Member News

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 5, 2019) – Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida is pleased to announce its incoming board of directors, elected to serve through 2020. The board of directors will be led by chair, Scott Fischer, CEO of Scott Fischer Enterprises; past chair, Curt Todd, senior vice president for Wells Fargo; treasurer, Tom Pitser, senior investment consultant at Robert W. Baird & Co.; secretary, Suzanne Specht, assistant director, Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University; member-at-large, Andrew Buschle, senior vice president for Bank of America Private Bank; member-at-large, Sean Friend, vice president, branch group manager Lee County for IBERIABANK; member-at-large, Gary Tasman, CEO and principal broker for Cushman & Wakefield, Commercial Property Southwest Florida.
The board of directors also includes members Carlos Artime, director of career and technical education at Collier County Public Schools; Jason Duke, senior vice president of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management; Kenny James, CEO of James Advisory Group; Nancy Korista, human resources consultant; Michael Traficante, shareholder for Grant Fridkin Pearson, P.A.; and Sandy Stilwell-Youngquist, owner of Stilwell Enterprises & Restaurant Group.
Chairmen Emeriti is Christina Harris Schwinn, partner at Pavese Law Firm.
“Members of our board of directors are invaluable to our organization, and we are pleased to welcome our incoming 2019-20 members and executive officers,” said Angela Fisher, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida. “We are fortunate to have dedicated members who bring forward a wealth of knowledge about the world of business and we are excited to tap into their expertise as we work to prepare younger generations for future success.”
Board members of Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida are responsible for managing the business, assets and activities of the organization and maintain the authority to determine key business policies and practices. Fundamental roles of board members include trusteeship, strategic planning, policy and evaluation and resource development.
 
About Junior Achievement:
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches 4.8 million students per year in more than 100 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.6 million students served by operations over 100 other countries worldwide. Locally, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida partnered with more than 270 classroom business volunteers during the 2018-2019 school year to provide nearly 70,200 hours of instruction to nearly 12,500 students in 520 classes throughout Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. For more information on Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, visit www.JASWFL.org, call 239-225-2590 or email [email protected].
 
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FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 2, 2019) – Tiffany Whitaker, APR, CPRC of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), recently earned professional certification in public relations and received the designation of Certified Public Relations Counselor (CPRC).
Earning the CPRC credential distinguishes senior members of FPRA who have demonstrated understanding and mastery of core public relations principles and ethical practices and have been certified to act as public relations counselors. Currently, there are 129 CPRCs in Florida, including 18 in Southwest Florida.
Whitaker is the senior marketing director for Lee Health Foundation, which supports critical health care programs throughout southwest Florida. Throughout her career, she’s worked in both the public and private sectors, specializing in strategic marketing communication and public relations in a wide range of industries, including nonprofit, retail, hospitality, health and wellness, lifestyle, attractions and real estate. She has been an active member and leader in FPRA’s Southwest Florida Chapter since 2013 and served as president in 2017-2018. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hodges University and the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) credential in 2016.
To earn the CPRC credential, candidates must have 10 years of experience in the field; have earned the Accredited in Public Relations designation, which is the first tier of accreditation; successfully complete a verbal presentation; and pass a five-hour written exam.
About the Florida Public Relations Association
The Florida Public Relations Association is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida.  For more information on the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, visit www.fpraswfl.org.

The 2019 recreational and commercial spiny lobster season starts Aug. 6 and runs through March 31, 2020.
Learn more about bag limits, size limits, where you can harvest, and other regulations at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Lobster,” which is under the “Crabs, shrimp and shellfish” tab. Get your recreational license and spiny lobster permit at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Safety is of the utmost importance. Use caution when diving and when boating around other divers. Always use a divers-down warning device. More information on divers-down warning devices is available online at MyFWC.com/Boating by clicking on “Boating Regulations.”
Don’t forget to use care around corals and other marine life as well. You can visit FLCoralCrew.com to join the Florida Coral Crew and learn more about coral-safe diving practices and how you can help.
If bully netting this season, keep lights directed toward the water and avoid shining them at houses or people along the shoreline and keep sound levels low when near shoreline residences.

The 2019 recreational and commercial spiny lobster season starts Aug. 6 and runs through March 31, 2020.
Learn more about bag limits, size limits, where you can harvest, and other regulations at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Lobster,” which is under the “Crabs, shrimp and shellfish” tab. Get your recreational license and spiny lobster permit at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Safety is of the utmost importance. Use caution when diving and when boating around other divers. Always use a divers-down warning device. More information on divers-down warning devices is available online at MyFWC.com/Boating by clicking on “Boating Regulations.”
Don’t forget to use care around corals and other marine life as well. You can visit FLCoralCrew.com to join the Florida Coral Crew and learn more about coral-safe diving practices and how you can help.
If bully netting this season, keep lights directed toward the water and avoid shining them at houses or people along the shoreline and keep sound levels low when near shoreline residences.