October 2017 Southwest Florida Business Today

Celebrating 10 Years

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 10 No. 12 / OCTOBER 2017 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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

TAKE ONE

HYPERTEAM UNVEILS HOLOLENS IN NAPLES

Commercial Real Estate

A special pullout section exploring the Southwest Florida commercial real estate marketplace.

Salute to Entrepreneurs

Startups, solo practitioners and visionaries enrich the economy of Southwest Florida.

Hurricane Recovery

Experts explain how you can restore business to normal, or even to accelerate it, in the wake of Irma.

IN THE NEWS Consumers urged to report any price gouging

Attorney General Pam Bondi has activated Florida’s price gouging hotline for all consumers in Florida, and Collier County officials urge consumers to report price gouging to this hotline. Anyone who suspects price gouging should report it to Bondi’s office by calling (866) 9-NO-SCAM (966-7226).

State law prohibits extreme increases in the price of essential commodities, including food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, lumber and equipment, needed as a direct result of a declared emergency.

Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period.

For more information, visit www.myfloridalegal.com.

Photo by Bob Szanto Microsoft Hololens is the world’s first holographic computer enabling users to engage with digital content and interact with holograms in the world around them. HyperTeam USA Business and IT Consulting, located in Naples, recently revealed the Hololens to Southwest Florida business community members in a demonstration at the company’s offices.

FOLLOW SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BUSINESS TODAY ON:

Entrepreneurs focus of event

Entrepreneurs in Southwest Florida will build real companies from scratch during Startup Weekend, an entrepreneurial program that already has been held in 700 cities worldwide.

The inaugural Southwest Florida Startup Weekend will take place the weekend of Oct. 6-8 at Endeavor Innovative Workspaces, a cowork office hub on Business Park Drive in Fort Myers. Cost is $70 per person and $25 for students. To register, go to startupweekend.org and type “Fort Myers” in the search field.

Startup Weekends are 54-hour events designed to provide superior experiential education for technical and non-technical entrepreneurs.

Beginning with Friday night pitches and continuing through brainstorming, business-plan development and basic prototype creation, Startup Weekends culminate in Sunday night demos and presentations to a seasoned panel of investors and entrepreneurs.

STARTUP See page 18

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

‘Can we get an extension on the deadline?’

Hurricane Irma swept through Southwest Florida the weekend of Sept. 8.

One reason I decided to weather the storm here at home was that SWFBT deadlined Friday, Sept. 15. If I’d left town, I’d have been forced to extend deadline, impacting not only our current issue delivery date (SWFBT has been delivered by the first Friday of the month for the past 10 years without fail,) but deadlines for the rest of the year—meaning some or all of my team would end up working during both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

If we could hold fast to our October deadline, we avoided both situations.

And after all, I thought, we are part of the media, right? That means no matter what happens, SWFBT needs to be visible, reliable and on-schedule for the Southwest Florida business community we serve, meeting our mission to provide “news you can use.”

When I began reviewing workrelated email Tuesday morning from my cell phone since power was down, I felt tentative and uncertain. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know if I’d be able to make any connections at all. And if I made a connection, I had to

think very carefully about the message I wanted to convey.

After all, who would be thinking about business after the weekend we’d all just endured?

Then this email popped up at 9:16 a.m.

BY KAREN MOORE “Are we Publisher, SWFBT able to get an extension on the guest column deadline due to the hurricane? We have a few clients that would like to submit an article, but the storm has obviously been an issue, as I’m sure you’ve been experiencing.”— Emily, Public Relations Specialist Way to go, Emily! That one email was like a little beacon of hope for me.

Unexpectedly, my heart leapt in to my throat: I felt a mix of relief, pride and a sense of solid endurance. With that one email, I knew with every fiber of my being that Southwest Florida would overcome yet one more seemingly insurmountable obstacle to not

only prevail, but soar, once again. One email, and I was fueled for the weeks and months ahead. I knew that not only my business, but the entire Southwest Florida business community, would come together, rise up and catch fire once more.

My offsite production team and I were lucky: we had power by Tuesday evening, so publishing the paper was a go. We were back in business!

Inside—delivered on-time and trueto-mission--you not only get our information-filled quarterly commercial real estate section and our inspiration-filled “Salute To Entrepreneurs” stories, you also receive timely tips and information to help you through the Hurricane Irma recovery process for your business.

Thank you to our advertisers for your support during this difficult time.

Thank you to my team for pulling this issue together under extraordinary circumstances—and your dedication and patience. And thank you, Emily—for your inspiration.

Karen Moore is the Publisher/Owner/ Founder of Southwest Florida Business Today.

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Page 2

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 3

HURRICANE RECOVERY

Disaster strikes! What is your business resumption plan?

Failure to plan for disasters can leave your business in a state of disrepair. The Business Resumption Plan addresses restoring your business after a disaster strikes. It details everything that is essential or critical to continue operations in detail. It is much like an insurance policy. Its purpose is to protect against loss of revenues, liability to other businesses and employees, and total loss of business. This type of plan focuses on measures that are required after the dust settles. It gets your business up and running in the most cost effective and efficient manner. By having a plan, you will surpass your competition. The actual value of the Business Resumption Plan is hard to assess. It may seem costly when developing it, but during and after a disaster, it is priceless.

The important part of business resumption planning is not to anticipate specific events, but to plan resumption of the business. Regardless of the size of a business, the only difference may be in the size of the plan and the scale of the effort required to create and execute the plan. Business Resumption Plan basics include 5 areas: 1. Contact information and responsibilities: List of everyone who may need to be contacted, those who implement the plan, employees who need to be notified where to go or what to do and clients and vendors who many need to be informed of a change of procedure.

2. Current business processes: Documentation of business processes that provide a framework for determining how valuable a process is, what mea-

sures should be taken to protect it and the steps required to resume and recover the process.

3. Business interruption events: Any event that affects your ability to perform on the business processes identified in item #2. It is important to think of smaller events since catastrophic events are relatively rare.

Plan for shorter events such

BY LINDA as power outages, contained HANWACKER fires, inability to access comGuest Columnist puter systems and inadvertent activation of sprinkler systems.

4. Risk mitigation strategies: Strategies (backup and recovery, hard copies, redundant computer hardware, facilities, alternate suppliers and vendors) to put in place to mitigate the risk and cost of the event such as inability to access to facilities, inability to obtain key supplies or vendor services, inability to access computer equipment, computer data, physical data and communications.

5. Business continuance and recovery processes: For each business process identified earlier, there needs to be a set of steps and procedures for continuing and resuming recovery of operations.

More specific information will be included that address the scope of recovery efforts, objectives, orders of succession, supplier information and em-

ployee responsibility to name a few of the details that will be included to stabilize your business.

Additionally, backup resource arrangements, procedures and an equipment list are essential to the plan. This information should be backed up and multiple sources to retrieve this information both electronic and paper.

It may seem that writing all this information down is not worth the time. However, at the time of an event it can reduce confusion saving a lot of time, headaches and money. Creating a Business Resumption Plan will have you thinking about your business in new and different ways. It is essential to review it annually to keep it up to date. Remember a good Business Resumption Plan identifies the pre-set arrangements you need to have on standby in order to get essential functions operating again with as little delay as possible, ensures the availability of necessary resources including personnel, information, equipment, financial arrangements, services and accommodations and helps a business to survive an unplanned event by making sure clients’ needs can be met until normal operations are resumed.

Linda Hanwacker is CEO and founder of The LSH Group in Fort Myers, which has provided professional services with economical solutions for business continuity, IT disaster recovery and emergency management planning. Contact her at (239) 466-1170 or hanwacker@thelshgroup.com, or visit www.TheLSHGroup.com.

SALUTE TO ENTREPRENEURS

What makes your business special? Service sets your company apart

I recently saw in the newspaper where two women were totally ignored in a restaurant and were pondering whether to leave a tip or not?

One wonders why, when the majority of their income depends on gratuities, would anyone deliver poor service? I have had similar experiences and tip the wait staff according to services received.

Most people, however, receive a fixed salary or a pre-determined fee for specific services rendered.

What then is the incentive for going the extra mile to ensure total customer satisfaction?

The big box stores can get away with few, if any, customer service people. Customers wander aimlessly down the aisles looking for their items and wait in long check-out lines, consoled only by the belief they are saving money. They obviously do not place a value on their time.

Small business counterparts cannot always compete on price, so the question is how can they differentiate themselves from the competition? The answer is attention to detail and an emphasis on customer service.

Customer service begins with the hiring of people who genuinely like other people.

They smile a lot and seem to never have a bad day. They are eager to assist and answer questions. A poor attitude is infectious and one bad apple can spoil the entire lot. So do yourself a favor and conduct an interview that will identify individuals with the qualities you seek.

BY GRAY Management should esPOEHLER tablish an orientation process Guest Columnist to ensure that their personnel know what is expected of them. It is important to establish a relationship with your customer. Get to know them by name and take note of their buying habits. This will ensure they will come back often and tell their friends.

I was recently in the Sunshine Ace Hardware store

in Naples. Upon entering the store I was greeted by a friendly customer service person who walked me to the item I was seeking and explained how to install it. It’s that personal touch that will ensure my continued patronage.

Take customer complaints seriously and view them as opportunities to learn how to make the relationships more user-friendly. Your employees can be the greatest asset or your biggest liability. For those employees who go the extra mile, consider some method to reward them. Perhaps an employee of the month bonus or a percentage of the sales they generate. They are the face of your business and you only have one opportunity to make a good first impression.

Gray Poehler is a Certified Insurance Counselor and the retired owner and CEO of Service Insurance Agency. He is now a volunteer with SCORE Naples, which offers free counseling to small businesses in Collier County. To contact him, log on to www.scorenaples.org or call (239) 430-0081.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

SALUTE TO ENTREPRENEURS

Entrepreneur: You’ve got the (Super) Power of the ask? Use it wisely

After Hurricane Irma many of us were without power, some of us for hours, days, even weeks. Not having power displaced us from our day-to-day routine. After the storm something beautiful happened, we came together to help each other in this time of need. So many people stepped up to supply resources whether it was donating supplies, volunteering their time, or donating money to aide in the recovery efforts. But the most beautiful thing of all was people opening up their homes to family, friends and neighbors to let them take hot showers, chill out in the A/C or eat a hot meal.

All of this happened because we tapped into our Superpower. This is a Superpower that has been amazing for me and I have been tapping into it more and more. We all have this Superpower just many of us keep it dormant or choose not to use it. You witnessed how our business community and community in general all came together, it is because we each used our Superpower. So you are thinking to yourself, what is this Superpower that we all have, stop thinking to yourself and just ASK!

Yes you got it, this Superpower is the power of ASK! When you discover that anything you desire is just an ASK away you will start to tap into your Superpower more often.

After Irma people asked each other if there was a need for anything. Even schools such as Bishop reached out to students and parents and asked them to come help clean up the school. When they asked,

BY JAMILLA D. they had over 200 volunteers BROOKS come out to help clean up the Guest Columnist school. That’s crazy, right!

We do not need to wait for a natural disaster to strike to use our Superpower, we can use it today.

The power of ASK has literally been the driving force behind my business. I ASK people for referrals and recommendations for potential clients who are seeking a speaker. I ASK people to like my pages on

social media. I ASK people to invest in my business products. The power of ASK is a Superpower that many entrepreneurs use daily. Before you read this, you probably never considered asking a Superpower.

I hope that this article will get more people using their Superpower.

If you enjoyed this article, I would like to ASK you to let me know. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @desirejamilla and my business page for inspiration and motivation @DTIYou! I would love to hear how tapping into your Superpower has helped you as an Entrepreneur. My most recent use of my Superpower was when I asked if I can nominate myself for a 40 under 40 award and this inspired the team to update their post to let others know that self-nominations were accepted.

Never forget, You Got The (Super)Power…ASK! Jamilla D. Brooks is an inspirational speaker at Desire To Inspire and the author of Beautiful You Are! Inspired Poems. Contact her at jamilla@desiretoinspireyou.com.

HURRICANE RECOVERY www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

PUBLISHER Karen P. Moore PRINT EDITOR & ASSOCIATE WEB EDITOR Jacob Ogles PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Ogles PHOTO REVIEWER Colleen Scott DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGNER & EDITOR Michelle L. Hudson

P.O. Box 152299 Cape Coral, FL 33915-2299 News: 239-573-9731 All other: 239-573-9732 News email: editor@swfloridabusinesstoday.com

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The contents of Southwest Florida Business Today are copyright 2013 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.

Flood insurance needed now more than ever before Severe flooding due to heavy rains and Hurricane Irma in Southwest Florida. Mass destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey and floodwaters in Texas and Louisiana. The devastating aftermath on people’s lives and livelihoods is a shocking reminder of what can happen when disaster strikes— and the critical need for the National Flood Insurance Program.

“The National Flood Insurance Program is all that stands between families and disaster, but it’s set to expire Sept. 30 if Congress doesn’t act,” said Florida Realtors President Maria Wells, broker-owner with Lifestyle Realty Group in Stuart. “This is of critical concern for Floridians since we represent nearly 40 percent of all NFIP policies in the U.S. Florida’s Realtors are joining with colleagues across the country to urge Congress to extend the flood insurance program.

If we don’t have an extraordinary response from Realtors, we will not make a strong statement to Congress.

This isn’t just an issue for waterfront

homes, either. Flooding can occur due to storm surge and heavy rain—we must protect Florida’s citizens.”

Of the nearly 5 million homes and businesses covered by the NFIP around the nation, about 1.8 million are in the Sunshine State, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Florida has over 20.1 million residents, and 80 percent of them live or conduct business along or near its coastline. Many other Floridians live or do business near the state’s rivers and other inland floodplains and are also concerned about protecting their lives and property from future flooding. In fact, 97.9 percent of all Florida communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Lawmakers are back in Washington, D.C. Hopefully, Congress will reauthorize the NFIP before Sept. 30 to avoid a disruption in flood insurance coverage.

If the program lapses, the NFIP can’t issue new policies or even renew existing ones. The last time Congress

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

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Florida Realtors serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 170,000 members in 54 boards/associations. Learn more at Floridarealtors.org.

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allowed that to happen, about 40,000 home sales a month were put on hold, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Wells has been active in the NFIP reauthorization effort working with NAR and directly with lawmakers.

“This is a volatile issue for our state and Florida’s voice needs to be strong,” said Wells. “Realtors in Florida and across the country are working together with property owners to urge Congress to extend the National Flood Insurance Program as quickly as possible. Without flood insurance, our communities are unprotected and at risk, with devastating consequences to people and their lives, homes and businesses.”

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HURRICANE RECOVERY

New IRS deadlines due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma The IRS has moved back the deadlines for filing tax returns and making payments for taxpayers affected by either Hurricane Harvey or Irma who have either an original or extended due date falling on or after the onset date of the disaster.

Affected taxpayers will have until January 31 to file most tax returns, including individual, estate, trust, partnership, C corporation and S corporation income tax returns; estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax returns; and employment and certain excise tax returns; or to make tax payments, including estimated tax payments.

The IRS is offering such relief to any area Federal Emergency Man-

agement Agency (FEMA)designated area qualifying for Individual Assistance.

Currently the affected areas include: In Florida: Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Broward, Clay, Duval, Flagler,

BY BEN Hillsborough, DIGIROLAMO Manatee, MiGuest Columnist ami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Putnam, Sarasota, St. Johns and St. Lucie Counties.

In U.S. Virgin Islands: The islands of St. John and St. Thomas.

In Puerto Rico: The municipalities of Culebra, Vieques, Canóvanas and Loíza.

In Texas: Aransas, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Wharton How to Apply for Relief The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered di-

SALUTE TO ENTREPRENEURS

Our family business continues to shine I come from a long line of entrepreneurs, which includes my grandfather, Don Wynn, who founded Sunshine Ace Hardware in 1958. While Sunshine Ace is known for its commitment to carrying a wide selection of premium brands at competitive prices, what makes the most impact is our company culture and focus on customer service and community involvement. More than 50 years after my grandfather established the company, Sunshine Ace has grown tremendously as a result of these core values.

Growing up within Sunshine Ace, I had the opportunity to learn first-hand the key components of attaining success in business, led by the examples set by my grandfather as well as my father, aunt and uncles. When I was named president of the company in 2005, I worked diligently to grow the business, expanding to eight locations which now span from Marco Island to Largo. As we actively expand throughout the state, my goal is to carry on the traditions of my grandfather, maintaining the core values and the ethics of the leaders before me, and encouraging my team to live by these values each and every day.

As a leader of a family-owned business, I have learned the true value of success and what it costs to have it. Setting aside time and resources to give back to the community and your employees is a cost that has continuous benefits.

We are thankful for the support of the Southwest Florida community, and in return our company has dedicated time and resources to giving back

to local organizations and charitable causes. As the community flourishes, our business will too.

With more than 300 employees across our eight locations, we know the importance of investing in their continued growth and development.

Retaining longstanding employees is important for the success and growth of any compaBY MICHAEL ny. I cannot stress enough WYNN the importance of dedicatGuest Columnist ing time and resources to helping your employees be knowledgeable and excel in their roles. Through this mindset, you will attract great employees and be able to retain and promote the most talented associates who value your goals and commitments.

There are many factors that attribute to finding true success as an entrepreneur. From my experience with Sunshine Ace Hardware, witnessing the growth and achievements we’ve seen over the past five decades, I can attest that community involvement and investing in your employees will set your business on the path to continued success.

Michael Wynn is the president of Sunshine Ace Hardware. Visit www.SunshineAce.com or contact him at mwynn@sunshineace.com.

saster area and applies automatic filing and payment relief. But if you are an affected taxpayer and you receive a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS remove the penalty. Affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227 to request this tax relief.

Ben Digirolamo is a principal in the Tax Advisory Group of HBK. Learn more at www.hbkcpa.com.

NEBCO Insurance, TDC Risk Management announce merger NEBCO Insurance Services, with offices in Naples, Palm Beach, Greenwich, Conn. and New York City, and TDC Risk Management, with offices in Maumee, Ohio and Phoenix, Arizona, as well as employees in five other states, have announced a definitive merger. The combination brings together two recognized industry leaders, specializing in personal and commercial risk management solutions for affluent and high-net-worth individuals and families. Their mutual focus in this space combined with sharing a commitment to client service and independent access to best-in-class insurance companies brought the two firms together.

“I have known Cleves Delp, Jim Schwarzkopf and the TDC Risk Management team for quite some time,” said John Paolini, CEO of NEBCO Insurance Services. “Together they have built a team and culture that perfectly aligns with our core values: personalized client service, holistic risk management solutions, and continuous investment in team development. Coupled with their complementary footprint and extensive experience in the high-net-worth sector, these attributes make TDC Risk Management the perfect partner.”

The merger will combine the groups into a national organization that will be renamed in the coming months. “Today marks a monumental event in our firm’s history,” said Cleves Delp, founder of TDC Risk Management. “By joining together in co-ownership with NEBCO and Stone Point Capital, and leveraging the strength and intellectual capital of our existing teams, we’ll be even better positioned to serve our clients both present and future.”

NEBCO and TDC Risk Management plan to launch their new brand toward the end of 2017.

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Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

SALUTE TO ENTREPRENEURS

HURRICANE RECOVERY

Disaster loan programs lend aid Florida businesses impacted by Hurricane Irma may now apply for various state and federal disaster loan programs. As a principal responder in the state’s Emergency Support Function for Business and Industry, the Florida Small Business Development Center Network stands ready to assist businesses with disaster loan applications and with other post-disaster challenges.

Business Damage Assessment Survey DEO is assessing the damage caused by the storm. Small businesses that have incurred losses due to Hurricane Irma are asked to complete a Business Damage Assessment Survey. The survey will help the State Emergency Response Team determine the needs and level of assistance for impacted businesses. To take the survey, visit www.flvbeoc.org.

Federal Assistance Following President Trump’s major disaster declaration, impacted businesses may now apply for low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Through the declaration, businesses and nonprofits in Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Brevard, Broward, Citrus, Clay, Desoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Saint Johns, Saint Lucie, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties in Florida may now apply for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private non-profit organizations in the following adjacent counties are now eligible for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans only: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Levy and Nassau counties.

Business Physical Disaster Loan Program Business Physical Disaster Loans are intended to help repair or replace disaster-damaged property.

Businesses and nonprofit organizations may apply for up to $2 million to repair or replace property, including real estate, equipment, inventory, machinery and other business assets.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program Businesses in qualifying adjacent counties may apply for up to $2 million for working capital through the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, nonprofit organizations meet financial obligations and operating expenses through the disaster recovery period.

Interest rates are as low as 3.305 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for nonprofit organizations. The SBA customizes loan amounts and terms up to a maximum of 30 years for each applicant.

Applicants may also be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages to protect property from future damage, including adding a safe room or storm shelter.

To apply for physical and economic injury loans, businesses must first register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency by mobile device at m.fema.gov or at www.disasterassistance.gov or call the toll-free helpline at (800) 621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call (800) 621-3362, (800) 462-7585 TTY. Upon registration with FEMA, businesses may apply for a disaster loan a number of ways: • Submit an online application at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

• Download an application from www.sba.gov/disaster and submit to a SBA disaster recovery center or mail to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155; • Visit a SBA recovery center • Visit their local Florida SBDC The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 9. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 11.

Florida SBDC Network The Florida SBDC Network supports disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation through its Business Continuation Services. As part of the network’s service offering, the Florida SBDC will also be deploying its Mobile Assistance Centers (MACs) into affected communities to deliver small business owners on-site assistance with loan applications and with other post-disaster challenges. The Florida SBDC is working with state and federal officials to determine the MACs’ locations and will release that information soon.

“We are saddened to see and hear the stories of damage and loss that individuals and small businesses have suffered due to Hurricane Irma,” said Michael Myhre, CEO and Network state director.

“We want our small business owners to know how important they are to our state and that we stand ready to assist them get back on their feet to continue creating jobs and generating wealth for Florida’s economy.”

For questions about the Emergency Bridge Loan Program, the U.S. SBA Physical and Economic Injury Loan Programs, and how the Florida SBDC can help, please contact the Florida SBDC Network at (850) 898-3489 or Disaster@FloridaSBDC.org.

The phone line will be answered during regular business hours; all voice mails and emails will be responded to within 24 hours.

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Eric@EdisonAvenue.com Serving all of Florida

Passion, determination key to success at work

Naples Soap Company all started with a passion for people and a determination to provide them with skin care products that really work. With these key goals at the forefront of our brand, we have grown from humble beginnings in a 300-squarefoot shop in Tin City to 11 stores located along Florida’s west coast from Destin to Key West, carrying a reputation for providing “Naturally Better Skin Care” with high-quality, natural skin care products. As a business owner, I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way that have helped our company

BY DEANNA continue to flourish.

WALLIN First, an entrepreneur Guest Columnist must recognize a widespread need and stay determined to create a solution. As someone who has struggled with eczema and psoriasis all my life, I understand how difficult it is to find skin care products that really work.

With a background as a former nurse, I recognized that the harsh ingredients in a lot of skin care products on the market often do more harm than good for those with sensitive skin. Therefore, I set off on a mission to create a line of natural skin care products that can help, using only the finest quality ingredients, which are eco-friendly, made from sustainable resources and never tested on animals.

My personal connection and passion for what we do have resulted in the creation of unique products that I have tested myself and perfected so that people can trust that what they’re putting on their skin will actually work.

Secondly, I’ve learned you must seek and create opportunities for growth. We recently worked with nationally recognized entrepreneur Kevin Harrington, original Shark Tank investor and founder of As Seen on TV, to launch 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. This process began when I attended an As Seen on TV pitching event in Deerfield Beach, where I 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’s Shark Finds team to make The Eczema Kit accessible on a national level.

Finally, it is essential to stay true to your roots.

No matter which Naples Soap Company store you enter, you’ll recognize our fun, coastal ambiance. Each store reflects my hometown of Naples’ healthy, beach-friendly lifestyle and attitude, as well as Naples Soap Company’s commitment to keeping things natural—from store design to the natural ingredients within our handmade skin care products. Another constant throughout our stores are the knowledgeable associates that are ready to help you find the perfect natural solution to your skin care needs. These characteristics are what our customers have come to anticipate from Naples Soap Company, and we are committed to meeting and exceeding those expectations.

Deanna Wallin is the founder and chief innovation officer at Naples Soap Company Learn more at www.NaplesSoap.com.

OCTOBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 7

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

Adam Palmer named president of Florida CCIM chapter LandQwest Commercial’s Adam Palmer has been named 2018 President of the Florida CCIM Chapter of CCIM Institute. LandQwest is the only company to have three past or current presidents of the Florida CCIM Chapter. These include Central Florida team members Cynthia Shelton, senior managing director and qualifying broker, in 1996 and Kane Morris-Webster, senior director, in 2011. Palmer’s term as president will begin in January.

As a principal and a managing director with LandQwest’s Southwest Florida team, Palmer said he will use his 14 years of industry experience to help

build and protect the wealth and business models of a long list of valued clients.

“I am truly honored to represent the approximate 900 Chapter Members across this great state,” said Palmer. “For 50 years, CCIM has been the benchmark of excellence for commercial real estate practitioners and the evidence of dedication towards providing their clients the best investment analysis possible.”

Palmer is currently serving as president-elect for the 2017 Florida CCIM Chapter. His career has also seen him serve as president of the Southwest Florida CCIM District and as president of the Commercial In-

vestment Professionals.

“We are extremely proud of Adam,” said John Mounce, founding principal at LandQwest. “To be elected by his peers is a representation of his dedication, strong work ethic and reputation of success and integrity.”

The 2018 Florida CCIM Chapter Executive Committee includes: Palmer; President-Elect Tina Marie Eloian; Vice President Finance Yakhin Israel; Vice President Chapter Operations Jose Maria Serrano; Vice President Administration Bev Larson; and Vice President Education Bill Dehlinger.

Designer selected for Prima Luce project Prima Luce officially announced Dwayne Bergmann Interiors will be designing the interior features of the two-tower, 22-story condominium with views of the Caloosahatchee River. They are part of a 12-company consulting team that will help inhouse leaders reach a groundbreaking date during the fourth quarter of this year.

Conceptual artists at Dwayne Bergmann Interiors, which offers a full range of services from conception to completion, plan to incorporate traditional elements into modern-day living through applied molding, marble, wood and luxury finishes. Examples of this are heavily molded entryways, wood and marble flooring infused with metallic appointments, and contemporary color palettes throughout the interiors.

“Transitional furniture, which is a marriage of traditional and contemporary furniture, finishes and fabrics, will also be applied to common areas such as the game room, library, business center and social space, which includes a full-service kitchen and conversational seating,” said Dwayne Bergmann, principal and conceptual artist/designer. “Residents and visitors can expect a rich mix of wood, leather and contemporary fabrics highlighted by decadent chandeliers and wall sconces.”

Within the units themselves, residents of Prima Luce can create a personalized environment with five

Southwest Florida Business Today covers the commercial real estate market each month in its print edition and online at

www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

priMe oFFice Space Suited to your needS Featured property

Prima Luce, a two-tower, 22-story condominium, announced Dwayne Bergmann Interiors will be designing its interior features. color palette options and four style genres—modern, contemporary, transitional and traditional—centered around flooring, cabinetry, countertops, lighting, plumbing fixtures, hardware and shower layout.

Residents may also choose from an extensive list of upgrade options or utilize the Bergmann Design Team to completely customize the unit.

Dwayne Bergmann Interiors previously completed the common area of Beau Rivage; all aspects of Campo Felice Retirement Living; waterfront condominiums in the Historic River District of Downtown Fort Myers; as well as the Southwest Florida Community Foundation headquarters in Fort Myers; Langford Apartments in Downtown Fort Myers; and Live.Work.Play loft apartments in Cape Coral.

6309 corporate court, South Fort MyerS Locate your office with other professionals in this quiet setting in the middle of the College - Summerlin financial area. Office space from 936 to 2,500 sq. ft. available. Build-out allowance!

$10 per square foot.

Office, 2,136 sq. ft. $14 per foot.

• 16200 San Carlos Blvd. - Retail Store 1,000 sq. ft. - $1,100 per mo.

• 16450 San Carlos Blvd. - Retail Store 450 sq. ft. - $700 per mo.

Sand dollar real eState / BuSineSS depot larry SteinBorn, lic. real eState Broker We Listen, We Care!

6309 Corporate Ct #205 Fort Myers, FL 33919

Phone: 239-433-1343 Email: bizdepot@aol.com

Kim Donnelly

Maryann Mize, CCIM Senior Vice President Senior Credit Officer

VP, Commercial Lending Collier County

kdonnelly@csbtfl.com

mmize@csbtfl.com

cmadden@csbtfl.com

239-476-0870

941-624-1916

239-672-9626

VP, Commercial Lending Lee County

www.charlottestatebankandtrust.com

Additional Properties • 1601 Lee Street, River District, Fort Myers

Cristin Madden

Page 8

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

TECHNOLOGY+CREATIVITY=INNOVATION A new approach to commercial real estate transforming industry standards through

INNOVATIVE client-driven solutions.

CYPRESS PROFESSIONAL CENTER FREESTANDING RETAIL Class a mediCal oFFiCe us 41 Frontage 29,919± sF 15,321± sF $4,750,000 $3,900,000

TAYLOR EXECUTIVE CENTER Professional office 18,185± sf $1,454,800

BRIARCLIFF RD COMMERICAL signalized interseCtion 1.03± aCre Corner $330,000

UNIVERSITY PARK II summerlin road Frontage 8,200± sF $15.75 PsF nnn

COLONIAL BLVD OFFICE Class a Building 8,840± sF $9.00 PsF nnn

COLLEGE PKWY CORRIDOR CommerCial develoPment site 1.18± aCres $279,000

COLONIAL EXECUTIVE PARK Colonal Blvd Frontage 1,480 - 4,175± sF starting at $9.75 PsF nnn

ENN LUTHRINGER, CCIM www.creconsultants.com 12140 Carissa Commerce Court, Suite 102, Fort Myers, FL 33966

Partner 239.481.3800 x235 enn.luthringer@creconsultants.com

OCTOBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 9

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

Diamond Oaks Village holds grand opening Diamond Oaks Village, an apartment community for independent individuals ages 55 and older, held its grand opening and ribbon cutting with the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce Aug. 22. Diamond Oaks Village is located at 24110 South Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs.

Construction on Diamond Oaks Village began in November 2015, and the first residents moved into its apartments in April. Diamond Oaks Village has 160 one-and-

Lee County leased 7,500 sq. ft. at The Shoppes at Coconut Point, 8350 Hospital Dr. in Estero.

AJS announces sales, leasing activity AJS Realty Group, a full service commercial real estate brokerage firm, announced 2017 second quarter sales and leasing activity. “The Southwest Florida market continues to have strong fundamentals of growth in the residential sector which naturally translated into a healthy commercial market for leasing and sales,” said AJS owner and managing broker, Andrew Saluan. Activity for the quarter included: • Vitas Healthcare Corp. of Florida, Inc. leased 7,937 square feet of office space in Heritage Court at 4980 Tamiami Trail N. in Naples, from Heritage Court Investment. Andrew Saluan represented the lessor.

• H & M Hair Salon leased 1,053 square feet of space at 5020 Tamiami Trail N. in Naples, from Heritage Court Investment. Saluan represented the lessor.

• Lee County leased 7,500 square feet at The Shoppes at Coconut Point, 8350 Hospital Dr. in Estero.

Saluan represented the lessor.

• Dr. Jeffrey L. Zimm purchased a medical office building at 1735 Heritage Trail in Naples. Saluan represented the seller.

• The Bowl leased 1,955 square feet in Victoria Square at Central Ave. and Goodlette Road. Jeffrey Clapper represented the tenant.

• Brooks Burgers leased 4,000 square feet in Freedom Square at Collier Blvd. and U.S. 41. Clapper represented the tenant.

• State Farm leased 1,400 square feet in the Rook of Naples, at Collier Blvd. and U.S. 41. Clapper represented the tenant.

• Three spaces totaling 3,200 square feet were leased in Trail Plaza at 2363 Tamiami Trail in Naples and included 900 square feet to Moxie Studios, 1,150 square feet to Vinney’s Barber Shop and an additional 1,150 square feet to Get It Fixed Now. Gina Salvatori represented the landlord for all transactions.

• Salvatori Law Office leased 1,447 square feet at Newgate Tower, 5150 Tamiami Trail N. in Naples. Gina Salvatori represented the Tenant.

• Platinum Fitness leased 4,814 square feet at the Alico Business Center, 9961 Interstate Commerce Dr. in Fort Myers. Lara Bargar represented the Tenant.

two-bedroom apartments and features amenities including covered parking, shuttle bus transportation, a fitness center, fenced dog park, heated community pool and personal washer and dryer units.

Diamond Oaks Village is currently offering two months rentfree for individuals who move in within 30 days of completing an application, and one month rentfree for individuals who move in within 60 days of completing an application.

TRANSACTIONS REPORTED BY LANDQWEST Circle K Stores acquired 2.21 acres at 1603 Hancock Bridge Parkway, Cape Coral, from Coralwood Building Trust for $1,886,500.

Bruce Micciche of LandQwest Commercial facilitated the transaction.

Gulfshore Exchange Company, LC as QI for Yellowstone Property Developers, acquired 9.74 acres at 15805 S Tamiami Tr., Fort Myers, from Golf Balls for $1,075,000.

Adam Palmer of LandQwest Commercial facilitated the transaction.

Spirit Halloween Superstores leased 21,408 square feet of retail space in Pine Island Marketplace at 531-533 SW Pine Island Rd., Cape Coral, from Pine Island JV SRT. Ashley Knie of LandQwest Commercial represented the landlord.

Lee Memorial Health System leased 6,039 square feet of retail space in Lee Boulevard West at 5705 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres, from BA & BA Investments. Michelle

Hoffmann of LandQwest Commercial represented the landlord and Jim Boback of Boback Commercial Group represented the tenant.

Copy Concepts leased 5,021 square feet of office space in the Expo at Brantley at 1901 Brantley Rd., Fort Myers, from BA & BA Investments. Michelle Hoffmann of LandQwest Commercial represented the landlord.

Starbucks Corporation leased 2,200 square feet of restaurant space in Palm Pointe Shoppes at 1152111801 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, from 2010 Palm Pointe LP. Michael Daly, CLS of LandQwest Commercial represented the tenant and Mike Concilla of Equity represented the landlord.

Brazilian Silhouette leased 1,543 square feet of retail space at 3840 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, from Gary L. Pynckel. Adam Palmer and Artem Nashman of LandQwest Commercial represented the tenant.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES Gulf Glass Glass & Door Service

Tyra N. Read ATTORNEY AT LAW

Handling all Real Estate Needs from Contract to Closing throughout Florida

Lee County: 239-337-7771 Naples: 239-922-3333

12140 Carissa Commerce Court Ft. Myers, Florida 33966 Tel: 239.628.4937 tread@bplegal.com www.bplegal.com

Valuation Alliance, LLC What’s your business worth?

Info@Valuationalliance.com 941-216-6121 A Professional National Business Valuation Company

Mention Code Number FL72017 and receive $250 off the normal $850 cost.

A Developer or Investor’s Dream Come True!

Two Properties Available

Burnt Store Road in Punta Gorda - 85 acres zoned for 296 units - All utilities included New price $2,000,000

5 acres on Del Prado in Cape Coral - Adjacent to Publix - Zoned C-1: All utilities included New Price $1,200,000

Call Jim McMenamy for details.

239-437-6300

Selling your business is our business

Buyers are looking for profitable businesses to purchase

Call now for a private discussion about the marketability of your business and how we can help.

(239) 433-1343 LARRY STEINBORN, Broker

SAND DOLLAR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS DEPOT BizDepot@aol.com 6309 Corporate Ct. #205, Fort Myers, FL 33919

Cape Coral Gas/Convenience Store For Sale or Lease • Vacant 2,224 sq. . gas/convenience store • 2505 Santa Barbara Blvd. in Cape Coral • Highly visible corner locaaon • In Cape Coral's central business hub • Sellers will consider owner financing for a qualified buyer.

For Sale or Lease: $479,000

JACK BRITTON, CCIM

Office: (239) 573-3138 Cell: (239) 851-2090 Professional Realty Consultants

Page 10

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

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

Choose the right commercial professional for you ADVERTISING IN SWFBT’S CCIM PAGES

BEV LARSON, CCIM

REALLY WORKS!

Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties

Larson has over 38 years of diversified experience in the SWFL market. She is a Certified International Property Specialist and is the 2017 Florida CCIM Chapter Southwest District President Elect.

• • • • • •

LAHAINA REALTY 239-281-1290 bev1314@aol.com

COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE LAND-ACREAGE DEVELOPMENT

BOB WHITE, CCIM Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Active Southwest Florida Commercial broker for over 30 years. Specializing in industrial, office and investment properties.

Past president SWFL CCIM and REIS.

MARKET AMERICA COMMERCIAL 239-850-2217

bobwhite@marketamericarealty.com

• • • •

INDUSTRIAL OFFICE LEASE OR SALE INVESTMENT

CCIM

If you are a CCIM-SWFL Chapter member, as a benefit, you are eligible to participate in this section.

Contact 2017 CCIM SWFL President Gerald Hendry for details at geraldh@mhsappraisal.com 2016 CCIM-SWFL President Ron Struthers says: “This ad got me listings. It works!”

FRED KERMANI, CCIM, AIA Southwest Florida Partner, licensed real estate broker and architect in Florida & California with 34 years of real estate and design experience.

Specializes in land marketing and investment properties.

CRE CONSULTANTS

239-659-4960 fred.kermani@creconsultants.com www.creconsultants.com/go/fredkermani

• LAND • INVESTMENT • GAS STATIONS

RON WELEBNY, CCIM

Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry & Desoto Counties

Qualifying Broker / Managing Partner, President of SWFL Commercial Alliance.

Past President of Commercial Investment Professionals of SWFL. Board member of CCIM Institute SWFL District.

Member of CoStar Advisory Board.

COMMERCIAL REALTY ASSOCIATES 239-671-6574 Ron@CRA.us

• • • •

BROKERS ANALYSTS ADVISORS CONSULTANTS

Wednesday 12/28/16 - A quiet business �me for commercial real estate. My cell phone rang. It was Barb Monahan, a long-�me CCIM in Naples who just commi�ed to par�cipate in the 2017 CCIM branding program.

She said, “Hi Karen. I was wondering when did the newspaper get delivered?”

I replied, “Yesterday.” She was very quiet, then said, “Wow! I’m up north celebra�ng the holidays with family, but just got a call off the ad I placed with you.

That was really quick!”

- Karen Moore, Publisher, SWFBT

Why use a CCIM?

There are countless benefits to working with a CCIM. Commercial real estate investment requires the counsel of a qualified professional.

A Certified Commercial Investment Member provides clients with the assurance that every decision will be made in the best interest of their investment objectives.

When assembling a commercial real estate investment team, start with a CCIM.

BARBARA MONAHAN,CCIM Collier, Lee, Charlotte, & Hendry Counties

28 year CCIM with 35 years CRE experience. Past president FL & CT CCIM chapters, 2 years CREW SWFL president, FL Regional Commercial Director National Company.

CREDIBILITY

CCIM is the most prestigious designation commercial real estate professionals can achieve within the industry. Graduate-level education, coupled with industry-leading technology tools, practical proven experience, and in-depth knowledge of their local markets, gives CCIMs the ability and the credibility to conduct business confidently and successfully. By partnering with a CCIM, you effectively utilize the top-level, most reliable performers in the industry: with an average of 19 years of experience, 70% of CCIM members hold executive-level positions and 90% of members refer clients to other business services. When you use a CCIM, you choose the most credible professional in the business.

COMMUNITY

Today there are CCIMs in every state, across Canada and Mexico, and in more than 30 countries around the world. Domestically, the network encompasses more than 1,000 markets, from large metropolitan areas to small cities and towns. A truly global network, CCIMs are a powerful force in markets large and small. When you use a CCIM, you choose a trusted community of real estate professionals that are consistently sought for their dependability, intelligence, success and confidence.

“GULFCOAST COMMERCIAL SERVICES”

239-370-0229 bam1gcs@gmail.com

that SWFBT highlights: • • • •

Breaking Business News B2B Events Calendar Photo Galleries Commercial Real Estate Directory • Professionals who are “Going Places” ... and much more at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

ENN LUTHRINGER, CCIM

CCIM designees are bound to the strictest ethical guidelines and standards of practice in the industry today. In addition, each CCIM has successfully completed a graduate level program comprised of 160 hours of education. If you ask around the industry, you’ll learn that companies and other real estate professionals are more likely to seek out experts who possess the CCIM designation, as they know CCIM stands for trust, knowledge and reliability. When you use a CCIM, you choose experts with integrity.

Overall, CCIM’s global network enables members to close thousands of transactions annually, representing more than $200 billion in value. But closing transactions is only part of what CCIMs can do. In addition to holding dealmaking occupations in every property sector, CCIMs are also found in’ leasing, asset management, development, lending, financing, property management, site selection and corporate real estate positions. So, whatever assistance your real estate project requires, a CCIM can help you achieve a better result. In fact, only 6 percent of all commercial real estate practitioners hold the elite CCIM designation, which reflects not only the caliber of the program, but why it is one of the most respected designations in the industry.

When you use a CCIM, you choose a professional who produces measurable results.

The CCIM designation is conferred by the Chicagobased CCIM Institute, a commercial real estate affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS. Learn more about the value of working with a CCIM.

INVESTMENT RETAIL INDUSTRIAL OFFICE / MEDICAL LAND

Did you know ...

INTEGRITY

MEASUREMENT

• • • • •

Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties A partner with CRE Consultants and 15-year commercial real estate veteran, he specializes in the medical and professional office market.

CRE CONSULTANTS

239-994-3703 enn.luthringer@creconsultants.com www.creconsultants.com

• COMMERCIAL • OFFICE • INVESTMENT

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

www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

OCTOBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 11

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

Choose the right commercial professional for you DEBRA JOHNSON SHUEY, RPA, CP, CCIM

GERALD HENDRY, MAI, CCIM Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte & Sarasota Counties The firm specializes in litigation/ expert testimony, as well as, commercial and residential appraisal services. Hendry is a Managing Partner of the firm and the 2017 President for the SWFL CCIM District.

MAXWELL, HENDRY & SIMMONS LLC 239-337-0555 geraldh@mhsappraisal.com www.mhsappraisal.com

• • • • •

APPRAISAL CONSULTING COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL TAX APPEALS

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

www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

MICHAEL J. FRYE, CCIM

Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Recipient of the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award. Serving the SWFL market for over 30 years. We have 6 CCIMs to serve all our client's needs.

RE/MAX REALTY GROUP 239-281-0441 mfrye@ccim.net www.michaeljfrye.com

• • • •

OFFICE RETAIL INDUSTRIAL LAND

Collier, Lee, Charlotte & Hendry

Started in Commercial Real Estate in 1980. She is a Certified Paralegal. A Lee County resident since 1968, she has astute knowledge of the Southwest Florida market.

Why use a CCIM?

There are countless benefits to working with a CCIM. Commercial real estate investment requires the counsel of a qualified professional.

A Certified Commercial Investment Member provides clients with the assurance that every decision will be made in the best interest of their investment objectives.

When assembling a commercial real estate investment team, start with a CCIM.

239-850-2811 debrajohnsonshuey@icloud.com www.debrajohnsonshuey.com

COMMUNITY

Today there are CCIMs in every state, across Canada and Mexico, and in more than 30 countries around the world. Domestically, the network encompasses more than 1,000 markets, from large metropolitan areas to small cities and towns. A truly global network, CCIMs are a powerful force in markets large and small. When you use a CCIM, you choose a trusted community of real estate professionals that are consistently sought for their dependability, intelligence, success and confidence.

Charlotte, Sarasota & Desoto Counties

Commercial real estate specialist with 20 years experience in the local market. Chair of the local Commercial Brokers Group of the Association of Realtors.

RIVERSIDE REALTY SERVICES, LLC

941-628-2625 steve@riverside-services.com www.riversiderealtyservices.com

Did you know ... that SWFBT highlights: • • • •

Breaking Business News B2B Events Calendar Photo Galleries Commercial Real Estate Directory • Professionals who are “Going Places” ... and much more at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

DAVE WALLACE, CCIM Collier County An office, industrial and investment property specialist with more than 30 years of commercial real estate experience He can assist clients with acquisitions, dispositions and leasing.

• • 239-649-7755 • dave.wallace@creconsultants.com •

CRE CONSULTANTS

OFFICE INDUSTRIAL SALES & LEASES INVESTMENT

MEASUREMENT

Overall, CCIM’s global network enables members to close thousands of transactions annually, representing more than $200 billion in value. But closing transactions is only part of what CCIMs can do. In addition to holding dealmaking occupations in every property sector, CCIMs are also found in’ leasing, asset management, development, lending, financing, property management, site selection and corporate real estate positions. So, whatever assistance your real estate project requires, a CCIM can help you achieve a better result. In fact, only 6 percent of all commercial real estate practitioners hold the elite CCIM designation, which reflects not only the caliber of the program, but why it is one of the most respected designations in the industry.

When you use a CCIM, you choose a professional who produces measurable results.

The CCIM designation is conferred by the Chicagobased CCIM Institute, a commercial real estate affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS. Learn more about the value of working with a CCIM.

• • • • •

OFFICE RETAIL INDUSTRIAL LAND LEASING

CCIM

If you are a CCIM-SWFL Chapter member, as a benefit, you are eligible to participate in this section.

Contact 2017 CCIM SWFL President Gerald Hendry for details at geraldh@mhsappraisal.com 2016 CCIM-SWFL President Ron Struthers says: “This ad got me listings. It works!”

INTEGRITY

CCIM designees are bound to the strictest ethical guidelines and standards of practice in the industry today. In addition, each CCIM has successfully completed a graduate level program comprised of 160 hours of education. If you ask around the industry, you’ll learn that companies and other real estate professionals are more likely to seek out experts who possess the CCIM designation, as they know CCIM stands for trust, knowledge and reliability. When you use a CCIM, you choose experts with integrity.

RETAIL HOSPITALITY OFFICE INDUSTRIAL LAND LEASING

STEVE GANT, CCIM, MAI

CREDIBILITY

CCIM is the most prestigious designation commercial real estate professionals can achieve within the industry. Graduate-level education, coupled with industry-leading technology tools, practical proven experience, and in-depth knowledge of their local markets, gives CCIMs the ability and the credibility to conduct business confidently and successfully. By partnering with a CCIM, you effectively utilize the top-level, most reliable performers in the industry: with an average of 19 years of experience, 70% of CCIM members hold executive-level positions and 90% of members refer clients to other business services. When you use a CCIM, you choose the most credible professional in the business.

• • • • • •

MILOFF AUBUCHON REALTY GROUP

RANDY KRISE, CCIM Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties Broker/owner of Krise Commercial Group and 2016 Florida CCIM Regional Vice President and Institute Board Member.

KRISE COMMERCIAL GROUP 239-633-8672 randy@krisecg.com www.krisecg.com

• • • • •

COMMERCIAL VACANT LAND INVESTMENT RETAIL INDUSTRIAL

RON STRUTHERS, CCIM Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, North Port & Venice

Specializes in all facets of commercial brokerage and leasing in Charlotte County area. 2016 CCIM Florida Chapter Southwest District President.

COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL NRT 941-769-3316 rstruthers@ccim.net www.commercialrealtyfl.com

• • • • •

INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL LEASING

Page 12

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

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

Choose the right commercial professional for you BRUCE MICCICHE, CCIM

Did you know ...

Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties

Senior Associate Broker with 30 years of experience. Licensed in Florida and Pennsylvania.

Specializing in investment and retail sales and leasing.

• • • • •

LANDQWEST COMMERCIAL

941-999-1188 bmicciche@lqwest.com www.lqwest.com

INVESTMENT RETAIL DEVELOPMENT COMMERCIAL SALES & LEASING

WILLIAM H. ROLLINS, JR., CCIM, ALC Lee, Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto & Hendry Counties Senior broker. He is licensed in Florida, Georgia and Alabama and is an Accredited Land Consultant.

LAND SOLUTIONS, INC. 239-633-1963 wrollins@landsolutions.net www.landsolutions.net

• AGRICULTURAL • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL

CCIM

If you are a CCIM-SWFL Chapter member, as a benefit, you are eligible to participate in this section.

Contact 2017 CCIM SWFL President Gerald Hendry for details at geraldh@mhsappraisal.com 2016 CCIM-SWFL President Ron Struthers says: “This ad got me listings. It works!”

JIM GARINGER, CCIM, SIOR Lee, Charlotte & Collier Counties Jim and his team have successfully been helping clients reach their goals for more than 20 years and want to help you with yours. Give Jim a call today!

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL 239-272-7437 Jim.Garinger@colliers.com www.colliers.com/jim.garinger

• MULTI-TENANT INVESTMENT PROPERTIES • LAND SALES

THERESA BLAUCH-MITCHELL, CCIM

Lee, Collier, Charlotte & Sarasota Counties SWFL CCIM past president, Florida CCIM membership chair, CCIM international committee.

Hablo Español.

BOBACK COMMERCIAL GROUP

239-265-2628 theresa@bobackcommercialgroup.com www.bobackcommercialgroup.com

• • • •

INVESTMENT RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL

that SWFBT highlights:

Why use a CCIM?

There are countless benefits to working with a CCIM. Commercial real estate investment requires the counsel of a qualified professional.

A Certified Commercial Investment Member provides clients with the assurance that every decision will be made in the best interest of their investment objectives.

When assembling a commercial real estate investment team, start with a CCIM.

• • • •

Breaking Business News B2B Events Calendar Photo Galleries Commercial Real Estate Directory • Professionals who are “Going Places” ... and much more at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

JIM BOBACK, CCIM

Serving the State of Florida Owner/Broker with 36+ years of real estate experience. 10-time Power Broker Award Winner.

CREDIBILITY

CCIM is the most prestigious designation commercial real estate professionals can achieve within the industry. Graduate-level education, coupled with industry-leading technology tools, practical proven experience, and in-depth knowledge of their local markets, gives CCIMs the ability and the credibility to conduct business confidently and successfully. By partnering with a CCIM, you effectively utilize the top-level, most reliable performers in the industry: with an average of 19 years of experience, 70% of CCIM members hold executive-level positions and 90% of members refer clients to other business services. When you use a CCIM, you choose the most credible professional in the business.

• • BOBACK COMMERCIAL • GROUP • 239-565-2616 • JB@bobackcommercialgroup.com • www.bobackcommercialgroup.com •

ADVERTISING IN SWFBT’S CCIM PAGES

REALLY WORKS!

Wednesday 12/28/16 - A quiet business �me for commercial real estate. My cell phone rang. It was Barb Monahan, a long-�me CCIM in Naples who just commi�ed to par�cipate in the 2017 CCIM branding program.

She said, “Hi Karen. I was wondering when did the newspaper get delivered?”

I replied, “Yesterday.” She was very quiet, then said, “Wow! I’m up north celebra�ng the holidays with family, but just got a call off the ad I placed with you.

That was really quick!”

- Karen Moore, Publisher, SWFBT

COMMUNITY

Today there are CCIMs in every state, across Canada and Mexico, and in more than 30 countries around the world. Domestically, the network encompasses more than 1,000 markets, from large metropolitan areas to small cities and towns. A truly global network, CCIMs are a powerful force in markets large and small. When you use a CCIM, you choose a trusted community of real estate professionals that are consistently sought for their dependability, intelligence, success and confidence.

INTEGRITY

CCIM designees are bound to the strictest ethical guidelines and standards of practice in the industry today. In addition, each CCIM has successfully completed a graduate level program comprised of 160 hours of education. If you ask around the industry, you’ll learn that companies and other real estate professionals are more likely to seek out experts who possess the CCIM designation, as they know CCIM stands for trust, knowledge and reliability. When you use a CCIM, you choose experts with integrity.

MEASUREMENT

Overall, CCIM’s global network enables members to close thousands of transactions annually, representing more than $200 billion in value. But closing transactions is only part of what CCIMs can do. In addition to holding dealmaking occupations in every property sector, CCIMs are also found in’ leasing, asset management, development, lending, financing, property management, site selection and corporate real estate positions. So, whatever assistance your real estate project requires, a CCIM can help you achieve a better result. In fact, only 6 percent of all commercial real estate practitioners hold the elite CCIM designation, which reflects not only the caliber of the program, but why it is one of the most respected designations in the industry.

When you use a CCIM, you choose a professional who produces measurable results.

The CCIM designation is conferred by the Chicagobased CCIM Institute, a commercial real estate affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS. Learn more about the value of working with a CCIM.

INVESTMENT MULTI-FAMILY MEDICAL RETAIL OFFICE INDUSTRIAL VACANT LAND

ADAM PALMER, CCIM Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, Tampa & Orlando Principal & Managing Director LandQwest Commercial, Vice President of Finance for the Florida CCIM Chapter, 10-time CoStar Power Broker Award Winner

LANDQWEST COMMERCIAL

239-898-8686 adam@adampalmer.com www.adampalmer.com

• • • • •

OFFICE INVESTMENT LAND RETAIL INDUSTRIAL

MARYANN MIZE, CCIM Lee & Charlotte Counties Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer. More than 30 years of commercial lending experience. CCIM Senior Instructor and 2015-2016 SWFL CCIM District Treasurer.

CHARLOTTE STATE BANK & TRUST

941-624-1916 mmize@charlottestatebank.com www.charlottestatebankandtrust.com

• FINANCING OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

OCTOBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 13

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

Look at commercial sales so far in 2017 Valbridge Property Advisors Southwest Florida conducts a quarterly survey involving a variety of market participants in the Southwest Florida market including brokers, investors, bankers and property/leasing managers. The company just released the Mid-Year 2017 report on Commercial Markets.

Retail Snapshot The Southwest Florida Retail market experienced a slight improvement in market conditions in the second quarter 2017. The vacancy rate went from 5.4 percent from the previous quarter to 5.1 percent in the second quarter. Retail net absorption was up, with positive 382,320 square feet absorbed in the quarter. South Fort Myers, Cape Coral and the City of Fort Myers had the largest gains. Some of the notable 2017 deliveries include: 14607 Ben C Pratt Parkway, a 50,000-square-foot property, which is currently 70 percent occupied; and the 29,900-square-foot property at 11560 Majestic Palms Blvd., which is 100 percent occupied, both in the Lee County market.

Office Snapshot The Southwest Florida Office market ended the second quarter 2017 with a vacancy rate of 6.9 percent. The vacancy rate was down over the previous quarter (7.6 percent), with net absorption totaling positive 234,052 square feet. Tenants moving into large blocks of space in 2017 include: the State of Florida moving into 14,049 square feet at 3745 Broadway Ave. in Fort Myers; and Children’s Network of Southwest Florida moving into 12,497 square feet at 2503 Del Prado Blvd. S. in Cape Coral. During the second quarter, two buildings totaling 20,000 square feet

were completed. This compares with four buildings totaling 80,841 square feet completed in the first quarter of 2017.

Industrial Snapshot The Southwest Florida Industrial market ended the second quarter 2017 with a vacancy rate of 1.7 percent. The vacancy rate was down over the previous quarter, with net absorption totaling positive 172,348 square feet. Flex building space accounted for 2,765 square feet and warehouse building space accounted for 169,583 square feet. The largest lease signings occurring in 2017 included: 27,000 square feet by Coastal Prefab at 11901 Amedicus Lane; 25,000 square feet by Mattress Firm at 9351 Laredo Ave.; and 18,500 square feet by Builder Service Group at 14241 Jetport Loop, all of which are located in the Lee County market. During the quarter, one building totaling 92,558 square feet was completed. The average quoted asking rental rate for available Industrial space was $7.69 per square foot per year at the end of the second quarter.

This represented a 2.9-percent increase in quoted rental rates from the end of the previous quarter, when rents were reported at $7.47 per square foot.

Total Industrial inventory amounted to 49,353,586 square feet in 3,678 buildings, with 159 owner-occupied buildings accounting for 3.19 million square feet of Industrial space.

Market participants are surveyed on their opinions of current market conditions for Industrial, Office, Retail, and Multi-Family markets in Collier, Charlotte and Lee Counties. The most recent survey conducted in July 2017, indicated participants believe the market to be Improving in most sectors and areas.

Best Commercial Lot Values in Southwest Florida 25335 Rampart Blvd Port Charlotte 33983

4214 Duncan Road (Hwy. 17) Punta Gorda 33982

Price: $1,195,000 Size: 4.30 AC Description: Medical Office Space. Deep Creek has several ALF communities, private and public. Major Rehabilitation Center adjacent to this site.

Two major hospitals within 10 minutes of site.

East border of the property is a large Housing Complex with future zoning of commercial in front. Plans available for 7 buildings, each 5,000 sq. ft.

Price: $995,000 Size: 6.84 AC Description: 2 lots, 1 - 5.3 Acre Parcel and 1 - 1.5 acre parcel, 6.8 Acres, environmentals done. Just East of I-75. Zoned Industrial, Retail, Commercial General, No Residential or Mixed Use, 6.84 Acres at Washington Loop. Over 150 sq. ft. Road Frontage on Duncan. Phase I reports available, survey also available. Future land use is Commercial Corridor.

Marion Ave Punta Gorda 33950

Jeanette Igoe

Chico’s chooses Vantage for repair project Vantage Construction Services, a commercial general contractor, has been selected by Chico’s to manage repairs and upgrades to their Child Care Center.

The center located on Metro Parkway, sustained damage when a private plane struck the building in late June.

The project plans call for repairs and renovations to the 10,000-square foot facility including structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and interior finishes.

Trent Swartz, Vantage Construction Services project manager, will oversee the construction which is projected to be completed by late fall.

For more information contact:

Broker Igoe Realty P.A.

Price: $399,000 Size: 2.70 AC Description: Zoned Low Intensity Industrial. 2 parcels, one approximately .25 Acres, the other 2.7.

Perfect for Warehouse, Storage Facilities, Truck or Auto Terminal Hub, close to Hwy 17 and I-75 exit. Railroad meets rear of property.

I-75 Interchange currently projected to cross eastern portion of property, high visibility once completed.

Jigoe5@aol.com 239-572-3269 www.JeanetteIgoe.com

Page 14

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

Connecting Buyers and Sellers.

Getting it Done.

Former Elks Lodge

D L

O S

Cape Coral, FL 11,200 SF $1,500,000

Former Las Margaritas

D L

Vacant Commercial

O S

D L

O S

Fort Myers, FL 6,165 SF $925,000

Punta Gorda, FL 3.86 AC $410,000

Helping clients make accurate and profitable real estate decisions for more than three decades.

Contact me today to find out how I can help you.

Randy Krise, CCIM

Commercial Real Estate Broker Cell: 239.633.8672 Office: 239.690.4100 Fax: 239.690.4105 Email: Randy@KriseCG.com www.KriseCG.com

w w w.K r i s e C G .c o m

OCTOBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 15

State experiencing positive industrial construction trend Cushman & Wakefield Research released Florida’s Industrial Evolution, a report highlighting the strengthening of industrial markets throughout the state of Florida and a return to pre-recession industrial occupancy and rental rates.

The document, authored by Cushman & Wakefield Research Analysts Kathleen Krilanovich and Michelle McMurray, details positive industrial construction trends in Florida’s major markets: Tampa Bay, Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Broward County and Palm Beach County.

“With nearly every major market performing at or better than pre-recession levels, Florida is a prime location for new construction and tenant expansion,” said Krilanovich. “Economic expansion, job growth and an influx of new people into the state contribute to increases in consumer spending and support the underlying demand for industrial space in Florida.”

“For the first time since 2009, spec construction drove the bulk of activity with spec activity outweighing build-to-suits in five out of six major markets,”

added McMurray.

Executive Director Christopher Thomson has seen significant growth in the amount of speculative industrial construction in Palm Beach County.

“The current batch of new product has been the only significant new spec product delivered since the Great Recession in Palm Beach County,” said Thomson. “A strong residential building market is helping to fuel the Palm Beach County industrial market.”

Thomson also noted that demand for modern industrial assets is outpacing demand for existing product.

“As the Palm Beach County industrial market continues to mature, it is harder for local owners to compete with the national developers for tenants,” explained Thomson.

Director David Perez has witnessed similar trends in Central Florida, where all of the nearly 1 million square feet of industrial space currently under construction is speculative.

“We are seeing significant development across

markets that have historically not seen speculatively built Class A product,” said Perez. “This is contributing to a 360-degree industrial market with more geographically dispersed clusters, a shift that poses an interesting test to the Orlando market and may signal a fundamental evolution of how this market operates.”

According to Perez, demand for new product is also driving the market for industrial land.

“We’re also seeing a significant ascension of land pricing over the past 24 months,” added Perez. “This is particularly evident in the small- and medium-sized parcel trades.”

This bump in land pricing has not deterred investors and developers.

“Until recently, speculative construction remained muted throughout the state of Florida due to lower rental rates and rising land costs,” said Krilanovich.

“As demand reaches new heights, developers have shown confidence in breaking ground on a significant number of spec projects, a majority of which are slated for completion in 2017.”

HURRICANE RECOVERY

Unlicensed contracting in Florida prosecutable as third-degree felony Charlotte County officials released a reminder on the regulations surrounding unlicensed contracting. Per Florida Statute 489.127(2)(c): “Any unlicensed person who commits a violation of subsection (1) during the existence of a State of Emergency declared by executive order of the Governor commits a felony of the third degree.”

A State of Emergency was declared by Gov. Rick Scott on September 4. Any person holding themselves out as a contractor without the correct licensure may be charged with a felony.

This applies to all types of construction, not just that

which is associated with repairs due to a tropical storm or hurricane and is in addition to the regular penalties incurred by unlicensed individuals acting in the capacity of a contractor.

Allowing an unlicensed person to perform work on a property puts the owners at risk. They are unable to obtain workers compensation coverage or general liability insurance and are unable to obtain permits for the work they are doing. Should injuries occur at the site, the owner may be liable for the injuries, and any work performed without a permit, may not be covered by your insurance company in the event of future claims.

GUEST COMMENTARY

CFO vows to fight fraud We announced two South Florida fraud cases that outline the fantastic work our investigators perform every day. In each case, individuals chose to lie and cheat their way to a cheaper insurance policy premium.

By doing so, their scams cause insurance costs to rise for law-abiding families in Florida who pay their fair share for insurance.

In the first case, an insurance agent trusted to assist Floridians make important insurance decisions, helped an individual attain a less expensive but inadequate insurance policy for an assisted living facility in Miami.

The business owner applied for a residential homeowner’s policy, claiming that the building was used only for personal purposes.

Therefore, the policy he ultimately obtained did not cover the business, leaving potential residents liable for any accidents that could have happened.

When individuals lie on insurance applications, the underlying insurance company oftentimes reserves the right to deny all claims because the policy was sold under false pretenses.

The ramifications of this activity can be astronomical.

The second case involved an intricate web of lies, during which a South Florida construc-

BY JIMMY PATRONIS Guest Columnist

tion company owner used check cashing stores to conceal the number of people he employed and his total payroll amount— two figures that are key to calculating workers’ compensa-

tion premiums.

Investigators proved an annual payroll of $8.2 million, far more than the $112,000 the owner claimed. Because of his lies, he evaded paying more than $300,000 in workers’ compensation premiums and left his entire workforce vulnerable in the event of an on-the-job injury.

As we debate big insurance issues in our state, such as AOB, PIP and the cost of flood insurance, we cannot overlook the overall cost of fraud within the insurance industry.

While looking at ways to drive down the cost of insurance in Florida, I’ll keep my eye on continuing to aggressively fight fraud, too.

Jimmy Patronis is chief financial officer for the State of Florida.

Anyone coming into the area wanting to work as a contractor should first contact the Charlotte County Community Development Department for more information. This applies to all licensed contractors; all contractors working in the county must register with the county prior to contracting for work.

For information about whether a person is licensed and registered as a contractor in Charlotte County, or to notify us of possible unlicensed activity, contact the Charlotte County Community Development Department at BuildingConstruction@CharlotteCountyFL.gov or (941) 743.1201.

Page 16

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

HURRICANE RECOVERY

Consider your business facilities during storm recovery “Hurricane Irma was a massive storm affecting our entire state, including many of our small businesses,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott said in announcing the launch of the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program just days after the storm. “Small businesses are the backbone of Florida’s economy, and families are depending on these businesses recovering as quickly as possible.”

As a small business owner, you were inundated with tasks in the aftermath of the storm. High on your list of immediate concerns, no doubt, was dealing with your insurance company, cleaning up any damage, informing your customers and clients about what was going on, updating your company’s website and dealing with ordering, shipping and inventory.

In addition, you might use this time to think about the future. While weighing your assets and liabilities and the condition of your current business property, you might begin thinking of acquiring new commercial property or expanding your existing space.

Particularly if you’re renting or leasing, now might be a good time to consider whether buying a commercial building makes sense for you. Low interest rates

and increasing rental rates for commercial properties mean that having a discussion about “renting vs. owning” makes good business sense.

Here are a few things to consider and calculations that can be done to start the discussion and potential course of action: • Determine what type of space your business needs: Does the business need

BY MARYANN warehouse, office or retail MIZE space? What about a blend Guest Columnist between these different types?

Before the numbers can be run, it is important to assess the amount and type of space needed.

• Estimate the cost of that space in today’s market (based on local comparable sales). Obviously there are no guarantees that an exact match can be found to the property you are looking for, but at least an estimate can be made on the approximate purchase

price.

• Calculate the estimated occupancy expense including loan payment, estimated real estate taxes, hazard and wind insurance and if in a flood zone, flood insurance.

The commercial lending team at Charlotte State Bank & Trust can help you determine the right time to buy or sell, consider available locations, and navigate the complexities of closing the deal. With offices in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties, we offer professional services anywhere in Southwest Florida.

With today’s low interest rates and many good bargains with commercial real estate buildings still available, comparing occupancy cost to what you are currently paying in rent might be a pleasant surprise.

If you are currently leasing commercial space, now is a good time to think about running the numbers to see if it’s in your best interest to “rent or own.”

Maryann Mize, CCIM, is senior vice president and senior credit officer at Charlotte State Bank & Trust. Contact her at (941) 624-5400 or mmize@csbtfl.com.

HURRICANE RECOVERY

Surprising number of SWFL businesses unprepared for Irma aftermath Power and connectivity. Despite experiencing minimal structural damage, these are the two things many businesses lacked after Hurricane Irma that prevented them from reopening. The clients of SkyLink Data Centers enjoyed safe harbor from Irma and uninterrupted operations. The number of businesses who were unprepared for the storm’s aftermath completely took us by surprise. Now is the perfect time for all businesses to examine what they did well and how they can be better prepared for next time.

Constructed upon a natural ridge above the 500 year floodplain, the data center resides within a bunker elevated more than 40 feet above sea level with 200-mph-sustained-wind-rated walls and roof.

Equipment housed at SkyLink remains safe and online no matter what.

For Hurricane Irma, SkyLink’s Naples office had about 30 days of generator fuel on site and sustained no structural damage. The cooling systems and our uninterruptible power supply remained operational.

SkyLink experienced no loss of connectivity.

If your equipment is currently housed in a typi-

cal office building, Irma has taught you that it is highly unlikely the facility was built to withstand or remain operating through even a moderate storm. Skylink was built from the ground up with modern building materials and engineering designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane—including storm surge.

Hurricane Irma taught us a few lessons to improve for

BY JACOB next time. For example, drivACKERMAN ing rain infiltrated our office Guest Columnist space on the floor below the data center. The water disabled our fire alarm panel and prevented us from opening up our auxiliary office space to customers. We are now working on better protecting the fire alarm panel for next time.

Other than that, the facility performed flawlessly.

Offering businesses safe harbor from major storms not only requires the proper infrastructure,

but also the commitment of our employees to house themselves indefinitely within our four walls. First, we will be installing a washer and dryer for staff member use. We had our staff on location for more than a week and although we had plenty of food and water, clean clothes were in short supply. Second, Hurricane Irma taught us that we are going to secure fuel for our employees ahead of future storms.

Although we can’t rewind the past, we can take steps to be better prepared for the next storm which could be next week, next month or next year. It’s not a matter of if, but when. Since the storm has passed, SkyLink has been flooded with more calls than we expected for emergency colocation and related services. So far we’ve been able to accommodate anyone looking for assistance. To better protect your business, schedule a complimentary consultation and tour at www.skylinkdc.com.

Jacob Ackerman is chief technology officer at SkyLink Data Centers based in Naples and can be contacted at info@skylinkdc.com.

IN BUSINESS SINCE 2011

2005

1995

2008

2011

2005 GRAPHIC DESIGN • PRINTING • DIRECT MAIL Cape Coral

Bernadette Collier

SAVE MONEY NOW!!

Licensed Insurance Agent

2816 Del Prado Blvd. S. Cape Coral, Florida 33904

239-939-6500 ext. 3233

Tel: 239-541-3255

" Cover your home and car the right way with Triple A”

jreich@minutemanpress.com www.CapeCoral.MinutemanPress.com

bcollier@aaasouth.com

Fax: 239-541-3055

Booklets Brochures Newsletters Forms Flyers Postcards Envelopes Letterheads Business Cards Banners & Much More!

OCTOBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 17

Why you should consider Facebook advertising

I get asked questions all the time by clients and business associates alike about the web and what’s best for various businesses when it comes to marketing.

With our own practice, as well as with clients small and large, both locally and nationally, we’ve tested and work with all kinds of tools (from pay per click, to display advertising, to remarketing, and beyond).

We demand of anything we implement and monitor actual results, and having experience in so many different digital marketing tactics allows us to speak from a place of true authority on what works and what doesn’t online. With all of that said, I feel one of the most powerful tools out there right now for advertising nearly any business (of any size) is Facebook Advertising.

Rather than provide the following in a conventional essay format, I figured I would present in a Q&A format highlighting some of the top questions we receive about this method of advertising.

How effective is Facebook advertising?

Facebook is one of the most effective tools that any business can implement to advertise themselves and get customers. It wasn’t until about two years ago that we really started using it because of the changes that happened at Facebook.

You can specifically seek out exactly the kind of customer you want to target in the advertising platform Facebook created. For example you can target people based on: age, gender, net worth, interests, activities, and likes By zeroing in on this appropriately you ensure your ads are only seen by the very best potential customers.

Can you give me an example?

Yes, we were working with a startup

software company that wanted to target nonprofit boards of directors. We created a set of advertisements that went to female nonprofit board members who were certain ages and had other criteria such as

BY ZACH KATKIN income level and Guest Columnist net worth. Our ads only showed to 400 people in the U.S. but we received a 40-percent click rate (160 people clicked) and 80 people signed up.

This is as good or better than anything we’ve ever used—in large part due to the nature of the targeting allowed.

How successful is Facebook advertising?

For search-engine advertising, a great click-through rate is 1 to 2 percent to start. With Facebook, a properly executed campaign sees much higher numbers than that. Right now, with how specific you can get, we’re seeing that it’s two to three times more effective than advertising on popular search engines and is cutting the cost of acquisition of customers in some industries by 90-95 percent.

Why is Facebook advertising so successful?

Facebook buys data from all kinds of other apps that are gathering data and they’re mapping it back to individual Facebook users. For example, if you downloaded and searched a real estate app, that data is being shared on your Facebook profile. Facebook users and advertisers don’t see that data, but

it exists. You can get your ad in front of Facebook users who are shopping for a home, who moved in the past year, are considering moving next year, have high credit scores and certain incomes.

You’re restricting your ad to only be seen by people who meet your criteria, which makes it highly targeted and effective.

Is it expensive and how much should I budget?

On the very low end, an approximate budget should be $50 to $100 a month and you can still see results from that.

Generally speaking however, higherpriced, more competitive spaces will also be higher-priced and more competitive so your mileage may vary depending on the space your business occupies and how creative you get.

How frequently should my ads run on Facebook?

You don’t get to know exactly when and where your ad is placed or shown on Facebook. You only get to see the end result, how many people saw it, how often they saw it and whether they clicked on the ad and became customers.

How do I get started?

You can create a campaign by using the tool at business.facebook.com.

Then you create the audience and the parameters. Let’s say you have $100 a week: You just set that as the budget or you can split that up among several different campaigns. Their ads also allow you to capture the person’s information on Facebook either by providing a link back to your website or filling out a Facebook form that’s sent directly to you.

Zach Katkin is president and CEO of Atilus. Contact him at (888) 928-4587 or zach@atilus.com

Riverchase acquires Martin Dermatology

Riverchase Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery announced Martin Dermatology has joined the Riverchase Dermatology family of practices. As part of the new alignment, Riverchase welcomes boardcertified dermatologist Dr. Sandy Martin to its team of practitioners.

The office, located on Metropolis Avenue in Fort Myers, will continue to offer high quality dermatology services patients have come to know and trust from both Martin Dermatology and Riverchase Dermatology, company officials said.

Martin received his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. His post-doctoral training included an internal medicine internship followed by a residency in Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals in Houston, Texas. He was chief resident of Dermatology at Baylor in 1980 and was one of the most published young dermatologists at the time. Dr. Martin has been recognized with various awards and honors including Alpha Omega Alpha and the medical honor society.

“We are thrilled to partner with the outstanding team at Riverchase Dermatology,” Martin said. “This partnership will bring rise to key collegial relationships with experts across the field of dermatology. As healthcare demands rise, the additional support and resources that Riverchase provides will allow me to focus exclusively on what matters most: providing excellent dermatologic care to each of my patients.”

IN BUSINESS SINCE 1999

2006 Michael D. Pfeffer, MBA

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

Certified Business Appraiser

Board Certified Intermediary Certified Exit Planning Advisor

Murphy Business & Financial Services Inc.-SWFL

Marco Island - Naples - Bonita Springs Fort Myers - Cape Coral Phone: (239) 444-1736 Fax: (239) 947-0715 Email: mpfeffer@murphybusiness.com www.murphybusiness.com/bonitasprings

Bank Rejects Working Capital Easy Process Quick Decisions All Machinery All Credits Start Ups

Equipment Leasing Specialist “Cash Advance Loans”

Stephen Kolton

Located in North Fort Myers Email: equiies@aa.net www.equiiesfunding.com

President Cell: 774-696-1898

1990

The Letter Box, Inc. It Pays To Advertise!

We appreciate your business SWFL

(239) 574-2028

www.LetterBoxInc.com 1949

SERVING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SINCE 1949 Fort Myers: 239.334. 2195 • Cape Coral: 239. 542.3148 www.PaveseLaw.com

10% off vinyl banners Expiration date 10/31/17

1981

We make banking about YOU!

Standing Strong with Money to Lend Oldest locally-owned community bank in Lee County

www.EdisonNationalBank.com 239.466.1800 An Equal Housing Lender • Member FDIC

1987

Pay ZERO-TAXES in re�rement • Banners • Vehicle Wraps • Magnetic Signs • Real Estate Signs • Monument Signs • Window Graphics

“Contact me to get your step-by-step guide to help you get ‘full mileage’ from your assets while minimizing risk, under the current tax code.”

(239) 908-1685 Len@IWGAdvisors.com

239.791.8810

2016 MERGER

Tax Preparation • Estate Planning For Individuals & Businesses 239.939.5303 • 239.481.4114 www.SolomonHoover.com 1342 Colonial Blvd., Ste. B-11 • Fort Myers, FL 33907

Get your free re�rement comparison at www.IWGAdvisors.com

2005

Page 18

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

SALUTE TO ENTREPRENEURS

Being your own boss - the hardest but most rewarding job ever

In most cases, people spend more time at work than at home, with their own families. Working is a necessity. You must work to generate your income, but it’s also important to keep your mind active. The best thing that could happen is to be able to work doing something you love. It gets even better when you do it on your own.

My name is José Manuel Valladares Solis but you can call me #6, as I am known to my BNI colleagues, due to the fact that I am the 6th person in history to be born in Antarctica. Since I was a child, I have loved to tell stories. This has enabled me to develop the ability to communicate.

For over 10 years, I have been working in media in the television, marketing and advertising industries.

My experience includes work in the U.S., in Great Britain, in Spain and in my old country, Argentina. I was fortunate to have learned several languages and to have visited over 25 countries.

Life is short! Pursuing your dreams is priceless, and that is why with my fiancee and business partner, Omaira Isabel Villegas Sarabia, we have created Green Bug Media Group.

If you are a business owner, you know the chal-

lenges of targeting your market, especially in times of uncertainty, such as having Irma blowing up your area.

At Green Bug Media, it is our goal to help you improve your customer relationships and satisfaction through creative marketing techniques.

At Green Bug Media Group we are a team of young professionals who love what we do. We are storytellers.

BY JOSE MANUEL VALLADARES SOLIS Each individual project is an opportunity to create a unique Guest Columnist experience, using multi-media presentations.

We professionally produce videos for your company. Your business is promoted using social media, the most powerful vehicle available in our everchanging world.

For example, Facebook ads are able to reach your ideal customer in ways that other forms of advertising do not. With Facebook, Google+, Linkedin, Twit-

ter and other online platforms, we have the ability to display and communicate relevant ads tailored to who they are and what interests them most. This helps us to identify the people most likely to be interested in your products and services.

Green Bug Media Group’s videos can truly help you accomplish anything, be it to increase sales, promote your products, train employees, educate customers or place a beating heart behind your brand.

As a marketing advisor, I must tell you that using video in content marketing is on the rise. Corporate videos, customer testimonials, explainer videos, etc, will help you building your brand, strengthen your web presence, find more customers and grow.

YouTube is now the second largest search engine on the web and while video marketing is frequently an afterthought, its value demands a front-runner position in your content marketing plan.

We are here to help you. Just contact the Green Bug Media Group.

STARTUP PAGE 1

selected the best ideas. Experienced entrepreneurs will pitch in to help mentor the teams and provide guidance throughout the weekend.

Startup Weekend is run by local organizers in 700 cities and 150 countries worldwide with help from Techstars, an entrepreneur network which provides a facilitator for each event. Speakers and judges for Startup Weekend in Fort Myers will include: Louis Bruno, president of Bruno Air Conditioning; Norman Love, chef, president and founder of Norman Love Confections; and Bud Stoddard, founding

member of Tamiami Angel Funds.

Although venture-capital investors will be present at Startup Weekend, entrepreneurs will not be competing for investments. However, non-cash prizes such as branding consultations, website development and office space will be awarded to winners, Rosinus said.

For more information, contact Kenneth Bupp, chief operating officer at Endeavor Innovative Workspaces, by emailing ken@endeavorworkspaces.com or calling 239-785-3399.

“This is exactly the kind of entrepreneur-focused event we envisioned for Endeavor because it already is a hub for more than 50 fast-growing businesses,” said Bjorn Rosinus, CEO of Endeavor Innovative Workspaces.

At the start of the event, approximately 75 startup entrepreneurs will make brief one-minute pitches to each other and create 10 to 15 teams after they’ve

José Manuel Valladares Solis is the founder of Green Bug Media Group. Contact him at (239) 692-0224 or greenbugmediagroup@gmail.com.

SALUTE TO ENTREPRENEURS

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DOING IT RIGHT, FROM THE START

I have a thing for the number 17.

I was a kid who liked to draw floor plans, grow flowers and play house as an “interior decorator.” Who knew that the seeds had been planted already for my future career as a designer and feng shui and healthy home and lifestyle consultant?

At 17, I found the words “landscape architecture” in a college catalog and knew I had to be one—whatever it was. I graduated from the University of Kentucky and soon became a licensed landscape architect. My first job was in a land planning and landscape architecture firm in West Palm when Palm Beach County was exploding with growth.

In ’85 I moved to Los Angeles and then Orange County, Calif., became licensed in five states, and soon thereafter, started my own design firm at the ripe ol’ age of 26. Things were going well until the recession of 1990ish happened.

With Hawaii license in hand, I desperately learned feng shui to be able to bid on a project in Honolulu for China Airlines. (For those not in-the-know, feng shui is a method of mindfully arranging your environment so that it supports you and creates “luck” and opportunities.)

Who knew adding feng shui to my list of credentials was going to be a big trajectory-changer? But I soon started to get landscape architecture work because I knew feng shui. Of course, the more I learned, the more I experimented with it in my own home, and voila! My house was feng shuied up for massive opportunities.

The next thing I know, I received a call from Simon and Schuster to write a book. Who gets a call from Simon and Schuster without soliciting her? A wellfeng-shuied person, that’s who.

I co-authored two humor books

for them (that’s a whole other story!) before asking if I could write about design and feng shui. Long story short, I wrote Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life that hit the shelves on Y2K day. It became

BY KAREN RAUCH a national bestCARTER seller within Guest Columnist weeks.

In 2001, after 17 years, I closed my design firm to be able to meet the speaking, book-signing and consulting demand. Since the book was in several foreign languages as well, I rode and still ride the best-selling author/feng shui expert wave all around the world. I then wrote my second book about creating healthy life-affirming environments called Make a Shift, Change Your Life, released in 2013.

In July 2016, I moved to Naples and am happy to call this beautiful city home.

December 31 will complete 17 years solely as a feng shui/environmental psychology/healthy home and lifestyle designer. I learned that if you mindfully tend to your inner and outer environments like I did, you’ll be given what appears to be “off-the-wall” opportunities. And if you’ve got the guts to say yes to them, you are pretty much guaranteed a very fun-filled ride through life.

Karen Rauch Carter is available for private one-on-one consultations. Contact her at karen@karenrauchcarter.com or visit www.MoveItWithKaren.com.

OCTOBER 2017

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

Page 19

Elaine Hawkins invited to join International Women’s Forum Recognized for her leadership both professionally and personally throughout the Southwest Florida community, Elaine Hawkins, president and CEO of Private Client Insurance Services, has been invited to join the International Women’s Forum. As an invitation only, membership organization for female leaders around the world, Hawkins joins an exclusive group of women with the fundamental mission of preparing, uniting and inspir-

ing women leaders across careers, cultures and continents.

Founded in 1974, the IWF membership has grown to more than 6,500 accomplished and visionary women across 33 nations and six continents. IWF members are women of diverse achievement dedicated to exchanging ideas, learning, inspiring and building better leadership worldwide. This vision is developed by uniting the world’s most preeminent

women through global conferences, training and mentoring programs and networks of global forums.

Hawkins formed Specialty Risk Management Services in 1999 and Private Client Insurance Services in 2002 to provide unique property insurance alternatives for third parties, commercial programs, and risk management services for high net worth individuals.

Hawkins exemplifies a strong phil-

anthropic involvement within the Southwest Florida community. She serves as secretary for the board of trustees of Lee Health Foundation. She is president of the board of directors and a trustee since 2010 of SWFL Children’s Charities, also serving as co-chair of the charitable organization’s signature fundraising event, the 2018 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest. She has also served in numerous other philanthropic organizations.

SALUTE TO ENTREPRENEURS

Investment versus speculation - you need to learn the difference

In common usage, the term investment refers to any sum of money put at risk in the expectation of future profit. However, this definition is too broad. For entrepreneurs and those interested in protecting their capital, in addition to earning an adequate profit, there must be a clear distinction between investment and speculation.

How should one determine the difference between investment and speculation? In our opinion, the best definition between the two was made by Benjamin Graham in his 1934 book Security Analysis: “An investment operation is one which, upon thorough analysis, promises safety of principal and a satisfactory return.

Operations not meeting these requirements are speculative.”

Graham is the father of value investing, an investment philosophy which has been followed by several generations of successful investors. Graham’s key insight was that at the right price a common stock could be a conservative investment. The right price was one significantly below the stock’s “intrinsic value.” Graham referred to this difference between price and value as the “margin of safety,” and it was only through the existence of a margin of safety could one distinguish an investment from a speculation.

How does one determine a stock’s intrinsic value? In general, the value of an asset is the present value of its future cash flow stream. This is true for commercial real estate, bonds or stocks. While there are other ways to value a common stock, focusing on residual cash flows makes the most sense to us.

Investors should also assess the company’s financial and operating attributes, a process

BY MATTHEW known as fundamental analysis.

DEPAOLA This helps the investor deterGuest Columnist mine the company’s debt level and identify any deterioration in the company’s operations. And since even the most thorough due-diligence cannot fully eliminate risk of loss on an individual stock, an investor must also diversify her holdings.

We regularly meet savvy businesspeople who regard the stock market as a casino. This is an understandable, but mistaken view. These businesspeople display remarkable shrewdness and conduct thorough due-

diligence when purchasing private assets. Yet many of these individuals will purchase common stock based on conjecture.

Should the purchase of a common stock be a less enterprising endeavor than the purchase of a private asset?

No, and that was Graham’s point. For an investor, the existence of a market quotation is an enormous benefit.

Graham introduced the parable of “Mr. Market.” Imagine owning a small interest in a private company. One of your partners is named Mr. Market, and every day he quotes you a price at which he will purchase your shares or sell you his. However, Mr. Market is subject to wild mood swings and will on occasional quote you a wildly pessimistic or wildly optimistic price. It is up to you to take advantage of Mr. Market’s volatile temperament by buying when he offers you an absurdly low price.

Keeping Graham’s lessons in mind, even risk-averse individuals can find attractive profit opportunities in common stocks assuming they are willing to put in the work.

Matthew DePaola is the co-founder and chief investment officer for Tortuga Capital. Contact him at (239) 204-9059.

NABOR: July home sales hit sweet spot as inventory drops Realtors in Naples sold more existing homes in July (682) than they did in January (603) or February (613), a statistical reality that busts an old myth that home sales stall in the summer. In fact, overall closed sales in the market’s sweet spot (homes priced between $300,000 and $500,000) increased 32 percent in July. Broker analysts reviewing the July 2017 Market Report released by the Naples Area Board of Realtors, which track home listings and sales within Collier County (excluding Marco Island), said a 9 percent increase in closed sales during July was very good, but the continued reduction of inventory, especially in the single-family home market, is cause for concern as it limits choices for buyers.

One segment of the market that brokers are watching closely is the $300,000 and below single-family home market, which saw pending sales decrease 24 percent, closed sales decrease 19 percent, and inventory decrease 2 percent in July. In fact, the entire single-family home market is getting stretched thin as inventory tightens. In July, inventory rose just 3 percent overall, but single family home inventory decreased 1 percent.

Bill Coffey, broker manager of Amerivest Realty Naples, pointed out: “The July report showed the median closed price for homes under $300,000 was the highest since 2008. However, the median closed price for homes over $300,000 was the lowest reported in 9 years!”

According to the report, overall median closed prices in July increased 6 percent to $319,000 from $300,000 in July 2016. For homes in the $300,000

and below price category, the median closed price increased only 3 percent to $225,000 from $219,000 in July 2016. And for homes above $300,000, the median closed price decreased 7 percent to $485,000 from $524,000 in July 2016.

Many broker analysts reviewing the July report agreed that an increase in conventional sales (homes purchased with financing) is a good sign that firsttime homebuyers are gaining a foothold in the market. As such, the July Market Report showed total closed sales were split almost equally between cash sales and conventional sales.

Kathy Zorn, broker/owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Pristine, said she is optimistic that the third quarter closed sales will finish ahead of the second quarter, and pointed to activity in the $500,000 to $1 million price category, which saw the overall pending sales increase 44 percent in July from July 2016. “The median closed price went down 16 percent for condos in this $500,000 to $1 million

price category. I believe this is a reflection of smart pricing strategies finally taking hold.”

For months, broker analysts and NABOR have warned against setting unrealistic pricing, a strategy that Dominic Pallini, NABOR president and broker at Vanderbilt Realty, said can “hurt a homebuyer because a home is often overlooked if it’s overpriced.”

High prices are a strategy that can work in an accelerating market, but it’s risky. A home might sit for months without an offer and sellers typically end up marking the price down, perhaps lower than it should have sold for in the first place. A licensed Realtor uses real-time MLS data that can help a seller hit the sweet spot when setting the listing price: a price that’s high enough to reflect the home’s value, but attractive enough to gain buyer attention and get it sold quickly.

Another segment that brokers are watching closely is the number of days on the market it takes for a property to sell, which is on the rise and hit 105

days in July. One reason for this could be cosmetic. According to Brenda Fioretti, managing broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, “Many homebuyers are looking for a coastal, contemporary look, not the Mediterranean or Tuscan look that dominates much of the existing home market and appears dated. Sellers must either consider making renovations to meet the light, coastal look buyers want or reducing the home’s price in order to stay competitive with the new construction product that reflects this new coastal, contemporary style.”

The NABOR®July 2017 Market Report provides comparisons of singlefamily home and condominium sales (via the Southwest Florida MLS), price ranges and geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. The NABOR July 2017 sales statistics are presented in chart format, including these overall (single-family and condominium) findings.

Geographically, pending and closed sales activity in South Naples in July outperformed all other areas, showing a 36 and 35 percent increase, respectively. With respect to property type, single-family homes in North Naples saw the most impressive activity in its pending and closed sales (23 and 45 percent, respectively); possibly as a result of a 14-percent decrease in its median closed price and a 3-percent decrease in its inventory.

“Because inventory dropped 1 percent in the single-family home market in July, this may be the first sign that we are not far from a shift in the market,” said Cindy Carroll, with the real estate appraisal and consultancy firm Carroll & Carroll.

Page 20

Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

HURRICANE RECOVERY

Lee BIA urges caution following Hurricane Irma

The Lee Building Industry Association is urging Southwest Floridians impacted by Hurricane Irma to look out for illegitimate unlicensed contractors who may prey upon them.

Unlicensed contracting is illegal, and it can be easily avoided if the appropriate precautions are taken. Lee BIA, a member of the Florida Home Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders, encourages homeowners to follow these safety measures: 1. Obtain at least three estimates from licensed and bonded contractors.

2. Get the estimate in writing.

3. Ask for and check references.

4. Ask for proof of insurance.

5. Get a written contract.

6. Make sure all work that requires city or county inspection is officially approved in writing before a final payment is made.

“Be especially careful when confronting door-todoor solicitors who require large sums of money up front,” said Phillip Ford, Lee BIA executive vice president. “Licensed contractors will show proof of insurance and licensure, as well as never ask for payment right away. Homeowners are best served verifying licenses with the State of Florida, since this is an incredibly vulnerable time for their community on multiple levels.”

For a list of reliable licensed contractors, contact the Lee BIA at bia.net. Also, for financial protection, visit the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation www.myfloridalicense.com or call (850) 487-1395. Otherwise, to report unlicensed activity, contact DBPR at (866) 532-1440, or call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Homeowners can report incidents of price gouging by calling (866) 9NO-SCAM.

State activates emergency loan services

The Lee County Economic Development Office/Horizon Council recently shared that Gov. Rick Scott has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Irma. The bridge loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced physical or economic damage during the storm. The application period is from today through Oct. 31.

Find for about the application process at www.floridadisasterloan.org.

Businesses in all 67 Florida counties are eligible. These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance.

Additionally, per the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) website, disaster loans are available for eligible businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners, and renters. For more information see their Disaster Loan Fact Sheets here: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/DisasterLoanFactSheets. You will find, among other documents, a fact sheet for businesses of all sizes and another fact sheet for associations.

The Internal Revenue Service also announced special relief designed to support leave-based donation programs to aid victims of Hurricane and Tropical Storm Irma. This parallels relief granted to Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey victims. Under these programs, employees may forgo their vacation, sick or personal leave in ex-

WE HELP LARGE COMPANIES, SMALL BUSINESSES

The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Irma. change for cash payments the employer makes, before Jan. 1, 2019, to charitable organizations providing relief for the victims of this disaster.

Under this special relief, the donated leave will not be included in the income or wages of the employees. Employers will be permitted to deduct the cash payments as business expenses.

This relief is similar to that provided following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, and last year following Hurricane Matthew and severe flooding in Louisiana. Information on other tax relief available to victims of Hurricane Irma can be found at www.irs.gov/ hurricaneirma.

We have you all in our thoughts as Florida recovers from Hurricane Irma. Thank you for doing business with us. Please let us know if there is anything we can assist you with as you recover from this storm.

Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A., is based in Fort Myers.

Economic development is not just for large companies; it’s for every business... big or small. The Lee County Economic Development Office provides assistance to retain existing businesses, encourage entrepreneurship and attract new business so Lee County has a strong economy, thriving communities and a broadly shared prosperity. No matter the size of your business we are here to help YOU thrive, grow and prosper.

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