The Gator Club of Historic Saint Augustine is excited to announce the first in our series of Community Spotlights, focusing on Gator-Owned businesses in our community and the excellent people who run them! If you have a Gator-Owned business that you would like to see featured, especially if you have some sort of benefit available to Gator Club members, please reach out!
Brad Layland of The Focus Group and Endless Summer Realty agreed to speak with us about his businesses, St John’s County and what being a Gator means to him! Brad is a 1994 graduate of UF and accepted his first job out of college to work with Young Life, a Christian ministry that reaches out to middle school, high school, and college students, right here in Saint Augustine. Brad and his wife Wendy fell in love with the area and have stayed ever since. Brad’s son is currently a Senior at UF!
The Focus Group is based in Saint Augustine and was recognized as the #62 fastest growing company in the Gator100, with a 33.89% growth rate. The Focus Group is led by two Gators, Steve Godfrey serves as COO. Their primary service offering is to support nonprofits raise money through major donors. They do not focus on Facebook campaigns or mailings, instead they help identify the select group of donors who will have the largest impact. Some of their local businesses are Flagler College and Flagler Hospital, and St John’s Council on Aging. The Focus Group has clients around the country, primarily Christian Ministries.
Brad believes that being Gator Owned has had a large impact on The Focus Group locally, helping to attract quality clients, donors and employees. Brad mentioned that another Gator100 business recently saw their name on the list this year and reached out, now they are working together to fill a need that Brad was trying to solve.
Brad also owns Endless Summer Realty, the largest independent real estate company in St John’s County. Brad credits being Gator-Owned as a huge part of his reality’s success because the Gators are so important in the area. When looking for new employees for Endless Summer Realty, Brad says he loves to hire Gator grads because just by getting accepted and then graduating from such a great school tells him that people will be successful. He says most of his top performers are Gator grads.
Three years ago, Brad’s two businesses started partnering together to start St. Augustine Giving Day, where nonprofits can be recognized and receive funds from the local community. the first year they raised over $100,000, year two was $250,000 and last year was almost $400,000! In addition, $20,000 in prizes were awarded to the charities in categories like “Most Unique Donations” “Donation From Farthest Away” and “Fastest to Donate.”
If you’d like to get involved in St Augustine Giving Day please visit http://staugustinegives.com/
