Turning A Manufacturing Company From $1.3 Million To $26 Million Leads To Purchase Of Sports Teams

If you think hockey is tough, try getting 50+ products on the shelves in Wal-Mart, Dick’s Sporting Goods and L.L.Bean. That’s what Andy Kaufmann, the new owner of the Jacksonville Icemen hockey franchise, did to build a company from $1.3 million to $26 million in 6 years. Andy started a Jacksonville based manufacturer from scratch by branding a product line, with a different twist - selling outdoor and camping equipment under the “survival” brand and using unique packaging. His branding strategy, along with his management style of leading left to right, instead of top to bottom, allowed him to sell his company, UST Brands, and then change his life direction to owning the Fort Myers Miracle minor league baseball team and now the Icemen. His favorite product breakthrough was an outdoor lantern that was powered to stay lit for 30 straight days, which won a Popular Mechanics award. He tells entrepreneurs, even if their product or service is common or average, determine a different way to brand and market their business. In addition, always try to offer a solution to a problem. Visit his teams’ websites at Jacksonvilleicemen.com and miraclebaseball.com. Andy is pictured on the left in this “Lunch with Les” photo.    

UNF Business Dean Dawkins Focuses Academics On The Needs Of Northeast Florida Businesses

When you consider hiring a University of North Florida graduate, consider this 1) 80% of graduates stay in the region after graduation; 2) they tend to have a stronger work ethic because 60-70% work their way through school; and 3) UNF entering freshman average a 4.31 GPA, second only to UF at 4.34. Much of the credit for preparing this workforce for Northeast Florida businesses goes to Mark Dawkins, Dean of UNF’s Coggin College of Business (CCB). His mission is to understand the business community’s needs for skilled labor, provide the appropriate curriculum, implement an effective internship for hands-on experience, and now, to provide investment and start-up resources through its new Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI). Just look at a few of CCB’s results to date: the establishment of Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Management, M.S. in Logistics & Supply Management, M.S. in Business Analytics; Faculty engagement with companies such as the Mayo Clinic and Crowley Maritime; and Securing the $1 million Coggin grant for the CEI. If you have any need or interest in UNF Business, contact Mark at mark.dawkins@unf.edu.