Community Spotlight with

Mark Smith, CPA

Steve: Hello and welcome to another Community Spotlight segment, I’m your host, Steve with Burnett Painting here today with CPA Mark Smith.  Hello Mark.

Mark:  Thanks for having me.

Steve:  You’re welcome, thank you.  Mark Smith… where did you come from? Where are you from originally?

Mark:  I was actually born and raised inVenice.

Steve:  (laughing) Nobody’s from Florida anymore.

Mark:  Believe it or not, there’s actually a hand full of us out there, a lot from my family.  We have generations here in Sarasota County.  I graduated fromVeniceHigh Schooland have lived here all my life.

Steve:  Really?

Mark:  Yep.  Lived in Orlando for six years while I went to college but I’m a native Floridian, love it down here and can’t imagine any other place to live.  I like to vacation other places but….

Steve:  I agree… that’s why I came down state.

Mark:  Every day is a vacation.  We can go to the beach, go to the lakes, go wherever we want and have a good time.

Steve:  You mentioned Orlando, where did you go to school?

Mark:  I went to the University of Central Florida.  When I went there, there was maybe 25,000-30,000 students.  Right now, they have over 50,000 students and that’s in a little over a 12 year period.  The school has completely changed, which I helped pay for.

Steve:  When was the first time you thought about being an accountant?  When did you think about getting into the business?  When did the calculator really grab hold of you?

 Mark:  In my childhood, there were two things that I wanted to be.  I wanted to be either a baseball player and play for the Atlanta Braves because that was the only team we were able to watch down here.  That was the only team we could watch, so I’m a big Braves fan.  Or, an accountant.  I didn’t think my baseball was going any place, so I wanted to be an accountant, always wanted to be a CPA .  I was around my grandpa a lot, he was a serial entrepreneur and an accountant, owned his own business.  He wasn’t a CPA, but with all the experience that he had, he was an accountant for a lot of businesses.  So, I was hanging around with him and learned a lot about what he does at a really young age, I was probably 10.  So, helping him do some accounting stuff. I had a great time.

Steve:  Cool, so grandpa was the inspiration.  Is he still around?

Mark:  No, he passed quite a few years ago.  I don’t have any of his clients, I’m sure they’ve all passed too.

Steve:  Regarding your service, what can you say is absolutely unique to Mark Smith?

Mark:  Well, you get me is what it is, you don’t get somebody else.  You hire me as your provider, your CPA. I am who you have.  You don’t call my office and get somebody else, somebody else may answer the phone, but the answer to your question and your support is going to comes from me.  So, in my practice, I concentrate on providing personal service that accompanies me.  I’m not just going to let you go off with somebody that’s like, hey… I’m good with this person here, they’ll be alright for you.  I’m going to be the best for you.

Steve:  So, one-on-one service.

Mark:  It’s one-on-one.  I get to know you on a personal level; you get to know me on a personal level.  It’s still a business relationship but we know each other personally.  I try to develop that.

Steve:  That makes sense because I think you are a great guy and you’re absolutely a people person, there’s no doubt about that.  I’m really curious, as an accountant, what is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you in this business or strangest requests?

Mark:  On the strangest request side, what I like is when people come to me and say “hey, my buddies doing this, my buddies doing that and why can’t I do that”.  Well, I usually tell them “because I don’t want you to go to jail.”   If your buddy is saying something that seems too good to be true, it’s too good to be true.

On the business side, the first job I had in accounting was 15 years ago; I can’t believe it has already been 15 years.  I started out in this large law firm in Orlando to be an accountant.

The first day, I come in and they are having an accounting meeting and it’s the CFO, the controller and a couple other accounting people and me.    They have bagels, so I reach in the bag pull out a bagel and I think it is going to be blueberry.  I put my cream cheese on it, take a bite and it is rye.  I can’t stand rye bread, I can’t stand it.

So, there I am on my first day as an accountant, in my very first business suit I ever owned and I’m sitting there, with this terrible face, going “oh no”.  Do I spit it out in the meeting?

Steve:  Did you eat it?

Mark:  No, I didn’t finish the bagel; I said I was just going to eat it at my desk.  I had to take a couple of bites; I didn’t want to be the only one not eating.  That was an eye-opening experience… before you reach into the bag… know what you are reaching for.

Steve:  Watch the rye…

Mark:  I’m sorry, I just cannot stand rye.  I still think about it every day, laugh about it.  I’m still friends with the controller, we still talk.

Steve:  Did you go back and tell him the story?

Mark:  Yeah, we still talk about it.  I don’t think they paid attention that much back then… I was the new guy, trying to impress them.

Steve:  That’s funny.  Next up is our bonus question.   I’ve got a couple of questions on these cards here, I’m going to mix them up so go ahead and and point to one.

Mark:  Hold on, is it like Let’s Make A Deal, are you going to give me an option?

Steve:  Yes, you can choose not to go with this one, if you answer both of the other two.

Mark:  Well I will go with that one.

Steve:  This is quite fitting for you… How would you explain a database in three sentences to your eight year old nephew?

Mark:  Database? Three sentences to my eight year old nephew?  It’s a computer program… that’s one sentence.  That tracks data.  That will spit out what you want.

Steve: That’s good.

Mark: That’s all I could tell them.  I have three kids around that age and that is the way I would tell them.

Steve:  It’s all data.

Mark:  Yes, it just spits out data, that’s all it does.  Just like me, I just spew it all day long.

 Steve:  Mark, that was great, thank you very much.

Mark Smith, CPA, you can reach him on his phone number and that is 941-302-2898 or catch hold of him on his email at marks@msmithcpa.com.

And I’m your host, Steve with Burnett Painting.  This has been another Community Spotlight, reminding you to make it a great day.  Thank you.

Community Spotlight with

John and Ali of H & H Signs

Steve: Hello and welcome to another Community Spotlight segment, I’m your host, Steve with Burnett Painting.  Today, I’m here with H & H Signs, winner of the Better Business of the Month award through the Venice Chamber.  Welcome John and Ali.

Ali:  I would like to say first of all, thank you for doing this and taking time out of your busy schedule to do the Community Spotlight and let the community know what great businesses we have out there.  And we both feel truly honored and grateful that you’ve asked us to be a part of it.

Steve:  I appreciate that very much, I’m having a lot of fun.  This is great and I enjoy doing this.  H & H Signs… John, how did you get your start in this business?

John:  Well, fifteen years ago, my son and I moved down here, we all moved down here fromIndiana and he started working for a company that did signs and they were sign brokers.  They really didn’t make the signs, they were just sign brokers.  He was just about ready to get a large contract with the Orange County School System for ADA Braille signs and he looked at me, and I was a national sales manager traveling all over the place and he said “are you tired of traveling?” and I said “sure”.  He said “you know a lot about production.”  Not so much, I’m a salesman.  He says “let’s start our own company and let’s start making our own signs, I’ve got this contract with the school systems.”  So he pulled me into it, I didn’t have to travel anymore and we learned signs from the ground up.  We hired one of the best production managers, Kelly, and she is in charge of all the machines in the back.  So we started with Braille signs, which has nothing to do with the retail process and we grew into all types of signs and diversified.

Steve:  As we can see behind us, on this wall here and another wall, I see them through out your entire shop and office.

John:   I moved onto real estate and I brought in my daughter.

Steve:  So when did you bring in Ali and how do you get your start into the business?

Ali:  I started in about 2003 and I actually started back in the production room, making the signs and then gradually moved my way up to the front and into being his partner and working in the company.

John:  I’m into cheap child labor (laughing).

Steve:  What do you enjoy most about what you all are doing?

Ali:  I enjoy working with the people and helping them make their business successful and getting them noticed, getting them out there and making them look good and growing their businesses as well.  And growing the relationships with our customers.

Steve:  I think you would both admit that with our changing times and economics, what do you see as trending or coming trends, different trends for your business.

Ali:  A lot of people are wanting to do things more on a shoe string at this point.  With signs, you can do that to a certain point but we don’t want them to walk out of here with a sign that is not going to last, or won’t be right for their application.  So we try to find a very good middle ground to where we stay in their budget and yet they still get a very good quality sign that’s going to work for what they are using it for.

John:  I think that is very important.  We like to make signs that are going to last, that are durable.  We have some things that will last for a very long time.  Sometimes, we have to price them the lower sign so that will meet their budget.  We will go forward with something that will be effective for them.  There are other things; like we know the code well enough that there are certain things they can get by without doing a permit.  We aren’t going to put up anything that requires a permit, because we are licensed in the county.  There are ways to get around it, things that are still effective.

Steve:  You made a good point with permits.  Do you find you do more signs for buildings than you do vehicles or do you do vehicles signage as well?

John:  This month vehicles.  Next month building.  It is all over the place, we are so diversified to do all types of signs that anybody walks into the store, we find out what they need and we fill it.

Steve:  Would you please describe the funniest or strangest incident?

Ali:  Any time we go out to install a sign, whether it is a panel sign or individual letters, you can’t do that without having at least two people yelling out their car window or yelling at you from the bottom of the ladder… “it’s crooked” or “it’s spelled wrong”.

Steve:  While they are going by?

Ali:  Yeah, yelling out the window.  They think it is the funniest thing and we just go “yeah yeah yeah… ha ha ha” .

John:  We were putting up a sign at USF inTampa and someone said “it’s spelled it wrong” and we thought yeah yeah yeah and kept putting up all these nice letters on the building.  We came back toVenice and they called us up and said “it really is spelled wrong.”

Steve:  So one time somebody drove by to yell at ya, and they were right.

Ali: They were right.

Steve: What one sentence would you like people to use when the describe H & H Signs? And what is unique about H & H Signs?

 John:  I believe that the equipment that we have is kind of unique for the area.  We have two computer routers back there, that are C and C machines, if people understand that.  C and C machine is a computer router, it’s like a four foot by eight foot table that you put a big sheet on there and it actually routes.

Steve:  Oh, so it’s like a carpenter’s router. When you say router, I think about a computer router but it is…

John:  Router, engraver. So we have that and it is what we use to make the Braille signs.  That does make us unique.  But also the router gives us the ability to make very durable signs that will last for 25 years.  If someone has a problem, we do a lot of parts and that type of thing. That is kinda unique for us. So what do you think?

Ali:  I would like, when this is all said and done, for people to walk away from H & H Signs with a feeling that they got great customer service, had got a good product for what they spent, that they felt comfortable with it, that they feel like we treated them like family and we used integrity and they got the bang for their buck, the whole experience.

Steve:  I can testify that for us.  We used your services and it turned out fantastic.  It is time for our bonus question.  So you each get to answer.  Point to a card and I’ll read it.  Ali first… if you were an animal, which animal would you be?

Ali:  Wow, what a great question.  I would have to say I would like to be a dolphin, just the speed they have, the freedom that they have.  They are just so beautiful and graceful.  I think that would be pretty cool.

Steve:  I think that would be great.  Thanks Ali.  John… if you could be a super hero, who would you be and why?

John:  I’d be Superman, because he can fly.  I’ve always wanted to fly, always wanted to be strong and be a man of steel.  He always did good, he was out to make things right which is really good too, to have that kind of power to make things right would be super.

Steve:  Well, that’s it.  Thank you John, thank you Ali.

Ali:  Thank you.

Steve:  You’re welcome, my pleasure.  This has been another Community Spotlight. I’m your host, Steve with Burnett Painting reminding you and encouraging you to make it a great day with John’s final passing sign… to “have a nice day”.  Thank you.

H&H Signs

426 East Venice Avenue, Venice, FL

(941) 485-0556

Community Spotlight with

Dallas Council of AAMCO  Venice

Steve:  Hello and welcome to another segment of Community Spotlight, I’m your host Steve Burnett, with Burnett Painting and I’m here with Dallas Council of AAMCO Transmission inVenice Florida.  Hello Dallas.

Dallas:  Hello Steve, how are you?

Steve:  Real good, yourself?

Dallas:  Good, good, very good.

Steve:  Great.  We had to meet really early this morning, before all the mechanics and customers came in with the impact wrenches whamming and knocking in the background.  So we are caffeinated and ready to go. Are you ready to go?

Dallas:  I am.

Steve:  Ok… where are you from?

Dallas:  Well, with a name likeDallas, you almost have to be from…Texas.  I was actually born in a little town calledMt. Pleasant,Texas, I was flown on Lifeflight toDallas and that is kind of how I got the name.  That coupled with the fact that my dad is a real big Cowboy fan and the TV show,Dallas, was very popular at the time.

Steve:  Yes, it was a soap opera.

Dallas:  That’s right, J R Ewing.

Steve:  I remember that.

Dallas:  So here I am.

Steve:  That’s cool.  How did you get into this business?

Dallas:  Well, in 2002 , when my son was born,Jackson, who is now about to turn 9, I was going to college to get a degreein business and I really needed to start earning income to support my family.  My parents actually owned a couple of AAMCO transmissionfranchises inTexas and it was at the suggestion of my father, and through some contacts of him, that I was able to join AAMCO.  I actually join in 2002, and I’ve been with them ever since.

Steve:  Fantastic.  What do you enjoy most about this business?

Dallas:  What I’ve always really enjoyed about the business is the interaction in customer service.  I really, really like it.  Unfortunately, one thing that changed when I got involved in the franchise is I’m not in that role as much.  So that is one of the things I miss and I still really enjoy the most is getting to meet people and interact on a customer service level with them.

Steve:  That makes sense because you are a great people person.

Dallas:  Thank you very much.

Steve:  You’re welcome.  What separates you from your competitors? What’s unique about Dallas Council and AAMCO Venice?

Dallas:  This is going to sound so much like the clique, but really here at AAMCO Venice it is all about the customer service.  We engrain into our front office staff and the technicians the motto that says that we give more in value than we take in payment.  That is something we try to live by.  One thing that kind of makes a niche for us in the automotive industry is that we’re one of the only repair facilities that will rebuild transmissions right here in house.  Some other shops around town have the ability to buy transmissions and install it into your vehicle, or will sell the work out.  Only one other  that I know of has the ability to actually do the re-building process of the transmission right in house.  That makes us unique to our industry.

Steve:  What significant changes have you seen take place in the last few years in your industry?

Dallas:  It is an every changing industry, but one of the largest things I have seen over the last 5-6 years especially is that they are really making the cars a lot better.  The technology they are putting into the cars, as I’m sure you are aware…

Steve:  So you don’t see them as often.

Dallas:  We don’t see them as often.  That is a bit unfortunate.  What happens though is they are making better cars for the consumers but they are also making more expensive cars to repair.  So, all the electronics make diagnostics tougher, makes it cutting edge for staff and crew to stay ahead of the learning curve and it makes it more expensive when they do fail.

Steve:  Explain the strangest or funniest incident you have ever experienced in this business:

Dallas:  Well, I have experienced a few.  The most recent thing that happened that was funny and a bit spooky was… an older lady just pulled in one day.  Out of the blue tried to pull into the bay, on her own, which is prohibited as we like to do that ourselves. So on the way in, she was able to bump into the wall, backed up to correct herself and ran into the Coke snack machine here.  The funny thing is that she got out as if nothing happened, like she had never bumped the wall, never bumped the Coke machine.  Just tossed us the keys and wanted an oil change.  That was pretty weird.  We have been able to interact with a lot of really unique people so it is always fun to get a sense of the culture here inVenice.

Steve:   What is one sentence that you would like people to use in describing the way you do business?

Dallas:  I would really like people to go away and be able to say… hey, we went to AAMCO and not only did they meet but exceeded our expectations, everything was first class.  So, the one word sentence would  be… not only did they meet,  but EXCEED, our expectation.  That’s from customer service, to pricing, to delivery.  The works.

Steve:  I know that is true for me. We bring all our vehicles here and see nothing but outstanding service.  We appreciate it.

Dallas:  I appreciate that very much.

Steve:  Before the bonus question, you are married, right?  Children?

Dallas: Yes, I’m married to my wonderful wife, Katie, for going on 7 years now.  I have three children:  Jackson who is going to be 9, Alexandra who will be 5 and Ava who will be 2.  They all have birthdays really close in August, September and October so it is getting ready to be a fun time for us… birthdays all around.

Steve: Good deal.  Now for the money question.  Point to a card.  Your question:  If you were to run for president, who would be your running mate?  And why?

Dallas:  I’m going to go for some bonus points here and say it would be my wonderful wife, Katie.  Only because she knows me better than any one else.  She knows my philosophies and she is always able to give me an objective opinion that is received well.  She just overall makes me a better person.

Steve:  Awesome.  Great answer, I’m sure you did get a couple of bonus and cool points. Dallas, thank you.

Dallas:  Thank you for doing this.

Steve:  You’re welcome.  That is another segment of Community Spotlight; I’m your host Steve with Burnett Painting encouraging you to have a great day!

AAMCO of Venice;

252 U.S. 41 Bypass South, Venice, FL
(941) 488-4411

e-mail: dallas@aamcovenice.com

Burnett Painting’s

Community Spotlight with

Luigi Ammirato of Café Gelato

http://www.youtube.com/1800paintingcs#p/u/7/v3G8zQ1TYT0

Steve:  Hello and welcome to another community spotlight, I’m here with Luigi Ammirato of Café Gelato.  Hello Luigi.

Luigi:  Hello, how are you?

Steve:  Very good.  Yourself?

Luigi:  Very good, thank you.

Steve:  So where do you hail from?

Luigi:  I originally come from Brooklyn, New York, moved to Florida maybe almost 9 years now, been with the café for 7.  Café Gelato is on Price and Sumter inNorthPort.  We do breakfast, lunch and dinner, specializing in Italian cuisine.

Steve:  Is it just yourself, or is family involved?

Luigi:  It is a family operated business.  My wife, Linda, is a key part of the business, she takes care of the important stuff… money.  And my daughter, Arianna, also is involved in the business.  She is the pastry chef, does all the pastries. And we make our own gelato also.

Steve: So the gelato and everything is made in-house?

Luigi:  Yes, everything is in-house.

Steve:  Pastries as well?

Luigi:  Pastries as well, and ??? (couldn’t understand other specialty – located at :59 seconds)

Steve:  How long have you been inNorthPort?

Luigi:  Nine years and we started our seventh year in the Café.

Steve:  What’s unique about Café Gelato?

Luigi:  What’s unique about Café Gelato is the atmosphere; it is definitely coming home to eat dinner.  You’re coming home to eat lunch.  It is very family oriented and not uptight at all.  It’s a very relaxed atmosphere and we enjoy serving people, which is what we do.

Steve:  You have something a little bit bigger than the café…

Luigi:  A little bit bigger than the café is Ernesto and Luigi’s Pamodoro Sauce.  This came about a year ago, we began selling it locally and are doing very, very well.  Our goal is to take it out of the Café and into the market, first inFlorida and then to the entire country.

Steve:  That’s really big.  Retail, how much does one of these cost?

Luigi:  It is a 24 oz jar of pasta sauce and it retails for $5.99.

Steve:  Very good.  I understand you are working with charities as well?

Luigi:  Yes, we like to deal with churches or anybody else who does fund raisers.  What we do is donate our sauce to the fund raiser.  A lot of churches and other charities do dinners, so the sauce is Ernesto and Luigi’s Pamodoro Sauce.

Steve:  Great. If someone were to call for a reservation, the phone number is…

Luigi:  941-423-9575

Steve:  In closing, we have a bonus question.  I have a deck of cards, let me mix them up for you.  Draw a card and hand it to me.  Your question is:  If they made a movie about your life, who would play the lead role as you?

Luigi:  Robert De Niro, definitely!

Steve:   Alright.  Thank you Luigi

Luigi: Thank you very much.

Steve:  It’s been another Community Spotlight with Luigi Ammirato ofCafé Gelato and I am your host Steve with Burnett Painting encouraging you to support your local community businesses!