MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

The Live, Work, Play mantra is alive and well in Lakewood Ranch! With a diverse and thriving business environment, an emphasis on lifestyle and wellness, and a bright future ahead, our community has it all. We asked our members what they love about LWR; here’s what a few of them had to say!

Owners

Mobility Plus Manatee

What is your business?

Mobility Plus Manatee is a “Customer First” business that provides accessibility and mobility products to the community. Our core products are scooters, ramps, and lifts, however, we do so much more. We also provide free evaluations and offer financing on all our products.

What does a typical day look like for you?

We work together to answer to the needs of the customer, whether it’s showing a product, working with vendors and manufacturers on ordering equipment or getting trained on the latest products, answering the phones, providing evaluations, managing our VA contracts, or simply giving information to someone inquiring about an installation of one of our products; It’s all about the customer!

Who is your ideal customer / client?

Our ideal client is usually in the senior community as well as anyone who has suffered from an injury that hinders their mobile abilities or in transition from a rehab facility.

If you could use one word to describe the Lakewood Ranch community, what would it be and why?

Supportive. The people in this community have been very responsive and supportive in ways we couldn’t have imagined. It shows how much they care and many of our networking partners have become great friends and are always looking to help, not only us, but many in the community. Its an amazing feeling, knowing that people have your back, and we couldn’t ask for more!

How has the LWRBA helped make connections?

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance has connected us with the proper resources to not only better understand the community, but offer our services to help the community too. This organization has helped provide networking opportunities to connect us with power partners, and increase credibility for our business. The relationships we’ve made go far beyond what we ever expected.

What is your best piece of business advice you would give to other entrepreneurs?

Be true to yourself, first. People love authenticity and it shows when doing business. Prioritizing meaningful relationships and understand the mentality of your customer and community is key to a successful business. Everything else will fall in line.

What is your favorite “fun thing to do” when you’re not working? We enjoy being out in the sunshine whether that’s boating, kayaking, grilling, volunteering for a great cause or enjoying a great meal with good friends. Florida is truly a great sunshine state to reside.

What is your business? Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. is a privately held construction management firm based in Sarasota, Florida providing expert commercial builder services since 1972, recently celebrating 50 years. Our full-service capabilities are customized to meet each owner’s specific project needs at all phases of the assignment. We offer the following services: Construction Management, Commercial Building, & General Contracting Design/Build Pre-construction Services Sustainable Construction Management Healthcare Construction Management New Construction/Additions/Renovations Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings Site Evaluation and/or selection.

Please describe your job/position. Vice President and Partner - being a local construction management firm my main role is to provide direct ownership representation between our firm and the client to help streamline decisions and keep progression on track.

Who is your ideal customer/ client? Any potential client looking to build or expand their commercial business. We work with many governmental agencies, school boards, universities, churches, museums, arts, private developers, private companies, and healthcare sector.

What do you like about doing business in Lakewood Ranch? We moved our corporate headquarters to the ranch in 2009 to more centrally located in between Manatee and Sarasota County. It gives us the ability to also have quick access to the interstate to serve our neighbors to the north and to the south of us.

How has the LWRBA helped make connections? You get back more than what you put into the Alliance. They do a great job in having its members participate in committees and groups, made up of around twenty or so individuals, for face to face connections. Getting this valuable face time and working to a committee goal allows for such a personal connection between individual businesses.

If you could use one word to describe the Lakewood Ranch community, what would it be and why? Transplant…..The vast majority of the demographic was not born and raised here, they all came from different places with different ideas!

What is your favorite “fun thing to do” when you’re not working? Always enjoy football weekends and fall hunting, other than that, I try my hardest to spend time with my wife Jenn and our two daughters.

DARRIN ROHR President, CEO, Owner and Chief Servant

What is your business?

HH Staffing is a professional staffing agency located here in Sarasota with offices in Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers and Plantation. We’ve been in business for 34 years serving our clients staffing needs.

Who is your ideal customer / client?

HH Staffing is a general staffing agency serving all industries however, we have an extremely large client base in the property management industry.

What do you like about doing business in Lakewood Ranch? Of all of the markets that HH Staffing serves, serving Lakewood Ranch Business Community gives me the greatest amount of satisfaction. I say this because business relationships really seem to matter here on The Ranch whereby businesses help other businesses and together we all are able to succeed and that is how business should get done.

If you could use one word to describe the Lakewood Ranch community, what would it be and why? Relationships.

How has the LWRBA helped make connections? Events are simply fantastic which leads to very successful relationship building opportunities, but it’s really a lot more than that quite frankly. The professional development opportunities through the Executive Academy helps to grow future leaders and our Alliance Gives Back helps all of us to engage in volunteerism that further connects all of us towards common causes. There is something here for everybody so just get involved!

What is your best piece of business advice you would give to others?

#1. Have faith in yourself first and foremost and then have faith in something bigger than yourself because sometimes the challenges that you face as a business owner are really large and significant and not very easily solved so you need to be able to lean on something , whatever it is, but you will need to lean on something larger than yourself. #2. Work your butt off. Hard work pays off. Period. #3. Bet on yourself, take risks and go for whatever it is that sparks your passion and pursue that passion with all of your energy. Finally, #4. Have some FUN! Life is supposed to be fun so enjoy the ride!

What is your favorite “fun thing to do” when you’re not working? My family is my first, second and third priority in my life so after that, there’s only a little bit of time left for me but I do enjoy a good Ironman Triathlon every now and then!