Member News

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2019) – Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee will host a hiring event Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. in the Seminole Center.
Positions available include:

• Cashiers
• Cocktail Servers
• Cooks
• Restaurant Hosts/Servers
• Front Desk Agent
• Players Club Rep
• Security Officer
• Slot Attendant

Applicants are encouraged to bring their resumes and dress for success.
Applications can also be submitted online at www.gotoworkhappy.com.
Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is located at 506 South 1^st Street, Immokalee, Fla. 34142.
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 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/.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note to Media: This Monday, former U.S. Marine and Army National Guard Sgt. Bryan Blackwell will make a major announcement about the 2020 election that will impact Southwest Florida residents.
 
Blackwell is a Cape Coral resident who co-owns and operates Molloy Financial Group, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial. He takes an active role in helping Southwest Florida through his involvement with the Cape Coral Community Foundation, the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast, and other community-focused organizations.
 
We look forward to seeing you on Monday. A reception will be held at Gather following the announcement.
 
WHAT: Bryan Blackwell announcement.
 
WHEN: Monday, February 4, 2 p.m.
 
WHERE: Tarpon Point, 5991 Silver King Blvd., Cape Coral; in the breezeway near Pinchers
 
WHY: To make a major announcement about the 2020 election.
 
CONTACT: Josh Milton, Vice President of Media Relations at CONRIC PR & Marketing, 239-690-9840, [email protected]
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2019) – Kids’ Minds Matter, the region’s mental and behavioral health solution, will host its annual Secret Garden Gala on March 6 at Shangri-La Springs Resort & Spa.

The Secret Garden Gala is an elegant evening affair featuring hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, a seated dinner, live auction, musical entertainment and compelling conversation aimed at raising awareness and philanthropic support for pediatric mental and behavioral health initiatives.

Kids’ Minds Matter is a movement dedicated to advancing pediatric mental and behavioral health services in Southwest Florida. Its goal is to provide all youth and their families with a proper diagnosis, resources and treatment options. An estimated 46,000 local children are impacted by mental and behavioral health disorders like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, psychosis, substance abuse, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Lee Health and Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida recently announced a new $10 million campaign to support Kids’ Minds Matter, which is establishing a framework to connect community partners and improve families’ access to care.

One emphasis of Kids’ Minds Matter is delivering the “right care at the right place and right time,” and support will help fund a four-tiered model of care that clinically aligns the community, inpatient and outpatient care. According to national data, the average time from onset of symptoms to treatment is eight to 10 years. Misdiagnosis and lack of access often are cited in the delays.

Golisano Children’s Hospital already has begun to expand its outpatient footprint and plans to hire additional psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health counselors. Funding from Kids’ Minds Matter will help Lee Health develop and launch a TelePsychiatry program to leverage an evidence-based digital platform to screen, treat and educate families whose children have depression, anxiety and trauma.

Doors to Shangri-La Springs open at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6 for the Secret Garden Gala. Built in 1921, Shangri-La Springs offers a variety of unique services, including a stately property with an organic garden, organic restaurant, fitness studio, full-service organic spa, gift shop and event space. Shangri-La Springs is located at 27750 Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs.

The Secret Garden Gala is being co-chaired by Susan Goldy and Scott Spiezle, who co-founded Kids’ Minds Matter, and Jennifer Parisi. NBC2 anchor Kellie Burns will emcee the event, and benefit auctioneer Rick Gallo will lead a “Fund the Need” auction to generate additional support. Richard Keelan, a child advocate at Golisano Children’s Hospital who is certified in Mental Health First Aid, will deliver the keynote address.

Tickets for the Secret Garden Gala are $500 per person and include an exquisite dinner prepared by the talented chefs at Crave Culinaire, a live musical performance of Les Miserables’ “Bring Him Home” by nationally acclaimed bass-baritone Doug Renfroe.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, including presenting sponsorships that include a reserved table for 10 guests and a variety of marketing and advertising opportunities. A portion of each sponsorship is tax deductible.

For more information on tickets and sponsorships, please visit LeeHealthFoundation.org/SecretGarden or call the Lee Health Foundation at 239-214-0898.

About Golisano Children’s Hospital

Established in 1994, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida has been named a “Top Hospital” by The Leapfrog Group for the past three years. It is the only recognized children’s hospital between Tampa and Miami. Lee Health opened the new 128-bed Golisano Children’s Hospital in May 2017, relocating the children’s hospital from the adjacent HealthPark Medical Center. It includes comprehensive pediatric services including a 24-hour pediatric emergency department, hematology-oncology unit, milk lab, Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center, and Level II and Level III NICU with 64 private rooms. Golisano Children’s Hospital is proud to have been named Soliant’s 2018 Most Beautiful Hospital in the U.S., a recognition determined by popular vote. For more information, visit GolisanoChildrensSWFL.org.

About Lee Health Foundation

Lee Health Foundation raises philanthropic dollars on behalf of Lee Health, including Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, HealthPark Medical Center, Lee Memorial Hospital and Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The Foundation provides financial support for many service areas including the Regional Cancer Center, Lee Health – Coconut Point, The Rehabilitation Hospital, Shipley Cardiothoracic Center, Community Health Clinics and Golisano Children’s Hospital Specialty Clinics in both Port Charlotte and Naples. Over the past two years, the Foundation has distributed more than $53 million to Lee Health to support its lifesaving mission. Please visit LeeHealthFoundation.org or call (239) 343-6950 for more information.

About Kids’ Minds Matter

Founded in 2016 by Susan Goldy and Scott Spiezle, Kids’ Minds Matter is a unified movement in Southwest Florida dedicated to advancing pediatric mental and behavioral health services. By developing clinical pathways to screen and treat patients, enhancing public awareness through education, and lobbying for systemic change and sustainable funding, Kids’ Minds Matter aims to align mental health providers, local agencies, the judicial system, law enforcement, schools and faith-based organizations. Kids’ Minds Matter is managed through the Lee Health Foundation. Please visit KidsMindsMatter.com or call 239-343-6950 for more information.

Fort Myers, FL (January 30, 2019) – Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Southwest Florida, Inc. is pleased to announce Frank Mazzeo, Jr., DDS as the recipient of the Charities’ Annual President’s Award. Dr. Mazzeo is President/CEO of Family Health Centers (FHC) of Southwest Florida. FHC is the Clinical Service Provider for the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Program operating in Lee, Charlotte and Hendry counties.
The President’s Distinguished Service Award went to Eric Sandberg in recognition and appreciation of continuing guidance and contributions in advancing the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, Inc. Representing the Martin-Brower Company, a McDonald’s distributor in South Florida, Mr. Sandberg has been involved with RMHC since the house first opened its doors in 1996. He has been actively engaged in fundraising efforts for the house since 1987.

The Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Florida’s annual “Eat, Clay, Love” event takes place on Thursday, March 28, 2019 from 5:30pm-8:30pm. This event is a celebration of the Ronald McDonald House’s 22nd year of giving, loving and caring. Be prepared for a night of wonderful food, lively entertainment, and enthusiastic bidding of our celebrity artist’s beautifully-painted platters! Make your reservations today–seating is limited!
General Public ticket price is $150. Artists ticket is free!
Reserve your seat online today!
We are honored to partner with the following celebrity artists who worked very hard on creating some beautiful platters to be auctioned off! We thank each and every one of them for their dedication and support!

1. Armando Llechu, Chief Administrative Officer- Golisano Children’s Hospital
2. Barbara Fewster, Artist and Retired RMHC Board Member
3. Brian Roland, Chef and Owner- Crave Culinaire/Venue Naples
4. Chris Spiro, Chief Creative Officer- Spiro & Associates
5. Cindy McCurry-Ross, Executive Editor and Vice President of Content at The News-Press and regional editor of the USA TODAY NETWORK Florida
6. Debbie Toler, Marketing and Communications Agency Professional
7. Doug MacGregor, Arts in Healthcare Coordinator- Lee Health
8. Jenna Persons, Attorney and Counsellor at Law- Strayhorn & Persons, P.L.
9. Laura Ragain, Executive Director- Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwest Florida
10. Mark Loren, Owner- Mark Loren Designs
11. Mayor Joe Coviello & Mrs. Coviello
12. Michele Eddy, Community Volunteer
13. Mike Dolch, Senior Events Manager- Hyatt Regency Coconut Point
14. Phil Borchman, Editor- Gulfshore Business
15. Rachel Pierce, NBC2 News Anchor
16. Rebekah MacFarlane Barney, Chief Operating Officer of Prima Luce and Co-owner of MacFarlane Barney Development
17. Richie Castillano, Owner- The World-Famous Cigar Bar
18. Sawyer Smith, Attorney- Wilbur Smith Attorneys at Law
19. Shannon Yates, Chef/Owner- Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery, Beastie Bar, and Danger Danger.
20. Stefanie Ink-Edwards, Director of Development & Community Outreach- Community Cooperative
21. Stephanie Davis aka Downtown Diva- Social Commentator and Event Photographer at Florida Weekly
22. Tia Knapp, Owner- Cone 06 Pottery Painting Studio

Fort Myers, FL (January 28, 2019) – Vector & Ink is excited to announce the promotion of Alejandra Bustamante to General Manager of their South office.
“Alex” joined the company 13 years ago and has a proven track record of building strong relationships both externally with clients, and internally with co-workers and colleagues. This made her a logical choice to fill the position of General Manager left open by Dan Baggot who retired in December after a long and successful career with Vector & Ink.
“I’m excited to lead such a talented team as we continue to deliver our traditional print products and our ever-expanding digital offerings to our partners in the tourism industry,” she said.
Lydell Capritta, Chief Operating Officer of Vector & Ink added, “We are thrilled to have her lead our South office as we aggressively pursue our growth strategies in Southwest Florida. She is exactly what we need at this stage of our business lifecycle.”
Vector & Ink looks forward to the success Alex will bring to the company and welcomes all inquiries. She can be reached directly at [email protected] or 239-337-0999.
Vector & Ink is a premier tourism marketing and advertising agency formerly known as Southwest Florida Distributing, Publishing, & Web. Since 1966, Vector & Ink has promoted the tourism trade for our partners throughout the region and leveraged that expertise to grow nationally. With offices in Florida and Wisconsin, Vector & Ink specializes in digital campaigns including websites, social media, and email marketing. Vector & Ink is also the most recognized company in Southwest Florida and the mid-west for travel and hospitality brochure distribution and print media. Contact us at [email protected].

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2019) – Manufacturers and career-minded job seekers have a can’t-miss opportunity in front of them. The Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association, better known as the SRMA, will conduct a hiring event at a pair of CareerSource Southwest Florida offices on Thursday, Feb. 28 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Fort Myers location is at 4150 Ford St. Extension, and the other is in Naples at 3050 Horseshoe Drive N., Building A, No. 110. There is no cost to participate for either businesses or applicants.
“This is a chance for people in the industry to get ahead,” SRMA Executive Director Neil Kagan said. “There will be no shortage of talent available, and no shortage of jobs.”
The new Center for Manufacturing Excellence at Immokalee Technical College is partnering with the SRMA to coordinate the event. The center is launching through a $3 million Florida Job Growth Fund grant awarded last year to Collier County Public Schools to expand manufacturing training.
“We’re proud to partner with the Center for Manufacturing Excellence, which is a budding driver of manufacturing growth in the region,” Kagan said. “Together, we’ll work to promote and support the industry in ways that will make a significant impact in Southwest Florida and beyond.”
Sponsorships and additional information are available by calling Bill Welch at 239-931-8282 or emailing him at [email protected].
The SRMA conducts networking and educational events throughout the year to help manufacturers better connect with a skilled workforce. Visit srma.net to learn about membership and view a full calendar of events.

About the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association

The purpose and objective of the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association is to bring together manufacturers to encourage the economic development of Southwest Florida through manufacturing, and to act as a forum for the expression and exchange of ideas and information among its members. The SRMA provides an advocacy platform for the general welfare of its members in the face of economic, civic and educational challenges. It encourages cooperation, information sharing and mutual aid, fostering social relationships and community involvement. Visit srma.net for more information.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan 25, 2019) – A new era is dawning for a 45-year-old Southwest Florida business that is the largest of its kind in the region. Al Mueller, the new owner of Creative Events & Rentals, has been investing money, time and energy into the company since buying it in May 2017. With his second season getting underway, he’s ready to show off a fresh approach.
“I wanted to sit tight the first year and observe how everything ran,” said Mueller, a Chicago native who has lived in Southwest Florida since 1988. “I didn’t want to make any big moves. Now, it’s gloves off — let’s go!”
Creative Events & Rentals now features new, cutting-edge equipment designed to make any event a rousing success. The company provides equipment and offers on-site event management for black-tie galas, fundraisers, weddings, country club events and a variety of other gatherings.
Mueller and his team have 60-foot-wide, 80-foot-wide and 100-foot-wide tents for large gatherings, along with plenty of smaller tents. Clearspan, structure, art deco and a host of other tent styles are among the 750,000 square feet of tent space at Creative’s disposal.
The company has a litany of other rental items, from chairs and china to bounce houses, lighting,  tables and much more, all geared toward helping clients plan and produce events that exceed expectations. Mueller credits his staff, which has decades of experience producing events in Southwest Florida, for their reliable, personalized service. Before he bought the business, Mueller had been a client since 2005, renting tents from Creative Events & Rentals for his fireworks business.
“I knew for years that Creative stood for quality in Southwest Florida,” Mueller said. “What I didn’t realize until I became a part of this is just how dedicated the people behind this company are. It takes a team, and this team is the best.”
Mueller’s team came through for him this past March, when they provided on-site event management for 21 different events in a single weekend. Mueller is eager for more weekends like that, but for him, quality will always win out over quantity.
“Every gathering is as important to us as it is to the people who are putting it on,” Mueller said. “That shows in the level of service we give our clients at every turn. We take care of the details so you can enjoy your event worry-free.”
Visit creativeevents1.com to see a complete list of rental products and learn how Creative Events & Rentals can help you.
Aout Creative Events & Rentals
Creative Events & Rentals was founded in 1973 and is Southwest Florida’s largest event planning and production business. The company provides tents, staging, risers, tables, chairs and dozens of other items that empower event organizers. The experienced Creative Events & Rentals team also offers event planning and staging with personalized service and attention to detail. For more information, visit creativeevents1.com or call 239-768-6393.

FORT MYERS, FLA., January 24, 2019 – Recollections of what it was like to grow up in Lee County during World War II will be the focus of the Southwest Florida Historical Society’s annual Cracker Dinner Monday, Feb. 18, at the Broadway Palm, 1380 Colonial Blvd.
Genevieve Bowen, who was born in Fort Myers, will recall her childhood memories of servicemen in Fort Myers at Buckingham Air Field (now Lee County Mosquito Control),  practices for potential air raids, and traffic jams downtown on VJ Day (Victory in Japan) along with other memories of Fort Myers in the 1940s.
Her presentation will be accompanied by patriotic music performed by Barbara Peterson at the piano with vocals by Roger Peterson, John Goulet and Beverly Cox.
Buffet dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7:15 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and are available at Barbee & Sons, 1936 Grace Avenue in Fort Myers, Sam Galloway Ford, 1800 Boy Scout Drive in Fort Myers, and the Southwest Florida Historical Society, at 10091 McGregor Blvd. , which is on the campus of the Lee County  Alliance for the Arts.  The Southwest Florida Historical Society hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
Checks may also be mailed to the Southwest Florida Historical Society, P. O. Box 1381, Fort Myers, FL, 33902. Tickets can be picked up at the door on February 18.
The annual Cracker Dinner is sponsored by Barbee & Sons, Sam Galloway Ford, George T. Mann General Contractor, and Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C.
Funds raised at the annual dinner will be used to support the mission of the Southwest Florida Historical Society which is dedicated to preserving the history of our area by archiving donated historical documents, photos and maps and stimulating public interest and appreciation for local history.
About the Southwest Florida Historical Society
The Southwest Florida Historical Society (SWFLHS) was established in 1960 by a group of citizens to “preserve the history of our area.”  In 1983 the SWFLHS received as a gift a building that was destined to be demolished for a new parking lot. Harper Brothers Construction donated the building and Flint and Doyle was contracted to move the building to the campus of the Lee County Alliance of the Arts. In 1984 the SWFLHS received its Articles of Incorporation with the following purpose:  “The mission of the society is to discover, collect and preserve original and source documents, maps and photographs pertaining to the history of SW Florida;
to bring together those interested in the history of this area; to promote and stimulate public interest and appreciation of the history of this area; and to further the preservation and knowledge of Southwest Florida’s past.”  For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/SWFLHS/ or call 239-939-4044.