Where Business Works
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GREATER Fort Lauderdale Where Business Works Employers seeking the ideal combination of an abundant labor pool, targeted training and world-class education, a business-friendly market, robust culture and unmatched lifestyle for all ages, will find their next-generation workplace in Greater Fort Lauderdale. BY JEFF ZBAR AS FEATURED IN THE MAGAZINE OF FLORIDA BUSINESS GREATER Fort Lauderdale n 1971, Kevin Koenig opened life sciences, manufacturing and ❝We have his first Waterbed City location, a technology sectors. a great Imodest, 800-square-foot storefront Construction workers are building environment on Commercial Boulevard in east Fort some 6,500 hotel rooms and condo- Lauderdale. Thirty years later, Kevin minium residences countywide. to conduct and brother Keith looked west to Tourism continues to grow, as does the business ... Tamarac to open a 660,000-square-foot world-renowned marine industry, which headquarters, distribution center and employs thousands and generates but on the other showroom for what had evolved into City about $9 billion in annual revenues, side, we are a Furniture, the region’s largest furniture including $50 million in economic community that retailer. impact from the annual Seminole Hard The two sites — one near the Atlantic, Rock Winterfest Boat Parade. offers a lot for your the other on the edge of the Everglades Business leaders and area executives workforce.” — were separated by 10 miles and three credit the area’s kindergarten through decades of dynamic business growth. postgraduate educational system ∼Bob Swindell President and CEO “When we started, Commercial for nurturing and training a skilled Greater Fort Lauderdale Boulevard was a two-lane road and blue- and white-collar workforce. Of Alliance there was nothing west of 441,” says a regional population of more than 6 Keith Koenig, who joined the company million, some 375,000 are college and as a college graduate in 1972, and as university students — a central point president (Kevin passed away the day in the region’s competitive pitch for after their Tamarac location’s opening.) Amazon’s second headquarters. today oversees 26 City Furniture and Infrastructure investments Ashley Furniture HomeStore banners and countywide are helping drive business 1,600 employees across southern Florida. and quality of life. Interstate 75, which “Fort Lauderdale has been an amazing recently opened express lanes from place to grow a business.” Miami to Interstate 595 and downtown Wherever you look, Greater Fort Fort Lauderdale, helped make March Lauderdale is at work. In 2017, Broward 2018 the best month in 56 years at Rick County created 17% of Florida’s new and Rita Case’s automotive dealerships. jobs, though it accounts for only 8% of The much publicized Brightline the state’s population. commuter rail service has connected Many of those jobs are in business South Florida’s “tricounty” region sectors targeted by the Greater Fort of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Seminole Hard Lauderdale Alliance, the county’s Beach counties. From commuters to Rock Winterfest official public/private partnership for executives seeking quick passage economic development. Leaders are between the three county seats, to Boat Parade targeting growth in the marine, aviation, tourists exploring the region, the aerospace, global logistics, headquarters, brightly colored trains whisk passengers along the route at 80 mph or more — in air-conditioned and WiFi-enabled comfort. A non-stop West Palm Beach- to-Orlando run is planned; Tampa is a possible stop. “It’s giving us commuting options we didn’t have before,” says Sandy- Michael McDonald, the county’s director of economic and small business development. Across Greater Fort Lauderdale, successful entrepreneurship is conspic- uous by its dollar signs. Home-grown construction software company e-Builder was acquired for a reported $500 million in February 2018. E-commerce pet supply company Chewy.com was acquired by PetSmart for a reported $3 billion. Meanwhile, 78 GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE / WHERE BUSINESS WORKS SPECIAL SECTION Magic Leap, the augmented “Life Less Taxing is dealing reality startup, landed some with everyday life issues, those Broward County Fast Facts $2.3 billion in funding before things we take for granted Population 1,935,878 ever producing a product. that are easier to do in Greater Median Household Income $52,954 Not to be overlooked, Funky Fort Lauderdale,” says Ed Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park Pozzuoli, CEO of law firm Tripp Labor Force 1,047,309 was acquired in 2017 by Corona Scott. “People come here Employment 1,008,955 parent Constellation Brands for a with a sense of optimism and Non-Agricultural Employment 846,500 reported $900 million. purpose. The weather, the “What we have is a truly business atmosphere, the tax well-balanced community,” and regulatory structure make says Bob Swindell, president quality of life that much more Top Public and Private of the Greater Fort Lauderdale friendly and collegial.” Alliance, which visits hundreds With billions of dollars Companies in Broward County of companies each year invested in residential, hospi- 2017 and assists with access to tality, travel, arts and enter- COMPANY INDUSTRY REVENUE capital, workforce training tainment and much needed opportunities, permitting infrastructure improvements, AutoNation Automotive Retailer $21.5 B and site location. “We have a Broward County and its 30 JM Family Diversified Automotive $15.1 B great environment to conduct municipalities are luring families, Enterprises Company business ... but on the other corporations and ever increasing Hard Rock Lottery/Native American side, we are a community that numbers of tourists from the $5.1 B offers a lot for your workforce.” region and around the world. International Casinos What does all this mean “When I grew up, it was a Medical Management Mednax $3.5 B to business owners and their pretty simple life,” says Koenig, Services employees? Greater Fort who has lived in the same west Chiquita Brands Lauderdale lives “Life Less Broward home since 1985 Food Production $3.2 B Taxing.” The slogan is more and whose son and son-in-law International than a motto. Created by are being primed as the next Computer Network Citrix Systems $2.8 B Zimmerman Advertising, generation of leadership at City Software another former local start-up Furniture and in Greater Fort that today is one of the nation’s Lauderdale’s civic community. Spirit Airlines Transportation $2.6 B top advertising agencies, “Life “Florida has changed, but it’s Embraer US Transportation/Logistics $2.2 B Less Taxing” epitomizes a now a vibrant and exciting simpler way of life. place to live." Chewy Pet Products $2.0 B Workforce/Business SDI International $1.9 B Solutions Provider Historic Boulevard, Modern Makeover FirstService Real Estate Services $1.7 B Aerospace, Defense The Las Olas Boulevard beachfront corridor is getting a dramatic HEICO Corp. $1.5 B makeover that will help connect the city to its Atlantic waterfront. and Electronics The $49.3-million project includes a canopy, interactive water fea- Kforce Personnel Outsourcing $1.4 B tures, architectural landscaping, streetscaping and a new beachfront park. The centerpiece will be a stainless steel and aluminum wrapped Construction Moss & Associates $1.3 B parking structure. Designed by architecture and urban design firm Management EDSA Inc. and built Optical Products by Skanska USA, ABB Optical $1.2 B its amenity deck Distributor will offer views of Rick Case Automotive Retailer $1.1 B downtown Fort Automotive Lauderdale, the Sato Global Information Atlantic and the $947.0 M Intracoastal Water- Solutions Technology way. It is expected Human Capital to be completed Ultimate Software $940.7 M Management by summer 2019. Retail Consumer BrandsMart U.S.A. $919.5 M Electronics/Appliances SPECIAL SECTION GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE / WHERE BUSINESS WORKS 79 GREATER Fort Lauderdale Arc Broward's training program qualifies adults with disabilities to work in light manufacturing and retail. Training the Lifeblood of the Business Community Executives across Greater Fort Lauderdale don’t need to be reminded of the importance of the workforce that supports their businesses. t the Riverside Hotel on Las your associates is an investment,” he ❝Just like Olas Boulevard, Vice President says. “If you start doing it that way, it investing in Aand General Manager Heiko changes how you look at things.” Dobrikow is keenly committed In a tight labor market, abundant software or to helping his staff learn, grow and skilled workers become any other and thrive in a hospitality industry every employer’s most important expected to have 6,000 new hotel asset. Throughout the county, aspect of rooms come online in coming years. employers, educators and workforce running your business, At JM Family Enterprises, where development professionals are every expense you Chairman Colin Brown is overseeing taking a renewed focus on how they a multimillion dollar makeover of prepare tomorrow’s employees. make in your associates the company’s Deerfield Beach Colleges, universities, trade is an investment. If you headquarters, he calls his 4,200 academies and even grade schools associates “our most important are collaborating to offer a wider start doing it that way, asset.” Nothing he spends on set of more advanced degrees and it changes how you company advancement can outweigh certifications. look at things.” the returns of spending on his fellow Job training organizations have ∼Colin Brown associates, he says.