RSW REPORTS RECORD-BREAKING AUGUST
During August, 526,519 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, an increase of 5.1% compared with August 2018. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 8.4% compared with last year. The traffic leader in August was Delta Air Lines with 137,296 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were American (100,365), Southwest (91,766), JetBlue (62,022) and United (45,040). Southwest Florida International Airport had 4,439 aircraft operations, a decrease of 0.3% compared to August 2018. Page Field saw 7,965 operations, a 2.1% increase from August 2018. In addition, slightly more than 3 million pounds of air freight moved through Southwest Florida International Airport in August 2019.
GROUND BROKEN ON LUCKY’S MARKET PROJECT IN CAPE CORAL
Creighton Construction & Development has broken ground on the future site of Lucky’s Market, a natural foods grocer that offers affordable options for everyday foods and specialty choices, that is coming to Cape Coral. The first Lucky’s Market to open in Lee County will be located at 2615 Santa Barbara Blvd. in Cape Coral. Positioned at the southeast corner of Veterans Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard, the new anchor tenant will bring 30,200 square feet of shopping to the region’s largest city. Creighton’s team for the project includes Forest Headley as director of construction, Rick Blake as construction project manager, Dennis Carpenter as superintendent and Lauren Evans as development coordinator. The project architect is WD Partners and the project engineer is Banks Engineering.
ABOVE BOARD CHAMBER OF FLORIDA TO HOST OCTOBER LUNCHEONS
Above Board Chamber of Florida will host “Naples: The Many Lives of a Business!” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 14 at the Hilton Naples, and “Lee County: The Many Lives of a Business” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the Crowne PlazaFort Myers at Bell Tower Shops. As economic cycles change, successful businesses must adapt and the panel of experts at both events will break down the do’s and don’ts of staying alive. The Naples panelists are KP Pezeshkan, Manhattan Construction; Guy Blanchette, former corporate development executive and Venture CEO; Trista Sue Kragh, Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue; and Jeffrey Janeiro, Law Office of Jeffrey M. Janeiro. The emcee will be Rick LoCastro, president of RJL Consulting Team and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. In Fort Myers, Steve McQuilkin, storytelling coach at The News-Press, will emcee the discussion with panelists John Talmage, Lee County Economic Development Office; James J. Kelleher, The Kelleher Firm; Marc Whitfield, Stroember & Co.; and Lourdes McLeod, McLeod’s Construction, Paint & Restoration. The cost to attend is $30 for members and $38 for nonmembers on or before Oct. 9 for the Naples event and Oct. 11 for the Lee County event. After those dates, it’s $35 for members and $40 for nonmembers. Lunch is included in the price. Register at AboveBoardChamber.com or call (239) 910-7426.
James Cousins
FGCU WELCOMES ACE FELLOW
Dr. James Cousins, associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Western Michigan University (WMU), selected to worked at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) through the summer of 2020 under his American Council on Education (ACE) Fellowship. Cousins is one of 39 ACE Fellows selected for the 2019-20 academic year. The program “enables participants to immerse themselves in the study and practice of leadership and experience the culture, policies, and decision-making processes of another institution,” according to the ACE website. Cousins is the second fellow to choose FGCU, both coming during President Mike Martin’s tenure. Over the next year, Cousins will focus on university advancement, enrollment management, and government relations, but is most interested in the future of higher education at FGCU and throughout Florida.
Dr. Brett T. Goldstein joins Dr. Nicole Rasmussen as an associate at Rasmussen Family Dental.
RASMUSSEN FAMILY DENTAL EXPANDS
Rasmussen Family Dental has purchased the dental practice of Dr. Ronald Tornwall located at 17968 N. Tamiami Trail in North Fort Myers. Tornwall plans to retire after over 45 years in dentistry and chose Dr. Nicole Rasmussen to take over the office. Rasmussen Family Dental was founded in August 2016 with its first location at 4113 Del Prado Blvd. in Cape Coral. To celebrate the opening, Rasmussen Family Dental is offering the first 200 new patients at the North Fort Myers Location a free Sonicare, valued at $79. Call (239) 731-0084 or book online at www.rasmussenfamilydental.com/appointment-request/. To accommodate the growing practice, Rasmussen Family Dental has added a second dental practitioner, Dr. Brett T. Goldstein.
FAMILY FORUM ON HOUSING SOLUTIONS SET
STARability Foundation will be hosting a Family Forum from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 23 at the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center community room located at 206 Ridge Drive in Naples. The forum will address regional and state-wide housing options and emerging solutions for individuals with developmental disabilities. Panelists will include leading advocate Sheryl Soukup, executive director, Residential Options of Florida; Falon Alo, executive director, Noah’s Ark of Central Florida; Libet Romero, co-owner/operator, Home Services of Southwest Florida; and Whitey Ellis, a STARability parent whose son lives in a Protected Harbor group home in Fort Myers. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A and a networking session with light refreshments. STARability Foundation holds a Family Forum quarterly which features presentations and open discussions. This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, visit www.STARability.org or call (239) 594-9007.
FLORIDA SKIN CENTER APPOINTS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
Florida Skin Center has introduced Demi Soulet as the newest physician assistant at its growing dermatology practice. She will be based at the Fort Myers office to support the office expansion of the founding location. She will also work periodically in the Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and Punta Gorda offices. Soulet graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in exercise science after completing an accelerated STEM program via University of Central Florida’s College of Biomedical Sciences. She also holds a Master in Physician Assistant Studies from Florida International University, where she graduated in the top 10% of her class. Soulet has worked at Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee, Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in Orlando, and Mid Florida Dermatology & Plastic Surgery in Daytona Beach. Proficient in Spanish, Soulet is affiliated with the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants and the Florida Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants.
SKY RECERTIFIED AS SENIOR PROFESSIONAL IN HUMAN RESOURCES
Joshua A. Sky, president of The Sky’s The Limit Consulting Inc., has recertified for a third time as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). This certification, awarded by the HR Certification Institute (HRCI), signified that Sky possessed the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in human resource management necessary to pass a rigorous examination demonstrating a mastery of the field. Sky was initially certified in 2010 and has maintained his credential through recertification each cycle for the last nine years, most recently this summer. Sky’s recertification was obtained in part by attending programs in continuing education, developing his own courses, providing instruction, actively participating in two local SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Chapters; HR Collier in Naples and SHRM-SWFL in Fort Myers, as well as maintaining his National SHRM membership.
Charitable notes
Guadalupe Center announces ticket, sponsorship opportunities for annual gala
Guadalupe Center has announced the theme and event chairs for its annual gala, which raises funds that directly support the center’s educational programs in Immokalee. “Be Flamazing” will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, featuring flamingo-themed décor. Heuerman, Joanne Keenan Miller and Julie Kapler will co-chair the event. Tickets are $500 per person and include a catered dinner, auction, jump-up and live entertainment, as well as opportunities to meet students whose lives are being impacted through philanthropic support. Last year’s event, which had an Old Hollywood theme, raised $1.2 million. For more information about tickets and sponsorships, please call Jamie Brown at 239-963-8715 or email JBrown@GuadalupeCenter.org.
American Marine University Research Institute announces amateur golf series
Fort Myers Country Club will be the site of the launch of a national amateur city team golf series on Dec. 7 to raise awareness of a $100 million Global Water Initiative (GWI) to clean the world’s waterways. The series will provide golfing opportunities at some of the best golf courses in America, including Firestone, Oakmont, Congressional, TPC Stadium and Pebble Beach, a press release states. The $100 million initiative will be powered by the golf world using the model of the First Tee program that today has 1,200 chapters and reaches more than two million kids annually. Communities, organizations and individuals interested in being part of the Global Water Initiative should contact JD Daniel at (904) 910-5318 or jddaniel@amuresearch.com or visit www.amuresearch.com. For information about participating in or sponsoring the Fort Myers golf tournament, contact Nick Dakos at (239) 470-8825 or ndakos@aol.com.
CEC provides Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum with Environmental Funding Award
LCEC will provide the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum with a $4,170 environmental funding award to help install the museum’s new Impact Wall. The Impact Wall will be located in the newly renovated aquarium featuring quotes, images, and factual information about the ocean’s environment, and highlight the importance of protecting the ocean and its animals. To apply for an environmental funding award from LCEC, organizations can email pr@lcec.net to receive an application. The deadlines for 2020 award applications are March 15 and Sept. 1, 2020. Interested organizations must meet certain criteria to be considered for the award, including being located within LCEC service territory, funding utilized for projects/programs related to the environment and the utility industry, and having a demonstrated need for funds.
Shula’s Steak House dinner menu to benefit NTRC
Shula’s Steak House Naples in the Hilton Naples is celebrating the launch of a new dinner menu while supporting Naples Therapeutic Riding Center (NTRC). Through Sept. 28, 10% of Shula’s dinner receipts will be donated to NTRC. A few new of the new dinner menu selections include lobster deviled eggs, New Orleans Shrimp, kale salad and a 22-ounce dry-aged ribeye steak. The mission of NTRC Center (naplestherapeuticridingcenter.org) is to improve the lives of children and adults with special needs through therapeutic riding and other equine-related programs. Shula’s is located in the Hilton Naples. Located on the lobby level, the restaurant is themed after the 1972 Miami Dolphins’ “Perfect Season”— the only team in NFL history to finish a season undefeated. For more information, visit ShulasNaples.com.
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