Lead Photo: FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers offers complimentary fall-risk screenings through ‘Fight the Fall’
Video courtesy of WINK News
FLORIDA HAS RECORD NUMBER OF JOB OPENINGS
Florida has more jobs looking for people than people looking for jobs in a state expected to have the 10th largest economy in the world within the next decade. A recent study by the Florida Chamber of Commerce of the skills gap versus opportunities in the workforce found sales, consumer services, health care and finance roles are the most in need of employees at this time in the area. “We’ve got more open jobs than we have people looking for jobs,” says Jerry Parrish, chief economist with the Florida Chamber Foundation. “Therefore, that means a lot of opportunities out there. Who’s got those skills to get those or will get those skills to take those jobs?” A record number of 500,000 jobs are open in Florida and 40 counties have more job openings now than they did before COVID-19, WINK News reports.
Video courtesy of WINK News
LEE COUNTY SCHOOL CAFETERIAS HIT BY WORKER SHORTAGE BECAUSE OF COVID-19
At least 100 Lee County school cafeteria workers and cooks are out sick or in quarantine because of COVID-19. As other employees are forced to cover the staff shortage, the situation is taking its toll on people who cannot work remotely. “We’re three weeks in, and people are exhausted,” says Jamie Michael, the president of the Support Personnel Association of Lee County, representing represents the district’s cafeteria workers. “That’s what I keep hearing from employees, ‘I am exhausted; I am doing more work and more work, and working overtime, and I’m exhausted.'” People who don’t typically work in the cafeteria are even having to pitch in, WINK News reports.
AAA: HURRICANE IDA LIKELY TO CAUSE HIGHER GAS PRICES
Florida drivers could soon feel the effects of Hurricane Ida, in the form of higher gas prices, AAA states. While a gas price hike appears imminent, it’s still unclear how much of an increase drivers will see. The average price for gasoline in Florida is $2.95 per gallon. The state average has slowly declined over the course of the past three weeks, after setting a new 2021 high of $3.03 on Aug. 5, according to AAA. A week ago, it appeared that prices were poised to decline even further, after futures prices plummeted, in response to the spread of COVID-19, AAA reports. However, futures prices rebounded last week, due to concerns about what the storm could do to the Gulf Coast fuel supply chain. Sunday night, futures prices spiked again in overnight trading. Punta Gorda is currently one of the least expensive metro markets for gasoline, at an average of $2.80 per gallon.
MORE BUSINESSES COMING TO BOOMING FORT MYERS SITE
The hotbed of construction of corporate headquarters, medical offices and industrial warehouses being built off Alico Road and I-75 is generating more construction of service-related businesses. An Avid hotel and a Wawa gas station are in the permitting phase for construction. The Avid hotel, part of the British-based Intercontinental Hotels Group, will have 119 rooms on four stories on a 2.5-acre site. It will be 52,231 square feet. It also will have direct access to two new access roads, tentatively named Brian Song Lane and Hilsman Lane. The Wawa gas station and convenience store, which will be the fourth in Lee County, will be a 5,943-square-foot building. There will be 16 fuel pumps on the 2.16-acre site with direct access to Alico Road and two unnamed access roads.
Roxane Kronon Galati and Jeffrey Galati
CAPITAL WEALTH ADVISORS WELCOMES TWO TO TEAM
Naples-based Capital Wealth Advisors (CWA) has appointed Roxane Kronon Galati and her son, Jeffrey Galati, to executive vice president of private wealth management. Kronon Galati has been in the financial service industry for 40 years, and Galati has been in the financial industry for more than 10 years. Before joining CWA, the mother/son team co-founded AmeriPlanning and Investments LLC, an independent financial planning and investment advisory firm in Naples. Kronon Galati focuses on personal and business financial consulting programs, investment advisory services, retirement income strategies, investment management, tax reduction and business succession planning. Galati focuses on helping clients with financial planning through a discovery of client goals, financial education, portfolio construction and wealth management.
Tammy Birchfield
SPIRO & ASSOCIATES HIRES BIRCHFIELD AS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Spiro & Associates Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations and Brand Architecture has hired Tammy Birchfield as an account executive, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience in various specialized areas, including 10 years of customer service experience in health care management and marketing. As business office manager for AllianceCare Home Health and staffing coordinator for United Home Care Services of Southwest Florida, Birchfield was responsible for the day-to-day operations of her offices and employees and marketing efforts. She also has experience in the spa and plastic surgery sector, working as a licensed esthetician, In her new role, Birchfield will manage new business initiatives, collaborate with all departments to enhance clients’ marketing value, lead the direction and implementation of marketing programs and oversee the day-to-day activities and interaction with clients. Born and raised in Carrollton, Ohio, Birchfield moved to Southwest Florida in 1985. Her knowledge of the area also extends into the construction, healthcare and real estate industries.
Brett Turner
TURNER JOINS GATES CONSTRUCTION AS PROJECT MANAGER/ESTIMATOR
Gates Construction has added Brett Turner as project manager/estimator. Turner is responsible for overall project coordination from the preconstruction stage and permitting through to owner occupancy, developing and managing databases, performing quantity take-offs and reviewing bid documents. He has more than 40 years of diverse experience in construction management with a career focus in multi-family, education, and large-scale commercial facilities. Brett is based out of Gates Construction’s headquarters in Bonita Springs.
FYZICAL THERAPY & BALANCE CENTERS OFFERING FALL-RISK SCREENINGS
Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers is offering complimentary fall-risk screenings during September through Fight the Fall, a month-long initiative to help community members understand their risks of falling. Fall-risk screenings include a health history questionnaire followed by a series of exercises and activities. During the screening, the patient’s balance, flexibility, strength and endurance are evaluated. Fyzical launched Fight the Fall to support the National Council on Aging, which designated Sept. 20-24 as Falls Prevention Awareness Week, a nationwide effort to raise awareness that falls are preventable. Visit Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers online to schedule a complimentary fall-risk screening.
ELITE JETS ADDS 7 AVIATION PROFESSIONALS TO TEAM
Elite Jets has welcomed seven new aviation professionals to its team, including three pilots with experience flying private jets, cargo planes and commercial airliners. New team members include Jhon Arias, Phenom 300 first officer; Rick Castellon, Phenom 300 first officer; David Shnipes, Legacy 500 and Hawker 850XP captain; Teresa Parry, manager of client services; John Westbrook, executive charter consultant; and Chad Yarnell, line crew technician. Elite Jets, which has a private terminal and three hangars at the Naples Airport, has faced a surge in demand since the pandemic began that has required the 5-year-old company to add team members, the company states.
Front rendering of 640 Starboard Drive, Naples
BORELLI CONSTRUCTION UNVEILS MOORINGS MODEL PLANS
Borelli Construction of Naples has unveiled plans for its newest luxury model in The Moorings waterfront community. Located at 640 Starboard Drive, Naples, the soft contemporary southern coastal style residence will be built on an oversized southern exposure lot. The home will feature five bedrooms, five full and two half baths, and a study, offering 4,886 square feet of air-conditioned living space and 7,252 total square feet on one floor. The interior design of this new model home will exhibit a cool transitional style. All floors in the main areas and bedrooms will be completed with Legno Bastone wide plank European White Oak flooring and extra-large crown moldings and baseboards will be provided in every room. Construction is expected to begin soon with completion and availability anticipated by summer 2022.
CHARITABLE NOTES
South Florida Red Cross sends volunteers to assist with hurricane damage
The South Florida Red Cross announced that it will be sending 25 volunteers to assist in other states as they deal with Hurricane Ida damage. Volunteers will be headed to Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. Among other things, these volunteers will be providing relief in shelters for those impacted by the hurricane. Specifically, the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter sent several volunteers on Saturday to Alabama to help with evacuations before the storm made landfall.
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