Member News

Local program highlights mentorship and community partnerships
 FORT MYERS, Fla., January 1, 2018 –Dress for Success SW Florida is pleased to announce that the successful Women Empowered Through Employment Series (WETES) will be held again this year. Introduced in 2017, this original program provides mentors for women and builds awareness in the community, and strives to create partnerships with other nonprofits. The six week program kicks off with an orientation on January 10 and will be held each following Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through February 21^st at the Dress for Success SW Florida location in Fort Myers. WETES is open to eligible women in Southwest Florida at no cost.
WETES is an employer-driven program designed by Dress for Success SW Florida for unemployed and
under-employed women seeking jobs and new careers. The program aims to educate women through a variety of targeted career growth sessions including dressing for success, interview skills, and resume writing. Courses are led by area employers to share real world experience. Participating businesses include: Brown & Brown Insurance, Chico’s FAS, Inc., FGCU, First Florida Integrity Bank, Hertz, Image Matters, Lee Health, LeeSar, Shell Point Retirement Community, and Walmart. Karen Anderson, President of the Board of Directors for Dress for Success of SW Florida, is the chairperson for this exciting program.
Barbara Dell, CEO of Dress for Success SW Florida, said, “We are very excited to kick off our second session of WETES. It has been very successful because we designed it to meet the immediate needs of unemployed and under-employed women in the community. We want these women to work towards employment with expert guidance from local business leaders. This is also a great opportunity for employers seeking to hire new talent.”
Graduates completing the six-week program will leave with several benefits including an interview outfit, a resume, cover letter ready to customize to each employer, a personalized elevator speech for selling their strengths and abilities, effective job search tools, a social media profile, thank you note template, financial literacy training and budgeting plan. Each participant will also complete a practice interview with the participating employers and receive ongoing job search support through Dress for Success SW Florida.
WETES is co-sponsored by Chico’s FAS, Inc. and The Women’s Giving Circle of Southwest Florida, a fund of the Community Foundation of Collier County. The program is also supported by Walmart, Rotary Club of Fort Myers South, and Zonta Club of Sanibel and Captiva.
To register, contact Nickole Hendra at 239.689.4992 or visit www.dfsswflorida.org.
About Dress for Success SW Florida
Founded by Barbara Dell in 2010, Dress for Success SW Florida is responsible for both Lee and Collier counties. The mission of Dress for Success SW Florida is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women
by providing professional attire, a network of support, and career development tools to help them thrive in work and in life.  The non-profit helps women achieve self-defined financial and professional success. Dress for Success SW Florida serves job-ready women by referral only. For more information, visit
www.dfsswflorida.org or call 239-689-4992. Dress for Success SW Florida is located at 12995 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 153, Fort Myers, FL  33907.
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 23, 2018) – Shell Point Retirement Community continues the Concerts & Conversations program of its 2017-2018 Concert Series with a performance by Washington Saxophone Quartet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Grand Cypress Room at The Woodlands at Shell Point. As part of the Concerts & Conversations program, guests can enjoy fellowship and a dessert reception with the performers following the concert. The event is open to the public, with tickets available for $25 online at www.shellpoint.org/concerts or by phone at 239-454-2067.

Washington Saxophone Quartet taps into a rich repertoire from early music to newly commissioned works, drawing on a wealth of experience to reach listeners of every age and background. The instruments evoke the refined sounds of a string quartet, the rich harmonies of an organ prelude and the excitement of a jazz sax section. The widely-recognized ensemble has played on radio and television worldwide for nearly 35 years, in addition to performing recitals, informal concerts and master classes in the U.S., the Caribbean and China.

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 care for its 2,400 residents in an active, resort-style environment. Lifestyle amenities include deep-water boating access, six public restaurants, a championship 18-hole golf course, and many other recreational and educational activities. Learn more at www.shellpoint.org or 1-800-780-1131.

CAPE CORAL, FLA., January 22, 2018 – Art Castellanos, president of Castellanos + Tramonte Architects in Cape Coral, announces the hiring of Nataly G. Milian as a project designer.
Milian will be responsible for the design and implementation of commercial projects for the regional firm, which specializes in commercial design.
“We believe that Nataly’s experience will be a great asset to our firm as we grow to meet the needs of our clients,” Castellanos said.
Milian is a graduate of Jose Antonio Echeverria University in Havana, Cuba, with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.  She also served as a professor of architecture at the university for two years.
She worked for architectural firms in Miami prior to joining Castellanos + Tramonte.  Among her projects are 3D modeling for Pavilion Shopping Center in Naples, Georgian Gardens in Miami, Town & Country Center in Miami, and Liberty Square in Miami.
Castellanos + Tramonte Architects was founded in 2016 by Art Castellanos, AIA, and Jason Tramonte, AIA.  The firm, located at 1625 S.E. 46^th St., Suite 2A, in Cape Coral, currently employs five people.
Together, the team has designed more than 150 buildings throughout Florida, including  high-profile projects on the Ava Maria University campus in Collier County, fire stations, shopping centers, government buildings, restaurants, 7-Elevens and much more from Florida’s panhandle to Naples.
In Cape Coral, projects include Culver’s, Orion Bank, Big John’s Plaza, Cape Paradise Resort, Gastroenterology Associates of Southwest Florida, Nevermind Restaurant, Time Warner Cable, Rib City, Cape Veterinary Practice, Providence Christian School, Associates in Dermatology, Associates in Digestive Health, Viscaya Prado Veterinary Clinic, Hope Methodist Church and others.
 
About Castellanos + Tramonte Architects
Castellanos + Tramonte Architects is a full service multi-discipline architectural firm in Southwest Florida. The firm specializes in commercial architecture, which includes fire stations, healthcare buildings, public facilities, office buildings, shopping centers, industrial/warehouse buildings and, most recently, private educational and assembly buildings. For more information, visit Castellanos + Tramonte Architects website at www.castellanostramonte.com, or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/castellanostramonte/).

January 16, 2018 – FORT MYERS, FL – For all you burger connoisseurs in southwest Florida, there’s a new and especially tasty option: the FSW Buc Burger. It’s available exclusively at the Hilton Garden Inn, just steps from the FSW campus in Fort Myers.
 
It’s a mouth-watering half-pound burger cooked to perfection and topped with bacon, boursin cheese, bbq sauce and fried onion crispers served on a ciabatta bun. The FSW Buc Burger comes with golden Walk the Plank fries.
 
This hunger-satisfying feast is the creation of Hilton Garden Inn.
 
“Our goal was to create something that would not only display our Chef’s innovative culinary skills but tie in a way that our guests were able to experience the pride that the hotel has for the community here in Fort Myers,” said Trey Rich, General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers. Our team saw an opportunity to do this with our neighboring college and partner, FSW. After some creative and collaborative brainstorming, the FSW Buc Burger was born.”
 
“This is a burger made in heaven,” said Dr. Jeff Allbritten, President, Florida SouthWestern State College. “I appreciate how all the flavors complement each other. Of course, nothing goes better with this burger than the Walk the Plank fries.”
 
The Buc Burger with Walk the Plank fries is featured on the Hilton Garden Inn’s menu for only $13.99. The Hilton Garden Inn’s restaurant is open to the public daily for breakfast from 6-10 a.m. and from 7-11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Dinner is open daily from 5-10 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers is located at 12600 University Drive in Fort Myers.
 
 
 
 
 
 

January 16, 2018 – Fort Myers, FL – The Four Lads from Liverpool are back by popular demand! The Mersey Beatles return to downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, February 24th. This time, the fab four will appear for a matinee at 4pm and an evening performance at 8pm! Don’t miss this sure-to-sell-out Vinyl Vibes concert with the authentic Liverpool tribute band, the Mersey Beatles. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St. in the historic downtown Fort Myers River District.
 
Mersey Beatles
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Matinee Performance: 4:00pm
Evening Performance: 8:00pm
Tickets – GA: $45 • VIP: $59
For tickets and info, visit www.sbdac.com
 
VIP Tickets Include:
Premier Seating
Mersey Beatles Free CD Download
Meet & Greet with The Mersey Beatles
Meet & Greet will start one hour before show time. The band will be available for pictures and autographs.
 
This Liverpool-based Beatles Tribute Band was the resident band for over a decade at the world famous Cavern Club, where The Beatles got their start. These childhood friends have played in 20 countries, selling out shows worldwide. Experience the Mersey Beatles as never before with their all new hits show! The show will start as the lads return in the familiar suits of Beatlemania and grow older before your eyes via several quick costume changes; they will take the audience on a trip featuring 40 of the greatest hits from all eras.
See for yourself why John Lennon’s sister, Julia Baird, said: “There are a lot of Beatles tribute bands from all over the world, and I’ve seen them all, but The Mersey Beatles are the most authentic I have heard.”
 
 

 
January 16, 2018 – Fort Myers, FL – On Friday, February 23rd, experience “Very Verdi” from Gulfshore Opera! Gulfshore Opera presents beautiful renditions of classic opera works throughout their season. “Very Verdi” will feature arias, duets and scenes from powerful moments in the famous Verdi operas. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St. in the historic downtown Fort Myers River District.
 
Gulfshore Opera Presents Very Verdi
Friday, February 23, 2018
Show: 7:30pm | Cocktails: 7pm
Tickets: $45
 
Gulfshore Opera’s mission is to enrich the community by presenting high quality opera theater and classical vocal music, to engage​ top professionals, ​regional​ artists and inspired community members, and to promote community well-being through performances and musical education programs. Gulfshore Opera promises to present the highest quality of operatic performances to SWFL, while maximizing accessibility for diverse audiences.
 
Serving Collier, Lee and Charlotte Counties, Gulfshore Opera promises to present the highest quality of opera theater and classical vocal music performances while maximizing accessibility for diverse audiences of all ages. Our Educational Outreach program is committed to community building through a youth development program that empowers at- risk children to strive for excellence through music.
 
Gulfshore Opera was founded in 2014 by Steffanie Pearce, who brings 30 years of experience in the field of opera. She is a producer, director, performer and teacher of the great art form and has performed around the world. She resides in Southwest Florida. For more info, visit http://www.gulfshoreopera.org/.
 
 
 

January 16, 2018 – Fort Myers, FL- Join Gulf Coast Leisure at SBDAC on Thursday, February 22nd at 8pm for the Art & Poetry Networking Event! Mixed media artists, music, spoken word, and vendors are all highlighted each month. Attendees also have a chance to network and connect with other like minded people in the arts community. Sign up early to perform, or be a part of the audience and enjoy this interactive music and art showcase! The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St. in the historic downtown Fort Myers River District.
 
to build culture in SWFL. They’re passionate about serving the community and creating a positive environment that can build relationships and lay the foundation for a more unified community. In 2016, GCL has expanded their team to provide professional and quality experiences for their event attendees. GCL currently hosts 2 events a month in the River District Area of Downtown Fort Myers. The events are cultured and fresh, offering a unique experience each and every time.
 
 
 
 
 

JANUARY 16, 2018 – FORT MYERS, FLA. – The Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) Critical Thinking Lecture Series presents, “Pursuing Your Passion: The Journey to Entrepreneurship,” with Anna Withrow, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, at the FSW Thomas Edison Campus, Building U-102, Fort Myers. Additionally, the presentation can be viewed digitally at the FSW Charlotte Campus, Building O, Room 117; the FSW Collier Campus, Building M, Room 201; and the FSW Hendry/Glades Curtis Center, Building A, Room 114.
Withrow is a registered yoga teacher and the director and owner of Yoga Bird, the largest yoga studio in Fort Myers. She teaches an uplifting style of traditional hatha yoga, having trained at the Himalayan Institute. In her classes, she integrates elements of yoga philosophy and practical wisdom, guiding students in a practice that leads to remembering that we are more than our physical bodies and that we are perfect as we are. “If you are present and breathing, I can’t help but think you’re totally amazing, no matter what shape your body is making,” she says. “I am honored by each student who practices with me and recognize you as my greatest teachers.” In addition to teaching, she is a perpetual student and spends as much time as her schedule allows learning from her teachers. At Yoga Bird, she oversees a schedule of over fifty classes per week, weekly workshops that explore the deeper aspects of yoga, and a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program.
The FSW Critical Thinking Lecture Series features community leaders who discuss how they use critical thinking skills in their profession or focus on critical topics from their area of career or academic interest. The series is free and open to the public. Presentations take place weekly, and the spring series runs January through April. A full schedule can be viewed at www.fsw.edu/ctls.
 
For more information on the FSW Critical Thinking Lecture Series, contact Whitney Rhyne, director, Strategic Initiatives, at (239) 433-6943 or [email protected].
 
 

CAPE CORAL, FLA., January 22, 2018 – Art Castellanos, president of Castellanos + Tramonte Architects in Cape Coral, announces the hiring of Nataly G. Milian as a staff architect.
Milian will be responsible for the design and implementation of commercial projects for the regional firm, which specializes in commercial design.
“We believe that Nataly’s experience will be a great asset to our firm as we grow to meet the needs of our clients,” Castellanos said.
Milian is a graduate of Jose Antonio Echeverria University in Havana, Cuba, with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.  She also served as a professor of architecture at the university for two years.
She worked for architectural firms in Miami prior to joining Castellanos + Tramonte.  Among her projects are 3D modeling for Pavilion Shopping Center in Naples, Georgian Gardens in Miami, Town & Country Center in Miami, and Liberty Square in Miami.
Castellanos + Tramonte Architects was founded in 2016 by Art Castellanos, AIA, and Jason Tramonte, AIA.  The firm, located at 1625 S.E. 46^th St., Suite 2A, in Cape Coral, currently employs five people.
Together, the team has designed more than 150 buildings throughout Florida, including  high-profile projects on the Ava Maria University campus in Collier County, fire stations, shopping centers, government buildings, restaurants, 7-Elevens and much more from Florida’s panhandle to Naples.
In Cape Coral, projects include Culver’s, Orion Bank, Big John’s Plaza, Cape Paradise Resort, Gastroenterology Associates of Southwest Florida, Nevermind Restaurant, Time Warner Cable, Rib City, Cape Veterinary Practice, Providence Christian School, Associates in Dermatology, Associates in Digestive Health, Viscaya Prado Veterinary Clinic, Hope Methodist Church and others.
 
About Castellanos + Tramonte Architects
Castellanos + Tramonte Architects is a full service multi-discipline architectural firm in Southwest Florida. The firm specializes in commercial architecture, which includes fire stations, healthcare buildings, public facilities, office buildings, shopping centers, industrial/warehouse buildings and, most recently, private educational and assembly buildings. For more information, visit Castellanos + Tramonte Architects website at www.castellanostramonte.com, or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/castellanostramonte/).
 
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 22, 2018) – Pavese Law Firm partner Christina Harris Schwinn will speak at the 2018 Southwest Florida Women’s Business Summit, taking place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 at Florida SouthWestern State College, Building U, located at 8099 College Parkway in Fort Myers. The event is hosted by the Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO). Schwinn, whose practice area includes labor and employment law, will discuss employment matters for businesses conducting business in Florida. Registration for this event is free. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.eventbrite.com and select the “2018 SWFL Women’s Business Summit” event listing.
Schwinn is available to speak to local businesses and organizations on a variety of employment law topics and she can be reached at 239-336-6228 or [email protected]. Schwinn’s practice areas include employment law, business transactions, community association law and real estate law. Schwinn is an accomplished public speaker and regularly writes articles that have been published both locally and nationally in a variety of publications.
Pavese Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and West Palm Beach. The firm provides a broad range of legal services for individuals, families, small businesses and large corporations.  Practice areas include agricultural, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business and taxation, civil litigation, community association, employment, environmental and water, estate planning, probate and trust, family, land use and government, and real estate law. Established in 1949 as a one-person general practice firm, Pavese Law Firm has grown into one of the largest legal practices in Southwest Florida. With a long history of service to Southwest Florida, Pavese Law Firm has played a significant role in the growth of local businesses, communities and major development projects.  For more information, visit www.paveselaw.com.