Meet Our People:
• Steve Toner, MBA, MPA
• Marlene Cambronero, BS
• John Toner,
BS
• Arturo Golcher,
MS
• Blanca Madrigal,
MS
________________________________________________
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
________________________________________________
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
________________________________________________
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
Marketing & Public
Relations:
“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 2009:
“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)
