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SWFBT: THE EDISON AWARDS INNOVATION EDITION Vol. 17, No. 8 / JUNE 2024 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
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Disaster Services
In this issue, we discuss hurricanes and other kinds of potential disasters business owners may face.
Edison Awards
See the 4-page center pullout inside for more details about the conference. Other Edison Awards stories appear throughout this edition. Photos for the entire event by Alyssa Ringler. All photography is copyright of the Edison Awards.
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Brady Photos by Christine trade to the Southof international about the importance Development offices. Buqueras talks Economic Director Carlos the Lee County first-ever stop at Port Manatee Executive during the Port’s west Florida market
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A comprehensive a quarterly Southsection that is Real Eswest Florida Commercial
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Dave Gammon elevated Charlotte EDO director
visit Fort Myers
Special to SWFBT
tate market overview.
in the wake of Charlotte County, joinLucienne Pears former director Partners at Babcock ing Kitson and former Business Ranch, elevated and interim Recruitment Supervisor to executive director Dave Gammon Economic Developdirector of the ment Office. face in reGammon is a familiar he development as gional economic three years with his has proven in EDO. Charlotte County continue leading He is excited to like developments several existing page 19
Florida to communities in second one of four host as part of the Lee County was from seven countries welcome companiesTrade Summit. Manatee, annual International International Trade Hub at Port Fort Lauseries visited Organized by The Business opportunity a and Tampa for one day the 2019 Global Bradenton/Sarasot derdale, Fort Myers,to 29. 26 Office, Southwest each from Aug. ReEconomic Development and the Southwest The Lee County Chamber of Commerce the event, which Florida Hispanic Association co-hosted gional Manufacturers Gulf Railway. Chile, Colombia, was sponsored Seminole from Argentina, Peru and other locales International companies Mexico, Spain, goods, apparel, artisanal El Salvador, Guatemala, systems food, coffee, fruits, featured wine, snack state-of-the-art cooking and to merchandise companies Lee County industryof founded as part summit showcases Port Manatee, during the summit. and An expo-style from seven nations Trade Hub at markets in Florida and business leaders visiting Summit. The International International Trade advice as a vital link between provides expert See page 6 the second annual in 2014, serves world. The hub TRADE the throughout
GAMMON See
Privacy & Cyber Security Forum announced
& Cyber SeA special Privacy held on Friwill be at curity Forum 9 a.m. to noon day, Nov. 8, fromNews Community the Naples Daily room. Companies will William C. Huff and insponsor the informational for the community. teractive forum forum is for atThe goal of the clearer undera tendees to gain keep their famito standing of how businesses private. lies, wealth and page 18 FORUM See
NEURS
SALUTE TO ENTREPRE for growthand Intermediary ss Advisors poised Proa Certified Business Mergers & Acquisitions transaction experiEdison Busine the IBBA ap- Certified designations from ence totaling partner and
in fi$170 fessional a Eric Gall, managing with a concentration proximately for Edison Avenue, won and an MBAthe University of Michigan. broker of record brokerage and lower million. Gall transactions and nance from leading business Gall in business the 2018, 2016 and acquisitions Niehaus, Bro- Assisting middle market mergers Pfeffer, Steven 2014 Business significant changes No. 1 are Michael and Phillip Reda. Adfirm, is announcing kers of Florida Edward Valaitis Business to operations. Top Dollar Producer to rebrand itself Pfeffer joins Edison of business The firm has decided over 20 years Award for Southwest Advisors” to better out visors with experience, including 12 as “Edison Business service offerings, Florida, beating busi- transactionbusiness brokerage franchise communicate addedbusiness appraisals, Gall a over 90 other He is years as Southwest Florida. Pfeffer is a including certified appraisals and certiness brokers. in Brokers owner Certified Intermediary, Certified certified equipment International Business 6 and Board fied exit strategies. mergers and acquisi- also an EDISON See page Chairman’s Circle holds and Association Eric Brokerage led by Award winner. continue to be tions efforts will 20 years of business Deal Maker Gall. He has over OPENING
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Hoffmann Family buys Hertz Arena, Everblades
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The Hoffmann Family of Companies has entered into an agreement to purchase the Florida Everblades and the Hertz Arena. Plans are underway for a complete renovation of the 8,284-seat, multipurpose arena. The improvements will include enhanced skyboxes, food services and installation of a state-ofthe-art scoreboard. Hertz Arena, which opened in 1998 as Everblades Arena, hosts a variety of events including concerts, Cirque du Soleil, Disney on Ice, boxing and trade shows. The venue offers
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Area companies are building a better future — one made right here in Southwest Florida.
25 suites, two additional ice rinks, a private club and a pub, Breakaway Sports Pub. The arena is also home to the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles club hockey team of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. “We are optimistic that all of the 330 employees will remain with the Hoffmann Family of Companies,” said Craig Brush, Florida Everblades President and General Manager, who signed a five-year contract and has a commitment from all his senior staff to remain in place. “We are thrilled to be acquired by
A specially focused monthly section exploring the SWFL commercial real estate marketplace.
IN THE NEWS
Fort Myers sixth Business Summit slated for Sept. 20
Holly Bell addresses citrus growers about the 25,000-plus uses for industrial hemp, which can now be grown legally in Florida
Cannabis chief promises rich stash for hemp growers Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Jacob Ogles, Editor
SUMMIT See page 7
When other states started authorizing farmers to grow hemp, it didn’t take long to realize there was no place to sell it. Because no structures had been put in place for processing and manufacturing plants, state officials found themselves rushing a regulatory structure through so farmers could offload their first harvests. Holly Bell, Florida’s first Director of Cannabis, plans to learn from that mistake. She said the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will make sure all parts of the burgeoning hemp industry can move forward as soon as new rules unroll later this fall. “When our farmers are ready for a cash flow, we want to encourage them to get going,” she said.
Applications being accepted for the 25th Blue Chip Award The 25th Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award application deadline is fast approaching. The Blue Chip Community Business Award recognizes successful, small businesses in Lee, Collier or Charlotte County that have overcome adversity to achieve success. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 4. The independent judges select the honoree after all the applications AWARD See page 19
Bell spoke in August at the Citrus Expo and Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo, where growers from around the region gathered to hear her discuss this new and just recently legal product to diversify their inventory. Just a few years ago, there were no legal reasons to grow cannabis in Florida. Now, medical marijuana dispensaries pop up in more shopping centers each week. Soon, farmers will grow non-narcotic hemp crops. With the 2018 federal farm bill allowing hemp to grow, a budding industry will soon emerge in Florida. The Legislature this year authorized a pilot program for growing hemp in the Sunshine State, and state officials are nearly done weeding through a stack of public suggestions.
GrowFL announced this year’s 50 Florida Companies to Watch honorees, including three from Southwest Florida. Companies to Watch is a statewide competition that identifies companies expected to see significant growth over the next several years. The GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards program—now in its ninth year—honors 50 select second-stage companies from throughout Florida for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout Florida. Chosen from 500 growing second-stage nominations from throughout, Florida, the 50 companies named as the 2019 Florida Companies to Watch honorees generated nearly $1 billion in revenue and added over 900 jobs between 2015 and 2018. Together, the honorees project a 35 percent increase in revenue and 37 percent increase in job growth in 2019 compared to 2018. “These stand-out companies are all led by entrepreneurs, and have demonstrated their capacity and intent to grow,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, GrowFL executive director. “They also all have critical intellectual property or a niche position that gives them a competitive edge in their markets,” he said. Local honorees include: Cottrell Title & Escrow, Collier County; Mettauer Environmental, Lee County; and VeraData, Lee County . “This list recognizes second-stage Florida companies with passionate leaders who are making a difference in growing and diversifying our economy,” said Jennifer Barrows, GrowFL Chairman of the GrowFL Advisory Board and Business Development Executive with WithumSmith+Brown, PC. Second-stage companies are those
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GrowFL announces statewide honorees
HOT CROP Commercial Real Estate
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has announced an exciting line-up for its 2019 Business Summit, set for Sept. 20. The summit, now in its sixth year, will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers. This year’s keynote address is “Communicate Your Way to Success,” by entrepreneur, business coach and international speaker Jason Evers. Evers has traveled to more than 20 countries on five continents
such a prestigious company. Our partnership with the Hertz Corporation and now this new ownership ensures that Hertz Arena will maintain our strong community presence and continue to be the number one choice for entertainment in Southwest Florida.” The team and the arena were previously owned by Peter Karmanos, founder of Compuware Corporation and prior majority owner of the Carolina Hurricanes in the National Hockey League. “Simply put, without the support of
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Estate A specially section exploringfocused monthly mercial real estate the SWFL commarketplace. IN THE NEWS Collier names Pelican as ‘Business of the Wire Month’
During the July 9 Collier County Commission Wire was named meeting, Pelican ty ‘Business of the Collier Counthe Month’ and recognized by was the a manufacturing Board for being County for over leader in Collier 40 years. Pelican Wire President Ted Bill, who received the are truly honored award, said “We Collier County to be named the Month’ for July.‘Business of the Since moving AWARD See page
Gov. DeSantis announces job growth grants
4
Gov. Ron DeSantis the Florida Departmentannounced of Economic Opportunity Florida are acceptingand Enterprise economic development project proposals for the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. $40 million is available to fund training and public job projects that support infrastructure growth and employment in Florida. “We know the frastructure projects importance inand workforce training has on economic development,” said DeSantis. “The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will help Florida communities ensure they GRANTS See page
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Dr. Sandra Kauanui (left) and Noemi Ailynee Ramirez, Y. Perez (right) Jessica Sales, with - TIF Shark Daisy Montanez, Tank winners Swap
Alondra Estrada Young entrepr eneurs share
& Shop team- Neika
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Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Noemi Y. Perez Southwest Florida tion’s business-themedstudents in The Immokalee Foundasummer camp entrepreneurial recently shared ideas their Tank event modeled and garnered awards during a Shark The four-week after the popular TV show. was a partnership Business Management Pathway Coast University’sbetween the foundation and Floridacamp Gulf developed businessInstitute for Entrepreneurship . among them: finding plans that solved problems Students common clothes on a budget; centric finances; handling studentñera; and findinggetting better sleep; planning a quincearestaurants suitable stricted diets. for people with reStudent teams gave presentations about ences, startup costs, their target audiprojected profits, other aspects of marketing entrepreneurial plans and Dr. Sandra Kauanui, enterprises at iTECH mokalee. Judges FGCU Director for of Entrepreneurshi in Im- spoke during the event. Smart Companies the presentations were: Brian p, Rist, The Smart Companies executive chairman; Sofia Blanno, gram allows shoppers to arrange tor of corporate intern; and Matthew Turner, Hertz The through social an app, then physically to buy, sell or swap items direcFirst place awards responsibility. central location exchange those of $500 each went in Immokalee. items at a Shop team of Neika to the Swap & MentorUs, an Exulus, Jessica app that encourages Daisy Montanez Sales, Alondra students to make and Ailynee Ramirez. Estrada, smart financial decisions, interested in dressing earned second place Aimed at students for team members of $250 each fashionably on Alex Soriano, a budget, the pro- ie Etienne, Azael Simon-Quirino Je’an Espinoza, Myrlandand Simson Devesaint.
Fort Myers Mayor
Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Karen P. Moore,
launches Diversi ty Committee
SHARK See page
more inclusive city. Publisher Student Hailey Countryman asked her employer, Sanibel Captiva “It is never too the Mayor if he munity Bank, Comlate to give up had to FGCU’s College on diversity whom a team of advisors Education. your prejudices.” of Henry David Thoreau for guidance. Since he could rely on said, “We In a recent interview she can’t really say the answer to that question was no, we are trying to be at that moment Fort Myers Mayor derson felt inspired Hen- residents representative of our city’s Randy Henand community derson has known a team. Ndiang’ui to create just such have diversity if we Florida Gulf wanted to make Coast University on the council don’t sure the Mayor itself.” She explained was prepared for ter Ndiang’ui for professor Dr. Pe- road ahead the its 18 membersthe committee drew about 10 years and asked him, was a guest speaker and from the commu“Are in his class, “In- really able to handle the truth?” you nity, representing troduction to Diversity,” diversity project moved The ethnicity, forward. in Novemgender and sexualin race, ber. Henderson Beth Countryman, asked students Hailey’s moth- tity. “We can’t be a committee idenhe could do to what er, became make Fort Myers up of old white made involved with men and think the project, going a which led to we are a $25,000 donation to be in charge of diversity.” from DIVERSITY See page 11 Payment Plans Available • Discounted Merchandise Parking Options Discount • Presale • Private Parties & Exclusive Gifts on Hertz Arena Concerts & Family Shows Buy Any 19/20 & Get A $20 Membership Pack FORD’S GIFT & ‘BLADES TOTE CARD BAG Valid on any NEW full, voucher
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FloridaCommerce announces Southwest Florida labor force up
FloridaCommerce announced the Southwest Florida labor force increased by 6,287 over the year in March. The Fort Myers area labor force grew by 2,773 over the year in March, a 0.7% increase, and the Naples area labor force increased by 3,514 over the year, a 1.8% increase. The Naples area had a 3.1% unemployment rate in March 2024, a 0.6-point increase over
The 2024 Edison Awards announced the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners, as well as the Edison Achievement Awards honorees, at the gala held at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers. Pictured above are 2024 Horizon Council Chair Guido Minaya (left) and 2024 Horizon Foundation Chair Mark Stevens, welcoming 450 guests to the 37th annual Edison Awards event.
Experiencing Earthlight — as ‘given’ by the Edison Awards
Special to SWFBT Submitted by Karen P. Moore, Publisher
Dr. Sian Proctor is one five inductees into the 2024 Lewis Latimer Fellows. The Edison Awards introduced this accelerator program in 2022 for black innovators with the passion and dedication to innovation that Lewis Latimer represented. Latimer was the inventor of the modern-day air conditioning concept and he also worked for many years alongside Thomas Edison, contributing in many ways to Edison’s innovations. “In 2021, I wrote a poem called ‘Space To Inspire.’ And
because of that poem, I won a contest, and that got me that ultimate dream, that ‘golden ticket’ to space. One of the most unique moments in my life was when I took the SpaceX Dragon capsule into space and I became the first Black woman to pilot a spaceship,” she said. Proctor is a geoscience professor with Maricopa Community College in Arizona. She was the mission pilot for SpaceX Inspiration 4, the first all-civilian orbital mission. She is the first female and African American woman to be a commercial astronaut spaceship pilot. She uses her love of human spaceflight EDISON See page 4
Guadalupe Center celebrates Tutor Corps Class of 2024
From Florida Gulf Coast University to the Ivy League, dozens of high school graduates from Immokalee are poised to begin their higher education journeys. Guadalupe Center’s Tutor Corps Class of 2024 can count on millions of dollars in financial support from community supporters, college partnerships and their own hard work. The 31 Tutor Corps graduates col-
IN THE NEWS
the year. Fort Myers area unemployment rate was 3.4% in March, up 0.4 point over the year. Additionally, the Fort Myers area’s private sector employment grew by 1,800 jobs (up 0.7%) over the year in March 2024. The Fort Myers area industries gaining the most jobs over the year were construction, increasing by 2,400 jobs, and government, increasing by 1,600 jobs. The Naples area private sector em-
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lectively earned $4.3 million in scholarship and grant offers to attend institutions such as Florida Gulf Coast University, the University of Florida, Columbia, Northeastern and Stanford; one graduate is enlisting in the U.S. Marines Corps. Since 2004, every Tutor Corps student has completed high school and been accepted to college, with 94% ul-
ployment increased by 3,600 jobs (up 2.3%) over the year in March 2024. The Naples area industries gaining the most jobs over the year were construction, increasing by 800 jobs; and leisure and hospitality, increasing by 800 jobs. Florida’s private sector job growth rate continues to outpace the nation. Florida’s private sector job growth rate increased by 2.1% (up 179,800 jobs) over the year in March, faster than the
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LABOR See page 6
timately earning a college degree. “This is my favorite night of the year,” said Guadalupe Center President and CEO Dawn Montecalvo. “As each student crosses the stage, it’s our future going by. Tutor Corps is not just a scholarship program.” Tutor Corps students work as tutors with younger students attending TUTOR See page 18
BUSINESS NOTES SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Accommodation Option While a SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is not forgivable, business owners can quickly and easily find out if they are eligible for a Hardship Accommodation by calling (800) 659-2955 or by signing into their account and going to the Hardship Accommodation link for more information.