NAPLES NAMED AMONG BEST CITIES TO GET A JOB IN FLORIDA
The Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island metro area ranked No. 3 in Zippia’s “10 Best Cities to Get a Job in Florida for 2019” list. Each metro-area was ranked 1-to-21 in four categories: unemployment rate, change in unemployment rate, wage change, and current average wage. Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island was recorded with an employed population of 154,180; unemployed rate of 3.4%; and average annual wage of $53,826. To view the full report, click here.
NEAL COMMUNITIES NAMES NEW SWFL REGIONAL PRESIDENT
Neal Communities has named Tim Oak as the new Southwest Florida Regional President. Oak will succeed Michael Greenberg, who will retire on Jan. 3. As regional president, Oak will oversee Neal Communities operations from Fort Myers to Naples. Oak brings more than 25 years of experience in the home building industry and has served on the Neal Communities team since 2016 as vice president of construction with the company’s south region. Oak has a Master of Business Administration, general and residential contractor licenses and a Florida Green Building certification. Neal Communities is currently building in nine communities with plans to develop an additional neighborhood in Naples in 2020. For more information, visit www.NealCommunities.com.
HENDERSON JOINS AUDUBON WESTERN EVERGLADES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jim Henderson, owner of William C. Huff Cos., has joined the Audubon Western Everglades’ board of directors. Henderson’s personal mission for the past few years has been to educate others about alternative building resources and solar power. William C. Huff Cos. is a full-service company which specializes in complete personalized logistics support for high and ultra-high net worth homeowners, builders, designers, architects and estate managers. Established in 1961, Audubon of the Western Everglades is the oldest “grassroots” conservation organization in Southwest Florida, according to a press release. Its mission is to protect Southwest Florida’s natural resources and wildlife through advocacy and education. The organization focuses on environmentally responsible land use, protection and recovery of imperiled wildlife and their habitats, clean water for people and wildlife, and planning for climate change and sea level rise.
Champions For Learning Board of Directors
CHAMPIONS FOR LEARNING ANNOUNCES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Champions For Learning announces its 2019-2020 board of directors as it celebrates 30 years of community leadership. Members of the board include Beverly Feagin, chair, retired vice president and principal, Corporate Communications Inc.; Lynn Davidson, immediate past chair, retired executive vice president, Time Warner; Chuck Carlsen, vice chair, owner/CEO, Fluidall; Denise Murphy, vice chair, general manager, The Players Club & Spa; Nancy Potter, vice chair, founding member, Nelson Auto Group; Martha Rozman, vice chair, marketing and operations, Delta Air Lines; William (Bill) M. Burke, secretary, attorney, Coleman, Yovanovich & Koester; Kenneth (Ken) P. Thomas, treasurer, community president, Huntington Private Bank; Susan McManus, president, Champions For Learning; William (Bill) Beynon, president/CEO, Capital Wealth Advisors; Mike Christopher, general manger/national sales director, Naples Daily News; Serge Ecityan, vice president, BMO Private Bank; and Mary Beth Geier, Florida director, Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation.
Jennifer Kemp (Jak), Kennel Manager, with two of her five dogs
PAMPERED PET RESORTS ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT TEAM
Frank Hake and Joyce Aliaga, co-owners of Pampered Pet Resorts, announce the management team for the new 24/7/365 dog boarding and daycare facility, scheduled to open Dec. 15 at 3840 Bush Blvd in Naples. Jennifer (Jak) Kemp will serve as kennel manager. She has worked in the pet boarding industry for the past two years and has an additional six years of private pet care and rescue experience. Jenna Lynn Powell has been named assistant kennel manager. She has more than four years of pet boarding and grooming experience. Jessie Evans will serve as customer service manager. She has worked with animals for over 13 years, including three years in the pet boarding industry. Construction for Pampered Pet Resorts began in January; Naples-based PBS Contractors is the general contractor for the project. The public is invited to tour the new facility during its open house event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday. For more information, visit pamperedpetresorts.com, developed by Naples-based Wilson Creative Group.
FSW VIEWBOOK WINS MULTIPLE MARKETING AWARDS
Florida SouthWestern State College’s (FSW) 2018-19 viewbook recently received a District 2 Gold 2019 Medallion Award from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR). The NCMPR Medallion Awards recognize outstanding achievement in design and communications at community and technical colleges in each of NCMPR’s seven districts. FSW placed above all participating colleges in the Viewbook category in District 2, which is comprised of colleges in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. FSW’s viewbook also received a second place Award of Excellence from the Association of Florida College’s (AFC) Communications and Marketing Commission. FSW’s 2018-19 viewbook was created through a joint effort by members of FSW’s marketing and media department and the office of admissions.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Allyn International donates to Foster Care Advisory Services
Allyn International has donated more than $4,000 and approximately 300 toys with a value of $5,000 to Foster Care Advisory Services (FCAS). Each quarter at Allyn, an employee is given the opportunity to raise funds for a nonprofit of their choice. For Allyn’s fourth quarter of the year, the fundraiser for FCAS is run by Allyn employee, Katrina Ramsey, where toys and funds are donated by other employees. On Dec. 12, FOX4 News came to film and interview Ramsey and charity coordinators on-site as they came to receive the check and toys. For the FCAS fundraiser, employees are given a list of foster children to sign up and sponsor by giving them at least two items on their wish-list. A Christmas tree is set up and employees bring their donations throughout the holiday season. This year, more than 300 gifts were donated to 104 children, with a value of $5,000. Allyn matches each donation amount, and this quarter’s donation is $4,160.
Cypress Cove donates hundreds of toys to Heights Center
Cypress Cove residents and staff on Tuesday gifted The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center nearly 650 toys and gifts for children of the Harlem Heights community. The toys and gifts, presented to representatives of The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center, will be a portion of the hundreds of gifts available to Harlem Heights families on Dec. 21 at the center’s “Christmas Giving Tree” event. The toy drive and gifting program by Cypress Cove marks the eighth consecutive year that the South Fort Myers Life Plan Community has participated in the annual toy drive. During that time, Cypress Cove’s residents and staff have contributed more than 4,200 gifts for the annual holiday giveaway.
LARC to host 1920s mystery fundraiser
LARC (Lee Association of Remarkable Citizens) will host an evening of food, wine and fun from 6:30 p.m. on March 12 at the historic riverfront home of Fran Fenning in Fort Myers. Guests will step back in time to the 1920s where a party is being hosted by silent film actor Eric Jewett. Thomas and Mina Edison, Henry and Clara Ford, Sidney and Berne Davis will be portrayed along with other famous residents of Southwest Florida of the era. One of the famous guests has something to hide. Improv actors will set the scene for the evening and guests will have the next two hours to unravel the secret. Sponsorship opportunities and ticket packages are available. The event is co-chaired by philanthropist Marc Collins and Dwayne Bergmann, principal of Dwayne Bergmann Interiors. Fran Fenning is the honorary event chair. Attendees are encouraged to dress to match the 1920s era. Sponsorship packages that include an exclusive VIP reception are available. For ticket package or sponsorship information, visit www.larcleecounty.org, call Angela Katz at (239) 334-6285 x 229 or email angelakatz@larcleecounty.org.
Freedom Waters Foundation’s to host Mardi Gras-themed Kind Mariners Ball
Mardi Gras is the theme of Freedom Waters Foundation’s sixth annual Kind Mariners Ball, to be held from 5:30-10 p.m. on Feb. 27 at Naples Sailing & Yacht Club. The evening will feature the 10-piece Electric Lipstick jazz band, street performers, stilt walkers, caricaturists, jugglers, a hurricane drink station and a New Orleans-inspired menu. Guests are encouraged to don cocktail attire in purple, green and gold hues while enjoying cocktails, hors ‘d’oeuvres and dinner. Scott Robertson is serving as auctioneer to help raise funds for the free therapeutic on-the-water experiences that Freedom Waters Foundation provides annually to more than 3,000 children and adults with special needs as well as veterans. Kind Mariners Ball sponsors include The Wellington Group of Morgan Stanley/Jennifer and Scott O’Dell, FineMark Bank, Walmart Store 3417, Tower Insurance, Screaming Fans Marketing, Foreman Productions, and Naples Daily News. Tickets are available at kindmarinersball.com or by calling (239) 263-2377.
Rotary raises funds for New Harry Chapin Food Bank truck
Twenty-eight area rotary clubs and Rotary District 6960 raised more than $109,700 towards the purchase of a new refrigerated truck for Harry Chapin Food Bank. District Gov. Rich Kirschner will present a giant check to food bank representatives at noon on Dec. 17 at the Rotary Club of Fort Myers meeting, held at Pinchers at Edison Ford Estates. The new truck will join a fleet of 16 trucks that deliver food to Harry Chapin Food Bank programs, including a Partner Agency Program that distributes to more than 150 nonprofit partner agencies throughout Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. Spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Fort Myers, Rotarians Jim Pelstring and Richard Leber, who is also food bank president and CEO, contacted 33 rotary clubs between Sarasota and Marco Island to present the multi-club humanitarian project. This team effort brought together 28 Rotary Clubs from Lee, Collier, Charlotte and Hendry counties to make this possible. District 6960, which covers eight Southwest Florida counties, contributed an additional $50,000. The combined forces make for the largest multi-club Rotary project in District 6960’s history.
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