Member News

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 7, 2018) – Just in time for Father’s Day, Norman Love Confections has unveiled its Father’s Day Gourmet Snack Box, available for a limited time at Norman Love Confections’ Chocolate Salons in Fort Myers, Naples and Estero and online at www.normanloveconfections.com.
Treating dad to the ultimate indulgence, the Father’s Day Gourmet Snack Box includes eight gourmet snacks: chocolate golf balls, chocolate-covered cookies, S’more Love, chocolate bark, chocolate-covered almonds, caramel pecan turtles, a gourmet chocolate bar and chocolate malt balls.
“While the gift of chocolate is a lovable choice for any occasion, the Father’s Day Gourmet Snack Box offers a truly sweet way for kids to treat dad on Father’s Day,” said Norman Love, founder and owner of Norman Love Confections. “Featuring a selection of some of our favorite, dad-approved goodies, this gourmet Father’s Day gift is sure to hit the spot.”
The ultimate Father’s Day gift will be available for $62.50 online through June 14 and in-store through June 17. Norman Love Confections operates four Chocolate Salons in Southwest Florida, including two in Fort Myers, one in Naples and at Miromar Outlets in Estero. Additionally, online orders can be shipped anywhere in the U.S.
Norman Love Confections also offers a selection of gourmet goodies that will be a hit with dads, including signature gift boxes, specialty chocolates, subscription boxes, desserts and more. Visit a Chocolate Salon or www.normanloveconfections.com to learn more.
About Norman Love Confections
Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes handcrafted artisanal chocolates from its corporate headquarters at 11380 Lindbergh Blvd. in Fort Myers, Florida. The award-winning Fort Myers-based chocolatier has been lauded more than a dozen times by a leading consumer ratings magazine, including recognition six times for producing the best ultra-premium chocolates in the nation. Forbes.com included Norman Love Confections BLACK line on its list of the nation’s top 10 truffles; The Huffington Post listed it among the six best U.S. destinations in its Chocolate Lover’s Travel Guide; and USA Today named Love as one of its top 10 entrepreneurs for 2014. Love has recently been named as the inaugural inductee of Dessert Professional Magazine’s Chocolatier Hall of Fame, partnered with local chefs to present a six-course meal at the James Beard House in New York and Norman Love Confections was ranked among the top 10 shops in the world for chocolate lovers by U.K. media outlet Daily Telegraph.
Norman Love Confections has four Chocolate Salons in Southwest Florida, and chocolates, gift baskets, sipping chocolate and Love’s book, “Artistry in Chocolate, A Story of Love,” also can be ordered online at www.normanloveconfections.com. In addition, Norman Love Confections chocolates and desserts are offered on 18 Princess Cruises’ ships through the “Chocolate Journeys” partnership and at independent retail locations throughout the U.S. For more information visit www.normanloveconfections.com or call 239-561-7215.
 

June 19th
9:30 am-3-30 pm
Tuesday, June 19th
1200 Main Street, Fort Myers Beach
All donor’s receive goodie bag’s including discounts and coupons from local businesses
All donor’s are entered into a drawing for 2 free round trips and all receive a summer Key West Express savings coupon!

FORT MYERS, FL (June 7, 2018) – Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties will be hosting a seminar about planning and preparing for hurricane season from Lee County Emergency Management on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 beginning at 6:00 PM.
The event is free and open to the public. Individuals and families, along with nonprofits and service agencies in Lee County, are invited to attend this informational meeting at the Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties’ main office located at 1288 North Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, FL 33903.
Get information you need to know about planning and preparing for hurricane season from Lee County Emergency Management. There will also be a hurricane supplies drawing!
RSVP requested by email to Igdalia at [email protected] or by calling 239-652-1682. You can also reserve a spot to attend via text alert.
About Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties
Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties is one of the largest Habitat affiliates in the country. Since 1982, 1,500 families in need of a hand up have partnered with Habitat Lee and Hendry to build or improve their home. Habitat homeowners, alongside volunteers, help build their own home and pay an affordable mortgage. Through volunteering, financial or material donations, everyone can help Lee and Hendry county families achieve strength, stability and independence. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit www.habitat4humanity.org.

NAPLES, Fla. (June,4^th, 2018) – GATES Construction has begun construction on The Lock Up Self Storage facility, located at 2295 Tamiami Trail East in Naples. The Lock Up Self Storage will consist of two buildings; a 3-story, 86,642 SF climate controlled storage building and a 1-story, 4,464 SF non-climate controlled storage building. The project is slated for completion fall 2018. Design services will be provided by Partners In Design Architects.
 
GATES Construction serves its clients from offices in Bonita Springs, Sarasota, and Palm Beach Gardens providing construction management, general contracting and design-build services. Their diverse portfolio of commercial, healthcare, multi-family, hospitality, institutional and special projects, showcases numerous landmarks successfully constructed over the past quarter of century. As Florida’s premier builder, GATES also operates throughout the Southeast United States and Latin America. For more information on GATES, please call (239) 593-3777 or visit the website at www.GATESinc.com.
 
###
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 5, 2018) – The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce invites the community to join its June General Membership Meeting for the installation of its 2018-2019 Board of Directors and officers.
The luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 21 at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers, 13051 Bell Tower Drive next to the Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers.
During the event, board members and officers will be appointed for both the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which works to support the Chamber’s efforts to enhance education in Southwest Florida.
The Chamber will also recognize outgoing board chairs, Dan Adams for the Chamber and Dean Piccirillo for the Foundation, board members and volunteer committee chairpersons for their year of service. Awards will also be presented to name the Volunteer of the Year and Ambassador of the Year.
The June luncheon is sponsored by Wilco Vending. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Stephanie Davis at [email protected].
Admission to the luncheon event is $35 for prepaid Chamber members and $45 for future members and members who pay at the door. To learn more or to register for the event, visit www.FortMyers.org.
About the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce:
Serving Lee County and surrounding areas since 1989, the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Inc. is a business organization of professionals who support and promote a progressive, sustainable community. The Chamber represents nearly 800 businesses, professionals, and individuals throughout Lee County, providing opportunities for members to participate in a variety of meaningful networking, educational and community- and business-focused programs and events. The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce is located at 2310 Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers. For additional information regarding membership opportunities or events please call 239-332-3624 or visit www.fortmyers.org. For the latest news and updates, follow the Chamber on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gfmcc or Twitter at @FtMyersChamber.

Fort Myers, Florida – The law firm of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. is pleased to announce that the incoming Florida Bar President, Michelle Suskauer, has appointed Carlos Kelly to continue serving on The Florida Bar’s Eminent Domain Committee.
Kelly is a passionate advocate for his clients and helps them protect their business and real estate interests. He advises his real estate clients in the areas of eminent domain, inverse condemnation, Bert J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act claims, purchase and sale disputes, real estate broker/agent defense, landlord/tenant claims, and foreclosures. In addition to real estate matters, Kelly handles other disputes, including fraud and contract lawsuits, shareholder disputes, and claims between business partners.
Kelly is a frequent blogger on these topics on Henderson Franklin’s The Legal Scoop on Southwest Florida Real Estate blog. He also has been published by The Florida Bar and is one of three co-editors for the Eminent Domain Committee’s newsletter.
Kelly is a member of the Association of Eminent Domain Professionals (AEDP), an organization of professionals specializing in the field of eminent domain. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Uncommon Friends Foundation, the Board of Directors of the IMAG History & Science Center, and also serves on SalusCare, Inc.’s Finance Committee.
Kelly received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University, magna cum laude, in 1993 and his law degree from Emory University in 1997. Kelly may be reached at 239.344.1326 or via email at [email protected].
Henderson Franklin is the largest, locally-based law firm between Tampa and Miami with over 55 attorneys dedicated to providing a wide range of legal services in the areas of business and tax planning, estate planning, family law, business and civil litigation, eminent domain, intellectual property, workers’ compensation, employment law, real estate, and land use and environmental law. Since 1924, Henderson Franklin has been assisting clients to build their homes, businesses, and communities in Southwest Florida. Henderson Franklin operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples and Sanibel Island. For more information on Kelly or Henderson Franklin, visit www.henlaw.com.

June 4, 2018 – Punta Gorda, FLA – For over 70 percent of the graduates of Florida SouthWestern College High School – Charlotte, that stroll across the stage on May 18 wasn’t their first. When they crossed the stage in the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, 57 of the 79 graduates had already participated in Florida SouthWestern State College’s commencement ceremony on May 4 for their Associate in Arts degree.
 
“Part of our mission is to provide that path for our students to simultaneously earn a two-year college degree, and their high school diploma,” said Matthew Cantazarite, Principal, FSW Collegiate High School – Charlotte. “By earning their AA degree at FSW, our students have a head start in completing a bachelor’s degree.”
 
The Class of 2018 also collectively earned over $2.3M in scholarships to continue their education. Some of the universities that these students are attending include: University of South Florida, FSW, FGCU, University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Florida Atlantic University, Unity College, University of Tampa, University of Pittsburgh and Ringling School of Art and Design.
FSWC-Charlotte is designed to provide students of all ability levels an opportunity to graduate with both a high school degree and an Associate of Arts (AA) degree.  The teaching methods used provide students an engaging learning environment and opportunities to receive additional educational resources through the high school and Florida SouthWestern State College.  For more information about Florida SouthWestern Collegiate High School Charlotte County visit http://www.fsw.edu/wp/cchs/.
 
 
 
Teresa M. Araque
Director of Communications/Public Information Officer
8099 College Parkway
Ste. I-213
Fort Myers, FL  33919
O:  (239) 489-9061
M: (239) 821-3978
 
 
 
 
 
 

NAPLES, Fla., (May,31, 2018) – GATES Construction has been selected to build a new Animal Hospital at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. Named the “Glass Animal Hospital” in honor of its primary benefactors, Denny and Tanya Glass, the new 1-story, 9,144 SF animal hospital will feature a surgical suite, treatment room, hospitalization rooms, necropsy room, diagnostic lab, pharmacy, ICU and hospitalization holding areas, outdoor run area, and administrative rooms. A Ground Breaking Ceremony was recently held and construction will begin early summer 2018.  Design services are provided by Architects Unlimited.
 
GATES Construction serves its clients from offices in Bonita Springs, Sarasota, and Palm Beach Gardens providing construction management, general contracting and design-build services. Their diverse portfolio of commercial, healthcare, multi-family, hospitality, institutional and special projects, showcases numerous landmarks successfully constructed over the past quarter of century. As Florida’s premier builder, GATES also operates throughout the Southeast United States and Latin America. For more information on GATES, please call (239) 593-3777 or visit the website at www.GATESinc.com.
 
 
 
 
###
 

 
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 29, 2018) – Leadership NEXT, a monthly program for advancing business leaders, is planning a sweet destination for its June 12 networking event.
The popular social event will be held at Norman Love Confections’ McGregor Chocolate Salon. Participants will have an opportunity to sample some of the award-winning chocolatier’s handcrafted premium chocolates and to learn about the company’s most recent sweet successes and plans for the future.
The June Leadership NEXT program, which is managed by the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12 at Norman Love Confections’ McGregor Chocolate Salon, 13261 McGregor Blvd. Suite 105, in Fort Myers. Cypress Pharmacy is sponsoring the June program.
Leadership NEXT is free to attend for members of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and $10 for future members. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance at fortmyers.org.
Leadership NEXT is a group of advancing professionals who represent a variety of businesses and industries throughout Southwest Florida. Monthly sessions take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month and offer opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills, establish working relationships with colleagues and engage in valuable programs and discussions to further enhance their careers. Follow “Leadership NEXT” on Facebook to learn more.
About the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce:
Serving Lee County and surrounding areas since 1989, the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Inc. is a business organization of professionals who support and promote a progressive, sustainable community. The Chamber represents nearly 800 businesses, professionals and individuals throughout Lee County, providing opportunities for members to participate in a variety of meaningful networking, educational and community- and business-focused programs and events. The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce is located at 2310 Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers. For additional information regarding membership opportunities or events please call 239-332-3624 or visit www.fortmyers.org. For the latest news and updates, follow the Chamber on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gfmcc or Twitter at @FtMyersChamber.