Event Photos

 

 


Meet Our Principal:

• Steve Toner, MBA, MPA

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About Us:

Coastal Strategies (formerly Toner Communications) is an international business development and investment firm based in Tampa, Florida with strategic ties in Costa Rica and Canada. We have been assisting private firms and economic development organizations in creating and implementing local and international business development, including strategic marketing, public relations and sales, since 1988.

Please see below our Services, Professional Focus and Testimonials from our clients. ________________________________________________

Services:

(Think of us as the "cost effective" area of your International Business Development and Investment Department)

• Market Research; New CAFTA Treaty Opportunities (US & Costa Rica)
• Strategic Planning Facilitation & Implementation
• Public Relations
• International Trade Missions (as effective Business Development)
• Consulting Services
• Manufacturers Representative Services
• Language Translation Services

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Professional / Industry Focus:

• International Trade and Investment
• Real Estate Investment
• Architecture/Engineering/Construction/Development
• Professional Services Firms
• Economic Development Organizations
• Government Relations (New CAFTA Treaty Opportunities)
• High Tech (IT & Medical Devices) Manufacturing Firms
• Health Care

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Testimonials from Clients:
(Regarding our Services as Listed)

International Business Development

United Country Real Estate was founded in 1925 in Kansas City, Missouri. United Country has over 600 offices in the United States, Costa Rica and Panama. We are the nation's largest integrated real estate and auction company, rated the number one global real estate franchise by Dun & Bradstreet.

When the decision was made to award our first franchise outside the United States, it was essential to develop a successful, well-prepared strategy. Our first target market was Costa Rica. We choose Stephen Toner to research and draft our international marketing strategy. Upon acceptance of the strategy by the Dan Duffy, CEO & Board of Directors, Mr. Toner proceeded to enact the strategy and identify prospective strategic partners as well as potential franchisees. Our CEO, Mr. Toner and I travelled to Costa Rica to personally interview and establish a United Country presence. Due to Mr. Toner’s succinct and professional strategy, we now have two affiliated brokers in the country.

I am pleased to highly recommend Mr. Toner for creating business strategies for international development.

Joe Karpinski
Executive Vice President
United Country Real Estate

Public Affairs

“In an intense competition for the selection of the Tampa Convention Center Hotel building site, we selected Steve Toner’s firm, Toner Communications, to handle our marketing and public relations, and we won. He guided our public strategy, set up a press conference with the Mayors Office, and secured volumes of positive press in the key newspapers. Our objectives were achieved and the landmark Marriott Riverfront Convention Center Hotel now serves the Tampa Bay area on our site. I highly recommend Mr. Toner’s firm for significant marketing and public relations projects when the results are critical”.

J. Robert Brown, Owner, Olympus Capital
Cincinnati, Ohio Tampa, Florida

International Trade Mission (Costa Rica July-August, 2009)

“As a small highway contractor specializing in Concrete Rubblization looking to expand internationally,… I expressed my concern to Steve Toner (of Coastal Strategies), the trade mission organizer. Steve said, I understand your concern, but let me work on this for you. Steve worked diligently upon our behalf, contacting …the US Embassy in Costa Rica with our potential highway general contractor meeting wish list while in Costa Rica. Not only were they successful in having two of Costa Rica’s largest highway general contractors present at a reception held for the Trade Mission attendees at the Ambassador’s residence, they also arranged for the Vice Minister of Transportation of Costa Rica, Dr. Pedro Castro, to be there. Based upon my conversation with the Vice Minister at that reception, we believe we have possibility of looking at over one million dollars worth of work specifically for us within the next 12-18 months. The odds of our getting this face-to-face meeting with the Vice Minister of Transportation without Steve’s help probably would not be good. Thanks Steve, we owe you one!”

Scott Marshall, Chief Financial Officer RMI Worldwide, LLC, D/B/A Resonant Machines Kansas City, MO 64111

International Trade Mission

“Thanks for all the hard work you spent on the Costa Rica Trade Mission. It was a great experience and a fun group of people. The Embassy briefing was the best part. This was a very professionally planned and executed mission”.

Kevin Dorsey, Entrepreneur

International Trade Mission & Trade Show

“The Tampa Bay Partnership participated in a series of trade shows in the Toronto area planned and organized by Toner Communications (now Coastal Strategies). …The effort resulted in several Canadian companies setting up offices in the Tampa Bay area. The effort also provided exposure for the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, a regional group covering 27 counties in Central Florida…This highly effective effort served to provide them with a better understanding of the opportunities in the Florida market.”

William J. McDermott, CEcD, Director Economic Development Department, Seminole County, Florida

Strategic Planning, Facilitation and Writing Marketing Plans/ Market Research /Media Planning/Placement/Consulting/
Implementation

“I offer the highest possible recommendation for Steve and his services. I found him to be ethical, hard working, extremely knowledgeable and insightful…the chemistry and working relationship between Steve and my people was outstanding.”

Chuck Kooistra, Executive Vice President, General Physics Corp (GP Corp) (national tech training firm)

Public Relations/Statewide Surveys/Media Coverage/Consulting

“Steve Toner of Coastal Strategies has been our public relations firm for the last 16 years. During this time he has serviced Mercer in a variety of assignments…he is very knowledgeable and very easy to work with…very well known and respected in the community.”

Leonor Duran, Office Manager, Mercer Consulting (nation’s largest healthcare consultant/professional services firm)

Marketing Event Production and Consulting

“Steve, it's been almost a week, and whenever I speak with any of our members they tell me what a GREAT time they had at Bella Terra last week. We've not had a turnout like that one for a couple years and we have you and your staff to thank for it”.

Jim Smithberger, President, Suncoast Trail Riders (prospective buyers for client)

Government Relations/International Trade Mission to US Embassy in Paris, France

“A note of thanks for you and your staff for the hard work in making the trade mission such a success…I was particularly impressed by the attention we received at the briefing and reception at the US Embassy in Paris.”

J.P. McFarland, P.A., Attorney (client on trade mission)

Business Development/International Trade Missions for State of Florida/Consulting
“Mr. Toner was a pleasure to work with; he was very successful in creating many new Florida trade lead opportunities for the participating companies. In addition, his professional follow-up to these events has been very effective in developing trade development for the state of Florida. Our office continues…seeking advice from Coastal Strategies.”

Larry March, Enterprise Florida (state agency client)

Media Relations/Special Events/Consulting

“This was very good, excellent! …would you like to work for me? I have two PR projects coming up…”

Donald Trump (commenting on work performed for Florida Design Association involving Trump)

 

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