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JULY 2019   |   TBBWMAG.COM   |   $7.95

                                                        LISA
                                                      FALLER
                                                     Whatever It Takes

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LISA FALLER - Bad Request
Bucs

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Bucs

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                    18       COVER
                                                             STORY
                                                            Lisa
                                                            Faller
                                                    8 One Liners
                                                    22 Feature –
                                                       Bluewater Media
                                                    28 Profile –
                                                       Bonnie Strickland
                                                    30 Entertainment –
                                                       Invigorating a
                                                       Florida Staple
                                                    32 Special Section
                                                       – Economic
                                                       Development
                                                    40 Great Places
                                                       and Spaces
                                                    44 The Good Life
                                                    52 Mansions on
                                                       the Market
                                                    53 20 Questions With …
                                                       Lynda Remund
                                                    60 On the Scene
                                                    64 The Experts

                                                    TBBW
                                                    6 Publisher’s Note
                                                    56 CEO Connect with
                                                       Vick Tipnes

                                                            Invigorating a
                                                            Florida Staple
                                                            Page 30
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LISA FALLER - Bad Request
Create Opportunities
                                      CLA assembles the team you need for high performance.
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                                                                                       201 North Franklin Street, Suite 2500
                                                                                                           Tampa, FL 33602
                                                                                                              813-384-2700
Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors,             www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 5
LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. ©2019 CliftonLarsonAllen LLP                                   CLAconnect.com
LISA FALLER - Bad Request
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

                                                                     CEO & Publisher
                                                                      Bridgette Bello

                                       It’s Getting Hot in Here
                                                                BY BRIDGETTE BELLO

           It’s the halfway point of the year. We’re hot, we’re humid, and     on their doorstep? Even if you’ve forgotten what could be in it.
        we’re getting more and more “out of office” messages, but rising       #Primenesia. It’s a thing!
        tides in our thriving business community takes no vacations.              Interested in increasing your company’s footprint in the
           When I launched this magazine I had a mission to lift up and        European market? The Bradenton Area Economic Development
        share stories that shine a light on those companies and individuals    Corp., in partnership with Enterprise Florida, is planning to lead an
        that are passionate about Tampa Bay and all it has to offer.           export sales mission to the Netherlands for Florida manufacturers
           This issue also follows this mission.                               and service providers to further trade relations between the United
           We put together a roundup of some of the economic development       States and the Netherlands.
        highlights from our business community, starting off with a chat          If that’s an international market you’re considering expanding
        with Tampa Bay Wave’s Linda Olson.                                     in to, this is a great opportunity to get in front of the right people.
           As the founder and CEO of Wave, Olson and her team support             Do you know “Aunt Lisa?” Boy I’m glad I do.
        more than 150 tech startups and more than 250 entrepreneurs to            Our brilliant, radiant and fun cover star this month runs a little
        build, launch, and grow breakout tech businesses.                      advertising agency in Clearwater. You might have heard of it.
           In this issue, she shares how her childhood influenced her career      FKQ Advertising and Marketing, led by Lisa Faller, has a
        path, the joys and challenges of working with tech startups, and       seasoned history of not only pulling in major clients like Hertz and
        what she sees as the future of entrepreneurship in the region.         Tampa General Hospital, but they are so dedicated and talented,
           Speaking of the future and moves in the right direction…            they retain these major clients for decades.
           The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority was recognized              And honestly, if you ever just need a friend, or an “Aunt,” Lisa’s
        at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s “Future of the            arms are wide open with a smile on her face. This is a woman you
        Region” awards for its partnership with the Pinellas Suncoast          want to know.
        Transit Authority, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit                 Time is running out to join our Editorial Advisory Board.
        Authority, and the Florida Department of Transportation in             Staffed only with CEO’s and decision-makers, using their input
        creating expanded bus access to Tampa International Airport.           to make certain we are delivering great content to you month
           We all know that mass transit is one of our region’s weaknesses     after month. We know how valuable your time is and want to
        and efforts we take to improve that strengthens our business           make certain that reading TBBW is a great use of it. If you’re
        community. Not to mention helps with some traffic-related              interested in being part of this exclusive board, please reach out
        headaches.                                                             to me directly at bbello@tbbwmag.com
           Big news from Polk County!                                             Until next month,
           Amazon is planning to invest $100 million on a 285,000-square-         Bridgette Bello
        foot air cargo complex at Lakeland Linder Airport and is predicting       CEO & Publisher
        the creation of up to 1,000 jobs. The deal will add to Lakeland’s         TBBW
        Amazon presence. Who doesn’t love seeing that box with a smile            bbello@tbbwmag.com

6 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
LISA FALLER - Bad Request
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ONE LINERS hillsborough
                                                                                                           ►Sinclair Broadcast
                                                                                                           Group bought 21 regional
                                                                                                           sports networks, including
                                                                                                           Fox Sports Florida, from
                                                                                                           Disney in a deal valued at
                                                                                                           $10.6 billion.

                                                                                                           ►The University of
                                                                                                           South Florida received
                                                                                                           a $5 million gift from
                                                                                                           Monica Wooden, co-
                                                                                                           founder and chief revenue
                                                                                                           officer of transportation
                                                                                                           management systems
                             ►Gunster received an award for outstanding law firm for pro bono               provider MercuryGate
                             contribution from the Hillsborough County Bar Association for its efforts     International, for the USF
                             in the Project HELP program.                                                  Foundation, to benefit
                                                                                                           students and faculty in
                                                                                                           the Muma College of
                                                                             ►Hill Ward Henderson          Business.
                                                                             shareholder Timothy
                                                                             “Tim” C. Ford has been        ►Hillsborough County
                                                                             appointed to serve a three-   hired Timothy Dudley Jr.
                                                                             year term on the governing    as director of the office of
                                                                             committee of the American     emergency management.
                                                                             Bar Association’s Forum
                                                                             on Construction Law.

                                                                             ►Frontier
                                                                             Communications renewed
                                                                             its “Pewter Partnership”
                                                                             marketing deal with the
                                                                             Tampa Bay Buccaneers
                                                                             for another five years.

                                                                             ►Raquel Ramirez
                                                                             Jefferson, a lawyer with
                                                                             Phelps Dunbar in Tampa,
                                                                             was elected to the Tampa
                                                                             Bay Businesses for
                                                                             Culture & the Arts board
                                                                             of directors.

                                                                             ►Jesse Coraggio was
                                       ►Dana G. Andrews, a managing          named vice president of
                                       partner at Kelley Kronenberg’s        community impact at the         ►Carlton Fields named David
                                       Tampa office, was elected              Community Foundation            A. Karp a member of the firm’s
                                       president-elect of the 2019-20        of Tampa Bay.                   appellate practice and trial support
                                       board of directors for the U.S.                                       practice group in the firm’s Miami
                                       Tennis Association of Florida.                                        and Tampa offices.

8 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
LISA FALLER - Bad Request
from art director to senior
                                                                                        art director, and added
                                                                                        Aroushad Tahsini as its
                                                                                        newest public relations
                                                                                        account executive.

                                                                                        ►Tampa International
                                                                                        Airport CEO Joe Lopano
  ►Charles Gowland and Katherine L. Koener joined Kelley Kronenberg’s Tampa             received the President’s
  office as partners.                                                                    Global Leadership
                                                                                        Award from University of
                                                                                        South Florida President
►Continental Wholesale        employment law firm          AquaVenture’s Quench          Judy Genshaft at the
Diamonds moved to 1401        Thompson Sizemore           and Seven Seas Water          USF College of Arts
N. Westshore Blvd., Suite     Gonzalez & Hearing,         subsidiaries.                 and Sciences afternoon
100, Tampa.                   with attorneys who handle                                 commencement ceremony.
                              both private and public     ►Roy Rogers, a Western-
►Fintech, a Tampa-based       sector cases, to work at    themed quick service          ►Richard Gonzmart, of
company that specializes in   GrayRobinson’s office in     restaurant chain, selected    the Columbia Restaurant
business software solutions   downtown Tampa.             Tampa-based SiteZeus          Group recieved the 2019
for the beverage alcohol                                  to support the company’s      Distinguished Citizen
industry, appointed Roy       ►Chef Chris Ponte,          expansion throughout the      Award from the Greater
Kemper chief financial         who is also behind Café     Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.   Tampa Bay Area Council,
officer.                       Ponte in Clearwater and                                   Boy Scouts of America.
                              On Swann in Tampa, will     ►Eric Pérez was named
►Life Storage, a Buffalo-     open a yet-to-be-named      president of Spellex,
based self-storage facility   restaurant in Midtown       a software company in
company, acquired             Tampa.                      Tampa.
Seminole & Heights
Self Storage’s 634-unit       ►Masonite International     ►McKibbon Hospitality,
personal warehouse project    Corp. (NYSE: DOOR)          a Tampa hotel
at 1011 E. Martin Luther      named Howard C.             development, management
King Jr. Blvd., Tampa for     Heckes president and        and renovation services
$6.93 million.                chief executive officer,     company, named
                              succeeding Fred Lynch,      Inger Oliver vice
►Tampa-based                  who previously announced    president of revenue
HealthAxis Group              plans to retire.            management, Lauren
acquired the stock and                                    Bowles vice president of
assets of Analytics           ►United Landmark            communications, Ben Hom
Partners, a data and          Associates in Tampa         vice president of human
risk analysis company         named David Downing         resources and Scott
headquartered in              branding president.         McDowell regional vice
Jacksonville.                                             president of operations.
                              ►Brian Miller was
►GrayRobinson entered         named senior vice           ►ChappellRoberts, an
an agreement to form          president and general       Ybor City-based advertising
a strategic alliance with     counsel of Tampa-based      agency, promoted Hunter         ►Shaun Kwiatkowski
Tampa-based labor and         AquaVenture Holdings        Taylor from account             The Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas
                              Ltd., and corporate         executive to senior digital     Tampa named Shaun
                              secretary for Tampa-based   strategist, Pat Floyd           Kwiatkowski general manager.

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LISA FALLER - Bad Request
ONE LINERS sarasota/manatee

                                 ►For the sixth consecutive year, Neal Communities, a Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder, earned the
                                 Builder of the Year award from the Florida Green Building Coalition.

                                        ►The Lakewood Ranch            President of Information       $925,000, to be the future
                                        Business Alliance named        Technology Rob Conti           site of a midlevel parking
                                        Dominic DiMaio president       and Senior Vice President      garage in Palmetto.
                                        and CEO.                       and Treasurer Calum
                                                                       Middleton.                     ►PGT Innovations,
                                        ►First Watch, based in                                        a window and door
                                        University park, appointed     ►The Palmetto                  manufacturer in Venice,
                                        three senior executives        Community                      appointed Rachel Evans
                                        to its leadership team:        Redevelopment Agency           as vice president of human
                                        Senior Vice President          purchased a 1.93-acre          resources.
                                        of Brand Strategy and          property on the corner of
                                        Innovation Matthew             Fourth Street West and         ►Peter Hemstead
                                        Eisenacher, Senior Vice        Ninth Avenue West, for         has been named chief

                                 ►J.E. Charlotte Construction Corp., a Venice-based commercial construction company, broke ground
                                 on an 1,800-square-foot state-of-the-art educational seminar facility for John Russo, a private practice
                                 periodontist at Russo Periodontics and director of Russo Seminars.

10 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
operating officer at           Conference Innovation in
                                   Doctors Hospital of           Workforce luncheon at Art
                                   Sarasota.                     Ovation Hotel.

                                   ►United Way Suncoast          ►Sarasota Memorial
                                   named three new board         Healthcare Foundation
                                   members to the Manatee        appointed Robert Pettit as
                                   area board for the 2019       vice president of finance
                                   term including Cheri          and operations.
                                   Coryea, acting county
                                   administrator of Manatee      ►Sarasota-based Le
                                   County government; Karen      Macaron French Pastries
                                   Droz, senior vice president   plans to open more than 10
                                   and senior development        locations, through franchise
                                   consultant at Fifth Third     partnerships, in Texas and
                                   Bank and Cynthia              already has more than 50
                                   Saunders, superintendent      locations across the United
                                   for the Manatee schools       States.
                                   district.
                                                                 ►Search Wizards, a talent
►Real estate broker Teresa Witte   ►The University of            acquisition and recruitment
opened Dream Star Vacation         South Florida’s Sarasota-     firm based in Sarasota,
Homes & Real Estate, a vacation    Manatee campus was            announced that founder          ►Conservation Foundation of
rental management company          named CareerSource            and CEO Leslie O’Connor         the Gulf Coast named Lee Ann
serving the Sarasota-Bradenton     Suncoast Education            will retire and ownership of    Rodriguez its new director of
area.                              Partner of the Year during    the company will transfer to    philanthropy.
                                   the 2019 State of Talent      COO Miranda Hinshaw.

►Florida Senate President
Bill Galvano appointed Angel
Colonneso, the Manatee County
clerk of the circuit court and
comptroller, to serve on the
executive council of the Florida     ►Badger Bob’s Services, a company specializing in heating, ventilating and air conditioning,
Clerks of Court Operations           appliances and plumbing in Sarasota and Manatee counties, acquired Venice-based Allied
Corp.                                Cooling & Heating, with all Allied employees retained.

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ONE LINERS pinellas

                         ►St. Petersburg beach bar Caddy’s has announced it will begin hosting weddings at its four Tampa Bay area
                         locations through a partnership with Treasure Island-based Simple Weddings.

                                          ► Waterfront Realty, a          South Tampa, are offering      in charge of technical
                                          real estate company that        a new developer sales          development and leading
                                          focuses on the barrier          program, which extends its     the organizations’ broad
                                          islands of Pinellas County,     platform to all builders and   depth of competitive and
                                          opened at 15235 Gulf            developers.                    recreational soccer teams
                                          Blvd., Madeira Beach.                                          across all five campus
                                                                          ► Tampa Bay United             locations in the region.
                                          ► All Bay area Engel            Rowdies, the youth affiliate
                                          & Völkers offices,               program for the Tampa Bay      ► Marcus & Millichap
                                          including those in Belleair,    Rowdies, named Tiffeny         (NYSE: MMI), a
                                          Clearwater, St. Petersburg,     Milbrett director of coach     commercial real estate
                                          Madeira Beach and               and player development,        investment services firm
                                                                                                         with offices throughout the
                                                                                                         United States and Canada,
                                                                                                         facilitated the sale of Blue
                                                                                                         Skies Apartments, a nine-
                                                                                                         unit property in St. Pete
                                                                                                         Beach, for $1.3 million.

                                                                                                         ► Bishops, a barbershop
                                                                                                         from Portland, Oregon, is
                                                                                                         moving into the Green-
                                                                                                         Richman Arcade at
                                                                                                         689 Central Ave., St.
                                                                                                         Petersburg.

                                                                                                         ► The Global Technology
                                                                                                         Distribution Council, an
                                                                                                         international consortium
                         ►Pyper, a marketing agency                                                      of technology distributors
                         in St. Petersburg, promoted                                                     in St. Petersburg, named
                         Catherine “Cat” Lim to creative         ►Jodi McLean was named                  Frank Vitagliano CEO.
                         team leader to lead team growth         director of strategic initiatives at
                         and development while continuing        The Symphony Agency in St.
                         to create content for clients.          Petersburg.

12 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
► St. Petersburg College        ► Dwell Real Estate, a
       ranked first in Florida and      Sarasota-based luxury real
       sixth in the nation among       estate firm, expanded to
       associate colleges for          downtown St. Petersburg
       sending students abroad,        and added Liane
       according to the Institute of   Jamason, a St. Petersburg
       International Education         real estate agent who
       2018 Open Doors Report,         generated $24 million in
       with more than 150 SPC          sales volume in 2018, to its
       students having traveled        roster of agents.
       to other countries while
       earning college credit          ► Enable Me, a St.
       during the last year.           Petersburg provider of
                                       technologically-advanced
       ► Catalent (NYSE:               movement therapy devices,
       CTLT), a contract drug          promoted Amy Gress to
       manufacturer with a plant       chief operating officer.
       in St. Petersburg, agreed to
       buy Paragon Bioservices         ► The Blackstone
       for $1.2 billion.               Group has acquired the
                                       Verandahs at Brighton
       ► MarineMax, based in           Bay, a 381-unit multifamily
       Clearwater, promoted Vice       rental complex in St.
       President of Information        Petersburg, for $65.2
       Technology Shawn Berg           million.
       to chief digital officer.
                                       ► St. Petersburg launched        ►Burgerim, which translates to “many burgers” in Hebrew, will
       ► Suncoast Credit               a new Entrepreneur-in-           open on the ground level of ONE St. Petersburg.
       Union’s newest branch           Residence program, a
       opened in downtown St.          two-year pilot program         between the city and the     Presssman, founder and
       Petersburg at 1022 Central      to position a local            entrepreneurial community,   CEO of Presence, to fill
       Ave.                            entrepreneur as a liaison      and named Reuben             the role.

►HCA Healthcare’s Largo
Medical Center named Wyatt
Chocklett its chief operating            ►Berkadia arranged a $13.57 million refinancing of Promenade at Edgewater, a 188-unit
officer.                                  multifamily property in Dunedin, on behalf of buyer Pensam Capital.

                                                                                                    www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 13
ONE LINERS polk
                                                                                                                Trust of Florida, a $730
                                                                                                                million-asset bank, and
                                                                                                                acquired the Florida assets
                                                                                                                of First American Bank
                                                                                                                of Iowa, which operates
                                                                                                                in Southwest Florida; after
                                                                                                                both deals close, pending
                                                                                                                regulatory approvals,
                                                                                                                the combined entity will
                                                                                                                boast $4 billion in assets,
                                                                                                                $3 billion in loans, 1,100
                                                                                                                employees and 63 full-
                                                                                                                service branches.

                                                                                                                ►Highland Homes, a
                                                                                                                23-year-old homebuilding
                                                                                                                company in Lakeland,
                                                                                                                founded by father-son team
                        ►Global outdoor clothing company L.L. Bean highlighted Take a Kid Fishing, a Polk       Bob and Joel Adams,
                        County-based nonprofit, in a marketing video for its new campaign, “Welcome to           was sold to a subsidiary of
                        the Catch,” which features founder Will Dunn and two teens he has mentored, his         Berkshire Hathaway.
                        neighbor Camran DeLong and Tye Harriell.
                                                                                                                ►Dr. Brad E.
                                                                                                                Hollingshead was
                      ►Robert Weech was             Cvejic, who provides         care from Watson Clinic        appointed by Florida
                      named the interim fire         comprehensive sleep          Main at 1600 Lakeland Hills    Southern College
                      chief for Polk County Fire    medicine services from       Blvd., Lakeland.               President Anne Kerr as
                      Rescue.                       the Watson Clinic Sleep                                     provost and vice president
                                                    Disorders Center, and        ►Blackton, an Orlando-         for academic affairs at the
                      ►Watson Clinic has            Folayan B. Fatade, a         based supplier for the         Lakeland college.
                      two new additions to its      member of Watson Clinic’s    home building industry, was
                      team of board-certified        radiology department; both   awarded a contract from
                      specialists: Mara             physicians provide patient   D.R. Horton to provide
                                                                                 flooring products worth
                                                                                 an estimated $500,000
                                                                                 for Orchid Grove, being
                                                                                 developed in Polk County;
                                                                                 that follows a contract
                                                                                 worth more than $3 million
                                                                                 to provide flooring materials
                                                                                 for Enclaves at Festival
                                                                                 Towns, coming soon near
                                                                                 the Osceola-Polk county
                                                                                 line.

                                                                                 ►Webber International
                                                                                 University in Babson Park        ►Jeff Cusson,
                                                                                 will offer a new Bachelor of     sales Associate at
                                                                                 Science degree in sports         Saunders Real Estate
                                                                                 performance, health and          in Lakeland, brokered
                                                                                 fitness.                          the sale of a 3,641+
                                                                                                                  citrus property for
  ►The Florida Polytechnic University Foundation board of directors              ►Lakeland-based                  $29,134,905.
  elected Lakeland businesswoman Alice Hunt, a marketing, office                  MidFlorida Credit Union
  management and customer care specialist at Hunt Construction of                merged with Ocala-based
  Central Florida, as its new chair; the new vice chair is Jack Harrell III,     Community Bank &
  senior vice president of marketing, sales and research development at
  Harrell’s in Lakeland.

14 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 | 5:30 - 8:30 P.M.
    Indulge in the bold flavors of the world all within the comforts of Centre Club!
Join us as we explore the tastes of exceptional local-vendor wines and delight in the
 classic delicacies of different cultures. Voted 2018 Centre Club Event of the Year!
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                                  Join the adventure Today!
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                                                                                                            For sponsorship
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                                                                                                      opportunities contact:
                                                                                                            Lorraine Chon-Qui,
                                                                                                 Member Relations Coordinator
                                                                                lorraine.chon-qui@clubcorp.com | 813.498.4281

                                                                                           www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 15
SPECIAL MARKETING SECTION

        BRADY DIGGS
        SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
        MODERN BUSINESS ASSOCIATES (MBA)

        MARTINIS RAISE MORE THAN
        $1.5 MILLION FOR CANCER RESEARCH
        Q: Tell us about Bay Area Advisors and why you are involved
        A: Bay Area Advisors was founded 15 years ago by a group of
        local professionals, for local business owners. Since inception, we
        have become a non-profit organization focused on sharing networks,
        exchanging ideas and giving back to the Tampa Bay community. We
        subscribe to the philosophy that trusted contacts and referrals are
        invaluable and rare. Therefore, we work to establish strong contacts in
        the business community that we can leverage with other professionals
        throughout the market to support local charities.
        The organization and its members are committed to everyone’s
        professional and personal success.
        Q: Tell us about “Martinis for Moffitt”
        A: “Martinis for Moffitt” is one of Tampa’s crown jewels when it
        comes to fundraising and is the summer’s premier party. With the            A: Tax Deductions:
        generous support of corporate sponsors and more than 1,000 attendees        According to the IRS website, “you may deduct charitable contributions
        each year, “Martinis for Moffitt” has raised more than $1.5 million         of money or property made to qualified organizations if you itemize
        for cancer research programs at Moffitt Cancer Center. In 2018, Bay         your deductions.” Several small businesses have even made charitable
        Area Advisors donated $260,000 from “Martinis for Moffitt” to benefit       contributions a part of their business model and donate a percentage of
        both the Advanced Prostate Cancer Collaboration (APCC) and the              each sale to a specific organization they support. Please consult your
        Adolescent and Young Adult Program (AYA) at Moffitt Cancer Center.          tax advisor for specific advice regarding tax-deductibility of charitable
        Q: What can one expect while attending “Martinis for Moffitt”               contributions.
        A: An amazing time with over 1,000 of your soon-to-be closest               A: Employee Benefits
        friends! The 14th-Annual “Martinis for Moffitt” will be held at the         The market is very tight when it comes to recruitment and employee
        Straz Center on July 20th. VIP/Sponsor’s Reception starts at 6:00           retention and employers are doing whatever they can to get an edge
        PM and general admission at 7:00 PM. The event is filled with               over the competition. Many companies are starting to offer Employee
        networking opportunities, elevated business and social conversations,       Giving Programs to help with recruitment and curb employee turnover.
        entertainment, dancing, a top-notch silent auction and is a “who’s who”     Employee Giving Programs entitles employees to support their favorite
        of Tampa Bay. Most attendees are walking up as doors open, and a few        philanthropic organization. This can be accomplished by paid time off
        hundred of them attend the after party.                                     to volunteer, matching donations, or in-kind donations.
        Q: Why is corporate giving important?                                        A: You Will Feel Good About Yourself:
        A: It is a privilege to work for Modern Business Associates (MBA),          Aside from public relations, tax deductions and employee benefits, you
        a company that puts an emphasis on community involvement and has            will realize that a tremendous amount of personal satisfaction can be
        a strong sense of corporate giving. We’ve called Tampa Bay home             found in helping others. I encourage to you find an organization that
        for 22 years and the business community has been very kind to us.           resonates with your team and get involved.
        We feel that is our responsibility to pay the kindness we’ve received
        forward and support organizations both philanthropically and with our       Brady Diggs is the Senior Business Development Manager for Modern
        volunteered time.                                                           Business Associates (MBA) where he is responsible for the company’s
        Q: Why should other organizations get involved with corporate giving?       growth strategy. MBA offers customized services designed to give
        A: Public Relations:                                                        business owners flexible, cost-effective HR solutions and reduce the
        The publicity that surrounds volunteering or the sponsorship of a non-      burden of non-revenue generating tasks. MBA’s experienced team
        profit event spans far beyond the event itself. Find an organization that   members are dedicated to delivering accurate, strategic, solutions to
        resonates with your team and get involved. Be sure to have your team        more than 30,000 employees across the country.
        take pictures of your team volunteering/attending an event and share        Please email Brady Diggs (Modern Business Associates) at brady.
        them on social media. Your customers (and soon to be customers) will        diggs@mbahro.com if you are interested in learning more about
        see that your company is community conscious and is committed to            Modern Business Associates (MBA) or the 14th Annual “Martinis for
        making a positive impact on our society.                                    Moffitt.”
16 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
14TH
ANNUAL

                                                   MBA offers customized payroll, tax,
                                                   benefits, risk management and HR
                                                   consulting designed to give business
                                                                                                          JULY
                                                                                                          20th
                                                   owners flexible cost-efficient solutions.
                                                   Our comprehensive suite of services
                                                   reduces the burden of non-revenue
                                                   generating tasks.

Modern Business Associates (MBA) is a proud supporter of the Bay Area Advisors and Martinis for
                                                                                                          2019
Moffitt. We are pleased to offer two (2) VIP tickets to this year's event. Please email Brady Diggs at
Brady.Diggs@mbahro.com if you are interested in attending.

PREVIOUS BENEFACTORS INCLUDE THE ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER
COLLABORATION & THE ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM AT
MOFFITT CANCER CENTER
                                                                               MartinisForMoffitt.org
                                                                                               www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 17
COVER
                                 COVER STORY
                                       STORY

                                                FKQ:
                                   DOING WHATEVER
                                 IT TAKES SINCE 1961
                                               BY JO-LYNN BROWN | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL McCOY

                                                      Walking into FKQ Advertising + Marketing, visitors
                                                   most likely will be greeted by a screen welcoming them,
                                                   by name, to the offices.
                                                      Attention to detail is one of the qualities that allows
                                                   FKQ, with headquarters in Clearwater, to compete with
                                                   larger global firms.
                                                      “FKQ is not the biggest. We don’t want to be the
                                                   biggest,” says Lisa Faller, president of the agency and
                                                   daughter to founder Bob Faller. “We’re big enough to do
                                                   anything we want to do. We go up against every major
                                                   global agency, no problem. Because we know what we
                                                   do, we know our positioning.”
                                                      Faller stands about 5-foot-2, but she is a powerhouse of
                                                   enthusiasm and passion. She’s particularly solemn when
                                                   she speaks of her father, who died in 2018.

                                                                    Lisa Faller, President FKQ Advertising

18 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 19
Lisa Faller at FKQ

        The Early Years                                    York, you traveled to Florida as often as you    brick and mortar buildings to serve clients,”
           “I have just an incredibly blessed life jour-   could,” Faller says. “At the time, I wasn’t      she says. “Our offices were strategically lo-
        ney, and it’s because of my parents,” Faller       thinking of moving here, but I got a job at      cated based on brands that we served,” Faller
        says. “I grew up surrounded by the business.       WFLA, News Channel 8.”                           says. “It was cool. FKQ had a jet and we’d
        We had clients over all the time.”                    In 1984, when it came time to open the        fly all over.”
           Faller attended Ithaca College in New           FKQ office in the Tampa Bay area, Faller             In persuading cream-of-the-crop talent to
        York for communications. While she was             says it was a natural progression to be at the   relocate, Faller says Tampa Bay was an ob-
        interested in the family business, she wanted      agency full-time.                                vious choice. “When my father opened this
        other experiences, too.                                                                             location, we didn’t have to twist anyone’s
           “I did not have in my head that this is what    Real-Life ‘Mad Men’                              arm to relocate to Florida,” Faller says.
        I was going to do or this is what I was des-          Faller was born March 1, 1961, in Buffalo.       Faller describes her father, Bob, as a mentor
        tined to make happen,” Faller says. “I was         It was the same day her father, Bob Faller,      and hero, saying they had a special bond. “He
        absolutely very interested. I thought it was an    established FKQ.                                 made his whole mantra, that we all still live by
        amazing industry and a tremendous opportu-            He purchased a 15-acre wooded estate          today, as ‘whatever it takes,’ ” she says.
        nity to help many different brands grow and        and converted the home to an office park—
        be successful. That part intrigued me … but        with a house, tennis courts, a swimming pool,    The Faller Way
        I also wanted to try other things.”                horseshoe pitch and basketball courts. “His         Faller runs her company with a work-
           Before, and during, launching the Tampa         concept was to attract the cream of the crop     hard, play-hard mentality. The office is both
        Bay location of FKQ, Faller worked at Tam-         to live in Buffalo, New York,” Faller says.      kid- and pet-friendly. There are refrigerators
        pa’s NBC television affiliate.                         FKQ later opened offices in Charlotte,         stocked with just about any beverage one
           “We had traveled here since I was in            North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Toronto          could want, including wine and beer. Food is
        kindergarten. Growing up in Buffalo, New           and San Francisco. “At the time, you needed      brought in on a regular basis to keep her team

20 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
COVER
                                                             COVER STORY
                                                                   STORY

sated. The presentation for special meetings        advocate, and supporter, of
are done with thought and attention to detail,      the charity. Their partnership
including matching napkins and placements,          has generated millions of dol-
real glassware and silverware. She even pro-        lars of media exposure for the
vides a basket of Listerine strips at the end       nonprofit organization.
of the food line.                                      FKQ also supports Junior
   Faller owns a Sea Ray boat, which she also       Achievement, which Faller is
uses to entertain her team and clients. “We’re      on the board of, the Special
always trying to make sure we’re hosting,           Olympics, Habitat for Hu-
and doing the right thing, and making sure          manity and the YMCA. The
people are happy. That’s why I bought [the          agency has also worked with
boat],” she says.                                   the Tampa General Hospital
   Finding top talent, and retaining them, is       Foundation for about 20 years.
a large part of the success story of the com-
pany. “We sell our people, their brain power        “Aunt Lisa”
and their talent. So, we spend a tremendous            Faller has no children of her
amount of time and energy recruiting the            own, but gushes over how she
right people,” Faller says.                         loves to be “Aunt Lisa” to her
   Then there are the “boomerang” employ-           sibling’s kids and grandkids,
ees—the ones that leave, usually because of         her team’s children and pret-
family needs, and then return. “We’re happy         ty much anyone who needs
about that because they were rock stars when        an aunt figure in their life.
they left and they’re even bigger rock stars        She laughs as she explains, “I
when they come back. Right? So, we em-              think my neighbor’s daughter
brace that,” she says. FKQ employs in excess        believes I really am her aunt.”
80 team members in Tampa Bay.                          “I love having everybody at
   Most of FKQ’s clients are on retainer, with      my house whenever possible.
capitalized billings in excess of $80 million.      As they grow up, they all drive,
These clients include Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty,       and they bring their friends and
Badcock, Melitta, Essilor, Tampa General            then all their friends call me
Hospital, Visit Tampa Bay, among others.            Aunt Lisa,” Faller says, smil-       Lisa Faller shows off her team’s awards
Many relationships span three decades.              ing broadly.
   There are boomerang clients, too. “We’ve            She likes to spend time near or
been involved many times where there’s              in the water and owns three connected prop- Mercedes and a notorious driving record.
large global brands that believe they proba-        erties on Clearwater Beach, creating guest            She believes most successful people
bly have to go with the larger entity because       houses so she can continue to be surrounded are more aggressive drivers. “We’re busy
they think the footprint will facilitate a better   by family and friends.                             and we need to get to places and get things
execution across every level,” Faller says.            “It’s peaceful to me, although it sounds done,” she says with a laugh.
“They’ve come back to us and said, ‘We              like there’s a lot of action, to be on the wa-        “For years when we would recruit a new
thought that was the smart way to go, but we        ter. There’s something that’s very calming team member, we would make the recruit
were wrong.’ ”                                      to me,” she says.                                  drive to lunch or drive to dinner. And I will
                                                       While Faller maintains a special bond to tell you, you learn a lot about people that
Giving Back                                         her father, she and her mother have become way,” she says.
   Generosity is a large part of what FKQ           closer since his death. She makes a point to          Faller’s life is undeniably integrated
does and a large part of the culture and fabric     see her often and has Friday night dinner with her business. Whether it’s supporting
of the agency.                                      dates when she is in town.                         her team, her clients or her family, she lives
   In May, the agency received the Award for           She also admits she has “a need for to please others and to enjoy life.
Excellence from Ronald McDonald House               speed.” She owns two cars and loves to                “When I die, I want to come back as
Charities of Tampa Bay, days following TB-          drive them, fast. She attributes this to her an FKQ client,” Faller says as she laughs.
BW’s interview. FKQ has been a longtime             father’s influence. She has a Maserati, a “This is where my heart is.” ♦

                                                                                                                   www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 21
Members of the Bluewater production crew & CEO Andy Latimer pose with celebrity talent Anne Burrell and noted TV pitchman Beau Rials after
        a shoot.

                                                                                               Over the past three years, the company has grown

Bluewater Media:                                                                            more than 900 percent and has a total annual revenue
                                                                                            of more than $100 million.
                                                                                               Ask Bluewater CEO and founder Andy Latimer

Destination Creative                                                                        about the company’s campus and he’s quick to point
                                                                                            out that this attention to detail is just the beginning
                                                                                            of what Bluewater Media does to keep on point

Convergence
                                                                                            with today’s marketplace. His company doesn’t just
                                                                                            produce, he says, they position.
                                                                                               “We witnessed a disconnect early on with the
                                                                                            traditional model of the creative agency,” Latimer
                                                                                            says, speaking of Bluewater’s infancy. Latimer and
                                BY AMY HAMMOND                                              his wife started the company 15 years ago as a creative
                                                                                            agency and it didn’t take long before the need to
                                  A trip through Bluewater Media’s 33,000-square-          innovate became obvious, he says.
                               foot space in Clearwater is a travelogue on advertising’s       “We couldn’t optimize the way we wanted to,” he
                               hallowed ground.                                            says. “Any commercial we produced would just go to
                                  There’s the Billy Mays Memorial Studio which             different entities and we wouldn’t have the capability
                               pays homage to the late legendary pitchman with a           to mold the message based on the public’s response.
                               plaque reading: “Life’s a pitch, and then you buy.”         There was too much separation between production
                               Staged sets range from living rooms to kitchens where       and media buying.”
                               approximately 100 commercials are filmed each year.              Convergence thus became the name of the
                               A five-camera niche with podcast and streaming               marketing and advertising game at Bluewater Media.
                               capabilities ready to launch the next big thing.            The company is malleable, like Gumby, in the ever-

22 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
FEATURE
                                                             FEATURE

changing advertising and marketing landscape,                                     paid media management. This piece of the Bluewater
anticipating what’s to come and molding messages                                  puzzle merged with DNA Response, an Amazon.com
accordingly. From viral Sodastream campaigns to                                   management company, in 2016. Today, this Amazon
high-profile campaign successes for brands such as                                 specialist house manages $25 million in sales.
Blackstone, KitchenAid and the MagicJack internet                                    Blending the parts necessary to foster campaign
phone service, the Bluewater team seems to know what                              success, with expertise like Zahalo’s, results in more
the customer wants before they do.                                                than just a one-stop-shop business model. Latimer is
   Latimer says this is not an accident. It’s a result                            quick to point out that it takes more than mere proximity
of the convergence strategy the firm’s clients, which                              to be effective. It takes the synergy of collaboration,
range from startups to established worldwide brands,                              the creative experts, the media buyers and the digital
benefit from. The agency does take on a la carte                                   experts working together for better positioning. Speed
projects; employees’ understanding of the lifecycle         Behind the scenes     and efficiency in message dissemination, he says, is
of a brand or product makes it possible to jump in at       of a fitness shoot,    also paramount, as is knowing the public’s response.
                                                            BWM CEO Andy
any stage of development. Still, convergence is in the                            He considers Bluewater a producer and marketer’s
                                                            Latimer is joined
DNA of Bluewater itself, with its multiple departments      by UFC star Chuck     toolbox. Reach inside and you’ll find all the parts
vertically integrated to best craft targeted positioning    Liddell and Kim       necessary for effective campaigns, he says.
                                                            Lyons, IFBB Pro
strategies through digital, television and more.                                     “Marketing and advertising companies have to put
                                                            and star of seasons
   Take Zahalo, the agency’s digital arm that specializes   3 and 4 of “The       a good amount of focused content out consistently,”
in direct-to-consumer marketing as well as online and       Biggest Loser.”       he says. “We have the speed and efficiency to do that.”

                                                                                                           www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 23
FEATURE

                      Digital requirements, social media,
                  television and more, coupled with data that
Gordon Ramsay
poses with team   shows what makes campaigns “stick,” is
members after     what Bluewater specializes in. Thanks to
a successful      its multiple capabilities it’s possible to test
infomercial.
                  a campaign, make the necessary changes
                  and buy more media accordingly and
                  efficiently.
                      Being on the cutting edge of message
                  consumption is imperative, too. “We can
                  hire focus groups before we produce a
                  commercial or run a campaign, sure,” he
                  says. “Or we can take data we already
                  have and see how the spot performs in the
                  public space—the ultimate focus group—
                  and then tweak it immediately, thanks to
                  real-time results, after that first run.”
                      Latimer says Tampa Bay businesses             employee base is spreading as well; the      Bill Engvall flanked by BWM
                  should know the future of advertising             company now has employees in various         CEO Andy Latimer (nearest) and
                                                                                                                 producer Brandon Anthony (far)
                  and marketing is right in their backyard.         states and Canada.                           in between takes of a recent
                  Historically, he says, brands have looked            The synergy—and optimism—are              shoot.
                  to places like Los Angeles for high-level         exciting. “There’s such energy here,” he
                  integration of direct response strategy with      says of his Bluewater team. “When we see
                  online content and product distribution.          something that’s working, we can attack it
                  But Bluewater’s client roster is global. Its      [quickly].”♦

24 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 25
SPECIAL MARKETING SECTION

                                          BENJAMIN OLDER
                                          FOUNDING PARTNER AT
                                          OLDER LUNDY & ALVAREZ FAMILY LAW & PERSONAL INJURY

                                          HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IN A
                                          DIVORCE INVOLVING ALCOHOL OR DRUG ABUSE
           The issue of drug and alcohol abuse in divorce is all too         defeated the allegation, but have also gained respect of the
        common. But how do these issues affect you in your divorce?          court and cast a question as to the other parent’s credibility.
        Almost exclusively, addiction and abuse is relevant only to          It’s a double win.
        your children, or more specifically, as to the timesharing (we          If you do have a problem with drugs or alcohol then,
        used to call it child custody). It is not a moral issue, and the     submit to testing and seek counseling and organizations like
        courts don’t treat it as one. Someone who can’t maintain             Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. If you want
        sobriety while caring for their children poses a risk to the         to have reasonable and unimpeded time with your children,
        children’s safety and the courts will not tolerate it. Because       you have to stop using illegal drugs and submit to a random
        of this, allegations that a parent poses a threat to the children    drug screening regimen for some period of time. However,
        because of drug or alcohol abuse can cause great expense in          if your problem is alcohol, there are two ways to go. Either
        divorce litigation, however this expense can be avoided.             (i) agree to stop drinking completely and submit to random
            It does not matter which side of the issue you are on,           alcohol screening or (ii) agree to at least prove you are not
        or frankly, whether the allegations are true or false. What          drinking when you are with your children. There are multiple
        matters most is that you deal with it head on and with complete      remote devices that do this. I prefer one called the SCRAM
        transparency. If you are the accused, then either (i) prove the      device. It is a discreet device you carry with you that is about
        allegations are false or (ii) admit you have a problem and get       the size of a cell phone. At the times you are scheduled to be
        help with your addiction while proving you are going to be           with your children it will alert you, telling you to blow into
        sober when the children are in your care. Conversely if you          it. The device then sends the reading to a remote location
        are the accuser, then focus on proving the allegations true, seek    where an actual human being is monitoring the report, and if
        the court intervention to insure that (i) your spouse gets the       you have not been drinking you have proven yourself sober.
        help they need and (ii) that they are sober while around your        Judges love a success story that proves how much you care
        kids. When it comes to children, the court system will always        about your children and that you are willing to face adversity
        be as cautious as possible to be sure that children in real or       and deal with it. Again, it’s a double win.
        imagined danger are protected. The good news is there are               It does not matter if you do or don’t have an actual issue with
        ways to do all of the above with a fair amount of surety and         drug or alcohol abuse. Don’t spend unnecessary attorney’s
        thereby limit the cost of your divorce case.                         fees fighting those allegations with endless court hearings.
           If you are falsely accused of having an alcohol or drug           Give the court cold, hard testing data. It will save you a fortune
        problem, submit to testing. If the allegations are related to drug   in the end.
        abuse, agree to a reputable random drug screening regimen for
        a reasonable period of time. If the allegations relate to alcohol       Benjamin Older is a founding partner of Older, Lundy &
        abuse, it can be a bit trickier. Alcohol is legal, so where is the   Alvarez. In addition to his practice as a marital and family
        line between acceptable use and dangerous abuse? Proving             law attorney, he also heads the firm’s community outreach and
        that you consume alcohol but don’t engage in binge drinking          professional liaison efforts. Benjamin has a great passion for
        is the best way to thwart an allegation of alcohol abuse. And        his family law practice, but he has a particular passion for and
        the experts know how to read and evaluate test results and           expertise in litigating cases involving drug and alcohol abuse,
        testify accordingly in court. Once you have proven you don’t         and specifically how those issues affect children. Benjamin can
        have an issue with drugs and alcohol, then you have not only         be reached at bolder@olalaw.com or 813-254-8998.
26 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
Welcome to the team.

MARITAL & FAMILY LAW • PERSONAL INJURY & CIVIL LITIGATION
WILLS, TRUSTS, PROBATE & GUARDIANSHIP • BUSINESS & TAX

       WWW.OLALAW.COM                 •   813.254.8998
             1000 West Cass Street, Tampa, Florida 33606
                                                       www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 27
PROFILE

                             Bonnie Strickland Shares Her
                     Secret Real Estate Sauce                       BY JO-LYNN BROWN

           After years of buying, selling and in-           college and I really wanted to get back into     country, they could have opened an office
        vesting in homes and properties in the St.          real estate full time.                           anywhere but they chose St. Petersburg and
        Petersburg area, Bonnie Strickland formed               I started out slow and began by buying       our firm. They said, “We know where our
        Strickland Property Group in St. Petersburg.        some short sales and foreclosures. I bought      clients want to go and we need to be there
           Raised in a family of brokers, investors,        in neighborhoods I knew instinctively            to be ready to serve them. The Tampa Bay
        contractors, and architects, she developed          would come back over time. Networking is         area is where they want to go.” And here we
        an appreciation and an understanding of the         key. People I know in the community start-       are now, working together since February.
        real estate industry early in her life.             ed approaching me to help them sell their
           Since 2010, her career volume has been           homes because they saw my hard work and          You mentioned you love St. Pete.
        $567 million, with $147 million in 2018,            my dedication to bring property values back      Why?
        alone.                                              up and my genuine care factor for real estate        I could write a book on why I love St.
           She spoke with TBBW about her experi-            and our community. When I got so busy and        Pete. I have watched it change from a re-
        ence in the real estate industry and why she        successful that I had to turn people down, I     tirement community to an amazing vibrant
        loves life in the Tampa Bay area.                   started to build a team and trained them to      city with everything you could want. It is a
                                                            serve our clients the same way I had been        fabulous community of people, both locals
        Let’s talk about how you came to be                 doing. We were under a national franchise        and people who have moved here from all
        in this industry. Where are you from                and grew to the top in four years.               over the world. It is such an honor to live
        originally?                                             I opened my own brokerage in January         and work here. I have also been a big pro-
           I was born and raised in St. Petersburg.         2015 on Beach Drive in St. Petersburg. Our       ponent of bridging the bay. I love that we
        Growing up, I was lucky to have a strong,           business continued to grow and thrive under      have a water ferry and can travel between
        successful entrepreneurial businesswoman            our own brand. It’s hard to believe that I       both Tampa and St. Petersburg. I also love
        as a role model. My mother was a real estate        actually started my real estate career in the    how our art community is thriving here and
        broker and had her own company. She was             middle of the recession. When other new          am very excited about our new pier.
        also one of the first women residential build-       agents complain that this is a hard industry,
        ers in St. Petersburg. I grew up watching           I laugh because I not only started in a reces-    What keeps you up at night in your
        her passion for real estate and her passion         sion but we had that horrible BP oil spill at    industry?
        for helping people buy and sell real estate.        the same time. Perseverance is key.                  When things you cannot control cause
        I have the same passion to serve my clients                                                          problems. It is a very competitive busi-
        with honesty and integrity in a community           Talk about the decision to partner               ness and I have seen other agents do crazy
        that I was born and raised in.                      with Douglas Elliman. How did it                 things for the commission check. I trained
                                                            come about?                                      my agents to always have the “care factor”
        You were able to stay afloat of the                      I never thought about selling, but other     come first and not to worry about the com-
        recession. What was that period                     franchises approached [and] I always turned      mission check. If our clients feel we care,
        like for you? What did you do differ-               them down. I was introduced to Douglas           they will trust us. If they trust you, they will
        ently than your competitors?                        Elliman through a co-worker who watched          refer you, which is why 99 percent of our
             I was originally licensed in 1987. Even        them be very successful on the east coast of     business has been repeat and referral. I’ve
        though we had no cellphones or comput-              Florida and other places across the country.     even had clients leave me in their will, say-
        ers—and interest rates were 18 percent—I            After many discussions, they indicated they      ing, “if something happens to me and the
        still had a passion for real estate. It was hard,   would let me continue to run the company         family needs to sell the home, call Bonnie
        but I loved it. When I had my first child, I         with the honesty and integrity and care fac-     and her team.”
        decided to be a stay-at-home mom and help           tor that I started it with. We both felt that       The best advice I ever received was to re-
        my husband start his construction business.         this could be a win-win to expand their very     member it might take 20 years to build a rep-
        When the recession hit and the worst hous-          successful brand to the west coast of Flor-      utation and only five minutes to lose it, so we
        ing crash came to be, my youngest went to           ida. As third-largest real estate firm in the     always do the right thing no matter what. ♦

28 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 29
ENTERTAINMENT
                                                   ENTERTAINMENT

                                                           Polo:
                                                                                   an amazing event that sparked interest in the
                                                                                   sport.”
                                                                                       A “triple crown,” of sorts, that requires
                                                                                   a trifecta of wins for victory. The Gauntlet

                 Invigorating a
                                                                                   could conceivably go years without a
                                                                                   recipient. But one was crowned in April—in
                                                                                   its first year—when the team Pilot won the
                                                                                   U.S. Open Polo Championship, as well as

                 Florida Staple
                                                                                   at the two other Gauntlet events, the C.V.
                                                                                   Whitney Cup and the USPA Gold Cup.
                                                                                   The tournaments were held in Palm Beach
                                                                                   County and hosted fans, players and horses
                                                                                   from around the world.
                                                     BY AMY HAMMOND                    “In Renaissance times, ‘throwing down
                                                                                   the gauntlet’ was a term to represent a formal
                                    It’s Sunday at a Florida polo field and         challenge,” Cummings says. “Millions of
                                 hooves click through perfectly manicured         people worldwide watched that challenge
                                 grass. Riders swing mallets with seemingly       play out on-air and online.”
                                 effortless athleticism, spectators raise             The Gauntlet story also represents the
                                 mimosas in toast and the “sport of kings”        trend of polo welcoming female players.
                                 takes on another moniker: Sunshine State         (Mia Gray, a female Pilot athlete, competed
                                 favorite, for some.                              during the event.) Though polo historically
                                    With this year’s debut of “The Gauntlet       is dominated by men, women continue to
                                 of Polo” and other engagements, polo is both     join the ranks of major teams. A high-level
                                 invigorating the spectator experience and        example is Maureen Brennan, a player who
                                 having significant economic impact.               serves as USPA governor at large, and high
                                    “This was our first year offering the         goal committee chairman.
                                 Gauntlet in which a team that wins the three         This pivot from all-male squads is likely
                                 signature events is awarded a $1 million prize   to continue as Cummings’ vision comes to
                                 purse,” says David Cummings, president and       fruition. Looking to the next generation, he
                                 CEO of Global Polo Entertainment. “It was        hopes to provide more opportunities for more
                                                                                  people to get involved. Polo spectatorship is
                                                                                  accessible to the general public and increased
                                                                                  consumer education is giving fans a deeper
                                                                                  appreciation for the game.
                                                                                      It’s no secret that Floridians already love
                                                                                  horses. Here, the equine industry is a vital
                                                                                  economic force that contributes more than
                                                                                  $3.6 billion to the state economy. It sparks
                                                                                  the creation of more than 73,000 jobs. The
                                                                                  American Horse Council Foundation reports
                                                                                  that when the ripple effect of the horse
                                                                                  industry is considered, the impact rises to
                                                                                  $6.8 billion.
                                                                                      The popularity comes as no surprise to
                                                                                  Cummings who began playing polo 30 years
                                                                                  ago and went on to build a robust licensing
                                                                                  program throughout the years, to benefit the
                                                                                  sport. Whether people own horses, spectate
                                                                                  or just appreciate them, he hopes they’ll go

30 JULY 2019 • www.tbbwmag.com
one step further: head out to the polo fields to
experience intense competition.
   “There’s more to come,” he says about
the push toward more audience interaction in
the form of social media and other platforms.
“Our continued success is not rooted in
yesterday, but in the future.”
   Besides The Gauntlet and the horse-
centered village of Wellington, in Palm Beach
County, Tampa Bay area residents are just
over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from the
Sarasota Polo Club, which itself experienced
a record-breaking 2019 season. Polo season
typically runs December through April to take
advantage of Florida’s best weather. For 22
weeks in 2019, Sarasota Polo welcomed some
45,000 fans, players and pros to their club.
   It was a season of improvements and
change with new ownership, a highlight.
James and Misdee Miller acquired the club
in June 2018. James is an accomplished polo
player and Misdee, the great-granddaughter
of Chicago chewing gum magnet William
Wrigley Jr., is an accomplished horsewoman.
She won the U.S. Equestrian Team’s four-in-
hand team gold medal at the World Equestrian
Games.
   New ownership has completed extensive
improvements to the club’s seven polo
fields and renovated of 72 horse boarding
facilities. By 2020, Sarasota Polo will focus
on expanding the spectator experience.
The organization takes great pride in its
accessibility to the general public and fans
are taking notice. The club that bills itself
as having “a remarkable legacy filled with
stories of timber, cowboys, cold Milwaukee
beer and chewing gum” that is “decidedly un-
stuffy and welcoming.”
   For newbies, Ron Trytek of the Sarasota
Polo Club has a few suggestions. “Visit the
club’s Facebook page,” he says. “Learn
about the teams and rules of the game. Enjoy
the camaraderie of the match. And join the
masses at halftime to replace patches of grass
on the field displaced by the horses. Filling in
the divots,” he says, is fun.
   “We look forward to welcoming you to
the thrill of ‘the fastest game on four feet,’
” he says. ♦

www.tbbwmag.com • JULY2019 31
ECONOMIC
                                 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
                                          DEVELOPMENT

                            RIDING THE WAVE TO A VIBRANT
                                  ENTREPRENEURIAL
                                  ECOSYSTEM                      BY SARA MAUDLIN-FELDMAN
                                                           Growing up in St. Pete Beach, Linda
                                                        Olson watched her father run a small com-
                                                        mercial art business out of their home. It
                                                        was valuable early exposure to entrepre-
                                                        neurship for the woman who today is help-
                                                        ing shape the future of entrepreneurship in
                                                        the Tampa Bay region.
                                                           As the founder and CEO of Tampa
                                                        Bay Wave, a nonprofit organization with
                                                        a mission to enable and support high-
                                                        growth web and mobile technology start-
                                                        ups throughout the region, Olson and her
                                                        team support more than 150 tech startups
                                                        and more than 250 entrepreneurs to build,
                                                        launch, and grow breakout tech businesses.
                                                           When Olson started Tampa Bay Wave in
                                                        2008, she was trying to get her own tech
                                                        business off the ground but was running
                                                        into a lack of resources, support and talent.
                                                        She believed that with the right support,
                                                        the region had the potential to be the next
                                                        Austin, Texas, or Seattle. Wave partnered
                                                        with the University of South Florida and
                                                        landed a $1 million federal grant from the
                                                        U.S. Department of Commerce to launch the
                                                         Linda Olsen, CEO of the Tampa Bay Wave

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ECONOMIC
                                                  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
                                                           DEVELOPMENT

        FirstWave Accelerator program and open an        my father ran a business out of our house,       Arthur Anderson in the business consult-
        innovation space in Tampa. Since its launch      so I got exposed very early on to someone        ing group, which helped clients solve
        in 2013, companies in FirstWave have raised      running a business. My father had a very         technology problems. Within a couple of
        more than $8.4 million in early-stage invest-    old-school perspective that college wasn’t       years, I was running multimillion-dollar
        ment capital and created more than over 200      for women. But I wanted to be in control of      technology projects. But it wasn’t enough.
        jobs.                                            my destiny and not let how I was brought         Something was missing. After talking with
           Not bad for the self-described “beach         up control that. My mother squirreled away       friends, someone said I would be really
        girl,” who was the first in her immediate fam-    money and we found a way for me to attend        valuable to tech startups. So, I took a job
        ily to attend college and went on to earn an     Florida State University.                        with a tech startup in Boston and was there
        MBA from Columbia Business School. Read             I decided a business degree would help me     nearly four years. On paper, the company
        on as Olson shares how her childhood influ-       figure out how to be in control of my future. I   looked great with Ivy League-educated
        enced her career path, the joys and challenges   left with a degree in accounting and a minor     executives and experienced leaders, but
        of working with tech startups, and what she      in information technology because I was in-      we did not have a profitable working busi-
        sees as the future of entrepreneurship in the    trigued by systems and technology and what       ness model. We were losing money every
        region.                                          they could do for companies.                     month. It was such an intellectual chal-
                                                                                                          lenge for me to have educated leaders and
        How did your family shape the leader             How did you get involved in technol-             top firms backing us and all these custom-
        you are today?                                   ogy startups?                                    ers, and yet it wasn’t turning into a massive
          Neither of my parents went to college, but       Right out of college, I took a job with        financial success. We ended up selling the

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