Member News

JANUARY 18, 2018 – FORT MYERS, FLA. – Documentary film director Michael Ramsdell will present a discussion on global citizenship, Art and Activism Across Borders: A Directors Talk, at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 12, in Building J, Room 103, at the Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) Thomas Edison Campus, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers.
“It is part of FSW’s mission to prepare a diverse population for creative and responsible participation in a global society,” said Dr. Russell Swanson, professor, Philosophy. “By bringing guests such as Michael Ramsdell to the college to share his experience and provide insight on global events, we hope we will encourage others to investigate beyond their own backyards.”
Ramsdell is the director of the award-winning documentary films “When Elephants Fight” and “The Anatomy of Hate: A Dialogue for Hope.” Prior to his appearance, screenings of both films will be held at the FSW Thomas Edison Campus. Film screenings will take place:
Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2 p.m., in Building U, Room 102 – “The Anatomy of Hate: A Dialogue for Hope”
Wednesday, Jan. 31, noon, in Building AA, Room 177 – “When Elephants Fight”
Thursday, Feb. 1, 6 p.m., in Building U, Room 102 – “When Elephants Fight”
Monday, Feb. 5, 3 p.m., in Building U, Room 102 – “The Anatomy of Hate: A Dialogue for Hope”
“When Elephants Fight” explores the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has taken the lives of almost six million Congolese in the past 15 years. Since 2001, the UN and other NGO’s have reported that this conflict is being funded, in part, by Western companies, armed groups and corrupt leaders whose looting and selling of Congolese minerals has created windfall profits for these unsavory players, while leaving the people of Congo the most impoverished on earth…yet this looting continues still today.
“The Anatomy of Hate: A Dialogue for Hope” explores groups based on hate, war, and violence from around the globe. Guided by Einstein’s principle that peace can only be achieved through understanding, “The Anatomy of Hate” looks to bring understanding to this topic so we can better understand how hate comes to be, and more important, how we can end it.
The directors talk and film screenings are free and open to the public.
 
For more information, contact Dr. Swanson  at (239) 489-9312 or rswanson@fsw.edu.
 
 
 
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 22, 2018) – Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) has welcomed Randy Kapellusch to its team as a new project manager for the company.
 
Kapellusch brings more than 25 years of experience in commercial and residential construction to his role as project manager. Prior to joining the O-A-K team, Kapellusch worked for custom homebuilders in Southeastern Wisconsin and later worked on a variety of large-scale commercial projects in Wisconsin and Illinois including the first urban Target stores in downtown Chicago, a complete renovation of a Federal Government building in Chicago and additional projects for the U.S. Navy, Cancer Centers of America and more. Kapellusch, a certified project manager, earned his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University in South Carolina.
 
Owen-Ames-Kimball Company has provided premier general contracting, design-build, and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982. O-A-K’s Florida operation is an affiliate of its parent company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Florida operation has offices in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. Its Lee County office is located at 11941 Fairway Lakes Drive in Fort Myers. Learn more about O-A-K at www.owen-ames-kimball.com.
 
 

Contact:               Anna Wallace
Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida
239-334-2797   |   awallace@qlcswfl.org
 
Todd Gates
GATES Construction
239-593-3777   | jtutino@GATESinc.com
 
What:                    Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida Annual Address and Expansion Campaign
 
Where:                 Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida
3210 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33916
 
When:                  January 20, 2018
8:30 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Event, Q & A and Tour Immediately Following
 
YOU’RE INVITED TO THE ANNUAL ADDRESS AND EXPANSION CAMPAIGN
Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida Annual Address and Expansion Campaign
 
Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida invites local community leaders, government officials, dignitaries, and the media to attend the Annual Address and Expansion & Sustainability Campaign for the new expansion on January 20, 2018. A light breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Annual Address at 9:00 a.m. immediately following, a guided tour of the existing facility will be offered.
 
The Annual Address will feature an update of the 2017 fiscal year, goals for2018, and the relaunch of the expansion campaign. The expansion campaign is for $1.5 million dollar expansion to the Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida. The new addition will feature 6,000 square feet of space for a teen center, an enlarged kitchen and a multi-purpose room. There be a Q&A session and a tour of the facility at the end of the annual address for any members of the media and future beneficiaries.
 
Quality Life Center strives to strengthen family and community through the development of programs, services and the provision of housing and property management to ultimately cultivate self-development, teach self-discipline, build confidence and promote nutritional and cultural awareness.

With season in full swing The Shell Factory & Nature Park is ready to welcome visitors and locals alike with a Family Fun February. Leading off is The Shell Factory Bike Night Thursday February 15th, 5-10 pm. Bring the whole Family, see some cool vintage Bikes, enjoy great food and enjoy some great live music. Saturday February 17th, 9am-5pm is Fossil Fest. Lots of kid’s activities along with Fossil vendors and exhibits. There will be a Raffle, Kids Dig, and a special Family Fun Park Package. New this year in February is a visit from the Budweiser Clydesdales Friday February 23rd from 4-7pm. Budweiser is bringing the Full Hitch with all eight horses and the famous Budweiser Wagon complete with the Budweiser Dalmatian. Your Family can observe the actual hitching process and then view the Budweiser Wagon as it is pulled around the property stopping for some spectacular Photo Ops. Ending the month on Sunday February 25th from 11am-4pm is the annual Taste of North Fort Myers, sponsored by The North Fort Myers Chamber Of Commerce. Area restaurants serve up their best dishes along with a number of North Fort Myers Business vendors. What a month at The Shell Factory & Nature Park, Your Family’s Number 1 Entertainment Destination. For information on February’s events, and upcoming events in the future visit www.shellfactory.com or The Shell Factory Facebook page.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 19. 2018) – Shell Point kicks off its third annual 2018 Medical Breakthroughs & Discoveries series with a presentation by Lee Health CEO and President Larry Antonucci, MD, MBA, taking place Thursday, Feb. 15, at 1:30 p.m. at the Village Church Auditorium on The Island at Shell Point. This educational health care program, entitled “Trending Toward Modern: Health Care in the 21st Century,” is free and open to the public. To learn more or to register, call 239-433-7936.

“Each year the caliber of our speakers has grown. This year we are excited to welcome one of our own local health care experts to learn about modern changes and what they mean for our future,” said Jeff Cory, executive director of The Legacy Foundation.

Antonucci will touch on topics that include the shift from volume to value, population health, telemedicine and the need for all health care providers to focus on collaborative, patient-centered care with every interaction. The health care executive will also share the latest news about Lee Health, including expansions, new construction and innovations.

The 2018 Medical Breakthroughs & Discoveries series is an annual community health care speaker program that serves as a resource for residents in the greater Fort Myers area. All Medical Breakthroughs & Discoveries events are free to the public, and will be held in the Village Church Auditorium on The Island at Shell Point, located at 15100 Shell Point Blvd. in Fort Myers. To learn more, visit www.shellpoint.org/legacy.html.

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 for its 2,400 residents in an active, resort-style environment. Lifestyle amenities include deep-water boating access with free dockage, a championship 18-hole golf course, and other recreational and educational activities. To learn more, visit www.shellpoint.org or call 1-800-780-1131.

CAPE CORAL, Fla.  (January 19, 2018) – GATES Construction and ASKMARK Construction have begun renovations on a new Burlington, a national department store retailer. Located at 1810 NE Pine Island Road, in Cape Coral, the former Sports Authority building will have interior demolition of existing walls, lighting, HVAC, plumbing, and flooring. The 40,178 SF retail space will have a larger stock area, new store front entrance, offices and break room. Design services are provided by Herschman Architects. Burlington is slated for completion by early spring 2018.
As Florida’s premiere builder, GATES Construction serves its clients from offices in Bonita Springs and Sarasota as a full service general contracting firm providing construction management and design-build services with a diversified project portfolio in all types of commercial, institutional, industrial, healthcare, and multi-family construction projects. GATES also operates in North Carolina and the Republic of Panama. For more information on GATES, please call (239) 593-3777 or visit the website at www.GATESinc.com.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 9, 2018) – Shell Point Retirement Community invites the community and art enthusiasts to join its 2018 Shell Point Art Show and Sale, taking place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 and Saturday, Feb. 17, and from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18. Open to the public and free to attend, the event will be held at the Grand Cypress Room at The Woodlands at Shell Point.
For those who wish to be inspired by local artists, or enhance their collection with a new piece, the art exhibition will offer a variety of oil and acrylic paintings, photographs, watercolors, pastels, collages and other two-dimensional art. Hosted by the talented residents of Shell Point, the 2018 Shell Point Art Show and Sale will feature original works by Shell Point artists, many of whom were featured in 2017’s highly successful Ageless Creativity exhibition at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers.
There is no cost to attend the 2018 Shell Point Art Show and Sale, however, artwork is available for purchase by cash or check only. After shopping, guests can enjoy a meal at one of Shell Point’s on-site public restaurants. For more information on the upcoming event, visit www.ShellPoint.org.
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.

FORT MYERS, FLA., January 18, 2018– The most successful opera company in Europe and the U.S. will be in Fort Myers February 8 to perform Madama Butterfly, one of the world’s most famous love stores.
Teatro Lirico D’Europa will perform at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on the Fort Myers campus of Florida SouthWestern State College, as part of the Fort Myers Community Concert Association 2018 season.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert are available at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall or by calling the box office at 239-481-4849.
Prices are $35 for lower balcony and $25 for upper balcony seats.  A limited number of orchestra and mezzanine seating is available at $55 each.
“This is an amazing and very rare opportunity to hear these musicians in concert,” said Fort Myers Community Association President Mary Lee Mann.  “Madama Butterfly has been playing to rave reviews throughout the country.”
Madama Butterfly is one of the world’s most famous love stories, inspired by the sights and culture of Japan. Teatro Lirico D’Europa travels with a full orchestra of 47 to 50 members and a chorus of 40 singers.
Teatro Lirico D’Europa was created in 1988 by the late Yves Josse, a former ballet dancer and French arts promoter, and George Lalva, a young Bulgarian opera singer.  The collaboration was a huge success in a very short time, resulting in tours with more than 250 performances in a single season throughout France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Portugal.
Teatro Lirico D’Europa has now completed more than 700 performances in the US. at 120 different venues and has recently added performances in South America to its list of touring regions.
 
About the Fort Myers Community Concert Association
The Fort Myers Community Concert Association is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization founded by the legendary Barbara B. Mann in 1949 to bring world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida at affordable prices.  The association consists of more than 1,700 members, underwriters and sponsors.  Performers brought to Fort Myers in the past by the association include The Israel Ballet, The Boston Brass, Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna Boys Choir, Violinist Itzhak Perlman, Flutist James Galway, Pianist Andre Watts, Violinist Joshua Bell with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and many others.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2018) – Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida will induct Pason Gaddis, co-founder and CEO of Florida Media Group, LLC, and Gary Griffin, P.E., president and CEO of B & I Contractors, Inc., into the 2018 Business Hall of Fame, Lee County during a dinner and awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 25 with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs.

The prestigious award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who serve as role models for youth through their professional accomplishments and commitment to the community. Gaddis and Griffin will join a distinguished group of individuals who have been inducted into the Business Hall of Fame since it was founded in 1999. To learn more about the upcoming event, or for information on sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets, visit the events page at www.JASWFL.org.

Gaddis is the co-founder and CEO of Florida Media Group, LLC, a multi-media company with publishing, direct mail and digital applications. Through his leadership, Gaddis’ main portfolio holding, Florida Weekly, has grown from one to eight markets throughout Florida, increasing both revenue and print circulation by nearly 40 percent each year to the present, despite a declining print media economy. Staying at the forefront of the latest industry trends, Florida Weekly was also one of the first newspapers in the state to adapt tablet and mobile applications.

Gaddis has been named in Gulfshore Life magazine’s top 40 influential leaders from the past decade, served as chairman of the 2015 Southwest Florida Heart Ball and was awarded the 2015 Chrysalis Award for business development. His company’s editorial awards include being named the best weekly newspaper in the state for four consecutive years (2010-2013) by the Florida Press Association, and in 2014 his team’s writer, Athena Ponushis, was named Journalist of the Year in Florida by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Prior to Florida Media Group, Gaddis served in a variety of sales and management capacities with Gannett, Inc. and was advertising manager of the Iowa State Daily newspaper at his alma mater, Iowa State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing.

Gaddis resides in Fort Myers with his wife Renée and two children.

Griffin is president and CEO of B & I Contractors, Inc., a full-service mechanical, electrical, plumbing and refrigeration contractor in Fort Myers. A native of Fort Myers, Griffin earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1986 and joined B & I as a project manager that same year. He received his Florida Professional Engineers license and became vice president of B & I in 1991, then was named president and CEO in 1995.

B & I serves all of Florida with a corporate office in Fort Myers and offices in Sarasota, Tampa and Tamarac. The company provides 24/7 HVAC and Refrigeration Service and is 100 percent employee-owned with approximately 560 employees and $94 million in revenues in 2017.

Griffin is involved in numerous community and professional organizations and is currently chair for The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, president of Horizon Foundation and chair of Healthy Lee Steering and Executive Committees. He currently serves as a board member for the Southwest Florida Economic Development Alliance, Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy, The Chamber of Southwest Florida and United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades and Okeechobee Counties. Previous affiliations have included Edison Pageant of Light board member and First Jobs/First Wages Committee of Southwest Florida Workforce Development board. Griffin is also a member of American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the U.S. Green Building Council. He served the State of Florida as Commissioner on the Florida Building Commission from 2005 through 2008 and currently serves as a member of the Mechanical Technical Advisory Committee to the Commission.

Griffin is married to his wife, Julie, and they have two children, Jordan (27) and Megan (23). He is a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church and has served as a deacon in the formative years of the church.

About Junior Achievement:

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches 4.8 million students per year in more than 100 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.6 million students served by operations over 100 other countries worldwide. Locally, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida partnered with more than 280 classroom business volunteers during the 2016-2017 school year to provide more than 10,600 students with Junior Achievement programs in more than 440 classes throughout Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. For more information on Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, visit www.JASWFL.org. call 239-225-2590 or email info@jaswfl.org.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2018) – Priority Marketing, a full-service, award-winning marketing, advertising, public relations and digital marketing agency was recently honored with a resolution by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners in recognition of its 25 years serving Lee County businesses with expert marketing services and its overall positive impact on the success of the community.

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners recognized Teri Hansen, APR, president and creative director of Priority Marketing during a board meeting, presenting her with a resolution recognizing Priority Marketing for having supported the economic success of Lee County for 25 years. The resolution distinguishes Priority Marketing as having positively impacted the community with its creation of jobs and recruiting employees to the area, encouraging innovation and industry competition, and growing and mentoring young professionals, as well as giving back to the community, donating an estimated $2 million to local philanthropic organizations.

“It is an honor to receive this distinguished recognition,” Hansen said. “As a Fort Myers native, I am delighted that Priority Marketing has had a positive impact on a community that means a great deal to me. Our 25 successful years in business were made possible by our valued clients, treasured partners, hardworking team and the continued support of the community, allowing us to make a difference in the community. We look forward to continuing to serve Lee County and have a positive impact for many years to come.”

In 1992, Hansen, APR, founded the company as a home-based business, and now leads the region’s largest full-service firm with more than 30 employees serving an array of businesses locally and throughout the U.S. Throughout her career, Hansen has earned more than 150 local, state, and international honors and awards, and her company is continually recognized as the region’s top ranked agency. Recently, Hansen was honored as a Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, Lee County laureate for her forward-thinking contributions to the Southwest Florida community and her commitment to be a role model to local students, young professionals and business peers.

Established in 1992, Priority Marketing is a full-service marketing, advertising and public relations firm. Celebrating its 25^th year, the company is located at 8200 College Pkwy., Suite 201 in Fort Myers. For more information call 239-267-2638 or visit www.prioritymarketing.com. Also, follow Priority Marketing online at twitter.com/prioritymktg or on Facebook. For recent news and marketing insights, visit the blog: www.prioritymarketing.com/our-blog.