tcbusiness.com – Announcements

Local father-daughter duo opens Clean Eatz in Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie residents have a new dining option with the opening of Clean Eatz at 10836 SW Village Parkway, Suite 10836. The award-winning health food restaurant franchise is known for its chef-inspired, nutritionist-approved menu selection, giving locals the option to order meal plans, catering packages, Grab ‘N’ Go meals, or enjoy a dine-in restaurant experience.

The franchise location will be owned and operated by Dave and Kylie Schaefers, a local father-daughter duo. Dave has been in the franchise space for over three decades, during which time he’s owned and/or operated a multitude of popular brands in various industries across the country. Kylie is a recent graduate from the University of Florida with a degree in health and wellness. This will mark the first involvement she’s had in the franchise space

“It’s been incredible to witness the growing namesake and public demand for Clean Eatz throughout Florida, and to be able to partner with incredible franchisees like Dave and Kylie to help drive our expansion in the state,” says Evonne Varady, Co-Founder of Clean Eatz.

For more information on Clean Eatz, please visit www.cleaneatz.com or call (772) 200-2268.

About Clean Eatz:

Clean Eatz, which launched in 2011 and started franchising in 2015, was co-founded by husband-and-wife duo Don and Evonne Varady, as a means of helping individuals and families change their lives by providing them with better nutrition options, a steady dose of health and wellness education, and a diverse support community that’s committed to helping each other in becoming their best selves. By supplying such healthy alternatives, the Clean Eatz brand has continued to win over communities with their dine-in, grab-n-go, catering, marketplace, and weekly online meal plan selections.

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

Jun. 8, 2023|

City of Fort Pierce honored with two Home Rule Hero Awards in 2023

The Florida League of Cities(FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, recently honored Mayor Linda Hudson and Commissioner Curtis Johnson, Jr. with a 2023 Home Rule Hero Award for their hard work and advocacy efforts during the 2023 Legislative Session. Mayor Hudson and Commissioner Johnson worked tirelessly throughout the session to promote local voices making local choices, protect the Home Rule powers of Florida’s municipalities and advance the League’s legislative agenda.

“The League and its legislative team appreciate the individual advocacy efforts undertaken by municipal officials throughout the state,” said FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook. “Home Rule Heroes are some of our biggest advocates for protecting local decision-making. They are League members who stand out for their high level of participation, knowledge, and effectiveness. This year’s Home Rule Heroes continuously advocated for their communities throughout the 2023 Legislative Session.”

Home Rule is the ability for a city to address local problems with local solutions with minimal state interference. Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials, both elected and nonelected, who consistently responded to the League’s request to reach out to members of the Legislature and help give a local perspective on an issue.

Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities, which are formed and governed by their citizens. The League believes in “Local Voices Making Local Choices,” which focuses on the impact citizens and city leaders have in improving Florida’s communities. For more information, visit flcities.com.

Jun. 1, 2023|

A-1 Global Holdings announces the appointment of Robert Jardim to vice president of finance

A-1 Global Holdings, Inc., a leading manufacturer of pre–engineered building components, is delighted to announce that Robert Jardim has joined the leadership team as Vice President of Finance. He will lead A-1's Accounting Department, including financial planning, analysis and reporting, tax and treasury. His hire compliments current and ongoing growth in A-1’s Accounting Department.

"Rob's extensive experience in both large and small manufacturing firms makes him an ideal fit for this period of rapid growth at A-1," said Jan Beck, A-1’s President. "We are extremely happy to welcome him to the team and look forward to his contributions to financial leadership and management during this very exciting time as we continue to scale our operations to meet the high order demands from our customers.

Rob graduated from Bentley University with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and a minor in Systems Implementation and Design. He obtained his CPA license in Massachusetts. His career started in the public accounting sector, including Price Waterhouse. Rob spent the past 12 years for COMET, a publicly traded Swiss Technology company, in increasing roles from Vice President of Finance to Country General Manager for the North American Region

"I've admired A-1's team and technology, and I'm excited to join a Company that has not only been successful but also has the potential for considerable growth in the near future," said Rob. "I look forward to working with A-1’s talented team to continue to build on the great success A-1 has seen in recent years."

About A-1 Global Holdings

Founded in 1977, A–1 has over 370 employees and is a leading manufacturer of pre–engineered wood trusses and EZWALL® framing solutions. The Company recently reorganized as A-1 Global Holdings, Inc., the new parent company for A-1 Industries of Florida, Inc., and A-1 Industries of Georgia, LLC. A-1 currently has manufacturing facilities in Fort Pierce, Fla., and Bainbridge, Ga., and multiple employment opportunities in both locations for candidates who share the Company’s Core Values – Own it, Passionate, Honesty, and Respect. A-1’s employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

May. 25, 2023|

Bank of America Breakthrough Lab™ seeks founders of early-stage startups

BOA Logo

Bank of America is pleased to officially launch its impact accelerator program named Bank of America Breakthrough Lab with the call for applications for the September 2023 cohort. The six-month program provides tailored mentorship, digital expertise, networking with industry experts and access to potential investors to Black, Hispanic-Latino, Native American and other entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities so that they can scale-up their technology-related businesses.

Founders of early-stage startups from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply to the program that promotes financial inclusion and financial technology development with the goal of increasing the number and growth of small businesses. The deadline for applications is June 8, 2023 for a September 2023 start date.

“The bank’s long-standing commitment to supporting economic opportunity for people and communities we serve is at the core of Bank of America Breakthrough Lab,” said Rina Arline, Breakthrough Lab Program Director in Global Transaction Services at Bank of America. “We’re excited to play a role in giving emerging entrepreneurs from a range of backgrounds access to the bank’s vast resources and industry networks.”

Bank of America plans to host a new cohort each year. Program details and instructions for how to apply appear below.

Breakthrough Lab Success

In 2021, the bank launched a pilot program with five startups from the New York area. Following the initial success, in 2022 the bank expanded the pilot with 17 companies from the U.S., Mexico, United Kingdom and France.

Bank of America’s Efforts to Advance Economic Opportunity

Bank of America remains committed to supporting business owners and entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities grow their businesses, which generates economic opportunities that helps create jobs and build wealth. Bank of America also works with an established network of community partners that provides capital or serves as depository institutions, and offers businesses with access to other funds, investors and vendors by creating connectivity within the venture capital sphere. In 2021, the bank launched the Access to Capital Directory for Entrepreneurs - Access to Capital Directory to help connect women-owned businesses to resources on navigating the capital landscape and identifying potential sources of funding. This directory has now expanded to encompass Black and Hispanic Latino entrepreneurs.

To date, Bank of America has committed $421 million to more than 130 minority and women-led funds. Those funds will in turn invest in an estimated 2,000-plus minority- and women-led companies over five years.

“Our investment in minority and women-led funds has a catalytic effect in supporting diverse communities,” said Tram Nguyen, Global Head of Strategic & Sustainable Investments at Bank of America. “Each time we support a minority-led fund, they in turn support diverse entrepreneurs, which ultimately helps us to achieve our goal of advancing economic opportunity. Each cohort of Breakthrough Lab founders plays a critical role in helping us to drive progress.”

Program Application Details

Timeline: The six-month part-time program runs September 2023 to March 2024.
Who can apply: Pre-seed stage companies with ideas related to FinTech or tech-enabled ideas promoting inclusion such as HealthTech, WealthTech, EdTech, and housing. While the aspirational goal of the program is to increase access for underrepresented groups, all eligible entrepreneurs regardless of background are encouraged to apply.
Online application

Highlights:

The program is offered at no cost¹to the BTL participants and there is no expectation or requirement to exchange equity with the bank.
Each cohort is assigned mentors at the managing director or executive level from Bank of America.
94 hours of live instruction spanning a diverse range of business management topics.
Technology support.
A branding package covering website and logo design.
Guidance on how to partner or sell to large enterprises.
Exposure to investors and providers of capital, including a pitch day at the end of the program where each cohort will present their business case.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 56 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

May. 18, 2023|

Niki Norton elected 2023 president of Treasure Coast Builders Association

Maggie Ovedorf, at left, Niki Norton, and Florida State Representative Toby Overdorf.

Niki Norton, President and Owner of n2 architecture + design, has been elected President of the Treasure Coast Builders Association (TCBA) for 2023.

Her presidency in what has traditionally been a male-dominated field comes as the TCBA is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. Norton is the first woman to hold this position on the Treasure Coast, taking the leadership position. She has been active locally in green and sustainable design for commercial and residential developments for more than twenty years and has earned a reputation for professionalism, teamwork, attention to detail, and a finished product that exceeds her clients’ expectations.

Norton is an accredited professional in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and a Licensed General Contractor, with a degree in architecture from the University of Tennessee. Recently appointed to Martin County’s Local Planning Agency, Norton has been active in the Treasure Coast community, serving as President of the Palm City Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Lyric Legacy Society, Chair of the Martin County Historic Preservation Board, and a member of the United States Green Building Council and the Florida Green Building Coalition. She is currently serving her second term as President of CREW Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, part of a national organization devoted to the promotion and success of women in commercial real estate.

“As a mom, small business owner, leader in local organizations, and a champion of sustainable development, I’m proud and excited for what the TCBA can contribute to our community’s quality of life during my tenure and far into the future,” Norton said.

About n2 architecture + design

n2 architecture + design is a full-service firm that focuses on green design and innovative approaches to solving architectural challenges. Led by Niki L. Norton, R.A., LEED, as principal architect, the team has more than twenty years of success on the Treasure Coast with a wide range of projects ranging from residential to commercial, from single family homes to large commercial buildouts, and special projects like country clubs and historic buildings. n2 has won numerous awards, including Most Outstanding Green Interior Design-Small by the United States Green Building Council, and prides itself on bringing inspiration, creativity, sustainability, and personalized service through the highest quality of architectural services. n2 offices are located at 2081 SE Ocean Boulevard, Suite 1A, Stuart, FL 34996. Phone 772-220-4411, contact n2 at [email protected], or visit the website http://www.n2archdesign.com.

May. 18, 2023|

BLHT Law welcomes Cynthia G. Angelos, former judge, prominent attorney and mediator

Bartlett, Loeb, Hinds, Thompson and Angelos (BLHT Law) is pleased to announce that Cynthia G. Angelos, a highly respected attorney and mediator, has joined the firm. With over three decades of experience, Cynthia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the firm’s clients in the areas of complex commercial litigation, class action suits, property rights matters, municipal law, and real estate development.

Cynthia has represented a broad range of clients, including major public corporations, some of the country’s largest privately held corporations, municipalities, public officials, individuals, trusts, and families. Her extensive experience as a judge, a practicing attorney and a mediator has made her a valuable resource for clients involved in complex case litigation.

Before joining BLHT Law, Cynthia served as a Circuit Court Judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit, where she presided over both civil and criminal divisions and served as the Administrative Judge for both the civil and appellate divisions. Her colleagues also elected her to serve as the first female Chief Judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit. In addition, Cynthia served as an Associate Judge on the 4th District Court of Appeals and was nominated for consideration by the White House to the Federal District Court in 2003.

Her dedication to public service is reflected in her involvement in various organizations, including the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, where she has served for thirteen years and previously served as chair of the commission. She has also served on the Judicial Nomination Commission for the 19th Judicial Circuit and was appointed by the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to serve on the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel.

BLHT Law is honored to welcome Cynthia G. Angelos to the firm and looks forward to her contributions to our clients and the legal community.

About BLHT Law

The attorneys at BLHT Law are trial lawyers who practice successfully in various areas, primarily focusing on complex business litigation. Other prominent practice areas include eminent domain, real property and land use litigation, appellate, class actions, intellectual property, and the exposure of government overreach and corruption. The firm has repeatedly been named to U.S. News and World Report’s Best Law Firms. To learn more, visit blhtlaw.com.

May. 18, 2023|

SBA hurricane relief deadline draws near

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) encourages small businesses in Florida with economic losses due to Hurricane Ian that occurred from Sept. 23 through Nov. 4, 2022, to apply for working capital disaster loans before the June 29 deadline.

Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and private nonprofit organizations in the following counties are eligible to apply: Alachua, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando , Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia

“To serve the economic interest of the community, we have an extended application timeframe of nine months which enables businesses to assess the effects of the disaster before applying for working capital loans. As the June 29 deadline is approaching, we urge potential applicants to take action right away,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

The SBA Business Recovery Center is operating as indicated below until further notice:

SBA Business Recovery Center
Hillsborough County

Chloe Coney Urban Enterprise Center
1907 E. Hillsborough Ave.
Tampa, FL 33610

Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. All visitors to the DLOC are encouraged to wear a face mask.

These federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 3.04 percent for small businesses and 1.875 percent for private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration #17645.

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services), or by sending an email to [email protected]. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 29, 2023.

May. 11, 2023|

Sunshine Pickle Company sprouts on Treasure Coast

Not even halfway into the year, 2023 has already been deemed “The Year of the Pickle!” From dill potato chips, dill peanuts, popcorn and even beer, people are in love with all things pickled. The timing couldn’t be better for Vero Beach entrepreneurs, Josh and Kiaran Kabat’s new pickle company, The Sunshine Pickle Company.

“We launched the brand on Christmas eve of 2022 at the Fort Pierce farmers market to rave reviews and an instant cult following, we are so happy with all the community support and love we’ve received in such a short time of being in existence,” says Josh.

While the brand may be new, this is not the couple's first go around in the pickle business. “We’ve built 3 other successful pickle brands in addition to our product development company, Kab-Co Product Development outside of Florida, this new one is very much a passion project for us, kind of a way to prove to ourselves along with some others that we can continue with the success we’ve experienced in the past, and do it with a totally new company,” explains Kiaran.

“We try to eat very clean and healthy as a family, we have an 8 year old and a 5 year old that we don’t want eating the over processed and additive filled foods the fill our grocery store shelves today. We made a product completely sourced and produced in Florida, free of any additives or Preservatives. Our pickles are as clean of a snack as it gets,” says Kiaran.

While Josh has been busy working the local market and festival circuit getting the brand name out there, the couple's goals are much bigger than just existing as a local brand. ”The Product is beginning to pop up on store shelves throughout the entire state. We were able to secure distribution with another family-owned Florida company, which is very important to us. A community becomes stronger when you support local businesses, we hope to make a positive impact everywhere we are sold, we want to be Florida’s official snacking pickle.” For more information, log onto their website www.sunshinepickleco.com or call 772.213.9994.

May. 11, 2023|

12 3 Next

Announcements

Passport Saturday coming to SLC

Local father-daughter duo opens Clean Eatz in Port St. Lucie

Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency launches Paint Program

City of Fort Pierce honored with two Home Rule Hero Awards in 2023

A-1 Global Holdings announces the appointment of Robert Jardim to vice president of finance

Bank of America Breakthrough Lab™ seeks founders of early-stage startups

Niki Norton elected 2023 president of Treasure Coast Builders Association

BLHT Law welcomes Cynthia G. Angelos, former judge, prominent attorney and mediator

SBA hurricane relief deadline draws near

Sunshine Pickle Company sprouts on Treasure Coast