The Elephant in the Room

Almost any conversation about forecasting 2013 with a Gulf Coast business owner or executive invariably brings up the national election.

And everyone agrees on this point: We need to get past Nov. 6 so we can go on with the economic recovery.

Consider entrepreneurs such as Steve Marino, the founder and president of Home-Tech in Fort Myers, an appliance-repair company. He doesn't plan any major moves until he knows who will be in power in Washington, D.C.