February 2017 Southwest Florida Business Today

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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S BUSINESS VOICE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 10 No. 4 / FEBRUARY 2017 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

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MARCO BEACH RESORT COMPLETES RENOVATIONS

Workshops to discuss local government entities

The 2017 Charlotte County Government Academy is a series of six half-day workshops scheduled for 9 a.m.-noon and 1:304:30 p.m. on Feb. 22, March 1 and March 8. The workshops will be held in locations throughout the county. Participants should commit to all three days of workshops.

Charlotte County Government Academy is recommended to anyone who wants to know more about local government.

The program provides the opportunity to share and learn about the various county departments: public works, utilities, parks, transit, human services, and more.

ACADEMY See page 2

Spiro nominated for SBA Person of the Year

The Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University nominated Christopher T. Spiro, president of Spiro and Associates, as the 2017 Small Business Administration’s Small Business Person of the Year. National winners will be announced in Washington, D.C. during award ceremonies on April 30 and May 1.

Spiro has received several awards and accolades for his work, accomplishments and community outreach. In 2016, he was named Distinguished Entrepreneur of Southwest Florida. The FSBDC recognizes one business owner each year based on several criteria, including outstanding entrepreneurship. Prior year award winners are nominated for the SBA Small Business Person of the Year award.

SPIRO See page 5

GATES begins work on Naples Outlet Center

GATES Construction commenced the first phase of an exterior renovation at the Naples Outlet Center, located at 6060 Collier Boulevard in Naples.

The renovation includes all new paint, light fixtures, and façades for a more clean and modern look. The first phase of renovations is slated to be completed by early 2017. Architectural design is being provided by David Corban Architect, PLLC. GATES See page 2

Marco Beach Ocean Resort is known for its Gulf-front location, breathtaking views, intimate environment and personalized service.

Resort updates suites, ballroom

The award-winning Marco Beach Ocean Resort, located along the Gulf of Mexico’s famous white-sand beaches, has completed a comprehensive renovation of its one- and twobedroom suites. Additional updates have also been completed on the resort’s Gulf Ballroom.

The updated luxury interiors capture the essence of the boutique resort’s beachfront location in a palette of soft blues and mint greens against white and sandy-hued backdrops, with warm and washed wood tones, linen-inspired upholstery and elegant mirror and satin nickel surfaces.

“The rooms have a lighter look but retain a sophisticated ambience,” said Ron Albeit, general manager for Marco Beach Ocean Resort.

The updated luxury interiors capture the essence of the boutique resort’s beachfront location in a palette of soft blues and mint greens against white and sandyhued backdrops, with warm and washed wood tones, linen-inspired upholstery and elegant mirror and satin RESORT See page 8 nickel surfaces.

Storm Smart signs first licensed distributor Storm Smart recently partnered with its first licensed distributor— Storm Smart of Southeast Florida Inc. in West Palm Beach, headed up by president Ken Rayner. The licensee sells, installs and services all stormprotection products manufactured by Storm Smart from its 60,000-squarefoot manufacturing plant at its headquarters in Fort Myers, where it employs more than 150 people. Storm Smart is the largest manufacturer and installer of code-approved hurricane protection products in Florida.

The new showroom at 4047 Okeechobee Boulevard in Suite 106 offers storm-protection products for

residential and commercial properties, including storm panels and accordion, roll-down, Bahama and Colonial shutters, as well as impact-resistant windows and doors. It features displays for customers to explore custom-made products available from Storm Smart, including a mini lanai with furniture, and a Storm Catcher Roll-Down Screen demonstration area.

Rayner was a customer on multiple prior projects, and was drawn to Storm Smart’s commitment to producing top-of-the-line products and providing the best possible service.

“While 2016 was one of the warmest in West Palm Beach, there were

numerous severe weather events across South Florida that took some residents and businesses by surprise,” Rayner said. “So I felt it was a good time to have Storm Smart’s great products available right away here for those looking for better peace of mind in 2017.”

Although West Palm Beach was largely spared by Hurricane Matthew’s destruction in October—the biggest tropical cyclone threat to South Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005—there were many property owners who reported wind damage.

STORM See page 8 VS

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

FEBRUARY 2017

Collier moves ahead with sports complex, without Braves

By William Levy Guest Correspondent The Collier County Commissioners voted down any chance of the Atlanta Braves making Naples their spring training home in the near future. While the Braves were making their pitch to the county and a study was being conducted, there was also a study that the county was sponsoring to find a suitable site to build a youth sports complex. Though both studies were independent of each other, there was at least a “possibility” that the Braves proposed complex could have been used in conjunction with the youth sports complex according to Jack Wert, the executive director of the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau.

If you think the abrupt halt to having a Major League Baseball team train in Collier means and end to a new

sports complex, think again.

“Personally I thought (when the Braves got voted down) ‘let’s move on with the youth sports complex,’” said Mary Shea, membership director for the Collier County Sports Council. “This may move the process faster.”

According to Shea, the sports council is an “arm” of the Convention and Visitors Bureau consisting of hotels, attractions, restaurants and country clubs. She said it works with tournament directors and there is definitely a need for another complex as Collier has outgrown the facility they currently use at North Collier Regional Park on Livingston Road.

“Amateur sports have tripled in the past three years,” Shea said. “We have had pickleball championships, football championships, girls field hockey as well as others. North Collier Regional Park is filled. We

Bonita-Estero EDC to unveil strategic plan The Bonita Springs-Estero Economic Development Council will unveil its new strategic plan at the February 15 quarterly board meeting, which is open to the public. The meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 25071 Chamber of Commerce Dr., Bonita Springs, 34135.

The BSEEDC board is made up of 15 directors and four resource partners, representing the Bonita SpringsEstero business community. The BSEEDC works to build the area’s economy through business retention and expansion, workforce retention, and enhancing the quality of life in the community.

Since its inception in 2011, the BSEEDC has had an estimated eco-

ACADEMY PAGE 1 Online registration is available at www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov. Paper registration forms are also available in various county buildings includ-

nomic impact of $110 million. The BSEEDC has helped its clients create more than 450 jobs in the area over the past three years, in industries including financial services, healthcare and construction.

Tiffany Esposito, the executive director of the BSEEDC, said the council is ready to move forward with its 2017-19 strategic plan.

“We’re eager to debut our new strategic plan,” Esposito said, “and we look forward to growing our partnership with our investors through new activities in talent retention, and business retention and expansion.”

Due to limited space, registration is required by Friday, February 10.

Seats can be reserved online at www.

BonitaSpringsChamber.com or by calling 239-333-2332.

ing libraries, the County Administration Center in Murdock, and online.

Registrations must be received by 5 p.m., Feb. 10. For more information, or to request a registration form, call the Public Information Office at 941-623-1092.

have had to turn down business.”

Shea noted besides out of town athletes and guests bringing in added revenue to the area, there are other benefits as well.

“People don’t realize that there are a lot of Millennials are moving down here. This would be a positive place for kids to utilize.”

She said she believes there are “two to three” sites the county may be considering. The project is expected to be funded in large part by the bed tax imposed at hotels.

Wert also agrees with Shea that the rejection of the Braves will not stop this project.

“I do not anticipate any negatives as a result of the Braves vote,” he said. “We can now concentrate on the amateur facilities we need develop to further grow sports tourism in Collier.”

Bank announces new branches Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has opened its sixth Southwest Florida branch in downtown Fort Myers and will open a new Gateway branch in Gateway.

Located in the Edison Theatre building at 1533 Hendry Street, the Fort Myers bank branch will provide customers with hands-on, individual banking service Monday through Hartman Thursday, 9 a.m.4 p.m. and until 5 p.m. on Fridays.

“Downtown Fort Myers will once again have a local bank presence,” said Craig Albert, president, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. “The location is extremely convenient for the business community, as well as neighborhood residents, and we look forward to seeing them in the branch.”

As for the Gateway branch, it will be located at 11691 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101, located at the corner of Gateway Boulevard and Devonshire Lakes Drive. Construction is underway and the branch will open in the first quarter of 2017.

“We are thrilled to open the new Gateway location and bring community banking to Gateway,” said Craig

Albert, president, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. “We look forward to providing individual attention and comprehensive banking services to neighborhood residents and businesses.”

Customers will have access to hands-on, individual personal and business banking services from five bank employees who will staff the new location, as well as an ATM that will be accessible 24/7. Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s residential loan officer, Mike Hartman, will also be based in the Gateway branch for customers’ residential lending needs.

Founded in 2003, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank already has two locations on Sanibel and three locations in Fort Myers. The bank is well-capitalized, with $332 million in assets, and generates the thirdhighest return on equity of Florida’s 151 chartered banks.

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s professionals provide customized individual and business banking services and specialize in residential loans. The bank provides free personal and business checking, top-yielding money market accounts, safe deposit boxes, electronic statements and a mobile banking app, as well as online and drivethru banking. To learn more, visit www.sancapbank.com.

GATES PAGE 1

services with a diversified project portfolio in all types of commercial, institutional, industrial and residential construction projects. GATES also operates in North Carolina and the Republic of Panama. For more information on GATES, please call 239-593-3777 or visit the website at www.GATESinc.com.

As Florida’s premiere builder, GATES Construction serves its clients from offices in Bonita Springs and Sarasota as a full service general contracting firm providing construction management and design-build

FEBRUARY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 3

ADO partners with Fliphound on outdoor digital advertising

“

Fliphound helps small businesses and those new to outdoor advertising cost effectively reach motorists and drivers in the North Fort Myers and Cape Coral metro areas.

– Clark Richards, Managing member of American Digital Outdoor

“

American Digital Outdoor, a premier outdoor media company specializing in digital billboard advertising, announced it has enabled its digital billboards for online and programmatic out-of-home buying. American Digital Outdoor has partnered with Fliphound, the first and leading public online OOH advertising buying platform, to simplify the digital billboard buying process and let businesses already comfortable using internet and social media advertising to add digital billboard advertising to their online media mix.

With just a few clicks of a mouse, media buyers, business owners, social media, and digital marketing professionals can begin advertising on American Digital Outdoor’s digital billboards using Fliphound’s outdoor advertising buying solution.

Fliphound users can start, pause, schedule and buy billboards with any budget at any time.

“We are excited to partner with Fliphound and become the first digital billboard operator in Fort Myers to offer online buying of digital billboard inventory. Fliphound helps small businesses and those new to outdoor advertising cost effectively reach motorists and drivers in the North Fort Myers and Cape Coral metro areas,” said Clark Richards, managing member of American Digital Outdoor.

“American Outdoor’s attractive digital billboards

locations provide advertiser’s access to 44,000 motorists on a daily basis. Fort Myers and Cape Coral are part of a thriving and vibrant business community and we are excited to help ADO Florida access digital and internet advertisers who can now buy digital billboard inventory online using Fliphound to engage with their customers,” said Elizabeth Farha, vice president of sales at Fliphound.

Fliphound and ADO Florida provide for the advertising needs of Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Southwest Florida including Lee and Collier counties. Fort Myers-Naples rank as the 61st Designated Market Area by Nielsen and reach more than 500,000 households making this a great market to introduce new products and services or highlight the

success of a new or existing brand.

Fliphound continues to sign up new advertisers every day who are attracted to a feature rich solution that provides: 24x7 access, Day Parting (by drive time, day of week), real-time reporting, and the ability to turn on and off campaigns at any time.

American Digital Outdoor is a premier outdoor media company specializing in digital billboard advertising. ADO billboards are located on some of the busiest roads in the area and allow businesses to advertise on the high impact digital boards. ADO Florida is committed to the success of its client’s promotional goals and advancing the art of digital media advertising with creative use of digital media.

Fliphound launched its public online out-of-home (OOH) ad and programmatic buying network in May of 2013 and has executed 1,000’s of campaigns for hundreds of paying customers. Fliphound allows advertising, marketing and social media professionals to access the largest nationwide public digital online billboard network and leverage digital outdoor displays as part of their online advertising programs.

Fliphound is a trusted and transparent national online marketplace that includes almost 500 digital billboards in more than 25 states. Fliphound is a privately held company and is headquartered in Wichita, Kan.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

What you need to know about preparing 1099s You are required to file forms 1099-MISC for each person or company (except corporations) to whom you have paid at least $600 in rents, services, or other income during the course of your trade or business. These forms are required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service and recipients no later than January 31, 2017. If you fail to file correct forms 1099 on time, the penalties could range from $50 to $530 per 1099. If you would like us to prepare these forms for you, please provide the recipient’s name, address, federal ID or social security number, and amount paid. We charge $35 plus $10 per 1099.

Each trade or business is required to file a property tax return reporting the cost of all tangible personal property (with the exception of automobiles and inventory) held as of January 1, 2017. This return is due no later than April 1, 2017. The penalty for late filing is loss of the $25,000 exemption and 5 percent per month not to exceed 25 percent of the total tax. If you would like us to prepare this return for you or obtain a six-week extension, please let us know.

We will prepare the return when the business income tax return is completed and we charge $100 for the return and $50 for the extension.

All corporations and LLCs are required to file a 2017 annual report. You can file your report online at www.sunbiz.org. The State of Florida will email you reminding you of this report. This return is due no later than May 1, 2017.

The penalty for late filing is $400. If you would like for us

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to prepare this return for you, please let us know. We charge $50.

The IRS requires that any health insurance paid for owners of an S corporation be included on their W-2 form in order for the insurance to be deducted as an adjustment to income.

If the corporation paid for your health insurance and we prepare your payroll tax returns, please let us know the amount ASAP so we can include it on your W-2.

If your company files as an S corBY W. BRADLEY poration, we want to remind you that COOPER JR. the Internal Revenue Service requires Guest Columnist that the company pay all owners a reasonable salary if they perform services for the company.

This means that quarterly payroll tax returns and W-2s need to be filed. If your company is required to pay you a salary and has not done so, please call us ASAP and we can file those for you. Noncompliance can mean substantial fines and additional taxes.

W. Bradley Cooper, Jr. is a certified public accountant with an accounting and bookkeeping firm servicing hundreds of small to medium-sized businesses throughout Southwest Florida.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Seminar series looks into water quality in SW Florida The University of Florida/ IFAS Extension Charlotte County, through its Florida Sea Grant and Florida Friendly Landscaping programs, presents a new program in 2017; a Water Quality Seminar Series.

Seminars are scheduled for February 13, March 13, April 10, and May 8 at the Charlotte County Eastport Environmental Campus, 25550 Harborview Road, Port Charlotte, 33980 from 2–5 p.m.

This program is intended for anyone interested in water quality in fresh and saltwater environments.

The first seminar focuses on “Tracing Nutrient and Petroleum Pollutants in the Water”,

and is presented by Dr. Monica Wilson, Gulf Oil Spill Research Extension Specialist, with the University of Florida/IFAS Florida Sea Grant Program; and Dr. Brian Lapointe, research professor, Marine Ecosystem Health at Florida Atlantic University. Other seminars focus on reuse water (March), harmful algae blooms (April), and restoration/Florida Friendly Landscaping (May).

Register in person at the UF/ IFAS Extension office located in suite 3 at the Charlotte County Eastport Environmental Campus or register on their website at https://wqss.eventbrite.com.

For more information, contact Betty Staugler at (941)764-4346 or Tom Becker at (941)764-4351.

FEBRUARY 2017

Today’s businesses need to be active in social media Let’s dive into why we all now know Social Media is here to stay.

There used to be a time when we thought Social Media was just a trend but based on the billions of subscribers and high level of activity between users, we can now say Social Media is here to stay.

The reality is that if a business wishes to expand or grow they must attract new clients and/or engage existing clients to their products and services. Social Media can do all of these objectives and more like help your business achieve their mission and vision; leverage your marketing activities to increase employer penetration, and increase brand awareness and engagement with your targeted audience.

But what is Social Media? It consists of websites and applications that enable users to create, share

content, and participate in social networking. It is user-generated content (UGC) as text, posts, online comments, digital photos, videos, and links. Users also have the capacity to

BY JANETH create service P. RAMIREZ specific proGuest Columnist files for their site or application with their name, age/gender, and interests.

Let’s look at the numbers globally to have a better understanding why Social Media is critical to your business success. According to SOCIAL See page 5

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Six financial reports your property manager should provide In the management of income producing real estate assets, we know unnecessary costs need to be cut from operations. We know expenses should be reduced when possible. We know we should take full advantage of additional income streams and increased rents and fees to increase revenue. When these tasks are performed correctly, the income potential of a property will be maximized.

As an investment property owner, you need to know everything about the financial condition of your properties. Hiring the right property asset manager who will maintain and increase the value of your assets and who will provide accurate, detailed financial reports so you can track your financial goals is vital.

Here are six financial reports your property manager should be providing you with every month: 1. Balance sheet: This is a snapshot of the financial position of a property as of the date of the report. It is a summary of the assets, liabilities and equity of the owner. At a glance, you will see actual balances in bank accounts, total delinquency and vacancy amounts, security deposits held, the sum owed to others, ownership distributions made and much more.

2.

Monthly income and expense statement: This report should have a monthto-date and year-to-date detailed breakdown of income and itemized expenses with a comparison to the budgeted numbers. When created and used properly, a budget is your guideline to the operation of your asset. You should be able to expect the property to perform according to that

BY MARIE budget. Being able to comHAMLING pare actual to budget figures Guest Columnist lets you know if the budgeted goals are being achieved.

3. General ledger: This provides a detailed record of individual transactions that result in the total numbers reflected on the balance sheet and income and expense statement. Each entry should be selfexplanatory. Question your manager if you see numerous corrections in various accounts each month or frequent entries to a clearing account with vague descriptions.

4. Accounts payable report: This should include all payments made during the reporting period for debts and other financial obligations. The goal is to provide a clear audit trail for all funds for each property. Look for a company that keeps and is happy to provide you with copies of all invoices.

5. Tenant receivables and prepaid report(s): This ledger details individual tenant delinquent and pre-paid accounts that are summarized on the balance sheet and income/expense statement.

6. Copy of monthly bank statements with reconciliations: These will substantiate the bank account balances reflected on the balance sheet as well as deposits and debits reflected on the general ledger.

These types of financial reports are provided so you, the property owner, can avoid unnecessary expenses and losses and so you ultimately retain full control over your assets.

Marie Hamling, CPM®, CAM, is the owner/broker of Paradigm Real Estate Corp., offering real estate and outdoor hospitality management and consulting. She can be reached at 239-672-8182, marie@ paradigmrec.com, ParadigmREC.com

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FINANCIAL REVIEW

Make sure you choose the right insurance for your small business

Q: I am a relative newcomer to the Naples area and do not have many contacts here. I need guidance in selecting the right insurance for my small business. Any suggestions you can offer will be appreciated.

A: The first step is to select a qualified insurance agent. If you are new to the area, you should solicit recommendations from other business owners.

Local trade associations and the Chamber of Commerce are a good source for references.

Compile a list of agents and then interview each. What you are looking for is experience with businesses similar to yours. Ask the agents for the names of other clients and determine their level of satisfaction.

True insurance professionals take advantage of continuing education programs and can be identified as Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC), Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriters (CPCU), and Chartered Life Underwriters (CLU) Insurance is broadly grouped in two categories; Property & Casualty and Life & Health. Both are specialties and it is uncommon that one agent is expert in both.

Some types of Property & Casualty insurance

SOCIAL PAGE 4 Wearesocial.com, our worldwide population is 7.395 billion people, 3.419 billion are internet users, and 2.307 billion are active social media users, with 3.790 billion unique mobile users and 1.968 billion active mobile social users. The magnitude of internet users, social media users and mobile users across the globe cannot be ignored instead a Social Media marketing plan should be part of your business objectives.

If we take a closer look at these numbers within United States, you may be even more inclined to understand and apply a Social Media campaign right away.

According to wearesocial.com total population is 322.9 million people which 282.1 million are active internet users. These internet users consist of 192 million active social media users which 342.4 million use mobile connections and are 169 million active mobile social users.

So why is Social Media important for your business? You get to know your customer’s needs, behavior, and likes as well as connecting with them at more intimate levels therefore it helps with im-

that you may need for your business are: • Commercial Auto to protect your business from both liability and physical damage losses resulting from your use of an automobile.

• C o m m e r c i a l General Liability to protect against certain other lawsuits arising out of the conduct of your business.

• Product Liability

BY GRAY to protect you from claims POEHLER for damages sustained by cusGuest Columnist tomer’s use of your products, either sold or installed.

• Worker’s Compensation to protect you from claims by employees who are injured on the job.

• Commercial Property to cover loss to your building and contents from fire, wind, lightning, theft, vandalism, etc.

• Flood insurance to protect your business property from flood damage.

• Business Interruption & Extra Expense to pay for lost revenue and additional expenses result-

proving your customer service.

Additionally, you can reach a new audience by utilizing trending hashtags which are a word or phrase preceded by ‘#’ sign that provide people a simple way to search for common topics and begin a conversation.

Each quarter this year, we will look at different aspects of social media in this guest column and hopefully you will find some insight and benefits Social Media can provide to your business. We will explore in future articles the top Social Media platforms, learn about pros and cons about sharing information on Social Media, why internet sharing etiquette is just as important as avoiding plagiarism in college and more.

I encourage you to contact us through SWFL Business Today if there are specific topics you want to read about Social Media in the future. I look forward to hearing from you with any questions or suggested topics for future articles.

Janeth P. Ramirez, Social Media Coordinator for CareerSource Southwest Florida, manages the organization’s social media platforms and creates its social media posts. Contact her at jramirez@careersourcesouthwestflorida.com.

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ing from covered damages to your building and contents.

• Inland Marine to cover property in transit or away from your premises. Also, replacement of damaged computer hardware and software, including restoring lost data.

Some types of insurance to be considered in the field of Life & Health include: • Life & Health insurance to protect you, your employees and their families from the financial consequences of death, sickness or non-job related accidents.

• Disability insurance to cover lost wages due to prolonged sickness or disability.

• Life Insurance for funding buyout agreements between business partners, securing business loans, and the loss of Key people.

There may be other exposures to consider and each situation may be different. This is why you need the advice of a professional agent who specializes in commercial insurance.

Gray Poehler is a volunteer with SCORE Naples.

If you would like to register for counseling or have a question, call 239-430-0081 or fill out the form located at http://naples.score.org/mentors.

SPIRO PAGE 1 In addition to Spiro’s nomination for the SBA award, he will participate as one of the several judges for the upcoming 2017 Distinguished Entrepreneur of Southwest Florida. The awards ceremony is entering its 6th year and applications for nominations will be available Feb. 1. Find out more about the FSBDC award program at www.deprogramguide.wordpress.com.

The FSBDC at FGCU offers oneon-one, confidential, no-cost consulting and low-cost workshops for businesses throughout Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. It is designated by the state as Florida’s principal provider of business assistance. The Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide service network funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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DOING IT RIGHT, FROM THE START

Page 6

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

FEBRUARY 2017

2016 BENTLEY WINGS SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS RECIPIENTS Douglas W. Bailey Accounting Assistant, Bentley Village. Graduate Student, Business Administration, Keiser University: M.A. Anastasia Barnett Student, Boston University: B.A., International Relations Lucita Cheriza LPN, BV Care Center. Student, Med-Life Institute: Nursing Associate David J. Ferguson Lifestyle Assistant, Bentley Village. B.A., Business Administration, Hodges University

(Left to right) Standing: Lucita Cheritza, David J. Ferguson, CFCC Education/Scholarship Director Sharon Bayata, BVF Scholarship Committee Director Dr. Janys Foley, BVF President Diane V. Halas, Douglas W. Bailey, Anastasia Barnett. (l-r) Seated: Federlin Jean, Sonia Moore. Not pictured: Cheyenne E. Garrell, Vanessa Laguerre, Bianca J. Marc, Silvia Lopez and Mayra Rivera.

Foundation awards vocational scholarships

The Bentley Village Foundation Wings Scholarship Program recently awarded approximately $33,000 to 11 Wings Employee Scholarship recipients. These scholarships are managed by the Community Foundation of Collier County.

“The winners, seven employees and four employee dependents, were selected on a competitive basis and range in age from 18 to 51,” said Dr. Janys Foley, Bentley Village Foundation Scholarship Committee director.

These students are currently studying in a wide range of academic and vocational fields, including medicine, social work, business, nursing, international relations, accounting and animal science.

The Bentley Village Foundation Wings Scholarship Program, estab-

lished in 2016, awarded scholarships based on a total numerical score determined by grade point average, financial need, essay submission, personal recommendations and other considerations.

Scholarship recipient Federlin Jean, whose father has worked for Bentley Village since 1990, is studying medicine at the University of Florida. “My grandfather’s battle and passing from Alzheimer’s disease is my biggest motivator, “said Jean. “I am also well aware of the shortage of physicians in an increasingly diverse southwest Florida and I want to make a lasting impression on my community.”

Applications for the second round of Wings Scholarship must be submitted by March 15. The recipients will

be announced in May. Students who submitted an application in October will remain in the candidate pool for one year. For more information, please visit bentleyvillagefoundation.org or call Dr. Janys Foley at 239-597-6960.

The Community Foundation of Collier County has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarship funds in the past year to support students who are seeking a college education. For more information on applying for scholarships, visit colliercountyscholarships. org hosted by the Community Foundation. This site includes all scholarships maintained through the Foundation and local scholarships available to students through private donors, corporations and organizations who wish to assist students with their educational paths in one easily accessible location.

Cheyenne E. Garrell Student, Santa Fe College: Associate Degree, Animal Science Federlin Jean Student, College of Medicine, Florida University Vanessa Laguerre PRN, BV Care Center. Student, Med-Life Institute: Nursing Associate Silvis Lopez LPN, BV Care Center. Student, Med-Life Institute: Nurse Associate Bianca J. Marc CMA. Student, FSWC: Physician’s Assistant Sonia Moore CNA, BV Nursing Dept. Student: Med-Life Institute: Nurse Associate Mayra Riviera Administrative Assistant, BV Care Center. Student, FGCU: BA Business-Medical Administration

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 7

MedExpress opens locations in Fort Myers, Port Charlotte MedExpress, a national leader in walk-in health care, recently opened two new neighborhood medical centers in Florida in Fort Myers and in Port Charlotte.

The new centers in Fort Myers and Port Charlotte are the 19th and 20th MedExpress locations in Florida. In October, the company opened a new location in North Port. MedExpress also has plans to open 12 additional centers in the state in 2017.

“MedExpress is committed to increasing access to high-quality, convenient, affordable care—one patient

at a time,” said Marcus DeMaiolo, area manager for Florida, MedExpress. “Our two new centers in Fort Myers and Port Charlotte are our next steps in helping Florida patients access and receive health care—when and where they need it most. We’re honored to join the communities and to help families, patients and employees get the great care they deserve.”

MedExpress centers are open every day from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. with no appointments necessary, offering a convenient option for consumers with immediate health

Naples Soap Company works on eczema kit with TV star More than 30 million Americans suffer from eczema, according to the National Eczema Association. To Deanna Renda, founder of Naples Soap Company, the inspiration for the new product is a personal one, a result of many years of battling eczema and psoriasis in her own life, and then again with her daughter’s struggle with eczema.

Naples Soap Company and nationally recognized entrepreneur Kevin Harrington, original Shark Tank investor and founder of As Seen on TV, is introducing The Eczema Kit, a line of specially formulated and soothing fragrance-free products, designed to provide a head-to-foot natural solution for eczema, psoriasis and dry, itchy skin.

Earlier this year, Renda participated in an As Seen on TV pitching event in Deerfield Beach, Florida, where she participated in a variety of interviews before being granted the opportunity to meet with Harrington to share the potential for The Eczema Kit. The meeting resulted in the launch of a national campaign, led

by Naples Soap Company and Harrington and his Shark Finds team, which includes a series of infomercials and product sales launch on the As Seen on TV website, designed to make The Eczema Kit accessible on a national level.

A former nurse, Renda was determined to find a natural solution to her skin care concerns, which resulted in the birth of Naples Soap Company and its many products dedicated to caring for sensitive skin.

The Eczema Kit furthers the company’s mission to provide “Naturally Better Skin Care,” by offering con-

venient access to a variety of natural, fragrance-free products that help users find relief for sensitive skin.

“Having personally dealt with eczema and psoriasis in my own life, I really understand how life-changing these products can be,” Renda said.

“The goal of Naples Soap Company has always been to provide all-natural, handmade skin care products that are specifically designed for those with a variety of skin concerns. The beauty of The Eczema Kit is that the benefits of the products are not limited to only those with eczema. With fragrance-free products designed to soothe the skin, our new kit benefits people of any age with a variety of skin conditions.”

Founded in 2009 by Renda, Naples Soap Company offers natural skin care products for the body, face and hair, as well as for those with sensitive skin. With retail locations throughout Florida in Naples, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, Punta Gorda, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Key West, Destin and Estero, products are also available online and for wholesale purchase. Offerings include soaps, sea salt soaps, bath bombs, conditioner bars, sea salt scrubs, moisturizer sticks, shampoo bars, body butters and accessories. Named 2015 Outstanding Retail Leader in the state of Florida

by Florida Retail Federation for its commitment to the retail industry and the community, Naples Soap Company’s products are handmade in the U.S. using only the finest quality ingredients, which are ecofriendly, made from sustainable resources and never tested on animals.

For more info about Naples Soap Company, visit NaplesSoap.com.

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care needs. The centers offer walk-in treatment for everyday illness and injury through its urgent care services, which include more advanced offerings such as X-rays, IVs, labs, minor surgery, stitches and treatment for sprains and broken bones. MedExpress also offers basic wellness services such as sports physicals, routine physicals, immunizations and tobacco cessation counseling. In addition, MedExpress offers employer health services such as workers’ compensation, injury care and pre-employment screenings and physicals.

Creighton Development and Construction grows its team Creighton Commercial Development and Construction recently expanded its operations, welcoming six new members to the Creighton team, announced Dan Creighton, CEO, and Brent Evans, chief operating officer.

New hires for Creighton’s Florida office include Bob Proper as real estate representative and project managers Bill Griffith, Josh Kirsch, Roger Posey and Jason Sawyer. Marley Phillips has also joined Creighton’s Texas office as a project manager.

The new team members will assist Creighton Commercial Development and Construction in carrying out its mission to excel in all areas of commercial development, construction and real estate brokerage and will continue to represent the company’s repu-

tation for competence, reliability and efficiency within the industry.

Creighton team of professionals have an extensive background and experience in all aspects of project development to provide complete turnkey service from Acquisition, Engineering, Design, Permitting through Construction for commercial as well as residential development.

The team partners with the most qualified engineering, architectural and design teams and are equipped with the latest tools and technology to perform projects with the highest quality and accuracy, while providing efficiency in overall project cost and schedule.

For more information, visit www.creightondev.com or call (239) 210-0455.

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Page 8

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

FEBRUARY 2017

RESORT PAGE 1 Each of the 78 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom suites offers a kitchenette, spacious living room and private balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico or lush garden terraces. Smart TVs were also installed in each suite and allow complimentary access to the internet. Marc-Michaels Interior Design was the interior designer for both the new guest suites and Gulf Ballroom.

Rebecca Masterson of Marc-Michaels describes the new guest interiors as “airy, beachy and fresh, with a clean feeling. Instead of accessories, the focus is more on the artwork.”

The redesign of the Gulf Ballroom replaced Tuscan colors, treatments and traditional aesthetic with soft grasscloth walls, carpeting with deep turquoise undertones and sandy draperies that frame Gulf views through large picture windows.

“The lighter colors highlight the ballroom’s incredible Gulf of Mexico views and minimize the separation between indoor and outdoor spaces,” said Albeit.

Known for its Gulf-front location, breathtaking views, intimate environment and personalized service, Marco Beach Ocean Resort features a variety of dining options ranging from beachfront casual to authentic Italian cuisine at the elegant, award-winning Sale e Pepe restaurant; spa and fitness center; rooftop garden; and direct access to four miles of the island’s famed sugar-sand beaches. The resort’s location and amenities make it the perfect choice for vacations, destination weddings and executive business meetings.

Overlooking the sparkling blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Marco Beach Ocean Resort is a designated AAA Four Diamond resort and was ranked No. 16 on the Travel + Leisure 2013 World’s Best Awards List of Top Resorts in the continental United States. In 2015, the resort earned the Wedding Wire Couples’ Choice Award, was recognized

by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top 25 resorts in Florida’s Gulf of Mexico and Central regions, was named among the top 400 hotels worldwide

STORM PAGE 1 “After Matthew, a lot of homeowners and businesses are rethinking their hurricane-protection strategies because you never know where a Category 4 storm like that will eventually rip through,” said Brian Rist, president and CEO of Storm Smart. “People want to know that their properties are protected as much as they can be, especially those thousands who spent the night in shelters and had no idea what they would find when they went home the next day.”

Each of the 78 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom suites offers a kitchenette, spacious living room and private balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico or lush garden terraces.

by Expedia+ members and was inducted into the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame.

Sale e Pepe earned its 11th consecutive Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine, maintaining its distinction as the only restaurant on Marco Island to receive this level of recognition. It has been recognized as a AAA Four Diamond award-winning restaurant each year since 2006 and recently was ranked No. 2 among Marco Island’s top restaurants on USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Reservations are pre-

Rist is licensed as a certified general contractor, building inspector, aluminum contractor, mobile home installation contractor, lead abatement removal contrac- tor and certified hurricane shelter evaluator.

Storm Smart of Southeast Florida is located at 4047 Okeechobee Boulevard, Suite 106, in West Palm Beach.

The showroom is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday. Call (877) 212-5453. Online at StormSmartSE. com.

Storm Smart’s innovative products have launched the company to become the largest manufacturer and

ferred and can be made by calling 239-393-1600 or visiting sale-e-pepe.com.

Developed by one of the Gulf Bay Group of Companies, Marco Beach Ocean Resort is located at 480 South Collier Blvd. on Marco Island. Shopping, entertainment and dining are all within walking distance; golf, boating, fishing, kayaking and nature tours are nearby.

For additional information or to make reservations, call 239-393-1400 or toll-free at 800-715-8517, or visit marcoresort.com.

installer of code-approved hurricane protection products in Florida, having more than 60,000 customers in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and Guam since opening its doors in Fort Myers in 1996. The company has a long list of accomplishments, including being named 2016 Distributor of the Year and 2015 Manufacturer of the Year, both by the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association.

And from 2006 to 2009, Storm Smart was named to Inc. Magazine’s annual list of rapidly growing private companies. By 2015, Storm Smart’s annual sales totaled $38.7 million, up

nearly 3 percent over 2014, making it the 178th largest Florida Gulf Coastheadquartered business by gross revenue, according to the Business Observer “Gulf Coast 500” list.

Storm Smart’s and its business family of enterprises is headquartered at 6182 Idlewild Street in Fort Myers. Its two showrooms in Southwest Florida are located at 11040 Plantation Road in Fort Myers, and in Naples at 2400 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Unit 102.

For more information. call 239-938-1000 or visit their website at www.getsmartcompanies.com.

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FEBRUARY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 9

County Commissioners allocate $5 million for Lehigh roads Lee County will spend $5 million to resurface selected residential roads in Lehigh Acres as part of an ongoing effort to improve roads in the community. The Lee Board of County Commissioners approved a contract 5-0.

The county will use a contractor to resurface 60 miles of roadway on 300 different streets.

“This is the most significant step in recent history the county has taken to deal with the backlog of road needs

in Lehigh,” said Commissioner Frank Mann, whose district includes Lehigh Acres. “In essence, we will be doing five times more work over the next few years than what we’ve been able to do annually the last 10.”

Lee County Department of Transportation maintains about 1,500 miles of paved roads in Lehigh Acres. In past years, Lee County spent about $1 million on Lehigh roads; now based on commissioners’ direction given during the recent budget process, the county will

spend $5 million annually.

Each year, certain roads in Lehigh Acres are ranked and selected for paving based on resident requests, road conditions and the number of residences on the road.

Paving is paid in part through gas tax revenues, and this program is for neighborhood streets, not arterial or collector roads.

For more information about the Lee County Department of Transportation, visit www.leegov.com/dot.

J.E. Charlotte building Lehigh animal clinic

Venice-based commercial construction company J.E. Charlotte Construction Corp. has been selected to build the new facility for Animal Medical Center of Lehigh Acres in Lehigh Acres.

J.E. Charlotte Construction is currently assisting veterinarians Dr. Whitney Whitford and Dr. Charley Whitford with pre-construction phase services and acting as the construction manager. The husband-and-wife team is planning a multiphase project, including a new veterinary clinic and boarding facility.

The first phase of the project includes building a 12,000-square-foot veterinary medical center with day boarding and grooming services. The second phase of the project will include a second detached building of 10,000-squarefoot full-service pet resort.

“We are extremely excited to be working with J.E. Charlotte Construction on our new location for the Animal Medical Center of Lehigh Aces and pet resort,” said Dr. Charley Whitford. “The new full-service hospital and pet resort will be designed with our guest’s comfort in mind. We want our hospital and pet resort to reflect our community’s love and respect for pets and exemplify how strong the human-animal bond can be.”

The existing facility is located at the corner of Lee Boulevard and Joan Boulevard at 2920 Lee Boulevard in Lehigh Acres. The new facility will be built approximately five miles down the road from the present location at the corner of Lee Boulevard and Leonard Boulevard.

The project is slated to start in the first quarter of 2017. The Bacon Group has been selected as the design firm on the project.

Proudly serving Lehigh Acres since 1986, the Animal Medical Center of Lehigh Acres is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. The Animal Medical Center has four veterinarians on staff and offers complete medical and surgical care.

Dr. Flaharty talking with students at Manufacturing Day

High schoolers attend Manufacturing Day

Rescheduled due to Hurricane Matthew, the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association’s (SRMA) Manufacturing Day recently brought South Fort Myers High School students to Trilogy Laboratories in Fort Myers.

The high schoolers traded in their textbooks for a full immersion in to the field of manufacturing as they toured Trilogy Laboratories and shadowed founder and skincare product inventor, Dr. Kristen Flaharty. As part of its Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative, the Lee County Public Schools partnered with SRMA and its member companies for site visits and experiential learning during the annual Manufacturing Day. “Our program gives students a first-hand look in to the manufacturing sector and bridges the gap between what they learn in their studies and actually testing out cosmetic chemistry for themselves,” explained Trilogy Laboratories founder Dr. Kristen Flaharty.

LABS See page 11

Christina Kerner, Production Manager at Trilogy Laboratories shows students how to make lip balm.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

FEBRUARY 2017

Goodwill Industries offers classes for entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs looking for help to start a business are invited to apply for MicroEnterprise Institute’s upcoming classes, which begin Feb. 20. Monday and Thursday evening classes offered by Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida are in Cape Coral at the Nicholas Annex Community Room.

The MicroEnterprise Institute is a six-week training program to help emerging entrepreneurs start new

ventures and grow their small businesses. Participants work with a business coach to develop their ideas into a start-up plan.

The night classes are funded by the City of Cape Coral and cover topics ranging from legal aspects to accounting; marketing to insurance. Experienced business owners serve as mentors in the class. Discussing funding options for businesses is part of the

Is there dead weight in your company?

“

By Pauline Cason and Wendy Cason Guest Columnists

When the welfare of the business hinges on change, management must take the initiative to do what is necessary to streamline and cut extraneous activity out of the company.

“

There are multiple sources for dead weight in a company. Let’s look at several and see if any strike a chord with you.

Most visible is probably dead weight in employees. You know the one who spends his time in office gossip, spreading venom and discontent, but who has a special skill of appearing engrossed when management strolls by.

There are a number of ways to deal with this guy. No, you do not always have to fire him although that is probably the first impulse once he is identified. Because of cost and risk of replacing, I would suggest some focused attention. Some methods of dealing with this dude are: Relocate him and give him some responsibility in his strong suits. Be sure to follow up to see if this working; • Review his performance plan and his supervisor’s evaluations. If he is truly not performing and focused attention does not remedy that, perhaps he is not being evaluated in such a way as to highlight his shortfalls. Perhaps your evaluation system needs a revamp.

• Special one on one coaching might bring him around.

• Then there is that old fall back strategy— retrain.

• If nothing else works fire with finesse— you don’t want bad press from ex-employees A second place to search for “dead-weight” is in processes. Sometimes it will take a focused review of processes to clean out the redundant and unnecessary steps to completing a task. There are ways to tackle this renewal. Some are: • Appoint a committee of people who work in the process to refine it and streamline the process. Be sure to appoint a disinterested facilitator to overrule “turf protectors.” Reward the team for every streamlining initiative they identify and be sure they are implemented. People who work the process are often aware of its redundant areas or steps.

• Create a culture of reinvention by keeping, investigating, rewarding and implementing suggestions. Top management needs to participate in this to make sure awards are not passed out for “paper tigers” that are never implemented.

• Self audits by the quality assurance group, the internal controls group or such like, can be valuable. If you have these people use them. Make sure

they produce positive changes on a regular basis or disband the group.

A third place where dead weight may lurk is in management itself. This is particularly true for large organizations where “turfs” are built and entrenched.

Top management should review the layers of management and make an objective assessment of the value of each layer. Sometimes it is necessary to bring in an outside authority to give weight to this assessment. Relationships, built over years of working together, may make it hard to take this step. When the welfare of the business hinges on change, management must take the initiative to do what is necessary to streamline and cut extraneous activity out of the company. Sorry! That is hard advice.

A final place to review for dead weight is the inventory of parts, products, Information Technology accoutrements, etc. If the company is paying storage for products that do not sell, equipment that is obsolete and useless, then dispose and reduce storage costs.

There may be other areas in your company that an outside consultant can identify and define for you.

If your business is beginning to stall and you suspect “deadweight,” investigate, or hire someone to do so for you.

For other tips, check out our website: www.Casonsolutions.com.

Dr. Pauline Cason of Cason Solutions has over 30 years management experience in the public and the private sector. Her areas of expertise are consulting for organizational design and management. Wendy Cason has 20 years in the private sector as employee and as owner/operator. Her contributions focus on operations, administration, accounting, and culture enhancement.

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class, including potential options available through Goodwill.

Last year, 111 participants graduated from the program, resulting in 58 new start-up businesses.

To apply, visit www.goodwillswfl.org/microenterprise or call 239-995-2106, ext. 2219 for more information. Applicants that meet certain income guidelines may be eligible to volunteer in lieu of payment.

Lee County releases 2016 permit report

During December, contractors pulled 85 permits to build single-family houses collectively valued at about $18.5 million in unincorporated Lee County. That compares to 66 permits issued in November and 132 issued in December 2015, according to the Lee County Department of Community Development. Data for 2015 includes permits for the Village of Estero.

Also during December, 12 multi-family units were permitted, compared to 12 in November and 200 in December 2015. Of the permits issued for multi-family units in December 2015, 174 units were in The Reef, an off-campus student housing complex on Shepard Street in Estero.

For the year 2016, Lee County issued 1,171 single-family permits, compared to 1,202 in 2015.

Permits were issued for 333 multi-family units in 2016, compared to 2,094 the previous year. The permitted value of all new single- and multi-family dwellings built in 2016 is estimated at $306.6 million.

In December, general commercial activity was valued at $4.1 million for 19 permits, compared to $16.6 million in November and $3.7 million in December 2015.

For all of 2016, Lee County issued 224 permits for general, commercial structures, compared to 221 in 2015. The value of those structures was about $122.7 million, compared to $188 million the previous year.

Lee County Community Development issued 2,863 permits of all kinds during December and 43,443 for all of 2016.

Lee County Community Development oversees planning, zoning, development and building services, environmental review, building inspection, and code enforcement for the unincorporated areas of Lee County.

To learn more about the department and its services, visit www.leegov.com/dcd/.

COO discusses property management challenges The chief operating officer and director of property management for Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Property Southwest Florida recently served as guest speaker at the Building Owners and Managers Association Southwest Florida monthly meeting in Naples.

Pamela K. Van Vleck’s presentation focused on the unique skill sets required of a director of management, as well as the attributes they look for in potential employees when hiring commercial property managers. Van Vleck serves as the primary point of contact with owners and landlords, focusing on business development in Southwest Florida.

Van Vleck has built a portfolio of more than 4 million square feet of retail, office, industrial and commercial association properties. Her areas of expertise include detailed financial analysis, performance audits, client relations and team building. As chief operating officer, her duties include oversight and operations of both brokerage and property management divisions of Commercial Property Southwest Florida.

BOMA consists of building owners, property managers, real estate brokers and agents, vendors and executives from professional services representing the commercial property sector along the Gulf Coast from Sarasota to Marco Island.

FEBRUARY 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 11

The Place on First hosts preview studio open house The Place on First celebrated the opening of its preview studio during an opening reception on Jan. 6. Located at 2275 Main St. in Fort Myers, the preview studio offers guests a first glimpse of The Place on First, the first true mixed-use building to be constructed downtown in a decade.

In addition to two floors of Class A office space and multiple restaurant and retail destinations, The Place on First features a select few homes on the building’s private residential floors, levels 5-8, which are accessible by elevator or stairs. Each home includes a covered parking space in the building’s first-floor garage, as well as access to luxury features including the ninthfloor Sky Terrace, a splash pool, grill area, fitness studio, two hotel-style guest suites, bicycle storage, and stateof-the-art entry access.

Urban style elements throughout the homes, such as brick accent walls and cove lighting, are a part of the building’s unique design aesthetic.

Ranging from 1,296 to 2,412 square feet in size, floor plans include The Edison, The Heitman, The Jackson and The McGregor, with residences priced from the $400s to the $800s.

Danielle and David Seitz

Above: David Fry, Garrett Joiner, Chris Joiner, Alex Henderson, Randy Henderson and Dean Fry Left: Alex Henderson and Farzaneh Kazemi Below: Susan Hill and Loren Ben Oppenheimer with Bobbi and Lyn Bevis

Shannon and Phil Morris, Melissa and Trent Swartz and Trevor Swartz

LABS PAGE 9 Flaharty pulled from her experience as a former pharmacy professor and industry consultant to lead the students through their discoveries.

She highlighted manufacturing as a diverse industry with many products and career opportunities represented. The students learned about cosmetic chemistry and the materials handling process from logging in ingredients; to testing them for characteristics like viscosity, pH and the presence of microbes; to packaging, labeling and batch coding.

A lab activity allowed students to produce a custom lip balm by, 1) measuring out ingre-

dients, 2) melting wax, 3) stirring in colors and flavors and 4) labeling their creation.

Manufacturing Day is a national day to celebrate modern manufacturing that is meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. The purpose of SRMA is to bring together manufacturers to encourage the economic development of Southwest Florida through manufacturing, and to act as a forum for the expression and exchange of ideas and information among its members.

Trilogy Laboratories was named 2016 Small Manufacturer of the Year by SRMA and was a 2016 Manufacturers Association of Florida Manufacturer of the Year finalist.

Trilogy Laboratories was

Susan Ellis and Robert DeSantis

Sean Ellis, Connie Boyd and Trevor Swartz founded in 2014 by Flaharty, with 20 years of ethical pharmaceutical product development experience. She was the driving force behind the development of the Azul brand of medical grade skin care products for Southwest Florida’s Dr. Patrick Flaharty’s Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa. Trilogy Laboratories manufactures private label skin care products for physicians, medical professionals, salons and spas, using scientifically proven ingredients at therapeutic concentrations. Its manufacturing facility is an entirely self-contained cosmetic and Over-The-Counter (OTC)-registered production facility.

For more information, visit TrilogyLaboratories.com

The quality and breadth of services you need. The close personal attention you want.

8010 Summerlin Lakes Drive | Fort Myers, Florida 33907 HBKS (239) 433-7533 | HBK (239) 482-5522 3838 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 200 | Naples, Florida 34103 HBKS (239) 263-1960 | HBK (239) 263-2111 Insurance products are offered through HBK Sorce Insurance LLC. Investment advisory services are offered through HBK Sorce Advisory LLC, doing business as HBKS Wealth Advisors. NOT FDIC INSURED - NOT BANK GUARANTEED - MAY LOSE VALUE, INCLUDING LOSS OF PRINCIPAL - NOT INSURED BY ANY STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY

hbkswealth.com | hbkcpa.com

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

FEBRUARY 2017

ALL TOWNS AREN’T CREATED EQUAL. Sure, every town has its beautiful park or its lake view. Its grand home or its city hall. But the truth is most towns aren’t created at all. This one is. Babcock Ranch is an entirely new kind of town. One where the streets are planned but the wilderness isn’t. Where energy comes from the oldest source in the world and powers the very newest technology. Where luxurious amenities come at an unluxurious price. This is a town where the frontier meets the front porch in a way that’s never been seen before.

BABCOCKRANCH.COM 877-484-4434

A better life

Broker participation welcomed. Prices, plans, and specifications subject to change without notice. Oral representation cannot be relied upon as correctly stating the representations of the developer. For correct representations, reference should be made to the documents required by Section 718.503, Florida Statutes, to be furnished by a developer to a buyer or lessee. Not an offering where prohibited by state law.