Celebrating 10 Years
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 10 No. 8 / JUNE 2017 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
IN THE NEWS
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FLORIDA SBDC ANNOUNCES DISTINGUISHED ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
2017 Industry awards accepting nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2017 Excellence in Industry Awards, which recognize corporate and individual excellence in Collier County. Awards will be given in five categories: Business Expansion, Company to Watch, Young Professional of the Year, Heart of the Community and Pillar Award. All nominations must be received by June 16, 2017. The Awards program is presented by Opportunity Naples, in coordination with the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. INDUSTRY See page 3
RSW airport reports record traffic in April
During April, 1,032,783 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport, an increase of 14.7 percent compared to April 2016. This number also represents the best April in the 34-year history of the airport. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 1.1 percent from the same period last year. The traffic leader in April was Southwest with 265,761 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Delta Air Lines (179,415), American (128,641), JetBlue (124,841) and Spirit (104,093). AIRPORT See page 3
Englewood Bank & Trust names Hagan president
J. W. “Bill” Crews, Jr., chairman of the Board of Englewood Bank & Trust, announced Kevin Hagan has been named president of the bank. He succeeds Brad Wilson, who will continue his work with the Crews Banking Corporation, the family-owned bank holding company of which Englewood Bank & Trust is a part. “Kevin has strong roots in the community and extensive knowledge in banking and commercial lending that will provide a seamless transition,” said Crews. Hagan has been serving Charlotte and Sarasota counties as a commercial lender since 1989. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. HAGAN See page 3
Nominees gather at the 2017 Distinguished Entrepreneur of Southwest Florida awards.
Photos by Jim Jett
SWFL’s small businesses are honored at ceremony The Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) announced the 2017 Distinguished Entrepreneur of Southwest Florida awards at its annual dinner on May 10. The FSBDC awards are held annually to recognize three Southwest Florida small businesses for their innovation, advocacy and business growth. This year’s Distinguished Entrepreneur of Southwest Florida is Dr. Anais Aurora Badia, owner of Florida Skin Centers. Guido A. Minaya, owner of Minaya Learning Global Solutions, was named Innovator of the Year. Advocate of the Year is Brian Rist, owner
of Storm Smart. An additional honor, the William O. Webb award, was presented to A & E Auto Repair. “We celebrate the business owners that took an idea, grew that idea into a business and created a positive impact on the economy in the Southwest Florida community,” said FSBDC Regional Director Lois Knox. Badia, a board certified dermatologist and the only pediatric dermatologist in Lee County, opened Florida Skin Center in Fort Myers in 2001. She has since expanded her operations into Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres, with the community’s public opinion polls
By Jacob Ogles SWFBT Print Editor
“Thanks to leadership by the Florida House, the budget ends state-funded corporate welfare,” said Rep. Dane Eagle, R-Cape Coral and House majority whip, in a message to constituents. “In conforming legislation, comprehensive transparency and accountability provisions were instituted for both Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, which have both been breeding grounds for unscrupulous spending practices.” Scott’s proposed budget called for $85 million in economic incentives funding for Enterprise Florida and $100 million for Visit Florida to market the state to tourists. Since the close of session, he has continued to criti-
AWARDS See page 14
Ron Toll, FGCU provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, speaks at the 2017 Distinguished Entrepreneur of Southwest Florida awards.
Lawmakers hold firm on program cuts The budget approved by the Florida Legislature at the close of regular session this year calls for drastic budget reductions for Visit Florida and the elimination of business incentives available to Enterprise Florida. Gov. Rick Scott, who heavily criticized lawmakers for not fully funding these agencies, suggested he may veto the entire state budget, as lawmakers who supported the cuts brace for heavy cuts to local spending efforts in retribution. House members defended the cuts, saying abuse and excessive spending by the agencies constituted cutbacks.
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cize lawmakers’ decision to underfund those efforts. “Florida’s economy is on a roll,” he said in an online statement. “Now is not the time to slow down our efforts to bring more jobs and opportunities to our state. Businesses and site selectors have taken notice of the Florida Legislature’s decision to not fully fund Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida. We cannot allow Florida to fall being after years of successful growth. We will continue to work each day to fight for jobs.” State Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton and chairman of the House Ways and Means committee, urged business leaders at a recent event in Sarasota
CUTS See page 15
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