|
|
Vero's Bluedog merges with Fortis
|
|
VERO BEACH — Bluedog Business Services LLC of Vero Beach and Fortis Payment Systems of Novi, Mich., both providers of payments technology and merchant services, have announced the two companies are merging.
The business will expand rapidly, leveraging Zeamster, FortisPay’s proprietary commerce platform, which creates integrated experiences for software and ERP providers, and BLUEDOG’s technology and scalable business development machine. With the support of Lovell Minnick Partners, which made a significant investment in FortisPay in late 2019, the newly combined company will further accelerate its growth in technology-led payment solutions.
Ron Dichter, founder and CEO of Bluedog, will join the board of managers and will... Read more >>
|
|
Martin County to receive land next to Veterans Memorial Bridge to enlarge Kiplinger Nature Preserve
|
|
STUART — The Kiplinger Nature Preserve on Kanner Highway, a popular destination for nature hikers and "bridge walkers" on the Veterans Memorial Bridge, will soon become larger and more useful.
The Kiplinger family, of Washington, D.C., and Sewall's Point announced today its intention to donate to Martin County a 7-acre tract between the bridge and the existing Kiplinger Nature Preserve, at the southwest corner of Kanner Highway and Indian Street. It consists of more than two acres of dry upland, with mature slash pines and saw palmetto, sloping down to five acres of wetlands and mangroves on the St. Lucie River. It includes a small, unnamed creek that flows into the river.
The new addition to the Preserve, which now covers some 157 acres on and in the St. Lucie River, is diagonally across from the new Martin Memorial/Cleveland Clinic medical center and directly across from a gas-and-go convenience store. A larger parcel on the northwest corner of the intersection, adjacent to the Riverland mobile home community, was recently annexed by the City of Stuart and approved for a new apartment community.
"This morning I surprised our county commissioners with news of our family's decision to donate this strategically located, pristine piece of land to Martin County, and I am delighted by their very enthusiastic response," said Knight Kiplinger, chairman of Outlook, Inc, his family's real estate holding company. "They and I think it will greatly enhance the public's enjoyment of the Kiplinger Nature Preserve.
The Kiplinger Nature Preserve has a small parking area used by hikers in the Preserve and "bridge walkers," who leave their cars there while they cross the Veterans Bridge from Kanner to Palm City and back, to enjoy the beautiful river views.
The newly donated land creates a number of recreational possibilities, including additional parking, a place for picnicking, a boardwalk to the river, etc. "We are putting no restrictions on recreational use of the donated site, and I look forward to working with our county commissioners and staff to decide upon the best uses," Kiplinger said.
The parcel being donated is the last piece of a large tract, once covering hundreds of acres between Kanner Highway and the river, that was acquired by the Kiplinger family more than 60 years ago, when Kanner was a two-lane country road and Indian Street west of U.S. 1 was lined with flower and vegetable farms. Today's neighborhoods of Whitemarsh Reserve and South River, among others, were once part of the original Kiplinger landholding.
"The land we are donating could have been developed as retail, office or residential space," Kiplinger said. "But we think that adding this beautiful corner to the Kiplinger Nature Preserve will bring much more value to our citizens than the tax revenue of a developed use. It's the intangible value of environmental protection, education, and relaxation."
The Kiplinger Nature Preserve consists of 116 acres of land on Kanner acquired by the county and the Florida Community Trust in 1991-'93 using state Lands for You funds, plus 41 acres of the long mangrove peninsula in the St. Lucie River, informally called Kiplinger Island, donated by the Kiplingers to the state and Audubon Society of Martin County.
Media contact: Ike Crumpler (772) 201-9996
|
|
weVENTURE 2020 IMPACT Summit set for Aug. 28-31
|
|
Event Offers Live, Recorded Sessions Virtually
MELBOURNE — weVENTURE, the women’s business center in Florida Tech’s Bisk College of Business, will hold a virtual 2020 IMPACT Summit from Aug. 28-31. The annual, conference-style event is designed to inspire and motivate professional women and small businesses interested in pursuing diversity in their leadership ranks.
The presenting sponsor is Bisk Ventures.
“While we are unable to gather in person this year, we believe that offering quality, pre-recorded content in a format designed for small groups to watch together, and facilitating live virtual discussion sessions for individual registrants, will be a powerful experience,” said weVENTURE Executive Director Kathryn Rudloff. “Shifting to a virtual event has also meant we are better able to engage speakers of national prominence, which is very exciting.”
The event’s theme is “The Relentless Pursuit.” It will frame topics in three categories: the relentless pursuit of diversity and female leadership in the workplace; the relentless pursuit of success necessary for entrepreneurs; and the relentless pursuit of thriving, touching on COVID-19 and how individuals and society can respond to the pandemic.

The confirmed speakers at the 2020 IMPACT Summit are:
• Liz Sara, chairwoman of the National Women’s Business Council. NWBC is a non-presidential federal advisory committee serving as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the President, Congress and the administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration on issues of importance to women business owners and entrepreneurs. Sara will provide an overview of the growth of female entrepreneurship over the last 30 years and opportunities for women today.
• Gen. Ann Dunwoody (Ret.), a 1988 graduate of Florida Tech’s Fort Lee, Virginia, site, is the former commanding general of the U.S. Army Materiel Command and a member of the Florida Tech Board of Trustees. She is the first female four-star general in U.S. military history. Dunwoody led many divisions at home and abroad and commanded at every level, and she also supported the largest deployment and redeployment of U.S. forces since World War II. Dunwoody will participate in a fireside chat with former weVENTURE executive director and fellow veteran Beth Gitlin. They will discuss Dunwoody’s career and experience as a trailblazing woman leader.
• Monique Picou ’93 MBA, the senior vice president, chief strategy and supply chain officer, Sam’s Club. This Florida Tech alumna will talk about how one of the largest companies in America has made diversity a corporate-wide priority and pursued opportunities to support women throughout their ranks – and seen tangible results for their efforts.
• Sandra Shpilberg, author of New Startup Mindset. A woman, immigrant and non-programmer, Shpilberg shares her success story of starting, building and then exiting her tech startup, all while not following the Silicon Valley formula and not being the formula. Her story seeks to inspire female entrepreneurs to build the business they are best suited for and to pursue success in their own unique way.
• Lisa Dinhofer, MA, CT is known as the Crisis Tamer. Working with subject matters and circumstances most people turn away from, she mentors companies past traumatic events, workplace abuse and disastrous communications to regain stability, build resilience and establish a new normal. Her talk will provide tangible ways to help cope with the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and learn how best to guide business forward.
Starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, a pre-recorded video presentation featuring two hours of inspiring stories and expert insights will be made available. It will remain available for viewing until noon Monday, Aug. 31.
Additionally, the Summit will feature two live Q&A webinar sessions, an online private discussion group, and support for private watch parties.
“However you choose to watch, the 2020 IMPACT Summit will be a powerful experience that fosters important discussions and inspires us in this uncertain time,” Rudloff said.
Here is the schedule of events:
Friday, Aug. 28:
• 9 a.m. Link for viewing the summit goes live for all registered guests.
• 1 p.m. IMPACT Summit opening session: Live Q&A webinar with speaker Sandra Shpilberg on the relentless pursuit of success for entrepreneurs.
Saturday – Monday, Aug. 29-31:
• Private Watch Parties, hosted at time and place convenient to organizer, in person or virtually. Discussion questions provided. Online platform provided to host private watch party provided upon request. Registrants are not obligated to use this platform.
• Private Virtual Group open for all registrants to join in the conversation by participating in chat discussions, both facilitator-led and organic from the community.
Monday, Aug. 31:
• Noon, IMPACT Summit closing session: Live Q&A webinar with speaker Lisa Dinhofer on the relentless pursuit of thriving.
Tickets are $20 for students, $50 for individual registrants and $250 to host a private watch party of up to 10 registered guests. Event sponsorship are still available.
To learn more about weVENTURE’s 2020 Virtual IMPACT Summit presented by Bisk Ventures, explore helpful FAQs or register as an individual, watch party or sponsor, visit https://weventure.fit.edu/events/impact-summit/.
About weVENTURE
weVENTURE (formerly the Women's Business Center), launched in 2007 at Florida Tech, accelerates growth for entrepreneurs by providing customized coaching, business education, mentorship and networking programs. weVENTURE is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information, or to register for weVENTURE courses and mentorship programs, visit www.weventure.fit.edu or call 321-674-7007.
About Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Tech was founded in 1958 at the dawn of the Space Race that would soon define the Atlantic coast of Florida and captivate the nation. Now the premier private technological university in the Southeast, Florida Tech is a Tier 1 Best National University in U.S. News & World Report and one of just nine schools in Florida lauded by the Fiske Guide to Colleges. Florida Tech is ranked among the top 5 percent of 18,000 degree-granting institutions worldwide in the 2018-19 World University Rankings and has been named a Top College and Best Value University for 2019 by Forbes. Florida Tech offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in aeronautics and aviation, engineering, computing and cybersecurity, business, science and mathematics, psychology, education and communication. Learn more about our relentless pursuit of greatness at www.fit.edu.
|
|
A cherished, collectible Silvertone Pro guitar signed by the legendary Charlie Daniels.
|
|
Tickets are 1 for $25 or 5 for $100 and are available online.
Deadline is Monday, August 24th at 12pm.
Funds go to support YOUR community Sunrise Theatre during this time so we can keep the light on for you this upcoming season.
Questions? E-mail [email protected]
|
|
Two special sections included in the Fall issue:
Annual Port St. Lucie Medical Report
• Your profile or ad will appear in the Port St. Lucie Medical Section of the fall issue of Port St. Lucie Magazine. You can choose between a traditional ad or a biography that will appear in our Medical Profiles Section. Participation includes a free listing in our Port St. Lucie Medical directory.
Thank You Section for First Responders, Front Liners and Veterans
• Your ad will appear in our special Thank You Section for First Responders, Front Liners & Veterans in the fall issue of Port St. Lucie Magazine, a full-color, glossy magazine highlighting the best Port St. Lucie offers. Take this opportunity to thank First Responders, Front Liners and Veterans with a special message and/or special discount/promotion for all they have done for our community.
|
|
For more information about the Annual Port St. Lucie Medical Report, click here
For more information about the Thank You Section for First Responders, Front Liners and Veterans, click here
|
|
Remember Treasure Coast nonprofits
|
|
If you are in a position, consider a gift to a Treasure Coast nonprofit affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Find the needs of many area nonprofits and how to give at treasurecoastnonprofits.com
|
|
As a service to readers and restaurants on the Treasure Coast, Indian River Magazine Inc. has created a website directory of restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries in St. Lucie, Indian River and Martin counties. The site includes hours of operation, if carryout/delivery is available, as well as popular dishes. See the site at treasurecoastrestaurants.com
|
|
Does your business have news of a reopening or change in operations due to COVID-19 that you would like us to share with readers of this newsletter?
|
|
Promote your business where it matters
NEXT ISSUE PUBLISHES IN OCTOBER
 If you would like a copy of Treasure Coast Business, click here. To advertise click here or contact your advertising representative. To report news about your business click here.
|
|
Let us help you promote your business in Indian River, the largest and most widely distributed magazine on the Treasure Coast, and on our Web sites, indianrivermagazine.com and tcbusiness.com, and through this weekly e-newsletter and our widely followed social media pages. Become an Indian River partner today.
• In Vero Beach and Port St. Lucie contact Lisa Crawford at [email protected] or 516.721.0848.
• In Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach and Hobe Sound contact Marsha Lange at [email protected]
or 772.237.1717.
• In Fort Pierce contact Sunny Gates at [email protected] or 772.204.5043.
• Outside the Treasure Coast, contact Publisher Gregory Enns at [email protected] or 772.940.9005.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|