In 2016, Marc Devisse was attending a golf tournament organized by the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce when the group’s president suggested that Devisse run for city council. Despite his lack of political experience, Devisse jumped into the race, campaigning nonstop around town even as he was growing the... Read more

When David Crowther drew up plans for a new roofing company in 2009, his living room was his office, his timing less than ideal. It was the height of the recession and the longtime roofer had split from his family’s roofing business. Regardless of the challenges, Crowther was determined... Read more

One of the keys to Cougar’s  success is the company’s  investment in technology. When Ron Schmitt started the  company’s Fort Myers operations  in 1981, he began with a $400  handheld gas saw that sprayed  dust and slurry. Today, Cougar team  members operate $50,000 concrete  saws that are Bluetooth-enabled  with... Read more

When Ron Schmitt pulled into Fort Myers in 1981, the assets of Cougar Cutting were the Buick he was driving and a concrete saw in the trailer he was pulling. “I couldn’t afford a truck,” chuckles Schmitt, who expanded the business from Michigan with his wife Shari, and his... Read more

Anyone involved in the real estate business in Southwest Florida knows who Randy Thibaut is. For two decades, the high-profile CEO of Land Solutions has been associated with the major land deals that have transformed the region from a sleepy tourist destination to a major population center in Florida.... Read more

The robust recovery of Southwest Florida’s residential market is now translating into commercial opportunity for many contractors and developers in the area, including Fort Myersbased Seagate Development Group. Propelled by experienced leadership and a diverse project portfolio, the company has rapidly emerged as one of the most successful builder-developers... Read more

Judging from its achievements, it’s understandable why a young company like Fort Myers-based Target Roofing & Sheet Metal might be perceived as an “overnight” success. In less than four years, the company has become a leading provider of commercial roofing, maintenance and repair services, while its staff has grown... Read more

Most multi-billion dollar businesses don’t merge with smaller companies, they acquire them. However, the recent merger between Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU) and Encore Bank represents more than numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s the perfect platform for joining similar cultures and achieving common goals. “Often, when the buyer is... Read more

For the better part of 20 years, GCG Construction, Inc. (GCG) has done more than just hold its own against much larger commercial contractors in Southwest Florida, it has flourished. To date, the company has completed more than one million square feet of diverse commercial projects, ranging from small... Read more

As life-long Southwest Florida residents, Harvey and Tim Youngquist have seen Lee County grow up around them. At the same time, the co-founders of Youngquist Brothers, Inc., have been an integral part of that growth, transforming a two-man well-drilling shop into a family-run empire of diversified commercial holdings/interests. Since... Read more