Staff
kudos
PACE Center for Girls Collier at Immokalee received a $500,000 Capital Challenge Grant from the Kresge Foundation of Troy, Mich., for construction of the Isabel Collier Read Building.
The Best of the U.S. LLC named John A. Noland and David M. Platt of Henderson Franklin among the best attorneys in the United States.
Riverside Bank of the Gulf Coast celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2007 with 13 banking centers from Bradenton to Naples.
Lee Memorial Health System received $150,000 from Northern Trust Bank to support Lee Cancer Care.
Lee Mental Health's board of directors named David E. Winters CEO and elected Marshall Bower as chairman for 2007 and 2008.
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation elected Donna Kaye as vice chair and chair-elect.
Dr. Michael E. Frey of Advanced Pain Management & Spine Specialists has been named to the editorial board of the medical journal Pain Physician.
The 20th annual Wyndemere Tradition Golf Tournament held on Jan. 22 raised more than $84,000 for the children and families of Youth Haven.
Southwinds Magazine recognized Punta Gorda as a Boater-Friendly Community with the opening of Fish-erman's Village mar-ina and the future marina to be built at Laishley Park.
The Council for International Visitors in Collier received a $10,000 grant from the Schrenk Family Foundation for the continuance of international awareness and understanding in the Naples community.
International College appointed Joe Wheeler, area executive for IronStone Bank, as chairman of the President's Council at the college's Naples campus.
The 51st Annual Farm City BBQ donated record
proceeds of $15,000 to the 4H Foundation.
The fourth annual Cattle Barons' Ball held in Lee County on Jan. 27 raised $760,000 for the American Cancer Society of Lee County.
Lee County Port Authority Airports Special Management Committee named Janet Watermeier chair and Robert Taylor vice chair of the organization.
Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida will honor Steven H. Pontius of Waterman Broadcasting and Duane Swanson Sr. of Raymond Building Supply Corp. as the 2007 Lee County Business Leadership Hall of
Fame Laureates.
Naples was named the "No. 1 Top Romantic Escape," in the January/February issue of Coastal Living.
Bank of Naples claimed 2006 as its most successful year, with net earnings up 148 percent over those of 2005, from $881,000 to $2,181,000.
Baird wealth management is the first-ever presenting sponsor of the International College Humanitarian of the Year award ceremony, which was presented this year to Truly Nolen.
Edison College awarded 24 scholarships valued at $132,000 to participants in the Thomas Alva Edison Kiwanis Regional Science and Engineering Fair for students in seventh to 12th grades.
Ted Sottong, co-owner and vice president of Architecture Inc., is the new secretary of the Florida Southwest Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture.
Habitat for Humanity of Lee County named Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. as Outstanding Land Development Partner for 2006.
The Future Builders of America and Palmetto Ridge High School's Academy of Construction and Fine Woodworking broke ground in Golden Gate Estates on the first home that academy students will help construct.
Nonprofit business counseling group Charlotte SCORE honored Barry Snider for his volunteer service since 2003.
Bank of America donated $100,000 to Lee Memorial Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, $1 million to the Moffitt Cancer Institute and more than $25,000 to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
Spring Creek Elementary School fifth-grade student Carla Garcia illustrated the cover of Bonita Springs Utilities' 2007 Water Conservation Calendar and created the slogan, "Let's help Bonita Springs Utilities protect and preserve our region's water."
Kena Yoke was elected to the Community Bank of Naples' board of directors.
Lindsay M. Harrington was elected to the board of directors of Busey Bank, N.A.
Ticket sales from festivities at Miromar Outlets' phase five opening generated $7,300 for Barbara's Friends, an organization that provides financial support and raises endowment funds for
pediatric oncology and hematology services at the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.
The American Red Cross Collier County Chapter raised $15,000 at its second annual bachelor auction at the Elks Lodge on Radio Road.
The second annual Rock 'Til You Drop Car Show and Concert, presented by the River District and the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency, raised $3,900 for the Progeria Research Foundation to help find a cure for the premature-aging illness.
The third annual PLAY for P.I.N.K. golf tournament at Palmira Golf & Country Club in Bonita Springs raised more than $28,000 for breast cancer research.
Child Care of Southwest Florida Inc. celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Hospice of Naples appointed Michael Biondo and Robert Carsello to the executive committee of its board of directors.
Linda Miller, community services manager for the Bonita Bay Community Association, earned the designation of Association Management Specialist from the Community Association Institute.
Fox Electronics and the Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer's Resource Center raised $5,500 at the ninth annual A Light to Remember in Centennial Park, Fort Myers.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines named Mary Ann Ramsey, president of Betty Maclean Travel Inc., as a Top 100 Finalist in the search for a godmother of its newest ship, Liberty of the Seas.
career moves
banking/accounting/finance
Shaundra Goff joined the staff of Bank of the Islands as vice president of mortgage and consumer lending.
Brian Eagleston joined FineMark National Bank & Trust in Fort Myers as chief financial officer.
CPA/business consulting firm Hill, Barth & King LLC named Gerald "Jerry" Kimble as managing principal of the Fort Myers office,
promoted Christopher Marrie to manager and hired Jayme Edin as a staff accountant.
Florida Gulf Bank appointed Sandra Greiner as vice president and branch manager of its newly opened Sandoval office in Cape Coral.
Colonial Bank named Jane L. Goble as private wealth adviser for the Southwest Florida region and appointed Joshua Harkness as a commercial lending officer in
Fort Myers.
Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company P.A. of Naples and Fort Myers hired Ginny Yates as consultant for PrimePlus, the firm's elder- care services division.
SunTrust Bank hired Stephanie Carpenter Garrett as vice president and private wealth management
client advisor.
Florida Gulf Bank named Lourdes De Choch as vice president and commercial banker for the Cape Coral market.
Schultz Chaipel Redovan Baker & Co. in Fort Myers hired Brian Stockman as a staff accountant.
Bank of Florida-Southwest in Naples promoted James C. Coleman to credit analyst.
Falls River Group LLC, an investment banking firm that provides merger and acquisition advisory services, hired Angela An as a research associate.
CPA/business consulting firm Stroemer Tuscan & Co. hired Navin Bissram to the audit team and Arlene Golladay to the tax team.
Riverside Bank of the Gulf Coast hired Aurora Fuentes, Stephanie Leek and Camelia Waite as ser-
vice representatives.
Jackie Milone was promoted to branch support representative for Charlotte State Bank.
Harris Private Bank hired Scott Hansen as managing director for its Naples office.
Bank of Naples appointed Cynthia M. Cleaver as assistant vice president of lending.
law
Cohen & Grigsby hired Lisa Hofbauer Lipman to the Estates and Trusts Group of the Naples office.
Henderson Franklin hired Kelly Spillman Jablonski as an associate in the Fort Myers office.
The George Hartz law firm named Cassius Borel as an associate in the Fort Myers office.
Thompson Family Law in Fort Myers hired Ana M. Flynn, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.
real estate/development
John R. Wood Realtors Inc. in Naples named Jay Murphy as its controller.
Dr. Gerald "Jerry" Laboda joined the sales team of Select Real Estate by Stephanie Miller Inc. as a commercial agent in Estero.
Retail property brokerage group Colliers Arnold hired Charlene Greenblatt and appointed Jennifer Diorio as marketing coordinator in its Fort Myers office.
Toll Brothers promoted Stephen J. Dempsey to senior project manager at Belle Lago, a community of single-family homes in Estero.
Kaye Homes in Naples appointed Lisa DeCarlo as human resources manager and Cindy Morales as new home counselor.
Ecological consulting firm Passarella & Associates in Fort Myers hired ecologist Bethany Bachelor as a consultant for private developments, public initiatives and transportation projects.
Residential community Marbella on Cypress in Fort Myers named Whitney Halpern as director of sales.
Design/building remodeling company The Lykos Group added Bill Wolff to its production team as superintendent.
Planning, design and engineering firm WilsonMiller promoted vice president and principal Michael H. Maxwell to corporate business unit leader of survey and mapping.
AIM Engineering & Surveying hired Tom Deer as construction engineering inspection manager for Southwest Florida in its Lehigh Acres' office.
Property management firm Collier Enterprises in Naples hired Thomas Wegwert as senior project manager.
Heatherwood Construction Co. hired Hector Vidal as a senior project manager for the Naples and Bonita Springs area.
JRL Design in Naples hired Ty Groff as a design associate.
healthcare
Anchor Health Centers in Naples added Maria F. Bendeck to its
medical staff.
The David Lawrence Center of Naples, providing mental health and substance abuse services, appointed Dr. Brent Lovett as children's medical director, and hired Dr. Ronald Markby as a part-time staff psychiatrist.
other
LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples appointed Ron Vuy as general manager, Rick Vogt as executive chef, Jerry Janus as director of food and beverage, and Corrine Brao as human resources director.
Insurance agency Olin Hill & Associates in Cape Coral hired David Kennedy as a commercial lines producer.
Fox Electronics in Fort Myers hired Melissa Lord as an operation
technician and LeRoy Sutter as product manager.
The Canterbury School board of trustees appointed Richard Dolven as head of the school.
The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce promoted Michele Klinowski to vice president for hospitality industry services.
Global HR Research in Bonita Springs appointed Thomas A. Knox as chief financial officer.
business moves
Zounds Inc. hearing-aid maker opened a new store at 23181 Village Shops Way, Suite 101, in Estero's Coconut Point Mall.
Bonita Bay Group launched an amenities management division called New Leaf to manage the clubs and amenities in its communities as well as some amenity operations outside the company.
Brooks & Freund began construction on Reliance Bank's new corporate headquarters at 14241 Metro Parkway in Fort Myers.
Marble Slab Creamery ice cream shop opened a new location near the main entrance to the Lake Shops in Coconut Point, on U.S. 41 between Corkscrew and Coconut roads.
Konsultar Corporation, owned by Anna Kubit in Naples, will facilitate the import and export of medical equipment and other goods between the Dominican Republic and Southwest Florida.
General Motors awarded J.L. Wallace Inc. a contract to build the Estero Chevrolet car dealership off Corkscrew Boulevard near I-75.
Bonita Bay Group Realty opened an office at Coconut Point next to Blue Water Bistro.
Morse Shores Professional Center broke ground on a new commercial building for general use at 4857 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers to be constructed by Richardson Homes Inc., Commercial.
Florida Yachts expanded its chartering fleet with a 35-foot sailing catamaran named Firenze.
Salon Alfredo Spa & Boutique hired stylists Denise LaForge, Leyna M. Verrastro, Heidi Stidams and Megan Hartley.
Pet Protect, a Naples-based company, recently launched a new Web site dedicated to pet-friendly real estate, www.petrealtynetwork.com.
Investors' Security Trust Co., a Fort Myers firm providing estate, trust and investment management services, has exceeded $250 million in assets under management.
Southwest Florida Addiction Services awarded the architectural contract for its new Detoxification Center and Outpatient Treatment Center to Burt Hill/Pollock Krieg Architects Inc. of Fort Myers.
The Florida Department of Education debuted a new monthly
television show, Teacher Talk: An Inside Look at Florida Education, on The Education Channel (cable channel 20 in Collier County).
Partners Financial Corporation, the holding company for Partners Bank, opened its new corporate headquarters in Naples in the Capital Center near the intersection of Airport-Pulling Road and Golden Gate Parkway.
WilsonMiller relocated its Fort Myers office to the Westlinks Business Park in Gateway.
Boran Craig Barber Homes of Naples changed its name to
BCB Homes.
Sheeley Architects relocated its Fort Myers office to the fourth floor of the nearby One University Park office building at the intersection of College Parkway and Summerlin Road in south Fort Myers.
Benchmark Home Mortgage opened its newest branch office at 2326 Del Prado Blvd. in Cape Coral.
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