A Year To Remember

Florida Gulf Coast University receives a donation of more than $500,000, paying the way for a FGCU Center in Naples.

Fort Myers-based Chico’s FAS Inc. names Scott Edmonds its new president.

Naples Lumber & Supply Co. Inc. becomes the first business in Collier County to participate in the State of Florida’s Community Contribution Tax Credit Program through Habitat for Humanity.

The annual Industry Awards celebrates the commitments by local businesses to the community and to employees, as well as, achievement over the past year. Lee County winners include the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center, Colonial Bank’s Southwest Florida Region, Gartner Inc., Henderson Franklin Starnes & Holt and the Lee County Electric Cooperative Inc. Winners in Collier County were Colonial Bank, Insurance & Risk Management Services Inc., The Naples Daily News, Yamron Jewelers, Thomas Reily’s Artisan’s Guild of Naples Inc., First Union Corp., CompuSven Inc., Neighborhood America and ASG Software Solutions. Statewide, Naples-based The Shaw Cos. is one of nine businesses to receive the 2001 Governor’s Business Leadership Award.

October

Naples Municipal Airport reaches a deal to bring Maine Airways, an affiliate of Pan American Airways, to the airport by the end of 2001. The airline will offer flights to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and Sanford-Orlando International Airport.

The Stadium Naples corruption case nets more arrests, including ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, former Collier County Manager Neil Dorrill, real estate developer Paul Hardy, developer partner Renee Tolson and Naples lawyer Leo Salvatori.

Florida Gulf Coast University receives a $760,000 grant from a U.S. Department of Education program to retain and help first-generation college students, low-income students and students with disabilities to complete their educational goals.

Health Management Associates announces plans to acquire East Pointe Hospital, an 88-bed acute care hospital located in Lehigh Acres. The move marks HMA’s first acquisition of fiscal 2002.

Cape Coral and Lee Memorial hospitals are designated as the region’s primary and secondary facilities for treating bioterrorism victims. Lee Memorial Health System, which owns both hospitals, will receive a $60,000 in state grant money to train hospital staff and buy equipment in preparation for a bioterrorism act.

ICaughtYou, a Web-based Internet logging service, names Jack Palmer as president and chief executive officer.

WCI Communities reports record revenue for the third quarter—a 47 percent increase in revenues and a 138 percent increase in net income.

FindWhat.com also reports record revenue of $5.4 million.

Sprint announces plans to lay off up to 70 local workers—about 8 percent of its local work force. The layoffs are part of the phone company’s plan to cut its workforce by 7,500 nationwide.

November

SmartDisk says revenue fell short for the third quarter, citing the impact of Sept. 11. Later in the month, however, the Naples-based company is named the fastest-growing technology company in Florida by Deloitte & Touche’s Technology and Communications Group.

Voters in Collier County go to the polls, rejecting a half cent sales tax proposed to pay for much-needed road construction.

Ark Naturals Products for Pets and Gulf Coast Printing Services win the Blue Chip Community Business Awards.

Naples-based Citizens Bancshares of South Florida announces plans to expand into Ft. Lauderdale with the formation of a new community bank named Bank of Florida. It plans to raise $10 million to $15 million in capital for the bank. Citizens chief executive officer Michael L. McMullan will become president and chief executive office of the new bank in addition to his duties with Citizens Bancshares.

Gary V. Trippe, president and chief executive officer of Oswald Trippe and Co., receives the 2001 Distinguished Citizen of the Year award from the Southwest Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

December

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, at Tiburon, is slated to open, making Naples the only city besides Atlanta—the company’s headquarters—to boast two Ritz-Carlton hotels.

LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples is scheduled to complete a $45 million renovation.