Business Observer 3.15.24

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Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties, the Business Observer is the only business newspaper that provides business leaders with a regional perspective. The Business Observer’s mission is to deliver relevant news and information on Southwest and Central Florida’s leading and growing companies, up-and-coming entrepreneurs and economic, industry and government trends affecting business. The Business Observer is also the leading publisher of public notices on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

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Orange County 661 Garden Commerce Pkwy, Suite 180

Winter Garden, FL 34787

Phone: 941-906-9386 (Public Notices)

Fax: 941-954-8530

Pasco County 3030 Starkey Blvd.

New Port Richey, FL 34655

Phone: 941-906-9386 (Public Notices)

Fax: 941-954-8530

Hillsborough County 3902 Henderson Blvd., #208 Tampa, FL 33629

Phone: 941-906-9386 (Public Notices)

Fax: 941-954-8530

Lee County 18070 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 11 Fort Myers, FL 33908

Phone: 941-906-9386;

Fax: 941-954-8530

Manatee County 8126 Lakewood Ranch Main St., Suite 207 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

Phone: 941-362-4848

Phone: 941-906-9386 (Public Notices)

Fax: 941-954-8530

Pinellas County 14004 Roosevelt Blvd., #606

Clearwater, FL 33762

Phone: 941-906-9386 (Public Notices)

Fax: 727-447-3944

Polk County 1102 S. Florida Ave.

Lakeland, FL 33803

Phone: 941-906-9386 (Public Notices)

Fax: 941-954-8530

Sarasota County 1970 Main St., Suite 400, Sarasota, FL 34236

Phone: 941-362-4848

Phone: 941-906-9386 (Public Notices)

Fax: 941-954-8530

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PUBLIC NOTICES

KEN PENDERY 1953-2024

The leadership — and life — lessons people absorbed and learned from working with, knowing and being around longtime restaurant executive Ken Pendery were legion. Some teachings were simple and obvious. Others were more nuanced.

Be nice. Treat everyone with respect. Don’t over complicate or over-think solutions. Always do the right thing. Those were just some of the phrases Pendery lived by, and taught to others, both by example and in conversation.

on theirs, not to mention your lasting impact on our industry.”

Pendery died March 4, surrounded by family in his home in Denver, after a battle with Multiple System Atrophy, a rare neurological disorder. He was 70.

By title, Pendery was co-founder, CEO and, in his last official role, executive chairman of First Watch Restaurant Group. The east Manatee County-based breakfast-brunchlunch pioneer has grown to 520 restaurants in 29 states since Pendery and his business partner John Sullivan opened the first one in California in 1983. It posted $1.1 billion in systemwide sales in 2023.

But Pendery, to dozens, if not hundreds, of First Watch employees and executives, was a mentor, friend and go-to source of kind-hearted humor and sensible, reasoned dadlike advice. (He was a real-life dad as well: He and his wife, Jenny, have two adult children and four grandchildren.) Pendery was also a noted community leader and philanthropist, supporting groups from Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota to The Out-of-Door Academy.

“The first word that comes to mind when talking about Ken is kindness,” says First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso, who worked closely with Pendery for about 15 years — traveling together often for store openings, industry conferences, investor meetings and more. “Anyone who came in contact with him, that’s what they always said.”

Multiple people from First Watch — including former employees — wrote tributes to Pendery on social media upon news of his death. “You have had an immeasurable impact on my life,” wrote Eleni Kouvatsos, who worked at First Watch for eight years, in corporate communications and investor relations, on LinkedIn. Kouvatsos left the company last August. “I know dozens of others would say the same about your impact

Pendery was born and raised in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and graduated from Indiana University, Pendery and Sullivan moved from California to Florida in 1986, opening one First Watch in south Sarasota and another in Naples. Growth came slow and steady at first. Then it came in bunches, then through acquisitions, private equity investment and some franchising, and in October 2021, an IPO that raised $170 million.

Pendery transitioned from CEO to executive chairman in 2018 and retired from the company’s board in 2022. He and his wife lived in south Sarasota until they moved to Denver to be closer to family. While still local, Tomasso would pick up Pendery nearly every Saturday, sometimes on Sunday, and they would have breakfast together at the First Watch in the Square South plaza. “There’s a big hole in my heart right now,” Tomasso says.

One of Pendery’s biggest legacies with First Watch is his Five Steps of Service — which he first wrote on the back of a napkin in 1987 — and his 10 Commandments, now Commitments. Those tenets, from “welcome with warmth to “act with infectious positivity,” are actively practiced in each restaurant today.

Pendery talked often about those values and more, especially how to maintain a strong corporate culture, when he greeted a new class of First Watch managers. Those sessions were held inside the First Watch Academy of Restaurant Management at the company headquarters, in what’s known as the FARM. The headquarters complex in University Park opened in summer 2021 and is on the newly named Pendery Place.

“I don’t think you can buy or sell culture. You can create culture and make it better by your actions,” Pendery told some 25 managers at a FARM session in fall 2019. “At First Watch you are here to make a difference. If you just took a job, I’m sorry. But if you want to be part of a culture and be a leader, then you’re at the right place.”

Ken Pendery is survived by his wife, Jenny; two children, Trey (Maureen) and Libby (Kevin); and four grandchildren, Woods, Nora, Sita and Red. A private service will take place later in March.

CHARLOTTE-LEE-COLLIER

Hoffmann buys trailer manufacturer

The Hoffmann Family of Cos., a Naples-based conglomerate with a portfolio of companies from vineyards to a luxury fleet business, has acquired Doonan Specialized Trailer, a custom semitrailer manufacturer in Great Bend, Kansas.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

Doonan is a 50-year-old company with 57 dealer locations across North America, “making it a key player in the transportation industry,” according to a statement.

Mike Ruddle, vice president of operations at Doonan, and Kelly Zecha, national dealer manager/application specialist, will both “continue to play pivotal roles” in the business after the deal closes.

TAMPA-LAKELAND

Tampa college officials convicted

A pair of Tampa residents are facing decades in federal prison after being convicted on multiple counts of wire fraud for embezzling $835,000 from an unidentified higher education institution.

Andrea Mitchell, 54, and Lester Best, 53, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 22 counts of wire fraud. Mitchell was also found guilty on two counts of

quote of theweek

It’s never too late to chase a passion or something that you’ve always wanted to do.

Kevin Rooney | Phelan Family Brands, children’s books author

SEE PAGE 10

aggravated identity theft.

Mitchell began working at the unnamed school in 2013 and was responsible for student billing and student refund management, officials said. They face 20 years in prison on each conspiracy and fraud count. Mitchell’s additional convictions call for a two-year mandatory sentence for each count.

Retailer acquires mattress company

Tampa-based Ashley Home has bought mattress-seller Resident Home, winning approval from both boards of directors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ashley Home is an affiliate of Ashley Global Retail, which has its corporate office and ecommerce center in Ybor City.

Officials say through affiliate Ashley Furniture Industries, Resident Home will get improved sourcing and efficiencies, allowing additional growth in both its direct-to-consumer and wholesale businesses. Resident Home’s brands include Nectar, DreamCloud, Awara and Siena.

MANATEE-SARASOTA AeroVanti founder in contempt

A federal judge in Maryland has found Patrick BrittonHarr in contempt and given

him until April 30 to deposit $575,000 with the court.

The finding stems from a case where Britton-Harr, founder of the troubled Sarasota air service company AeroVanti, and several health care companies he operates, were accused of committing Medicare fraud.

The ruling was issued after Britton-Harr admitted in a filing that he “does not challenge the evidence the government would offer to prove contempt.”

Britton-Harr agreed to pay the $575,000 into the court registry but told prosecutors he will need time to come up with the money.

Pop-up mall adds luxury brands

A luxury pop-up mall in Sarasota with a Tiffany & Co. already part of the mix has added another ultra high-end brand: Dolce & Gabbana.

Whitman Family Development opened the mini-mall, made from shipping containers and dubbed the Access Pop-up tour, outside The Mall at University Town Center early this month. Whitman owns Bal Harbour Shops in Miami, which houses these brands.

Whitman also announced that Golden Goose, a luxury sneaker brand, will join the roster of stores at the UTC Access Pop-up Tour.

$13,121

Taxes high-earning households in the North PortSarasota-Bradenton metro area pay a year. PAGE 6A

23,192

Square feet of the former CAN Community Health building on Fruitville Road Sarasota County government recently bought PAGE 7A

80%

Regular customers who shop at London Pride in Largo and Tampa born in the U.K.

PAGE 8A

224

Total units at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay PAGE 14A

63

Months, on average, new companies are signing leases for in Tampa, according to a report from Avison Young PAGE 14A

Rachael Brown SVP, Commercial Real Estate Director

Owen LaFave Pinellas County Market President

Member FDIC

CoffeeTalk

Around the corner

The iconic Charley’s Steak House in Tampa is closing its longtime home on Cypress Street and relocating across from International Plaza.

As of March 7, Charley’s had not posted the closing on its social media channels nor on its website, but there was signage wrapped on fencing around the property on the corner of North Westshore Boulevard and Spruce Street announcing its move.

The signs say the Charley’s will open on the spot in 2025.

A person answering the phone at the restaurant’s current home March 7 says the move likely won’t happen for at least 18 months and that operations will continue uninterrupted until then. “It might be a little longer (than) that,” the person says. “But we’re moving right around the corner.”

Charley’s also has restaurants in Orlando and Celebration.

The move is being made as the state reconstructs the Westshore Interchange. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, as

COURTESY

Charley’s Steak House will move to new location across from International Plaza next year.

part of that project, Interstate 275 will be widened to include express lanes. That widening has already led to the closing — and will lead to the eventual demolition — of the DoubleTree by Hilton Tampa Airport-Westshore.

Charley’s longtime home is next to the hotel property.

While not as well known to the outside world as Bern’s Steak House in the city, Charley’s is a staple in Tampa with a who’s who of locals crowding its popular bar on weekend nights and filling its dining area.

The draw is the old-world atmosphere, wine list and the steaks on the menu.

The chain has been around since 1984 when Red Lobster co-founder and the owner of the Talk of the Town restaurants Charley Woodsby and his son, Ron, opened the first of its locations in Orlando. The Tampa restaurant opened in 1998.

See COFFEE TALK page 6A

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Polk County Board of County Commissioners to Consider a Petition to Establish the Grenelefe Community Development District

DATE: April 2, 2024

TIME: 9:00 a.m.

LOCATION: County Administration Building, Commission Boardroom 330 West Church Street Bartow, Florida 33830

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

In compliance with the provisions of Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, a public hearing will be held on April 2, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., at the Commission Boardroom in the County Administration Building, 330 West Church Street, Bartow, Florida 33830, before the Polk County Board of County Commissioners to consider an ordinance to grant a petition to establish the Grenelefe Community Development District (the “District”). The title of the proposed ordinance is as follows:

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA ESTABLISHING THE GRENELEFE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 190, FLORIDA STATUTES (2023); PROVIDING A TITLE; PROVIDING FINDINGS; CREATING AND NAMING THE DISTRICT; DESCRIBING THE EXTERNAL BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT; DESCRIBING THE FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE DISTRICT; DESIGNATING FIVE PERSONS TO SERVE AS THE INITIAL MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT’S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

The proposed District is generally located south of Marion Road and southwest of West Lake Marion Road, as further identified in the map depicted in this notice. The petitioner has proposed to establish the District to plan, finance, acquire, construct, operate and maintain infrastructure and community facilities which may be authorized by such district under Florida law, including Chapter 190, Florida Statutes

The information presented at this hearing will be used to afford the petitioner, landowners, any affected units of local government, and the general public, a fair and adequate opportunity to appear and present oral and written comments regarding the establishment of the District. If adopted, the ordinance will establish the Grenelefe Community Development District, name its initial Board of Supervisors, and designate the land to be serviced by the District.

Copies of the petition, the proposed ordinance and department reports are open to public inspection at the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Polk County, located in the County Administration Building, 330 West Church Street, Bartow, Florida 33830.

All interested persons and affected units of general-purpose local government shall be given an opportunity to appear at the hearing and present oral or written comments on the petition. Any person or affected unit of general-purpose local government, who wishes to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at this public hearing will need a record of the proceedings. For that purpose, the person or unit of general-purpose local government may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made that includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons with disabilities needing special accommodations to participate in this meeting, and those seeking an interpreter, should contact the Communications Office not later than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the proceeding. Their offices are located in the County Administration Building, 330 West Church Street, Bartow, Florida 33830. Telephone Number (863) 534-6090, TDD (863) 534-7777 or 1-800-955-8771, Voice Impaired 1-800-955-8770 or 711 via Florida Relay Service.

CoffeeTalk

Thirst quencher

OriginClear, a Clearwater-based “clean water innovation hub,” says in a March 7 news release that businessman Kevin Harrington has joined its board of advisers.

Harrington, an original “shark” on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and a co-founding board member of the Entrepreneur’s Organization, will work with OriginClear to increase water recycling rates in America, according to OriginClear officials.

That effort will involve “enlisting an army of us” — America’s everyday investors — through crowdfunding, to develop “water independence programs,” ones that don’t involve government water, for industry and agriculture, the company says.

“Once a government monopoly, the business of treating and reusing sewage water is going private,” OriginClear officials say. “Local industries and communities are now treating-inplace, enabling large-scale recycling while also responding to the challenge of water scarcity and climate change.”

OriginClear says its approach is dramatically simple, using a downsized “pod” technology, “all to serve the new breed of treat-in-place commercial water recycling and treatment systems,” the company says.

Harrington says local control will improve water recycling.

“The OriginClear team has a unique approach to the water problem – it’s called local responsibility – and I’m honored to advise the team on how to get America involved in making the water revolution happen,” says Harrington.

OriginClear says that if industrial

FROM PAGE 5A

and agricultural water reuse increased to 15% from the present 1%, the freshwater available for residential use could more than double.

“We have severe water shortages, and our water table is critically low in many places,” OriginClear CEO Riggs Eckelberry says in the statement. “And yet, we recycle less than 1% of the water we treat. Meanwhile, cities are overwhelmed and underfunded. The solution is to enable businesses to treat their water right where they use it — which gives them the unique ability to recycle right on the spot.”

“Kevin is passionate and quick — he understood our approach right away,” adds Eckelberry. “We are proud and excited Kevin has joined the cause.”

Harrington helped produce well over $6 billion in global sales, the launch of more than 500 products and the making of dozens of millionaires, according to OriginClear. Harrington previously ran a restaurant and bar in St. Petersburg and his lived in the region.

Kevin Harrington Enterprises will be compensated with fees and options to purchase stock in OriginClear and Water On Demand, the firm says.

Origin Clear also revealed it has entered into an agreement to merge “with a Nasdaq ‘blank check’ company,” likely referring to special purpose acquisition company, or a SPAC.

A SPAC is a shell company traded on a stock exchange. SPACs look for another developing company to absorb, and then to grow as a larger publicly traded company.

datasnapshot

Heavy burden

Recent income research finds the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater area is highly ranked — in low taxes for high earners.

North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton’s high earners make more annually, the same research found, but they also pay more in taxes.

Flippa — a firm that helps people sell and buy websites, stores and apps — reported in its Feb. 20 blog that it examined TampaSt. Pete area households earning more than $200,000 per year. The analysis found these households averaged $574,286 annually. And they paid more than $7,700 in state and local taxes a year.

“These high-earning households in the Tampa metro area pay an average of $7,759 per year in taxes, representing 1.4% of the average high-earning household income,” Flippa says in its report.

The tax burden was so low, the Tampa-St. Pete area ranked No. 4 in lowest state and local taxes paid when compared to all large metros in the U.S., Flippa found.

Meanwhile, in the North Port-

Sarasota-Bradenton MSA, highearning households make a bit more and pay a lot more in taxes.

Flippa found that high earners in North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton earning over $200,000 per year earn an average of $685,083 annually.

But they pay 69.1% more in local and state taxes, Flippa says. The high-earning households in that metro area pay an average of $13,121 per year in taxes, representing 1.9% of the average high-earning household income, Flippa says.

Both metro areas pay well under the national average in local and state taxes paid annually, which is $23,211 per year. (This makes sense, obviously, since Florida doesn’t have a state income tax.)

The largest metro area in Florida with the lowest local and state tax burden for high earners? OrlandoSanford, with $7,044 paid a year from earners who average $521,000 annually. San Francisco-Oakland led the nation in highest local and state tax burden, where it collects $53,463 a year from high earners who average $647,185 annually.

HARRINGTON

BY LOUIS LLOVIO | COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE EDITOR AND MARK GORDON | MANAGING EDITOR

Sarasota County buys office building for elections department

BOTTOM LINE

KEY TAKEAWAY: Sarasota County purchased an office building on Fruitville Road for $12 million, space it intends to use for the Supervisor of Elections office.

CORE CHALLENGE: Finding large Class A office space in some parts of Sarasota can be difficult.

WHAT’S NEXT: A 4.17-acre parcel on the site remains for sale, in what the brokerage handling the listing says could be for a retail, office or multifamily project.

Sarasota County has purchased the former CAN Community Health headquarters in Sarasota, a prominent and sleek glass office building on Fruitville Road about halfway between Interstate 75 and downtown Sarasota.

The county paid just under $12 million for the property and the 23,192-squarefoot office building, according to Kevin Robbins with Harry E. Robbins Associates Inc. Robbins and his brother, Derek Robbins, represented the seller, CAN Community Health. CAN, with a focus on helping people with HIV, Hepatitis C, STDs and other diseases, moved its headquarters space to Ybor City in Tampa.

The county’s purchase, according to a statement from the brokerage, includes the two-story commercial structure as well as 1.9 acres to the east, bordering Tree Road and formerly occupied by the Julie Rohr Academy.

The sale was approved by county commissioners in November, with county staff, according to a resolution, deeming it “is sufficient to cover the needs of the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections staff.”

“The fact that such a beautiful and high-profile location will be utilized by Sarasota County is really encouraging,” Derek Robbins says in the release. Robbins and his brother, Kevin Robbins, with Harry E. Robbins & Associates Inc., brokered the deal.

Tampa-based Alfonso Architects designed the energy-efficient building in 2003, and it’s a past winner of the “Design Award of Excellence” from the Flor-

ida chapter of the American Institute of Architects. CAN paid $4.8 million for the property and the three acres surrounding it in 2018.

B efore that, the building was occupied by two other entities: Corporate photography firm Photo-Tech, which developed the property 21 years ago, and then Cast Retail, a company that handled secret shopping for clients worldwide. That company, under the name Orr Enterprises of SRQ LLC, sold the building to CAN in 2018, according to Sarasota County property records.

The Robbins Team was initially engaged to evaluate and list the undeveloped 4.17-acre site on the corner of

Fruitville and McIntosh. This property is predominantly considered a development site for retail, office or multifamily, the brokerage says.

In the marketing process, CAN expressed an interest in relocating its corporate office and vacating the headquarters. The Robbins Team evaluated the entire eight acres, including the headquarters building, as a bulk sale. Ultimately, Sarasota County pursued an acquisition of the headquarters building and the additional site. T he 4.17-acre parcel remains on the market — what the brokerage calls “one of the last available undeveloped sites on Fruitville Road west of I-75.”

The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is growing. So is Gulfside Bank.

At Gulfside Bank, our clients work with local bankers who know them and are familiar with their needs.

“In addition to being able to make decisions locally and move fast, Gulfside Bank offers a feeling of connectedness when you walk in the door. They know you, not just your check.”

— Nate Jacobs, Founder and Artistic Director, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

Gulfside Bank was able to refinance an existing loan and fund a land purchase allowing the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe to increase parking for their patrons.

COURTESY

The building previously won the “Design Award of Excellence” from the Florida chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

BY JIM STINSON | TAMPA BAY EDITOR

British Aisles

London-born Carole Lannon loves Tampa Bay, and she loves her native England. Now she combines both with a thriving business.

Brick-and-mortar stores face competition from Amazon and other e-retailers, but English businesswoman Carole Lannon found a niche the internet can’t quite match.

A n accountant born in London and now an American, she has found her second act: selling British meats, candies, potato chips (“crisps”) and wares at a pair of stores dubbed London Pride in Largo and Tampa.

The Anglo angle is fairly unique for Tampa Bay, and it has regular customers coming in to the stores, grabbing minishopping carts to push around the aisles and stocking up on bangers (sausage), crisps, Cadbury chocolate, Earl Grey tea, Imperial Leather soap, scones and maybe a Queen Elizabeth II commemorative mug. Luckily, the Tampa and Pinellas County markets have enough Anglophiles, British immigrants and expats to more than keep Lannon and her eight employees busy.

Lannon bought the Largo store from retiring Britons in

BOTTOM LINE

KEY TAKEAWAY: Carole Lannon’s London Pride is able to operate two stores, in Largo and Tampa, because the region has enough Anglo-Scot expats eager for British food and wares.

CORE CHALLENGE: Meat. British imports are stringently regulated by the U.S., so London Pride uses a Cape Coral butcher whose founders are Scottish and know how to make bangers, Irish back bacon and pork pies.

WHAT’S NEXT: Selling more for the Easter and Christmas holidays, which bring in more customers and the need for more employees.

2017 and expanded to Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa in 2022. Good with numbers, Lannon sensed an eastern market in Hillsborough County after she made some free deliveries during the pandemic.

Most of her business depends on British-born persons — people familiar with Cadbury chocolate, Lion bars and bangers. While it’s difficult to estimate

the number of British-born persons in the Tampa Bay region, Lannon estimates 80% of her regular customers were born in the United Kingdom: the royal union of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

British-style meat products are a big seller. Yet it’s difficult to import British meat, Lannon says, so she uses Cameron’s British Foods and Imports in Cape Coral — a ScottishAmerican business. The Cape Coral bakery was founded in 1973 after the Scottish family chose Southwest Florida over New Jersey, according to their website. Lannon can get British-style meats of all kinds, including hand-crafted haggis, from Cameron’s.

Other clientele include Irish, curious Americans and Canadians.

Business is good, Lannon says, as she keeps her prices reasonable. She won’t discuss revenues, saying only her number “ends in six zeroes.” During holidays, she usually has to add employees, since British customers want particular foods

and candies from their celebratory times on the two isles.

One example is the British fondness for Cadbury chocolate eggs. Lannon ordered 3,000 of them for Easter. Lannon herself identifies Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit and Nuts bar as her favorite British chocolate.

And then there’s the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III.

“The coronation and other royal celebrations always generate lots of extra business,” Lannon says. “Not only the memorabilia but people like to get together for watch parties and have either the full English breakfast or scones and tea.”

Lannon, formerly of London and Hampshire, left the United Kingdom in 1994, first living in Germany. She missed her British staples but soon found a Munich retailer that sold her favorite things, according to her website.

Lannon’s husband got a request for work in the United States in 1996, and they later landed in Pinellas County. Like

CONGRATULATIONS!

Aberdeen Advisors Welcomes

Kimberly Manooshian

Prior to joining Aberdeen, Kimberly served as the Executive Director of the Gulf Coast CEO Forum where she worked alongside business owners and c-suite members. With an expertise in healthcare, she has held national rankings in medical sales and ultimately, co-owned a boutique medical supply company in Sarasota, Florida. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Kimberly holds a Master’s degree in Gerontology and enjoys spending time with her family, including her beloved golden doodle. She is an avid fitness enthusiast, having completed more than (40) half-marathons across the country, and she loves to travel.

With her strong corporate development background and first-hand experience as a former business owner, Kimberly is the perfect fit for Aberdeen. Kimberly’s understanding of all facets of a sales transaction, her entrepreneurial foundation, and her operational competence provide Aberdeen clients considering a sale with trusted guidance and leadership.

Florida-based Aberdeen Advisors is a boutique mergers and acquisitions firm focused on selling successful companies in the lower middle market. The Firm, founded by Chief Executive Officer, Emery Ellinger, has a proven track record of procuring the highest purchase price with the best terms and conditions for its business owner clients. Aberdeen’s expertise spans most industries including but not limited to manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, professional services, business services, specialty contractors, and consumer services.

www.AberdeenAdvisors.com (941) 374-7779

kimberly@aberdeenadvisors.com

Carissa Warfield - Still Silver Photography

Tampa Bay’s Britons and Irish who miss home can always go to CAROLE LANNON’s London Pride, in Largo or Tampa, to buy mugs, flags, meats and candies from the British Isles.

in Munich, in 2001, Lannon discovered London Pride, a St. Pete Beach store later moved to Largo, where she could find chocolate bars and other English fare.

The Largo store came up for sale in 2017 because the owners went home to England, she says. Lannon, no longer wanting to be an accountant, bought the store. And like King Arthur, she soon faced a quest: surviving Hurricane Irma.

The challenge — from saving the food from power outages to fixing up the aisles — allowed Lannon to make the store her own, she says. The purchase represented her longtime dream to own an English goods store in the United States, she adds.

“One of my childhood memories is of the silver jubilee in 1977,” says Lannon of Queen Elizabeth II’s 25th year as queen. “Lots of street parties and flags flying. When I started in this business I had a very clear idea of how I wanted the shops to look and it was inspired by those street parties. A happy place that celebrates the fun side of our birthplace.”

Then another Arthurian quest presented itself: COVID-19. Lannon took to making free deliveries. So in 2022, she opened her West Kennedy Boulevard location to be about half-an-hour from the many spots she once delivered to, such as Brandon. The Tampa Bay region appears to be have a fair share of native Britons and Irish on all sides of the bay.

Lannon says particular palate pleasers have become a good market because you never forget the food you grew up with. “There’s some taste of home you miss,” says Lannon, a U.S. citizen since 2005.

TAMPA BAY & SARASOTA’S PREMIER BUILDER

Ritz Carlton | Sarasota, FL

Sand Castle | Sarasota, FL

MARK WEMPLE

infocus | entrepreneurs |

BY BETH LUBERECKI | CONTIBUTOR

The Write Stuff

Longtime marketing and ad man

Kevin Rooney, in writing a children’s book, takes a bite out of new market — with new challenges and opportunities.

Acore memory for Kevin Rooney? Meeting children’s book author Robert Munsch in elementary school. He and the author of kids’ classics like “Love You Forever” and “The Paper Bag Princess” were both from the same town in Canada, and Rooney still has the signed book from that meetup.

Fast-forward a few decades, and now Rooney is the one whose words might inspire a whole new generation of kids. His first book, “Mr. Tootsee McGootsee,” humorously imparts etiquette tips around a certain bodily function that often makes kids giggle, and he’s already working on several follow-up ideas.

Reading and writing have always been a part of Rooney’s life, so it’s not completely surprising he wound up here. After writing for his high school newspaper, he majored in journalism in college, then spent more than 20 years working in sports marketing and sales. The Fort Myers resident now serves as vice president of marketing and advertising for Phelan Family Brands, getting the word out about the company’s Florida restaurants like Pinchers and Deep Lagoon Seafood.

BOTTOM LINE

KEY TAKEAWAY. Hospitality marketing executive Kevin Rooney has a budding side hustle in writing children’s books

CORE CHALLENGE: Finding the time to focus on the book outside his main income, as vice president of marketing and advertising for Phelan Family Brands.  WHAT’S NEXT. Rooney next plans to write a book with one of his young daughters.

He and his wife read to their daughters Erin, 11, and Shealah, 8, nightly, and they helped reignite his “creative fire,” says Rooney, 50. While reading some of the same stories over and over to his girls, he started changing things up and inserting a fictional character named Johnny into the action. (More on him later.)

Tootsee McGootsee was born over the course of family dinners. “When (the girls) would toot at the table, we would say, ‘There’s Tootsee McGootsee,’” says Rooney. “It was a playful description that we used instead of using other language. One of my daughters said I should write a story about it kind of in passing, and I took that literally.”

Writing the story was the easy part. “I’ve learned from reading to kids that things that have humor and things that rhyme, where they can predict what the next word will be, resonate with kids,” he says. “And it’s a style I embraced.”

He headed online to find an illustrator to bring his vision to life. He contacted several whose portfolios showed promise, but Joe Huffman proved the clear winner. “He really brought Tootsee McGootsee to life without a whole lot of edits,” says Rooney. “When I shared the first draft with my older daughter, she said, ‘That’s exactly what I envisioned him to look like!’” (Rooney’s already talking with Huffman about future projects.)

Rooney made a decent investment to self-publish the book, which became available in paperback on Amazon and on his website TootWorthyBooks.com at the end of 2023. He’s working on the various steps required to make it available in more places. (He declined to disclose how much he invested on getting the book to market.)

“I looked at publishers, but sometimes they want you to use their printer and illustrator,” he says. “Not that I wanted

to have full autonomy, but being somebody who is creative, I wanted to have little bit more involvement in the process. And if that meant it took a little longer to bring it to market, I was OK with that.”

Thanks to his day job, Rooney knows how to get the word out about his new endeavor, though it’s something he needs to do bit by bit. “It requires more heavy lifting when you self-publish,” he says.

But right now, he’s not necessarily driven by sales. “I didn’t do it because I wanted to sell a million books,” he says. “I did it because I wanted to show my kids there’s really nothing you can’t do.”

Mission accomplished, as his older daughter asked him to write a book together. They’re currently at work on a chapter book about a fourth-grade sleuth with a mystery to solve. And that’s just one of the many ideas he has cooking: A book called “There’s a Johnny in My Story” is also coming soon. “There’s not enough time in the day to bring them all out,” he laughs.

But when he does, he’ll know more about what to expect from the process. “It’s been a learning curve of bringing the first

one to market,” he says. “But that will make it that much easier for the next couple, because we’ve already gone down that road.”

Juggling a side hustle or passion project with a full-time career isn’t always easy. But after the pandemic helped illustrate for everyone just how fleeting time is, Rooney doesn’t want to wait.

“I’m not getting any younger, so there’s no time like the present,” he says. “Find those few moments whenever you possibly can. It’s never too late to chase a passion or something that you’ve always wanted to do.”

And for Rooney, that’s bringing a little bit of joy to a family’s day. “With everything that goes on in the world today, I am a firm believer that the world needs a little bit more levity and laughter,” he says. “There is nothing greater than reading a book to a kid and hearing them laugh.”

COURTESY IMAGES KEVIN ROONEY’s first book, “Mr. Tootsee McGootsee,” came from funny conversations with his wife and their two daughters.

BY LOUIS LLOVIO | COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE EDITOR

Live Local Act tweaks win support of all but one legislator

The bill is aimed, in part, at easing worries some localities had when the $711 million affordable housing bill passed last year.

Legislation tweaking the Live Local Act has won near unanimous approval and is now headed to Gov. DeSantis, who is expected to sign it.

Senate Bill 328 makes changes to the original legislation — passed last year to spur the development of affordable housing in the state — to, in part, address concerns from some localities and to strengthen its provisions.

The bill passed the House 112-1 Feb, 28 after clearing the Senate 47-0 Feb 7.

Seven House members did not vote on the bill. Ashley Gantt, D-Miami, was the only dissenting vote in the legislature. She also voted against the original bill, SB 102, last year.

The original legislation passed in March 2023 and went into effect July 1. It provided $711 million in funding for housing programs and mandated local governments authorize multifamily developments on properties zoned as mixed-use residential, commercial or industrial if at least 40% of the units were set aside as affordable for people making up to 120% of the local area median income. The idea was to make it easier for projects to clear regulatory hurdles and to eliminate roadblocks put up by neighbors who opposed affordable projects with higher density

BOTTOM LINE

KEY TAKEAWAY: An update to last year’s $711 million Live Local Act address several issues and expands the original bill, chief among those spelling out protections some residents and local leaders worried about.

CORE CHALLENGE: The changes may not satisfy everyone, given that a key provision of the original bill, allowing the use of properties without going through rezoning for affordable housing developments, remain.

WHAT’S NEXT: The bill now awaits the governor as cities and counties gear up to take advantage of the act.

near their homes. This was critical, proponents say, because of the growing need to address an affordable, work-

force and attainable housing crisis in the state driven by population growth and its effect on housing prices.

(Developers still need to meet local regulations, with residents getting a say on issues like landscaping, setbacks and parking standards.)

Some local communities across the state, including in Pasco County, have claimed the law keeps local leaders from having a say in what’s happening in their communities and that housing developments could go up without residents or elected officials providing input.

The changes in the new legislation are aimed at addressing some of those concerns by providing clear guidelines as to how Live Local projects meld with existing communities.

Among those changes are a prohibition limiting the floor area ratio from falling below 150% of the highest allowed usage and the creation of height protections within one

mile of single-family neighborhoods. (Floor area is a technical term for a ratio between a building’s total constructed floor area and the land area.)

But Gantt, the Miami legislator, says the update doesn’t do enough to address the issue.

In an email to the Business Observer, she writes that, “The preemption in the bill along with other provisions that took away collaboration with communities were a few reasons I voted no.”

That sentiment isn’t universal.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says to date the city hasn’t seen much in the way of Live Local projects, but she expects that to change soon. And when these projects enter the pipeline “it will be a time saver for us to be able to get affordable housing without going through the zoning changes, (it) takes about six months off of the process.”

The update to the Live Local Act also includes clarifications

on how tax exemptions are calculated and the elimination of parking requirements for transit-oriented development projects.

And it provides $100 million to the Florida Hometown Hero Program. The original legislation included $711 million that went to the Florida Housing and Finance Corp. for housing programs.

AT A GLANCE: LIVE LOCAL

A summary of the changes to the Live Local Act include:

n After multiple amendments, the final version of the update reinstated the height preemption to allow the “highest currently allowed height” for a commercial or residential building within one mile of the project.

n The update also included protections for single-family neighborhoods. If a property is adjacent to, on at least two sides, a single-family zoned residential parcel with at least 25 contiguous single-family homes, then the height cannot come from one mile, but instead will be restricted to the highest of the following: 150% of the tallest adjacent building, the tallest currently allowed height on the property or three stories.

n Parking requirements were eliminated for mixed-use residential Live Local Act projects within a transit-oriented development. And for projects within a half mile of a major transportation hub that have available parking for residents within 600 feet, the parking requirement was reduced by 20%.

n The update says local governments may not restrict unit density below a municipality’s or county’s “highest currently allowed density.”

n The word “rental” was removed from the required types of allowable multifamily developments and it is now clarified that only the affordable housing units in a Live Local Act project are required to be rental units. This opens the door to mixedincome projects with both condominiums and workforce rental units.

n The update requires that local governments maintain a policy with the procedure and expectations for the administrative approval of Live Local Act projects on their websites. There is no deadline for localities to do this.

n The update says the zoning benefits are not permitted for projects in airport flight paths defined as areas extending a quarter-mile wide from each lateral side of the runway and extending 10,000 feet long from the end of the runway; in airport noise zones; or for projects that exceed airport maximum height restrictions.

SOURCE: THE MIAMI LAW FIRM BILZIN SUMBERG

Above: CIG Communities considered shelving a Naples apartment project until it learned the Live Local Act could help offset increased costs.

commercial real estate: news&notes

BY LOUIS LLOVIO | COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE EDITOR

NAPLES/FORT MYERS/CHARLOTTE

TOWER RECORD: Sales have opened for units in the second tower of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay after sales on the first tower, which broke ground in July, hit the $400 million mark. The north tower, which is the one that’s yet to start construction, will be 22 stories and have 112 units between 2,628 square feet and 3,885 square feet, according to a statement. Prices start at $3 million. The two-, threeand four-bedroom units will come with dens and dedicated elevators. The project is being developed by the Naples-based London Bay Development Group. When complete, the dual 22-story towers will have at total of 224 units. The sales office is at 5000 Coconut Road in Bonita Springs.

FILLING UP: Three new tenants are coming to Tri-

County 75, a recently finished a 72-acre industrial park in Fort Myers. Glenstar Logistics, the park’s developer, says the tenants are taking a total of 193,000 square feet. The park is on Tri-County Commerce Way and is made up of four buildings totaling 816,866 square feet. Mechanical One, a home repair and maintenance company working with homebuilders, is taking 67,620 square feet in building three. Virginiabased NB Handy, a distributor of metals, HVAC, commercial roofing and machinery products, is taking 68,665 square feet in building two. Also moving into building two is what Glenstar calls “a Fortune 500 beverage company” leasing 56,705 square feet.

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG/PASCO/POLK

HOUSING HELP: Blue Sky Communities is working with the St. Petersburg Housing

A look at some of the week’s commercial real estate happenings across the region.

Authority to build an affordable multifamily development in the city with about 95 units. A rezoning of the 1.35-acre property on Hartford Street North and 32nd Avenue North, near the 34th Street corridor, was approved last month. That rezoning allows for higherdensity housing to be built on the site. According to SPHA, the project will also include the renovation of the 34-unit, two story Saratoga Apartments at 3475 32nd Ave. N. St. Petebased Blue Sky is a prominent affordable housing developer in the region with several projects in the works. A dollar amount for the project was not available.

TIME IS MONEY: The outof-towners are staying longer. According to a new report from Avison Young, companies relocating to Tampa last year signed leases averaging 63 months. That’s compared to existing companies which signed leases averaging 49 months — a drop of 14 months, or 22%. That the companies relocating chose to sign longer term leases underscores the “trend of many companies opting for short-term extensions as they assess their future office space needs,” the report found. The data comes from a report the commercial real estate firm just released titled “Stability vs. flexibility:

What do Tampa’s office industries value in lease terms?”

According to the report, new leases signed by government agencies were for the longest terms, with an average of 93 months. New engineering, architecture, construction and building materials companies committed to leases for far less time (though still higher than existing companies), averaging 56 months, says Avison Young.

If you have news, notes or tips you want to pass along, contact LLLovio@BusinessObserverFL. com. Or you can text or call 727-371-6944.

COURTESY PHOTO

Three companies are moving into to Tri-County 75 and taking 193,000 square feet.

COURTESY RENDERING Blue Sky Communities and the St. Petersburg Housing Authority are working on an affordable multifamily development.

SARASOTA/MANATEE

RISING LIKE A PHOENIX:

The revitalization of downtown Bradenton is well underway. So says Ian Black Real Estate. The Sarasota commercial real estate firm helped sell seven properties within a few blocks in the city over the past year. That includes four office buildings, two parking lots and a residence. The properties, which belonged to Inalsingh & Ray Property Group, sold for $3.05 million to three separate buyers, all local investors. According to the firm each is currently undergoing renovations. The properties include:

n 401 Manatee Ave. E., along with 412 and 416 Fourth Ave. The 10,670-square-foot office building and two 6,325-squarefoot parking lots sold for $2.3 million.

n 409 Fifth Avenue Drive E. The 10,688-square-foot parcel sold for $60,000.

n 410 Fourth Ave. The 2,108-square-foot office building sold for $340,000.

n 415 Manatee Ave. The 832-square-foot office building sold for $200,000.

n 504 Fourth Ave. The 1,272-square-foot home sold for $152,000.

Ian Black Real Estate’s Michelle Fuller and Matt Kezar represented Inalsingh & Ray Property Group in the transaction.

“ SBA loans have allowed us to refinance existing debt, secure leasehold improvements for two store expansions, and provide working capital to boost the business. LMCU’s SBA lending team is the best in the business.”

– Joshua Cook, Owner

Congratulations to JKCI Valrico on the construction of their latest Cold Stone Creamery located in Daytona Beach, FL. This is the second location that LMCU has financed which brings their total to six Cold Stone locations in Valrico, Riverview, Tallahassee, and Daytona Beach.

Call Danny McDonald at (727) 465-4629 to find out how we can help your business grow, too.

IMAGE COURTESY OF IAN BLACK REAL ESTATE

Ian Black Real Estate sold seven downtown Bradenton properties for $3 million.

Top50 Contractors

The largest contractors in the region, ranked by 2023 revenue.

Trucking Along

A majority of the largest contracting companies in the region are in growth mode.

From rooftop restaurants and schools — lots of schools — to interstate trucking stops, hospitals, resorts and apartment buildings, contractors and construction companies across the region are busy.

Busy enough that the top 50 in the region posted $8.38 billion in revenue in 2023. It’s the third year in a row the 50 largest companies surpassed another billion dollars in total.

Some other takeaways from the 2024 Top 50 include:

n A second company has joined Manhattan Construction in billion-dollar territory. That firm is St. Petersburgbased Power Design, with $1.2 billion in 2023, up 21.58% from $987 million in 2022.

n Five companies have surpassed $400 million in annual revenue, with a sixth business, Oldsmar-based Ajax Building Co., closing in at $397 million. (There were three with more than $400 million in 2022.)

n T here are now 20 companies with more than $100 million in annual revenue, up from 17 in 2022 and 13 in 2021.

n More than half the companies, 28, increased revenue by at least 10%. Of those, 19 were up at least 20%.

n Three companies were up more than 100%. Those are Tampa-based Summit

AT A GLANCE:

THE LIST

To make the Top 50 Contractors list, companies must be based in the Business Observer’s coverage area, from Polk County south through Collier County. Companies must be in some type of contracting field: electrical, general construction, roofing, HVAC, plumbing and more. Data is self-submitted.

report released March 1 from the Associated Builders and Contractors.

Design + Build, up 120%; St. Petersburg-based Wallace Construction Group, up 133.33%; and Sarasota-based Magnum Builders, up 101.69%.

n Eight companies reported a drop in revenue.

n The gains and growth in construction and projects in the region mirrors, and in some

cases outpaces, the national industry. To wit: nonresidential construction spending has risen more than 17% in the past year, according to a

Overall, nonresidential construction spending decreased slightly, 0.4% in January, says the ABC, based on U.S. Census Bureau data. Private nonresidential spending fell 0.1%, while public nonresidential construction spending was down 1% in January. The drop could be an outlier, as the previous 19 months saw gains. “Given (the) year-over-year strength and the fact that a majority of contractors expect their sales to increase over the next six months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, spending is likely to rebound over the coming months,” ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu says in a statement.

— MARK GORDON

LARRY ROONEY

The Pendry Tampa

RIPA & Associates

1409 Tech Blvd., Suite 1, Tampa, 33619 813-623-6777 • RipaConstruction.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1998

PRINCIPALS: Chris LaFace, CEO & president; Frank Ripa, owner

SPECIALTY: Civil and utility construction

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 976

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $413 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $493 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Two Rivers East

n PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: RIPA was awarded Project Bessie, now known as the Coca-Cola Tampa Distribution Center — in September 2022. Company has since completed sitework for the 800,000-square-foot industrial facility at the corner of U.S. 301 and Causeway Boulevard in Hillsborough County. In a separate project, sitework is underway for the Newport Corners project in Pasco County, a mixed-use community spanning over 954 acres that will feature more than 3,400 residential homes.

11941 Fairway Lakes Drive, Fort Myers, 33913 239-561-4141 • Owen-Ames-Kimball.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1891

PRINCIPALS: Matthew Zwack, president; Abel Natali, director of pre-construction

SPECIALTY: Commercial construction — general contracting, design-build, construction management

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 54

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $398 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $436 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Franklin Park Elementary School Rebuild

n PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: Aubrey Rogers High School — $100 million, 295,071-square-foot school on a 60-acre campus.

MATTHEW J.

Target

CHRIS LAFACE

3

Aubrey

DeAngelis Diamond

6335 Willow Park Drive, Naples, 34109 239-594-1994 • DeangelisDiamond.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1996

PRINCIPALS: David Diamond, CEO and co-founder; John DeAngelis, president and co-founder

SPECIALTY: Construction management, design-build, general contractor

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 225

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $395.9 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $430 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Naples Beach Club — A Four Season Resort — Market Square, Clubhouse and Conference Center

n PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: The Naples Beach Club Market Square, Clubhouse and Conference Center is 194,130 square feet of new construction supporting the upcoming Naples Beach Club Resort.

DAVID DIAMOND

5 JOHN DEANGELIS

Ajax Building Co.

109 Commerce Blvd., Oldsmar, 34677 813-881-0910 • AjaxBuilding.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1958

PRINCIPALS: Bill Byrne, CEO; Jay Smith, president

SPECIALTY: Construction management

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 240

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $384.6 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $397.9 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Pasco County Schools’ new K-8 school

n PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: In 2023, Ajax completed the University of Florida Malachowsky Hall Data Science and Information Technology building. The seven-story, 263,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building includes over 30 laboratories, office and auditorium spaces.

First Street Apartments

Brooks & Freund LLC

5661 Independence Circle, Fort Myers, 33912 239-939-5251 • BrooksAndFreund.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2000

PRINCIPALS: Richard Freund, manager; Joseph McClaran, director of project management

SPECIALTY: General contractor

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 56

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $226 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $240 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: First Street Apartments

RICHARD FREUND

n PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: One four-story apartment building totaling 275 units, a clubhouse, sky lounge, pool pavilion, swimming pool with deck, 438-space precast parking garage and all related sitework.

University of Florida Malachowsky Hall Data Science and Information Technology building

WILLIAM BYRNE

MIGUEL

Creative Contractors

101 Creative Way, Clearwater, 33759 717-461-5522

CreativeContractors.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1974

PRINCIPALS: Alan Bomstein, CEO; Josh Bomstein, president

SPECIALTY: Construction management

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 96

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $144 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $194 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Dayspring Academy at Angeline and Angeline Sports Complex

n PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: Berkeley Preparatory School — The $15.5 million, 55,000-square-foot chapel and lower division education building were constructed in the heart of the Berkeley Preparatory School’s occupied campus.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

B&I Contractors Inc.

2701 Prince St., Fort Myers, 33916 239-332-4646 • BAndIFlorida.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1960

PRINCIPALS: Gary Griffin, CEO; Jason Grabowski, president and COO

SPECIALTY: MEP Commercial manufacturer

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 960

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $168 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $188 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: $28.22 million — TECO Bears Operation Center

PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: The Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Company is providing piping, plumbing and sheet metal, centrifugal chillers, air cooled rotary screw chillers, chilled water storage tanks, plate and frame heat exchangers, piping distribution, sheet metal distribution, underground chilled water piping and more.

JASON GRABOWSKI

Berkeley Preparatory School

JOSH BOMSTEIN

Crowther Roofing and Sheet Metal of Florida 2543 Rockfill Road, Fort Myers, 33916

239-337-1300 • Crowther.net

YEAR FOUNDED: 1974

PRINCIPALS: Lee Scott Crowther, CEO; Kevin Callans, president

SPECIALTY: Roofing, sheet metal and HVAC

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 845

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $105.48 million 2023 GROSS REVENUE: $176.44 million

11

Apartments

n LARGEST PROJECT: Shell Point Garden Apartments

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Shell Point Garden Apartments is a 250,000-square-foot GAF shingle project, including 90 squares of Siplast SBS Mod bit roofing and mechanical HVAC scope that included new line sets, new AC stands and unit testing on all buildings.

Connor & Gaskins Unlimited

1998 Trade Center Way, Suite 2, Naples, 34109

239-260-5068 • CGUnlimited.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2010

PRINCIPALS: Barry Connor, founder and CEO; Craig Gaskins, founder and COO

SPECIALTY: Commercial construction

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 96

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $168.62 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $173 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Littlefield, Arizona Transportation center

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Transportation center contains a fuel station with three restaurants (KFC, Sbarro Pizza and Del Taco) across 21 acres. Includes a 12,000-square-foot building; nine showers; nine high-flow diesel dispensers; 10 auto fueling positions and a professional drivers’ lounge. Also working on Altura Bayshore in Tampa.

LEE S. CROWTHER

BARRY CONNOR

Shell Point Garden

Altura Bayshore, Tampa

million

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Master Plan Phase One: The Living Energy Access Facility (LEAF). A new welcome center to accommodate and orient guests and a cutting-edge plant research center that will include a state-of-the-art herbarium and laboratory as well as a research library to appropriately steward rare books and prints dating to the 1700s. Will house parking, a gift shop and a garden-level restaurant — capped with a 50,000-square-foot solar array. A stormwater filtration system will treat stormwater runoff and return clean water to Sarasota Bay.

NDC Construction Co.

1001 Third Ave. W., Suite 600, Bradenton 34205 941-747-1062 • NDCConstruction.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1997

PRINCIPALS: Ronald J. Allen, principal and president; Adam Phillips, vice president of construction

SPECIALTY: Commercial, academic, multfamily and hospitality

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 58

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $137 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $142 million

LARGEST PROJECT: Lake Maggiore Apartments, St. Petersburg

PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Nine 20 Manatee, at 920 Manatee Ave. in downtown Bradenton, a 137unit workforce housing high-rise community with amenities.

JOHN LACIVITA

RONALD J. ALLEN

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens: The Living Energy Access Facility

Lake Maggiore Apartments

YEAR

PRINCIPALS:

Cannon, chairman and

SPECIALTY: Interior, exterior and themed

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 311

2022

2023

n

n

$120.79 million

Park & Eleazer Construction LLC 2363 Gulf to Bay

YEAR FOUNDED: 2010

PRINCIPALS: Andrew Park, managing partner; Forrest Eleazer, managing partner

SPECIALTY: Affordable housing/multifamily, automotive, grocery and retail, selfstorage, medical, nonprofit and office

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 66

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $110.64 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $121.52 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: The Adderley Apartments, Tampa, (128 units of affordable housing apartments)

ANDREW PARK

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Lamborghini Dealership of Naples

MICHAEL CANNON

Evermore

Lamborghini Dealership of Naples

Summit

100 S. Ashley Drive, Suite 320, Tampa, 33602 813-549-6060 • SummitDB.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2005

PRINCIPALS: Adam Miller, president; Glenn Miles, vice president of project management

SPECIALTY: Commercial, industrial, multifamily, adaptive reuse

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 65

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $54.37 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $120 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Taverna Toscana

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Nova Tallahassee, a 310,000-square-foot new construction residential building for student housing, with a lobby entry and shared amenity areas on the ground floor and a rooftop pool deck.

MICHAEL

D. HENLEY

APG Contractors and Engineers

4825 140th Ave. N., Clearwater, 33762 727-530-0077 • APG.company

YEAR FOUNDED: 1984

PRINCIPALS: Michael Henley, president; Christopher Johnson, executive vice president

SPECIALTY: Electrical contracting and engineering

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 378

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $93.38 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $113.44 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Tampa General Hospital, a 13-story surgical neuroscience and transplant pavilion.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: BayCare Wesley Chapel, a 320,000-square-foot, six-story freestanding hospital with 86 patient beds and a three-story medical arts building.

Stevens Construction Inc.

14541 Hope Center Loop, Suite 200, Fort Myers, 33912 239-936-9006 • StevensBuilds.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2003

PRINCIPALS: Mark Stevens, president; Dan Adams, partner and executive vice president

South Florida

SPECIALTY: Construction management of commercial and health care projects throughout Florida

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 65

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $125.56 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $114.36 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: New 122,000-square-foot campus for the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

MARK STEVENS

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Clive Daniel Home Fort Myers. Company transformed a vacant grocery and liquor store into a new showroom for the interior design company.

Wright Construction Group Inc.

5811 Youngquist Road, Fort Myers, 33912

239-481-5000 • WCGFL.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1946

PRINCIPALS: Fred Edman, president; Mitch Bueltel, CFO

SPECIALTY: Construction management, general contractor

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 58

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $103 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $106 million

FRED EDMAN

n LARGEST PROJECT: Three Oaks Parkway Extension Phase 1. Project is a roadway extension that includes the excavation of new lakes, a new drainage system, new lighting and a new box culvert covering the Fiddlesticks Canal.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Seminole Tribe of Florida Brighton Cultural Center. Project is construction of a three-building complex totaling 30,000 square feet. It includes a public library, a building dedicated to the Boys & Girls Club and a cultural center with craft rooms and a full kitchen.

ADAM MILLER

Nova Tallahassee

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Tampa General Hospital neuroscience and transplant pavilion

Seminole Tribe of Florida Brighton Cultural Center

ENVIROSTRUCT

26701 Dublin Woods Circle, Bonita Springs, 34135

239-494-5700 • Envirostruct.net

YEAR FOUNDED: 2009

PRINCIPALS: Neil Simon, president; Stephen McKenna Jr., vice president

SPECIALTY: Commercial general contractor, construction manager

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 61

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $76 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $105 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Estero Vista, a $35 million, 150-unit apartment complex with clubhouse and amenities.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Fort Myers

Porsche. A new Porsche Gen 5 prototype design with an 89,000-square-foot parking garage and glass tower display. It’s a $25 million project.

iConstructors LLC

201 N. Franklin St., Suite 200, Tampa, 33602

813-287-9000 • IConstructors.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2009

PRINCIPALS: Michael Montecalvo, co-president; Kevin Murphy, co-president

SPECIALTY: Commercial general contractor

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 70

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $80 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $92 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Tampa

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: A full remodel of the lobby of the class A office building at 100 N. Tampa St.

100 N. Tampa St. Class A office building lobby

LOCALLY OWNED TAX & ACCOUNTING ADVISORS

NEIL SIMON

MICHAEL MONTECALVO

Burlington, St. Petersburg

KEVIN MURPHY

McIntyre Elwell & Strammer General Contractors Inc.

1645 Barber Road, Sarasota, 34240 941-377-6800 • MESGC.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1987

PRINCIPALS: Mark T. Freeman, president; Ryan McIntyre, vice president

SPECIALTY: General contracting, construction management

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 73

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $90.8 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $90.7 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Bay Haven School of Basics, Sarasota

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: The Tides of Bay Village, a memory care facility in Bay Village in Sarasota. It’s a new 14-bed standalone facility, along with extensive interior renovations and additions at Bay Village’s existing campus. Project won a Senior Housing News Architectural and Design Award.

Sutter Roofing

8284 Vico Court, Sarasota, 34240 800-741-0090 • SutterRoofing.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1902

PRINCIPALS: Doug Sutter, president; Brad Sutter, executive vice president

SPECIALTY: Roofing

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 274

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $49.35 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $82.78 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Citi Tampa Headquarters reroof

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Citi Tampa Headquarters reroof

Bay To Bay Properties

201 Main St., Suite 300, Safety Harbor, 34695 727-483-9512 • BayToBayProperties.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2003

PRINCIPALS: Joe Faw, managing member; Kate Rogers, COO; Jerome Ciliento, managing member

SPECIALTY: Commercial contractors special -

izing in car wash, self-storage and fuel

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 60

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $80 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $90 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: JDA Life Self Storage in New Port Richey, a 113,112-square-foot, $9 million project.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Bubble Down Car Wash, Falkenburg Road, Tampa, a 17,076-square-foot, $4 million project.

TDS Construction Inc.

4239 63rd St. W., Bradenton, 34209 941-795-6100

TDSConstruction.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1987

PRINCIPALS: Christina Scherer

Bock, CEO; Terri Scherer, president

SPECIALTY: Retail

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 60

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $82.5 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $74.7 million

CHRISTINA SCHERER BOCK

n LARGEST PROJECT: An open-store remodel of a Target in Hiram, Georgia, an $8.2 million project.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Anna Maria Oyster Bar, University Parkway in east Manatee County. A complete demolition and rebuild of a 4,800-square-foot restaurant, including full commercial kitchen, new restrooms, outdoor patio with dining and a custom bar.

MARK T. FREEMAN

JOE FAW

The Tides of Bay Village memory care facility in Sarasota

Bubble Down Car Wash

DOUG SUTTER

Citi Tampa Headquarters reroof

Anna Maria Oyster Bar, University Parkway

A project means more than creating a structure; it’s about becoming part of your community. From meeting with school boards and creating models for student assemblies to explain what their school will look like, to designing safer police and fire stations with spaces for mental wellness, to intentionally hiring to develop a local workforce, we’re working to build and impact communities long term.

CFS Roofing Services LLC

16100 Lee Road, Fort Myers, 33912

239-561-2600 • CFSRoofing.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2009

PRINCIPALS: David Crowther, founder and president

SPECIALTY: Roofing, sheet metal

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 351

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $38 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $74.32 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Westshore Marina Apartments

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Aubrey Rogers High School in Naples. A 295,071-squarefoot new construction high school named for former Collier County Sheriff Aubrey Rogers. Company installed a Celcore Lightweight Concrete Deck.

Woodruff & Sons Inc. P.O. Box 10127, Bradenton, 34282 941-756-1871

WoodruffAndSons.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1946

PRINCIPALS: Donald Woodruff, president; Bruce Woodruff, vice president; Linda Wakeman, secretary/treasurer

SPECIALTY: Sanitary sewer installation, water transmission projects, storm drainage improvements, earth moving, site development, roadway and demolition projects, along with being a recycler and supplier of crushed concrete road base material

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 177

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $63.5 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $71 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Cortez

Master Lift Station 5. A $10.6 million design-build project in Bradenton.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: 44th

Avenue East Extension Bridge over the Braden River and Roadway Extension from 45th Street East to Interstate 75 in Bradenton. It’s a $57.7 million project.

Florida Asphalt & Concrete

1409 Tech Blvd., Suite 1, Tampa, 33619 813-623-6777 • FloridaAsphalt.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2018

PRINCIPALS: Chris LaFace, CEO & president

SPECIALTY: Asphalt and concrete contractor

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 120

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $51 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $71 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Project Channel/ State Road 52 Target Fulfillment Center

n PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: Completed Project Channel, also recognized as the State Road 52 Target Fulfillment Center, in January. Project is a 1.4-million-square-foot industrial facility that utilized more than 43,000 tons of asphalt and 3,600 cubic yards of concrete. Also completed Waterset Wolf Creek G in October 2023, a residential community in Apollo Beach. Project entailed using more than 10,000 tons of asphalt for roadways, along with the placement of more than 7,000 cubic yards of concrete for curbs and sidewalks.

TLC Diversified

2719 17th St. E., Palmetto, 34221 941-722-0621 • TLCDiv.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1985

PRINCIPALS: Dalas Lamberson, president

SPECIALTY: Water infrastructure contractor

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 112

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $48 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $68.3 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Upgrades for the Eastern Central Regional Headworks and Aeration Basin No. 5 in West Palm Beach. It’s a $25 million project.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Kermit H.

Lewin Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Facility, which will produce 4 million gallons of drinking water per day for the lower Florida Keys.

DALAS LAMBERSON

DAVID CROWTHER

CHRIS LAFACE

Aubrey Rogers High School

State Road 52 Target Fulfillment Center

DONALD WOODRUFF

Cortez

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Kermit

Burgess Civil

7816 Professional Place, Tampa, 33637

813-906-1350 • BurgessCivil.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2014

PRINCIPALS: Ben Burgess, owner

SPECIALTY: Sitework, roadway

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 140

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $44 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $58 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Pine Cone Street

Subdivision

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Pine Cone Street

Subdivision is a 50-acre site being developed into 213 single-family lots by William Ryan Homes.

Westfall Roofing

5413 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa, 33634 813-264-5690 • WestfallRoofing.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1989

PRINCIPALS: Ryan Westfall, founder; Kirk Westfall, president

SPECIALTY: Residential roofing

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 200

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $31.97 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $47.51 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: French Quarters condominiums in St. Petersburg

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Company removed the old roof, replaced bad decking and installed underlayment and shingles.

BJ’s Wholesale Club

R.E. Crawford Construction

6650 Professional Parkway W., Suite 100, Sarasota, 34240 941-907-0010 • RECrawford.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2005

PRINCIPALS: Jeff Smith, president; Utahna Smith, vice president

SPECIALTY: Commercial construction: retail, restaurant, automotive, office, medical, financial projects

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 42

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $41 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $54 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: $10.91 million

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: BJ’s Wholesale Club project that featured a 139,000-square-foot wholesale retail center.

Gator Grading & Paving

2704 105th St. E., Palmetto, 34221 941-751-3900 •.GatorGap.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2007

PRINCIPALS: Kevin Hicks, CEO and founding member; Ed Hicks, COO and founding member

SPECIALTY: Heavy highway and underground utilities contractor

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 115

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $49.6 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $44.9 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Moccasin Wallow-Interstate 75 and U.S. 301; segment from U.S. 301 to 115th Avenue East.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Wild Blue at Waterside in Lakewood Ranch. Underground utility contractor for Ryangolf Corp.

JEFF SMITH

RYAN WESTFALL

KEVIN HICKS

French Quarters condominiums

YEAR

n

Wallace

YEAR FOUNDED: 2003

PRINCIPALS:

SPECIALTY:

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 21

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $15 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $35 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: St. Luke’s

n

Adams Group

2221 Murphy Court, North Port, 34289 941-639-7188 • DiscoverAdams.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1978

PRINCIPALS: Ethan Adams, CEO; Maria Adams, vice president

SPECIALTY: Custom millwork and finishing

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 125

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $28.8 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $33.9 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood — Fourth Floor Family Birth Place

37

ETHAN ADAMS

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Selected as the sole fabricator and installation company on the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Venice Campus, SMH Venice is a five-story hospital with 110 patient beds, a 28-bed ER department and 10 labor and delivery suites.

Diaz Fritz Group General Contractors 13075 Telecom Parkway N., Temple Terrace, 33637 813-460-4015 • DiazFritz.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1985

PRINCIPALS: Delvis (Del) Diaz, CEO

SPECIALTY: Commercial general contracting specializing in senior housing, medical office buildings, behavioral health, retail strip centers, affordable housing and self-storage facilities and corporate interiors

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 28

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $26.56 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $31.73 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Meridian Senior Living — Punta Gorda

n PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: Meridian Senior Living includes independent living, assisted living and memory care. There are four multiple-story buildings, with a total of 136 units on six acres. Other portfolio projects include The Motor Enclave in Tampa; Baytown, a 30-unit, affordable, inclusive and supportive permanent housing community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and two projects for Evara Health.

Heatherwood Construction Co.

8880 Terrene Court, Bonita Springs, 34135 239-949-6855

HeatherwoodConstruction.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1980

PRINCIPALS: Walter Crawford, president and CEO

SPECIALTY: Commercial construction

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 33

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $45 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $32 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Windstar of the Bay Clubhouse Renovation

WALTER CRAWFORD

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Completed the renovation and expansion of the over 30,000-square-foot clubhouse at Windstar on the Bay in Naples. Project includes outdoor dining areas, a new state-of-the-art kitchen and new indoor and outdoor bars, as well as new bocce ball courts.

J.O. DeLotto and Sons Inc.

924 E. Busch Blvd., Tampa, 33612 813-935-2191 • DeLotto.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1946

PRINCIPALS: Craig Lamberson, CEO; Doug Littrell, president

SPECIALTY: General contracting, construction management and design build for commercial and master crafted residential

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 32

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $27.5 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $31.2 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: 5,000-squarefoot private residence build-out in a downtown Tampa luxury high-rise condominium.

38

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Thundercloud Gun Club. Project entailed improvements of 150 acres on a 3,000-acre parcel in Parrish, including a new clubhouse, cart barn, renovations to a historic lodge and two private residences with associated infrastructure.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital Venice

Windstar on the Bay

DEL DIAZ

CRAIG LAMBERSON

39

Thundercloud Gun Club

40

Meridian Senior Living — Punta Gorda

ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & Design

160 Pond Cypress Road, Unit B, Venice, 34292 941-488-8897 • ArtisTree.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1990

PRINCIPALS: Joe Gonzalez, CEO; Frank Fistner, president

SPECIALTY: Planned community, commercial maintenance and landscape design, installation

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 413

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $27.01 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $30.50 million

LARGEST PROJECT: Private residence built by Ross Built Custom Homes in The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch, a $547,420 landscape project for which ArtisTree handled landscape design, installation of irrigation, underground drainage system, hardscapes, plant material, sod and LED lighting.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: A tear-down redo project built by Talon Home Builders in the Sanderling Club on Siesta Key. Besides landscape design, irrigation and LED lighting, ArtisTree gave special attention to plantings that would thrive in the natural setting of the club’s community and withstand a demanding coastal environment.

Jon F. Swift Construction

2221 Eighth St., Sarasota, 34237 941-951-6100 • JonSwiftInc.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1979

PRINCIPALS: Jason Swift, president; Jon Swift, CEO

SPECIALTY: Construction management and general contracting

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 22

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $39 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $30 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: The Bay Sarasota

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: The Bay Sarasota project includes implementation of a campus master plan for the public-private partnership consisting of a renovation to the existing 10

Mark Williams Construction Co.

8191 Blaikie Court, Sarasota, 34240 941-378-2477 • MWCFlorida.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2003

PRINCIPALS: Mark Williams and Matt Allen

SPECIALTY: Post-tension concrete

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 100-plus

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $18 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $30 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Peninsula Residences

n PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: The Peninsula Residences project features two 10-story post-tension towers in the Golden Gate Point neighborhood in Sarasota. It began in June 2023 and was topped out in February.

MARK WILLIAMS

42

The Peninsula Residences

J2 Solutions Inc.

779 Commerce Drive, Suite 1, Venice, 34292 941-492-3266 • J2SolutionsInc.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2001

PRINCIPALS: David Fouche, executive vice president and co-owner; Jess Fronckowiak, president and founder

SPECIALTY: Commercial and health care

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 48

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $30.43 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $25.96 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: The Bridge Church new campus on River Road in Venice.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: HCA — Florida

South Tampa Hospital. Handled an exterior modernization project, which consisted of all new exterior façade cladding, new dropoff canopy, new hardscape and upgrades to the entrances at the main entrance and emergency room.

JOE GONZALEZ

JASON SWIFT

DAVID FOUCHE

The Bay Sarasota

42

The

JESS

Masonry Builders Inc. 5012 W. Cypress St.,Tampa, 33607

813-286-4707

MasonryBuilders.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1988

PRINCIPALS: Thomas Bradley, president; Todd Bradley, vice president

SPECIALTY: Masonry

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 150

2022 GROSS REVENUE:

$20.5 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $24.95 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: The Quay

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: The Quay in downtown Sarasota, a 12-story structure with limited access due to its location.

Magnum Builders of Sarasota Inc.

201 Fletcher Ave., Suite 120, Sarasota, 34237

941-351-5560 • MagnumBuilders.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1983

PRINCIPALS: Michael Baltzer, president; Clint Riley, vice president

SPECIALTY: Commercial general contractor, construction management and design-build

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 18

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $12.19 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $24.58 million

n LARGEST PROJECT:

Venice Theatre Fly Loft Construction, an $18.1 million project.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Magnum Builders is teaming up with DeAngelis Diamond on the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Terminal Expansion project, which will add five gates to the airport’s concourse B gates. It’s a $102 million project.

TODD BRADLEY

CLINT RILEY

The Quay

Venice Theatre Fly Loft

Absolute Aluminum Inc.

1220 Ogden Road, Venice, 34285 941-497-7777

AbsoluteAluminum.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1988

PRINCIPALS: Dale Desjardins Jr., CEO; Adam Rankin, president

SPECIALTY: Outdoor living

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 105

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $19.1 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $23.24 million

DALE DESJARDINS JR.

n LARGEST PROJECT: Absoview pool enclosure, concrete, StruXure pergola, outdoor kitchen and electrical work, a project worth nearly $320,000.

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: A 971-square-foot Absoview enclosure, featuring a 207-square-foot single-zone

StruXure louvered pergola.

Stellar Development

59 Sarasota Center Blvd., Sarasota, 34240 941-907-9577 • StellarGC.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2007

PRINCIPALS: Maurice Opstal, president; Brian Ellis, vice president; Trey Aria, director of field operations

SPECIALTY: General contracting, construction manager and design-build

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 20

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $22 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $22 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Hampton Road condominium

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Hampton Road condo in downtown Sarasota, a four-story private residence with a rooftop pool and entertainment area.

Case Contracting Co.

2311 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City, 33566 813-754-3477

CaseContractingCompany.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1983

PRINCIPALS: Timothy Walker Jr., president; Matt Melanson, vice president

SPECIALTY: General contractors

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 24

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $21.14 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $22.83 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Walmart remodel in Miami Gardens

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: Miami

TIMOTHY WALKER JR.

Gardens Walmart Supercenter is a 215,000-square-foot remodel with a 5,000-square-foot expansion for online grocery pickup.

Walmart Supercenter in Miami Gardens

48

Superior Pools of Southwest Florida

517 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, 33953 941-743-7171 • SuperiorPools.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 2001

PRINCIPALS: Jon Krawczyk, owner

SPECIALTY: New construction pools and complete renovations

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES: 50

2022 GROSS REVENUE: $24.5 million

2023 GROSS REVENUE: $21.3 million

n LARGEST PROJECT: Creedon residence

n PORTFOLIO PROJECT: The focal point is a hand-crafted rock grotto waterfall, along with three sheer descents to add to the visual and auditory aesthetics. Includes a large sunshelf, bubblers, flush planters with rock and landscape and spa with cascading rock spillway.

Toguchi residence

47

MAURICE

JON KRAWCZYK

Hampton Road project in Sarasota

49

Creedon

27 YEARS OF GROWTH

Florida Gulf Coast University

Since 1997, Florida Gulf Coast University has been turning ideas into impact for the benefit of the community that built the university.

We create a pipeline of teachers and nurses, social workers and scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs. Our students contribute to the community through volunteer work and become engaged citizens. They intern at local businesses and eventually start their own.

Our graduates are your accountants, physical therapists, construction managers, justice seekers, policymakers and much more.

Established to fill a demand for comprehensive higher education in Southwest Florida, FGCU was initially geared toward nontraditional learners, distance learners and commuting students from Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. Eventually, the campus evolved into a more traditional university with over 4,700 students living in FGCU housing. We now draw students from all over Florida, across the United States and abroad.

In the 27 years since its inception, FGCU has grown into a thriving community, educating more than 16,000 students annually and graduating more than 45,000 alumni. Nearly half of our graduates stay in the area, putting their knowledge, skills and talents to work to benefit the community and the regional economy.

The university has an undeniable impact on the growth, health and prosperity of the community we serve, contributing roughly $600 million annually to the region’s economy. That community has always looked at FGCU as its university. Whether serving as a cultural hub with more than 150 arts events each year or as “the home team”

with 15 collegiate Division I athletics programs, FGCU influences daily life in Southwest Florida.

RESEARCH BENEFITING SWFL

Beyond our economic and cultural influence, our ever-growing achievements in research and scholarship contribute new knowledge in many fields. Since opening, FGCU has been awarded $345 million in research funding.

The Water School at FGCU focuses research on areas critical to our water-driven world, including climate change, natural resources, ecosystem health and well-being, restoration and remediation. Professors from many disciplines are affiliated with the school to bring diverse perspectives on the ways water impacts our lives.

Additionally, the university’s entrepreneurship programs have earned national distinction while preparing graduates to innovate and lead businesses that contribute to the economy.

FOCUS ON ACADEMICS

Academic excellence begins with an investment in outstanding faculty. A current focus on establishing more endowed faculty chairs will assist in recruiting outstanding national and international leaders in their academic disciplines. They, in turn, become in-demand sources of expertise for the community.

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, FGCU offers 64 undergraduate, 26 master’s, seven doctoral and 17 certificate programs. Our leadership and faculty partner with community leaders to build academic and professional programs such as micro-credentials, helping meet the

needs of the regional workforce and fuel economic growth.

FGCU continues to innovate new ways to expand this foundation through initiatives that target key regional sectors such as construction, supply chain, healthcare, tourism and hospitality.

TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY

Although 59% of our graduates leave FGCU with no debt, many would not be able to achieve their dreams of a college degree without financial assistance. Nearly half of all students receive merit-based scholarships, and 66% receive financial aid.

Scholarships, paid internships and research stipends funded by donors allow students to focus on academics and enjoy the full college experience. To help make this happen, the FGCU Foundation awarded a record $6.2 million in scholarships in 2022-23. Investing in our students means investing in the future of your healthcare, businesses, lifestyle and environment.

LEADERSHIP & FUTURE

FGCU’s fifth president, Aysegul Timur, Ph.D., took office in July 2023 and spearheaded the development of a new strategic plan guiding the university through the next five years. Timur joined the university in 2019. Before being confirmed as president, she served as vice president and vice provost for strategy and program innovation at FGCU.

Timur is widely known for building collaborative teams of university and community stakeholders to implement strategic initiatives, including workforce alignments. This includes launching FGCU’s micro-credentials and digital badges initiative, which enhances the rigor of existing academic programs while being responsive to the ever-changing needs of the business community.

With visionary leadership like this, FGCU will continue to turn ideas into impact in Southwest Florida for years to come.