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FIFTH THIRD BANK NAMED AMONG WORLD’S MOST ETHICAL COMPANIES

Fifth Third Bank has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies.

Fifth Third, which has several Southwest Florida offices, is one of five banks to be named among the world’s most ethical companies and one of only three in the U.S. Fifth Third’s core values include working as one bank, taking accountability, being respectful and inclusive, and acting with integrity.

These values serve as the foundation of the company’s commitment to responsible banking. In the past year, the bank continued to make strides in strengthening its ethics and compliance programs, its ongoing investment and involvement in the communities within its footprint, and focus on environmental sustainability, a press release states.

LEE HEALTH HOSPITALS AMONG BEST IN U.S.

Four Lee Health adult acute care hospitals have been named among “America’s Best Hospitals” for 2019, a distinction that places them in the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide, according to Healthgrades, an online resource for information about physicians and hospitals.

This designation rewards hospitals that consistently exhibit comprehensive, quality care across all clinical areas. Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, HealthPark Medical Center and Lee Memorial Hospital are four of 18 Florida hospitals included in the grouping.

Being in the top 5 percent means patients at Lee Health hospitals are less likely to experience medical or surgical complications and have the best chances for survival during and after hospitalization.  For more information, click here

WOMAN OF THE YEAR LUNCHEON SET

The 2019 annual Zonta Club of Bonita Springs-Estero Woman of the Year Luncheon will be held April 16 at Palmira Golf and Country Club. The luncheon will honor this year’s Woman of the Year, Sally Smith. Smith is a long-time humanitarian.

For the past eight years, she has traveled to the community of Santa Eulalia in Guatemala to help improve the lives of those in the area. Smith also volunteers, teaching English and mathematics to the Hispanic community of Bonita Springs. Smith has been a member of The Rotary Club of Estero since 2010 and has been selected as Rotarian of the Year on three occasions.

Tickets for the Woman of the Year Fundraising Luncheon are on sale for $50 and will be $65 after April 1. Purchase tickets at www.zontabonitasprings.com. Funds from this event are used to provide grants to local organizations that best serve women, to provide scholarships to local students and to support various service projects.

ELITE RV & BOAT STORAGE OPENS

Elite RV & Boat Storage opens today in south Lee County, offering covered and fully enclosed units in a facility located between Naples and Fort Myers. RVs and boats at the new facility will be protected through state-of-the-art video surveillance with a motion detection system, a gated entry, fire protection system and an on-site caretaker and property manager.

Additional amenities at Elite RV include 30-amp electrical connections, a sewer pump-out station, wash bay and air stations. Wide drive aisles were designed to allow for easy maneuvering into storage units.

Elite RV will feature 255 covered storage spaces, including a limited amount of fully enclosed spaces, large enough to accommodate luxury recreational vehicles and high-end boats. Individual units range from 12 feet wide and 36 feet deep to 24 feet wide and 60 feet deep. For more information, visit EliteRVBoatStorage.com or call (239) 768-2225. 

RINEHART JOINS CHARLOTTE STATE BANK & TRUST

Todd R. Rinehart has joined Charlotte State Bank & Trust as a vice president of commercial real estate lending. Rinehart brings 40 years of experience in all aspects of the banking industry to the position. Rinehart will be based in Cape Coral while serving as a commercial real estate lender for Charlotte State Bank & Trust.

Rinehart attended the Florida School of Banking at the University of Florida in Gainesville and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business management at Barry University.

A former chairman of the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, Rinehart currently serves as scholarship director for the Southwest Florida Junior Golf Association. He has been a board member of the Rotary Club of Cape Coral and a Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwest Florida volunteer.

VELOCITY ENGINEERING WELCOMES KWIATKOWSKI

Velocity Engineering Services has hired Tara Kwiatkowski as business development manager. Kwiatkowski comes to Velocity with five years of experience in the construction industry. Her past experience has included painting, waterproofing, restoration, and roofing.

Kwiatkowski will manage all business development activities for Velocity including client relations, inside and outside sales, tradeshows, marketing, social media, and networking activities throughout Southwest Florida. Velocity Engineering specializes in geotechnical and environmental engineering and consulting services for condominium and homeowners associations. 

5TH AVENUE SOUTH NAMES 2019 BOARD

5th Avenue South has elected its 2019 board of directors to oversee the advancement of the avenue at large and make key decisions regarding the success of its nearly 250 businesses. The board of directors and officers are Jeff Wynn (president), Christopher Shucart (vice president), David Gordley (treasurer), Jerrilyn Hoffmann, Nancy Macdonald and Joseph McCabe. All six of the 2018 board members retain their seats, while Jarred Kaplan fills a seventh seat.

Kaplan is the managing partner of Provident Jewelry Naples and Fort Myers. Provident Jewelry Naples has been located on 5th Avenue for more than 20 years. A priority for the board in 2019 is to re-establish 5th Avenue South as Naples’ historic main street, as the only place in town with dining, fashion, home design and an arts and culture component. For more information, visit https://www.fifthavenuesouth.com.

CHARITABLE NOTES

LARC Inc. launches fundraising campaign for new learning program

Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens (LARC) is celebrating its 65th anniversary in Southwest Florida with a campaign to support an innovative educational program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In recognition of its on March 12 anniversary, LARC has set a fundraising goal of $65,000 and is kicking things off with a $20,000 matching challenge made possible by two anonymous $10,000 donors.

The funds will support LARC’s newest program, LAB:  Learn, Achieve, Become. LAB will offer an experiential learning environment that transforms traditional program areas into spaces for innovation, vocation, demonstration and learning. Five Labs will focus on skills for work, residency and leisure. To donate, visit www.larcinc.networkforgood.com.  

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