The Roof Authority celebrates three decades in industry

The Roof Authority, Inc., a commercial roofing company in the Treasure Coast, is proud to announce its 30th anniversary of dedicated service in the roofing industry.

Since its founding in 1993, The Roof Authority has become a trusted name in roofing services, known for its commitment to quality, integrity, and customer satisfaction. From humble beginnings, the family- owned company has expanded its operations, serving customers throughout the Treasure Coast and the surrounding areas.

"We are incredibly proud to celebrate 30 years in the roofing business." said Chris Long Sr., at The Roof Authority, Inc. "We made it through some tough times over the years and I truly believe it’s due to the strong relationships we have built with our customers, partners, and employees. It has always been the most important. At the end of the day, none of this would be possible without our great team and the support of our loyal customers. And for that I’m forever grateful.

The Roof Authority, Inc. has continually raised the bar in the roofing industry, earning a reputation in the community for excellence in commercial roofing solutions. Their services encompass everything from roof repairs and maintenance to complete roof installations, utilizing the latest technologies and materials to ensure durability and longevity.

As The Roof Authority, Inc. commemorates 30 years of success and growth, they extend their heartfelt appreciation to all those who have contributed to their remarkable journey. Their success story is a shared achievement and a testament to the enduring relationships they've built within the community.

About The Roof Authority, Inc. - The Roof Authority, Inc. is “Your Quality Leader” for commercial roofing services. The company specializes in re-roofing, replacements, repairs, and maintenance services for buildings in Florida. In addition, the company provides professional sheet metal fabrication, computerized metal forming, shearing capabilities, asphalt fume recovery kettle services, and crane equipment operation.

Established in 1993 by Chris Long Sr., The Roof Authority is a fully licensed, insured and bonded State Certified Roofing Contractor. The business is centralized in Florida’s Treasure Coast and surrounding communities, ranging north to Jacksonville and south to Miami. For more information please visit: https://www.theroofauthority.com/

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 news@indianrivermedia.com

Sep. 14, 2023|

Export University 101 makes Treasure Coast debut in Martin County

It takes a lot of business to succeed in business, as any entrepreneur will attest. Doing so often means tapping new markets—even ones around the world. But how to do so and effectively navigate the logistics, language barriers and labyrinthine of legalities?

Those answers and more are coming—for the first time—to the Treasure Coast through the acclaimed Export University 101. Widely recognized as the premier resource for informing and equipping business owners on effectively accessing foreign markets, the event is taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 28 at Indian River State College’s Chastain Campus in Stuar

Export University 101 will feature leading local, regional, state, and federal experts for in-depth discussion on topics as essential as promotions, compliance, trade grants, risk management, pricing, payment, shipping and more. The event culminates with the issuance of a certificate to participants

“We at the U.S. Commercial Service are very proud to be part of such a great initiative organized by the South Florida District Export Council in collaboration with the Business Development Board of Martin County,” says Eduardo Torres, director for South Florida U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce. “Companies looking to export their products and services will have the opportunity to learn all aspects of the export process. Remember that exporting is not an event, it’s a process.

Organized by U.S. Commercial Service, South Florida District Export Council and the Business Development Board of Martin County, Export University 101 will give local business owners invaluable insights into accessing international marketplaces to expand the impact and influence of their companies.

“We’re incredibly proud to participate in bringing this unparalleled resource to businesses in Martin County and across the Treasure Coast,” says Joan Goodrich, executive director of the BDB. “While we have a robust service sector, Martin County is also home to some remarkable manufacturing companies whose innovations deserve even greater exposure. Export University 101 is uniquely designed to empower them with the knowledge to integrate internationally and we’re so excited to see these principles put into practice in our community.”

Speakers and Topics

Eduardo Torres, director at the U.S. Department of Commerce, will kick things off with the “Basics of Exporting and Products and Services of the U.S. Commercial Service.” He’ll teach attendees, among others, key dynamics to anticipate when entering a wider pool of competitors as well as the importance of creating an export strategy and marketing plan, contemplating logistics and complying with regulations.

Peter Quinter, who specializes in international law for Gunster law firm, will provide a deeper overview of U.S. regulations governing exports.

Emily McHugh, an international trade consultant for Florida Small Business Development Center at IRSC Entrepreneurship Development Institute, will better inform small business owners on how to effectively create, maintain and grow their companies to complement serving larger markets

John Diep, director of international trade and development at Select Florida, will give insights on international sales and how best to access both risks and opportunities before making costly commitments.

Ed Ciampi, chair of the Martin County Commission as well as vice president of sales and international development for Chicago Stainless based in Palm City, will speak on establishing an overseas infrastructure to grow business internationally. Ciampi will discuss, among other topics, determining the viability to potential markets, building a service network dedicated to after-sales relationships and managing and motivating channels of distribution in overseas markets.

Elena Mendez, eastern regional director of small businesses for the Export-Import Bank, will share more about federal programs that support financing of international sales.

Hernan M. Mayol, export finance manager in the Office of International trade for the U.S. Small Business Administration, will discuss financing programs for small businesses seeking to provide exports overseas.

Tyler Myer, senior director of securities for Bank of America, and Brandon Haase, B2B sales and partnerships for Flywire, will speak on managing international sales orders. They’ll delve into pricing,

quotes, and terms, how to factor shipping costs, payment mechanisms, credit insurance and financing export transactions.

Kathy Carlton, managing director at KCarlton International, will cover international logistics.

Afterwards, attendees can address their questions to a panel featuring Torres, Goodrich, Ralph MacNamara, South Florida District Export Council and Pierre Taschereau, business development executive for the BDB

About the Business Development Board of Martin County

Strengthening and championing Martin County’s economy is the Business Development Board’s primary mission. Organized as a 501(c)6 not-for-profit public-private partnership, the BDB provides confidential, complimentary, professional services to job creators, investors, and their representatives with designs to launch and grow in Martin County. Touting Martin County’s friendly business climate, fostering leading industries and good jobs; growing our own businesses, entrepreneurs, and talent; and promoting strategic economic development areas comprise the regular activities BDBMC is engaged in alongside the support of our executive leaders, investors and partners. To learn more, call 772.221.1380, visit http://www.bdbmc.org or follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Aug. 24, 2023|

Fifty two graduate from Skilled Trades Boot Camp

The Treasure Coast Builders Association (TCBA), aided by dozens of mentors and sponsors, graduated 52 young men and women from the 2023 Ready-to-Work Skilled Trades, Marine & Manufacturing Boot Camp on Friday, July 28 at Project L.I.F.T.’s facilities in Palm City.

The hands-on, five-day program included introductory instruction in demolition, small equipment maintenance and repair, HVAC, turf, drafting and design, automotive, plumbing, masonry, marine carpentry, surveying, welding, window/door carpentry, electrical, roofing, marine motors, metal buildings fabrication and garage door repair. The participants were also tutored in business soft skills and financial literacy.

"I learned a lot about 16 different trades and what they do. It was a really good opportunity to express ourselves, find our passion and what we want to do for the rest of our lives,” said Grady Pierce, 19. “They also taught us how to do [job] interviews and how to present ourselves.”

Most attendees were between the ages of 17-22, many of them recent high school graduates exploring career options in the trades. The boot camp participants were paid $15 per hour during training from a grant made available through Project L.I.F.T.

Victoria Burgos, 18, found her passion at the boot camp; she’s signing up for the Chapman School of Seamanship’s Yahama Marine Maintenance Certification Program. “A lot of people are not interested in college. There’s a stereotype that the only way to be successful is by going to college,” she said, adding that the camp helped her learn to explore other options as she plans to work before considering college.

Immediately following graduation ceremonies on Friday morning, 15 local employers interviewed participants for open positions at their companies. Christy Romano of Aapex Electric said she had two current openings and was interested in at least four participants for the positions. She hired one Friday and said she will be interviewing others the following week. “These kids are eager to learn and that’s what we are looking for. We can teach them how to pull wire but we can’t teach them work ethic.”

During the job fair, Romano coached participants filling out job applications. “What I want to know is what you have experience in. If you show up every day. What you like. It can be any experience, ‘I helped my grandpa hang lights,’ for example. Whatever experience you have; if you worked in fast food, guess what, you can work in high pressure situations,” she explained

“Putting together a program of this magnitude – 52 participants, five days, 16 trades, soft skills training, and a job fair – takes months of planning and many hands,” said Maddie Williams, TCBA director of workforce programs. “We had more than 50 volunteers representing about two dozen companies and organizations help out with training and logistics throughout the week. More than a dozen employers participated in the job fair on Friday and I’m aware of at least seven graduates who received job offers so far with many other interviews scheduled for this week.”

“This is the third year Project L.I.F.T. collaborated with the TCBA on the Skilled Trades Boot Camp. It’s a win-win for both our organizations but even more so for the teens and young adults that we serve. We have the facilities and some instructors while the TCBA brings in an incredible array of mentors and dedicated volunteers who, in turn, learn more about what our organization has to offer,” said Project L.I.F.T. CEO Bob Zaccheo. “The 49 young men and three young women who graduated from this year’s boot camp received well-deserved opportunities for fantastic jobs. We're proud of them, and we want to give a huge shout-out to all the employers who also helped train the participants throughout the week and at the job fair.”

“In St. Lucie County, we have Cheney Bros., ACCEL, ARCOSA, and Total Truck Parts who will be hiring, at excellent wages. As part of our promise to these companies, we work with Indian River State College and St. Lucie Public Schools to help develop the upcoming workforce,” said Jenn DuBey, director of business development at the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County (EDC). “At the end of the day, we realized that manufacturers, skilled trades and the marine industry were all competing for the same employee, so it made sense for the EDC to partner with the TCBA to expand the bootcamp and provide real life hands-on training. Both organizations had been hosting separate bootcamps for more than five years, so we took the best of the best from each organization to create the ultimate experience.”

Employers participating in the job fair included Aapex Electric, Adams Homes, Bowman Consulting, Cemex, Complete Synthetic Turf, Dreamworks Restoration, Elite Electric & Air, Florida’s Finest Construction, H&M Impact Window & Door, Martin County Utilities, the Porch Factory, RDI Kitchens, Richard K. Davis Construction, South Shore Plumbing, and Sun State Demolition.

In addition to TCBA, the boot camp’s presenting sponsors included the Porch Factory and Project L.I.F.T. GHO Homes was the advocacy sponsor. Partner sponsors were R.V. Johnson Insurance, the National Center for Construction Education and Research, iTHINK Financial, Express Employment Professionals, and Aapex Electric. Supporter sponsors were Fully Promoted Vero Beach, MBV Engineering, Stellar Communications, S&S Contracting of Florida, Team Parks, Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast, and IAEA. Friends of the Industry sponsors were Southeast Elevator, Elite Electric, the Treasure Coast Manufacturers Association, Building Talent Foundation, and the EDC.

About Treasure Coast Builders Association

The Treasure Coast Builders Association (TCBA) is a professional association of over 400 member firms representing more than 5,540 individuals. TCBA represents and protects the interests of the building industry in Florida's Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties. The organization’s workforce development program is sponsored by the TCBA Charitable Fund, which supports scholarships for local students who are pursuing careers in the skilled trades either through degree or certificate programs. The association also provides training programs for local young adults through career exploration boot camps and mentoring. Contact the TCBA at www.treasurecoastba.com or 772.336.8222.

About Project L.I.F.T.

Project L.I.F.T. is dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk teens and their families through treatment of substance use disorders, mental health counseling, mentoring, and vocational skills training. The nonprofit organization’s innovative delivery of mental health services provides therapy through the unique platform of vocational training. At no cost, at-risk 14- to 21-year-old young men and women engage in hands-on training in welding, HVAC, solar installation, metal forging, construction, auto repair, screen printing and more, while licensed therapists work with them to address issues including depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma, abuse and anger management. Project L.I.F.T. provides services in Palm City, Fort Pierce and Belle Glade. For more information, visit www.projectlift.org.

Aug. 3, 2023|

President focuses on inflection points in the business lifecycle

Susan Rabinowitz

According to Susan Rabinowitz, Business Banking Market Executive and President, Bank of America Treasure Coast Market, "The Treasure Coast is home to large variety of business sectors, from manufacturing to logistics to a growing presence of industrial warehouses. Each of these businesses will face certain moments or 'inflection points' that can have a profound impact on the long-term success of a company and its legacy."

What are those inflection points for your business? Rabinowitz shares here thoughts below.

Drawing on client insights and perspectives, we have identified a few key moments in time.

Growth

While a company is growing, there are several considerations: hiring the right talent, expanding your operations and accessing additional capital.

Talent: Talent acquisition is one of the most pressing challenges facing Treasure Coast businesses as they look to expand. The surge in home prices and rents has created a rift in the labor market, with potential employees unable to afford housing close to their employer. One business, St. Lucie Battery and Tire, has gone so far as to build its own affordable housing project to meet the needs of its workforce and help recruit and retain workers.

When growing your workforce, you’ll also want to provide comprehensive benefits to help attract and retain the best talent. This includes traditional offerings such as retirement savings (401K) and health savings accounts (HRA, HSA). Forward-looking companies are taking an integrated approach to help support employees’ broader needs, including financial wellness, saving and investing. According to the Bank of America Workplace Benefits Report, 95% of employers feel a sense of responsibility for the financial wellness of their employees

Leasing: Whether it’s essential equipment or additional space for offices, warehouses or manufacturing, a business owner must weigh the risks and benefits of purchasing vs. leasing equipment and real estate. Some factors include cash on hand, risk mitigation, strength of balance sheet and tax implications. For example, if technology is changing rapidly in your industry, it may be advantageous to lease equipment and upgrade as needed, instead of buying it outright

Asset-based loans: Businesses can borrow based on their own financial and physical assets, which can range from accounts receivables and inventory to equipment and real estate. Asset-rich companies that have variations in cash flow but need significant capital to help them operate can access revolving lines of credit or term loans that are secured by the borrower’s assets

Maintenance and Expansion

Maintaining and expanding your business involves ongoing fine-tuning of operations, including automating tasks, strengthening working capital and creating accountability to strengthen operational efficiency.

Payments: Making and accepting payments are a lifeblood for business owners. With the challenges presented by the COVID pandemic, our local Bank of America financial advisors were able to help Treasure Coast businesses migrate to digital payment processing, eliminating paperwork and freeing up manhours otherwise devoted to managing a company’s books. Now, nearly eight in ten payment transactions globally are now contactless, and that number is expected to increase. Companies are also using real-time payments, which are initiated and settled nearly instantaneously, 24x7x365. As real-time payment methods are adopted, suppliers and companies will increasingly expect faster, more efficient payments.

Working capital: The pandemic showed us how volatile our systems could be, with supply chain disruptions and labor shortages among other challenges. Even well-capitalized companies are vulnerable to market changes; however, companies can strengthen their working capital to mitigate risk. This includes examining how a company can lower costs, evaluate weeks of float, identify new revenue streams and automate tasks to reduce manual work.

Optimize existing technology: Many companies can optimize their existing technology without making significant technology investments. For example, manual tasks, like accounts payable, can be automated or streamlined.

Mapping your strategy: Whether through international expansion, going public or M&A activity, the decision-making process at a time of expansion represents a critical inflection point for a company. When developing a growth strategy, it is also crucial that business owners determine the target effects on various stakeholders, including employees and partners.

Digital transformation: Digital tools can help support expansion, including systems that provide real-time and other payments across geographies, streamline cross-border compliance and protect businesses from fraud and cybercriminals across global jurisdictions. Digital banking is also helping to accelerate M&A deals, reducing transaction time and costs, and delivering greater value to buyers and sellers.

Exit

Proactive and strategic planning in advance of exiting a business will ease the transition whether it’s passing the company on or divesting entirely.

Succession planning: After successfully navigating their business through the COVID pandemic, we’ve found that many younger Treasure Coast business owners decided now was the right time to step aside and sell their company. In the past, many business owners decided to step aside at retirement age, but now many are seeking exits while still in their 50s. Good succession planning involves deliberation over what is needed for the long-term success of a business. A comprehensive succession plan should include a roadmap for current and future leaders to assess opportunities and risks, earmark strategic investments, plan for disruption and position the company for sustainable growth.

Exit strategy: Before exiting, business owners should assess whether they have a successor with the right skills and desire to take on their role. And they should also define what they want to do upon exit, including selling the business, transferring it to a partner or family member, taking it public or liquidating.

Every moment can be an inflection point, a chance to move your business forward with the right strategy, planning and action. Assessing your business’s overall growth and direction regularly can create a valuable legacy in the years to come.

Susan Rabinowitz, Business Banking Market Executive and President, Bank of America Treasure Coast Market

Jul. 6, 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|

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|

Port St. Lucie welcomes innovative human milk processing company

LactaLogics co-founder Glenn Snow (at right) during one of the company’s three human milk processing pilot runs at the TetraPak Pilot Plant in Denton, Texas. The TetraPak technology will be installed in LactaLogics new processing facility in Port St. Lucie.

LactaLogics, a mission-driven company dedicated to bringing more human milk to babies, is opening its headquarters and processing facility in Port St. Lucie.

“Although breast milk is vital to the health of premature infants, most rely on cow’s milk-based formula for nutrition due to the lack of access to human milk. To address this need, LactaLogics plans to collect excess milk from qualified donor moms across the United States and then gently process the milk to meet the unique needs of premature infants,” said LactaLogics co-founder Chelly Snow.

“The goal is to make more human milk available to hospital NICUs (neonatal intensive care units) and parents across the country. Families will finally have better access to human milk-based products, helping to improve the health of newborns while supporting moms who struggle with breastfeeding,” Snow said.

With multiple patents filed, the company has tested and refined its systems and will build its facility at the former Liberty Medical building at 8883 U.S. Highway 1. Significant capital and equipment investments, extensive renovations and upgrades are planned for the 60,000-square-foot building. The company plans to hire an additional 60 full-time workers at 107% of St. Lucie County’s average wage.

“Port St. Lucie is the ideal home for us because it offers critical infrastructure and a desired workforce,” said Snow. “We’re excited to build a high-tech manufacturing facility, bringing more jobs to the Treasure Coast.”

“It’s an excellent project. It’s definitely something that is very different than we are used to seeing. It’s going to serve a great need, not only in our community but probably around the entire country,” said Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin during the March 27 city council meeting. “It’s very exciting to see development happening on the east side. I think, coupled with what’s going to come forward with our master plan with City Center, it’s going to really boost the entire area.”

“We always talk about local businesses and local citizens having the opportunity to bring their business to Port St. Lucie. The owners of LactaLogics are residents of Councilwoman Morgan’s district,” said Port St. Lucie Vice Mayor Jolien Caraballo. “It’s wonderful to know we are going to have a new business utilizing an old space that’s needed to be filled for a while, providing jobs and, more importantly, economic impact to the eastern side of the city.”

“The Economic Development Council has been working with LactaLogics, as Project Gala, for more than a year and we are proud to have the headquarters and processing facilities for a company with such a compelling mission located here in Port St. Lucie,” said Pete Tesch, president of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County. “The opening of LactaLogics also adds to our community’s growing life sciences sector, joining Cleveland Clinic’s Florida Research and Innovation Center and Florida International University’s Center for Translational Science.”

The incentive package for LactaLogics will include expedited site plan and permitting; ad valorem tax exemptions for tangible personal property only at 100% for the first five years, then at 90%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20% for the next five years; mobility and impact fee mitigation and an opportunity for a Job Growth Investment Grant.

About LactaLogics

LactaLogics is on a mission to improve the lives of the world’s smallest, most vulnerable patients. Dedicated to purpose-driven, transparent, and collaborative practices, the company combines innovative technology and holistic donor care to bring more human milk to babies. For more information, visit www.LactaLogics.com.

About the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County

The EDC is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting economic vitality in St. Lucie County through the attraction, retention and expansion of businesses in the community. The EDC works in partnership with local governments and the private sector to advance its goals of creating more and better-paying jobs for residents, broadening the tax base and improving St. Lucie County’s economic quality of life. Contact the EDC at 772.336.6250 or www.youredc.com.

Mar. 30, 2023|

Total Truck Parts breaks ground in PSL

Total Truck Parts executives Marc Karon, Tom Gibson, Leo Cordeiro and Dennis Imbody break ground for the company’s new 47,000-square-foot facility on Glades Cutoff Road in Port St. Lucie.

Officials from Total Truck Parts and local dignitaries broke ground in Port St. Lucie, Florida, for the company’s largest facility.

After an almost two-year-long search, the employee-owned company with six locations in central and South Florida selected a 6-acre site in Midway Business Park to build its third company-owned facility. The 47,000-square-foot building will include a 5,000-square-foot showroom, 16 heavy truck and trailer repair bays, a large area for hydraulic and drive line repair, and extensive warehouse space for parts.

“This new building is necessary to address the significant growth on Florida’s Treasure Coast,” said Total Truck Parts Chairman and President Marc Karon. “It is also key to our multifaceted growth strategy of expanding our shop repair capability with repair bays and shop services, as well as maintaining a deep inventory of parts to better serve our diverse customer base.”

“Our team is most excited about the continued company investment in growth and all the new opportunities that will be available to us with a facility of this size and functionality,” said CEO Leo Cordeiro. Completion of the new facility is anticipated in late 2023.

Founded in 2002, Total Truck Parks has grown to be the largest independently owned commercial truck parts and repair business in the southeastern United States. The company employs a total of 106, of which 14 currently work in the neighboring city of Fort Pierce. The new Port St. Lucie location will have the potential to more than double local employment to 30, with wages at 25% above St. Lucie County’s average wage. Capital investment for the facility is estimated at $6 million plus additional investment for equipment and interior buildout.

“Total Truck Parts chose a fantastic location for their new facility, within a drive of just two miles to Interstate 95, so their customers can be back on the road and back in business quickly,” said Port St. Lucie Council Member David Pickett. “We are also very happy to be able to keep the company’s existing 14 local employees at work within the county and look forward to all the new jobs that will be created at this new facility.”

“It’s always exciting to see a local company grow, and we are very glad to be able to accommodate that growth within St. Lucie County,” said Pete Tesch, president of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County. “Total Truck Parts has been a thriving local employer for decades and the company’s investment in a new state-of-the-art facility here, the largest one in their portfolio, is the most rewarding kind of economic development of all. Richard K. Davis Construction Corp. of Fort Pierce is the general contractor for the project.

About Total Truck Parts

Total Truck Parts is the leading supplier of parts and service for commercial vehicles in Florida and the largest independently owned commercial truck parts and repair business in southeast Florida. Founded in 2002, the award-winning company’s value proposition is based on offering quality parts equivalent to, or superior than, the original equipment parts, along with a broad range of repair services and a deep inventory of parts that give its customers the opportunity to achieve their goals with one supplier. Total Truck Parts has six locations in Florida. Its more than 100 employee-owners have been providing world-class customer service in the Florida market for many years, accruing extensive product knowledge to diagnose problems and provide solutions for today’s complicated vehicles. For more information, visit www.totaltruckparts.net.

About the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County

Mar. 23, 2023|

IRSC hosts discussion on transportation and logistics

The Indian River State College (IRSC) Eastman Advanced Workforce Training Complex will serve as the backdrop on Wednesday, April 5, for a critical discussion about improving the supply chain through new opportunities in transportation and logistics. The event features remarks from Dr. Timothy Moore, President of Indian River State College; Congressman Brian Mast, Florida’s 21st Congressional District; Chris Thropp, President of Sage Truck Driving Schools; and Bill Solomon, Dean of the IRSC School of Workforce Education.

Among topics for discussion is legislation introduced in January by Congressman Mast that would eliminate age restrictions on truckers. The Ceasing Age-Based (CAB) Trucking Restrictions Act would allow truckers between 18 and 20 years old to transport goods across state lines. Eliminating the age restriction, Mast says, would add to the supply chain workforce, benefitting constituents of the 21st Congressional District.

“Getting more drivers on the road is a key component in addressing the nation’s ongoing supply chain issues,” said Rep. Mast. “I’m grateful to have partners like IRSC and Sage Truck Driving School right here in Florida’s 21st District that can help achieve that goal.”

Attendees will also hear from Veteran and retired Polk County Sheriff Marc Newsom, a Driver Qualification Process Facilitator for Knight Transportation. At Knight, Newsom is accountable for ensuring drivers are DOT-qualified, finalizing the hiring process and providing an orientation to their new position.

Newsom is a graduate of Sage Truck Driving Schools, a comprehensive professional tractor-trailer driver training company working with students and fleets across the country. Sage has offices and classrooms on the Indian River State College Massey Campus. Students enroll in Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training through the IRSC School of Continuing Education.

"For over 30 years, Sage Truck Driving Schools have provided high quality driver training programs to students and fleets across the country. The trucking industry represents a significant element in our nation’s supply chain. As the American Trucking Association puts it, every good in the U.S. has been on a truck at some point in its journey,” said Sage President Chris Thropp. “Our mission is to make sure every student receives personal attention and hands-on training to make them the safest and most knowledgeable drivers they can be. We have been a proud partner with Indian River State College for 16 years, providing a vital career training resource on the Treasure Coast.”

‘Creating New Opportunities—a Path Forward for Improving the Supply Chain and Growing Jobs’ begins at 10:30 a.m. and is expected to conclude at noon. Attendees should park in the lot outside the Tomeu Center (Building C), accessible from S. 30th Street, on the IRSC Massey Campus in Fort Pierce by 10:15 a.m.

“Supply-chain disruptions exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic continue to offer significant and widespread challenges for our nation, and we are delighted to join with Congressman Mast and our partners at Sage Truck Driving Schools to illuminate a path forward,” said Bill Solomon, Dean of the IRSC School of Workforce Education.

For more information about ‘Creating New Opportunities—a Path Forward for Improving the Supply Chain and Growing Jobs’ or to R.S.V.P. for the event, contact Erin Cosentino atecosentino@irsc.edu.

Mar. 23, 2023|

A-1 introduces employee stock ownership program, giving employees a stake in company’s future

A-1 introduces employee stock ownership program, giving employees a stake in company's future

A-1 Global Holdings, Inc., a leading manufacturer of pre–engineered wood trusses and wall panels, today announced the introduction of a company Employee Stock Ownership Plan (A-1 ESOP), enabling eligible employees to benefit directly in A-1’s future prosperity as owners.

The A-1 ESOP will enable employees to acquire at no cost shares of stock in A-1 Global Holdings, Inc., the parent company for all A-1’s manufacturing operations.

“It’s an exciting time to be an A-1 employee,” said Herring, CEO and Chairman of A-1 Global Holdings. “Given our strong growth prospects, creation of the A-1 ESOP recognizes the tremendous contribution our employees have made to A-1’s success. Participation is going to be both a source of employee pride and financial security for A-1 employees.”

The A-1 ESOP will be governed by an independent trustee to safeguard employee interests. By giving eligible employees a stake in the company, the A-1 ESOP is expected to enhance the Company’s culture and drive future growth. All A-1 employees share the Company’s core values of “Own it, Passionate, Honesty, and Respect.” Now they will be able to live out those values and reap the rewards as Company owners.

“The A-1 ESOP represents the perfect alignment of Company goals, values and rewards,” said Jan S. Beck, President of A-1 Global Holdings. “It makes clear that our people are front and center, and that’s exactly how we want it.”

About A-1 Global Holdings

Founded in 1977, A–1 has over 365 employees 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., A-1 Industries of Georgia, LLC, and all future A-1 entities. A-1 currently has manufacturing facilities in Fort Pierce, Fla., and Bainbridge, Ga., and multiple employment opportunities for candidates who share the Company’s Core Values – Own it, Passionate, Honesty, and Respect.

Mar. 2, 2023|

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