Member News

Many business owners start their companies with big dreams of freedom and flexibility. However, over time the business can start to feel more like a trap than a path to freedom.

In fact, you may feel trapped in your business because…

* You have become the bottleneck – you know more than anyone else in your company about your industry and it relies heavily on your expertise

* Your customers ask to deal with you personally instead of your team

* You are heavily involved in building or creating the products/services you sell

* And you are your company’s best sales person

* All of these factors can leave you feeling overwhelmed and tethered to your business, rather than liberated by it.

The Freedom Workshop provides an interactive experience to help business owners regain the freedom they envisioned when starting their company.

What you’ll learn…
♻️ How to recognize when you’ve fallen into the owner’s trap of being indispensable to your business, and steps to build a team and processes that allow you to step back.

⚙️ The 3 critical elements of a scalable business model that runs smoothly without you.

💰 The 8 key factors that drive the financial value and sale price of your business.

💵 The one type of high-margin recurring revenue that can drastically increase business valuation.

🔁 The 6 forms of sustainable recurring revenue streams to build.

📊 The 2 essential marketing strategies required to avoid commoditization and retention.

💡 The one key question to ask customers that predicts likelihood of repeat purchases and referrals.

With these actionable insights, you’ll be equipped to transform your business into a streamlined machine that runs smoothly without requiring your constant hands-on involvement. This enables you to finally achieve the freedom and flexibility you desire.

Event location: Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
1520 Lee Street
Fort Myers, FL 33901

REGISTER USING THIS LINK ⬇️
https://lnkd.in/ewhZnc-r

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

REPORTS MARCH TRAFFIC

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 19, 2024) – During March, 1,509,777 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers. This was an increase of 29 percent compared to March 2023. It was also the second-best March reported in the 41-year history of the airport. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 25 percent.

The traffic leader in March was Southwest with 278,639 passengers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Delta (260,718), United (195,560), American (180,831) and Spirit (140,160).

Southwest Florida International Airport had 11,621 aircraft operations, an increase of 25 percent compared to March 2023. Page Field saw 15,610 operations, which was a 19 percent decrease compared to March 2023.

Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 10 million passengers in 2023 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction. For more information, visit flylcpa.com or facebook.com/flyRSW.

Lake Michigan Credit Union is pleased to announce details for their spring Shred Your Stuff Day in Fort Myers.

On Saturday, April 20, from 9–11 a.m., LMCU members and non-members alike can bring up to six Bankers-Box-sized boxes of sensitive or personal documents to LMCU’s Gulf Coast Fort Myers branch, located at 17830 Ben Hill Griffin Pkwy, and have the documents professionally shredded and disposed of for free. LMCU has offered this service for many years, and it is just one of the many ways LMCU protects their members from identity theft.

“Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in America. With the world becoming increasingly digital, it’s so easy to forget about physical papers that contain our sensitive information,” said Matt Cook, LMCU’s Vice President of Community Relations. “Our Shred Day events are for anybody, anywhere, to destroy their old documents and keep their info out of the hands of thieves.”

Those looking to have their documents shredded should drive up and remain in their vehicles for the safety of staff and participants. Event details are subject to change. Any changes to the event schedule will be posted on LMCU.org and LMCU’s social media pages.

For information on other Shred Day events, visit LMCU.org/Events.

Lake Michigan Credit Union, established in 1933, is the largest credit union in Michigan and 16th largest in the country. Employing a staff of over 1,650 and serving nearly 600,000 members, LMCU’s assets exceed $13 billion, with over $16 billion in portfolio and serviced mortgages. LMCU has 70 convenient branch locations, including 21 across Central and Southwest Florida. LMCU members have access to over 55,000 Allpoint ATMs worldwide. LMCU provides a full range of financial services, from high interest-bearing checking accounts to personal loans, mortgages, commercial banking, investments, and insurance.

To find out more, visit LMCU.org. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #442967.

Lake Michigan Credit Union Announces the 2024 $50,000 Home Makeover Sweepstakes

Grand Rapids, Mich. (April 18, 2024) – Lake Michigan Credit Union announced the launch of its 2024 $50,000 Home Makeover sweepstakes, running from Monday, April 1 through Friday, July 5.

Any Michigan or Florida resident 18 years of age or older can enter LMCU’s $50,000 Home Makeover sweepstakes. You can enter daily online at LMCU.org/50K or in one of LMCU’s 70 branches. For complete sweepstakes rules, see LMCU.org/50K.

The sweepstakes had a record 1,206,602 entries in 2023. The grand prize was won by Brittany from Grand Rapids, who planned on using the money for a down payment on a home.

The cash prize can be used however the winner desires. Maybe you’ve been meaning to renovate your kitchen, or your roof is due for repair. You could take that dream vacation or save it for your child’s college fund. The possibilities are endless.

“Our communities look forward to the $50,000 Home Makeover every year,” said LMCU President and CEO Julie Leonard. “It is amazing to see the difference the sweepstakes can make in the winner’s life. Besides being an exciting event, it also serves as a reminder that helping our members achieve their lifelong financial goals is what LMCU is all about.”

To enter the $50,000 Home Makeover sweepstakes, visit LMCU.org/50K or your local LMCU branch.

Lake Michigan Credit Union, established in 1933, is the largest credit union in Michigan and 16^th largest in the country. Employing a staff of over 1,650 and serving nearly 600,000 members, LMCU’s assets exceed $13 billion, with over $16 billion in portfolio and serviced mortgages. LMCU has 70 convenient branch locations, including 21 across Central and Southwest Florida. LMCU members have access to over 55,000 Allpoint ATMs worldwide. LMCU provides a full range of financial services, from high interest-bearing checking accounts to personal loans, mortgages, commercial banking, investments, and insurance.

To find out more, visit LMCU.org. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #442967.

Alliance for the Arts Presents Biennial Artist Grant Recipient Exhibition
Exhibit showcases Arts & Culture Grant recipients and runs from May 3 – June 1, 2024

FORT MYERS, FL (April 17, 2024) – The Alliance for the Arts  invites the public to its opening reception for the Biennial Artist Grant Recipient Exhibition on May 3 from 5 p.m.-7:00 p.m. The free event features the works of visual artists Linda Benson, Stacey Brown, Martha De La Cruz, Lily Hatchett, and Roland Ruocco. as well as light refreshments provided by Jayne Baker. The exhibit will be on  display from May 3 – June 1, 2024 at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.

There will be performances during the opening reception in the Alliance’s Foulds Theatre. Each featured visual artist and performance group received an Arts & Culture Grant from the City in 2022, 2023 or both grant cycles. The City of Fort Myers Arts & Culture Grant program is designed to support and foster the arts organizations and individual artists who contribute to the flourishing arts and culture scene that distinguishes the City.

About the Artists

Linda Benson is a seasoned artist here in Southwest Florida and has always surrounded herself with art. Benson worked for over 20 years as a professional creative artist, working on the mainland and the islands. As a retired commercial artist, she now channels her creative energies into teaching art. For the last 10 years she has been teaching all ages and levels in Punta Gorda, Naples, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and on Sanibel and Captiva.

Stacey Brown is a native Southwest Florida artist who works primarily in mixed media paintings and collage art on canvas and paper. Combining acrylic paint with ink, pencil, pen, marker, ephemera, painted papers, stamping and etchings, Brown creates many layers to help the viewer’s eye keep searching and discovering new aspects with each viewing.

Martha De la Cruz is an Afro-Taino artist who utilizes videos, installations and sculpture to investigate issues of coloniality, decolonization, identity, race, and power. Her practice is guided by her colonial wound and the desire to change the realities of the global south. She received her BFA in sculpture in 2020 from the University of South Florida and her MFA in 2023 from the University of Oxford.

Roland Ruocco conveys his perception of the world around him through artworks that involve diverse subject matter, artistic styles, and media. Sometimes, depending on his mood and inspiration, identifying problems and offering solutions, other times focusing on the beauty of nature, or perhaps industrial design.

Theatre Gallery Artist: Birds of Paradise from Paradise by Carolyn Gora

Carolyn Gora is a native Floridian who has lived in Fort Myers since 1977. She raised two wonderful and creative daughters, helped her late husband, Bruce, open an architectural firm, and taught art for a total of 30 years in local elementaries, middle and high schools, as well as University South Florida (USF), Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and at the former Edison Community College (now FSW).

Carolyn’s artistic endeavors include designing jewelry and creating fused glass pieces.  Currently she works in many mediums including fiber and glass lamp work. Her latest venture is her Birds of Paradise from Paradise. Originally, the idea came from her birds of paradise that finally bloomed after being dormant for years. She created bird of paradise characters to illustrate clever sayings that mention birds, birds of paradise, or gardens.

All the plants in the paintings are plants found in Florida and are mostly from her garden. The vibrant hues exude a distinct Floridian charm. Her birds are painted in watercolors and tempera paint. Gora’s Birds in Paradise from Paradise collection is created to d bring a smile to the face of everyone who views it.

Members Gallery Artist: LAEA Art Educator Exhibition

The Lee Art Education Association (LAEA) is an organization of art teachers from both public and private institutions throughout Lee County. This group of talented artists and educators are excited to share some of their personal and professional artwork with the community. A wide variety of mediums and subject matters will be represented in this show, but the common theme will be the love and passion of educating and inspiring our local youth to take pride in the arts.

About Alliance for the Arts

The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida. Since 1975, the Alliance has been committed to transforming lives and improving community through the arts. The Alliance campus and galleries are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard just south of Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. For more information, please call 239-939-2787, visit us at www.ArtInLee.org, find us on Facebook and  Instagram.