Never give up

Here's another lesson in never giving up.

Jeremy Stakely, the president of ITVantage, a Fort Myers-based company that manages corporate information technology departments, says he struggled through the economic downturn and had to lay off most of his employees. But like most survivors today, he refused to close shop during the bleakest time.

“In 2008 and 2009, I didn't take a paycheck for 24 straight months,” says Stakely. The struggle took a toll on his marriage, too. “She wanted me to quit chasing the dream.”