EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine May 2019 | Page 36

Basketball
A FAMILY’S LOVE OF
AND TEAMWORK CARRIES OVER INTO THE
BUSINESS WORLD, BOTH NATIONALLY
AND INTERNATIONALLY
O
by Deborah Circelli
n the basketball court at the State University of New York
(SUNY) Brockport, Mauro Panaggio taught his players,
including his two sons, that whatever they do in life, do it well.
Mike Panaggio and his brother, Dan, have carried their father’s
advice over into the business world with approximately 15 businesses,
including DME Sports Academy, a top-level athletic development
training and life skills mentoring facility that was started in Daytona
Beach three years ago as a tribute to their father.
“He was a tremendous basketball player and just an amazing
man,” said Mike Panaggio, whose dad passed away last year at age 91.
“Everything he did, he did well. Most of my business strategy I learned
from my dad through sports. He taught us to be proactive, work as a
team, practice hard, and that little things make big things happen.”
BEYOND DAYTONA BEACH
From software and digital companies to marketing and
entertainment, the Panaggios are making a global impact. DME Software
is a sports software, programming and design company in the Ukraine,
and DME Video, in Serbia, involves website creation, design for direct
mail, video, film and editing. A feature sports-related film, for example,
is in the planning stages with American actresses and actors that will be
produced in Serbia.
Originally founded by CEO Mike Panaggio in 1984 as a direct mail
company, DME has about 300 employees with its various domestic and
international businesses. Mike Panaggio’s advice to other companies
when it comes to the global market is to find the right people to manage
businesses overseas and to protect your interests. It’s also important to
know the rules in the country being considered and test a partnership
for at least a year before making a permanent commitment.
“Make sure you have a strong relationship with whomever is the
CEO. Use the services on a test basis and don’t make a big move until
you are sure you know the group you are dealing with,” he said. “Do
not sacrifice quality for price.”
Because of DME’s success with its businesses, it was able to open
DME Sports Academy, which includes an international school operating
now at Daytona State College with youth from all over the world.
“I love Daytona Beach and I love what sports does for kids. High
schools are deemphasizing sports because they just don’t have the
budget,” Mike explained. “I’m putting some well-deserved profit back
into the support of the community. I’m trying to push Daytona as a great
sports venue location. I plan to build and develop additional facilities in
Daytona Beach.”
DME Sports Academy, which includes basketball, volleyball, lacrosse
and hockey programs, has two full NBA basketball courts, five youth
basketball courts, seven regulation volleyball courts, one all-purpose
football field, two weight rooms, a 47,000-square-foot meeting place,
conditioning room and television studio.
| 36 | EVOLVE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE