Need to catch up on business news in Southwest Florida? No problem. Here are the top stories of the week pulled from our daily newsletter, Gulfshore Business Daily.
Friday, Aug. 31
BONITA BAY CLUB TO HOST USTA PRO CIRCUIT EVENT
Bonita Bay Club has been selected to host a $100,000 U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) women’s professional circuit tennis tournament from May 6-12. he USTA Pro Circuit is the pathway to the U.S. Open and tour-level competition for aspiring tennis players. Players ranked from 30 to 60 in the world according to the USTA will compete in the 2019 tournament at Bonita Bay Club, which is one of only two of its level in the country, and the first in Southwest Florida. The USTA tournament is one of three major tennis events Bonita Bay Club is hosting this upcoming season. The club will also host a collegiate open tournament with Florida Gulf Coast University Oct. 26-28. The 38th Annual Naples-Ft. Myers Challenge will also return to Bonita Bay Club on Nov. 10. For more information, visit www.bonitabayclub.net.
Thursday, Aug. 30
‘HOW TO GET DISCOVERED BY THE MEDIA’ SET
The Above Board Chamber will present two workshops. “Naples: How to Get Discovered by the Media” will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 at Hilton Naples. Sue Huff of E. Sue Huff & Associates Inc., will emcee the event. Media panel members include Jeff Butera, ABC7; Mayela Rosales, Media Vista Group UNIVISION; David Elliott, The Dave Elliott Show (WGUF-FM); Kristyn Wellesley USAT Network-Florida Health and Naples Daily News; Rob Wardlaw, Gulfshore Business; Robbie Spencer, Naples Florida Weekly; and Karen P. Moore, SWFL Business Today. Paul Lodato of CTN television will not be able to attend this year’s event but donated a $9,000 media prize. The next event, “Lee County: How to Get Discovered by the Media,” will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 at the Crowne Plaza at Bell Tower. Connie Ramos Williams of CONRIC PR & Marketing/Publishing will emcee the event. The media panel includes Kellie Burns, NBC2; Lois Thome, WINK News; Paul Lodato, CTN television; Betty L. Wells, Fort Myers Florida Weekly; Steve McQuilkin, The News-Press; Mayela Rosales, Media Vista Group Univision and UniMas; Nik Thompson, HelloSWFL.com; Karen Moore, Southwest Florida Business Today; Tom Sullivan, Christian Radio Way-FM; and Andrew Warfield, Business Observer. The events include media prizes, information and entertainment. For more information, visit http://www.aboveboardchamber.com.
Wednesday, Aug. 29
HANSEN WINS APEX AWARD
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has announced Teri Hansen as the recipient of this year’s APEX Awards. The 13th Annual APEX Awards, presented by Vector & Ink, took place on Aug. 25 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa. The black-tie optional awards ceremony is designed to honor an individual who demonstrates career excellence and ingenuity, gives back to the community, and supports others in attaining their professional goals. Hansen, is the owner and president of Priority Marketing, which recently celebrated 25 years in business. Hansen is a Fort Myers native and started her business shortly after the birth of her daughter. Hansen ran her business from home until her daughter reached school age, at which time she opened an office and hired a small staff. Since then, Priority Marketing to become one of the region’s largest full-service marketing, advertising, and public relations firms with 35 employees. Hansen is also one of the founding members of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), and a member of FPRA’s Counselor’s Network.
Tuesday, Aug. 28
LIFESAVING DEVICES INSTALLED IN LEE SCHOOLS
Lee Health and The School District of Lee County have announced the installation of automated external defibrillators (AED) in all county middle and elementary schools. The AEDs were purchased with a $150,000 donation from Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, and every school in the district has earned the Project Adam Heart Safe designation. Project Adam began in 1999 following the death of a student in Wisconsin who suffered from sudden cardiac arrest while playing basketball. To earn the Heart Safe designation, schools must implement an awareness, training and response program to be prepared in case of a cardiac episode. Last December, Fort Myers High School freshman Zac Syska suffered from a sudden cardiac arrest while running with his team, and his life was saved by an AED. As part of his Eagle Scout service project, Syska spent his summer vacation this year assisting the school district in earning the heart safe designation. Every school also has a team of three-to-five staff members who underwent training on the proper use of the devices and how to implement and emergency plan at their schools. As schools are often used as shelters or host visitors, the AEDs are equipped with both pediatric and adult-sized pads.
Monday, Aug. 27
FAMILY FRIENDLY BUSINESS AWARD DEADLINE APPROACHES
The deadline for Collier County businesses to apply for a Family Friendly Business Award is Sept. 14. Any business that offers benefits that assist employees with families, such as flex time, health insurance or employee-sponsored child care, may be eligible for the designation. The public can also nominate a business online before Sept. 4 by visiting collierchildcare.org. All applicants with family-friendly business practices will be recognized at a breakfast held from 8 to 10 a.m. on Oct. 16 at the Hilton Naples. Tickets are $35 per person. To purchase tickets, call (239) 643-3908 or visit collierchildcare.org/2018-family-friendly-business-awards. For more information about the Family Friendly Business Awards and sponsorships, call Collier Child Care Resources at (239) 643-3908 or email JoAnn Lawrence at joannl@collierchildcare.org.
Publicly Traded Companies
BEASLEY DECLARES DIVIDEND
The Beasley Broadcast Group Inc. board of directors have declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share of its Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend is payable on Oct. 5 to shareholders of record on Sept. 28. While the company intends to pay regular quarterly cash dividends for the foreseeable future, all subsequent dividends will be reviewed quarterly and declared by the board of directors at its discretion.
CHICO’S INCOME DOWN IN Q2
Chico's FAS Inc. reported a second-quarter net income of $16.8 million, down from $22.7 million during the same period one year ago. Net income for the 26 weeks ended Aug. 4 was at $45.8, down from $56.3 the year prior. Second-quarter net sales were $544.7 million compared with $578.6 million in last year's second quarter. This 5.9 percent decrease reflects a comparable sales decline of 3.2 percent and the impact of 42 net store closures since last year's second quarter. The comparable sales decline was primarily driven by a decline in transaction count partially offset by higher average dollar sales, according to a press release.
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