Southwest Florida

FLORIDATREND.COM JUNE 2021 Southwest Florida

38 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT WORKING IN PARADISE

Among the Southwest Florida region’s five counties – Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee – you’ll find thriving businesses and local economies, homes and business locations at all price points, and communities that care deeply about preserving their natural attributes. Shop, visit a museum or take in a show in Naples, Fort Myers or Punta Gorda. Enjoy sunsets on the beach, any beach. Explore Everglades National Park or Big Cypress National Preserve. Cast a line in Lake Okeechobee or paddle the Peace River. Experience the island life of Sanibel, Captiva, Marco or Pine. Whatever your idea of paradise is, Southwest Florida likely offers it.

By Nancy Dahlberg

FLORIDATREND.COM JUNE 2021 39 Southwest Florida

Counties at Downtown a Glance Naples

CHARLOTTE Population: 189,910 10-year population growth: 18.1% Median household income: $51,499 Largest industries: Business and professional services, health care, hospitality, transportation/logistics Big employers: Bayfront Health, Cheney Brothers

COLLIER Population: 384,902 10-year population growth: 19.7% Median household income: $69,653 WEATHER, WATER AND WAY OF Largest industries: Hospitality, real estate, health care, financial LIFE: THE RIGHT CLIMATE FOR services, agriculture Big employers: Arthrex, Moorings Park, NCH Healthcare System BUSINESS

GLADES Southwest Florida embodies the best more amenities for their bucks. And Population: 13,811 of what the Sunshine State has to yes, the sunshine helps, too. 10-year population growth: 7.2% offer: gorgeous beaches and coastlines Median household income: $40,977 to soothe the soul, incredible parks While Southwest Florida has always Largest industries: Agriculture and and preserves to get away from it been known as a great place to agriculture-related industries all, and cities and towns alive with retire – and it is – more families with Big employers: Sugarland arts and culture, but without the children are moving in, and counties Harvesting, Wedgworth congestion of the state’s larger metro are reporting that more of their young HENDRY areas. people are staying in or returning Population: 42,022 to their communities. The median 10-year population growth: 7.4% “People move down here for the three age has been declining in several of Median household income: $40,820 W’s – the weather, the water and the counties, and the municipalities Largest industries: Agriculture and the way of life,” says Harlan Parrish, are responding with more housing agriculture-related industries FineMark National Bank & Trust’s options priced for young families, new Big employers: U.S. Sugar, Big president for Lee County. amenities geared to the younger age Cypress Casino, R&R Harvesting group – such as the Paradise Coast It’s a way of life that is enhanced Sports Complex that recently opened LEE by strong business communities, in Naples, and craft breweries that Population: 770,577 local governments that care deeply are popping up in every county. More 10-year population growth: 24.7% about their residents, and economies resources for entrepreneurs are also Median household income: $57,832 that continue to grow despite the available, as millennials and Gen Zers Largest industries: Real estate, unprecedented challenges of the past start their own businesses. construction, hospitality and retail, year. If anything, the pandemic has medical device manufacturing accelerated a flight to quality of life, Real estate and tourism, traditional Big employers: Lee Health, Chico’s as the region is seeing an influx of sectors of strength in much of the FAS, Hertz, Herc Rentals families and businesses. Each in their state, are also strong in Southwest SOURCES: U.S. Census data (2019); own way, the counties of Southwest Florida. Agriculture is huge in Hendry, county economic development Florida – Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Glades and Collier counties, where officials Hendry and Lee – offer qualities of you can drive by hundreds of acres of easier living, whether people are vegetable row crops, citrus, sugarcane looking for lower costs of living or and many other fruits and vegetables.

40 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT “People are moving inland, and we are excited to have 27 75 N good jobs for them.” 41 78 – Jennifer Koukos, Punta Gorda Port Charlotte Palmdale Chief Communications Officer, Glades Airport GLADES Electric Cooperative COUNTY Lake Punta Gorda Okeechobee CHARLOTTE 29 COUNTY Moore Haven “We have made the turn in LaBelle the economy, and business is North Fort Myers 80 Clewiston booming, if you will, for many.” LEE Fort Myers COUNTY HENDRY - Garrett Richter, 82 COUNTY former Florida State Senator Southwest Florida Sanibel & Immokalee Bonita International Captiva Islands Airport “We’re a balanced Springs community — we’re a great 29 place to work, live and play, Gulf of Mexico Naples and I think that is special.” Municipal Naples 75 - Danny Nix, President, Economic Development COLLIER Partnership of Charlotte County, and COUNTY Commercial Realtor FLA Marco Island 41

The region is seeing a lot of interest AREA from manufacturing and distribution OF DETAIL companies that are being priced out of

Southeast Florida or other parts of the RUSSELL MAP TERESANNE country; indeed, Hendry and Glades tout their location in the center of everything. Emerging sectors including medical arts. Business initiatives like and water quality in Southwest technology and aviation are bringing higher Horizon Council in Lee County Florida is a top priority, with efforts paying jobs to the coastal region. and the Economic Development such as the 2020 Conservation Partnership of Charlotte County Program in Lee County, where a The region’s three coastal counties are bring businesses, residents and portion of tax dollars is used to among the fastest growing in the state. In other stakeholders to the same purchase and preserve land. It’s Southwest Florida there’s a strong sense table, and Future Ready Collier also the reason Florida Gulf Coast of community you don’t find in a lot of gathers about 60 organizations to University is opening a Water places, says Julie Schmelzle, senior VP of focus on education. In response to School. “The west coast of Florida is Commercial Banking for Bank of America. the devastating pandemic, group very much the natural coast, and we “When there’s a problem that could impair efforts like the SWFL Resiliency have been very protective of that,” our ability to be the great place we want to Compact quickly mobilized. There says Lucienne Pears, VP of Economic continue to be, the community leaders are is also a plethora of services and and Business Development at very connected,” she says. “People just get organizations for our veterans – Babcock Ranch. to work.” in Charlotte County and Collier County, veterans make up 23% Industries, ongoing development The sense of community comes through in and 27% of their populations, and educational resources power the wealth of philanthropy that supports respectively. the region’s growth, while community foundations and hundreds amenities make the Southwest of nonprofits in social services and the Preserving the pristine environment Florida quality of life attractive.

FLORIDATREND.COM JUNE 2021 41 Southwest Florida

EmCyte is a regenerative medicine company WHERE ARE THE TECH JOBS? with a Fort Myers HQ. THINK HEALTH CARE

Much of the technology sector in Southwest doctors reinject them into patients who want Florida is clustered around medical to defer having joint replacement surgeries or technologies, including health care technology, are recovering from sports-related injuries. biotech and medical device makers. LENKBAR: Lenkbar invents, designs The growing cluster is anchored by Naples- and manufactures surgical devices and based Arthrex, a global orthopedic medical implants that simplify surgery for physicians device company that employs 4,000 people and improve patient outcomes. The Naples in Southwest Florida. This year, the Bill and company, a GrowFL honoree that was founded Julia Van Domelen Foundation awarded in 2012 with just three employees, recently NCH Healthcare System a gift of $5.7 million. expanded into a 20,000-square-foot facility NeoGenomics, a leading provider of cancer- near the Naples airport. focused genetic testing services (see spotlight), is another large player. There are many other CATALYST ORTHOSCIENCE: Based in Naples, companies developing. Catalyst OrthoScience develops innovative medical solutions that make orthopedic EMCYTE: EmCyte, founded and run by Patrick surgery less invasive and more efficient for Pennie, is a regenerative medicine company. both surgeons and patients. Catalyst was According to recent media reports, the founded in 2014 by orthopedic surgeon Dr. company has moved into a new headquarters Steven Goldberg. in Fort Myers, employs 40 to 45 employees, and manufactures PurePRP, a device that extracts HEALTHME: This Naples-based stem cells and then concentrates them before startup’s patient-centric approach and

42 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT WELCOME TO A NEW KIND OF HOMETOWN Live in a place where you can walk to work, the coffee shop, and even the doctor’s office. Where parks and trails keep you connected to the land, and community-wide WiFi keeps you in tune with the world.

What is a new kind of Hometown? It’s innovation, technology and sustainability creating a life only imagined before, now being enjoyed to the fullest.

DIRECTIONS FROM 1-75: Take Exit 143 for FL-78E Head East on FL-78 E/Bayshore Rd. - 3.3 miles Turn left onto Babcock Ranch Rd. - 4.5 miles Turn right onto Lake Babcock Dr. - 1.0 mile

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©2021 Babcock Ranch. Broker participation is welcome. Prices, plans, specifications and community design are subject to change. Oral representations cannot be relied upon as correctly stating the representations of the developer. For correct information regarding Babcock Ranch, interested parties should refer to written materials provided by the developer, legislative acts related to Babcock Ranch and the covenants and restrictions of the Babcock Ranch Residential Association, Inc. The information provided above is not intended to be an offering and should be considered as informational only. Southwest Florida

NeoGenomics HQ in Fort Myers

technology-enabled software platform NeoGenomics, Global and Local allow medical practices to offer transparently priced bundles for direct- pay patients. NeoGenomics is a global cancer diagnostics and pharma services company serving oncologists, pathologists, pharmaceutical companies, academic Technology jobs outside the health centers and others. care field are being generated from established players in Southwest Florida, Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Fort Myers, the publicly traded economic development leaders say. The company generated $444 million in revenues last year. It employs about 1,800 locally based retailer Chico’s and the globally and 300 to 350 people in Southwest Florida, says Helen Edenfield, global tech consultancy Gartner have NeoGenomic’s global director of operations excellence. large technology groups here. Southwest In Southwest Florida, NeoGenomics employs its executive group, Ph.D.s and Florida economic development leaders pathologists, lab technologists, accounting and HR staff, IT staff including are seeing more technology startups. developers, logistics workers, billing coders, facilities workers, and health and safety staff. CIGENT: Based in Fort Myers, this cybersecurity company is focused on Fortunately, NeoGenomics will soon have room to grow. It is building a keeping data safe. Its advanced endpoint 150,000-square-foot headquarters facility, visible from I-75. The new building, and managed network security solutions with a move-in date planned around September, will double the space the prevent ransomware and data theft, company currently occupies in five buildings. even in a post-breach environment. As a global company with an appreciation of its home community, FIELDEDGE: Based in Fort Myers, NeoGenomics was intentional about hiring local, even for its building. “About FieldEdge provides field service 95% of the build is all local contractors. It’s about keeping the dollars in management software to efficiently Southwest Florida as much as possible,” Edenfield says. track and manage customers, dispatches, With Florida Gulf Coast University, NeoGenomics is developing a molecular service history and more. training program to attract and retain its graduates through in-house training. “Our current East Coast lab director is a graduate of FGCU. We’ve had many FLIGHTDOCS: Based in Bonita Springs, graduates come to our organization and thrive.” Florida SouthWestern State Flightdocs offers aviation management College has also helped NeoGenomics with job training programs, and the software for aircraft maintenance company is starting a STEM program in Dunbar High School. NeoGenomics tracking, inventory management and also works with the Girl Scouts to promote STEM education. flight operations.

44 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT Charlotte County

NATION’S T EP #1 #6 Corporate Taxes Individual Taxes BEST TAX L CLIMATE #2 #13 Unemployment Property Taxes Insurance Taxes #4 Overall Rank - AMY BIENER, CenturyLink -2021 STATE BUSINESS TAX CLIMATE INDEX

T E P EP T EP

To fi nd out more visit, www.CharlotteEDP.com Southwest Florida

Professor Ramdas Kanissery and graduate student Biwek Gairhe STRONG EDUCATION NETWORK sample a soil column at the UF/IFAS Southwest KEEPS WORKFORCE PIPELINE Florida Research & Education Center in Immokalee. PRIMED

Arthrex, one of Southwest Florida’s largest For instance, FGCU recently started a micro- employers and a leader in minimally credentialing program for the medical invasive orthopedics, typically has 100 or device industry last year, with the help of so open jobs at any one time at its Naples Arthrex’s leadership. “Now we are looking headquarters and facilities in Ave Maria and at replicating that model for health care and Fort Myers. The jobs span roles in research construction. We go industry by industry and development, engineering, IT support, and identify these competencies so our product management, marketing, finance, students will be job ready,” says Aysegul supply chain, and even hospitality because Timur, VP and vice provost for strategy and Arthrex also now operates an Innovation program innovation at FGCU. Hotel on its campus. “Our biggest struggle is finding the employee base to fill these The university has grown to 15,000 students jobs,” says John Schmieding, VP and general and offers 63 undergraduate programs counsel of Arthrex. and 33 graduate programs, Timur says. The university is getting ready to open its Fortunately for Arthrex and dozens of Water School, for environmental research other employers with specialized workforce critically important to preserving the natural needs, Florida Gulf Coast University, Hodges resources of Southwest Florida. (Read about University, Florida SouthWestern State FGCU’s entrepreneurship programs on page College and a number of technical schools 56.) are working hard to help prime their talent pipelines with skilled workers. Hodges recently opened a health sciences

46 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT building on its campus, and one of the programs it is developing inside it is a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene that will include a clinic that the public will be able to use “at an extremely low cost,” says John Meyer, president of Hodges University. Meyer hopes to have the program up and running by January if not sooner, and it will join degree or certificate programs for nurses, physical therapists, paramedics and EMTs. One of its popular “weekend warrior” certificate programs is for dental assistants.

Hodges, a nonprofit institution Hodges is founded in 1990, offers certificates Florida SouthWestern State (FSW), Coral Technical partnering with Goodwill to open through master’s degrees and is with campuses in Punta Gorda, College, Charlotte classroom space regionally accredited. It’s a federally Naples, Fort Myers and LaBelle, and Technical College, in its facilities. declared Hispanic servicing institution, a corporate training center in Bonita and iTech in meaning at least 25% of its students Springs, “does an amazing job.” says Immokalee and must be Hispanic; Hodges is at 44%, Danny Nix, the college’s chairman of Lorenzo in Collier Meyer says. The majority of its the board. County. Both students are female, and 82% are Lee and Collier are looking to add a over age 25. “In our college system, we are very third technical school in their counties proud to announce over the past 18 because demand is so great. To expand its reach, in partnership years, we’ve had 100% job placement with Goodwill Industries, Hodges for our teachers and for nurses. We Future Ready Collier is an impact has recently opened classroom space have just brought in web security network of over 60 organizations, a in Goodwill facilities. “Economic programs. So, we have a college “concerted effort with a unified focus development only happens in the that is willing to adapt, if we have on improving the education pipeline presence of workforce development, a company that has needs, we can from birth to kindergarten through and everything we do is very quickly maneuver to what the law to high school and to career,” says workforce focused, very practical,” and the state will allow us to do.” Caroline Ridgway, owner of C1B1 says Meyer. “The fundamental part of Communications and co-owner of her this effort is to focus on the people The area’s technical schools are family’s restaurants in the region. who are most able to benefit from also stepping up, helping to fill that focus. We have to meet people those critical needs. These include Noting that the workforce is getting where they are.” Fort Myers Technical College, Cape younger and has different needs, including training in the soft skills, Lee County Economic Development Director John Talmage says the region’s educational institutions are working with CareerSource Southwest Florida to address those needs.

“Hodges can be very nimble. FSW is doubling down on what they have to offer. FGCU is moving into Ph.D. programs,” Talmage says. “We have a continuum of training; we can respond to a broader array of needs. The FGCU campus A third technical college is in the works. We need all of them.”

FLORIDATREND.COM JUNE 2021 47 Southwest Florida

Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers

a producer of packaging materials, GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE is building a 950,000-square-foot distribution site in the Naples area. IS EASY IN SW FLORIDA — FOR It’s not far from Amazon’s last-mile PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, TOO distribution center. Glades and Hendry counties also are Southwest Florida’s transportation This year the company finished an attracting transportation and logistics infrastructure and prime positioning in expansion project that added 90,000 providers, as they boast a position the state make it an ideal location for square feet. In total, its facility near in the center of the state accessible residents, visitors and workers to move the Punta Gorda Airport is 455,000 to a large chunk of the state within around the region easily as well as square feet. Since opening in late two hours. What’s more, Airglades access other metropolitan areas in the 2015, “We have experienced 400% Airport, a general aviation airport state, whether by land, air or sea. growth,” Simmons says. in Hendry County near the Hendry/ Glades county line, is primed to DISTRIBUTORS ARE MAKING TRACKS IN Cheney Brothers is not alone. Across undergo a reinvention. In a couple JOB CREATION Southwest Florida, businesses of years, if all goes according to For Cheney Brothers, a large family- in distribution and logistics are plan, it will be an international cargo owned food service distributor serving choosing the region. Neighboring airport for perishable goods, but Florida, choosing to open a large Lee County, for example, is home to through efficiencies that will create distribution center in Punta Gorda R&L Truckload Services and ScotLynn with some real cost-saving benefits seemed liked a good bet. USA. ScotLynn USA, a transportation over, for example, moving perishables and logistics company specializing from South America – fish, fruit, “We put a plant here [in 2015], in perishable products, is building flowers, you name it – through Miami anticipating this growth, and it has its new North American corporate International Airport, says Airglades actually worked out very well for us,” headquarters in Fort Myers. The three Airport Director Lillie B. Rentz. says Shane Simmons, chief operating story, 60,000-square-foot building is officer of Cheney Brothers. expected to open this year and will It’s a “game-changer” for Hendry and include amenities like a basketball surrounding communities, adding Cheney Brothers’ facility in Charlotte court and gym for its 350 employees. about 1,400 direct jobs, she says. County employs about 450 people. Meanwhile, in Collier County, Uline,

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UP, UP AND AWAY? AN Southwest Florida certified pilots, and AVIATION SECTOR IS International Airport Airside Intrepid Aerospace GROWING QUICKLY near Southwest Florida In Charlotte County, International Airport has Airtrek, Arcadia ambitions to be one of Aerospace and APG the largest MRO facilities Avionics are three in the state with the companies calling the capability of servicing up county home. What’s to 11 747s at once. On more, the addition the tech front, Flightdocs, of a third runway at based in Bonita Punta Gorda Airport Springs, offers aviation has accelerated interest management software in converting 66 acres for aircraft maintenance there into a grouping tracking, inventory of aviation companies with MRO College will be offering an aviation management and flight operations. (maintenance, repair and overhaul) airframe and powerplant mechanics businesses, airport parts makers and certification course, “And you can Manufacturers are looking skyward others, and there is no space left, already see the businesses circling too. Says Hector Sanchez, a VP says Dave Gammon, Charlotte County around,” Gammon says. with Naples-based Loos & Co. Inc., economic development director. Cableware Division, part of Central In Lee County, Paragon Flight is Wire Industries. “If it flies, we make it In the fall of 2021, Charlotte Technical already spinning out trained and here in Naples.”

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50 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT LAND FOR OPPORTUNITY In Gloriously Natural Glades County

Moore Haven

Opportunity knocks at Americas Gateway Logistics Center, a 646-acre This proximity offers markets for your products, workforce for your business and access to shovel-ready industrial park with both highway and rail offering access beaches, ballparks, and boardrooms without the cost of living in urban Florida. According to Florida markets south of the I-4 corridor. to Site Selection Group, a business locating in Glades County will enjoy a 12 percent savings in overall operating costs versus the coastal or central Florida markets and a lower MORE TO MOORE HAVEN cost of living for you and your family. Besides being in the middle of everywhere, Glades County has among the lowest crime rates in the state and high performance education infrastructure including a new $26M middle/high school where every graduating senior qualifies for a scholarship for college or technical school.

MORE TO GLADES COUNTY BEYOND MOORE HAVEN There’s more to Moore Haven than great schools and great places to live, work and With the largest Opportunity Zone in the state, Glades County is the land for opportunity for play. With a nearly county-wide Opportunity your business, your family and you. Zone Glades County offers gorgeous outdoor scenery and spectacular nature-based recreation, whether fishing in Lakeport, A scenic location on the paddling in Palmdale, hunting in Muse, biking in Okeechobee Waterway connecting Ft. Myers to Stuart, Buckhead, or boating in Ortona. Moore Haven, Glades’ County seat, is the natural midpoint To learn more about the opportunities awaiting for some 10,000-watercraft you and your family, contact us today! transiting the Okeechobee Waterway each year, not to Glades County Economic Development Council mention 11,000 tourists and (863) 946-0300 other motorists that cross the [email protected] bridge on US 27 each day. marina and other facilities for transiting boaters. Return on investment is assured through A shaded Riverwalk and tennis courts attract tasteful architectural standards and visitors and residents alike, while children delight amenities including yacht dockage, a in a waterfront playground and splash park. Southwest Florida

Lovers Key Bridge

TOURISM INDUSTRY PREPARES A yachting FOR COMEBACK WITH FACELIFTS, service EXPANSIONS industry in

There’s no denying the coronavirus the leisure market is expected to be the inland Glades pandemic had a devastating impact on first part of travel that will recover.” Southwest Florida’s tourism industry, County? as the unprecedented health crisis The airport will be ready because it is initially closed hotels, restaurants and undergoing a $280 million three-year- Why not? attractions and brought leisure air travel long terminal expansion project. to a halt. Yet as the economy has begun to open again, early signs point to a Jack Wert, executive director of the Glades County offers a prime benefit for yacht owners – it’s not on potentially speedier tourism recovery Convention and Visitors Bureau in the coast. When they need a place here than in other parts of Florida. Collier County, is seeing similar booking to store their big boats in the off- trends, and some of the region’s largest season, Glades County, as a natural “Everywhere we turn we see hopeful properties got expensive facelifts during midway point on South Florida’s signs of recovery,” says John Talmage, the pandemic and are ready to welcome Okeechobee Waterway between Lee County’s economic development tourists and business travelers with open Stuart and Fort Myers, offers a director. Hotel bookings are up for arms. safe harbor for them, without the the summer, particularly in Sanibel hurricane risk of the coasts. and Captiva, and Southwest Florida The Ritz-Carlton has both a beach International Airport was the 17th resort and a golf resort in Naples, and Expanded in 2019, River Forest busiest in all the U.S. recently, he says. both recently underwent renovations Yachting Center in Ortona boasts and expansions. What’s more, a more than 100,000 square feet Before the pandemic struck, Southwest hotel property on Marco Island was of hurricane-hardened, climate- Florida International Airport had a extensively renovated and rebranded as controlled boat storage. It is record year in 2019, until March 2020, a JW Marriott, and opened just before working on its fourth building now when the wheels fell off, says Benjamin the pandemic. and is planning to enlarge its deep- Siegel, executive director of the Lee water basin, says Glades County County Port Authority. But business is And there’s more to come. The 75-year- Commissioner John Ahern, “They can store yachts up to 100-foot and growing again. old Naples Beach Club was set to close have lifts to get them in and out of its doors last month, but the investment the water, and they do repairs there “We continue to lead the nation in company that purchased the hotel, the … It’s a good business, a growing terms of the recovery ... We are a leisure Athens Group, says it intends to convert business.” market, and from a recovery perspective, it into a high-end hotel.

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Skyplex rendering

moving in, too. “They want single REAL ESTATE AND family, they want more rooms, more outdoor space, more amenities,” says DEVELOPMENT ‘FIRING ON ALL Phil Wood, president of John R. Wood CYLINDERS’ Properties. The pandemic has motivated people Ask Southwest Florida business leaders industrial and commercial properties and business owners to seek out to describe the state of the real estate are also seeing high demand. less congested areas with a higher economy in 2021 and you’ll hear “it’s Construction crews are cranking along quality of life, and Southwest Florida on fire,” “it’s bananas out there” and I-75, around the region’s airports and has been the beneficiary of that. It is “we can’t build fast enough.” in other locations to accommodate really an acceleration of a trend that the demand. Preliminary site work is was already happening, says Gary This year in the residential market, underway on Metropolitan Naples, Tasman, CEO of Cushman & Wakefield homes often attract multiple offers a luxury mixed-use development of Commercial Property Southwest and sell above asking price. Planned three 15-story high-rise towers created Florida. developments report record sales, by longtime local developers Fred new construction is underway to meet Pezeshkan and Jerry Starkey. “Our demand for space in the demand, and multi-family properties commercial real estate arena is are going up. “The hottest component of our exceeding our supply,” says Tasman. economy right now is real estate What’s more, it is not just the far and away,” says Michael Dalby, In Lee, Southwest Florida’s largest residential market that’s red hot. president and CEO of the Greater county, “Building permits are up Naples Chamber of Commerce. 24%, resales are up 15%, prices are Economic development officials report up 10% and there’s no sign yet of any a strong uptick in relocation inquiries While the Naples area has long slowdown,” says Lee County Economic from businesses all over the country. been a magnet for wealthy retirees, Development Director John Talmage. That means developers and Realtors of millennials and young families are “We’ve done 4 million square feet

54 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT of site selections over the last four has approximately 1,600 single and project located on the site of the months.” multi-family units going up, which is existing county-owned Airglades good news for workers. Next to that Airport located in Hendry County, One of the areas of focus for development another 200 units are not far from Glades County and its development is the area around going up, says Kay Tracy, Charlotte America’s Gateway development. The Southwest Florida International County Economic Development’s AIA master plan is to develop that Airport in Fort Myers. Lee County has business recruitment manager. “We into a cargo airport and logistics hub roughly 1,000 acres on the north side want our workforce to live in Charlotte for perishable goods flowing from of the airport that it plans to develop County.” Latin America to U.S. consumers. AIA, for aviation-related businesses as well roughly the same size footprint as as non-aviation ones. Skyplex already Another exciting development is that Miami International Airport, would has some tenants but the Lee County Simple Life, an upscale tiny-home also be significant competition for Port Authority has brought in experts community, is moving into Charlotte. MIA’s cargo business. Owners of to help develop this land in the right Simple Life plans to break ground the land around the airport – U.S. way to maximize the indirect economic on its first community next year, says Sugar, Hilliard Brothers and Florida impact for Lee County as a whole, says Danny Nix, owner of Nix & Associates Fresh Produce – are onboard with Benjamin Siegel, executive director of Real Estate. “It's going to be really the development and are investors the Lee County Port Authority. neat, and we're looking for other because they see the massive locations in the county because they economic opportunity it could have In Charlotte County, “The real estate just love our community,” Nix says, as a job creator, says Malcolm (Bubba) market is absolutely on fire right now,” adding that the community offers Wade, a U.S. Sugar senior VP and says Anthony Dubbaneh, of Landsberg amenities such as bocce, pickleball and chairman of AIA. The project will Bennett Private Wealth Management. mobile grooming service for residents’ bring an estimated 1,400 direct jobs, “We are seeing more willingness of pets. “It just gives us another layer of says Airglades International Airport banks to lend and invest—the biggest opportunity for workforce housing.” Director Lillie B. Rentz. problem is finding land right now.” HENDRY AND GLADES COUNTIES Then there are all the indirect jobs Sales at Charlotte County’s largest The rural counties of Glades and that will sprout from that, as other master-planned community, Babcock Hendry, rich in Opportunity Zones, are businesses move in to support the Ranch, have increased 104% year also seeing interest from companies airport and the growing logistics over year, with over 500 sales last seeking room to spread out – and save industry in these counties, Wade says. year alone, says Lucienne Pears, VP of money. Manufacturing companies, These counties tout their locations Economic and Business Development in particular, are being priced out of in the center of the state as being for Babcock Ranch. “We have six of the Miami-Dade and moving west and easy access to both coasts, including top 10 national home builders in the finding what they need in this region, the densely populated tri-county country purchasing lots and building getting more space for their money, region of Southeast Florida, and at Babcock Ranch.” In addition, with room to expand, says Tracy also the Orlando area. Indeed, the commercial development is continuing Whirls, executive director of the Glades development opportunities around the at a quick pace, including some County EDC. airport – for industrial and commercial projects setting up Babcock Ranch for businesses and for residential housing future development. That includes New residential housing is going – could be a game-changer for the a 160,000-square-foot data center in to accommodate the demand rural region, he says. for cybersecurity and cryptocurrency from businesses, as well as from activities. “That speaks volumes for retirees who love the small-town For the airport project, progress the ability of the IT infrastructure to lifestyle. Commercial and industrial was slowed by the pandemic but is support some very significant software developments, such as the 646-acre moving ahead again, and the hope businesses,” she says. Because Babcock America’s Gateway Logistics Center is that it will be open by the end Ranch is in an Opportunity Zone, under development in Moore Haven, of 2023. Wade says the economic which offer significant tax advantages, represent affordable opportunities development the airport will bring she is fielding lots of interest from all for mixed-use development with represents “tremendous potential” for over the country. Opportunity Zone tax advantages. Hendry, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state. Elsewhere in Charlotte, Murdock But from an economic development Village had about 425 acres sold standpoint, all eyes are on a project to a private entity developing a called Airglades International Airport community called WestPort. WestPort (AIA), a proposed airport development

FLORIDATREND.COM JUNE 2021 55 Southwest Florida

Culinary Accelerator Cooks Up Successes in Immokalee

Dog lovers Kendra Locke and Corene Petitpren run The K9 Kitchen, making nutritional human- grade dog food in beef, turkey or chicken. Their food and pup-sicles. – particularly the frozen treat of yogurt, peanut butter and banana – get two paws up from their growing fan base.

Their products are sold in stores in the region, farmers markets and online. Recently they began shipping within Florida.

SueEllen Williams started Mama Bear’s Herbal Pantry in LaBelle when her daughter was diagnosed with eczema, and she wanted to Kendra Locke and Corene Petitpren of K9 Kitchen make her own natural treatments for her, and make human-grade dog food. the business took off from there. Her first product was Elderberry Syrup; now she also has eczema balms, bath salts, soaps, a skin care line called Papa Bear’s for men, developed with her WANTED: ENTREPRENEURS! husband, as well as elderberry jam and lollipops. Her products, on trend with health benefits for the immune system, are now in seven stores. LIVE AND WORK IN

The K9 Kitchen and Mama Bear’s are among PARADISE the two dozen small business members of the Culinary Accelerator in Immokalee, which Southwest Florida is putting out the welcome mat opened in 2018. Collier County runs the facility that includes a large commercial kitchen. for entrepreneurs.

One of the accelerator’s success stories is Carina’s Manufacturing, owned by Reshma In Charlotte County, the Punta Gorda metropolitan statistical area Tannassee, which makes hot sauces, marinara, was recently rated No. 4 in the U.S. for entrepreneurial activity by the hummus, guacamole, honey mustard and Heartland Forward think tank, which believes that areas with high other products sold at Wynn’s Market and levels of entrepreneurs will also grow the fastest. The county wants Seed to Table in Naples, among other places. to seize the opportunity to draw in more entrepreneurs and has The Culinary Accelerator is now helping launched a marketing campaign. Tannassee find a location to open her own food manufacturing facility to produce at commercial “We are catering to these folks and marketing that we have space scale in Southwest Florida. for them; we are creating different pockets for coworking spaces and working closely with our chambers of commerce to provide free memberships,” says Kay Tracy, business recruitment manager for Charlotte County Economic Development. “We are creating a resource so they can source financial opportunities for their businesses. It’s going to be hassle-free for them – ‘thrive in paradise’ is our tagline.”

Charlotte County is not alone. Cities, counties and Southwest Florida’s educational institution are seeing heightened interest in entrepreneurship. Indeed, at Florida Gulf Coast University, the School of Entrepreneurship has grown 417% in enrollment, the highest growth rate at the university since 2017. For the past couple of years,

56 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A LOCATION THAT MAKES BUSINESS A PLEASURE, ONLY PARADISE WILL DO.

Vacationers and meeting attendees worldwide know A diverse and educated workforce. Free Trade and Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades for our year- Innovation Zones. A business-friendly environment, round warm weather, sunshine and luxury amenities. and more. Business owners and CEOs know us as a destination worth considering for relocation of their business, We invite you to speak to our Economic Development their employees and their families. team today and plan a visit to see for yourself. Because if you’re considering a location that makes Known as Florida’s Paradise Coast, this area of both business and lifestyle a pleasure every day, Southwest Florida offers everything you’re looking for only Paradise will do. in a location: Easy accessibility for travel and cargo.

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The Culinary Accelerator helps local businesses take their products to market.

the interdisciplinary school’s classes of Entrepreneurship also runs the STARTUPS AND SMALL were scattered in buildings off county’s Naples Accelerator, offering BUSINESSES TO WATCH campus, but this summer the school training programs and mentoring will be taking over a building in the there. HealthMe (Naples): This startup’s center of the campus, says Sandra patient-centric approach and Kauanui, the director of FGCU’s Resources in the greater community technology-enabled software School of Entrepreneurship. include investor networks like platform allows medical practices to Tamiami Angels and places to plant offer transparently priced bundles for In addition to its degree programs and grow startup businesses. For direct-pay patients. for entrepreneurship – including instance, Two39 Group in Bonita a doctorate degree program in Springs (named after the area Taste of Immokalee (Immokalee): development – FGCU’s School of code) provides coworking spaces High school students make this line of Entrepreneurship also offers an for entrepreneurs to work and hot sauces and salsas sold in Publix entrepreneurship program for collaborate as well as a startup stores around Southwest Florida and veterans (they do not have to be accelerator to help get their ideas online. All the profits go back to students) and the Runway Program off the ground. Two39 also runs a the Immokalee community to fund for students in any discipline who venture capital fund and a media scholarships and youth programs. have a business idea they want to consultancy for entrepreneurs. explore. “Between all three of those FieldEdge (Fort Myers): Its field service programs we are up to something like While interest in entrepreneurship management software provides $52 million in gross receipts that our had already been growing, the efficient ways to track customers, students generated over four or five pandemic accelerated a trend in dispatches, service history and more. years – 350-some businesses. It’s just remote work that makes it easier for taken off,” Kauanui says. entrepreneurs and their teams to live Burma Spice (Moore Haven): Curator and work anywhere – including in the and e-seller of a fast-growing line of Over the years the school has offered paradise that is Southwest Florida, gourmet exotic spices. Burma Spice’s seed funding to entrepreneurs, economic development leaders say. headquarters in Glades County also with no equity stake, through its provides access to small farms where donations. “The real goal is we are Adds Robbie Roepstorff, president of many of the spices can be grown. keeping more of our students in Edison National Bank: “What better Fountain Life (Naples): Its anti-aging Southwest Florida because we offer time is there for kids who are creative solutions blend data and cutting- continued support to our students and bright to get out there and build edge science with spa-like service. after they graduate.” FGCU’s School their own businesses.”

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Other Key Lee Health Gulf Coast Health Care Medical Players Center

Lee Health is the largest provider, but there are a number of other health systems, hospitals, centers of excellence, physician groups and specialists caring for the region’s residents. SPOTLIGHT: LEE HEALTH’S IMPACT NCH Healthcare System, which includes two hospitals in the Naples area, offers advanced REACHES FAR AND WIDE heart, obstetric, newborn “As the community grows, we grow, and back into about 10,000 visits a month and pediatric care and is a that's been our history for over 100 years now, but that has been shown to be such member of the Mayo Clinic starting with a 4-bed facility downtown an effective way for folks to have access Care Network. Recently, NCH, to now over 1,600 licensed beds,” says to care for many of the conditions that which employs 4,644 including 250 physicians, announced it Dr. Larry Antonucci, President and CEO could be treated by this modality … We was one of the first in Florida to of Lee Health, Southwest Florida’s largest think there's tremendous growth in this offer a new cardiac treatment, health care provider, which employs area, and we want to make sure we've called Intravascular Lithotripsy. 14,000 people. “And we continue to see got the technological capabilities to meet significant growth.” that growth,” Antonucci says, adding Bayfront Health, Port Charlotte that Lee Health is also growing its use of / Punta Gorda also has two That growth includes the opening of remote patient monitoring and artificial hospitals and offers an array of the 7-story facility for the Golisano intelligence technologies. health services. It’s the largest Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, employer in Charlotte County, a $250 million project completed about Lee Health has also been on the cutting employing more than 3,000, four years ago, he says. Golisano is the edge of other important trends in health according to the economic only comprehensive children’s hospital care, such as the movement toward development office. Bayfront between Tampa and Miami, and it is outpatient care, and even home care. Health’s ER and Urgent Care home to the Southwest region’s sole “Traditionally, health systems have been unit this year expanded its Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center. very hospital-centric, but now we're services to residents and visitors seeing more and more treatments, of Cape Coral. “We're in the midst right now of therapies even surgeries now being a $315 million expansion of our moved to the outpatient setting.” Gulf Coast Medical Center, giving us a lot more room, and the Much of Lee’s impact is regionwide, most HOW BIG IS LEE HEALTH? ability to handle more significant significantly as Southwest Florida’s only trauma cases.” That’s significant trauma center. Lee Health expanded 4 Acute care hospitals (1,789 beds) because Lee Health’s trauma into Babcock Ranch, with offices and a 2 Specialty hospitals center serves all of Southwest rehabilitation center. In specialty care for Florida, Antonucci says. children, Lee Health offers an extensive 1 Regional Cancer Center cancer program that keeps children close 3 Specialty facilities During the pandemic, Lee Health to home and has expanded pediatric 7 Outpatient centers offered its telemedicine services services to neighboring counties. “In for free in order to make access Collier, we have a center for specialty 750+ Primary and specialty care to health care easier. Usage services there – including orthopedics, physicians and advanced practitioners went from a few hundred visits cancer care, etc. We want to be as close are part of Lee Physician Group a month before the pandemic to home as possible and prevent families 14,000 Employees to 20,000 contacts early in the from having to travel to Tampa or Miami, pandemic. “We have settled etc.”

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REAL ESTATE • ENGINEERING • AGRICULTURE • CONSERVATION • ENERGY • RELATED SERVICES Southwest Florida

Spotlight: FEEDING AMERICA IS BIG BUSINESS U.S. Sugar every day packed with fruits or vegetables, says McAvoy, U.S. Sugar, Hendry County’s who also was the Southwest largest employer and one Florida’s regional vegetable of the state’s oldest and specialist for 23 years. largest sugar farming and processing operations, has U.S. Sugar is one of the made Clewiston a de facto oldest and largest sugarcane company town, where growers in the state (see most families have at least spotlight), but Duda and a one member with ties to number of smaller growers sugarcane production. also produce a lot of cane. Duda, founded in 1926 “We have an Uber-type with holdings in Glades, application for our sugarcane Did you know Southwest Florida is the Hendry and other Florida counties, also harvesters, and we have a No. 1 producer of fresh tomatoes in the grows oranges and table vegetables. private Wi-Fi network that U.S.? Did you know growers in Hendry The company is also a major producer of covers over 200,000 acres County provide the watermelon the rest lettuce and the king of celery in Florida, of sugarcane fields,” says Judy Sanchez, U.S. Sugar’s of the country enjoys celebrating summer? says Tracy Whirls, executive director for senior director of Corporate Did you know some of the biggest names Glades County Economic Development. Communication and Public in farming have their operations in the Affairs. It is the second largest region, growing pretty much everything WHAT ELSE IS GROWN IN SOUTHWEST [network] in the world and from arugula to zucchini, including sugar FLORIDA? the largest in the country and cane, sweet corn, citrus and culinary In Glades County, the biggest landowner enables all of our people and herbs? and agriculture company is Lykes Bros. In equipment to talk to each Southwest Florida, Lykes still raises cattle, other and share data to give Make no mistake, agriculture is big grows timber and produces sod, but it also us real time information to business in Hendry, Glades and Collier grows sugarcane and oranges, Whirls says. make operating decisions.” counties. To name a few more, Frey Farms is the And U.S. Sugar is more than How big? On any given day during largest producer of watermelon in the cane. “We’ve got citrus, harvesting season, there are probably country and grows them in Southwest winter vegetables, and we are 15,000 people in Hendry County, more Florida, McAvoy says. R.C. Hatton grows one of the largest producers in than 25,000 in Collier and up to 10,000 in green beans, cabbage and sweet corn, the area of sweet corn that’s Glades working on the farms, estimates among other crops. Alico, a publicly marketed all over the Eastern Gene McAvoy, associate director for traded agribusiness, is the big name in Seaboard,”says Malcolm (Bubba) Wade, the senior VP stakeholder relations at University of Florida citrus in this region, and Lipman of corporate strategy and Florida IFAS Southwest Florida Research Family Farms is the largest tomato business development. & Education Center. And that doesn’t producer in the U.S. but also grows even count people watermelon, peppers and other crops employed in in Glades and Collier counties. Hilliard businesses that Brothers grows eggplant, green beans, WEDGWORTH: HELPING EVERYTHING GROW support the peppers, among other crops. agriculture Wedgworth, founded in 1932, produces organic industry. C&B Farms is the largest producer of fertilizers, and its fertilizer blending plant is in Moore culinary herbs on the East Coast, growing Haven in Glades County, where it can produce over During peak everything from cilantro to chili peppers. 1,700 tons per day at the fully automated location that harvest season, The owner of C&B visits top chefs and also has onsite rail. you can see major food suppliers in New York, 200 to 300 Philadelphia and other cities to try to learn Wedgworth plans to expand its production of semi-trucks what the next year’s trending crops could professional and retail products in both the Moore heading out be. “Everyone is on the lookout for the Haven and Clewiston locations within the next year. of Immokalee next kale.”

62 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT START. RELOCATE. EXPAND. Hendry County

Location Hendry County is centrally located between coasts just south of Lake Okeechobee.

Workforce In 2019, Hendry ranked #1 as the top earner of Industry Certifications in rural districts in Florida.

Opportunities Major projects are underway such as the new sector plans developed for the growth curve, the C-43 Reservoir, and the Airglades International Airport.

Incentives When it comes to starting a business in Hendry, we stand out for our low cost of operating.

Located in the Heartland of Florida, Hendry is home to LaBelle and Clewiston. Our largest industries include sugar and citrus, but beyond that, we are a place of small and family-owned businesses with plenty of room for growth & opportunities. Our business-friendly culture, well developed infrastructure, and proximity to major ports, population centers, and other key assets make Hendry an optimal business location.

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Untitled-1 1 4/26/21 11:39 AM Southwest Florida

head to Charlotte Harbor, the A GREAT DAY OUTSIDE IS … Tarpon Capital of the World.

If your idea of a great day outside is a some of the state’s finest sand. Perhaps Make your way to Punta Gorda’s dip in the Gulf of Mexico or watching a great day for you is a round of golf PicklePlex, with 16 state-of-the-art the sunset on a pristine beach, before enjoying that sunset cocktail on regulation-size courts, classes and Southwest Florida has you covered with Captiva. If fishing is more your game, tournaments. Sports enthusiasts will also love the new Paradise Coast Sports Complex in East Naples. Much of it is already open, but once complete the $100 million complex will have 20 fields between soccer, baseball and softball, a stadium, a fitness area and entertainment and dining zones.

Hike or kayak in the world-famous Everglades National Park, explore Big Cypress Preserve and look for the elusive but precious ghost orchids.

In Hendry and Glades counties, enjoy horseback riding, birding, fishing, hiking, biking, boating, paddling and even hang gliding. Gatorama off U.S. 27 has offered the opportunity to interact with Florida wildlife, from alligators to the Florida panther, for more than 60 years. Visit Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation and take a tour by swamp buggy. ince hen o True quality is unmistakable. It’s what you expect from a lifetime of hard work and great success. So now is not the time to start More adventurous? Imagine you comromise compromising. One community offers the level of excellence skydiving over the agricultural on uality you’re accustomed to, from your morning yoga session, to fields of Hendry County or canoeing lunch at the poolside Bistro, to a lavish cocktail party at the Clubhouse. And of course, where concierge physicians and the 52-mile trail through cypress personalized healthcare are included. reate your uture here swamps in Glades County. The an reuest your comlimentary inormation it toay. best bass fishing around is in Lake Okeechobee, and there aren’t a lot of places in Florida where you can catch a rodeo, but you can in PL all us at 111 F or isit us at oorinsPar.or/Lno Hendry and Glades counties.

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64 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT #WHERE BUSINESS IS TRENDING

To learn more, visit LeeCountyBusiness.com

NEW_LCEDC_sep ad.indd 1 7/25/19 12:53 PM Southwest Florida

Gulfshore Playhouse

downtown Naples that will spur more the $20 million in economic impact annually, says Coury, the CEO and artistic director.

“With officials estimating between 122,000 and 162,000 new permanent residents in Collier County by 2040, the importance of having established THE ARTS ARE FLOURISHING, world-class cultural opportunities that visitors and residents can enjoy, THANKS TO PHILANTHROPIC participate in and bring others to experience will become even more SPIRIT critical to enhancing the quality of life and elevating the attractiveness of Molly Deckart moved to Southwest and perhaps even a performance by Southwest Florida,” she says. Florida from Idaho last fall to lead the the Naples Philharmonic. Or go back Alliance for the Arts, a nonprofit visual in time viewing a classic film in the The Peace River Botanical & Sculpture and performing arts center founded renovated Florida Repertory Theatre in Gardens, a 30-acre oasis of art and in 1975 in Fort Myers. The Alliance Fort Myers. Perhaps you would rather nature, features a large collection sits on a 10-acre parklike campus with hit the streets of Punta Gorda and of sculptures by world-renowned indoor and outdoor theaters, including experience its murals before catching artists, each one delighting visitors an amphitheater that can hold 1,500 the Punta Gorda Symphony’s latest with its own whimsical personality. people, art galleries, classrooms, flex production. The garden, on the south bank of the spaces for dance and yoga, and studio Peace River in Charlotte County, is just spaces for artists. Kristen Coury founded Gulfshore four years old but already a must- Playhouse 17 years ago to bring see, must-do in Southwest Florida for “With all the wonderful spaces we professional regional theater to tourists and residents alike. Adriana have, you can do just about anything Naples. The Playhouse produces six Quiñones, executive director of the related to the arts on our 10 acres, mainstage productions from October garden, wants to make sure the and that is really special,” she says. through May, hosts an Annual New garden benefits the entire community. “We want everyone to use it – it’s Works Festival each fall, and welcomes everyone’s Alliance. nearly 30,000 patrons annually. Her organization has been working with many non profits in the The Alliance for the Arts is just one The Gulfshore Playhouse has been so community – including Girls on the of the many cultural attractions in successful, growing 20% a year for the Run, The Homeless Coalition, the Southwest Florida, rich with museums past 10 years, that now the nonprofit Military Heritage Museum, and the and galleries, theatres, symphonies, organization is set to break ground in Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County. concert halls, art walks, cultural the fall on a $59.8 million theater and festivals and more. To name just a few, education center. The new Gulfshore “We intend to be a community force you can visit Artis–Naples and indulge Playhouse Cultural Campus slated to and our area will be the better because in the visual and performance arts – open in fall 2023 is destined to be an of it … because we are growing in all including a visit to the Baker Museum iconic landmark at the gateway to the good ways.”

66 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF QUALITY & COMMITMENT

STOCK DEVELOPMENT is a diversified real estate company proudly celebrating 20 years in business. The family-owned company is a recognized leader in the development, construction, ownership and management of high-quality real estate, including luxury residences, commercial properties and luxury apartments.

Beyond its rich legacy of award-winning homes and communities, STOCK is proud to support a variety of charitable causes that enhance the lives of children and families throughout Southwest Florida.

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FLStockDevelopment 2639 Professional Circle, Suite 101 | Naples, FL 34119 | 239.592.7344 StockDevelopment

BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NOT AN OFFERING WHERE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. Southwest Florida

Gary Bayne, PE PEOPLE TO KNOW President & Civil Engineer, Southwest Engineering Develop your community relationships & Design, Inc. in Southwest Florida Michelle Borders Owner, Naples Network Services Kevin B. Anderson Mayor, Fort Myers John Ahern Dr. Larry Antonucci Commissioner, President & CEO, Lee Health Jeff Brewington Glades County CEO, Glades Electric

Craig Albert Russell Budd President and CEO, Sanibel CEO, PBS Contractors Captiva Community Bank Alice “Beth” Barfield Gary Butler Jeffery Albritten Superintendent, Glades County Schools Executive Director, Military President, Florida Southwestern Heritage Museum State College William Barker Sean Callahan Alex Allen Founder and CEO, Barker Strategic Solutions Collier County Executive Director, Co-Founder, Two39 Group Corporate Business Operations

Ryan Carter Executive Vice President, Co-Founder, Scotlynn U.S.A. WE MAKE BANKING ABOUT YOU! Division

LOCAL BUSINESSES DESERVE Charles Chapman City Manager, City of Naples

Customized Solutions. Ralph Chastain President, J.D.I. Farms, Inc. As the oldest locally owned and chartered community bank in Lee County, we know how much relationships matter. By joining Edison National Bank/ Joe Collins, PE Bank of the Islands, you’ll SVP, Lykes Bros. Inc. experience that same commitment and personalized service that we provide for our clients. Kristen Coury Founder and CEO, Gulfshore Playhouse

Andrew Couse Executive Vice President & COO, First Bank of Clewiston To learn more about our customer services and convenient locations, please visit Michael Dalby EdisonNationalBank.com or call 239.466.1800. President & CEO, Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce An Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC | Bank of the Islands is an office of Edison National Bank.

68 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT YOU’RE THE ONE WHO SPARKS innovation.

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PEOPLE TO KNOW Continued

Tim Dupre Gary Griffin President and CEO, President, B & I Contractors Conditioned Air Keitha Daniels John Gunter Director, Hendry Helen Edenfield Mayor, Cape Coral County EDC Director, NeoGenomics Tyler Hardt Michael Ehrat Founder, Portfolio Manager, Jennifer Davis CEO, Fawcett Memorial Hospital Managing Member, Pelican Bay County Capital Management Administrator, Dan Eveloff Hendry County Business Banking Sales Manager, Teresa Heitmann Regions Financial Corp. Mayor, Naples Bill de Deugd Founder, TriCircle Pavers Anne Fleming James Herston, PE General Manager, Waterside Chair, Charlotte County Airport Ravi Devaguptapu, PE Shops Authority President, FTE Erin Hitsman Craig DeYoung Tourism Development President, Charlotte State Bank Hector Flores Coordinator, Hendry County & Trust County Administrator, Tom Donahue Charlotte County Board of General Manager, Shula’s - Hilton County Commissioners David Holmes Naples President, Blake Gable Farr Law Firm Shannon Doolity CEO, Barron Collier Companies Deputy Chief Assistant State Ramon Iglesias Attorney, State Attorney’s Office, Dave Gammon General Manager, Roland and 20th Judicial Circuit Director, Charlotte County Mary Anne Martin Marina Economic Development Office Anthony Dubbaneh Robert “Bob” Jones Principal & CFO, Landsberg Mary Beth Geier County Manager, Glades County Bennett Private Wealth Director, Richard M. Schulze Management Family Foundation Kevin Kearns Tom Duda CEO, Millennium Physician Group David Gordley SVP, Land Management, Market President/EVP, A. Duda & Sons Josh Kellam IBERIABANK - Main Branch Florida President, The Garcia Companies Suzanne Graham Director of Government Affairs, Eileen Connolly Kessler Ryan Duffy Massey Services CFCC President/CEO, Community Director of Foundation of Collier County Corporate Rochelle Graham-Campbell Communications, U.S. Sugar CEO, Alikay Naturals Corporation

70 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT PEOPLE TO KNOW Continued

Bruce Laishley Geoff Lorah Investor, Entrepreneur, Partner, Webb, Lorah & Syd Kitson Developer, Laishley USA McMillan, CPAs CEO, Kitson & Partners, Babcock Molly Langenstein Ranch CEO, Chico’s FAS Dr. David Klein Dave Lyons Dan Lavender Mayor, City of Ophthalmologist, Medical President and CEO, Moorings LaBelle Director, Virginia B. Andes Park Retirement Community Volunteer Community Clinic Ashley Maher Ted Konigsberg, SIOR David Lopez CEO, Charlotte Community Business Development, West Foundation President, Infinity Commercial Coast Operations, Amigo Pallets Real Estate

Kristen Coury, CEO & Producing Artistic Director COMING FALL 2023

ICONIC. ELEGANT. INSPIRING.

“Theater enriches every life it touches. At Gulfshore Playhouse, the staging, directing and world-class performances are inspiring, uplifting and wonderfully entertaining. It provides the best professional theater experience in Southwest Florida, and the new Gulfshore Playhouse at the Baker Theatre and Education Center will elevate this offering even more. This new cultural center is the most exciting thing to happen in Naples in many years. ” – Sandi Moran, Tony Award-Winning Producer and Gulfshore Playhouse Board Member This is THE Moment! Thanks to the generosity of Patty and Jay Baker, all gifts made through July 4 for the new Gulfshore Playhouse at the Baker Theatre and Education Center will be matched up to $10 million.

For more information, contact Chief Advancement Officer Kimberly Dye at 239-261-PLAY (7529) ext. 203 or [email protected]. WWW.GULFSHOREPLAYHOUSE.ORG Southwest Florida

PEOPLE TO KNOW Continued

Randy Martin Kristine Peterson Manager, City of Clewiston Mayor, Clewiston Danny Nix Tamara Pigott President, Charlotte Executive Director, The Beaches County EDP, Broker/ of Fort Myers & Sanibel Mike Martin Owner, Nix & Associates Real President, Florida Estate Gulf Coast University Raffaele Ponti Maestro, Punta Gorda Symphony Vanessa Oliver General Counsel, Ambitrans Medical Transport; Commissioner, Steve Pontius Lynne Matthews District 1, Charlotte County Executive Vice President, Mayor, City of Airport Authority Waterman Broadcasting Punta Gorda Cicero Osceola Tara McCoy Regional Manager, Seminole Market CEO, Bayfront Health Tribe of Florida Matt Price Port Charlotte, and Bayfront CEO, Seagate Health Punta Gorda James Parish, PE Development CEO, Punta Gorda Airport Jill McCrory Todd Rebol, PE Managing Partner, McCrory Vice President, Banks Law Firm Engineering

John Meyer Harlan Parrish Tim Reiter President, Hodges University President, Lee Senior VP, Fifth Third Bank County, FineMark National Jeff Mielke Bank & Trust Lillie Rentz Director, Lee County Sports Airport Director, Airglades Intl. Development Joe Paterno Airport Executive Director, CareerSource Charlotte Miller SWFL Micah Richins External Affairs, Charlotte, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, Collier, Glades, Hendry & Lee, Kamela Patton Sunseeker Resorts Florida Power & Light Superintendent, Collier County Public

Patrick Pennie Garrett Richter Gerri Moll Founder, President & CEO, President and CEO, First Florida President, Southwest Florida, EmCyte Integrity Bank Bank of America Caroline Ridgway Ray Murphy Owner & Founder, C1B1 Mayor, Fort Myers Beach Marketing Tommy Perry Thomas Natoli Principal, Johnson- Brian Rist Chairman & Founder, Integrity Prewitt & Associates, Inc. President, Rist Family Foundation Employee Leasing, Inc.

72 JUNE 2021 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT PEOPLE TO KNOW Continued

Robbie Roepstorff Ray Sandelli John Schmieding President, Edison National Bank / Commissioner, Lee County Board Senior VP, General Counsel, Bank of the Islands of County Commissioners Arthrex

Cathy Sanders Trond Schou Broker/Owner, Five Star Realty; President, Nor-Tech Boats Derek Rooney Chair, Charlotte County Industrial Shareholder, Gray Development Authority Russell Schropp Robinson, P.A. Stockholder, Henderson, Franklin Julie Schmelzle Attorneys at Law Hector Sanchez Senior VP, Senior Relationship VP, Ropes & Assemblies Division, Manager, Commercial Banking, FL Operations, Central Wire Bank of America Industries

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PEOPLE TO KNOW Continued

Southwest Bill Truex Ben Siegel Chairman, Charlotte Florida Executive Director, County Commission; Lee County Port Authority President, Truex Preferred Snapshot Construction Shane Simmons 3 of Southwest Florida’s COO, Cheney Brothers, Inc. Leah Valenti coastal counties are among Southwest Florida District the fastest growing in the state Randy Smith Director, Office of U.S. Senator CEO, Naples Transportation Rick Scott & Tours Tim Vanderhoof CHARLOTTE COUNTY Chris Spiro SVP, Business Development Punta Gorda is Ranked No. 4 President and CEO, Spiro & Enterprise Florida for entrepreneurial activity Associates Pablo Veintimilla Rick Steinmeyer EVP, Market President Southwest Mayor, Bonita Springs Florida, Centennial Bank COLLIER COUNTY Mark Weber New Gulfshore Playhouse Mark Stevens Cultural Center in Naples will President, Stevens Construction Manager, Florida Business Operations , Minnesota Twins spur more than $20 million in economic impact Brian Stock CEO, Stock Development Bret Whidden Mayor, Moore Haven Paul Stone LEE COUNTY CEO, The Hertz Corporation, Inc. Building permits are up 24%

John Talmage Director, Lee County Economic Tracy Whirls Development Executive Director, GLADES COUNTY Glades County Economic Development Council, Inc. Lykes Bros. is the biggest Gay Thompson landowner and agriculture President, Cement Industries, Inc. company R.D. Williams CEO, Hendry Regional Medical TJ Thornberry Center Owner, President, Thornberry Custom Builders, Inc. HENDRY COUNTY Phil Wood U.S. Sugar is Hendry County’s President, John R Wood Properties Aysegul Timur largest employer Vice President and Vice Provost for Strategy and Program Innovation, Florida Gulf Coast University Michael Wynn President, Sunshine Ace Hardware

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