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A Quarterly Economic Development Publication Summer 2015
Economic Development Forum | Opportunities in Brazil | A Sunny Outlook for Florida
N E W L E A D E R S H I PP A L M B E A C H C O U N T Y ’ S
D R . RO B E RT AV O S S A V E R D E N I A B A K E R AVA PA R K E R
3PBCB
CONTENTSMeet Palm Beach County’s New Leaders
New leaders are taking positions at three countywide organizations.
BrazilOffers Varied Trade Opportunities
BedaBoxAn Entrepreneurial Success Story
NewsBDB Compiles Inventory of ‘Megasites’
Life Science Companies Form Strategic PartnershipRelocations & Expansions
Jupiter Medical Center Opens New Breast CenterTech Runway Selects Second Startup Class
County’s Range of InvestmentsEssential to Diversifying Local Economy
Take a Student to Work DayBusinesses Rally to Support Students
Economic Development ForumBusiness Development Board’s first Economic Development Forum
Economist presents Upbeat OutlookEconomist, Beata Caranci feels positive about the U.S. and Florida economies
TO OUR MEMBERS AND PARTNERS:
In this edition, you will learn about businesses working together with the
Business Development Board as well as Palm Beach County to introduce students to
the employment opportunities available within the area.
Additionally, you will be informed on strategic partnerships developing within
the life sciences sector of Palm Beach County. Information will be given about the
most recent relocations and expansions, and you will be introduced to the new
leaders of the region. An inspiring entrepreneurial success story will be told, and
news regarding economic advancement and trade opportunities in Palm Beach will
be detailed.
I hope you enjoy this issue of Palm Beach County Business, which could not be
published without the support of the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners,
Workforce Alliance, NextEra, Florida Crystals, and Suffolk Construction.
As we persist in working together to foster growth within Palm Beach County’s
diverse economy, please continue to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and watch
for our e-newsletters to stay up-to-date on economic development within the region.
Kelly Smallridge
President and CEO
Welcome from the President
Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc.310 Evernia Street | West Palm Beach, FL 33401561.835.1008 | www.bdb.org
Palm Beach County’sEconomic Development Resource
Published by » Passport Publications & Media Corporation
ON THE COVERSkyline Image by Robert Stevens
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4 PBCB
Meet
Dr. Robert AVOSSA
Palm Beach County’s
NewLeaders
This summer, new leaders are taking positions at threecountywide organizations. Dr. Robert Avossa is the newsuperintendent of the School District of Palm BeachCounty, Verdenia C. Baker is the new Palm Beach Countyadministrator, and Ava Parker is the new president of PalmBeach State College. Here is a closer look at the leadersand their priorities.
Dr. Robert AvossaSchool Superintendent
Robert Avossa, Ed.D., was named superintendent of the School
District of Palm Beach County in June. A former teacher and principal,
Avossa served as superintendent of Fulton County Schools in Atlanta
for four years.
“I’m looking forward to working here,” Avossa said in a recent
newspaper interview. “There’s such a rich diversity here in Florida and
there’s an opportunity to work together and solve really complicated
issues.” Avossa added that aging facilities is one of the biggest challenges
facing the public school district.
Under Avossa’s leadership, Fulton County Schools achieved
dramatic academic gains, earning the district the highest graduation
rate of Georgia’s large school systems. Additionally, the graduation rate
over the entire student population increased from 70.1 to 78.7 percent,
while the dropout rate decreased from 24.3 to 11.9 percent.
Avossa achieved these results by building consensus with the
School Board, community and staff through building and implement-
ing a comprehensive research-based strategic plan.
Before coming to Fulton County Schools, Avossa served as chief
strategy and accountability officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
in North Carolina. In that role, he led the district in driving key
performance management initiatives. He also served as area
superintendent and as chief of staff, both of which resulted in
significant student achievement improvement. Prior to that, he spent
more than a decade in Florida as a teacher and principal.
Avossa said being active and involved in the community is a
priority. He has served on many non-profit boards throughout his
career and is a current board member for the American Heart
Association, Junior Achievement and the United Way of Georgia.
Avossa served on both the Georgia’s Governor’s Commission on
Educational Reform in 2015 and the Task Force on the Federal
Government’s Role in Public Education in 2014.
The Palm Beach County School District is the 11th largest district
in the country with a student enrollment of more than 183,000
students. The annual budget exceeds $2.3 billion and the district is the
largest employer in Palm Beach County with over 21,000 employees.
Verdenia Baker County Administrator
In August, Verdenia Baker will become the first woman and the
first African American to serve as Palm Beach County’s county
administrator, overseeing about 6,100 employees. In a recent interview,
Baker said she will focus on maintaining a balanced budget while
continuing to provide high quality service.
“I believe in a strong education system and economic development
program to create more career opportunities for our county’s
residents,” she said. “I am looking forward to working with the business
community to support our existing companies and bringing in a
variety of newcomers. We need manufacturing, distribution and
5PBCB
Verdenia BAKER Ava PARKER
service jobs, as well as high-paying positions in the life sciences,
technology and financial sectors.”
Baker served on the county committee that helped convince the
Scripps Research Institute to open a Florida facility in Jupiter in 2003.
“The institute has continued to grow, even through the national
economic downturn, and accomplished its objectives,” she added.
Baker is a strong supporter of education. “I believe workforce
training must be a priority here,” she said. “That includes internships
and summer employment positions that allow our students to gain on-
the-job experience. As we invest in our K-12 schools, I want to be sure
some of our high school graduates attend Palm Beach County’s colleges
and universities, and then stay here to set down roots.”
Another priority is the county’s transportation network. “As we
continue to grow, we need to enhance our transit system,” she said. “That
includes sharing the road with bikes and mopeds in a safe manner.”
Baker joined Palm Beach County government in 1987 as a budget
analyst. She was promoted to impact fee coordinator and division director
of the county’s budget and finance department, before being named
deputy county administrator in 2000. Baker also serves as president of
the National Forum of Black Public Administrators and as a board
member of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County.
“I love living in Palm Beach County, where we have so many great
outdoor activities and cultural attractions,” she said. “We will continue
to safeguard our quality of life while moving forward with economic
development.”
Ava ParkerPresident, Palm Beach State College
Ava Parker, the first woman president of Palm Beach State College
(PBSC) believes state colleges should be “economic engines for our
communities.” In a recent interview, she said, “We have a responsibil-
ity to partner with area businesses and economic development
organizations to help provide a well-trained, skilled workforce.”
An attorney and educator, Parker was formerly executive vice
president and chief operating officer at Florida Polytechnic University,
which opened in Lakeland in 2012. She drove the campus construction
program for the new university, whose curriculum focuses on the
STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines. She also
served on the Florida Board of Governors, which has overseen public
universities, for more than a decade.
“I am excited about coming to PBSC,” Parker said. “With 41,000
students on four campuses, Palm Beach State has a solid foundation
and strong ties with the community.”
One of her priorities will be completing PBSC’s fifth campus in
Loxahatchee Groves, which is scheduled to open in 2016. “This has
been a labor of love for Dr. Gallon [outgoing president Dennis
Gallon],” she said. “The baton has been passed to me to bring this
to fruition.” The campus is on a 75-acre site on Southern Boulevard
and B Road.
Parker said the programs at the new Loxahatchee Groves campus
will be designed to serve the immediate community, so students
will not have to drive to other locations. “We are also looking for
innovative programs that complement our existing offerings,” she
added. “I plan to listen to our students, faculty, staff and the entire
community in order to see what we can do to advance our county and
the region.”
Parker said she plans to work closely with the Business Develop-
ment Board to help PBSC maintain its leadership role in serving the
educational needs of the region. “We will build on our college’s great
traditions and do our part to change students’ lives for the better.”
6 PBCB
Brazil
As South America’s largest market, Brazil offers a wide range of tradeopportunities for Palm Beach County businesses. But, according to
Fabio Yamada, director of Enterprise Florida’s Brazil Office, businesses
need to plan their entry strategies carefully.
“There are five different regions, each with its own market
dynamics,” said Yamada at a May 1 workshop hosted by the Business
Development Board. “For instance, Sao Paulo is one of the world’s
largest markets for Ferraris. It’s also a key business center where people
pay $100,000 for a 200-square-foot apartment.”
Overall, Brazil is the world’s seventh largest economy and conducts
more than $21 billion in trade with Florida each year. However, an
economic downturn and an investigation into widespread corruption
have dampened investor interest, at least in the short term.
“Brazil is rich in natural resources and very productive in terms of
agriculture,” Yamada said. “But there are high import duties and
taxation on top of that. So, you need to have a local presence, such as
a sales agent on site. Most of the Fortune 500 companies have
established a manufacturing, sales or service organization in Brazil in
order to serve this market.”
Some regional organizations already have ties to Brazil. Dr. Tom
Duncan, president, Northwood University, noted that more than 70
Brazilian automobile dealers would be coming to the West Palm Beach
campus in June for training. Martin Cass, partner, BDO, said, “We have
a huge footprint in Brazil and do a lot of business with international
companies.”
Other attendees at the BDB session asked about trade opportunities
in areas as diverse as luxury vodka, medical devices and water purification
technologies. In response, Yamada said, “You need to have something
unique and innovative to offer the Brazilian market. Otherwise, forget it,
because imported goods cost much more than those made in Brazil. But
if you have a product with greater value or higher quality, then go for it.
That is the recipe for success in serving the Brazilian market.”
From left, Katrina Yamada, Enterprise Florida; Martin Cass, BDO; Fabio Yamada, Enterprise Florida; and Joao Gomes, BDO
Offers Varied Trade Opportunities
Jan Bednar is one of Palm Beach County’s most dynamic young entrepreneurs. At the age of 16, he came to the
U.S. from the Czech Republic and began shipping parcels back to friends and family in Eastern Europe. “It
was much cheaper and easier for them to have me buy shoes, hockey skates and other hobby gear for them
here in the U.S.”
Bednar enrolled at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business, and began thinking about turning his
shipping arrangements into a business. In 2014, he took first place in the student track in the FAU Business Plan
Competition, and after earning his business degree,
won a statewide competition.
Those successful endeavors – and the support of
FAU’s Tech Runway incubator program – provided
Bednar with the foundation he needed to launch
BedaBox, a fast-growing Boca Raton company that
provides shipping services to U.S. online companies
and international purchasers.
BedaBox uses a sophisticated software applica-
tion to help people overseas buy U.S. products and
pay with any form of currency. BedaBox customers
create a free account, and through a simple
dashboard, receive a U.S. postal address and manage
package forwarding.
“BedaBox is a great example of FAU’s com-
mitment to spurring innovation,” said Kimberly
Gramm, co-founder and associate vice president,
FAU Tech Runway, which provides a complete
entrepreneurial ecosystem for startup ventures. “We
are passionate about entrepreneurship and the
positive impact young leaders like Jan Bednar can
have on our community.”
From his perspective, Bednar credits FAU’s
educational and mentoring programs with helping
him get off to a great start. “Winning the business
plan competition helped with the funding, but the
input from experienced mentors was very valuable
for me,” he said. “They have told me things I don’t
want to hear, but that helps push me forward.”
Now 23, Bednar is on a fast growth track for
BedaBox. He recently updated the company’s global
portal and is looking for new ways to accelerate the
shipping process for in-demand products. “We’re not
the only company doing international shipping, but
there is a huge demand in the marketplace.”
Bednar adds that the past year has been “quite a
ride.” To keep up with demand, Bednar has added to his workforce, which now totals six employees. He’s also
looking for a bigger warehouse in the Boca Raton area, having already outgrown the FAU Tech Runway space.
“We’ve had more and more U.S. companies coming to us to act as a fulfillment service for shipping their
products overseas,” he says. “I would expect to have two more warehouses in different locations in operation
next year as we continue to connect the world into one globalized marketplace.”
7PBCB
Story
BedaBox:An Entrepreneurial Success
Jan Bednar
8 PBCB
BDB Develops Inventoryof ‘Megasites’
Cognate BioServices, Inc. and Akron Biotechnology, LLC recently announced a strategic
partnership to provide a more comprehensive package of services to their clients. Cognate is
a leader in the provision of cGMP manufacturing services and regulatory support to
companies and institutions engaged in the development of regenerative medicine and cell-
based products and therapies. Akron Biotech is an innovative supplier of validated reagents,
solutions and technologies to the cell therapy industry. Their relationship strengthens both
companies and will unify their resources to better serve growing market demands
internationally.
Akron Biotech founder and CEO Claudia Zylberberg, PhD, said, “This partnership is a
unique opportunity to integrate the offerings of our two companies to meet the growing needs
of the industry by strategically reducing the cost of goods through enabling solutions
and procurement of raw materials in a cost-efficient manner for our customers and
Cognate clients.”
J. Kelly Ganjei, CEO of Cognate BioServices, added, “We believe that offering a more
full service integration with specific key supply chain demands provides us and our clients
a competitive advantage in this field.” Dr. Zylberberg and her team have built a brand
around quality and innovation, two attributes that Cognate requires of itself internally.
“We are very excited about continuing to expand our collective offerings to our clients in
the US and internationally.”
The companies will continue to operate as separate entities, with each company focusing
on further developing its core competencies while leveraging each other’s strengths to advance
new cell therapy-based treatments from workbench to the clinic.
Life Science CompaniesForm Strategic Partnership
&EventsNews
The Business Development Board has
developed an inventory of “megasites,” existing
buildings and vacant commercial/industrial land
to attract and retain large corporate users to Palm
Beach County through outreach to brokers, land
owners, chambers of commerce and local
governments.
The Mega Site inventory contains
commercial and industrial buildings with
100,000 square feet of vacant space available as
well as vacant land where a minimum of 100,000
square feet of space can be constructed. The
program is intended to serve as a resource to large
companies looking to relocate or expand in Palm
Beach County.
These properties are developable, for sale, and have access to utilities and major transportation corridors. For the past five years,
the BDB has seen the timeframe for selection of a site significantly shortened. Once a company chooses a site, construction tends to
begin immediately. The Mega Site inventory will be marketed through the BDB’s website to potential prospects and site selection
consultants. The BDB’s Shovel Ready Task Force, chaired by Brian Seymour of Gunster, assisted with this initiative.
the site/building has at least
100,000 contiguous square ft.
available or land use and zoning
in place to build such space.
Office
Sites
the site/building has at least
100,000 contiguous square ft.
available or has at least 50 acres
and land use and zoning in place
Vacant or existing sites with land use and zoning in place for either office
or industrial uses. The BDB has identified:
Mega Sites
14 Vacant Sites
3 Existing Buildings
20 Vacant Sites
1 Existing Building
Industrial
Sites
9PBCB
Relocations & Expansions
With Gov. Rick Scott on hand, Sancilio & Company in May
announced a major expansion of its Riviera Beach operations, creating
275 jobs and retaining 149 jobs. “It is a privilege and an honor to have
the support of Governor Scott here at Sancilio & Company,” said Dr.
Frederick Sancilio, founder and CEO. “We are proud to be among
several biopharma companies that have chosen to grow here in the area,
which is directly attributable to the local partnerships and support from
Palm Beach County and the City of Riviera Beach.”
Sancilio & Company, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is engaged in
the development, commercialization and manufacturing of branded
prescription, over-the-counter and generic prescription pharmaceutical
products. In 2007, the company began extensive research work on fish
oil components, and discovered methods to analyze and isolate these
materials. The company has developed and internationally distributes
highly purified versions of these potent materials.
The project was made possible by the close partnerships between
Enterprise Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity,
the City of Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County and the Business
Development Board of Palm Beach County.
Riviera Beach Council Chairwoman Dawn Pardo stated, “The City
of Riviera Beach is thrilled that Sancilio & Company has chosen to expand
their operation in our city. This expansion is another bright spot in the
continued expansion of advanced manufacturing in Riviera Beach.”
Palm Beach County Mayor Shelley Vana stressed the importance of
partnering with private industry in order to support economic
development. “Once again, Palm Beach County has demonstrated its
commitment to work with our state and municipal partners to create
the best climate for business expansion.”
Gov. Rick Scott, Dr. Frederick Sancilio
Jupiter Medical Center has opened the Margaret W.
Niedland Breast Center, a new 26,000 square foot state-of-the-art
home for its full spectrum of breast health services, as well as
outpatient imaging services. The Breast Center will house Jupiter
Medical Center’s cutting-edge breast diagnostic equipment.
Importantly, the Breast Center integrates the diagnostic
equipment, a Caring MRI Suite, soft lighting, feng-shui elements
and a tranquil healing garden into comforting surroundings
designed to simplify and enhance the patient experience.
The Margaret W. Niedland Breast Center is named in
honor of Suzanne Niedland’s mother, Margaret, who lost her
battle with breast cancer in 2011. Suzanne Niedland’s
comprehensive donation funded Jupiter Medical Center’s
purchase of the Breast Center’s advanced diagnostic
equipment and the construction of the new building.
“The Margaret W. Niedland Breast Center speaks perfect-
ly to our commitment as one of the guardians for our
community’s health and wellness,” said Jupiter Medical
Center’s President and Chief Executive Officer, John D. Couris.
“The new center will be a national model for community-
based patient care and the first center in the region to combine
next generation technology and seamless delivery of breast
health and diagnostic services.”
Jupiter Medical CenterOpens New Breast Center Florida Atlantic University’s Tech Runway has selected its second Venture
Vintage class of startup companies to participate in the business accelerator
program. The four companies will receive a $25,000 non-equity
grant, participate in a 16-week intensive boot camp and will
be provided collaborative workspace for one year. The
companies also participate in a formal program for
mentoring entrepreneurs and their ventures.
The second class of companies are:
� Honorlock, which offers award-winning, cloud-based
solutions to curb academic dishonesty while remaining
non-invasive.
� Tone-y-Bands, which brings to market unique arm toning
wrist weights that can be worn throughout the day to
provide a workout from regular activities and improve
exercise results.
� Candidate.Guru, which delivers applications designed to vastly improve the
hiring process for companies through the application of big data and
machine learning technologies.
� TightTalk Electronics, which created the EarDrive audio recording,
transcription and translation solution that works with any audio source.
“These new startups bring innovative ideas and unique solutions to their
markets,” said Kimberly Gramm, associate vice president of FAU Tech Runway.
“They’re poised to build on the success of the first class of companies accepted
into Tech Runway.”
Tech Runway SelectsSecond Startup Class
10 PBCB
Among the policies set by the Palm Beach County Commission toeffectively deliver services and provide for the health, safety and welfare
of its residents are economic development investments to support and
diversify the local economy. These economic development initiatives
include attracting new industries to our community and ensuring the
growth of employment opportunities in a wide range of salaries and
skills. The Commission evaluates economic development investments
using multiple factors that involve the direct and indirect jobs to be
gained, the salaries to be offered, the total private capital investment,
and the overall economic impact of a project.
Working in tandem with the BDB, the County has experienced
a welcome uptick in corporate headquarters relocations, manu-
facturing facilities expansions, and high-tech businesses that provide
high-wage jobs in targeted industries. The County has remained
competitive in drawing these projects to our community by offering
local financial support as a match to State program incentives. These
economic development investments are complemented by federally-
funded programs offered through the County. The programs are
designed specifically to provide permanent full-time jobs for
residents of low to moderate income, and in some cases are geared
toward focusing business growth in geographic areas. Such
investments serve to leverage private financial investment or other
county assistance vehicles, and include the following low-interest
loan programs:
� Section 108 Loans provide loan gap financing at below-market
interest rates to eligible businesses for fixed assets and working
capital. Assisted projects must meet one of HUD’s national
objectives of offering 51 percent of its new jobs to Palm Beach
County residents of low to moderate income, preventing or
eliminating slums or blight, or, meeting a critical community need.
� USDA Rural Loan Program – business projects must be located in a
USDA-recognized rural zone, which includes the cities of Belle Glade,
Pahokee, and South Bay, Canal Point, and the surrounding areas.
� Microloan Program – established to assist small businesses, loans
are offered from 10,000 up to $25,000.
� Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund – financial assistance is
provided to business projects that clean up contaminated
properties, create jobs, and revitalize communities.
� Small Business Administration 504 Loan Program – the County
leverages Section 108 loans with 504 loans through its mutual
working relationships with SBA-certified financial institutions.
� Revolving Energy Fund Loan Program – funded by the U.S.
Department of Energy, these loans finance business projects that
invest in energy conservation measures and create and retain jobs.
Additionally, the County has invested in business incubators and
local organizations that offer hands-on assistance to start-up and early
stage companies. The Technology Enterprise and Development Center,
Inc. and the Enterprise Development Center of South Florida offer
business advice and services, networking connections, management
and computer training, rental space and access to capital services.
Financial assistance and training programs are offered through the
Black Business Investment Corporation to qualified businesses owned
by Black county residents, and through the Center for Enterprise
Opportunity, a community development financial institute.
All of the County’s economic development investment programs
and community partnerships are managed through the Department of
Economic Sustainability and offer a broad spectrum of assistance to
businesses large and small, creating job opportunities to meet the
diverse needs of the county. For more information, please visit
www.pbcgov.com/des.
County’s Range of Investments
Essential toDiversifyingLocal Economy
By Sherry Howard, Deputy DirectorPalm Beach County
Department of Economic Sustainability
11PBCB
Businesses Rally BehindTake a Student to Work Day
The BDB and the School District of Palm Beach County put a new spin on Take ourSons and Daughters to Work Day so high school students could gain know-
ledge about the top-tier employment opportunities that are available in Palm
Beach County.
“It’s important that students are able to see first-hand that there are many
great job opportunities here,” said Kelly Smallridge, BDB president and CEO,
“and we want our students to remain in Palm Beach County.”
On May 26, students were given the opportunity to shadow a wide range of
companies, including BioTools, Inc., DePuy Synthes, Aerojet Rocketdyne,
Ackerman, Link & Sartory, P.A., GliddenSpina + Partners and the O’Donnell
Agency. The BDB’s Branding and Marketing Education Task Force created Take
a Student to Work Day and organized the event for public and private schools.
12 PBCB
PALM BEACH COUNTY OFFERS A WIDE ARRAY OF BENEFITS FORexpanding and relocating businesses, but must continue to invest in
economic development initiatives to retain its competitive advantage.
That was the key theme of the Business Development Board’s first
Economic Development Forum, held April 23 at the Palm Beach
County Convention Center.
“Our public and private sector leaders think about the future of
our county every day,” said Kelly Smallridge, BDB president and CEO.
“Together, we can shape the economic landscape to create more
opportunities for Palm Beach County residents and become even more
competitive in the global marketplace.”
Several hundred business, civic and educational leaders attended
the half-day event, which included sessions on education, real estate
and trade opportunities, as well as best practices in economic
development. Presenting sponsors were FPL and Bank of America.
Keynote speaker Bill Johnson, the new state Secretary of
Commerce and president and CEO, Enterprise Florida, Inc., said Palm
Beach County is recognized throughout the state for its creative and
effective economic development initiatives. “You are leading the way,”
he told forum attendees, adding that public-private partnerships like
Enterprise Florida and the BDB bring together “the best attributes of
government service with private sector ingenuity and innovation.”
Corporate LeadersOne of the highlights of the forum was the “CEO Corporate HQ
Think Tank” session, which featured four leading Palm Beach County
executives: Chris Jamroz, president and COO, GardaWorld Cash
Services; Jeff Scott, president and CEO, Olympus Insurance, Gemini
Financial Holdings Corp.; Drew Levine, president, G4S Secure
Solutions North America; and Jeff Stoops, president and CEO, SBA
Communications.
Levine and Stoops talked about their companies’ decisions to
move to Palm Beach County in the 1990s, and why they feel the region
is the ideal location for their headquarters. “We have been able to hire
professionals and administrators with great business skills,” said
Stoops. “The workforce and education system here are real advantages
for our company.”
Jamroz emphasized the growth that GardaWorld has enjoyed since
moving here from Canada in 2011, while Scott discussed the reasons
for Gemini’s recent relocation to Palm Beach Gardens. “We have had
no problem in finding experienced people who want to relocate to
Palm Beach County, noted Scott.
Reflecting the overall tone of the panel – and the entire forum –
Jamroz emphasized the pro-business climate of both the state and
Palm Beach County. “What captivated our hearts was the cohesive
approach of the state, county and cities,” he said. “Since then, we have
continued to receive great support from the BDB’s team, and we have
enjoyed tremendous growth here.”
Supporting Existing BusinessesWhile attracting new companies is an important goal, economic
development programs must also support existing businesses,
according to C.J. Evans, Jr., principal, Merit Advisors, L.P. “We need to
nurture and cultivate our local industries,” said Evans at a panel
discussion on “Economic Development Competitiveness – Best Case
Practices,” moderated by Shannon R. LaRocque, assistant county
administrator, Palm Beach County.
Angelo Bianco, partner, Crocker Partners, and Al Latimer, senior
vice president, Strategic Partnerships, Enterprise Florida, Inc., agreed
with Evans. “About 80 percent of new job creation comes from existing
businesses,” Latimer said. “At Enterprise Florida we want to be an
advocate for Florida companies in terms of regulations.”
When it comes to attracting new firms, Bianco said Palm Beach
County shines in the financial services sector. “This is a high-income
area, so we attract companies that want to serve those individuals
and families. Through the years, we have built a large base of
employees in financial services and that provides a good foundation
for future growth.”
Trade and Logistics OpportunitiesIn his luncheon keynote talk, John Kaliski, principal, Cambridge
Systematics, presented the “Florida Trade and Logistics Study 2.0,” and
discussed some of the opportunities for Palm Beach County businesses
in the dynamic international marketplace.
“Global trade played a key role leading Florida’s economy out of
the recession,” he said, noting that Florida created nearly 23,000 new
jobs in trade and logistics from 2010 to 2012, and more than 9,000 new
jobs in manufacturing.
ForumDevelopmentEconomic
Palm Beach County’sEconomic Development Resource
13
‘As global trade and economic activity shift over the coming
decades, international commerce can be an even more important
driver of Florida’s future,’ he said. “The continued shift in U.S. growth
to the Southeast, rapid growth in Latin American and Caribbean
markets, the widening of the Panama Canal, and the near sourcing of
global supply chains back to the Western Hemisphere all suggest that
Florida could be at the crossroads of vital trade lanes.”
Kaliski said Florida has several opportunities to maintain and
expand its role as a global hub:
� Move more trade through Florida’s sea and air gate ways, with an
emphasis on moving more imports directly to Florida and better
balancing inbound and outbound trade flows
� Make, grow, and refine more products for export from Florida, by
expanding exports of Florida-origin man ufactured goods,
agricultural products, and other natural resources
� Multiply the impacts of global trade in Florida, by pro viding
value-added services to trading businesses in Florida and trading
partners around the world
� Expand Florida’s role as a global hub for visitors, investment, and talent.
In order to capitalize on those opportunities, Florida needs to
make strategic investments to ensure Florida is “best in class” in all
aspects of global trade and investment. These investments include
providing marketing assistance and infrastructure investments to
expand the number of direct global connections to Florida
Enhancing regional partnerships across Florida would also
support export market opportunities and advance economic
development. Finally, Kaliski said the state should develop a Florida
Trade & Logistics Institute to continue research, education, and
collaboration in support of Florida’s global vision.
Visit www.bdb.org to read a full white paper detailing the findings
of the Economic Development Forum.
Bill Johnson and Kelly Smallridge John Kaliski makes a point
Carey O’Donnell
From left, Jeff Stoops, Ben Boynton, Drew Levine, Chris Jamroz and Jeff Scott
Gary Hines, standing at right with panelists Brian Seymour, Neil Merin and Kenneth Krasnow,
Several other important topics were addressed at the
Economic Development Forum, including the following:
� Kelly Smallridge led an “Economic Development Stakeholder
Discussion” with Michael Busha, executive director,
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council; and Jerry Allen,
deputy director, Palm Beach International Airport.
� Carey O’Donnell, president and creative director, The
O’Donnell Agency, moderated a panel discussion on the
BDB’s “Branding & Marketing of Education Initiative.”
Participants from the School District of Palm Beach County
included Dr. Peter Licata, director of choice and career
options; Jay Boggess, choice and career education
administrator; and Nicole Ketchem, choice and career
options specialist. Other panelists were Kimberly Lea,
campus president, Keiser University; and Christina
Lambert, president and CEO, Education Foundation of
Palm Beach County.
� Gary Hines, senior vice president, administration, BDB
moderated a “Real Estate Panel” with Kenneth Krasnow,
managing director, South Florida, CBRE; Neil Merin,
chairman, NAI Merin Hunter Codman; and Brian Seymour,
shareholder, Gunster.
AddressingTopicsKey
PBCB
14 PBCB
Beata Caranci, vice president and deputy chief economist, TDBank Financial Group, has a good feeling about the prospects
for the U.S. and Florida economies. “Employment growth is
picking up speed,” she said at the Business Development Board’s
May 21 meeting at the Colony Hotel. “Tourism is booming,
foreclosures are dropping and new companies are being created
in all business sectors.”
Caranci gave her “2015 Economic & Financial Outlook” for
the U.S., Florida and Palm Beach County to more than 100 BDB
members. Ray Celedinas, BDB chairman, welcomed attendees
and Val Perez, South Florida retail market president for TD
Bank, presented a video on the bank’s support for local
communities.
Caranci said Florida’s economy has a history of out-
performing the U.S. average, and the balance of 2015 will be no
exception. “America is now in its seventh year of expansion and
will be able to absorb slightly higher interest rates,” she said.
“Small and mid-size businesses are finding it easier to access
capital for expansion. From a global perspective, the U.S. dollar
is not likely to continue rising against major foreign currencies.
That is good for Florida because a stronger dollar affects trade
and tourism.”
Turning to the housing market, Caranci said the nation
needs between 1.5 and 1.6 million new units every year. “There
is lots of demand for new homes, particularly in Florida.” She
added that the state’s current housing production rate of 90,000
per year could go up to 150,000 or 200,000 to meet that demand.
Last year, about 300,000 people moved to Florida, and that
number could reach 400,000 this year, Caranci said. “While
many people still think of Florida as a place for retirees, the state
has a huge cohort of Millennials. While the younger generation
is carrying a lot of debt, there will be plenty of people in their
20s and 30s buying their first house and first car, while marrying
and starting families. That’s a very positive trend for the
state’s future.”
Throughout Florida, companies are creating high-paying
new professional and technical jobs, and Palm Beach County is
leading the way. “Financial jobs have come back, the life sciences
are strong and construction jobs are growing as well,” she said.
“It should be a very good year.”
Economist presents
Upbeat Outlook
“Tourism is booming, foreclosures are dropping and new companies are being created in all business sectors”
– Beata Caranci, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist, TD Bank Financial Group
Beata Caranci, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist, TD Bank Financial Group
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