Member News

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2020) – The Lee County Board of Port Commissioners elected Brian Hamman as chair for 2020 during its first meeting on Jan.16. Frank Mann was elected as vice chair. The board, composed of the five Lee County commissioners, meets bi-monthly as the Board of Port Commissioners to set policy and direct the operations of Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field in Fort Myers. The other commissioners include John E. Manning, Cecil L Pendergrass and Ray Sandelli.
Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 10.2 million passengers in 2019 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. Page Field provides services to corporate, commercial and private aviators and accommodated more than 116,000 aircraft operations in 2019. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction and both airports are funded solely with revenue generated from their operations. For more information, please visit www.flylcpa.com or Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flyRSW.
-30-
 
Please note:  Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from Port Authority employees and officials regarding Port Authority business are public records available to the public and media upon request. Your email communication may be subject to public disclosure.
 

March 10 event to recognize Marie Ackord, Marilyn Stout, Barbara Watt-Biggs
FORT MYERS, Fla., (Jan. 27, 2020) – Pace Center for Girls, Lee County has announced its 2020 Grande Dames Tea, which will honor three local women, Marie Ackord, Marilyn Stout and Barbara Watt-Biggs, for their roles in business, community and philanthropy. The three honorees will be recognized at Pace’s annual Grande Dames Tea celebration presented by the Gunterberg Charitable Foundation on Tuesday, March 10.
“This year’s Grande Dames are three phenomenal examples of women that have made great strides within their professions and who set the standard for community service through their years of impact right here in Southwest Florida,” said Meg M. Geltner, executive director at Pace Center for Girls, Lee County. “We look forward to celebrating Marie, Marilyn and Barbara for their wisdom, achievements and incredible life experiences at our 2020 Grande Dames Tea in March.”
Ackord, 81, was born the second of nine children to a sharecropper, living on a farm in Georgia before her family moved to Daytona Beach in 1943. From modest beginnings, she earned a scholarship to attend Bethune-Cookman College and was the first in her family to graduate from college. She moved to Southwest Florida in 1960 and started her 43-year career in education, over the years serving as a mathematics teacher at Carver High School in Naples and Dunbar High, North Fort Myers High and Dunbar Seventh Grade Center in Lee County, followed by a role as human relations specialist with the school district. An active member of the Southwest Florida community, Ackord was instrumental in establishing the Fort Myers Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Her leadership has guided the chapter in many achievements, including the foundation of its Deltas Life Development Center, which has provided college preparation services to thousands of local students since 1983. She has also served as a trustee and senior advisor and currently serves as a trustee emeritus of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, and is a member of Bethune-Cookman University Booster Club. She is a member of Saint John First Missionary Baptist Church where she serves on the board of directors and the Willing Workers Ministry.
Stout, 83, is a council member for the City of Cape Coral. Originally from Michigan, she worked as a secretary at the Selfridge Air Force Base and lived in six states and two foreign countries before moving to Cape Coral in 1982. Stout’s political career began in 1980, passing out literature for Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign. Over the years, she has fulfilled many leadership roles for political organizations including the Republican Women’s Club of Cape Coral, Fort Myers Republican Women’s Club and the Florida Federation of Republican Women, also serving as a mentor for other local women beginning their careers in the political sector. Stout has a long history of community involvement, including serving 14 years on the board of Lee Health and organizations including Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary, American Red Cross, Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce and several others. She serves currently in many capacities, including as a deacon at Faith Presbyterian Church and on the board of directors for Cape Coral Kiwanis Club, the Cape Coral Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and is concluding her run as president of the Uncommon Friends Foundation this year. She and her husband of 50 years, Tony, are together parents of four children and have many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Watt-Biggs, 83, is the founder of Century 21 Sunbelt Realty and philanthropist within the Cape Coral community. Watt-Biggs has called Cape Coral home since its population was only 30,000 and raised her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the area. With humble roots, she grew up on a small family farm in Oregon and toiled 20 years in the bar and restaurant industry in Alaska and Key West, with a short stint as a ship cook and deckhand with a fishing crew that sailed the deadly Bering Sea. She changed career paths when she was 47 years old, establishing Century 21 Sunbelt Realty in Cape Coral. Over the course of 36 years, she has grown the Sunbelt franchise from a four-person operation to a 400-person powerhouse covering Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. Her leadership cultivated the company into the No. 1 Century 21 Real Estate office in the world in 2005, winning numerous awards and recognitions for her success. Watt-Biggs established a nonprofit foundation in her name, and over nine years has given hundreds of thousands to causes such as Easter Seals, no-kill animal shelters, police forces and several health care causes, including American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Hope Hospice and Lee Health.
The 12^th annual Grande Dames Tea event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10 at Broadway Palm, 1380 Colonial Blvd. in Fort Myers.
Ticket sales begin Feb. 3, with admission at $60 per person and $500 for tables of eight. Proceeds from the event benefit Pace and its strength-based, gender-specific programs that guide Pace girls in finding their voice and achieving their potential.
To learn more about the event and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee or call 239-425-2366.
About Pace Center for Girls, Lee County
Since 2007, Pace Center for Girls, Lee County has been providing girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. The gender-specific, strength-based program is one of 22 Centers throughout Florida, and is known throughout the nation as a best practices model for diverting girls from the juvenile justice system. Pace is a registered not-for-profit organization that relies on the support of individuals, businesses, civic/community organizations and churches in Lee County in order to serve girls and their families. Since its inception, Pace Center for Girls, Lee County has served more than 650 at-promise girls and young women, believing each one deserves an opportunity to find her voice, achieve her potential and celebrate a life defined by responsibility, dignity, serenity and grace. For more information on Pace Center for Girls, Lee County, call 239-425-2366 or visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee.
– END –
 
 

FORT MYERS, FLA., January 23, 2020– The Siberian State Symphony Orchestra has canceled its Monday performance at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall due to a problem obtaining  visas to travel to the United States.
“We regret that the Siberian State Symphony Orchestra will not be here as planned.  We just received notification yesterday of the visa issue,” said Mary Lee Mann, president of the Fort Myers Community Concert Association, which was bringing the orchestra to Fort Myers as part of its 2020 concert series.
Mann said she worked throughout Wednesday to find a replacement for the cancelled performance and was able to secure the Siberian Virtuosi to perform March 19.  Ticket-holders for the January 27 performance can use their same tickets for the March 19 concert.
Ten violinists and a pianist comprise the award-winning Siberian Virtuosi, the State Ensemble of the Republic of Sakha, acclaimed for their energy, unique arrangements and virtuosity. The ensemble has gained an increasing popularity in Russia and around the world since it was founded in 1994, winning numerous international awards in Russia, France, Italy and Hungary. Their eclectic repertoire combines Bach, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi with de Sarasate, Shor, Sibelius and many more.
The Fort Myers Community Concert Association, now in its 71st concert season, is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization founded by the legendary Barbara B. Mann in 1949 to bring world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida at affordable prices.  The association consists of more than 1,700 members, underwriters and sponsors.  Performers brought to Fort Myers in the past by the association include The Israel Ballet, Violinist Itzhak Perlman, The Boston Brass, Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna Boys Choir, Pianist Andre Watts, Violinist Joshua Bell with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and many others.  For Community Concert Association membership information, visit www.fortmyerscommunityconcerts.org.

FORT MYERS, FLA., January 25, 2020– The Russian State Symphony Orchestra will be in Fort Myers February 10 to perform at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall as part of the Fort Myers Community Concert 2020 season.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert are available at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall by visiting https://barbarabmann.ticketsoffice.org or by calling the box office at 239-481-4849.
Prices are $35 for lower balcony and $25 for upper balcony seats.  A limited number of orchestra and mezzanine seating is available at $55 each.
“This is an amazing and very rare opportunity to hear these musicians in concert,” said Fort Myers Community Association President Mary Lee Mann.  “The Russian State Symphony is known for its rich sound, nobility of expression, and skilfully balanced sound.”
The orchestra will present Glinka: Rusian and Ludmila Overture, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, and Grieg: Piano Concerto with pianist Pavel Nessessia, who has been called one of the most remarkable Russian pianists of his generation.
The Russian State Symphony is the fourth of five classical performances to be presented this season by the Fort Myers Community Concert Association.
The remaining concert is the Russian National Ballet performing Sleeping Beauty on March 2.
The Fort Myers Community Concert Association, now in its 71st concert season, is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization founded by the legendary Barbara B. Mann in 1949 to bring world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida at affordable prices.  The association consists of more than 1,700 members, underwriters and sponsors.  Performers brought to Fort Myers in the past by the association include The Israel Ballet, Violinist Itzhak Perlman, The Boston Brass, Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna Boys Choir, Pianist Andre Watts, Violinist Joshua Bell with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and many others.  For Community Concert Association membership information, visit www.fortmyerscommunityconcerts.org.
 
About the Fort Myers Community Concert Association
The Fort Myers Community Concert Association is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization founded by the legendary Barbara B. Mann in 1949 to bring world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida at affordable prices.  The association consists of more than 1,700 members, underwriters and sponsors.  Performers brought to Fort Myers in the past by the association include The Israel Ballet, The Boston Brass, Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna Boys Choir, Violinist Itzhak Perlman, Flutist James Galway, Pianist Andre Watts, Violinist Joshua Bell with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and many others.

NAPLES, Fla. (Jan. 24, 2020) – The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has bestowed its highest honor, the Eagle Award, on Nick and Linda Penniman, long-time supporters of the environment and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida at the annual meeting.

The award was presented at the annual meeting Jan. 16 of the Conservancy’s members by Van Williams, president of the Conservancy’s board of directors.

“It is our honor and pleasure to support this couple, recognizing how much they’ve contributed to Collier County and the Conservancy over the years,” he said. “It’s their integrity, dedication and unwavering commitment to what we do and what needs to be done here in the county.”

Each year, the Conservancy presents its prestigious Eagle Awards to individuals and organizations that provide outstanding leadership on environmental causes, shepherd philanthropic initiatives and participate in grassroots activism.

“Linda and I do what we do not for the recognition, but because of the work that needs to be done,” said Nick Penniman. “This award was truly special to us because it was given to us jointly, recognizing the work that we do together. There’s no other place in the region where you have as many environmental issues to address. We truly believe the Conservancy is the most effective organization in the country as their work is urgently important to the development of Southwest Florida. It’s a great honor and very satisfying for us to be involved.”

Nick Penniman retired in 1999 as publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Currently on the Conservancy’s board of directors, he served as board chair from 1995-1997, and led the Saving Southwest Florida campaign to build the Conservancy campus for two years. For the Conservancy’s 50^th anniversary in 2014, he published Nature’s Steward: A History of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. He is a former member of both the Coastal Advisory Community and the Environmental Advisory Committee for Collier County. His second book, A Toxic Inconvenience: Red Tide and Blue-Green Algae on Florida’s Coast was published late last year.

Linda Penniman served on the Naples City Council from 2014 -2019, championing the environment and serving on a special taskforce for The Conservancy, chair of the Collier County Waterkeeper and aiding the city of Naples Planning Advisory Board, Coastal Advisory Committee and other organizations.

About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a not-for-profit environmental protection organization with a 55-year history focused on the issues impacting the water, land, wildlife and future of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Conservancy accomplishes this mission through the combined efforts of its experts in the areas of environmental science, policy, education and wildlife rehabilitation. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, world-class Nature Center and von Arx Wildlife Hospital are headquartered in Naples, Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, south of the Naples Zoo off Goodlette-Frank Road. Learn more about the Conservancy’s work and how to support the quality of life in Southwest Florida www.conservancy.org.

– END –

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 24, 2020) – Target Roofing & Sheet Metal has hired Natasha Rodriguez as a project manager overseeing roof installations, repairs and replacements for commercial clients across Southwest Florida.

As project manager, Rodriguez facilitates communication between the company and its portfolio of clients, which include high-rises, mid-rises, apartment buildings, condominiums, shopping plazas, churches, schools and government facilities. Duties include creating purchase orders, reviewing project estimates and scopes of work, updating project schedules and timelines, overseeing jobsite safety protocol, upholding high standards of craftsmanship and professionalism, and maintaining concierge-level customer service.

Rodriguez previously worked as a project coordinator and estimator for a Fort Myers-based contractor supporting project managers and superintendents throughout all phases of a project, including estimating, negotiation, contracting, buyout, administration and project closeouts.

Rodriguez earned an Associate of Science degree from Miami-Dade College.

About Target Roofing & Sheet Metal

Target Roofing & Sheet Metal is an experienced, locally owned commercial roofing company dedicated to proactive roof maintenance and repair services, as well as exceptional reroofing and new construction roofing services. Target Roofing is skilled at installing shingle, tile, metal and flat roofs on a variety of commercial structures, including high-rises, mid-rises, apartment buildings, condominiums, shopping plazas, churches, schools and government facilities. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a commitment to reliability and responsiveness, Target Roofing serves commercial clients along Florida’s Gulf Coast. For more information, call 239-332-5707 or visit TargetRoofers.com.

Miami Super Bowl Host Committee’s Ocean To Everglades Initiative Features the Florida Python Challenge™ 2020 Python Bowl
Who: State and local leaders will join the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the South Florida Water Management District (District), and Miami Super Bowl Host Committee’s Ocean To Everglades Initiative.
What: Florida Python Challenge™ 2020 Python Bowl Awards Celebration. Python Bowl participants and the public will gather to learn the results of the competition. The FWC and the District will announce the winners of this one-of-a-kind competition that supports the delicate Greater Everglades Ecosystem by encouraging the humane removal of these nonnative snakes that are decimating our native species. The event will include:

• Announcement of winners for each category, including most, longest and heaviest pythons in the pro, rookie and veteran/active duty categories.
• Awarding of prizes including two 570 Tracker Off Road ATVs provided by Bass Pro Shops.
• Drawings for additional prizes.
• State experts on nonnative fish and wildlife and Python Bowl participants and winners will be available for media interviews.

Where: Bayfront Park, Miami: Super Bowl LIVE Huddle Down Stage. Gate 15 is the media entrance at Super Bowl LIVE where media must present their NFL media credential or their regular media credential to gain access. Please keep in mind that the media entrance is the only way to enter the park with gear (i.e., tripods and cameras). If you enter through the general entrance, gear will not be permitted.
When: Saturday, Jan. 25, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Why: To recognize the winners of the Python Bowl and thank all participants for their involvement. Every python removed is a victory for Florida’s native wildlife. The pythons removed and the awareness raised by the event will help protect Florida’s Everglades habitats, as well as the animals that live there, from invasive Burmese pythons.
Background: The Florida Python Challenge™ 2020 Python Bowl is a conservation effort that includes public outreach on invasive pythons and a 10-day competition to remove Burmese pythons from public lands in south Florida. The aim of the 2020 Python Bowl is to engage the public in participating in Everglades restoration through invasive species removal. Details are available at FLPythonChallenge.org.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Important guide on attending Super Bowl LIVE. Includes road closure information, parking and more.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 23, 2020) – Lee Association of Remarkable Citizens (LARC) has received a grant to purchase a new van through the Rotary Clubs of Fort Myers, Fort Myers South, Fort Myers Sunrise and a matching grant from Rotary District 6960, Southwest Florida.
The goal of Rotary grants is to fund specific projects and equipment that will be used to help an organization achieve its mission.
“Our new van will make a substantial difference in the quality of life of the individuals who utilize our programs,” said Angela Katz, LARC development director. “Transportation is one of the biggest barriers for people with disabilities. Our new van will give us more opportunities to participate in recreation, education and employment in our community.”
“The collective leadership and expertise of our members helps us tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, locally and globally,” said Kerri Goldsmith, president of Rotary South. “Our collaboration to purchase the van for LARC is an example of how we can unite to reach individuals in our community most in need.”
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.
To learn more about LARC visit www.larcleecounty.org or contact Angela Katz at 239-334-6285 x229.
About LARC
Established in 1954, LARC Inc.’s mission is to empower and support individuals with disabilities and their families to reach their full potential. LARC is a 501(c)3 that provides programs and services for approximately 300 local men and women annually. The nonprofit offers youth programs, vocational training, community residential services, and a vast array of other state-of-the-art community inclusion services on a full-time, year-round basis. LARC’s main campus is located at 2570 Hanson Street, Fort Myers, and has a satellite campus in Bonita Springs. LARC also operates two Residential Group Homes located in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 23, 2020) – Shell Point Retirement Community continues the Concerts & Conversations program of its 2019-2020 Fine and Performing Arts Series with a performance by Penning & Langford at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Grand Cypress Room at The Woodlands at Shell Point, 14441 Woodsong Lane in Fort Myers. Tickets for this event cost $30 and can be purchased online at www.shellpoint.org/concerts or by phone at 239-454-2067.

Soprano Diane Penning and tenor and pianist Paul Langford met nearly five years ago at a performance arranged by a mutual pair of musician friends. Both accomplished and seasoned artists individually, the two forged a duo with a repertoire that includes music from the Great American songbook, encompassing Broadway and standards as well as well-known songs that soared to the top of the charts.

During this performance, Penning and Langford will take the audience on a musical journey with a remarkable variety of great music from shows like “West Side Story,” “King and I,” “Sound of Music” and “Camelot,” as well as standards by Gershwin and Cole Porter, and songs like Perry Como’s smash hit “It’s Impossible” and the ever-popular “You Raise Me Up.”

As part of Shell Point’s Concerts & Conversations program, guests can enjoy fellowship and a dessert reception with the performers following the concert.

About Shell Point Retirement Community

Shell Point Retirement Community, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community located in Fort Myers, Florida. Shell Point offers independent retirement living, assisted living, and skilled nursing for its 2,500 residents in an active, resort-style environment. Lifestyle amenities include deep-water boating access with free dockage, a championship 18-hole golf course, and other recreational and educational activities. To learn more, visit www.shellpoint.org or call 1-800-780-1131.