BREVARD TIMES REPORTS BERTRAM MOVE: Very Good Story!

Wednesday, May 9

BERTRAM YACHT TO RELOCATE TO MERRITT ISLAND WITH 221 NEW JOBS

Bertram execs at new Bertram Yachts entrance

MERRITT ISLAND, Florida – The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast announced today that Bertram Yacht, an iconic American yacht and boat building brand, will relocate from Miami to a new facility in Merritt Island starting in June.

The EDC and Bertram Yacht were joined by Florida Senator Thad Altman, Florida Representative Steve Crisafulli and Brevard County Commission Chairman Chuck Nelson for today’s announcement at the company’s new facility at 1230 Sea Ray Drive in Merritt Island, Florida.

The new state-of-the-art boat manufacturing facility and marina in Merritt Island is situated on a 37-acre site which provides significant opportunity for future expansion for the Bertram brand.  At full employment, the company’s projected total economic impact will be over $26.3 million.

“Bertram Yacht’s relocation will create more awareness of our state’s dynamic marine industry and make a very positive impact on the local economy, said Gray Swoope, president & CEO of Enterprise Florida, Inc., the state’s lead economic development organization.  “This announcement is the result of solid and effective teamwork among our state and local economic development partners.”

Bertram Yacht will relocate the key management and production employees to the new facility.  However, the company will also draw on the Space Coast’s highly skilled labor force, particularly those with experience in the marine and aerospace sectors, and create 221 new jobs in Brevard County.  The new production operation will also create significant demand for parts and components from local suppliers and vendors.

“Bertram Yacht is a legendary brand and we are pleased to keep this company with a strong Florida history in the state,” said Lynda Weatherman, president & CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.  “The company recognized the competitive advantages of a Space Coast location, particularly within our high-tech workforce.  Bertram Yacht’s creation of 221 new jobs is a positive step in mitigating the effects of our post-Shuttle economy.  We welcome Alton and the Bertram Yacht team and we look forward to the company’s continued success and growth on the Space Coast.”

Bertram Yachts’ move to Merritt Island serves not only as a new foundation for the company’s future, but brings to fruition the successful changes and new strategy developed and initiated within the last two years by the Bertram management team. The brand new facility will also be an opportunity to implement new production processes and systems to continuously enhance and innovate the Bertram model range.

“We at Bertram Yacht deeply value our 50 years of history and culture in the state of Florida and are enthusiastic to remain in the state.  We appreciate the EDC’s assistance and look forward to growing in an area with a highly skilled workforce that will help build competitive yachts well suited for hardcore saltwater sportfishing,” said Alton Herndon, President for Bertram Yachts. “We also plan to bring many existing Bertram employees to Merritt Island to help establish our roots and keep the Bertram legacy growing.”

The Ferretti Group, one of the largest yacht manufacturers in the world and parent company of Bertram Yacht, recognizes the tremendous potential for the Bertram brand and has made a significant investment and commitment to Bertram and the American manufacturing organization. “Bertram is one of the best known yacht brands in the world and we are fully committed to support the Bertram management team as we embark on a new era for this iconic American brand” said Norberto Ferretti, Founder and Chairman of the Ferretti Group.

Bertram Yacht was awarded a State of Florida Qualified Target Industry (QTI) and Brownfield tax refund to offset the cost of relocation, employee training, and infrastructure. The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners awarded Bertram Yacht the required local match for the QTI program through an Ad Valorem Tax Abatement.  Bertram Yacht considered locations in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina before choosing the Merritt Island site.

Bertram will complete the current models in production through the summer of 2012 and will begin the relocation of key models and production at the new facility in the fall of 2012, with a view to launch the first Merritt Island built models in early 2013.

About the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast
The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast is dedicated to attracting new business and investment and expanding existing industry throughout the Space Coast, influencing change on government laws and regulations affecting economic development, promoting the Space Coast to encourage new investment, supporting efforts of Space Coast military installations, and relaying new programs and procedures to assist manufacturing and high tech companies.  The EDC is a private, not-for-profit coalition whose stakeholders are business leaders committed to the economic growth and stability of Florida’s Space Coast. Visit www.SpaceCoastEDC.org.

About Bertram and The Ferretti Group

Bertram is a brand of Ferretti Group, a world leader in the design, construction and sale of motor yachts with a unique portfolio of some of the most exclusive, prestigious brands in the nautical world: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Bertram, Riva, Mochi Craft, CRN and Ferretti Custom Line. The Group, led by Chairman and Founder Norberto Ferretti and by CEO Giancarlo Galeone, has always been at the very heights of the pleasure boating market due to constant product and process innovation, continuous research and development and cutting-edge technological solutions. The Ferretti Group, founded in 1968, is also present in the United States through Ferretti Group America, which operates a network of sales centers specializing in the sale and marketing of the Group’s luxury yacht brands throughout the North American market. The Group also has a presence in Asia, with a branch of representation and promotion in Shanghai. Overall the Group is represented by an exclusive network of around 60 carefully selected dealers globally with a presence in over 80 countries, thereby ensuring valued clients receive the very best assistance in marinas all over the world.

BERTRAM MOVES TO MERRIT ISLAND: ONE OF THE FIRST REPORTS

BOAT MAKER MOVE MAY BRING WAVE OF SUPPLIERS
By Dave Berman | FLORIDA TODAY

May 9, 2012

Alton Herndon, president of Bertram Yacht, speaks about the company's relocation plans. - Rik Jesse/FLORIDA TODAY

Bertram Yacht's decision to move its manufacturing operations from Miami to Merritt Island already has started a stream of other boating-related companies planning to open new operations or expand existing ones along the Space Coast.

Bertram executives on Wednesday made their long-anticipated decision official, announcing that they will move their headquarters and manufacturing to a former Sea Ray Boats facility on a 37-acre site on Merritt Island. The combined headquarters and production plant will ramp up to employ 221 people within two years, up from the 125 people Bertram employs in Miami, the company said.

Company President Alton Herndon said several of his Miami suppliers already are making plans to open facilities on or near Merritt Island so they can retain their contracts with Bertram.

In addition, Bertram Vice President of Manufacturing Ken Beauregard expects local suppliers of boating equipment and services to expand because of new business from the Bertram plant.

"A lot of our supply base is going to come here, and we're going to need a lot of local suppliers" for everything from mirrors to upholstery, Beauregard said.

The new Bertram facility will manufacture 50- to 80-foot deep-sea sport fishing boats ranging in price from $2 million to $7 million, building 15 to 25 boats a year. Ten to 12 will be on the assembly line at any one time.

Adjacent to the Bertram plant, Vectorworks Merritt Island is opening a 35- to 40-employee facility that will use an environmentally friendly, low-emission process for producing composite parts for Bertram boats, according to Jeff Gray, who co-owns the company that runs Vectorworks Merritt Island and a 100-employee sister company in Titusville.

Another economic spinoff, Beauregard said, will be the visits to the area by Bertram's customers, as they visit the factory during the six- to nine-month assembly process of their boats, generating business for local hotels, restaurants and retailers. In the past, some customers have even sent their captains to Miami for six months or more to watch the entire process, to assure that everything is perfect.

Bertram's customers, Beauregard said, are "the ultra-wealthy," with net worths of at least $50 million, and most employ captains to pilot their boats.

"It's the Rolls-Royce of boats. It's top-of-the-line," said boating aficionado Frank Sullivan, a citrus-industry executive and Canaveral Port Authority commissioner, who attended Bertram's announcement and reception for community leaders at the company's new production building. "I think it's exciting."

"You can't find a better class of company than Bertram," Gray said.

Bertram's announcement is the culmination of a four-year process by company officials seeking a new home because of the company's cramped quarters in Miami. Herndon said he considered more than 30 sites from Virginia to Florida before choosing Merritt Island.

Brevard County provided Bertram with tax savings totaling more than $1.9 million over 10 years. Based on the new Florida jobs created, the company also will receive up to $240,000 in state tax refunds, for locating in a designated brownfield area, as well as an undisclosed Florida Qualified Target Industry incentive.

Herndon said that economic incentive package played a role in his company's decision, but added that some other communities offered more financially.

What the other candidates didn't have and Merritt Island did, Herndon said, was the combination of a location with easy access to the ocean; a large, tall building that can accommodate the manufacture of Bertram's largest boats; a strong, dedicated labor pool, including laid-off space shuttle workers and former Sea Ray workers; and proximity to a major airport such as Orlando International to provide easy access for the company's customers who want to visit the plant.

He also complimented state and county officials and the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast for their efforts to streamline the process that led to Wednesday's announcement.

"It's just like the Merritt Island community," Herndon said. "These are the best of the best."

Brevard County Commission Chairman Chuck Nelson, whose district includes Merritt Island, tried to make Bertram officials feel at home right away, telling them during his comments, that, while he couldn't afford one, "I've always been drawn to the classic Bertram style."

He also gave the company another honor: The county renamed the entrance road to the plant as "Bertram Way."

Economic Development Commission Chairman Robert Whelen, a Harris Corp. vice president, called Bertram's decision "a positive step in mitigating the job losses from the shuttle program," adding that he looked forward to the spinoff impact as well.

Initial estimates by the Economic Development Commission show that Bertram's 221 jobs will lead to 197 spinoff jobs, with a combined payroll of $18.4 million a year, as well as a projected annual economic impact of more than $26.3 million.

Company officials said the move to larger, more efficient facilities in Brevard will help the company boost its annual revenue by 47 percent -- rising from $34 million this year to $50 million in 2015.

Choosing to relocate on Merritt Island "is a very good solution," said Norberto Ferretti, founder and chairman of the Ferretti Group, which acquired Bertram is 1998. "We are very, very happy to find this incredible factory."

Ferretti said he wanted Bertram to remain in Florida and felt the Brevard offered less distractions than Miami. The company was founded there in 1961.

"Florida is our homeland," Herndon said. In all, the combined Bertram/Vectorworks complex will total about 147,000 square feet, including a still-to-be-built warehouse and supply area, Beauregard said.

"LET'S EXPLORE THE OCEAN"

I found this graphic and the introductory words on a blog by Ed Killer of the Stuart News and thought it was pretty interesting.  Passing it along....

Ed's intro:

"This infographic sent to me by Greg Voakes, Digital Media Producer, Blogger: Huffington Post | Business Insider (Thanks Greg!!), explains in plain language some facts about ocean exploration on good ol' Planet Earth.

Included in the graphic is mention of filmmaker/explorer James Cameron's recent journey to Challenger Deep, the deepest known part of the planet at more than 35,000 feet in the Marianas Trench near The Philippines.  That historic (or crazy, depneding upon your viewpoint) expedition will be broadcast on Nat Geo TV Sunday at 9 p.m., by the way.

In any case, check out this graphic for fascinating reasons on why we should go where few men have gone before". 

Created by: MastersDegree.net