Business Is About To Boom

TOP: Kim Richmond addresses the audience at the “Sarasota County Connect Business Networking & Panel Discussion.”

On April 11, lightning struck Solis Hall in WellenW Park.

Not literal lightning, but an electrical strikes of excitement at a meeting of business n minds at an event called “Sarasota County Connect Business Networking & PanelPCCP Discussion.” you feel it?” Kim Richmond queried the audience. “Can you feel it? I can feel it. And you want to know what that is? It’s the energy of entrepreneurs — and I feel it in this room.”

Richmond is director of 26 West Entrepreneurship Center. She was there at Solis Hall to introduce Sarasota County Connect, a unique collaboration of civic and business agencies. Sponsored by 26 West Center, Wellen Park, the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce, the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce and the city of North Port, and funded by the Truist Foundation, Sarasota County Connect’s mission is to provide experienced, budding and aspiring entrepreneurs in the North Port/Englewood/Venice area with the resources and tools to be successful.

ABOVE: Kim Richmond

The initial event offered a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals to engage in conversations with their peers, gain valuable insights from a distinguished panel of local business leaders, and make influential connections.

The panel consisted of Tra Williams, president and CEO at FleetForce Truck Driving School and author of “Boss Brain: Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Instincts”; Jamie Loven, founder and CEO of Lolablue; John Horne, CEO of Oysters Rock Hospitality; and Tyler Holt, president of AvSky Jets Inc.

Williams opened the panel discussion by shocking the audience with a sobering statistic: Among the developed, industrialized countries, the United States’ self-employment percentage is dead last.

“The country we’re tied with is the UAE, where they have so much oil and so much money that there’s free health care, universal income, they give newlyweds $30,000. They want for nothing,” he said. “And, as a result, why in God’s name would they ever need to start a business? …

Entrepreneurs Jamie Lovern, John Horne, Tyler Holt and Tra Williams spoke about their experiences as business owners before fielding questions from the audience.

“Comfort is the enemy of progress. The more comfortable you are, the less likely you are to progress personally and professionally.”

Only 7% of the workforce in the United States is self-employed, he added. Since 1945, with very few exceptions, entrepreneurship in America has declined every year.

Williams pretty much set the tone of what was to follow with this statement: “I’m on a mission to rescue 1 million entrepreneurs from traditional employment. And I say ‘rescue’ because they are stuck. They want to be self-employed. They can’t figure out how to get out of traditional employment and into self-employment.”

And the event was off and running.

Higher than higher education

Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Ian in 2022, North Port has experienced significant business growth, with more than 160 new businesses opening their doors since October 2023.

Thanks to Sarasota County Connect, they can get plenty of help to ensure their success, starting with a series of summer workshops aimed at further empowering entrepreneurs and business owners in southern Sarasota County, to give them an edge that will lead to their success — and, by extension, enhance the regional economy.

“Partnership has power” is a favorite catchphrase Richmond used when she spoke with Town Chronicle.

The concept of — and the resources for — Sarasota County Connect came from multi-agency communication and cooperation.

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