Member News

December 17, 2018, Fort Myers, FL: The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee (WIB) will host its January networking meeting from 4-6pm on Wednesday, January 9th in the center court at Bell Tower Shops, located at 13499 S Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. The program will feature a demonstration on whole food, plant-based cooking from Mark Blust, Vice President of Marketing and Operations for the Prawnbroker Restaurant Group and owner of Pretty Much a Vegan, based in Fort Myers.  Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to network with some incredible women in our community.
Each month, Women in Business features a non-profit spotlight and in January, Lee Adolescent Mothers Program (LAMP) will be highlighted. Attendees are asked to bring a donation to LAMP. Their wish-list includes personal hygiene products, laundry detergent, dish shop, diapers, baby wipes, and toddler and infant socks.
The Bell Tower Shops are the host and sponsor for the January Women in Business event. All business professionals are invited to attend. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with some incredible women in our community.
Admission is $10 for Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce (GFMCC) members and $20 for future members. To register, call (239) 332-2930 or visit www.fortmyers.org.
 
ABOUT WIB:
Part of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, the Women in Business committee is dedicated to helping women achieve their fullest professional and personal potential.  A variety of networking and educational programs are offered throughout the year, typically the first Wednesday of every month from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
 
ABOUT GREATER FORT MYERS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
Located at 2310 Edwards Drive in Downtown Fort Myers, the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Inc. has been serving Lee County and surrounding areas since 1989. The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce is a business organization of professionals who support and promote a progressive, sustainable community.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Dec. 19, 2018) – Florida Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis has turned to an experienced public servant to chair his Transition Advisory Committee on Government Operations. Lee County Tax Collector Larry Hart will head a group of nearly three dozen community and business leaders from across the state. They’ll help ensure an efficient and responsible changeover as DeSantis prepares to take office on Jan. 8.
 
“I’m humbled to be chosen to lead this knowledgeable and accomplished team as we see to it that the most critical functions of government continue to serve the citizens of Florida,” Hart said. “As a fellow military veteran, I know Gov.-elect DeSantis will stay focused when it comes to what matters most to people. I’m proud to have his back during this important time.”
 
The committee Hart is chairing will also focus on finding ways to create an unburdensome regulatory environment and streamlining the process of doing business in Florida. Hart has spent the past six and a half years creating convenient, user-friendly ways for businesses and residents to access Tax Collector services.
 
“I’m looking forward to gaining valuable insight about the plans DeSantis and his team have for the state of Florida,” Hart said. “I can take that knowledge back with me to Lee County as I continue to serve our community as Tax Collector.”
 
The citizens of Lee County have twice elected Hart as Tax Collector following his appointment to the role by Gov. Rick Scott in 2012. Hart is an Air Force veteran, FBI National Academy graduate and former police chief of the City of Fort Myers. He served as president of the Florida Tax Collector’s Association, developing strong working relationships with various state agencies.
 
Visit leetc.com to see Hart’s full bio and desantistransition.com to see the full list of committee members.
 
About Lee County Tax Collector
The Lee County Tax Collector (LCTC) exists to serve the citizens of Lee County. The office takes pride in organizational excellence and offering exemplary customer service and operates by the credo of “We’ve got your back.” The LCTC operates leetc.com, the official interactive website of the tax collector, which allows county residents to quickly and easily take care of motor vehicle and vessel registration, pay property taxes, make appointments for concealed weapon permits and more. The agency operates six service centers open daily throughout the county to provide efficient, convenient services. The LCTC works to provide innovative and quality service that supports the growth and sustainability of the community. For more information, visit leetc.com or follow Lee County Tax Collector on social media.
 
 

FORT MYERS, FLA., December 18, 2018 – Residents who attended the Christmas Carol Sing at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers Tuesday (December 11) contributed plenty of food and funds to help The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative feed the hungry in Southwest Florida.
In excess of 1,200 pounds of non-perishable food along with generous financial contributions were collected at the 28th Annual Christmas Carol Sing, which  was sponsored and organized by the Galloway Family of Dealerships.  The contributions will help support families in need during the holidays, according to event organizers.
“It is so gratifying to see our community coming together to help those less fortunate, especially during these economic times.  The need has never been greater,” said event founder Sam Galloway, Jr.
About 1,200 people attended the three performances, which featured a sing-a-long with the First Presbyterian Church Choir, special guest soloists, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
In addition to the Christmas Carol Sing, the Galloway Family of Dealerships also annually sponsors Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing, to be held February 5, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church. Both events benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative, which was founded by First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers along with other churches in 1984.
The Christmas Carol Sing and Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing are major sources of support for Community Cooperative, which works to end hunger and homelessness in Lee County. Community Cooperative is an innovative nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization made up of social service entrepreneurs fighting to end homelessness and hunger in our community. The agency provides more than 16,000 meals each month through its Community Cafes, Community Market, and Community & School Mobile Pantries as well as Meals on Wheels programs and offers 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.
For more information about Community Cooperative, call (239) 332-SOUP or visit www.communitycooperative.com.  For more information about First Presbyterian Church, call (239) 334-2261 or visit www.fpcfortmyers.org.

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (Dec. 17, 2018) – Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is launching a free Dealer School to prepare candidates for available career opportunities in its Table Games department.
Dealer School classes will run for eight to 10 weeks starting in 2019; class times are yet to be determined. Candidates must be able to pass a basic math assessment, successfully complete the interview process, be proficient in English, and demonstrate exceptional guest service skills.
Applications for Dealer School can be submitted online at www.gotoworkhappy.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 1,300 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. 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, FL (Dec. 17, 2018) – Public Relations University is the Southwest Florida chapter’s annual full-day conference, bringing together state and national experts in public relations. The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 at the award-winning Holiday Inn Fort Myers Town Center.
This year’s theme ‘Hat Tricks’ addresses the functions of public relations and the many hats public relations, marketing and communications professionals wear every day. The conference is open to the public and will provide professionals in all business sectors real-world tools and best practices in public relations, marketing and communications. Attendees can expect current case studies, emerging strategies and tangible tactics to apply in the New Year.
Speakers represent a wide-range of industries and sectors. Opening the event is international lifestyle designer and owner of Jet. Set. State, Jason Teeters, with a high-energy, motivational message designed specifically for the professional managing the brands and communication goals of others. Attendees will then take a ‘ride’ with Alyson Lundell, APR, CPRC, Senior Director of PR for Universal Orlando Resort, into the opening of The Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and Fast & Furious – Supercharged. Switching gears, April Salter of Salter Mitchell PR will share her crisis communications and media relations experience in the 2016 election regarding the Russian hacking attempt. More details and a full line up of speakers and topics featured at PRU will be available at FPRASWFL.org.
Early registration is $75 for FPRA and PRSA members and $100 for non-members by Dec. 28. Registration after Dec. 28 is $99 for FPRA and PRSA members, $129 for non-members, $60 for students (scholarship opportunities available).
Registration includes a pre-conference networking event the evening before, educational sessions, meals and refreshments. Registration closes Jan. 18, 2019. Professionals accredited with their APR earn two continuing education points toward maintenance requirements. Rooms at a discounted conference rate of $189 are available.
For more information and registration, go to https://www.fpraswfl.org/event-registration/fpra-events/pruniversity/.
For a downloadable image, please click here: http://bit.ly/2OSGkMT
 

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (Dec. 14, 2018) – Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment presents Lonestar live in concert at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on Sunday, March 17  at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now for $79 and are available by phone at 1-800-514-ETIX or online at www.moreinparadise.com or www.jaytv.com/florida.
Known for merging their country roots with strong melodies and rich vocals, Lonestar – Richie McDonald (lead vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitar & backing vocals), Keech Rainwater (drums), and Dean Sams (keyboards & backing vocals) – has amassed RIAA-certified sales in excess of 10 million album units since their national launch in 1995. The group achieved 10 #1 country hits including “No News,” “Come Crying To Me,” and their crossover smash “Amazed.” The band’s awards include a 1999 ACM Single of The Year for “Amazed” (the song also won the Song of the Year award), and the 2001 CMA Vocal Group of the Year. With more than 100 dates worldwide per year, they are celebrating more than 20 years together. Lonestar’s most recent CD “Never Enders” features ten original Lonestar songs that bring the band’s trademark sound into the contemporary arena.
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 1,300 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. 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/.

Cryoskin 3.0, infrared sauna pod therapies arrive in Southwest Florida 
CAPE CORAL, Fla. (Dec. 13, 2018) – Imagine Wellness Spa is furthering its investment in mind, body and soul with the acquisition of revolutionary new esthetic and wellness tools. The Cape Coral therapeutic day spa is hosting a special event to introduce the technology, available in Southwest Florida for the first time, and celebrate the second anniversary of its current location.
The public is invited to join Imagine Wellness Spa founder Carleen Murone and her team for an open house and happy hour from noon-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at the spa on 1404 Del Prado Blvd., Suite 100. Attendees can learn about the spa’s full range of wellness, body and esthetics services, including new, nationally trending Cryoskin 3.0 treatments and the world-renowned Cocoon Wellness Pro Infrared Sauna Pod.
“Cryoskin 3.0 destroys fat cells, reduces cellulite and provides non-surgical facelifts,” Murone said. “It can cut inches off waistlines and, along with toning, it improves the skin’s appearance.”
The treatments come with access to TLS Weight Loss Solution coaches who help clients maintain the slimmer, more youthful look that Cryoskin 3.0 gives them.
“Cryoskin utilizes the latest technology on the market and may one day replace cool sculpting because it’s more affordable and comfortable,” Murone said. “Best of all, clients are getting results.”
The Cocoon Wellness Pro Infrared Sauna Pod acts as a relaxing dry heat sauna, dual-wave massage vibration system, salt therapy chamber and aromatherapy device, all in one. It also includes dynamic resistance bands that accommodate high-intensity interval training exercises.
The multifaceted pod offers a hard-to-find total wellness system at just $45 for a 30-minute session.
“The closest Cocoon pods are in Tampa or Miami,” Murone said. “There are only a handful in the state of Florida and we will also be a showroom location for anyone looking to see one and try before they buy.”
The spa is also featuring other new wellness technologies, including the K85 Beierplasm Fibroblast Lift Plasma Pen, which helps tighten skin on the face and neck. To help introduce the innovative plasma pen to the market, Imagine Wellness Spa will hold a training session for estheticians, permanent makeup artists and medical esthetics workers on Jan. 20-21, with specifics available by calling 239-471-7029.
Specials and packages make it easy to try all the new services at the spa. Introductory packages are available for the infrared sauna pod, and Murone is giving 15 percent off a five-session Cryoskin 3.0 package to the first 20 clients who schedule an appointment by calling 239-471-7029. Visit imaginebycarleen.com to see other deals.
 
Imagine Wellness Spa
Imagine Wellness Spa is a therapeutic day spa focused on wellness and gentle clinical treatments targeting the root cause of clients’ concerns. Services include skin treatments, IV therapy, fitness resources, massage, body wrapping, makeup, oncology esthetics, health-wellness-life coaching, hypnosis, meditation workshops, yoga and more. Call 239-471-7029 or visit imaginebycarleen.com for information.

Note to Media: Seven of the nation’s top 25 high school boys basketball teams will be part of the star-studded field at 46th annual Culligan City of Palms Classic. The six-day, 26-team tournament gets underway Mon. Dec. 17 and continues through Sat. Dec. 22 at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College.
Fiercely recruited players and teams from a dozen states and the District of Columbia will test their mettle in this elite national showcase. IMG Academy (Bradenton) comes into the tournament at No. 2 in the nation, according to MaxPreps, with No. 3 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Virginia) returning to the City of Palms after a 27-year absence. Defending tournament champion University School (Fort Lauderdale) returns, led by ESPN’s second-ranked senior and Duke commit Vernon Carey Jr.
WHAT: 46th Annual Culligan City of Palms Classic
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 17 to Saturday, Dec. 22, times vary each day
WHERE: Suncoast Credit Union Arena, Florida SouthWestern State College, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33919
WHY: To bring the top high school basketball talent from across the country to Southwest Florida
CONTACT: Josh Milton, CONRIC PR & Marketing, 239-690-9840, [email protected]
 

FORT MYERS, FLA., December 13, 2018– Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Stephen  Prendiville has been inducted into the RealSelf 100 and 500 Hall of Fame as an Elite Inductee, the highest honor awarded by RealSelf, the leading online service to learn about cosmetic treatments.
He is the only surgeon in Southwest Florida and among only 10 in the United states to have earned Elite Inductee status.
To be included in the RealSelf Hall of Fame, doctors must have received a RealSelf 100 or RealSelf 500 award in the past.  Dr. Prendiville has received the award for seven consecutive years.  To achieve Elite Inductee status, surgeons must be among the top 1% of more than 1,000 surgeons reviewed.
The program, which first launched in 2010, honors the top-rated and most engaged board-certified aesthetic doctors on RealSelf.  Doctors are ranked in three categories:earning patient reviews, answering consumer questions, and sharing before and after treatment photos.
“It has been a pleasure to educate patients trying to navigate the complexity of facial aging and how to achieve facial rejuvenation in a natural way.  I am very honored to be considered in this elite group and look forward to continuing this process in the next decade,” Dr. Prendiville said.
Dr. Prendiville, who also is the Medical Director of Assuage Luxury Spa in Naples and Fort Myers, was invited to join RealSelf.com as a reviewer in 2008 and has achieved Distinguished Member status for his responses to patients with questions about facial plastic surgery and skin rejuvenation techniques.  As an expert contributor to RealSelf, he has posted more than 3,000 answers to questions posted on the RealSelf website.
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 is recognized nationally as a facelift expert and is named as a Top Doctor again this year by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. for the fourth consecutive year.  Dr. Prendiville also has authored 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 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, Suite A.  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.
 
About RealSelf
RealSelf is the largest online marketplace for people to learn and share experiences about cosmetic procedures and connect with the right providers. Millions of  people from around the world visit RealSelf each month to browse patient reviews, before and after photos and medical expert answers to discover which treatments and providers live up to their promise of being “worth it.”  From simple skincare to emerging nonsurgical technologies to highly considered cosmetic surgeries, RealSelf makes it easy to get the insights needed to make smart, confident decisions and find the right doctor. www.realself.com.