cove at Fort Pierce Inlet State Park

LOVE AFFAIR WITH BOATING GROWS STRONGER

In times of COVID, boating was the perfect pastime for social distancing. You got to stay close to your family, you saw other people from afar and you were able to experience the great outdoors.

If you had any idea about how popular boating had become all you had to do was visit your local boat dealers, many of whom were out of stock, or check the classifieds for used boats, many of which were overpriced because of the strong demand... Read more...

Greg Nelson

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. Although initially hesitant, Greg agreed to a story thanks to the persuasive powers of our writer, Bernie Woodall.

It’s the kind of story we like to tell, especially when so many intergenerational businesses are vanishing... Read more...

Farm-raised tilapia

FISH FARMS A GREAT CATCH FOR THE TREASURE COAST

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... Read more...

Tom Kindred with Alice E. Lee, president/general manager of WFLM 104.5.

WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS

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... Read more...

Tom Kindred leads a panel discussion

STATE’S ECONOMIC STRONG RECOVERY POINTS SPOTLIGHT ON TREASURE COAST

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... Read more...

Tom Kindred meets with SBA officials

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. This market growth could and should translate into potential revenue expansion opportunities for small business operators.... Read more...

Matthew “Griff” GriffinLEADERSHIP 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. We attended the conference to hear exceptional speakers who discussed timely and important topics such as: design thinking, leadership skills, an intergenerational workforce, digital markets and surviving an economic crisis... Read more...

Esther Chin

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... Read more...

Tom Kindred, right, and Andrew Treadwell, center, of IRSC

BAD ECONOMIC TIMES ARE A GOOD TIME
TO REVISIT YOUR BUSINESS PLANS

We hope this winter 2021 issue of Treasure Coast Business finds you, your families and your TEAM members safe and healthy. We also hope this issue finds your business open and persevering through this challenging market. We continue to be inspired by resilient regional business owners who have innovated their organizations through 2020.
We are also encouraged and impressed with the number of regional CEOs, owners, managers, and nonprofit executive directors who have contacted the Florida SBDC at Indian River State College to request assistance in conducting strategic planning sessions. With all the noise and disruption in the marketplace, these business leaders are... Read more...

Florida SBDC

COLLEGE AND MAGAZINE KEEP THE TREASURE COAST BUSINESS COMMUNITY UP-TO-DATE

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... Read more...

Dr. Edwin Massey

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. Read more...

Tom Kindred

PANDEMIC CHANGES PLAYBOOK RADICALLY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

We hope this issue of Treasure Coast Business finds you, your family and your business team safe and healthy.

Remember the good ole days of small business ownership — just a few weeks ago — when the greatest challenges only included hiring employees, government regulations, federal income taxes, compliance, health care, cash flow, rising costs and understanding social media. Business as usual is now unusual. The playbook, rules and playing field for small business have changed, maybe forever. Read more...

Dr. Jerry Parrish, the chief economist and director of research for the Florida Chamber Foundation

START OF YEAR BRINGS PROMISE FOR BUSINESS

Happy New Year and welcome to a new year of Treasure Coast Business, the publication dedicated to all things business across the Treasure Coast. As the Florida Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College begins a new year of operations and Treasure Coast Business prints its January 2020 issue, it is time to reflect on and review 2019 performance. Read more...

IRSC School of Business Dean Dr. Prishanth Pilly and team members Jodie Anderson and Lila White

BUSINESS MATTERS TO US

Thanks for picking up and reading the second issue of Treasure Coast Business, the publication dedicated to all things business across the Treasure Coast. We have received a lot of terrific feedback regarding the publication since our inaugural issue hit the streets and business suites back in June. Readers tell us they appreciate the dedication to serious business content and stories, and many business owners and operators say they were pleased to finally see a magazine dedicated to covering Treasure Coast business activities and happenings. Read more...

Gregory Enns and Tom Kindred Jr.

VALUABLE NEWS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Treasure Coast Business, a quarterly magazine whose mission is to give business leaders, owners and operators a snapshot of the Treasure Coast economic environment to enable them to make decisions that maintain and grow their businesses. Read more...