Toothaker.org: A pioneer with a reputation for success and matchless strategic alliances

Due to the pandemic, digitalization has become second nature to business operations. We all witnessed the sudden surge in the adoption of digital tools. Now we can see digitalization in every walk of life, you can order groceries, buy or sell cars, and even homes online, from the comfort of your home. Gradually, people are coping with the surge of digital platforms. Apart from e-commerce, digital tools also influenced communication. All of us spent the last year stuck to our screens, for meetings or casual social gatherings, and collectively vouched for this being our new normal. But have virtual offerings really replaced the in-person experience?

Stephanie J. Toothaker, Esq. is Chairwoman & Chief Strategist at Toothaker.org and a Martindale Hubbell AV-rated attorney believes that there will always be the need for an in-person experience. She is not eradicating the evolution of digitalization but believes in a hybrid approach. Furthermore, we will discover how digitalization has influenced the operations of Toothaker and Stephanie’s ferocious methodologies that have helped in sustaining the competitive corporate world.

The Super Lawyer of Florida

You will not find the word ‘impossible’ in Stephanie’s vocabulary. She takes every challenge head-on and is prepared with creative and innovative solutions, which are not only beneficial for the clients but collectively beneficial for all parties involved. This builds mutually beneficial relationships and paves a path for future economic development. Apart from an astute businesswoman, she has also been named as the ‘SuperLawyer’ by Florida Trend’s Legal Elite. Throughout her career, she has guided clients with her sophisticated approach to governmental relations and procurement. Stephanie helms expertise in navigating multi-agency processes, efficiently manage the government relations process, and achieve success with aggressive timelines. She is an effective advocate at the Federal, State, and Regional Level, regularly representing clients before governmental entities throughout South Florida

Stephanie has been a regular contributor to Florida Trend and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. She is also involved with a broad range of civic organizations and is the first woman to serve as a Governor and Commodore of the Lauderdale Yacht Club. She was previously a Director and Head of the Land Use & Zoning Practice. Today, alongside her practice she is the leader of an innovative real estate company called Toothaker.org.

Delivering excellence since 2019

Toothaker.org was launched in 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, with a mission to deliver excellence in development, land use, procurement, and politics. Due to Stephanie’s extensive experience, she is well-versed with both sides and understands the importance of politics in every project that clients approach. Its clientele base is wide-ranging and comprises individuals from all walks of life. From global billionaires to local entrepreneurs and celebrities, all have entrusted Toothaker.

Toothaker has earned its reputation for successfully providing comprehensive development representation and planning for innovative economic and mobility initiatives, specializing in elite sporting and lifestyle projects. Stephanie and her team have not disappointed the clients and have outperformed themselves regardless of tough timelines and difficult scopes. One of the prime examples of their work is the project of Tavistock Group—an international private investment organization comprised of a family office, trading operation, and a portfolio of public investments and private companies – and their South Florida project Pier Sixty-Six, Fort Lauderdale.

Tavistock’s vision was to revitalize the iconic waterfront property and bring new homes, offices, shops, and restaurants to the destination. The challenge here was the tremendous opposition as the property was on the protected Barrier Island, straddled a state highway, is surrounded by some of the most expensive homes in the County, and most importantly retained nationally-recognized historical elements coveted by the city and its residents. Stephanie studied the situation and alongside her client outlined a feasible solution that not only allowed Tavistock Group to achieve the vision, but also preserve the iconic Prier tower. Besides, she was also able to develop a long-term Developer’s Agreement tying the properties together allowing more intense development and preserving development rights for 20 years. The groundbreaking development strategy was something never envisioned and certainly never done in the City of Fort Lauderdale.

Cutting-edge projects with Transformational results

Over the years, Stephanie and her team have been able to deliver more successful projects while also developing innovative and feasible strategies, such as those developed for the FLIBS water boat show. Working for Tavistock and Informa—both her clients— she created a mechanism that legally but expeditiously approved a temporary structure that actually could stay in place for many years but did not have to go through the typical excessively long site plan process. Resulting in far more innovative development with the flexibility to allow “pop-up” developments to grow in popularity.

This process has enabled temporary use of land while more long-term development for the property is being developed bringing revenue to the Developer. Stephanie utilized this mechanism for other clients resulting in city-supported projects like a multi-year temporary clubhouse for the Lauderdale Yacht Club, and David Beckham’s VIP Club built on the site of Inter-Miami’s Stadium and Training Facility. Moreover, she also highlights that bringing the Inter Miami CF club and subsequently the Inter Miami CF Stadium and state-of-the-art training complex to South Florida is one of the most recent notable achievements.

Stephanie delivers results and has the ability to leverage resources and relationships, meet challenging deadlines, and enable profitable outcomes with global reach.

Balancing out the Positives and Negatives

With the advent of COVID-19, business operations were completely changed. The sudden transformation also led to a complete change in Stephanie’s practice. Stephanie did utilize the virtual platform to propel business during the pandemic and was able to host quasi-judicial hearings in a way never done before at the permission of Governor DeSantis.

As a coin has two sides, this situation too had both positive and negative results. On a positive note, the virtual operations did allow people to communicate remotely and connect. The virtual meetings cut back the time of commute, late attendees, and immediate return to your home life. However, the negative aspect was that it further blurred the omnipresent line between work and home. People were aware that you’re available 24/7 and now technology provided them with a medium. Also, the approach mitigated the sense of personalization of face-to-face meetings and relationships.

Stephanie can envision digital tools becoming a norm in the future and will certainly give rise to innovations and break limitations within the communication. Although, she underlines that there will always be a need for the human, face-to-face element. She adds, “There is a sincerity and authenticity when meeting in person and I think that is critical in politics. The only way to keep your finger on the pulse of change is to be in the thick of it, with the people fuelling it.”

Part of the Evolution

There might be no escape from the digital world we created but traditional and modern practices can co-exist in the system. Stephanie does not see the real estate market transforming anytime soon, as the companies are gradually adopting digital tools. Furthermore, the market is attracting bigger and better companies fostering the Great Migration and brands are eager to expand their footprint in the ever-growing city. “Available real estate has become competitive. And that’s created a sense of responsibility of companies like mine to dictate what the future skyline looks like,” asserts Stephanie. Moreover, modern design principles dictate that we need to respect and protect our environmental resources. The industry is collectively moving in that direction aiming for a net-zero effect on the environment.

Stephanie is envisioning it to be a new normal. The aim is to stay abreast of the competition and at the top of the trends. As the clients grow, the company will grow alongside them to offer the best and service them better. Toothaker will embrace the digital world as it will become the new norm while also mitigating the effect on the environment. Stephanie affirms, “We’ll be a part of the evolution and not a reactive solution.”

Leader’s Candid Experience amid Crisis

“It was really refreshing to be able to get off a virtual hearing and just walk downstairs to have dinner with my son. Plain and simple that was a huge positive.”

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of time and our connections—both professional and personal. Outlining her experience, she advises the readers, “I think there is an incredible need to set boundaries and evaluate what our time is worth, not only in the professional but in the personal regard. Defining a balance between drive time, time spent cultivated in-person relationships, and knowing when to utilize technology to our time advantage is going to be critical in the success of companies moving forward.”

Quote: “No matter the challenges, this is one of the most incredibly awarding end-game jobs there is. To see something, you’ve helped to create from the ground up, makes it all worth it.”