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Source: Bradenton-Herald, April 13, 2007
Enterprise Florida Board Adds Local Resident
By SARA KENNEDY
SARASOTA - Local
businessman Henry Rodriguez has long taken an interest in the economic
development of southwest Florida and would like to see the area, now so
dependent on housing and development, diversify with more high-tech companies
that produce high-wage jobs.
He'd also like to see the state do the same. Now he'll be one of those
attempting to make it happen as part of the board of directors for Enterprise
Florida Inc., the state's public-private partnership responsible for leading
Florida's economic development efforts.
Gov. Charlie Crist last month announced the appointment of Rodriguez to the
partnership's board.
Rodriguez, 43, of Sarasota, is president of the real estate investment firm
SDC Communities Inc., and is also affiliated with Rodriguez Investment
Management, which handles investments across the business spectrum.
He formerly worked as president and chief executive officer of LDC
Telecommunications Inc., and Sensormatic Del Caribe, according to the governor's
office.
"I would love to see high-wage technology, bio-technology
companies," Rodriguez said Thursday. "I'm very big into renewable
energies. There's a large need in the nation for renewable energies. I think
Sarasota-Bradenton-Manatee could become influential players."
One of the perils of an economy so dependent upon housing and development is
that, when the construction industry falls upon hard times, it has a magnified
effect, he said.
"We as a community need to start diversifying. As long as we become
dependent on just two or three industries, not only will our housing market be
volatile, our workforce will be volatile also."
Building permits for new housing have dropped to a 30-year low, he noted,
indicating that buyers are purchasing existing homes right now.
"The market's taking its time to absorb the excess inventory.
Speculation is completely gone. It's a very healthy correction," he said.
Sarasota and Manatee counties have a wealth of energetic, brilliant people
who can make a big difference with drive and creativity.
"It's incredible," Rodriguez said. "It's a wealth of knowledge
in these communities. I just hope somehow we can turn a retirement community
into an active, vibrant, intellectually-stimulating community harnessing the
intellectual capacity of the people who come here to retire."
For the future, Rodriguez said frontrunners will be bio-tech and renewable
energy firms. The economy of the future will hinge on three issues: national
security, economic development and environmental quality, not necessarily in
that order, he said.
Rodriguez is married and has two young children.
He also serves as a trustee for the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and is a
member of the board of directors of the United Way of Sarasota.
"Henry is an energetic, results-oriented person," said Crist in
announcing the appointment, which begins upon confirmation by the Florida Senate
and ends July 1, 2010. "He managed two successful technology companies and
brings a great deal of business experience to the table."
Sara Kennedy, Bradenton Herald business reporter,
can be reached at (941) 748-0411, ext. 4500.
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