August 2022 Southwest Florida Business Today

Health Insurance

® Celebrating 15 Years

Health Insurance MD

___________________________________________

Policies - Claims - Consultant

239-271-7785

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 15, No. 10 / AUGUST 2022 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

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

TAKE ONE

FOLLOW SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BUSINESS TODAY® ON:

SWFL CRE, CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT Taking Charlotte County to the next level

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Specialreal to SWFBT years, I think Charlotte County will A look at commercial estate & construction updates“Inin10-20 Southwest Florida Submitted by Karen P. Moore, Publisher

be unrecognizable in a fabulous way!”

Focus on Business Services

Our Trade Show in Print and Online gives you the opportunity to “meet” local businesses that provide products and services to make your business more successful.

When Charlotte County Economic Development Director Dave Gammon spoke to a group of Lee County real estate and business professionals, he pointed out, “Realtor.com just named Punta Gorda as the #1 place in the country to relocate.

We want people to know that it is also a good place to relocate a business.”

He continued, “Our goal is to keep the charm of a smalltown community while accommodating growth—because we sure aren’t going to be able to stop the growth.” He believes, “Charlotte County’s mixed-use zoning ordinance now allows for more density and height on the major arteries

— Dave Gammon, Charlotte County Economic Development Director that can handle it. This way we can attract developers while achieving what we call ‘smart growth.’“ For instance, Gammon noted Promenade Mall is a $100-million project with 1,100 apartments along with 360,000 square feet of office/medical office/retail space. The same concept is planned for Port Charlotte Mall and being marketed for the Town Center. “There’s been a shift in the CHARLOTTE See page 6

Rebranding Lee&as more SWFL CRE, CONSTRUCTION DEVELO than beaches A look at commercial real estate & construction updates in Southwe

HUNT FOR ADVENTURE

Special to SWFBT Submitted by Jacob Ogles, Editor

CRE Construction & Development

SPECIAL THIS ISSUE A collection of information to help you navigate Southwest Florida’s CRE, Building and Development marketplace.

CLEANING TO LEAVE THE services

® Celebrating

(239) 368-1219 cepride.com billstaggs@offi

ACE • 239-573-97

B2B MARKETPL

T FLORIDA’S

FLORIDA ON: FOLLOW SOUTHWEST BUSINESS TODAY®

TAKE ONE

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

US!

janitorial • Provides quality hard work honesty, integrity, • Committed to month free get your 4th Sign with us,

11 Years

32

SOUTHWES

/ OCTOBER 2019 Vol. 12 No. 12 sinesstoday.com www.swfloridabu

IONAL TRADE SUMMIT

2019 INTERNAT LEE COUNTY HOSTED

ISSUE INSIDE THIS

s Salute to Entrepreneur solo practitioners

and Startups, of the economy visionaries fuel Southwest Florida.

Brady Photos by Christine trade to the Southof international about the importance Development offices.

Buqueras talks Economic Director Carlos the Lee County first-ever stop at Port Manatee Executive during the Port’s west Florida market

an businesses South Americ

Estate Commercial Real 8-page pullout

A comprehensive a quarterly Southsection that is Real Eswest Florida Commercial

IN THE NEWS

Dave Gammon elevated Charlotte EDO director

visit Fort Myers

Special to SWFBT

tate market overview.

to

in the wake of Charlotte County, joinLucienne Pears former director Partners at Babcock ing Kitson and former Business Ranch, elevated and interim Recruitment Supervisor to executive director Dave Gammon Economic Developdirector of the ment Office. face in reGammon is a familiar he development as gional economic three years with his has proven in EDO. Charlotte County continue leading He is excited to like developments several existing See page 19

Florida to communities in second one of four host as part of the Lee County was from seven countries welcome companiesTrade Summit.

Manatee, annual International International Trade Hub at Port Fort Lauseries visited Organized by The Business opportunity a and Tampa for one day the 2019 Global Bradenton/Sarasot derdale, Fort Myers,to 29.

26 Office, Southwest each from Aug. ReEconomic Development and the Southwest The Lee County Chamber of Commerce the event, which Florida Hispanic Association co-hosted gional Manufacturers Gulf Railway.

Chile, Colombia, was sponsored Seminole from Argentina, Peru and other locales International companies Spain, Mexico, goods, apparel, artisanal El Salvador, Guatemala, food, coffee, fruits, cooking systems featured wine, snack and state-of-the-art to merchandise companies Lee County industryof founded as part summit showcases Port Manatee, at during the summit.

Hub and An expo-style from seven nations Trade markets in Florida and business leaders visiting Summit.

The International International Trade advice as a vital link between provides expert See page 6 the second annual in 2014, serves world. The hub TRADE throughout the

GAMMON

Privacy & Cyber Security Forum announced

& Cyber SeA special Privacy held on Friwill be at curity Forum 9 a.m. to noon day, Nov. 8, fromNews Community the Naples Daily room.

Companies will William C. Huff and insponsor the informational for the community. teractive forum forum is for atThe goal of the clearer undera tendees to gain keep their famito standing of how businesses private. lies, wealth and See page 18 FORUM

NEURS

SALUTE TO ENTREPRE for growthand Intermediary ss Advisors poised Proa Certified Business Mergers & Acquisitions transaction experiEdison Busine the IBBA ap- Certified designations from ence totaling partner and

in fi$170 fessional with a concentration proximately won and an MBAthe University of Michigan. million. Gall transactions and nance from Gall in business the 2018, 2016 Niehaus, Bro- Assisting middle market mergers Pfeffer, Steven 2014 Business significant changes No. 1 are Michael and Phillip Reda. Adfirm, is announcing kers of Florida Edward Valaitis Business to operations.

Top Dollar Producer to rebrand itself Pfeffer joins Edison of business The firm has decided over 20 years Award for Southwest Advisors” to better out visors with experience, including 12 as “Edison Business service offerings, Florida, beating busi- transactionbusiness brokerage franchise communicate addedbusiness appraisals, Gall a over 90 other He is years as Southwest Florida. Pfeffer is a including certified appraisals and certiness brokers. in Brokers owner Certified Intermediary, Certified certified equipment International Business 6 and Board fied exit strategies. mergers and acquisi- also an EDISON See page Chairman’s Circle Brokerage and led by Association Award winner. Eric holds continue to be tions efforts will 20 years of business Deal Maker Gall. He has over

a Eric Gall, managing for Edison Avenue, broker of record brokerage and lower leading business and acquisitions

OPENING

Discount • Merchandise Gifts Ticket Packages Parties & Exclusive Full & Flexible Options • Private & Shows Discounted Parking Arena Concerts Presale on Hertz & get a Membership TOTE BAG Buy any 19/20 ‘BLADES purchase.

GIFT CARD & $20 FORD’Sfull, voucher or select membership

19/20 SEASON

• FloridaEverblade

NIGHT

NIGHT

10/26 7:00

10/19 7:00

VS VS

NEW Valid on any

239.948.PUCK

s.com

®

LEAVE THE CLEANING TO US! • Provides quality janitorial services • Committed to honesty, integrity, hard work

Celebrating 11 Years

Sign with us, get your 4th month free (239) 368-1219

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 12 No. 11 / SEPTEMBER 2019 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

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

TAKE ONE

billstaggs@officepride.com FOLLOW SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BUSINESS TODAY® ON:

Hoffmann Family buys Hertz Arena, Everblades

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The Hoffmann Family of Companies has entered into an agreement to purchase the Florida Everblades and the Hertz Arena.

Plans are underway for a complete renovation of the 8,284-seat, multipurpose arena. The improvements will include enhanced skyboxes, food services and installation of a state-ofthe-art scoreboard.

Hertz Arena, which opened in 1998 as Everblades Arena, hosts a variety of events including concerts, Cirque du Soleil, Disney on Ice, boxing and trade shows. The venue offers

Focus on Manufacturing

Area companies are building a better future — one made right here in Southwest Florida.

25 suites, two additional ice rinks, a private club and a pub, Breakaway Sports Pub. The arena is also home to the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles club hockey team of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

“We are optimistic that all of the 330 employees will remain with the Hoffmann Family of Companies,” said Craig Brush, Florida Everblades President and General Manager, who signed a five-year contract and has a commitment from all his senior staff to remain in place.

“We are thrilled to be acquired by

Bell spoke in August at the Citrus Expo and Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo, where growers from around the region gathered to hear her discuss this new and just recently legal product to diversify their inventory.

Just a few years ago, there were no legal reasons to grow cannabis in Florida. Now, medical marijuana dispensaries pop up in more shopping centers each week. Soon, farmers will grow non-narcotic hemp crops.

With the 2018 federal farm bill allowing hemp to grow, a budding industry will soon emerge in Florida. The Legislature this year authorized a pilot program for growing hemp in the Sunshine State, and state officials are nearly done weeding through a stack of public suggestions.

GrowFL announced this year’s 50 Florida Companies to Watch honorees, including three from Southwest Florida. Companies to Watch is a statewide competition that identifies companies expected to see significant growth over the next several years.

The GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards program—now in its ninth year—honors 50 select second-stage companies from throughout Florida for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout Florida. Chosen from 500 growing second-stage nominations from throughout, Florida, the 50 companies named as the 2019 Florida Companies to Watch honorees generated nearly $1 billion in revenue and added over 900 jobs between 2015 and 2018. Together, the honorees project a 35 percent increase in revenue and 37 percent increase in job growth in 2019 compared to 2018.

“These stand-out companies are all led by entrepreneurs, and have demonstrated their capacity and intent to grow,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, GrowFL executive director. “They also all have critical intellectual property or a niche position that gives them a competitive edge in their markets,” he said.

Local honorees include: Cottrell Title & Escrow, Collier County; Mettauer Environmental, Lee County; and VeraData, Lee County .

“This list recognizes second-stage Florida companies with passionate leaders who are making a difference in growing and diversifying our economy,” said Jennifer Barrows, GrowFL Chairman of the GrowFL Advisory Board and Business Development Executive with WithumSmith+Brown, PC. Second-stage companies are those

HEMP See page 5

GROWFL See page 10

Commercial Real Estate

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

IN THE NEWS

Fort Myers sixth Business Summit slated for Sept. 20

Holly Bell addresses citrus growers about the 25,000-plus uses for industrial hemp, which can now be grown legally in Florida

Cannabis chief promises rich stash for hemp growers Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Jacob Ogles, Editor

SUMMIT See page 7

When other states started authorizing farmers to grow hemp, it didn’t take long to realize there was no place to sell it. Because no structures had been put in place for processing and manufacturing plants, state officials found themselves rushing a regulatory structure through so farmers could offload their first harvests.

Holly Bell, Florida’s first Director of Cannabis, plans to learn from that mistake. She said the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will make sure all parts of the burgeoning hemp industry can move forward as soon as new rules unroll later this fall.

“When our farmers are ready for a cash flow, we want to encourage them to get going,” she said.

Applications being accepted for the 25th Blue Chip Award The 25th Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award application deadline is fast approaching. The Blue Chip Community Business Award recognizes successful, small businesses in Lee, Collier or Charlotte County that have overcome adversity to achieve success. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 4.

The independent judges select the honoree after all the applications AWARD See page 19

Full & Flexible Ticket Packages • Payment Plans Available Discounted Parking Options • Private Parties & Exclusive Gifts Merchandise Discount • Presale on Hertz Arena Concerts & Shows

19/20 SEASON

EVERBLADES See page 6

GrowFL announces statewide honorees

HOT CROP

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has announced an exciting line-up for its 2019 Business Summit, set for Sept. 20. The summit, now in its sixth year, will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers.

This year’s keynote address is “Communicate Your Way to Success,” by entrepreneur, business coach and international speaker Jason Evers. Evers has traveled to more than 20 countries on five continents

such a prestigious company. Our partnership with the Hertz Corporation and now this new ownership ensures that Hertz Arena will maintain our strong community presence and continue to be the number one choice for entertainment in Southwest Florida.”

The team and the arena were previously owned by Peter Karmanos, founder of Compuware Corporation and prior majority owner of the Carolina Hurricanes in the National Hockey League.

“Simply put, without the support of

Buy any 19/20 Membership & get a

SAT 7:00

10/19

$20 FORD’S GIFT CARD & ‘BLADES TOTE BAG

OPENING NIGHT VS

NIGHT

Valid on any NEW full, voucher or select membership purchase.

239.948.PUCK • FloridaEverblades.com

Celebrating

SOUTHWES

T FLORIDA’S

Vol. 12 No. 10 / AUGUST 2019 www.swfloridabu sinesstoday.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

LEAVE THE CLEANING TO US! • Provides

®

11 Years

quality janitorial services • Committed to honesty, integrity, hard work Sign with us, get your 4th month free

B2B MARKETPL

ACE • 239-573-97

32

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

TAKE ONE

IMMOKALEE FOUNDATI

(239) 368-1219 billstaggs@offi cepride.com

ON HOSTS SHARK

FOLLOW SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BUSINESS TODAY® ON:

TANK COMPETIT

ION

Focus on Business

Services Our Trade Show in Print provides information to make your business more successful.

Commercial Real

Estate

A specially section exploringfocused monthly mercial real estate the SWFL commarketplace.

IN THE NEWS Collier names Pelican as ‘Business of the Wire Month’

During the July 9 Collier County Commission Wire was named meeting, Pelican ty ‘Business of the Collier Counthe Month’ and recognized by was the a manufacturing Board for being County for over leader in Collier 40 years.

Pelican Wire President Ted Bill, who received the are truly honored award, said “We Collier County to be named the Month’ for July.‘Business of the Since moving AWARD See page

Gov. DeSantis announces job growth grants

4

Gov. Ron DeSantis the Florida Departmentannounced of Economic Opportunity Florida are acceptingand Enterprise economic development project proposals for the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. $40 million is available to fund training and public job projects that support infrastructure growth and employment in Florida.

“We know the frastructure projects importance inand workforce training has on economic development,” said DeSantis.

“The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will help Florida communities ensure they GRANTS See page

12

SEASON, SELECT

& VOUCHER

MEMBER SHIPS

Dr. Sandra Kauanui (left) and Noemi Ailynee Ramirez, Y. Perez (right) Jessica Sales, with - TIF Shark Daisy Montanez, Tank winners Swap

Alondra Estrada Young entrepr eneurs share

& Shop team- Neika

Exulus,

ideas, earn awards

Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Noemi Y. Perez Southwest Florida tion’s business-themedstudents in The Immokalee Foundasummer camp entrepreneurial recently shared ideas their Tank event modeled and garnered awards during a Shark The four-week after the popular TV show. was a partnership Business Management Pathway Coast University’sbetween the foundation and Floridacamp Gulf developed businessInstitute for Entrepreneurship . among them: finding plans that solved problems Students common clothes on a budget; centric finances; handling studentñera; and findinggetting better sleep; planning a quincearestaurants suitable stricted diets. for people with reStudent teams gave presentations about ences, startup costs, their target audiprojected profits, other aspects of marketing plans entrepreneurial and Dr. Sandra Kauanui, FGCU enterprises at iTECH mokalee. Judges Director of Entrepreneurshi spoke during the for the presentations in ImSmart Companies event. were: Brian Rist, p, The Smart Companies executive chairman; Sofia Blanno, gram allows shoppers to arrange tor of corporate intern; and Matthew Turner, Hertz The through social an app, then physically to buy, sell or swap items direcFirst place awards responsibility. central location exchange those of $500 each went in Immokalee. items at a Shop team of Neika to the Swap & MentorUs, an Exulus, Jessica app that encourages Daisy Montanez Sales, Alondra students to make and Ailynee Ramirez.

Estrada, smart financial decisions, interested in dressing earned second place Aimed at students for team members of $250 each fashionably on Alex Soriano, a budget, the pro- ie Etienne, Azael Simon-Quirino Je’an Espinoza, Myrlandand Simson Devesaint.

Fort Myers Mayor

Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Karen P. Moore,

launches Diversi ty Committee

SHARK See page

more inclusive city.

Publisher Student Hailey Countryman asked her employer, Sanibel Captiva “It is never too the Mayor if he munity Bank, Comlate to give up had to FGCU’s College on diversity whom a team of advisors Education. your prejudices.” of Henry David Thoreau for guidance. Since he could rely on said, “We In a recent interview she can’t really say the answer to that question was no, we are trying to be at that moment Fort Myers Mayor derson felt inspired Hen- residents representative of our city’s Randy Henand community derson has known a team. Ndiang’ui to create just such have diversity if we Florida Gulf wanted to make Coast University on the council don’t sure the Mayor itself.”

She explained was prepared for ter Ndiang’ui for professor Dr. Pe- road ahead the its 18 membersthe committee drew about 10 years and asked him, was a guest speaker and from the commu“Are in his class, “In- really able to handle the truth?” you nity, representing troduction to Diversity,” diversity project moved The ethnicity, forward. in Novemgender and sexualin race, ber. Henderson Beth Countryman, asked students Hailey’s moth- tity. “We can’t be a committee idenhe could do to what er, became make Fort Myers up of old white made involved with men and think the project, going a which led to we are a $25,000 donation to be in charge of diversity.” from DIVERSITY See page 11 Payment Plans Available • Discounted Merchandise Parking Options Discount • Presale • Private Parties & Exclusive Gifts on Hertz Arena Concerts & Family Shows Buy Any 19/20 & Get A $20 Membership Pack FORD’S GIFT & ‘BLADES TOTE CARD BAG Valid on any NEW full, voucher or select membership

purchase.

5

Get Southwest Florida’s business news and information delivered straight to your mailbox each month.

Start your subscription to Southwest Florida Business Today.®

Call (239) 573-9732.

Wiley The Wolf shows off a rendering of the Great Wolf Lodge South Florida, slated to open in 2024.

Great Wolf Lodge splashes into Naples South Florida families looking to strengthen their pack will have a new, fun, adventure-filled getaway in 2024, as Great Wolf Resorts, North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts, broke ground on its newest resort in Naples. Great Wolf Lodge South Florida will become the brand’s 21st resort in North America, featuring 500 family-friendly suites and an expansive 100,000-square-foot indoor water park. The resort will sit on 20 acres on the eastern edge of Collier County, near the Interstate-75 and Collier Boulevard interchange and next to the Paradise

IN THE NEWS

Lee allocates $7.5 million to affordable housing developments

The Lee County Commission voted to allocate $7.5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act Recovery & Resilience program to two affordable housing developments.

The allocations include: • $5 million to the Southwest Florida Affordable Housing Choice Foundation for preservation and re-

construction of 375 units in the Southward Village, a public housing complex off Edison Avenue. The complex now has 195 units of public housing.

Those units will be reconstructed and 185 units will be added in the same complex. Units will be rented to households with income at or below 140% of the area median income.

• $2.5 million to Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry County for infraHOUSING See page 11

Coast Sports Complex, making for a convenient, fun-filled getaway for families across South Florida and a significant economic engine for the region.

With an investment of more than $250 million dollars from Great Wolf’s shareholders Blackstone and Centerbridge Partners, Great Wolf Lodge and its construction partner Suffolk estimate the number of construction and trade workers on-site will range between 250500 daily during the build. When Great Wolf Lodge South Florida opens, it will create more than 600 full and part-time

Gone is the branding of Southwest Florida as “The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel.” The Lee County Convention and Visitors Bureau now markets this area to the world as “Fort Myers Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods.”

While that may seem a subtle change to some, it’s a significant shift in the marketing of Lee County as a designation, one county leaders hope will create attention for Lee County’s inland attractions and Ososky offerings.

“Fort Myers is more than just the beaches, and for the longest time, behind the scenes, the VCB was really accused by our partners that were further inland of only catering to the beach community,” said Brian Ososky, marketing director for the Bureau, “Now let’s face it, people want to go on vacation,, they want to get their toes in the sand, right? But it doesn’t mean that’s the only storytelling we should be doing.”

WOLF See page 15

LEE See page 14

IMPORTANT BUSINESS NOTES  Moore About Business Kick off your business week with “Moore About Business”! Tune in to SWFL PBS and National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate, WGCU radio at 90.1 FM, during Morning Edition and All Things Considered to hear SWFBT founder, owner and publisher Karen P. Moore share information and insights for and about our local business community. Listen to past segments at https://news.wgcu.org/karen-moore-1.

 Paycheck Protection Program Loan Taxation To receive loan forgiveness so you will not be taxed on the loan, you must complete the simple application and receive approval. Contact your PPP lender ASAP for more info.  SWFBT News Updates To get current business news throughout the business day, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com.

Do you want a clean office ... or a clean and HEALTHY office?

Our trained technicians not only disinfect but sanitize your office with an electrostatic spraying process It’s not a matter of IF, it’s a matter of WHEN! Are You Ready? www.imageoneusa.com/fort-myers

CONTACT US TODAY Nikko Conn Nikko@imageoneusa.com Anthony Conn Anthony@imageoneusa.com

(239) 789-2267

Page 2

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

AUGUST 2022

Local

Bank. Lending. Decisions.

Choose a local lender you can bank on.

Ready to Get Started?

W

ith Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as your lender, whether you’re looking for a commercial or residential loan, you get a local partner and advocate to guide you through the process. We have loan officers in every branch ready to work with you – from start to finish, every step of the way.

Contact Kyle or David to get connected to the right loan officer for you.

As a locally owned and operated community bank, all our loan decisions are made right here in Southwest Florida. Recognizing and valuing relationships with our customers allows us to find solutions where other traditional banks fail.

Kyle DeCicco President and Senior Loan Officer 239-274-6225 kdecicco@sancapbank.com NMLS #1096738

David Wright Senior Vice President of Residential Mortgage Lending 239-210-2279 dwright@sancapbank.com NMLS #412536

$1B+ in closed home loans since 2003

11 loan officers located throughout SWFL

Quick, local decision-making

Direct access to in-house commercial and residential lending experts

8 convenient SWFL locations 239-472-6100 | www.SanCapBank.com NMLS #411904

AUGUST 2022

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 3

BUSINESS SERVICES

Small businesses need a yearly technology budget

By Alan Fidler Guest Columnist IT companies get multiple calls a week from small businesses that are experiencing technology failures.

Unfortunately, many of these small businesses never established a technology budget to cover their technology needs and are often shocked at the final cost of addressing these failures.

Establishing a yearly technology budget, whether you’re a new or a seasoned small business, is one of the most important financial decisions you can make for your small business.

While the exact amount varies by size and industry, a small business should budget at least $2,500 for each employee that uses technology every year. This budget includes the cost of computers and hardware, points of sale, software subscriptions, networking equipment, phone systems, security systems, cloud backup, and data recovery.

Additionally, if your small business doesn’t have or can’t afford a dedicated IT employee, contracting with an IT managed services provider (MSP) can help you manage this budget even further.

Small businesses spend approximately 30% more money on technology repairs when they wait until something goes wrong rather than proactively having a plan in place with an IT managed services provider.

This is because many times small businesses without tech budgets choose the least expensive options

ELECT

for their technology thinking it will save them money.

Then, when that cheaper technology fails, replacement technology needs to be purchased, the installation work needs to be redone, and company data may need to be recovered.

Then there’s the downtime.

How many jobs or customers have you had to postpone or cancel because your IT equipment is not working correctly? How much profit are you losing while you’re calling IT company after IT company, trying to find anybody who can fix your issues at the whim of their availability.

Meanwhile, you’re still paying your employees even though they’re not able to do their jobs, you’re still paying your rent and utilities even though you have no revenue coming in, and if your company data was lost, you’re also paying to have that data recovered.

Can your small business afford this downtime? Does that $2,500 really seem so expensive now?

By proactively establishing a yearly technology budget and having an agreement or contract in place with an IT managed services provider, you are guaranteeing a faster turnaround time, less downtime, and less profit loss for your small business.

Alan Fidler is the operations manager for NOC OUT NETWORKS, a premier IT Managed Services Provider in Fort Myers that has been serving Southwest Florida businesses since 1999. They can be reached at support@nocoutnetworks.com or (239 437-4357.

BUSINESS SERVICES How to hit your target As a small business owner, I know the challenge of entering into an existing market. I joined the T-shirt and promotional products business 11 years ago and knew that I had some heavy competition. What made me stand out from my competitor? First and foremost were the relationships built and still building today. Take the time to get to know your clients, what do they stand for and how can you help them.

It’s important to understand who your target market is and how to reach them. For

BY NATE someone to remember your SALLEE business, you have to leave Guest Columnist them something with them.

This could be a business card magnet, chip clip, tumbler, etc. There are a variety of products for different industries. Find a product that best represents your company.

As a small business owner our challenge is how to get the word out with a small advertising/marketing budget. How do you choose what to invest in? First you want to know your audience. Take time to define your target audience. A few areas to consider are location, SALLEE See page 14

Vote on August 23, 2022

Times change .... but machine politics seldom do.

Isn’t it time we elect a leader with no special interest other than Lee County’s best interest?

Contact Joseph at gambinoforleecountyfl@yahoo.com or (239) 922-3793

TICKET PACKAGES

on sale now

Full, Partial, Flexible Voucher & Group Options FLORIDAEVERBLADES.COM/TICKETS

Paid for by Candidate Joseph Gambino Lee County Commissioner D-5

a e m o Becrtner witahy!! pa us tod CALL / TEXT

239.948.PUCK

Page 4

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

AUGUST 2022

Voters to choose state, county leaders in primary Special to SWFBT Submitted by Jacob Ogles, Editor

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar

Southwest Florida will host a number of political contests on the Aug. 23 ballot from state House to school board. What are the marquee races of importance to the business community?

taxes for Lee County families, reduce government regulations on job creators, improve our roads to reduce traffic, and protect our water quality,” Greenwell said. “Our quality of life is best achieved by building tremendous partnerships with our communities and our businesses,” said Albion. “We also need to meet the needs of a fast growing Lee County and increase interdepartmental efficiency,” said Gambino.

State House District 77 The redistricting process gave Lee County an extra House seat. Tiffany Esposito, president and CEO of SWFL Inc., faces Ford O’Connell, a pundit regularly appearing on Fox News, in a Republican primary. Esposito promised to make commerce a priority. “I have devoted my professional career to growing our economy and helping local businesses succeed,” she said. Meanwhile, O’Connell stresses his ties to the Donald Trump administration — he served as a White House surrogate. “When you think of me, think freedom and fortitude. I will fight for you every day.” The winner faces Democrat Eric Engelhart in November.

Collier County Commission Elections in Collier County have candidates flocking. In the District 2 race, there are four Republicans: philanthropist Reg Buxton, veteran real estate pro Chris Hall, former police officer Gerald Lefebvre and businesswoman Nancy Lewis. The Republican nominee will face Democrat Bebe Kanter and independent John Sochor.

Buxton said he will “complete scheduled improvements and implement new plans to relieve traffic and congestion.” “With integrity, common sense, thick skin and grit, I am running to protect and secure your liberties,” said Hall. “My time on the Collier County Code Enforcement Board has afforded me the ability to listen to the residents of Collier County and to find a positive resolution to issues,” noted Lefebvre. “Although growth is inevitable, wise planning requires sophisticated solutions,” said Lewis.

Lee County Commission The death of longtime County Commissioner Frank Mann left an opening for the commission District 5 seat. Three Republican candidates qualified for the position, former County Commission John Albion, community advocate Joseph Gambino, Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park owner Mike Greenwell. A nominee decided in August will face Democrat Matt Wood in November.

“I love my hometown, and will do everything in my power to see it succeed. I want to lower ®

www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

SELL YOUR BUSINESS

PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Ogles

Trust the

MOST AWARDED

PHOTO REVIEWER Scott Toner

WEBSITE ASSISTANT Angelica Torres

P.O. Box 152299 Cape Coral, FL 33915-2299 News: 239-573-9731 All other: 239-573-9732 News email: editor@swfloridabusinesstoday.com All other information requests: publisher@ swfloridabusinesstoday.com The contents of Southwest Florida Business Today® are copyright 2022 by Southwest Florida Newspapers, Inc. No portion may be reproduced without the express written consent of Southwest Florida Newspapers, Inc. The publication of any advertisement or article does not necessarily reflect the view of the publisher of Southwest Florida Business Today®. For more information about any article or column appearing in Southwest Florida Business Today®, for advertising rates or subscription information please call 239-573-9732 or email: publisher@ swfloridabusinesstoday.com

OUR MISSION

Southwest Florida Business Today® is to provide the best business-to-business marketplace where business executives operating in Southwest Florida buy and sell goods and services via the exchange of news, advertising and information.

Cape Coral’s small business class accepting applications

SELL YOUR BUSINESS

PRINT EDITOR & ASSOCIATE WEB EDITOR Jacob Ogles

DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGNER & EDITOR Michelle L. Hudson

Charlotte County Commission All voters can vote in two Republican primaries in Charlotte County.

County Commissioner Christopher Constance in District 2 faces challenges from Punta Gorda Councilman Jaha Cummings and David Kalin.

Cummings has served on the Charlotte Commission for three terms. Kalin said he wants to bring conservative values to the board.

Meanwhile, County Commissioner Stephen Deutsch in District 4 will see challenges in the Republican primary from Gunny Stevens and Tom Sullivan. Deutsch said he has built relationships with governments. Stevens is a former Marine with real estate experience. Sullivan, a former financial reporter, said there needs to be better fiscal comprehension on the board.

o uHH NEE O Op Y oYu aavvee OON p ppoorrttuunni ti yt yt ot o

PUBLISHER Karen P. Moore

PRINT AD DESIGNER Jennifer Ogles

In the District 4 contest, County Commissioner Penny Taylor faces Agents for Change ambassador Daija Hinojosa, former deputy Daniel Kowal and former Naples Councilwoman Michelle McLeod in a closed Republican primary, with the winner facing only a write-in in the general. “I have leadership that shows I’m not afraid to stand alone on my beliefs and the importance of caring for this community,” Taylor said. “I have a desire to serve my community and allow everyone round me to lead up in times of crisis,” said Hinojosa. Kowal said voters want “somebody willing to fight to keep the bureaucrats from getting in their way.” “I will continue to make smart decisions for our community to keep Collier County one of the most desirable places to enjoy life,” McLeod said.

&

HIGHEST CREDENTIALED Business Brokerage Firm in SW Florida Since 2014

Keep up with the latest business news, events and more! www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com ®

H I G H E S T wC w R Ew D E. E N TdI iAsLo En D B & AM.OcSoT m AWARDED

866.205.2310 Info@EdisonBA.com www.EdisonBA.com

Anticipating what’s next... ...is what keeps you and your business ahead of the game.

Due to recent expansion, we are now hiring for part-time newspaper delivery drivers in Naples.

Please call (239) 770-7527 for details.

Here’s what is ahead for 2022 for Southwest Florida Business Today®.

MONTH

EDITORIAL FOCUS

PUB. DATE (FRIDAY)

DEADLINE (WED., 5 pm)

SEPTEMBER

• Manufacturing

Aug. 19

Aug. 10

OCTOBER

• Entrepreneurs • CRE Quarterly Review

Sept. 23

Sept. 14

Call to reserve your advertising spot today: (239) 770-7527

Individuals who are thinking about starting their own business but need some mentoring are invited to apply to the Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute, scheduled Aug. 22–Sept. 29 with scholarships available for up to five veterans.

The MicroEnterprise Institute is a six-week training program to help emerging entrepreneurs start new ventures and grow small businesses. Graduates complete a comprehensive training course and prepare a solid plan to guide their start-up. They work with mentors who are successful businesspeople and hear from subject matter experts in areas of accounting, legal, marketing, insurance and funding.

An easy-to-use workbook, used by organizations across America, assist in transforming vision into a plan for a successful business. Classes are scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Thursday evenings on Nicholas Parkway East in Cape Coral. Attendance limited, sign up now.

Recent program graduate says, “This course helped me to organize and plan out the steps for creating my business. Coming in, I had no idea how to start a business that would lead to success, and now I have that.”

To apply, call (239) 995-2106 ext. 2215 or visit goodwillswfl.org/ microenterprise. The session is $80; Volunteer hours can be substituted for the fee if income requirements are met. For more information, email Annette Watkins at annettewatkins@ goodwillswfl.org.

The Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute is administrated by the nonprofit Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, and is part of Goodwill’s mission of providing life-changing opportunities toward independence for those with disabilities and disadvantages. For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, visit www.goodwillswfl.org.

AUGUST 2022

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 5

Estero Chamber awarded seven awards, announces new board

The Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards luncheon presented awards to business owners, a not-for-profit and the Man and Woman of the Year, on June 17 at Pelican Sound. The sold-out event was decorated with pastels and Dr. Seuss quotes. Guests networked and took photos in the photo booth then enjoyed a delicious short rib lunch and got to hear from the keynote speaker Stefan Contorno discussing motivation.

Volunteer of The Year was awarded to Jim Mendolera with Estero Fire Rescue. Non-Profit of The Year was awarded to The Estero Historical Society. Young Professional of The Officers and board members are sworn in at the Greater Estero Chamber of Year was awarded to Chloe Maros Commerce’s annual awards luncheon. with Select Realty. Woman-Owned to Nikolle Larrea with The Llama’s awarded to Lake Michigan Credit Business of The Year was awarded House. Business of The Year was Union. The Chamber also presented

the Man of The Year to George Zalucki and the Woman of The Year was awarded to Trish Leonard, owner of TLC Marketing & Creative Services.

The Chamber seated new officers Sharon Van Rite as board chair, George Zalucki as vice chair and Jim Mendolera as treasurer. Returning board members include Alex Greenwood, Blake Chapman (past chair) Pamela McCabe, Jeannie Gawronski, Joni Pavich, Jordan Azis, Bill Ribble, Jim Ward and Sally Ricciardelli.

The Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce supports and connects businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals throughout the southwest Florida area. Visit esterochamber.org/about-us or call (239) 390-1137.

BUSINESS SERVICES

What businesses need to know about business meal deduction

The IRS encourages businesses to begin planning now to take advantage of tax benefits available to them when they file their 2022 federal income tax return. This includes the enhanced business meal deduction.

For 2021 and 2022 only, businesses can generally deduct the full cost of business-related food and beverages purchased from a restaurant. Otherwise, the limit is usually 50% of the cost of the meal.

To qualify for the enhanced deduction: • The business owner or an employee of the business must be present when food or beverages are provided.

• Meals must be from restaurants, which includes businesses that prepare and sell food or beverages to retail customers for immediate on-premises or off-

premises consumption.

• Payment or billing for the food and beverages occurs after December 31, 2020, and before January 1, 2023.

• The expense cannot be lavish or extravagant.

Grocery stores, convenience stores and other businesses that mostly sell pre-packaged goods not for immediate consumption, do not qualify as restaurants.

Employers may not treat certain employer-operated eating facilities as restaurants, even if they operate under contract by a third party.

Here’s what business owners need to know about certain costs: • The cost of the meal can include taxes and tips.

• The cost of transportation to and from the meal

isn’t part of the cost of a business meal.

Entertainment events: Business owners may be able to deduct the costs of meals and beverages provided during an entertainment event if either of these apply: • The purchase of the food and beverages occurs separately from the entertainment • The cost of the food and beverages is separate from the cost of the entertainment on one or more bills, invoices, or receipts.

Businesses should review the special record keeping rules that apply to business meals.

Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company is a certified public accounting and consulting firm in Naples. Contact (239) 433-5554.

ructuring / Bankruptcy | Business Law | Commercial Litigation

Mike Dal Lago, Esq.

www.dallagolaw.com

999 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. Suite 200 Naples, FL 34108

239-571-6877 KNOWLEDGE. g: Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Tampa & Orlando INTEGRITY. RESULTS. Mike Dal Lago, Esq. Christian Haman, Esq. Jennifer Duffy, Esq. Serving Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota & Tampa

BUSINESS LAW BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING BUSINESS BANKRUPTCY

Accolades include:

• Business Formation • Corporate Governance • Fiduciary Duties

999 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. Suite 200 Naples, FL 34108

• Insolvency Matters

4972 Royal Gulf Circle Fort Myers, FL 33966

• Chapter 7, Chapter 11 And Subchapter V Bankruptcy Cases

• Out-Of-Court Restructuring • Bankruptcy Reorganization

• General Corporate Counseling

Naples Illustrated

(239) 571-6877

www.dallagolaw.com

Page 6

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

AUGUST 2022

Edison Business Advisors wins awards, adds to team

Paradise Jewelry founder Barry Nicholls will journey to Alaska to find precious metal.

Jeweler heads to Alaska to prospect for gold

Naples jeweler Barry Nicholls will be heading to Alaska to prospect for gold this month in hopes of coming home with a big find.

Nicholls, who opened Paradise Jewelry in 1982 and handles all aspects of a fine jewelry store from bench work to marketing, will now add prospecting for gold to his list of accomplishments.

In business for more than 40 years with 33 in Naples, Nicholls is self-taught in goldsmithing, jewelry, gemology and lapidary (gem cutting). He’s taken Gemological Institute of America gemology courses and subsequently wrote a chapter about Diamond Selling for their Diamonds correspondence course. Over the years, Nicholls has written numerous articles about gems and jewelry for local and national publications and has taught Gemology classes as part of Collier County Adult Education for the past 24 years. He was the first Laser Jewelry Welder in the Naples area and repairs jewelry under a 20-power microscope, making pinpoint welds (not soldering) smaller than the head of a pin.

“Life is about adventure,” Nicholls said. “I’m fortunate to be in a business that is about adventure, magic, and excitement. For many years, I’ve also been a charter boat captain and now, I get to add a whole new chapter and adventure.”

According to Nicholls, prospecting for gold and visiting Alaska have always been on his bucket list. Because he can use the gold for his work and use the experience to further his knowledge of the precious metal in raw form, he will set off for a 10-day adventure with Gold Fever Prospecting, which is located on the South Fork of the 40-mile river near historical Chicken, Alaska. The family run operation states they are committed to giving guests the greatest backcountry gold prospecting trip they will ever have, and an adventure of a lifetime.

When Nicholls returns from his adventure, he hopes to display his find at his store and show clients what gold looks like in its raw form. He would also like to do visual presentations for local groups about prospecting, how to find gold, and what can be done with it. If he brings home a lot of gold, he said he will have it refined by a refiner so he can use it in some custom jewelry.

Edison Business Advisors, a brokerage firm in Southwest Florida since 2014, added nine 2021 business and M&A intermediary awards, an M&AMI certification, and two team members.

The Edison Business Advisors team earned nine 2021 awards from Business Brokers of Florida, International Business Brokers Association and M&A Source.

Steve Niehaus earned a BBF Dealmaker Award for being in the top 50 in sales volume for the State of Florida and completing an impressive $7 million in business transactions in 2021. He also received a BBF Million Dollar Plus Award. Finally, he earned the IBBA Chairman’s Circle Award for completing more than $3 million in total transactions.

Eric Gall was given the BBF #1 Top Dollar Producer for the State of Florida Award. This is BBF’s most prestigious award. Gall’s $32 million in business transactions in 2021 placed first among 853 BBF intermediaries. He also received

CHARLOTTE PAGE 1 way people shop and we need to plan our community development to better fit how people shop today,” Gammon noted.

Of course, everyone is watching the development of Allegiant Airlines’ Sunseeker Resort. Gammon shared, “It is planned to include six towers, with 685 keys, and to open in April 2023. The complex includes 19 unique-concept bars and restaurants open to the public, and a 60,000-squarefoot convention center. This then Gammon puts Charlotte County in play for events that currently go to Orlando or Fort Lauderdale. And this first phase uses only 40% of Sunseeker’s total acreage.”

He continued, “Charlotte County used to be considered the ‘donut hole’—we got driven by. Not anymore. With local airport access and a $600-million budget, Sunseeker is filing a hole in the luxury resort market in Southwest Florida.

“Moreover, most existing Florida resorts of similar scale are 30-40 years old; Sunseeker will be brand new.”

He further stated, ”Especially because of the types of job openings we will have, we will be attracting younger people here in the future—and Sunseeker will lead the way.”

Regarding the Punta Gorda Airport’s growth, Gammon noted, “It’s not really a small airport anymore. It’s considered one of the top 100 commercial airports in the country and has been named as one of the top three fastest growing airports for years.”

He added, “The airport’s development is like a dominoes game; the first one falls and the rest follow.

a BBF Dealmaker Award for being in the top 50 in sales volume for the state of Florida and a BBF Million Dollar Plus Award. He also now has an IBBA Platinum Chairman’s Circle Award for completing more than $10 million in total transactions and an IBBA Deal Maker Award for completing 10 or more transactions. Additionally, he earned an M&A Source Platinum Club Award, M&A Source’s highest award for completing more than $15 million in total transactions.

Gall also received a plaque at the M&A Source conference for having earned his Merger and Acquisition Master Intermediary designation early in March. He is the only M&AMI in Southwest Florida. The M&AMI requires meeting education requirements, attending two M&A Source conferences, completing three transactions over $1.5 million and recertification every three years.

Edison Business Advisors also announced the addition of Brian Hardman and Nivedita “Niv” Buzzetta.

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar

“Cheney Brothers created one of its three Florida distribution hubs at the airport a few years back because then Cheney Brothers could deliver to the entire state in a single day. FedX noted this and is opening a 250,000-square-foot facility there as well, employing 400 workers. The FedX move is now driving the development of a 350,000 square foot spec building right across the street from FedX.” He exclaimed, “This kind of development is a big deal for us in Charlotte County!”

As these facilities come online, and related-industry businesses locate near the airport as well, Gammon pointed out, there will be aviation and manufacturing jobs opening up at the airport that will further attract younger workers.

So what is the Charlotte County EDO doing to attract workers, which also means, to create affordable housing for young families? Gammon stated, “We are targeting veterans with six months to go before they receive their Permanent Change of Station (PCS). At that time, the EDO is reaching out to them about the opportunities Charlotte County offers.”

Tied to employment opportunities is the need for affordable housing, so the EDO is connecting with developers regarding some unique affordable housing concepts, including building micro-homes that are 300 square feet but live like a 600-square-foot living space, including features such as moveable walls and a bed that drops down from the ceiling.

Gammon predicts, “In the not-too-distant future, Charlotte County will have the charm of a happening community versus a sleepy community.”

IN BUSINESS SINCE 2004

2020

PEO SERVICES AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT Payroll & Taxes Time Keeping Software Employee Portal HR & Workers’ Comp Automation

Expert Solutions at Your Fingertips (941) 625-0623 | IntegrityEL.com

2011

Do you offer benefits for your employees?

Let us help you, help your employees

Lenny Cannova 3046 Del Prado Blvd.

Cape Coral, FL 33904

(239) 848-7390

• IRA’s • Roth’s • SEP Plans • 401 k’s • Mutual Funds • Executive Bonus Plans • Key Man Insurance • Life Insurance • Business Planning • Exit Planning

You can’t spell “HEART” without “HR” Consulting Services ... from the Heart

• Employment Handbooks • Recruitment • HR Consulting

Karen Shepherd, MSHR, SHRM-CP (239) 776-5919 Karen@HRbyKaren.com www.HRbyKaren.com

2007

1999

®

Commercial Property Liability • Work Comp Auto • Contractors HOA / COA

Helping you protect your Business or Association.

Call us today to discuss your coverages and options.

Celebrating 29 years in business / Family Owned

www.LciQuotes.com • 239-656-5551

390 Pondella Rd #1, N Ft Myers, FL 33903

AUGUST 2022

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 7

SWFL CRE, CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT A look at commercial real estate & construction updates in Southwest Florida

Where does commercial real estate stand for rest of 2022?

Submitted by Karen P. Moore, Publisher Special to SWFBT

For the office sector, Palmer stated, Southwest Florida will probably see a slow increase in occupancy. He noted, “On a positive note, we have outperformed rents versus predictions from a year ago.

Nationally, rents dropped in 2020; Southwest Florida rents increased. But who knows what the future holds? In Southwest Florida we may have to pivot once again to maintain current rental income levels.”

panies, the state of land deals in Southwest Florida is: “Overall, build costs are pushing downward on land prices. Builders don’t want to do septic system development anymore so municipal services are key to how development will progress in the future.”

He added, “With commercial/retail land, the escalating cost to finance building is placing downward pressure on land pricing.” Regarding industrial land, he noted “Prices continue to creep up as the demand for distribution centers continues.”

“Folks, we are not possibly heading toward a recession—we are already in a recession,” said Adam Palmer, Principal/Managing Director of Landqwest Commercial.

As the opening speaker of the 2022 CCIM-SWFL Chapter Mid-Year Commercial Real Estate Update session, Palmer went on to say, “With 130 people RETAIL per day moving to Southwest Florida, is this a susOne thing we know for certain is that retail is not INDUSTRIAL tainable trend? 2022 is the first year that Southwest what one considers traditional retail. When you hear According to Theresa Blauch-Mitchell, Broker/ Florida International Airport moved 1 million pas- that the retail sector is healthy, you need to underOwner, SperryinCommercial Global Affiliates-The sengers in the first four months of the year:Aislook this a atstand the terms and their definitions.

According to commercial real estate & construction updates Southwest Florida sustainable growth pattern?

Cindy Schooler, Managing Partner at Trinity Com- Signature Group, “We’re just a couple dollars off Palmer noted, “Interest rates are probably go- mercial, “2022 will be a historical year for retail. By from the 2006 numbers.” She continued, “Regarding to continue to climb, although we do not know the end of the year, retail will be back to the national ing leasing, Lee and Charlotte counties are followat what pace or by how much at this time. We may occupancy levels of 2019.” She noted, “There is not ing each other pretty closely, which reflects how have more sustainability in Florida because people much under construction right now in Southwest Charlotte has grown and how low they are on instill love the Sunshine State, they still love ‘tax- Florida so that will catch up with us next year. Va- ventory.”

She continued, “There continues to be very low free.’ But if the Fed keeps driving up interest rates cancy rates continue to drop while rent is back up.” to keep up with inflation, the rate of return on a real Schooler continued, “Malls are holding steady: vacancy in all three counties. Institutional and flex estate investment property can only go down. some malls, like Edison Mall, will be re-developed. space is up all over the region: will this lead to overStrip centers and retail space are at all-time low va- supply?

Palmer noted, “In 2021, I said to this group to OFFICE cancies.” She added that what we are seeing is a norPalmer continued, “Let’s take a look at what hap- mal cycle, but to note that the retail categories have keep your eyes on 1) supply chain issues, 2) perpened. Office occupancy and rental rates were slowly changed. “Retail” now includes medical marijuana, mitting delays, 3) the big tenants coming back, 4) falling off prior to the pandemic. Then the pandemic medical, home improvement, financial, storage, car the people-working-from-home trend, 5) the lack of hit and a lot of people started moving down here, and washes and bank branches. In conclusion, Schooler inventory (which forces us to build when nothing is not just themselves but all their money. I’m sure that noted, “The challenges retail faces today include left to sell!) and 6) finding the right people for the many commercial Realtors in this room started get- lack of inventory, increased lease length to mitigate jobs available. All of these points are still relevant in 2022. And ask yourself, ‘Of the 130 people movting calls from people all over the country wanting to risk and increased rental rates.” ing to Southwest Florida every day—how many of move down here. Then we had these people buying these are employable, able to contribute to our local commercial properties, largely in cash, and driving LAND the prices down. Is this sustainable, though?”

According to Justin Thibaut, CEO at LSI Com- economic growth?’”

SWFL CRE, CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Proudly Providing Professional Services to Southwest Florida for 25 Years!

Civil Engineering - Planning - Surveying & Mapping - Landscape Architecture 239.597.0575

Page 8

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

AUGUST 2022

SWFL CRE, CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT A look at commercial real estate & construction updates in Southwest Florida

What smart buildings mean for the future A decade ago, it was hard to imagine the concept of a smart building or how it would transform the commercial real estate landscape. Today, smart building technology and flexible workspaces are one of the top priorities for commercial spaces. Some advantages of using a smart building for your commercial property include: ● Reduced costs related to maintenance and energy consumption ● Increased productivity ● Reduced amount of emissions ● Increased resale value

smart building trend and create value with their property.

Why companies should invest in smart buildings One of the most enticing things about smart buildings is that when you compare them to conventional buildings, they perform much better. Although they cost more upfront, they bring in more rent in the long run.

Smart building technology can cover more than heating and air conditioning and lighting systems. What makes this technology so appealing is that it can integrate into just about every system. For example, in retail, smart building technology can apply to things like security cameras and point-ofsale (POS) systems.

Some local smart building examples include: ● Arthrex ● NeoGeonomics ● Frantz EyeCare

What is a smart building?

A smart building is any building that uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to automatically control things like heating, power, ventilation, air conditioning, security, lighting and other systems. This means the building can be managed from anywhere and at any time. Smart buildings give us more data than ever before, which allows decisions to be made with more clarity, better allocation of resources and increased savings in the long run. In time, all commercial buildings may become smart buildings.

What is the Internet of Things?

Smart technology is possible in part because of the IoT or everything connected to the internet. Think of objects and devices that “talk” to each other such as smartphones, computers, and watches. By combining these connected devices with automated systems, the building can gather information, analyze it and use it to make informed decisions from saving on energy costs to completing tasks for staff.

An Office versus a Smart Building Smart buildings can give you an experience that general commercial buildings cannot. The everyday building can’t collect data from user devices, systems, services and sensors the way a smart building can. This data not only makes the building programmable and customizable, but also more responsive to the needs of the building manager and employees.

This technology is transforming how facilities managers approach asset management. With this data at their fingertips, they can ensure the comfort of its occupants, increase utilization and interact with staff at a higher level. Imagine an office building coming to life when you walk in.

As developers nationwide face supply chain disruptions, rising interest rates and increased inflation, developers in the Southwest Florida market show little cause for concern.

Population growth continues to climb and more companies are moving to the area, which also helps drive revenue. This gives developers a fantastic opportunity to capitalize on the

“It’s exciting to see businesses in our community shift into smart buildings and experience all of the benefits,” said CEO and Principal Broker Gary Tasman. “As more businesses adopt this trend and more companies relocate to Southwest Florida, we could quickly see the commercial property landscape in our region shift toward this incredibly beneficial technology.”

How Smart Buildings Make the Office More Efficient It’s no secret that the office is forever changed in a postpandemic world. When more people and businesses wish to move to a city like Fort Myers, city planners and commercial real estate developers must consider making the office environment more appealing than working from home. They have to figure out what the office environment now means for their company and what kind of employees they wish to attract.

An economy that’s poised to keep on improving paired with strong office-using employment growth is making more companies seek out new types of office space. In fact, global Experience per Square Foot (XSF) data shows employees with choice and control over where they work perform better. Employees are looking for companies that make the job and office an experience, not just a cubicle to go to every day.

If you haven’t thought about moving back to the office or a hybrid work environment, it’s only a matter of time.

For more information about smart building technology and commercial development opportunities around Southwest Florida, reach out to the Commercial Property Experts at Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Property Southwest Florida at (239) 489-3600.

Beyond Juicery expands into Naples

Beyond Juicery + Eatery is expanding beyond its Midwest roots, inking a multi-unit agreement to develop two locations in South Florida.

Experienced business leader Steve LaFontaine will open the brand’s first Florida location in Naples. LaFontaine was instantly impressed by the brand’s intense fan-base, multidimensional menu and highly-established business model, all of which catapulted Beyond Juicery to be one of America’s fastest and hottest growing fast casual brands. After 30 years on Wall Street and sizable knowledge in finance, LaFontaine said now was the perfect time to bring Beyond Juicery + Eatery to Florida.

“Through decades of experience, I’m very familiar with the operational and brand support needed to make a business successful—and it was clear from the start Beyond Juicery + Eatery had that and more,” said LaFontaine. “Behind every growing brand is a passionate founder. Mijo was one that stuck out among the rest, as his continued involvement with franchisees and dedication to reinforcing the values established during Beyond’s inception, drove the brand towards impressive new heights. It’s clear Beyond is on the heels of an explosive growth era and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. The brand’s fresh, healthy products and sleek restaurant design will no doubt be the perfect addition to the Naples restaurant scene.”

Beyond Juicery now has nearly 40 locations open and growing nationwide.

“This momentous signed agreement to expand our brand beyond the Midwest is such an exciting milestone,” said Mijo Alanis, cofounder of Beyond Juicery.

Seagate hosts ceremonial groundbreaking of ABC Supply’s design-build facility Seagate Development Group hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for American Builders & Contractors Supply Co.’s 60,000-square-foot warehouse and office area – at the Charlotte County Park of Commerce, adjacent to the Punta Gorda Airport, on June 24.

Seagate and ABC Supply celebrated this monumental construction milestone with representatives from the City of Punta Gorda (including Mayor Lynne Matthews and Councilmember Mark Kuharski), Charlotte County Economic Development, Charlotte

County Chamber of Commerce and Charlotte County Airport Authority.

This pre-engineered metal building – including metal panels and a stucco façade – will accommodate a 53,200-plus-square-foot warehouse and a 6,700-plus-square-foot office

area, along with a fenced outdoor yard.

The office space will feature a conference room as well as a break room and showroom.

This Seagate-designed and developed facility will sit on six acres, with 2.5 acres for future expansion.

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 local business news and a calendar of local business events, please visit our website www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

For more informa�on, call Karen at (239) 770-7527 ®

www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

Follow us on:

AUGUST 2022

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 9

SWFL CRE, CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT A look at commercial real estate & construction updates in Southwest Florida

Real Estate: Three common mistakes healthcare professionals make

Real estate is the second highest expense behind what would you list or sell it for? and not applying leverage through representation. payroll for most healthcare practices. The benefits of The “fair” price of $400,000, or the capitalizing during lease negotiations can include a most you could get for it? You would #3: Not knowing market availability and comps The foundation of a successful negotiation starts healthy raise through increased profitability, reduced sell it for the most you could. Your debt, a nicer office and more. On the contrary, if nelandlord will treat you the same way. with understanding your other viable options, how they compare and how to execute on them. When dealing gotiations are not handled properly, the results can be decreased profitability, resulting in the need to produce #2: Determining market value by with landlords or sellers, many healthcare providers try to bluff their way into and through negotiations. A tens to hundreds of thousands of additional dollars just asking what neighbors pay to pay the same bills.

Several years ago, we were re- savvy landlord or seller can often read a bluff from a While there are many key concepts and strategies viewing the lease terms of a doctor mile away. Here is the problem with this approach: it you should always do prior to and during any lease or who had been in a building for 20 communicates you are too busy, don’t know who to hire purchase negotiation, there are an equal or greater num- BY JARED years. In looking at his lease, he was and don’t know what you could achieve. Trying to wing ber of mistakes you should avoid. We have gathered VADERSLUIS paying $30 per square foot, and had it in these scenarios will not work. This approach typisome of the most common mistakes healthcare profes- Guest Columnist not received any free rent or tenant cally results in less respect from a landlord and the exact resultsin youSouthwest were hoping for.Florida Overly aggressive sionals make during lease and purchase negotiations allowance in his last opposite A look at commercialimprovement real estate & construction updates with the goal of helping others avoid the same mistakes. negotiation. When we posed the question: “Do you be- offers or unrealistic requests can compound the probHere are three of the most common mistakes: lieve $30 per SF with no concessions is a good deal?,” lem, as can emotional responses to the conflict inherent his response was “I believe so.” Why? “There are four in most high-dollar negotiations. If you are going to be #1: Believing the landlord or seller will simply offer other healthcare practices on this floor. We all know each successful in your next negotiation, understanding martheir best terms other and talk about our leases. We are all paying $30 ket availability and comps is the first place to start. You Landlords and sellers are in business to make mon- per square foot and the landlord has told all of us they can hire representation to do this for you, or you can ey. They are no more likely to voluntarily reduce lease don’t give free rent or tenant improvement allowances.” invest dozens of hours yourself into the process.

Don’t be taken advantage of during your next purrates or give up any extra money through concessions Our response: “I understand the logic behind that apas you would be to voluntarily reduce your reimburse- proach, but what if I told you we just did a lease with a chase or lease negotiation. There is too much on the line. ment from an insurance company or cut your patient brand-new tenant on the first floor at $21 per square foot Losing tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars affects fees if you didn’t have to. While it sounds pleasant to ($1,800 per month in savings if it were your lease rate), your income and can also impact the quality of care hear a landlord talk about giving a ‘fair deal’ or ‘reason- while also obtaining three months of free rent and over you provide. Hire professional representation to level the playing field, start the transaction at the proper time, able price,’ your odds of getting either are bleak without $100,000 in tenant improvement allowance.” truly understanding the market, entering the negotiaThat landlord got away with convincing five differ- know the market and top available options and negotition process with multiple other options and having the ent practices the market was far higher than it was and ate with multiple owners. If you do these things, you needed guidance to capitalize. they didn’t deserve any concessions. Imagine finding are likely to capitalize on your second highest expense.

Trusting a landlord or seller without the help of pro- out you have been overpaying by $1,800 per month for fessional representation will most likely result in for- the last 5 to 10 years and forfeiting money that could Jared Vandersluis is the Southwest Florida’s Healthfeiture of tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars that have completely renovated your space? This scenario care Real Estate Expert for CARR, the nation’s leading could have stayed in your checking account. If you were happens to uneducated tenants who consult with other provider of commercial real estate services for healthabout to sell your home and a fair price was $400,000, uneducated tenants and compare terms that were the re- care tenants and buyers. Visit CARR.US. Contact (417) but your agent told you a buyer would pay $500,000, sult of having no posture, no knowledge of the market 693-2303 or Jared.Vandersluis@carr.us.

SWFL CRE, CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Introducing ALDEA

BSSW Architects has completed its final designs for a full-scale renovation of Tom Golisano Field House at Ave Maria University.

BSSW Architects completes designs for Golisano Field House

BSSW Architects has completed its final designs for a full-scale renovation of Tom Golisano Field House, which is home to Ave Maria University’s men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams, as well as the sports medicine and strength and conditioning programs.

Built in 2011, Golisano Field House is a 40,000-square-foot pre-engineered building that is being renovated and modernized inside and out.

Outside, the building will feature insulated metal and translucent panels as well as exposed ground face block.

Brick pavers and tropical landscaping complement the new exterior expression. Inside, the gymnasium will be spacious enough to host campus events, with a sound-proof curtain to split competition and practice courts that allow multiple teams to have practices or games at the same time. The design includes all-new playing surfaces in the gym, locker rooms, athletic department offices and training spaces.

“For colleges and universities, athletic facilities are signature elements,

and we wanted to create a modern, distinguished look that mirrors the character of surrounding buildings,” said BSSW Vice President Kevin Williams.

“Golisano Field House is a gathering place for community members, alumni and donors to support their favorite team while also providing a recruiting tool for prospective student-athletes.”

Located on Kelleher Street in Ave Maria, Golisano Field House was originally constructed in 2011 and sustained severe water intrusion damage, which contributed to mold growth and a complete failure of the building’s envelope.

The remodel includes all-new roofing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems.

Ave Maria competes in the Sun Conference within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

BSSW Vice President Kevin Williams is the principal in charge, and Architect Miguel Goizueta is project manager. DEC Contracting Group is the general contractor.

The project is expected to be completed in summer 2023.

Groundbreaking: Summer 2023 Occupancy: Spring 2025 MIDTOWN FORT MYERS’ INTIMATE URBAN LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE Studio, One and Two Bedroom Apartments Located between Central Avenue, Market Street and Fowler Street, ALDEA is one of the first planned communities for Midtown and is expected to transform the landscape of the surrounding area.

300+ units housed within two residential buildings looking inward to multi-functional courtyard spaces.

A fitness center enables an active lifestyle and a parking garage provides a desired convenience.

A mix of studios, one and two bedrooms, several of which offer additional dens.

Randy Krise, CCIM

Commercial Real Estate Broker Cell: 239.633.8672 Email: Randy@KriseCG.com www.KriseCG.com

w w w

.KriseCG.Com

Page 10

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

AUGUST 2022

SWFL CRE, CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT A look at commercial real estate & construction updates in Southwest Florida

Can commercial real estate investors manage rising inflation? direction, from CPAs to attorneys to property management contracts.

In short, everyone is paying more for employees. Smart commercial landlords’ budget for capital improvements or recurring maintenance costs, but even the savviest investor could not have predicted the sudden spike in labor costs.

Real estate investors expecting to install new windows for hurricane season or to add a new roof for building maintenance are now looking at prices up 30-50% from just three years ago.

Part 1 of 2

Commercial real estate investment has long been considered a safe haven by investors. Not only has real estate investment proven safer than the stock market, income properties have also historically demonstrated greater returns. However, many commercial landlords who’ve already been absorbing the rising costs of energy and property taxes are now seeing their real income shrink due to rapid inflation. And with inflation projected to get worse before conditions improve according to firms like Goldman Sachs, commercial landlords with fixed rents are getting hit the hardest.

Labor increases hit hard for commercial landlords Florida saw the third highest wage growth in the country in 2021. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The state’s workers got a collective 8.7% increase in wages from September 2020 to September 2021.” Commercial landlords, like many employers, have struggled to find qualified employees for positions they once filled easily. In turn, they’re giving raises and paying salaries up to 30% more than 24 months ago.

This same dynamic is also affecting bills from their vendors with price increases coming in from every

BY PHIL FISCHLER Guest Columnist

Utility costs trend upward for commercial property investors Commercial real estate investors have been watching the cost of rising utility bills for the last several years. Most recently the Florida Public Service Commission approved a 5-year base increase in the cost of natural gas in 2021. The trend in rising energy prices has been the catalyst for Florida’s green building standards in the last decade, with upgrades focused on improved air quality, energy efficiency, and water filtra-

tion. Property owners understand that modern updates not only attract quality tenants, they also increase property value in a competitive marketplace. And although the benefits of LEED construction save commercial landlords thousands every year, many owners are delaying plans for capital improvements or implementing smaller improvements over a longer period of time. Real estate investors aren’t just dealing with rising construction costs due to inflation but significant increases in the cost of labor across the board.

At Fischler Property Company, we believe that now is a great time for property owners—values are up, demand is high, and inventory is static. We’re happy to prepare a return on equity (ROE) analysis on your asset or portfolio. Interested in identifying one or two strategic moves you can make now, to put you in the best position to meet your goals over the next 10 years?

Phil Fischler is the founder and president of Fischler Property Company. In 2009, Fischler founded Fischler Property Company with a mission to build a legacy through inspiring investment and restoration of Southwest Florida, while helping to positively shape its inevitable growth. Contact pjf@fischlerco.com or (239) 895-1060.

Wealth Enhancement Group joins forces with Hawkins Wealth Management Wealth Enhancement Group, an independent wealth management firm, announced it plans to acquire Hawkins Wealth Management, an independent RIA with offices in North Liberty, Iowa, and Naples. Led by founder Tim Hawkins, Hawkins Wealth Management has $574 million assets under management. This latest partnership brings Wealth Enhancement Group’s total client assets to more than $55.5 billion.

Jeff Dekko, CEO of Wealth Enhancement Group, said, “Tim and Managing Partner Aaron Robertson have built a well-respected firm supporting the fi-

nancial planning, tax efficiency and retirement distribution planning needs of individuals during times of transitioning wealth. We are excited to have them, their more than 40 years of combined financial planning experience and Hawkins’ dedicated team of advisors join Wealth Enhancement Group.”

Hawkins founded Hawkins Wealth Management in 2012 after working for large insurance and investment companies. The firm embraces a comprehensive analytical approach to financial planning and a low client-to-advisor ratio to help clients nearing retirement,

WE LEASE AND FINANCE EQUIPMENT

Equipment Leasing Specialist “You’ve Tried The Rest, Now Go With The Best”

selling a business or navigating other life changes.

This acquisition will bring a team of six financial advisors and seven support staff to Wealth Enhancement Group and enhance the firm’s robust Midwest presence. This will be Wealth Enhancement Group’s sixth acquisition in 2022.

Hawkins said, “We are passionate about creating better outcomes by simplifying the complexities of wealth and family financial planning. Joining Wealth Enhancement Group allows us to drive growth by leveraging their support services and technology offerings.”

Stephen Kolton

Cell: 239-747-9955 • Nationwide • New or Used Call today for a free consultation • Application Only (Up to $250k) Located in • Age Not a Problem North Fort Myers • Trucks, Trailers, Vans Email: equities@att.net • Start Ups Welcome • Tougher Credits Welcome www.equitiesfunding.com

Jim Cahn, chief investments and business development officer of Wealth Enhancement Group said, “Hawkins Wealth Management has an exceptional history of providing tailored financial planning, investment management and retirement distribution planning services for its clients. We look forward to helping them grow their business.”

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction was scheduled to close on June 30, after which the practice began doing business as the Hawkins Team at Wealth Enhancement Group.

Cushman & Wakefield brokers $6.5 million sale of Fort Myers office

Centennial Bank has purchased a 20,402-squarefoot, two-story professional office building and bank located on Creekside Lane in Fort Myers. The building’s first floor is completely built out for banking services including a secure bank vault and offices.

The second floor is built out for offices. The building has a great location that makes it easy to get to from Fort Myers or Cape Coral. Centennial Bank purchased this building for $6.5 million from FineMark National Bank & Trust.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES Michael J. Frye, CCIM CEO, Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement

Realty Group

Each Office Independently Owned and Operated

COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING & DESIGN We take your ideas from concept to completion.

1228 Lafayette St. #1 Cape Coral, FL 33904 239.549.0997 CastellanosTramonte.com AA# 26003303

7910 Summerlin Lakes Drive, Ft. Myers, FL 33907 Office 239-489-0444 • Cell 239-281-0441 Fax 239-790-4800 • Toll Free 800-330-7653 mfrye@ccim.net • www.MichaelJFrye.com www.ftmyersCommercial.com • www.soldsign.com

Flexible mortgage solu�ons Commercial & Residen�al Real Estate

Purchase, REFI/Cash-out, Bridge Loans, Construc�on/Perm Warehouse, 1-4 Residen�al & Mul�family 5+, Mixed Use, Retail Hotels/Motels, Automo�ve, Convenience Stores, Gas Sta�ons

239-653-7803

Kapital United

www.KapitalUnited.com NMLS 338677 - FLMBR 380

PROPERTY & BUSINESS FINANCE

DG Pavement Solutions, Inc Covering all of Southwest Florida

COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL LICENSED AND INSURED

The Land Lady 20+ years SW Florida

Commercial-Residential Investment

Development

Jessica Russo

Licensed Sales Professional 239.849.0012 jessica@developmentrealty.org DevelopmentRealty.org

Ken Dusseau

Business Development/Project Manager • Seal Coa�ng

Cell: 941-441-6919 Office: 239-267-1711

• Asphalt Repairs

• Striping

kendusseau@gmail.com www.fortmyerssealcoat.com

AUGUST 2022

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 11

Quality beats quantity When it comes to creating content, I often see businesses end up in one of two places.

The first group of businesses either don’t have time or don’t want to create any content. The second group of businesses tend to go a little overboard and create too much content.

I know it sounds a little strange to talk about too much content, but it is important.

As the old saying goes, less is more. Less content of much higher quality is more valuable for your audience.

One of the ideas that have been pushed heavily at business owners over the years is that you must write a blog post every week. While it’s true search engines do value websites that create new content, it shouldn’t be created just for the sake of it.

The urgency to create fast content can lead to poorly thought-out pieces that fail to engage your audience. Even worse, when these are outsourced, they’re often rushed and lacking in value.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you look at those around you. Everyone has a big competitor in their market that creates a lot of content. You see them posting regular articles, social media posts, emails and more.

There’s an urgency to compete as you never want to be left behind. This is where the overwhelm kicks in.

Big competitors have a team. They will almost certainly have someone working full-time as a content creator.

If you don’t have this, you should stop trying to compete with them. Instead what you should focus on are the problems that your ideal customer suffers from. This is the reason why you offer your products or services in the first place.

Create content that talks to and answers the problems that your ideal customer faces. When you do this, they will find themselves reading and nodding along. You’re speaking directly to them. As they’re reading, they will realize that they’re in the

right place to get the help that they need.

Writing one great blog post per month will always be better than four average posts.

A great post is one where you’ve really thought

BY ANDREAS about your ideal DOLLESCHAL customer. You’ve Guest Columnist understood the problems that they face and created content to help them with their problem. Your post is conversational and it delivers value.

For example, you could be a landscape gardener who has written the ‘Ultimate Guide to Lawn Care’. In your post, provided 15 tips that will help your readers and made sure you answered all of the questions that your customers typically have.

You’re not afraid to share value like this, as you know your ideal customer is someone who is time-poor. They’re busy, working professionals. After reading your article, they will receive value and knowledge, but they’ll still choose to work with you because they can clearly see just how much work goes into lawn care.

A great blog post like this could be somewhere around 2,000 to 5,000 words in length.

How much better do you think that would be than four average posts of 500 to 1,000 words that don’t really deliver any value at all?

Andreas Dolleschal is the CEO & President of Smargasy Inc a Cape Coral based Technology Company.

He is working in the IT Industry since more than 30 years, “speaks” 10 Languages (8 of them are programming languages :)) and is a Certified IT Security Manager and a Certified IT Project Manager. Contact a.dolleschal@smargasy.com or (239) 214-8592.

HOUSING PAGE 1 structure development in a planned subdivision of 36 single-family homes. Units will be sold to households with income at or below 80% of the area median income.

Both will receive funding through Dec. 31, 2024.

Both projects will leverage additional grant funding and

The team at Arthrex gathers outside its corporate headquarters. The company continues to climb industry rankings.

Arthrex named a top company in Health Care by LinkedIn Arthrex, a global leader in minimally invasive orthopedic technology, is ranked second on the 2022 LinkedIn Top Companies in Health Care list.

“We’re honored to be among the top 25 companies in the country investing in talent and helping people build careers that set them up for long-term success in the health care industry,” said Arthrex Senior Vice President of Human Resources Kathy Sparrow.

The rankings are based on unique LinkedIn data measuring different elements of career progression and are meant to serve as a resource for professionals at all stages of their careers at a personalized level, according to LinkedIn. The data reflects active LinkedIn member profiles and is based on LinkedIn membership and their profiles.

Among the insights featured,

donations for project completion.

The organizations are required to report quarterly to Lee County on project progress and performance. Lee County will review and submit the required quarterly and annual reports to the U.S. Treasury with information related to each of these projects.

Through the American Rescue Plan Act, Lee County was provided $149 million in funding to support the local response and recovery from the COVID-19 public

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/ calendar LinkedIn highlights Arthrex for employees’ skills in Medical Devices, SOLIDWORKS design and engineering software use, and CAM (computer aided manufacturing) programming. The list also features Arthrex’s largest job functions as Information Technology, Quality Assurance and Research.

Arthrex Supply Chain Manager Hasan Kajtezovic is quoted as part of the company’s feature within the rankings, saying “At Arthrex, it’s dynamic, challenging and you are always in the process of learning.

Supply chain is definitely a team effort, and everyone in this group brings unique experience and ideas to the table.”

health emergency. The funds are designed to assist governments in responding to the pandemic, addressing its economic impact and establishing a foundation for a strong and equitable recovery.

Funds are being allocated for infrastructure, public health, negative economic impacts and revenue replacement.

Additional details about allocations are available at www.leegov.com/arpa.

October 22, 2022

“It Pays to Advertise!” ✔ Direct Mail Advertising ✔ All Types of Mailing Lists ✔ Postage as Low as 14.2 cents ✔ Fast, Friendly Service Mention this ad and receive

20% OFF labor charges on your first mailing.

9 am - 1 pm

Miromar Outlets Estero , Flordia Open to the Public Kidz 7-17

239-574-2028 Call today for a quote!

The Letter Box, Inc.

936 Country Club Blvd.

Cape Coral, FL 33990 www.TheLetterboxInc.com

BizKidzExpo.com

Page 12

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

AUGUST 2022

Students win at Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention

Eleven students from the Fort Myers-Naples area were honored for ingenuity at the Raytheon Technologies Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, powered by The Henry Ford.

Thermoelectricity, CantorColburn - Detroit Patent Application Award “Power Walk is a smart sneaker that uses a thermoelectric generator to produce electricity and power the components of the sneaker. The problems Power Walk aims to solve are environmental pollution through the creation of electricity, providing a power source when no outlets are available to charge electronic devices, the safety of one’s self through GPS tracking, and pedestrian deaths/navigation for people with blindness.”

Natalee Eaton, Cape Coral Mermaid Crayon Helper, Kindergarten 2nd Place and Accessibility Award “Mermaid Crayon Helper is invented to prevent new crayons from breaking while coloring or rolling off the desk. It also helps those little short ones to be useable too. It can hold more than one crayon in a safe place. It is useful, easy to hold, beautiful, and most importantly fun to use.”

Kurukulasuriya Fernando, Fort Myers Energy Metamorphosis, 8th Grade 1st Place and ITC Industry Energy Award “My invention is made of aluminum, Peltier units, silica paste and a soldering iron. My invention would be placed between aluminum housing connecting the hose carrying coolant from the engine to the radiator. After conducting experiments with my prototype at home using a boiling-water set-up and taking it to a local car shop to mimic the heat inside vehicles, I was able to conclude that my device converts enough heat to charge the car’s battery.”

Sara Chrysler, Fort Myers The Ulitmate Tennis Trainer, 6th Grade 2nd Place “The Ultimate Tennis trainer is a practice device designed to speed up the development of correct tennis fundamentals.”

Sonia Patel, Bonita Springs Silicone Eye Applanation Model (S.E.A.M.), 10th Grade 1st Place and Stanley Black & Decker Make the World Award “S.E.A.M. is an eye model that trains ophthalmic technicians and medical students to practice checking eye pressure in normal eyes, as well as eyes with glaucoma.”

Dhruva Sharma, Fort Myers En.Gen.Panels (TM) - A Fusion of Piezoelectric and Solar Technology to Optimize Solar Panels, 9th Grade

Fort Myers-Naples Area Invention Convention U.S. Nationals Winners: (top, left to right) Natalee Eaton, Kurukulasuriya Fernando, Sara Chrysler; (middle, left to right) Sonia Patel, Dhruva Sharma, Mehereen Chowdhury, Yusuf Mujtaba; (bottom, left to right) Aum Dhruv, Nicholas Harty, Caroline Guerra.

1st Place and Avangrid Foundation Most Energy Sustainable Award “Many consumers are hesitant to switch to an entirely off-grid solar array due to the inconsistencies in their electricity production. If sunlight is not directly penetrating the atmosphere during a cloudy day, the efficiency of a solar panel will immediately drop to 4050% efficiency, and when raining, will drastically decline to 10-20% efficiency. The En. Gen.Panels are an innovative solution addressing this problem, allowing for a constant flow of electricity through the pressure of raindrops.”

Mehereen Chowdhury, Fort Myers 3rd Grade Ninth Grade Award for A Protocol to the Early Detection of Neurological Conditions Using Eye Movement Data “The goal of my invention is to create an easy-to-use application to diagnose neurological conditions. The application will not be subject to any financial barriers and will be virtual.”

Yusef Mujtaba, Fort Myers Power Walk: An Innovative Smart Sneaker Using

Aum Dhruv and Nicholas Harty, Fort Myers VisionBound: Bridging the Gap Between Technology and Preventable Retinal Diseases, 11th Grade 1st Place and Environmental and Social Impact Award “Often this diabetic complication can be treated by timely management of the condition and/or modern laser eye treatments/surgery. However, this treatment of diabetic retinopathy cannot completely cure the disease and, when left untreated, its effects seemingly take on worse results. The final configuration of our product, VisionBound, includes a 30D lens, at a distance of 3cm from the pupil, that is paired with a 12MP Pi HighQuality Camera that interfaces with the microcontroller (Raspberry Pi Zero W).”

Caroline Guerra, Naples Generating Bioplastics from Banana Peels: An Innovative Approach to Reduce Artificial Plastic Pollution, 11th Grade 3rd Place Award “My innovation is an eco-friendly bioplastic from banana peels. My intended goal with this project was to preserve the planet and simultaneously reduce food waste by finding a purpose for the typically discarded banana peel. I tested various peels to discover which one yielded the strongest bioplastic.”

Lucan Keyser, Naples Creating and Testing the Efficiency of a Biofoul Removal Tool on PVC Coral Nursery Trees in the Upper Florida Keys, WilmerHale Patent Application Award “My invention is a tool that cleans biofoul (algae, barnacles, sponges, and fire coral) off of nursery trees in the ocean. Trees are used to grow small samples of coral until sufficient size for planting on the reef. Biofoul can reduce or stop growth in coral clusters.”

IN BUSINESS SINCE 2015

2009

2016

TAKE A BREAK

www.tlcmarketingevents.com 9148 Bonita Beach Road, Suite 201 Bonita Springs, FL

GROW!

Breakfast - Lunch Espresso Bar - Pastry Monday-Saturday 8:00-2:00 / Sunday 9:00-1:00

(239) 542-6080 perkandbrew@gmail.com perknbrew

1021 Cape Coral Pkwy. E., #A Cape Coral, FL 33904

2003

2016 MERGER

Tax Preparation • Estate Planning For Individuals & Businesses

Gianni M. Vitiello, CIC

239.939.5303 • 239.481.4114 www.SolomonHoover.com 1342 Colonial Blvd., Ste. B-11 • Fort Myers, FL 33907

2007

Risk Advisor Direct: 239.444.1645 Mobile: 239.595.5511 gvitiello@rosierinsurance.com

www.RosierInsurance.com

(239) 405-8115

We plant seeds & Provide TLC so your business can

Y our Exclusive Source for

Luxurious Bamboo Mattresses, Bedding, Apparel & Bath Goods.

FREE Shipping | info@CarilohaNaples.com Phone and Email Orders Always Welcome

Cariloha Naples @ Mercato 9100 Strada Pl. Suite 2112

1990

239.325.9157

2007

Business Smarts Begins with SWFL Business Today. ®

Start Your Subscription Today!

239.573.9732

239.791.8810

MENTION THIS AD FOR 10% DISCOUNT Offer good through 3/31/21

Refresh your brand.

Schedule your free consultation today.

conricpr.com | 239-690-9840

AUGUST 2022

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 13

Is your company taking advantage of automation tools?

There’s no doubt technology has changed the way we do business, including marketing. Not only are programs and devices making it easier to track inventories and efficiencies, but social media and other outlets have provided businesses an open forum for connecting directly with customers and gaining exposure for their brand. One of the greatest benefits of technology is that it can help save time and money through automation.

Areas to start automating your business Take a look at the things that you do over and over again. If you’re pulling the same data regularly, or if you have a procedure that you constantly have to repeat, look at how to automate that process to be more efficient. Think about performance reports, transferring content, and onboarding new clients. Are there simple ways to develop templates for these tasks rather than creating them from scratch each time? Maybe you can have a report automatically generated each month instead of manually pulling the data. For example, Google analytics allows you to save a custom report and have it automatically emailed out each month, including comparisons to the previous month. Take the time to see what’s out there that can easily streamline some of these tasks for you.

Automation of social media Are you spending a lot of time managing various social media accounts for your business? Try online tools such as HootSuite or Loomly to help manage all of your profiles in one place. This provides the convenience of reviewing your profile for each account without having to log in and out while you visit your page, post content, monitor incoming messages, tags and review notifications. Social media management tools also allow you to post your content in advance so you can set aside a couple hours of your workday to schedule out your social media all at once. You can post weeks in advance all at once and on multiple platforms. This saves so much time over logging in and posting everything individually each day.

Automating through your business website Your website can serve as so much more than an online brochure. Use it as the central hub to perform business functions and drive new leads and sales. Not only can it provide answers to your customers’ most frequently asked questions, it can also manage your sales, inventory, news-

letter subscriptions and interactions with prospective and current clients and past customers. For example, if a visitor comes to your site through a Google search or an ad, they are likely interested in your products or services.

Tracking your site’s visitors and collecting data, such as their email address, allows you to advertise to them in the future and on other platforms, such as Facebook. By staying in front of them even after they leave your site, you increase your chances of convertBY CONNIE RAMOS WILLIAMS ing them to customers. Familiarity will have them return when they are Guest Columnist ready to purchase.

True Fashionistas keeps style affordable through consignment amid record inflation

Technology has made business and marketing much more accessible while providing solutions for timesaving.

With programs such as Constant Contact (email marketing), Canva (graphic design) and Hootsuite (social media), you can have an entire digital marketing department at your fingertips. Technology does help business owners manage these things more efficiently, but it’s important to consult the experts to ensure you are using them properly to optimize efficiency.

In the face of inflation and a looming recession, True Fashionistas has got consumer protection in the bag.

Financial experts agree that designer handbags are a wise investment that will substantially increase in value over time. Consumers are now embracing the news, scooping up designer handbags almost as soon as they are available.

True Fashionistas, Florida’s largest lifestyle consignment store, is a trusted source for authentic designer handbags from top designers like Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton.

True Fashionistas buys, sells and consigns only strictly authenticated designer merchandise, so consumers can be confident that they are purchasing a genuine investment bag for a discounted price, thereby fighting inflation and recession in the most intelligent way possible.

Consignment expert and True Fashionistas owner Jennifer Johnson said, “A quick browse through our handbag selection typically reveals top designer names like Dior, Gucci, Cartier, and more that we sell at a fraction of their original price. These bags will most likely double in value over time.”

Connie Ramos-Williams is the president and chief marketing officer at CONRIC pr + marketing, a leading creative agency with offices in Fort Myers and Naples that specializes in branding, digital marketing, public relations, graphic design and website development. For more information, visit conricpr.com, email info@conricpr.com or call 239-690-9840.

Contact Jennifer Johnson at (239) 450-3600 or Jennifer@truefashionistas.com. True Fashionistas is located in the Galleria Shoppes at the corner of Vanderbilt Beach Road and Airport-Pulling Road in North Naples.

The cost of automation How much you spend on automation depends on what you feel your time is worth. Think about what you could be focusing on with your business and customers if you took that time back by implementing automation tools. To help determine how much to invest in automation consider the following: You consult for $100 per hour and you can add 100 billable hours per year back into your schedule by automating. That is worth $10,000 minimum. How much would you invest in your business to generate an additional $10,000 per year in revenue?

IN BUSINESS SINCE 1999

1981

2009

The Letter Box, Inc. It Pays To Advertise!

We appreciate your business SWFL

Commercial IT/MSP/CSP Services (239) 437-4357 | www.nocoutnetworks.com

Networking

Phone Systems

Audio/Video

Cloud/Backup

www.mandmmultimedia.com

(239) 234-1734

(239) 574-2028

www.TheLetterBoxInc.com

2018

1994

2011

Take your business to the next level

M��� �� S�������� FL

Affordable Employee Care Solutions.

Greg Steiner glsteiner57@gmail.com (239) 558-4786

Services include: • Business Strategy • Mergers & Acquisitions • Industrial Project Management

Sea Breeze Associates, LLC 1993

Condo & HOA Law | Real Estate | Litigation Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Corporate & Business Organization Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice | Family Law

gadclaw.com

Naples: 239. 331 . 5100 Fort Myers: 239. 333 . 2992

The Southwest Regional Manufacturers Associa�on (SRMA) connects local manufacturers with resources they need.

Visit srma.net or call Bill at (239) 258-1385.

Need more help? Not sure how to grow?

EMPLOYEE CARE CAN HELP! Contact MAIKEL DELGADO at (239) 945-9988 or email mdelgado@employeecare.us

www.employeecare.us www.srma.net

2008

PAYROLL-EMPLOYEE LEASING

2011

Page 14

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

AUGUST 2022

LEE PAGE 1 Ososky spoke in June to the Florida Public Relations Association’s Southwest Florida chapter about the rebranding of Lee County. In his presentation, he discussed the history of destination marketing, from the county’s days as Lee Island Coast — “Trouble was you can’t find Lee Island Coast on a map” — to its more recent co-branding of Fort Myers with Sanibel and finally to the newest name and logo used to sell the region to the world.

He acknowledged there was some trepidation on Sanibel about a plan to ditch the island’s name from the CVB’s logo. But he notes the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce does its own promotion of the destination, and once it became aware destinations on the islands would still be promoted by the county, most fears were assuaged.

Ososky also stressed the idea that no matter where in Southwest Florida tourists may go, Fort Myers often serves as the entryway to the region.

“The only way into the house is through the front door,” he said. “It has to be easy and simple to locate.

We don’t want to confuse people because there’s a lot of other houses on the street.”

Of course, a rebranding is more than a new name.

The bureau also put together new video advertising, some with scripted acting in a break from past marketing products. A series of “Good Day” articles show workers in an office discussing their weekend, then breaking mid-sentence to scenes of Lee County resorts, restaurants and other locales. Ososky said that helped add character and humor while still showcasing the area’s tourism offerings.

How is the branding working? Ososky in his presentation showed the trajectory of tourism tax dollars collected by the county. The 2021 fiscal year saw Lee County collect a record $53.3 million. But with the new messaging in place, the county has already collected $52 million through May, with four months of the fiscal year on the horizon.

“We might actually have an opportunity to see the first $70 million year and our almost 40-year history,” Ososky said.

An Elite Jets Gulfstream G550 pulls up to hanger space.

Elite Jets extends lease with Naples Airport Elite Jets has extended its lease with the Naples Airport Authority to continue operating its luxury charter service through 2050.

Since its founding in 2015, Elite Jets has grown to include a private terminal at Naples Airport consisting of three adjacent hangars. The company serves affluent business and leisure travelers with a fleet that includes four Embraer Phenom 300s and one Embraer Legacy 500, luxury jets that serve destinations across North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. Elite Jets also owns a Bell 407 helicopter available for sightseeing and travel across South Florida. Additionally, the company provides management services for a Gulfstream G550 jet capable of long-haul flights to Europe and Asia.

“Naples Airport is a tremendous asset for Collier County residents and visitors, and its impact on our local economy and way of life is immeasurable,” said Elite Jets President Mark London.

“This new lease signifies our commitment to continue serving Collier County for many years to come, both from an aviation standpoint and as a community partner to the nonprofits that make Southwest Florida such a great place to live.”

Elite Jets has supported numerous charitable organizations with monetary and in-kind dona-

BOOST YOUR SALES

tions, including Guadalupe Center, St. Matthew’s House, Wounded Warriors, the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and others.

Approximately 10 aircraft charter companies have relationships with Naples Airport, which offers short-term hangar rentals and long-term leases.

“As a lifelong Naples resident myself, I recognize the benefits of having this jewel in our backyard,” said Executive Vice President Stephen Myers. “Elite Jets is proud to extend Naples Airport’s vision of creating an exceptional airport experience with our mission of providing an exceptional travel experience.”

VIP travel experiences at Elite Jets start with its client services team, which operates as a personal concierge during the booking process. In addition to confirming flight logistics, passengers can make meal and snack selections in advance. Onboard, passengers can enjoy personalized temperature controls, recliner-like leather massaging seats, high-speed Wi-Fi, a fully stocked bar and a digital entertainment system to watch movies, TV shows and news. The company’s White Diamond Concierge Services includes door-to-door chauffeur services in its Tesla Model X, auto detailing services on site and a private Tesla charging station.

SALLEE PAGE 3 occupation and income level. It truly depends on your business. The way you reach your target audience is crucial. Next is to come up with a strategy to reach your target audience.

This may seem old school, but starting with a S.W.O.T analysis is helpful. A S.W.O.T. analysis is looking at your company’s strengths, weakness, opportunity and threat. All of these areas will give you a good idea of where to start advertising.

Lastly, set a budget for advertising/ marketing. Based on the research you conducted, determine the best way to reach your target audience.

One item that provides a big impression for a small return is pens.

They generate 3, 000 impressions over

DIGITAL MARKETING OPTIMIZATION • Get found online

FREE

• Drive more leads

Custom Digital Presence Report

• Increase retention • Dominate the market • Get an optimized website

Find out how you compare to your competition.

239.465.0310 ActiveDataDigital.com

Do it right from the start and the possibilities are infinite.

a nine-month life cycle. Small cost for a big impression! Next would be a magnet. Who doesn’t put a magnet on their fridge? Magnets can be made as a business card. It’s a great way to keep your name in front of your client.

Based on an industry survey, 75.4 % of consumers keep promotional items that are useful. When you’re looking at something to represent your business, think about what might be useful to your client. There are so many different items to choose from. The best part: Your message your way!

Nate Sallee started Sallee Promotions over 10 years ago. He started it out of his condo and has grown into full scale operations. Sallee Promotions offers screen printing, promotional products, banners and more. Contact (239) 6916736 or nate@salleepromotions.com.

Did you know ...

that SWFBT highlights: • • • • •

Daily Updates Breaking Business News B2B Events Calendar Commercial Real Estate Directory Professionals who are “Going Places” ... and much more at

www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

AUGUST 2022

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

Page 15

BUSINESS SERVICES

How a PEO can help your business focus on what it does best Most business owners will agree that people are their greatest asset. They know that their employees are the ones who drive innovation, generate sales, create new products and help propel a business forward.

To manage payroll, workers’ compensation, compliance, unemployment, benefits and human resources can be overwhelming for a small or mid-size business owner and can even distract from core business operations and goals.

To help with these often-burdensome tasks and allow business owners to focus on outcomes, Professional Employer Organizations are there to help. A PEO acts as a small- or medium-sized business’s “back office” team, offering payroll processing, bookkeeping, HR support, 401K, insurance, worker’s compensation, employee onboarding, benefits administration, insurance options and more.

A full-service PEO, Integrity Employee Leasing, assumes responsibility for tax deadlines, unemployment liability, payroll tax filing, worker’s compensation, insurance – you name it. We do not function as a hiring service or temp agency. Instead, Integrity Employee Leasing legally assumes responsibility for your employees, a legal process referred to as becoming your

employer of record.

PEOs must be vetted and licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which includes an extensive background check and interview. We are also a licensed insurance agency, and members of our leadership team are Senior Certified Professionals through the Society for Human Resources Management, one of the highest certifications someBY ROBERT one in their profession can receive.

HENSLEY Our founder, Tom Natoli, startGuest Columnist ed as a small business owner too, so he understands business operations and relationships. He started Integrity in 2004 in a garage with one client. Based in Southwest Florida, we are now serving clients in 17 states, reaching clients in many new ways. However, we stick to what was important to Tom then, and what is important now: Providing our clients with great customer service so they can focus on growing their businesses.

As a PEO, we are hands-on and connected with our

WOLF PAGE 1

ating a water park and resort will require a number of skilled, higher-paying technical and management roles, offering opportunities for Collier County residents and helping to maintain our economic growth trajectory.”

Great Wolf Lodge South Florida will be a year-round family destination filled with attractions and amenities for all ages. Some of the highlights include: ● An expansive 100,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, heated to a comfortable 84 degrees, featuring a variety of body slides, tube slides, raft rides, activity pools and splash areas for every member of the family – from toddlers and teens to parents and grandparents. ● A 62,000-square-foot family entertainment center known as the Great Wolf Adventure Park will offer a variety of family-friendly attractions, including MagiQuest – Great Wolf Lodge’s exclusive live-action adventure game where players use interactive magic wands to battle goblins and dragons. ● A collection of complimentary family events and activities including Yoga Tails, a morning exercise program that combines tales from the creatures found in the Spirit Water Forest with yoga poses, and evening events such as Great Wolf Lodge’s signature Hustle & Howl dance party and Story Time event. ● Several dining options that will appeal to a variety of culinary styles ranging from pizza and burgers to upscale dining and premium ice cream treats at Wood’s End Creamery. ● Family-friendly suites in a variety of categories and styles including Great Wolf-themed suites with separate sleeping quarters for kids designed as either a log cabin or wolf den and outfitted with bunk beds and Great Wolf character theming. The resort will also feature suites with multiple bedrooms for large families or multi-generational groups.

Great Wolf Lodge South Florida will offer an exceptional value for families with admission to the water park and much of the family entertainment activities in the Grand Lobby included as part of the guest’s stay.

jobs, ranging from senior management positions, engineering and IT professionals to lifeguards, guest service agents and housekeepers, all with long-term career growth potential. With a rough construction timeline of 18-24 months, Great Wolf Lodge South Florida is expected to celebrate its grand opening in spring/summer of 2024.

“As we look to expand the Great Wolf Lodge experience to new markets, we are excited to place our newest resort in South Florida. This resort will offer families in the Sunshine State an easy, carefree escape, where parents and kids have the opportunity to laugh and play together and strengthen their family bonds,” said Murray Hennessy, CEO for Great Wolf Resorts. “South Florida has been on our radar for some time, and now, thanks in large part to the tremendous support from Collier County as well our shareholders Blackstone and Centerbridge Partners, we’re excited to make this resort a reality. We’re excited to officially join the community and look forward to helping contribute to its continued growth and prosperity.”

According to an economic impact report commissioned by Collier County and conducted by Hunden Strategic Partners, it is anticipated that the new Great Wolf Lode South Florida will help bring $5 billion in new net spending into the region, and the County is expected to receive an additional $150 million in tax revenue over the next 30-years.

“The one-of-a-kind family experience offered by Great Wolf Lodge not only gives visitors another reason to come to Collier County, but it will bring a diverse array of new jobs to the county,” said Collier County Commission Chairman Bill McDaniel. “Aside from the thousands of construction jobs required to build the resort, Great Wolf Lodge will need more than 600 employees to operate its resort. The complexity of oper-

clients, through good times, and bad. In fact, our clients never get an answering machine – after hours, they can reach our President and CEO for any emergencies.

In our 18 years in business, we have served over 3,000 diverse businesses and have helped our clients save over $47.6 million. As one of the nation’s fastest growing PEOs we help our clients retain valued employees, cut costs, save time, reduce liability, improve employee benefits and reduce overall risk. one of the nation’s fastest growing PEOs can At Integrity Employee Leasing we also believe in community. Members of our team are very connected to our community in our base in Charlotte County and throughout Southwest Florida. We are particularly passionate about helping children and families and have given back to causes that provide meals to Southwest Florida residents, resume and job training and support to families going through challenging times. So not only are we an extension of our client’s team, but we are part of the community, and integrity defines us.

Robert Hensley is president of Integrity Employee Leasing, a Professional Employer Organization based in Charlotte County. Visit integrityel.com.

Bill McDaniel, Collier County Commission chair, at the Great Wolf Lodge groundbreaking ceremony.

Meeting and event planners can also look to Great Wolf Lodge South Florida for their meeting and event needs. The property will boast 13,000 square feet of flexible conference space with breakout rooms, built-in A/V technology, customizable catering options, and a team of dedicated industry professionals to tend to every meeting need.

As part of Great Wolf Lodge’s environmental initiative, Project Green Wolf, Great Wolf Lodge South Florida will feature a number of energy and water conservation measures, such as energy-saving LED lighting and special water filters to reduce consumption.

A few key partners helping make Great Wolf Lodge South Florida a reality include Stantec, a renowned architecture, design and planning firm that serves as the lead architect for the project. The Estero-based division of Suffolk will lead the overall construction of the resort, while Neuman Pools, a family-owned, design/ build company of large-scale water attractions, will oversee construction for both the indoor water park and outdoor pool areas. Custom fabricator, ID3 Group, will design and build the mystical Spirit Water Forest theming found throughout the resort.

Listen to

Moore About Business during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on 90.1 FM | 91.7 FM | wgcu.org

Page 16

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®

AUGUST 2022

Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow.

Here for You...

When Edison National Bank opened its doors in 1997, we commemorated the occasion by planting a Royal Palm. Today, that tree is a testament to 25 years of service.

We’re standing strong and continue to plant the seeds of trust and loyalty. As the oldest locally owned and chartered community bank in Lee County, our roots go deep in the community, and we remain unwavering in our commitment to your banking needs.

To learn more about our customer services and convenient locations, please visit EdisonNationalBank.com or call 239.466.1800.

Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC | Bank of the Islands is an office of Edison National Bank.