| Anna Lopez Brosche Managing Partner Ennis, Pellum & Associates CPAs Corporate Leader of the Year | Jean Jones Owner E. A. Accountant and Tax Consultant Pioneer of the Year | Lauren Little Owner Edible Arrangements, Avondale and Bartram Park - Franchisee of the Year | Teresa Meares President DGG Taser & Tactical Supply Entrepreneur of the Year | |
| What is your primary secret of business success? | Valuing people by listening intently. Whether it is a client with a business issue, a colleague trying to address a project, or a fellow civic leader working to make Jacksonville a better place to live and work, I actively listen to people. Active listening helps me learn more about others, facilitates building strong relationships, and opens the door for a higher level of communication. | I have always attempted to focus on the individual needs of each client and to work to solve their problems and to do it in the most cost-effective way. | Knowledge. I read as much as possible about business and try to incorporate the successful tools into my business. I also seek the advice of mentors and owners who I believe are doing it right. When you are new or young in business, it’s important to learn from others’ mistakes as well as successes. | The one primary factor in my success is being an honest person who has integrity. My values bring honor to my mother and father by the way they raised me and set an example for my children to follow. When you mix that with customer service and employee-focused management, it breeds success. |
| What other factors contribute to your business survival? | Other factors to which I attribute my business success include a deep sense of my strengths and weaknesses fostering my ability to ask for the help of colleagues, friends and mentors; time-management skills that allow me to both manage stress and be fully present in all that I do; and my powers of discernment that help me engage in robust communication. | I make it very clear early in an association with a client that while I will explore every available tax-saving step, I will operate within the law. If this is not what the client expects, he is free to work with someone else. I have been an accountant and prepared tax returns for more than 45 years. This has worked for me. I also take advantage of all continuing education available. This keeps me current on the laws and regulations. | Hard work, determination, a lot of faith and focus. You have to believe in yourself and your business plan. Although things don’t always go as you planned, you have to overcome the setbacks and stay the course. | We have survived by being conservative in our business decisions. When you are a growing business, it is easy to get distracted and want to expand and grow. However, you have to be patient. Do not focus too much on what your competitors are doing. Be aware, but do not try to keep up if they are moving faster than you. You do not win the marathon by sprinting out of the gate. A steady and consistent pace will allow for a strong and long-lasting business. |
| What was the most difficult hurdle you have overcome? | Balancing the close working relationships developed with clients, employees, vendors and peers with the difficult business decisions that are part of guiding our firm through challenging economic conditions. It is during these times that I have come to rely even more heavily upon a clear understanding of and commitment to both my personal mission and values, as well as the firm’s mission and values. | Locating funding for growth. I was fortunate to have someone who believed in me and was willing to finance the purchase of equipment. | Feeling secure about the financial picture of the business. I have gone through two accountants and I’ve finally found one who understands my business and small business ownership. So now we are reviewing my financials from the onset of opening my businesses. Although I know the importance of having an accountant, it’s very important to have an accountant who wants to know about your business and can help advise you. | Managing the growth of our business was a necessity. We were growing at a very fast pace and it required more phone lines, employees and inventory. This was taxing on an already tight cash flow performance. Using the factor of slowing down the growth to a manageable speed allowed us to gain control. We additionally created a strong business plan to gain a line of credit to help with the increased cost of our growth. |
| What is your prediction for the local economy for 2011? | 2011 will be a year of energy and rebuilding. Recent times have generated rebalancing and reframing of perspectives, as well as creativity from deep within that some of us didn’t know we had. Although slower in pace, the fruits of the reframing and creativity will yield stronger businesses with laser focus and determination to find a way to succeed and help others do the same. | I expect a slow but steady business recovery. I have observed that many of those who are working are covering more than one position. As employers feel more confident, they will begin to hire more workers. What we really need are jobs. | I believe some businesses will thrive and yet others will fail. Some of the small business owners I know are not taking advantage of business opportunities, such as networking, promotions, marketing and gaining knowledge. I feel they will fail or continue to struggle. Those business owners who focus on their business, seek new opportunities and are willing to change will prosper. | I think everyone is slowly spending money and creating a viable business economy, however everyone is still very hesitant until we know exactly what the taxes will be for next year and the years to follow. I think the debt we are creating for our country has everyone wondering who and how much will we have to pay to assist in the recovery. |