PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Publisher & Editor
GregoryEnns
772.940.9005
enns@indianrivermag.com
Associate Publisher
Allen Osteen
Assistant to the Publisher
Lisa Pagano
772.466.3346
lisa@indianrivermag.com
Associate Editor
Judith Collins
Design Editor
Michelle Moore-Burney
Writers
Jessica Armstrong,
Susan Burgess, Donna Crary,
Rick Crary, Rachel Cuccurullo,
Pattie Durham, Greg Gardner,
Ellen Gillette, Janie Gould,
Catherine Enns Grigas,
Debra Magrann, Angel McLellan,
Willi Miller, Alison O'Leary,
Jerry Shaw, Christina Tascon,
Sandra Thurlow, Jean Wilson
Photographers
Ed Drondoski, Robert Adams,
Rob Downey, Lori Van Dien,
John Biondo, Anthony Inswasty
Cover Photo
Rick Crary
Photo Retouching
Herb Paynter
Copy Editors
Pattie Durham, Gaettane A. Paul
Web and Social Media Editor
Alexander G. Enns
Advertising Representatives
Sunny Gates
772.204.5043
sunny@indianrivermag.com
Marsha Lange
772.237.1717
marsha@indianrivermag.com
Kelly Farish
772.359.3697
kelly@indianrivermag.com
Bill Frank
561.909.7538
bill@indianrivermag.com
Distribution
Kirk Jones
Our Motto
‘We fly our own mission’
— Ed Drondoski, Founding Photographer
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A TREASURE TO READ
Our own entrepreneur of the year
Signatures:Signatures 2/25/13 4:25 PM Page Publisher First came the great news late last summer that
Indian River Magazine had been named for
best overall writing by the Florida Magazine
Association.
Then a few weeks ago we learned that our very
own associate publisher, Allen Osteen, had been
named entrepreneur of the year by Indian River
State College Foundation. The foundation cited both
his accomplishments as a lumberman and his contributions
to Treasure Coast communities through
his involvement with Indian River Magazine and its
sister publications.
Besides his role as co-owner of our humble publishing
enterprise, Allen also is co-owner and chief
executive officer of East Coast Lumber & Supply
Co. and is a partner in another lumber company in
Lakeland. East Coast Lumber was started by Allen’s
family in 1902, growing from a small facility in Eau
Gallie to operations today in Stuart, Fort Pierce,
Vero Beach, Melbourne and Cocoa Beach. Allen, who grew up on the Treasure Coast, represents
the fourth-generation in his family to run the company.
With an accounting degree from Tulane University and a few years of experience working
as a clothing buyer for Stein Mart on his resume, Allen returned to Fort Pierce in 1989
to help run East Coast as the health of his father, Paul Osteen, declined. With cousin and
business partner, Don Osteen, Allen expanded the company to what it is today, weathering
the invasion of big box competitors like Home Depot and Lowe’s and various Florida cyclical
housing downturns.
By now, you know my often-told story of growing up with Allen
and successfully pitching him the idea a dozen years ago of going into
the magazine business with me. I think he was sold on the idea that
the magazines would reflect positively on the communities we serve.
Besides launching Indian River, we also have expanded over the years to
publish Port St. Lucie Magazine, Fort Pierce Magazine, the St. Lucie Travel
Guide, the Sunrise Theatre playbill and the Emerson Center program.
It hasn’t always been easy. Shortly after our launch, we encountered the recession of
2008, which like other Florida businesses we began feeling as early as 2007. It took a great
deal of resolve and fortitude but we made it through, thanks to the advertising support of
fellow small business owners.
Because of the standstill in the housing market, the lumber business was hit even harder
during the recession. Allen and Don made the difficult decision to close or sell their truss
plants, all while keeping their various lumber companies going. But as successful entrepreneurs,
they also saw an opportunity in a time of challenge.
Seeing a drop in orders from contractors building houses and commercial buildings, they
came upon the idea of partnering with Ace Hardware to create a store at their Fort Pierce
location that would also cater to homeowners and handymen. They also added the Ace
Hardware feature to their Cocoa Beach location.
Today, on some afternoons, it’s hard to find a spot in the parking lot of the Fort Pierce
store because of all the customers, many of whom are undoubtedly pulling up to shop because
they don’t want to hear the beeping sound of forklifts in shopping aisles and they’d
prefer to shop with a locally owned company instead of a national chain.
As a partner in our magazine enterprise, Allen has been wise counsel. His experience
figuring out the profit margin on nuts and bolts and 10-penny nails is highly translatable
when it comes to running our books.
I could go on, but Allen probably wouldn’t want me to run up our ink and print bill.
But I will add that on behalf of the magazine staff we’re proud of you, Allen. Thanks for
your entrepreneurial spirit and taking a chance with us.
Indian River Magazine Inc. is a locally
owned company based at 308 Ave. A in Fort
Pierce, FL 34950. Indian River magazine
publishes five times a year: early October,
late November, mid-January, early March and
early May. All material contained herein is
copyrighted by Indian River Magazine Inc.
4
Indian River Magazine Associate Publisher
Allen Osteen was named Entrepreneur of
the Year by the Indian River State College
Foundation and honored during a banquet
March 1 at the Richardson Center on IRSC’s
Vero Beach campus.
BEST OVERALL WRITING 2017
Florida Magazine Association
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