40 Under 40 (Sarasota-Manatee)

By Business Observer Staff
| 6:00 p.m. July 20, 2007
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Entrepreneurs

From attorneys to veterinarians, you can bet this year's class of 40 Under 40 profiled in the following pages will be tomorrow's Gulf Coast leaders. Many of them already are. Selected by the Review editors from more than 200 nominations, their influence is now felt in a wide range of industries throughout the Gulf Coast.

Women make up nearly half the group. Seven are in their 20s. In the case of Sarasota-based LexJet (see page 1 photo), 17 senior staffers are under the age of 40 and many are barely 30. There are three bankers, five attorneys and three developers.

Some skydive to let off steam while others devote free time to their growing families. A common thread is active community involvement. Our favorite line from the bunch: Asked what he would do with a magic wand, one respondent said, "I'd give everybody a 'do-over' every five years."

SARASOTA-MANATEE

Sarasota/Manatee

Jesse Biter, 32

CEO/Owner, Biter Consulting, HomeNet, Inc.; Boat Chek, part owner; CEO Biter Air

Education: Two years of college

First job: Biter Detailing in high school

Years on Gulf Coast: 7

Marital Status: Single

Hours worked per week: 25

Favorite book: Bible

Business person you most admire: Dan Cathy, the CEO of Chick-fil-A

Most useful Web sites for work: www.google.com

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: "How to Win Friends and Influence People"

Best place to network: Trade shows

I can't live without: My Blackberry

How do you let off steam: Smile and laugh it off. I give my worries and frustrations to God.

Favorite Web sites: www.google.com, www.myspace.com

Community involvement: Covenant Life Presbyterian Church; Various groups as I see fit

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: Property values

Three words that describe you: Compassionate, generous, visionary

If I had a magic wand, I'd: Get rid of anger, resentment and negative attitudes that exist in certain people. Life is what you make it.

When I grow up I want to be: Who I am now, doing what I am doing now.

Favorite restaurant: Alex at the Wynn in Las Vegas

Joey Brannon, 34

CPA and founder, Axiom Professional Group, P.A.

Education: B.A., Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Ga.

First job: In college I started Mountain Student Ventures, a business that subcontracted student work to homeowners needing a handy man or house cleaner.

Years on Gulf Coast: 8

Marital Status: Married

Hours worked per week: 60

Favorite book: "The Sea-Wolf " by Jack London

Business person you most admire: I have two. First is Frank Davis, a client and the owner of Island Real Estate on Anna Maria. The other is Andrew Vac, owner of Re/Max Excellence on Longboat Key.

Most useful Web sites for work: Google maps, WSJ online, Wikipedia

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: "Love is the Killer App" by Tim Sanders

Best place to network: At lunch with clients, they always introduce you to two or three people they know in the restaurant

I can't live without: A challenge

How do you let off steam: Kayak fishing in the Gulf

Favorite Web sites: Amazon.com, but in my downtime I prefer to do anything but sit behind a computer.

Community involvement: I donate time to small businesses that need a hand getting started; support the work of three area chambers of commerce through committee involvement and financial support. Our business also contributes financially to local high schools' extracurricular activities budgets.

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: Our local universities must focus on making innovation the mantra of the Gulf Coast. This will determine whether businesses migrate to the area, whether students are entrepreneurial and start new businesses and whether jobs exist to keep them in the area after graduation. Anyone who doubts this should examine the relationship between Silicon Valley and Stanford University.

Three words that describe you: Optimistic, curious, loyal

If I had a magic wand, I'd: Probably never use it

When I grow up I want to be: A golf pro.

Favorite restaurant: Red Mesa in St. Petersburg

Anne E. Chauvet, 39

Owner , Veterinary Neuro Services and Pet Rehab & Performance Center

Education: Undergraduate at University of Saskatchewan in Canada; Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Canada; internship in Illinois (UI), residency in California (UCD)

First job: Sacramento Animal Medical Group, Sacramento, Calif.

Years on Gulf Coast: 8

Marital Status: Happily divorced

Hours worked per week: Supposedly 40, but who is counting?

Favorite book: "The Little Prince" by Antoine de St. Exupery.

Business person you most admire: Bill Gates

Most useful Web sites for work: www.vin.com

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: The fish series

Best place to network: Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce events

I can't live without: My son, my family and my extraordinary staff

How do you let off steam (hobbies, interests): My son

Favorite Web sites (list three): www.petneuro.com, www.aol.com

Community involvement: Advisory board of Pinellas Animal Foundation; committee member of Children First fundraiser; committee member of New College fundraiser Pique Nique sur la Baie

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: Housing and water supply

Three words that describe you: Unique, driven, generous

If I had a magic wand, I'd: Make sure everyone smiles

When I grow up I want to be: Four years old again

Favorite restaurant: Rustic Grill

Aimee T. Chouinard, 33

Communications director, The Wellness Community

Education: B.S., psychology, Central Michigan University

First job: A bakery at a Farmer's Market in Michigan

Years on Gulf Coast: 8

Marital Status: Single

Hours worked per week: 50-ish

Favorite book: Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen

Business person you most admire: Lee Wetherington

Most useful Web sites for work: The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law (apstylebook.com); Community Foundation of Sarasota County (cfsarasota.org); Florida Public Relations Association; Google; Non-profit Connection (thenonprofitconnection.com); The Wellness Community (wellness-swfl.org); Wikipedia

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: "How I Wrote the Story," Providence Journal-Bulletin

Best place to network: The YPG networking luncheons

I can't live without: My mom, my dad, my brother, my friends, Gus (my Springer Spaniel), discussing ideas and experiences with people, writing, books, the sun and the beach.

How do you let off steam: Process with my business/personal coach, work out, long walks on the beach

Favorite Web sites: Apple, Sephora, Google, YouTube

Community involvement: NARSAD: The Mental Health Research Association; Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC), a program of the United Nations; Young Professionals Group (YPG) of Sarasota; Leadership Sarasota County; the Arts Council; writing as a way to further our community by documenting the inspiring stories of the people who make our community great

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: Complaining without taking action. It takes all of us starting initiatives, contributing our time and talent, inspiring others and not giving up if we want anything to improve.

Three words that describe you: Committed, honest, direct

If I had a magic wand, I'd: Wipe out cancer.

When I grow up I want to be: Enjoying life with people I love, inspired by others, doing what I love for a career, and creating and contributing to our community, just like I do now.

Favorite restaurant: Pacific Rim

Amy C. Hunt, 28

Assistant vice president of commercial lending, The Bank of Commerce

Education: I graduated in August 2003, summa cum laude from the University of South Florida; B.S. in finance.

First job: I was a bus girl clearing tables at Villa Rosa Restaurant in Hawthorne, N.J.

Years on Gulf Coast: In October of this year, it will be 11 years.

Marital Status: I was married to my husband, Chris Hunt, in November 2006, and I now have a 4-year-old stepson, Tyler.

Hours worked per week: Approximately 40 to 50

Favorite book: I do not really have a favorite book to mention but rather, I would say my favorite author is John Grisham. I am also starting to get into James Patterson books.

Business person you most admire: I most admire my boss and mentor, Richard Moore.

Most useful Web sites for work: The Sarasota Clerk of Court (www.sarasotaclerk.com) as well as the Sarasota County Property Appraiser (www.sarasotaproperty.net)

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: Stephen Covey's "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People"

Best place to network: At any YPG Private Networking event.

I can't live without: Music

How do you let off steam: With a lot of punching and kicking on the heavy bag in my garage. I trained in a martial arts program for about four years.

Favorite Web sites: www.refdesk.com

Community involvement: I serve on the Leadership Council for Community Youth Development (www.cydonline.org). I also serve on the Board of the Sarasota Young Professionals Group as the private networking chairperson and I volunteer as a chamber partner with the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: Taxes and insurance.

Three words that describe you: Ambitious, organized and responsible

If I had a magic wand, I'd: I would make everyone realize that there is always someone who has it worse than he does. Life still goes on so make the best of each day so that you have no regrets.

When I grow up I want to be: Happy

Favorite restaurant: The Melting Pot

Matt Leiter, 34

Vice president and general manager, The Leiter Group LLC Real-estate Development and Investment

Education: Richwood's High School, Peoria, Ill.; B.S., University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana); MBA, University of Chicago

First job: Caterpillar Tractor Co., management trainee

Years on Gulf Coast: Three years in Sarasota

Marital Status: Single

Hours worked per week: 60 to 80 hours per week

Favorite book: Do not have a favorite, but I am currently reading "The World is Flat" and enjoying it.

Business person you most admire: Charlie Bludhorn, former industrialist/entrepreneur and CEO of Gulf and Western.

Most useful Web sites for work: Anything that informs me.

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: "Game Theory and Its Practical Uses"

Best place to network: My Blackberry

I can't live without: My new Blackberry 8830

How do you let off steam: Reading car magazines, exercising and dreaming up new projects

Favorite Web sites: The Onion, AutoNews, Google-News.

Community involvement: The Sarasota Downtown Partnership (Committee Member); The American Red Cross (former board member/contributor)

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: Job growth, independently of the real-estate business

Three words that describe you: Driven, analytical and generous

If I had a magic wand, I'd: Lower energy prices and remove our dependence on foreign oil

When I grow up I want to be: Smarter, wiser, wealthier, having given something back to my community with a close family

Favorite restaurant: The Eagle Grill, Boca Grande

Christie Lewis, 31

Vice president, nonprofit The Community Foundation of Sarasota County

Education: B.A., psychology; M.S., industrial organizational psychology

First job: In the family business, cleaning newly built homes and office buildings

Years on Gulf Coast: 5 plus

Marital Status: Single

Hours worked per week: 55 plus

Favorite book: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl

Business person you most admire: Debra Jacobs, president and chief executive officer, William G. Selby & Marie Selby Foundation

Most useful Web sites for work: www.boardsource.org; www.guidestar.org

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: "Good to Great for the Social Sector"

Best place to network: The place would be MOE (Michaels on East).

I can't live without: Work

How do you let off steam: I garden. If I really need to release some serious steam I go skydiving.

Favorite Web sites: itunes.com, www.cfsarasota.org; www.wikipedia.com; www.cnn.com

Community involvement: Executive committee of Leadership Sarasota County; Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast; Girls Inc. board member, Executive Committee member and Governance Committee chair; YPG member/ collaborative partner

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: The leadership challenge as national studies reveal that within the next five to10 years we will experience a mass exodus of nonprofit boomers retiring.

Three words that describe you: Determined, conscientious, multifaceted

If I had a magic wand, I'd: Wish compassion in all people

When I grow up I want to be: Wise because wisdom is the cornerstone of a meaningfully lived life.

Favorite restaurant: Caragiulos.

Monique McKenzie, 38

Director of business travel and leisure sales, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

Education: Bachelor of Science, hospitality management

First job: Reservation agent with Federal Express

Years on Gulf Coast: 9

Marital Status: Single

Hours worked per week: 50 to 65 hours

Favorite book: "The Measure of a Man" by Sidney Poitier

Business person you most admire: Robert Beall, Bealls Inc.

Most useful Web sites for work: Florida Trend, Hoovers, Heraldtribune/Business

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: "Jack: Straight from the Gut" (Jack Welch)

Best place to network: Black Business Professional Network

I can't live without: Rocky Road Ice Cream from Blue Bell or Baskin Robbins

How do you let off steam: A long 3-mile power walk on Siesta Key Beach followed by a deep tissue massage by O'Henri at The Met

Community involvement: Leadership Sarasota; American Breast Cancer team Captain; Junior Achievement board of directors; advisory board, Black Business Professional Networking; day chair Leadership Sarasota County

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: Red tide

Three words that describe you: Perfectionist, direct and loving

If I had a magic wand, I'd: Make red tide disappear.

When I grow up I want to be: Healthy, happy at what I do and wealthy enough to enjoy life

Favorite restaurant: Selva Grille

Paul Olah, Jr., 36

Attorney, Gurley Dramis Lazo

Education: B.A., Purdue University; J.D., University of Toledo College of Law

First job: Bailing hay on a neighbor's farm as a kid in Ohio

Years on Gulf Coast: 6

Marital Status: Married to Marcy (Hoffmann) Olah

Hours worked per week: 50-60

Favorite book: "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren

Business person you most admire: Warren Buffett

Most useful Web sites for work: westlaw.com; floridabar.org; myflorida.com

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum

Best place to network: Sarasota YPG social functions

I can't live without: My Treo

How do you let off steam: Getting out on the water miles from the shore or listening to music (and singing along when alone in my car)

Favorite Web sites: drudgereport.com; wikipedia.org; heraldtribune.com; cnn.com

Community involvement: Community Youth Development Project (CYD) Leadership Council; chair-elect Board of Governance; Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group; Sarasota County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division; volunteer judge, Sarasota County Teen Court

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: Balancing continued population growth and development with protection, preservation and restoration of our environment and natural resources

Three words that describe you: Optimistic, self-confident, reasonable

If I had a magic wand, I'd: Hand it to my wife as a "thank you" for getting up in the middle of the night with our 2-month-old daughter, Ashley, while allowing me to sleep most nights.

When I grow up I want to be: Still young at heart

Favorite restaurant: Ruth's Chris Steak House

Jeff Wenger, 36

Vice president and chief technology officer, Tax Technologies, Inc.

Education: B.S., with honors from University of Miami, with dual degree in computer science and economics

First job: Ice cream dipper

Years on Gulf Coast: 11 years

Marital Status: Married

Hours worked per week: 80

Favorite book: "The World Is Flat"

Business person you most admire: Bill Gates

Most useful Web sites for work: Google, Yahoo

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: "The World Is Flat" confirmed my opinions of globalization.

Best place to network: Over lunch.

I can't live without: Email and Coca Cola

How do you let off steam: Skiing, coaching soccer and watching sports on TV

Community involvement: Vice president of competitive programs for Braden River Soccer Club (1,300 players); competitive soccer coach and anything to help my kids

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: Real estate bubble and schools/infrastructure

Three words that describe you: Passionate, fair and overloaded

If I had a magic wand, I'd: Break it. No one person should have that power.

Favorite restaurant: Salty Dog

Sydney Young, 32

Chief financial officer, Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice

Education: CPA, Master of Accounting and B.S., accounting, University of Florida

First job: Steaming clothes and ticketing merchandise at BW Francis in downtown Venice.

Years on Gulf Coast: 24

Marital Status: Married

Hours worked per week: 50

Favorite book: Persuasion by Jane Austen

Business person you most admire: My boss, Teri A. Hansen

Most useful Web sites for work: fasb.org, irs.gov, cof.org

What book has helped you do your job better or has inspired you most professionally: Foundations and Real Estate by Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities

Best place to network: Any Gulf Coast Community Foundation event

I can't live without: My Tivo

How do you let off steam: I lift weights

Favorite Web sites: epicurious.com

Community involvement: Fishermen's Net Community Church; Gulf Coast Chapter of Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Venice Main Street; Young Professionals Group; Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council; Venice Estate Planning Council; and our family business, Captain's Landing (men's clothing stores in Venice and Punta Gorda)

Most important issue affecting the Gulf Coast: Attainable housing

Three words that describe you: Loyal, clever and witty

If I had a magic wand, I'd: Rid the world of diabetes and cystic fibrosis

When I grow up I want to be: A host on the Travel Channel

Favorite restaurant: Patches, for pancakes on Saturdays with my husband and son

Pete Szelwach, 39

Celia Szelwach, 38

He's a New York boy. She's a California girl.

But their love of country, taking risks and pushing themselves to reach previously unattainable limits brought them together.

That and jumping out of planes.

Pete and Celia Szelwach met while both were young cadets at West Point in the late 1980s. They both became paratroopers, and ultimately, senior paratroopers for their respective Army units.

Pete Szelwach served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield after graduating West Point in 1991. One of Celia Szelwach's first post-gradation assignments was in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where she was one of the group leaders coordinating Haitian refugee camps for what was known as Operation Uphold Democracy; it was the first time "Gitmo" was used for civilians on a large scale.

The Szelwachs' Army career lasted four more years, mostly in Fort Bragg, N.C. But it was the couple's decision to move to Bradenton in 1995, where Pete Szelwach had spent some of his teenage years, which brought out their business side.

"The most enjoyable time for me has been building things and making things better," says Pete Szelwach of the various leadership jobs as he held at two Bradenton companies over the last 12 years. "It's exciting."

First, both Pete and Celia Szelwach worked for Tropicana, ascending the company ranks. Celia Szelwach became the only female supervisor in the distribution center, while her husband ran an operations plant for the juice-making giant, which included controlling a $40-million budget.

The Szelwachs have since moved on from Tropicana. Pete Szelwach is now a senior executive with Sarasota-based Earthworks Land Development, which had $13 million revenues in 2006. Celia Szelwach has run her own business-consulting firm, Creative Collaborations Consulting, since 2000.

The couple plans to pass on their learning, entrepreneurial spirit to their 7-year-old son, Pete Szelwach, Jr. Celia Szelwach has already gotten him a few domain names on the Internet for some comic superheroes he created. And Pete Szelwach plans to give his son some Army words of wisdom - business style.

"I'm going to encourage our son to be as entrepreneurial has he can be," Pete Szelwach says. "There is a lot of excitement and opportunities in being your own boss."

- Mark Gordon

Joshua Way, 34

David Spire, 33

David Spire and Joshua Way are computer geeks who would like nothing more than to fix someone's computer crisis and watch the person's smile - or regular skin complexion - return to his face.

But the budding entrepreneurs, whose Palmetto-based computer-consulting firm is on the verge of passing $1 million in annual revenues after starting from zero in 2004 and purposely not taking on any clients until halfway through 2005, would prefer to work with clients when things are smooth, not stormy.

"We want to build your business using technology," says Way, 34. "We don't want to just fix your problems."

Adds Spire, 33: "We don't fix situations. We solve entire problems."

The company to accomplish this is United Systems Computer Group, which Way initially formed on his own. Way and Spire, who met each other through their church, come to their business partnership from vastly different backgrounds. Way's forte is technology, while Spire's strengths are in marketing and sales.

Way, who was born in Hollywood and moved around several towns on Florida's east coast when he was younger, dropped out of high school and bounced around several jobs for a few years in his late teens. He tried a career in music, playing guitar and singing in a band in California and then later in Nashville. He almost signed up for the U.S. Air Force, too.

Eventually, Way got into technology and computers. He earned his GED at a vocational school in Bradenton, which led to several computer jobs, both locally, and later in New York City, assessing programs for the New York Board of Trade. It was while living in New Jersey, working in New York, when Way began forming his own company.

Spire was born and raised in Bradenton and graduated from Florida State with a degree in graphics design. His first job was in marketing for InterShow, a Sarasota-based company that runs investment seminars nationwide. He then worked in graphics jobs for a printing business, eventually moving to sales.

US Computer Group has grown its revenues from $60,000 in 2005 to $420,000 in 2006 to a projected $1.1 million in 2007.

Mike Carter Construction has been a major client for US Computer Group during the past two years. Other firms the company has done work for include Sarasota-based real estate firm Michael Saunders & Co. and Palmetto-based construction firm Zirkelbach Construction Inc.

- Mark Gordon

LexJet

Senior staff members at LexJet, a $45-million Sarasota-based digital color printing firm with 100 employees, are redefining the first part of their title. Some two dozen managers are under 40 years old. Many are barely 30.

And that's just the way the true seniors at the company, co-founders Art Lambert and Ron Simkins, want things. When the pair left their computer industry jobs in their mid-40s in 1994 to start LexJet, the goal was to have an army of qualified youngsters in leadership roles. In a new industry with new technology, they figured that was the best move.

"We didn't want people with preconceived notions," says Lambert, who along with Simkins was a 2004 nominee for the Review's Entrepreneur of the Year Award. "We wanted people with fresh ideas and a discipline for learning."

But Lambert, now 61, and Simkins, 59, wanted to build a growing company, too, not just an employee laboratory. And Dean Lambert, one of the under 40-year-old managers at LexJet, as well as the co-founder's son, is convinced the youth league approach has produced the right mix of smarts without sacrificing substance.

"These are people who are 100% responsible for where we are going right now, and they are critical to what we will be doing five years from now," says Dean Lambert, 37. "There isn't a nine-to-fiver in here. Everybody wants to come early, stay late and contribute."

The formula is obviously working: LexJet has grown revenues about 25% a year the past few years and is regularly introducing new products and business lines.

What's more, young isn't only for LexJet managers. The company's corporate culture screams youthful exuberance. The office itself, on the third floor of the Century Bank building in downtown Sarasota, is an open-air style cubicle farm, where workspaces are full of college decals, smiling snapshots and other assorted toys. Shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops are a dress code staple.

Art Lambert, as some of his young charges might say, is down with all that.

"We have all the confidence in the world in these guys," says Art Lambert. "They have done a phenomenal job for us."

-Mark Gordon