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fort myers chamber board of directors

About Us

Board of Directors

Your Board of Directors seeks to provide solutions and serve as a catalyst for growing our local economy. Our goal is to make our community the best place in Florida to work, live and raise a family. We do this by empowering, connecting and uniting professionals and businesses throughout Southwest Florida.

Immediate Past Board Chair, Solomon & Hoover CPAs PA

Michele Hoover

Board Chair, Bubba's Roadhouse & Saloon

Jay Johnson

Jay Johnson

Board Chair, Bubba's Roadhouse & Saloon

Jay Johnson brings more than 30 years of experience in the culinary and hospitality industries to his role as owner of Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon. As the owner of a full-service restaurant and catering company, Jay is responsible for all day-to-day operations and functions within the business, including purchasing, human resources, marketing, public relations and accounting. Jay demonstrates expertise in a wide range of related fields that are key to the continued success of the company, including event planning, management and hospitality.

Jay graduated from the University of Denver with a degree Bachelor of Science in Business Administration concentrating in hotel and restaurant management. Before becoming owner of Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon, Jay held several managerial positions at hotels and resorts across the United States, managed a local rock band and served as a culinary advisor in the production of “Taste of Music,” a culinary web-based show featuring national recording artists.

In addition to his professional contributions, Jay is also active within the Southwest Florida community, serving as the current chair of the Board of Directors of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and served as interim President/CEO of the GFMCC from August 2023 – December 2023. Jay is the current Vice Chair for the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce. He is also the former chair of the 2015 Leadership Program at Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce and former trustee for Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, where he received the honor of being named Trustee of Year in 2015. He is the Past President(2020-2022) and current board member of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association [FRLA] Lee County Chapter and serves on the State board of the FRLA and is the chair of it’s Government Relations Committee. Jay sits on both the Lee County Tourist Development Council and the Horizon Council and is the current Vice Chair of the TDC. The Economic Recovery Branch of the Lee County Recovery Task Force.

Board, Vice Chair, Founder and Owner of Fort Myers Brewing Company

Jen Whyte

Jen Whyte

Board, Vice Chair, Founder and Owner of Fort Myers Brewing Company

Jen Whyte is founder and owner of Fort Myers Brewing Company, Lee County’s first microbrewery. When Whyte and her husband Rob moved to Southwest Florida in 2011, they found there was untapped potential for a local brewery in Fort Myers. They couldn’t pass up this opportunity to turn her passion for business, her husband’s love of brewing and their joint love of people into a business. Fort Myers Brewing Company opened in 2013, and today its brews are poured at more than 1,600 locations.

Coca Cola Beverages Florida, Board, Second Vice Chair

Rodney C. Ford

Priority Marketing, Board Treasurer

Melissa Mitchell

Florida Weekly, 2021-22 Board Chair

Angela Schivinski

Angela Schivinski

Florida Weekly, 2021-22 Board Chair

Angela Schivinski is the Fort Myers Publisher of Florida Weekly. As Publisher, Angela is responsible for the development and performance of sales activities. Angela’s core talents are marketing, advertising, sales, and recruiting. Angela is also active with multiple not-for-profit organizations including, Rotary Club of Fort Myers Board Member & Program Committee Chair, Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Golisano Children’s Hospital Community Council Executive Committee Member, Special Equestrians, American Heart Association, PACE Center for Girls Lee County, and more. Off the clock, she is an active equestrian, competing in barrel racing events all over Florida. She holds multiple championship titles and world qualifications.

Stevens Construction, 2017-18 Board Chair

Dan Adams

Dan Adams

Stevens Construction, 2017-18 Board Chair

Since joining the Stevens Construction as senior project manager in 2011, Dan quickly rose to the top of the management team, proving his ability to deliver our client’s projects on budget, on schedule and with the highest of quality. Dan has completed some of the company’s most complex projects including Landmark Hospital, an 86,676-square-foot, 50-bed, long-term care facility in Naples. A LEED Accredited Professional and Florida licensed general contractor, the Fort Myers native earned his bachelor’s degree in building construction from the University of Florida. Dan has also earned Healthcare Construction Certification from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering and Infection Control Certification.

Dan is very enthusiastic about supporting his community.  Dan serves as second vice president on the board of directors for the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers, Real Estate Investment Society and United Way Allocations committee. Dan has also been recognized by Gulfshore Business as a “40 Under 40” recipient.

Prawnbroker Restaurant Group, Board Member

Mark Blust

Bowling Management Associates, Inc., 2004-05 Board Chair

Michael L. Cannington

CopyLady, Board Member

Dan Detrick

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Board Member

Lee Golden

Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University, Board Member

Doug Heffner

Corbin Henderson, Founding Member

Randall P. Henderson

Caloosa Tent & Rental, Board Member

Cheryl F. Komnick

First Horizon Bank, Board Member

Heather Langdale

Crowne Plaza Ft. Myers at Bell Tower Shops, 2020-21 Board Chair

Jim Larkin

Pool Pro's Inc., 2018-19 Board Chair

Joe Mitchell

M & M Multimedia, Board Member

Randy Mitchelson

HBKS Wealth Advisors, 2015-16 Board Chair

Dean Piccirillo

Spiro & Associates, Board Member

Christopher T. Spiro

Stewart Title,

Doug Stevens

KTD Accounting & Consulting,

Kelly Talamo

Florida Weekly, Board Member

Melissa Vogt

Melissa Vogt

Florida Weekly, Board Member

Melissa Vogt is the General Manager at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. Melissa is responsible for developing and implementing the theatre’s sales, marketing and advertising plans, public relations initiatives, publicity/promotional events, social media, the website, along with other tasks such as booking and executing an annual concert series, taking publicity photos and selling advertising for the theatre’s playbill.

Melissa received TRAVELHOST Magazine’s Hospitality Award in 2011, is a graduate of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2011, was recognized as one of Gulfshore Business Magazine’s 40-Under-40 in 2017 and was a Young Professional of the Year finalist for The News-Press 2017 People of the Year. She is active on numerous committees for various organizations, serves on the board of directors for the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and volunteers at Valerie’s House.

A long-time resident of Southwest Florida, Melissa is an enthusiastic member of the community and enjoys the arts, volunteering, spending time on the water, and being mom to her son Austin.

Minnesota Twins, Board Member

Mark Weber

Spada Salon & Day Spa, Board Member

Andrew Williams

Scotlynn, Board Member

Adam Stachurski

Executive Director of Our Mother’s Home of SWFL, Inc., Board Member

Alicia Miller

Alicia Miller

Executive Director of Our Mother’s Home of SWFL, Inc., Board Member

Alicia Miller is the executive director of Our Mother’s Home of SWFL, Inc., whose mission is to empower young women by breaking the cycle of generational poverty. Her previous experience with the foster care system, along with her desire to be a role model and leader for young women in the community, led her to Our Mother’s Home, where she oversees the administration, programs and strategic planning as well as fundraising, marketing and community outreach.

Professional Career Counselor Florida Gulf Coast University, Board Member

Ashleigh Droz

Local Public Affairs Lumen, Board Member

Brandon Miller

Chief Physician and Operations Executive, Lee Memorial Hospital, Board Member

Dr. Ryan Brown

Northwestern Mutual, Board Member

Jesi Crane

Florida SouthWestern State College, Assistant Director, Workforce Recruitment & Scholarships

Kelly Thawley

Director of Corporate Sponsorships at Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation, Board Member

Matt Karastamatis

Cancer Alliance of Naples, CEO, Board Member

Neftali Feliciano

General Manager, Florida Operations Boston Red Sox, Board Member

Shawn Smith

Director of Business Development, PF&A DESIGN, Board Member

Todd Rauchenberger

Lee County Sports Development, Ex-officio

Jeff Mielke

Lott & Gaylor, Ex-officio

Phil Gaylor

Economic & Community Development, City of Fort Myers, Ex-Officio

Steve Weathers