Preserving a family’s storied legacy
When we met Greg Nelson a few months ago, we had to persuade him to let us profile the company he heads, Bernard Egan & Co., a fixture in the Florida citrus industry for more than a century.
Fish farms a great catch for the Treasure Coast
Fish farms a great catch for the Treasure Coast
Farm-raised tilapia are being produced in Vero Beach by Atlantic Pacific Jade, which plans to ship some of its stock to the live-fish market. The farm has donated fresh fish to a local nonprofit, United Against Poverty. ANTHONY INSWASTY
As demand for Florida seafood continues to exceed what the commercial fishing industry can produce, aquaculture — captively raising fish, shellfish and aquatic plants — offers a viable solution to expanding and sustaining Florida’s fishery and decreasing reliance on imported products and our nearby lagoon and ocean fishery.
One case of an aquaculture farm making scientific inroads is taking place west of Vero Beach at Atlantic Pacific Jade, soon to be called Simmons Fish Farm.
As Mary Ann Koenig writes in Hooked on a System beginning on Page 4, farm produced tilapia are being raised and sold for distribution to the U.S. market with enough available for donations to United Against Poverty. The operation is the brain child of retired Cornell University professor Michael B. Timmons, who developed a genetically healthy breed of the fish over three decades. The farm is managed by marine specialist Andrew Dixon, who is in line to take over the business.
One of the environmental friendly features of the farm is that it uses technology developed by Timmons to recirculate water instead of discharging it into another body of water. All the while, the farm remains intensely focused on both the quality of the water in which the fish are raised and the nutritional quality of the fish themselves.
It’s just one of a handful of aquaculture businesses on the Treasure Coast, which includes the Ithuba Shrimp Farm in Fellsmere and Aquaco Farms north of Fort Pierce, that have become part of a global solution to sustaining the world’s food supply.
Jade, Aquaco and Ithuba are also examples of entrepreneurs diving wholeheartedly into aquaculture. And with nearby research institutions such as FAU-Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, the Smithsonian Research Station, the Ocean Research & Conservation Association and the Florida Oceanographic Society, coupled with what some entrepreneurs perceive as Florida’s farming-friendly regulations, there’s no reason the Treasure Coast shouldn’t be home to more of these enterprises.
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]
Women mean business
Women mean business
Tom Kindred with Alice E. Lee, president/general manager of WFLM 104.5. She is the first black owner of a regional radio station. IRSC
BY TOM KINDRED
In the world of small business, October holds special meaning because it is National Women’s Small Business Month. It is in October when the business community celebrates and recognizes the 12.3 million [and growing] women-owned businesses.
There is good reason to highlight and celebrate these businesses because they generate $1.9 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 9 million people. Like all small business operations, women-owned small businesses support local nonprofits, schools and governments through their tax dollars. Women-owned businesses appear in all marketplace segments including: service providers, STEM fields, technology, manufacturing, education, professional services and retail.
The Treasure Coast is home to many women-owned small businesses. These talented and creative business women possess incredible business acumen, which they leverage to enhance and increase the value of the Treasure Coast marketplace. Just a few examples of these Treasure Coast women-owned businesses include:
• Kimberly Amsalem – Graphic Designs International
• Yolanda Solorzano – Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant
• Darla Rose – Bella Rose Day Spa
• Amy Stapleton – Chatables
• Vanessa Freeman – Hart’s Mobility
• Alice E. Lee – Midway Broadcasting Co. – WFLM 104.5
• Julissa Mercado and Ashley Jameson – The Skin Spot
• Linda Schlitt-Gonzalez – Coldwell Banker Paradise - Ed Schlitt Realtors
These savvy businesswomen also understand the potential power and opportunity of government contracting and becoming a certified women-owned business. In 2020, women-owned small businesses were awarded $27.1 billion in prime contracts and $14.3 billion in subcontracting contracts. That is more than $41 billion in revenue for women-owned small businesses. And yes, that is billion with a B.
Scotty Wilson, the Procurement and Technical Assistance Center specialist with the Florida SBDC at Indian River State College will assist and guide a small business owner in navigating all the steps required to achieve woman-, minority-, veteran- and disabled veteran-owned status and certification. Once the small business owner has successfully obtained certification, the center will then assist the small business owner in pursuing and connecting to government contracting.
In the past three years, Wilson’s leadership, along with the assistance of the Florida SBDC at IRSC, has helped regional small businesses connect to more than $185 million in government contracts. That is real revenue generated by real Treasure Coast small business owners that brings real value to the business, the owner and the marketplace.
So, congratulations to all the Treasure Coast women-owned small businesses. October is the month to celebrate your entrepreneurial spirit, dedication, success and commitment to your business. Thank you for all you do for your families, your organization’s team and the region’s small business marketplace.
See the original article in the print publication
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]
State’s economic strong recovery points spotlight on Treasure Coast
State’s economic strong recovery points spotlight on Treasure Coast
Tom Kindred, regional director of the Florida Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College, leads a panel discussion during the recent inaugural Small Business Success Summit in Tampa. INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE
Treasure Coast small business owners and operators must be feeling a sense of déjà vu lately. With the recent supply chain issues, rising fuel cost and other assorted economic challenges, one cannot help but think back to the Great Recession.
With a zero-income tax policy and its warm weather, Florida has always been a popular state to relocate for people and businesses. Even with its popularity, the state is still susceptible to economic cycles, but since the Great Recession, it has experienced strong growth. The Treasure Coast has benefited from the state’s strong recovery and growth in the form of increased exposure.
The days of going unnoticed have ended.
The question for Treasure Coast small business owners and operators is how to leverage the region’s recent growth. Small business success will come to those operators who can look beyond the current economic situation and position the business to solve customer problems and take advantage of the region’s new opportunities.
Opportunity is defined as an appropriate or favorable time or occasion, a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal, a good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success. However, opportunity viewed through the lens of an entrepreneurial mindset will look like an appropriate or favorable time to create new products, services and generate new business revenue.
In its most basic form, entrepreneurship is about recognizing problems and creating solutions. Small business and entrepreneurial success does not come from creating the next big idea — it comes from creating simple solutions to everyday problems. As new business and sometimes big business begin to move into the region, there will be problems, or shall we say opportunities, requiring simple solutions. Those who provide these simple solutions will reap the business benefits.
To position a business as a problem solver, a small business owner and operator needs to build an intrapreneurial culture within the organization. Intrapreneurship, aka internal entrepreneurship, is innovation within the organization. An organization that is consistently innovative will be dynamic and attract creative people. The business will have a stimulating environment that will be viewed as a great place to work. Hint, Hint — Looking for solutions to staffing issues?
Most importantly, a culture of intrapreneurship fosters business success by catching problems before customers, by recognizing and identifying market needs, by challenging conventional thinking and by engaging employees.
The future is here for the Treasure Coast marketplace. Even in an economic downturn, the region will continue to prosper and grow because the region is truly a great place to live, work and play.
To have a conversation about how to position a business as a solutions provider for the region, email the Florida Small Business Development Center at [email protected] or call 772.336.6285.
See the original article in the print publication
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]
Assuming the lead on business leadership
Assuming the lead on business leadership
Tom Kindred leads a group of IRSC Business School students through a Contemporary Business Leadership course. INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE
As I have written and been quoted saying many times, Treasure Coast Business magazine is the go-to publication for all things business across the Treasure Coast.
The regional business owners, operators and entrepreneurs who read and leverage the business information included in the magazine undoubtedly understand the importance of leadership in one’s personal life, our community, and certainly in business.
A Google search for business leadership articles and books will generate more than 60 million entries — indicating the interest in, and importance of, the topic of business leadership.
The rapid economic and marketplace growth the Treasure Coast is experiencing will produce and foster many positive outcomes, including job creation and expansion, higher wages and career advancement.
This growth will also generate entrepreneurial opportunities in the form of start-ups to support new regional industries and companies. However, this same growth and expansion will undoubtedly create new pain points and complexities, including traffic issues, increased pressure on existing infrastructure, capital access and workforce issues. Addressing and managing these issues will require leadership.
Recognizing leadership is an important topic for the region’s business community, the editorial staff at Treasure Coast Business believed it was time to lead on leadership. Multiple pages of this issue present profiles of a small sampling and examples of the hundreds of outstanding business and community leaders working each day along the Treasure Coast.
The Treasure Coast has always had a strong foundation of extraordinary business leadership in all industry sectors, including agriculture, finance, legal, real estate, education, government, nonprofits, retail and manufacturing. The most interesting aspect of these leaders is that many represent multiple generations of leaders. These individuals had mothers, fathers and grandparents who served in key leadership positions across the Treasure Coast, providing extensive experience and knowledge of the region’s legacies and history. As my father might say — these folks know the lay of the land.
I am also happy to report the prospects for a new generation of Treasure Coast leaders are promising and strong. I was recently asked to lead and instruct a contemporary leadership class for the School of Business at Indian River State College. I have always been impressed with the maturity and experience level of its students and this group is no exception.
However, I have been most impressed with this group’s willingness, desire and fearless acceptance of leadership roles within organizations where they are employed. If these students represent a sampling of Treasure Coast millennials and Gen Zs, I am encouraged and confident our region will have an intelligent, engaged, competent and innovative group of future business leaders to guide our region’s marketplace in the coming years.
Please note — the magazine recognizes there are hundreds of others worthy of being recognized for their leadership roles and contributions. This leadership profile story is designed to highlight and provide an example of dedicated individuals who are leading, out front and behind the scenes, to initiate and facilitate positive growth for the region, the business community and its residents.
Please feel free to contact the Florida SBDC at IRSC and provide us with your thoughts on who should be included in next year’s Treasure Coast Leaders to Watch.
For more information on the magazine and all the business assistance services and resources available through the Florida SBDC at IRSC, email us at [email protected] or contact Katie Muldoon at 772.336.6085.
See the original article in the print publication
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]
It’s a perfect time for small business owners to explore borrowing options
In traveling throughout the Treasure Coast region, speaking with business owners, operators and economic development leaders, one issue is clear — the region is growing
Leadership conference stresses important concept of working on the business
The Florida Small Business Development Center at IRSC recently attended and worked the 10th Annual Jim Moran Institute Small Business Leadership Conference in Orlando
Strong leadership, a collaborative spirit made recovery possible for small businesses
The past year has certainly been one of the most difficult in the modern history of business. No one could have predicted the scope and depth of the challenges encountered by small business owners and operators. Fortunately, but not surprisingly, regional economic development organizations, educational institutes, business organizations and municipalities responded to assist with the hardships and create a path forward for Treasure Coast small businesses.
College and magazine keep the Treasure Coast business community up-to-date
College and magazine keep the Treasure Coast business community up-to-date
With expanded consulting services, the Florida SBDC at IRSC is ready to assist regional businesses develop a plan to move beyond COVID-19.
Since March, COVID-19 has caused serious disruption for Treasure Coast small businesses and the regional workforce. Even with all Treasure Coast businesses now open and operating, including hospitality, the reality of a changed and challenging marketplace still exists.
The primary purpose of Treasure Coast Business Magazine is to provide the region with a go-to publication for all things business across the Treasure Coast. Beginning with the spring issue, the magazine dedicated substantial pages of content that provided small businesses with COVID-19 operational tips on topics including operations, marketing, cash management, recovery and resiliency.
That same issue dedicated an entire section to the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans and 7(a) loan and repayment information. The magazine’s mission is clear — ensure the region’s business owners and workforce have access to current and relevant business information.
In keeping with this mission, we want to highlight and remind the business community of the Treasure Coast’s most accessible, valuable and powerful workforce and business recovery resource — Indian River State College.
Now is the time to examine all that Indian River State College can provide and offer students, professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners. Get beyond surviving and start thriving. Take advantage of what is affordable and convenient access to valuable and high-quality educational, professional development, and business assistance resources and programs at your Indian River State College.
For more than 60 years, Indian River State College has been providing high quality education, workforce training, professional development and employee enhancement programs to individuals, corporations, small businesses and government agencies. If you are a professional or a business owner seeking to reengage in the marketplace, the college has the tools, resources and programs to help meet personal, professional and business goals.
The most visible of these business assistance tools are the Florida Small Business Development Center and the Corporate & Community Training Institute at IRSC.
The Florida SBDC at IRSC is the source for assistance and expertise to help businesses survive, grow and succeed. The Florida SBDC at IRSC and its expanded team of consultants can help a business develop a plan to move beyond COVID-19.
The CCTI has educational and training services to meet community and business needs by providing high quality employee training and enhancement programs to individuals, corporations, small businesses and government agencies. CCTI specializes in customized training at a time, date and location that is convenient for the business.
Indian River State College has also created innovative programs to support the region’s workforce. Among the newest programs is Rapid Credentialing for displaced workers, made possible through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Rapid Credentialing grant by the Florida Department of Education.
Rapid Credentialing offers eligible students quick, tuition-free certificate and career-training opportunities in areas that include electric power plant technology, accounting, entrepreneurship, business, health science, automotive, HVAC, landscape and horticulture, firefighting, corrections and private security officer. Several programs include courses that are credit-bearing and may apply toward corresponding Associate in Science degrees.
The IRSC Virtual Campus provides the region’s workforce with online access to education. Offering 15 online degree programs, hundreds of programs and a variety of technical certificates, Virtual Campus provides the career training and competitive advantage needed for advancement in today’s workforce. Virtual Campus students experience well-designed courses taught by faculty members who are experts in their fields. Students have a team behind them who want to see them succeed. With options on course length and start date, students can pursue academic goals remotely, in a way that works for them.
To learn more about these programs and all Indian River State College has to offer, please visit www.IRSC.edu. To contact the Florida SBDC and the CCTI, send an email to [email protected] or call 772.336.6285.
See the original article in the print publication
Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Magazine Inc. For more information or to report news email [email protected]
Development center provides a helping hand with pandemic challenges
Since the spring issue of Treasure Coast Business magazine, many regional businesses have reopened and are “back to biz.” Although glimpses of normal operations exist, the reality is that the business community must continue to deal with an unprecedented, changing and challenging marketplace created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as the marketplace began to re-open, many hospitality operators had to cease operations to address a surge in coronavirus cases.