Member News

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 16, 2019) – Lauren Baugh is passionate about connecting people with the resources they need. As the new executive director of the Lee County Bar Association, she’ll seek innovative ways to improve access to justice, encourage communication and promote a better understanding of the law.
“At the end of the day, the bar is about people — bar members and community members alike,” Baugh said. “The legal profession plays such an important role in our society, and the bar should reflect that. Let’s bring people together and exchange ideas.”
Baugh wants to capitalize on social media and technology as a means to enhance existing connections and build new ones. She plans on continuing to enhance and promote the bar’s Lawyer Referral Service, which recently received a tech-savvy upgrade, and she’s envisioning ways to adapt traditional bar communication to emerging platforms.
“The future of the bar association and the future of technology are one and the same,” she said.
A Lee County resident since the age of 3, Baugh has deep roots in the community. She graduated from Edison Community College and Bishop Verot High School, and she has worked in management, administration, bookkeeping and philanthropy. She has an 8-year-old daughter and is an active volunteer in her school.
As well-connected as she is, Baugh’s community focus extends well beyond her own circle. She founded a nonprofit organization called Shoes, Socks, Shirts & Smiles that collects clothing for the “houseless,” a term she prefers instead of homeless.
“Home is where the heart is. Many people in need will always have a home in a certain regard. What they lack is a house,” Baugh said. “If we’re specific in the way we identify the problem, we’re more likely to uncover the right solution.”
Bar leaders were drawn to Baugh’s ability to zero in on an issue and take swift action. She impressed with her proactive approach to finding answers.
“Lauren has shown a lot of enthusiasm for this position and has expressed a lot of new, innovative ideas for implementation in her role as executive director,” said John Webb, president of the Lee County Bar Association. “We are excited to welcome Lauren and look forward to seeing the progress she will make in furtherance of the bar’s mission.”
Speak with Baugh at 239-334-0047 or [email protected].
About the Lee County Bar Association
The Lee County Bar Association, a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization, has served the citizens and legal community of Lee County since 1949 and has a current membership of almost 800. Its purpose is to further the education of its member attorneys and create meaningful interaction among them, and to inform the community on important legal matters. The bar strives to serve as a leader in advancing ethical conduct, excellence and the professionalism of its members. For more information, visit leebar.org or contact Executive Director Lauren Baugh at 239-334-0047 or [email protected].

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 16, 2019) – Guardian ad Litem Foundation, 20^th Judicial Circuit, is seeking sponsors for its inaugural Voices of Hope Gala, a new signature fundraising event to build awareness and support for programs helping Southwest Florida youth in the child welfare system.

The Voices of Hope Gala includes dinner, entertainment and a live auction, and starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at The Club at Grandezza, 11481 Grande Oak Blvd. in Estero. Event tickets are $250 per person.

Guardian ad Litem Foundation has announced five sponsorship levels – Champion of Hope ($10,000), Defender of Justice ($7,500), Guardian Ally ($6,000), Advocate Angel ($5,000) and Child Protector ($2,500). Sponsorship benefits include Gala tickets and reserved tables; opportunities to provide promotional items in gift bags and speak on stage at the event; media interviews; and recognition at the event, on social media and in event marketing materials.

“Because the gala is a new event, all sponsorship levels are available, including the coveted Champion of Hope sponsor that will receive premium recognition and benefits,” said Roxanne Dyer, executive director for the Guardian ad Litem Foundation. “The business community in Southwest Florida is known for its generosity, especially when it comes to children’s causes, and we’re hopeful that proceeds from the Voices for Hope Gala will help us continue serving local children in need.”

Guardian ad Litem provides trained, court-certified volunteer advocates who serve as the “voice” for abused, neglected and abandoned youth in Southwest Florida as they navigate the judicial, education and child welfare systems. The Foundation raises money to recruit, train and support volunteer child advocates, as well as provide financial assistance to help meet a child’s basic and developmental needs.

Co-chairing the Voices of Hope Gala are Jennifer Siegal-Miller, an associate in the Naples law office of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., and Peter Knize, senior vice president of estate administration for The Naples Trust Company/The Sanibel-Captiva Trust Company.

For more information about sponsorship or ticket opportunities, please visit VoicesForKids.org/events/2020-Gala or call 239-533-1435.

About Guardian ad Litem Foundation

Guardian ad Litem Foundation, 20th Judicial Circuit, was established in 1984 and is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports Guardian ad Litem programs in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Foundation, a United Way Partner Agency, has a mission of ensuring that every abused, neglected or abandoned youth in Southwest Florida has a voice as they navigate the judicial, education and child welfare system. The Foundation raises funds that help meet a child’s health, educational and social needs, as well as provide support for highly trained volunteer advocates who represent the best interests of a child until a safe, permanent placement is established. For additional information, visit VoicesForKids.org or call 239-533-1435.

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (Aug. 16, 2019) – Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment presents an evening with John Tesh live in concert at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now for $69 and are available at the casino, on www.jaytv.com/florida or by calling 800-514-etix. Attendees must be 21 years of age.
Whether at the piano solo, with a 12-piece ‘big band’ or an 80-piece orchestra, Tesh’s ability to create a unique journey for concert fans with music and storytelling has taken him from the Red Rocks Amphitheater and the Coliseum in Rome to Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. His live television concerts, including the seminal ‘Live at Red Rocks,’ have raised more than $20 million for Public Television. Tesh has won six music Emmys, received two Grammy nominations and three gold records, hosted seven Public Television specials and sold more than eight million records.
Twenty five years and 50 plus recordings into his multi-faceted, ever-evolving musical and broadcast career, Tesh’s highly successful and varied career path also includes a string of #1 radio hits, a Keyboard Magazine Performance award, 12 years as an investigative journalist for the CBS TV Network, a 10-year run as anchor on Entertainment Tonight, broadcast host and music composer for the Barcelona and Atlanta Olympic Games, and the unique distinction of composing what critics have hailed as “The greatest sports theme song in television history,” the NBC SPORTS’ NBA Basketball Theme.
 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 1,400 slots 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 recently renovated and 24-hour EE-TO-LEET-KE (“The Camp”) Grill. Seminole Casino Hotel’s nightlife 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, as well as the new Corner Bar. 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. 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 private cabanas, 24-hour fitness studio and free Wi-Fi.
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 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/.

Get your tickets now for the happiest of hours! Nibble, nosh, sip and savor in our colorful gallery. Delight your senses with unlimited tastes of award-winning, rare and brand new artisan brews, hand-selected wines and delicious culinary creations. Play twisted pub games, bid high and often in our silent auction, enjoy live music as you mingle with local artists, artisans and craft beer makers.
Arts On Tap is a lively fundraising event for the Alliance for the Arts that puts a little play into your Saturday and plugs you into the pulse of everything local.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – August 14, 2019 – Cooper Hotels, owner and operator of Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Myers Airport/FGCU, today announced that Evi M. Davis has been named general manager of the 133-suite hotel located at 16450 Corporate Commerce Way.
As general manager, Davis will be responsible for directing all aspects of hotel operations, including guest services, hotel administration, and overseeing marketing efforts.
“Cooper Hotels strives to promote our top performers from within,” said Brian Carney, vice president of operations, Cooper Hotels. “Evi brings extensive experience, a commitment to excellent guest service and strong management and leadership skills to her new position.”
Previously, Davis was rooms division manager at nearby Hilton Naples, another Cooper Hotels property, where she had been a team member since 2003. She began her career at Hilton Naples as a guest service agent, was promoted to guest service supervisor, then to front desk manager, guest service manager and finally rooms division manager in 2014.
Davis is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers and holds a B.S. degree in general management. She also has an associate in arts from Florida Southwestern State College in Naples/Fort Myers.
Cooper Hotels also owns and manages three other hotels in Fort Myers – the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers and Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops and the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers Airport/ FGCU.
Located one mile south of Southwest Florida International Airport, across from Gulf Coast Town Center Mall and two miles from FGCU, Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Myers Airport/FGCU provides fully equipped kitchens and separate living and sleeping areas. Guests are also provided all the essentials needed for a comfortable and convenient stay, including complimentary full-hot breakfast daily, evening social Monday-Thursday and Wi-Fi. For more information on Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Myers Airport/FGCU visit www.fortmyersairportfgcu.homewoodsuites.com.
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Terry Hendrix
[email protected]
Cooper Hotels
1661 Aaron Brenner Drive
Suite 200
Memphis, Tennessee 38120
www.cooperhotels.com
 
 

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 1,400 slots 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 recently renovated and 24-hour EE-TO-LEET-KE (“The Camp”) Grill. Seminole Casino Hotel’s nightlife 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, as well as the new Corner Bar. 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. 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 private cabanas, 24-hour fitness studio and free Wi-Fi.
 
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 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/.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

FORT MYERS, FLA., August 13, 2019 – Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida has added two new family medicine physicians to its staff to meet the increased demand for primary health care needs in Lee County.
Dr. Karla Noel has joined Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida as a family medicine physician at the Fort Myers office at 7381 College Parkway.  Dr. Syed Sher also is a family medicine physician and will see patients at the Cape Coral Family Medicine office at 1255 Viscaya Parkway.
Dr. Noel has 19 years of experience as a family medicine physician and has worked with medical practices in Hawaii, Florida and Indiana.
Dr. Noel earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Indiana School of Medicine in Indianapolis, and her Bachelor of Science degree in history and biology at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
Her residency was completed at the Lehigh Valley Family Practice in Allentown, Penn., where she was chief resident.
She also has received recognition from the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient Centered Medical Home physician training. 
Dr. Noel is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Sher received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center and his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Houston in Texas.
He served his residency at Ocala Regional Medical Center in Florida.
He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association.
Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida, a physician-owned and operated medical practice, was formed in 1996 by many local physicians and has grown to become the largest independent physician-owned primary care practice in Southwest Florida.
Offices are conveniently located in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Lehigh Acres.  For more information, visit www.ppcswfl.com.
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Photos Included:
Karla K. Noel, M.D.
Syed Sher, D.O.

  
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2019) – Norman Love Confections has hired seasoned professional Liz Zollars as its new corporate sales manager for Central Florida.
In this newly added role, Zollars will serve as the chocolatier’s concierge for Orlando-area businesses and organizations wishing to create a corporate gifting program for their valued employees, clients and prospects. Norman Love Confections packages its handcrafted, ultra-premium artisan chocolates in gift boxes, towers and baskets that are ideal for corporate gifting needs, including prospecting, thank you gifts, special promotions, company events, holiday gifts and celebrations.
Zollars previously was the national sales director for NOAH’s Event Venue, which offers event venues for business meetings, corporate seminars, weddings and special occasions across 23 states. She also held positions as a regional manager and event venue director for the company. Zollars’ prior roles include positions as an assistant event coordinator, event design assistant, business and sales development assistant, and project coordinator for a variety of corporations and major events in Central Florida.
Zollars earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Event Management from the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management and an Associate of Art degree in Business Administration and Management from Valencia College.
 
About Norman Love Confections
Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes handcrafted artisanal chocolates from its corporate headquarters at 11380 Lindbergh Blvd. in Fort Myers, Florida. The award-winning Fort Myers-based chocolatier has been lauded more than a dozen times by a leading consumer ratings magazine, including recognition six times for producing the best ultra-premium chocolates in the nation. Forbes.com included Norman Love Confections BLACK line on its list of the nation’s top 10 truffles; The Huffington Post listed it among the six best U.S. destinations in its Chocolate Lover’s Travel Guide; and USA Today named Love as one of its top 10 entrepreneurs for 2014. Love was named the inaugural inductee of Dessert Professional Magazine’s Chocolatier Hall of Fame, partnered with local chefs to present a six-course meal at the James Beard House in New York and Norman Love Confections was ranked among the top 10 shops in the world for chocolate lovers by U.K. media outlet Daily Telegraph.
Norman Love Confections has Chocolate Salons in Fort Myers, Estero and Naples, including a pastry shop and café at Whole Foods Market in Fort Myers salon. Chocolates, gift baskets, sipping chocolate and Love’s book, “Artistry in Chocolate, A Story of Love,” also can be ordered online at www.normanloveconfections.com. In addition, Norman Love Confections chocolates and desserts are offered on 18 Princess Cruises’ ships through the “Chocolate Journeys” partnership and at independent retail locations throughout the U.S. For more information visit www.normanloveconfections.com or ca

(Fort Myers, Fla. – August 12, 2019) — The Heights Foundation fourth annual benefit golf tournament “Swing Fore The Kids” presented by Five County Insurance will take place on Friday, September 27 at Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers.  The proceeds of the event support The Heights Center’s programs that work to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Fort Myers.  Last year’s tournament raised $26,500.  Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., there will be a boxed lunch, a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. and dinner, auction and awards at 6:00 p.m.  The presenting sponsor is Five County Insurance.
 
“The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average,” said Jim Sanger, Chief Operating Officer of The Heights Foundation.  “This tournament will help support programs at The Heights Center including School Success and our enriching summer camp.”
Tournament Registration is now available.  A foursome is $600 and a two golfers are $300.   Sponsorships that include golf packages and recognition are available.  Sponsors include Entech, Baja Electric, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, Capital Bank Foundation and Clinger, Sizemore and Associates.  The sponsorship deadline is September 13 and golfer registration deadline is September 20. For more information visit www.heightsfoundation.org/golf or call Jim Sanger at (239) 482-7706 or email [email protected]
 
About the Heights Foundation and the Heights Center
 
The Heights Foundation works to build self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood.  The mission is to support education and wellness, promote family and community development, and provide the benefits of enrichment and the arts.  The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, is a place for Education, Opportunity, and Enrichment.   GLAD Kids is a child care and pre-k center serving more than 80 children birth-five.  The Harlem Heights Community Charter School currently serves kindergarten through fourth grade and will expand to serve up to fifth grade.
 
Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community.   Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 70% Hispanic, 20% African-American, and 8% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average. Families are not able to easily access family support services located in downtown Fort Myers, and benefit greatly from programs located within the neighborhood.
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