NETWORKING WEEK
>>Southwest Florida will be among the regions participating in Business Network International’s (BNI) second annual International Networking Week. The initiative is designed to raise the awareness of networking as an essential tool for success in today’s business climate. There are 35 BNI chapters locally in communities such as Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The event runs from Feb. 4-8. For more information, visit www.internationalnetworkingweek.com. 

ACE SPONSOR
>>Fifth Third Bank will return as the official sponsor of The ACE Group Classic’s (www.acegroupclassic.com) volunteer program. Tickets for the tournament will be available for purchase at all Lee or Collier county Fifth Third banking centers. The ACE Group Classic will be held on Feb. 11-17 at Quail West.

NEW VOICE ON TOURISM COUNCIL
>>The Lee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has appointed Cape Coral city council member Dolores Bertolini to the Lee County Tourist Development Council (TDC). The nine-member TDC was established by the BOCC in 1983 to increase tourism to Lee County. Bertolini replaces Cape Coral Mayor Eric Feichthaler.

FIRM CHANGES NAME
>>MNS Financial Management has changed its name to Marquis Wealth Management Group. Marquis Wealth Management Group is an independent registered investment advisory firm based in Fort Myers.

VENTURE FORUM MEETING
>>The Gulf Coast Venture Forum (GCVF) January membership meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday at Kensington Country Club, 2700 Pine Ridge Road in Naples. GCVF (www.gcvf.com) promotes the success of the region's new and emerging businesses by bringing together entrepreneurs, educational resources, capital providers and service providers.

EVERGLADES CONFERENCE
>>Several state, national and international speakers will participate in the Annual Everglades Coalition Conference, Jan. 10-13 on Captiva Island. Hosted by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, the conference will bring together leaders, elected officials, and community and environmental activists to discuss the opportunities and challenges that continue to face restoring the Everglades’ entire ecosystem. The speakers include: Nathaniel P. Reed, former assistant secretary of Interior; Porter J. Goss, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Florida congressman District 14, Lee County commissioner and Sanibel Island’s first mayor; Kim Howells, deputy British foreign minister. For more information, visit: www.evergladescoalition.org. 

PROPERTY TAX FORUM
>>An educational forum titled “The Legislature’s Property Tax Reform, Will it Help or Hinder Progress in Collier, in Florida?” will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Naples Hilton, 5111 Tamiami Trial N. The event is being presented by the Greater Naples Better Government Committee along with several co-sponsors: the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, Naples Area Board of Realtors, Naples Daily News, BizPac, the Economic Development Council, the Urban Land Institute of SW Florida and WGUF 98.9 FM. For more information, contact Bob Murray at 417-9915.

PRACC LUNCHEON
>>Chris Doyle, president and publisher of the Naples Daily News will speak at the Public Relations, Marketing and Advertising Professionals of Collier County luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. The event will be held at the Naples Grande. For more information, www.pracc.org. RSVP by Jan 15 by calling 436-2105.

FPRA MEETING
>>Lanette Hart, the Florida Public Relations Association’s vice president and president-elect will speak at Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association monthly luncheon on Jan. 15. The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., in Fort Myers. Reservations must be made at www.fpraswfl.org no later than Wednesday.

Weekly stock performance
>>Southwest Florida publicly traded companies

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