Entrepreneurs’ Organization South Florida (EO SOFLO), one of the world’s largest EO chapters, has launched a “You Are Not Alone” initiative to help area businesses survive then thrive despite the economic fallout from the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.

The viral pandemic already has hit the tourism-heavy South Florida economy especially hard, with recessionary effects expected to last for months, if not years.

“There’s no getting around this, but mere survival will be the first goal of so many South Florida businesses,” said Jerry Katz, EO SOFLO president and founder of Premier Protection Insurance. “A key is to stay positive and to adapt,” said Katz, who has endured a variety of economic downturns, market crashes and other setbacks over three decades in business. “This is new type of crisis for us and much of the world, but the core elements to coming out of it on the right side are the same: positivity, flexibility and knowledge.”

Some of the most valuable resources offered by EO SOFLO include free interactive webinars hosted by the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, including EO founder Verne Harnish and others. This type of EO access and information usually is reserved for members of the organization.

EO has more than 14,000 members in more than 60 countries. Members must be the founder, owner or principal stakeholder in a company with more than $1 million in annual sales.

In South Florida, the chapter has almost 200 members who run businesses with about 10,000 employees and $2 billion in yearly income.

A recent EO teleconference had 600 business owners on the line, featuring entrepreneurs from China, Italy and other countries that were hit hard by COVID-19 well before the first cases were reported in the United States. The callers provided a preview and advance lessons on what to expect when an entire national economy largely shuts down.

“The scope of COVID-19 is unlike anything we’ve seen as business owners,” said Wendy Lieber, EO SOFLO board member and principal at ContentBacon marketing agency. “Hearing these insights and having access to the knowledge and expertise in the EO community is invaluable and critical to get through this crisis.”

Among webinars that EO SOFLO has opened to the business community will be “The Pandemic Economy” by economist Roger Arnold; “Leading a Business in Times of Crisis” by Mark Moses; “Dealing with Stress During Turbulent Times” by Dr. Katia Moritz; and “CARES Act for Business,” which outlines how companies can qualify for part of the $2 trillion government COVID-19 relief funding, tax breaks and loans.

In addition to this global information and access, EO SOFLO members and local strategic alliance partners are providing operational and financial tips, services, advice and other resources for South Florida companies to successfully navigate the COVID-19 coronavirus today, and the economic effects in coming months. These EO SOFLO partners include experts from the area’s top banks; accounting, law and employment firms; media and entertainment companies; and other sectors.

“Dealing with a crisis can be like driving in a fog because you can only see so far in front and conditions change very quickly,” Katz said. “EO SOFLO and our new You Are Not Alone program will provide area businesses with better, clearer vision and tools to get through this successfully.”

Founded in 1996, EO SOFLO fosters entrepreneurship and economic development through peer-to-peer learning and experience forums for members; sponsors student and start-up entrepreneurship competitions; partners with area colleges and business incubators; and leads other economic development efforts in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

For more information on EO SOFLO, visit www.eosoflo.com.