-
Self-Made
Man -
Advocate
for Veterans -
Visionary
Business Leader -
Florida Building
Code Expert -
Award-Winning
Entrepreneur -
Respected
Philanthropist -
Original Member of the
Southwest Florida Manufacturing Association -
Advocate for
Sustainability -
Inventor &
Innovator -
Advocate
for Children -
Trusted Resource to
Corporations & Governments -
Storm Protection
Success Story -
Author &
Speaker

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Brian Rist

The Rist Watch
- Executive Chairman and founder of Storm Smart® in 1996, under a holding company called The Smart Companies
- Inventor of the innovative Storm Catcher® screens
- Dedicates his energies to entrepreneurship (passionate about showing others how to be successful)
- Business Observer 2013 “Entrepreneur of the Year”
- FGCU’s Small Business Development Center’s 2019 Innovator of the Year
- Employs more than 200 people within his family of enterprises
- Seeks ever-better ways to serve customers
- Develops products
- Grows both his company and his community
- Became an expert in innovative hurricane protection systems after witnessing Hurricane Andrew first-hand
- Certified and licensed contractor in a variety of building-related field
- Past Board of Directors for the Cape Coral Construction Association, Lee Building Industry Association, SW Florida Manufacturing Association, and International Hurricane Protection Association.
Become a Rist Watcher
First COVID, now Cristobal…
admin
June 15, 2020
How to stay calm and prepare for hurricanes in a pandemic By Brian Rist Given the impacts—particularly those on our economy and mental health—caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the...
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Storm Smart donates $20K to Sarasota’s All Faiths Food Bank
admin
June 9, 2020
On Wednesday, April 22, Storm Smart Executive Chairman Brian Rist presented a donation of $20,000 to All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota. The donation will go to the organization's "Summer...
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Storm Smart is Giving Back
admin
April 29, 2020
"I was seeing all these terrible stories about restaurants and small shops where the people didn't have any money and couldn't get unemployment," he said. "I just didn't think it...
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Founder and Executive Chairman of Storm Smart, decided to return $2.6 Million in PPP Funding
admin
April 29, 2020
Storm Smart is giving back by giving back the $2 million they were awarded under the Payroll Protection Program. Executive Chairman, Brian Rist, announced since his company was faring better...
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Storm Smart brings community, business leaders together to produce impactful public service announcements
Jeff Koehn
March 23, 2020
It’s times like these that people across the nation come together to help one another. Things are no different here in Southwest Florida. Storm Smart has partnered with several business...
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Rist Family Foundation donates $1M to FGCU
Jeff Koehn
March 10, 2020
The recently established Rist Family Foundation continued making an impact in Southwest Florida as it donated $1 million to Florida Gulf Coast University. Rist Family Foundation President and Storm Smart...
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Rist’s Do-Good Serum
Jeff Koehn
March 4, 2020
Anybody who’s lived on the southwest coast for more than just a few years has likely heard either unvarnished broadsides or their echoes criticizing those “damn Yankees.” Most times the...
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Southwest Florida business leader donated $50,000 to Good Wheels
Jeff Koehn
February 19, 2020
On Wednesday, Good Wheels announced the company will be shutting down, saying they don't have enough money to keep going. In light of this news, one Southwest Florida business leader is...
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Brian to be honored by Community Foundation as ‘Outstanding Humanitarian’
Jeff Koehn
February 17, 2020
Cape Coral Community Foundation honors leaders who have influence and made significant contributions to improving the lives of residents who live and work in Lee County. If you have never...
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Inaugural Generous Lee event set for Feb. 27
Jeff Koehn
February 5, 2020
The Rist Family Foundation is on a secret mission to find an exceptionally philanthropic individual. The foundation announced that its inaugural Generous Lee (GLee) event will be held at 5:30...
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Storm Smart donates hurricane protection to SWFL Community Cooperative
Jeff Koehn
December 27, 2019
Fort Myers’ Community Cooperative moved into their new facilities by Christmas thanks in part to the generosity of local company Storm Smart. The non-profit organization has spent nearly the past...
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Storm Smart named Edison and Ford Winter Estates annual Children’s Christmas Tree Trail presenting sponsor
Jeff Koehn
November 26, 2019
For the second year, Storm Smart is honored to be the presenting sponsor for the Children’s Christmas Tree Trail at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. The Children’s Christmas Tree...
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Brian’s interview with ‘What Got You There with Sean Delaney’
Jeff Koehn
November 25, 2019
On Wednesday, November 21, Brian was interviewed for the national podcast, What Got You There with Sean Delaney. From his early years through today, Brian provides a unique and in-depth...
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2nd Annual Tee Off for Take Off raises $80K for Honor Flight
Jeff Koehn
September 10, 2019
On August 30, Southwest Florida storm protection manufacturer, Storm Smart hosted its second annual Tee Off for Take Off golf tournament. Held at Coral Oaks Golf Course in Cape Coral,...
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Storm Smart partners with IMAG to open Science on a Sphere
Jeff Koehn
August 28, 2019
IMAG History & Science Center announces the grand opening of its Science on a Sphere on Saturday, August 31, 2019 along with other new and exciting attractions including its Google...
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Lee County high school football home games will resume next week
Jeff Koehn
August 16, 2019
LEE COUNTY, Fla. - High school football referees have been reinstated by the FHSAA. Earlier this week, all home games were canceled because the South Gulf Football Officials Association and Lee...
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Storm Smart Included in Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies List for Fifth Time
Jeff Koehn
August 14, 2019
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 14, 2019) — Storm Smart has been added to the Inc. 5000 list for the fifth time, joining the likes of world-renowned five-time honorees, such as...
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Storm Smart dedicates August to raising money for Honor Flight
Jeff Koehn
August 9, 2019
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 9, 2019) — Storm Smart is donating $100 of every storm protection systems and products purchase — valued at $2,500 or more — to Collier-Lee Honor...
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UMass Lowell alum to donate record $5 million
Jeff Koehn
July 11, 2019
LOWELL — UMass Lowell alumnus Brian Rist will donate $5 million to his alma mater, the largest contribution in the school’s history, to support its entrepreneurship programs and sustainability efforts,...
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Storm Smart announced as 2019 Punta Gorda 4th Fest presenting sponsor
Jeff Koehn
June 27, 2019
4th Fest at Laishley Park, a community event managed by Smugglers Event Management of Punta Gorda, FL is pleased to announce, Southwest Florida storm protection manufacturer and installer Storm Smart...
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$80,000 Storm Smart donation propels Honor Flight’s 19th Mission
Jeff Koehn
June 7, 2019
On Saturday, May 4, members of the Collier-Lee Honor Flight embarked on their first mission of 2019 from Southwest Florida International Airport to Washington D.C. Established in 2013, Collier-Lee Honor...
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Storm Smart Exec Chairman named SBDC 2019 Innovator of the Year
Jeff Koehn
May 7, 2019
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida Gulf Coast University announced Storm Smart Executive Chairman Brian Rist as its 2019 Distinguished Innovator of the Year. The announcement was...
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Students earn scholarships in ethics contest
Jeff Koehn
May 1, 2019
Students from throughout Southwest Florida recently came to Florida Gulf Coast University to compete in Lutgert College of Business’s third annual high school ethics case competition. The contest was co-sponsored...
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Storm Smart partners with BIA for holiday home renovation project
Jeff Koehn
January 4, 2019
Just in time for the holidays, Lee BIA Builders Care and Lennar Homes came together to present life-changing home renovations to a Lehigh Acres family in need. Tony and Bonita...
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