THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP AND OFFERED TO HELP BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT GROUPS BY BUILDING A COMMUNITY.

WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ORGANIZATION THAT'S HOPING ANYONE WITH THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT FIND A VOICE AND THEN FIND SOME CUSTOMERS AND INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LOCAL INDUSTRY LEADERS.

THE FGCU PROGRAM THAT GOES BEYOND CLASSES AND MAJORS AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR PROFESSIONS.

WIFE JUMPS INTO ACTION TO SAVE HER HUSBAND AFTER HE FALLS INTO CARDIAC ARREST.

NOW DOCTORS ARE SAYING HER STORY SHOULD BE A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR OTHERS TO BE PREPARED FOR A WORST-CASE SCENARIO.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON MY CULTURE.

THE SUNSHINE STATE IS QUICKLY ESTABLISHING ITSELF AS A LEADER IN INDUSTRIES.

ACCORDING TO REGISTERED AGENTS, THAT'S A BUSINESS FORMATION.

RESEARCH GROUP, FLORIDA LOGGED NEARLY 700,000 NEW BUSINESSES AND 2025.

LEADING THE NATION BY A WIDE MARGIN.

THE STATE'S BOOMING POPULATIONS, FAVORABLE TAX POLICIES AND LOW OPERATING COSTS HAVE HELPED THE STATE BECOME A HAVEN FOR FLEDGLING BUSINESSES.

BUT IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, ONE GROUP HAS DEDICATED ITSELF TO HELPING THOSE COMPANIES AS WELL AS NONPROFITS IN THE AREA, HELPING THEM BUILD A COMMUNITY AND FIND THEIR VOICES.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE.

>> FOR MORE ON THE SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS, I AM JOINED BY JEANNE SWEENEY.

SHE IS THE FOUNDER OF THE ABOVE BOARD CHAMBER OF FLORIDA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

GOOD.

I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE.

WHAT CAN YOU TO START OFF WITH TO EXPLAINING WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES AND HOW IT HELPS THESE GROUPS DOWN HERE?

>> WELL, >> WHAT WE DO IS PANELS OF EXPERTS THAT HIS BUSINESS TOPICS, MINE GOLD BASICALLY IS WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO BOARD CHAMBER, THEY NEED PEOPLE WHICH IS NICE.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN THEY WALK OUT THE DOOR, THEY ARE A LITTLE TALLER.

THEY FEEL MORE CONFIDENCE SO THEY CAN TAKE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY LEARN AND APPLY IT TO THEIR BUSINESS.

THEIR LIFE OR THEY CAN FILL ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO TAKE A CLASS HERE AT FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY BECAUSE THEY'RE READY FOR E. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE LEARN SO EVERYTHING WE DO IS EDUCATIONAL BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE EDUCATION FOR THEIR BUSINESS SO THEY CAN KEEP GROWING AND BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO SAY.

WE WANT THEM HAVE THE TOOLS.

>> AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TOOLS.

A LOT OF THIS COMES DOWN TO THINGS LIKE MARKETING.

SO YOU JUST FOCUSSING ON HOW TO GET NOTICED OR OTHER BUSINESS ASPECTS TO WHAT YOU DO AS WELL.

EVERYTHING WE DO HIS BUSINESS.

>> WE THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT I JUST SPOKE ABOUT.

I MEAN, WE BRING IN PEOPLE LIKE THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE BECAUSE SOMETIMES I REMEMBER A COUPLE YEARS AGO, EVERYBODY WAS INTO CRYPTOCURRENCY.

EVERYBODY WAS IN IT.

THE MOTHER, THE FATHER, THE NEWBORN BABY, WERE WHERE SPECIALIST, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WAS IN.

I SAID, LET'S FIND OUT WHO THE REAL SPECIAL SAYS WE'VE BEEN IN THE FED.

AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD BE HELD AT THE HILTON, NAPLES AND PEOPLE LEARN THINGS FROM THE EXPERTS AND SOMETIMES.

SOCIETY AND OUR BUSINESSES.

STOP LISTEN TO THE WRONG PEOPLE.

OR THEY DON'T HAVE TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE BRING IN THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

SO WHEN THEY SIT THERE AND THEY'RE LIKE, WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

SO I CAN TAKE THAT AND MAKE MY BUSINESS BETTER.

AND THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO EVERYTHING WE DO IS BUSINESS MINDED.

>> SO THEN WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHAT ARE SOME OF LIKE THE PITFALLS THAT YOU NOTICE THAT THEY TEND TO BE FALLING INTO?

>> WELL, SOMETIMES EVEN LIKE A SOCIAL MEDIA.

I WANT IT TO MY MEMBERS WHEN THEY'RE DOING SOCIAL MEDIA OR FACE A STEP TO SEE SOMEBODY ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA SAILING THINNER FACEBOOK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

JUST LIKE IT USE WORDS WHEN YOU LIKE SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT ONLY STAYS UP FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

BUT IF YOU TO PUT SOME WORDS IS STAYS LONGER PLACE.

IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO KNOW YOU AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT.

SO IF YOU JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, JEANNE SWEENEY ABOUT THIS, I LIKE IT FINE.

BUT IF YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE GREAT JOB, JEANNE, OR I LIKE TO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, YOU'RE GOING TO THE NEXT MEETING.

THE PERSON I WAS READING THAT SCENE THAT YOU ARE SOMEBODY THAT THEY WANT TO GET TO KNOW BECAUSE YOU'RE FRIENDLY.

SO WE NEED TO GET BREAK AWAY FROM THAT BACKGROUND THAT WERE NOT STEPPING INTO PEOPLE IN WHEN WE SUPPORT PEOPLE, WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED WITH THE ABOVE BOARD CHAMBER IN KIND OF BUILDING THIS COMMUNITY, THIS NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS, EVERYONE IN BETWEEN THEY GET TOGETHER.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TO HELP BUSINESSES THRIVE?

AND ALSO JUST BUILD UP A BETTER AREA OF INDUSTRY.

>> WELL, WE QUEEN LOOK FOR WAYS TO WHAT'S OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN FIT IN AND WE WERE YOU CAN HELP LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE.

SO BY SEA, A NON-PROFIT DOING SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY COOL.

I'M LIKE, WOW, LET'S GET THAT OUT.

LET EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE OUR AREA OF INFLUENCE.

AND IF WE DO SHARE THAT WITH HELPING OUR COMMUNITY.

SO IF YOUR RADIO STATION IS DOING SOMETHING AND I SAY IT, I PUT IT OUT THERE.

LET PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND YOU'RE INVITED AND YOU NEED TO GO AND MEET SOME GREAT PEOPLE.

>> AND THEN THAT THERE ARE MANY NONPROFITS IN THIS ANY KIND OF HAVE OVERLAPPING IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES.

HOW CAN YOU HELP THEM TO LEARN THAT MAY BE WHAT THEY DO IS DIFFERENT AND THAT EVERYONE CAN THRIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

>> WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF NONPROFITS AND THAT SORT OF LIKE ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN THE WORLD IS OUR NONPROFIT COMMUNITY, WHICH IF YOU KNOW ME, PEOPLE KNOW IRAN LOT TO NONPROFITS.

AND IN MY PAST AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE BEEN CALLED MISSION POSSIBLE.

COMING UP AND MISSION POSSIBLE.

I STARTED LAST YEAR BECAUSE I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NONPROFITS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

A LOT OF THEM ARE GETTING CAUGHT AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO TO GET THE MONEY TO MAKE UP FOR THOSE CUTS.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND NONPROFITS.

WE WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THAT MISSION POSSIBLE IS I LOOKED FOR THE BEST SPEAKERS.

YOU KNOW, THEY NEED DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT CAN GET UP THERE AND THAT'S GOING TO BE LEGAL.

SOME OF THESE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BOARD WORK.

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WANT THESE NONPROFITS TO COME IN THERE.

NOW THEY'RE APPRECIATED.

WE LOVE WHAT THEY DO.

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS.

SO ALL THE SPEAKERS THEY HAVE 20 MINUTE, EACH ONE ARE GONNA TEACH THEM THINGS THEY NEED TO KNOW ON ALL DIFFERENT SUBJECTS AND HOW TO RUN A NONPROFIT.

WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.

WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY >> JEANNE SWEENEY OF THE ABOVE BOARD CHAMBER OF FLORIDA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

>> AND IF YOU WANT TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ORGANIZATION, YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT ABOVE BOARD CHAMBER DOT COM.

COMING UP, STARTING A BUSINESS IS ONE THING NUMBER GETTING THE FINANCIALS CAN BE QUITE ANOTHER.

WE GET FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE FROM ONE GROUP ON >> TUESDAY IS THE OFFICIAL DAY FOR PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

BUT MANY FLORIDIANS ALREADY HAVE CAST THEIR BALLOTS ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF ELECTIONS, NEARLY 2 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS SUBMITTED A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT OR VISITED AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION.

AND WHILE MANY RACES WILL DETERMINE WHAT GOES INTO THE NOVEMBER MIDTERM ELECTIONS, SOME ISSUES LIKE THE DECISION ON FUNDING THE BONITA, STERILE RAIL TRAIL WILL COME DOWN TO THE PRIMARY WGCUS YOUN JOO PARK.

TAKES A LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE RAIL TRAILS IMPACT ON HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES.

>> TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT BONITA SPRINGS RESIDENTS.

WELL PROVE AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX TO PAY A 35 MILLION DOLLAR BOND FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND'S TO KIND OF WAY SAYS ALTHOUGH PEOPLE MIGHT BE HESITANT INITIALLY, HE IS SURE THEY WILL BE HAPPY WITH THE RESULT.

>> WE CAN TAKE THIS DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH AND CONVERTED INTO A COMMUNITY ASSET WITH A MULTITUDE OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT WILL HAVE A RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT.

>> HOMEOWNERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT UNKNOWN EXPENSES AS IN THE CASE OF RESIDENT CAROL MONTANA.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD THE GRINCH YEAR.

>> LONG THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WHEN IT GETS TO THE ROADS TO CROSS THE ROADS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THIS MONEY CAN'T.

HOW MUCH IS IT CAN ACTUALLY COST?

>> BUT A POLL OF BUSINESS OWNERS RATHER THAN HOMEOWNERS SHOWS DIFFERENT REACTIONS.

TAKE A MICKELSON'S PASTRY SHOP, FOR EXAMPLE, IT THIS BUSINESS IS LOCATED RIGHT ALONG THE RAILS.

ELIZABETH NICHOLSON AND HER HUSBAND HAVE OWNED AND OPERATED THEIR SHOP FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

AND SHE IS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE IDEA OF THE TRAIL, YOU KNOW, POP IN GRAB SOMETHING, GRAB A LITTLE LUNCH WIRE HERE AND >> THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE AREA WOULD WOULD BE REALLY NICE TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO.

BE ABLE TO GRAB SOMETHING AND THEN GO SIT OUTSIDE IN A IN A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT INSTEAD OF JUST I MEAN, WALL INSIDE ENOUGH.

SO.

>> TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND'S DOC HAD AWAY.

HE CITED RESEARCH SUPPORTING THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE TRAIL.

>> SURVEYS HAVE SHOWN FROM BUSINESS LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WHEN THEY'RE DECIDING WHETHER TO EXPAND OR LOCATE THEIR BUSINESSES INTO A NEW COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE FEATURES ARE CRITERIA THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY OF THOSE AMENITIES THAT REALLY IMPROVE OUR WELL-BEING AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

HE SAYS THE TRAIL CAN INFUSED MONEY INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND AT JOBS.

>> ALSO PROPERTIES ALONG THE TRAIL WOULD BENEFIT FROM INCREASED VALUES, ACCORDING TO CHARLES HYNES DIRECTOR OF THE FLORIDA GULF COAST RAIL PEOPLE THAT.

>> HAPP THINK TRAIL MAY BE GOING BEHIND THEIR HOUSE.

WELL, SOMEHOW DECREASE THEIR PROPERTY KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC USE AND PUBLIC ACCESS.

WHAT ACTUALLY THE TRUTH AND EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT PROPERTY VALUES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A TRAIL.

>> INCREASE THE PROPERTY VALUES.

BUT BEFORE THE POTENTIAL INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES, SOME HOMEOWNERS ALONG THE RAIL MAY NEED TO CONSIDER LEGAL ASPECTS ACCORDING TO ATTORNEY A THEN SEE BRITAIN AFTER LEWIS RICE LAW FIRM THAT TIME ISRAEL IS DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW ARE REALLY HAVE ANY NEED TO KNOW.

>> THE FULL EXTENT OF THEIR PROPERTY RIGHTS OR THEIR OWNERSHIP RIGHTS BECAUSE ALL THEY REALLY NEED IS AN EASEMENT TO RUN TRAINS AND THEY DON'T NEED TO DO CHANGE THE TITLE.

BACK TO THE 18.

100'S TO CONFIRM HOW THE BOUT WAS CREATED FOR EVERY SINGLE SEGMENT OF ITS RAIL LINE.

>> TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND SAYS THIS TRAIL ANTICIPATES THE REGION'S CONTINUE TO DEVELOPMENT BY CARVING OUT CLEAN SPACES THAT WOULD BENEFIT PUBLIC HEALTH.

HOW DO WE ALSO POINTS OUT THAT RAIL SYSTEM WOULD HELP CONNECT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TO OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> THIS IS PART OF A LARGER SYSTEM.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ISOLATED 11.4 MILES, AT LEAST INITIALLY IT MIGHT BE.

BUT WITH ANOTHER 3 AND A HALF MILES TO THE NORTH AND THEN IT WILL FREE CONTINUE TO FEED FARTHER AND FARTHER NORTH INTO THE STATE-WIDE NETWORK.

SO IT'S NOT ON ITS OWN.

IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF A LARGER STATEWIDE CONNECTED SYSTEM.

>> IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE WITH MANY IMPLICATIONS.

THE FUTURE OF THE RAIL TRAIL CONVERSION WILL BE DECIDED ON HOW THE BONITA SPRINGS RESIDENTS VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION ON TUESDAY FOR WGCU NEWS.

I'M YOUN JOO PARK.

>> AND FULL COVERAGE OF TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

MAKE SURE TO STAY UPDATED BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

ONE OF THE MAJOR INDUSTRIES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS PROVIDING SERVICES FOR RETIRED PEOPLE AS WELL AS A BOOMING POPULATION.

NOW THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS GAINING QUITE A REPUTATION AS A MAGNET FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO REALIZE BIG DREAMS IN THIS FAST-GROWING REGION AND THIS WEEK'S BUSINESS REPORT, WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE WOMAN WHO'S MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE LAUNCH CAREERS.

CALIFORNIA NATIVE ACTUALLY DROZE SAYS SHE FOUND HER CALLING 12 YEARS AGO WHEN SHE STARTED WORKING AT FGCU.

SHE'S RISEN TO THE RANK OF INTERIM DIRECTOR OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HELPING STUDENTS LINE UP INTERNSHIPS IN THE REAL WORLD.

>> AND IF I CAN HELP THEM SEE HOW AWESOME THEY ACTUALLY ON HER AND THE POTENTIAL THAT THEY HAVE IN THEMSELVES, THAT THEY CAN THEN GO OUT AND APPLY TO 2 TO WORK.

2 ROLES THAT THEY NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE FOR THEMSELVES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY ABOUT THOSE 2 THINGS, POTENTIAL AND POSSIBILITY FOR STUDENTS.

>> RECENTLY, DRONES WAS A FINALIST FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AND AWARD GIVEN BY OTHER GREATER FORT MYERS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, YOUNG IS DEFINED AS UNDER 40.

AND ROSE WON THE AWARD.

>> I WAS DEFINITELY SURPRISED.

I WAS DEFINITELY ELATED TO US.

I THINK I JUST LIKE THAT MY HEAD AND WE DO SO.

YEAH, IT WAS A MEAN IT WAS WONDERFUL.

IT'S SUCH AN HONOR.

>> TO GENUINELY COMMITTED ABOUT STUDENT EXPERIENCES AND ENSURING THAT THEY COME OUT OF THE END OF THE INTERNSHIP PREPARED FOR THE WORKFORCE.

SHE'S CLEARLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.

SOME OF THE MCINTOSH SAYS GROWS ENCOURAGED HER TO WORK AS AN INTERN.

>> AT THIS AMAZON WAREHOUSE IN SAN CARLOS PARK.

>> I HAD TO WORK WITH AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT TEAMS TO INTERNAL ONE EXTERNAL.

THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT JOBS AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PARTIES.

AND I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE TO THEM.

WHAT THE PROJECT THAT I'M WORKING ON, HOW IT BENEFITS THEIR TEAM AND HAD TO DO THAT IN A UNIQUE WAY BECAUSE IT DIDN'T BENEFIT ALL OF THEM IN THE EXACT SAME WAY.

AND THAT WAS A BIG TRANSITION FOR ME.

>> WHEN SHE GRADUATED IN MAY, MCINTOSH WAS VOTED INTO THE FGCU HALL OF FAME.

ONE OF ONLY 10 STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT HONOR THIS YEAR.

SHE SAYS HER INTERNSHIPS TOLD HER SO MUCH THAT SHE WAS OFFERED A FULL-TIME JOB IN PROCUREMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY.

ACTUALLY DROZE.

SHE SAYS APPOINTED HER TO SUCCESS.

>> I RECOGNIZE ME 4 YEARS AGO AS A FRESHMAN, I HAD A LOT OF POTENTIAL.

I DID NOT NECESSARILY KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT.

SO IF IT WASN'T FOR PEOPLE LIKE ASHLEY AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE STAFF, LIKE I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HERE BECAUSE I NEEDED SOMEONE TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT POTENTIAL AND HELP ME, YOU KNOW, GROW.

>> DRONES SPENDS A LOT OF TIME NETWORKING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES SUCH AS AT THIS ROUNDTABLE WERE LEE HEALTH SUMMER INTERNS GAVE PRESENTATIONS ON WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED.

>> AND THAT PROGRAM REALLY DOES.

>> IN MIAMI AND GROWS SAYS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IS VITAL FOR STUDENTS TO WATCH THEM.

CHASE THESE DREAMS.

THAT THEY'VE EITHER.

>> HAD IN THEIR OWN HEARTS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME OR THAT THEY'RE JUST REALIZING NOW THAT THEY GET HERE.

THERE'S JUST SO MANY BENEFITS TO IT LIKE WHEN EACH OF US FINDS THE THING THAT MAKES US COME ALIVE, IT'S THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY GO OUT AND IMPACT THE WORLD THAT THEY GO OUT, MAKE A BETTER PLACE ONCE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE FOUND WHERE THEY'RE MEANT TO BE.

>> AND WE CAN TELL YOU THAT ACTUALLY GROWS AND THEN ARE LARGE TEAM AT FGCU ARE BEGINNING A NEW SEMESTER HELPING STUDENTS MOVE INTO INTERNSHIPS OUT IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

FOR A LOT OF FOLKS COMING UP WITH A BUSINESS MODEL IS THE BEGINNING.

THE NEXT STEP IS KEEPING THAT BUSINESS OPERATIONAL, ACCORDING TO THE COMMERCE INSTITUTE, NEARLY 20% OF ALL BUSINESSES FAILED DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF ALL THE HURDLES.

ONE OF THE FASTEST WAYS A BUSINESS CAN GO AND OR IS JUST PLAIN RUN OUT OF CASH.

LIMITED OR MISHANDLED FUNGUS CAN ALSO LIMIT OF BUSINESSES ABILITY TO GROW A STUDY FROM THE CAPITAL, ONE INSIGHT CENTER FOUND 75% OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SURVEYED SAID BACK OFFICE EFFICIENCY EITHER STALLED OR HURT THEIR OVERALL OPERATIONS.

WDSU STEADY BURNS SPOKE WITH ONE BUSINESS OWNER TO LEARN HOW THEY KEPT HER FINANCES IN CHECK TO GROW THEIR BRAND.

>> FOR MORE ON THE FINANCIAL NAVIGATION IS OF BUILDING A SMALL BUSINESS.

I'M JOINED BY CO-FOUNDER OF FONTANA KENDALL COMPANY, KATIE ROWING AS WELL AS DOCTOR SHANA ASHELY PRESIDENT OF THE CAPITAL, ONE INSIDE CENTRE.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING US TODAY.

SO, KATIE, IF I CAN START WITH YOU, WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO LEAP INTO STARTING YOUR OWN SMALL BUSINESS?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SO I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN ENTREPRENEUR AT HEART.

I OWNED A DOGGY DAYCARE TRAINING AND GROOMING CENTER OUT OF COLLEGE AND I I OWN THAT FOR 3 YEARS.

AND ONCE I MET MY HUSBAND IN 2015, WE KNEW WE WANTED TO OWN SOMETHING TOGETHER, BUT WE NEVER KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE A CANDLE COMPANY.

SO WE HAVE BEEN ON A WILD JOURNEY, STARTING FONT AND GROWING INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY.

>> AND THEN SO OBVIOUSLY MAKING THE CANDLES MIGHT BE THE EASIEST PART OF THE JOB.

SO WHAT WAS MORE DIFFICULT ABOUT TRANSITIONING INTO THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS YOU SAID YOU HAD PRIOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE, BUT THAT THAT HELP WITH THE FINANCIAL OPERATIONS THAT YOU NOW HAVE WITH THIS NEW BUSINESS.

>> ACTUALLY MANUFACTURING THE CANDLES IS EXTREMELY TIME-CONSUMING IN THE EARLY DAYS.

THAT'S WHAT TOOK UP MOST OF THE DAY.

WE WOULD SPEND, YOU KNOW, ALL DAY POURING CANDLES.

AND MY HUSBAND STILL HAD A FULL-TIME JOB SO HE WOULD POUR THEM ON THE EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS AND THE REALLY IMPORTANT TASKS LIKE THE RAW MATERIAL PURCHASING PROCUREMENT FOR CASTING ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WORK ON THE BUSINESS.

WE'RE DONE.

LAST MINUTE AND THEY WERE SORT OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

SO AS WE WE GREW IN SCALED, WE KNEW WE NEED TO GROW A TEAM AND GET TOOLS AND SOFTWARE AND EVERYTHING THAT COULD HELP US TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND SCALE THOSE IMPORTANT PROCESSES AS WELL.

>> AND THEN AFTER YOU GET ALL THOSE THINGS FIGURED OUT, HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO MANAGE YOUR FINANCES WITHOUT HAVING TO RELY ON USING CREDIT CARDS OR LINE OF CREDIT WAS IT JUST ABOUT CHOOSING THE RIGHT FINANCIAL PARTNER FOR SUPPORT?

OR THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WENT INTO THIS.

>> SO I AM VERY BLESSED THAT MY HUSBAND IS A CPA.

HE HAS A FINANCIAL BACKGROUND.

SO HE IS THE ONE IN THE VERY EARLY DAYS.

HE SAID WE HAVE TO START WITH CAPITAL ONE.

I WANT I WANT OUR PARTNER IN THIS GROWTH TO BE CAPITAL ONE.

SO WE HAD A SPARK CARD SINCE THE VERY FIRST DAY.

AND WE'VE BEEN DILIGENT AND USING ALL THE REWARDS AND EVERYTHING THAT CAPITAL ONE OFFERS US TO HELP US GROW.

>> DR.

ASHLEY, HOW VITAL IS IT FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO WORK WITH THE GROUP TO ASSIST ON THE BACK END OF A BUSINESS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT ON THEIR OWN.

IT'S EXTREMELY VITAL.

>> AND WHAT WE'RE LEARNING FROM OUR CUSTOMERS LIKE A IN OUR ANNUAL SMALL BUSINESS SURVEY IS THAT CREDIT CARDS AND OTHER INTEGRATED FINANCIAL TOOLS ARE REALLY ESSENTIAL TO THOSE BUSINESSES AND THEIR ABILITY TO GROW.

51% OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO RESPONDED TO OUR SURVEY SAID THAT HAVING THESE FINANCIAL TOOLS, INTEGRATED FINANCIAL TOOLS, HELP THEM RECLAIM THAT TIME, THEY HELP THEM POUR BACK INTO THEIR BUSINESS.

AND SO IT IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF BEING ABLE TO HELP BUSINESSES MANAGE THEIR ACCOUNTING, THEIR PAYROLL THERE IN VOICING.

AND THEY'RE BANKING ALL IN ONE INTEGRATED FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND CREDIT CARDS ARE IMPORTANT TOOL AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> AND IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT HELPING WITH THESE, YOU KNOW, SERVICES AND HELPING SET THESE FINANCIAL GOALS OR ARE THERE PROGRAMS THAT HELP EDUCATE THE BUSINESS OWNERS TO HELP SET THEM UP FOR FUTURE SUCCESS?

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF PROGRAMS TO HELP THEM AS WELL AT CAPITAL ONE SITE.

WE HAVE A REALLY IMPRESSIVE YOU.

AVID UTILITY CALLED CREDIT WISE WHERE ANY CONSUMER SMALL BUSINESS OR INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER CAN YOU SAYS YOU COULD BE A CUSTOMER, NOT A CUSTOMER, BUT IT HELPS TEACH YOU ABOUT THE VALUE OF CREDIT WHICH WE SEE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

STU, THE SURVEY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF HOW THEY RUN THEIR BUSINESSES.

67 SMALL BUSINESS OWNER SAID THAT CREDIT CARDS HELP THEM MANAGE THEIR DAY-TO-DAY EXPENSES AND 77% OF THEM SAID THAT THESE CREDIT CARDS ARE HELPFUL TO BUILDING THEIR FINANCIAL RESILIENCE AS A BUSINESS.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KIND OF TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE TO BUSINESS OWNERS AND THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES IN WARDS THAT ARE OFFERED AS PART OF THIS BECAUSE THOSE REWARDS ACT AS A SECONDARY SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE BUSINESS OWNERS.

>> WELL, THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

I'M SURE THIS INFORMATION IS GOING TO HELP A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AFTER THE BREAK, FIGHTING FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE.

LABELLE WOMAN JUMPS INTO ACTION TO SAVE HER HUSBAND'S LIFE AFTER A SUFFERS, A CARDIAC HEART DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN FLORIDA.

ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

NEARLY 50,000 PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR FROM A CARDIAC EVENT OF THE BILL MAN WAS ALMOST PART OF THAT STATISTIC.

ALMOST BUT A WGCUS CARY BARBOR LEARNED QUICK THINKING AND IMMEDIATE CPR FROM HIS WIFE HELP SAVE HIS LIFE.

I DIDN'T KNOW IT.

IT JUST HAPPENED.

>> THE NEXT THING I KNEW SEVERAL WEEKS LATER IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> AND I HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THE ONLY REASON I'M HERE AND THE MORE THAN 2% OF PEOPLE, IT'S BECAUSE MY WIFE DID CPR ME FOR 30 MINUTES.

79 YEAR-OLD COLLIN, MAINE AND HIS WIFE BETH, WHO IS 72.

WE'RE IN THEIR HOUSE IN LABELLE, WATCHING NASCAR RACES ON A QUIET SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN JUNE.

>> WE BOTH WERE SITTING HERE ON THE COUCH.

I WAS WORKING ON MY QUILT.

ALL THE SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, IS I'M LOOKING DOWN THE.

HE'S KICKING THE REAGAN LIKE THAT.

I WONDER WAS DOING THAT.

SO I TURNED TO SEE.

AND HE WAS JUST.

>> KYLE.

AND THAT'S WHEN BETH JUMPED INTO ACTION.

>> SHE CALLED 9-1-1, OPENED THEIR FRONT DOOR AND BEGAN TO GIVE HER HUSBAND CPR.

>> THEY SAID DOING SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

A LIFELONG SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER BETTS HAD CPR TRAINING THROUGHOUT HER CAREER.

AND THE COUPLE HAD RECENTLY CALLED IN LOCAL EMT'S TO DO A TRAINING FOR THEM AND THEIR NEIGHBORS.

WHEN THE PARAMEDICS ARRIVED, THEY TOOK OVER COLLINS CARE.

THE HEAD PARAMEDIC APPRECIATED.

BETH'S QUICK WORK.

>> SHE SAID YOU HAD HIM IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE.

WE NORMALLY DON'T FIND PEOPLE THAT WE'RE COMING TO HELP IN THAT GOOD, A SHAPE.

SHE SAID, I JUST KNEW WE WOULD GET HIM BACK AND THEY DID.

>> A CRITICAL PART OF COLLINS CARE WAS BYPASS SURGERY PERFORMED BY DR JOSEPH ELLIS OF NCH.

>> HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE IN THE WIND, THE CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION.

AND THEN DEMONSTRATED THAT HE HAD BLOCKAGES IN ALL THE ARTERIES IN THE HEART.

SO HE REQUIRED A BYPASS OPERATION.

AND WHAT A BYPASS OPERATION IS IS WE USE ARTERIES FROM BEHIND THE CHANCE IN VEINS OF THE LEGS OR AN RV FROM THE ARM.

AND WE USE THOSE UP ON BRIDGES AND THEN TELL THE NAME BYPASS COMES ALONG BECAUSE IT'S NATIONAL BY PASSING OF THE BLOCKED ARTERY.

SO WE HAVE TO GO FROM A NORMAL ARTERY.

TO A NORMAL ARTERY AND THEN THE IN THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE BLOCKAGE.

SO IS BYPASSING THE BLOCKAGE IN THE BY THAT WE RE-ESTABLISH BLOOD FLOW.

THE PARTS OF THE HEART MUSCLE THAT ARE.

THE DECISION IN BLOOD.

>> I CRACKED HIS TURN FOR.

SHE TOLD ME SHE SAID WHAT I FELT THAT I JUST SAID THE COWBOY UP, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING.

>> WITHOUT THAT'S QUICK ACTION DR.

LAMELA SAYS COLIN MAY NOT HAVE EVEN MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL.

INSTEAD, THE MAINS ARE GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE THEIR 40TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WITH A CRUISE TO ALASKA.

>> AND THEY TAKE YOU TO OFF THE BEATEN PATH PLACES.

AND SO I'M VERY EXCITED BECAUSE ALL THE HEART PEOPLE SAID, OF COURSE, YOU SHOULD GO.

>> THE MAINS ARE HAPPY TO SHARE THEIR STORY MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO LEARN CPR.

COLIN SAYS IT'S MUCH EASIER THAN IT USED TO BE.

CPR IS CHANGE.

>> SO MUCH USED TO BE SO MANY BUSHES AND SOME AGGRESSION TO NOW IT'S ALMOST DISPATCHED TO GO IN THERE.

ONE SMALL.

THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, THE PERSON A COUPLE BRESSON GO.

>> COLIN ADDS THAT THE TRAINING IS FREE.

SIMPLY CALL YOUR LOCAL EMT'S TO SET UP TRAINING FOR ANY GROUP.

>> THAT WAS THE REASON I SET UP THE THE THING IN HERE BECAUSE WE'RE AN OLDER COMMUNITY AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND IT'S NOT YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW A WHOLE LOT TO DO IT.

YOU JUST DO SOMETHING.

DON'T JUST SIT THERE AND WATCH WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> TODAY ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER THE INCIDENT.

COLIN IS NEARLY BACK TO HIMSELF.

HE WALKS THE TREADMILL FOR 10 MINUTES AND RIDES THE STATIONARY BIKE FOR 40 AT THEIR COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER.

HE GOES TO CARDIAC REHAB AND OF COURSE, HE'S PACKING FOR HIS TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO ALASKA WITH HIS WIFE, BETH, WHO SAVED HIS LIFE.

>> YOU KNOW, I OWE MY LIFE TO BETH THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU AND THE GUN AT THEM.

I WOULDN'T BE HERE.

SO THAT'S WHY IT IS.

>> MY PLAN SHOULD CARE.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M CARY BARBOR >> AND ON THAT NOTE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST