Suite Life Magazine | Commercial Real Estate Fort Myers | Naples | Bonita Springs | Estero | Cape Coral | Lehigh Acres

Compass Construction Experience, Adaptability Point to Success for Cape-Based Firm

Paul — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:44:03 +0000

To the casual observer, the Skatium and the Shoot Straight gun range in Fort Myers have nothing in common. But to those familiar with Compass Construction, Inc., the dissimilar projects exemplify the scope of commercial products the company can deliver.
Since 1984, the Cape Coral-based general contractor and construction management firm has tackled assignments ranging from healthcare, faith-based and educational facilities to recreational, public works and multi-family projects. To date, its completed projects total more than $450 million.
“We’ve been fortunate to do a wide variety of projects that don’t come along every day and may never come around again,” says Compass Vice-President Teri Burleigh, who has been with the company for the past 20 years. “I mean, how many ice rinks do you get to build in Florida? We’re proud to have a little bit of everything on our resume,” including specialty renovations involving the Lee County morgue as well as the county’s tuberculosis clinic.
Over the years, Compass Construction’s staff has grown from one office worker to 17 office and field personnel. Founding partners Larry Oliver and Peter Olsen remain at the helm as president and corporate secretary, respectively, although Burleigh and Executive Vice President Dan Luft oversee the company’s day-to-day operations. All have extensive backgrounds in commercial construction.
While Burleigh and Luft each have been in the business for more than 25 years, the founding partners have almost 70 years of experience between them. Before the two joined forces, Oliver was a project manager for Lee Memorial Hospital and Olsen worked for a local general contractor.
Initially, their idea of starting a business in Cape Coral was met with considerable skepticism. “People told them they were crazy and that a Cape location would never succeed,” says Burleigh, noting that 26 years later, “it’s worked out just fine.” Since moving to its current Lafayette Street location 20 years ago, Compass has expanded the original building twice and now occupies the entire two-story structure.
Embracing
Challenges, Change
Since the company’s establishment, its construction portfolio has expanded, as well, thanks mainly to repeat clients and referrals. As it has grown, its services have diversified to meet market demands. Besides shifting its focus from vertical construction to smaller projects and tenant buildouts, “we’re pursuing projects now that we might not have considered before.” To Burleigh and the other principals, the challenge is refreshing. “We get excited when we get the opportunity to do something unique.”
•Bokeelia Boat Ramp. Earlier this year, the company completed renovating and improving the county-owned boat ramp in Bokeelia, replacing the existing single ramp with an ADA-compliant two-lane concrete ramp and installing new seawalls and boat docks. The project also encompassed stormwater retention improvements and new asphalt parking, restrooms and landscaping.
According to Bob Taylor, a capital projects manager for Lee County, the project “required expertise, careful management and a little bit of special attention, so as not to create pollution or disturb the sea beds outside of the construction area. Compass did a great job. The DEP was very pleased with their work and we had no complaints from anyone.”
Taylor, who has worked with Compass on other projects over the years, describes the company as “top-notch. They’re very quick to react to problems and any requests for information or changes we might suggest. Further, they’re always on top of whatever we need.”
•Toll Plazas. Compass also has started the first phase of a $10 million project to demolish and reconstruct the toll plazas at the Midpoint Memorial and Cape Coral bridges. When renovations are completed next spring, the reconfigured Midpoint toll plaza will facilitate free-flowing eastbound traffic and devote two westbound lanes exclusively to vehicles with LeeWay and SunPass transponders. The concrete barrier between the two lanes will be removed to allow motorists to travel continually at 45 mph. There will also be three attended lanes for those paying tolls with cash.
During construction, “safety and traffic control are the main issues,” says Burleigh. To keep people moving and to minimize confusion, Compass managers modified the traffic maintenance plan so that traffic flow would be changed just three times during the 11-month project vs. four, as originally expected. “We hope to make it easier for motorists to navigate. This way, they won’t have the constant stress of wondering which lane to choose during their commutes, which can be hectic anyway.”
Compass will start on Phase II, the Cape Coral Bridge toll plaza reconstruction, when the Midpoint project concludes.
•Wildcat Run Clubhouse. By mid-September, Compass expects to be finished with a total renovation of the clubhouse kitchen at Wildcat Run in Estero. The overhaul required gutting the entire kitchen and replacing the HVAC and electrical systems and commercial kitchen equipment. The company also enlarged the storage areas and added kitchen management offices, among other things.
Compass previously worked at Wildcat Run in 2004, when it renovated and expanded the club’s grillroom and kitchen, and constructed a new tennis and fitness complex at the community. According to General Manager Thomas Noyes, everyone was so pleased with the finished product, “we really didn’t consider another contractor or architect when it came time to do our (clubhouse kitchen) project. They provide great service every step of the way and immediately resolve any issue that arises, no matter how small.”
•Bonita River Park. Phase one construction is underway at the park, which is situated along the Imperial River in Bonita Springs. When completed, amenities will include canoe launches, an aluminum boat ramp and dock, fishing pier and boardwalks to the river over areas of protected mangroves. Compass is also installing a rain garden with native plantings that thrive in the water.
Besides providing adequate drainage to the site, Compass must remove numerous melaleuca and Brazilian pepper trees and other exotic vegetation, and work around an on-site eagle’s nest. “Nesting season runs from Sept. 15th – May 15th, so we have a very small window of time to get a lot of work done,” says Burleigh. Despite this year’s robust rainy season, Burleigh says the project is proceeding as planned.
Other Areas of Expertise
Compass remains a popular choice among the owners of healthcare and faith-based facilities in Southwest Florida and beyond. Because of founder Larry Oliver’s hospital background, Compass was one of the first area contractors to specialize in health care construction and has maintained a dominant presence in that sector. The fact that two of its project managers are certified by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) further enhances the company’s ability to secure contracts for medical facilities statewide.
Most recently, Compass completed a Hospice facility in Spring Hill, Florida. It has also built medical office buildings in Fort Myers for Retina Consultants (on Daniels Parkway near Hammond Stadium), Harris Dermatology (on Bass Road, across from HealthPark) and Children’s Specialists (on Summerlin Road, just south of Cypress Lake Drive). Past projects include the Alzheimer’s units at Gulfcoast Village in Cape Coral, the HealthPark Care Center nursing home and the Riverwalk Orthopedic Center, both in south Fort Myers. Also, Compass has done work for Florida Hospitals in Lake Placid and Sebring.
•Faith-Based. Over the last 20 years, Compass has built approximately 25 churches, multi-purpose facilities and religiously affiliated schools on behalf of all denominations and faiths. Projects include St. Agnes Church in Naples, Temple Beth-El in Fort Myers and First Baptist Church in Cape Coral, to name a few. Many are repeat clients such as the Lutheran Church, for whom Compass has built at least six different projects in Lee and Collier counties.
•Public Works. Compass was the first construction manager hired by Lee County in 1996, when it built the South County Regional Library in Estero. In addition to libraries, Compass has built several facilities at FGCU including a student center and energy plant. It has also done construction and renovation work at the Lee County Justice Center, area law enforcement facilities, community parks and theaters, municipal buildings and more.
•Recreation/Clubhouses. Compass is well known for its clubhouse renovations, which include the Landings, Wildcat Run, Moorings Park and The Villages at Country Creek, among others. Its construction portfolio includes the Minnesota Twins training facility and two area Moose Lodges, as well as the award-winning Miromar Lakes Beach Club in Estero. The facility includes a bi-level dining area, a private dining room with fireplace, a 40-seat theater, a library, indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, and many other amenities.
Value Management & More
Identifying innovative ways to save clients money is a cornerstone of Compass. On behalf of each client, Compass conducts a management review of the items going into a project or building and looks for creative, cost-effective alternatives. “When we build religious facilities, for instance, we’ll work with clients on their budgets and tax-exempt status to help save them money that can be used in other areas,” says Burleigh.
For example, Compass helps tax-exempt clients purchase materials directly from the supplier, tax-free, saving approximately 1% of the contract amount. Often, the money they save can be used to pay down their loan or to buy pews, playground equipment, special sound systems and other necessities that they couldn’t otherwise afford.
“We realize that they’re very concerned about protecting the dollars that their parishioners have raised. That’s why it’s so important to form a bond with them and gain their trust.”
Often, that means working with a building committee, which commonly accompanies projects for churches, private clubs and homeowner associations. Doing so can be a challenge, says Burleigh, because the committees usually comprise former corporate CEOs and other retired professionals with strong opinions.
At Wildcat Run, Noyes says he appreciates that Compass project managers have worked well with the club’s building committees and been receptive to their ideas. “It takes a lot of people skills, which they have. They’ve always been very patient with our members in the planning stages and throughout the construction process.”
But even if a project doesn’t involve a building committee, Compass works diligently to lower costs without sacrificing quality. “They’re cognizant of the fact that we’re spending taxpayer dollars to construct our projects,” says Taylor, of Compass’ approach to numerous public works projects for the county. “In the end, I think it’s their desire to (do the best job at the least expense), realizing that ultimately they’re (answering to) the taxpayers.”
Keys to Success
Compass regularly receives local, state and national commercial contracting awards and honors, and has even graced the cover of a national trade publication. However, client satisfaction and a connection with the community seem to bring the greatest joy to those at the firm.
“We like constructing projects that the entire community will enjoy,” says Burleigh. “It’s really gratifying to drive around and see people utilizing and enjoying the facilities we have built,” namely: public swimming pools and sports facilities (such as the Sam Fleishman Regional Sports Complex); Little League softball fields; youth football facilities; and community parks.
Further, Compass gives freely of its time and expertise, along with money and materials as needed, to beneficiaries throughout Southwest Florida. The company’s good deeds include helping Trafalgar Middle School students build an outdoor classroom, rebuilding the TLC Home for Children’s horse barn, constructing a handicapped ramp for a Charlotte County facility and replacing $400 in donations stolen from a Cape Coral veteran’s facility.
Company employees also are actively involved in a number of community organizations such as the Horizon Council, the Lee County Building Industry Association and the Christian Chamber of Commerce, and sit on the boards of the Real Estate Investment Society and the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association,
The company credits its longevity in the commercial contracting business primarily to its loyal clients, long-time relationships with area subcontractors and top architectural firms, and outstanding employees. “You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with. We realize that our employees are our foundation and we value them tremendously.”

Biddle’s Restaurant & Piano Bar

Paul — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:41:07 +0000

When Biddle’s Restaurant & Piano Bar moved to its new south Fort Myers location last April, it represented both an expansion and a consolidation. While its previous Fort Myers location (in Sanibel Beach Place plaza) and Biddle’s Bucket restaurant on Sanibel have closed, owner Andy Biddle has incorporated the best of both under one recently-remodeled roof in a highly visible spot.
Many people will recognize the new location on U.S. 41 as the old Bennigan’s, which closed several years ago and sat vacant until earlier this year. After three months of extensive renovations, there’s little about the interior that’s reminiscent of the previous occupant. Biddle’s regulars, however, are likely to feel right at home. That’s because much of Biddle’s imaginative, tropical decor was brought over from the other restaurant, including the upholstered booths, soft pendant lighting and other original, elegant touches.
The menu will also be familiar to loyal patrons. From its inception, Biddle’s has emphasized seafood, citrus and sauces, with all the usual seafood offerings, including local snapper, grouper, swordfish and shrimp, as well as farm-raised clams. Chef Josh Spicer continues to develop Biddle’s unique “fusion” menu of dishes that blend American, Asian and Italian elements.
Some of the entrees and appetizers have been on the menu for years and remain hugely popular. In the appetizer category, these include the award-winning Seafood Martini and the Tower of Tuna, both of which have taken top honors at annual events such as Taste of the Town and the Signature Chef’s Auction.
The Seafood Martini is served in a large martini glass filled with shrimp and crabmeat, along with avocado, onion and cilantro drizzled with a fresh citrus tomato sauce. The Tower of Tuna contains Ahi tuna and diced tomatoes lightly marinated in olive oil and stacked with avocado salsa, wakame salad and a ginger glaze. Both are $13.
Were there an award for attention-grabbing names, there are at least a two menu items that would take top prize, starting with the Crab Shrimp (jumbo shrimp with lump crabmeat served on a bed of lobster cream sauce and including the Avocado Salmon (grilled salmon filet served with cilantro rice and sautéed spinach topped with an Asian infused avocado salsa).
Obviously, this is not just a “choice of broiled, blackened or baked” restaurant. Instead, most items are grilled, seared, sautéed or slow-roasted to ensure maximum flavor. The Macademia Nut Crusted Grouper entree for instance, is pan sautéed, topped with a mustard plum sauce and served with garlic mashed potatoes & veggies ($25).
One of Biddle’s most intriguing and popular dishes is the Seafood Wellington. Containing lobster, scallops, shrimp and grouper, it is cooked in a garlic cream sauce, baked in a puff pastry and surrounded by a lobster cream sauce ($29). Another signature dish is Biddle’s Filet Napoleon, which features a crab-stuffed filet mignon, sautéed spinach and rosemary potatoes topped with Gournay cheese sauce ($39).
In addition to fish and beef, there are duck entrees, lamb chops and pork tenderloin. All are uniquely prepared and served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables.
As the menu has evolved, so has the number of choices. The dinner menu now contains various Flatbreads and an expanded selection of pasta dishes, such as Lobster Ravioli, Smoked Chicken Fettucine and a Seafood Penne (with shrimp, scallops and mussels) and more.
Although patrons can expect to see smaller portions of selected dinner items at lunch (listed under “Specialties”), the daytime menu focuses on salads, sandwiches and burgers, all costing less than $10. Also, a cup of Biddle’s homemade soup or lobster bisque combined with any appetizer would make a meal. Starters include Jalapeno Shrimp, Eggplant Rolls and Bruschetta, to name a few.
No meal is complete without trying the signature Grand Finale (a miniature chocolate piano filled with fresh berries and espresso sauvignon mousse) or the new Chocolate Martini. Biddle’s version is twice as satisfying as most dessert-style drinks because once you’ve finished drinking the martini, you can savor the edible chocolate “glass” it comes in.
The most obvious change at Biddle’s is its new and improved size. Both the restaurant and piano bar/lounge are larger, as is the dance floor. Also, Biddle’s now accepts reservations for lunch, to accommodate the corporate crowd. That way, business people won’t have to waste time standing in line, waiting for a table or serving themselves, as is often the case at many “fast casual” chains.
Another plus is Biddle’s all-day Happy Hour, with half-priced drinks (top shelf and well) served daily in both the dining room and bar from 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.
The entertainment has been tweaked, as well, to include a greater variety of live music, seven nights a week. Typically, there’s a pianist and vocalist playing a mix of easy listening, classics and hit music from 6:30 p.m. until 10:30 Sunday through Thursday and from 7 p.m. until midnight on weekends. Although the music skews toward a more mature demographic, the lounge and dance floor tend to draw movers and shakers of all ages on any given night.
To accompany the late-night music, Biddle’s serves a separate, late-night menu each night until midnight. Unlike most “bar” menus, Biddle’s has two pages of items that feature the best of its lunch and dinner menus: several full-sized entrees and pasta dishes, burgers, salads and a long list of appetizers.
Biddle’s also serves a Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. — 2 p.m., and will cater private parties. Various discounts and specials are available each week in local newspapers and online. Visit www.biddlesrestaurant.com for current offers.
(Biddle’s Restaurant & Piano Bar is at 12984 South Cleveland Avenue in south Fort Myers, near the Bell Tower Shops. Open 7 days starting at 11 a.m. Lunch is served until 4 p.m.; dinner is served from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., with late-night dining from 10 p.m. — midnight. Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. — 2 p.m. Happy Hour daily from 11 a.m. — 6:30 p.m. Nightly entertainment. For information or reservations, call 239-433-4449 or visit www.biddlesrestaurant.com.)

Palmer to Direct LandQwest’s New Office Division; Rusher Named Specialist

Paul — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:37:47 +0000

LandQwest new office division

LandQwest Commercial in Fort Myers has chosen Adam Palmer to direct the Office Division it launched during the second quarter. The new division is meant to complement the company’s established Retail Division, which is the exclusive leasing agent for more than 5.2 million sf at 38 anchored shopping centers on Florida’s west coast.
“Specialization and expertise…are crucial to our success,” according to Stephen A. Cunningham, MAI, CCIM, LandQwest’s managing principal. He said that Palmer’s accomplishments in the commercial industry, coupled with his corporate experience, made him an obvious choice to lead the new division.
“The office market can be tough to (grasp) for someone who is not exclusively researching, marketing, selling and leasing office inventory on a daily basis,” said Palmer. “It can be tremendously comforting to sellers and landlords to know that they are being represented by professionals who remain focused on one product type.”
Currently, Palmer is vice president of the Southwest Florida CCIM District and a past president of the Commercial Investment Professionals.
Locally, LandQwest’s Office Division represents the Countryside Commons Medical Park in Naples, Metro Medical Plaza in Fort Myers and the City Center Office Building in Port Charlotte, among other properties. Further, the division represents more office space in downtown Fort Myers than any other brokerage firm.
In other news, Caroline Rusher has joined LandQwest’s brokerage team as an Office Specialist. Rusher’s background includes conducting in-depth land development feasibility studies for the NHL Vancouver Canucks, and launching and selling new condominium and master-planned developments for a Vancouver developer.
Rusher graduated with top honors from the British Columbia Institute of Technology Marketing Management Program with a specialty in commercial real estate, and received the top achievement award by Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) in her studies. Currently, she volunteers on behalf of several area charities and community organizations.
For more information, please visit www.lqwest.com or call (239) 275-4922.

Commercial Property SWFL Expands with Two New Hires

Paul — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:35:42 +0000

Brian Green

Brian Green and Brandon Delanois have joined the office of Commercial Property Southwest Florida in Fort Myers (CPSWFL).
Green joins as a director, bringing to the position more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate sales, management, development and accounting. Previously, Green was the senior vice president of Lehigh Corporation/Cape Coral Holdings, responsible for managing, operating and selling $250+ million in commercial and residential land assets.
He has served as officer and director for more than 45 homeowner association boards and is active in numerous professional commercial organizations.
Delanois is the firm’s newest associate director. The Fort Myers native graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in real estate with special emphasis in real estate finance and investment. While at UCF, he received several scholastic honors and scholarships.
Prior to joining CPSWFL, he served as a legislative aide to Florida Representative Scott Plakon and was a

Brandon Delanois

real estate market analyst for North American Properties Southeast. He is active in various civic and charitable organizations such as Give Kids the World and LEAD Scholars Impact Series, and has volunteered as a teacher for Junior Achievement.
Gary Tasman is founder and executive director of Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC, an alliance member of Cushman & Wakefield. The company’s office is in Suite 101 at 13241 University Drive in Fort Myers. For more information, please visit www.cpswfl.com or call (239) 489-3600.

Sponsors Sought for Becoming Cosmopolitan

Paul — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:19:15 +0000

Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc. (CCMI) is seeking auction items and sponsors for its 5th Annual Becoming Cosmopolitan event, which will be held on Thursday, Oct. 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Harborside Event Center in downtown Fort Myers.
Sponsorships for the women’s-only evening range from $1,000 to $10,000 and include tickets to the event and Oct. 12 pre-party, along with numerous other promotional incentives. Individual tickets to the event are $100.
The evening will feature gourmet hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, chocolate and desserts, and live and silent auctions. All proceeds will benefit the programs and services CCMI provides to clients, including the Soup Kitchen, Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels, Montessori Preschool and Homeless Services.
For more information on tickets or sponsorships, please call (239) 332-7687 or visit www.ccmileecounty.com.

Tiffany Martin Joins Colliers International

Paul — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:17:52 +0000

Tiffany Martin

Tiffany Martin has joined Colliers International Southwest Florida as Senior Industrial and Office Specialist in the Fort Myers office. In this role, she will be working with Office and Industrial Specialist Bill Mankin.
Martin, a Southwest Florida native, has worked in commercial real estate since 2003, beginning her career as a licensed real estate assistant at Investment Properties Corporation (IPC). For the last four years, she was a leasing agent at VIP Commercial. In addition to her background in commercial real estate, Martin has more than 10 years of banking and financial experience.
She is the acting president of the Southwest Florida Commercial Investment Professionals (CIP), as well as a member of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. Martin is also a 2007 graduate of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leaders Program. She has a degree in finance from Edison Community College and attended the University of Kentucky.

Kraft Construction Completes Hope Hospice in Lehigh

Paul — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:15:24 +0000

Kraft Construction recently completed the 46,604sf Hope Hospice House on Beth Stacey Lane in Lehigh Acres. The project has been submitted for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, which recognizes and promotes the development of high-performance, sustainable buildings.
The new Hope Hospice House is mostly single-story construction, with a two-story, 4,000sf administration area inside the front entrance. Each of the three patient wings includes a nursing station and an outdoor gathering area with a unique water feature.
All 24 private patient care suites include screened lanais overlooking the water features and spacious accommodations for family and visitors. The Hospice facility also includes a chapel, bereavement counseling offices, full-service commercial kitchen and community meeting rooms.
According to Kraft’s project manager, Jim Grant, a 10,000-gallon underground storage tank and back-up emergency generator enable the Hope Hospice House to safely operate for several weeks during hurricanes or other emergency situations.
Kraft Construction, founded in 1968, is a statewide general contractor and construction management firm specializing in commercial, government, educational, medical, hospitality and mixed-use construction. For
more information, visit www.KraftConstruction.com.

RE/MAX Realty Adds Two Associates to its Commercial Division

Paul — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:07:34 +0000

William Eilf

The Commercial Division of RE/MAX Realty Group in Fort Myers has expanded by two.
Recently, Larry Basik and William Eilf joined as associates. Eilf will be working with the Sande Ellis Team. For more information, please call (239) 489-0444.

O-A-K’s Natali Receives General Contractor License

Paul — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:05:58 +0000

Abel Natali

Abel Natali, an assistant project manager for Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K), has earned his Florida general contractor license.
Natali graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and business administration from the University of Florida. He joined O-A-K in 2006 as a job site superintendent on the $80 million Marco Marriott Resort and Spa renovation. He was promoted to assistant project manager in 2007 and continues to work in that capacity at O-A-K’s Punta Gorda office.
Natali is a LEED® Accredited Professional through the United States Green Building Council and was a part of the team assisting Charlotte County Public Schools with LEED certification of the first elementary school in Florida, the first Silver-level certified elementary school in Florida, and the first LEED for Schools Silver-level certified elementary school in the southeastern U.S.
O-A-K has provided general contracting, design-build and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982. Based in Michigan, the company’s Florida operation has offices in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. For more information, please visit www.owen-ames-kimball.com.

Gulfcoast Consulting Begins Renovation, Addition for Medical Practice

Paul — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:03:19 +0000

Gulfcoast Consulting Group, Inc. (GCG), a Fort Myers-based design-build firm, has been contracted by Dr. Thomas Bass, MD, FACS, of Gulf Coast Bariatrics, to remodel and add onto an existing building at 4519 Tilton Court in Fort Myers.
The project will include a new entry and foyer, new exam rooms and offices, along with site work for additional parking and new landscaping. The architect is Robert L. Massengale, AIA.
Dr. Bass was the first surgeon in Lee County to perform the lap-band procedure and is the only surgeon in Southwest Florida authorized to perform weight-loss surgery on Medicare patients. This will be his fourth Southwest Florida office.
For more information, contact GCG at (239) 454-7304.