News
Source: Bradenton Herald, Brandenton, Florida / August 11, 2011 / Excerpted in part
BRADENTON -- Don Gugliuzza, a Bradenton resident with a long history of workforce education leadership, has been reappointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the board of directors for Workforce Florida, Inc.
Gugliuzza, 59, is the founder and chief executive officer of Mileo Group, a Bradenton-based training and consulting company that develops workforce education programs including the Banner Center for Advanced Manufacturing. In addition to his post on the Workforce Florida board, Gugliuzza is chairman of the workforce and education committee for the Manufacturing Association of Florida.
Source: Bradenton.com, Brandenton, Florida / January 10, 2011 / Excerpted in part
A long-standing relationship goes a long way in making a successful business operation, say local business owners and advisers. In such companies, the business partners are familiar with one another’s personality, skills and work ethic, and have a higher level of trust that make the day-to-day operations run smoother.
“I think in these cases the business partners enjoy each other’s company,” said Bob Melberth, a volunteer business counselor for Manasota SCORE, a resource partner of the Small Business Administration. “Sometimes when you have one guy at the top you don’t really have someone in the organization you can confide in. When the business partners are friends or spouses it can provide a good relief from the stresses and in some ways provides a sounding board for someone they trust in the business.”
The founders of Mileo and Associates, Inc., a Bradenton-based training firm, are three former Tropicana employees who spent several years working together at the Bradenton plant.
“The best part about being friends in business together is you know what they can do, who they are and what they can accomplish,” said Don Gugliuzza, chief operating officer at Mileo and Associates, (now known as Mileo Group).
Phil Guerico was a manager of organizational development at Tropicana before retiring and Gugliuzza was his supervisor. Dan Wombold was a senior manager of human resources. The three started working on the development of the training firm in 2008.
“The real push behind it was the economy,” Gugliuzza said. “The whole thing collapsed, unemployment soared so what happened was two things: those who kept their employees on staff wanted to bolster their skills and people looking for work needed to improve their skills.”
Their knowledge of manufacturing allows them to specialize in the training of local manufacturing firms such as Sun Hydraulics. And their familiarity with one another helps them work well as a team. “We’re a company without an ego,” Guerico said.
Read more: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/01/10/2862760/building-a-business-on-friendship.html#ixzz1btidALiU