Member News

NAPLES, Fla. – April 11, 2018 – Hodges University is pleased to announce it has completed negotiations to lease additional space within the university’s Gaynor Building on the Naples campus.
In February 2017, Hodges University agreed to lease the Gaynor Building to Montessori Academy of Naples (MAN), which occupies the building’s first floor which fronts the quadrangle greenspace used by its students for outdoor play and other activities. Beginning in fall 2018, MAN will have relocated completely to this location from space it had occupied elsewhere.
As of April 2018, MAN made the decision to lease the entire building from Hodges and sublease the second floor to Naples Christian Academy (NCA) beginning July 2018 as an interim location until NCA can secure and build its permanent campus.
Phillip A. Tingle, NCA’s Headmaster, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “These beautiful facilities, conveniently located for access from both Naples and south Lee County, provide the opportunity for Naples Christian Academy to expand our ministry in partnering with Christian families to provide both outstanding academics and a biblically integrated curriculum.”
The location will provide a new home for NCA who will also occupy state-of-the-art facilities across the parking lot in Northbrooke Plaza. Northbrooke will house the preschool, kindergarten and first grade classes.
About Naples Christian Academy:
The first Blue Ribbon school in all Collier County – Public and Private – Naples Christian Academy is dually accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and AdvancEd.​ Naples Christian Academy confirms its commitment to its biblical distinctiveness and the complete integration of the Bible and biblical principles into all aspects of its educational experience. NCA recognizes that the successful realization of this objective is dependent upon the shared efforts of NCA personnel, families and the community.
About Montessori Academy of Naples
Montessori Academy of Naples (MAN) is a private, not for profit educational institution that was founded in 2007 by a group of local Montessori teachers, parents, and at-large community members.  The school serves students from infancy into adolescence and, from its inception, has been dedicated to creating an educational experience of high academic standard based on the comprehensive Montessori philosophy, practices, and curriculum.  Its mission is to guide each child in a thoughtfully prepared environment to become an independent thinker, resourceful problem solver, and a positive contributing member in our society by focusing on the development of the whole child.  MAN’s success is directly attributable to its commitment to Montessori, the hard-work and dedication of its staff, administrators, and Board of Directors, and the support of its families.
About Hodges University:
Hodges University, a private, nonprofit institution of higher learning, was founded in Naples, Florida in 1990 as International College. In 2007, International College was renamed Hodges University in honor of its benefactors, Earl and Thelma Hodges, long-time residents of Naples and supporters of Hodges University. Hodges’ mission is to prepare students to leverage higher learning in their personal, professional and civic endeavors. To accomplish this mission, Hodges’ schools offer a variety of academic programs online and on the Fort Myers and Naples campuses. Hodges University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
 
 
 
 
 
Nicole Roe
Marketing & Strategic Content Writer
Hodges University | 2647 Professional Circ

Performances are at the Zig Zag Lounge. No cover for live entertainment. TVs throughout the Zig Zag bar air sporting events and other entertainment. Zig Zag Lounge is Southwest Florida’s premier destination to catch your favorite teams during the NFL season. Entertainment is subject to change. For complete details, visit moreinparadise.com.
 

About Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee
Open 24/7; 365 days a year, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is Southwest Florida’s premier gaming and entertainment destination. The 51,000-square-foot plus casino offers 1,300 slots, including Tarzan, Wheel of Fortune and Crazy Money, and 38 live table games including Blackjack, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Blackjack Switch and Spanish 21. Dining options include the award-winning 1^st Street Deli, Asian fusion restaurant Lucky Mi Noodle House, and The EE-TO-LEET-KE (“The Camp”) Grill. Nightly entertainment is highlighted by the Zig Zag lounge, home of the Zig Zag Girlz, “where the party never ends” featuring n

NAPLES, Fla. – April 11, 2018 – Hodges University is pleased to announce it has completed negotiations to lease additional space within the university’s Gaynor Building on the Naples campus.
In February 2017, Hodges University agreed to lease the Gaynor Building to Montessori Academy of Naples (MAN), which occupies the building’s first floor which fronts the quadrangle greenspace used by its students for outdoor play and other activities. Beginning in fall 2018, MAN will have relocated completely to this location from space it had occupied elsewhere.
As of April 2018, MAN made the decision to lease the entire building from Hodges and sublease the second floor to Naples Christian Academy (NCA) beginning July 2018 as an interim location until NCA can secure and build its permanent campus.
Phillip A. Tingle, NCA’s Headmaster, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “These beautiful facilities, conveniently located for access from both Naples and south Lee County, provide the opportunity for Naples Christian Academy to expand our ministry in partnering with Christian families to provide both outstanding academics and a biblically integrated curriculum.”
The location will provide a new home for NCA who will also occupy state-of-the-art facilities across the parking lot in Northbrooke Plaza. Northbrooke will house the preschool, kindergarten and first grade classes.
About Naples Christian Academy:
The first Blue Ribbon school in all Collier County – Public and Private – Naples Christian Academy is dually accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and AdvancEd.​ Naples Christian Academy confirms its commitment to its biblical distinctiveness and the complete integration of the Bible and biblical principles into all aspects of its educational experience. NCA recognizes that the successful realization of this objective is dependent upon the shared efforts of NCA personnel, families and the community.
About Montessori Academy of Naples
Montessori Academy of Naples (MAN) is a private, not for profit educational institution that was founded in 2007 by a group of local Montessori teachers, parents, and at-large community members.  The school serves students from infancy into adolescence and, from its inception, has been dedicated to creating an educational experience of high academic standard based on the comprehensive Montessori philosophy, practices, and curriculum.  Its mission is to guide each child in a thoughtfully prepared environment to become an independent thinker, resourceful problem solver, and a positive contributing member in our society by focusing on the development of the whole child.  MAN’s success is directly attributable to its commitment to Montessori, the hard-work and dedication of its staff, administrators, and Board of Directors, and the support of its families.
About Hodges University:
Hodges University, a private, nonprofit institution of higher learning, was founded in Naples, Florida in 1990 as International College. In 2007, International College was renamed Hodges University in honor of its benefactors, Earl and Thelma Hodges, long-time residents of Naples and supporters of Hodges University. Hodges’ mission is to prepare students to leverage higher learning in their personal, professional and civic endeavors. To accomplish this mission, Hodges’ schools offer a variety of academic programs online and on the Fort Myers and Naples campuses. Hodges University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

NAPLES, Fla., (April 10, 2018) – Leading club builder GATES Construction, has been selected as the construction manager for the new amenities center at The Dunes of Naples. The project consists of the complete demolition of the existing clubhouse and then the re-construction of a new free standing, 2-story, 25,857square foot amenities center. Designed by LOTUS Architecture, the new state-of-the-art amenities center will feature a covered outdoor dining area, a private dining room for special occasions, a dedicated indoor dining area, and a bar that will include inside and outside seating. The club room will be a flexible indoor/outdoor space with food service and can hold events such as fashion shows, bridge, Mah-Jongg, trivia night, and holiday events. The kitchen will encompass a much larger space than the previous kitchen for food prep, food storage and chef’s office.  The wellness/fitness center will consist of cutting-edge workout equipment, two group exercise/yoga rooms, two small rooms for massage /physical therapy (PT), flex rooms for small-group activities/events, and a tennis office and pro shop. The new lagoon pool area, which will features more seating, conversation areas around fire tables, and an expanded tiki bar. The upper level will feature space for activities, community meetings, and offices.
 
GATES Construction serves its clients from offices in Bonita Springs and Sarasota providing construction management, general contracting and design-build services. Their diverse portfolio of commercial, healthcare, multi-family, hospitality, institutional and special projects, showcases numerous landmarks successfully constructed over the past quarter of century. As Florida’s premier builder, GATES also operates throughout the Southeast United States and Latin America. For more information on GATES, please call (239) 593-3777 or visit the website at www.GATESinc.com.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fort Myers, FL, April 9, 2018 — Larue Pest Management, a local, family owned company providing pest control, lawn care and irrigation services in Southwest Florida, is celebrating 40 years of business. From its small beginnings in Lehigh Acres, it has grown to service thousands of residential and commercial clients throughout Lee, Collier, Charlotte and Hendry Counties.
Sixth generation Floridian, Larry Ruebeling, founded the company in 1978. In 1992, he was joined by his son Keith, who went on to purchase the company in 2013, continuing their long tradition community involvement, pride of ownership and local decision-making.
“We are so grateful to our clients for the opportunity to provide them with professional, caring service,” said Keith Ruebeling, President and Owner of Larue Pest Management. “Our company’s reputation and success through the years is based largely on their satisfaction and referrals, and we thank them for trusting us to responsibly protect their health and property.”
General Manager Mike Crews adds that Larue’s achievements can also be attributed to its company culture.
“Our motto is “strong roots produce beautiful leaves” and that vision keeps us on course as a team. Over the years, Larue’s roots have grown deep within the communities we serve and that’s a direct result of our commitment to strength, teamwork, responsibility, integrity and promise in every aspect of our business,” he said.
Larue’s core values have guided the company for the past 40 years, and will continue to as the company continues to grow in the years to come.
 About Larue Pest Management, Inc.
Larue Pest Management is a QualityPro certified Fort Myers pest control company that offers mosquito misting systems, termite protection, lawn care, and irrigation repairs for both residential and commercial properties in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel Island, Naples, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Bonita Springs, Lee, Collier, Hendry and Charlotte counties in Florida since 1978.

MARCH 27, 2018 – FORT MYERS, FLA. – Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) presents a Research Lecture Series at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 11, at the FSW Thomas Edison Campus Rush Auditorium, Building J, Room 103. The Research Lecture Series will highlight the research of several FSW faculty and students.
Beginning at 11:30 a.m., FSW faculty and students will discuss their research projects and findings. Presentation topics are:
“Bring Library Resources to Life for Students” by Cindy Campbell, faculty librarian; “Everybody Wins: An Exploration of Sustainable Business Practices” by Nathalie DeLeon, student; “The Sandinistas, the Contras, and the Miskitu Fight for Cultural Preservation” by Owen Dyches, student; “Data Mining for High Intensity Interval Trainings Effect on Academic Performance” by Dr. Erik Fay, professor, Biology;  “Hero or Zero: Fact Checking Our Past” by Megan Frisina, student; “Toxicity Evaluation of Food Additives” by Dr. Gabriel Gaidos, professor, Biochemistry; “Sustaining Mental Health: An Exploration of Integrative Psychiatry and Allopathic Medicine” by Janna Linehan, student; “The Sunny Side: Implementation of Solar Power in Florida” by Danica Murray, student; “A Digital Repository for the Study of Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle (1623-1673)” by Dr. Shawn Moore, professor, English; “Goal Setting, Mindfulness, and Self-Efficacy in the College Classroom” by Heather Olson, professor, Student Life Skills; “Rotten, Vicious, and Damned: Punk’s Subjectivity of Resistance” by Dr. Elijah Pritchett, professor, Humanities.
Immediately following the faculty and student poster presentations, FSW Humanities Professor Dr. Wendy Chase will present “Picture This: The Art and Artifice of Portraiture” at 12:30 p.m.
Dr. Chase is a professor of humanities and the program coordinator for the Honors Scholar Program at FSW where she teaches interdisciplinary courses in modern humanities and cinema. Dr. Chase holds a master’s in French literature and a doctorate in humanities with an emphasis in film studies and modernism from Florida State University. Her recent scholarship has focused on contemporary practices in art activism.
For more information on the FSW Research Lecture Series, contact Dr. Joseph van Gaalen, director, Assessment and Effectiveness, at (239) 433-6965 or [email protected].
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

FORT MYERS, FLA., April 9, 2018– Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast hosted a VIP Pre-Party April 5 in preparation for it signature event, “Chefs Cooking for Kids,” April 19 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.
About 70 sponsors, board members and other VIPs attended the cocktail party at the home of Marc and Lori Collins in Fort Myers.
“Chefs Cooking for Kids” is the largest fund-raiser of the year for the non-profit organization, which provides one-on-one mentors for children facing adversity.
Leading local chefs and restaurants provide delicious culinary samplings of food at the event that also includes music and an auction.  Amy Wegmann from Fox 4 News will serve as emcee and Scott Robertson will serve as auctioneer.  There also will be a chance drawing valued at more than $8,000.
Participating restaurants and top chefs include: Norman Love Confections, Crave Culinaire, G3 Catering, Rumrunners, Cru, 3 Pepper Burrito Company, Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon, Grump Goat Coffee, Il Cielo and Palladio Trattoria.
Gold Sponsors for the event are Norman Love Confections, Comcast and enterprise rent-a-car. Additional sponsors include: Coastal Wine & Spirits of Florida, FineMark National Bank & Trust, Scott Robertson Auctioneers, Domino’s, Ensite, Florida Blue, LaRue Pest Management, Mr. Greens, Publix Super Market Charities, Roetzel & Andress, LLC, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, FOX 4 WFTX-TV, Gulfshore Life, Sam Galloway Lincoln, Molloy Financial Group, Rapid Print, Planned Perfection, The Flower Path, Babcock Ranch Foundation, Ben Simmons, Cru, First Community Bank, Good Deals Appliances, Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., Marc & Lori Collins, Mark Loren Designs, and SVN | KOVA.
For further information on the event, please contact Aimee McLaughlin, Regional Development Director for Lee County at 239-849-1187, or [email protected] or visit www.bbbssun.org/events
 
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast provides one-to-one mentoring relationships to children ages 6-18 years old throughout the Gulf Coast of Florida in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Highlands, Hardee, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry and Collier counties. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. The organization provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.  For more information visit: www.bbbssun.org.

MARCH 28, 2018 – FORT MYERS, FLA. – For the 23^rd consecutive year, 100 percent of Florida SouthWestern State College’s (FSW) Dental Hygiene Program graduates have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam (NBDHE).
 
FSW’s Dental Hygiene program accepts 18 students per year, and students take the NBDHE in March while enrolled in their last academic semester at FSW.
 
“The NBDHE consists of 350 questions to include general education, program specific general education and dental hygiene core courses,” said Karen Molumby, FSW Dental Hygiene Program Director. “FSW’s dental hygiene curriculum prepares students to apply critical thinking and evidence-based care through the application of rigorous didactic examinations, laboratory competencies and clinical performance evaluations. Because of their diligence and hard work, 100 percent of the dental hygiene class of 2018 has once again passed the NBDHE.”
 
“We are extremely proud at the continued success of our dental hygiene students,” said Dr. Marie Collins, dean, FSW School of Health Professions. “It is through the exceptional instruction provided by our faculty and staff, that our students continue to achieve this amazing feat and a one-of-a-kind, national accomplishment.”
 
The Associate in Science degree in Dental Hygiene is one of seventeen career options offered in the FSW School of Health Professions. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
 
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 9, 2018) – Hope springs from opportunity. Hope Clubhouse is excited to showcase its new work placement initiative for people who’ve faced a mental illness at its Annual Mental Health Luncheon, scheduled for 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29 at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater on 1380 Colonial Blvd. in Fort Myers.
 
Attorney Kelly L. Fayer of The Law Offices of Kelly L. Fayer, P.A. will serve as event chair and state Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen will be the honorary chair for the luncheon, which will have the theme of “Faces of Hope at Work.” It’s designed to spotlight the organization’s job placement efforts through the new Hope Works LLC, which connects employers to Hope Clubhouse members, who in turn provide dedicated, reliable and immediate work.
 
“What’s nice about this is it’s a win-win, because the employer can have a person who really cares and wants to do a great job,” Fitzenhagen said. “They can benefit because the Hope Clubhouse member is going to do a job that someone else might not want to do, and do it well, and with a great deal of pride.”
 
Fitzenhagen was motivated to get involved after hearing attorney Sawyer Smith’s eloquent speech at the luncheon last year, when he revealed his struggle with mental illness.
 
“Positive mental health is the gateway to positive community,” Fitzenhagen said.
 
Fayer has been involved on the luncheon’s host committee and as a sponsor for years, and she can provide personal testimony for Hope Clubhouse job placement services, having previously hired Hope Clubhouse members to work in her law office.
 
“These are people who understand the value of a job, and they work harder as a result of it,” Fayer said. “I’m excited for the community to see just what they can do.”
 
Luncheon sponsorship packages are available. Event proceeds benefit the programs and services at Hope Clubhouse. Call 239-900-4200 for more information.
 
About Hope Clubhouse
Hope Clubhouse is a community of support for adults living with a mental illness that provides opportunities for paid employment and access to education, housing and wellness. Hope Clubhouse is a 501(c)(3) organization located at 3602 Broadway, Fort Myers, Florida 33901. Call 239-267-1777 or visit www.hopeclubhouse.org to donate or for more information.
 
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