SEPTEMBER
OPERATION: LOVE FOR THE BAHAMAS
We’ve all seen the devastation in the Bahamas. Now, it’s time to help those who are in desperate need. 

OPERATION: LOVE FOR THE BAHAMAS is now underway. All Bowland and HeadPinz Centers are accepting cash donations for Dorian Relief efforts. Here’s the kicker—all donations to our charity fund will be MATCHED by Pat/Lisa Ciniello, owners of the 6 local bowling centers.. No donation is too small—and no amount is too HUGE. The goal is to raise $10,000 in one week.

Make your donation count—double! We’ve got to help our neighbors.

For more information, please contact Mike Cannington, Director of Marketing, at 239-438-1465.

Bowland Centers : Cape Coral, Naples and Pt. Charlotte
HeadPinz: Cape Coral, Ft Myers and Naples
LEADERSHIP NEXT AT LEE HEALTH
Leadership NEXT, a monthly program for advancing business professionals, will highlight health and wellness during its Sept. 10 session at Lee Health Coconut Point , the new comprehensive health and wellness destination in South Lee County. 

Led by Alex Greenwood, Vice President of Lee Health at Coconut Point; Stephanie Wardein, Lee Health Director of Community Affairs; and Sarah Mitchell, Health and Nutrition Coach of Lee Health Healthy Life Centers, the program will include a tour and discussion of services at Lee Health Coconut Point, an overview of Lee Health in the community and a look into Lee Health’s Wellness Wheel, a healthy lifestyle tool that pinpoints the areas of life with the most significant impact on overall health and well-being. Refreshments will be provided from the Lee Health Healthy Life teaching kitchen.  

Completed in 2018, Lee Health Coconut Point is a 163,000-square-foot cutting-edge medical facility and health and wellness village on 31 acres. Services include a 24/7 freestanding emergency department, surgery center, breast health center, cardiac testing and rehabilitation, and imaging laboratory with short stay observation and recovery beds. Programs and services include doctor’s offices, pharmacy, health assessments and education, chronic disease management, nutritional counseling including a teaching kitchen, holistic health services, care coordination and more.

The event sponsor is Lee Health, and the annual sponsor for Leadership NEXT is FGCU Alumni Association.

Date: September 10, 2019
Time: 5:00-7:00PM
Location:Lee Health Coconut Point

Admission:
Free for Chamber Members, $10 for Future Members
WOMEN IN BUSINESS: DAVE & BUSTER'S
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Committee will host its September networking meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Dave & Buster’s at Bell Tower, 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 400 in Fort Myers.

Attendees of the September program will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with other professionals within the community while enjoying the food, drinks and fun of Dave & Buster’s. Attendees can also stay after the networking session to enjoy half-price games until closing.

Each month, Women in Business features a nonprofit spotlight and in September, LEAD like a Girl will be highlighted. LEAD Like a Girl brings together disenfranchised teenage girls to learn from one another and from women leaders in the Lee County community. The goal of the program is to equip them with the necessary tools for success through leadership, education, advocacy and development.
 
The September networking event is hosted by Dave & Buster’s and sponsored by DMA | Digital Marketing Agency .

Presstige Printing is this month’s scholarship sponsor.

Admission for the September Women in Business meeting is $10 for Chamber members and $20 for future members, and includes one complimentary drink and light appetizers. 
WHAT'S BREWING AT OUR MEMBER BREWERIES?
Millennial Brewing's Third Annual Oktoberfest in Downtown Fort Myers presented by Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has seen over 8,000 attendees in each of its first two years. This year they are going even bigger, more authentic, and adding a full day of fun on Thursday! Oktoberfest in Munich starts on the 21st, so they are going to get the party started early, on September 12, 13, 14, 15.

The event, which has free entry and free parking, is pet and family friendly. Millennial Brewing is located at 1811 Royal Palm Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901.

There will be German food vendors in the entire area. Names such as Schnitzel Express, The Meat Cottage, Gerry's Firebread will all be in attendance all four days not to mention authentic German pretzels all four days. Add to that Dynamite Street EatZ Food Truck cooking up entirely custom Oktoberfest inspired menus with twists to menu favorites and brand new creations you have to try.

The Original Stein Hoisting Competition in Fort Myers with digital timing with live finish timers and scoring, Facebook Live Streaming and tons of prizes and will be held multiple times per day every day of the festival!  For more information, click here.
Fort Myers Brewing Company will host its 7 th annual Oktoberfest, a four-day family-friendly event that includes craft beer, German food, live music and a first for the popular brewery – a Wiener Dog Race. Oktoberfest will be held Thursday, October 3 through Sunday, October 6 at Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, in Fort Myers.

Ten different food trucks will be serving their specialty dishes and foodie features over the four-day event, and six local bands and musicians are scheduled to entertain the crowd.

After ramping up for the first two days, Oktoberfest’s main event is Oct. 5 when Fort Myers Brewing features more than 50 craft beers on tap, rolling out new brews periodically throughout the day. The brewery will also host several Stein Hoisting Competitions, a traditional Bavarian endurance contest in which participants must hold a full stein in their outstretched arm as long as possible without spilling any beer.

Then on Oct. 6, Fort Myers Brewing will host its inaugural Wiener Dog Race in which dachshunds will race to the finish line for a prize. Dogs of all breeds can also compete in a Fun Run immediately after the Wiener Dog Race.
 
For more information, please visit Facebook.com/FMBrew or call 239-313-6576.
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, September 12, 2019
Time: 7:30-8:30AM
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS!
6TH ANNUAL BUSINESS SUMMIT
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has announced an exciting line-up for its 2019 Business Summit presented by HBKS Wealth Advisors set for Sept. 20 . The summit, now in its sixth year, will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa , 17260 Harbour Pointe Drive in Fort Myers. Registration is $179 per person, with discounts for multiple registrations.

This year’s keynote address is “Communicate Your Way to Success,” by entrepreneur, business coach and international speaker Jason Evers . Evers has traveled to more than 20 countries on five continents strategizing and creating blueprints for entrepreneurs to achieve results.

The Business Summit also includes a variety of informative, interactive sessions led by local business leaders. Based on their expressed interests, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in three 50-minute workshops offered at the Summit. Workshop topics include:

  • How to Use Multiple Online Data Sources to Innovate your Recruiting, Create Competitive Position Pricing and Hire Like a Pro: Dr. Darlene Andert, Accounting for Profitability
  • Networking & Business Relationships: Bryan Blackwell, Molloy Financial Group; Sergio DeCesare, certified business exit strategist and “turn around” consultant
  • Using Video to Effectively Promote Your Business: Edward Clay, Dragon Horse Ad Agency
  • Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Scott Atwood, Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.; Julia Corbett, SalusCare; Dr. Heather Auld, SWFL Integrative Medicine
  • Dynamic Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Dr. George Alexakis, Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University
  • The Value of Internships: Michael DeLuca, HBK CPAs & Consultants; Debbie Psihountas, Florida SouthWestern State College; Rafael Villamil, Florida Gulf Coast University; Meagan Stover, Florida Everblades
  • The Power of PRE-Suasion: Jason Evers
  • Cyber Security Panel: Mark Nieds, Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.; Evan Lutz, Cigent Technology; Scott Gregory, McGriff Insurance Services
  • Policy & Procedure Development for the Current Workforce: Martina Hopkins, Paychex; Christina Schwinn, Pavese Law; Ammie Black, Cypress Cove of HealthPark

New this year and sponsored by DMA | Digital Marketing Agency , a complimentary DiSC Profile assessment and printed report will be offered for all attendees pre-registered by Sept. 13. This recognized behavior assessment tool that helps people identify and maximize their strengths and motivators will be administered through the SBDC at FGCU. At the Summit, LaShaun Collier from Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) will discuss the components of the DISC profiles, designed to help people improve work productivity, teamwork and communication. Individual assessments can also be arranged with each participant at their workplace or at the SBDC at FGCU following the summit. 
A MESSAGE ABOUT THE CHAMBER GOLF CLASSIC
The Chamber staff and our very dedicated Chamber Golf Committee have been working diligently to make this year’s tournament the best one in history. We have some exciting updates to share.

As of today, we are two foursomes from selling out!* We have an amazing return-rate for both players and sponsors this year. We have added some new sponsors and activities to make the day even more fun and memorable!

Here's a sneak peek of what to expect:

  • Tito's Bloody Mary bar starting at 10:30AM

  • Blue Moon Pizza before the round starts

  • Live entertainment with Sheena Brook

  • Helicopter Ball Drop

  • On-course food and contests

We have added a brand new "Big Branding on a Budget" opportunity for Chamber members. We are offering exclusive hole signage with 6-ft x 3-ft color banners - one sponsor per hole - no more little tee signs, and you get to keep banner for your future marketing needs! Some holes are sold, but many are still available. Contact the Chamber staff right away if you would like to make a banner reservation, debra@fortmyers.org, 239.332.2930, or purchase online.

Please reach out to Chamber staff or any of our Golf Committee members with questions, or to get involved as a sponsor. And, don’t forget to buy your ball drop tickets for a chance to win $3000! You can buy these tickets online.


See you on October 18th at the Fort Myers Country Club!

-Ryan McLain AIF ®
Golf Committee Chair


* We will be taking names for a waiting list.
CONVERSATIONS AND COCKTAILS
Liven up your business routine by joining us for Conversations & Cocktails at Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings.

Date: Thursday, September 26, 2019
Time: 5:00 - 7:00pm
Address: 16240 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, FL 33908

Cost: $10 for Members, $20 for Future Members
NONPROFIT NOTE
Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens (LARC) is hosting the inaugural Exceptional Employers of Southwest Florida event on Thursday, September 12 from 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at The Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s Collaboratory, 2031 Jackson St, Fort Myers, 33901. The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is requested. The purpose of the event is to recognize exceptional employers in our community that have hired individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
 
The event will include a light breakfast, networking and a panel discussion with local business owners and executives discussing best practices for employing individuals with disabilities. Panelists include Brian West, media and communications manager, Publix Super Markets, Pat Carroll, co-founder, Carroll Properties Investments and David Mulicka, owner, Honc Destruction.     
 
Businesses who employ people who are differently able are encouraged to register in advance so they can be recognized at the event. To register as an Exceptional Employer or to register as an attendee visit www.larcleecounty.org/events.
 
Established in 1954, LARC is a training center for success for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. LARC serves more than 300 individuals annually and participants range in age from 14 to 76. LARC offers vocational training, community residential services, and a vast array of other state-of-the-art community inclusion services on a full-time, year-round basis. LARC’s main campus is located at 2570 Hanson Street, Fort Myers, and a satellite campus is in Bonita Springs. LARC also operates two Residential Group Homes located in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers.