Space Coast BUSINESS - Finance Edition

NOV 2019

HELPING YOU JUGGLE IT ALL

FLAVIN NOONEY & PERSON: WEALTH MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTING & MORE

Tom Flavin, Barbara Nooney & Chuck Ellefson

SPACE COAST MAGAZINES

New Leadership, New Look, New Direction

PARRISH MEDICAL CENTER PRESENTS

Start the season with holiday entertainment, spectacular tree lighting and fireworks.

J

oin us for our annual holiday community celebration. We’ll light a giant holiday tree, courtesy of the Parrish Medical Center Auxiliary.

Honor a loved one by placing a light on the holiday tree.

The event is free and everyone is invited to enjoy:  A Variety of Food Trucks

 Free Hot Chocolate and Baked Goods

DEC. 5TH

5 to 7 pm

Gift of

Light

HONOR A LOVED ONE

 Face Painting

 Games and Prizes

 Spectacular Fireworks Display

 Photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Santa’s Helpers (bring your camera)  And many more surprises!

All proceeds benefit Jess Parrish Medical Foundation.

FOR DETAILS parrishhealthcare.com/giftoflight or CALL 321-268-6110.

951 N. Washington Ave., Titusville

Healing Families—Healing Communities®

WELCOME

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Florida by the numbers •

This month we look at the business of finance and it may be helpful to provide just a few bullet points about Florida’s economy and key indicators.

According to Florida Chamber Chief Economist Dr. Jerry Parrish, though Florida was in the recession longer than most of the U.S., it has tracked better than the rest of the country since the state recovered.

One primary reason were the efforts made by the governor and legislature back in 2012 to make Florida more attractive to manufacturing, a move that has paid huge dividends across the state, but especially here in Brevard.

• •

•

Astonishingly, $989,000 an hour is migrating into the state, of which $196 million came to Brevard last year Our State GDP ranking remains at #4, though it grew to $1.073 trillion, regrettably there was only a little over $1 billion in venture investment.

Again, breaking records, Florida hosted 124.6 million visitors, who spent some $88.6 billion.

•

• •

88.1% of high school students graduated in Brevard, versus 86.1% statewide Currently Florida ranks 16th in industry diversification and could be on track to be in the top 12 by 2030. We are 4th in technology jobs, with an overall unemployment rate of 3.3% Brevard enjoys 25,461 jobs classified as manufacturing, with average annual wage of $89,536.

Though manufacturing represents 13.6% of the jobs, it garners 24.8% of the wage share.

There is real cause to look optimistically at Brevard’s future, as we also realistically face the challenges of growth.

Statistics supplied by The Florida Score Card, thefloridascorecard.org.

2020Eric Wright AUG 2019

JULY 2019

PUBLISHER ERIC@SPACECOASTMAGAZINES.COM

The Silicon Valley of Space

ADVOCATES

AND EQUALIZERS

MORGAN & MORGAN’S BREVARD TEAM FROM LEFT Edward

C. Combs Jr., Derrick Connell, Grant Gillenwater

HISTORY HAPPENED HERE STILL THE ONE The Next Small Steps For Man And Giant Leaps For Mankind

GENERATIONS Collins, Bezos, the Moon & Beyond

Tourism’s Ongoing Impact on the Space Coast

Advertise with us!

THIS MONTH’S THEME: Finance

4

18

321-622-5986 advertising@spacecoastmagazines.com

36

38 AUG 2019

AUG 2019 OCT 2019

SEPT 2019

HELPING MAKE HOMES HAPPEN

BOBBIE DYER AND THE PERSONAL TOUCH OF DYER MORTGAGE

FOUNDER OF THE YEAR

Special Feature

Luke & Associates

SYNERGISTIC SUCCESS

SENA-TECH & VEYTEC: TOGETHER THEY ARE BETTER

Nicholas Roney & Steven Terry

INTENDED CONSEQUENCES

The Lockheed Headquarters Story

FEATURE ONE-ON-ONE WITH ABRAM WALTON

COVER STORY FLAVIN NOONEY & PERSON

FEATURE

SPACE COAST MAGAZINES: NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW LOOK, NEW DIRECTION NOW

UP CLOSE NANCY PELTONEN

AVAILABLE AT PUBLIX, WALGREENS, CVS & WALMART.

NOV EM B ER 2 019: 1

ASK US HOW WE CAN

SAVE YOU MONEY ON INTERNET & PHONE SERVICE UNIFYING COMMUNICATIONS

HOSTED PBX AND VOIP

You want a reliable, high-quality phone system that simply works so you can focus on your business and not your communications platform. Our system adapts and adjusts to your needs and seamlessly works the way you do. We have a solution that meets your needs.

CONFIGURATION FLEXIBILITY

Our reliable, feature-rich hosted phone services adjust as you need them to. We make it easy for our customers to deploy the communication apps and solutions that your business needs, creating an in-office experience right at your fingertips, wherever you are on whichever device you choose.

UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS

Unified Communications (UC) is the seamless integration of voice, presence, chat, data, applications, and other technologies that help drastically improve your communication p ro c e s s e s a n d b u s i n e s s p ro d u c t i v i t y.

SUPPORTIVE STAFF

We’re here to support your business at every level with our always-available, skilled and professional support team. We’ll help you with your specific needs and concerns, while giving you personalized customer support you won’t find anywhere else.

NO COST REVIEW OF

PHONE & INTERNET BILLS

LET US SAVE YOU MONEY (8 6 6) 8 1 4 - 5 8 5 5

•

S AV E N O W @ C O M M U L U S . N E T

•

W W W.C O M M U L U S . N E T

Let our Matrimonial and Family Law Attorneys serve as your trusted legal advisors.

Bradley W. Rossway

Chelsea A. Miller

Firm Practice Areas Matrimonial & Family Law • Estate Planning / Wealth Preservation • Real Estate Law Corporate & Transactional Law • Probate / Trust Administration • Asset Protection Civil & Complex Litigation • Local Government Law • Appellate Law • Land Use Law Employment Law • Healthcare Law • Guardianship • Elder Law www.RosswaySwan.com

Melbourne 321.984.2700 Vero Beach 772.231.4440

Coral Gables 305.443.5020 (By Appointment)

ONE-ON-ONE with

ABRAM WALTON, PH.D. Professor of Management, Bisk College of Business & Director of the Center for Lifecycle and Innovation Management Florida Institute of Technology hosted ISO 56000 Innovation Management World Congress

Photography by Jason Hook

4: SPAC E C OAST B U S I N E SS

|

SPAC E C OAST BU S INES S .CO M

[ By Eric Wright, Publisher ]

W

hat if we assumed that musical ability was based purely on inherent talent? That, unlike other fields, it was essentially a set of skills that could not be taught or learned as a discipline? Most likely, we wouldn’t enjoy the plethora of musical variety that every culture reflects or the continual evolution of musical forms and instruments.

Granted, there will always be those extraordinary artists like Mozart or Elton John, but there is also an innumerable host of musicians who enrich lives, simply because they learned to play. To many, innovation is viewed in a similar way, where certain people or businesses are intrinsically innovative.

The idea that the science and art of innovation can become enhanced by reliable practices, has only been recognized in the last few decades.

We operate in what has been described as the “Innovation Economy.” Nevertheless, more than 95% of new product innovations and 50% of product initiatives fail. In addition, only about 3,000 of the 1.5 million U.S. patents are commercially viable. This translates to, “99.8% of those patent efforts, which consume incredible resources, ultimately fail in the market,” according to Dr. Abram Walton, a professor at Florida Tech’s Nathan M. Bisk College of Business and founding director of the University’s Center for Innovation Management & Business Analytics.

Innovation is not just about amazing inventions that inspire awe and generate headlines. It is also about the day-to-day capacity for individuals and companies to rapidly detect and efficiently respond to new opportunities in order to maximize returns.

This means understanding what to continue to invest time and resources in and what to jettison. A better understanding of the innovation process and developing standards to manage innovation could make all the difference.

Dr. Walton is an internationally recognized expert on innovation, who orchestrated the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 56000 Innovation Management World Congress, which was held September 23-27 on the Florida Tech campus. This was the first time that the Congress has been held on U.S. soil and was an opportunity to showcase Space Coast, where innovative pursuits have changed the world.

EW: Explain the movement towards standardizing innovation? AW: Many ISO standards are just specifications, like the quality of steel or plastic.

Management standards are much more robust and if they are done correctly, they should result in measurable outcomes. The study of innovation as a science and art, because it is both, has gained attention in industry and academia over the last 20 years. Offering graduate degrees in innovation started in Europe in the late ’90s, whereas here we emphasized STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math); thinking that if you are STEM, you will be innovative, which we found wasn’t necessarily true.

EW: So, there is a difference between being innovative and being inventive, imaginative or even creative? AW: Absolutely, though to many they are synonymous. Innovation is a process by which we insure an inventive or creative idea or product actually has use and value in the marketplace.

EW: That makes sense, explain the evolution of innovation as a management system? AW: In 2008, a colleague and I co-founded the International Journal of Innovation Science, because there were no scientific journals on the subject, and we wanted to create a forum to propagate reliable and sound information regarding the art and science of innovation. We saw the signs that this was an important aspect of the future of management, not just a fad or trend.

Any standalone field of study eventually develops a specific vocabulary, defined terms, and an evergrowing body of knowledge, along with repeatable and reliable methodologies. All this is what causes a knowledge domain to be substantial enough to be considered a science and, eventually, degrees are awarded in that field. Today degrees are offered that did not even exist 20 or 30 years ago, like accredited Software Engineering degrees.

Historically, if you are an MD, a CPA or a PE it is because you have mastered a certain amount of knowledge that an accrediting organization has developed in that field. The same was true for the Project Management Institute; it took NOV EMB ER 2019: 5

them approximately 20 years to issue their first certification exam for a PMP, Project Management Professional.

We founded the International Association of Innovation Professionals in 2013 to move this forward, because we were getting calls from companies like Johnson & Johnson or Proctor & Gamble, who had just fired their “Director of Innovation” and it cost them millions. We needed to help these organizations make better predictions on who to hire. What are the core competencies for an “innovation professional”? The demand is there. If you look on Indeed, there are more jobs for innovators than for accountants, but how do you know they are qualified? Because they say they are on their LinkedIn profile?

EW: So, from launching the International Association for Innovation Professionals to this Congress? AW: Six months after the association was started, ISO began its formal process of developing world standards around innovation. Just to be clear, innovation and innovation management are two very different things. The art and science of doing innovation, is not the same as those involved in managing innovation, in other words, how is it funded, how is it rated, applied technology readiness levels, etc. These are all the things that management systems have to do.

Firms that were sustainability competitive had some kind of home-grown advantage, where innovation was germane to their culture. As a country, we wanted to see how to make more and more companies equally competitive, so we had to study how these innovative companies operated, versus companies spending millions, if not billions, of dollars and getting little return on their investments.

The problem is not about capital or technology, it is a lack of management systems wrapped around how innovation is done.

From 2013 to now, we have been in a process of developing these standards and the overall components of these innovation management systems. This includes how do you assess innovation or develop metrics to insure you are actually getting traction? What are the tools, like intellectual property management or strategic intelligence management? Think about how important a company’s knowledge resources are as we see all these Baby Boomers moving into retirement.

6: SPAC E C OAST B U S I N E SS

|

EW: Explain what happens at the Congress and what triggered this gathering? AW: Every year the national governing organizations propose new “work items,” which is a body of knowledge that needs to be studied and standardized. Then they vote on them and submit it to the international body, which gets it approved by the other national member organizations and then, if accepted, ISO convenes a congress of topical experts to work on the standards.

EW: Sort of a Constitutional Convention? AW: In a sense, yes, a UN for business. Every nation selects their delegates differently. They convene in a host city, with the goal that, by the end of the week, documents will be produced, which will then be sent out to all the nations who were not physically represented for their review and comments. At the same time, we, as those who represent innovation management in this country, will have internal debates on it from a U.S. perspective. Then we submit our proposals to our national body ANSI (American National Standards Institute), which will then submit an approved document to ISO. These documents have very far reaching effects, from determining how organizations accredit practitioners, to determining how intellectual property laws are drafted and interpreted.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), was founded in 1946 “to facilitate the international coordination and unification of industrial standards.”

Since that time they have issued standards in manufacturing and practices that are recognized and used worldwide. These standards provide confidence to businesses and consumers that products are safe, as well as ensuring products are made, and companies are operated, following the highest technical, ethical and efficiency guidelines. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the American organization that represents the U.S. in the development and the implementation of these standards.

SPAC E C OAST BU S INES S .CO M

your interests. your community. your inbox.

Get the latest local business & event news.

Happiness is a

Healthy

Smile

AUG 2019

Always Gentle, Always Friendly

AUG 2019

ADVOCATES

AND EQUALIZERS

MORGAN & MORGAN’S BREVARD TEAM FROM LEFT Edward

C. Combs Jr., Derrick Connell, Grant Gillenwater

STILL THE ONE

Tourism’s Ongoing Impact on the Space Coast

Beverly Rose, DMD

ADVOCATES

AND EQUALIZERS

MORGAN & MORGAN’S BREVARD TEAM FROM LEFT Edward

C. Combs Jr., Derrick Connell, Grant Gillenwater

STILL THE ONE

Tourism’s Ongoing Impact on the Space Coast

Pick Your Platform You are busy. We know because we are too.

That is why we make sure this powerful content is easy for you to access. Our digital editions and exclusive updates keep you connected.

Family Dentistry | Cosmetic Dentistry | TMJ/Neuromuscular Dentistry Relaxation Dentistry | One-Visit Crowns & Fillings Metal-Free Dentistry | Porcelain Veneers | ZOOM! Whitening Digital X-rays (90% less radiation)

Beverly Rose, DMD 2755 North Wickham Road, #101, Melbourne, Florida 32935

(321) 259-4666 www.BeverlyRoseDMD.com Five Star Customer Service ★ Elegant & Comfortable Office ★ Complimentary Consultations

NOV EMB ER 2019: 7

PALM BAY

THE JAGGED EDGE:

JAG FINANCIAL SERVICES CUTS TO THE TRUTH WITH STRAIGHT TALK AND IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION

[ By Michael Candelaria, Writer ]

J

oe Grutta isn’t out to save the world. He just wants to help save tax dollars for clients, and he doesn’t mind doing it with a little extra personal attention. Or, in his words, “take you by the hand and go with you.”

Grutta hasn’t achieved alone, but there is no big corporate machine behind him. Help comes in the form of two trusty employees, one of them being his golden retriever, Angel, now blind but a loyal worker that “greets everybody every day.”

That journey isn’t always easy.

By many measures, Grutta has both found his way and guided others to find theirs. The success hasn’t happened by accident.

Within the tightly knit financial industry, information often is distilled, meaning the public sometimes doesn’t receive all the facts straight about both product worthiness and professional improprieties, Grutta laments.

His belief is that money decisions are difficult enough without such clouds of secrecy. And his challenge: “How do you get the true message out there?”

Yet, Grutta, located in Suntree, has been succeeding in Brevard County since 1991. Over the years, he’s been a member of nearly all of the county’s chambers, carving out the company name JAG Financial Services from his initials. His primary organization these days is the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce.

All totaled, there are clients in 13 states, although Grutta is careful to point out that he’ll take on only a limited number of clients. The majority of them reside in Brevard. Notably, most have arrived by word of mouth — referrals or friends of referrals — by virtue of significant community service along with good work.

8: SPAC E COAST B U S I N E SS

|

Growing up, his father owned a large auto-repair shop in Brooklyn, where Grutta eventually partnered before switching industries. There were important lessons learned.

“Probably the biggest lesson my dad taught me was treat people fair and always be honest with them,” Grutta said, simply. “If customers don’t need brakes, don’t sell them. So, when people do need brakes, they came back.

“I’ve carried the same way of thinking.”

Today, the net result is an independent financial adviser who has been a Certified Financial Planner since 1984, as well as an Enrolled Agent (federally licensed tax professional), meaning that he is permitted to offer professional tax advice to his clients. An example: While financial advisers typically can’t give official tax advice, Grutta prepares also prepares taxes for clients and can represent them in Internal Revenue Service dealings. Among related services is the JAG Guided Tax Trek.

Also, among others, he has a Series 65 security license, allowing him to offer advisory services, and a Series 7 license,

SPAC E C OAST BU S INES S .CO M

enabling him to manage client investments.

Not coincidentally, there’s an accent on holistic planning, called “Your Personal Financial Survival Plan.”

“We look at the whole, not just sell you some product,” he explained. “I won’t just sell an annuity or a mutual fund. I would like to look at the entire financial world. And then establish what the goals and objectives are, and do my best to get you there.

“I want to be there with you every step of the way. … My plan is to be there through whatever goes on to help you get the success that you’re trying to achieve.”

Our mission is to serve, advocate and promote as the trusted voice for our business community.

His role almost is that of a therapist, delving into the psyche of clients. “Sadly,” he added, “sometimes I get more upset about people’s situations than they do. I get upset when people aren’t following common sense.”

For a time, Grutta positioned himself as The Money Doctor, in essence offering an examination of financial health.

“Clients should walk into another office, sit down and they’ve already got the ‘annuity of the day’ or the ‘mutual fund of the day’ on the desk. I need to take the time to find out what’s their pain. What are they trying to accomplish? What’s the issue?

And then look for the solutions to that — do my diagnosis of their situation. And then write a prescription for their financial success,” he reasoned.

More recently, he moved toward the term “jungle” — pointing out that he will serve as a guide through a juggle inhabited by topics that range from Social Security Optimization and Retirement Planning to Investments, Insurance and Estate Planning.

Fact is, while his “marketing” has evolved through the years, his approach hasn’t. Grutta distains the distillation of the truth, even if it comes with a professional concession about himself.

“I’ve been doing this for 30-plus years,” he said, “and I still don’t know it all.”

Joe Grutta Photo provided by JAG Financial Services

JOIN NOW

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS • Business promotion and referrals • Legislative advocacy • Alignment with a trusted brand and valuable community resource • Personal and professional development • Networking opportunities at over 90 events • Job listings to fill employment needs • Listing in Chamber online membership directory • Promotion on our social media sites

and much more!

A PERFECT PLACE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS 4100 Dixie Highway NE, Palm Bay, 32905 info@greaterpalmbaychamber.com 321-951-9998 www.GreaterPalmBayChamber.com

NOV EMB ER 2019: 9

TITUSVILLE

A PASSION IN BLOOM

ROBBIN WARD HAS A NOT-SO-SECRET WEAPON FOR HER BUSINESS BUILT ON BEAUTY: LOVE.

[ By Michael Candelaria, Writer ]

R

obbin Ward always had a special relationship with flowers.

As a young girl, she grew a full garden.

So, ask her decades later how she overcame the difficult challenges of entrepreneurship to make a business bloom across Brevard County and she simply points to her company name: A Passion for Plants, where Ward is the owner and horticulturalist.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with plants and flowers. … Then I found out I just loved the industry,” said Ward, summing up the past 25-plus years.

Ward went from helping out a friend in the earliest days and working for more than 20 years at a large company to starting her own enterprise in 2017. In other words, she’s a lifer in the world of “interiorscaping.”

Interiorscaping? Ward defines it with an emphasis on emotion.

By strategically placing plants throughout a space, one can help reduce stress, increase productivity, clean the air and generally brighten both the indoor environments and moods.

Ward’s clients come with a variety of commercial settings, ranging from small medical facilities and large hospitals to car dealerships, restaurants, country clubs and office lobbies. The common thread: They seek to lighten and warm places that tend to be cold and dark.

10: SPAC E C OAST B U S I N E SS

|

“A lot of them are just looking to warm up the place, to make it more welcoming,” Ward describes. “And whether your establishment is a busy office, relaxing resort, or a wonderful restaurant, having plants that were selected specifically for your space not only adds beauty, but also provides health benefits.

“It is widely known that the presence of plants in the workplace helps employees by reducing stress levels and increasing productivity. Plants are also great for cleaning the air, so your employees can breathe easy.”

Consider these statistics: According to published research, introducing plants to the workplace reduces tension and anxiety levels by 37% while lowering feelings of anger by approximately 44%. Also, fatigue was reduced by more than one-third. Further, employees whose offices included natural elements scored 15% higher in creativity.

And there is a method to the madness of interiorscaping, as the saying goes, in form of some common sense mixed with art and science.

Initial considerations encompass such topics as business type, time of year and overall project vision — a formal look or tropical look, for instance — before moving into the more complex, such as traffic flows and light levels. Then plans are created, and specific plants selected.

SPAC E C OAST BU S INES S .CO M

“Not every plant will survive indoors,” Ward noted. “Some plants belong outside. Others can thrive inside. We educate our clients.”

An example: the Bromeliad, a tropical plant that can grow anywhere indoors and even in luminescent light.

Bromeliads, by the way, are especially good for providing seasonal color, as are orchids and, for this time of year, poinsettias and Christmas Cactus.

Those considerations represent the science, noted Ward, who studied Robbin Ward Photo provided by A Passion for Plants

horticulture in school. Then there’s the art.

a realization that people don’t see plants

“You have to have a design aspect in there to make sure things look good together,” she said. “You have to have an eye for detail, for sure.

“I just love sharing the knowledge of

“You don’t need a lot of plants. If they’re strategically placed, and there’s the right plant for the right place, it’s amazing the difference it makes.”

A Passion for Plants handles all of the above, plus installation and maintenance, which is especially important but often overlooked, she said, citing: “You need to understand the growth habits of the plants being installed. How to trim them, keep them clean and other things, in addition to watering.”

Through it all, Ward relies on a simple approach to business: Be yourself. For her, that means talking plants — being friendly, informal and informative — with

quite like she does. plants. And I have no problem helping people take care of their plants,” said Ward, an active member of the communities throughout Brevard and Metro Orlando.

Similarly, Ward focuses on relationshipbuilding with regional plant growers, what she calls the literal lifeblood of her business. “It’s a full circle,” she commented. “And when you have that relationship with the growers, it goes a long way.”

And for Ward, in the end, there is one big payoff — people’s reactions to what she produces. The wow-factor.

“The ultimate goal is for someone to walk in and say, ‘Wow, these are real?

They are so beautiful. I thought they were fake,” Ward concluded.

# L A U N C H F R O M H E R E

AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Rich in history, nature, recreation and technology, Titusville is the place to begin your visit, your business, your career, your family, your life.

Today Titusville and the surrounding area includes many of our highest-visibility corporate neighbors, and we're on the move.

The economy is ramping up (along with our rocket launches), and three major cycle trails converge right here. Keep watching.

Begin to make connections that can make a difference.

Start Here

Marcia Gaedcke Gaedcke@Titusville.org

CIT Y OF

F L O R I DA

Edyie McCall Edyie.McCall@Titusville.com

Troy Post, CEcD, CBE Troy.Post@BrevardFL.gov

LAUNCH FROM HERE is a community-forward initiative to help tell the story of Titusville and provide a vital and united way to bring greater attention to its unique accomplishments, places, people and opportunities.

NOV EMB ER 2019: 11

MELBOURNE

TEXTBOOK SUCCESS:

BK TECHNOLOGIES BUILDS WORKPLACE CULTURE THE SAME WAY IT MAKES AND DELIVERS SPECIALIZED TWO-WAY RADIOS: WITH UNCOMMON SINGLE-MINDED FOCUS [ By Michael Candelaria, Writer ]

Photos provided by BK Technologies Inc.

L

isten to Tim Vitou for just a few minutes and he begins to sound like a college professor of business who is teaching students how to build workplace culture. Vitou, the president of BK Technologies Inc. in West Melbourne, is exacting in his explanations.

He talks about the four core tenets of his company, which encompass customers and employees along with investors and the community. Best partner to customers. Best employers to employees. Best investment for shareholders. Best neighbor in the community.

Then he commented, “If we can keep all those people happy, we get the growth that we’re looking for, and that will keep our shareholders happy.”

By all accounts, that is happening all the way around.

BK Technologies, in tech-speak, manufactures highspecification communications equipment for first responders, public safety professionals and government agencies at the city, county, state and federal levels. Or, as the company’s tagline indicates: “We build radios for heroes.”

To illustrate, the company builds mobile and portable twoway radios for field communications and command center communications for police and fire departments, and for emergency medical service (EMS) personnel. One example: the KNG Mobile, which is the industry’s first mobile radio with a touch screen display.

The products are what’s referred to as APCO Project 25 compliant, representing a long¬standing partnership among 12: SPACE C OAST B U SI N E S S

|

the public safety communications community, standard development organizations and industry manufacturers.

These are serious radios, and they’re all the company does.

“We have no other business entities,” described Vitou, who has more than 30 years of experience in the global marketplace and in January 2017 was promoted from senior vice president.

Until June 2018, the company largely was known throughout Brevard County as RELM Wireless Corp., with the name change made to better align products and brand. The company was established in 1945 near Indianapolis, Indiana, before moving to Satellite Beach more than two decades ago and subsequently to West Melbourne. Approximately 80 of the company’s 115 employees are in West Melbourne.

Company stock is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BKTI,” Vitou also cited.

Then Vitou switches gears, again returning what effectively could serve as an information-rich classroom lecture on “how to succeed with a people-first approach.”

Following his discussion of the company’s four core tenets, he points to four guiding principles, beginning with quality.

“What runs through and permeates throughout the entire organization is a tenacious commitment to quality in everything we do,” he said. “This could involve bidding on a piece of business. Or building and delivering a radio, or post-sales support. … Whatever it would take.”

The second principle: continuous improvement. “We’re never

S PAC E C OAST B U S INES S .CO M

done with quality. You’re never at a peak where you say, ‘Ha, ha.

We’ve reached our quality level, and we can kind of relax.’ No, we’re constantly looking for continuous improvement.”

While BK Technologies focuses on those two principles, it does so always keeping a customer-centric point of view, Vitou asserted, commenting, “How does everything we do relate to our customers?”

Finally, there is growth. “If they can follow those three other principles,” he said, “it will lead to the fourth guiding principle: growth.

“We are all about growth — growing our people, growing our product, growing our customer base, growing our shareholder value for our investors.”

Growth, in fact, is being realized. Within the next two years, as many as 20 new workers could be added locally in manufacturing, engineering and sales.

Vitou’s lesson in business isn’t complete, not without further discussion of people.

“When you’re talking about culture, you’re talking about individuals, bringing people together and aligning resources and attitudes. So, you rally your troops, and I do that with collaboration,” he said. “I totally believe in having an empowered organization below me to make decisions. And I support them. So, to me, my job isn’t to dictate a decision or position. My job is to just build consensus.

“In a very collaborative manner, we made our decisions. We don’t believe in having a lot of hierarchy, where there’s five or six levels of management. Between me and somebody working on our production floor or inventory control or the shipping department, there’s typically only one or two people, at most.”

In turn, mistakes will be made by employees, and that’s OK, he continued.

“If you’re not making a mistake, you’re not trying, as the old adage says. Then we try to learn from whatever mistake it was.

And try to do better with the continuous improvement edict throughout the company,” Vitou said.

“We have very open and frank discussions with everyone in the company on how they can contribute to our success and how they can feel empowered to make decisions.”

The conclusion to Vitou’s “lecture”: “We believe we’re building an exciting and dynamic culture.”

WHAT CAN Chamber Membership DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS? • Business support and development resources • Networking events, including monthly business breakfasts, business after hours events, council events, and more • New business opportunities • Access to professional development, including seminars and workshops • Participation in councils and committees pertaining to your field • Complimentary listing in Melbourne Chamber Member Directory on website and app • Complimentary Traffic Catcher website • Exclusive advertising and sponsorship opportunities to other chamber members as well as the community • Representation on governmental issues • Advocacy for a strong business community

Contact the Chamber today for more information.

Tim Vitou

1005 East Strawbridge Avenue Melbourne, FL 32901-4782 Tel: (321) 724-5400 www.MelbourneRegionalChamber.com

NOV EMB ER 2019: 13

COCOA BEACH

NATURAL ATTRACTION

EARTH FARE ARRIVED IN VIERA WITH ‘CLEAN’ IN MIND [ By Michael Candelaria, Writer ]

T

he mood was upbeat while a palpable energy permeated the proceedings — Earth Fare was opening in Viera.

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting marked the occasion at the Viera East Village Shopping Center, as did a check presentation to an urban farm school that uses agriculture and sustainability to connect academic subjects across the entire curriculum, and there were gift-card giveaways, among other activities. More than 500 area residents showed up … before 7 a.m.

That was back in January. At the time, Frank Scorpiniti, Earth Fare’s president and CEO, pointed to helping “shoppers make the connection between ‘clean’ food and living longer, healthier, happier lives” and vowed area residents to continue to “bring the ‘cleanest,’ healthiest options for years to come.”

In reporting the news, one media outlet called Earth Fare a “brandnew phenomenon in Brevard County.”

Since then, by an unofficial count, nothing has occurred at this location to alter the optimism.

Earth Fare touts itself as an authentic specialty natural and organic food grocery store and full-service supermarket. In reality, it’s a community gathering place — a natural attraction — for Viera and much of Brevard County.

Want groceries? Earth Fare’s 1,000-plus private brand food products all are sourced using only non-GMO ingredients, with new products regularly being added. Further, the store offers more than 4,000 other non-GMO items storewide, along with more than 1,000 gluten-free products and an assortment of products to meet special dietary needs.

14: SPACE C OAST B U S I N E SS

|

And that’s just a sampling of goods.

Aside from groceries, the approximately 26,000-square-foot store features Earth Fare’s Heirloom Café and Juice Bar, including juices, smoothies, coffee drinks and custom blends. Similarly, there’s a deli and prepared-foods section, consisting solely of Earth Fare’s staple: ‘clean,’ natural choices. The same goes for the bakery.

For the unfamiliar, in this instance clean is defined as “natural food, neither processed nor refined, eaten to promote or sustain good health.”

For Earth Fare, it’s a concept that is nearly 45 years old. Founded in 1975 in Asheville, North Carolina, Earth Fare began as a single storefront selling organic dried bulk goods and wellness products before growing into one of the largest natural and organic food retailers nationwide. Through the years, it distinguished itself as a leader in the healthy foods industry, even to the point of developing its own Food Philosophy and launching its own magazine, The Clean Plate — a guide to eating clean and living a healthier, longer life.

Consider a few of the chief principles: no added hormones, no artificial fats and trans-fats, no artificial sweeteners, no bleached or bromated flour, no antibiotics, no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial preservatives and no artificial colors or flavors.

More food for thought: Eggs are cage-free, and the chicken is American Humane Certified, which is an industry label representing high standards. And meats are “always humanely raised on a vegetarian diet and never administered antibiotics or added hormones,” according to company officials.

SPAC E C OAST BU S INES S .CO M

Photo provided by Earth Fare

COCOA BEACH REGIONAL Chamber of Commerce

Think of the CBRCC when you’re ready to market your business to the local community!

Partnership of more than 1,500 local businesses Expanded offices in Viera, Cocoa Beach and kiosk desk in Port Canaveral’s Exploration tower Consists of 80% small business Assists in bridging the gap between big business and small business The overriding premise, those official say, is that “food should not be complicated” or, in any way, compromised.

For good measure, the Earth Fare brand also has a line of valuepriced, all-natural cleaning products and wellness supplements that are all about, you guessed it, living ‘clean.’

Fosters a pro-business environment while providing valuable tools and resources to ensure business success

Stop into any of our locations for area information, coupons and more!

Not coincidentally, there are more than 40 locations across 10 states in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.

At the Viera East Village Shopping Center, a plaza that itself has undergone substantial redevelopment, the Earth Fare store is part of strong Florida expansion. The Viera Kitchen — a deli and prepared-foods section that doubles as an indoor/outdoor café — is especially popular. Highlights include an organic salad bar, selfserve pizza station, sandwich counter and bar area for hot foods.

The Food Philosophy is promoted on walls throughout store. Also, there is active participation on the store’s local Facebook page, with more than 4,000 followers.

The healthy approach comes in the form of energy conservation, too. Examples: The Viera store’s LED light bulbs use up to 75% less energy. Reusable plates, cups and utensils in the café reduce landfill waste. The containers for to-go food items are made from plant-based, recycled materials.

Likewise, a sense of community is evident in a corporate emphasis on fostering local relationships with organizations, such as Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce and others. So, expect the creation of community gardens and fun family road races. The corporate mandate: support local organizations that are dedicated to broadening access to healthy food and healthy lives.

Most of this was on full display last January as Earth Fare introduced itself to Viera. Nearly a year later, the optimism and excitement continue.

Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce (Main Office) (321) 459-2200

The Avenue Viera (321) 454-2021 Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Information Office (321) 784-6444 Tourist Information Kiosk, Exploration Tower 670 Dave Nisbet Dr. Port Canveral

CocoaBeachChamber.com NOV EMB ER 2 019: 15

EDC

CORNERSTONE IMPACT

FINANCIAL CORNERSTONE GROUP WORKS TO BUILD LASTING FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE. [ By Michael Candelaria, Writer ]

B

eth Courtney didn’t know it at the time, but her start in financial planning happened at age 17. Courtney was a bank teller at the time before working her way through installment lending, trust services and insurances.

Years later, just after a move from Indiana to Florida, a happenstance lunch conversation raised a question that she could only answer with a yes: Why aren’t you a financial planner?

“I had done everything else that’s involved with financial planning,” she said.

So, Courtney made the leap, becoming a financial adviser with UBS, a global firm with operations in more than 50 countries.

About five years later, in 2011, always with entrepreneurship on her mind, she began her move toward business independence, ultimately establishing Financial Cornerstone Group.

Today, Financial Cornerstone is a pillar of the community, not just in name only, with its new main location in Rockledge, where a building purchased over the summer was christened in

early October. Also, there’s a satellite presence in Palm Bay. Consisting of eight “holistic” advisers with widespread backgrounds and six support staffers, the firm specializes in A-to-Z financial planning or, rather, from B as in budgeting and E as in estate plans to R as in retirement plans, and almost everything in between.

“We’re kind of a diverse group,” Courtney said. “Typically, one of us will have experience in an area even if the other doesn’t. So, we’ll bring each other in when needed.”

Among the uncommon specialties is 403(b) plan, a retirement account for certain employees of public schools and tax-exempt organizations.

Clients include baby boomers and millennials, multigenerational families, business owners, widows and divorcees, engineers and rocket scientists, teachers and administrators, and federal employees and retirees. The firm is licensed in multiple states, sometimes “moving with” clients if they relocate out of state.

“We have life insurance specialists, long-term care specialists,

specialists for young families. … We each kind of have our niche, and then we serve across a broad scope of people,” she continued.

Courtney, who resides in Indian Harbour Beach, spends much of her time serving people who are in or nearing retirement, and women who are navigating life changes such as divorce or the death of their spouse. She also works with young adults, as well as entrepreneurs. Notably, her background is uniquely suited to such clients — she is the daughter of a twice-widowed mother, and she is a self-described serial entrepreneur.

Most of all, the firm emphasizes a holistic approach to planning, focusing on the entire needs of client instead of piecemeal tactics.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE F O R B R E VA R D.

*

“We really don’t believe that it’s fair to try to make a recommendation to someone unless we truly understand their financial life,” Courtney said. “We might start with budgeting and then move into other areas of financial planning. We get to know [clients] pretty well.

“We are dedicated to developing lasting relationships with all of our clients. We believe in helping you assess your entire lifestyle picture, which includes your financial goals, and to participate in the management of your finances.”

*

Often, Courtney added, the planning strategies are steered by “tax efficiency.”

“It’s great if we can help you cross whatever your goal is — $1 million, $2 million or whatever. But if you have to give back $300,000 or $400,000 to Uncle Sam in the process, then we really didn’t do our job,” she said. “What we care about for the client is the net experience after taxes. We do a ton of research, collaborating with CPAs and attorneys.”

And, with the firm being “faith-based,” client fees vary.

“Fundamentally, we believe that you do the right thing, and it will come back to you. It might sound cheesy, but it’s truly how all of us operate,” Courtney said. “And it’s proven itself over time. We help people, and more often than not it turns into a client relationship. Or, they’ll recommend us.”

Similarly, community service is a big deal, with nearly everyone at the firm involved in some form of service to area nonprofit organization. They range from the Brevard Achievement Center and the Children’s Hunger Project to Helping Seniors of Brevard.

In addition, the firm works to enhance general financial literacy at schools, with an impact to date of more than 1,000 students, Courtney estimated. And several staffers teach lessons to adults from the popular Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University.

Courtney concluded that the ultimate goal, of course, is to “help lead people to financial peace and success.” Yet, she also would like the Financial Cornerstone Group for more than money.

Her words: “I want us to be known as caring people with the heart of teachers who served and made a difference.”

*

T H E E D C O F F LO R I D A’ S S PA C E C O A S T A N D I T S 1 6 2 CO R P O R AT E I N V E S TO R S

enhance the quality of life in Brevard County, securing economic prosperity for today, and for future generations.

SpaceCoastEDC.org • 321. 638. 2000 6525 3rd Street, Suite 304, Rockledge, FL * Since 2010. Projections reported by company over three-year timeframe from commencement of operations.

NOV EMB ER 2 019: 17

COVER STORY

HELPING YOU JUGGLE IT ALL Flavin Nooney & Person: Wealth Management, Accounting & More [ By Eric Wright, Publisher ]

(L to R) Thomas P. Flavin, Barbara Nooney and Chuck Ellefson Photography by Jason Hook

18: SPACE C OAST B U SI N E S S

|

S PAC E C OAST BU S INES S .CO M

SPONSORED

M

ost businesspeople, or those seeking advice on managing their financial affairs, are already juggling a lot of priorities. Therefore, when you find a trusted advisor, whose guidance is both personalized and professional, you tend to look to them for an ever-increasing range of specialties. When they also can juggle a number of skills, like Flavin Nooney & Person, they have the ability to provide knowledgeable and objective guidance on a wide range of financial issues.

and we, as a firm, have grown along with them. Part of that growth is recognizing the types of services and solutions we need to provide. By doing that, we remain as valuable to them, as they are to us,” he said.

Tom Flavin, who founded the CPA practice of Flavin Nooney & Person 30 years ago, built a reputation for supporting clients with informed advice on accounting, taxation and business financial management. Over time, many of these clients came to him to review their retirement and investment portfolios.

“One of my accounting professors told me that if I became a CPA, there would come a time when people would tell me things, they wouldn’t tell their spouse, their priest or their rabbi,” Flavin said. “Some of it you ignore, some is because they are anxious, and you can help ease that anxiety.”

This was not part of the firm’s initial core expertise. However, as Flavin became a trusted source of advice, it was a natural progression for the firm to branch into wealth management.

This sensitivity to the current and future needs of their clients has always informed the firm’s growth and guided its expansion.

He added that most families dealing with estate issues, or business owners struggling with financial issues, think they are the only ones facing these problems. But of course, they are not, and his firm is able to address those concerns.

But, do they care?

Like many CPAs in the area, Flavin landed his first job in Brevard working for Roger Dobson, one of the area’s most celebrated business leaders. After a few years, he decided to branch out on his own. “I’ve always enjoyed being involved with clients and some of my first ones are still with me today. They have grown

Flavin recognizes that what he offers is a commodity, namely, accounting knowledge, tax knowledge and analytical ability. But more than that, he truly cares about each of his clients and their individual situations.

As the business scaled, Flavin found he could be much more selective with personnel and clients. “We can’t be all things to all clients,” he said, “but as we added new accountants, whose capabilities and specialties differed, we expanded. Also, in some ways, our clients have driven the development of the firm, as they are successful, their needs change and grow.”

“I’ve always enjoyed being involved with clients and some of my first ones are still with me today. They have grown and we, as a firm, have grown along with them." -Tom Flavin

Photography by Jason Hook

NOV EMB ER 2019: 19

COVER STORY reviewing work and managing staff.”

Flavin said that to retain people you have to treat them well, which means both compensation and opportunities for promotion. He soon saw Nooney’s “indispensable” value to the firm and the partnership grew. Nooney described Flavin as a people person, who always treats both clients and staff with kindness. Nooney described herself as straight forward and pragmatic in her approach, bringing an emphasis on strategic and tactical processes and planning to steer the company’s growth.

Chuck Ellefson is another example of how the firm expanded by organic, not merger growth. Ellefson grew up on Merritt Island and left the area to pursue a swim scholarship at George Washington University in D.C. He returned to Brevard after graduation, then moved to Denver, where he earned his Master of Accounting degree and worked with several firms in that area. It was the idea of raising his family here in Brevard that brought him back and led to him joining Flavin Nooney & Person almost seven years ago.

Focusing primarily on the tax side of accounting, Ellefson reflected a common theme among the team members, namely the flexibility of being involved in a variety of different tax and auditing issues. This broader scope, he asserts, enhances the depth and

Finding the fit Unashamedly, partner Barbara Nooney said she and her husband wanted to live, not just retire, where the weather was warm. So, they moved from Massachusetts to Florida in 2007. She cold called on Flavin’s firm, with a resume in hand, and her timing could not have been better. One of his key people had just resigned, right before the heavy tax season hit.

Nooney’s love for accounting was discovered as a senior in high school and she earned her accounting degree at night school, then joined an accounting firm in the northeast. Landing the job with Tom Flavin, she found her skill sets as a business manager positioned her as a strategic member of the leadership team.

“Because of the size of the firm there was a great opportunity for me to diversify my scope of work. Some people are attracted to that and some people aren’t.

For me it was best of all worlds,” she said.

“I was no longer just a preparer, I was 20: SPAC E C OAST B U S I N E SS

|

SPAC E C OASTBU S INES S .CO M

SPONSORED

Flavin Nooney & Person team: (L to R) Chuck Ellefson - CPA/CVA, Wazeena Rustom, Dawn Nolan, Barbara Nooney - SPA/PFS, Thomas P. Flavin - CPA/PFS, Aaron Stitzel - CPA/PFS, Tyler Heckman Photography by Jason Hook

knowledge of each of their staff and enables nearly any of their team to respond quickly to client inquiries.

Wealth management Both Flavin and Nooney have their Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) certification, which is similar to a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). The difference is only a CPA can be a PFS. The firm tried to hire wealth management specialists, but eventually, Flavin chose to build that dimension of the company, while Nooney continued to focus on the tax and auditing side. Having this full portfolio of services provided clients with a level of both ease and comfort in juggling all their responsibilities.

Just like Flavin Nooney & Person realized they were not in business to compete with H&R Block, but to provide higher level CPA services, so they wanted to target their wealth management services to serve their CPA clients and to attract new clients that saw them in this broader scope. “We not only want to help with accounting and tax services for those we work with, we want to help set up 401(k) and retirement plans for clients and their employees,” Nooney said.

“Clients came to us to ask about non-traditional CPA issues, like their investments,” Flavin explained. “The more we probed, the more we realized how eager people were for objective advice,

that was in fact advice, not a sales pitch for a particular product.

“We have so much expertise, at seeing the whole picture, to bring to bear for the client,” he continued.

Since that time, this holistic approach to financial services has continued to expand. Part of that expansion includes bringing on new talent.

Aaron Stitzel met Flavin when he was just 13 years old. His grandfather, Robert Stitzel, a successful builder/developer, was one of Flavin’s early clients. “The combination of being a public accountant, one of the most trusted advisors to any business, and being a wealth manager was a perfect fit for me,” Stitzel said.

Like Ellefson, the size of the firm and therefore the ability to do a lot of different jobs also had a special appeal to Stitzel.

“This area is projected to double in the next few decades, plus there will be an unprecedented transfer of wealth from one generation to another, some $30 Trillion. This positions us very well in that trusted advisor role,” Stitzel said. “Accounting is the language of business, we as CPAs and PFSs are able to be the translators, of what can seem very complicated and confusing, for every type of business owner.”

NOV EMBER 2 019: 21

22: SPAC E C OAST BU SI N E S S

|

S PAC E C OAST BU S INES S .CO M

NOV EMB ER 2019: 2 3

BEST PRACTICE

ECONOMIC TRENDS

Alexandria AGRESTA Alexandria Agresta, the co-founder of Purpose Pioneers, believes that when we find meaning in our work, we experience realtime fulfillment.

Contributors: Angela Minerva

THE MILLENNIAL MOVEMENT

AND ITS AFFECT ON THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS You know there is a disruption in the American business landscape when Forbes has written more than 60 articles on the same topic: millennials. Gallup’s chairman and CEO, Jim Clifton, even went as far as to say that millennials are altering the very social fabric of America and the world. A huge generational gap in the workplace has caused a seemingly insurmountable schism in the workforce. However, the solution is actually much simpler than most people think: Millennials want purpose, and baby boomers and Generation Xers must adjust to this and make it part of their business paradigm.

But let us back it up. Who are the millennials and what makes them different? Millennials are the generation of individuals born between 1982-2002. They value personal growth, freedom and global impact. They are the most influential generation in the history of the United States. This is because they represent the largest generation with a population of

24: SPAC E C OAST BU S I N E SS

|

SPAC E C OASTBU S INES S .CO M

approximately 83 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And most importantly, their spending habits are transforming our entire economy, not just our workplaces.

What makes this generation different from its predecessors is that the environment in which millennials were born is vastly different from all previous generations. This is due to the rapid advancement of our society and moving up Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a scale that describes the stages of human growth based on different motivations. Our society has progressed to the point that our most basic physiological and safety needs have been pretty much met for anyone born in the United States after 1982. No longer are generations fueled by the need for safety, belonging or self-esteem. The motivations they use for filtering decisions in their lives evolved to fulfilling the highest level on the hierarchy: self-actualization. In other words, uncovering, and then actualizing, purpose.

NOW AVAILABLE So, what is this purpose we need to uncover and make a reality? Purpose is the “why” behind every decision made, the meaning that drives us to wake up in the morning, and the mission greater than oneself. Humans have been on a pursuit of purpose since the beginning of time, but along the way, as we made incredible advancements as a species, we lost sight of why we innovated in the first place.

As society advances, so does the narrative of what is known and true. Millennials were taught at an early age that they can do anything they put their minds to and not to settle for anything they do not want. The only reason these concepts were drilled into the minds of millennial children was due to the abundance created by the technological progress made by prior generations. Abundance in food, shelter and self-esteem set millennials up for an outlook shaped around the idea that anything is possible. And that is because now, more than ever, anything really is possible. This mindset has shifted the method and process by which millennials choose to live and add value in the world. This generation is at the height of entrepreneurship; instead of finding organizations to adhere and belong to, they are creating their own organizations, challenging traditional assumptions and demanding something deeper. This mindset is present in every human being, but millennials were born in a time when they can actually focus on fulfilling these higher-level needs.

These factors, paired with the influence of growing up during an economic recession, have changed the values, beliefs and motivations of this generation. We are seeing these changes in economic trends such as the sharing economy (Airbnb), the giving economy (TOMS), the maker economy (YouTube) and many more.

Simply stated, millennials have the innate capacity to value things higher on the hierarchy of needs, which has ushered in a new era of how business is conducted.

AT PUBLIX, WALGREENS, CVS & WALMART.

Know Brevard.

YOUR INTERESTS. YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR MAILBOX.

1-Year Subscription (12 Issues)

29.95

$

AUG 2019

Ready to get on board with this movement?

ADVOCATES

AND EQUALIZERS

Baby Boomer and Generation X business owners have the power, wisdom and capital to transform their companies and take advantage of this profound opportunity. They are in the driver’s seat of change, as long as they can embrace this new way of thinking.

This starts with asking questions around everything you hear, say, think and do. This thinking is centered around meaning and is what millennials crave more than anything else. The key to finding meaning is getting clear on purpose and aligning it with everything we do. If you can embrace purpose and make it work for your team, you will activate a community of people that will lead and thrive in this new, emerging economy — the purpose economy.

MORGAN & MORGAN’S BREVARD TEAM FROM LEFT Edward

C. Combs Jr., Derrick Connell, Grant Gillenwater

STILL THE ONE

Tourism’s Ongoing Impact on the Space Coast

1-Year Subscription (12 Issues)

19.95

$

NOV EMB ER 2 019: 25

BEST PRACTICE

MARKETING

Eric PARENT Eric Parent is the President and Co-Founder of Next Level Digital Marketing and Media. Eric loves to live in the data and using that information to win for his clients. Next Level is a marketing agency that helps businesses scale with Digital Marketing.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF DIGITAL:

HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR MARKETING EFFORTS

M

arketing is easy. It’s not magic, we are not magicians, and I can prove it. When you analyze the data, you can determine if you are reaching the right people, if they are relating to your content and if they were motivated enough to become a client. By utilizing these three data points, we can find out if any marketing is working and discover the solution.

If you are going to audit your current marketing strategy, then your first step is to track everything. Ideally, you are doing this already and this is not an arduous process. You have already installed your tracking codes from Pinterest, Facebook and Google onto your website and you can just pull up your reports. But this can mean more than tracking through a digital effort. Analyzing your calls, emails and social

26: SPAC E C OAST B U S I N E SS

|

SPAC E C OASTBU S INES S .CO M

media messages should be a consideration as you are analyzing your efforts. If you are a novice, we recommend diving deep into your Google analytics and installing lead or call tracking software. Just by looking into your analytics, you’ll see data you never knew you wanted.

You’ve got to find out if you’re reaching the right people. The right consumers will be engaged with what you are creating. These people have bought into your brand and they are genuinely interested in what you have to offer as a business or service. Once you’ve captured this coveted audience, this is where you can make your marketing strategy work for you. Digital marketing, unlike previous tactics, has the ability to clone this audience, and based on their digital behavior, create what we call a

SPONSORED

‘lookalike audience’ to target people who share the same behaviors. Before you know it, you have created a highly engaged, developed audience who is buying into your brand.

To get to this point you have to have an honest conversation with your marketing efforts: are you really tracking everything you are doing? Are you putting your dollars towards the right platform/ Is this platform set up best practice? Is your campaign optimized for the most cost-effective yet efficient strategy? How do you evaluate your marketing and what do you consider a success? And if you have not considered these things, where do you even start? Next Level can provide the solution. Let us capture data and analyze it for you through a transparent conversation about the bottom line. If your current marketing is not working for you, let’s talk about it. To learn more, visit nxtlm.com.

NOV EMB ER 2019: 2 7

BEST PRACTICE

FUNDRAISING

Pamela GUNTHORPE Pamela Gunthorpe is president of the Space Coast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). AFP advances philanthropy by empowering its members to practice ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research and advocacy.

She is the community engagement and grants manager for Brevard Schools Foundation and serves on the board of directors for South Brevard Sharing Center.

A SEASON OF GRATITUDE AND GIVING

T

he holiday season is upon us. As the end of 2019 nears and a new year is on the horizon, Space Coast philanthropists will open their hearts and wallets to make Brevard a better place for all.

It’s a busy time of year with holiday parties, events, shopping and cooking – but that doesn’t stop people from giving. People give for a variety of reasons, but study after study attest to the benefits including making us feel happy, increases in health benefits and greater feelings of gratitude.

Why give?

Community nonprofits – and charitable support for them – are vital to our community. Also known as the Independent Sector, nonprofits fill the gap where government and business don’t operate, tending to unmet needs in the community.

From feeding the homeless and protecting our environment, to community theatre, art and musical performances, Brevard nonprofits create “quality of life,” making the Space Coast a great place to live.

28: SPAC E C OAST B U SI N E S S

|

S PAC E C OAST BU S INES S .CO M

How do I start giving?

For many donors, charitable giving is a family tradition passed from generation to generation.

If philanthropy isn’t already a part of your family beliefs, start with a family conversation around dinner. Your philanthropic support should be mission driven. What causes are important to you and your family? Do an internet search for organizations in Brevard that address those issues.

Learn & engage Explore organizations’ websites and social media.

Are you inspired by their programs and what they’re accomplishing? Make a gift. If you can’t, consider volunteering for the organization. Giving isn’t only about contributing financial resources.

Spectators never get into the record books.

SPONSORED

What you should expect from the organizations you support?

New relationships. Charitable giving is often a deeply emotional experience. Talented fundraising professionals understand this and don’t just ask for gifts for the sake of soliciting money. They are relationship-builders and to do this successfully requires building relationships with their donors.

In addition to formally acknowledging your contribution, you might also receive a phone call from the development director, executive director or member of the board of directors. Take time to talk with this person. I promise, they won’t ask you for more money; they want to understand why you chose their cause and what motivated your gift. This is also the best person to talk with as you aspire to reach your charitable goals. You can be confident that they will act with transparency and integrity.

Engagement & communication of impact. After the first-time thank you call, the organization should keep you informed about their programs and services. How are they making a difference?

What is the impact of your giving? The professional fundraiser will also assist you in engaging with the organization at the level you’re most comfortable. You can expect to be inspired by new stories relating the impact of their programs.

styles CHANGE QUALITY DOESN’T

Celebrate In a world seemingly brimming with negativity, it is important to remember the good that takes place. And there’s no better time than this season of giving to reflect and to honor the generosity and good-will of Brevard’s philanthropists. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation recognizing November 15 as National Philanthropy Day. On this day, and throughout the month of November, communities just like ours honor and recognize the role of philanthropy in building better communities.

I invite you to join AFP, Space Coast on November 15th as we celebrate National Philanthropy Day.

May this be the day you begin really living through your giving. ~Douglas M. Lawson

Did you: •

make a financial contribution to a nonprofit in 2019?

•

volunteer time in 2019 to a cause you believe in?

•

share your knowledge or talent with a Space Coast nonprofit organization anytime during the year?

CONSTRUCTION Building success for today

and tomorrow.

321-632-7660 | wjconstruction.com

1038 Harvin Way, Suite 120 Rockledge, FL 32955 Erik@wjconstruction.com License# CGC34068 NOV EMBER 2019: 2 9

FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS

SPONSORED

From Left: Monica Shelton, Charlie McCoach, Jennifer Cevallos, Bill Penney, Jael Aldunate, Bill Koehne and Dianna Stewart Not pictured: Lory Milton

T

he label “community bank” is a distinction that Marine Bank’s Melbourne team has earned every day since opening the 22-year-old Bank’s first Brevard County location in January of 2018. By adhering to Marine Bank’s mission statement, “to deliver the best in banking for the benefit of our customers, employees, shareholders and communities,” the bank quickly became a trusted resource for local residents and businesses.

to Marine Bank’s service survey would recommend the Bank to others.

Customers appreciate that the bank staff knows them by name, takes an interest in their needs, simplifies the mortgage process or finds the perfect banking solution for them. Brevard’s business owners depend on Marine’s local decision makers to take action quickly to ensure that they can seize opportunities, succeed and grow their business.

As a result, more than 99% of customers who responded

As a true community bank, Marine’s Melbourne team is involved in the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Space Coast Association of Realtors®. Marine Bank & Trust is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), an independent federal agency which insures deposits up to $250,000 per depositor.

Melbourne Location 3303 Suntree Boulevard Melbourne, FL 32940 (321) 775-1880

Sebastian Location 1020 US Highway 1 Sebastian, FL 32958 (772) 589-4494

Founded 1997

In addition to high-touch personalized service, Marine also offers high-tech convenience which allows customers to bank efficiently with online banking and bill pay, mobile banking and mobile check deposit, and now Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Vero Beach Island Location 571 Beachland Boulevard Vero Beach, FL 32963 (772) 231-6611

Info@MarineBank.bank

Vero Beach Mainland Location 1450 US Highway 1 Vero Beach, FL 32960 (772) 778-6713

MarineBank.bank

SPONSORED

FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS

F

or Pinnacle Financial Wealth Management owner/founder Ken New, a large part of

the planning process with his pre-retiree and retiree clients centers around the idea that their money — for which they have spent decades working — will now be put to work for them.

“It’s helping them adjust to the difference between the working world, where they’re going out and earning a paycheck, and now using that pot of gold — their savings — to provide the same level of income and sustained growth to keep them from running out of money in retirement,” New explained.

Pinnacle Financial Wealth Management uses a holistic planning approach to help clients envision their retirement, what they want to spend their time doing and what is going to be necessary for them to live a happy life.

“It’s figuring out what their retirement lifestyle looks like,” New explained. “Whether that’s traveling, charity work or sitting on a front porch in a rocking chair, our skill is tested by having those conversations to ferret out what they want from these years and how their investments can support that vision. And this changes over the years. The way retirement looks in the beginning is different than how

Ken New

Owner/Founder 321.454.3623 ken@pinnaclefinancialwealthmgmt.com pinnaclefinancialwealthmgmt.com 1351 N Courtenay Pkwy Suite BB Merritt Island, FL 32953

it looks down the road, so it’s an ongoing conversation and relationship.”

NOV EMBER 2019: 3 1

FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS

SPONSORED

Joseph Carter, CIMA® Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor With Morgan Stanley since 1998

Timothy S. Hester, CIMA® CFP® CDFA® CAP® Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor With Morgan Stanley since 1989

JOE CARTER AND TIM HESTER NAMED TO FORBES MAGAZINE’S LIST OF AMERICA’S BEST-IN-STATE WEALTH ADVISORS

M

organ Stanley announced that Joe Carter and Tim Hester, Financial Advisors in the Firm’s Melbourne Wealth Management office, have been named to Forbes Magazine’s 2019 list of America’s Best-in-State Wealth Advisors.

Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list comprises a select group of individuals who have a minimum of seven years of industry experience. The ranking, developed

by Forbes’ partner SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors and weighing factors like revenue trends, AUM, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, a global leader, provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses and institutions, including brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, cash management and lending products and services, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust services.

Joe has 21 years and Tim has 30 years of investment experience, all with Morgan Stanley. Both are Senior Vice Presidents, Senior Investment Management Consultants, and both have earned their Certified Investment Management AnalystSM (CIMA®), designation through the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Both have also been named to Morgan Stanley’s prestigious Century Club, an elite group composed of the firm’s successful Financial Advisors.

Tim also has his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner (CFP®), Certified Divorce Financial Advisor (CDFA®) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designations.

If you’d like to meet with Joe, Tim or the rest of their team to see how they can best work for you, please contact them at their Suntree office at 321-751-2064.

The use of the CDFA designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney. The CDFA designation is not intended to imply that either Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors are acting as experts in this field.

8150 N Wickham Rd., Melbourne, FL 32940 | (321) 751-2064 advisor.morganstanley.com/the-carter-hester-group

3999 NORTH HARBOR CITY BLVD

Do you know what your business is really Worth?

Your Greatest Investment is Your Business.

Build value and integrity in your business to create a lasting legacy.

At OMNI we have proven solutions that adapt to the frequent changes a small business increasingly faces.

To build a solid future, you need productive people and a sturdy foundation. It’s all about the people, processes and systems, and we know how to help you improve in all these areas.

To learn about how you can increase business value, call today to schedule a free, no obligation consult.

Bob DiBella

Business Consultant Melbourne, Florida

321-586-1330

Five Locations To Serve You NOV EMB ER 2019: 33

Get Smart, Get SMARTdial!

Customers today demand more from your business than ever. They expect a fast response and convenient communication.

To keep up, your team needs to be available and able to collaborate easily. You need Affordable Agility and Speed -- you need SMARTdial from Artemis.

How can SMARTdial help your business? Call 321-757-8909 today to speak with a Communications Specialist!

HD Call Quality

Speedy Setup

Stay Connected

Superior Support

Superior call quality, because we understand IT and networking

Installation and training Included

UniďŹ ed Communications features keep you in touch

US-based live support

Upgrade to SMARTdial today!

Discover how Artemis can help improve your operations with a reliable, cost effective SMARTdial UniďŹ ed Communications Solution, call today!

SPONSORED

P

roviding much needed maintenance services to new and pre-existing

buildings takes a critical responsibility off companies, so they can focus on their core EXECUTIVE HIGHLIGHT

business.

Designing and building a facility with an eye for what it will take to maintain it enhances the overall value proposition of the project.

RUSH Facilities President, Bob Dillow, joined the RUSH Family of Companies to do just that.

Dillow enjoyed a 32-year Navy career that included 30+ years of managing repairs and operations on Nuclear Submarines, Cruisers, Aircraft Carriers, and Support Facilities. The move he made to facilities management outside of the military was the next logical step. When asked to reflect on his career, Dillow shared, “My entire adult life I have been responsible for making sure whatever organization I am part of can fulfill its function and meet its goals. It has varied from making sure ships could get underway, to a hospital being able to serve its patients’ needs, and now making sure that the various space programs here in Florida have operational facilities to support their missions in space.”

Over the years, RUSH has learned that working with a client to design a building or renovate an area to serve their needs, not only today, but also in the future, is challenging. Often, clients do not understand what is involved in maintaining a facility after the work is complete or how to make design changes on the front end that will help lower maintenance costs in the future.

This is where RUSH Facilities fits into the picture. “By providing those insights during the design and construction phases the client ends up with a better final product,” Dillow observed. “In facilities, it is not only construction, but also continuing maintenance that determines the life of a facility, its optimal operation, and the total life

Bob Dillow President

321.267.8100 bdillow@RUSHinc.com RUSHinc.com 6285 Riverfront Center Blvd.

Titusville, FL 32780

cycle cost,” he said.

NOV EMBER 2 019: 35

NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW LOOK, NEW DIRECTION

Eric Wright Photography by Jason Hook

[ By Sebastian Northside ]

I

n the spring of this year, Eric Wright and Joseph Duda took over the ownership of Space Coast Magazines, the publisher

of Space Coast Living, Space Coast Business, Discover the Space Coast and a number of other community focused specialty publications. These periodicals have become the central source for the Space Coast’s live, work and play culture, where this burgeoning county goes from Titusville to Palm Bay, to “Know Brevard.”

Jospeh Duda Photography by Jason Hook

What was your motivation in taking over Space Coast Magazines?

Eric: It was two-fold. These publications have been serving Brevard for 16 years and Joseph and I had been minority owners. In 2017, Jeff Piersall had a health complication that seemed to be exacerbated by the pressures of the business and we realized he needed and wanted to exit, so we became the owners. But that is only half the story.

Joseph: The opportunity to celebrate this incredible area, what I like to call, ‘Florida’s best kept secret,’ is remarkable. The potential we have because of our positioning, bordered on the west by the St. John’s River, split by the Indian and Banana Rivers and over 70 miles of coastline, makes it unique in the state. We have more waterfront property than any other county in the U.S., plus one of the most diverse economies in the state.

Eric: Plus, if you want certain big city venues that aren’t here, Orlando is only 45 minutes from Viera. Professional sports, world-renowned theme parks, but you don’t have to live with that traffic every day.

What is the difference you think people will see?

Joseph: The former owner wanted to develop a marketing company that published magazines. Inherent in that is a certain conflict of interest, where marketing clients, were at times, the 36: SPACE C OAST B U SI N E S S

|

S PAC E C OAST BU S INES S .CO M

content focus versus the incredible stories that are going on every day in Brevard.

Eric: I think people will see the publications shift from a marketing client focus, to an audience focus. We have always been a source of intelligent conversation, insightful information, social/professional networking and community awareness, but more than ever before we want to be a nexus of engagement.

2020

Explain your connection to the community?

Joseph: In 1948 our family business, A. Duda & Sons, bought the 50,000-acre ranch that today is Viera for, believe it or not, $250,000. Of course, in 1948 that was a fortune. That became where I would go to hunt and had my first job, putting up fences for our cattle business. When I became company CEO and we began making plans for our planned community, I moved here and tried to move our corporate headquarters. Viera is an expression of the vision and aspirations we have for this county.

Eric: My family moved to Cocoa Beach in the mid ’50s. My father retired from the Navy and went to work for NASA, before it was NASA. I remember witnessing every manned launch, from Alan Shepard through the Space Shuttle. It was a magical time and a magical place to grow up. When we weren’t at the beach, we were out on the river. This county is home for me.

AUG 2019 JULY 2019

The Silicon Valley of Space

ADVOCATES

AND EQUALIZERS

MORGAN & MORGAN’S BREVARD TEAM FROM LEFT Edward

C. Combs Jr., Derrick Connell, Grant Gillenwater

HISTORY HAPPENED HERE STILL THE ONE The Next Small Steps For Man And Giant Leaps For Mankind

GENERATIONS Collins, Bezos, the Moon & Beyond

Advertise with us!

What excites you about the Space Coast?

Eric: Joseph alluded to the diversity of Brevard’s economy.

We need to really wrap our minds around that. We have the largest percentage of engineers per capita in the country and manufacturing jobs in the state. What is more, this area could well become, what we have called, the ‘Silicon Valley of Space,’ as the global space industry tracks towards a trillion dollars a year by 2050. The new bi-partisan emphasis on exploration and the rise of commercial space development is a complete paradigm shift that is being seen globally.

Joseph: In addition to the growing aerospace, manufacturing and tourism industries, you have an unrivaled lifestyle opportunity that gets better every year. From the spiritual environment, to the incredible community engagement and new restaurants opening all the time, this community has something for everyone, with great schools for young people, while also being the perfect place to retire.

What is the biggest challenge in front of Space Coast Magazines?

Eric: I think people don’t understand what has changed and hasn’t changed about print media. Yes, newspapers are falling like dinosaurs, but magazine readership is still on the rise and magazines play well in print and in a digital platform. Our pubs have an incredible shelf life and are relevant and entertaining months, if not years, after publication.

Joseph: What people want is great content. Content that educates them and that engages them. People want to know about the community, where to go, what to do and we help provide that.

Tourism’s Ongoing Impact on the Space Coast

321-622-5986 advertising@spacecoastmagazines.com

AUG 2019 OCT 2019

AUG 2019

SEPT 2019

HELPING MAKE HOMES HAPPEN

BOBBIE DYER AND THE PERSONAL TOUCH OF DYER MORTGAGE

FOUNDER OF THE YEAR

Special Feature

Luke & Associates

SYNERGISTIC SUCCESS

SENA-TECH & VEYTEC: TOGETHER THEY ARE BETTER

Nicholas Roney & Steven Terry

INTENDED CONSEQUENCES

The Lockheed Headquarters Story

NOW AVAILABLE AT PUBLIX, WALGREENS, CVS & WALMART.

NOV EMBER 2019: 37

UP CLOSE with

NANCY PELTONEN

President & CEO of the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce [ By Jack Roth, Writer ] Photography by Jason Hook

38: SPACE C OAST B U S I N E SS

|

SPAC E C OASTBU S INES S .CO M

N

ancy Peltonen became president and CEO of the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce in September of 2015. Since then, she has grown membership, increased programs to benefit members, implemented signature events and advocated on behalf of the business community at the local, state and federal levels. Peltonen has helped lead Palm Bay from the “city with a future” to the “city of the future.”

What inspired you to take the professional path you have chosen?

My parents were very supportive in my career path, and they encouraged me to get my degree and pursue my masters. Originally I thought accounting would be my chosen field, but after falling asleep in one of my classes, I realized it didn’t interest me at all. I turned to marketing and management and never looked back.

How has your background prepared you for your current role?

My career began in Canada at the national chain Shoppers Drug Mart. As manager of a store with $7 million in annual sales, I oversaw a staff of 50. Dealing with sales representatives to buy merchandise, dealing with inventory and budgets, and planning events to entice customers into our store all provided a great foundation for my current role. When I came to the United States, I volunteered at a local nonprofit where I was eventually employed for 14 years. Building relationships with the community was a huge part of that job, and it’s one of the most important aspects of my current position.

How would you define your role at the Palm Bay Chamber?

Visionary and collaborator are two words that come to mind. The direction of the Chamber, events we host, and growth and development are all my focus areas; however, none of this is accomplished alone. I see myself as a connector … whether it’s connecting a business with a referral or a resource, bringing in speakers to develop our members or connecting developers with city resources.

I see myself as a connector … whether it’s connecting a business with a referral or a resource, bringing in speakers to develop our members or connecting developers with city resources.

– Nancy Peltonen

How important is building relationships with the local business community?

I’ve always believed in strategic partnerships and building relationships. We all know the saying, “People do business with those they know, like and trust.” The Chamber helps businesses make the connections to the resources they need to grow their businesses. Our mission is to serve, advocate and promote as the trusted voice for our business community. Collaboration and building relationships is the only way to make changes and move our community forward as a whole. As much as we’re a member-based organization, we’re an integral part of the fabric of Brevard County. We must collaborate with our members, community groups and legislators at the local, state and national levels. ⊲

NOV EMB ER 2 019: 39

Collaboration and building relationships is the only way to make changes and move our community forward as a whole.

– Nancy Peltonen

How would you define the relationship between the Chamber and Palm Bay? Fabulous. The City of Palm Bay is our largest trustee. City management and council members frequently attend our events to support local businesses, and I constantly provide them with updates. Palm Bay is the largest city with the largest landmass and is only about 42% developed, so there’s room to grow. The Chamber has been working closely with the city as numerous developers reach out to us. It’s exciting to think what future impact our present-day decisions will have on the development of this region.

How does technology help the Chamber with outreach and other initiatives?

Technology is our lifeblood, as it is for all businesses. It keeps us connected, informed and engaged. Each month we livestream our Chamber Chat, which is a one-hour informational session on topics ranging from how to get financing for your business to best personnel practices or how to market your business. This saves time for our members so they can watch from anywhere without having to drive to another meeting. We also have a texting service that allows members who sign up to receive notices and reminders about events or emergency notices as they arise.

Our website allows businesses to signup online, saving them time. Chambers can be seen as stodgy and old-fashioned, but we’re always looking for 40: SPAC E C OAST BU SI N E S S

|

new and better ways to engage our members, and technology is definitely assisting us.

What is your No. 1 goal for the Chamber?

Meeting the expectations of our members is my ultimate goal. The Chamber gets involved in a lot of things, but our members are my No. 1 priority.

What do you love the most about Palm Bay and the Space Coast region?

Palm Bay is very welcoming, with friendly people who are diverse and very supportive. I love all the Space Coast has to offer. Because we’re such a cool county, we can watch cruise ships sail out of Port Canaveral, a rocket launch into space, numerous plays in various venues and parades throughout the year. We can see military planes flying into Patrick Air Force Base as well as Surfing Santas, go swimming in the ocean or paddle a kayak down Turkey Creek while watching manatees and dolphins. I love knowing we have some of the most ground-breaking technology companies in the world located here.

It’s truly a fabulous place to live.

S PAC E C OASTBU S INES S .CO M

© 2015 Southwest Airlines Co.

Without a Heart, it’s just a machine.

So in 1971, a little Heart built a different kind of airline—one that made sure everyone could fly.

Everyone has important places to go. So we invented low-fares to help them get there.

To us, you’re not 1A or 17B. You’re a person with a name, like Steve.

Here, we think everyone deserves to feel special, no matter where you sit or how much you fly.

And with all the places we’re going next, we’ll always put you first, because our love of People is still our most powerful fuel.

Some say we do things differently.

We say, why would we do things any other way?

Without a Heart, it’s just a machine.

321.726.8338 VolkLawOffices.com