| The Workshop meeting of Central Florida Chapter of FAOLO was held at the Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center in Orlando, FL President Art Heintz called the meeting to order at 9:00 am (GENERAL MEETING MINUTES ARE ON MINUTES PAGE) Attendance: Lalia Ingraham, Oakhill Susan Fraiser, Eustis Pam Sprouse, Palatka Sylvia Denson, Winter Springs Cathy Roberts, W. Melbourne Tammy Kimball, Lake County Paul Melin, Marion County Barbara Long, St. Johns County Christine Eicher, Volusia County Melody Hallock, Volusia Nancy Bronzi, Volusia County Art Hientz, Volusia County Frankie Guilford, AlachuaAndria Bowers, Cape Leslee Gustafson, Orange Roger Gardner, Ormand Beach Paulene Mathius, Apopka Donna Davis, Apopka Janet McMahan, Clearwater Peggy Sue Clark, Fruitland Park Michael Williams, Winter Springs Marlene Beams, Flagler Beach Terri Cendenin, West Melbourne Marla Hedstrom, St Cloud Monica Strickland, Lake County Debbie Rimers, Longwood Pat Drosten, Edgewater Nancy O�Brian, Dunnellon Angilia Pittsley, Belleview Dodie Beach, Maitland Denise Knight, Clermont Yvonne Brown, Port St. Lucie JoAnn Johnson, Sanford Will Roberts, Volusia Joanna Young, Alachua Judy Strunk, Alachua Deirdre Palmerton, New Port Richey Helen Marks, Cape Canaveral Rose Steeves, Orange City Greta Rawler, St Lucie County Mary Ann Esyanis, St Lucie County Brigette Harless, St Lucie County Andrea Bowers, Cape Canaveral Dan Florian, Sanford Tracy Morgan, Cocoa Beach Guest Speaker J.R. Kelly, Department of Agriculture We were pleased to have the Director of the Department of Agriculture, J.R. Kelly speak with us and Mr. Kelly asked the group for feed back on any problems we may have had with his organization or staff. Hearing none, he moved on and took questions from the floor regarding the Department as a whole. Question: What if we are not sure if a business needs a license from the Department of Agriculture? Answer: If you e-mail Mr. Kelly personally ( [email protected] ), or one of the Division Directors on the list he provided, with the business name and address and they will mail a registration package to the business with a form, the law, and give them 15 days to comply. Question: In the letter do you include the clause � �and your local jurisdiction�? Answer: No, not currently. However, Mr. Kelly stated that he would have the letter revised to do so. He also spoke about operation RECON (Register County Occupational Names) which will help each jurisdiction keep track of businesses who are registered with the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Kelly also made an OFFER to all the jurisdictions represented by FAOLO saying that if you send in a list of Businesses in your jurisdiction he will send you a PDF file for with all business names and addresses, for each venue, who should be licensed with your jurisdiction. If you would like that information on a regular basis, set a schedule, perhaps quarterly, and he will send an updated list at each request. Question: Do you have a working relationship with the Department of Revenue? (re: RISE list) Answer: Yes, but we had to change the law (statutes) in order to do that. Question: Is your data available on the web? Answer: No, but we are working on it. We are also looking into e-filing. Question: Is the PDF file that you will send us all the businesses? Or different categories. Answer: It depends on what you ask for. Question: Can you break the data down into Cities? Answer: No, yes, but generally it comes in County blocks. Mr. Kelly reiterated the request that each jurisdiction send the Department of Agriculture the data from your city or county. Please. You can send the data in excel, ASC II, or a Word table or Text Delimited file, they can work with almost any electronic format. Question: Any news regarding the towing bill? Answer: It looks like it is going to pass and then the Department of Agriculture will also regulate wrecker operators. Question: Would we then need to see a copy of that registration in order to renew existing licenses? Answer: Yes, and it will require each wrecker operator to become certified also. However, each company will have to keep track for the certifications for all of their operators. Question: Will this also include automotive garages that use wreckers? Answer: There is an exemption if more than 80% of their business is from other than wrecker services. But their drivers will still have to become certified. Question: Will you send out information on those who will be exempt? Answer: No, but there will be a grace period of a year to eighteen months where they will have to become certified. There will also be a continuing education requirement. Question: Will this apply to transport companies? Answer: No, that is a different classification. Mr. Kelly spoke briefly about the �do not call law� and stated that they now have 30-35 cases that are in court. Question: Regarding the Gaming Commission, do �Texas Holdum� tournaments fall under game promotions? Answer: no, they fall under another jurisdiction but you can�t do that sort of thing unless you are a non-profit organization, recognized by the IRS. If they have to pay money it falls under the Attorney Generals office. Question: What is the difference between charged games and pool tournaments? Answer: A pool tournament is not a game of chance it is considered a game of skill. Question: How can we contact the Attorney General? Answer: The Attorney General has offices located in: Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Tallahassee and Jacksonville. Question: Are independent contractors or sellers of travel required to file? Answer: No, but they must file for an exemption. There are certain requirements in order to meet the exemption criteria. One is that they can not accept any funds. They also can not issue any travel documents. Question: Must each operator in a Pest Control company be licensed, if they are not employees? Answer: The Division of Environmental Services handles employee licensing. However, each Pest Control company must be licensed with the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Kelly again spoke about the �do not call� list and stated that they are currently looking into letting businesses subscribe to the list. But this is not in place just yet. Question: Do you foresee adding spam e-mail? Answer: No, there is a Federal Law in place, but it is next to impossible to enforce. It requires �cyber investigators�. JR does not foresee that area ever being regulated. Question: What about cell phones? Answer: Yes, you can do that now, both cell phones and pagers can be added. Question: What happened to the Home Inspectors Bill? Answer: It died. The DBPR did not want to take it on. Some of the industry wants it and some don�t. They may set up a task force to review the bill. Question: What do we have to do to get our voices heard on this? Answer: Contact your Representative and/or Senator. 99% of the time they will listen to you. Also contact the Senator who wrote and/or sponsored the Bill. You can find that information at www.leg.state.fl.us Under laws and bills. This site should help you research who writes and sponsors different Bills. Go to the Senate side of the site as it is much easier to use. Question: Does upholstery constitute enough change to fall under the Motor Vehicle Law? Answer: No, not if they do only upholstery repairs. Question: How about pin striping? Answer: Yes, because it changes the appearance of the vehicle. Question: What if they don�t touch the engine? Answer: Anything you do to a vehicle falls under the act, including paint. Even dent repairs, body work, mobile repairs. The only exclusions are upholstery and radio shops, if they only install radios. If they install alarms or keyless entry systems they are not exempt. Question: What about Gift Giving Guides? Answer: You can find all registered charities on the web, which is updated monthly. However, if you call the hot-line the information you receive will be current up to the minute data. Don�t forget to send JR a list of businesses in your area. (see contact list attached) Guest Speaker Debbie Brown, Florida National Entrepreneur Center ( www.floridanec.org ) Ms. Brown induced herself, the Florida National Entrepreneur Center (see attached) and briefly introduced the other Service Providers at the Center. The mission of the NEC is to help businesses know where they need to go by networking and referrals with member agencies. A short informational video was shown about the Disney/SBA Entrepreneur Center which is a one-stop-shop for anyone who wants to start or grow their business. It is one of only two of it�s kind in the country and offers training, financial assistance and the tools and resources needed to succeed in business. Guest Speaker Bob Shephard, SCORE ( www.score.org ) Mr. Shephard welcomed FAOLO to the NEC, which was opened in June of 2003. However, SCORE has been in existence for 38 years in Orlando and 40 years nationally. Their mission is to further the free enterprise system by providing technical and managerial guidance to existing and prospective for-profit and not-for-profit ventures and individuals looking to increase their potential for success in the small business community. SCORE has 11,000 volunteers and 389 Chapters, with Orlando being #138. Overall they have over 350,0000 years of business experience. SCORE can also help people improve their existing businesses . They offer seminars for $30 each, but all their other services are free. 55 counselors work out of the Orlando center, 5 days a week from 9 am to 5 pm. Guest Speaker Ed Ramos, Business Information Center Manager ( www.floridanec.org ) Mr. Ramos helps clients with �what if� scenarios. They provide clients with access to computers with business planning software, databases for economic research, a library of books, how to guides and information on SBA services. Guest Speaker Augusto Sanabria, Hispanic Business Initiative Fund ( www.hbiforl.org ) The HBIF Mission is to strengthen the economy of Central Florida through quality bi-lingual technical assistance and training to Hispanic entrepreneurs. They currently have two offices in Tampa and Orlando but they are looking into an opening an office in South Florida. In order to qualify for assistance companies must be 51% Hispanic owned. In addition to providing technical assistance and training the center also provides legal assistance, educational programs, business and marketing planning along with other viable services. Guest Speaker Duane Lewis, Black Business Investment Fund ( www.bbif.com ) The BBIF provides guaranteed loans for 1 in 7 clients that they service. Their Mission is to develop and promote African-American business enterprises through education, training, loans, investments, and other activities and to aggressively promote an atmosphere conducive to their development. In order to achieve this goal they have a technical assistance program complete with 2 CPA�s and 2 Management Consultants. They also provide networking and procurement opportunities. All services are provided free of charge. Guest Speaker Geovanny Sepulveda, The Alliance ( www.allianceflorida.com ) The Minority/Women Business Enterprise Alliance, Inc., (The Alliance), is based in Orlando (Orange County), Florida, is a 501(c)3 community based private non-profit corporation which offers training, consulting, management and technical assistance and financing to small and medium-sized businesses. The Alliance has over 10 years experience and a superb track record of providing services throughout the Metropolitan Orlando Service Area and Orange County Government. The Alliance was first funded as a construction assistance program and they still provided many services to minority contractors including plan review rooms, bid, estimating and take-off assistance. 70% of their clients are start-ups who have been in business less than three years. The Alliance also tracks the number of licenses they need to get. Last year their customers generated over 250 licenses in the Construction industry. The Alliance is also a micro lender, providing loans up to $10,000. The businesses they serve created 380 new jobs through micro funds. They also provide monthly contract opportunities to businesses. Fifty companies have been certified in their General Contractors Management Program. They offer a 10 week program in conjunction with the Department of Transportation. As well as an Economic Development lender association which provides $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000 loans and soon a Disney/SunTrust loan program will be announced. Though the primary focus of The Alliance is Management and technical assistance, networking and many in-kind services. They also have a cooperative agreement with Workforce Development for employment opportunities. NEC Panel Speaker Discussion Question: Does the direct loan program still exist? Answer: No, the SBA, and many associate agencies, now gives guaranteed loans. The only direct loan program is the disaster assistance loan program. Question: What would disqualify someone from getting a loan. Answer: Each agency has it�s own criteria. However, The Alliance stated there are only three things that would disqualify someone from receiving a micro-loan from their agency. 1) Unpaid Student Loans 2) Unpaid Taxes 3) Unpaid Child support. Question: How do you make referrals? Answer: All referrals are made centrally from the main NEC office. All the member agencies are closely connected and work together to provide the specific services that will uniquely benefit each applicant. Question: Do you serve non-profit clients? Answer: SCORE = yes, through workshops, seminars and referrals. The Alliance also sponsors non-profit seminars 3 times a year. Guest Speaker Michael Murphy, Department of Business and Professional Regulation ( www.myflorida.com/dbpr ) Mr. Murphy introduced himself and then showed a power point presentation with a wealth of information regarding the DBPR including an organizational chart, programs areas and contact information. (see PowerPoint presentation& Division AuthorityDoc attached) The DBPR has 10 regional offices and will make a response to an application within 30 days but it may take up to 120 days to issue a license or not. There are currently 376,000 licensed professionals in the state of Florida. These licenses span over 13 professions. You can find information on any business or professional licened with the DBPR at www.myfloridalicense.com . On the web-site you can also find a list of all the professions which are regulated. Question: Does pudding wrestling need to be licensed? Answer: Not by the DBPR Question: If a license is revoked how long before that will be reflected on the web-site? Answer: The web-site is updated at the end of every business day. Updates generally run from 6 pm to 12 am. Question: If the a business is found in non-compliance will the DBPR shut it down or is it up to the jurisdiction? Answer: The DBPR has the authority to shut it down. However, each division or licensing group will decided that on an individual case basis. Question: If we can not get a response from the DBPR can the municipality take over? Answer: Not necessarily. Question: Real Estate Brokers and Agents, who gets licensed? Answer: Both. Question: Do you provide exemption letters? Answer: No, if they need a license and do not have one we would cite them for unlicensed activity and notify the jurisdiction also. Question: If a person is selling or renting someone else�s property they should be licensed. Correct? Answer: Yes, that or they need to be a property manager. Question: Do only CPA�s need to be licensed? What about Bookkeepers and Tax preparers? Answer: Only CPA�s are required to be licensed. Question: Is there access to medical profession complaints, logs and notations? Answer: No, the DBPR only provides information on Veterans services. Question: Are weight and exercise places or gyms regulated? Answer: No, not unless they are having an event. Question: What about Cosmetology? Answer: There are many different venues which are licensed in this category. Question: If you register on-line do you have to mail in the application also? Answer: Yes, usually you must mail in the supporting documentation that goes along with the web application. Question: What is the benefit of applying on the web? Answer: The DBPR processes 12,000 to 20,000 applications per week. The turnaround time for an on-line application is approximately 12 days as long as the application is completed, payment is made and all supporting documentation is mailed. Mail-in applications substantially longer, usually 2 to 3 weeks. Please make people aware though that the entire application must be completed, which is usually 20 pages long. First you must set up an account, then pay the fee and finally you must complete the entire application. Only if the application is completed will it be processed the next day. If you do not complete the application it will not print out for processing. Question: On the Construction side, is the DBPR not issuing RX licensees any longer? Answer: Mr. Murphy stated that he was not sure but would find out and get back to us with the answer. |
| Workshop
October 28, 2004 |