Member News

This dynamic sister duo proves they’re one singular sensation, singing showstoppers from “West Side Story,” “Chicago,” “Funny Girl,” “Cats,” “Carousel,” “Wicked” and more. The return of singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger and actress, Ann Hampton Callaway, and Tony nominee and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer and recording artist, Liz Callaway.
 

The new center handles vehicle registration, property tax payments, license plate renewals, parking permits, birth certificates, Class E driver licenses and ID cards, plus vehicle and vessel titles, excluding those issued to dealers. The services are more limited than those found at other Lee County Tax Collector locations, but Tax Collector Larry Hart is confident they’ll make a significant difference for the thousands of people who visit the centers each year.
WHAT: Grand opening of the Colonial Service Center location for the Lee County Tax Collector’s office
WHEN: Monday, April 9, 10 a.m.
WHERE: AAA Auto Club South office, 2516 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, 33907
WHY: The new center is designed to help shorten wait times at the other six Lee County Tax Collector locations and give nearby residents a more convenient option.
CONTACT: Josh Milton, CONRIC PR & Marketing, 239-690-9840, [email protected]

Fort Myers, Fla (April 4, 2018) – Offshore Sailing School CEO and President, Doris Colgate, announced the appointment of three new members to its Executive Management team, and several additions and promotions in its sales and operations staff at headquarters and its branch teaching locations.
Colgate commented, “We are delighted to add experienced, dynamic members to our executive team as we enter our 54^th year. We have expanded our sales and operations teams to meet the needs of our students wanting to learn or improve their sailing skills at one our six resort locations in Florida and the British Virgin Islands.”
Steven Thomas joined the company as Controller after retiring from Union Iron, Inc. in Decatur, Illinois, and relocating to Southwest Florida. Bryce Jackson is the company’s new Chief Operations Manager, with expertise in operations and logistics management having served in the private sector following a 12-year career in the United States Marine Corps overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jackson is a nautical captain and oversees operations, fleet and personnel at all six of the company’s instructional locations. Wendy Bishop has been promoted from Sales Assistant to Sales Manager, responsible for hiring and training sales associates, and overseeing the activities of the fulltime sales and customer service department. Bishop most recently held a senior sales position with Verizon Inc. in Southwest Florida.
Also joining the company at its Fort Myers headquarters are Will Crane and Sheri Perry as Sales Associates reporting to Bishop. Crane and Perry both bring various sailing and sales skills to the team responsible for consulting with prospects and servicing customers in the sailing or boating program that will best meet their objectives.

New Menu Offers Modern Interpretations of Classic Comfort Foods
IMMOKALEE, Fla. (April 4, 2018) – Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee recently unveiled a completely redesigned EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill that enhances the dining experience and offers new and exciting menu selections.
Seminole Casino Hotel hosted a grand opening reception for the new EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill on March 30, with more than 125 attendees, including business, tribal dignitaries and community partners, enjoying a wide variety of menu selections.
“We are always striving to enrich the guest experience and this complete renovation of EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill and the updated menu achieve that mission,” said Tariff Albakry, Seminole Casino Hotel Food and Beverage Director.
The new interior design of the EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill is elegant yet comfortable and features a theater-style kitchen that allows for transparency as chefs prepare dishes “from scratch” to the table.
The all new EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill has a seating capacity of 202 including a private dining room which is designed to accommodate a variety of special guest events such as engagement and birthday parties.
The EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill menu features contemporary regional cuisines utilizing the freshest selections of Prime aged beef, fresh seafood, and an array of locally-sourced produce. The wide-ranging menu offers pastas, house made soups, steaks, seafood and chef specialty items including award- winning fajitas, pork osso bucco and the ever-popular braised short rib pot roast. All are enjoyed with a complimentary basket of warm rolls including the Grill’s handmade Seminole fry bread with an assortment of flavored butters.
“The revised menu offers varieties of comfort food presented in oversized portions and modern, bright plating,” Albakry said.
As part of the full renovation, Seminole Casino Hotel upgraded both Cappuccino’s Coffee and Pastry Bar and the EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill Bar.  Cappuccino’s sophisticated, exposed design invites guests to enjoy quick-stop dining with a selection of fresh sandwiches, pizza, ice cream, cookies and freshly-brewed coffee made to order and to go.
For more information, visit www.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 nightly live entertainment and no last call. Additional entertainment and events are held at the Seminole Center, an indoor/outdoor special event center featuring state-of-the-art sound and lighting system designed by Technomedia Solutions. The new Seminole Casino Hotel is the first upscale hotel to open in or near Immokalee and offers suites and deluxe guestrooms with modern décor and features, plus amenities including a swimming pool with adjacent private Seminole Chickee cabana huts, 24-hour fitness studio, free Wi-Fi, and desk concierge services.
Located at 506 South 1^st Street in Immokalee, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is easily accessible to all of Southwest Florida via I-75 and Southwest Florida International Airport is only a 45-minute drive from the casino. Located between Miami and Naples, north of Alligator Alley on Highway 846, it is five blocks south of Highway 29. Approximately 30 minutes from Naples and Fort Myers, the casino is a 90-minute drive from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee participates in the Seminole Players Club Wild Card Rewards Program whereby players earn and redeem comp dollars at all Seminole Casinos in Florida. For more information, call toll-free (800) 218-0007 or visit moreinparadise.com  or facebook.com/SeminoleCasinoHotel/.

 
IMMOKALEE, Fla. (April 4, 2018) – Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee recently unveiled a completely redesigned EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill that enhances the dining experience and offers new and exciting menu selections.
 
Seminole Casino Hotel hosted a grand opening reception for the new EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill on March 30, with more than 125 attendees, including business, tribal dignitaries and community partners, enjoying a wide variety of menu selections.
 
“We are always striving to enrich the guest experience and this complete renovation of EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill and the updated menu achieve that mission,” said Tariff Albakry, Seminole Casino Hotel Food and Beverage Director.
 
The new interior design of the EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill is elegant yet comfortable and features a theater-style kitchen that allows for transparency as chefs prepare dishes “from scratch” to the table.
 
The all new EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill has a seating capacity of 202 including a private dining room which is designed to accommodate a variety of special guest events such as engagement and birthday parties.
 
The EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill menu features contemporary regional cuisines utilizing the freshest selections of Prime aged beef, fresh seafood, and an array of locally-sourced produce. The wide-ranging menu offers pastas, house made soups, steaks, seafood and chef specialty items including award- winning fajitas, pork osso bucco and the ever-popular braised short rib pot roast. All are enjoyed with a complimentary basket of warm rolls including the Grill’s handmade Seminole fry bread with an assortment of flavored butters.
 
“The revised menu offers varieties of comfort food presented in oversized portions and modern, bright plating,” Albakry said.
 
As part of the full renovation, Seminole Casino Hotel upgraded both Cappuccino’s Coffee and Pastry Bar and the EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill Bar.  Cappuccino’s sophisticated, exposed design invites guests to enjoy quick-stop dining with a selection of fresh sandwiches, pizza, ice cream, cookies and freshly-brewed coffee
For more information, visit www.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 made to order and to go.

FORT MYERS, FL (March 15, 2018) – The Laboratory Theater of Florida presents “Visiting Mr. Green,” opening on April 13th at The Laboratory Theater of Florida. This show is sponsored by Ella Nayor and Jeffrey Cull.
Having almost hit 86-year-old widower Mr. Green, Ross Gardiner is charged with reckless driving. He must now complete a form of community service and visit Mr. Green every week for the next six months. Though both men are quick to resent these forced visits, their conversations soon reveal family secrets and past hardships. A story of acceptance and open-mindedness, replete with charm and poignancy.
 
“…this is a two-person gem.” – Denver Post
“There is a level of intelligence and compassionate understanding here which exceeds what we expect to find in the category of sentimental comedy entertainments…“ -Talkin’ Broadway
Local favorite Michael Hennessey (The Best Man),  who plays Mr. Green, says “Visiting Mr. Green transcends the ‘gaps’ between young and old, gay and straight, parent and child by immersing us in their one unifying common thread, love. You will love this play.”
 
The internationally-loved play also stars Brandon Somers (Burn This) and is directed by artistic director Annette Trossbach, who selected the play for this season because of its honest, hopeful, poignant portrayal of two men who have found themselves marginalized for different reasons and eventually find common ground and friendship. “Conservative Jewish Mr Green doesn’t want anything to do, at first, with energetic and modern Ross Gardiner. But tolerance leads to acceptance and then leads to their embracing of one another and a revaluation of who each of them are. The show is a gentle reminder that, through openness, peace and kindness are possible.”
 
Visiting Mr. Green plays from April 13th to April 29th at the Laboratory Theater of Florida. Performance dates are as follows:
April 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 at 8pm
April 22, 28, 29 at 2pm
Tickets are available to purchase on Brownpapertickets.com or by calling the box office at 239-218-0481. For additional savings, guests may purchase a 2017-2018 Season Pass.
 
 
 

Guests to network, tour the facility, hear more about operations and about
the organizations partnership with CROW.
FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 27, 2018) – Leadership NEXT, a professional organization for advancing business leaders in Southwest Florida, brought to you by the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, will host its next program on April 10^th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Specialized Veterinary Services (SVS) at 9500 Marketplace Road in Fort Myers. This program comes at a perfect time as National Pet Day is the very next day!
The program will offer guests the opportunity to network and tour the 24-hour, state of the art emergency hospital specializing in individual care for pets. Services include advanced imaging, internal medicine, interventional radiology, neurology, surgery and animal rehabilitation. SVS is also a drop off location for distressed or injured wildlife. CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) evaluates their status and treats them so they can be released to their natural habitat. Guests will also learn more about this partnership and how they are helping wildlife in Southwest Florida through research and conversation medicine.
The April program sponsors are Pool Pros, Inc. and Stevens Construction. Leadership NEXT is free to attend for members of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and $10 for future members. Refreshments will be provided. All guests are encouraged to register in advance at www.fortmyers.org.
Leadership NEXT is a premier networking group for advancing professionals in Southwest Florida. More than 50 guests representing a variety of businesses and industries throughout the region regularly attend the monthly programs designed to provide valuable information and foster collaborative working relationships. Programs take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month. The location will change every month based on the program topic. Follow Leadership NEXT on Facebook to learn more.
About the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Inc. represents over 900 businesses, professionals, and individuals throughout Lee County. The Chamber provides opportunities for members to network with other business people, participate in meaningful committee work, become better educated through various Chamber-sponsored programs and communicate one-on-one with community leaders. Ten percent of all membership dues are returned to the community for education-related projects, scholarships, and workshops. To learn more, visit www.fortmyers.org.
Media Contacts:
 
Colleen DePasquale, Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, 239-332-2930 ext. 210, 239-822-2271 (cell) or [email protected]
 
 
 
 
Stephanie Davis
Director of Events & Marketing
 
[email protected]
http://www.fortmyers.org
239-332-2930, ext. 213

 
FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 4, 2018) – Lyman Frank III has retired after 15 years of service as chairman of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s board of directors. A retired banker on Sanibel since the mid-1980s, Frank will remain on the board as a director.
David Owens, CPA, president and CEO of Midland IRA Inc. and 1031 Tax Free Strategies LLC, has assumed chairmanship on the board. Owens has served on the bank’s board since the bank opened in 2003.
“Lyman has been with SanCap Bank since day one and we are truly appreciative of his unwavering service and dedication,” said Craig Albert, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank president and CEO. “We look forward to David’s service as our new bank chairman.”
Founded in 2003, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has two locations on Sanibel and five additional locations in Fort Myers. The bank is nationally ranked in the top 20 as a best-performing community bank by S&P Global Market Intelligence out of more than 4,500 banks with assets under $1 billion. It is well-capitalized, with $415 million in total assets, and generates the highest return on equity of all Florida banks in excess of $155 million in total assets.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s professionals provide customized individual and business banking services and specialize in residential loans. The bank offers free personal and business checking, deposit accounts with competitive interest rates, safe deposit boxes, and a full array of online banking products and services, including electronic statements, mobile banking apps, CardValet, online bill pay, Positive Pay and ACH Manager. To learn more, visit www.SanCapBank.com.
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 4, 2018) – Entrepreneurial, business-minded teens still have time to register for Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s popular CEO Academy, a weeklong summer camp in which students learn the basics of starting and operating a successful business. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 18.
 
The CEO Academy is open to rising high school juniors and seniors from Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties. Under the guidance of experienced local business leaders, entrepreneurs and Florida Gulf Coast University professors, participating students work in project teams to develop a unique business concept and comprehensive business plan. Students can expect lessons in economics, entrepreneurship, ethics, finance, global economy, marketing and international trade.
 
The one-week camp runs from June 4-8 at FGCU’s Emergent Technologies Institute, located at 16301 Innovation Lane in Fort Myers. Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
 
Thanks to generous supporters, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida is pleased to announce that college scholarship money will be awarded to each student on the winning team for the business plan competition held at the camp’s conclusion. A distinguished judging panel consists of past Junior Achievement Laureates, who themselves are exceptional entrepreneurs and have been recognized for making a significant contribution to the economic development of Southwest Florida while adhering to high moral and ethical principles. This opportunity offers students invaluable knowledge and experience from successful business leaders and entrepreneurs, which provides an excellent addition to a college application and the chance to participate in future Junior Achievement events.
 
Interested students may apply by visiting Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s website, www.JASWFL.org, or calling the office at 239-225-2590. There is a $100 application fee, which is fully refundable if the student is not selected.
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 4, 2018) – Hammond Stadium, home of the Fort Myers Miracle, is hosting a sanctioned qualifier for the 2018 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.
The top male and female participants at the Saturday, April 14 competition in Fort Myers will claim a seat at the nationally televised Independence Day competition in Coney Island, N.Y.
“A trip to the ballpark isn’t complete unless you eat a hot dog – it’s a tradition,” said Chris Peters, president and general manager of the Fort Myers Miracle. “Hopefully the ambiance at Hammond Stadium helps these competitive eaters get in the mood to break some records!”
Last year, Nathan’s Famous held its inaugural Southwest Florida qualifier at Germain Arena. The top male contestant, Pablo Martinez, downed 25½ hot dogs and buns during the 10-minute competition, and the top female contestant, Mary Bowers, consumed 10 hot dogs.
Both local qualifiers finished 12^th in their respective divisions at the international championship on July 4, 2017. Joey Chestnut claimed the men’s title after consuming 72 hot dogs in 10 minutes, while Miki Sudo downed 41 hot dogs to earn the women’s championship.
Hammond Stadium’s gates will open at 4:25 p.m. on April 14, with the Hot Dog Eating Contest set to begin at 4:30 p.m. The Miracle play the Tampa Tarpons at 6 p.m.
Vouchers for free game tickets and parking will be available April 11-13 at Nathan’s Famous’ Fort Myers location, 11150 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 100. To register for the Hot Dog Eating Contest, visit MajorLeagueEating.com.
The April 14 Miracle game also features a Brian Dozier bobblehead giveaway. For a complete schedule of games and promotions, visit MiracleBaseball.com or call 239-768-4210.