Member News

Seminole Casino Hotel Welcomes John Lodge of The Moody Blues
Sunday, Feb. 10
Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment presents John Lodge, legendary bass player, songwriter and vocalist of The Moody Blues, live in concert at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on Sunday, Feb. 10  at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now for $59.00 and are available by phone at 1-800-514-ETIX or online at www.moreinparadise.com or www.jaytv.com/florida. Attendees must be 21 years of age. Lodge is the songwriter of such mega Moody Blues hits from “Ride My SeeSaw,” to “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band),” “Isn’t Life Strange?” and many more. He has been performing and recording with The Moody Blues for more than five decades, selling in excess of 70 million albums. Lodge will appear with his “10,000 Light Years Band,” and together they capture the heart of the classic Moody Blues songs he has penned and recorded.
 The Orchestra, Starring Former Members of ELO, to Perform at Seminole Casino Hotel
Friday, Feb. 15
Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment presents an evening with The Orchestra, starring former members of Electric Light Orchestra, live in concert at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on Friday, Feb. 15  at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now for $79.00 and are available by phone at 1-800-514-ETIX or online at www.moreinparadise.com or www.jaytv.com/florida. Attendees must be 21 years of age. The Orchestra has a pedigree that stretches back over many years, with roots reaching to the 1970s and 1980s with Electric Light Orchestra, the 1990s with ELO Part II and from 2001 to the present as The Orchestra, heralding a continuing era of unparalleled symphonic rock. ELO hits from yesteryear are the cornerstone of The Orchestra’s repertoire, including “Strange Magic,” “Don’t Bring Me Down,” “Evil Woman,” “Livin’ Thing,” “Turn to Stone,” “Sweet Talkin’ Woman,” and “Telephone Line.”
 Seminole Casino Hotel Hosts The Drifters with Special Guests Danny & The Juniors
Sunday, Feb. 24
Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment presents The Drifters with special guests Danny & The Juniors live in concert at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on Sunday, Feb. 24  at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now for $59.00 and are available by phone at 1-800-514-ETIX or online at www.moreinparadise.com or www.jaytv.com/florida. Attendees must be 21 years of age. From their very first release on Atlantic records, “There Goes My Baby,” The Drifters were bound for stardom with a 2 million seller under their belts in their first try. Over the next 10 years there were 29 additional chart records accounting for nearly 20 million sales of singles and over 8 million albums in the United States alone. The Drifters iconic charted hits include “Dance With Me,” “This Magic Moment,” “I Count The Tears,”  “Some Kind Of Wonderful,” “Up On The Roof,” “Under The Boardwalk,” “Save The Last Dance For Me,” “Sweets For My Sweet,” “On Broadway,” and “Saturday Night At The Movies.”
Danny & The Juniors scored their first hit with one of their own original songs, “At The Hop.” The song quickly became a monumental hit on five continents, reaching #1 on the pop, country and rhythm and blues charts. The group immediately followed with another hit, “Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay,” which became an anthem of the era, plus dance classics “Twistin’ USA” and “Pony Express,” the first of a string of 11 charted recordings.
Blood Sweat & Tears to Perform at Seminole Casino Hotel
Thursday, Feb. 28
Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment presents an evening with Blood Sweat & Tears (BS&T) live in concert at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on Thursday, Feb. 28  at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now for $69.00 and are available by phone at 1-800-514-ETIX or online at www.moreinparadise.com or www.jaytv.com/florida. Attendees must be 21 years of age. Blood Sweat & Tears was the first group to successfully blend rock and jazz into a genre-crossing sound and style. So successfully in fact, that the band’s second album, “Blood, Sweat & Tears,” topped the Billboard charts for many weeks and beat out the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” for the prestigious Album of the Year Grammy award. That album produced three major hit singles: “You Made me so Very Happy,” “Spinning Wheel,” and “And When I Die.” BS&T has won three Grammy’s and has been nominated more than 10 times.
February 2019 Live Music Schedule
At Zig Zag Lounge
 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 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. – January 14, 2019:  11^th annual  “Love Your Neighbor”, an event featuring Norman Love Confections and Mark Loren Designs, will be held Tuesday, February 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the riverfront Gulf Harbour home of Mary Jo Little.   Guests will enjoy live music, fine wine and spirits and an assortment of culinary creations from local restaurants and chefs. Live and silent auction items will be offered and all proceeds will benefit educational programs for at-risk children in the Harlem Heights Neighborhood.  $443,000 was raised at last year’s event.  VIP upgrades and sponsorships that include the exclusive VIP pre-party at a luxury home on Longwater Chase are available.
Local philanthropists Linda and Davis Lucas will be recognized at the event for their long-time support of The Heights Foundation.
“We are happy to support the work of The Heights Foundation,” said David Lucas.  “Over the past 20 years, we have seen it grow from a simple Thanksgiving food outreach to an organization that is changing the trajectory of the lives of children and their families in Harlem Heights through education, opportunity and the arts.”
“Our educational programs include after-school, summer camp, and academic tutoring for more than 120 children; scholarship and college access assistance, school supplies, and tuition support; GLAD Kids, a child care and pre-k for more than 80 children birth to five; and The Harlem Heights Community Charter School, an elementary charter school that serves 80 children,” said Kathryn Kelly, President and CEO of The Heights Foundation.  “Each program is geared to meet the specific needs of children and young adults.  The Gulf Harbour community has been very supportive of the Heights Foundation and we appreciate
Mrs. Little opening her home for this important fundraiser.”
Sponsors include Mark Loren Designs and Norman Love Confections.  Kellie Burns of NBC-2 will emcee the event.  Special thanks to Greg & Jo Callaway of Gulf Harbour Properties and Frank R. Jenkins of Frank Jenkins Custom Homes.
Tickets are now on sale for $200 each and space is limited.  Upgrades and sponsorships that include an exclusive pre-event VIP party are also available.  Purchase tickets at www.heightsfoundation.org/lyn or call Karen Lesza at (239) 482-7706.
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 third 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.

January 14, 2019, Fort Myers, FL:  Celebrate the Edison Festival of Light and help feed the hungry by attending  Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing  Tuesday, Feb. 5, at The First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Myers at the corner of Second Street and Lee Street. It is the 30^th anniversary of the hymn sing, which is organized and sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships.  Because of the overwhelming popularity of the event, three performances are planned at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.   The doors will open 30 minutes prior to each performance. Admission is free, but because of the increased need for food for the hungry, organizers are requesting that those who attend bring cans of non-perishable food and a voluntary cash donation, if possible, to benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative.
“We need to help The Soup Kitchen by donating as much canned goods and cash as we can to help families who most need it in our community,” said Sam Galloway, Jr., founder of Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing.
Community Cooperative provides 15,000 meals each month in addition to other services.
“There are even more families who need our help.  Do what God would want you to do and give what you can,” said the Rev. Dr. Paul deJong of First Presbyterian Church.
Community Cooperative was started by First Presbyterian Church along with other downtown churches in 1984 to help alleviate hunger and suffering in Lee County.  The church has continued to support its ministry there by providing volunteers in The Soup Kitchen and delivering hot meals to home-bound seniors.
Galloway, who originated the hymn sing in 1989, said he wanted to do something to honor Mrs. Mina Edison during the Edison Festival celebration.
“We hear a great deal about the wonderful work of Thomas Alva Edison, but we don’t do a lot to honor his wife who also volunteered a great deal of her time and talent to making Fort Myers what it is today.  This hymn sing is a way to honor her good work too,” Galloway said.
This year’s event will feature the First Presbyterian Sanctuary Choir and many other singers, including members of the Mastersingers, Guest Soloists, along with a Piano-Organ Combination.
In addition to Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing, the Galloway Family of Dealerships also sponsors the very popular Christmas Carol Sing in December.  Both events benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative.
For more information or directions to the church, call 334-2261 or visit www.fpcfortmyers.org.  For more information about Community Cooperative, call (239) 332-SOUP or visit www.communitycooperative.com.
About Community Cooperative
Community Cooperative is an innovative nonprofit organization made up of social service entrepreneurs fighting to end homelessness and hunger in our community. It provides more than 15,000 meals each month through its Community Cafés and Meals on Wheels programs, distributes more than 500,000 pounds of groceries through its Mobile Food Pantries, and serves 6,500 individuals and families with homeless and comprehensive case management services through its Social & Education Resource Centers.  A proud United Way partner, Community Cooperative serves Fort Myers and the greater Lee County area, including Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and Fort Myers Beach.
About First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers
First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers, located at 2438 Second St. in downtown Fort Myers, is a community of faith, celebrating a loving God.  First Presbyterian Church was founded in 1901 and continues to be an integral part of Lee County by presenting some of the area’s most well-attended events, such as Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing in February as part of the Edison Festival of and the Christmas Carol Sing in December.  Both events benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative, which also was founded by First Presbyterian Church and other downtown churches in 1984.  Services are offered Sundays at 11 a.m. with Sunday Adult Education from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.  A nursery is available from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Hearing assistive equipment also is available.

January 14, 2019, Fort Myers, FL: It’s a new year!  Start 2019 off on the right foot by attending a special presentation geared toward women titled “Financial Fitness, New Year, New You.”  Learn about the unique challenges and goals that today’s women face in planning for the future.  Don’t miss this opportunity to get your “Empowering Women for Financial Freedom” workbook and learn tips you can implement today to have a dramatic impact on your future. It will be held on Thursday, January 24^th from 6:00pm-7:00pm at Alliance Financial Group, 14021 Metropolis Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33912.  Join speakers Stacey Adams, former WINK News Anchor and current Registered Representative, as well as Field Representative Cassie Miller.
As women, we multitask and take on a lot of personal and family responsibilities.  Today’s fast-paced life often has us putting our future concerns on a back-burner, but when it comes to securing you and your family’s future, the time to start planning is NOW.  This fun and informative presentation will focus on how to build the right habits today to achieve your financial resolutions.  Take the first step, toward understanding your current financial situation, setting goals based on your values and having a solid understanding of what it will take to protect and build your assets for your future. Your “tomorrow” self will thank you!
For more information or RSVP, please contact Stacey Adams [email protected] or Cassie Miller [email protected]. There is not a cost to attend but we do recommend bringing a friend as you hear how to Love your Family, Love Yourself and Love your finances.
About Alliance Financial Group:
Alliance Financial Group is dedicated to helping their clients with strategies aimed at financial security and prosperity throughout their lifetime. The firm has been doing business in Southwest Florida since 1994 and is committed to giving back to the community they serve. For more information, visit www.afgfl.com.
 

Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents, and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting ad­vice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation. Cassie Mill­er is a Financial Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY.

Alliance Financial Group is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Guardian. Stacey Adams is a Registered Representative of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). OSJ: 14021 Metropolis Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida, 239-561-2900. Securities Products offered through PAS, Member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Alliance Financial Group, Inc. is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. 2019-72278 exp 1/25/19

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 9, 2019) – The ripple effects of an upset-filled 46th annual Culligan City of Palms are still being felt throughout the country. After more than 13,000 people watched the six-day event at Suncoast Credit Union Arena, a top-three attendance figure in tournament history, the national rankings have taken on a much different look.
Every team in both the USA Today Super 25 and MaxPreps Top 25 moved up or down by at least one spot in the first rankings issued by the respective polls after the City of Palms. By contrast, the top 11 teams in the MaxPreps poll issued Jan. 3 remained in the precise order from the week before, despite a full slate of holiday tournament action. That was also true of the top 12 teams in the Jan. 2 USA Today Super 25.
“There’s a reason so many people come from all across the country to watch the Culligan City of Palms Classic: No tournament has nearly as much impact on the national scene,” said John Naylor, the event’s executive director.
A few teams moved up or down by a single spot in the Jan. 7 USA Today Super 25, but 11 of the top 12 teams are the same. Nine of the top 10 teams in the Jan. 7 MaxPreps remain from last week.
The rankings prove the value of wearing the City of Palms crown. McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia) rose from No. 7 to No. 1 in the MaxPreps rankings and from No. 10 to No. 2 in the USA Today poll after winning the title. University School (Fort Lauderdale) plummeted all the way out of the MaxPreps poll from No. 5 after failing to defend its championship. USA Today had University School at No. 23 going into the City of Palms and hasn’t ranked the Sharks since.
Tournament organizers have already begun planning to make even more of an impact next time, when the event returns to a Wednesday-through-Monday format. The 47th annual Culligan City of Palms Classic will take place from Dec. 18-Dec. 23, 2019 at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena.
By then, many of the players from the just-completed event will be starring for top-flight college teams. The 46th annual Culligan City of Palms Classic All-Tournament team includes players committed to Duke (Vernon Carey Jr., University School), North Carolina (Armando Bacot, IMG Academy), Villanova (Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, IMG Academy), Syracuse (Joseph Girard III, Glens Falls), Auburn (Isaac Okoro, McEachern), Maryland (Donta Scott, Imhotep and Makhi Mitchell, Woodrow Wilson), Northwestern (Jared Jones, McEachern), and Memphis (D.J. Jeffries, Olive Branch).
Also making the all-tournament team were Cole Anthony (Oak Hill), Sharife Cooper (McEachern), Cam’Ron Fletcher, (Vashon), Elijah Hutchins-Everett, (Immaculate Conception), Kahlil Robinson, (Gray Collegiate Academy), Trendon Watford (Mountain Brook) and Malachi Wideman (Sarasota Riverview).
Other awards handed out include:

• Hustle Award – Paulie Stramaglia, Mountain Brook (Mountain Brook, Ala.)
• Hometown Hero (essay contest winner) – Elijah Taylor, Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia)
• Steve Bumm Coach’s Award – Tom Massolio, Charlotte (Punta Gorda)
• Team Sportsmanship – Paul VI, (Fairfax, Va.)

Visit cityofpalmsclassic.com to see tournament results and stats.
About the Culligan City of Palms Classic
Founded in 1973, the City of Palms tournament began, like so many tournaments today, as a simple, local holiday basketball tournament. Over the years, the tournament grew and expanded its scope to include the nation’s finest athletes and teams, and during the past 23 years, it has set the standard by which all tournaments are compared. Classic Basketball Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation created for the purpose of managing the Culligan City of Palms Classic. For more information and to sign up for the eNewsletter, visit cityofpalmsclassic.com.

January 8, 2019, Fort Myers, FL: The 2019 Run to Home Base Florida will honor our nation’s heroic Veterans and raise much needed funds for Home Base. Proceeds from the event will help fund Home Base’s Southwest Florida initiatives including Warrior Health and Fitness and the two-week Intensive Clinical Program. At Home Base, we remain committed to providing world-class care, at no cost to Veterans and their Families. We are committed to those who have served and sacrificed for us. By participating in the Run to Home Base Florida, you are sharing this commitment and helping to heal Veterans and their Families from the Invisible Wounds of War.​
The Run is a unique fundraising event through the scenic tropical areas surrounding JetBlue Park- ending with the unforgettable experience of finishing the race by crossing home plate just days ahead of MLB Spring Training. Friends and family can watch you from the stands at Fenway South, with food and entertainment available throughout the venue on race day! For more information please visit https://www.runtohomebaseflorida.org

FORT MYERS, FLA., January 7, 2019 – A new non-surgical option to correct facial wrinkles has been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and will be explained at a free seminar conducted by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen Prendiville.
“Genius” is a radio frequency micro-needling device that delivers radio frequency energy to a variety of depths, regardless of skin type.  It can be used for several facial rejuvenation treatments, including skin tightening, acne scarring, stretch marks, scars and improvements in skin texture, according to Dr. Prendiville.
Dr. Prendiville is the first facial plastic surgeon in Southwest Florida to offer the new Genius, which was developed by Lutronic, a global aesthetic laser medical device manufacturer.
Dr Prendiville will explain the advantages of Genius as well as other facial rejuvenation procedures at a free seminar Friday, Jan. 25, in Naples.
The seminar begins at 11:30 a.m. with a light lunch at the Naples Hilton, 5111 Tamiami Trail N.  The seminar is free, but reservations are required by calling 239-437-3900.  Space is limited.
“We’re excited to be the first in Southwest Florida to offer this new treatment.The advantage of Genius radio frequency micro-needling is that patients can get these dramatic results without laser resurfacing and virtually no downtime,” said Dr. Prendiville, who also is the medical director of the Assuage Luxury Spa in North Naples. “Patients can apply makeup after just 24 hours and it is safe for all skin types.”
Using before and after pictures of actual patients, Dr. Prendiville also will discuss the latest advances in facelifts, eyelid lifts, nose surgery, lasers, and reconstructive surgery.  He also will review injectable wrinkle fillers Botox®, Sculptra®, Juvederm®; Restylane®, Restylane Silk®, Radiesse®, Voluma®, Vollure®, and Revanesse Versa® for deeper wrinkles and lines.
Another recent advance that Dr. Prendiville will discuss is SculpSure®, which is approved by the FDA as the world’s first non-invasive fat-melting laser device to treat stubborn fat in just 25 minutes.  SculpSure is available at the Assuage Luxury Spa in Naples.
In addition to a light lunch, attendees will be able to make an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Prendiville.
Dr. Prendiville is the only Fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon in Fort Myers who is certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.  He has performed more than 3,000 surgical procedures.
He is recognized nationally as a facelift expert with more than 20 articles published in medical journals and he has served as guest editor for Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America.
Dr. Prendiville is one of only 10 doctors in the U.S. to be honored as an Elite Inductee into the RealSelf 100 and RealSelf 500 Hall of Fame for excellent patient service and his willingness to answer patient inquiries on the RealSelf website, which is the leading online community that helps people make confident choices in elective cosmetic procedures.  To achieve Elite Inductee status, surgeons must be among the top 1 percent of more than 1,000 surgeons reviewed.
Dr. Prendiville is the past president and secretary/treasurer of the Florida Society of Facial Plastic Surgery, an association consisting of 250 facial plastic surgeons in the state.
Dr. Prendiville graduated with his M.D. degree with high honors from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and served his residency at Georgetown University.
He was awarded a Fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at St. Louis University in Missouri, where he was a clinical instructor in the St. Louis University Department of Otolaryngology.
All surgeries are performed at Dr. Prendiville’s state-of-the-art Surgical Center adjacent to his office in South Fort Myers at 9407 Cypress Lake Drive..  The Surgical Center is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF), which is the largest accrediting body for outpatient surgical facilities in the United States. For more information about Dr. Prendiville, please visit his website at www.drprendiville.com.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 2, 2019) – The first returns under the recent federal tax cuts are now due. The effects on individual filers are spelled out in the law, but it’s less clear what will happen to businesses. The Above Board Chamber of Florida is convening expert panels this month in Fort Myers and Naples to explain the changes and what business leaders need to do to prepare for them.
Attorney Luis Insignares will serve as master of ceremonies for the panel that will speak during a luncheon meeting on Thursday, Jan. 10 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza on 13051 Bell Tower Drive in Fort Myers. He’ll be joined by the following tax professionals:

• Kevin Alan Kyle, tax attorney for Green Schoenfeld & Kyle LLP.
• Lynn Rasnake, tax manager at Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A.
• Shannon Holland, associate vice president of investments at Raymond James.

Register at AboveBoardChamber.com or call 239-910-7426. The cost on or before Friday, Jan. 4 is $30 for members and $38 for non-members. After Jan. 4, it’s $32 for members and $40 for non-members. Lunch is included in the price.
The meeting is sponsored by Conditioned Air and Chapman Insurance Group.
**
The second panel discussion is on Monday, Jan. 14 at the Hilton Naples, 5111 Tamiami Trail N. Amy Oshier, “Behind the Headlines” anchor for the Naples Daily News, will be the master of ceremonies for the following group of tax advisers:

• Julio Barina, CPA, Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A.
• Jeannette M. Lombardi, senior counsel at Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC.
• Kevin Alan Kyle, tax attorney for Green Schoenfeld & Kyle LLP.

Register at AboveBoardChamber.com or call 239-910-7426. The cost on or before Wednesday, Jan. 9 is $30 for members and $38 for non-members. After Jan. 9, it’s $35 for members and $40 for non-members. Lunch is included in the price.
The meeting is sponsored by Best Home Services and Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A.
Yearly sponsors for the Above Board Chamber of Florida are Tri-Town Construction LLC, Conditioned Air, CONRIC PR & Marketing, Spada Salon and Day Spa, Your Walking Billboard LLC, Charlie McDonald Photography, Lady in Pink Photography LLC and Signarama Fort Myers (North).
The Above Board Chamber of Florida is dedicated to bringing people of all faiths together within the community, in the workplace and amongst one another. Their mission is to supply members with tools that allow them to take every aspect of their lives Above Board. For more information on the event or on how to become a member of the chamber, call CEO Jeanne Sweeney at 239-910-7426 or visit AboveBoardChamber.com.

January 4, 2019: Respect is the cornerstone belief that has guided Sissil Dep, CEO and Director of Sales of Oceana Global Logistics, in building a firm foundation for success in the field of global logistics. The challenge he welcomes is to create an atmosphere of confidence and agreement with customers, colleagues and even with competitors. Competition, he feels, helps improve services as the ability to respect and learn from others engenders competence and trust in a rapidly growing global industry.
Sissil, a self-effacing 45-year-old CEO, cites teamwork, cooperation and conflict resolution as the keys to business acumen. With foresight and expertise, he has established a full-service company that has grown from ground zero into the successful operational logistics firm of today, handling multi-million-dollar accounts and shipments on international waters. Frequent travel demands take Sissil to worldwide locations such as India, Malaysia, and UAE as well as several logistics conferences this past year, including FIATA/India, WCA/Singapore and Pangea/Germany. Attending these conferences allows this peripatetic CEO to promote education and understanding regarding logistics solutions in the US market.
Overcoming commercial obstacles is Sissil’s forte. The persistence and positivity that “nothing is impossible” has positioned Oceana as a successful troubleshooter and mediator within the confines of industry regulations. If original project expectations cannot be met, it is incumbent upon the company to provide a realistic and achievable plan to meet customer goals within timely parameters. According to Sissil, learning from mistakes, meeting them forthrightly and working on resolutions are integral to success. This persistent problem-solving framework is another hallmark of the service that Oceana Global builds upon to ensure its growing success rate.
Sissil credits company employees with business success, citing that it is competency in logistics functioning and contribution of all Oceana team members that allows innovative solutions to provide project completion in a timely and satisfactory manner to all concerned parties.
Sissil’s approach to sales is a personal one, often overcoming communication barriers by sharing commonalities in interests such as musical preferences as well as the international language of the industry. Finding connection with others begins Oceana’s service of fulfilling customers’ industrial and commercial needs, and makes the global logistics connections possible. When confronted with obstacles in the delivery process, Sissil’s mediation of dissonant objectives often shifts impossibilities to possible fruition. His humility and modesty encourage the involvement of all parties to “get the job done right.” The reward of a job well done is the satisfaction that Sissil enjoys as much as a glowing company reputation and financial gains.
Born in Sri Lanka, Sissil immigrated to the United States permanently many years ago. His prior experience in his country of origin was in the bank industry, and his initiation into the logistics field began in New York. Recognition of his astute mathematical prowess and unwavering work ethic soon earned him opportunities to utilise exceptional skills in accounting and finance in the freight industry. These experiences provided the firm foundation on which Oceana Global is built. His 24/7 availability allows little time for relaxation, but he enjoys music and ballroom dancing for stress reduction, achieving many accomplishments in this leisure pursuit as well.
Sissil’s outlook for the future is optimistic and innovative. His vision for sustainable, long-term growth is to create impactful strategies to meet expanding global demands. By maintaining outstanding performance in the industry, Oceana is paving the way to a long and successful business life.
To read more, visit https://usaawards.ceotodaymagazine.com/winners-edition/