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Coffee Talk (Sara/Mana)
Apprentice runner-up frontlines seminar
There are a lot of businesspeople with energy and drive, but very few attract the interest of Donald Trump. One of those people Tana Goertz, the runner-up from season three of NBC's The Apprentice TV show made her enthusiasm a talking point to a group of about 125 female investors and businesswomen at Merrill Lynch's Look Smart, Invest Smart, Feel Smart seminar held last week at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota.
Goertz, 38, has started a clothing store, a furniture store, an e-commerce business and has a thriving sales career with Mary Kay. Mary Kay allowed Goertz to be a stay-at-home mother to her two young children while at the same time generating sales of $50,000 to $100,000 a year selling cosmetics.
"You know its never too late, no mater what age you are, you can reinvent yourself," Goertz says. "You can be anything you want to be. You can break out of your rut."
Goertz has turned her fame into an opportunity to work as a motivational speaker and has authored a motivational book for children titled "I'm Bigger Than This!"
Her advice for others approaching sales is to be unforgettable: "I tell people find out what makes you different and accentuate those positives. Be confidant. I'm successful because I'm comfortable in my own skin. I'm not afraid to sell makeup to men. I'm completely comfortable reading a children's book to adults."
Thanks, Kelo
Some Florida legislators held a private property meeting on Tuesday in Tallahassee. The meeting of the Select Committee to Protect Private Property Rights included two local experts – S. William Moore of property rights firm of Brigham Moore and Rodney C. Wade Esq., of the Manatee County Attorney's Office.
Moore, speaking with the Coffee Talk after the meeting, says the recent Kelo decision by the U.S. Supreme Court has made property rights a hot topic.
"This is the first time I can remember when I have seen legislators truly trying to understand the issues and wanting to do something concrete about it rather than just give it lip service," Moore says. "I think you have to give the Kelo decision a lot of the credit. Just about everybody is acknowledging that there are problems with the current situation.
H2O or champagne
Harry Owen, owner of H2O Marine, has reason to party. We first brought you his tribulations in trying to develop a warehouse for his boat-repair business back in February of 2003. Now, a nearly-two year battle with Sarasota officials – over topics including the business' responsibility to improve the sewage system and road surface the area – is over. Owen puts all that behind him with the grand opening of H2O Marine at its new location on 1461 12th Street.
Owen says the end results have been very gratifying, but he is unsure if he would attempt it again.
"I thought because the lot was zoned industrial that it would be pretty simple to get the approvals," Owen says. 'There is so much more to it. It has been a true character builder. The most instrumental thing I did was get personally involved with it. I was very hands on, talking to people in person and that made a big difference."
After looking back at the process, Owen says he would encourage other business owners to thoroughly research any new property before making a decision. "You also need lots of patience and self control," he says.
Cheers to Chris-Craft
After spending eight years at a place where everybody knew his name, John Ratzenberger last week visited Sarasota-based Chris-Craft Corp., one of the most recognizable names in the boat-building industry.
Ratzenberger, who played know-it-all, trivia-spouting postman Cliff Clavin on the NBC sitcom "Cheers," plans to highlight Chris-Craft for the Travel Channel's "John Ratzenberger's Made in America" during season three of the series.
While at Chris-Craft, Ratzenberger toured the facility with Bob Greenberg, vice president of operations. He also helped in the manufacturing of a Chris-Craft boat and even took a boat ride on a Chris-Craft.
Ratzenberger created "Made in America" in 2004 in order to bring viewers the stories of the best products made in the United States. He chose Chris-Craft based on its economic impact in the community and its contribution to American culture.
"I'm a boater myself, and I always do try to highlight at least one boat company every season," Ratzenberger says. "We pick companies that are strong, especially that make quality products, and I know the name Chris-Craft. Well, everybody does. It's one of the leaders of the industry."
Ratzenberger says he was impressed as soon as he walked into the lobby and spotted a 1939 handcrafted, 19-foot custom speedboat.
"You can tell it's a quality product because of the people I talked to on the line, the workers here," he says. "You can tell they're happy and they love their jobs. And when someone loves their job and they love coming to work, you know they're going to make a good product."
Harry Wilde, who has worked at Chris-Craft for nearly 50 years, discussed the company's 130-year history with Ratzenberger.
"He's very much down-to-earth," says Wilde, 75. "He's somebody you'd sit down and eat a sandwich with."
Or perhaps a beer.
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