Bob Gernert has his fingerprints all over Winter Haven. For 18 years, he headed the Chamber of Commerce and among many other accomplishments was instrumental in bringing forth Legoland to fill the void left by the demise of Cypress Gardens. In so doing he helped create the structure for preserving the old botanical gardens, keeping it free of commercial development for posterity’s enjoyment.
As a student of history, he was heavily involved in the city’s adoption of four historic districts throughout the community. He founded the Museum of Winter Haven History, was mostly responsible for stocking it with artifacts and is the main person conducting tours.
Gernert, 68, was a galvanizing force in organizing and implementing the successful campaign for voter approval of the county’s 911 emergency call department. He was a founding board member and organizer of Main Street Winter Haven and chaired the successful effort to raise $25,000 to replace the historic neon sign for the now-beleaguered Ritz Theatre.
In 1998, he received the Polk State College Distinguished Alumni award and more recently was the recipient of the coveted Bankers Cup in 2015.
He served on the campaign committee to fund and build the Humane Society’s state-of-the-art facility on Dundee Road. Currently he chairs the Multi-Modal Transportation Advisory Committee for the Winter Haven City Commission.
Though nominally retired, he remains very active in charitable and civic endeavors. We chatted this week and our conversation, lightly edited for flow, appears below.
Q. When you were executive director of the chamber, one of your biggest responsibilities was to help lure business and industry to our area. What were the biggest impediments to success, and what did this area have to offer that made your job easier?
A. Impediments included infrastructure challenges – adequate roads, suitable land, underperforming schools. Winter Haven is not close to major traffic arteries, and Florida’s traffic infrastructure is not all that it should be. So consequently, if it was going to involve shipping or distribution or things of that nature, companies were more inclined to look at Lakeland, which had greater proximity to I-4. That all changed when CSX decided it would build an intermodal center south of Winter Haven. Now that the Polk Parkway extension is back before the legislature, that would be a great resource for the intermodal center providing easy access to the parkway and then I-4.
So location tended to be an impediment, for example, as Cypress Gardens struggled for many years, the hotel stock deteriorated and there were very few new hotels, so it was a challenge. Legoland has changed that dramatically. There’s been an estimated $1 billion impact since the park opened, which is phenomenal and amazing and wonderful.
Another factor that we have to deal with – Lakeland and other cities struggle with this as well – is the quality of our school system. We have challenges in terms of student performance and a trained workforce. Fortunately for us, Polk State College has done valuable workforce training to adapt to needs of our local industries. That has given our businesses options that we wouldn’t have had were they not so willing to develop the necessary programs that minister to the needs of business and industry. But we’ve got to find solutions to our educational challenges because when companies are thinking about relocating, one of the first things they look at is the performance of the schools. And while lately our schools seem to be inching up, they are not where they ought to be. It’s not that people aren’t trying, but when you look at our performance versus the state average, it’s just not where we need to be.
On the plus side, one of the big things for us is our climate. Companies look to locations where there is less interruption because of things like snow, for example. As far as warmer climates go, we’ve got that wrapped up and tied in a nice little bow. It’s also beautiful here – our landscape and lakes – and our cities have done their best to make relocation as easy as possible. And, of course, we have decent proximity to two international airports.
When I was growing up here in the '60s and '70s, the economy was at the mercy of the citrus industry, which has been a wonderful asset. But we needed other legs on that economic stool because when citrus had a freeze, all the economy froze, too. Today we have a far more diverse economy, and that has been very helpful.
Q. For years, Polk County has had its own version of a brain drain. Kids would graduate from high school, go off to college or the service and return home only to celebrate holidays and bury relatives. Is this changing? And if so, what are the influences that are helping to keep bright kids from going away forever?
A. I believe the tide has changed on the brain drain issue. There’s always been an allure for recent grads to seek the excitement of big cities like Atlanta and New York. But young professionals increasingly value lifestyle environments such as Winter Haven’s and Lakeland’s. One of the factors favoring us is our technology sector. We are fortunate to have a real focus in downtown Winter Haven on technology companies, whether that be people in the Six/Ten building, that used to be the Verizon building, or other companies around town run by folks like Alex Nikdel, Mike Kingham or Ingram Leedy. One of the advantages of Winter Haven’s location is our capacity as an inland data-storage site for companies on the coast. We have lower risk factors than coastal cities, and many companies have brought their record storage and other services here to keep in a safer location. The types of technology services we have locally attract young technology-oriented graduates and that, if you will, brings a brain flow here.
And I know from talking with folks who work with these young technology professionals, they are smart, they are creative and they value many of the things that we have, including our lakes, our walking and biking trails – those things are important to Millennials. Where your downtown is attracting residents, where there is a vibrant economic heartbeat, these people will help make that happen.
Q. There is a perception, not without merit, that we are in many ways two separate counties – east Polk County, anchored by Winter Haven, and everything else, dominated by Lakeland. What has contributed to this perception, what factors keep it going, and what steps have been taken or are being taken to change that?
A. My most recent information suggests that the east side of the county has a population equal to or slightly greater than the west side. Since the city of Lakeland is more than twice the size of Winter Haven, it understandably has had more clout when it comes to allocation of civic resources. But I believe – and I know that our chamber and other east Polk communities believe – there is far more to be gained by working together for the good of the whole.
Is there territorialism? Yes, on the part of many people, and the fault lies on both sides. It’s been difficult to make progress, working together as a county, when you have such self-interest involved. Years ago, our communities were so competitive that companies considering relocation were discouraged by the infighting. The Central Florida Development Council working with our individual community economic development professionals has helped present a more cohesive Polk.
So when you compare east versus west Polk, it’s better than ever in many ways. For example, it’s hard to look at what Lakeland’s done with Lake Mirror and not think that they have put a magnificent venue together. Lakeland’s done many things right, and I think Winter Haven has just as much potential and they’re acting on it. In the early part of the 20th century, Winter Haven was fortunate to have some true visionaries that decided our lakes ought to be connected. It would be virtually impossible to try to connect those lakes today – in fact, I don’t think it could be done. Lakeland has great assets – Lake Hollingsworth trail is a great asset – but we’ve got the chain of lakes, and I’ll stack that up against anybody as a calling card. And we’ve got Legoland – an amazing, wonderful park, a great corporate citizen. We all have our strong points.
Q. The botanical gardens at Cypress Gardens came very close to being completely lost, with a strong possibility of residential development overrunning what was and still is one of our state’s most charming treasures. Tell us about the effort to keep that part of the original Cypress Gardens preserved for posterity.
A. It was difficult when the park suddenly closed in 2003. We knew the park was struggling. The park business model was failing. We knew we just couldn’t let the botanical gardens become condominiums or whatever – there was too much history involved. We brought together community members, trying to decide what was a win-win. Messages came in from all over the country trying to help. We focused our attention on helping the state understand why it was important to save the gardens. The day it closed, Gov. (Jeb) Bush was on the television saying it was just another failed roadside attraction and we’ll have to live with it. A few days later, he was saying, “Well, maybe we ought to take a look at this.”
Enter the state of Florida, Polk County and Kent Buescher to create Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. Unfortunately three hurricanes during 2004 proved disastrous — insurance companies contested the issues and eventually the park went into bankruptcy.
It was the greatest learning experience of my life. The Trust for Public Lands was a key player. Rob Harper and Brian Philpot, who bought the property at auction, had the best interests of that park in mind and ultimately attracted Merlin Entertainment. Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing helped close the deal. Legoland had been looking for a location in Florida and hadn’t found it. The end result is something that Winter Haven and Central Florida can be very proud of. Now the county owns the botanical gardens and Legoland maintains them at its expense in exchange for the right of their guests to use them.
For me, it was personal. But there were many, many people who worked diligently to find some solution to preserve the Cypress Gardens legacy. Former Sen. Rick Dantzler and the late Dick Pope Jr. were key to the success. In the end, I’m most proud that Legoland worked with the chamber and local and state officials to successfully place the historic botanical gardens on the National Register of Historic Places, which was made official in April of 2014.
Legoland’s initial investment was about $100 million, and they’ve continued to invest substantial amounts in the park every year since. Now they’ve got the beach resort. They’re smart – they’re keeping their guests on the property – and they’ve been great for Winter Haven and Polk County.
Q. The museum of Winter Haven history was the brainchild of you and your wife, Melea. What are some of the artifacts and exhibits you’re most proud of or pleased to have, and what would you like to get your hands on?
A. We’ve got a Civil War saddle that belonged to a young man from Alabama who, when he was mustered out, was not able to go home because he fought for the Union army. So he settled here and worked in the turpentine mill in the Florence Villa area. He had his horse, his saddle and his gun. The horse is long gone, the gun lost to time, but the saddle ended up with a local resident who donated it to us. It’s among our oldest artifacts.
We’ve got the first edition of the News Chief, and last June we got all the bound copies of the New Chief from 1912 to about 1980 – they didn’t bind them after that. We’ve got Dick Pope’s brocade dinner jacket, which for him was rather tame but still beautiful – also his typewriter and a hand-painted jacket that was used in the movie "Easy to Love." We’ve got a concept ski that Alfredo Mendoza skied on, with grooves cut in the bottom to give it more grab in the water. We’ve got Dr. Inman’s medical bag as well as the first telephone books from the early 20th century and the first Banker’s Cup ever awarded. I’m very proud that the rich history of Publix Super Markets got its start right here in Winter Haven. Our museum houses a chair that was once used by Publix founder George Jenkins in his downtown office.
Every artifact has a story, and local families have been very generous with the museum and the city has honored its commitment to maintain the building for use as a museum. Through careful maintenance and successful grant applications, the city has done a beautiful job of maintaining the building’s historic integrity.
I would love to have artifacts from the Haven Hotel – china, spittoons, anything. I would especially like to get a piece of musical memorabilia from each person who got their start here, whether that’s Jim Stafford, Lobo (Kent Lavoie), Graham Parsons or any of the other talented people that got started in this town – and there have been many.
Q. As a community, what should the people of this county be most concerned about, and what should they be most hopeful about?
A. Our county should be ever vigilant about protection of and respect for our natural resources and environment. That is what makes this a desirable place to live. Our lakes are 100 percent dependent upon rainfall. If we should over develop or have a prolonged drought, that asset is going to be affected. We will still have individual puddles connected by walking paths, but we won’t have a chain of lakes. So responsible development and respect for our environment are serious considerations. Our paradise is very delicate, and if things go too far afield there can be serious damage.
I think we should be most hopeful about the young professionals who are leading us into a rapidly changing future. They have an appreciation for business success but with a real respect for the environment and for doing the right thing. Not so much totally focused on how much money can I make but how much money can I make while respecting where I live. And how can I be successful to the extent I want to be successful and leave this place better than how I found it?
Q. What question would you have liked to have answered had it only been asked?
A. What factors over the past two decades do I believe have brought the most positive change to our community? First, the formation of Main Street Winter Haven and the city’s commitment to downtown redevelopment. Second, the “Our Future By Design” visioning effort championed by the chamber, the city, Main Street Winter Haven and others. Everything from our beautiful library to our lakeside trails and our vibrant downtown is directly or indirectly linked to the implementation of this community-driven document. Finally, our good fortune in attracting unique technology assets plus major economic drivers such as Legoland and the CSX Intermodal Logistics complex.
Thomas R. Oldt is a columnist for The Ledger and a Winter Haven based investment professional. Contact him at tom@troldt.com.