RSW TRAFFIC UP IN AUGUST
During August, 501,023 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, an increase of 4.1 percent compared with August 2017. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 5.1 percent from the same period last year. The traffic leader in August was Delta Air Lines with 124,596 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were American (90,455), Southwest (85,612), JetBlue (65,209) and United (44,456). Southwest Florida International Airport had 4,451 aircraft operations, a decrease of 4.1 percent compared with August 2017. Page Field saw 7,798 operations, a 12.8 percent increase from August 2017. In addition, slightly more than 2.7 million pounds of air freight moved through Southwest Florida International Airport in August 2018. For more information, visit www.flylcpa.com.
FORT MYERS TO HOST WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION REGIONAL CONFERENCE
The 297 SWFL Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction will soon host a regional conference in Fort Myers. The SPARK 2018 Fall Forum will take place on Oct. 17-18 at Holiday Inn Ft Myers Airport/Gulf Coast. The event aims to give attendees direction on the steps to take to fulfill their goals. For more information or to register, visit www.nawicsoutheastregion.com.
BCB HOMES ACQUIRES DICKSON ROOFING
Custom luxury homebuilder BCB Homes has acquired Dickson Roofing (DicksonRoofing.com), a roofing and sheet metal contractor with more than 40 years of industry experience. Located at 5335 Jaegar Road in Naples, the company specializes in residential and commercial roof replacements and repairs, inspection services and new construction throughout Southwest Florida. Established in Oklahoma in 1976, Dickson Roofing founder and owner Les Dickson moved operations to Naples in 1984 to begin remodeling and tower construction of the Edgewater Beach Hotel. A member of the Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Association, Dickson serves on the Tile Committee responsible for code regulations of roof tile applications in Florida and is co-chairman of the governmental affairs committee.
OASIS SENIOR ADVISORS ADDS NEW FRANCHISES
Bonita Springs-based company Oasis Senior Advisors has opened three new franchises, adding to the more than 72 franchises already in operation across the U.S. Lifelong Boston-area resident Bill Cleary will lead Oasis Senior Advisors for greater Boston. Eric Aasheim will serve as the Oasis Senior Advisor for western Massachusetts. Kim Bertolino will be the Oasis Senior Advisor for the south shore of Long Island. More franchise opportunities exist nationwide. For more information, visit oasissenioradvisors.com.
SWFL PROPERTIES OPENS IN NAPLES
Commercial real estate broker Ed Boeder has opened his own brokerage firm, SWFL Properties LLC. Based in Naples, SWFL Properties specializes in helping individuals find income-producing commercial real estate to add to and diversify their investment portfolio, including those involved in a 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange transaction. Boeder also brokers the sale of commercial property for owners wishing to sell their existing commercial property holdings. Boeder has more than 20 years of experience as a commercial real estate broker, with most of his transactions in Southwest Florida. He started his real estate career with John R. Wood Realtors, then spent several years with Prudential Florida WCI Realty (now Berkshire Hathaway Home Services) and had his own Sperry Van Ness/SVN commercial brokerage franchise for seven years. In addition to representing buyers and sellers of commercial real estate, Boeder represents landlords and tenants in the leasing of office, retail and industrial property as well as the sale and leasing of commercial land.
HENDERSON FRANKLIN WELCOMES DUKE
Attorney Jarred Duke has joined Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt P.A.’s business litigation department. Prior to joining the firm, Duke was a litigator for a national law firm. Duke represents individuals and businesses in complex disputes, such as real estate litigation, construction litigation, breaches of contract, partnership and shareholder disputes, breaches of fiduciary duty, trust and estate litigation, and other business torts. He also has significant experience helping clients comply with Florida’s lien laws and collection actions. Duke is a Lee County native and graduated from Evangelical Christian School, where he currently serves on its board of directors. He is also a member of the Lee County Bar Association’s young lawyers division, as well as a member of The Florida Bar’s young lawyers, business law, entertainment, arts and sports, real property, probate and trust, and labor and employment law sections. Duke received his undergraduate degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and his law degree from New York University School of Law.
MCELROY NAMED TO LIGHTHOUSE OF SWFL FOUNDATION BOARD
Lighthouse of SWFL Inc. has appointed Chip McElroy to its foundation board. McElroy is the program chair and associate professor of digital design and graphics in the Fisher School of Technology at Hodges University. Lighthouse of SWFL is a nonprofit vision rehabilitation agency, whose mission is to enable people of all ages living with a visual impairment or blindness to remain independent, active and productive in society. Classes include safe cooking, Braille, orientation and mobility, technology using iPhones and iPads, art classes, ballroom dance and more.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Alliance for the Arts executive director to guest bartend at Coastal Dayz Brewery
The Alliance for the Arts is teaming up with Coastal Dayz Brewery as the alliance’s executive director, Lydia A. Black, serves as guest bartender from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 4 at 2161 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. All tips from the evening will be donated to the Alliance for the Arts. The event comes alongside the announcement of the Alliance for the Arts second annual Arts On Tap Fundraiser, held on Oct. 20. Now in its second year, Arts On Tap is a taste of creativity in the Alliance gallery featuring the craft of local brewers including Coastal Dayz. Additional crafters include Big Blue Brewing, Bury Me Brewing Co., Eight-Foot Brewing, Fort Myers Brewing Company, Momentum Brewhouse, Palm City Brewing, Point Ybel Brewing Company and Scotty's Bierwerks.
United Way seeking VITA program volunteers
The United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee is seeking volunteer tax preparers, interpreters, and greeters to help its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites during the 2018 tax season. With the support of trained, IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers, VITA sites provide free tax preparation to individuals and families earning less than $66,000 per year throughout the five-county area of Lee, Hendry, Glades, Okeechobee and Charlotte Counties. Volunteers of all ages and levels of experience are welcome, though all volunteers need to be comfortable working with a computer. There is a special need for bilingual Spanish speakers. Flexible hours are available January through April. Volunteers will receive specialized IRS-certified training, including learning how to prepare basic tax returns, using online tax preparation software, and learning about tax deductions and earned income tax credits that benefit eligible taxpayers. In addition, experienced agents, certified financial planners, and non-credentialed tax return preparers can earn continuing education credits when volunteering as a VITA tax preparer. An orientation and training class for new volunteers will be offered Nov. 17 at Florida Gulf Coast University. Interested parties can register here, contact Patrice Cunningham at Patrice@UnitedWayLee.org, or call (239) 433.7557.
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