Oct
17
Culture of service grows base of “raving fans”
By JIM BALLEW
Business Writer
The new Calusa National Bank Punta Gorda headquarters opened for business August 24 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and approximately 200 in attendance. The bank’s official four-day grand opening celebration held October 5 - 8 drew far more people still. How does a local community bank in business for little more than two years with only three offices in the Charlotte County area draw such a crowd?
Aug
28
Tom Bruzzesi is just your neighborhood hit man Boy Scout
by SARA COMITO
Associate Editor
Early this year Tom Bruzzesi earned his identity as “The Crazy Foreclosure Guy” by buying a Lehigh Acres home for $1,000 at auction, then immediately selling it - without any improvements - for $18,000. The self-proclaimed foreclosure sales “hit man” recently told SWFBT he’s not actually crazy. Instead he operates his business the Foreclosure Shoppe like a Boy Scout, taking the motto “Be prepared” very seriously. Read more
Jun
26
Economy can’t railroad this company
Filed Under Manufacturing, Profiles | Leave a Comment
2008 is UTE’s best year ever, but 2009 may be even better
By JIM BALLEW
Business Writer
In a relatively small building on the south side of Punta Gorda, staffed by no more than a couple of dozen good people, is a company that has had a tremendous impact on the railway industry. Though not widely recognized in Southwest Florida, Ultra-Tech Enterprises Inc. (UTE) has saved North American businesses and consumers untold millions of dollars and many thousands of lives.
UTE is a custom engineering design and manufacturing business serving the railway industry of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Paul Benton, president of the company since December 1991, reports that during the international economic meltdown of the past two years, 2008 was UTE’s best year on record. And projections are encouraging that 2009 earnings will equal or exceed those of 2008, if all goes as planned. Read more
May
29
The future of marketing is electronic
Filed Under Going "Green", Profiles, Technology, Trends | Leave a Comment
An interview with Lisa Sparks
By BOB MASSEY
Editor
One thing Lisa Sparks knows about is small business marketing. And she doesn’t need a crystal ball to see its future.
As regional director of Constant Contact (www.constantcontact.com/southflorida), an e-mail marketing and survey firm, she has to be on top of the subject to be effective to her clients. But she spent time on the other side too, as a freelance commercial writer.
She was so successful at that career, she was cited by Peter Bowerman in his book “Back for Seconds” – the sequel to his bestselling “The Well-Fed Writer.” She was also featured in another sequel: “99 Cows” by internationally known marketing guru Seth Godin, author of numerous business bestsellers including “Purple Cow.”
“Lisa Sparks is one of my heroes in this biz,” Bowerman writes. “Here’s this extraordinarily impressive then-27-year-old African-American woman, who, through a winning combination of moxie, persistence, enthusiasm, resourcefulness, ingenuity, strong faith and plain old hard work, was building a thriving writing business, Integrity Writing in the small and predominantly white Fort Myers, Florida market area.
“Crucial to her success has been her mastery of e-mail marketing.”
It was that mastery that led her to her present position – and a place on the cusp of a growing trend.
Apr
3
R.I.P. Riverside Bank
Filed Under Profiles | Leave a Comment
A community fixture is absorbed but not forgotten
“Never have I grieved like I do for Riverside Bank and its family of employees. Closing those doors was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.” - Elmer Tabor, founder of the late Riverside Bank.
By Carol J. DeFrank
Business Writer
“I have dealt with a lot of hard things in life, including death,” lamented Elmer Tabor, chairman of the board and original founder of Riverside Bank. “Never have I grieved like I do for Riverside Bank and its family of employees. Closing those doors was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.”
Those were his sentiments the day the bank was closed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), an ordeal that took place Feb. 13 when Riverside was purchased by TIB Bank – which used Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) money to fund the buyout.
Feb
27
Stewart’s new digs
Filed Under Economic Development, Profiles | Leave a Comment
Cape Coral EDO director builds on groundwork
By ANNIE LINDSTROM
Business Writer
Cape Coral City Manager Terry Stewart has stepped into the shoes of Economic Development Director Mike Jackson, who retired at the end of 2008.
Stewart’s double duty enables the city to keep riding the economic development wave Jackson put into motion when he came aboard in 2003, despite the city’s current budget crunch.
“Cape Coral City Council members felt it was important to keep pursuing economic development here, and I have worked closely with Mike and have an understanding of the goals he was trying to accomplish,” said Stewart. “So I took on the acting economic development director role for at least a year.”
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