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SRQ DAILY Nov 2, 2015

Monday Business Edition

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Monday Business Edition

"My time on the radio gave me a wonderful opportunity to know Sarasota in ways that I could never have imagined. It was an experience that I will not forget."

- Susan Nilon, The Nilon Report
 

[Population]  21st Century Growth

U.S. Census projections show that since the start of the 21st century, Sarasota County's population has continued to grow, but at a slower rate than the state of Florida as a whole. Manatee County, meanwhile, has grown at a faster rate, even though projections through 2020 still show Sarasota wiil continue to have the larger population.

2014 figures based on Census estimates; 2015 and 2020 figures based on trends as calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

[Real Estate]  Matusiak/Vac Looks Beyond Listings
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

It doesn’t take much to find a real estate listing these days; most consumers can look at home listings online before ever calling a Realtor. So for the newly formed Matusiak/Vac Real Estate Group, listing properties in the multiple listing service database won’t be the primary way business partners Daniel Matusiak and Andrew Vac will find purchasers. In fact, the two expect about 40 percent of their listings won’t be put on MLS at all. Instead, the approach to every sale will be tailored to a seller’s needs with a focus on directly reaching the right potential buyers.

“In luxury real estate, privacy is the number one concern,” said broker associate Andrew Vac. In some cases, a homeowner won’t want pictures of their luxury interior blasted onto the internet, and some buyers won’t want to browse the same listings available to a world wide web's worth of interested parties. But with the firm’s collective 68 years of real estate experience, information on listings can be shared with a customized pool of high-end consumers. Depending on the property, that could mean an e-blast to a set of buyers with a special interest in certain types of homes or it could mean sharing listings with regional investment groups. 

Both Matusiak and Vac have worked in the Southwest Florida market for more than two decades. Matusiak recalls that when he first came to the Sarasota area in 1991, Vac was among the first professionals he met when both attended a lecture put on by a local Realtor group.

Over the past five years, Matusiak at his own firm, Action Realty of Sarasota, has been focusing on new ways to make connections with high-end and luxury clients. “I’m not reinventing real estate, but I am pushing a different way with networks and events,” he said. As he sought to grow that effort, he thought of Vac, who worked in this market as a Re/Max agent for 25 years, and approached his colleague about going into business together. “I know our potential together for this area,” Matusiak said. “We can double or triple what we are making now, plus all the advantages for clients that we are bringing to the high-end market in Sarasota.”

The two formally formed the Matusiak/Vac Real Estate Group in October and are marketing themselves as a personal, boutique real estate operation. Rather than boasting about a high volume of sales, they instead seek out owners high-value properties and boast a high percentage of wins in the marketplace. Combined, the two have only had 0.00005 percent of listings expire; many major companies has as much as 27 percent of listings go unsold. 

[Media]  Nilon Leaving WSRQ Airwaves
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Since founding WSRQ five and a half years ago, Susan Nilon has anchored the local programming with the afternoon drive-time show The Nilon Report. But now she is selling her stake in the station to business partner Jim Lampl, and the afternoon show will stop airing on the station at the end of the year. We spoke with Nilon, who also has a monthly column in SRQ Daily, about the move.  

What prompted the sale of WSRQ? From the beginning, Jim Lampl was an insulated investor. He wanted to become a full owner. After five and a half years, Jim approached me with the opportunity to purchase my shares, and I agreed to a buyout. I thought this would be a good time to pursue other ideas and ventures that have been put on hold because of the radio station. I am leaving the station on solid ground. There has always been a really good core of people there and the programming is able to stand on its own.

How many people are employed by WSRQ right now? At this point, full-time and part-time, eight people are employed. I have promoted Jill DeLano to general manager.

What got you into radio? I got my degree in radio and television from Temple University, and while I was in college and after I got out, I worked for a radio news network producing syndicated programs. I pursued other interests but then I got back in radio in 2010 doing a show on other local area radio stations, on WTMY and WWPR. Then in 2011, I launched WSRQ because I thought there was a deficiency in local radio in that none of it was devoted to focusing on the community. That’s why I introduced so many local programs to the line-up.

Will you ever return to radio? Possibly at a time in the future. I was recently hired by Andrea Mogenson and Michael Barfield (at The Law Office of Andrea Flynn Mogenson) on the ACLU case as an investigative researcher. Other than that, I am exploring options. I have some projects I can’t announce yet. 

[Partner Spotlight]  Selah Freedom Shines Light on Sex Trafficking in Sarasota

The issue of sex trafficking has been a serious concern in the Sarasota and Bradenton area since Selah Freedom was founded in 2011, yet members of the community frequently admit that they have had no idea that it happens here, in our own backyard.

The instances of sex trafficking in Florida are high – with the state ranking within the three highest in the nation. Specifically, the Gulf Coast region ranks second in the number of cases of sex trafficking in the state of Florida. While these staggering statistics deliver shock to most people, the average age of entry of victims is even more sobering. At the young age of 12-14 years old, a life of being bought and sold becomes reality for young girls in our region. But for most, the darkness began much earlier.

Many sex trafficking survivors recall a point in time when their life began to shatter because of sexual abuse—between the tender age of two to four years old. For one of three little girls, this is when sexual abuse begins. At the heart of every sex trafficking story heard by Selah Freedom is abuse. It is the beginning of a life of being bought and sold.

Selah Freedom brings hope. It brings rest, transformation and a new beginning. Through a critical Outreach Program on the streets and in the jails, Residential Program, Awareness (which reaches over 30,000 people anually, including law enforcement) and Prevention Program for at-risk teen girls, Selah Freedom is making a difference and shining a light on an issue that might otherwise be ignored.

To get involved and help break the cycle and restore those affected by sex trafficking, visit SelahFreedom.com to find out how you can volunteer, donate, or invite Selah Freedom to your event to raise awareness. Together, we can end sex trafficking!

Selah Freedom is a 2015 SRQ Story Project partner and the featured non-profit organization this November. To learn more about the mission of Selah Freedom, their outreach program, prevention, awareness and residential program, visit them online at SelahFreedom.com. 

[Recognition]  Dream Frenz Wins Industry Award
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Sarasota entrepreneur Halie Fulton, who developed Dream Frenz from her daughters’ sketches, has just received a Best Picks, Children’s Products for 2015 Award. Dream Frenz are described on the company website as “cuddly pillow toys for the young and the young at heart. Each pillow character has a soft pillow head with a soft stuffed body that tucks inside.” 

Dream Frenz

[Acquisition]  Jet Enterprises Buys Bradenton Property

Jet Enterprises has purchased a multifamily property on 53rd Avenue West in Bradenton from Don and Marsha Evans for $950,000.  Elliot Rose and Neftali Mascorro of Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT represented the seller and Mickey McMahon of Re/Max Platinum represented the Buyer. 

http://cbcworldwide.com

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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