Inc. Magazine: Fort Myers firm growing fast
Storm Smart only area firm to make list two years in a row
BY JEFF CULL jcull@florida-weekly.com
At a time when many companies are pulling in the reins of growth, one Fort Myers-based business keeps expanding.

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO Brian Rist, Storm Smart's CEO. The company has grown more than 300 percent in that past three years.

Storm Smart Building Systems just added its fourth plant in Southwest Florida and is looking at a fifth.

"Our sales in August were three times what they were last August," said Brian Rist, president of Storm Smart.

And, it's those strong sales that have placed Storm Smart on Inc. Magazine's top list of growing companies for the second year in a row.

Last year, the firm ranked 387 out of 500 fastest growing companies nationwide. This year, Inc. expanded the list to 5,000 and altered the criteria. That put Storm Smart at 1,114, but still the highest ranked Fort Myers company.

"It's all about customer service," Rist said. "The majority of the work we do is from word-of-mouth. Plus we have some unique products such as our storm screens."

Rist credits his company's decision to move away from new construction about two years ago (just ahead of the building depression) and buying in to the My Safe Florida Home program as some of the keys to their success.

My Safe Florida Home provides matching grants, up to $5,000, for homeowners who protect the opening of their dwellings from hurricanes.

Expanding the company's base has also brought in more revenue.

"We were a Southwest Florida company, now we cover Tampa to Marco Island and have a location on the East Coast," Rist said. "We went to a bigger pond to catch more fish."

That also means expanding to Central America and the Caribbean. Storm Smart ships to exotic locals such as Belize, Cozumel, Cancun, Jamaica and Mexico. It's mostly for commercial projects such as hotels or restaurants, Rist said, through a network of overseas dealers. The firm is also contemplating a manufacturing plant in Mexico.

But if you really want Rist to give you his formula for success, ask him about his employees.

"The people around here, they really make the things happen," Rist said.

His IT department developed software where the sales force can see real-time information about jobs such as schedules and status anywhere there's a

wireless internet connection. And the sales and installation force has achieved a 96 percent good-excellent rates from customers.

"When you work hard, think outsidethe box and be creative, good things will happen," Rist said. ¦ My Safe Florida Home program Florida is providing free wind inspections and matching grants of up to $5,000 for qualified homeowners. Grant funds must be used for opening protections, which includes windows, skylights, gable vents, exterior doors and garage doors, and the bracing of gable ends.

>>Who is eligible for free wind inspections? >> A Floridian whose residence is a single-family, detached, site-built home. Properties not eligible for free home inspections include: Mobile homes or manufactured homes; Apartments; Condominiums; Multi-family Dwellings; and Businesses.

>>How do I request an inspection? >> Homeowners can apply for a free wind inspection online at www.mysafefloridahome.com or by calling the Department's toll-free My Safe Florida Home helpline: (866) 513-6734.

>>What will the inspection report tell me? >>The inspection report must: Outline what eligible improvements may be made to your home to increase resistance to hurricane wind damage; Provide a range of how much each improvement would cost to do; Explain what insurance discounts may be available for each improvement; Offer a hurricane resistance rating scale that shows the home's current ability, and future ability with improvements to withstand hurricanes.

NOTE: There are three categories of improvements that are eligible for matching grant dollars. The wind inspection report will detail each of these as they relate to your home, as well as additional improvements that will improve your home's resistance to hurricane wind damage.

>>Does obtaining a free inspection obligate me to make any repairs or upgrades to my residence? >>No.

>>I have a contract in place to have mitigation repairs done on my house and will cancel it if there is a chance I will get a grant.

>>Canceling a current contract may be costly to you. In addition, the matching grant funds are available only for work completed by a contractor that has been approved as a My Safe Florida Home participating contractor and for work based on the recommendations in the home inspection report.

>>I can't afford to make repairs on my own. Someone mentioned there may be a program for lowincome residents. How do I find out about that?

>>The My Safe Florida Home program is working with local governments and the Volunteer Florida Foundation to offer low-income homeowners an opportunity to strengthen their homes against natural disasters.

>>How much should I expect to save on my insurance premium if I get some of this work done?

>>The wind inspection report will give you an estimate of the discounts you might receive on the wind-portion of your homeowners insurance premium. It will vary depending on the improvements you make. It is important to remember that the premium discount is a small way to reap the benefits of hurricane-hardening your home. The biggest benefit will be the peace of mind of knowing your home and family will be safer if a hurricane hits.

>>What if the program runs out of money before I get my inspection?

>>The Legislature has allocated $250 million for the first stage of this program. Based on the results of the first phase, we are asking the Legislature to continue to fund the free wind inspections and matching grants for the millions of Florida homeowners who want to invest in hurricane-resistant retrofit measures.

>>Grant eligibility >>The 2007 Legislature changed the eligibility requirements for grants under the My Safe Florida Home program. You will be eligible for a matching grant up to $5,000 if you live at least 6 months out of the year in a single-family detached, site-built home that meets the following criteria: have a building permit application for initial construction made before March 1, 2002; insured value of $300,000 or less; valid homestead exemption; located in the wind-borne debris region; has undergone a hurricane mitigation inspection.