APRIL 2019
WOMEN IN BUSINESS TO HIGHLIGHT FINANCIAL LIFE CYCLES
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Committee will host its April networking meeting on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Hodges University (building H) in Fort Myers.

The April program will focus on financial life cycles, featuring informative discussion on estate planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, financial awareness and goal setting.

Speakers include Kelly Fayer, attorney for The Law Office of Kelly Fayer, P.A .; Kerri Goldsmith, financial advisor for HBKS Wealth Advisors ; Chelsea Scomak, financial advisor for Conte Wealth Advisors ; and Stacey Adams, financial advisor for Alliance Financial Group .

The event is hosted by Hodges University at its Fort Myers campus, located at 4501 Colonial Blvd. in Fort Myers . Light appetizers and wine provided by Bubba's Roadhouse & Saloon .

Each month, Women in Business features a nonprofit spotlight and in April, United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be highlighted. VITA provides free tax filing services to individuals and families with annual household incomes under $66,000.

Admission for the April Women in Business meeting is $10 for Chamber members and $20 for future members.
LEADERSHIP NEXT
Join Leadership NEXT at Palm City Brewing for networking and a tour by Ryan Bowen (owner/brewer). Complimentary food and cash bar.

Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM



Annual Sponsor: FGCU Alumni

Free for Chamber Members
$10 for future Chamber Members
BUSINESS BEFORE BREAKFAST
Enjoy light refreshments while networking and be sure to bring plenty of business cards! The "Member of the Month" will be randomly drawn from Chamber members business cards submitted at this event. 

Date: Thursday, April 11, 2019

Time: 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM 


Address: 20350 Summerlin Rd #7115 , Fort Myers, FL 33908

Free for Chamber Members
$10 for Future Members
IT'S TIME TO "GET CONNECTED!"
Our Get Connected luncheon is for professionals to increase their business acumen or personal knowledge on one of eleven different topics related to small business. 

Attendees will have the chance to sit with the key industry expert of their choice to help establish a better understanding of the topic as it relates to their business. 

Topics include:

  • Water Quality- Colleen DePasquale
  • Success in Startup businesses- Sam Lewis
  • How to Become a Master Networker- Bryan Blackwell
  • Character and Soft Skills- Jeff Brown
  • The Importance of Brand Standards- Olivia Orth
  • Workplace Wellness- Tracy Siekmann
  • How to Get the Most Out of Your Chamber Membership- Laurie Stanley
  • Creating Press Releases- Jessica Walker
  • Team Building- Jim Larkin
  • Websites- Randy Mitchelson
  • Community Involvement- Phil Stalnaker 

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2019

Time: 11:30 AM - 1:15 PM



$30 for Chamber Members
$40 for Future Members
CONVERSATIONS & COCKTAILS AT THE MIRACLE GAME
Join us for a social evening at Miracle Baseball!

Date: Thursday, April 25, 2019

Time: Event starts at 5:00 PM, Game starts at 6:30 PM

Host: Miracle Baseball


$15; includes a ticket to the game, one complimentary beverage and snacks

Please enter through Gate 3. You will receive a wrist band for the event.
MEMBERSHIP CONCIERGE SERVICE COMMITTEE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
LINCOLN WOOTEN, SPHERION STAFFING & RECRUITMENT
Business Location: 12620 World Plaza LN # 60 Fort Myers, FL 33907

Years in Management/Sales Business: 16+
 
Previous Types of Employment: The first half of my career after college was utilizing my Health Science degree from Towson University in MD. I was heavily involved with health and wellness within the fitness industry. I also did some PT extra jobs and I worked with local casting agents in Baltimore for HBO’s “The Wire”.
 
Spouse Name: Michelle and I have been married for 6 years. Michelle was a stay at home mother for a few years until she became the Office Administrator for Unifirst (Chamber member!) and has been there for over 2 years now. Prior to this current role she was a successful General Manager for The Gap downtown Inner Harbor Baltimore for 8 years. If you have a business that needs any uniforms, professional work wear, or facility items you should look her up, she would be happy to assist you.
 
Pets: Max is our beloved 13 year old Shih Tzu who is dear to my family’s heart. We also have two fish that my daughter named Romeo and Juliet.
 
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy any outdoors activities that involve the beautiful FL weather. Any fitness and sports related event or activities, doing an occasionally 5k here and there and spending time with my family, friends, and love ones. We attend mass weekly at St Andrews’s church and enjoy attending and participating in community give backs and charitable events.
 
Burning Desires: Michelle and I see ourselves traveling one day to Sydney Australia and Bora Bora (Having a relaxing time in our overwater villa with a cocktail in hand).
 
Something Nobody Knows About You: It was mentioned earlier, I played a drug dealer in “The Wire”. I attended an open try-out for the Tampa Bay Storm arena Football team and made it to the last day of cuts. I have a collegiate boxing record of 4-1 and biggest highlight was boxing in front of my parents & friends in front of a home crowd in MD.
 
Keys to Your Success: I try to live my life to the fullest and treat every day as if it’s my last. Very spiritual/having faith, Having a upbeat and positive attitude, believing in myself, attempt to create and build positive habits ongoing, delivering service excellence always, try to make smart and wise life and work choices, set goals for myself and road map to accomplish them. Being consistent and persist with many interactions and functions daily. Always looking to learn and better myself.

10th Annual Chrysalis Awards 
Business & Tourism Awards Luncheon and Tradeshow

Presented by iBERIABANK  

Tradeshow Sponsored by

Friday, June 14, 2019 


The Chrysalis Awards, co-produced by the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, celebrates the value of tourism and the community teamwork involved in maintaining and enhancing tourism as a major economic engine for the county. 

The awards, designed to foster a stronger alliance between the tourism industry and the county’s business community, will honor recipients in the categories: Business Development, Eco-Innovation, Cultural Achievement, Education, Sales & Marketing, and Business Tourism Leader. 

Luncheon Cost:
$45 Per Person General Admission Seating
$55 at Door (Pre-registration strongly encouraged) 

Tradeshow Exhibitor:
$250 Tradeshow Registration
includes 2 luncheon tickets and event trade show 

Coquina Table:
Table of 8, $450
Table of 10, $550
Includes VIP reserved table at luncheon, company name and logo on event Powerpoint presentation

Swallowtail Table:
Table of 8, $550
Table of 10, $650
Includes VIP reserved table at luncheon, company name and logo on event Powerpoint presentation, trade show table, and company name/logo on Chamber website

Monarch Sponsor: $1,000
4 reserved tickets to luncheon
Company name/logo on Chamber website
Company name/logo on event powerpoint
Company name and promotional materials at check-in table 
Display table at event trade show
List od event attendees provided after event
Right of first redusal in 2020

Nautilus Sponsor: $2,000
VIP reserved table of 8 at luncheon
Company ad on back cover of Chrysalis Awards program
Cmpany name/logo on Chamber website
Company name/logo on event powerpoint
Display table at event trade show
Company recognition on promotianal materials
List od event attendees provided after event
Right of first refusal in 2020
NEW MEMBERS
MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Business: The Alberts Team @ RE/MAX Realty Group

Location: Fort Myers, Serving All (most of) SWFL!

Andy and Aryn are a husband and wife team with over 21 years combined experience working with Buyers and Sellers. The majority of their time was spent in the Seattle market (red hot in their last 5 years) and now after relocating to paradise a year ago, they have grown accustomed to the beautiful SWFL market. They have a proven track record for successfully marketing and selling properties. They effectively help position purchase offers in all market conditions and provide skilled negotiation and strong support from start to closing. They strive to be recognized as industry leaders with a solid business philosophy based on integrity, gratitude and team work. Real Estate is a Profession and you should expect Professional Service!

Their combined past life experience includes but is not limited to remodeling, construction, restaurant / sports bar industry and more. Everything they've learned in past positions has allowed then to live up to up their mantra: Service | Results | Fun!

Their family consists of a 13 year old Jack Russel~Beagle mix named Lola. She's the sweetest dog and now a bit hard of hearing so they're hoping that problem will be a blessing for this coming Summer's thunderstorms which Lola is not a fan of! Her favorite activities are being dressed up by her Mom in a variety of seasonal costumes and visiting her favorite dog park at Bonita Beach!

In their spare time, they like nothing more than going to the pool or the beach. They even have "beach/pool business cards" to hand out to people in the form of can koozies. They really feel like they're "living the dream" and "there's no place they'd rather be" when they see the palm trees swaying in the wind everyday or especially as they cross over the bridge to Fort Myers Beach and take in the incredible view.

Most people don't know that they had a December wedding in Leavenworth, WA, a small Bavarian themed town that's a can't miss if visiting the state of WA. It was an outdoor wedding and it snowed 12-14 inches (unexpectedly) over night and they still got married outside! It was incredible.

Keys to their success:  Their approach is real. They're not bashful about asking questions that matter. Their approach is honest. They are truthful and upfront about what their goal is: “We want you to trust us to represent you when buying and selling real estate. What can we do to earn your business?” It’s that simple. They believe in providing service worth talking about; an experience that is so good you WANT to tell your friends about it. They believe we can all have a positive impact on each other’s lives. They believe people like people – we are wired for it. And… people want to do business with people they like. This is how they live their life, not just how they run their business. Their team is a group of professionals who are smart and work hard. What is most important to them is that their team knows their values inside and out and together they are passionate about being leaders in this industry.