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Did you know that more than 40% of adults in the United States suffer from obesity? Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for this condition. Perhaps worse is that more and more adults and children are gaining weight across the country, choosing the convenience of fast and nutrition-deficient foods over healthy eating, exercise, and positive life choices. From an aesthetic standpoint, being overweight is a struggle - clothes don't fit right, people make uncomfortable comments about how you look, and everyday activities are less appealing.
From a health and wellness standpoint, however, being obese is much worse. Your life is literally on the line. The people who love you and depend on you to be in their lives could lose you sooner than you expect. With time, you have a higher chance of suffering from significant, life-changing issues such as:
While obesity is a serious problem, a new medication on the market is giving hope to millions of men and women across the U.S. This game-changing treatment is called Semaglutide in Venice Gardens, FL. This anti-obesity medication is unique because it treats obesity as a chronic metabolic disease, rather than a problem that can be solved through sheer willpower. The best part? Semaglutide and other medical weight-loss peptides are now available at Global Life Rejuvenation.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we understand that losing weight is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our medical weight loss clinic offers custom medical weight loss plans tailored to your body, rather than plans based solely on your age or weight. In fact, our team of doctors and practitioners provides personalized guidance to help you achieve real results and live a healthier life.
Because the truth is maintaining good health and fitness are crucial in the modern world. Research has shown that viruses and diseases are more likely to affect those who are overweight and unhealthy. At Global Life Rejuvenation, we take a comprehensive, custom approach to medical weight loss that includes peptide therapy and more. We then work with you to make positive lifestyle changes, so you can lose weight, get healthy, and boost your wellbeing permanently - not for a few weeks or months.
If you're ready to get back to loving your life with more energy, confidence, and positivity, medical weight loss with peptide therapy may be for you. But to truly understand the benefits of peptides like Semaglutide, it's important you grasp what peptide therapy is and how it benefits your body.
Many individuals turn to peptide therapy to enhance their overall wellbeing by boosting hormones. Different types of peptides can target different areas of health, such as collagen peptides that can help improve skin, hair, and gut health.
Other peptides, such as AOD 9604, CJC 1295, and Semaglutide in Venice Gardens, FL, are incredibly beneficial for losing weight. Compared to vitamin supplements, peptide therapy works differently as peptides are already part of the proteins in our bodies, making them easier to absorb and benefit from. Conversely, our bodies can sometimes fail to absorb all the nutrients present in multivitamins, leading to their excretion through urine.
However, it's important to note that weight loss is a complex process that involves various factors like age, genetics, lifestyle, exercise, and diet. While peptides like Semaglutide can provide much-needed assistance in achieving your weight loss goals, they are most effective when combined with healthy dietary choices, regular exercise routines, and overall healthier lifestyle choices.
If you've already tried different weight loss plans and diets but haven't had any success, medical weight loss with peptide therapy may provide that extra boost you need to realize your goals.
If you're looking to lose weight and keep it off, diet and exercise are important, but it can be difficult to stick to a routine. For busy adults and parents, Semaglutide can be a helpful tool for weight loss. This injection, approved by the FDA for diabetes and obesity, works by stimulating GLP-1 receptors in the brain to aid in weight loss and improve long-term health.
You may be wondering to yourself, "That sounds great, but how does this type of peptide work?" Semaglutide acts like glucagon in your body, which signals to your brain that you're full and don't need to eat anymore. When you take Semaglutide, and you try to overeat, your body waves a proverbial red flag as if to say, "That's enough."
Semaglutide also slows down digestion, reducing unnecessary snacking throughout the day. By reducing glucose spikes after meals, it reduces inflammation, which is important for overall health. Additionally, Semaglutide helps your pancreas secrete insulin, regulates the glucose levels in your body, and even has anti-aging and longevity properties. If you're struggling to lose weight, peptide therapies for weight loss like Semaglutide can be an invaluable addition to your weight loss plan from Global Life Rejuvenation.
When combined with healthy lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, Semaglutide can help provide:
There are multiple medications available to combat obesity by suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss. However, Semaglutide stands out as an exceptional option.
A recent study of 2,000 obese adults examined the effects of Semaglutide when combined with a diet and exercise program. The results were compared to those who only made lifestyle changes without taking Semaglutide. After 68 weeks, it was found that half of the participants using Semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight, with nearly a third losing 20%. In contrast, those who only made lifestyle changes lost an average of 2.4% of their weight.
It's obvious, then, that Semaglutide is a safe and effective supplement for your weight loss journey with Global Life Rejuvenation. But who is the ideal patient who should be taking it?
If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/m2 or higher and at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol, or if your BMI is 30kg/m2 or higher, the FDA recommends Semaglutide for weight loss.
As medical weight loss experts, one thing our doctors and practitioners know at Global Life Rejuvenation is that true weight loss isn't dictated by medicines. It's achieved by sticking to a combo of exercise, healthy life choices, and healthy eating habits. From there, peptides like Semaglutide in Venice Gardens, FL are great for taking your weight loss efforts to the next level of success.
One area where many patients fail in this process is with their diet. If you're considering Semaglutide treatment, keep these diet tips in mind.
To enhance your dietary habits, a practical approach is to concentrate on consuming whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. These food items are rich in nutrients and can provide a feeling of fullness and satisfaction while also promoting your overall wellbeing.
Eating mindfully involves being fully present and engaged during meals. This entails taking the time to enjoy the flavor of your food, being aware of your body's hunger and fullness signals, and avoiding distractions like electronics or television.
To maintain good health and support weight loss, it's crucial to drink plenty of water. It's recommended to drink at least 8-10 cups of water daily. You may also try adding low-calorie drinks like herbal tea or infused water to keep things interesting.
Planning your meals in advance is an effective approach to maintaining a healthy diet. Set aside some time each week to plan your meals and snacks, keeping in mind to incorporate a balance of protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. This will prevent impulsive food choices and guarantee that you have nutritious options available when hunger strikes.
Unlike many medical weight loss clinics, which only offer cookie-cutter weight loss plans and one or two additional fat-busting solutions, Global Life Rejuvenation provides access to new, innovative supplements and medicines. If you're used to fad diets and "quick" weight loss plans, peptides like AOD 9604 and others may be new to you. To help build your foundation of healthy living knowledge, let's take a look at a few of the most popular weight-loss peptides and medicines available at Global Life Rejuvenation.
Often combined with Semaglutide regimens, AOD 9604 is known to promote fat breakdown, inhibit lipogenesis, and support tendons and cartilage. However, most recently, it has gained popularity due to its ability to boost metabolism and aid in burning fat.
What sets AOD 9604 apart is that it stimulates the pituitary gland without affecting tissue growth or blood sugar levels. Additionally, it can burn fat without causing overeating, making it a viable option for obese men and women who are trying to implement better eating habits.
Interestingly, AOD 9604 activates your body's fat-burning processes without requiring an HGH receptor. It also releases obese fat cells and reduces the accumulation of new fat cells. By helping to regulate blood sugar and manage insulin levels, AOD 9604 is excellent for weight loss but also for other maladies like inflammation.
Some conditions that this powerful peptide can help address include the following:
This medical weight loss supplement Is technically a combo of two peptides. These substances work by stimulating your pituitary gland to produce more of your body's natural human growth hormone, which is secreted during both waking and sleeping periods.
This results in increased protein synthesis and levels of insulin-like growth factors. As hormone secretagogues, they help release hormones into circulation while mimicking the pituitary gland's production. Extensive research has been conducted on the effects of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin. As a tool for medical weight loss, it has shown very promising results.
That's because when growth hormone levels increase, nutrients are transported through the body faster, more fat is burned, and weight management becomes simpler. Additionally, because CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin increase the amount of growth hormone in your body, it stimulates the breakdown of triglycerides in adipocytes, leading to improved fat metabolism and reduced abdominal fat.
Benefits of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin for weight loss include:
A Methionine Inositol Choline (MIC) injection is a mixture of lipotropics that aid in fat breakdown. The key components - methionine, inositol, and choline - work together to metabolize fat cells and eliminate stored fat deposits in the liver and body. Methionine is an important amino acid, inositol contributes to proper cell formation, and choline is a water-soluble nutrient that promotes healthy liver function. When combined, these compounds may help reduce body fat.
When used in conjunction with a medical weight loss plan from Global Life Rejuvenation, MIC injections can be a powerful addition to reclaiming your health and wellbeing.
Request AppointmentLike other weight loss peptides and medicines on this page, Phentermine can help you lose weight when you stick to a medical weight loss plan that includes dieting, exercise, and smart life choices. It does so by reducing your appetite, which limits the number of calories you eat every day.
As is the case with Semaglutide, Phentermine has been approved by the FDA and is supported by clinical studies that show it can support weight loss. With time, patience, and healthy living, this supplement may help you reach your wellness goals sooner than you thought possible.
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In the body, 7-keto-DHEA is produced from dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is a hormone made by glands near your kidneys. However, unlike DHEA, 7-keto-DHEA is not converted into androgen and estrogen in your body. Instead, 7-keto-DHEA is used orally or topically to boost your body's metabolism. It also helps convert more of your energy into heat, instead of storing it in your body as fat, which can accumulate with time and lifestyle choices.
Much like Semaglutide treatment in Venice Gardens, FL, 7-keto-DHEA has been shown to be very effective for weight loss as well as a host of other issues. Additional benefits of taking 7-keto-DHEA may include the following:
Have you tried everything under the sun to try and eliminate the cellulite on your legs, arms, and other areas of your body? If you're like most people, getting rid of cellulite isn't just difficult - it's nearly impossible. Fortunately, those days are over. Lipo Sculpt Cream from Global Life Rejuvenation can help reduce the unsightly appearance of cellulite while also refining your figure and firming up your skin.
The active ingredients in this product have the ability to reduce and prevent the growth of fatty tissue while also improving microcirculation. They work together to treat both adipose and aqueous cellulite, and aid in the elimination of fatty deposits and excess water stored in the tissues. This results in a reduction of dimples and an overall improvement in the appearance of your skin.
If you have experienced success with a medical weight loss plan and reached your target weight but still suffer from cellulite, Lipo Sculpt Cream is a fantastic choice to consider. A few of the most common benefits include:
Are you craving a productive life at a healthy weight? Are you ready to make a meaningful difference in your life and the lives of your loved ones? The pathway to wellbeing starts by contacting our office for an in-depth consultation, where we'll learn more about your weight-loss goals and needs.
From there, we'll create a custom weight-loss plan tailored to your body. This plan will map out the steps of your weight-loss journey, including peptide therapies like Semaglutide in Venice Gardens, FL. Though every person's weight management goals are different, when you're a patient at Global Life Rejuvenation, you benefit from dedicated doctors and practitioners committed to improving your weight and, in turn, your health.
Whether your health is on the line, or you don't like how being overweight makes you look and feel, our team is ready to guide you toward long-term health and happiness. This way, you can get healthy, stay in shape, and fall in love with your newfound body.
Call Us 866.793.9933
Farmer’s market enthusiasts in the area, please add the Fresh Harvest Farmer’s Market at Wellen Park to your Sunday morning calendars. With dozens of vendors selling beautiful produce, fresh foods, soaps, and candles, and situated in a charming eclave of fountains, play areas, great food, live music and interesting gathering places, this is a farmer’s market with a little more. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love a one-stop-shop when divvying up your family’s precious weekend time.There is much to l...
Farmer’s market enthusiasts in the area, please add the Fresh Harvest Farmer’s Market at Wellen Park to your Sunday morning calendars. With dozens of vendors selling beautiful produce, fresh foods, soaps, and candles, and situated in a charming eclave of fountains, play areas, great food, live music and interesting gathering places, this is a farmer’s market with a little more. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love a one-stop-shop when divvying up your family’s precious weekend time.
There is much to love about strolling through a vibrant farmer’s market, and the new farmer’s market at Wellen Park is the perfect setting for a delightful morning. Walking through fresh produce stands where everything is laid out in baskets and sorted so the eye can linger on the beauty of it all is essential to the experience. Then, you fill your bag with the freshest ingredients which will surely amp up your weekly food prep, and often at a substantial savings over the grocery store. It is a win/win for the senses and the pocketbook. Scents of freshly brewed coffee and piping hot scones play well with the multitude of seating nooks that allow you to enjoy your treats while you rest a bit. On our recent visit, we were able to experience all of this plus grab beautiful, fresh produce for the week. We even took time to enjoy a tasty fish and chips lunch and sat near an old oak tree where a guitarist serenaded the gathering crowd. It was rather nice, getting a bonus lunch date while checking off some food shopping.
The list of vendors at Fresh Harvest Farmer’s Market is lengthy, but you can expect to find Apotheca Brown Soaps and Sundries, where you can stock up on your summer graduation and shower gifts. Betty’s Embroidery could provide that one-of-a-kind baby gift you need, and Willow Grace Candle Company has all the specialty candles to make guests feel special. Knife-sharpeners, stylish bandanas, specialty olive oils and even premade frozen foods and fresh fish are available. All of the vendors were well stocked and busy talking with shoppers. The dining options at Fresh Harvest Farmer’s Market are plentiful as well, with a number of food trucks onsite offering everything from crepes to Italian sausage and peppers to fresh chicken salad, as well as a couple dedicated restaurant stands that offer seafood and hotdogs. Within walking distance is great brick and mortar shopping and additional restaurants catering to every appetite. A list of all vendors is attached here Fresh Harvest Vendors 2023.xlsx – Microsoft Excel Online (live.com).
Where is Wellen Park? Well, it’s not quite in North Port and also not quite in Venice, though residents from both cities frequently argue that it’s definitely one or the other. The official address sides with Venice. Situated near Cool Today Park, winter home of the Atlanta Braves, the area is spreading with upscale shopping and trendy restaurants mixed in with behemoth sized housing developments. The Fresh Harvest Farmer’s Market is held every Sunday from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM and is located in Downtown Wellen, 19745 Wellen Park Blvd, Venice. For more information, please visit Fresh Harvest Farmers Market – Wellen Park.
Photos courtesy of Jodi Schwarzenbach
VENICE – The Venice City Council will decide whether to purchase a 4.9-acre park for $1.5 million from Border Road Investments, LLC that would be developed for residents in northeast Venice.Residents in the growing area have long pushed the city to develop a park in that portion of the city.Recent surveys and workshops have keyed on a need for a nature trail, pickleball courts, children’s playground and dog park – in that order.In September, developer Pat Neal showcased plans to build a f...
VENICE – The Venice City Council will decide whether to purchase a 4.9-acre park for $1.5 million from Border Road Investments, LLC that would be developed for residents in northeast Venice.
Residents in the growing area have long pushed the city to develop a park in that portion of the city.
Recent surveys and workshops have keyed on a need for a nature trail, pickleball courts, children’s playground and dog park – in that order.
In September, developer Pat Neal showcased plans to build a five-acre park in northeast Venice east of Knights Trail Road that would include a fitness trail, nine pickleball courts and a dog park in conjunction with the proposal for the Economic Stimulus Working Group to widen a 1.5-mile stretch of Laurel Road between Knights Trail Road and Jacaranda Boulevard.
Related:Walking trails and pickleball courts top Venice park wish list
Earlier: Pat Neal offers update on $11 million plan to widen Laurel Road
On Tuesday the City Council would essentially be deciding whether to buy that proposed park site.
They have already endorsed the prospect of Neal both widening Laurel Road, which is a county road, and building the park.
Prior to zeroing in on the Laurel Road property, city staff explored 32 potential properties, and a stakeholder group later reduced that to three properties.
Design and permitting for the park are budgeted at about $300,000, with projected construction costs pegged at between $2 million and $3 million.
Site work, utilities, drainage and trails are projected to cost $750,000 and a restroom building $400,000. The playground, pickleball courts and parking and driveways are projected to cost $750,000 each.
Another $200,000 is budgeted for landscaping and $100,000-plus for other amenities, such as the dog park, exercise stations, shade structures and picnic areas.
The city of Venice has more than $4 million available in park impact fees.
Currently, the city only has one park in northeast Venice – Venice Myakka River Park, which is just east of the Venetian Golf & River Club.
The city acquired land for the 10-acre park at about the same time it annexed the former Henry Ranch in the early 2000s. Most of the Henry Ranch was developed as the Venetian Golf & River Club.
When city officials approved that annexation – which kicked off the boom in northeast Venice development – they did not anticipate the need for additional public park land, because each subdivision would handle its own recreational needs.
The council meets at 9 a.m., Tuesday at Venice City Hall, 401 W. Venice Ave., following an 8:30 a.m. meeting when Helen Moore will be sworn in for her second term in Seat 3 and Jim Boldt for his first term in Seat 4.
The meeting can be viewed either on the city’s web site, https://www.venicegov.com or via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85267844802.
The swearing in, which starts at 8:30 a.m. is also available at the city web site or via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82402281877.
Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at [email protected]. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.
VENICE – Venice officials are preparing a revised proposal to Sarasota County for a new parks maintenance agreement for the county to take ownership of Wellfield Park, with the added sweetener of the city kicking in upwards from $1 million in improvements after the county finishes its design of a potential $10 million overhaul for popular recreation area.City Manager Ed Lavallee told the City Council recently that in addition to Wellfield Park, Sarasota County was considering construction of a new regional park in...
VENICE – Venice officials are preparing a revised proposal to Sarasota County for a new parks maintenance agreement for the county to take ownership of Wellfield Park, with the added sweetener of the city kicking in upwards from $1 million in improvements after the county finishes its design of a potential $10 million overhaul for popular recreation area.
City Manager Ed Lavallee told the City Council recently that in addition to Wellfield Park, Sarasota County was considering construction of a new regional park in fast-growing Wellen Park, and if that happened, Sarasota County would no longer be interested in acquiring Wellfield Park.
Lavallee suggested that a commitment to improve stormwater management at the 80-acre sports park, or cash – either from sales tax revenue or park impact fees “to take on some responsibility to help make it better” − could nudge Sarasota County a final commitment to take over Wellfield Park and approve a new maintenance deal.
Related:Venice council approves new interlocal parks agreement proposal
“It is in fact a realistic competition; they're only going to build one park,” Lavallee told the board. “We’re under some pressure to be the first in with the best proposal.”
That competition was news to officials from Wellen Park and Sarasota County, as well as Joe Neunder, the Sarasota county commissioner from Venice who recently made establishment of a regional sports complex at Wellfield Park one of his strategic plan goals.
Rick Severance, president of Mattamy Homes’ Wellen Park Division said via email: “In the past Wellen Park and the city of North Port have discussed the possibility of a regional park with the County, but currently those discussions are not active and have not been for some time.”
Nicole Rissler, director of Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, echoed that in an email relayed through a county spokeswoman: “We have not been in active conversations with Wellen Park in approximately a year but we are always willing to discuss partnerships.”
Sarasota County schedules events at Wellfield Park and operates two other regional parks, Twin Lakes Park, off of Clark Road, and the Englewood Sports Complex, off of River Road.
The Englewood complex is close enough to Wellen Park that it could make a second regional park there problematic.
Venice already has more than $1 million committed in its five-year capital improvement program for improvements at Wellfield Park, with more than half of that dedicated to restroom facilities near the baseball fields and basketball and tennis courts.
Venice is the last municipality with a full parks maintenance agreement with Sarasota County, though the current agreement is in a five-year renewal, and the City Council approved the draft of a new 10-year agreement in March 2020 and sent it to Sarasota County.
Under that proposal, Sarasota county would take over Wellfield Park and continue maintaining Venice public beaches and retain responsibility for Chuck Reiter Park for as long as five years, until a new home is found for Venice Little League. After that the city would take it over.
The city would assume responsibilities over smaller parks, such as Hecksher and Higel parks.
The city and county first entered a maintenance agreement in 1992. The most recent version was signed in 2011. That agreement capped Sarasota County’s capital outlay for maintenance at $5,000, with the city paying for larger expenditures.
Both sides had been working intermittently on a new agreement since late 2017, when Sarasota County expressed an interest to end its agreements with Sarasota, North Port and Venice.
At that time, the county was looking to make up potential budget shortfalls if state voters approved an additional homestead tax exemption.
Last summer – with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation doling out a $60,000 grant to help subsidize the project – the city and county worked to restore the turf on one of the three soccer fields and the football field at Letson Stadium in a joint $162,200 effort.
Lavallee asked council members for permission to draft a letter to the County Commission to be signed by Mayor Nick Pachota offering the new deal. He stressed that the council should be united in that support.
Neunder noted that while Sarasota County has the establishment of a south county regional sports complex on its strategic plan adding in his thinking, "it’s Venice Regional Sports Complex.”
Most people visit downtown Venice to browse the mom-and-pop shops, grab a slice of pizza, maybe catch a concert at the gazebo in Centennial Park, and soak up its small-town charms. But there’s a fascinating story behind the city’s founding that will help you appreciate Venice even more. If you slip on your sneakers and follow the handy self-guided walking tour brochure produced by Venice MainStreet and the City of Venice, you will learn all about it....
Most people visit downtown Venice to browse the mom-and-pop shops, grab a slice of pizza, maybe catch a concert at the gazebo in Centennial Park, and soak up its small-town charms. But there’s a fascinating story behind the city’s founding that will help you appreciate Venice even more. If you slip on your sneakers and follow the handy self-guided walking tour brochure produced by Venice MainStreet and the City of Venice, you will learn all about it.
Venice was a small fishing and farming community until the powerful Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers—the oldest labor union in the country—purchased the land and officially founded the city nearly a century ago as a retirement destination for its members. The BLE hired renowned city planner John Nolen to map out what was to become Florida’s first master-planned city. Nolen’s wide palm-lined boulevards and intimate neighborhoods with pocket parks designed to bring residents together exists to this day—it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010—as does the mandate that buildings adhere to the Northern Italian architectural style.
Start your walking tour at 200 N. Nassau St., at the Hotel Venice. The first building constructed by the BLE in 1926, the 100-room hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places. It became the administrative offices and classrooms for the Kentucky Military Institute, a private boarding school, from 1933 to 1971 and is now a retirement facility. From there, it’s a quarter-mile stroll past the San Marco Hotel at 238 W. Tampa Ave. (now the Venice Centre Mall), the Hines Building (now Luna’s Ristorante) at 200-220 St. Augustine, and the Orange Blossom Garage (now the home of the Venice Theatre) at 140 W. Tampa Ave. Down West Venice and Miami avenues are 13 other original 1920s commercial buildings still in use as shops, restaurants and offices. And be sure to stop by 351 Nassau St. S., the home of the Venice Museum & Archives.
Your walk is not complete until you head due west toward the Gulf of Mexico, whose proximity was essential to Nolen’s plan. Hang a right at beautiful Venice public beach onto Tarpon Center Drive and walk a mile until you dead-end at Humphris Park at the South Jetty. Then do like the locals and take a break here to bird-watch, picnic, or just rest your feet. You’ve earned it.
625 W. Venice Ave.: Several historically significant 1920s homes, dating from before the real estate crash of 1929, remain on the island of Venice. This one, with its beautiful bas-relief of birds and vines, is one of the nicest.
The Lord-Higel House: Head to 409 Granada Ave., behind City Hall, to see the oldest building in south Sarasota County, which is now under restoration. When built in 1896, it stood in a 90-acre citrus grove.
Centennial Park: Venice’s beloved gathering spot. Located at the corner of West Venice and Tampa avenues, it has picnic tables, restrooms, a children’s splash fountain and gazebo for community concerts.
The Train Depot: Built by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in 1927 at 303 E. Venice Ave., the former Seaboard Air Line railway station is now the southern terminus of the Legacy Trail. Tours conducted by the Venice Area Historical Society are currently on hiatus due to Covid-19.
Venice Municipal Pier: A bit farther south from our planned walk, so unless you’re especially hardy, jump in the car and head to 1600 Harbor Drive S., which is also the parking lot of Sharky’s on the Pier restaurant. The 720-foot fishing pier is open 24 hours a day and no fishing license is required.
Company: When David and Elizabeth Taylor purchased their original Venice garden center in 2003, the building was essentially a rundown shed. The roof leaked, the parking lot wasn’t paved, and there was no air conditioning. The couple put in $800 worth of light bulbs the first day they owned the place.MRT Lawn and Garden Center has since grown from its humble beginnings to a pair of locations, one in south Sarasota County and one in Port Charlotte, which opened last year. The company is now one of the largest pla...
Company: When David and Elizabeth Taylor purchased their original Venice garden center in 2003, the building was essentially a rundown shed. The roof leaked, the parking lot wasn’t paved, and there was no air conditioning. The couple put in $800 worth of light bulbs the first day they owned the place.
MRT Lawn and Garden Center has since grown from its humble beginnings to a pair of locations, one in south Sarasota County and one in Port Charlotte, which opened last year. The company is now one of the largest plant nurseries in Southwest Florida, serving customers looking for gardening, landscaping and decorating products and services. In 2019 MRT partnered with ACE Hardware, in which the Taylors operate independently, or what Ace calls a co-op, to offer a more complete shopping experience at both retail locations by offering full outdoor living, hardware, paint, electrical and plumbing departments.
'The kids are showing an interest in wanting to continue on. Our succession plan is not in stone — we haven’t gotten to that point.' David Taylor
Succession plan: The Taylors’ entire second generation now works in the company. The oldest, Joshua, 27, runs the landscaping division, which accounts for about a third of the total company revenue. Justin, 25, handles the human side of the operation, such as marketing, human resources and retail compliance. The youngest, Jessica, 22, started her full-time role shortly before the pandemic. She manages relationships and orders products from vendors for decor and pottery, as well as ordering items from ACE Hardware.
David and Elizabeth Taylor are no strangers to a family business. David’s family hails from an agricultural line of farmers throughout Florida. His grandfather’s pine table still sits in their conference room.
Both David and Elizabeth feel too young to turn over the family business entirely. At 58 and 54, respectively, the Taylors think a full succession plan conversation might happen when they are in their 60s or 70s. “The kids are showing an interest in wanting to continue on,” David says. “Our succession plan is not in stone — we haven’t gotten to that point.”
Challenges: Every Sunday, the Taylors try to have a family dinner. They aim to keep work and life separate — but every so often, something slips in. Justin’s boyfriend has gotten so used to this phenomenon that even one look can communicate his frustration.
“Other family members not in the business and our friends all feel the same way once the conversation goes to work,” Justin says. “They don’t know anything about it, and they feel left out.”
Like many family businesses, the lines between family and business blur often. “Sometimes I feel like we have so much family time at work that we might go a while without having family time outside of work,” Justin says. “We do take for granted seeing each other so much. We have to focus on spending quality time together when we do.”
And although they usually don’t mind talking about work while not at work, there are times where they have to set boundaries. In a what-not-to-do moment, they once went on a family vacation to Mexico and spent the whole time talking about palm trees.
The Taylors are fortunate in having friends and colleagues with family businesses in insurance and finance, people they lean on for advice. But their family working style is in a niche all its own — 90% of their schedules are unpredictable, and both stores are open seven days a week. “We’re the only family that we know of that has the workplace family dynamic that we do,” Josh says.
Justin, ever the organizer, once tried to make the entire family a shared calendar to schedule events. In recalling the memory, all of Taylors laugh. Their routines changed so much day to day that it was never going to work.
What will the company look like in five years: In July 2019, David had an unexpected health emergency.
The Taylors were in the middle of building the Port Charlotte garden center, and David was digging a ditch. One day later, he discovered he would have to have open heart surgery.
The health scare has weighed on the Taylors. “I’m definitely ready to slow down,” David says.
So although nothing is imminent, as their father contemplates taking a step back, each sibling is starting to find their place in the company. They certainly have a breadth of experience — Justin and Josh got their start loading bags of mulch in elementary school while Jessica created fairy gardens of succulents and monogrammed items for customers. The trio is likely to learn a lot more in the next five to 10 years about navigating a family business. “The three of us all respect the silos that each of us work in, and we try not to step on each other’s toes,” Justin says.
Click the links below to hear best practices from other families working through business succession and experts who have helped others.
