Forecast 2012: Lee-Collier

Bert Hamilton, Harvey Software
Fort Myers
Region: Bert Hamilton, president and CEO of Harvey Software, says the region could attract more software companies and boost the region's fortunes if government was more receptive to the industry's needs. “They keep thinking that the only way you get people to come is to hand them money,” Hamilton says. Instead, local government should help foster business incubators, speed up the permitting process and make lifestyle improvements, such as bicycle paths. “We need to stop harassing companies,” he says. Hamilton says area universities ought to be boosting the number of graduates with software-engineering degrees, not more Web designers. “I have to hire out of the area,” Hamilton laments.