Southwest Florida business news: July 20 - Naples Daily News

Lee builders to host panel

The Lee Building Industry Association will host a panel discussion focusing on Southwest Florida’s skilled trades next month. The event is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 23 at the Bass Pro Shop’s Islamorada Fish Co. It features Jim Wall, Southwest Florida Works; Bob Bucy, Home Building Institute; and Nancy Smith, Fort Myers Institute of Technology. Bob Koenig, Manhattan Construction, will serve as moderator. Reservations are required by July 17 and the cost is $25 per person. RSVP at (239) 936-5525, emailing info@bia.net or visiting www.BIA.net.

PR firm now state-certified women-owned business

Pushing the Envelope Inc. in Fort Myers has completed the certification process with the state and is now a Statewide and Inter-Local Certified Business Enterprise in the Woman Owned Business category. Samantha Scott in 2006 founded and opened Pushing the Envelope Inc., which provides marketing communications services to businesses locally, regionally and nationally. Information: (239) 221-2858 and http://www.GetPushing.com or email Info@GetPushing.com.

Terraces at Bonita Springs has opened

About 300 residents are moving into The Terraces at Bonita Springs, a new senior living community. The massive, $70 million six-story building on the east side of U.S. 41 created up to 200 jobs. The Terraces features 144 independent living apartments with one, two and three bedrooms. In addition, there will be 48 assisted apartments, 40 skilled nursing beds and 18 memory support suites. The apartments range in size from 900 to 2,000 square feet. The entrance fee for prospective residents starts at around $400,000, which includes purchase of an apartment home and unlimited life care, including lifetime access to health care and wellness services on site, as well as all the activities and amenities at the community. Monthly fees range from $2,995 to $4,995, based on the size of the apartment home and upgraded features within them. Information: www.theterracesatbonitasprings.com/

Wang joins Florida Cancer Specialists

Dr. Jay Wang earlier this month joined Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute. Wang will practice with Drs. Mark Moskowitz and Douglas Heldreth in the new Sierra Meadows office, 8350 Sierra Meadows Blvd., Naples. Wang received his medical degree at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and completed a fellowship in oncology/hematology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He began his medical practice at Central Florida Cancer Institute in Winter Haven. Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute is the largest independent oncology/hematology practice in the U.S., with more than 150 physicians, 90 nurse practitioners and more than 60 clinical sites. It serves patients as far north as Tallahassee, on the Gulf Coast from Tampa to Naples, in Orlando and surrounding Central Florida and in Palm Beach County.

Fort Myers hospital makes ‘most beautiful’ list

Gulf Coast Medical Center has been named one of the Top 20 Most Beautiful Hospitals in the U.S. for 2013 by Soliant Health. The Fort Myers hospital, on the southeast corner of Daniels and Metro parkways, was purposefully designed, inside and out, said Soliant, a provider of specialized health care staffing services. Gulf Coast Medical has programs for cardiology and neurology, as well as orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology and the region’s only kidney transplant program. The top hospitals were chosen for the distinction of Soliant Health’s 5th annual list of the 20 Most Beautiful Hospitals in America through an online voting process that lasted almost two months. Gulf Coast Medical ranked No. 13. Information: http://blog.soliant.com/most-beautiful-hospitals/2013/

Davis joins Shamrock Bank

Christian Davis has joined Shamrock Bank of Florida as a commercial loan officer. Davis, a Naples native and Navy veteran, has more than 10 years experience in the financial and banking industry. Davis received an associate degree from Edison State College. Shamrock Bank is locally owned, with offices in Naples and Ave Maria. Information: 239-919-5199 and www.ShamrockBankFL.com

Magazine rates 3 Collier resorts are among best

A national travel magazine has named three Collier County resorts among the best in the continental U.S. Travel + Leisure rated the Marco Beach Ocean Resort at No. 16, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, at No. 24 and the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort at No. 32. The hotels and resorts in the survey were rated by Travel + Leisure readers in five categories: rooms/facilities, location, service, restaurants/food, and value. The survey will be featured in the magazine’s August issue.

Naples attorney receives honor

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady announced that Kimberley A. Dillon, an attorney in the firm’s Naples office, has received the AV Pre-eminent peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Dillon joins more than 180 Quarles & Brady attorneys who have been rated by Martindale-Hubbell. The ratings are designed to assess the legal ability and ethical standards of an attorney. Quarles & Brady law firm has more than 400 attorneys practicing from offices in Naples and Tampa; Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Chicago; Milwaukee and Madison, Wis.; Shanghai, China; and Washington, D.C.

Continuing care community plans redevelopment

A North Naples retirement community announced redevelop plans July 10. Vi at Bentley Village, along U.S. 41, just north of Old 41 Road, plans to build a new, more modern sales center to be completed in 2014. Visitors to the new sales center will see plans for the community that include renovations to existing facilities, new clubhouses and independent living apartments. Vi is anticipated to break ground in 2015. Bentley Village opened its doors for business in 1985. Vi purchased Bentley Village in 1992. Information: http://www.ViLiving.com.

Men’s clothing store moves

Joseph Wendt Custom Clothiers has announced it relocated its showroom to 400 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 100, Naples. The men’s clothing store was in the Shoppes at Naples Bay Resort since it opened. Information: (239) 530-0070 and www.josephscustomclothiers.com.

Hyatt now a certified planner

Wasmer, Schroeder & Co. Inc. in Naples has announced that Mia L. Hyatt is now a certified financial planner. A Minnesota native, Hyatt has worked in the financial industry for six years. Hyatt joined Wasmer, Schroeder & Co. in as a portfolio administrator in 2007 and was promoted to client services manager in 2010. She oversees client service management of direct individual clients and wealth managers.

Pope named catering sales manager

Jennifer Pope has been appointed as catering sales manager for Cooper Hotels’ Hilton Garden Inn Airport/Florida Gulf Coast University and the adjacent Homewood Suites Airport/FGCU in Lee County. Pope, who has more than 13 years of event planning and management experience, graduated of Edison State College.

Restaurants to participate in fundraiser

Restaurants in downtown Naples, Mercato, Coconut Point, Bell Tower Shops and downtown Fort Myers will take part in the first Dine Out for the Cure on July 25. Participating businesses will donate 20, 35 or 50 percent of the day’s proceeds to Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida. The money will help support local breast health, breast cancer programs and breast cancer research. Information: www.komenswfl.org.

New Fifth Ave. S. discount program for year-round residents

Fifth Avenue South has announced “You First on Fifth,” a new discount program geared toward year-round Southwest Florida residents. The program runs through Oct. 31 at participating businesses and restaurants along Fifth. More than 40 businesses and restaurants so far have agreed to participate. Discounts and specials include 10 or 20 percent off the entire purchase, a special drink or dessert with the purchase of a meal and other deals. For a list of discounts and specials, visit www.FifthAvenueSouth.com and click on the “You First on Fifth” logo.

Layton joins Susan G. Komen

Sarah Layton has joined Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida as development director. She will oversee development of sponsorships and external marketing for fundraising events, such as the upcoming the Pink Promise Luncheon, the Stiletto Sprint and Race for the Cure. Layton received her bachelor’s degree from Clemson University in South Carolina and her master’s degree from Florida State University. She speaks fluent Spanish and basic Mandarin Chinese. Information: www.komenswfl.org and (239) 498-0016.

Toops new executive chef at Barefoot Beach club

The Club At Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs has announced it recently promoted Edward Toops to executive chef. Toops began his food service career opening local public and private businesses, such as Worthington Country Club and the Hyatt Regency. He began working at The Club At Barefoot Beach in 2001 and secured the sous chef position within three months of meticulous work.

Komara new project manager for Minto Communities

David Komara has been named project manager for Minto Communities. His responsibilities include managing all assigned construction operations and personnel and providing customer service to Minto’s homeowners in Southwest Florida. Before joining Minto, Komara worked for 12 years in the construction industry in field management, customer service and other management positions. The Canadian company has built more than 70,000 homes, including 20,000 in Florida. Minto’s Southwest Florida communities include the Isles of Collier Preserve in Naples and Bonita Isles in Bonita Springs.

Leach a ‘Florida Super Lawyer’

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady has announced that Kimberly Leach Johnson, a partner in the firm’s Naples office, has been named among the Top 50 Women Florida Super Lawyers for 2013. The Top 50 list includes attorneys who received the highest point totals in the 2013 Florida Super Lawyers nomination, research, and review process. Super Lawyers comprises of the top 5 percent of lawyers in each state. Leach Johnson received her master’s of law degree from the University of Miami, her law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Anderson University in Indiana. Quarles & Brady law firm has more than 400 attorneys practicing from offices in Naples and Tampa; Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Chicago; Milwaukee and Madison, Wis.; Shanghai, China; and Washington, D.C.

Enterprise donates $20,000 to hospital

Enterprise Holdings Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the company that operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent-A-Car brands, has awarded a $20,000 grant to the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation. The grant will help support the Golisano Children’s Hospital $125 million Capital Campaign. The money will help build a new seven-story, 128-bed children’s hospital at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers. The contribution qualifies for the dollar-for-dollar match by Naples resident B. Thomas Golisano. Under the match, Golisano agreed to give the hospital $20 million if the hospital could raise $20 million between May 2012 and May 2014. The first $10 million milestone was passed in March and Golisano made his initial pledge payment at that time. The total raised for the campaign to date is more than $82 million.

Doctors join Lee Memorial staff

Lee Memorial Health System has announced physicians who recently joined its medical staff. They are Drs. Bertrand Fonji and Barry Haicken, joining LPG-General Surgery-Cape Coral; Dr. Joshua Helman who has joined Cape Coral Emergency Physicians; and Dr. Juan Pablo Richiusa, who has joined Family Health Centers. Information: www.leememorial.org.

Home care service now for nonresidents

Vi at Bentley Village in North Naples has announced Bentley Home Care services are available to non-Bentley Village residents. Bentley Home Care offers professional, individualized, skilled services under Medicare or private pay personal care and companion services. Information: (239) 431-2122, ext. 875.

Encore Bank receives 5-star rating

Encore Bank has received the Bauer Financial 5-Star “Superior” Rating, which represents the highest performance ranking awarded by Bauer Financial. Encore Bank is the only Naples-based bank to receive the designation. Bauer Financial offers independent, unbiased analysis of a financial institution’s current financial condition and has been analyzing and reporting the financial condition of the nation’s banking industry since 1983. Encore Bank has six locations: in Naples at 3003 U.S. 41 N. and 2370 Vanderbilt Beach Road; in Bonita Springs at 4450 Bonita Beach Road; south of Fort Myers at 7920 Summerlin Lakes Drive; in Port Charlotte at 2120 Kings Highway, and in Sun City Center at 1653 Sun City Center Plaza. Information: www.encorebank.com.

Helenbolt joins Community School

Tricia Helenbolt has joined the Community School of Naples as director of admissions and marketing. Before moving to Florida, Helenbolt oversaw all special events, public relations and communications for a private, independent school in Pasadena, Calif. She received her bachelor’s degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles.

Albert new Prudential Florida Realty managing broker

Joni A. Albert has joined Prudential Florida Realty as a managing broker in the Bonita Springs Branch Sales Office, 24880 U.S. 41 S., Suite 1. Albert can be reached at (239) 390-4080 and jonialbert@prudentialfloridarealty.com.

Randall Saviste joins law firm

Dorothy Randall Saviste has joined Dellutri Law Group as its new marketing director. She received her bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. For the last 30 years, Randall Saviste has lived and worked in Southwest Florida. Dellutri Law Group, 1436 Royal Palm Square Blvd., Fort Myers, also has offices in Naples, Cape Coral and Port Charlotte. Information: www.dellutrilawgroup.com and (239) 939-0900.

Fabacher new medical director at Hazelden

National addiction treatment provider Hazelden has announced that Dr. Jeffrey E. Fabacher has been named medical director of its Naples facility. Fabacher graduated from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine. Hazelden, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1949, helps people recover from addiction. It has facilities in Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois and New York. Information: www.hazelden.org.

Builders pull more permits in Lee last month

Builders pulled nearly double the number of single-family permits in June than they did a year ago in unincorporated Lee County. The county staff issued 94 permits, valued at about $21.8 million last month. That was up from 80 permits in May and 56 in June of last year, according to a monthly report by the county’s Department of Community Development. Last month, Lee also saw a decrease in multifamily permits over the year. In June, there were 29, compared to 36 a year ago. In May, there were 43, county records show. General commercial activity was valued at $8.5 million for 12 permits, compared to $687,525 in May and $4.5 million in June 2012. Lee County Community Development issued 3,307 permits of all kinds during June. Information: www.lee-county.com/dcd.

Naples Chamber anounces new board members

The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce has three newly elected and three newly appointed board members. Elected to the board, with each to serve three-year terms: D. Derrick Ayers, senior vice president and affiliate CFO of Fifth Third Bank-South Florida; Marvin Easton, a retired IBM Consultant; and Dr. Emad Salman, medical director of the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Apointed to the board, with each serving one-year terms: Julie A. Schmelzle, Kent Shoemaker and David E. Torres.

Chico’s declares quarterly cash dividend

Fort Myers-based retailer Chico’s FAS Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 5.5 cents a share for its common stock. That’s a 4.8 percent increase over the dividend rate from September. The new dividend is payable Sept. 30 to shareholders holding stock as of Sept. 16. The local company has four brands: Chico’s, White House-Black Market, Soma Intimates and Boston Proper, its newest one. As of May 4, the company operated nearly 1,400 stores in the U.S. Information: www.chicos.com, www.whbm.com, www.soma.com and www.bostonproper.com.

Scott Lowe new CEO at Physicians Regional-Collier

Scott Lowe is the new chief executive officer of Physicians Regional-Collier in Naples. Lowe has served Physicians Regional Healthcare System for the past five years, starting as chief financial officer at Physicians Regional-Collier and continuing as system CFO from 2011 until now. He holds master’s degrees from the University of Miami and the University of Texas and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.

Eye care center certified

Frantz EyeCare recently was certified by TearLab as an Accredited Dry Eye Center. As an accredited center, Frantz EyeCare will use advanced ophthalmic diagnostic techniques and treatments for dry eye care. Frantz EyeCare has offices in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda and Lehigh Acres. Information: (239) 418-0999 and www.bettervision.net.

Guitar builder awarded ECHL license

Scream Guitars, a manufacturer of custom electric guitars covered with original artwork and corporate images, was awarded a license by the East Coast Hockey League to use the logos of its 22 hockey teams, including the Florida Everblades. The ECHL, which provides farm teams for the National Hockey League, awarded a one-year contract to the Fort Myers company that will put the logos on playable, electric guitars for all 22 teams. The guitars will be sold in arena stores and on the team and ECHL websites. Fort Myers businessman and entrepreneur Kurt Kiehnle founded Scream Guitars in 2009. The company designs and builds affordable electric guitars and basses that are customized by wrapping, engraving or painting the body with artwork. Information: (561) 531-0651, email kurt@screamguitars.com and www.facebook.com/screamguitars.

Maurer joins Naples real estate office

Michael C. Maurer has joined Engel & Völkers Olde Naples as a broker-associate. He formerly worked as managing broker for Commercial Realty Group in Bonita Springs and most recently was a broker-associate with ReMax Affinity in Old Naples. Engel & Völkers has a property shop at 837 Fifth Ave. S. and at the Waldorf Astoria Naples. Information: (239) 692-9449 and www.evnaples.com.

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