Guest columns
State arts funding announced, applications open
Article submitted by United Arts Collier After last year’s total statewide veto of arts funding, this year’s Florida state budget marks restoration of support for arts and cultural organizations across the state. The 2025–2026 budget, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, includes significant arts and culture funding through the Department of State’s Division of Arts and…
Read MoreTips to Attract More Customers to Your Business
Attracting and keeping customers is essential for sustained success in the business world. With numerous options available to consumers, it’s crucial for businesses to stand out and convince potential customers to choose their products or services. Here are some effective tips to help you get more customers to choose your business: Build a Strong Online…
Read More7 Ways to Protect Your Small Business from Risk
Whether you’re starting your new business, or your company has been up and running for a while, protecting the business you have worked hard to build is essential. However, in the excitement of managing a small business, many entrepreneurs may skip this very important step. Here are seven ways you can protect your small business…
Read MoreProtect, Shred, and Recycle at MNMW’s Annual FREE Shred Day in January
Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co., P.A. (MNMW) will partner with All Points Mobile Shredding to host its seventh annual FREE Community Shred Day event on Friday, January 26, 2024, from 9 a.m. until noon. A Secure Shred truck, which is part of the All Points Mobile Company, will be on site at the Fort…
Read MoreResilient SWFL economy making post – Ian progress
The weather this spring and summer was unseasonably hot, and while that same description wouldn’t necessarily apply to the local economy, Southwest Florida continues to offer a warm and welcoming business climate. There are still plenty of positive indicators this year: more businesses have opened their doors, more people continue to move here, tourists are…
Read MoreQuiet Quitters and Loud Laborers : Creating Balance Between the Extremes with Awareness
Going out on a limb by quoting Lawyer John Cage from the Ally McBeal TV series, I am personally “troubled” by the recent notion of two types of work colleagues: Quiet quitters and loud laborers. Quiet quitters live in pretense, holding back feelings or ideas to avoid conflict or confrontation. Colleagues of quiet quitters are…
Read MoreSanibel Captiva Community Bank 20th anniversary
2023 was a special year for Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as we celebrated our 20th anniversary. Back in 2003 bank founder Craig Albert and our board of directors embarked on a mission to create the only locally owned bank chartered on Sanibel to serve island residents and businesses. Their vision was the catalyst for Sanibel…
Read MorePosition Your Business for Success in 2024
In December of 2019, I wrote an article for this paper about preparing your business for the year ahead. It was about looking back to see all the things you did right, and all the lessons learned from the ideas that flopped, then incorporating all that knowledge into a business plan for the new year.…
Read More2023 Business Wrap-Up: A Meteoric Rise in the Marketing World
By Zachary Katkin, Founder of Olympia Marketing As the year comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the incredible journey that Olympia Marketing has embarked upon. Founded in 2023, we’ve quickly become one of the fastest-growing ad agencies in Southwest Florida. Our growth has been nothing short of phenomenal, onboarding more than a…
Read MoreAI: Where do we go from here?
It was the year AI seemed to take over the world. In 2023, artificial intelligence generated headlines for its ability to answer questions, drive cars, generate musical beats and even take you down memory lane by creating ‘90s yearbook-style photos. AI also emerged as a threat to take over people’s jobs, clone their voices, drain…
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