BUSINESS ETHICS AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
The Uncommon Friends Foundation has selected the finalists for its 2018 Business Ethics Award. The finalists are Chris-Tel Construction, PBS Contractors and Priority Marketing. As part of the final judging, finalists and area business leaders will jointly participate at the 13th Annual Ethical Leadership Conference on Oct. 23 at the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University. The roundtable discussion will focus on ethical challenges Southwest Florida executives face in business. The winner of the Business Ethics Award will be announced at the Uncommon Friends Foundation’s annual Uncommon Evening, held Nov. 8 at the Burroughs Home & Gardens in Fort Myers. For information on Uncommon Evening tickets and sponsorships, contact Jennifer Nelson at (239) 337-9503 or jennifer@uncommonfriends.org.
PENTA JOINS TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN BOARD
Louise Penta has joined the board of directors of Take Stock in Children of Florida. Penta, who was awarded the Take Stock in Children state-wide Mentor of the Year in 2015, has been a member of The Immokalee Foundation board of directors since 2008. She added the nonprofit’s Fund-A-Dream auction to its fundraising toolkit in 2010 and has served as co-chair of the foundation’s Charity Classic Celebration. A retired operating room nurse, Penta began supporting The Immokalee Foundation upon moving to Naples from the Boston area. In Massachusetts, she involved herself in charitable efforts for the Winsor and Dexter schools, Joslin Diabetes Center, Camp Joslin, Boston University School of Medicine and the P. Anthony Penta Scholarship Fund, named for her late husband, who was chief of surgery at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital in Melrose, Massachusetts.
NOISE INC. ADDS STRATEGIC BRANDING VP
Sanibel-based NOISE Inc. has added Amanda Clements as vice president and director of strategic branding. Clements will lead agency teams in the development of multi-media, integrated strategic brand programs on local, regional, national and international levels. Most recently, Clements has served as senior manager of global promotions for VISIT FLORIDA. In all, Clements has more than 20 years of experience in brand strategy and development, strategic planning and implementation, consumer promotions, partnership development, social media marketing, influencer campaigns, media relations, and public relations. Her experience also includes the financial, media, and not-for-profit industries.
LABBE ACCEPTS INDUSTRY SERVICE AWARD
Ron Labbe, CEO and owner of Naples Lumber & Supply, has received the Charlie Harnden Industry Service Award, the highest honor the Florida Building Materials Association (FBMA) bestows upon a member. The award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service to the building supply industry and his or her community. It is not presented annually, but only awarded when the FBMA executive committee has determined that a nominee has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Labbe started at Naples Lumber as a helper in the yard and worked his away up to his current leadership position. Labbe served on the board of directors from the FBMA and was one of the founding participants in the industry roundtables.
FLORIDA SKIN CENTER HIRES TRIANA
Florida Skin Center has hired a fourth physician assistant, Soledad Triana, who is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Now at the Fort Myers location, she provides routine skin checks to patients, as well as performs biopsies and excisions, among other on-site dermatological procedures. Triana is affiliated with the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Florida Academy of Physician Assistants, the National Board for Respiratory Care and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants as a fellow member. Triana concluded her education with dermatology training at Florida Skin Center, under the supervision of its founder, Dr. Anais Aurora Badia, and Shirisha Vallarapu, a physician assistant-certified professional. Triana earned a Master of Medical Science degree, physician assistant, from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Myers. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the National University of Mar del Plata in Argentina and a degree in respiratory care from the former Edison State College (now Florida SouthWestern State College), where she received multiple recognitions. Triana previously served as a registered respiratory therapist at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, and holds certifications from the National Board of Respiratory Care as a neonatal/pediatric respiratory care specialist and pulmonary function technologist.
STUDIO+ LAUNCHES PRIVATE LABEL CARPET
Studio+ is launching a new private label carpet collection as part of its integrated services approach. The addition of private label flooring will complement its current architecture, interior design, surfaces and lean design services. By contracting all services through one company, they streamline the process from design to procurement and installation. The private label carpet will be launched at the company’s anniversary party, held from 4:30 – 7 p.m. on Oct. 11 at the Studio+ Fort Myers office.
OPHTHALMOLOGIST TO PROVIDE EYE CARE IN HONDURAS
Snead Eye Group’s newest board-certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Klaus Freeland, will serve as a week-long volunteer beginning on Oct. 8 in Honduras, in conjunction with the Hospital Loma de Luz. Freeland will be providing otherwise unavailable ophthalmological care such as cataract, glaucoma and pterygium surgery to the residents of the rural community of Balfate Colon. Loma de Luz is a charitable outreach of The Cornerstone Foundation. In his work with Snead Eye Group, Freeland performs cataract and refractive surgery, glaucoma surgery and laser vision correction including LASIK. He holds numerous certifications demonstrating vast training on state-of-the-art equipment for laser vision correction and glaucoma surgery.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Southwest Florida Community Foundation launches Immigrant Program Grant
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation is launching its first-ever Immigrant Program Grant. With funding from The Florida Bar Foundation and national funders, the 2019 Immigration Program Grant season opens with a call for projects and programs for services (both established and new) designed to increase the quality of life in sustainable and equitable ways for immigrants and refugees in Southwest Florida. Projects and programs will support equity and empowerment in the region. The Southwest Florida Community Foundation seeks projects and programs from 501(c)(3) organizations that assist immigrants and refugees in Southwest Florida. Projects and programs must provide to immigrants and/or refugees in Southwest Florida: legal services or legal services and at least one of the three following: community outreach and education, legal services capacity building and/or technical assistance capacity building, and/or advocacy and organizing. The grant period is Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2019. Awards will be announced in December 2018. For more information, visit https://floridacommunity.com/grants-process/immigration-program-grant/.
AFP Collier-Lee Chapter to honor area philanthropists
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Collier-Lee Chapter will honor its 2018 Philanthropist of the Year, The Watkins Family; Outstanding Philanthropic Organization, First Florida Integrity Bank; Outstanding Philanthropic Youth, Aubrey Garcia; and Outstanding Philanthropic Executive, Tracy Connelly; at its National Philanthropy Day Celebration held from 5-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 at Hodges University in Naples. These recipients will be honored for their community efforts. Tickets to the event are $60 per person and tickets can be purchased at http://www.afpcollierlee.org. For more information, contact Jeanne Bolds at (239) 947-2000 or info@afpcollierlee.org.
Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Program benefits from SWFL Wine & Food Fest
Trustees from Southwest Florida Children’s Charities Inc. presented a check for $120,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida. The monies come from proceeds of the 2018 SWFL Wine & Food Fest Live Auction and will benefit the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Program. Services on board the Care Mobile include dental screenings, sealants and varnishes to underserved children in Southwest Florida. For more information, visit www.rmhcswfl.org.
Halloween Party fundraiser coming to Shula’s Steak House
Shula’s Steak House, located inside the Hilton Naples, and the NAPLES Group, a networking organization, will sponsor a “Monster Bash” Halloween Party with proceeds benefitting Make-A-Wish Southern Florida and the Stroke Recovery Foundation Inc. The event will take place from 6-10 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Shula’s Steak House Naples. Admission is $75 per person and will include a cocktail and heavy hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment with DJ Patty, a costume contest with a grand prize worth $1,000 and a cash bar with happy hour pricing. A limited amount of tickets are available at ShulasNaples.com or by calling Jeff Jerome at (239) 659-3176.
Shell Factory & Nature Park to host veterans-oriented event
The Shell Factory & Nature Park will host its second annual Nam-Jam from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 14 at 2787 Tamiami Trail in Fort Myers. The veterans-oriented event features live music, food for purchase, specials for veterans and a tribute to our military. Admission is free to all attendees, and veterans receive free admission to the nature park, a free round of mini golf for four, tickets for two draft beers or well drinks, 20 percent off purchases in the retail store, and a free photo with a zip line purchase. Additionally, there will be a 50/50 raffle, with half going to the winner and half being presented to the Southwest Florida Military Museum. A veterans tribute begins at 2 p.m. and includes a special appearance by Maj. Gen. James Lee Dozier, a Fort Myers resident who was held in captivity by an Italian terrorist group in 1981. For more information, visit https://www.shellfactory.com.
Get breaking business news delivered straight to your inbox each weekday morning with Gulfshore Business Daily.
