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If you rent a home or condo on Sanibel or Captiva, it’s most likely you’ll be using Ryan Block’s reservation system to book it.
Block’s company, Reservation Central, manages online and phone reservations for several thousand properties on Lee County’s barrier islands. ReMax recently became a client, for example.
With so many rental properties to track, Block is a master at planning and organization. In his home office he has two giant whiteboards on which he tracks revenues, reservations, software updates, projects to be completed and a host of other data on a weekly and monthly basis.
Although he’s a computer expert, Block says writing goals on a white board helps him be accountable. “It’s all filled up with different things,” he says.
Block is always thinking a few steps ahead, like the skilled billiards player that he is. The game’s strategy is a good business lesson: “You really have to think about what shot you’re on now and where the ball’s going to go to set yourself up,” he says.
Block learned billiards from his grandfather, who would take his young grandson to shoot pool at VFW posts in Michigan. His secret to winning: “It’s playing somebody that’s had a few drinks.”
—Jean Gruss
Twitter handle: @rescen
City of residence: Cape Coral
Birthplace: Dearborn, Mich.
Marital status/children: Married (Nicole) since 12/08. 2 boys (Kayden 4 and Logan 1)
Best place to network: Sanibel Chamber After Hours
Coolest business experience: Meeting and working with the former CEO of Porsche
Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Warren Buffet and Steve Jobs
Favorite off-hours activity: Billiards
Best award you ever received: Recognition from the city of Romulus in ninth grade for designing its first website.
Who would play you in a movie about your life: Philip Seymour Hoffman (just because he's such a great actor).
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