolside ambience.

The Breezeway Cafe & Bar, the Club’s new casual dining option, also made its debut early in the summer. The open-air venue connects the pool area and racquet complex through a 120-foot breezeway and serves casual poolside fare, including paninis, seafood baskets, salads and sandwiches.

Now Bonita Bay Club’s biggest bar with 28 stools, the Breezeway has quickly become a popular spot for alfresco after-tournament buffets.

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NABOR: Luxury sales lead to strong second quarter Activity in the Naples area housing market during the Second Quarter of 2018 remained steady in comparison to activity during the Second Quarter of 2017. According to the 2Q 2018 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of REALTORS, overall closed sales increased 2 percent to 2,926 properties in the 2Q of 2018 from 2,880 in the 2Q of 2017. But in the $2 million and above single-family home market, closed sales rose 25 percent in the 2Q of 2018, which-along with other market indicatorsleads many broker analysts to believe that interest in luxury homes will remain in high demand.

Available inventory at the end of the 2Q of 2018 was 5,165 properties, just 24 units behind the inventory level at the end of the 2Q of 2017 (5,189 properties). “This tells me that homes are coming onto the market at the same rate we are selling them,” said Mike Hughes, vice president and general manager for Downing-Frye Realty.

Inventory rose 15 percent in the $2 million and above condominium market during the 2Q of 2018, which may be a factor in the uptick of pending sales in the luxury condominium market as it rose 32 percent during the 2Q of 2018.

“Inventory in other parts of the state and nation are stretched thin, hovering between three and four months of inventory, but Naples enjoys almost seven months of inventory,” said Budge Huskey, president of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.

“What’s even more impressive is that we have such a great selection of homes for buyers despite the recent increase in sales and still having some undergoing repairs from Hurricane Irma.”

“We are seeing a very different sales environment locally from that of 10 years ago when home sales in northern states stalled,” said Coco Amar, managing broker at John R. Wood Properties. “But now that homes are moving fast up north, sales of high-end single-family homes in Naples are stronger than ever.”

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AUGUST 2018

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 9

BUSINESS SERVICES

Six ways small business owners can lower IT costs

By Mona Hilton Guest Columnist

They say “what you don’t know won’t hurt you”, but the truth is technology leaks are probably costing your business money over time. The good news is, there are also easy fixes—if you know what to look for.

While keeping up with technology does require a financial investment, the cost of being behind is far greater. You can be technologically relevant and wise with your company’s finances at the same time. There are also some ways to keep costs down that are often overlooked.

a central server, you will save down the road.

In addition, employees can spend time being productive instead of conducting backups and updates for individual workstations or creating workarounds because of inadequate network capabilities.

1. Invest money up-front on adequate technology that will last.

Think of technology purchases as an investment. Rather than purchasing a new PC “white box” or “clone,” consider investing on a brand name PC that comes with a warranty and service agreement. Look to the future and invest in technology hardware and software that will grow with you. An example may be getting a PC with a faster processor. You may not need it now, but you’ll be thankful in a year or so when you do.

3. Implement an “Acceptable Use” policy.

Millions of productive work hours are lost every year in companies across the nation because of employee access to the Internet. SurfControl, a company that produces highly sophisticated content filters to stop unwanted email and web content, estimates just 30 minutes of recreational surfing a day and 30 minutes of personal email activity can cost a company with 20 employees over $1,250 per week (at $25/hour/employee).

Not only does surfing the web take time away from work, it increases the likelihood of company-wide exposure to harmful viruses. It is important to introduce “acceptable use” policies for the technology and equipment your employees have been entrusted to use. If you continue to see problems resulting, you may want to consider investing in software that filters web and email content.

2. Manage and monitor from a central source.

You will save a lot of time and money by managing anti-virus software, backups, critical updates and business documents and files in a central location. Imagine the time it takes to update anti-virus software, operating system patches and updates on every workstation or to back up every workstation individually on a daily basis. A central location for storing all of your office documents also eliminates the risk of data loss from human error and confusion of which document is the most updated.

While it may cost more up-front to purchase software and hardware that can be managed from

4. Change your approach from “break-fix” to regular maintenance.

Just as with your health, it’s far more cost effective to prevent technology problems than fix them. You’ve probably experienced this with your car. If you change the oil on a regular basis, you have a higher likelihood of avoiding costly repairs. The same applies to the technology in your office. In addition to costs saved by prevention (and having more predictable IT expenditures), you will save money when things do “break” (because they will) by having someone familiar with your network and configuration. The difference is money in your pocket between an IT professional who is unfamiliar

with your network, versus one who already knows it intimately.

5. Consolidate into a bundled package and/ or go to the cloud.

Also called “convergence,” this is a great way to save money on a monthly basis by paying a flat rate. You will also save time paying bills because you will be billed on one simple invoice.

There are several companies that offer bundled packages. These include local and long distance telecommunications along with high-speed internet and web hosting.

6. What’s your plan?

Know how you want to use technology to accomplish goals for your business.

Do you want to eventually automate systems employees currently handle? Do you plan for company expansion to include offices in other locations? Will you want employees at those offices connected to the same network? Would shared data, contacts and calendars help your office productivity?

By having a plan and knowing what you want to accomplish, you are less likely to spend money on non-essentials. It’s the difference between going to the grocery store with a list or without one. Be flexible if changes are legitimate and warranted, but know what’s on your list. By having a plan, you can budget for IT and may have fewer big expenditures. This will help cash flow, which is of utmost importance to small and midsized companies.

Choosing an IT support provider who provides these planning services is also a good indicator of how they will approach supporting your office, proactively versus reactively.

Mona Hilton is founder and CEO for Genesis Global Technologies. Call her at (239) 337-2667 or Mona@AdvantageAnywhere.com.

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Page 10

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

AUGUST 2018

TECHNOLOGY

Facing the challenges of reputation marketing Part 2 of 2

Why aren’t more businesses taking advantage of reviews and reputation marketing to build their business? Most local businesses today accept the fact the internet and search marketing are important to their success. They know they cannot depend on ads and word-of-mouth recommendations alone to get ahead and compete. But often they don’t innovate, clinging to offline and online marketing strategies that are more difficult and far costlier to produce a good return on investment and in a short period of time.

Common Challenges The most common reasons they don’t ask: • It is too difficult and inconvenient for businesses and customers.

• Businesses may fear negative reviews. The reality is negative reviews will be diluted and insignificant when there is a volume of positive reviews.

• Many businesses don’t solicit feedback that can help them understand perceptions of their customers. This feedback provides valuable insights that can help a business improve services and retain satisfied customers. Asking for reviews with the right system is an opportunity to engage your market and show them you value their opinion.

This is key to acquiring loyal customers for life.

• Many businesses don’t understand the value of an existing customer to their repeat business and new business through recommendations. In reality, it is much easier and less costly to market to an existing customer than to acquire a new one.

BY RUTH By now you’re probably KUTTLER wondering how you can get Guest Columnist more reviews from Google, Yelp and other popular review sites and turn those reviews into your most profitable marketing channel. This requires the use of a reputation management system that tactfully asks and reminds customers for feedback while guiding them through the online review process.

The ideal system for reputation management includes these features: • A landing page designed to segment the good from bad customer reviews. This can be added to your website and social media where you can solicit more customer reviews.

• Provide your customers with an easy selection of the most popular review sites that are important to your business and industry.

• A review funnel gives you an opportunity to turn negatives into positives and keep the negative reviews from ever going online. You also get valuable feedback from customers that can help you retain happy customers who recommend you and buy from you over and over.

• An easy import system or integration with your CRM that automatically sends review invitations to customers by email and SMS. • An embedded review feed on your website and in social media from multiple online sites with real-time display. This makes positive ratings and reviews visible to your website and social media traffic to encourage more lead and customer conversions.

• An opportunity to add special offers by SMS in an automated sequence following review invitations.

Given the overwhelming influence consumer opinions carry, businesses who get on board with reputation marketing can expect to realize much greater marketing impact at a lower cost than almost any form of paid advertising.

Ruth Kuttler is the founder and director of WebPuzzleMaster, a one-stop branding, web design, and full service digital marketing company located in Naples. Contact her at (239) 293-7695 or ruth@webpuzzlemaster.com .

BUSINESS SERVICES

Can training employees increase profitability?

No doubt about it, training your employees takes time Are you planning on creating 10 and money, and if you are a small company, both may be or more new positions in the next 12 in short supply. Can investing in the short-term generate months with higher-than-average wagrevenue or cost-savings in the long-term? Yes! es? Does your company produce goods Experts estimate it costs five times as much to attract or services exported out of Southwest a new customer than to retain an existing one. Customers Florida? Quick Response Training value vendors with knowledgeable staff who provide qualfunds may reimburse your company for ity service and efficiency. Training your staff will not only some of the training costs. increase the likelihood your customers remain loyal to Do your existing employees need your company, but can also promote staff loyalty as well. training? Incumbent Worker Training Learning new skills and feeling valued are important may be the answer to help offset up to

BY JANETH P. factors in employee retention. Do you know the real cost CASTREJON 90 percent of those costs. of losing an employee? Factor in the time spent recruitLooking to hire at least one new Guest Columnist ing, training and the loss of productivity while learning staff member who has the foundation and you can easily be losing a five-figure amount. skills but not all the technical skills needed? On-the-Job Having trouble recruiting good employees? Frustrated Training funds reimburse 50-75 percent of the eligible with the lack of soft or foundation skills like depend- new hires’ hourly wages to help offset their training costs. ability, communication and teamwork? Consider hiring Training and investing in your workforce can help someone with the foundation skills you value and train generate revenue and increase profitability and there are them the needed technical skills. It is much more effec- funds available to help offset your training costs. More tive than hiring someone with the hard skills you need information is available through CareerSource Southwest and trying to teach them the soft skills they should have Florida. learned years ago.

Let’s recap. Training can help keep customers, retain Janeth P. Castrejon is the social media coorstaff, improve efficiency and even be used as part of a re- dinator for CareerSource Southwest Floricruiting strategy. But what about the actual training costs da. Contact her at (239) 225-2500, ext. 5239 or in the short term? Here are three possible solutions. jcastrejon@careersourcesouthwestflorida.com.

GDP PAGE 1 Florida has created 180,200 jobs over the past year, and has steadily kept unemployment rates below the national average, according to TheFloridaScorecard.org, At the same time, achievement gaps are closing in Florida’s Pre-K-12 system, Florida continues to break visitation records, and our state is continuing to diversify its economy.

While this growth is positive news, challenges and opportunities for Florida still remain. The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida 2030 research initiative (being released this year) shows the gaps Florida must close in order to continue to be globally competitive and grow smarter by 2030 and beyond. Consider that while achievement gaps are closing, 43 percent of

BEAUTY PAGE 1 son’s diagnosis of FEVR (familial exudative vitreoretinopathy), it would have been easy to go back down a negative path,” recalls Watts over discovering son Cyrus’s genetic disease. “But my family found the Boston Children’s Hospital and thus the hope and care we needed to go on. I pledge to make good on that gift my family received through my Giving Back program to the Boston Children’s Hospital.”

VictoriaLand Beauty’s Giving Back program donates 2 percent of all proceeds to the Boston Children’s Hospital Dream Dare Deliver campaign. Specifically, the proceeds will go towards the Ophthalmology department, which provides life-changing research and treatment development for FEVR—the disease affecting Cyrus.

VictoriaLand Beauty donations will provide the money necessary to fund surgeries to remove cataracts, help build confidence for those who have suffered traumatic eye injuries, and make seeing possible for those struggling with vision impairment since birth. This donation component epitomizes VictoriaLand Beauty’s dedication to living a healthy and happy life, Watts said. third graders aren’t reading at or above grade level. And while 1 in 14 jobs in the nation are created in Florida, the state’s 14.8 percent poverty rate includes 21.3 percent of children under age 18. While Florida is better than most states in these areas, the Florida Chamber will continue to lead reforms that create economic opportunity.

“Florida 2030 allows communities to see how they are impacted by challenges and opportunities and create their own blueprints for how to move forward,” said Tony Carvajal, Executive Vice President of the Florida Chamber Foundation. “This growth in our economy is good news and reminds us of the positive impact that business, community, philanthropic and elected leaders can have on Florida when we work together toward a common goal of securing Florida’s future.”

AUGUST 2018

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

GUEST COMMENTARY

Cryptocurrency oversight needed Florida can no longer remain on the sidelines when it comes to cryptocurrency. I have directed my office to create a position that will oversee how current securities and insurance laws apply to Initial Coin Offerings and cryptocurrencies as well as shape the future of these regulations in our state. ICO and cryptocurrency companies based in Florida will also be required to register with the Office of Financial Regulation under the supervision of the cryptocurrency chief. The new position will coordinate the efforts of OFR and Office of Insurance Regulation regarding the development of policy, legislation and regulation.

BY JIMMY The Alabama Securities PATRONIS Commission recently sent a Guest Columnist cease and desist order to Platinum Coin from Miami to prohibit the company from issuing securities within Alabama. Other states have identified and are taking action against bad actors in the cryptocurrency industry. Florida must also protect our residents.

We cannot allow the cryptocurrency industry to expand in Florida unfettered and unchecked with the potential for so many, including our large population of seniors, to be exploited. By taking an active, comprehensive and balanced approach, our state will provide an appropriate level of scrutiny for emerging digital asset technologies. It is absolutely essential that Florida create safeguards to protect our consumers from fraud.

Cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly accepted as forms of payment for many transactions across the state, including by government entities. The Seminole County Tax Collector announced that the office will accept Bitcoin as payment for property taxes, identification cards and license plates.

The establishment of a cryptocurrency chief in the state will help protect Floridians from scams.

Understanding the risks and benefits of this emerging industry will benefit Florida consumers. My goal is to keep pace with demand and not deter innovation while monitoring for fraudulent behavior and scams.

Page 11

BUSINESS SERVICES

Protect your business against cyber assaults First impressions are everything. For a majority of companies and organizations today, your website is where your target audience first goes to experience your brand or even transact with you.

If you’ve ever invested in a website, you’ve probably taken great care in considering the graphic look of the website, the navigation and userfriendly features as well as rich content to support search engine optimization strategies. If you’ve made this investment, you understand a strong website presence is vital to brand value, and even to brand survival.

That said, protecting one of your company’s most vital assets is your top priority, am I right?

If you hesitated in answering with any response than a resounding “yes,” I encourage you to become educated and engaged in protecting your website against digital villains who not only target big companies, but also unleash new weapons every day on businesses of all sizes left vulnerable without proper protections in place.

So what are the vulnerabilities and how can we gear up against cyber threats?

First, you need the right tools. Security modules serve as an early warning system to detect malware, spam and other security issues that threaten your website, including domain hijacking, where your traffic is redirected to another website. Often times, the hackers will redirect you to fake versions of legitimate sites with the goal of stealing your credentials including banking information or even authentication codes.

Additionally, DDoS or distributed-denial-ofservice attacks occur when a targeted website is flooded with millions of requests in order to bring it down. This type of attack can cost a small business as much as $120,000, and big businesses have seen financial loss totaling more than $2 million.

The biggest price—loss of consumer trust.

Harmful or malicious software, known as malware, includes spyware, adware, phishing and viruses and often accesses your device via email or the Internet. Anti-malware or malware removal tools are critical.

Another valuable security measure is a firewall that places rules on incoming and outgoing traffic to protect networks, servers, websites and individual computers. This ensures that incoming data is filtered with the goal of blocking any threats from attacking the site. A proxy, or middleman solution, passes along good traffic while stopBY MANNY ping bad traffic to your site. AdGONZALEZ ditionally, firewall tools such Guest Columnist as virtual patching and virtual hardening engines allow for real-time mitigation of threats without impact to the website.

However, traditional firewalls don’t address the cloud, giving those customers big concerns as experts look to define best practices in secure cloud computing. We offer CloudProxy, a Website Application Firewall (WAF) and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) bundled into one. One of the tools Priority Marketing recommends for our web clients is an SSL Certificate to provide secure, encrypted communication between a website and an internet browser. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, the protocol that provides the encryption. SSL Certificates are typically installed on pages that require end-users to submit sensitive information such as credit card information or passwords.

Even if your website is not used for transactional purposes and does not require forms or submittal of personal information, cyber attacks are a real threat for all businesses, regardless of size and purpose.

Leaving your company vulnerable to attackers not only compromises your website, but the impacts can be long-lasting and expensive, especially on your operations and brand integrity.

Manny Gonzalez is director of web solutions at Priority Marketing, a marketing, advertising, public relations and digital solutions firm based in Southwest Florida. To learn more, call (239) 267-2638 or visit www.PriorityMarketing.com.

W O R K S M A R T E R TO

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Jimmy Patronis is Chief Financial Officer for the state of Florida and oversees the Department of Financial Services. Contact him at CFO.Patronis@myfloridacfo.com or call his office (877) 693-5236.

KATHY SORTORE 239.898.2176

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Page 12

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

AUGUST 2018

Condo associations award management contracts Two premier mid- and high-rise residential condominium associations in Southwest Florida have awarded management contracts to property management firm KW Property Management & Consulting.

The two high-profile condominium properties include Admiralty Point on Gulfshore Boulevard in Naples and Ariel at the Landings in Fort Myers, the sole high rise building in the Landings. “The management of these fine residential properties is recognition that our firm provides the kind of sophisticated expertise that communities need in areas such as accounting, technology, maintenance

and customer service,” said Zuly Maribona, regional manager of KW Property Management & Consulting in Bonita Springs.

KW Property Management now manages communities throughout Southwest Florida with more than 16,500 homes from its regional headquarters in Bonita Springs.

Admiralty Point in Naples is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and Venetian Bay, hugging the north bank of Moorings Bay. Admiralty Point’s two residential buildings contain a total of 144 condominiums. The 17-story Ariel at the Landings has 135 condominiums lo-

Conditioned Air promotes president to CEO

It’s Your Future. Own It. Tom Maiale

Vice President / Business Development Officer

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cated within the Landings Golf, Yacht and Tennis Club off McGregor Boulevard near the Cape Coral Bridge in Fort Myers.

KW Property Management assigns a new-client manager and one of the firm’s in-house CPAs to prepare and review financial statements and budgets, orient employees and ensure a flawless transition for each community. The firm’s staff of accountants provide in-depth financial reviews and analyze all vendor contracts to ensure communities are getting the best pricing and maximum services, utilizing its Value Optimization process.

Conditioned Air Company of Naples announced the promotion of Tim Dupre to the position of president and CEO. Dupre will assume the CEO responsibilities from long-time Conditioned Air CEO and Partner Theo Etzel, III, who will provide continued leadership as chairman.

“This announcement is the culmination of several years of discussion, strategic planning, leadership development and execution,” Etzel said.

“Tim is a partner in Conditioned Air and is the perfect person to take over the helm.

He shares our dedication to ethical business practices and employee empowerment and will do a wonderful job in continuing to Dupre grow this organization.”

Conditioned Air is the region’s largest air-conditioning contracting and service firm with more than 345 employees across Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee counties.

A 20-year veteran of Conditioned Air, Dupre learned the basics of general construction working for his grandfather who was a local contractor.

Spirit

Nominations open for family friendly award Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 Family Friendly Business Awards from Lee and Collier businesses that have workplace policies and programs that assist employees with families. Any business that offers benefits that contribute to work/life balance such as flex time, health insurance, or employee-sponsored childcare may be eligible for the designation.

“A growing number of businesses are developing family-friendly policies to reduce friction between family responsibilities and work demands,” said Niccole Howard, Collier Child Care Resources executive director. “They look for ways to support work-life balance, which helps employees produce their best work.

Ultimately, these policies help companies attract and retain top talent.”

Businesses can be nominated for the award at www.collierchildcare. org. Those nominated will be notified and provided an application. All applicants with family-friendly business practices will be recognized at a breakfast slated for Oct. 16, from 8-10 a.m. at the Hilton Naples.

Among the winners, two Employer of the Year recipients will be chosen in the following categories: small-medium business (1-49 employees), and large business (50+ employees). Employer of the Year Awards recognize companies that model the best practices and innovation in the effort to support work-life balance for employees with families.

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