EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine May 2019 | Page 37

Family is an important part of the
business. Mike’s son, Matt, is Regional
High School team head coach and
JV High School team head coach,
and Dan’s son, Michael, is Women’s
High School team head coach. One of
Mike’s daughters, April, also works
for DME in Serbia with DME Video.
Mike and Dan’s sister, Kathy Wise, is
CEO of DME Delivers, the marketing
and direct mail operation which was
DME’s first company. Their brother,
Tom, has also been involved with the
company since the beginning. Mike’s
wife, Jennifer, is a co-founder of DME
Sports Academy and established a
similar version
in China.
Mike and Dan with their father
P O W
E
R
I
N G
BUSINESS
INTERNATIONAL REACH
EXPANDING
The company is planning to expand the academy concept into Germany next
year. DME already operates basketball camps in the U.S. and overseas as well as
owns a German professional basketball team, coached by Dan, who is a former
assistant coach for the LA Lakers and has coaching experience with other NBA and
international teams. DME is drawn to Germany because it has the most potential for
success.
“We have made personal investments into the German NBA because we feel it
shows that we can offer a path for our DME Academy kids who excel at the sport,”
Mike said. “The German Basketball League is becoming the best in Europe, which
means the best outside of the NBA. We also plan to invest in the new NBA Africa
Basketball League, a newly formed league in nine African nations.
DME Sports coaches will also conduct a basketball clinic in Amman, Jordan in
May with 250 attendees.
International teams love visiting the DME facilities in Daytona Beach. In March
of last year, a Holland international team came to visit for 10 days.
“The international teams love Daytona Beach, love Florida and enjoy the
hardcore competition that we can offer them in the USA,” Mike said. “There is no
downside for anyone with this kind of program.”
INVESTMENT IN DAYTONA BEACH
The Panaggios lease the former Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, now
called Daytona Stadium, from the City of Daytona Beach. They have already spent
hundreds of thousands of dollars in renovations on the property which sits on LPGA
Blvd. Millions more in renovations are underway at the stadium, whose CEO is their
long-time friend Dean O’Brien. Panaggio said they also put a million dollars into the
Daytona Ice Arena in South Daytona, which they are leasing and plan to buy, as well
as almost $2 million into the Daytona Field House.
Area high school football teams and Bethune-Cookman University play at the
Daytona Stadium as well as a soccer franchise. Discussions are also ongoing to bring
a professional football team to the area.
There will be 35 events at the stadium this year, up from 12 just two years ago,
Panaggio said, including several concerts for Bike Week and a STEM (science,
technology, engineering and math) event in the fall for elementary through
college students.
“We’ve had nothing but total cooperation with Daytona Stadium and DME
Sports Academy from the community, including the City of Daytona Beach and
Daytona State College,” Mike said. “Everybody has come out to help. That’s why I
love Daytona Beach.”
W H Y FLORIDA
FOR YOU R
BUSIN E SS?
IT COULD BE
Low electric rates
Special incentive rates
Extensive transportation
infrastructure network
Access to global markets
Favorable corporate
tax environment
No personal income tax
CONTACT US TODAY
888.488.7703
PoweringFlorida.com
Deborah Circelli, who grew up in Volusia County, has been working as
a media/public relations specialist for more than five years after being a
journalist for newspapers throughout Florida for 23 years.
MAY 2019 | 37 |